The Progressive Labour Party has been working under a “neocolonialist” mindset that made it “probably the number one White supremacist government that we have had in over a hundred years”, a former party leader has said.

Marc Bean, the founder of the Free Democratic Movement, accused the Government of making decisions that ran contrary to the interests of the public.

He said these decisions reinforced a powerlessness that affected “the majority of people in this country” for hundreds of years.

Mr Bean added: “The irony is serious. It can be said that this current PLP government is probably the number one White supremacist government that we have had in over a hundred years.

“Who’s really responsible, if you’re the Government, for the deterioration of our society?

“If these people are responsible, what do you describe that government to be if it is leading to the destruction of the base of those who you reportedly represent?

“You’re actually practising a form of neocolonialism, where you’re fooling the people into thinking that you’re serving their interests but you’re actually serving a narrow interest that is contrary to theirs.”

Mr Bean was speaking during an interview outlining his party’s stances and mission.

Mr Bean explained that White supremacy was “a mentality of control and power” that could be adopted by anyone regardless of their skin colour.

He added that the Government acted through “neocolonialism”, which is defined as the control of a lesser-developed country by a more-developed country through indirect means.

The term has grown to refer to any government or corporate body that uses its power to control or exploit other countries.

Mr Bean said this neocolonialist mindset could be seen by the party’s “actions and deeds”.

“They’re not the serving the interest of the broad base of the populace,” he said.

He described the country’s leading body as a “captured government” that became reliant on international businesses after years of “pandering”.

Mr Bean pointed towards the Government’s support of Gencom to renovate the Fairmont Southampton.

Although the Miami-based company owned the property — through its affiliate, Westend Properties Ltd — Mr Bean said that the move did not serve “the greater good of the country” and should not have been supported by the Government.

Mr Bean also argued that the justification of the project providing jobs was a “convenient rationale” that had not been supported by history.

He explained that “they also gave the same position when Sandys 360 was built” and that “the risk of these projects always fall on the taxpayers themselves”.

Mr Bean added: “They said that it would benefit the country by creating jobs.

“Where’s Sandys 360 today? It’s a project that’s just sitting there depreciating.

“What about Cross Island? It’s sitting there doing nothing.”

The Sandys 360 Sports, Aquatic and Enrichment Centre opened in the fall of 2009, but closed four years later due to financial struggles.

It was later discovered that almost $6 million in public funds had been put into it and the site now sits idle.

The man-made Cross Island, near Dockyard, was created for event venue rentals and commercial development, although has been seldom used over the decade it has existed.

A government spokeswoman said that the PLP government had always sought to create policies to benefit the public.

She added: “This was indicated in the 2023 Throne Speech which focused on serving the people and the 2024-25 Budget Statement, which outlined a responsible Budget that focused on investing in our people and our future.

“And as a demonstration of the Government’s pledges, we have seen a raft of programmes and initiatives aimed at assisting the people of Bermuda.

“Such as more investment in youth programmes, more access to affordable housing, the introduction of the Mortgage Guarantee Programme, healthcare reform, support for the most vulnerable in our community and investment in our ageing infrastructure.”

Mr Bean said that his party’s approach to governance would be profoundly different from the PLP’s, which he said had been increasing the Government’s reach for years.

He said that the FDM would look to decrease the size and reach of the Government, to reduce legislative spending.

Mr Bean explained that this smaller government and less spending would lead to fewer taxes, which he added would lower the cost of living and leave more cash in people’s pockets.

He added that a “robust private sector” would form in response to this decreased government and people would use their funds to invest in businesses and create a stronger free market.

Mr Bean said that the FDM was still solidifying its mission statement but added it would emphasise a small government and the freedom of choice.

He told The Royal Gazette that the party was becoming more organised than it was in 2020, which had seen “a diverse spectrum of political philosophies” when it first formed.

Mr Bean said: “We knew even then, as we know now, that this was not sustainable and in order to be effective we have to be a cohesive unit.”

He said that the unifying philosophy of “freedom and liberty” made them more structured than a group of independent candidates.

Mr Bean admitted that there were some former candidates who “would not subscribe” to the FDM’s stance and had since departed.

He added that the party had “a pool of respective candidates” that were still being sorted through.

Mr Bean said he felt confident they could run if a snap election was called.