branch chairman announced yesterday.

And Michael Hollis paid tribute to the dentist MP who has represented Pembroke West alongside Health and Social Services Minister Clarence Terceira for 12 years.

He said: "Dr. Dyer has long served the constituency of Pembroke West in a superb and professional manner.

"We regret that he cannot finish out his term, but we thank him for all of the hard work he has done for this constituency and for all of Bermuda since winning a seat in the House of Assembly in 1985.

Mr. Hollis added that the party was now gearing up for a by-election, in what is regarded as a rock-solid UBP seat, for the vacancy created by the resignation of Government's Youth and Sport Minister.

But this week he declined to discuss the selection process for a successor to Dr. Dyer.

Dr. Dyer announced his intention to resign earlier this month, citing personal reasons.

It is understood that Dr. Dyer, who operates a sole practitioner dental surgery, was finding it increasingly difficult to balance professional demands and his heavy political commitments.

No successor for the Cabinet seat has been announced -- but former Youth and Sport Minister Tim Smith, dropped by former Premier David Saul in a Cabinet re-shuffle designed to bring McDonald's burger war rebels back into the fold -- is believed to be front runner for Dr. Dyer's Ministerial baton.