Hill family shocked that Kellan Lewis will run for office
OBA’s decision to back Lewis “a gross insult”
Kellon Hill (left); Kellan Lewis (right). File photos
The family of Kellon Hill, who was stabbed to death in 2008, have condemned the OBA for a “shocking and deeply insensitive decision” to roll out one of the people involved in the crime as an election candidate. (SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL STATEMENT)
The family say Kellan Lewis, who served 4-and-a-half years of a 12-year sentence for manslaughter, has “made no effort to engage with our family or to address the pain and suffering caused by their involvement in Kellon’s death.”
Kellon Hill died in August 2008 following an altercation in which a group of teens reportedly set upon him, and he was fatally stabbed.
Five teens were charged but only Kellan Lewis, who was 16 at the time of the killing, was found guilty of manslaughter in 2010.
Mr Lewis was announced on Tuesday as the One Bermuda Alliance candidate for Constituency 32: Southampton West.
In a statement, Kellon Hill’s family said, “Over the past 16 years, our family has borne the weight of grief and injustice. Not one of the perpetrators has reached out to us to express genuine remorse or to make amends for their actions.
“While we firmly believe in the power of rehabilitation, we also believe that true rehabilitation requires accountability, responsibility, and a willingness to face the consequences of one’s actions.
“The decision by the OBA to roll out one of these individuals as a viable candidate for public service is a gross insult to the memory of Kellon and to our family.
“The lack of consultation with victims’ families in such matters demonstrates a troubling level of insensitivity and a failure to understand the core principles of justice and rehabilitation.”
The Hill family also urged decision makers in the OBA to ask how Kellan Lewis demonstrated accountability and remorse, and what actions he has taken to make amends with them.
Upon publishing our report on Wednesday, Bermuda Broadcasting reached out to the OBA to ask whether they had communicated with the family of Kellon Hill ahead of announcing Kellan Lewis as a candidate.
The OBA did not respond directly to the question, but OBA Leader Jarion Richardson said the party stood behind the decision to roll out Mr Lewis as a candidate.
“He paid his debt to society”, Mr Richardson said, “…[he] has proven that your past does not define your future, and when you choose a positive path in life, nothing can stand in your way of blazing a trail.”
In prison, Mr Lewis wrote a book about the mindset that can lead youth to descend into crime, and following his release he formed a music company to support young Bermudian rappers.
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Full Statement on Behalf Kellon Hill’s Family:
“It is with deep pain and anguish that we, the family of the late Kellon Hill, address the shocking and deeply insensitive decision to present an individual involved in the heinous crime that took Kellon’s life as a candidate for public office.
In August 2008, our beloved Kellon was taken from us in the prime of his life, just days away from beginning his freshman year at university. His brutal [death] at the hands of five individuals robbed us of a son, a brother, an uncle, a nephew, and a friend. It also left a permanent scar on our family and community, as we endured the agony of a court process that delivered manifestly inadequate sentencing for those responsible.
Over the past 16 years, our family has borne the weight of grief and injustice. Not one of the perpetrators has reached out to us to express genuine remorse or to make amends for their actions. Instead, we have been left to cope with the immeasurable loss of a young man full of potential, whose light was extinguished far too soon.
The decision by the OBA to roll out one of these individuals as a viable candidate for public service is a gross insult to the memory of Kellon and to our family. While we firmly believe in the power of rehabilitation, we also believe that true rehabilitation requires accountability, responsibility, and a willingness to face the consequences of one’s actions. To date, this individual has made no effort to engage with our family or to address the pain and suffering caused by their involvement in Kellon’s death.
The lack of consultation with victims’ families in such matters demonstrates a troubling level of insensitivity and a failure to understand the core principles of justice and rehabilitation. Public service requires integrity, accountability, and trust, qualities that cannot exist without first taking responsibility for past actions and making meaningful amends.
Every day, Kellon’s mother, father, siblings, nieces, and nephews struggle with the reality of his absence. His voice was silenced by an unconscionable act, and it is our duty to speak on his behalf. We categorically oppose this decision and call on the political organization to reexamine its judgment.
“
We urge those responsible to ask critical questions:
• How has this individual demonstrated accountability and remorse?
• What actions have been taken to make amends with the victims’ family and the community?
• How does this decision reflect the principles of justice and rehabilitation?
As we remember Kellon, we ask for a higher standard of responsibility and compassion from those who aspire to lead. True rehabilitation begins with acknowledgment of harm and making things right with those who have suffered. Anything less dishonors the memory of the lives lost and the families left behind.
We stand as a family in firm opposition to this decision, speaking not only for ourselves but for Kellon, who is no longer here to speak for himself.”
– The Hill Family
PLP is ‘bankrupt of ideas’
OBA says Government needs to focus on improving lives of Bermudians
Jarion Richardson’s challenge to the PLP: “Why are you keeping your platform hidden until February 6?” Photo: OBA
The following statement was issued today by Jarion Richardson, the One Bermuda Alliance Leader:
“The PLP was quick to attack the One Bermuda Alliance yesterday after the party announced nine outstanding new candidates to run in the upcoming election. As per their tired, old playbook, a PLP spokesperson had nothing but criticism about procedural details and backroom bickering, the exact issues that are turning Bermudians and voters around the world away from the political process.
But based on their apparent concerns about the last night’s press conference, we have a few questions for Premier David Burt and his team:
· Why are you keeping your platform hidden until February 6? Ours has been out since last September. What are you hiding? Are you still working on it? You are the government, did you not know and election was coming?
· With the recent resignations from your caucus, do you have a full slate of candidates? Your website shows 30 candidates. It was the PLP who called an election without a full slate of candidates? Didn’t you know that you were going to call an election?
So, we really do need to get this straight, two weeks into a national election that you called, you don’t have a national platform that Bermudians can look at to see your priorities and you don’t have a full slate of candidates. Who’s in charge over there and do that have a clue what they are doing? And you think you should be running the country?
Now, here’s what the OBA thinks the conversation should be focused on:
· Reducing the cost of living which has skyrocketed under the PLP
· Improving our public education system so that our children receive a world-class education without having to go to private schools or leave the island
· Repairing our crumbling infrastructure so that our roads are safe, our garbage can be incinerated safely and our bridges don’t fall into the ocean
· Ensuring that we have enough police and resources to keep our island safe and to reduce the dangers of gangs, guns and drugs which are a menace to our community
· Empowering our economy so that some of the 6,000 Bermudians who have fled the country can come back and ensuring that the three quarters of us who are considering leaving, don’t
Every time that you hear the PLP talk about a poor press conference or not seeing a candidate’s bio or anything other than how they are going to make your life better, ask yourself these two simple questions:
“Am I better off now that I was before David Burt?”
“Is David Burt and the PLP focusing on the OBA because they don’t have any fixes for our problems?”
The PLP only has tired, old political attacks, because it is bankrupt of ideas. It has nothing new to fix the unbelievably long list of things that they have screwed up. The OBA is ready to govern. We have the team, and a published platform that will turn things around and make Bermuda the best place in the world to live, work, play go to school and raise a family.”
Big Brothers, Big Sisters open nominations for best ‘big’
BBBS is celebrating International Mentoring Month this January
January is International Mentoring Month.
In light of the celebration, Big Brother’s Big Sister’s Managing Director Patrina O’Connor Paynter is asking the community to nominate their personal mentors on the island who have helped guide them throughout their lives.
She spoke with Kendal Trott about the initiative.
FDM candidate for C5 ‘steps up’ to political stage
Desmond Crockwell is a longstanding anti-violence activist and founder of magazine, Youth Visionz standing in C5
A familiar face has returned to the political scene.
On Tuesday, the Free Democratic Movement unveiled their latest candidate, Desmond Crockwell, in the lead up to the general election.
Commissiong: Govt. policies fail to address income inequality
Independent candidate for Constituency #17, Pembroke Central, takes issue with Labour Minister over economic progress
The economy and jobs.
Two of the most pressing issues dominating the election campaign to date.
Rolfe Commissiong, Independent candidate for C-17 Pembroke Central and a former Progressive Labour Party MP alleges the government’s economic policies fail to adequately address the needs of the most vulnerable.
However, Jason Hayward, the P.L.P. candidate for C-17, recently said the success of the international business sector has been partly attributed to the government facilitating growth and an environment where more Bermudians are working in the industry.
Mr. Commissiong challenging his election opponent, who ran un-contested in the 2020 general election.
For the full story, click the video link above.
OBA on Lewis: “Your past does not define your future”
Jarion Richardson has affirmed his party’s support of Kellan Lewis as candidate for C32
Kellan Lewis, OBA Candidate for Constituency 32 Southampton West. Photo: oba.bm
A man who was jailed for manslaughter as a youth and later turned his life around has the backing of the One Bermuda Alliance as he seeks to gain the support of the electorate.
Today, OBA Leader Jarion Richardson said, “The One Bermuda Alliance stands behind its decision to roll out Kellan Lewis as its candidate in constituency 32, Southampton West.”
“He is a dedicated and loving father, a community activist, and author. He paid his debt to society and there is no reason to hold it against him. What message would that send to the community, if we did?”
“The One Bermuda Alliance is comprised of a cross section of members within the community, something that we are proud of.”
“Mr Lewis has proven that your past does not define your future, and when you choose a positive path in life, nothing can stand in your way of blazing a trail.”
Kellan Lewis was 16 years old when he and a group of teens were involved in an altercation that led to the death of 18 year-old Kellon Hill. He was convicted of manslaughter in 2010, and served 4-and-a-half years out of a 12-year sentence.
In prison, he wrote about the mindset that can lead youth to descend into crime.
Following his release, Mr Lewis spoke publicly about his experiences, and formed a music company to support young Bermudian rappers. Read more HERE.
Motorcyclist in ICU after collision with pedestrian
Both men are hospitalised following the crash on Parsons Road
A motorcyclist is in the Intensive Care Unit following a collision with a pedestrian.
The incident occurred last night at around 7:20 pm on Parsons Road in Pembroke. Both the 26-year-old rider and the 68-year-old pedestrian were hospitalised with injuries sustained in the crash.
According to police, the motorcycle was reportedly travelling westbound on Parsons Road when the pedestrian was struck as he attempted to cross the road near Crossland Lane.
Both men were rushed to hospital by ambulance. The pedestrian continues to receive treatment, while the motorcyclist remains in the ICU.
Police say their inquiries are ongoing and encourage witnesses to contact Constable Jonathan Flood at 211.
Swiss hospitality school courts local students
Short courses offered alongside undergraduate and postgraduate degrees
EHL Hospitality Business School, Lausanne, Switzerland (Photo supplied, EHL)
Bermudians looking to enter the hospitality industry while broadening their horizons are being asked to consider studying at the EHL Hospitality and Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland. EHL is home to Berceau des Sens, the world’s only Michelin-star student restaurant that doubles as a training ground for students.
Karla Reigosa, EHL’s Regional Student Recruitment Manager for the Americas, says that the school’s strength lies in the quality of its curriculum and the diversity of its student body. “We have about 3,000 students studying with us.” Despite this large number, she reassures potential applicants that they won’t get lost in the shuffle. “Three-thousand students may be more than I have on social media, but you’ll be able to learn who somebody is…maybe even what their favourite cheese is, during those four years of studying.”
Miss Reigosa, who is currently in Bermuda to promote EHL in partnership with local organisation Bridgeway Education, believes that the skills and experiences to be gained on one of the school’s courses could propel EHL graduates to success in Bermuda and beyond.
Mr. Neil Speight, Director of Bridgeway Education, encourages locals to explore all options when it comes to pursuing higher education, and encourages anyone interested in hearing more about overseas education opportunities to reach out via https://www.bridgeway.bm/
Full interview with EHL Hospitality and Business School’s Karla Reigosa, below:
Legally blind OBA candidate Clifton Lambert to contest C4
Clifton Lambert claimed Bermuda is struggling with ‘truth, accuracy and accountability’ from the current administration
Clifton Lambert, candidate for constituency 4, St. George’s South: Photo supplied
Former Royal Bermuda Regiment sergeant and the island’s only legally blind candidate, Clifton Lambert has been announced as the One Bermuda Alliance’s Candidate for constituency 4, St. George’s South.
Mr. Lambert is a retired construction company owner, and loss his vision at the age of 68-years-old, according to his biography.
He attributes his ‘no nonsense and army discipline approach’ to his style of politics rooted in his 45 years service with the Royal Bermuda Regiment from which he retired as a Warrant Officer and Sergeant Major.
In a news release, he said, “Sadly, very few of the PLP politicians elected to represent the interests of those who elected them, their constituents, have voiced any concerns or opinions in the House of Assembly during the past 5 years.”
“They appear voiceless in representing their electorate , in a state of slumber an decline.”
Mr. Lambert was included among the 9 candidates rolled yesterday at OBA headquarters.
He will challenge the PLP’s Tinee Furbert who has held the government portfolio for Youth, Social Development and Seniors replacing the OBA’s Elizabeth Deacon who stepped down for this general election.
Ms. Furbert won the seat in October 2020 taking 74% of the vote against the OBA’s Kimberlee Pitcher who won 25% of the ballots.
Justin Mathias to stand in C25 as an Independent
Former OBA chair spells out why he’s done with party politics
The following statement was issued today by Justin Mathias:
I have never run in a general election, and I’ve also never run in any election where I have truly examined my conscience, truly thought about why I am running, why I want to serve the people and make the concerted effort to win.
Well, there will be people that say, “didn’t you run in 2018, in that by election in Constituency 25?”.
I did, but that was only to save face for the OBA. I was never the approved candidate for the OBA in 2018 for Constituency 25 and I was made the candidate 12 hours before that infamous press conference.
So, what happened?
It is truly too long of a story, and I don’t want to play political tricks but the Constituents of 25 deserve the truth.
After the resignations of Jeff Baron and Grant Gibbons in 2018 there became two approved candidates for the OBA for those by elections. One of them being Scott Pearman and another prominent person that I will respectfully not name.
In the background the Leadership at the time and the Candidate Selection Committee, which I did not sit on, decided to consider the message it would send to the electorate if they ran a different kind of candidate in Constituency 22 and Scott Pearman in Constituency 25. This was argued by several people that it would break the chains of legacy and show the OBA was not the continuation of the UBP.
That clearly did not happen and the then Leader Jeanne Atherden called me the night before the candidate announcement to say that they didn’t reach an agreement with this prominent individual, and he took his name out of consideration to run. I told the Leader that the OBA would be finished if we weren’t rolling out two OBA Candidates tomorrow given:
· We were the Party that triggered the by elections because two of members wanted to jump ship after just being elected not even a full year prior, and
· The PLP had already announced their candidates in Curtis Dickinson and Curtis Richardson.
I implored the Leader to find a new candidate; she called me back an hour later to say that she couldn’t secure someone and asked if I would run. I reluctantly obliged; given that I had a job offer with a local audit firm, I had to call them first thing that morning to confirm it was ok with them, and the speech that I gave on that day was written in 30 minutes just prior to that press conference.
I say all of this to say that I didn’t choose Constituency 25, fate choose it for me.
Just like many things that are forced on me in life it didn’t bode well in the beginning. But then there were beautiful moments on that campaign where people would share stories of my grandparents, my aunts and uncles and their impacts that they had on Warwick life and then I knew, why this opportunity was placed in front of me.
I knew I was going to lose as there were so many people who supported me that wanted Curtis Dickinson to become the Finance Minister and I agreed with them!
I tried to run in 2020 to represent Constituency 25 but the then Leader, Craig Cannonier, implied that I needed to bend the knee of sorts and ask for forgiveness after not supporting his unconstitutional (OBA Constitution) accession to the Party Leader in 2018.
Everyone who knows me and my character knows that would never happen!
In 2022 I submitted my interest again to the Candidate Selection Committee to run in Constituency 25. I was told no because we have a new fresh face politician to run in that Constituency and that I was better off running in Constituency 27, as the “demographics better suited me” more than the person who ran there in 2020.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I hate the consideration of race when it comes to a reason why someone runs in a constituency.
So why the consideration for me to run in Constituency 25?
I have made lifelong connections with the people of Warwick North East and I reminded myself that I made a pledge to them that I would never run anywhere else and I feel I need to defend them from two opportunists.
This will be Doug DeCouto’s third general election run:
1. Ran under the UBP in 2007 in Constituency 29
2. Ran under the OBA in 2020 in Constituency 27
3. Running under the OBA in 2025 in Constituency 25
If you run the pattern here, maybe in 2030 Doug will run in Constituency 23.
Then you have PLP’s Arianna Hodgson who has moved from Constituency 23 in 2020 to Constituency 25 in this election and who was probably trying to make a claim to run in the vacant seat of Constituency 5 which will now represented by Pastor Leroy Bean.
I’ll be honest I never understood the strategy behind constituency hoppers, aren’t you just showcasing that you don’t have the determination to work hard and devote yourself to one constituency?
All these individuals are portraying is the insatiable thirst for a “safe seat” so that they can fulfill their lifelong dream fame.
Do they have a burning desire to serve the people?
Or they will both act is if they do on the doorstep and in public just to play the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if you see a big narcissistic photo of one these two in our Constituency as an intimidation tactic like a dog peeing on a tree to mark their territory.
No Party owns your vote, and they don’t deserve you unwavering loyalty.
Since my last article both the OBA and PLP have come out against me. Just ask yourself why?
The PLP and OBA have no donors left to run ads and other vitriol that you normally see during these types of elections. Now they must use their personal money (through their salaries from the public purse) for campaigning.
So this means the campaign is wholly personal to them and their public careers are on the line.
Ask Ariana:
· What is the PLP plans and why haven’t they executed them in the last 8 years?
· Why are PLP stalwarts like Wayne Caines and Derrick Burgess leaving the PLP in the dying hours of the campaign?
· Do the PLP have 36 candidates and are they providing incentives to volunteers to fill vacant seats like the OBA?
Ask Doug:
· If the OBA Platform has been out for 6 months as he said in a press conference on January 21st why isn’t anyone interested or excited about it outside of the diehard base?
· Why are the OBA hemorrhaging women representatives? The OBA has lost three outstanding and empowering women in Susan Jackson, Tia Smith and Elizabeth Deacon.
· What is the OBA’s plan to have women representatives when possibly at the final reveal of 36 candidates on January 31st less than 20% of the candidates will be women?
· What incentives are the OBA giving and why has the OBA resorted to asking volunteers to stand for the Party given the recent dropouts and why didn’t they have a backup plan?
For the OBA and PLP silent members who are not coming to the defense of Bermudians and putting themselves forward as a viable option, I hope you examine your conscience in the coming days. This quote from Liz Cheney about the Trump affect is poignant to our election.
Liz Cheney (R-WY): “I say this to my Republican colleagues who are defending the indefensible: There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain.”
There will come a day when there is no OBA or PLP and history will remember those who held on to power with their last dying breath and dollar!
This is the final time I will be writing about the past or directly writing about any of the Party’s. When I officially announce my campaign this week I will only talk about the future, my passion for my Country, her people and the Community we will build together.
Justin Mathias
Independent Candidate for Constituency 25 Warwick North East
Sandys MP stands with families displaced by apartment fire
The Speaker of the House pledges to work with Government to support those impacted by the blaze
Dennis Lister, MP for Constituency 35, Sandys North Central, has made public his support to those affected by a fire that broke out on Long Bay Lane in Sandys Parish early this morning.
In a statement issued today, Mr Lister said: “Today, we stand united in compassion and action as our community faces the devastating loss of homes in last night’s fire. Families have been displaced, and hearts are heavy, but together, we will rise from this tragedy.”
Mr Lister thanked the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) for their swift response and said he was grateful that no lives were lost.
“We recently experienced a fire in my own family, so I completely understand the hardship and uncertainty that those impacted are feeling at this time,” he added. “I will be here for those who need me in any way I can be of service.”
Mr Lister also pledged to collaborate with the Government to ensure that affected families receive the necessary support. “To those impacted, you are not alone—our community stands with you,” he said.
Bermuda Broadcasting has reached out to the BFRS for further comment on the fire.
