A staggering 110 candidates will stand in the February 18 General Election after the deadline for nominations closed today.

The two main parties — the Progressive Labour Party and the One Bermuda Alliance — fielded a full slate of 36 candidates each, while the Free Democratic Movement put forward ten.

Across the island, 27 people will run as independent candidates and one — Eugene Dean — is to run under the Emperial Group in Sandys South (Constituency 33).

The PLP and the OBA rolled out several candidates just hours before the deadline for nominations.

At a press conference this morning, David Burt, the Premier, confirmed that 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) will be representing the PLP.

The OBA confirmed that brothers Charlie and Michael Swan will be running in Devonshire North Central (Constituency 13) and Sandys North Central (Constituency 33) respectively.

The OBA also made a late switch, with Sophia Cannonier replacing Glenn Tucker in the running for Pembroke Central (Constituency 17).

There was a party atmosphere on Dundonald Street as candidates arrived en mass at Mount Saint Agnes Academy, where nominations were being taken by Parliamentary Registry staff.

The PLP team, led by a Gombey troupe, marched from Alaska Hall and arrived at the nomination venue just as its doors opened at 11am.

OBA candidates arrived shortly after with party leader Jarion Richardson at the head of the group.

Once the formalities of registration had been completed that vast majority of nominees remained in the vicinity. There were plenty of smiles, hugs and back claps between candidates of rival parties.

There was one point that candidates agreed on — that nomination day was a celebration of democracy.

Mr Burt, accompanied by his son Edward, said: “Today is an exercise in democracy and we’re excited to represent the Progressive Labour Party in this election.”

Robert King, who is standing in Smith’s North, described the election as historic.

He said: “The upbeat mood is genuine. This is a pivotal election that will go down in history.”

Independent candidate Rolfe Commissiong agreed.

He said: “I wouldn't bet against a hung parliament. If that happened it would represent a new day for the country."

Veteran politician Kim Swan, representing the PLP in St George’s West (Constituency 2), said that he still got excited at election time.

“I’m a young-at-heart person and it’s great to see democracy at work,” he said.

Marc Bean, the leader of the FDM, said that he had been waiting with anticipation for the day to arrive.

He said: “I just hope that everyone has a wonderful time and pray that the tone of the election is tempered and people focus on the fact that this is a democratic exercise and hopefully people come out and exercise their vote.

“We don’t want people to stay home.”

Mr Bean was also adamant that, although his team was small in number, it could have an impact on the election.

He said: “Sometimes quality is more important than quantity. We have a strong ten that we feel will be able to relate in the constituencies they’ve been nominated in.

“Hopefully people will understand that we’re just offering a choice. We feel that our presence gives additional options.”

Owen Darrell for the PLP said: “I’m feeling excited. This is my second time at nomination day and it’s always a day of celebration.

“This is the first official step of candidacy so to see so many supporters out … it feels really good.

“Even to see the other parties go in … it shows that democracy is alive and well in Bermuda.”

Independent candidate Tiffany Paynter said that there were good people in the parties and among the independents, and that a "dream team" could be created from the best of them.

Asked if the new faces brought enough political experience to the table, Ms Paynter replied: "We need to be teachable. We need to lean on the experience of those who have been doing it longer than us.

“We have to learn to fly as we leap.“

Omar Dill, the FDM chairman who is running in an election for the first time, agreed that there was some camaraderie among political rivals.

He said: “I think in Bermuda we’re all a lot closer than we make out in public.

“Good people tend to recognise good people and there are a lot of good people in politics.

“To have 100 candidates run is indicative of the state that the country’s in. It shows that people are not happy.”

Candidates also agreed that they had received positive feedback when out on the election campaign trail.

Ben Smith, the deputy leader of the OBA, said: “So far the campaign’s been going really well.

“The people that have been rolled out for a long time have been out in the community. I believe the country is ready for change.

“We’ve put together a team that will help the country to move forward in a direction that is diverse, takes care of all our community.”

• Videos by Kyle McNeil and Nkenge Boyles, additional reporting by Sékou Hendrickson