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East to west: OBA candidate roll-out spans island

Strong, cohesive and committed: the One One Bermuda Alliance presented nine candidates for next month’s General Election yesterday. Shown, from left are Montell Currin, Tarik Smith, Clifton Lambert, Rodrae Durrant, Victoria Cunningham, David Rogers, James Perry, and Deon Smith. Not pictured is Kellan Lewis (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

The One Bermuda Alliance introduced nine candidates who will run in the upcoming General Election, two of whom will replace former hopefuls in the East End.

Clifton Lambert, David Rogers, Montell Currin, Deon Smith, Kellan Lewis and Rodrae Durrant were all announced as new faces for the party.

Tarik Smith and Victoria Cunningham also confirmed their candidacies for Warwick South East (Constituency 24) and Warwick West (Constituency 28) respectively, while James Perry took on candidacy for St George’s North (Constituency 1).

During the announcement, party leader Jarion Richardson touched on criticisms made by Justin Mathias, a former OBA candidate who said the party was “not a viable option”.

Mr Richardson said: “The OBA has reformed and changed significantly in the years since his absence, and it would be very difficult to validate his position or questions.

“I’m afraid that I don’t know what he’s talking about. He hasn’t been around long enough to know what he’s talking about.”

Ready to govern on day one: Jarion Richardson, the Leader of the One Bermuda Alliance, during the unveiling of nine OBA candidates (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

Mr Mathias, who will now run as an independent, said in an op-ed published in The Royal Gazette that the party was in disarray.

He also described Mr Richardson’s call for an election as “morally reprehensible” because the party lacked a full slate of candidates and did not have enough individuals with “the calibre to form a government”.

Mr Richardson insisted “for the millionth time” that his party had 36 candidates ready to form a government.

He also said: “As you can see from the people in this room, we have a team that is ready to govern on day one.

“This is a strong, cohesive and committed team dedicated to the future of our country.”

Mr Richardson admitted that he was initially nervous to take on the role as party leader and expressed apprehension when he first joined the party.

He added that, as time went on, he viewed the role as “an incredible opportunity to serve even more”.

Mr Richardson said: “I’m so, so lucky. I lead an incredible team of people who have been around for four years, five years working in the trenches every day to change Bermuda and make Bermuda a better place.”

Ready to serve: Rodrae Durrant, right, and Tarik Smith, will run for the One Bermuda Alliance in the General Election (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

Mr Perry will replace Tia Smith as an OBA candidate for St George’s North, while Mr Lambert will replace Elizabeth Deacon in the running for St George’s South (Constituency 4).

Mr Richardson said both women chose not to run because “life circumstances” prevented them from making the long-term commitment.

He said that both members still served as party officers and volunteers.

Ready to serve: Clifton Lambert stands as the new One Bermuda Alliance candidate for St George’s South (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

Mr Lambert, who served in the Royal Bermuda Regiment and is legally blind, said that he hoped to focus on strengthening the economy, adding that “from that runs everything else”.

He said his biggest concern was the cost of living, particularly for seniors, and claimed that many had left the island over the issue.

Mr Lambert said: “I think that I can help, especially after putting 45 years in the military and serving maybe 10,000 men and women in Bermuda. I think I have something to offer and I will not hold back.”

Full confidence: Victoria Cunningham, a One Bermuda Alliance candidate, talks canvassing at a press conference, as party leader Jarion Richardson looks on (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

Mr Rogers will run in Devonshire North West (Constituency 14) and Mr Smith will stand in Southampton East (Constituency 29).

Mr Currin, a former joint party chairman of the United Bermuda Party, will run in Warwick South Central (Constituency 26).

Mr Lewis will run in Southampton West (Constituency 32), while Mr Durrant will campaign in Sandys North Central (Constituency 35).

Mr Perry ran for St George’s North during the 2020 General Election against the Progressive Labour Party’s Renée Ming, who held the spot with 608 votes against Mr Perry’s 195.

Tarik Smith ran for Warwick South East in the 2020 General Election.

He challenged Lawrence Scott of the Progressive Labour Party for the seat while running against independent candidate David William Burch.

Mr Scott held the constituency with 564 votes, while Mr Smith received 240 votes and Mr Burch 13.

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Published January 21, 2025 at 10:45 pm (Updated January 22, 2025 at 12:29 am)

East to west: OBA candidate roll-out spans island

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