flocking to polling stations across the Island as Election 1993 finally got under way. With them went an intrepid Royal Gazette reporter, who hustled around the hustings and heard the views of the politicians -- and the people.

It was a dark and stormy day.

On the nose of 10 a.m., the rain set in, light at first, growing heavier toward mid-morning, and reserving its fiercest for the lunch hour. By 5 p.m., as much as 1.65 inches would be recorded.

Said a drenched voter at Saltus Cavendish School (Devonshire South): "Don't talk to me about landslides -- this is more like a mudslide.'' Conventional General Election wisdom has the rain favouring the United Bermuda Party, but to a man and woman, Progressive Labour Party candidates denied this.

"We've been matching the UBP voter for voter,'' said the PLP's Mr. Alex Scott at Warwick Academy (Warwick East). "This is a threshold election, important enough that people will come out whatever the weather.'' And come out they did. At the Admiralty House Ballroom (Pembroke West), there were "100 yards of voters lined up at a quarter to ten'', according to the UBP's Dr. Clarence Terceira.

Behind him, a Reserve Constable waxed enthusiastic about the democratic process. "Half the countries I've travelled to in the world, people are killing each other for the chance to vote,'' he said, "so it really warms me to see voters coming out in these awful conditions.'' From one end of the Island to the other, citizens braved the weather to play their part in yesterday's proceedings. One man, wandering in to Admiralty Park on crutches, said: "It would take a lot more than a broken leg to keep me from telling my MPs what I think of their performance.'' At Dellwood Primary School (Pembroke East Central), a newspaper editor was to be seen running through the rain early in the day to do his civic duty, practising what he preaches.

The candidates were almost uniformly upbeat.

Outside East End Primary School (St. George's North) Mr. Albari Assalaam expressed solidarity with his independent colleagues. "The process allows every man and woman a voice,'' he said, "and I have taken the opportunity to make mine heard.'' Not quite so positive was National Liberal Party Leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell, during the hardest of the day's rain, at the Lyceum Building on Wilkinson Avenue (Hamilton East).

Where every other candidate used the word "guardedly'' or "quietly'' or even "cautiously'' as an antecedent to "optimistic'' about his or her chances, Mr. Darrell opted instead for a slightly less cheerful "hopefully'', and did not look as if he meant it.

The youth vote had been a contentious issue at one point during the campaign, but there was unanimous agreement that the rush of voters, which receded only briefly in the early afternoon, included younger voters as much as their elders.

The PLP's Mr. Philip Perinchief at Northlands Secondary School (Pembroke West Central) said: "We've seen quite a few first-time voters come by today, many of them with their parents.'' The inclement weather equally failed to dampen the enthusiasm of those avowedly voting against an incumbent. At the Francis Patton School (Hamilton West), one older voter, who declined to give his name, said: "X-change them? We should bloody horse-whip them!'' Hamilton West is Mr. Julian Hall's constituency. Advertisements paid for by "Hamilton West voters'' carried the message "If you have seen these men, you are among the few.'' The cantankerous constituent continued: "Julian Hall had better hope I don't see him.'' But mostly, the atmosphere was positive. Candidate after candidate expressed their pleasure at watching democracy in action.

Constituencies are small enough that it is possible for candidates, with a year's notice of an election, to meet virtually all the voters, and remember them when they arrive at the polling stations.

In an otherwise well-behaved, almost muted campaign, only one act of riotous behaviour was reported. A long-time PLP stalwart, not known for his active canvassing, was reportedly chased clear to the end of a road by angered constituents when he unexpectedly knocked on their door after not having done so in more than 20 years.

Democracy, it seems, is alive and well, and living in Bermuda.

HELPING HAND -- Mr. Christopher Smith, left, gets a hand and some cover from the rain from his son Cecil as he prepares to vote in Southampton East.

ALL OPTIMISM -- National Liberal Party Leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell presses the flesh with his MP, the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge, in Smith's South. Mr.

Darrell -- who was "hopefully opimistic'' in his Hamilton East constituency -- probably voted for NLP candidate Mr. Graeme Outerbridge. Also shown are, second left, the UBP's Mr. Trevor Moniz and the PLP's Dr. Clark Godwin, rear.

OCTOBER 1993 ELECTION