A former chairman of the Free Democratic Movement announced this afternoon that he will run as an independent candidate in the General Election.

Rayki Bascome-Emery is to stand in Paget East (Constituency 22).

It was announced last year that the FDM had replaced Mr Bascome-Emery as chairman of the party with Omar Dill.

Mr Bascome-Emery said today that he is also working with residents of the constituency to address key issues affecting them such as garbage disposal and community infrastructure projects.

Along with other members of a group called “Project 22”, he said, he intends to ensure residents in Paget East are always kept up to date with current affairs.

He said: “They need to have copies of the Hansard regularly delivered to them, e-mail updates every week and things that allow them to know that they are being represented correctly.”

In a statement about his candidacy, he said: “I debated this with my friends for weeks before deciding to run as an independent candidate.

“They told me not to do it. They said that it would be too difficult, that I have other endeavours in my life that could use my attention and that I do not need politics getting in the way.

He added: “We came up with this idea that I made a commitment to do this for the people of C22.

“Always being there and always being a representative for the people of my community is more important than anything else.”

Mr Bascome-Emery represented the FDM on several public issues.

Last April, he appeared alongside party leader Marc Bean at a forum announcing the relaunch of the party.

Asked about his decision to leave the FDM, Mr Bascome-Emery said he resigned as chairman of the party in October.

He added: “With that I Ieft the party in general. This isn’t something that came up in the last week or two.

“It was not a decision that I took lightly; it wasn’t something that I just made happen on the spot.”

He said that last May he decided to campaign in Paget East with the FDM and in November he started his groundwork as an independent hopeful by meeting residents and holding discussions with them on various issues.

Mr Bascome-Emery said: “At the end of the day, I don’t think that party politics is completely a problem in this country.

“I just think that some of the people that are involved in party politics aren’t the right people to be there right now.

“I don’t think that the independent movement might be the best thing for the country but people have to find representation somewhere.”

He explained that he entered politics with the Progressive Labour Party 15 years ago and later thought of being an independent candidate.

Mr Bascome-Emery said: “The reality is, when it comes to constituency issues and focusing on the people in the constituency, independents might do a great job. But when it comes to forming a government it might not be the best thing for the country.

“So my goal is to represent the interests of the people of Constituency 22.”

Among the issues Mr Bascome-Emery said he is committed to addressing is the closure of the Gilbert Institute in Paget.

He said even if he is not elected, he plans to work with the parents of children attending the school.

The Government announced last year that the school will close its doors in June as part of its education reform.

Mr Bascome-Emery said: “The goal is to try to keep it open. But even if I’m not elected, we’re going to try to do something to work with them.”

Other issues he plans to address in Paget East are trash collection, prices on select goods, employment opportunities and solutions to reduce antisocial behaviour — all provided through businesses in the community.

In the 2020 General Election, Scott Pearman, of the One Bermuda Alliance, won in Paget East, winning 472, or about 56 per cent, of the votes.

At the time, Curtis Richardson for the PLP was backed by 365 voters.

Mr Pearman will attempt to hold the seat for the OBA at the election next month. The PLP website had not listed a candidate for the constituency at the time of publication.

Asked about his chances of winning the seat, Mr Bascome-Emery said residents have shared insights that led him to believe the OBA may not win the seat next month.

He said: “The people have been accustomed to party politics but they have been let down.

“The reality is change can happen, and it just comes down to who is willing to work the hardest for the people and prove that every day is Monday.”