Opposition Leader Dr. Grant Gibbons last night said his party was delighted to have made ground in the Pembroke East Central by-election - and was ready to fight again at the General Election.

Despite the United Bermuda Party's Rev. Leonard Santucci losing Tuesday night's constituency vote to the Progressive Labour Party's Ashfield DeVent, Dr. Gibbons said the gap in the number of votes had been closed over previous years.

He said there had been a six percent swing towards the UBP, and said he believed many people had stayed at home on Tuesday and refused to vote because they were disenchanted with Government.

Out of a possible 1,774 eligible voters, only 795 votes were cast - a 44.8 percent turnout.

VSB journalist Mr. DeVent won 453 of the votes (56.9 percent), Rev. Santucci won 287 (36.1 percent) and Independent Denis Bean polled only 43 votes (5.4 percent).

“The Pembroke East Central constituency, we have always viewed as a Progressive Labour Party stronghold... and after we had a chance to reflect on it, we are quite glad with the gains that we have made,” said Dr. Gibbons.

“In the last election, Stanley Morton and David Allen (both PLP MPs) were getting about 900 votes and we were getting about 400, so for every 100 votes the PLP were getting, we were getting between 40 and 45.

“On Tuesday, Rev. Santucci was getting 63 votes for every 100 votes Ashfield DeVent made. We see that as a good shift, given that it has consistently been a PLP stronghold.

“What matters for us is that it's a step in the right direction.”

Dr. Gibbons said his party was viewing the shift as a good indication that people in Pembroke East Central were becoming tired of the Smith Government.

“The general sense here is that we are coming back from a ten percent in the election last time, and we are moving in the right direction. We are getting good candidates. I think Rev. Santucci was a very good candidate and the best of the three.”

But Dr. Gibbons said it was obvious to his party that the poor turnout on Tuesday night meant a disappointment in the PLP Government's performance.

He said: “44 percent was the lowest turnout I have ever known in a by-election. It's fair to say that the turnouts in by-elections are lower than in general elections, but when you consider that less than 50 percent of the electorate turned out in what has traditionally been a very strong seat for the PLP has got to tell you that, by and large, voters who would normally vote for the PLP are unhappy and did not feel enthusiastic enough to come out and support the Government.”

However, a jubilant Mr. DeVent on Tuesday said while he was disappointed by the poor turnout, he believed it was more down to complacency of voters, than anything else.

He said people now believed the fight to see the PLP in Government had been won and they no longer needed to keep the pressure on. He said: “People just seemed to be busy and tend not to take by-elections as seriously as they should.

“I also think it's an indication in some ways of how politically immature the country is after 30 years, and I think people are still riding the crest of the last general election, not realising that we have to continue to strive and people have to continue to get out there and express their vote, so once we win it, we can keep it.”

But Dr. Gibbons disagreed with that sentiment.

He said: “That's certainly not the message that we were getting on the doorsteps. People are disappointed.

“We got a sense of cynicism and a sense that Government is not doing what it promised or should be doing.”

As for Rev. Santucci, the UBP has already began the process of having him re-appointed to the Senate, by making the recommendation to the Governor. However, he is certainly still an election hopeful for the UBP in future.

Dr. Gibbons said: “I hope he will stand again. Over the next few days we will be evaluating the results and some of the thoughts from different members of the team with regard to Pembroke East Central and we will come to some conclusions about whether he runs there or somewhere else.”