Newly minted United Bermuda Party (UBP) candidate Gerald Fubler doesn't stand a chance of getting into parliament if he runs in Sandys Parish, says ruling party backbencher Dale Butler.

But Mr. Butler defended Mr. Fubler's decision to enter politics - even if it meant that a man he admired had gone to the other side.

Mr. Fubler has been criticised for joining the UBP and says that he quit his job as a security guard because of a supervisor's hostility when his political allegiances became known. And a recent man on the street survey in the Somerset area found some support for the sentiment that black people in the UBP were being used.

"It is a democracy and he is entitled as a citizen to review the philosophies of both parties and make his own decision," said Mr. Butler when asked how he viewed such criticism.

Progressive Labour Party spokesman Glenn Blakeney, agreed but said any perceptions held on the streets about black people in the UBP were a product of the Island's legacy of racism.

"Black people have joined the UBP since the UBP has been in existence," Mr. Blakeney said. "I don't know if anyone should be criticised when they join a political party but there's still a deep seated remnant of what racism has done to the psyche of humankind."

"He won't win a seat," said Mr. Butler. "That's a stronghold and he's known for one issue and no others. You've got to have national appeal on a variety issues."

But Mr. Butler said he admired him for his work on youth issues:"I think the brother should be admired and that's why we recognised him. He got very discouraged but he regrouped and now he's back in the community protecting the interests of young people and you can't avoid recognising that.

"He has more answers on what to do than most people I talk to. For some reason they (young people) gravitate towards him like magnets. And you can't take that away from him."

Mr. Fubler joined the UBP just over a month ago and was almost immediately adopted as a candidate for the upcoming elections.

A long-time supporter of the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) Mr. Fubler said he became disenchanted after the party failed to address longstanding youth issues he had championed and closed down the Daniel's Head youth centre.