Candidates share views during advance polling day
Political candidates declared themselves pleased at the number of people who turned out to vote today ahead of the General Election.
Election workers, senior citizens and those who will be off the island on February 18 lined up outside Mount Saint Agnes Academy to choose their next parliamentary representatives.
Gavin Kennedy, independent candidate for Warwick West (Constituency 28), said the attendance showed that “voters are enthusiastic and our democratic system works”.
He explained: “This election is going to be pivotal, and if this is an indication of election day, then Bermudians are ready to put pen to paper and make a difference.”
Mr Kennedy called for electoral reforms including online and absentee voting.
He said: “We promote ourselves as a digital country, and there’s still pieces of paper and a pen [to vote].
“We are supposed to be the shining examples of the world when it comes to technology and we have to do this — I’m not understanding why this has never been a priority.”
Mr Kennedy urged people to “vote with their heart and for the future of this country”.
He will face Progressive Labour Party candidate Dennis Lister III and Victoria Cunningham, of the One Bermuda Alliance, next week.
Jaché Adams, the PLP candidate for Pembroke West (Constituency 20), was also encouraged by voter numbers.
The junior finance minister explained: “[Canvassing] is more of a listening experience and opportunity for constituents to let me know how they feel, whether good or bad, what we’ve done well, what we could improve upon and what they would like to see in the future.
“I would encourage everyone to exercise their democratic right. It is an absolute privilege and right that we have and we need to continue to exercise it.”
Mr Adams will face OBA candidate Marcus Jones, whom he defeated in 2020, as well independent candidate Suzie Arruda in the constituency.
Shalleya Codrington, the Free Democratic Movement candidate for Sandys North (Constituency 36), urged voters, who elected the PLP’s Reverend Emily Gail Dill to represent the area in October, to support the people who align with their values.
She explained: “We’re in a situation right now where everyone is struggling — even people that should not be struggling, are.
“Voters should look at what they are going through and vote for the person whom they believe can get them where they want to be.”
Ms Codrington will run against Dr Dill, the OBA’s Carl Neblett and independent Ci’re Bean next week.
Sophia Cannonier, the OBA candidate for Pembroke Central (Constituency 17), told voters: “Start to work on yourself as a person, align yourself first and then see who is going to make a difference.”
Ms Cannonier will face the PLP’s Jason Hayward, the FDM’s Ricardo Nesbitt and the independent Rolfe Commissiong in Constituency 17.
The Reverend Joseph Morley, an early voter from St George’s, said he wanted the next government to fix the island’s roads.
He explained: “As I make my way from east to west, the roads are pitiful and I don’t understand, with all the finances and taxes that are being laid out, why the roads have gone this way.”
Mr Morley, 65, said he would always exercise his right to vote and urged others to do the same.
Another early voter, 83-year-old Warwick resident Laquita Rocher, wants the roads to be fixed and tourism increased on the island.
Advance polling will close at 8pm today and reopen from 8am to 8pm at MSA tomorrow.
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