PLP Announce New Senator: Kim Wilkerson
[Updated] The Progressive Labour Party announced this morning that Kim Wilkerson will serve as their new Senator.
According to her bio [PDF], Senator Wilkerson has 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, including 15 years in the brokerage area.
In addition to holding the Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriters [CPCU] designation, she is admitted as a Barrister & Attorney in England & Wales and Bermuda and is a qualified Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
The position in the Senate opened due to Diallo Rabain winning the Constituency 13 Devonshire North Central by-election, and becoming an MP, a position he was officially sworn in for this past Friday.
The Senate consists of eleven members appointed by the Governor, with five appointed on the advice of the Premier, three on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, and the final three are Independent Senators are appointed at the discretion of the Governor.
The Senate now consists of the three Independents [Carol Anne Bassett, Joan Dillas-Wright & James Jardine], the three Opposition/PLP Senators [Kim Wilkerson, Renee Ming & Marc Daniels] and the five Government/OBA Senators [Michael Fahy, Lynne Woolridge, Vic Ball, Georgia Marshall & Jeff Baron].
Update 11.07am: Speaking at today’s announcement, Ms Wilkerson said, “Today I have the distinct privilege of being named as the Progressive Labour Party’s newest Senator. To be a member of our legislature’s Upper House allows me the opportunity to not only work diligently for the people of Bermuda, but also to ensure that every piece of legislation that is passed is in their best interest.
“Working in the insurance industry for over 30 years, I have been able to ascertain a great understanding of the needs of businesses, while remaining true to the grassroots causes which I have been a part of.
“These experiences have culminated in this moment, and I am happy to share my knowledge, experience, and insight as I work with the Opposition Senate Leader, Marc Daniels, and Senator Renee Ming to ensure that we as an island remain attractive to businesses to encourage economic growth, while ensuring that our people are able to live their lives with dignity and respect.
“To the Opposition Leader, The Hon. Marc Bean, I thank you for this opportunity, and stand behind you, and the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party as we advocate for good governance, better labour relations, economic diversification, education reform and fiscal responsibility.
“Bermuda is at a crossroad, and it is my belief that we must do things differently to get the results we so desperately need as a country. No longer will the status quo do. Now is the time for us to put our best foot forward, our hearts in our work, and persevere until the people of Bermuda experience economic and social conditions which are mote advantageous than they are presently.
“I thank you for your time and attention, and look forward to the work ahead.”
Update 11.14am: PLP Leader Marc Bean said, “With the PLP’s latest success at the polls, an opportunity has been afforded for me to appoint a new Senator to the Upper House of our Legislature.
“An opportunity has arisen for another outstanding citizen to begin fulfilling their civic duty at the highest level, and an opportunity has arisen for us to introduce to you the caliber of persons working within the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party to make Bermuda work better for its people.
“It is my distinct pleasure to announce that Ms. Kim Wilkerson, JP, will be joining the Opposition Senate team, and assisting our new Senate Leader, Senator Marc Daniels, in advocating for the people of Bermuda.
“As a lawyer and business executive with over 30 years of experience, and strong community ties, Senator Wilkerson brings the experience to the Progressive Labour Party team that is necessary as we hold the Government accountable, while we prepare ourselves as the Government-in-waiting.
“Senator Wilkerson brings a wealth of knowledge and experience through her professional and philanthropic work, that will prove to be an asset as she analyzes and scrutinizes legislation that comes before the Senate.
“Senator Wilkerson is committed to good governance, hard work, and service to the people, and thus she is an appropriate fit for the direction in which the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party intends to go.”
Great appointment!
Outstanding, greatness of this appointment.
Congrats Ms.Kim Wilkerson. ….look forward to hearing your voice for the people. …
Great Job Leader Bean. So very proud of your selection, winning the last by election with such an excellent candidate. You will survive this – those naysayers and disenfranchised within with your leadership needs to come to the table with an apology the party. We have a winnable team, lets carry on with the people’s business and win at all polls in the next election – we can make a major sweep. Even the others talking about 3rd party are just frustrated and won’t take any seats, they are funded by the rich and they can’t have it both ways.
Agreed. The same ones that were part of the BDA start up-brake up party (which was funded by UBPOBA) are being encouraged by the UBPOBA to start up a 3rd party. Fools don’t see the writing on the wall. They will now find a Black female Cannonier/surrogate to carry out the banner – laughable at most. This time they are trying to start out east and work inwards but silly rabbits tricks are for the kids they use.
This is fantastic news, congratulations Kim!
Excellent selection! If this is the caliber of person Mr Bean can bring to the table, I may have to give the PLP another shot.
Congratulations Senator Wilkerson!
She`s a plant by the rebels to oust Bean, I`m telling you!!!
Nice to see another female Parliamentarian – ESPECIALLY because the PLP seem to have an unfortunate record of relevance for and respect of women. Let us hope this lady can hold Mr. Bean to account…although she is appointed and is somewhat muzzled…
Nice left handed compliment there “vixen star”
this is such a great choice! I am confident that Kim will do some amazing things! Congratulations to her, Mr. Bean and the PLP.
I am so glad to see this new appointment! Mr. Bean, if this is what cleaning house looks like, it’s okay with me. Congratulations Kim.
Yes, I’m all behind Mr. Bean cleaning house & bringing more people like Senator Wilkerson to the table. Lets continue to move forward PLP. And congratulations to kim wilkerson. Very pleased with this
Excellent appointment.
Ms. Wilkerson brings a wealth of private sector experience along with community service to the table.
She will be a wonderful advocate for the people and I am so pleased to see this appointment.
Congratulations Kim, I’ve known you for a long time and you will bring balance to the PLP.
Welcome Kim…good luck with your position.
This lady certainly has excellent credentials. Hopefully she can use them to help her new colleagues to understand the importance fiscal responsibility
Hopefully she’ll be named shadow finance minister
Congratulations Kim! Extreme Value Added!
Congratulations Ms Wilkerson.
Kim will be an incredible representative of the people of Bermuda. I’m so glad that the PLP has had the insight to appoint such an individual. I wish her all the best.
I will admit it’s a start in the right direction,be it a small step for now, I know, I know a journey of a thousand miles blah blah blah.
Another opportunity to make the PLP just a little bit diverse, squandered.
Congratulations Kim! Leadership qualities and character I look forward to the day that she becomes our Premier.
Yes, concur. Solid addition.
Excellent appointment! Congrats Kim!
Congratulations! Ms. Wilkerson is a beautiful and extremely intelligent lady!! I wish her all the best as she represents the people of Bermuda. She has both the business acumen and grassroots sensitivity to make an incredible impact. Well done PLP!!!
Ms. Wilkinson’s appointment is an opportunity for her to educate some of the other PLP Members to how to behave and respect others. Good luck to her.
Congratulations Kim. Well done PLP!
Excellent appointment! And future Premier… New Beginings for the PLP.
to ms.wilkerson congratulations all best to you
congrats to this sister & marc daniels, very wise choices
Respice Finem
I have always given Kim more credit than this…how disappointing that she would associate herself with the PLP….
There’s always got to be someone that has something negative to say. Senator Wilkerson is knowledgeable enough to act on her own and clearly feels as though her abilities, talents and expertise are better utilized within the PLP ranks. Respect that. End of story.
act on your own in the PLP and you are gone…..
Kim Wilkerson – Future leader of the PLP!!!! Now that would be an EXTREMELY wise move.
She stands behind Marc Bean as leader!
Any credibility she has just went out the window, including with the majority of MP’s in the House who clearly want Bean out!!! She may have the shortest lived tenure as a Senator in history!
Ms. Wilkerson will just have to prove you wrong. She has a brilliant mind that will carry her a long way.Just ask IB.