Eugene Cox, the Progressive Labour Party's elder statesman, paid tribute to the youth for helping him retain his seat.

Mr. Cox, a campaign veteran, defeated United Bermuda Party newcomer Gerald Fubler by 451 votes to 252 in the Sandys North district - the last of the 36 constituencies but the first to be concluded.

It took just two hours and 35 minutes for the procedure at Somerset Primary School to be carried out.

Speaking moments before going in for the count, Mr. Cox, his party's Deputy Leader and Finance Minister, said: "I am very pleased to have seen the number of young people that have come out to vote for the first time.

"They are quite proud that they are voting for the first time and they want to let you know. This idea that young people have been turned off from voting is not true and, if anything, is the opposite from what I have seen."

Later, emerging victorious with the cheers and applause from his family, friends and party activists still ringing in his ears, Mr. Cox said: "I am very satisfied with how the result turned out and that as many as 700 ballots were cast. I was glad it was more than 500."

Mr. Cox, who is not in the best of health, said it was not just a victory for him but "for all of the workers who have been out canvassing for me and facing the pit bulls and making it possible for me to have a rest".

Mr. Fubler believed his defeat lay in the fact people voted for party and not personality.

"Coming into it, I knew it was a stronghold," he said. "I said if they vote party I will lose and, unfortunately, it seems like they did. I give them full marks, their strategy worked."

However, the vanquished declared himself "happy".