Williams will help spearhead the Progressive Labour Party's election challenge in St. George's North.

The PLP hailed the St. George's Town Councillor's defection to their ranks as a major coup.

But last night in an acid statement the UBP mocked him as a "sometime friend'' of their party.

Mr. Williams, an outspoken community activist, will now team up with Shadow Education Minister Miss Jennifer Smith. It is the first time Miss Smith has had a running mate in the constituency.

Mr. Williams immediately hurled down the gauntlet to the United Bermuda Party candidates in St. George's North, Mr. Phillip Smith MP and Mr. Michael Jones.

He challenged them to a public debate on issues facing St. George's. A host of issues, he said, included cruise ships and Fort St. Catherine's beach.

Mr. Williams, 53, president of St. George's Enterprises Ltd., is a Justice of the Peace, and an active member of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, having chaired many committees.

Yesterday's announcement of his selection comes amid mounting PLP speculation of a pre-Christmas election.

Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade said his party was already on an election footing, and an intense canvassing campaign was underway.

"Our feelings are there is a 75 percent chance of an election before Christmas,'' he declared at a Press conference at PLP headquarters Alaska Hall.

"When it's called we expect to be able to contest the election in a hard, tough manner. We expect to form the Government.'' Mr. Wade said he believed the Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan was getting "itchy'' about calling an election.

Previously he has never waited longer than three years in Government, he added.

Mr. Williams' selection was hailed yesterday as a massive coup for the PLP.

But in a terse statement, the UBP branded the PLP's announcement as no surprise -- and chided Mr. Williams as a "sometime friend'' of the UBP.

"Ms Smith and the PLP have been courting Mr. Williams for some time,'' it read. We wish Mr. Williams well in his decision to align himself with the Opposition Party.

"As a sometime friend of the United Bermuda Party, Mr. Williams should know that our partnership is best able to lead Bermuda through these difficult economic times and lay the ground work for a secure life for Bermudians of all ages.'' The statement concluded with a jibe: "Now is not the time for political grandstanding and American style electioneering.'' Mr. Joe Gibbons, the UBP's executive officer, later derided Mr. Williams' challenge for a public debate.

He described it as unnecessary, although he did not wish to answer for Mr.

Jones or Mr. Smith.

Mr. Gibbons said the UBP was well placed to contest the next election -- and he criticised the PLP for failing to say what they would do in power.

The party still had to announce a full slate of candidates in Devonshire North, Pembroke East, and Southampton East.

A running mate for Mr. Lawson Mapp in Pembroke East Central has also still to be announced.

"Our party is far more ready than it was nine months ago,'' said Mr. Gibbons.

He refused, however, to be drawn on speculation about an election date.

Meanwhile, National Liberal Party leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell yesterday revealed the party would be announcing its own election candidates this Monday.

Mr. Darrell said he was pleased with the "quality'' of the NLP rank-and-file members. "Naturally I'm not satisfied with the numbers,'' he added.

Mr. Leon (Jimmy) Williams.