THE UBP responded to this week's news that vocal campaigner Khalid Wasi plans to run for the newly-vacant Southampton West Central seat by reassuring constituents that the party still understands their needs ¿ despite claims it is past its sell-by date.

The UBP did not confirm the exact nature of its plans for the relatively safe seat, resigned earlier this week by Jon Brunson. However, it is expected that a UBP veteran such as Michael Dunkley or David Dodwell may stake a claim to the Southampton West Central constituency.

"We're not sure what Mr. Wasi's intentions are," said a UBP spokesman.

"But we take this opportunity to say that the candidate put forward by the United Bermuda Party will have one priority and that is to serve the people of Southampton West Central to the best of his or her abilities, to represent their views and respond to their needs.

"That is the only thing that matters. That is what this by-election is all about."

Activist Mr. Wasi, leader of the short-lived All Bermuda Congress (ABC) movement, pledged to fight as a "reform candidate" for the seat Mr. Brunson resigned this week.

Mr. Wasi ¿ who, as part of the ABC, argued that the UBP's time was up during the last election ¿ told the Mid-Ocean News that Mr. Brunson's old constituency has been home to his family since the 17th century.

He added that his decision to challenge the likes of UBP stalwart and former Opposition Leader Mr. Dunkley to the seat represents an effort to "reinvigorate" the party after three consecutive election losses.

"I was very, very intrigued that it was Jon Brunson who decided to opt out of Parliament altogether," Mr. Wasi said.

"This is something I've been advocating for a while, since the last election, and it's very much needed. The Parliament had some committee meetings to determine what it needs to do and I have some strong ideas for the UBP, as well as strong ideas as to what Bermuda needs to do."

Mr. Wasi, formerly Raymond Davis, sees today's partisan politics as rife with "special interests" ¿ not to mention racial divisions.

"Bermuda needs a whole new vision and format for partisanship, and how people connect to the party process," he said.

"Much of what we have with both parties is an old format that gives leverage to special interests. The party design is autocratic, as evidenced by the PLP at present. Bermudian people need more cohesiveness and a sense of well being on who we are, as opposed to polarization by race and history."

He described the current state of the UBP as gridlocked, with a conservative arm keen to maintain the status quo. Mr. Wasi sees Mr. Brunson's resignation as an opportunity to revitalise the Opposition rather than "going inside its coffins" for veteran candidates.

"For the UBP, the core dynamic is that we've lost three elections, and the bill of goods is something the public isn't buying," he said.

"They understand that. Half of the party wants to stick to its heritage and policies, with half keen to seize on an opportunity for change. There is currently a gridlock ¿ the UBP is at stalemate.

"One of the conservative seats has gone. If there's a general need for change, this seat will be best suited to a reform candidate ¿ the shedding of the old. I have nothing against Michael Dunkley, who has not said no to challenging that seat. That sounds like a lot of the old ¿ the UBP is going inside its coffins."

Mr. Wasi added that he has been reiterating the need for change to the UBP powers that be since its first election defeat ten years ago.

"This has been my track since 1998," he said.

"I told the party in a post-mortem at the time, after the election, that it was time to recognise our history and the role the party played. Bermuda needs something different now.

"I said that in 1998. In 2002, the late Stanley Ratteray was brought in to a series of special caucus meetings. He concluded that the UBP needed to strike a happy medium between my vision and the practical nature of David Dodwell. But the party resisted my view and suffered two successive defeats. Still, a bunch of them want to hold onto an idea whose time has gone."

Mr. Wasi described his platform as one focused on ensuring power is in the hands of the people ¿ and that the party operated in line with the Human Rights Code.

"I am for more people's rights, the power to recall your MPs, the power to ignite a petition, and want to bring Parliamentarians in line with the Human Rights Code," he said.

"It is this brand of politics I want to introduce, and reinvigorate the party with a whole new vision."

Mr. Wasi described himself as a "true, tried and tested person of a different mindset," comparing himself to another well-known "maverick" ¿ although with obvious and deep political differences.

"John McCain is trying to distance himself from Bush, saying, 'Trust me, I'm a maverick'", he said.

"While I am not modelling myself after McCain in any fashion, I have been a clear advocate of change, and not just for change's sake. I'm intending to fight for that seat."

Mr. Wasi explained that his family's heritage in the Southampton West Central area goes back more than 300 years, making it something of a personal responsibility to run for the vacant seat.

"My roots in that constituency go back to the 17th century," he said.

"The deeds for the property I live on in Southampton go back to the 1880s. This is my constituency. It would be unusual for me not to be interested. I have a plan for it.

"My idea will be to break up the party in its present format. I want to do what's practical, workable and doable. The only way forward is to put a reformer in that seat ¿ not the old guys."