The man who lost out in a bid to contest the Pembroke West primary was last night expected to back his then-rival Gary Pitman at a constituency meeting.

Wayne Soares -- time-barred from the primary contest scheduled for Friday -- will speak at meeting of the branch called to allow sole by-election nominee Mr. Pitman to fire the first shots in his campaign.

Mr. Soares said: "I support the United Bermuda Party, its aims and the aims and aspirations of the Premier.

"And I wouldn't expect anyone to vote for anybody other than the United Bermuda Party.'' Mr. Pitman was expected to outline his opposition to Independence and to foreign fast food franchises.

He was also thought to be planning to push a hard line on drugs and crime.

And -- on a local level -- he was expected to announce the results of a meeting with Acting Commissioner Jean Jacques Lemay on problems with drugs trading around the Admiralty Park and Spanish Point areas.

Branch chairman John Amott confirmed he had asked Mr. Soares to speak at the meeting.

He said Mr. Soares had won respect for the way he took his bar from the primary.

Mr. Amott added: "He said `rules are rules and I have to work by those'.'' Mr. Soares said any suggestions of boycotts by people who supported his bid were out of order.

He added: "If that was done, it would be without my knowledge or approval.'' Mr. Soares admitted some party members could be annoyed -- but said he expected only individual protests rather than an organised boycott.

The news came amid hints that Premier Pamela Gordon is set to announce a date for both by-elections today.

Ms Gordon is expected to name the day, or possibly days, for the Pembroke West and Hamilton East by-elections after the regular meeting of the Cabinet.

The Premier has also yet to name a replacement for retired Pembroke West MP and ex-Health and Social Services Minister Clarence Terceira.

It is understood the job was offered to Dr. Terceira's predecessor Harry Soares -- but it is believed he turned it down.

Now the Premier may be pinning her hopes on politically-experienced former Senate leader and ex-party chairman Mr. Pitman as a suitable replacement for Dr. Terceira.

And that would mean waiting until after a by-election, likely to be held in mid-February, before announcing a replacement.

Mr. Pitman will go into the Pembroke West fight for the United Bermuda Party as the overwhelming favourite.

But Paget East MP Kim Young -- elected in May last year and a former nurse with a background in health and social issues -- could also be considered.

The Premier will be off the Island for some time in the near future due to overseas commitments and is expected to act this week.

She is due to host a meeting of heads of the Caribbean Dependent Territories prior to a major conference at the start of next month.

And Ms Gordon is set to fly out at the weekend for a major annual economic forum in Davos, Switzerland before jetting to England for the Dependent Territories Association conference.