Her experience at the hands of two abusive husbands has made women's issues a primary concern of new United Bermuda Party candidate Gywneth Rawlins.

Ms Rawlins, 53, works for insurer the Argus Group and joined the UBP soon after the last election. She had helped her friend and former minister Bob Richard on his own campaign during that election and later decided to join the party. She told the Royal Gazette that her involvement in the campaign stoked her interest in serving the community.

Ms Rawlins, the youngest of nine children, has an adult daughter and two grandchildren ages 13 and 11 and plays an active part in church organisations. She spoke frankly yesterday about her personal life, thinking carefully before answering questions.

Her first marriage, which lasted two years, was a tale of physical abuse, she revealed. Fourteen years later she married again, only to find herself the victim of mental abuse for another ten years.

"I consider myself one of the lucky ones - I got out," Ms Rawlins said. "I know from experience that mental abuse can be just as painful and hurtful and the scars run a lot deeper. They take a long time to heal."

But the experiences had left her with a lot of empathy for women in similar situations.

"I developed a passion for wanting to be a part of the solution to a lot of the problems today," she said, adding, "from domestic violence to job security for single mothers and some women's inability to realise that they are victimised in their relationships".

Solutions would also involve helping men to deal with insecurities which can lead to frustration and anger directed at the women in their lives, she continued.

And women too had a role to play. "Not all of Bermuda's women bring up their children to be good husbands. But don't get me wrong, by and large they are not nasty or a menace to society or criminals or bad people." But men should realise that physical and mental abuse should "not be tolerated and will not be tolerated".

She defined mental and emotional abuse as "a degradation. It's causing one's self esteem to sink. It's not being nurtured, an absence of giving security - all those things making one feel unsafe".

She said she was moved by the stabbing death in August of 32 year-old mother of three Chena Trott. The circumstances of that tragic case caused her to reflect that she could well have met such a fate.

"Something has to happen," Ms Rawlins said. But she acknowledged that tackling domestic violence was not a "quick fix".

A born-again Christian, Ms Rawlins said she believes that all politicians and leaders should allow themselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit. "If we involve God in our decision making society will be in a much better shape and we will do better as leaders."

But asked whether the separation of church and state might not be a good idea in a society where not everyone is a Christian, she said: "That's difficult... On the face of it, I would encourage more leaders to seek God's wisdom. But I recognise that there are a lot of religions out there and it could be very touchy."

While she sees the role of an MP as representing the "views, needs and concerns" of her constituents, she hesitated when asked what would happen if her constituents demanded something that conflicted with her Christian faith. "I'd have to think about that," she said. "I'm not going to commit some unpardonable sin, if that's what they want me to do." But, she said, constituents would not fault someone working out of "principle and integrity".

"I'm not looking for anybody to like me," she added. "I'm hoping my actions will command respect." Like many politicians she said that her position on amendments to the Human Rights Act prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation will be decided when the bill has been drafted and "put in front of me".

And she had "no comment" when asked directly if homosexuals should have the same rights as everybody else.

She described her chances of getting elected as a "big if". "Politicians are at the will of the people and all they can really do is tell them what they are about... and leave it to the people."

She grew up in the City of Hamilton and is the youngest of nine children born to Ora and Charles Rawlins, who ran a grocery store on Union Street.

Professionally Ms Rawlins has worked in insurance for ten years, in Bermuda and overseas and currently serves as Argus' customer relations specialist. Her work includes helping to ensure that the company's programs are implemented smoothly.

Since being elected Secretary of the UBP about 18 months ago, Ms Rawlins has served on a number of the party's committees.