By-election hopeful Jamahl Simmons last night hit back at accusations he is a “very flawed politician” driven by “simple ambition” rather than a desire to serve the community.

The Progressive Labour Party candidate for Sandys South said the scathing criticism from One Bermuda Alliance communications committee chairwoman Toni Daniels last week had highlighted the OBA’s weaknesses.

“If they had a great candidate, a great plan, we would hear about that,” Mr Simmons said, referring to his rival in the November 18 by-election, lawyer Georgia Marshall.

“[It was] said I was only interested in the political lifestyle. Being a politician is not fun.

“What the OBA thinks of me is none of my business. I don’t want them to like me. When I look at who they like ... no.”

He went on to say he was “not in this for financial gain” and that being a politician was the “toughest job, but you get a chance to help people”.

Mr Simmons spoke out during last night’s Let’s Talk television show on ZBM — the OBA’s Mrs Marshall declined an invite to appear alongside him to discuss the election.

He also addressed the controversial tweets that prompted his resignation as Progressive Labour Party spokesman in May.

He had been accused of inciting violence and hate through several tweets, including “what would happen if we stopped shooting each other and started putting bullets in the heads of those who hate us and won’t hire us?” and “if you are excluded from society what do you care if society burns ... it might even be fun to watch it burn”.

Mr Simmons said he regretted not expressing himself clearly enough so that his comments and intention were not “twisted”.

“I wasn’t advocating shooting people in the head or burning down businesses,” he told show host Gary Moreno.

Mr Simmons said he had been trying to communicate the “frustration” of the Island’s youth, who felt excluded by society and needed jobs and support.

“When I talk to young people they don’t feel part of society,” he said, describing many as “devoid of hope for a long time” and that this could lead to dark thoughts.

He also said the Twitter outcry had been an attempt to deflect attention away from the JetGate scandal.

“[They were] going to use me to provide a smokescreen,” he said. “My days of being used by people in the OBA are over. I was prepared to take the hit. I wanted JetGate to be given full exposure.”

Discussing the election, Mr Simmons promised voters he was “not going to be a benchwarmer” if he was voted in as Member of Parliament for Sandys South.

He said youth employment was important to him and that this issue was the “number one priority” relayed by constituents he had spoken to.

“People are very concerned about youth,” he said. “Many of them come back from school and there are no jobs. There’s disquiet about that, people are not seeing opportunities.

“We have parochial concerns — lights, the bridge — but the overwhelming concern is having people back to work.”

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