primary challenge against Paget West MP Mr. Harry Soares.

Mr. Smith, 30, said he believes it is important for the UBP to produce younger candidates. Bermuda is facing serious economic and social problems, he said "and we need new thinking to address them''. "We need different approaches.'' But Mr. Soares, 48, said he is no old man and will not step aside.

"I have worked very hard in the nine years I have represented Paget West and I hope my record stands for itself. Thank God we have an extremely democratic party and we can go to the public and say: `You make the choices'.'' Mr. Soares' running mate, House Speaker the Hon. David Wilkinson, has polled lower than Mr. Soares in the last two elections. But under UBP rules the Speaker cannot be challenged in a primary.

The primary must be held 45 to 90 days from now. But it could be averted if Mr. Wilkinson decided not to run for re-election. Mr. Wilkinson, first elected in 1968, could not be reached last night but has sometimes spoken of retiring.

Independent Southampton West MP Mr. Harry Viera has occasionally spoken of running in Paget West. Last night he said he had not decided where he will run -- or if will run at all.

Paget West includes Harbour Road west from Valley Road, Middle Road west from Ord Road, South Shore Road from the Modern Mart grocery and Hinson's Island.

It is solid UBP territory: The sole PLP candidate received 228 votes compared to more than 500 for each UBP candidate in 1989, and 124 votes compared to 600-plus for each UBP candidate in 1985.

Mr. Smith, a UBP deputy chairman, was a founding member and former president of the UBP youth wing and deputy chairman of the UBP-affiliated Leaders of Tomorrow. He is a former KBB vice president and a founding member of ORSHAD, the Ord Road/Spring Hill anti-drug group. He is the chief operating officer of the family business, AF Smith Trading Company.

Mr. Soares was first elected in 1983, replacing Dr. Vincent Bridgewater.

He is an accountant who has devoted most of his time to his Parliamentary career after selling his practice in 1985. He also owns the tourist submarine Enterprise .

He is a former Hospitals Board and Immigration Board chairman. He briefly served as Tourism Minister before the 1989 election, after which he was made Minister of Youth and Sport and, temporarily, Minister of Transport. He quit the Cabinet earlier this year saying his submarine required more attention.

But he said he has plenty of time to represent the people of Paget West. "Tim is a friend of mine and I have been encouraging him -- because we do need new blood,'' Mr. Soares said.

"The whole nature of life is for young people to be eager to take on the responsibilities.''