The battle to win the nomination to fight the Parliamentary seat of the late PLP leader Frederick Wade looks like a three-horse race, it was revealed last night.

Two men and a woman -- one a Senator and one the PLP public relations officer -- have put themselves up for the Devonshire North seat.

Party chiefs last night confirmed that Sen. Terry Lister, party PRO Paula Cox and UBP defector Rodney Smith had formally entered the race for the rock-solid PLP constituency.

New party leader Jennifer Smith said she had not decided when nominations should close -- but that the cut-off date would be "later this week''.

She said: "There are only a few days left for people to make their interest known.

"But I would have thought anyone serious about taking part would have made it clear by now.'' So far undeclared are Senator Neletha (Honey) Butterfield, Senate Opposition leader Milton Scott and party activist Rolfe Commissiong -- all of whom have been tipped as possibles.

Former PLP MP for Hamilton West, lawyer Julian Hall, also spoke of putting himself forward.

But he was critical of the selection process, saying that it appeared the party had too much influence in pushing who it wanted.

The news came as Registrar General Marlene Christopher said the election date would be decided by Premier David Saul, although legally the election had to take place by October 13 -- two months after the vacancy arose.

And the by-election cannot be held any earlier than 28 days after the writ authorising it is drawn up, meaning Dr. Saul has to announce the writ in the next two weeks.