Disappointed she certainly is, but disloyal she is not. Which is why Ianthia Wade has broken her silence on being passed over as Progressive Labour Party candidate in Warwick West — a seat which has since been turned down by three others.She said the problem is not with the party itself — but with ‘one or two individuals’ as she voiced fears that disillusioned PLP supporters will stay at home at the next election amid concern about the selection process as well as wider national issues.

Certainly Warwick West has been a sorry saga for the PLP.

In April Mrs. Wade got the backing of the Warwick West PLP branch which she chairs, picking up ten votes to five for former Attorney General Larry Mussenden.

A third hopeful, Melvin Dickinson, Director of the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Disabled, got no votes.

Despite that Dr. Dickinson was offered the seat by the party hierarchy and accepted — only to change his mind days later and back out.

The seat was then offered to Raymond Tannock who had wanted to fight again in Southampton East Central where he lost out by just 20 votes in 2003 general election and where he had won the backing of the branch.

Despite being ousted from his stamping ground by party bosses Mr. Tannock too turned down Warwick West.

It was then offered to George Scott MP who had failed to get re-selected in Warwick North Central which he had won in 2003 — picking up more votes than his neighbour Premier Ewart Brown — or indeed any of the other Warwick PLP MPs.

Mr. Scott initially accepted Warwick West, with sources claiming he was given just an hour to decide by Dr. Brown, but he then had a change of heart just days before the official announcement which was then cancelled.

But with a summer election still a possibility it is unclear who the PLP will run in Warwick West, held by Opposition MP Neville Darrell by 170 votes last time. Party sources last night indicated the situation was no nearer to being resolved.

Mrs. Wade said she had hoped to run in the seat where she has lived for three years and her initial announcement of interest had sparked encouraging calls almost on a daily basis with people pledging financial backing and help on the doorstep because they assumed she was certain to be picked.

Now the calls are flooding in expressing shock she has been cast aside.

“I have had a lot of calls from people disappointed I wasn’t selected and extremely concerned about the process for selecting candidates and not putting significant weight on what the branches want.

“The reason I have called (The Royal Gazette) today is I don’t want people to look and say ‘Gosh, if they have treated Freddie Wade’s widow like this and Tannock and George then I am not going to vote for a party I can’t trust and believe that they are going to be fair’.

“I thought it was important to call and say even though I am not selected I still support the party and I am encouraging people to get out and vote.”

Noting rising disillusionment she said PLP supporters needed to look at the bigger picture.

“A lot of people have been saying to me they don’t intend to vote because they are frustrated and concerned with the BHC information and leaks and even the process with the selection of candidates.

“People feel they just don’t have the level of trust in terms of the Government.

“But the concern they have is not necessarily with the PLP — it’s with one or two individuals. But the party is greater than any one or two people, including me.

“Yes, I am extremely disappointed I was not selected as a candidate for constituency 28 but I will still support the PLP, even with those concerns.

“My husband and Godmother Mrs. Browne Evans didn’t work as hard as they did and sacrifice as much as they sacrificed in order for the PLP to finally become Government to lose it because of the result of one or two individuals.”

As the branch chairperson for the seat she pledged to work with whoever finally gets the nod.

Asked if she would be willing to run in Warwick West despite the constant rebuffs she hesitated and said: “The initial burst of enthusiasm and energy and all of that to run... it’s almost making me feel maybe there is another plan for me in place of how I can serve the Country and party.

“At this time my commitment is there but...it’s a difficult call for me.

“It is very apparent I only put my name in for one area and I am not the candidate.”

Mrs. Wade had put herself forward because she believes “we all have a stake in each other’s lives. You cannot remove yourself - crime and education”.

And while others scrambled for safe seats Mrs. Wade was prepared to fight to overturn the United Bermuda Party’s 170 vote majority.

She had figured that being local would help. “It’s not a requirement to live in the area like it is in the States but you are certainly more in tune with your neighbours and your friends.

“You see people in the pharmacy and grocery store and in the street — you are canvassing everyday. That provides better representation.”

She refused to talk specifically about whether she thought the selection process was fair but said it was important trust was built in there to carry forward into the Government of the day. Asked if she thought she might have been treated better as the wife of former PLP Leader Freddie Wade she said: “As I said when I put myself forward as a candidate — I am putting myself forward as Ianthia Wade, not as the wife of the late Freddie Wade. That’s how I wanted to be selected and voted in — but you can’t remove the fact I am his widow.

“I felt the process — which is supposed to be scientific, fair and transparent — would look at me as an individual.

“I didn’t want any special treatment because of the fact that I was his wife and even today I don’t want special treatment.

“I would want the selection process to be as just and fair with me as with George Scott and Tannock. I would expect the same selection process to work with anyone.”

Asked why there had been such a concerted effort to stop her running in what is a reasonably safe Opposition seat she said: “I can’t say it was a concerted effort — although everyone who called me today feels that.

“I won’t agree with them because to do so undermines the process and the party.”

Asked what the voters of Warwick West were to make of the manoeuvring she said: “I hope they feel they are saving the best for last.

“I would hate for the constituents to think they are some sort of stepchild. I hope they come out and support the candidate who is finally selected.”