Former Progressive Labour Party leader Paula Cox has followed through on her pledge to run as an independent after quitting the party last month.

The former premier submitted nomination papers yesterday at the Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church on King Street two weeks ahead of the General Election on July 18.

Ms Cox will run in Devonshire North West. She described her decision as a “point of principle”.

Last month, Ms Cox quit the party she had been a member of for more than two decades after Wayne Caines was put forward as the PLP’s candidate in Constituency 14, despite Ms Cox being approved as the branch selection for the seat.

“It’s a different space for me, and it’s an unusual space for me, and it’s not a comfortable space for me,” she said.

“But it’s a space that right now is the right space for me to be in.”

She said the issues constituents were most concerned about were jobs and opportunities. Second chances for those who have previously been incarcerated and education were also important issues, she added.

Ms Cox and Mr Caines will face OBA incumbent Glen Smith, who captured the seat in 2012.

Tenia Woolridge, parliamentary registrar, said that Ms Cox was one of five independent candidates to file papers on Tuesday. A notable absentee was former OBA MP Mark Pettingill, who had hinted that he might run as an independent.

Thad Hollis said he decided to run as an independent because he felt that voters were often forgotten amid the legacy of history and competition involved with party politics.

The former OBA chairman will run in Hamilton West — his home constituency.

He said roads and their maintenance, as well as some “tender care and attention” for Shelly Bay Field and park, were issues wanting attention.

Mr Hollis said his history in the parish made him the right candidate to represent it.

“It is the deep connections to family, cousins and many friends that have compelled me to stand forward and be the voice of the constituents, and not a party,” he said.

Mr Hollis will challenge PLP incumbent Wayne Furbert and OBA candidate Simone Barton.

Independent candidate Elmore Warren said his motivation for running was the “lack of real representation in the House and the lack of real work in the constituencies”.

The Fresh Creations CEO said the issues facing constituents in Pembroke South East were the same as other island residents, including family deprivation, lack of resources, and unity.

“My goal is to bring together people at the doorstep, in the neighbourhood, in their homes, and get them sitting around a table with real strategies to improve family life, to improve neighbourhood life, to improve constituency life,” he said.

The area is represented by the PLP’s Rolfe Commissiong. The OBA will be represented by Rodney Smith.

Members of the OBA were the first party candidates to arrive to register yesterday morning. Michael Dunkley, the Premier, said he was honoured to be joined by the party’s other representatives.

“Our team represents the diversity of our Bermudian people, a balance of experience and new faces, and a proven track record of getting the job done,” he said.

Mr Dunkley said the party was proud of its record, and had made “real and positive” change for Bermudians.

Led by the Gombeys, drummers and young sign bearers, PLP candidates arrived at the church accompanied by a motorcade shortly before 11.30am.

David Burt said the support they provided was great on such an important day. The Opposition Leader described the party’s candidates as a strong mix of youth and experience.

“It’s our job to make sure that we put forward a positive vision for the future of this country,” he said.

Mr Burt said that the party had done its best to run a “clean” and “issues-based campaign”.

“We’re going to be continuing that over the next 14 days,” he said.

The party’s platform, Mr Burt said, would be unveiled tomorrow.

All candidates will be vying for the support of the now more than 46,000 registered Bermuda voters. Numbers provided to The Royal Gazette by Ms Woolridge showed that the number of registered voters had risen by nearly 3,000 people since last spring.

There are currently 46,669 Bermudians registered to vote — a jump of 2,926 since April 2016, and 4,127 since November 2012, roughly a month before the last General Election.

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