Party primary in Paget East last night.

Sen. Gibbons, who must resign his Senate seat and Management and Technology Cabinet portfolio after today's Senate meeting, defeated challenger Dr. Edward Harris by 228 votes to 95. There was one spoiled ballot.

Sen. Gibbons had 70 percent of the votes cast, as 87 percent of the 372 UBP members eligible to vote cast ballots.

But it was the issue of ineligible voters that dominated the primary. Dr.

Harris complained that he was at a disadvantage because there were only four hours between the calling of the primary and the deadline for signing up supporters who would be eligible to cast ballots.

With Sen. Gibbons, 41, seen as the choice of the UBP leadership, some felt unhappiness over Independence and the short primary run-up would work against him.

But "the criticism that they thought was going to come out in a negative vote for Dr. Gibbons did not materialise'', UBP chairman Sen. Gary Pitman said after the voting. "The primary was really won at the doorsteps.'' Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul was among the UBP heavyweights who campaigned hard for Sen. Gibbons.

Voting ended at 7 p.m., and the final results were known less than 40 minutes later.

As he left St. Paul's Christian Education Centre where the primary was held, Sen. Gibbons said he was glad to put the fight behind him.

"There's a lot of work to get on with,'' he said. "I want to get back to the Bases and telecommunications,'' he said of his Cabinet responsibilities. And the UBP needed "to pull together now and fight this by-election''.

Both Sen. Gibbons and Sen. Pitman said the UBP Constitution would be examined to avoid a similar primary controversy in future.

The managing director of Gibbons Company Ltd., Sen. Gibbons managed the recent UBP general election campaign and was handed the critical task of taking over the Bases and Airport from the US Navy.

Dr. Harris, 47, stopped short of saying he would campaign for Sen. Gibbons, but the two candidates shook hands outside the hall and said they had no hard feelings.

"Even if the playing field was not exactly level, at least we made an attempt to make the democratic process work,'' Dr. Harris said.

The director of the Maritime Museum said he had no plans to run as an Independent.

Nomination Day is tomorrow for the July 14 by-election forced by the death of the Hon. John Stubbs on June 7. Nominations will be accepted from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Horticultural Hall in Botanical Gardens. Other candidates include Mr.

Rolfe Commissiong of the Progressive Labour Party, Mr. Geoffrey Parker of the National Liberal Party, and Independent Mr. Gershwyn Smith.

Mr. Commissiong, who mingled with UBP supporters outside St. Paul's last night, said it did not matter to him which candidate he faced. "I think both of them are yesterday's men, singing yesterday's songs,'' he said.

Paget East, where the other seat is held by Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan, is the UBP's greatest stronghold. In October, Sir John and Dr. Stubbs each took more than 800 votes, compared to just over 100 for their nearest opponent.

Sen. Gibbons said the primary result gave him "a very warm feeling''. He expected "a lot of work ahead'' for the by-election, but felt he had "good support behind me now''.

Although the Premier was widely seen as favouring Sen. Gibbons, he would not say so when contacted by The Royal Gazette last night.

"They were both UBP members being considered,'' he said. "I'm very happy for Grant Gibbons, because I've worked very closely with him.'' Dr. Harris called for the Premier's resignation during the primary, but later apologised.

Sir John would not say whether a new UBP Senator would be named in time to take a seat at the meeting next Wednesday, the last one expected before the summer recess.

CONVINCING WIN -- The Hon. Grant Gibbons is congratulated by his wife Kathy last night after beating challenger Dr. Edward Harris by 228 votes to 95 in a United Bermuda Party primary. Sen. Gibbons will represent the UBP in a July 14 by-election.