Bermuda’s Premier David Burt led his ruling Progressive Labor Party (PLP) to victory in the general elections held on Tuesday, even as the main opposition (OBA) increased the number of seats it now holds in the Parliament. Burt told supporters early Wednesday that “the work continues”.
“This victory is not about one leader or one party; it is about all of us and the future that the people of Bermuda have made clear that they want to build together,” he stated.
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Burt, who called the elections 10 months ahead of the constitutional deadline, said that while there will be celebrations, the work continues Wednesday, “and that work is not just for those who supported us, but for every Bermudian, because, as we pledged in our election campaign, we will govern for all.”
According to the preliminary results released by the country’s Parliamentary Registry Office (PRO), the PLP, which had won 30 seats in the last general election, won 25 seats with the OBA moving from six to 11 seats.
OBA leader, Jarion Richardson in conceding defeat, said “Democracy is about choice, and … Bermudians have made theirs.
“Although this outcome is disappointing for us, we respect the process and the will of the voters. Elections are not just about winning or losing; they are about the people, their concerns and their hopes for the future.
“While we may not have secured victory this time, our commitment to Bermuda remains as strong as ever,” he said
The other party in the contest, Free Democratic Movement (FDM), failed to win a seat.
The PRO said that none of the 26 independent candidates, including the former premier, Sir John Swan, had been victorious, receiving 9.21 percent of the votes cast or 2,281.
On the other hand, the PLP received the support of 49.64 percent or 12,300 voters while the OBA received 9, 133 votes or 36.86 percent of the votes cast.
Premier Burt, who had indicated that this would be his last general election as a candidate, and Richardson, comfortably won their seats with Burt registering 440 votes as against 140 for the OBA’s Nicky Gurret in the Pembroke West Central seat. Richardson polled 450 votes as against the PLP’s Kim Wilkerson’s 188 votes in the Paget West seat.
The PRO said that voter turnout was just shy of 55 percent, down on the 61 percent in the election of 2020. (CMC)
