He also called on other candidates to ditch their party labels
Justin Mathias has formally announced his candidacy for Constituency 25, Warwick North East.
The investment industry professional said he wants his constituency to put aside the “pettiness of politics” and re-build the community spirit that Bermuda once had.
Speaking to the media, Mr Mathias outlined a series of initiatives he hopes to implement if elected, including a commitment to donate half of his MP salary to establish a community fund for C25 and a plan to support transport services for the pink route ferry.
“I think the most important part is that I’m pledging to put my salary in there,” Mr Mathias said. “We could get donations for grocery vouchers for families in need. We can get support workers. I have a lot of seniors in my constituency. Instead of us building all these rest homes, why aren’t we getting support workers so that people can live in their home and die in their home in dignity?”
He also proposed a minibus service that would run from Cobbs Hill through Ord Road, up Longford Hill, and back via Harbour Road, allowing residents to leave their cars at home and use the pink route ferry.
“The pink route needs to be supported, and that’s what I’m trying to do so that we can get improvements, we can get extra times,” he added.
A former chairman and candidate of the One Bermuda Alliance (OBA), Mr Mathias has been vocal about his rift with the party, asserting that it is not prepared to govern.
When asked whether he believed there was a stigma attached to those who switch or leave their parties, Mr Mathias said, “The stigma is only attached to the parties, right? The parties attack people who they term as traitors. It doesn’t come from the ordinary citizen. When I’m knocking on doors and canvassing, people are supporting me and saying I’m brave for stepping out. I’m brave to get out of toeing the party line. The only people criticising me are the people who want to keep the current system.”
Mr Mathias argued that the current political landscape is dominated by “too many self-servers” and made a bold appeal to candidates from both major parties, urging them to drop their party banners on Nomination Day and to run as independents.
“I believe there are good people within both organisations, and I know there are public servants in there, but people don’t get to see that. Politics is behind the scenes – we’re all friends, we’re all family. As much as you see the war happening on the public stage, it isn’t like that behind the scenes. And the people on both sides of the PLP and OBA know who I’m talking to. I hope they can see the light and see that what we really need in this election is public service.”
Following Mr Mathias’s campaign launch, a spokesperson for the PLP issued a statement reinforcing the party’s position.
“At the end of the day, either the Progressive Labour Party or a coalition of chaos led by the One Bermuda Alliance will be your government. A vote for any candidate other than the PLP is a vote to put the OBA back in charge.”
The OBA has yet to respond to Mr Mathias’s remarks.
