The United Bermuda Party walkabout planned for St. George's will take place on Saturday, June 12, not today as reported in yesterday's newspaper. The walk starts at 9.30 a.m. at the Gunpowder Tavern.

The Premier and other top UBP figures are asking East Enders to join them on a "fitness and heritage'' walk near St. George's tomorrow morning.

But the party denies its politicians will be stepping out on the election trail.

An advertisement for the event encourages walkers to "join with leading members of our community'', and includes cartoons of the Hon. Sir John Swan, the Hon. Quinton Edness, the Hon. Gerald Simons and the Hon. Leonard Gibbons.

There is no mention of the UBP in the ad, but executive officer Mr. Joe Gibbons acknowledged the event had been organised by a party committee.

"It doesn't really have a name,'' he said. "It's just like an ad hoc events committee.'' He declined to put The Royal Gazette in contact with the organisers. "I don't think they want to be dealing with the media on this,'' he said.

Members of the general public had been contacted about the walk, as well as party members, although he could not name any non-UBP participants.

"They might be all UBP people, there might be some NLP people there or community people,'' he said. "Everybody is invited to participate.'' The event is being held in a seat that political pundits see as vital to a general election result. But Mr. Gibbons denied it was electioneering.

"It's not a party function. I think it's a community effort to get people out and about. No-one's going to be asked for their vote.

"The Premier walks as often as he can, and fitness is on a lot of people's agenda. A lot of our heritage is down there. It was just thought to be fun.'' Similar walks may be held soon, Mr. Gibbons said, with the next one possibly in the Ocean View/Vesey Street area.

Sen. Alex Scott, Opposition leader in the Senate, said the walk was an electioneering event.

"It's what we call having a presence in community,'' he said. "It sounds as if they're targeting the East End and having a party presence there is probably what they're trying to do.'' But the walk was a positive thing, he added. "Any project that encourages physical fitness and enjoying the amenities of Bermuda is a good idea.

"The only objection I make is that based on their track record it's most probable that they won't finish.''