Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith was yesterday named the Opposition's candidate in St. George's South (constituency number four) for the coming election.

The development brings some closure to speculation about the fate of the United Bermuda Party's (UBP) incumbent candidates in Paget, which now has room for only two MPs instead of four.

And it effectively rounds up the UBP's line-up in the eastern parishes of the Island.

Mr. Smith and Patricia Gordon-Pamplin currently represent Paget West under the dual seat system, while party leader Grant Gibbons and Kim Young are MPs for Paget East.

As with all other constituencies, the reconfigured Paget East and Paget West which takes up much of the parish will each return just one MP.

With Kim Young set to quit politics for good before the next election, the UBP's line-up for Paget is almost certain to be Dr. Gibbons and Ms Gordon-Pamplin.

He acknowledged that the move was important for both districts, as well as his political career.

"I'm not prepared to give up and walk away from politics," he said.

St. George's South stretches from St. David's through the east side of Hamilton parish into Tucker's Town.

Mr. Smith, who has no connection to the east end, said that he had been canvassing the area in recent weeks and found that the constituency reflected Bermuda's diversity. Residents' concerns were the same as across the Island - "education, integrity and good government".

A UBP Government would empower principals, teachers and work on removing bureaucracy from the education system, he reminded the media.

The UBP also confirmed party chairman Wayne Furbert as its candidate for Hamilton West, or constituency number six.

"People are concerned about integrity of the government and arrogance," he said. "They are concerned about the alleged corruption that may be happening throughout the country. So we are more concerned about good government... We hope to bring stability and good government back to this country."

Mr. Furbert would not say when he planned to step down from the chairmanship. "I'm quite enjoying it as a matter of fact."

Restaurateur Kenneth Bascome and Senator Kim Swan were announced in April as the party's candidates for St. George's North (constituency number one) and St. George's West (constituency number two).

And entrepreneur Keetha Lowe will be running in Hamilton East (constituency number five).

UBP candidates for the new constituency of St. David's (constituency number three) have yet to be formally decided, but observers say that Suzanne Holshouser, best known as ZBM's weatherperson, has been tipped to be the candidate over Rocky Fox.

Both were announced as the candidates for the old St. George's South last year - before electoral reform came into effect.