A confident Dennis Bean said yesterday that he will make both political parties accountable for addressing social issues "when" he gets to parliament after tomorrow's Pembroke East Central by-election.

Mr. Bean, who yesterday gave his first full length interview to The Royal Gazette since his surprise nomination for the poll, has a strong concern for the ordinary person facing social issues such as inadequate and unaffordable housing, high prices for necessities, as well as what he sees as a dearth of facilities for the youth and the repercussions of a criminal record.

"When you consider that oftentimes people in jail do time and are released, in many cases are ill prepared to enter the job. It's a necessity that you need to put something in place that will facilitate that transition," he said. "Unless you have something that will facilitate the man or woman that goes to jail, that will help them to earn money and become acclimatised and firm in their thinking, then you are basically casting guys like fish to cats - they don't stand much of a chance."

The born again Christian said that he reminds inmates who are about to be released that they will be competing for jobs with people who have never been in trouble in a "very tight job market".

"You can find yourselves back on the streets doing the same things you did to put you in jail in the first place if you are not careful," he said. "So let me encourage the guys and girls who are in prison to continue to read and continue to study.

"To pray to God and press those in authority over them to provide for them the proper educational tools and equipment so that they do at least stand a measure of a chance. Don't waste time in jail. Let time serve you, I mean buckle down so that you can come out and help your mothers and your fathers and your wives and those of you who have children..."

Mr. Bean, 53, is the ninth of eleven children and grew up in the "back of town area". He attended West Pembroke Central School (Victor Scott), Howard Academy and the Technical Institute. He later received his high school diploma after attending CARE Computer School and Essex Community in New Jersey.

He has given presentations before a number of Commissions addressing social issues, including the Pitt Commission, the Serious Crimes Commission and the Wooding Commission.

And Mr. Bean who has been making a living driving a taxi "on and off" for the past ten years, has also worked in the construction trades, he said. Mr. Bean is also a founder and deputy director of Work Inc., which provides vocational training and retraining for former offenders.

"Whether you take up masonry, carpentry or plumbing, at least come out and be the best mason, carpenter and plumber you can possibly be," he said. If you want to take up computer programming, law, various languages or insurance... There's nothing wrong with a guy entering the insurance or real estate market. You have a wonderful opportunity there to touch base with the local businesses and find out what you need to do in order to qualify for these various licenses. It will serve you well."

He said a number of ex-offenders who had served time in prison came from "fine homes" and had the support of their families.

"But unfortunately, the attractiveness of life and the pleasures of sin keep them so ensnared that it's easy for them to abandon, some of them, even though very young while they gratify themselves. Much of what is done is for self gratification. Mind you a lot of them have been lured into it and have tried to find a way out," he said.

"But for a heck of a lot they are content to stay right there because they have abrogated all sense of responsibility. And I like to think, and I believe that, much of what I have done over the years have been encouraging men and women and even pre teens not to go that route."

On affordable housing he challenged property owners to contact him to come up with ways to help provide decent housing at reasonable prices.

"It's totally ridiculous that this has somehow gotten out of hand the way it has. And I'm not blaming the current Government or even the former one. Both of them have to take responsibility because they remain polarised on issues like this - on just how to help the people they are responsible for overseeing. As a consequence this situation, amongst others, creates lawlessness in the community to some extent."

He said some parliamentarians had "significant assets and abilities" and could use them to "reach into the community".

"Both parties have the means and the ability to do something. Can we get them to agree? My God. I go into the House with a fresh vision and mandate to shake them up a bit, to shake them out of their lethargy. We could do a lot better than what we are doing. The Island is really in a bit of a struggle here, in fact if truth be told it could be deemed somewhat chaotic."