A businesswoman involved in politics since 2009 has thrown her hat in the ring as an independent candidate in the next General Election.

Karen Hodgkins intends to use her business experience, which spans more than 30 years, as she campaigns for a seat in Southampton West Central.

Ms Hodgkins announced her candidacy at Evans Bay, Southampton today, where she resides.

She said: “I believe I am the right person for this job. I have run my own business for 33 years and I made it very successful.

“I am a visionary and a hard worker and I know how to get things done.

“In my business I have spent those years counselling and helping clients to become healthier and happier people.

“This is my passion — helping people. Now I would like to take that passion and help my country.”

Ms Hodgkins said she was looking forward to meeting constituents in Southampton West Central and planned to hold a town hall meeting at St Anne’s Church Hall on Saturday from 11am to 1pm.

She entered politics when she joined the Bermuda Democratic Alliance, which merged with the United Bermuda Party to become the One Bermuda Alliance.

She held several posts in the OBA, including executive party secretary, deputy chair and women’s caucus chair.

In the 2020 General Election, she was the OBA’s candidate for Southampton West, which was won by the Progressive Labour Party’s Scott Simmons.

In an opinion piece in The Royal Gazette last Friday, Ms Hodgkins said she had decided to run as an independent since she believed the island needed a new path.

She said there was need for “new vision and an unencumbered elected government working for the people not a political party agenda”.

Today she highlighted issues, including housing, which she felt was “at crisis point”.

“We must have housing for our people,” she said. “Our homeless need a new purpose-built shelter.

“What good are we as a country if we can’t take care of our most vulnerable citizens?”

She said complexes with studios and one-bedroom apartments should be built to cater to the island’s youth and single mothers.

Ms Hodgkins also called for the elimination of the 75 per cent sugar tax, to cut food prices.

She said: “People are struggling to pay their groceries — so why is the Government burdening them with this huge tax?”

She said legislation covering harassment and stalking in domestic violence cases needed updating.

Ms Hodgkins said “women and men need proper protection” and pledged that, if elected, she would bring a local version of Britain’s Protection from Harassment Act to the House of Assembly.

She called for the replacement of the island’s duty import tax system with a sales tax on goods.

She added: “This would be, in my opinion, a much fairer system, as those that buy the most expensive products would pay more taxes.

“It would also help the cost of living to go down as the duty on imports would be slashed and passed on to consumers.”

Ms Hodgkins proposed a dog park for the island, and said Bermuda needed a multi-purpose entertainment centre for concerts, theatre and other events.

“This could also be used by our young people who are interested in the arts and theatre,” she said.

“Bermuda deserves a facility like this to add to the quality of our lives.”