Opposition Deputy Leader Michael Dunkley will fight Smith's North in the next election, it was confirmed yesterday.

The move ? first revealed in last month ? means Mr. Dunkley now looks set to take on Health Minister Patrice Minors in the marginal seat when voters go to the polls again.

UBP Leader Wayne Furbert yesterday confirmed Mr. Dunkley would be moving from Devonshire East, where he will be replaced by Senator Bob Richards.

UBP insiders have previously said that other senior MPs in the Opposition ranks are likely to be shifted to fight PLP-held seats, in a bid to reverse the narrow election defeat in 2003.

Mr. Dunkley, however, refused to comment when asked whether his was the first in a series of big-name shifts.

"You can read into it any way you want," he said on the decision to change seats. "My business is in Smith's North and I believe I have some roots in that area.

"I think I have got a good opportunity to make a connection with the people and represent them in the best way possible. The perception in politics is that politicians have gone away from representing people. I will represent them."

On his move, he said in a constituency letter that Smith's North had been poorly served in recent years.

The decision to move after nearly ten years in Devonshire was "difficult", but Mr. Dunkley said yesterday he was impressed by the candidate replacing him.

"We will work together to share information," said the chief executive officer of Dunkley's Dairy.

Asked about her response to confirmation about Mr. Dunkley's shift, Mrs. Minors said: "I look forward to continuing to serve the constituents of Smith's North.

"I feel a particular sense of pride, given they have been stalwart supporters of the PLP. I also feel a sense of pride that I inherited some of the constituency that was formerly served by our former Leader Frederick Wade, Dame Lois Browne-Evans and Finance Minister Paula Cox.

"I am so pleased the baton has now been passed to me and I intend to continue to serve with dignity, integrity and sensitivity to the needs of this great constituency."

Sen. Richards, meanwhile, said the change represented a "new challenge" for him. The Senator, appointed to the Upper House in 1997, said that he had always made it clear that his intention was to become an MP. The businessman added: "I have been actively engaged in meeting the constituents of Devonshire East and I look forward to getting their support."

In 2003, Mrs. Minors won Smith's North by 123 votes. Mr. Dunkley won Devonshire East by more than 200.

Mr. Furbert said the UBP would do what it could to win power. "These changes, such as Michael going to Smith's North, are part of that effort."

In September, the PLP said that it would not be following suit by shifting its key figures to seats the Opposition holds by a knife-edge.