New Opposition candidate Wayne Scott yesterday watched the Progressive Labour Party's 'Puppet Show' commercial of himself for the first time — and laughed.

Mr. Scott — whom the PLP's clip, placed on YouTube, suggested was a puppet of United Bermuda Party leader Michael Dunkley — called a brief press conference at which he declared himself "nobody's puppet". And he urged all Bermudians to avoid being puppets themselves and not to be "deceived" when they vote the General Election.

Afterward, Mr. Scott told The Royal Gazette he had never seen the video, which includes dubbed footage of Mr. Scott's lips moving while Mr. Dunkley's voice is played over the top.

The Warwick North Central candidate then watched the clip with this newspaper — and chuckled as it showed himself saying: "There are many stations around that have, that have been um..." before Mr. Dunkley prompts him by saying "struggling".

The sequence, repeated for 30 seconds, is followed by the song "I'm your puppet" by James and Bobby Purify.

Asked whether he was laughing at the clip or with it, Mr. Scott replied: "I think a bit of both. It's humorous, but it's sad for Bermuda.

"I just hope people are not fooled. They are trying to distract from the true issues. It's about issues and values of trust."

The clip has previously been dismissed as an offensive use of racial stereotyping by UBP candidate Bob Richards, while Shadow Justice Minister John Barritt has pointed out the PLP's website contains another video clearly showing new PLP candidate Wayne Caines being prompted by a party colleague at a press call.

Mr. Dunkley said yesterday: "They want to foster the perception that black people of the UBP are nothing but Uncle Toms. When they see strong black people stand up, they have to respond like that."

At yesterday's press conference, Mr. Scott said: "Personal, negative attacks. Power at all costs, gutter politics — Bermuda politics has truly stooped to a new low.

"I have refrained from commenting on the PLP puppet commercial, partly because I see it as a vote of confidence from the Government in what I have been doing, and doing well.

"But let me set the record straight — I am nobody's puppet. Never have been, never will be.

"What I will do is be led by the people, for the people. It's what I have been doing for the last two and a half years in Warwick North Central.

"I would encourage all Bermudians to not allow yourselves to be used as puppets, being deceived again, again and yet again. It's about trust, respect and leadership."

Speaking to The Royal Gazette, he said he had been showing his commitment to tackling key issues, including addressing education, crime and housing.

"It's about caring; a commitment to issues and values for the community of Warwick," he said. "There's no way to counter that unless you have someone doing the same things — so let's sling mud and try to distract people.

"I would strongly recommend people don't be fooled, misled, deceived or intimidated.

"When you go behind that curtain, and that curtain is closed, no one knows which box you tick."

Expanding on the intimidation point, he said: "I think people are afraid, intimidated, to show support for anyone other than Government because of an environment of retribution.

"In a small country like Bermuda, it's a crying shame that people are truly intimidated."

Asked why the Progressive Labour Party had created the Puppet Show video, which showed footage filmed at a UBP press conference about Government's television station, party chairman David Burt said yesterday: "We thought it was rather amusing. We thought it was a funny way to reinforce the UBP's message on CITV."