This marks his second bid for the seat

The Free Democratic Movement (FDM) has announced that Desmond Crockwell will be its candidate for Constituency 5, Hamilton East, in the upcoming General Election.

This will be Mr. Crockwell’s second time contesting the seat under the FDM banner. In the 2020 General Election, he secured just over 13% of the vote in C5.

The former Progressive Labour Party MP and Deputy speaker of the House,Derrick Burgess decisively won the seat in 2020 with around 75% of the vote. However, Mr. Burgess announced yesterday that he will not be seeking re-election and has retired from politics. 

Mr. Crockwell, a community advocate with more than two decades of experience working with young people and youth development, emphasized his commitment to integrity and honesty. With roots in C5, he expressed enthusiasm about representing his home community.

When asked by Bermuda Broadcasting why he chose to run again with the FDM, Mr. Crockwell said he believes the party represents the “greatest Opposition” for the island.

On the campaign trail, Mr. Crockwell noted that the top concerns for voters in C5 include the cost of living, housing challenges, crime, issues affecting seniors, and young people feeling excluded.

As the founder of Youth Vision Promotions, a community platform that promotes anti-violence and social responsibility, Mr. Crockwell has led two anti-violence marches.

He outlined a multi-faceted approach to tackling violence, including prevention initiatives, anti-violence promotion in schools, and reforms to the justice system.

“Our justice system is not a rehabilitation service—it’s actually more of a punishment service,” Mr. Crockwell said, emphasizing the need for change.

We will have more on Mr. Crockwell’s candidacy announcement in subsequent news coverage. 

Party responds to Zane DeSilva’s criticism of its economic policy

The Free Democratic Movement today issued the following statement in response to PLP MP Zane DeSilva.

“Zane DeSilva’s attachment to such a baseless and degrading article is as predictable as it is revealing. It’s no secret he’s David Burt’s loyal foot soldier — despite his aspirations to take his place as Premier. But let’s cut through the noise and address their hypocrisy head-on.

He accuses the Free Democratic Movement (FDM) of being “out of touch.” On that, we agree — because we’re proud to be out of touch with the PLP. Why? Because 65% of Bermuda is not in touch with the PLP. The real problem is that his party is out of touch with the people it claims to represent.

While the PLP dangles tax relief for workers like crumbs from the table, the FDM offers a real plan: tax relief for everyone — workers, seniors, and business owners alike. This approach cultivates inclusion and growth. But oddly, as a businessman, he does not seem to care about excessive taxation on business owners. Then again, he is not an ordinary businessman. While legitimate entrepreneurs take risks to create wealth, his strategy is clear: for every dollar he has to pay in taxes, he rakes in thousands through Government contracts …

… Mr. DeSilva embodies the PLP’s warped view of business — not as a driver of innovation and prosperity, but as a mechanism to exploit Bermudian voters, treating us like cash cows to be milked dry.

While he criticizes the One Bermuda Alliance (OBA), the public hasn’t forgotten how Island Construction — the very company he owns — thrived under OBA/UBP leadership. In fact, the only vehicles dominating Government projects during the OBA’s time in office — and still dominating today — belong to Island Construction.  His company thrives no matter who’s in power because Zane DeSilva has mastered the art of playing both sides. Half of his business principals back the PLP, and the other half back the OBA. This ensures he always wins. Meanwhile, in his desperate attempt to discredit the FDM, he accuses us of the very tactics he has perfected: prioritizing personal gain and power over Bermuda’s well-being.

Let’s not forget The Honourable Marc Bean’s leadership was rejected by the PLP precisely because he demanded accountability and integrity. His call for “clean hands and pure hearts” struck fear into the soul of a party that thrives on backroom deals and cronyism. This standard is one the FDM continues to uphold — a standard the PLP fails to meet …

… The only threat to the PLP’s ignoble regime is a coordinated opposition. This is why they fear collaboration among opposition parties — it jeopardizes their grip on Bermuda’s dwindling resources. This is the PLP’s playbook: profit for the powerful, debt for the people.

If they want to talk about the FDM’s silence, let’s address the real silence: the deafening inaction of 29 PLP MPs who sat mute in Parliament for five years. They collected taxpayer-funded salaries while enabling disastrous policies that have crippled our country. That silence wasn’t free; it was bought and paid for by David Burt and Zane DeSilva.

Finally, we encourage the public to visit www.fdmbda.com to explore our economic policy in full. It’s a comprehensive plan designed to restore prosperity and justice to Bermuda, in stark contrast to the financially illiterate policies of the PLP, which have left our country impoverished and disillusioned.

To David Burt, Zane DeSilva, and the PLP’s PR spin doctors: remember, the FDM and The Honourable Marc Bean have all the receipts. Rest assured; we are not afraid to expose the truth. The politics of plunder and exploitation must end on February 18th.

It’s time for Bermudians to demand more than childish and deceptive rhetoric. It’s time to call for honest, accountable leadership that prioritizes the needs and voices of Bermudian voters.”