Jamahl Simmons grew up in a politically conscious household.

His father, Lionel Simmons, ran for office for the PLP in 1980, and was among those expelled from the party during the leadership crisis of 1985.

Mr. Simmons, 32, received his early education at West End Primary School and Berkeley Institute prior to entering Howard University, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

He became a successful sportscaster on both ZBM and VSB, and was voted Best Sportscaster in the Bermuda Gold awards.

In 2002 he received another Bermuda Gold award, this time for Best Political Coup.

He was elected to parliament as the UBP member for Pembroke West in the by-election of February, 2002.

He is also the Public Relations Officer for the UBP. Mr. Simmons is married to Sherri and has a son, Nasir, and a step son, Stephen. Extensive reading is his favourite form of relaxation.

Calvin Smith is one of his party's most experienced politicians. He was first elected to Parliament in 1981 as a member for Hamilton East, but was defeated in the election of 1983.

A year later he was expelled from the Party but was invited back in 1989.

He again ran unsuccessfully for election in Warwick East in 1993. In 1998 he became a Government senator speaking on Tourism and Health.

Mr. Smith has had a broad and extensive education.

He holds a Bachelor's degree in economics from Queen's University in Canada; a Master of Science degree in technology of management from American University in Washington, DC; a Master of Arts degree in human resource management, as well as a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University in Missouri.

He has also participated in several short-term courses in advanced management and economics, including one for senior managers at the Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and another for senior government statisticians at the University of Sussex in England.

A former hotel worker, taxi driver and teacher, Mr. Smith created the Bermuda Government's Department of Statistics, and was its director from 1965 until he retired to run for Parliament in 1980.

From 1983 to 2001 he was the manager of the Bermuda Industrial Union's members' credit union. He is currently the BIU's research officer.

Mr. Smith has made many important contributions to the community.

In the 1970s and early 1980s he served as vice-president and president of the Pembroke Hamilton Club, and as a director and honorary vice-president of the Bermuda Football Association.

He has served on numerous government and private boards and committees, including the Rhodes Scholarship committee, and the board of governors of Warwick Academy and Berkeley Institute.

He holds a black belt in judo and enjoys golf. Married to Jeannine, he has two sons, Christopher and Steven, and two grandsons, Kyle and Geray.