Families gathered at Paget Primary School yesterday in a show of support for the Progressive Labour Party’s by-election candidates.

The crowd enjoyed a party atmosphere, complete with music, fun castles, refreshments and speeches at the Family Fun Day and Rally ahead of Thursday’s elections.

Curtis Richardson, who is running against One Bermuda Alliance candidate Scott Pearman in Paget East, introduced himself as a man with “deep-rooted family values”.

He said: “You are my family. You are my brothers, my sisters, my uncles, my aunts, my grandparents and my neighbours. I want to bring back community in this village, because it’s missing it.”

Mr Richardson, who pledged to bring community spirit back to the constituency, said he was keen to continue what he started during the General Election last year.

He added: “That is to represent every constituent in the constituency of Paget East.”

Mr Richardson said he was inspired by the PLP’s mandate “to provide a better Bermuda for Bermudians”.

“I am part of the solution. You are part of the solution. I come to the doorsteps of constituency 22 with an open heart and a clean and honest mind and I say they can believe in me,” he said.

“This government has made headway in the 11 months it’s been in government and we are going to continue forward.”

Mr Richardson was announced as the PLP candidate for the by-election, which was called after the OBA’s Grant Gibbons resigned.

Curtis Dickinson, PLP candidate for Warwick North East, contests the seat previously held by Jeff Baron. He is up against the OBA’s Justin Mathias.

Mr Dickinson told the “sea of green” yesterday that his professional experience had prepared him to do the job “really well”.

“I’ve had the benefit of a great education, great professional experience and I think now is the time for me to give back.”

Mr Dickinson said that connecting with the people and hearing their concerns on the doorstep had reinforced his decision to step into the front line of politics.

He added: “Positive feedback needs to translate into votes and I would encourage you not to take for granted that we are the government of today.”

David Burt, the Premier, encouraged all those present to do their part to ensure the party candidates were victorious.

He said that while the PLP had held Warwick North East before, “we have never, ever won a seat in Paget”.

Mr Burt added: “As hard as Curtis has been working, I don’t think the people in 22 should let the OBA pull what I call an oli-shuffle.

“That means they take one member of the oligarchy, Grant Gibbons, and replace him with another member of the oligarchy, Scott Pearman.

“Don’t let them pull the oli-shuffle because the thing is that Curtis actually cares.”

Mr Burt added: “We have two very fine candidates that are running for seats in the people’s House.

“When we talk about the people’s House, the most important thing to remember is the only way they get there is if people vote.”

Mr Burt encouraged supporters to “help in whatever way you can to ensure that on Thursday night we can celebrate two new PLP MPs in Parliament”.