WEDNESDAY, MAY 16: A key constituency could become a five-horse race, the Bermuda Sun can reveal.
Former UBP candidate in Pembroke South East Tillman Darrell could throw his hat in the ring again as an Independent candidate.
And — if deselected sitting PLP MP Ashfield DeVent decides to run as an Independent — that would mean a five way tussle for votes.
Former Government race relations advisor Rolfe Commissiong has already been adopted to fight the seat for the PLP, while the OBA will field former police officer and UN peacekeeper Jeff Baron.
Raymond Davis, also known as Khalid Wasi, has already signalled his intention to stand on the independent ticket.
Mr Darrell — who stood unsuccessfully against Mr DeVent in 2007 for the then-UBP — said: “I am considering running — I’m not sure yet, but I’m in negotiations at the moment.
“I just don’t believe that people in that constituency are being represented fairly. I believe that the PLP and the OBA have thrown candidates down there that really pretend, in my view, to be interested in the people of that area.
“The PLP for years have had Ashfield DeVent in that area and no one’s life has improved at all. People in that area believed they were voting for a black Government and in turn that that Government would support them.
“My argument has always been that the person you vote for must be the person who will get things done for you, rather than voting on party lines.”
The telecommunications engineer, who has been involved in politics for 20 years and who is a former deputy chairman of the UBP, grew up in the constituency and family members still live there.
Mr Darrell said areas he particularly wanted to see addressed was the US “stop list”, which means Bermudians convicted of minor drugs offences could be banned from travel to America.
He added: “The US can call it what it likes, but the fact remains there are a lot of black men in this country who can’t go to the US because of minor misdemeanours.
“Bermuda does have the power and the ability to address this.
“Another issue is conscription — Bermudians Against the Draft has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting conscription, but our politicians don’t want to touch these issues.
“And the idea of gaming is another issue — the people can’t seem to get politicians to make a stand on this issue, which affects them directly.”
Mr Darrell added that there had been no referendum on the Uyghurs settling in Bermuda or on a Government bailout for the Bank of Butterfield.
He added: “The rate of crime in the area is high — everybody talks about crime. Our country is going through the worst times.
“We have young people who are hooked on the worst drug. I’m not talking about marijuana or alcohol. The drug is hopelessness and the feeling that no one gives a damn.
“Until we can offer some kind of help and the idea that they can do something and operate as an upstanding and regular citizen, we are in trouble.”
At the 2007 election, Mr DeVent took 526 votes (67.6 per cent), compared to the 252 ballots (32.3 per cent) cast in favour of Mr Darrell.