The 2025 General Election will have 110 candidates, the most in the history of Bermuda elections. A total of 27 independent candidates have put their names forward, but when you cast your vote on February 18, will an independent candidate be able to represent your interests in Parliament? What would an independent candidate be able to achieve?

Having more citizens contesting an election is not a bad thing and should be welcomed. Too many capable people shy away from politics for any number of reasons. However, the notion of independents has obvious flaws.

Politics is a team effort. To set the island’s education policy, or healthcare plans, you must first become the Government. That requires a like-minded team of at least 18 MPs, working together to maintain the confidence of the House of Assembly. To run the Government requires a unified team, an agreed consensus on the solutions to deploy, set policy and advance legislation for Bermuda.

Independents can be a voice on specific issues. Yet, ultimately, an independent MP lacks the necessary support of party colleagues. The notion of independent candidates may appeal to the non-partisan voters, but it badly fails the stress test of practical reality.

Since our defeat in 2020, candidates for the One Bermuda Alliance have spent the past five years analysing our island’s problems. Weekly caucus meetings involve our team discussing, debating and devising solutions to create opportunity for all. Our caucus reflects Bermuda — with broad diversity of age, gender, race, economic activity and life experience.

The OBA is a cross-section of our island and is the only party to have released solutions to address the issues facing all Bermudians — a platform that was developed and refined over more than a year. David Burt decided to call an election for February 18, yet the Progressive Labour Party’s platform is still nowhere to be seen. And no independent candidates have released a comprehensive platform, with most running on single issues important to them.

If you are considering voting for an independent, please ask that candidate what their actual position is on the numerous and complex issues facing our island. If you hope for a “movement of independents”, are you sure that — if any were to be elected — those elected would even agree with one another on the issues?

Where does each independent candidate stand on the proposed corporate income tax? On independence from Britain? On the legalisation of cannabis? The size of our police service? Whether immigration should go up or down?

Some independents have extremely divergent views on issues facing Bermuda — so what happens when they disagree? How would independent MPs reach a consensus, and how long would that take?

The issues faced by political leaders in today’s Bermuda are complicated. Striving for collaboration and achieving consensus is not easy, particularly on issues where reasonable people disagree. A cohesive team is needed — a team with a plan already in place to tackle our issues from Day 1. The OBA has done the work and is ready to form the Government on Day 1.

It is clear the PLP government has run out of ideas. More than two decades in power has left David Burt’s PLP fractured, lacking in solutions, and just plain tired. Six PLP MPs, including four former Cabinet ministers, are quitting politics altogether.

We need a fresh, new team with energy and ideas. The OBA is ready to form the next government, to tackle the issues we face, creating opportunities for all Bermudians. If you are really considering voting for an independent, please ask yourself: how much would an independent MP actually be able to achieve?

With so much at stake in the next election, it would be a shame to waste your vote on a candidate who is powerless to change Bermuda for the benefit of all Bermudians.

• Scott Pearman is the One Bermuda Alliance candidate for Paget East (Constituency 22)

• Comments are closed on political content until February 19 to stem the flow of purposefully inflammatory and litigious comments during the General Election cycle. Users who introduce extreme partisan comments into other news content will be given a two-week timeout