Column: Premier On General Election & More
[Opinion column written by Premier David Burt]
On January 31, Bermuda took another step forward in its democratic journey as candidates were officially nominated to contest the upcoming General Election. I’m proud to say the Progressive Labour Party is fielding a record number of female candidates for any political party in history. I’m also proud of the next-generation leaders we have on our team. Candidates under 40, like Alexa Lightbourne, Shomari Talbot-Woolridge, Iesha Musson, and Mischa Fubler who are ready to bring fresh ideas and new energy to a team of seasoned veterans who bring experience and wisdom.
Friday was a moment that marked the beginning of an important national conversation about our island’s direction and the leadership best equipped to take us forward.
For me, this election holds special significance as it will be my last as Leader of the Progressive Labour Party. The last seven years have been trying times globally. We dealt with the worst global pandemic in 100 years and the outbreak of major wars in Europe and the Middle East that contributed to the highest global inflation in 40 years.
These are difficult times for people here in Bermuda, and the PLP understands the pain Bermudians are feeling. In the face of adversity, we have made steady progress to stabilise our economy, balance the budget, rebuild tourism, create jobs, and reduce taxes. As a result, Bermuda is on a path toward a fairer and more prosperous future.
In spite of the challenges, we have made progress – introducing a living wage, cutting taxes for working families, increasing access to affordable housing, and investing in education and healthcare. But we know that too many Bermudians still feel left behind. That is why our focus in the next term will be on achievable results for our people. Our vision will introduce a senior daycare centre, add a free primary care visit under HIP & specialist visit under FutureCare, expand affordable housing, reduce more taxes and fees for Bermudians, and support community-owned markets to reduce household expenses.
This election is a choice between those who will make steady progress and those who would take us back. The Progressive Labour Party is the only party presenting a detailed and achievable vision for the future—one that will ensure that every Bermudian has the opportunity to build a life here. Meanwhile, the opposition and other candidates offer no real plans to grow our economy, lower the cost of living, or create opportunities for Bermudians. The OBA has offered a minor 8-page pamphlet, and their candidate in C36, Carl Neblett, said he had “no idea” how the OBA would reduce the cost of living. We cannot afford to gamble with our future.
This election is a choice between who will work for the many and who will work for the few – who will work for a fairer Bermuda. The PLP has presented a team that blends experience with new energy, including a record number of women stepping up to serve. They are business owners, educators, and community leaders—people who know the challenges Bermudians face and are ready to tackle them head-on. With this strong team, we are prepared to build on the work we have done and take Bermuda into the future.
The choice before us is clear. The OBA, the FDM, and independents have offered no achievable plan to improve the lives of working Bermudians. Their approach would take us backwards, undoing the progress we have made. Only the PLP has the experience, vision, and team ready to lead Bermuda into the future.
This election is a choice between who will work for the many and who will work for the few – who will work for a fairer Bermuda. The PLP has presented a team that blends experience with new energy, including a record number of women stepping up to serve. They are business owners, educators, and community leaders—people who know the challenges Bermudians face and are ready to tackle them head-on. With this strong team, we are prepared to build on the work we have done and take Bermuda into the future.
This election is about fairness, stability, and progress. It is about building a Bermuda where everyone—no matter their background—can afford to live, raise a family, and retire with dignity. It is about ensuring that economic success benefits all, not just a few. It is about a government that is transparent, accountable, and always working for the people.
On February 6, I encourage every Bermudian to pay attention, ask questions, and engage in this important conversation about our future. The PLP’s platform launch will be a moment to look ahead—to see the kind of Bermuda we can create together.
Together, we have overcome many challenges. Together, we must build a fairer Bermuda for all of us.
- David Burt, Premier of Bermuda & Progressive Labour Party Leader
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 110 candidates
- Constituencies: Data/past results of all 36 constituencies
- Videos: Over 200 videos spanning multiple elections here
- Official: The Government’s election website here
- Comprehensive: Our BermudaElection.com website here
“the highest global inflation in 40 years”
But thankfully our PLP Government has kept reported retail price inflation in Bermuda lower than that reported by the U.K. the U.S., and Canada.
You talk about Bermudians first re Immigration. When it comes down to it companies renew work permits and they go through. The companies have no intention of using qualified Bermudians that have experience, they just want to renew their current worker. Bermudians do not come first under the PLP
You previously had term limits, and didn’t reintroduce them? Bermudians do not come first under the PLP.
Under the PLP, BElco, Bank of Bermuda and Butterfield as am sure others too have become forever owned by Foreigners, that goes for Our holiday resorts in Tuckers Point, SP and Elbow Beach. That is not putting Bermudians First.
Huge tax concessions and SDO’s to build houses for the wealthy have been given to foreign owned SP and Tuckers Point. that is not putting Bermudians first.
The PLP have gentrified Bermuda at the expense of Bermudians, whereas Bermuda infrastructure including roads, Parks, properties and Bridges has been left to rot. That is what you give to Bermudians, Trinkets and a future of poverty.
PLP putting Bermudians first and a FAIRER Bermuda is something the PLP have never done and will never do. Stop falling for their BS. Vote them out to force them to clear out the greedy, selfish and power mad people and have them reform into a party who really does what it says on the can. Am fed up of the PLP lies.
A Bermudian.
Check this out https://bernews.com/2025/02/plp-press-conference-immigration/
So basically for 25= years the PLP have been wandering around aimlessly hoping something will happen to show they are able to govern. Where is this mythical fairer Bermuda? The problem is they have achieved very little, so they fall back on blaming everything and everyone for their inadequacies – colonialism, race, the UBP, the airport deal etc etc. Burt says global inflation is the highest in 40 years, yet yesterday Bermuda reported inflation at 1.8%. Which is it? More women in the PLP won’t make any difference when any dissenting voice is ignored, or like their backbench, stay mute.
Elsewhere in the world, economies and tourism are booming and back levels to before Covid, but not here. Voting the PLP back in will keep the status quo, doing the same thing and expecting different results.
“Only the PLP has the experience, vision, and team ready to lead Bermuda into the future.”
And look how far that’s gotten us so far lol…
That sentence alone encapsulates the single biggest issue we face. The PLP has far too much ego behind it and not enough results to back them up. The fact they boast about themselves when the island’s infrastructure is crumbling is insulting to every single Bermudian.
“e have made steady progress to stabilise our economy, balance the budget, rebuild tourism, create jobs, and reduce taxes” – you have literally done none of those things. Can he just lie like this?
You may have introduced a living wage but you certainly have not cut taxes for working families and if you say you have invested in education and healthcare, why is it worse than ever?
The choice here is simple, more of the same nonsense that has only taken us in the wrong direction or something new. I think the answer is obvious. bye bye PLP
The situation is pretty dire, this government, this party has been in power for 22 of the last 26 years and as it has been said over and over what do we have to show for it, what can we celebrate, sadly very very little we gave away some light bulbs but spent multi millions on a south shore elephant on a slippery slope. An Education nightmare Tourism in disarray. plp economics have you believe we are better off on inflation than the rest of the world not sure if they live on this rock. We have feverishly started cleaning roadside and repairing a dock all for a vote , WE ARENT THAT STUPID
Time to Go
Time to Go
Have you lot seen the new GP2 driving around? That thing is one giant leap up from the dowdy blue car that a Cabinet minister drives around in. I can’t imagine a fleet of those. $$$.
Did you people notice as soon as the PLP said they will be getting money from the international business community, they started spending it before even getting it. After that they called the election. Seems like they want to get their hands on that money.