Young voters were given insight into four candidates running in the Sandys North by-election next month.

Bermuda Youth Connect held a virtual panel discussion on Sunday evening between Carl Neblett, Cire Bean, the Reverend Emily Gail Dill and Marc Bean.

The discussion was moderated by BYC hosts Ajai Peets and Halle Teart and followed by a debriefing with Taj Donville-Outerbridge, William Campbell and Christian Chin-Gurrett.

Mr Neblett, of the One Bermuda Alliance, started by outlining his stance on crime.

The former police officer, who worked in Sandys for more than ten years, said that the police force had been “completely depleted” by both numbers and budget, that led to a vulnerability to crime.

He added: “If you don’t have the manpower and the money to spend to enforce and to solve crime, then we have issues.”

Mr Neblett recognised that a high cost of living and the resulting poverty was a driving factor in crime, especially when combined with drugs.

He added that he did not have the answer on how to reduce the cost of living and that handling the problem would require countless discussions.

Mr Neblett was asked about controversial social-media posts related to the LGBTQ+ community, which were made by his OBA colleague, John Seymour.

He said that people within his party had “different opinions” and did not always agree.

Mr Neblett added: “People have a choice in their lives, and if they choose to be who they are then that is entirely up to them.

“I think, from a personal point of view, my concern is do not push it on other people, because not everyone will have that same feeling.

“People have to understand that not everyone is accepting of it.”

Dr Dill, the Progressive Labour Party candidate, earlier pointed out that crime had been on many of her constituents’ minds, according to her canvassing efforts.

The Junior Minister of National Security told The Royal Gazettelast week that some former Westgate inmates saw incarceration as a “reprieve” from the difficulty of trying to reintegrate.

Dr Dill tied the rise of crime to a failing of the family unit and economic opportunities.

She added that a high cost of living, which she said had affected some more than others through centuries of prejudicial legislation keeping people out of jobs, worsened the situation.

Dr Dill, who is a senator, was asked about controversial comments that were disparaging of the LGBTQ+ community made last month by Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert.

She said that “it would help” if Mr Furbert apologised, adding: “I don’t think it is ever appropriate to refer to anybody as ‘those people’.”

Cire Bean, an independent candidate, said he recognised that people “are going through things in their lives” and that “a 30-second clip” did not always accurately represent someone’s views.

He added that mutual respect was important and that people should be educated on LGBTQ+ matters to have a better understanding of the Pride movement.

Mr Bean said: “We must educate ourselves. If individuals aren’t properly educated then things can run amok.”

He also said that the coming generation needed better skills training and business education to help keep businesses in the West End afloat.

The independent candidate said that these skills would also help minimise crime by giving young people more job opportunities.

He recognised the anger of many people on the topic of education reform and also pushed for the recycling of the buildings left behind when some schools are closed.

Mr Bean said that there were “a lot of social clubs” that could benefit from the infrastructure and that these should be considered.

Marc Bean, of the Free Democratic Movement, said that his party did not have “an official position” on LGBTQ+ matters.

He added that he was a proponent of traditional marriage but would not judge a person based on their sexuality.

Mr Bean said: “We have certain members and supporters of the FDM who subscribe to the LGBTQ+ movement and then we have others who don’t.”

He added: “I find that one of the steps needed to restore our country socially is to strengthen the family unit and traditional marriage is a major component of strengthening the family unit.”

Mr Bean went on to say that a stronger family unit was the best way to strengthen a sense of community and reduce crime.

On the topic of building the economy in the West End, he pointed to a market-based system with reduced government intervention and taxation.

Mr Bean said that government interference was a major roadblock for business owners, particularly through regulations and bureaucratic barriers.

When asked about his controversial comments about climate change, he doubled down on his stance.

Mr Bean told the Gazette in June: “Climate change is a convenient term that’s being used by certain segments of society which is actually predicated on the idea of limited resources and mankind is the problem.

“’The reason why the environment is suffering is because we have ‘too many people on the Earth’ — that’s where it’s coming from. But the FDM doesn’t subscribe to this whole idea of climate change.”

He told the panel: “I am a deep lover of nature but that has nothing to do with a political construct.”

Mr Bean pointed out that the climate has fluctuated over time and that these changes were nothing to be alarmed about.

He added that sustainable choices were important for our own protection.