In this pivotal moment for Bermuda, we stand at a crossroads. The choices we make today will determine not just our immediate future but the legacy we leave for generations to come. As I step forward as the hopeful representative for Devonshire North West (Constituency 14), I do so with deep reverence for the giants on whose shoulders I stand — our ancestors, our Progressive Labour Party forebears, and the many who sacrificed to ensure that our voices are heard at the ballot box.

The PLP was founded on principles of social justice, economic equity and the unwavering pursuit of a fairer Bermuda. These are not just slogans; they are the foundation of our policies and the driving force behind our governance. The PLP has never been about political games — it has always been about the people and progress.

Without generations of PLP leadership and dedicated supporters, Bermuda would be a vastly different place — one where the working class would be still fighting for basic rights, where our elders would struggle without government support, and where opportunity would remain out of reach for too many.

I come to this moment not just as a candidate, but as a Bermudian mother, daughter, and friend. I recognise my role in bridging generations — learning from the wisdom of our past while envisioning a bold and transformative future.

Since 2012, I have been a committed member of the PLP, and while I may be new to some voters, I am not new to the fight for progress. As the campaign manager for both the 2017 and 2020 elections, I worked tirelessly behind the scenes to defend and uphold the values of our party. Now, I step forward because I know first-hand what can be achieved when we unite in action and purpose.

Since being announced as the candidate for Constituency 14, I have walked the streets, visited the homes, and listened to the concerns of our community. I have heard your frustrations, your hopes, and your desire for more from your government. My pledge to you is that we will build upon the progress we have made — because that is what leadership requires.

Bermuda’s progress has never come easily. It was the PLP that fought for one man, one vote, ensuring that every vote carries equal weight. It was the PLP that secured employment rights for our hard-working men and women, that established a minimum wage, that increased seniors’ pensions, and that expanded childcare tax credits to ease the financial burden on working families.

These victories were not handed to us; they were fought for. And now, we see attempts to undo them.

We are being told to “move on” from the past, as though history is irrelevant to our future. But we know better. We remember that when those who now challenge the PLP were in power, they built systems of exclusion that safeguarded privilege for the few. We remember the policies that deepened inequality and the efforts to silence the voices of the majority.

Today, we see those same forces at work — sowing division, muddying the waters, and using confusion as a political strategy to disengage voters.

And so, we must ask: who does this serve?

Who benefits when we are discouraged from voting?

Who benefits when we forget our history?

Who benefits when we allow our hard-won progress to be dismantled?

The answer is clear: it does not serve the people.

It does not serve those who have fought for fairness, for justice, and for a Bermuda that provides opportunity for all.

Let’s be clear: we are not blind to Bermuda’s challenges. We see the rising cost of living. We know that seniors’ pensions must stretch further. We acknowledge that some of our well-intended policies have not gone far enough.

But what I know for sure is that the PLP remains the only party that understands our struggle.

We are the only party that governs with a sense of duty to all Bermudians, not just a privileged few.

And so, I ask: where do you stand?

Do you stand with those who believe in justice?

Do you stand with those who believe in equality?

Do you stand with those who believe that Bermuda’s best days are still ahead?

If you do, then the choice is clear: we must continue the fight for progress.

As poet Amanda Gorman so powerfully said:

“We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be:

A country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free.

We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation.”

We must act because our inaction today will be our children’s burden tomorrow.

To every voter in Devonshire North West — from Cedar Park to Devonshire Rec, from Montpelier Road to Berry Hill — thank you for welcoming me into your homes and sharing your lived experiences.

I take up this baton, passed to me from the soul of our history, in the relay race for our rights.

And I pledge to you:

I will listen.

I will fight.

I will serve.

• Alexa Lightbourne is the Progressive Labour Party candidate for Devonshire North West (Constituency 14) in the next General Election

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