Name: Stephen Notman

Age: 24

Education: Saltus Grammar School

Occupation: Law student in Durham, England, after completing degree in International Relations at University of Toronto

Hobbies: Drama, writing and fitness

@EDITRULE:

Question: Are you planning to vote?

Answer: Yes, because I believe that, when elections are held, the party that comes to power as a result is meant to be representative of the majority of people. If the people are not casting their votes it's not possible to have that.

Q: Are you a politically aware person?

A: I'd like to think that I'm continually trying to better myself in terms of my knowledge of current events pertaining to Bermudians. I discuss politics with anyone that I can find. It used to be you never talked about politics or religion but thankfully that is changing particularly as people are beginning careers in the business sector.

Q: What is your assessment of nearly five years of Progressive Labour Party government?

A: In fairness to them they have done certain things that I wouldn't contest strongly. Unfortunately, the Berkeley project has had its problems and hopefully those will be sorted out with time and we'll see that everything was above board, that it was more a case of inexperience rather than fraudulent mismanagement. They've made some decisions in relation to other countries that I have problem with, for instance they are trying to strengthen cultural ties with Cuba, which I think in the political environment where the United States is offended easily is just not a good idea. The timing is bad.

Q: What is your assessment of the United Bermuda Party?

A: The UBP consists of a number of individuals who whilst they are varying in their amount of political experience are united in the sense that they are willing to work together. And there are not a lot of egos there. I think that they are able to work as a cohesive whole. They are diversified in that there is a good make up between black and white and they are very varied in their careers.

Q: What is the most crucial issue affecting Bermuda right now?

A: As a young Bermudian entering the labour force, I hope to see a point where it really doesn't matter who is elected, whether it is the UBP or the PLP. We have to do away with these major pendulum shifts every time there is an election. What every government has to focus on is making Bermuda a stable environment. We rely on two industries, international investment and tourism, both of which rely on Bermuda being a stable working environment and being an attractive place to visit. With tourism we have to quell crime rates but that is all part of making Bermuda a stable environment. Doing things like going independent is the kind of thing that is frightening to industries we rely on.

Q: What is first on your wish-list of things that you would like to see the next government do?

A: I would like us to sort out public education. We have an epidemic of crime that is growing of an underclass of young people. This whole gang thing was something that was started by a few individuals, when you add it to American pop culture which made this gang ideal a popular and very attractive idea, it's attracted more and more followers to it.