The People’s Campaign for Equality, Jobs and Justice, a new movement launched last week, is planning a May Day rally following a series of Island-wide meetings.

According to campaign leaders, the group is “a coalition of concerned people who have joined together to give voice to the condition of the country.”

“As a group we are concerned with the growing frustration and mistrust of political process in view of the continued rise in employment, growing gap between the haves and have not’s, and the unequal burden of sacrifice being placed on the lowest and least,” said the group.

The first of these meetings was held at Francis Patton Primary school on Monday evening and another at Clearwater Middle School last night.

Further meetings are scheduled for tomorrow at T.N. Tatem Middle School, next Monday at Sandys Middle School and next Tuesday at Victor Scott Primary School. All will begin at 6.30pm.

The final meeting will take place at St. Paul Centennial Hall next Wednesday, starting at 5.30pm.

All the meetings lead up to the rally on May 1 at Victoria Park at 12.30pm when supporters will be asked to wear red.

At a press conference last week, Rev Nicholas Genevieve-Tweed said: “This coalition, out of a shared love and concern for the country, feel the need to speak in an effort to reset the moral compass of the Island, and its leaders, around a set of core issues.

“The people have formulated this manifesto in order to guide those who represent them, so that they cannot continue to implement policies in the name of the people, that do not serve the interests of the people.

“The people of Bermuda are entitled to expect that those who are entrusted to lead will be guided by the will of the people, and make decisions based upon priorities that are consistent with the expectations, hopes and aspirations of the people.”

Those considering joining the coalition have been asked whether they believe in any of the following:

• That inadequate finances should be a barrier to Bermudians going to college;

• That business in Bermuda place profits over people;

• That every person should be entitled to a liveable wage;

• That those who receive the highest levels of income should pay an equitable share of tax;

• That healthcare should be accessible and affordable to all.

A flyer now being passed around the Island states that the coalition will present Government a “People’s Manifesto that will set the standard of expectation outlined by the People of Bermuda”.