Independent candidate Dennis Bean has thrown his hat into the political arena in a bid to shake up the political scene.

The 53-year-old taxi driver said the issues for Pembroke East Central were the same as for the whole Island but he will be canvassing to find out more. Sick of what he deemed the hypocrisy of the established parties Mr. Bean said: "I intend to add a whole different flavour to the whole context, not to what a politician is but what a statesman is. I think I present myself today as a statesman, not necessarily a politician."

"I want to bring fresh vision."

The Royal Gazette asked him about his beliefs.

@EDITRULE:

You are known for your views on homosexuality and your involvement in the taxi industry. Are these going to be issues in the campaign?

They will be issues in the campaign but they won't be the dominant issues. But they will play a significant part.

I maintain integrity and accountability to God first and then to the community at large so to that end I will take a stand on homosexuality, I will take a stand on taxi abuse, child abuse and gang warfare taking place in the community.

I will be targeting over-expenditure and lack of vision from the current parties.

They manipulate their constituency and lull them into false hopes. If anything is a major issue it is the hypocrisy in the House of Parliament at present.

@EDITRULE:

Can you give me an example of that?

I have basically given examples of that. You are giving yourself a raise when you are telling everyone else to hold on. Telling kids not to be lawless and disobedient and yet you epitomise lawlessness and disobedience by your very conduct. We were just talking about homosexuality there so it all ties in to that. It's obvious.

@EDITRULE:

But homosexuality is not against the law.

Yeah, it's not against the law now but that speaks to the hypocrisy.

@EDITRULE:

So who's being hypocritical and about what?

You are telling people to abstain from sex and then you turn right round and you pass them condoms in order to have sex. There's a lot of stuff being done in our curriculum that needs some serious address.

@EDITRULE:

If you were to write down on a piece of paper your beliefs how would they differ from the other candidates?

I haven't had the opportunity to hear what they are saying.

@EDITRULE:

So how do you know they are any different from the other candidates?

I know because I am me and I represent and independent voice, I don't represent a party. There's no one who can curtail what I have to say or do.

@EDITRULE:

Surely voters must know what a candidate's beliefs are?

I am a bible-thumping believer.

@EDITRULE:

But you already have a bible thumper in Reverend Santucci?

I don't know he would articulate some of the same positions and stances that I do. I am not lukewarm about a lot of issues that he may or may not be. I don't want to compare myself to him or anyone else but I do want to bring to the political table, a fresh insight, a vision that's been somewhat suppressed by the other parties. That's as much as I am prepared to say at this time.

@EDITRULE:

What church are you a member of?

I would prefer not to say.

@EDITRULE:

What denomination?

The affiliation or denomination is not important at this time. I am a born-again Christian. I have accepted Christ as my personal saviour. I intend to represent that as a significant part of my political platform. There is no distinction, in my view, between church and state. You live the life in the civic realm the same way you live your life in the religious realm.

@EDITRULE:

What if you are a Muslim in your constituency? Why would they vote for you?

I would present to them my case, with my integrity. It's up to them to pick, choose and refuse. But I won't kow-tow just because someone is Hindu, Muslim or Baha'i or Jehovah's Witness, whatever. I won't back and bow just because some one is of another persuasion. I still hold to my sense of worth and value.