The ruling party has neglected and ignored the youth of Somerset, says a newly minted Opposition candidate.

"I believe it is the responsibility of the entire community to ensure that our young people are guided along the right path," Gerald Fubler said at a press conference held at United Bermuda Party headquarters yesterday.

"I've worked with young people throughout the Island and I believe that in the past five years so little have been done for the youth of Sandys. And I feel that they have been neglected and ignored."

The press conference was held to announce that Anthony Steede and Gerald Fubler as the party's candidates for Sandys North Central and Sandys North - constituencies 35 and 36.

Both men were lauded by party leader Grant Gibbons for their service to the community.

Mr. Fubler, a former Progressive Labour Party supporter, said he had abandoned the ruling party because it had ignored young people in the Somerset area.

He blamed the fact that the "Lister dynasty" had become entrenched in the area for what he said was unresponsive representation.

In fact the two most long-serving parliamentarians in the area are Walter Lister and Eugene Cox.

Labour Minister Terry Lister is expected to be confirmed as the candidate for Sandys South, while his brother Dennis Lister should be running against Mr. Steede in Sandys North Central. Their uncle Walter Lister is slated to run in Sandys South Central, or constituency 34. Walter Lister has been in parliament for 27 years as a Sandys South representative. Dennis Lister was elected in 1989 as a Sandys North representative and Terry Lister replaced long time MP Walter Roberts in 1998.

Mr. Fubler's opponent is, however, expected to be Finance Minister Eugene Cox who has represented Sandys North for over 30 years.

Mr. Fubler joined the UBP just a few months ago and was almost immediately adopted as a candidate for the upcoming elections. Well respected in the West End for his community work, Mr. Fubler says he became disenchanted after the party failed to address longstanding youth issues he had championed and closed down the Daniel's Head youth centre.

"I feel that they (youth) have been neglected and ignored," he said. "Our young people need representation that they can trust."