by UBP youth wing Leaders of Tomorrow, who said the lawyer represented the need for younger people to take part in politics.

Mr. Dill is in a three-way fight for two candidacies in Pembroke West Central with Environment Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto and Mr. Elroy Ratteray, the adopted candidate for the constituency.

The primary takes place on May 7 at Northlands Secondary School.

Leaders of Tomorrow deputy chairman Mr. Anthony Gorham said the organisation, which is pushing for younger UBP candidates, had decided to make its first-ever endorsement because Mr. Dill embodied the group's views.

"This is not to say that the other candidates do not embody the group's views but Jerome is younger and that is a part of the organisation's aims -- to get younger people elected,'' he said.

He said the organisation was actively supporting Mr. Dill, who is 33.

The endorsement comes as the primary campaign begins to heat up. More than 600 people have joined the party to vote in the primary. The deadline for registration is on Thursday. A public meeting is scheduled for the following week.

Mr. Dill could not be reached for comment on the endorsement but Mr. Ratteray said he was surprised the group had taken the step.

A Leaders of Tomorrow statement said Mr. Dill had "come up through the ranks'' and his achievements as a lawyer gave him the ability to communicate with all Bermudians.

"We believe that these qualities are important because our leaders must be mediators, which can bring the people of Bermuda together, so that as a team, we all can bring economic success back to Bermuda,'' it said.

Contacted before the endorsement yesterday, Mr. Dill said his canvassing was going well.

"We have seen lots of people and have had lots of positive response,'' he said. "People seem to be very excited about the primary.'' He said issues included the economy, the Bermuda Electric Light Company and the size of the Civil Service.

Mr. Ratteray also said campaigning was proceeding well but he was surprised by the endorsement.

"I have not heard of Leaders of Tomorrow making an endorsement before,'' he said. "They all have a right to make a choice and I am already fighting a lot of elements.'' Asked if he felt he was fighting the UBP establishment, he refused to comment.

"I am just out there fighting this primary.'' Mr. Ratteray said the main issues in canvassing were the economy and employment. Concerns about the environment -- which helped elevate Independent MP Mr. Stuart Hayward into the House in 1989 -- had decreased, he said.

MR. JEROME DILL.