Michael Fahy celebrated his first victory at the polls after seven years away from politics.

While the former Minister of Home Affairs thanked the voters of Pembroke South West (Constituency 20) who came out to make their voices heard, he said a low voter turnout showed the level of apathy in the community and a desire for change.

“I think the lesson that will come out of this election is the country really wants to see less animosity and more people coming together for the benefit of the country,” Mr Fahy said.

“I think that has been shown by the number of independent candidates, and I think it has been shown by the turnout overall. People are looking for something more.

“That is the message I have gotten on the doorstep repeatedly. That they are sick of politics as usual and they are looking for solutions to today’s problems and not the back and forth that has existed for far too long.”

Mr Fahy secured 403 votes at the ballot, beating out PLP candidate Iesha Musson, who won 87 votes, and independent candidate Vic Ball, who won 62 votes.

Among the 555 ballots there was one spoilt ballot and two rejected ballots.

Pembroke South West was considered one of the safer seats for the One Bermuda Alliance.

Despite the PLP’s landslide victory in the 2020 General Election, Susan Jackson held the seat for the OBA winning almost 80 per cent of the 609 votes cast.

This year’s race was complicated by the announcement that the incumbent Ms Jackson was stepping away from politics with Mr Fahy subsequently named as her successor.

Mr Fahy previously served as a senator and the Minister of Home Affairs under the OBA, but quit politics after the party’s 2017 loss at the polls.

His selection as a candidate sparked controversy because he was seen as the face of the Pathways to Status immigration proposals that drew immediate condemnation from the PLP in Opposition — leading to mass demonstrations in 2016 that blockaded the House of Assembly, causing the legislation to be shelved.

Another twist in the story of this year’s election came when Mr Ball, a former OBA candidate, threw his hat in the ring as an independent candidate after his high-profile exit from the party.

While Mr Fahy’s return to politics sparked a fierce response from the PLP, he said yesterday that the negative approach was one of the reasons behind the voter apathy faced in the election.

“It’s easy to have smears, it’s easy to have a campaign that is based on negative nonsense, and I think and believe that the people of this country are tired of that,” Mr Fahy said.

“I do believe that’s part of what the apathy is and part of what the low turnout is. People are exhausted by it and the country is looking for solutions, not smears.”

Ms Musson said she was thankful for the support she had received from residents.

“It has been a journey,” she said. “I have truly enjoyed listening to their concerns, being able to support where I can and seeing them come out today.”

Mr Ball, meanwhile, praised the hard work of both of his opponents in the election.

“Michael Fahy will make an excellent parliamentarian and he will certainly improve the One Bermuda Alliance, whether they are the government or the opposition,” he said.

“Having spent some time with Iesha Musson today, I believe that she will one day make a very good parliamentarian and, if the PLP decide to put her in the Senate, I believe that she would do an excellent job.”