The last person to win a parliamentary seat as an independent was Stuart Hayward 36 years ago. Even though he had integrity, was highly intelligent and carried great stature as Bermuda’s first environmentalist for his commitment and contribution to safeguarding our island’s waters and natural resources, he was not re-elected for a second term.

Historically, Bermudians have proven that they are not willing to risk votes on a third party for various reasons — both solid and not.

The year 1963 was the first election that Black Bermudians were allowed to vote — outside of those possessing sizeable land ownership. The Progressive Labour Party, which had formed a few months earlier, contested nine seats and won six of them.

The United Bermuda Party formed shortly thereafter in 1964. In the 1968 General Election, the PLP, the UBP and the Bermuda Democratic Party — a right-wing split of the PLP — contested the 40 seats. The UBP and PLP members were returned to the Houses of Parliament with the BDP heading off into the sunset.

Over a span of 56 years of party politics, Bermudians have voted for a third party — returning two Members of Parliament — only once in a General Election. And that was in 1989.

Interestingly, it has been party splits, where dissatisfied members have resigned from either the PLP or the UBP, which have caused a third party to form outside an election period.

For example, three PLP MPs — and a number of respected officers of the party — were dissatisfied with the leadership in 1985 and went on to establish the National Liberal Party. The NLP, however, failed to secure any seats in the next General Election.

In 2009, six UBP MPs defected and created the Bermuda Democratic Alliance — again during a time when no General Election had been called. This third party was short-lived, too, as it merged with the UBP to form the One Bermuda Alliance in 2011.

The former leader of the PLP, Marc Bean, established the Free Democratic Movement in 2020, but none of its 14 candidates succeeded in being elected, garnering 5 per cent of the popular vote.

So, I ask the reader to think of different aspects in regard to the following questions:

1, Are Bermudians that fed up with the leadership of the Government that they are willing to risk their votes on independent or third-party parliamentary candidates in the 2025 General Election?

2, Do any of the independent or third-party parliamentary candidates have the ability to do a better job? If so, are they able to commit to attending 100 per cent of the sittings of the House of Assembly outside of sickness and medical emergency, and to holding meetings with their constituents at least three times a year?

3, What if you are a voter who is totally pissed off at the leadership of the PLP, but the government MP in your constituency is a doer, a humanist, faithfully attends House sittings, and is willing to listen and pass on your concerns?

As I look over the past seven years under a David Burt government, I truly believe that the quality of life for Bermudians has gone down tremendously. I see too many people living under financial stress and going with less in terms of medical and food. The price of housing is insane because we continue to allow foreigners to buy homes, which drives the housing market up.

The mismanagement of Bermuda’s public education system and the negative impact of poor decision-making by the present education minister have resulted in a very interesting bid by former PLP parliamentarian Renée Webb to run as an independent in his constituency.

It is too bad that the 2023 PLP Delegates Conference did not change Mr Burt for Curtis Dickinson when it had the opportunity.

The General Election that has been called for February 18 will undoubtedly result in the PLP winning the majority of seats in the House of Assembly.

I predict that maybe three independent parliamentary candidates will win and perhaps the OBA will gain one seat. I would be surprised if anyone running for the FDM obtains a seat in parliament.

It is not possible to properly discuss the upcoming election without recognising Bermudian university students studying abroad who have been once again denied the right to vote. I was one of those PLP members that fought to achieve having the voting age lowered from 21 to 18 in 1989, so it annoys me greatly that here we are 36 years later and we are still disenfranchising them from making a decision about their own future.

I specifically asked the Premier at a meeting of the PLP held at Devonshire Rec just over a year ago if the Government would introduce overseas student voting; and if not, would he please call the next election when Bermudian students are home for summer or Christmas holidays. The Premier explained that health minister Kim Wilson had researched the matter and found it to be too expensive but he did not answer the second portion of my question.

Getting back to the subject of whether Bermudian voters are willing to take the risk of voting for independent candidates or for a third party, I venture to say yes to independent candidates and no to the FDM.

The 2025 General Election will be fascinating because there will be a small power shift in parliamentary seats.

If PLP voters do not come out to vote in February, then I would hope that a vote of no confidence in the Premier should be tabled by the PLP Parliamentary Caucus after the election and before the impending 2025-26 Budget debate so that Bermuda has a new premier.

• Cheryl Pooley is a social commentator and three-times former parliamentary candidate