A roll call of 36 Progressive Labour Party candidates was proudly declared at Alaska Hall ahead of nominations for the General Election.

David Burt listed his full slate of contenders, completing the list to include Lauren Hayward Bell for Smith’s South (Constituency 8), André Famous for Devonshire South Central (Constituency 12) and Dawn Simmons, the party chairwoman, for Paget East (Constituency 22).

The Premier and PLP leader said that of the 36 candidates, 13 are female, representing a record for any party.

Mr Burt earlier addressed some in attendance, telling them “there’s no reason to be quiet”.

He added: “This is a day of celebration.”

Surrounded by his team, the Premier listed each member along with some of their most significant achievements.

He said: “This PLP team is the better choice for Bermuda.

“Our team may differ in opinions experiences and even approaches to serving our people, but we are united by one common mission — to build a fairer Bermuda for all of us.”

Mr Burt said the election is about a fundamental choice”.

He said the PLP had provided relief during the highest global inflation in 40 years through a raft of measures including raising seniors’ pensions, introducing a minimum wage, and expanding access to affordable child care and housing.

Speaking of the One Bermuda Alliance, Mr Burt added: “They made one thing clear — they will not fight for us.”

He said the party had “turned their back on those who stood up against their plans to fundamentally change what it means to be Bermudian by resurrecting the political career of the architect of Pathways to Status, hoping that time will forget what they put you and your families through the last time they were in office”.

It was a reference to the announcement Thursday that Michael Fahy will run for the OBA in Pembroke South West (Constituency 20), where he will face the PLP’s Iesha Musson and the independent candidate Vic Ball, formerly of the OBA.

Jarion Richardson, the Leader of the Opposition, has defended the move, saying Mr Fahy “truly wants what’s best for our entire country”.

Mr Burt said that the OBA, along with the Free Democratic Movement and independent candidates, were united to “take us backwards".

Mr Famous said he had worked in the construction industry for more than 40 years, owning a business and working for D & J Construction, and wanted to find a way to “create housing at an affordable rate”.

He said he is also passionate about getting young people employed.

The lifelong PLP member said he received a call about five weeks ago inviting him to consider candidacy for the first time, having done "a lot of heavy lifting, building support" behind the scenes for the party.

Having given it thought, he decided now was his time to step forward, Mr Famous said.

Mr Burt said the PLP had put together a team that combined “experience and energy, ideas and wisdom, youth and seasoning”.

“It is the right team for the job,” he said, adding “We feature a record 13 female candidates because in today’s Bermuda, women are strong, capable and ready to lead towards a fairer Bermuda for all of us.

“Meanwhile, the One Bermuda Alliance is offering just six women and only two Black women.”

The Premier said the PLP also represented “the next generation that will lead us into the future” listing candidates Shomari Talbot-Woolridge, Alexa Lightbourne, Jache Adams, Iesha Musson and Dennis Lister III.

Mr Burt said: “At the heart of our platform, set to be unveiled next week, is a fundamental commitment — no Bermudians should be left behind.

“It means strengthening protections for workers, that hard work is rewarded with fair pay, it means expanding access to healthcare … it means giving relief to the sandwich generation ensuring child care is available to all and that our senior daycare centres provide safe, enriching community spaces for our elders, and peace of mind for their children.

“It means driving down food prices, more affordable housing for Bermudians and it means continuing to move Bermuda steadily towards a fairer Bermuda for all of us because that is what is at our core. That is what we stand for and that is what we are fighting for, a simple but powerful belief — fairness.”

At the close of Mr Burt’s speech, Gombey Dancers began a performance in the street before there was a procession to Mount Saint Agnes Academy for nomination day.