Column: Sir John On Independents & More
[Opinion column written by Sir John Swan]
The independents should be flattered, it appears the OBA have given up on beating the PLP and are now focused on attacking the independents. Unfortunately, this is just more of the same old tired rhetoric.
The reality is the OBA had their chance at creating the needed change and they failed and were dramatically removed from office. The PLP has offered no real solutions, just raising the old boogey men and trying to instill fear.
The party system has failed, Bermuda is in a very bad place and our future is uncertain, this must change.
You don’t need parties to govern, you need a consensus of individuals who form a majority in parliament. And many of the independents have already agreed the national priorities and a commitment to ethical, honest and transparent governance. They will work together, and they will invite anyone with solid ideas, skills and a commitment to resolution to be part of the problem-solving process. This inclusivity is a major difference to the party system. Today, the successful party only listens to advice from their supporters, they eliminate at least half of the population simply because those people don’t support their party. Parties make decisions on what will get them elected, what is popular, good leadership makes decision on what is needed. Good Government seeks out ideas, expertise, assistance and participation from the entire community, party politics limits that to those that think like them.
We have tried both parties, and both have failed. We can’t keep changing the chairs on the Titanic and hope it keeps floating. We must change our approach, we must bring different ideas, different solutions to our problems and we need Team Bermuda, not team PLP or OBA.
So, focus on what you think is needed on Feb 18th, and don’t be hoodwinked by the party rhetoric. The independents bring hope, they bring a vision of inclusiveness, of collective decision making, focused on what is needed, what is good for Bermuda.
Your independent candidates believe we can, together, make a difference, that we can find the answers to the challenges that threaten to darken our futures. But it starts with eliminating the We and They. Bermuda it’s time for us!!
On February 18th, vote for the change you know we need, vote for your independent candidate.
- Sir John Swan
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.
- All: Our coverage of the 2025 General Election here
- 2025 Candidates: List of the 109 candidates
- Constituencies: Data/past results of all 36 constituencies
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