An independent candidate running in next month’s General Election was inspired to enter politics in part by her late brother.

Juanae Crockwell announced her candidacy for Southampton West Central at a press conference this morning.

Ms Crockwell said: “My political mentor is my brother, the late Shawn Crockwell. He was the MP for this area up until 2017, and of course he passed in 2017.

“So having a front-row seat to his political journey significantly impacted my decision to run as an independent candidate.

“Of course I am grateful to have support of other independent candidates, other former political figures, but my decision to run as an independent is entirely my decision.

“This goes back to 2015, and I’m quite proud to say that my brother, in his last days, sat in the houses of Parliament as an independent.

“I believe that a lot of that came from my advocacy and my holding him accountable and my asking him if he really thinks that party politics is the answer.

“That’s how I’ve ended up here.”

Mr Crockwell served as a minister in the One Bermuda Alliance after the party won the General Election of December 2012.

However, he quit the OBA in July 2016 and subsequently served as an independent MP until his death in June 2017.

Ms Crockwell explained today why she opted to run as an independent candidate in Constituency 31 rather than join one of the main parties.

She said: “This decision has not been made lightly. I have been contemplating this step since 2015.

“At that time, my children were still very young — just four and one — and I was in the midst of personal and professional transitions.

“Over the last decade, I have enthusiastically followed Bermuda’s political landscape.

“Through social media, I have worked to break down our parliamentary system for voters, provide updates on parliamentary proceedings, and offer non-partisan commentary on party platforms and election coverage.

“I have studied Bermuda’s political parties — PLP, UBP, OBA, and now FDM — and even considered involvement. But time and time again, I have come to the same conclusion — party politics is no longer serving Bermuda or her people.”

Ms Crockwell added: “As a student of history, I understand the critical role that political parties played in Bermuda’s past.

“The formation of the Progressive Labour Party in the 1960s was a necessary step towards equity within our parliamentary system, and the United Bermuda Party emerged as a response.

“At that time, this approach was essential for social and political progress.

“However, today, the party system has outlived its usefulness.

“Instead of fostering progress and unity, it often stifles innovation and deepens the divisions that plague our small island home.

“What was once the solution has now become the problem.

“I believe it is my generation’s turn to drive positive political change.

“Just as the suffragettes, the organisers of the Bermuda Theatre Boycott — the Progressive Group — and other community advocates of the past wrote history, it is now our turn.

“We can continue on our current political and social trajectory, or we can come together to make the changes required for true and meaningful progress.

“For these reasons, and many more, I am putting myself forward as an agent of change.”

Ms Crockwell claimed that the party system was deterring “amazing, brilliant influential people” from entering politics because they did not want to be associated with one political group.

She said: “I am one of those people who sat on the sidelines for a long time because I can’t see myself making that commitment to party first.

“That is why this independent movement is growing.”

Asked how an administration made up of independent MPs could govern effectively, Ms Crockwell pointed out that members within each political party had differences of opinion.

She said: “We are all individuals who have our own thoughts and opinions and ideas for what would best benefit Bermuda.

“We have to come together, and we’re committed to working together.”

Ms Crockwell will be contesting the seat with Crystal Caesar, the Minister of the Cabinet Office, who won it in 2020, as well as political newcomer Linda Smith for the One Bermuda Alliance.

Also in the running is another independent candidate, Karen Hodgkins.

In the October 2020 General Election, Ms Caesar took the seat for the PLP with 441 votes, beating the OBA’s Ben Smith who picked up 388 votes.

Ms Crockwell has been a constituency resident her entire life and said that she was “well acquainted with the area”.

She said that, through canvassing, she was familiar with resident concerns, which included road safety, trash collection and loitering.

She also said that residents wanted to know what will happen to the Port Royal Primary School facility — which her three sons attended — once the school closes under the education system reform.

Ms Crockwell, who is the executive director of the Women’s Resource Centre, was also asked about the Government’s track record on women’s issues. On Monday the PLP held a press conference in which it touted policies it claimed had improved the lives of women.

Ms Crockwell said: “I won’t stand here and act as if the Government has done nothing to improve the lives of women or Bermudians, but my question is, how sustainable is what they’re doing?

“We have a cost-of-living crisis, we have a housing crisis. Things like the daycare allowance do assist women, but it does not address the problem.

“It’s not sustainable to say we’re going to help women to be able to afford to live in Bermuda by providing financial support.

“That’s helpful, yes – super grateful – but it’s not sustainable.

“We need elected officials who are going to address the reason why women can’t afford daycare. That’s a separate conversation.

“There are root causes that need to be addressed because we can’t afford as a country to keep putting Band-Aids on problems.”