popular support, he said yesterday.

And he said he was proud to be seen as a parochial candidate -- but not without national concerns as well.

Mr. Bascome -- unfazed at the possibility of a backlash from former party colleagues -- insisted: "I don't believe I walked away from the Progressive Labour Party. They walked away from me.'' He also denied that if St. George's North electors plumped for him next Monday, they would, as claimed by PLP leader Jennifer Smith's new running mate Deleay Robinson, be voting for the UBP.

He said: "All I can say to that is if that's a fact, then the PLP haven't sold their programme to the public.'' And he said of Mr. Robinson: "If he was so concerned about being the representative for St. George's North, he wouldn't have needed me, as a scrutineer, to get him registered to vote.'' Mr. Bascome broke away from the PLP after after he failed to be selected as Ms Smith's running mate.

And he could upset the applecart in the constituency as the UBP appear to be running a stronger campaign and Mr. Robinson, a first-time candidate, might not have the support normally accorded to a sitting MP.

Mr. Bascome said: "I've been approached by mumerous people and asked to run as an Independent.

"As a St. Georgian, I have my community at heart, contrary to what many people may believe about me having my own personal agenda.'' And he added: "I believe I have just as much chance as any of the other candidates of being elected.'' But he admitted: "The question is whether it will be the national vote or the parochial vote which will elect me or reject me.'' He added: "I'm certainly not running out of any vendetta or vindictiveness whatsoever.'' Mr. Bascome listed top among his priorities education -- especially "an alternative learning environment'' for youngsters who find difficulty in the usual classroom environment.

He said: "If a young person is disheartened then they take on the mode of destructive behaviour, rather than productive behaviour.'' And the 50-year-old Independent -- who freely admits he did time in jail as a young man -- backed rehabilitation of offenders.

He added: "I feel the criminal justice system needs to be reviewed and possibly revamped because a number of our laws are antiquated hangovers from slavery.'' And Mr. Bascome does put his money and his time where his mouth is -- he has coached soccer, supported teams, worked with prisoners and sits on the eastern community committee advising the Police on local concerns.

Mr. Bascome also called for more repayment to victims to be enforced through the courts, pointing out that if a TV was stolen, the offender could be punished -- but the victim was still without a TV.

He added the prison system also needed a long, hard look because "a lot of the philosophies which were supposed to have changed with the opening of Westgate are still in place.'' The successful businessman added: "I'm living proof of what can be achieved when you take the negative thoughts and put them into a positive mode.'' And he said: "Another of my pet peeves is tourism -- I still believe that Bermuda is a premier destination.

"But as a community we have lost the passion for tourism and we don't aggressively promote Bermuda in the marketplace.'' Kenny Bascome