Incoming Senator Jason Hayward has said he would remain committed to the interests of the workers he represents as a union leader should there be any conflict between his roles.

The president of the Bermuda Public Service Union, who was sworn in as Senator along with four others from the PLP yesterday, said he could not envisage any conflict due to the Progressive Labour Party’s historical ties to the labour movement.

But should the workers he represents disagree with the policies of the ruling party, Mr Hayward may be placed in a compromised position.

Mr Hayward told The Royal Gazette: “My job is the president of the union and I will advocate for workers and I will continue to advocate for workers.

“I will not waiver on that responsibility, so if there is a policy or legislation in place that is not in the best interests of the workers, then certainly I would have to put my voice on the side of the workers.

“As a member of the labour party and a member of the trade union it is my responsibility to ensure that everything is in alignment. I was selected because of my role in labour and now labour has a voice within Government and that is what we have been advocating for in the past.

“I don’t see large conflicts of interests of occurring especially with me in the Senate. It may be different if I had a ministerial portfolio, but the Senate is very different in its nature. We are there to review legislation rather than put policy forward.”

A political newcomer, the candidate for Pembroke West said that his appointment into the PLP marks the beginning of his “political journey”.

Asked why he believed Premier David Burt had the confidence in him to enter politics as a senator, Mr Hayward added: “He knows that I am a rational thinker, that I have an analytical brain and the skill sets to articulate the position and debate.”

Also coming into the Senate fold at yesterday’s swearing in of Cabinet at Government House, were Kathy Lynn Simmons, who is also Attorney-General and Minister for Legal Affairs and candidate for Warwick North East. She was educated in Bermuda and abroad and has a bachelor of arts (major political science and minor sociology).

Anthony Richardson, candidate for Hamilton South, has more than 26 years’ experience as a chartered accountant and was former Accountant-General of Bermuda, chairman of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, CEO of the Bermuda Health Council, CFO of the Bermuda Land Development Company and managing director of Cedar Aviation Services.

Vance Campbell, senator and candidate for Smith’s West, is chairman of the Consumer Affairs Board and a trustee of the Bermuda Housing Trust. He was also general manager of the Bermuda Housing Corporation from 2003 to 2006.

Finally, Crystal Caesar, candidate for Southampton West Central, writes on her party profile, that she wants to help to reduce the disparities between “the two Bermudas”. The mother of two said she wanted a Bermuda “where our education is as much a priority as international business and where schools are given sufficient resources”.