A Cabinet minister and senator was announced yesterday by David Burt as “the candidate for Constituency 15 in the next General Election”.

Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, will aim to hold Pembroke East for the Progressive Labour Party — a seat to be vacated upon the impending retirement of Walter Roban.

Mr Roban, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs, announced last month his planned retirement from politics and said he will not contest the next General Election.

Mr Roban said in Alaska Hall that the constituency’s voters were accustomed to representatives who were “committed, but also showing clear leadership potential”, adding: “They’ve always had leaders as their MP.”

He endorsed the new candidate, saying: “I do believe he is up to the job, and I am sure the voters in Constituency 15 will vote him in with a commanding majority in the next General Election.”

After a string of by-elections, the references put the island on an explicit track to its next choice of Government.

Mr Burt was reserved on when the island as a whole could be expected to go to the polls, saying: “The answer I will give is the same answer I have given — that the General Election is constitutionally due before February 2026, and it will happen before that date.”

The Premier added that the PLP intended to announce today its candidate for Sandys North in the October 4 by-election, which was prompted by the resignation of Kathy Lynn Simmons as MP.

He commented briefly on the announcement on Monday that Vance Campbell, a former Cabinet Office minister who resigned from the role earlier this month, and announced he would be “crossing the aisle” and changing parties from the PLP to join the One Bermuda Alliance.

Mr Burt said he would not speak of an OBA MP at a press conference held for his own party.

However, he added: “MP Campbell is in Constituency 9, and I hope that he gets to canvassing, because the Progressive Labour Party will be fielding a candidate for that seat ― and we intend to retain it.”

Mr Darrell, who is 44, has thrown his hat in the ring before, running unsuccessfully in Smith’s South in the 2020 General Election. Cole Simons, the former OBA leader, won the seat by 547 votes to 318.

Mr Burt said that this time Mr Darrell would “fill the post held for 17 years by political giant” in the party, Mr Roban.

The constituency, running from North Village to Palmetto Road, is a longstanding stronghold of the PLP.

Pembroke East has links to party luminaries such as Dame Lois Browne Evans, Nelson Bascome, Ottiwell Simmons and Frederick Wade. Mr Roban won the seat in 2007.

The Premier gave an overview of the new candidate’s history in the party, noting Mr Darrell had joined the PLP in 2006, worked 15 years in public schools, and joined the PLP administration as Mr Burt’s chief of staff after leaving the education system.

“He became a government senator in 2020 and, due to his leadership and commitment to delivering the promises the PLP had made to the electorate, was appointed Senate leader and minister in 2022.”

Mr Burt said Mr Darrell “has also been a dedicated party worker”, including as organiser and party chairman.

He added: “The people of Pembroke East deserve someone who understands the community, who will be a constant presence on the doorstep and someone who gets things done, just as MP Roban did, and before him, the late, great Ottiwell Simmons did as well.

“Senator Owen Darrell fits this description and that is why we’re proud to introduce him as our candidate for Constituency 15.”

The announcement came at the party’s headquarters, Alaska Hall, in the Reginald A Burrows Building.

Mr Darrell said: “I am humbled by the opportunity to represent the people of Pembroke East.

“As the PLP candidate for Constituency 15, I’m committed to actively listening to the concerns of every constituent and taking meaningful steps to advance the wellbeing of all Bermudians, moving us forward as one.”

Alaine Mouchette, the branch chairwoman, shed some light on the selection process, saying it had accorded “strictly” with the party’s constitution.

“We do have a robust constitution and that’s what we follow,” Ms Mouchette said. “Each candidate put their name forward to run in Constituency 15 and had the same opportunity to reach out to all members.”

She said contenders addressed branch members and had questions put to them on the night of the selection meeting.

“At the end of that process, a vote was taken and Owen was the successor.”

Mr Darrell described himself as “committed to actually listening to the concerns of every constituent and taking meaningful steps to advocate for the wellbeing of all Bermudians”, pledging to be “the bridge that connects our community to the Government”.

He said that he had “hit the doorsteps” in Pembroke East in the week before Cup Match, although Mr Burt emphasised that early talks were only with members of the PLP branch.

Only with Mr Darrell’s official roll-out as a candidate would he be clear to canvass in earnest, the Premier said.

Mr Burt added that he had been a party member since 2004 and had seen its internal democratic procedures strengthened. All challengers to become the selected candidate were given access to the same list of constituency branch members.

“Some people might not like the results of democracy,” Mr Burt said. “That’s normal, because not everyone gets to win. But we must trust in the democratic process.”

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