today, in the wake of mourning and the funeral for their leader L. Frederick Wade. There is every indication that the new leader will be Jennifer Smith, the St. George's North MP who, as deputy leader, has filled in for Mr. Wade.

Miss Smith's performance as Shadow Minister for Education has brought her widespread respect, especially in light of the enormous controversy over education generated by successive UBP Ministers of Education. No matter what their political persuasion, many people see Jennifer Smith as the voice of reason on the difficult subject of education.

This is a formidable lady and the men in the PLP should not mistake that.

Jennifer Smith proved her determination when she fought the constituency of St. George's North over and over again until she finally won a seat and she has now turned the once safe UBP seat into her own. At the last General Election she was so strong that she even managed to take her running mate along with her to victory.

There is no political minus involved in Jennifer Smith being a woman. A woman leader would not be new to the Progressive Labour Party which was led with distinction and a good deal of energy for so many years by the Grand Dame of Bermudian politics, Lois Browne Evans, who has been Ms Smith's mentor.

Ms Smith is seen as a moderate in her party as was Mr. Wade. Yet there are people who know that Jennifer Smith can be a firebrand if she wishes to be.

Her popularity and her moderation both frighten the leadership of the UBP. If she is chosen as leader of her party, any problems will probably start in November when the PLP regularly elects its leader. There are any number of ambitious men who want the job and may be prepared to go to disruptive lengths to get the power. The very difficult question is whether or not they would be prepared to disrupt the party when it gives every appearance of being so very close to power. The PLP has split before but we think it is more seasoned today and unlikely to split again given its chances of success. Indeed, Mr.

Wade was able to keep the noisy members of his shadow cabinet in line because they could taste success.

As for other successors to Mr. Wade, the most universally acceptable leader for the PLP could well be Sen. Terry Lister and while he has no House of Assembly seat right now, he could be given Mr. Wade's safe Devonshire North seat. However, the hard labour core of the PLP might find Mr. Lister too centrist. On the other hand, Alex Scott or Ewart Brown would frighten the middle class whom the PLP need for success.

Some of the others who get mentioned for leadership, like Walter Roberts and Eugene Cox, would probably be seen as yesterday's men although they could be compromise candidates if the party split between the centre and the noisy left.

The PLP is closer to power now than it has ever been, especially given the continuing split in the United Bermuda Party and its apparent inability to get itself back together. But all of that could change overnight if the PLP, as it has so often in the past, lurches to the left or if it chooses a leader who lacks appeal to the middle class black voter.