The One Bermuda Alliance unveiled two political newcomers yesterday to fight for seats won by the Progressive Labour Party at the last General Election.

Nicky Gurret will run in Sandys South Central and Thomas Harvey will fight St George’s West.

Ms Gurret, an architect, artist and writer, made her married home in Sandys South Central and lived in the area for several years.

The mother of two said she wanted to represent Bermuda’s families and to make the arts “a fourth sector for Bermuda”.

Ms Gurret said: “I am a person with ideas and have extensive experience executing and bringing them to fruition. I believe I can bring people together in a creative and energising environment.

“I am passionate about the arts and see it as a way to relieve the stresses of life and bring people together, and create a beautiful environment.”

Ms Gurret taught sailing at the White’s Island government programme and was the Government’s head building control official.

She has founded and organised several cultural events and been a director of the Bermuda International Film Festival.

Ms Gurret said concerns in the area included unemployment, potholes and the lack of strong police presence.

She added she wanted to see more clubs for children.

Kim Wilson, of the PLP, won Sandys South Central at the 2017 election when she defeated Ed Bailey, of the OBA, by 730 votes to 170.

She defeated Mr Bailey by 563 votes to 257 in the 2012 election.

Mr Harvey, a father of two, said that he was not afraid to speak out about important constituency concerns.

He added: “I am new at this game. I am running to make a difference because I feel that it has been unrepresented by the PLP.

“When I put my heart into something I look to achieve and get it done.”

Mr Harvey’s parents are founder members of the East End Mini Yacht Club in St George’s and he is well known in the sailing world.

He was chairman of the St George’s Parish Council for four years and was involved in events such as seniors’ teas, giving backpacks to schoolchildren, connecting fathers and father figures with children and helping the St George’s Cricket Club.

Mr Harvey said the constituency had a range of problems.

He added: “I have heard about simple things the government could get done — road maintenance, railway clean-ups ... and keeping amenities up and running.”

Craig Cannonier, the leader of the OBA, announced the pair at the party’s headquarters in Hamilton.

Mr Cannonier said: “Nicky Gurret is a person who is passionate about so many things and who is involved in so many projects that benefit Bermuda and Bermudians.”

He added: “There can be no one in St George’s’s who does not know Thomas Harvey. He is a true son of the St George’s soil.”

Mr Cannonier said that the political arena needed new blood and people with experience outside of the House of Assembly could make a valuable contribution.

Mr Cannonier added: “The assumption is that people have to be formerly involved with Senate and the likes — I don’t think that is what Bermuda is looking for.

“Bermuda is looking for people who are involved in the community to step forward and take it to another level. They understand many of the challenges and needs.

“What I hear continually is, ‘where are the new people getting involved in politics?’ We can continue to train up people into politics, but what we can’t train is people who are already out there giving to Bermuda, spending their time by giving back to Bermuda who now want to take it forward on a more formal basis.”

Mr Cannonier declined to comment on whether the new Free Democratic Movement, led for Marc Bean, a former PLP leader, would assist the OBA by taking votes away from the PLP.

He said: “I am not here to speculate.”