Charles Spanswick knows something the rest of us don't.

At a press conference at Albuoys Point yesterday, the three time mayoral candidate repeated his ambitions to take over the Government with a slate of nine candidates - all independents, who will be voted in at the upcoming elections.

The obvious questions were asked again, such as how nine MPs in a 36-seat house can command a majority.

In theory it could happen - if the voters sent Mr. Spanswick's nine into the House of Assembly along with eight each from the Progressive Labour Party (PLP), the United Bermuda Party (UBP), the National Liberal Party (NLP) and three non-Spanswick Independents.

And if the Governor, in his wisdom, decided that one of the Spanswick nine commanded the confidence of the majority.

No one would want to give up a member to be Speaker and the parliamentary deadlock that would follow would make the country ungovernable.

But all that is irrelevant in Mr. Spanswick's reasoning - and so is the Constitution. As an independent group "we are outside the Constitution," he said.

"I see no reason why nine full-time candidates and a leader with a small Senate cannot have political power."

Bermuda will be "free" of party politics which has made the Island a less friendly place, and free of wasteful constitutional niceties, he said.

"Wait and see."

Mr. Spanswick "has a burden and a great concern to help make Bermuda a better place", said pastor Elton Thompson who, at Mr. Spanswick's request, opened the conference with a prayer.

"I've been told that it can't be done, but it can be done because we are an independent group," Mr. Spanswick said.

"I believe that if they read my platform they will see that it will do very well."

Mr. Spanswick boasted of "overwhelming support" for his idea - including a phone call from self-styled race activist Sanders Frith Brown, who drained his cell phone battery with lengthy declarations of support.

"I'm the man, I am the man," he said. Mr. Spanswick also referred to a story in this newspaper last week to suggest that his group had the support of former independent MP Stuart Hayward.

Mr. Hayward, in fact, stopped well short of endorsing Mr. Spanswick's group. "We need to look at Mr Spanswick's record in public service. I think he's offered himself before now and not been successful," he said.

The assembled media had expected to see the nine independent candidates, but only Mr. Spanswick, founder of the "Independent Group Four a Better Bermuda", and pastor Thompson showed up.

The conference, in fact, was to generate publicity to find the candidates. Mr. Spanswick said the group was also "looking for a leader, a speaker and four senators".

He had been talking to a number of interested people, and may be speaking to another five this week.

Five candidates may be introduced at a town hall meeting to be held next month, Mr. Spanswick said.

On the platform will be a proposal to introduce free health care for seniors over 70, duty free shopping for tourists in selected areas, an improved bus service and policy changes in the Works and Engineering department.

Mr. Spanswick also wants to ban GP cars, except for the Premier. All other public officials will have to "make their own way".

Rents will be affordable - by way of legislation - and "all Bermudians must be employed in hotels and restaurants".

Also on the platform is a proposal to keep gambling machines but tax their takings, and to overhaul the entire judiciary and criminal justice laws.

And Mr. Spanswick wants to abolish the Corporation of Hamilton as a separate entity.

"I'm going to bring it under one roof under Government. Corporation cannot pass legislation - everything has to be done through the House of Parliament.

"By putting it under one roof, it would save a lot of money. We wouldn't need all the engineers because Works and Engineering has engineers.

"The ground workers we will definitely keep, but anyone working in the offices will not be needed any longer - the Mayor, everybody. The accountants, the whole works - they will not exist."