The deputy leader of the One Bermuda Alliance has hit back against comments made by a former party member as he effected a clean break from the group.

Ben Smith cast doubt on Justin Mathias’s claims of party disorganisation, saying that the former chairman had not been an active member of the party since April 2023.

He added in his statement that Mr Mathias’s run as an independent candidate was “a clear example why the electorate should be extremely wary about voting for independent candidates”.

Mr Smith explained: “You simply do not know who is genuinely running to effect positive change in the lives of Bermuda and her people.

“In the case of Mr Mathias, it’s obvious his return to politics is driven by a personal agenda after his departure from the OBA.”

Mr Smith’s comments came after Mr Mathias fired a broadside at the Opposition, jointly accusing the party of being in disarray and leader Jarion Richardson of being unfit for purpose.

He was approached regarding Mr Smith’s statement, but declined to comment further.

Mr Mathias instead released another op-ed, this time all but confirming an independent run in Warwick North East (Constituency 25).

In his statement, Mr Smith called into question Mr Mathias’s motivation to leave the OBA.

Mr Mathias earlier said that Mr Richardson’s repeated dares last November for David Burt to call an election when the OBA did not possess a full slate of candidates was one of his “final straws”.

However, Mr Smith accused the former member of contacting several OBA members over the past several weeks, including Mr Richardson, offering his services.

He said: “Only 12 days ago, on January 8, 2025, Mr Mathias messaged him stating, ‘Let me know if I can help in any way’.”

Mr Smith added: “Mr Mathias cannot have it both ways. Either he is misleading the Bermudian people about his newly found beliefs in ‘independents’ or he was misleading his former OBA colleagues only days ago.

“I strongly believe everyone has the right to express how they feel, whether I agree with their sentiment or not.

“If Mr Mathias wants to run for parliament by wrapping himself in the clothes of a so-called ‘independent’, then that is his right.

“However, to put out a media statement misrepresenting the reality of his decision-making is just plain wrong.”

Mr Smith instead warned the public to “think very carefully before voting for this newly converted ‘independent’”.

Warwick North East will be contested also by Douglas De Couto for the OBA and Arianna Hodgson for the Progressive Labour Party.

In his op-ed, Mr Mathias questioned his the OBA’s commitment to gender equality after no longer having Tia Smith, Elizabeth Deacon and Susan Jackson on the candidates’ roster.

Mr Richardson said during the OBA’s nine-candidate roll-out on Tuesday that Ms Smith, who would have run in St George’s North (Constituency 1), and Ms Deacon, who would have run in St George’s South (Constituency 4), stepped down for personal reasons.

Ms Jackson, who was the MP for Pembroke South West (Constituency 20), announced her retirement from politics last Friday.

Mr Mathias also accused Dr De Couto and Ms Hodgson of being opportunists, citing their movement between constituencies over the past three elections.

In questioning their commitment to Warwick North East, Mr Mathias asked: “Do they have a burning desire to serve the people? Or will they both act as if they do, on the doorstep and in public, just to play the game?”

He added: “I wouldn’t be surprised if you see a big narcissistic photo of one of these two in our constituency as an intimidation tactic — like a dog urinating on a tree to mark their territory.”

Dr De Couto ran in Warwick North Central (Constituency 27) for the party during the 2020 General Election and in Southampton East (Constituency 29) for the United Bermuda Party in 2007.

Ms Hodgson ran in Paget West (Constituency 23) in 2020.

An OBA spokeswoman said: “Douglas De Couto has been canvassing and working with the community in Warwick North East since 2021.

“He’s been on hand to assist constituents with their local issues, worked for them in the Senate and given back to the community through a variety of events.

“His candidacy in C25 remains focused on the people who live there and solving their problems, along with the problems that face all Bermudians.”