PLP Increases Majority In House To 25 – 11
Voters headed to the polls yesterday for the Paget East and Warwick North East by-elections, with two new MPs being elected and the PLP increasing their majority in the 36-seat House of Assembly to 25-11.
The OBA’s Scott Pearman won Paget East and the PLP’s Curtis Dickinson won Warwick North East, with the OBA earning a winning margin of 60.58% in Paget East, while in Warwick North East the PLP received 55.56% of the vote to win the seat.
PLP Increase Majority to 25-11
As both seats were previously held by the OBA — Jeff Baron in Warwick North East and Dr Grant Gibbons in Paget East — the PLP has increased their majority in the House from 24-12 to 25-11.
PLP Win Warwick North East
The PLP’s Curtis Dickinson defeated the OBA’s Justin Mathias to win Warwick North East, taking the PLP’s majority to 25-11 as they claimed the seat vacated by the resignation of former OBA MP Jeff Baron.
Mr Dickinson got 375 votes [55.56%], while Mr Mathias got 300 votes [44.44%], meaning he won the seat by a larger percentage than the OBA did in the 2017 General Election, when Mr Baron earned 53.53% of the vote.
Numbers
- Total Votes Cast: 675
- Number of Registered Voters: 1254
- Spoiled Ballots: 4
- Voter Turnout: 53.82%
- PLP’s Curtis Dickinson got 375 votes [55.56%]
- OBA’s Justin Mathias got 300 votes [44.44%]
- Winning Vote Margin: 75 votes
- Vote Change from last election: OBA dropped 9.09% [53.53% in 2017 to 44.44% in 2018]
Vote Change from last election: PLP increased 9.09% [46.47% in 2017 to 55.56% in 2018]
The PLP’s Curtis Dickinson and the OBA’s Justin Mathias at the polling station yesterday
OBA Win Paget East
Paget East saw the OBA’s Scott Pearman match up against the PLP’s Curtis Richardson in a seat many regard as a ‘safe seat’ for the OBA, and Mr Pearman held the seat for the OBA, earning 461 votes [60.58%] while Mr Richardson got 300 votes [39.42%],
This by-election was prompted by the resignation of former OBA MP Dr Grant Gibbons, who had been elected in the last four elections with winning margins from 64% to 80%.
Numbers
- Total Votes Cast: 761
- Number of Registered Voters: 1475
- Voter Turnout: 51.59%
- Rejected Ballots: 4
- OBA’s Scott Pearman got 461 votes [60.58%]
- PLP’s Curtis Richardson got 300 votes [39.42%]
- Winning Vote Margin: 161 votes
- Vote Change from last election: OBA dropped 3.36% [63.94% in 2017 to 60.58% in 2018]
- Vote Change from last election: PLP increased 3.36% [36.06% in 2017 to 39.42% in 2018]
OBA’s Scott Pearman and PLP’s Curtis Richardson at the polling station yesterday
PLP Response
In a statement last night, PLP Chairman Owen Darrell said, “The Progressive Labour Party is extremely pleased with the by-election results.
“We are truly heartened by the clear endorsement of our Government in the form of the decisive victory of Mr. Curtis Dickinson in Warwick North East tonight. His victory shows that our commitment to the people, our focus on creating jobs, and work to diversify the economy has resonated with the community and we are wholly encouraged.
“This additional seat adds to the overwhelming mandate delivered in 2017 and shows that Bermuda is in tune with the plan set forward by the PLP government. We also acknowledge the OBA candidate, Mr. Justin Mathias, for putting himself forward for political service.
“While we did not secure the seat in Paget East, we are very proud of the result of Mr. Curtis Richardson and his team. His commitment to Paget East is strong and he continues to make inroads.
“His narrowing of the gap is proof of the confidence the public has in the PLP Government. Mr. Richardson nearly cut the margin of victory from the 2017 general election in half. We thank the voters of Paget East that supported Mr. Richardson and we congratulate Mr. Scott Pearman on his victory.
“Our Members of Parliament will continue in the House of Assembly doing the people’s business. There is much work to be done. We thank the people of Warwick North East for delivering this victory for us and we will continue working for Bermuda.”
The PLP also held a press conference late last night after the results came in, with their supporters in good spirits as both candidates and Premier David Burt addressed them.
PLP press conference following the by-elections
OBA Response
Following the by-elections last night, Opposition Leader Jeanne Atherden said, “Tomorrow we will be in our seats ready to go with a team that will be very strong because we will continue to be the Opposition, the viable Opposition, and we will be talking about things which are important to Bermuda.
“This is the transition,” she added. “We have a team of young people and they will be out working to do things that are important to Bermuda.”
Asked about the OBA losing the Warwick North East seat, Ms Atherden said, “That doesn’t mean anything in terms of politics. This means that we have more people coming and we are in the process of rebuilding our organization.”
Speaking last night, newly elected OBA MP Scott Pearman joked that his first order of business was to get some sleep, and said “we need to make sure we have an effective Opposition, and I am now in the proud position of being able to start work tomorrow on that.
“I know there is a lot of rebuilding the Opposition needs to do and I look forward to being a part of that,” he added.
24-12 had more of a ring to it, but de people spoke.
25-11
Indeed it will be a relief that people will stop saying 24/12.
Be interesting to see how Curtis performs. It’s said he was out of his depth at the Bank and it’s unclear where he stands on core issues.
De People aren’t very bright.
Are you bright enough to take his job at de bank.
LOL
Different skill set – but smart enough? Lol, undoubtedly
Define ” de people”.
Dont hate congratulate, “de” is Bermuda vernacular.
Like, we bies are goin down “de” road.
Guess you have’nt been here long enough to know that.
Talk like a fool = a fool.
And you’re the one who hasn’t been here long enough if you don’t know who ‘puzzled’ is or where he is .. LMAO
LOL
Ya boy only won by 75 votes….not that confident in him lmfao. Try again!
Stop being a idiot. Do you realize that Jeff Baron won that area for the oba/UBP in 2017.
Now the UBP has lost it to the PLP by 75 votes LMFAO !!!!!!!!!!!!! Somethings you can’t make up LOLOLOLOL
75 1 2 or 4 a win is a win in the last general election in some oba strong holds they only won by 50 something votes
what the focus should be is this the oba had the seat their guy stepped down and they lost the seat
Obviously your candidate didn’t have too much confidence bestowed upon him at all. So we will take the 75 extra winning votes humbly thank you
Sure. The ppl meaning the MAJORITY of the ppl on the land who voted to have them elected. But to you those majority dont matter.
“Asked about the OBA losing the Warwick North East seat, Ms Atherden said, “That doesn’t mean anything in terms of politics. This means that we have more people coming and we are in the process of rebuilding our organization.”
So it appears Ms Atherden is OK with the low turnout and lack of confidence in her party? Guess what! That arrogant attitude was apparent in your canvassing. PLP ran a slick campaign and presented an eloquent, well qualified candidate.
They deserved the win.
Grow up onion juice. Maybe time for diaper change for you because you are full of s**t.
It doesn’t matter TBH, 24-12 or 25-11. The fact is, we have a racist, homophobic government, who are anti-inclusion, who are peddling influence for gain who, apparently, have the backing of the majority. It’s not good for Bermuda, it’s not good for anyone. Populist conservative politics is the last thing the world needs.
This is why stupid people should not be allowed to vote. This is how you get Brexit, Trump, the PC’s in Toronto.
The smart people are leaving.
Such vile aggression, cant we all just get along?
No
….and that’s is why the oba/ubp lost all the surrogates.
So funny. By these troll comments you would have thought the PLP were going to lose and the OBA was gaining back strength. Well anyone with common sense and their head not stuck in sand knew that that was a total lie. But what do you expect from a group of proven liars, i.e. the obaubp. Number dont lie. The oba lies but not the numbers. No more 24-12 25-11 is the new one. And more heads are going to keep rolling. The oba got in power by deception and with that can only last for so long.
The PLP will be in power for years to come not unless they empty the people’s purse completely and someone vanishes with David’s bitcoins
Just another nail in the coffin that is Bermuda.
What bothers me the most about this is the complete lack of nous in either party. The OBA is an utter failure and the PLP are just naive. Our lovely country is ripe for the plucking as we are led by numpties who are looking for crypto currencies on the train tracks while the high speed OECD tax avoidance train is barreling down the tracks towards us. Can anyone say bye, bye international business and hello to a third world bankrupt economy?