Progressive Labour Party candidate John Gibbons wants Bermuda to become one of the first oil independent countries in the world.

Mr. Gibbons has put the environment — as well as revitalising the East End — at the top of his agenda as he bids to oust United Bermuda Party leader Kim Swan from his St. George's West seat.

A surprise winner over the Premier's press secretary Jamahl Simmons at a PLP branch election last week, 36-year-old Mr. Gibbons has probably been best known for his days as a student activist in the 1990s.

After launching his political ambitions because his friends told him to "put up or shut up", he's now making the rare step of singling out green issues as his chief concern.

He believes that by using wind, solar and wave power Bermuda could become at least 60 percent energy independent by 2025 — noting Portugal expects to be producing 45 percent of its electricity by renewable sources by the end of this year.

"The people running for political office need to recognise immediately that we need a coherent energy policy," the Bermuda Air Conditioning salesman told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"I believe this Country needs a goal. My particular ambition is for this Country to adopt a goal to become oil independent."

He describes himself as an environmentalist, but says people are showing as much apathy toward the environment as to politics in general.

"I think the problem is it's not being explained to the people: a vision of what there needs to be," he said.

"Portugal is managing to achieve 45 percent using wind power, solar power and wave power: all three of which we have in abundance in this Country."

Like Mr. Swan and likely Bermuda Democratic Alliance candidate Dueane Dill, Mr. Gibbons is a St. George's resident.

He describes the failure to keep the Olde Towne's Police station fully operational as "absolutely unacceptable" and says fresh ideas — such as a large Gombey festival or building a conference centre — are desperately needed to make up for the damage caused by lost hotels and cruise ships in the East.

He also suggests marrying needs of the environment with those of St. George's by setting up windmills to power thousands of homes; while extending the municipality boundaries to include the dock area.

"We need to come up with ideas for revitalising St. George's," he said. "I believe in time St. George's will be very successful. I think once again it could become the cultural centre of Bermuda."

Sixteen years ago Mr. Gibbons was in the news when he was arrested for sedition and treason — an offence punishable by hanging — in connection with a flier calling on black students to boycott the Queen's visit.

At that time, Mr. Gibbons had made a number of public speeches, with feeling particularly high against the United Bermuda Party Government of the time.

The flier described the Queen as a "syphilitic whore" and "the living symbol of the brutal, racist imperialistic power struggle that enslaves our people".

"Needless to say I was never charged, nor has any proof ever been presented against me concerning that issue," he said yesterday.

"There was a flier that circulated but I can't take credit for it."

Asked why Police considered him a suspect, he replied: "That's a question for the authorities of that day. Life isn't always fair. Sometimes you have to move on. It doesn't mean you should hold grudges against people."

In local reports of his student activist days he went by the name "Jhon Gibbons", although Mr. Gibbons confirms his real name is the conventional spelling "John".

He said he recently got back involved in politics after watching many young people leave the Island because they didn't think it has a future.

"I'm not an exceptionally brilliant person, but I do believe in this Country," he said.

"I believe this Country is going to be so much than what it is, once you put together a goal, a ten or 15-year plan for rejuvenating Bermuda. I believe some of the people who left, we can bring them back, because this has got to be the most attractive place in the world to live."

The BDA's Mr. Dill also spoke yesterday of his likely candidacy in Constituency Two.

"Putting my name forward is a huge commitment," he said. "Very scary, but I also think it's necessary for people to get involved.

"It's easy to sit back in your armchair and talk about what's wrong and what I would do differently if I was there. I have got to step up and put my money where my mouth is."

Mr. Dill, an insurance manager, said he was disenchanted with both the PLP and the UBP, adding: "The BDA stands for a different way of doing things.

"The two existing parties are hell-bent on divisiveness. The BDA speaks more to inclusiveness and collaboration."