Stuart Hayward, the last person elected to the House of Assembly as an Independent MP, would love to serve the country again but is put off from running in the coming election by a general perception of politicians as being "lower than pond scum".

"I have maintained a keen interest in the fortunes of this country and its people and if there was an opportunity to serve I would be hard pressed to turn it down but the climate is such that elected politicians are not favoured these days," he said. "They don't have such a good image. There's a lot of suspicion about their motives and that's not a healthy environment for anybody to go into. It isn't a very satisfying job and job satisfaction is high on my list for doing things."

Mr. Hayward agrees that electoral reform has brought about new opportunities for the independent candidate.

Neither of the two dominant political parties is articulating a vision for the country but they continue to polarise the Island along racial lines, he said.

Another party or a coalition of independents could provide a clear choice and "enliven the interest of the electorate," he said.

The single seat system has less disadvantages for the independent candidate than dual seats, he said. "It's harder to know how to talk to the voters when you're trying to beg for one of their two votes."

Mr. Hayward served one term as an independent MP - from 1989 until 1993 - largely running on his record as an environmental activist, but found it difficult to make his voice heard once he entered the House.

He pointed out that that the fact that the PLP only ran one candidate in Pembroke West Central in 1989 made it easier for his campaign because PLP supporters had no conflict in handing him their second vote.

It also helped that the then ruling United Bermuda Party (UBP) was losing its public appeal and some observers believe that he also picked up votes from disillusioned UBP supporters.

Mr. Hayward topped the poll with 676 votes.

During the 1993 election campaign, however, both parties put up two candidates each and the UBP pulled out all the stops to recover the seat.

The stakes for both parties were considerably higher and 200 more people registered to vote.

In the end Mr. Hayward garnered just 300 votes, taking last place behind Ann Cartwright-DeCouto and Jerome Dill, who captured 700 votes each, and the PLP's Neletha Butterfield and Philip Perinchief who gained 559 and 542 votes respectively.

Mr. Hayward's advice to independent candidates?

"They should be very clear as to what they stand for, so they don't run the risk of being associated with either party," he said.

And they should be wary of the media which "has its own agenda".

"They need to be clear and have a clear understanding of how it is not a short term activity because unless there is a dramatic change, an independent is not going to do a lot during a single term. And they need to express that to the constituents."