The One Bermuda Alliance has selected a technology expert to contest a Warwick constituency at the next General Election.

It said that Dion Smith, the managing director of Smith Technologies Ltd, was a successful entrepreneur.

The father of two will stand as an OBA candidate in Warwick North Central.

Mr Smith is a former board director of the Adult Education School and a former Bermuda telecommunications commissioner at the Regulatory Authority of Bermuda.

The OBA said Mr Smith embraced a “do it right the first time” philosophy in relation to work and customer service.

Mr Smith added: “It is the core of my business success.”

The party highlighted that the candidate had a passion for strengthening the economy.

Mr Smith said: “Government needs to focus on our economy, but it should be done by instituting a local economy — an economy that does not fall under the same umbrella as IB.”

In his vision for Warwick North Central, Mr Smith proposed the cleaning of roadsides and hedges, either individually by owners or in partnership with the Government.

He said: “Our roads that are stressed need street lighting and road reflectors.”

Mr Smith added that the reflectors, also called raised pavement markers, would help to control traffic while they encouraged safer driving conditions.

He said: “Constructed from either durable plastic or ceramic, these road reflectors are especially important for making traffic lanes more visible at night.”

Mr Smith would like to see underground electricity cables instead of overhead poles and exposed electrical wires.

Across Bermuda, the OBA said, its candidate believed that for the country “to regain the prosperity it once enjoyed, there needs to be collective buy-in”.

Mr Smith added: “Bermuda needs to concentrate on a national strategic plan that the majority agree with, creating transparency and a vision for the country.

“This would include referendums, so everyone is included in decision-making.”