"a referendum on our destiny.'' The Hon. Sir John Swan visited Governor Lord Waddington at 9 a.m., then called the news media to the Cabinet Building to announce an October 5 general election.

Faced with likely closure of the US Naval Air Station and other "formidable challenges,'' the Island was at a crossroads, Sir John said.

"I believe this election is the most important election in the history of Bermuda,'' he said.

Holding up a "blueprint'' of election promises that the United Bermuda Party unveiled on Wednesday, Sir John said: "We must build Bermuda -- a new Bermuda.'' It should have "a sound foundation that is built on the things that have happened in the past, but more importantly, a foundation that is kept stable as we look to the future.'' He promised to tackle drugs -- "a scourge on the face of this country'' -- while improving opportunities for the Island's youth.

Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade said: "Bermudians have had enough of the present leadership.'' The American Base issue would be resolved after the election by whichever party won, he said. Although he was leaving for Washington last night to talk to members of the US Congressional Black Caucus about the Base, the PLP planned to set the issue aside, he said.

"We intend to bring the election back to ground zero Bermuda,'' Mr. Wade said. "That is the bread and butter issues,'' rather than the "scare tactics'' and "manufactured issues'' of the bases that the Premier was employing. Bermudians were interested in the issues like jobs and education, he said. The party's detailed platform would be printed soon.

National Liberal Party Leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell, who holds his party's lone seat in the House of Assembly, said education, the economy, and the environment would be the focus of his campaign.

Sir John has been Premier since 1982, and the UBP has never been out of power since 1968, when the first election on party grounds was fought. At dissolution yesterday, there were 22 UBP, 15 PLP, two Independent, and one National Liberal Party MPs.

Nomination day is Monday. The UBP has fielded a full slate of 40 candidates, the Opposition Progressive Labour Party 34, and the National Liberal Party eight. At least three Independents, including Mr. Stuart Hayward MP, are expected to enter the fray.

Change has been a major issue in the run-up to the election call. The PLP is calling on voters to "X-Change'' the Government MPs, while the UBP says it is the party best able to manage change.

The 19-day campaign ties the record for the shortest since 1968. The other 19-day campaign was in 1976, when Premier the Hon. Sir John Sharpe dissolved Parliament on April 29 and sent Bermudians to the polls on May 18.

The Premier called this vote shortly after returning from Washington and reporting a partial success in fighting the Base closure.

In opting for a Tuesday election rather than the Thursday, October 7 vote that many pundits expected, Sir John said: "I think it's important that we get on with the things that we need to do.'' And "let's not kid ourselves,'' Sir John said. "The public has been calling for this election.'' Lowering of the voting age to 18 from 21 since the last election is the major reason for a much-larger electorate. There are 34,506 voters registered, compared to 31,159 in 1989.

While promising improved recreational, educational, and other opportunities for youth, the Premier answered criticism that the vote will be held when many newly-enfranchised Bermudians were abroad attending school.

Getting the Base issue resolved to a point where he "could park it for a while'' was one reason for the timing, he said.

While "the bulk of our 18-year-olds are still here -- I extend an apology to our young people who might not have a chance to vote because they might be away.'' Writs are issued by the Governor and sent to returning officers in each of the 20 electoral districts, instructing them to hold an election.

DROPPING THE WRIT -- Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan yesterday called a general election for October 5. He said world changes made the vote the most important in Bermuda's history. "The fate of our country now lies in the hands of our people,'' he told reporters.

OCTOBER 1993 ELECTION