Video: PLP Candidate Joanne Ball-Burgess

January 29, 2025 | 12 Comments

[Updated] The PLP announced that Joanne Ball-Burgess will be their new candidate for C25 Warwick North East in the upcoming general election.

The Premier said, “After discussions with Senator Arianna Hodgson and the Constituency 25 branch, a decision has been made to move forward with a new candidate for the upcoming election.”

Update 1.25pm: Party Leader and Premier David Burt’s remarks:

Good Morning, PLP family, friends, supporters, members of the media, and the residents of Constituency 25, Warwick North East.

This election is about the kind of Bermuda we want to build—a Bermuda where fairness and opportunity are not just ideals that we aspire to but realities that Bermudians deserve to see in their lives every day.

Over the last seven years, the PLP Government has worked tirelessly to make Bermuda a fairer place for all, a place where residents and businesses are not overburdened by taxes, where workers are protected, and where our seniors can live with dignity.

We have done this by reducing taxes for 86% of workers and every local business, implementing Bermuda’s first-ever minimum wage, increasing pensions for our seniors in line with inflation, and making historic investments in affordable housing. We have expanded and increased childcare assistance, eliminated duty on essential food items, and reduced energy taxes to ease the burden on families.

These are not just policies, not just promises kept, but tangible steps that we have taken to begin building a fairer Bermuda. However, our work is not yet done.

We must continue to do what is necessary to ensure no Bermudian is left behind. To do this, we need a team of leaders with a track record of delivering positive change and uplifting those around them.

After discussions with Senator Arianna Hodgson and the Constituency 25 branch, a decision has been made to move forward with a new candidate for the upcoming election. While Senator Hodgson will not contest the seat on behalf of the PLP, we sincerely thank her for her contributions, her commitment to public service and her work for Bermuda and the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party and look forward to her contributions in the future.

Today, I am proud to introduce a candidate who is a woman of action, a community leader, an artist, an educator, and an entrepreneur. I am thrilled to announce that Joanne Ball Burgess will be the Progressive Labour Party’s candidate for Constituency 25, Warwick North East.

Joanne’s journey is both inspiring and deeply rooted in service to others. Born and raised in Warwick, she is a proud Bermudian who has dedicated her life to empowering young people, preserving our culture, and using creativity as a tool for education and transformation. Her educational achievements include a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy from Oral Roberts University and a Master’s in Education and Organizational Management from Endicott College.

Joanne’s career has taken her around the world, where she has used her expertise and passion to uplift others. In Kenya, she founded The Cottage School, an interdisciplinary educational institution that integrated STEM, life sciences, and the performing arts.

Her commitment to empowering youth was also evident during her time in Papua New Guinea, where she developed education programs focusing on performing arts and therapeutic movements to support underserved communities.

Since returning to Bermuda, Joanne has continued her passion for education and community engagement. She has authored best-selling children’s books, advanced environmental education programmes for young people and launched Bermuda’s first Young Reporters for the Environment [YRE] competition.

Additionally, Joanne has served as Lead for Communications and Engagement in the Ministry of Education’s Reform Unit, where she worked to strengthen public engagement and ensure that critical initiatives were effectively communicated.

But more than her impressive resume, Joanne is the proud mother of three boys who inspire her to work for a brighter future for them and Bermuda’s future generations. Joanne understands that to create that brighter future, action is needed, and she has decided to get involved. She is ready to listen, to work, and to help the PLP build a fairer Bermuda for all of us.

Warwick North East deserves that kind of representative, and they will get that kind of representative in Joanne. She will bring fresh energy, innovative ideas, and a deep love for our island to her constituency and the House of Assembly.

So, PLP family, I ask you to join me in welcoming Joanne Ball Burgess as the Progressive Labour Party’s candidate for Constituency 25. Thank you.

Joanne Ball-Burgess’ remarks:

Thank you to the PLP family, The Honorable Premier, and The Honorable Deputy Premier, Minister Walter Roban, for placing your faith in me as a candidate. Your trust and support mean so much to me.

To the Members of Parliament here today, my family, friends, the people of Bermuda, the members of the media, and the public, It is with great honour and a deep sense of responsibility that I, Joanne Ball- Burgess, am here today as the candidate for Constituency 25. This opportunity represents my unwavering commitment to serve our community. I am driven by a desire to make a tangible difference in the lives of the people of Bermuda, fostering growth, equity, and opportunities for each and every person.

I grew up in Warwick on Marl Lane, where every day was an adventure. Evening swims at Surf Side, selling snowballs with friends on Ord Road, skating down Spring Hill, and running through the tracks near Bright Temple Church filled my childhood with joy and discovery. Picking loquats and cherries, attending Brownies and Girl Guides at Cedar Hill, and rescuing the occasional stray cat were all part of the magic of growing up in our neighbourhood. One of my mother’s favorite stories captures the spirit of my childhood perfectly: a parent once approached her, concerned because her daughter was overwhelmed with lines she had to learn for a play. My mother, puzzled, asked, “What play?” It turned out that I had gathered the neighbourhood kids, handwritten scripts for everyone, and convinced them to perform a play for the parents. Even then, I had a knack for bringing people together, organizing, and making things happen. So Warwick North East is not just my constituency, it is my extended home.

Born and raised in Bermuda, I have a deep love and understanding of our island’s culture, history, and community values. Having lived and worked in four countries, I also bring a global outlook that has shaped my ability to approach challenges with creativity and innovation.

In 2009, I authored and published the best-selling book, The Lizard and The Rock. In 2016, I founded The Cottage School in Nairobi, Kenya, a micro-school that emphasized arts integration in education.

Both experiences demonstrate my commitment to fostering literacy, celebrating local culture, and designing educational opportunities that inspire growth and development. These values also reflect my dedication to supporting my constituents and the PLP in building a future that uplifts every member of our community.

I have always cared deeply for those on the margins of society, but this focus became even more personal after one of the most harrowing experiences of my life.

On September 21, 2013, during the Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, I found myself trapped as terrorists stormed the building. In that moment of terror, it was an unsung hero—a woman who cleaned the toilets—who led me and eight others to safety. I never knew her name, and I never saw her face again but the whole experience changed me, shaping my understanding of what heroism truly means.

It makes me ask: who are the unsung heroes of Bermuda? Who are the ones whose names we may never know but whose contributions carry us forward? The caregivers, the janitors, the lunch ladies, the maintenance persons, the mentors, and the community builders who work tirelessly to ensure that others can thrive. These are the people who quietly shape the fabric of our community, and their efforts are essential and invaluable to the well-being of our society.

My most recent assignment in my role in communications and engagement in education reform strengthened my understanding of the unsung heroes of education in Bermuda; the teachers, department staff, support staff, ERU leads, counselors and others who navigate complex systems and advocate for the needs of students, parents, and educators alike. While there have been successes, it is clear that implementation must improve.

For the sake of marginalized communities and future generations, I am committed to working with the PLP, bringing my voice and expertise, to ensure that we achieve transformative and lasting progress. We owe it to these unsung heroes who are making untold sacrifices – as well as future generations to get it right.

As I sit here today, I am deeply mindful of the concerns facing our community. The high cost of living, housing, access to adequate healthcare, gang violence, domestic abuse and violence, care for the seniors-and may I state that the seniors will not be forgotten!

Since moving back, like many of you, I’ve navigated the challenges of raising a family, managing in a volatile economy, and ensuring that our children have the tools that they need to thrive.

I recognize that I am a new candidate, and I am ready to get out onto the doorsteps to meet the people of C25. It is important for me to listen to your concerns and truly understand the issues that matter most to you. I want to create and continue the dialogue well beyond February 18th, building an ongoing relationship that ensures that your voices are not only heard but reflected in action. Together, we can build a future that reflects the needs of our community and helps to create a fairer, more equitable Bermuda for all.

Thank you.

line divider Bermuda Elections 3 copy
For full coverage of the 2025 Election and past elections, visit the links below, with comprehensive coverage available on our network website BermudaElections.com, the leading source of data and election videos.

click here Bermuda 2025 Election

Read More About

Category: All, News, Politics, Videos

Comments (12)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. PBanks says:

    Mercy it’s topsy turvy all around. Ariana didn’t even have time to canvass!

  2. Whatnext says:

    I guess they should’ve waited to call this election. Thought she was one of Burt’s favorites.

  3. Mark says:

    more PLP lies. Are they like trump and think they can just keep repeating things that aren’t true? they havent helped us one bit. as a voter from this lady’s area, i feel sorry that she has fallen in with them. wont be getting my vote.

    • Hilarious says:

      OH NO! Not the use Trump in a sentence card!

      Play the Fauci card! “more PLP lies. Are they like Fauci and think they can just keep repeating things that aren’t true?”

      That reads much better.

  4. Arianna will head the Senate says:

    Marc unannounced, will run against Burt. Once he put away his comic books and being inspired by trump, he saw the reality of beating Burt and turning his area gold/yellow.God save the king.
    Anyone else for musical chairs or Jack’s? The PlP is following its own tail, rather than ignoring the FDM and independents. We now see an empty bucket.

  5. I forgot says:

    The PLP is a very bright articulate and energetic candidate.

  6. iyiyi says:

    More independents … Please !

  7. Iykyk says:

    The young people can’t vote.
    Hodson probably spoke up, and now she’s sent into exile. I still don’t get why anybody with half a brain would join this government.

  8. Protect de wicket and de runs come says:

    I hope Burt is proud off himself announcing an election with zero notice and knowing many of our youth in University would not have the opportunity or means to vote speaks volumes about him.

    He visited with the youth when he was in the UK and told them about how important they were and that they were our future and how important it was that they have a voice and a say in politics. Then he does the opposite by calling an election with no notice and at a time when the “future” cant vote?

    The good thing is that many of these kids met him in person and learnt a valuable lesson about trust and politics.

  9. Ringmaster says:

    As I sit here today, I am deeply mindful of the concerns facing our community. The high cost of living, housing, access to adequate healthcare, gang violence, domestic abuse and violence, care for the seniors-and may I state that the seniors will not be forgotten! Are yes the seniors, but nothing about the younger generation.

    So she lists major issues she will address that her PLP Party has failed to provide since 1998. At least she’s honest that they have failed miserably.

  10. watching says:

    Awesome candidate. I hope she can win this seat!

Leave a Reply