More than 100 people questioned Sir John Swan yesterday about the cost of living, politics and the need for independent candidates at a town hall meeting.

Sir John, a former premier, said that if he is elected, one of his first tasks would be to find other independent candidates to step forward in the next General Election.

“I am asking the people of Constituency 10 to support me on the basis that this is just a first step,” he said.

A brochure handed out at the event at the Ocean View Golf Course highlighted Sir John’s top four goals which, in addition to bringing a renewed focus on independent candidates over political parties, included reducing the cost of living, rebuilding the economy and preparing the island for developments in artificial intelligence.

Some of those in attendance said they came to hear Sir John’s thoughts on the issues of the day such as the cost of living, the wage gap and youth unemployment.

Others, however, said they were hungry for a change from party politics as usual and the division associated with it.

One attendee said that Members of Parliament are expected to toe the party line, which meant the will of the electorate is not always felt.

Another said: “Everyone is of the same feeling that we are looking for change. Bringing power back to the people, bringing the community closer together and transparency, which we don’t seem to be having.”

A third attendee said simply that both of the island’s political parties were “trash” and independent representation was needed.

However, the attendees also questioned how a government of independents could run a country, and what difference an independent MP could make in practical terms.

The rising cost of living on the island was a frequently raised concern during the meeting.

Sir John suggested the creation of a trust, paid into by international business, to benefit Bermudians with the poorest receiving the greatest benefit.

He said: “Rather than dismantle, you would restructure, because what are you going to dismantle? The international business?

“If you put price controls in, all you get is a lower quality of food or product and that wouldn’t last long and you would have unemployment in the grocery stores.”

Sir John added that the corporate income tax may provide short-term benefit, but he believed businesses would find a way around it, and argued that the Government’s approach to the minimum wage could worsen the cost of living.

“When we gave minimum wage, we didn’t give it just to Bermudians, we gave it to foreigners, too, and they send their money home,” he said.

“That was the dumbest thing I ever heard of, because what you said is we are going to raise the cost of living by increasing the minimum wage and we are going to give to everyone across the board but the people working here from other parts of the world, they can send their money home, build a house, educate their children and retire.

“There poor Bermudians can’t pay their bills, can’t feed themselves, can’t pay the rent.”

Sir John told attendees that he also had a solution for the island’s housing problem, but did not delve into details.

“I’m not going to give you the details of it because all they will do is take it and mess it up,” he said.

“You either say you have faith, and the country says it has faith in me to get something done that hasn’t been done. If not, I’m sorry, because I don’t see any original thinking in that crowd.”

The by-election will take place on May 22. Lindsay Simmons is representing the Progressive Labour Party and Robert King is standing for the One Bermuda Alliance.

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