Youth centres and affordable housing for seniors will be at the top of the wish-list for voters in District 31 when they choose their House of Assembly representative in the July 24 election.

The battle for Southampton West Central, to be waged by Progressive Labour Party Senator Michael Scott and United Bermuda Party newcomer Jon Brunson, may turn out to be one of the most interesting contests of the poll, given the unknown factor created by recent electoral changes.

Stretching from the tranquil shores of Rockaway in the northwest to the windswept vantage points of the South Shore in the southeast, it is a predominantly middle class, residential district, with a racially mixed population of 1,063, including a large proportion of expatriates who work at hotels in the area.

From a parochial point of view, the provision of adequate sidewalks, especially around Port Royal Middle School, and lighting around Southampton Post Office, were considered significant by residents.

Meanwhile, at the national level, housing for seniors and youth issues were concerns that voters relayed to candidates.

Susan Simons, a retiree from the Granaway Heights Road who is far from enamoured with the current government, said: “I want to see a change. There generally seems to be a lack of transparency, with them not wanting to inform the public about a lot of issues.”

However, some residentsfelt hat problems would remain unsolved regardless of which party wins power.

One woman, a 42-year-old nurse who voted for the PLP in 1998, said she had become disillusioned with politics in general and would focus on personalities rather than parties in deciding who to vote for.

“I've become rather cynical. I don't know if a change in government will bring about any real change. Its not a coincidence that the UBP is suddenly concerned with housing now. As I see it, two things can happen, the Government can be voted out and they will be a strong opposition or they could be voted in by the skin of their teeth and that will, hopefully, be a lesson to them.”

She added: “As a nurse, I know housing is something that affects many. I deal with a lot of people who have issues because they simply can't afford to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for a piece of land.”

The woman, who has a teenage son, said: “There is certainly not enough for young people to do and crime is related to this aspect. I think that they should have come up with something more useful to the community up at Daniel's Head, or they should keep the shops open later in town. A youth centre in this area would be good idea.”

A 50-year-old construction manager from the Granaway Heights Road area, said: “Crime is always an issue. We get it periodically. It's on the way up and it seems as if there is no police presence period. What is the reason for it having taken so long to do something about it. Nobody is taking the bull by the horns.”

He agreed the area needed a proper youth centre because young people “tend to hang about the streets”.