The chairman of the Free Democratic Movement will take on the Premier in the General Election next month.

Omar Dill said he would run in Pembroke West Central (Constituency 18) as a “Bermudian who refuses to accept the status quo”.

He said voting out David Burt, the Premier, whom he labelled an “almost rogue leader”, from a seat he has occupied since 2012 would be good for both Bermuda and the Progressive Labour Party that he leads.

When asked what was meant by “almost rogue leader”, Mr Dill, a father of one, explained: “Many people put their faith in [Mr Burt] as the leader, but many others say they are not satisfied.

“The need for people who make six figures to qualify for childcare benefit … speaks to the state of the country; it’s not quite sustainable.”

He added: “A fish rots from the head down; it’s time to cut out that rot. Bermuda cannot continue like this.”

Neletha Butterfield, who was PLP MP for the area from 1998 to 2012 and a senator before that, introduced Mr Dill, one of her former students, outside Sessions House.

She said: “We must always give our young people the opportunity to serve.

“I was given that opportunity and I am very honoured that he thought to think of me, after my 20 years of politics.”

Ms Butterfield was challenged repeatedly for Pembroke West Central by Mr Burt, then a government senator, in a series of tightly contested votes for the party branch’s nomination.

Ms Butterfield, who was estates minister in 2011, had a rematch against Mr Burt for the candidate selection that September after the first vote proved inconclusive.

A second challenge that October again failed to produce a constituency candidate for the PLP and the two battled a third time later that month — with Mr Burt defeating the incumbent.

He was announced as the party’s candidate in January 2012 and won in the General Election at the end of that year, although the PLP were voted out of office by the One Bermuda Alliance.

Mr Dill, whose family home is in the constituency, said Bermudians had been neglected by the Government and deserved more than “smoke and mirrors”.

He added: “The people in power are not just making excuses, they’re making money.

“We have MPs who own the cranes building these luxury properties in Hamilton. We have the CEO of a power company [that is] doing all this polluting in our neighbourhoods, and a shareholder of the taxi app that the drivers are fighting against.

“This is not just bad governance; this is exploitation.”

Mr Dill said he planned to bring the integrity, trust and decisive actions that he honed working as a fireman and an air traffic controller to politics.

He said: “[Reception from constituents] has been mixed, some people are entrenched in what they believe in.

“My message to them is look at the results, look at what we have.

“Sessions House is a perfect example of infrastructure that is not being taken care of, there are many examples of that around the island.”

Mr Dill said the FDM would prioritise housing within its first 100 days in government if elected.

He added: “We would take some of these government buildings and convert them into residential units.

“There was a press conference yesterday about seniors daycare … having somewhere to go throughout the day is fine, but we have approximately 40 vacant or derelict government buildings; those should be put to good use.”

The PLP hit back last night, accusing the FDM of “gutter” politics, “personal attacks” and “wacky ideas”.

A party spokesman said: “The PLP knows what the FDM feel in their hearts — that if people took a look at the FDM’s policies and their burning desire to unite with the OBA, voters would reject them soundly.

“The constituents of C18 will not be swayed by personal attacks, conspiracy theories, or wacky ideas with a desire to prop up the OBA. Sadly, that is all the FDM are offering.

“The voters of C18 appreciate increased pensions, expanded childcare, lower taxes for workers and small business owners, and the support we have implemented for first-time homeowners.

“While voters in C18 understand that the PLP is not perfect, they know that the PLP has been a consistent presence in and around the community for the last four years, and not just at election time. The FDM has not.”

Mr Dill will run against Mr Burt, who retained the seat in 2020, and Nicky Gurret, of the OBA, on February 18.