to be decided, The Royal Gazette today looks at Pembroke West Central.

Belco is the centrepiece in Pembroke West Central, where the election campaign is sure to be electrifying.

The constituency's voters made history in 1989 when they ousted Finance Minister Dr. Clarence James and were the first in 26 years to elect an Independent MP.

In the coming vote, several factors combine to make the constituency what one election strategist called "the most interesting in the country''.

The two sitting MPs, Environment Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto and Independent MP and environmentalist Mr. Stuart Hayward must be considered the early favourites.

But other contenders claim the race is wide open. Some say Mr. Hayward's election was a pure protest vote against Dr. James. And they question how the MP will fare with a campaign bankroll he admits will be one-tenth the size.

Mr. Terry Lister, the Progressive Labour Party's campaign co-chairman, said many ballots in 1989 were marked with both Mr. Hayward's name and that of the sole PLP candidate, Ms Cheryl Pooley-Bibby.

This time, the PLP is fielding lawyer Mr. Philip Perinchief and computer education consultant Ms Neletha Butterfield, and "Mr. Hayward cannot rely on a split vote'', he said.

And Government Sen. Jerome Dill, a lawyer who at age 33 is making his first bid for elected office, believes Mr. Hayward's image has paled in the past four years.

The National Liberal Party is keeping its cards close to its chest on whether it will run a candidate in the consituency. It has given no indication on where Ms Pooley Bibby, who joined the NLP last year will be running.

Mr. Hayward called on MPs to do their homework but was often caught in mistakes when shooting from the lip, Sen. Dill said. And with no party to support him in the House of Assembly, he can accomplish nothing, he said.

"At the end of the day, you're either going to have a UBP Government or a PLP Government, but it's not going to be a Stuart Hayward Government,'' he said.

Mr. Hayward says Bermudians "have had their fill of the endless bickering between the parties and are ready for MPs who think and vote with their consciences.'' While he concedes bringing about legislation is "impossible'' as an Independent, he feels he has been effective in influencing laws.

Some members on both sides of the House of Assembly, notably Works Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira, treat Mr. Hayward with what amounts to open contempt.

"In a way, it's not a good feeling, but in another way I don't think I would be the recipient of that kind of attention if I wasn't perceived as a real threat,'' he said.

While it is a localised issue, soot from the Bermuda Electric Light Co. Ltd.

is an ongoing concern. Here, Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto says tough new regulations to accompany Bermuda's New Clean Air Act, "which will come in before the end of summer, will be of some assistance to myself and my running mate''.

"I am hoping the UBP will win both seats,'' she added.

Sen. Dill is running after defeating Mr. Elroy Ratteray in a less than pretty primary fight. Mr. Ratteray is now canvassing at his side.

While citing the Belco problem, the PLP candidates are highlighting other areas.

Mr. Perinchief said he is hearing loud and persistent concerns from the Portuguese population in the constituency over their treatment by Government on the status issue.

As well as the Island-wide issues, Ms Butterfield cites lighting and traffic problems, particularly in the West Park Lane area.

The brutal Christmas Day beating of a woman at Between the Walls in the heart of the constituency has made the crime and drugs issues particularly relevant to all the candidates.

Pembroke W. Central Registered voters (June, 1992) 1,756 1989 results Stuart Hayward, Ind. 676 Ann C.-DeCouto, UBP 630 Clarence James, UBP 479 C. Pooley Bibby, PLP 453 1985 results Clarence James, UBP 682 Ann C.-DeCouto, UBP 677 Cheryl Pooley. PLP 366.