North, it was the familiarity of the two UBP candidates which ultimately led to their overwhelming victory, Mr. Ernest DeCouto said last night.

Mr. DeCouto and his United Bermuda Party running mate, the Hon. Leonard Gibbons, were returned to power with a victory that never seemed in doubt.

Mr. Gibbons, an MP since 1987 and Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs prior to the election, led the poll with 827 votes. Mr. DeCouto took second place with 817 votes and the Progressive Labour Party candidate, Dr. Roosevelt Brown, finished a distant third with 380 of the votes.

Mr. DeCouto, running for the seventh consecutive time, was predictably ebullient in victory, praising party workers for propelling them through the rough scrimmage of the campaign.

"I think with the track record of the United Bermuda Party in Smith's Parish, Smith's North in particular and Bermuda in general, we were an attractive and a safe bet,'' said Mr. DeCouto.

The constituency, long regarded as a safe haven for the UBP, almost broke tradition in 1989 with a tight three-way race highlighted by a close third-place finish by National Liberal Party candidate Mr. Ernest Vesey.

This time, however, only three candidates contested the constituency and it was never really believed that Dr. Roosevelt Brown would supply serious heat in the campaign.

"They (the voters) appreciated the work that we've done here,'' said Mr.

Gibbons. "The constant visits on the doorstep, and meeting with them, we hope that to continue. We work hard at it.'' After the vote count last night at the Whitney Institute gymnasium, Mr.

DeCouto spoke easily about the issues facing his constituency, saying crime, drugs and education were uppermost on the voters' minds. But it was the uncertainty over the US Base which was also of significant concern.

"That impacts on the economy,'' Mr. DeCouto said adding, "and to lose that would be such a negative impact.'' Dr. Brown, a noted human rights activist and loyal PLP organiser, refused to open up any personal windows, saying the vote count said it all.

"But the only way I'm satisfied is when the party wins, nothing about personal achievements here,'' he said with refrigerator coolness.

RESULTS Leonard Gibbons (UBP) 827 Ernest DeCouto (UBP) 817 Roosevelt Brown (PLP) 380 Void ballots 11.

OCTOBER 1993 ELECTION