Three political newcomers are to run in St George’s in the General Election.

Dwain Smith of the new Free Democratic Movement will stand in St George’s West, the One Bermuda Alliance’s Thomas Harvey will contest the same seat and James Perry of the OBA will run in St George’s North.

Mr Smith said that the economy was a top priority, along with education and immigration reform.

The former police officer added: “People feel like St George’s is the forgotten of the nine parishes — the step child.”

But he added: I’m not saying the incumbents haven’t done the best they can with the resources they have.

Mr Smith said the FDM had been “welcomed like a breath of fresh of fresh air”.

He added: “We want to get away from divisive politics.”

Mr Smith highlighted the lack of a police station.

He said: “The police are not as visible as they used to be. I would like to give people a sense of security.

“When I was an officer, we occupied the station on York Street and I would like to see that returned.”

Mr Perry agreed that policing was a problem.

He said: “Much more could have been done over the last three years to improve policing in St George’s. I see that the government has issued an expression of interest for the renovation and use of the old police station, so there does not seem to be any plans to have a permanent police presence, which is a shame.

“We also really must do something about the stretch of road from Floral Lane to Barracks Hill.

“It’s a racetrack and we need measures to slow people down.”

Mr Perry added that the PLP had done little for St George’s in recent years.

He said: “The OBA was great for St George’s. It got the St Regis Hotel going, it got more cruise ships here and a new fast ferry to link us to Dockyard.

“But nothing has really happened since the Burt administration took over. We need to attract more businesses here. Hopefully, that will happen when the hotel is completed.”

Mr Harvey said people in St George’s West were worried about employment.

He added: “Like the rest of Bermuda, one of the main issues is jobs — keeping a job and having new jobs available.

“But also, we are really looking forward to seeing the St Regis hotel open as that will give the Towne a shot in the arm.”

He added: “I think people would like to see the planned marina move ahead. That could really help the area a great deal.”

The former chairman of the St George’s Parish Council earlier that St George’s had been neglected by the PLP.

The PLP’s Renée Ming won St George’s North, with 61.78 per cent of the vote against the OBA’s Kenneth Bascome at the 2017 General Election.

Kim Swan of the PLP took St George’s West with 65.71 per cent of the vote against the OBA’s Nandi Outerbridge.

The OBA’s Kenneth Bascome ousted the PLP’s Dame Jennifer Smith, a former premier, from St George’s North in 2012 with 51.62 per cent of the vote to Dame Jennifer’s 42.11 per cent. Independent candidate Cornell Fubler took a 6.26 per cent share of the vote in the seat.

The OBA’s Nandi Outerbridge won St George’s West in 2017 with 38.69 per cent of the vote — one vote more than Ms Ming, who took 38.25 per cent. Kim Swan, then an independent, attracted 23.06 per cent of the vote.

Dame Jennifer won 51.35 per cent of the St George’s North vote over Mr Bascome in 2007.

Mr Swan, then of the former United Bermuda Party, won the St George’s West seat in 2007 with 50.95 per cent of the vote against the PLP’s Dean Foggo.

The Royal Gazette approached the other St George’s election candidates for comment but they did not respond by press time.