The Progressive Labour Party has vowed to field “candidates with commitment and dedication to their communities” after the resignations last week of Opposition MPs Jeff Baron and Grant Gibbons.

Jeff Baron of the One Bermuda Alliance declared his departure from politics on Wednesday, while veteran MP Grant Gibbons told Parliament on Friday that he was stepping down, effective today.

By-elections will be set in accordance with the Bermuda Constitution, and the PLP said its candidates would be “selected and announced once the party undergoes the internal selection processes”, according to a party statement issued this afternoon.

Pledging committed representation in Parliament, the PLP thanked Mr Baron for his tenure, and acknowledged the “25 years service” of Dr Gibbons.

Section 51 of the Constitution states: “Whenever any person vacates his seat as a member of the House of Assembly for any reason other than a dissolution of the Legislature, an election to fill the vacancy shall be held within two months after the occurrence of the vacancy unless the Legislature is sooner dissolved or the date on which the Legislature will stand dissolved under the provisions of section 49(2) of this Constitution is less than four months after the occurrence of the vacancy”.