The Progressive Labour Party’s candidate for Warwick North East (Constituency 25) is a newcomer to politics who “always envisioned” a point when she would throw her hat in the ring.

Joanne Ball-Burgess is contesting the seat with Douglas De Couto, of the One Bermuda Alliance, and independent candidate Justin Mathias — meaning the constituency is guaranteed a fresh MP regardless of the electoral outcome.

The educator, who spoke to The Royal Gazette on her 44th birthday this week, said she was approached by the PLP shortly after the General Election was called and considered the party a natural fit with her background.

“I was asked if I would like to run based on my work with education, and of course, before I said ‘yes’, I asked my children what they thought — they were so excited,” she said.

Ms Ball-Burgess, who has finished her contract with the education ministry on school reforms, added: “This is my first time to run for any political office.

“It’s not the first time I have contemplated running.”

The constituency was won narrowly in the 2020 General Election by Ianthia Simmons-Wade, of the PLP, against the OBA candidate Jon Brunson.

Ms Ball-Burgess said that when voters turned out on Tuesday, the outcome for Warwick North East would be tough to predict.

“The majority seems a mixed bag as a constituency, although there are diehard voters on either side,” she said.

Issues on the doorstep range from the national — education, support for seniors, the high cost of living — to local matters such as concerns for safety and getting speed bumps and rumble strips on roads.

Ms Ball-Burgess felt Warwick North East was a good fit for her.

“It’s right next to where I grew up — I played all around there as a child,” she said.

She also felt easily aligned with the values of the PLP.

“My family have always been a labour family and involved in shaping history. My great-uncle George Holdipp helped orchestrate the Belco riots, a key moment in history,” she said.

Ed Ball Jr, a former general-secretary of the Bermuda Public Services Union, is a cousin.

Ms Ball-Burgess added: “Growing up, knowing my family and the systemic racism we faced, and the fact that I was always brought up to believe in equality, I felt the PLP was the obvious choice.”

Ms Ball-Burgess holds a master's degree in education and has spent a significant amount of her life abroad, including managing a school in Kenya during her weeks and working in dance during the weekends.

Back in Bermuda, she worked in education for the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

She said: “At a certain point my work was beginning to be known and I got calls saying there was a position in the education space surrounding reforms, which is how I got involved.

“A lot of my experience revolved around education and communication.”

Ms Ball-Burgess was “honoured and privileged” to be involved in education reform.

“As we know, there has been controversy surrounding its implementation but at the same time there are many things that have worked,” she said.

“I’ve been blessed to be part of watching Purvis continue to blossom, continuing to operate as a parish primary school, while still expanding and seeing parents bring their kids back.”

She highlighted the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants’ partnership with The Berkeley Institute to help high-school students get accounting credentials.

Ms Ball-Burgess added: “Having said that, yes, some things need to change. I believe Bermuda’s home-grown expertise should be used, which aligns with the PLP platform.

“We all know that our education system needs to be reformed. Our youngest primary school buildings are something like 60 years old.

“The desegregation of schools took place in the early 1970s, which was very late.

“We moved to the middle school situation, which I do not believe was a good fit for Bermuda. I believe it’s the right thing to move back to the two-tier system.”

Ms Ball-Burgess said that, as a candidate, she was “coming in as someone that feels what the regular person feels”.

“I’m a mom with three boys. I understand what it’s like living in Bermuda. I want us to rise for all of us.

“As a Bermudian who lived abroad for almost 20 years, coming back was not easy. It takes bravery and more.

“I would like to help to support and encourage Bermudians overseas who are concerned about coming back — I would like to add my voice to the conversation so that more and more Bermudians feel they can contribute to their island home.”

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