Tyrrell aims to make it third time lucky as PLP candidate
By Owain Johnston-BarnesNeville Tyrrell has been unveiled as the PLP candidate to run in Constituency 11, Devonshire East at the next general election.Mr Tyrrell, a former Senator who ran for the PLP in the seat during the last two elections, said he hoped third time was lucky.“I still believe in the principle vision that the PLP was founded on,” he said. “That is, to fight for social equality and justice for persons less fortunate than one’s self and for those without the voice and the ability to present their case.“I am also a firm believer that to whom much is given, much is expected. Bermuda has been good to me and my family and therefore, I see it as a responsibility to give back.”He said that while he is not a doctor, he has “several levels of plain old fashioned common sense” and a strong work ethic.He said he has been knocking on doors continually since before the 2003 general election, and he felt the concerns of the constituency were consistent with voters in general, such as education, crime and the economy.Mr Tyrrell was named a Senator in 2004 by former Premier Alex Scott, who noted his years of service to the community and his work as PLP chairman. He remained in the Upper Chamber until 2007 when Premier Ewart Brown took office.In October, he ran to become the PLP candidate for constituency 24, Warwick South East, but was defeated by Lawrence Scott.In 2003, Mr Tyrrell was defeated by UBP candidate and current OBA Senator Michael Dunkley by a margin of more than 200 votes in the Devonshire East seat, but fared better in the 2007 election when he lost by just 27 votes to Shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards.The PLP has since vowed to aggressively target the seat but changes in the constituency borders have been predicted to make a PLP victory more difficult, with the constituency gaining voters from the historic UBP stronghold of Smith’s West.Despite the challenges, Mr Tyrrell said that he felt the community has grown to know him.Announcing Mr Tyrrell’s candidacy, Premier Paula Cox described him as eminently qualified saying: “He defines what being a man of the people is and he has shown that he is prepared to give to the community.”The PLP has recently unveiled a raft of candidates including Attorney General Kim Wilson on Tuesday.