Stalwart United Bermuda Party MP Gary Pitman announced yesterday that he has resigned as a Member of Parliament to devote more time to his business obligations.

As a result of the surprise move by the Shadow Transport Minister, a by-election will have to be called soon after the New Year to fill his Pembroke West seat in the House of Assembly.

In an exclusive interview with The Royal Gazette yesterday, the Chevron International president said the merger of his firm's parent company with fellow US oil giant Texaco had forced him to put politics on the back burner.

"I have not taken this decision lightly - the reason I am stepping down is as a direct result of increased work responsibilities and duties following the merger of Chevron Corporation and Texaco Corporation, of which I am president of the Bermuda operation," he said in a letter to his constituents.

"I will be required to take on additional travel on a regular basis and I realise that the frequent absences off the Island will restrict my ability to represent your interests in the House of Assembly."

The 53-year-old father of two said that his decision to step down would also give him more time to spend with his wife Martha.

"Politicians have to balance between job and family - I'm sure my wife would be more than happy that I will be stepping down. She has been extremely supportive - but the fact is this is going to allow for a better balance in my life." But having served as one of the UBP's front men for eight years, the former chairman and Senator said he will miss serving the people most of all. "My biggest regret is not being able to serve the people of Pembroke West," he said. "They have been a very excellent and supportive branch. They have been fabulous - I will miss their phone calls, and the canvassing - I love helping people. I will get back to that eventually, but I need to take a decent break right now and get the transition right here well into play." Mr. Pitman admitted that although his stepping down may come as a shock to members of the community, his party knew well in advance that his retirement was imminent."

He said that he initially wanted to step down in September.

But he said he felt confident that his replacement - although he would not comment on who it might be - was coming into a secure and sound UBP.

"The party leader (Grant Gibbons) knew when he came into power that I would be stepping down," he said. "I'm only sorry that I cannot stay here and be a part of the new Government. My political career for right now is off the front burner."

Mr. Pitman made that final yesterday afternoon, when he officially handed in his resignation to Speaker of the House, Stanley Lowe.

In his eight years of public service, Mr. Pitman served three and a half years as a Senator, eventually becoming Government leader of the Senate and Minister Without Portfolio.

Mr. Pitman also served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Senate, serving as a spokesperson in the Senate for Tourism and Works and Engineering.

He stepped down from the Senate for a brief period, but re-entered the political arena to run for the House, winning election to Pembroke West in a February, 1998 by-election. He was re-elected that November in the General Election when the UBP lost power. In that election, he came second in the UBP stronghold with 800 votes. His running mate, Erwin Adderley, topped the poll with 821 votes, the PLP's Carvel van Putten was third with 521 votes and Independent Phillip Perinchief was fourth with 324 votes. Since 1998 Mr. Pitman has served as the Shadow Minister for Environment, only to be switched to Shadow Minister of Transport in October. He also played a key role in rewriting his party's constitution in the wake of the 1998 defeat.

And Mr. Pitman, who complimented his running mate Erwin Adderley for making a "good team" for Pembroke West, said he hoped his successor would continue the fight to keep Pembroke West safe and drug free.

"I really want to see the Admiralty House area get a Police sub-station put into place, preferably across from the Senior Islanders place" he said. "While the drug dealing has decreased in the Admiralty House area, it's something that can slowly creep up again."

During his time in Environment, Mr. Pitman fought passionately for various causes, among them a bid to ban gaming machines from the Island and the protection of the marine environment. "I've enjoyed the Environment portfolio that I have been in for the past three years," he said. "But my biggest regret was not being able to sink my teeth into transport. It's a large and important portfolio and I had hoped to be able to be a part of it."

Mr. Pitman is the third MP the UBP have lost since the 1998 Election. Madeleine Joell died suddenly, shortly after the Election and was replaced in Paget West by Patricia Gordon-Pamplin. Veteran MP C.V. (Jim) Woolridge resigned this summer after 33 years in the House and was replaced by Maxwell Burgess.