HAMILTON, Bermuda - Voters in the Sandys North constituency will go to the polls in a by-election on October 4 to elect a parliamentary representative after former attorney general and minister of legal affairs and constitutional reform, Kathy-Lynn Simmons, announced her resignation last week.
Kathy-Lynn SimmonsThe Parliamentary Registry Office also said that further details will be provided once the Writs of Election have been issued.
“Until such time, voters are encouraged to check to verify that their registration details are up to date, and to ensure their eligibility to vote in the upcoming by-election,” a spokesman added.
Last week, less than 24 hours after Premier David Burt confirmed that two senior members of his cabinet, including Simmons, had stepped down from their positions, she announced her resignation as the parliamentary representative for Sandys North.
Burt said that Simmons and Vance Campbell, the Minister of the Cabinet Office, whom he described as “valued members of the Cabinet” had decided to move on adding he respected their decisions at this time and” cannot thank them enough for offering themselves for service and wish them both the very best for the future”.
The main opposition One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) has already named Carl Neblett as its candidate for the bye-election, while the ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP) said that its candidate would be announced in due course.
Sandys North had previously been held for the PLP by Michael Scott, the previous attorney-general, who bowed out of politics in September 2020.
The by-election will mark the island’s third in 12 months including the Smith’s North voters electing the OBA’s Robert King in May in a three-way contest that included the PLP’s Lindsay Simmons and former premier, Sir John Swan, who contested as an independent.
The seat had become vacant after former premier Michael Dunkley announced earlier his departure from politics.
Political observers say the outcome of the by-election could fuel more speculation that Premier Burt is contemplating calling a snap general election in the British Overseas Territory.
Simmons served as the parliamentary representative for Sandys North after winning the seat in the October 2020 general election, defeating Marc Bean, the leader of the Free Democratic Movement leader, and Jeff Sousa of the One Bermuda Alliance (OBA).
She was appointed to the Senate in July 2017, after the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) regained the government.
