The United Bermuda Party has unveiled three new candidates for Sandys parish.

Opposition leader Michael Dunkley introduced the trio at a press conference yesterday and said they would “burn out the rubber in their shoes” in canvassing the views of the community’s residents.

Alvin Wilson, 48, is the candidate for Sandys South (constituency 33); Sarah Burrows, 50, will campaign for Sandys South Central (constituency 34); and Donald Hassell, 44, is the Party’s choice for Sandys North Central (constituency 35).

Mr. Dunkley said: “Everyone is well aware that the PLP has held the four seats in Sandys for some time now and even with the strength they’ve had in Somerset, the people haven’t been well served by those members of Parliament.

“I think with these candidates today that will change. All three are from the area, they live in the area and currently work there.

“One of the things I’ve said is that we’re going to break that disconnect with the people and their politicians. We’re going to get back in the community to allow the people to have their say. I challenge people to join us and put Bermuda back on the road to success.”

Mr. Wilson was born on Hog Bay Level and is the co-founder of the financial services firm Bermuda Financial Network.

He said: “I am happy to serve area 33 and Bermuda. Somerset needs to be represented.

“I went to a constituent’s house who told me they had dined with the mother of a PLP MP and asked for a light outside their building. They are still waiting for that light seven years’ later. If people who dine with an MP’s mother don’t get service what about the rest of us?

“I think there are entrenched politicians and entrenched MPs who feel they don’t have to do anything for the area. Nothing has been done for nine years in a large part in this community. That has to stop.”

Among his goals for Sandys is to create outlets for young people to prevent them joining gangs.

“We need to focus on young people and give them positive things to do,” said Mr. Wilson. “We have retired teachers with nothing to do so let’s marry them together with after-school programmes that will give them a future.

“Our children are graduating from high school and staying at home for two or three years, so we have to come up with something that will change the system.”

Mrs. Burrows is programme manager for the Bermuda Diabetes Association. Married with two sons, she was the administrator for Dr. George Shaw’s Somerset practice and aims to improve health care in Bermuda.

“I was born in Somerset, married in Somerset, live in Somerset and plan to die in Somerset,” she said.

“I’m very pleased and excited to be part of the UBP team. Many of these people in Sandys know me as ‘the Sarah from Dr. Shaw’s office’.

“I am hearing on a regular basis how neglected Sandys is and people say they feel under served by people, but it’s a beautiful community.”

Speaking on the role of the family in society, she said: “Education and crime, it all stems from healthy families, or not having healthy families. I feel we need to get back to foundations with families, so they can sit at the dinner table and have meals together. I have a ‘can do’ attitude and don’t give up until I get the job done.”

Mr. Hassell is the owner of the Country Squire restaurant. He wants to improve health care for seniors and stamp out drug dens.

He said: “We have four MPs out there but I haven’t seen them. Not one has been to my door. The people of Somerset must be feeling how I’m feeling. I’ve been to many homes and I’m finding that older people — seniors, are not only worried about medical care, about how they’re going to pay for these bills, but how they’re going to walk to the supermarket. There are drug houses in the area and these older people need to be protected.

“Being a resident I know most of these people, they are like my neighbours, and by going to their door it is renewing my friendship with them. They are concerned about education and housing, they let out what’s bothering them.”

Speaking on soaring rents in the parish, Mr. Hassell said: “It shouldn’t be that three-quarters of your monthly income goes on rent. We all have to survive.”

He added: “We have to get more businesses to Somerset. We started to get some businesses moving into the Market but it’s such a bottleneck through the village. I’d like to see it more as an olde worlde town with cobblestones, like St. George’s is.

“We have to get those tourists from those ships in Dockyard into Somerset, and find something for them to do. But we also have to slow down the traffic on the roads.”

The UBP will unveil its fourth candidate for Sandys parish at a later date.

UBP names three Sandys candidates