A former Progressive Labour Party MP said he is “leaning towards” running as an independent candidate in the next General Election.

Rolfe Commissiong said the move was under consideration against the backdrop of “massive global change”, which he said put Bermuda at a point where significant adjustments were needed to its political landscape.

He said change was also required in the island’s economic model, which he claimed was no longer serving the broader population.

Mr Commissiong said: “I haven’t made the final decision yet. I’m really leaning that way and I’ve been supportive of the movement for independent candidates.

“I think it is a movement which is growing and it is gaining its momentum.”

He added that he had not made a decision on which constituencies he might run in, but said that he had done some preliminary work in two.

Mr Commissiong said the independent politicians who ran in recent by-elections — Sir John Swan in Smith’s North and Ci’re Bean in Sandys North — placed Bermuda ahead of party politics.

He said: “I think we are a point where that has to be front and centre.

“You know you are doing something right when the status quo parties are beginning to turn their sights on this movement and try to turn public sentiment away from the movement. But I think they are going to fail.”

Mr Commissiong, who served as the PLP MP for Pembroke South East between December 2012 and August 2020, said independent candidates will place the people first, not a party and its “prerogatives”.

He said: “Look at the decline in voter participation at the last two by-elections, especially the last one at Sandys North.”

“So, is this another canary in the coalmine of our democracy?” he asked.

“Clearly the levels of disillusionment and discontent with the established parties has only grown since 2020.”

Mr Commissiong shared his views about the island’s economy and politics during a panel discussion last Wednesday with independent candidates Mr Bean and Dwight Jackson, broadcast on Bernews.

Mr Jackson has announced his intention to run as an independent in Smith’s West at the next General Election.

During the discussion, Mr Commissiong said Bermuda’s economic model no longer benefited residents.

He added that statistics released by the Ministry of Economy and Labour recently indicated that fewer Bermudians are finding jobs.

Mr Commissiong said: “There is more income and wealth going into fewer and fewer hands.

“It’s a lack of connection between the real lives of Bermudians and the lives of those who are at the top of the income and wealth of Bermuda.”

He noted: “The independents are committed to a type of constitutional and political reform or change that is long overdue.

“That will create a system of independent candidates, hopefully being dominant within the House of Assembly, that will be in a better position to tackle a lot of these issues which we are finding on the doorsteps.”

He said the political parties have been more of an “obstruction to change”, rather than being able to facilitate it.

Residents are facing economic issues which are beyond their means, he added.

He explained: “In Bermuda today, the cost of living is so ruinous, if your household is not enjoying a minimum of $100,000 per annum, that household could be struggling especially if they have one or two children.”

Mr Commissiong said statistics from the previous General Election indicated that there is discontent among over 10,000 voters.

He said: “I contend that there is still a large portion of voters who have simply been turned off because they saw no option, no alternative to both Government and Opposition who frankly are just viewed as being one and the same.”

Mr Commissiong added: “I think the challenge for the independents is you’ve got to give [voters] something to vote for because a lot of them are already on the couch.

“I contend that the dissatisfaction level has only increased, more people are being turned off and feeling that there is really no option for them in getting integral issues addressed. That is not healthy for our democracy.”

He said a vote for an independent candidate was a vote for a change.

Mr Commissiong added: “I want Bermudians to understand, that they don’t need to throw their vote away, there is an alternative.

“I think the move for independent candidates is going to produce those persons who are going to provide that alternative.”