It is a key piece of the General Election puzzle which has seen its share of dramatic outcomes in the past.

And the battle for the 1,550 votes in Hamilton West promises to keep the political parties anxiously awaiting the result again this year.

On the United Bermuda Party side stand the constituency's two incumbents, the Cabinet team of Health and Family Services Minister Wayne Furbert and Labour and Home Affairs Minister Maxwell Burgess.

Across the political divide are former Magistrate Arthur Hodgson, an MP for the area between 1980 and 1983, and political newcomer Randy Horton, once a top civil servant in the Tourism Department.

They will be looking to repeat the party's success in the area back in 1989 when the PLP's Eugene Blakeney and Julian Hall kicked Mr. Burgess and Dr.

George Thomas out of the seats.

The present MPs won the seats back in 1993 and the PLP loss was attributed to a lack of canvassing in the area.

It is not surprising then that neither side seems willing to let that affect the voters' decisions this year.

"By the end of the day this constituency will have had so much canvassing, it will come down to the people recognising they know two candidates who really care about them and a group of individuals who they don't know what is their real reason for trying to get in,'' said Mr. Furbert.

"We did not just begin canvassing,'' he continued. "We have been working on the needs of our constituents for the last five years. Hamilton Parish West constituents demand their representatives take care of their needs at all times.

"Hamilton West is probably the only constituency that has changed hands so often. That is why Maxwell and I have been working so hard over the past five years.

"It is not easy sometimes to meet their demands and fulfil your Cabinet duties but we have been out there canvassing and the response has been extremely encouraging.'' Concerns that had been identified included affordable housing, the family unit, drugs, crime and the behaviour of children.

"Of course there is also the uncertainty about international business,'' added Mr. Furbert.

"That has been a question on their minds. What is happening with the OECD? They are asking more and more questions about that.

"One benefit is that Maxwell and I have been carrying the portfolios which cover these concerns so we have been able to answer their questions about what we are working on directly.'' On the parochial front, noted Mr. Burgess, issues of road paving and street lighting had been raised along with the need to make the Railway Trail more user friendly.

One idea the UBP would implement, he continued, was a boardwalk to connect parts of the trail between the Aquarium and the Crystal Caves which had been broken up or originally separated by bridges.

This would assist residents and visitors alike who presently had to walk on the main roads -- taking their lives in their own hands, he noted.

Mr. Furbert said he felt the voters were pleased with the UBP's efforts in the area.

"They are satisfied that they have two individuals whose actions speak for themselves. We have recognised the concerns and needs of our constituents and worked hard to meet them. We are a caring team.'' But Mr. Horton disagreed: "Our canvassing indicates that the majority of the constituents are not happy with the Government, which means they are also not happy with the effect that the incumbents in the parish have had dealing with their issues.'' He said the PLP team began canvassing last November and recognised voters in the area considered their options carefully.

"Most people look not just at political parties but the character and qualifications of the candidates,'' said Mr. Hodgson.

Mr. Horton said he felt that would work in the PLP's favour.

"I think people approve of the fact that Arthur and I have always worked very hard for people. We have always given in the interest of the people.'' Both Mr. Horton and Mr. Hodgson agreed that education and the lack of positive male role models for young men were key issues for the parish.

Voters were unhappy that students were coming out of school unable to read.

Meanwhile a lack of male teachers in Government schools coupled with single parent families missing a father figure were leaving young men stranded.

"What we see in the Progressive Labour Party is a need to improve the positive male contact these young people have.'' This would stop them feeling low self-worth and experiencing behavioural problems and drug abuse.

"Taking drugs at the beginning is not so much a cause as it is an effect,'' said Mr. Hodgson. "People start dealing in drugs when they have other problems. Children find themselves adrift without any opportunities, without any paths to go down.'' He added Hamilton Parish had the facilities in the forms of schools, churches and community organisations which could provide positive activities.

"We see the importance of bringing these associations and organisations closer together to mutually support each other for the betterment of the community,'' said Mr. Horton.

Tomorrow: Education