Entrepreneur Nelson Hunt says he knows how to create the jobs Bermuda needs as it battles rising unemployment during the economic crisis.

Mr. Hunt says he wants to use the know-how gleaned from a career in business — he owns a food warehouse and construction, sanitation and quarry companies in the heart of Warwick South Central — to benefit the Country as a whole.

"We will get through this if only we can keep the people employed and find things for them to do," he said of the economic downturn.

"As a leader I have an obligation to help do that. We have got to be creative; we have to be innovative; we have to be less greedy."

Mr. Hunt says his entrepreneurship has seen the development of Hunt's Group of Companies into a multi-pronged operation including Hunt's Food and Supplies, Hunt's Sanitation and Hunt's Quarry Services, which supplies the construction industry with ready-mixed concrete used to build swimming pools, housing slabs, driveways and patio sidewalks.

He puts much of his success down to his faith in young people.

"The young people that run Hunt's Food and Supplies are awesome," he said.

"When I was young, when I wanted to be a painter, I bought a paintbrush and that was it. I believe if people have enough faith in themselves you can do just what you want to do.

"You have to have a commitment to whatever you are doing. When you are consumer-based, the customer expects service: that's all I give."

With numerous Government construction projects in the pipeline, Mr. Hunt said: "As an MP I would push to get some of these projects up and running.

"I have the know-how to do that because of all the construction projects I've been involved in. I can get the ball rolling."

Mr. Hunt has been in the headlines in recent months for his role as co-owner of Southlands, which is proposing a luxury resort at Morgan's Point, and was involved in a public row with Premier Ewart Brown after speaking out against a rival developer on the Everest DaCosta show.

The businessman says he's not angry with the Progressive Labour Party Government over the drawn-out nature of the development process.

"We may have had some disagreements with some of the people we did deal with but not the PLP," he said.

"I think the PLP is a very strong party and it just needs stronger people that will speak up on issues."

He describes himself as an alpha male who would not be afraid to argue against the party line.

Explaining why he wants to get into politics, he said: "I just think it's time I lent my experience and expertise to Government. I'm for getting this Country started.

"I just think also the young men need somebody to look up to. That's what it's all about."