The starting gun has yet to be fired on the election race but already the runners and riders are limbering up. No wonder new PLP chairman David Burt has yet to book a summer holiday.It’s been a meteoric rise for the 28-year-old who first joined the party when he returned to Bermuda in 2003 after well over a decade in the States.

But he describes his affiliation with the PLP as a “no brainer”.

“I have no question that I would not be where I am in my business life if the PLP was not the Government,” said Mr. Burt who describes himself as an entrepreneur.

“I think one of the things this government does well is it gives individuals a chance to prove their worth who may not have had the chance before. The leader always says ‘failure is a part of learning’. They don’t always succeed but it’s about allowing them to prove themselves.”

And Mr. Burt, while full of praise for his older colleagues, hopes the generational shift within the party ranks will continue.

“Sometimes I am the youngest person in the room — that’s not healthy.”

Friends at his age in the States are now moving out of politics where it’s a young person’s game, said Mr. Burt.

“In Bermuda it’s really different. I don’t want to sound arrogant but as a young person I am not fully comfortable in ceding decision making that will affect my kids to those people who are a lot older.

“It disturbs me when young people don’t get involved in politics because the decisions today affect them more.”

Mr. Burt said he had been asked by Party leader Ewart Brown to boost young membership in a party which already boasts 2,500 members.

“We need to grow our membership — it’s ageing. I am not sure 20-somethings feel entirely comfortable being governed by 60-somethings,” said Mr. Burt who believes younger people had a broader, more global view.

“We do have a growing youth base. The election of Dr. Brown has energised the youth who feel a connection with Dr. Brown. He’s committed to the youth. It’s not that he’s a young person, he’s over 60 but he’s young at heart.”

Mr. Burt said Dr. Brown had made an effort to involve younger members with his appointments to the Senate and various boards.

“The challenge we have is removing the cynicism involved in politics in Bermuda.”

Mr. Burt is also working to beef up the party structure and rejuvenate the branches which have fragmented since the move to 36 single seats.

More community events are needed said Mr. Burt who said his role is not very political but more about administration.

But he has strong political views and voices frustration over the United Bermuda Party’s tactics.

“This whole campaign by the Opposition to try and tar and feather our party for being racially divisive and racially intolerant is tired, is old, is untrue and really tiresome.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous — our party has members that are white and who are black.

“Our party has always had members who are white and who are black.”Asked about racially charged rhetoric, such as Dr. Brown’s 2003 election warning to electors not to vote themselves ‘back to the plantation’, Mr. Burt said it was legitimate as the UBP were an entrenched elite. “They were the ones who were the descendants and beneficiaries of the injustices of the past.

“That is what that party in a large way then — not so much now — does still represent to those who have to fight against the injustices of the past.”

Pressed on whether he thought the phrase was inflammatory Mr. Burt said: “I can’t say I do. The rhetoric itself matches the passion.

“People are offended by many things but I don’t think in the minds of the rank and file and many people in this country that making more out of that statement than it is, is warranted.

“It’s a metaphor — it is basically saying we have come too far to return back to the past. Whether or not the past is segregation, or plantation or what’s it called.”

“The fact of the matter is the UBP grew out of that elite, they were the proponents of those systems it took a lot of work and hard fighting to break those things down.”He said older generations who lived the days of segregation still bore the scars but the current race relations initiative is helping to work through this. “You had white folks saying they don’t understand why there was so much hatred and others saying their land was taken by the UBP for this and that.

“Bermuda has a very difficult past and the only way we are going to move forward is if we are honest and admit the things that have gone on.

When Michael Dunkley gets up and says he doesn’t see colour, people look at him like ‘What are you talking about?’

“Papering over the issues isn’t going to get us where we need to go.

“Bermuda is still a largely divided society.

“When I hear people describe Ewart Brown as a racist I laugh, because Ewart Brown has white friends and black friends. With him it’s not about colour, it’s about ability.

“What is the UBP’s solution to this? Pass a code of conduct?

“What does that accomplish? We can’t talk about race anymore? The fact is race is a part of humanity. Discrimination is there.

“There are statements they can bring up over and over again.

“Is that all they have? When I look at them it’s an empty cupboard.”

Recently political pundits debated in these pages about how different the parties really were as both now espoused similar policies.

Some have said the UBP is trying to outflank the PLP on the left by offering elements of progressive taxation and boosting emphasis on social policy.

“Overall the difference is the United Bermuda Party is the conservative party of Bermuda because they seem to be very comfortable with the status quo.

“The Medical Clinic is a perfect example — it crystallised it for me. Here we have the offer to provide better care for patients and possibly cut down on some abuse of the system and we have the United Bermuda Party saying keep it how it is.

“In Governing you have to make tough decisions. The Premier has secured investment for hotels that other countries would salivate at — hotel brands that are second to none.

“That’s what people travel for and you have the United Bermuda Party saying ‘Oh no, we shouldn’t “That’s what people travel for and you have the United Bermuda Party saying ‘Oh no, we shouldn’t do it. Buy the land and make it a park’. The UBP is very comfortable with the status quo.

“Whenever you govern, you govern from the centre. The PLP governs from the centre.

“It’s background and philosophy is in support of labour and the working class and that’s not ever in doubt. Our policies reflect that.”

Asked if some had been marginalised economically Mr. Burt said Bermuda’s economy was a victim of its own success.

“Our economy has grown precipitously. It is causing trouble in certain sectors — housing being the most obvious. Our Government has made strides in housing but there is more work to be done.”

Asked about struggling single mums working extra jobs to make ends meet he said there was financial assistance to help those in need with school supplies and living subsidies.

And there were many stories of single mothers who had fought the odds to make it in decent careers.

“If you are saying you are going to start providing breakfast and lunches for kids, it sounds wonderful. If I was a parent who didn’t feel like making breakfast at home — sure send the kids. But what are we teaching?”

Working two jobs was not a recent phenomenon and had helped previous generations progress, said Mr. Burt.

“A part of the Bermuda spirit will be lost if we dissolve ourselves into this whole sense of entitlement.

“We do have to question what type of Bermuda we want.

“I am very fortunate to have had the values passed on from my parents of hard work. I am not too sure that has been passed on enough.

“There are many in this country who do believe in this entitlement.

“ There are many who believe they don’t have to work — some of that is because these people know when their parents die they will become millionaires. Looking long term do we want to start giving away the farm?

“Where is that going to put us long term with our competitiveness?”

He said other countries had floundered because they had increased entitlements and saddled themselves with a ridiculous tax burden.

Education is firmly in the sights of the PLP to fix, said Mr. Burt, with the Premier saying every position in that ministry from the top to the janitor was up for review.

“He said we can spend $140 million or spend no money and have kids that don’t read so why spending $140 million for that?

“We are very happy that our ministers are being tasked to work.

“What is disappointing is that former leaders of the Government have found space to criticise how things are going now.

“No one is without fault. I was fortunate to meet the Premier before I came back to Bermuda and I happen to believe he is the right person for the country. His support within the party is rock solid.”

Mr. Burt denied his Government was anti-foreigner but said it would make sure Bermudians got a fair shake in the workplace.

It’s a highly pertinent point for Mr. Burt who said he came back with a masters in IT and applied to 23 companies but got just one response, despite having a good resume.

Later in his career he had the task of interviewing IT vendors.

One took him out to lunch and said: ‘Wow, you are really good, how come you didn’t apply?’

Mr. Burt finishes the story: “I said it’s funny you mention that because I did. And you didn’t give me the decency of an acknowledgement. That’s the way it is.”

But he certainly doesn’t regret his experience abroad and he hoped more young Bermudians could get experience abroad in international business to give them experience to allow them to thrive when they come home.

“I lived away for 13 years and was able to take advantage of those opportunities.”

Mr. Burt has a pilot’s licence after being educated at Florida Air Academy after struggling in Bermuda schools.

The academy is the alma mata of several Bermudians including Alex Scott’s son.

“I went away when I was eleven but I couldn’t actually learn to fly until I was 16 so it was good sales job.”

But it was a good experience nonetheless.

Mr. Burt describes himself as an entrepreneur — work includes managing his mother’s beauty salon, his father’s construction company and also running his own IT consultancy firm.

It was the IT route which got him actively involved in the PLP when he began doing the party’s website.

He then became chair of his Pembroke Central branch, went to central committee meetings and joined the campaign committee of the central party.

Mr. Burt was elected to the chairman last October.

He had originally urged friends to run.

“They did not run and I just felt I had something to contribute.

“It’s incredibly busy,” said Mr. Burt who said a revamp of the HQ is on the cards.

However, if the pundits are right, the election will be his most pressing priority. He is cagey about whether he will stand for parliament but again emphasised the need for a younger generation to be in the thick of things to plan how Bermuda grows.

“One of the things I consider my strengths is that I am very good at not answering questions.”

And he is adamant he knows nothing about the election date. Asked about his holiday plans Mr. Burt said he had nothing booked but added cryptically: “I am hopeful I will have an August vacation.”