Former premiers from both sides of the House of Assembly have praised David Burt and his team for their handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Alex Scott said the Premier had shown a maturity beyond his years and awarded him “top marks”.

But Sir John Swan emphasised that Mr Burt, if his Progressive Labour Party wins the October 1 General Election, will be challenged to introduce policies designed to boost Bermuda’s economy.

The Royal Gazette asked the pair for their thoughts on the men in charge of the island’s three parties — including Craig Cannonier, of the One Bermuda Alliance, and Marc Bean, of the Free Democratic Movement.

Both pointed out the problems faced by an opposition and Mr Scott added that he had “mixed feelings” about Mr Bean’s return to politics with a new party.

Mr Scott, who was Progressive Labour Party premier from 2003 to 2006, said Mr Burt “handles himself like a man far older than he really is”.

He added: “I’m not saying he’s ancient, but he runs it with an eye and a sense of authority that generally comes with age and experience but, in his case, I think it’s someone who has been very observant of the political arena.

“He’s made, I think, good judgment calls all of the way ... as if he had been doing it for far more years than he has been in politics.”

He added that the Covid-19 pandemic presented a problem to Mr Burt that was unlike any other faced by leaders on the island, or in other countries such as the United States or Britain, in recent years.

Mr Scott said: “He was able to be disciplined, he was able to use medical science to advise him on the way forward.”

He added: “As America’s failing under the current president, Bermuda is exceeding under the current premier and I give him top marks.

“He seems to have been able to lead in a way that his Cabinet has been supportive and disciplined, the membership have gone along with the various initiatives that he’s required them to support and the polls, the general numbers from the public, seem to reflect an appreciation of his style.”

Sir John Swan, of the old United Bermuda Party and the island’s longest-serving premier, said that Mr Burt and his team had done “an excellent job” dealing with the impact of the virus.

He added: “It’s easier to control the pandemic issue because it’s an issue of fear because it threatens people’s lives.

“People have paid attention and responded in a very responsible way that has allowed the Government to do the job that was necessary to safeguard the wellbeing of Bermuda and to keep Bermuda an attractive destination for the outside world.

“The other challenge is the economic one, that’s an issue of freedom — so fear versus freedom.

“Freedom and the fact that the marketplace determines our economic wellbeing has been restrictive and has not kept up with the vitality it needed to meet the economic needs of the country through policies and practices and thus we have fallen behind not just with Covid debt, but also with policy debt.

“The challenge will be, as he gets through this election, is what we’re going to do about policies that now will cause the economy to grow and to try to reduce the risk involved of a country that is a service economy.”

Mr Scott highlighted the important role of the Opposition, filled by Mr Cannonier’s OBA in the last Parliament, and said it was “key to good governance”.

He explained that the opposition leader must keep pressure on the government leader and the Cabinet.

Mr Scott added: “While the government benches have the support of the Civil Service, you have none of those tools to call upon.”

He said: “One gets the feeling that the morale on the opposition benches may not be as strong as one might wish it.”

Mr Scott pointed out that the OBA had failed to field a full slate of 36 candidates, which meant that the PLP won three uncontested seats weeks before the General Election was held.

He added: “That’s why I say I could sympathise with the opposition leader.

“If he has a shortcoming, it has been the ability to sustain strength on his benches and pressure on the Government.”

Mr Scott said: “The opposition leader hasn’t been able to, I think, keep the membership interest at a peak and only time will tell as to whether a penalty will be paid at the polls.”

Sir John, who was premier from 1982 to 1995, agreed that opposition parties always faced an uphill struggle.

He explained: “They don’t have the tools of government, all the legislative capacity to do anything other than to offer alternative ideas and to question the actions of government as they represent their constituency.”

Mr Scott said he had “mixed feelings” after Mr Bean, a former PLP leader, launched the FDM earlier this month.

He explained: “I think the nature of a robust democracy should provide invitation and acceptance to any and all who want to express views, make a political point and the Westminster system works best when the government of the day is challenged.

“Does leader Bean have a right to challenge the current government? Yes, but I’m disappointed that a former PLP member, and a former PLP leader especially, has chosen to go that route.”

Mr Scott said that Mr Bean was part of the Bermuda Independence Commission he set up in 2004 and that he was well thought of by the Right Reverend Vernon Lambe, the group’s chairman.

He added that the late Dame Lois Browne-Evans, a fellow BIC member, “encouraged growth in his political experience”.

Mr Scott said: “He moved his way up through the party and I think he showed enthusiasm.

“I would even go a step further — he showed passion for whatever he was advancing, whatever stance he was taking.

“He was a passionate leader, he certainly brought his own charisma to the extent that you can still probably find Bean supporters, followers and admirers.”

Sir John added: “Anybody who’s served as a leader has gained some experience and obviously must have been held in some high regard so he will bring his skills and his experience to the process.

“But, at the end of the day, it will still be the people’s choice.”

Dame Jennifer Smith, who led the PLP to its first General Election victory in 1998, said that Mr Burt “demonstrated that he can take this country through a pandemic, and General Elections”.

Ashfield DeVent, a former PLP minister, added that the approach to recent elections had become “more and more Americanised”.

He said: “It’s the personalities of the leadership that they’ve focused on mostly but, personally, I think it’s more important that voters look at issues.”

Mr DeVent added: “From my view, it’s important to look at the policies, as opposed to personalities.”

He also pointed out that many voters backed a particular party regardless of the candidate.