decision not to select the local favourite as a Parliamentary candidate, The Royal Gazette understands.

Opposition party members in Warwick West -- seen as a key General Election contest -- are said to be furious over what is claimed to be a PLP central committee decision to put Bermuda Cricket Board of Control chief El James into bat with sitting MP Ewart Brown over community activist Cromwell Shakir.

Initial reports suggested Mr. Shakir, a barber and Warwick man, pulled out of the fight for Warwick West, currently split between Dr. Brown and Government Whip Quinton Edness.

But PLP insiders say he walked away in disgust after learning he was not set to be selected to fight the seat he was tipped for more than a year ago.

Mr. Shakir is also understood to have had the support of his proposed running mate Dr. Brown.

The local branch forwarded Mr. Shakir's name to the PLP's Hamilton headquarters in June last year.

But it is believed party chiefs got the jitters after polling results showed Mr. Shakir was not performing well compared to Mr. Edness and his running mate, Sen. Yvette Swan.

And they are understood to be set to put forward Mr. James for the crucial contest instead.

Dr. Brown squeezed out veteran UBP MP and former Premier Sir John Sharpe in the 1993 General Election by just 14 votes.

Mr. Edness took the largest number of ballots to top the poll by two votes, although Dr. Brown notched up the same 25.1 percent total.

PLP candidate George Scott came in 63 votes adrift of Sir John, with 23.1 percent of the votes, with Sir John taking 24.7 percent.

Mr. Scott has already been selected to contest the rock-solid United Bermuda Party seat of Paget West, held by Environment Minister Harry Soares and Education Minister Tim Smith.

Mr. James -- a "lifelong member'' of the PLP -- is a teacher-turned-taxi driver.

He is highly regarded in cricketing circles and is a former Warwick Workmen's Club and Bermuda player.

In 1996, Mr. Shakir and others picketed the House of Assembly after off-the-cuff remarks made by then-Environment Minister Tim Smith about a planning application from rebel UBP backbencher Trevor Moniz were picked up by a live microphone and broadcast.

Mr. Smith was later moved by then-Premier David Saul from the Environment portfolio to Youth and Sport -- which sparked the protest demanding he be kicked out of Cabinet altogether.

WELL REGARDED -- El James Graphic file name: ELJAMES