A third Progressive Labour Party MP has announced her bid to contest the post of deputy leader of the PLP in October.

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, was revealed as a candidate this morning at the Grotto Bay Beach Resort and Spa.

“I believe leadership should stay close to people,” she told media as her bid was announced.

Ms Furbert added: “I have learnt responsibility before I ever had a title.”

The MP for St George's South (Constituency 4) entered the political arena in 2016 when she served as a senator for the PLP.

She secured a seat as an MP in the 2017 General Election, gaining over 60 per cent of the votes in the constituency.

Three years later, in the 2020 General Election, Ms Furbert held her House of Assembly spot with about 74 per cent of St George’s South votes.

She was sworn in as the Minister of Social Development and Seniors, pledging to bring “change where it is needed the most” for the island’s young people and seniors.

In 2022, Ms Furbert said she was motivated to enter politics to get “a foot in the door” to help vulnerable people.

She said she gained valuable experience in the field because she worked in psychiatric hospitals and with disadvantaged children when she was a student in the US.

Ms Furbert added that her fire was stoked after she returned to Bermuda and stepped into the political arena.

Over the past week, two former Cabinet ministers have confirmed their intention to run for the position of PLP deputy leader.

Lawrence Scott, who served as transport minister for two years from October 2020, said last week that he signed up to seek election to the role when the chance comes this autumn.

“I have been meeting with delegates for months,” Mr Scott said.

The MP for Warwick South East (Constituency 24) was sacked as the Minister of Transport in October 2022 just days after David Burt, the Premier, saw off a challenge from former finance minister Curtis Dickinson for party leadership.

Michael Weeks, who was Minister of National Security until two weeks ago, confirmed over the weekend that he is contesting the deputy leader post.

He conceded that he was disappointed to lose his national security portfolio after a Cabinet reshuffle this month.

Ryan Robinson Perinchief has been appointed to the ministerial role as a new member of the government senate team in the wake of the resignation of Crystal Caesar, who left the Upper House and her post as education minister.

In April, Mr Dickinson announced his intention to succeed Mr Burt as the next leader of the PLP.

The backbencher formally put his name forward after Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, announced his bid for the leadership position at the party’s Founders Day event in February.

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