Bermuda to hold snap elections
The British Overseas Territory of Bermuda will today hold a snap general election.
Premier David Burt had called for a snap election to take place ahead of the 2022 deadline established in the Bermudian Constitution. In his appeal to Governor John Rankin in August, Burt stressed an earlier opportunity for voters would allow for more focused government efforts towards economic recovery and eliminate the need for multiple rounds of by-elections over the next two years, thereby saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Burt is seeking to extend his Progressive Labour Party’s recent political dominance by running on a platform that prioritises relief for Bermudian businesses, spurred by domestic subsidies in the green energy and urban infrastructure sectors. By holding an election now, Burt is also allowing his party the opportunity to fill vacant parliamentary seats left by senior opposition One Bermuda Alliance representatives who are set to retire.
With health security at polling locations a high priority for the Bermudian government, expect the electorate to reward the incumbent PLP party for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister of Health Kim Wilson reported her ministry has fully complied with all election guidelines issued by the Caribbean Public Health Authority towards the Parliamentary Registrar, including providing personal protective equipment and free COVID-19 tests for election candidates and officers.
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