CedarBridge Academy schoolteacher Dean Foggo edged out the UBP's Kim Swan by 22 votes to claim the St. George's West seat for the PLP.

Although Mr. Foggo canvassed with Jennifer Smith and Delaey Robinson during the 1998 campaign, this was Mr. Foggo's first attempt to get himself into Parliament and he was humbled by his success.

"I feel great, I feel honoured and I'm relieved," Mr. Foggo said after he was declared the winner in District Two.

"To win by 22 votes - well, it just shows that every vote really does count.

"So many people came before me, like Lois Browne Evans and Roosevelt Brown, people who made it possible for me to become a Member of Parliament."

Mr. Foggo, whose main aim in Parliament will be to improve education, has lived in St. George's all his life and he felt that had helped his campaign.

"Everybody here knows me and my parents and some of them said they were shocked, surprised or pleased to see me running as a candidate," Mr. Foggo said.

Both candidates said hot local topics on the campaign trail had been crime, the Old Town's drugs problem, keeping open the St. George's Police Station, what should happen to the former parish rest home and plans for the disused Club Med building.

For Mr. Swan, the Opposition Senate Leader, it was third time unlucky as a Parliamentary candidate.

"I was pleased with the amount of support people showed me during the campaign," Mr. Swan said.

"This is not our (the candidates') day, this is the voters' day. The people have spoken and you have to respect what they say."

Results

Dean Foggo (PLP) 445

Kim Swan (UBP) 423