July 7, 2012Dear Sir,This is in response to a letter to the editor by Mr. Raymond Ray dated July 5, 2012 and printed the next day on July 6, 2012. Thank you (Mr Ray) for your comments — especially since you have the courage to sign your name to your letters. I respect that about you and feel duty bound to address your letter. We (Charlie Swan and Kim Swan) have continued to hold the Government accountable by criticising where necessary and offering solutions, for the betterment of our country. For the record, both Charlie Swan and I are incumbents who pledged to seek re-election in our respective communities some time ago as United Bermuda Party representatives. The record will show that the Official Opposition have since named candidates to challenge us and are like the Progressive Labour Party working to oust us. We accept that challenge and are prepared to overcome it for the good of the Bermuda we also love.In order to win the government the Opposition needs to win marginal seats but it is ever apparent that the new official Opposition embodies the same mindset that existed in the safe seats of the UBP that they took with them. Notwithstanding a multiple contest of three or more candidates, I feel that Charlie Swan of Southampton West Central and Kim Swan of St George’s West can win those two seats at the next election. To do so would mean that we could hold the balance of power in this country between two parties guaranteed to win certain constituencies because of their safe seats.Personally, at the last election a culmination of 25-plus years of hard work and perseverance was recognised, when thankfully our branch was able to win a seat away from the PLP in an area that they held in part for nearly two decades. Remember, we are the incumbents, we accept that we are being opposed by both the government and the official Opposition but to set the record straight we have been very critical of this PLP Government.KIM SWAN MPSt George’s West