So the Premier has now announced the much anticipated election. On February 18, Bermudians will cast their ballots and decide who and what style of government they want for the next five years.

I am proud to have announced that I will be standing as an independent, and am pleased that we are already seeing other individuals rise to the challenge as independent candidates. I believe many more will be announcing in the coming days.

You may ask why I, at my age, have decided to re-enter the world of Bermuda politics, and it’s a good question.

I believe that contrary to the spin of remarks made in announcing the election, Bermuda is in a very serious situation. I believe so many of the most important factors of life in Bermuda are simply off track and failing.

We heard no mention of the size of our national debt, nor that virtually all of this debt has been incurred by a Progressive Labour Party government. The published debt is well over $3 billion — something like over $50,000 per resident of Bermuda — but if you add in the other debt Bermuda owes, the total is probably closer to $6 billion!

There was no mention of the lack of graduation success of our students in the public education system.

Also, no discussion on the failing public infrastructure — the state of our roads, buildings, bridges, etc.

What about the crisis of our medical system, where thousands of Bermudians cannot afford health insurance, where emergency patients cannot get beds in the hospital because of long-term, non-urgent patients taking the space required?

That so many Bermudians cannot afford to pay for the basics of life in Bermuda and have to continuously decide whether to pay for prescriptions, rent, electricity or food and so much more.

It is very clear that the present political system is failing. Party politics is failing. Indeed in the press conference where the Premier announced the election, what did those in attendance chant in the end? “PLP, all the way. All the way, PLP”.

What about Bermuda, I ask?

We can’t bring the same answer to the same problems and expect a different answer.

I ask Bermudians to ask themselves are they better off than they were, are they confident in the future, do they believe the present system is going to solve the problems and bring Bermuda back on track.

I am running because I believe the answer is no. And I believe I can’t just hide in the outfield; I have to engage and try to help.

We need a new system, a system where all of Bermuda can be involved in finding solutions and working together to make them happen. This is the vision that the Movement for Independent Candidates brings. It’s time for real and meaningful change.

• Sir John Swan was Premier of Bermuda from 1982 to 1995 and is the independent candidate for Smith’s North (Constituency 10) in the next General Election