The UBP is set to lose three of its senior MPs who plan to retire from politics before the next election.

The Royal Gazette understands that Erwin Adderley, Kim Young and former Premier Pamela Gordon all aim to stand down before the election, which must be called by mid November next year and held at the very latest in February 2004.

The news comes as the UBP revealed it had a total of 43 approved candidates to contest the election. And just one of them, St. George's Alderman Kenneth Bascome, has been a stalwart supporter of the Progressive Labour Party in recent years.

Contacted yesterday Mr. Bascome said he was not quite ready to make any public comments.

Seventeen of the approved candidates are already in Parliament or the Senate.

The loss of the three senior UBP MPs leaves 40 approved candidates vying for a place in what is likely to be an election contested under a revamped 36 single seat constituency system.

About ten of them will be first time entrants into the political fray. The party paraded its `New UBP' team, which Leader Grant Gibbons described as a "political melting pot", at St. Paul's Centennial Hall on Wednesday.

Dr. Gibbons told The Royal Gazette that the party is yet to decide what constituencies the candidates will contest.

A handful of the political hopefuls interviewed at the rally all said they were ready to serve in any constituency decided by the party machinery.

"I really think Bermuda needs a change and I think the UBP has the answers, they have the vision," said Al Wharton, when asked why he had agreed to be a UBP candidate. The electrical engineer who has never been involved in politics before added that his personal concerns were the elderly, youth, housing, education and health.

Gwyneth Rawlins, another first-timer, who has served as the party's Secretary for just over a year, is keen on women's issues. Ms Rawlins was approved as a candidate about two months ago, she said.

"I think we need to have a better Bermuda for the people," she said. But she declined to answer when asked what exactly was wrong with Bermuda now.

"Basically, I think there's a lot the party has to offer. In the last four years we have done a lot of listening to the people which is one of the things we were accused of not doing." She added that she only became a supporter of the party shortly after the 1998 election. "I like what the UBP stands for. I like its philosophy." Other first timers include accountant Scott Hunter, former bodybuilder champion Jon Brunson, courier company chief Glen Smith, ZBM weather forecast announcer Susan Holshouser and Rocky Fox, a hospitality professional.

"People shouldn't seek political office," said Mark Pettingill, a former UBP Senator. "It should seek you and if it does seek you and you've got something to contribute, then you should be prepared to step forward and contribute. I was asked by a particular section of the population and I can't turn away from that."

Mr. Pettingill first entered politics as an Opposition Senator after the 1998 election, but resigned the seat in February this year.

Surveyor Ted Gauntlett, who contested the Sandys South seat in the last two elections, has been involved with the party for some 20 years. "It's exciting times we live in and we are obviously terribly keen to take on this responsible role, he said.

Walter Cross, who has contested the Devonshire North seat against Dame Lois Browne Evans and the late PLP Leader Frederick Wade, said that he was not "really in the line up" but would step in in case somebody dropped out.