Premier Ewart Brown refused to rule out a pre-Christmas election yesterday as he unveiled the last of the 36 Progressive Labour Party candidates to stand at the next election.

The Premier said his team was a winning one and added: "It is clear to us an election is not too far away."

Asked if the election would be held before the end of this year he said: "I don't know. We are working on it."

The Premier will be the keynote speaker at the start of the PLP's annual delegate's conference tomorrow night which some believe could kick off the election campaign.

Dr. Brown said the election would not be won on the steps of Parliament but on the door steps in constituencies.

"This is a government that listens, consults and is not afraid to take bold steps."

Yesterday's event confirmed that all of the incumbents apart from retiring MPs Renee Webb, Jamahl Simmons and Ottiwell Simmons are standing again.

The Opposition have officially unveiled all but two of their candidates. It's thought that former Smith's MP Allan Marshall will take on Deputy Premier Paula Cox in Devonshire West and former cricketer Noel Gibbons will stand against Labour and Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess in Hamilton East.

Yesterday's PLP event also saw former Premiers Jennifer Smith and Alex Scott make speeches.

Dame Jennifer predicted the forthcoming weeks would see electors subjected to a new level of election hysteria.

"I ask that you don't be swayed by the hysteria, don't let the hysteria blind you to the fact.

"First, they said that the PLP could not win — and we won. Then they said that we couldn't govern — and the economy is doing better than ever. Now they're saying that we can't create a society where neither your colour, nor your name, nor your work circumstances matters.

"They say we can't create a country that works for all its people, where all have an equal opportunity to succeed, but we know. In the next general election don't be a 'nay sayer', be part of the solution, vote, and vote solidly PLP."

And Mr. Scott said the PLP team was far more experienced than their UBP counterparts and he seemed to suggest the US Government might be willing to help with the clean up of Morgan's Point which could be the new venue for the Southland's project.

He said: "We are now in a different place from many years ago when the UBP were in power. We now have someone called Gregory Slayton and I think it would be interesting to open up a conversation with him about the possibility of the US rethinking their assistance or participation in a cleanup here.

"The answer may be no, it may be yes, but we have now found ourselves a new person with all this experience to work with." Mr. Slayton could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Deputy Premier Paula Cox said the next election would be about substance not style as she predicted a third PLP win.

"We have the people, we have the policies — we have the commitment to reforming the education system and affordable housing initiatives and the issue of dealing with how we better empower our people."

One PLP candidate last night urged the Premier to get an election writ issued after the resumption of Parliament on November 2. He said: "I think it is a real possibility because of the mood of the country and the track record of the PLP."

But former MP Reggie Burrows said he believed an election would more likely be next year.

"They are only just unveiling their candidates and it is almost November."

The sitting MPs who will stand again include Jennifer Smith, Dean Foggo, Derrick Burgess, Patrice Minors, Glenn Blakeney, Paula Cox, Nelson Bascome, Wayne Perinchief, Neletha Butterfield, Ashfield DeVent, Alex Scott, Dale Butler, Ewart Brown, Stanley Lowe, Randy Horton, Terry Lister, Walter Lister, Dennis Lister and Michael Scott.