Craig Cannonier (One Bermuda Alliance)What is it about your background that makes you particularly suited to be an MP?What I believe I bring to the table is the ability to understand what it means not only to work with people but to work for people. I've been an entrepreneur for quite some time now.And I understand the challenges, and see them everyday, for Bermudians. I have seen this for some time now, the challenges of being able to meet their rent to meet their grocery bills to be able to have affordable insurance and these kinds of things.So my finger is very much on the pulse of what's happening in these country. As a businessman, I know the challenges that businesses have. I know what it means to go out and not be able to afford education because I came from a single family home, to go out and to work to gain an education and then to come back and want to be an integral part of society.And so one of the things that that's afforded me is that I recognise that time must be pout in. And the key to Devonshire South Central is this: you have to go out and do the work.And as I go out everyday, the comments that are coming back to me is they're not seeing the other candidates as regularly as they are seeing myself. That's very, very interesting because I've always said, in order to be successful, because they are such an engaged community, you have to get out and canvass the area and not make any assumptions.Certainly, I know that people have said this is just a shoo-in for you. This is not a shoo-in. I'm out there everyday, working the constituency, and it's about putting in the time and showing that you put in the work in order to get the right result.Why do you want to represent Devonshire South Central?I believe that Devonshire South Central provides an opportunity for me, number one, to do just that. To get out there and to work on their behalf for their concerns. In canvassing the area, I understand clearly what their concerns are. And as leader of the One Bermuda Alliance I also recognise that I need to get into the House of Assembly and this provides an opportunity for me. Gone are the days where you have to be necessarily from a particular constituency or live in that area.Bermuda's too small for that and we see that throughout politics that the politicians may not necessarily be from the area. I have Collectors Hill Esso that provides service to the community and so I know them. I know them all very well — through business and I know many of them through family.So it's been great to go from door-to-door and to see that many of my customers I've been servicing and become very good friends with them — not knowing necessarily where they live but now having done the constituency, I know where they live.What are the key issues facing the Constituency?They are not reflective in order as the national issues. The national issue is economy, then crime and then education What we've found in Devonshire South Central is that crime is the number one issue within Devonshire South Central. It is alarming to go into these neighbourhoods to hear how many break-ins have taken place in this constituency and then, of course, just recently we had the murder and then we had the shootings down on the roundabout. These are things that are frightening this community and we've got to do more in alleviating that fear.Why should the people of Devonshire South Central vote for you?Number one, they can guarantee that as I move into constituency number 12 as their representative, I will look out for their concerns. Number two, I recognise the national concerns of this country.And by being able to represent Devonshire South Central, I will be able to continue to represent One Bermuda Alliance as its leader and be in the House of Assembly, to forge a way forward for change. The OBA is about change, and voting for Craig Cannonier is a vote for change. Not just a vote for change in Government, but a vote for change in the way we approach things and being successful, as we have today, in listening to the concerns of senior citizens which are not being addressed.Do you have a personal connection to the area? Explain.Certainly, as I explained earlier, I do have a personal connection and that is with business. Most of the constituents of Devonshire South Central are frequent customers of Collector's Hill Esso, and so that personal connection has been there. As anyone knows, since my political career everyday I was in my service station and they could come and have a conversation with me. Collectors' Hill has been one of those areas that you could come and have a good conversation and have a good cup of coffee. And that's what it's all about.Should voters be more concerned about the party or the person?I believe that in every constituency you should be concerned about the person. But I also recognise that the person may very well wish to join a particular party. That's the Westminster system. But if the policies of a particular party are concerning to a particular constituency, then that draws a real challenge for them, doesn't it? Because if that party is not heading in the direction that Bermuda should go, then how do you vote for an individual who represents a party that has policies in place that are not for the betterment of the country. It creates quite a dilemma doesn't it?What is your position on amending the Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation?I believe that any infringement on human rights has to be addressed. I believe that open discussion must take place, but we can no longer as a society continue to have these issues of human rights where we discriminate against another and create prejudice against one another, continue to build walls when we are living in a society that is breaking down the walls and barriers between one another.Anthony Richardson (Progressive Labour Party)What is it about your background that makes you particularly suited to be an MP?Primarily, it would be my job as the Accountant General. It gave me proper information and experience and expertise around government finance, around government processes, so I understand how to draft Cabinet papers, for example, to be given as information to Ministers which means I can serve as a Member of Parliament.Also, as a qualified accountant I can understand the business context in which government operates, and I've been in the community quite a bit — I was the CEO of the Health Council. and so I think all those things together would have very well prepared me for working as a Member of Parliament.One of the biggest things right now is I work for the Bank of Bermuda and I really understand how interest rates actually affect the cost of living in Bermuda right now. And that's what's key.It's one of the key things that has to be addressed for both Bermuda residents but also for the international business centre — to reduce the cost of living in Bermuda.Why do you want to represent Devonshire South Central?Devonshire South Central is like a microcosm of Bermuda. If you look at the voters, there is probably a mix between whites, Portuguese and blacks of various age groups. And I think if I can make an impact on Number 12, I can make an impact also on Bermuda.What are the key issues facing the Constituency?The key issues, based upon my canvassing, and as identified through myself, has been the economy, education and to a lesser degree crime. The economy, I think equates to the national concerns around jobs and money flows.In education, there are some concerns and in canvassing I've had a chance to explain the difference between public and private and how they operate. And for crime, most of the constituents again was a third consideration.Even though we know that in the area there was a recent murder and there was shooting, but for them they did not identify that as being a key concern.Why should the people of Devonshire South Central vote for you?Because if you review my history, my experience, my training and my exposure, I am the better candidate. More importantly, though, I believe that it will send a message to Bermuda that we are prepared to change.I have already challenged the voters themselves — be bold and courageous and vote for a PLP candidate for the first time. And, effective November 2, I have no choice but to represent them very, very strongly to prove to them that I am the appropriate candidate to work for them in Number 12.Do you have a personal connection to the area? Explain.Sure. I have a personal connection to the area based upon the fact that I am Bermudian. I have a personal connection on the basis that I am concerned about how Bermuda actually interacts. I know people that live in the constituency.One of the greater connections is that some of my school friends live in the area. And we can talk one-on-one and be very clear about all the issues that affect Bermuda and to really listen to each other and therefore develop effective solutions.Should voters be more concerned about the party or the person?Voters should be concerned, I believe, first and foremost, about the person. Who is Anthony Richardson? What does he bring to the table? And in the context, of course, I represent the PLP and to understand those differences and also the similarities. and the challenge I've found is an opportunity I guess is to explain things, to speak to people about what I do think, how that ties into the PLP policies and what will happen is there may or may not be any differences.What is your position on amending the Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation?That's a question that goes back to what you said to me earlier in terms of the person or the party. And that's one of those things that the PLP as a party is currently reviewing.So my personal opinion is to let the voters know that the Government is acting on a similar issue at this time.David Sullivan (Independent)What is it about your background that makes you particularly suited to be an MP?Clearly, my background is diverse over the last 40 years. First and foremost, I attended the Bermuda College hotel school. I also was an instructor for the following year.Not only did I instruct at the College itself but I also was responsible for the secondary system's hotel training. I spent a number of years locally in the hotel business here and then had the opportunity to move on to the international business sector.I was at AIG for about five years. I then moved on to the Gulf Oil/Chevron group of companies of which I served as vice president and director of all of those operations here in Bermuda for about 12 years. In the early 90s, being bit with the entrepreneurial bug I went into business for myself so I have now been in local business for the last 20 years.Now, when you combine the hospitality industry, the local insurance and reinsurance industry and the local community retail industry, I think that background has tremendous diversification which I think will stand me well as an MPWhy do you want to represent Devonshire South Central?I believe when you've been given the amount of experience and indeed benefits of living in the community you have an opportunity to give back. Public service is just that -service back to your fellow man in the community in which you live in order to help in some small way to repay all the benefits that the community has given you.What are the key issues facing the Constituency?Number one, sad to say, is crime. It's something that Bermuda — particularly in Devonshire South Central where we've just had the most heinous crime over there on Berry Hill Road.Crime in general in Bermuda is something that is eroding our community and is something that we must immediately get a handle on. There has been a number of programmes foisted by the current government and the Opposition and nothing seems to be catching.I think we need to turn our attention directly to both the police and the judiciary and to offer them any assistance that they require in order for them to get a handle and indeed the eradication of this problem.Why should the people of Devonshire South Central vote for you?The people of Devonshire South Central should vote for David Sullivan simply because I'm from the constituency. That is a very important part of representation. You cannot represent the constituency if you don't live in it nor if in fact you drive through it twice a day.That, unfortunately, is the resume of my two opponents. They do not live in the constituency, they have no knowledge of the constituency other than what they've been able to garner in the last four or five weeks. I have spent close to 20 years in and out of the Devonshire South Community. I've been back in Devonshire South for the last nine years. This is where our home is. This is where our children are. This is where our grandchildren are and I believe we'll be here for a long time to come.Do you have a personal connection to the area? Explain.Well, Absolutely. I have a personal connection through family. My wife's family has been resident of Devonshire South Central, I think, back to her great grandfather up there on Middle Road.We have a connection through nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, truly extended family relationships. We're very proud of it. And it's an opportunity now for this generation to do something now that generations before us have done.Should voters be more concerned about the party or the person?In today's day and age, it's clear to me that party politics has failed tremendously. Look at what we have today. We have a governing party which is in disarray with regards to representation. We have government Ministers being tossed out left, right and centre.We have speakers of the House being moved on. We have disarray with regards to the communications links between Government Ministries. That's that side of the fence. We then have to look at the other side of the fence which is the Opposition. The Opposition today is still split.The Opposition today in Bermuda has been through three different changes since the 2007 election. That can't be right. You've been through three changes and you're still split. That's not what the voters sent the Opposition to the House of Assembly in 2007.And until such time as the parties can fix themselves, the people of this country are saying enough of these parties, let's try somebody that we know. Let's go to the fellow who lives in our community, who can represent our community and is concerned about and has the heart for our community.What is your position on amending the Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation?Any form of discrimination, any form of discrimination is unpalatable to me.