Joanne Ball-Burgess: A Commitment to Serve Constituency 25

Thank you to the PLP family, The Honorable Premier, and The Honorable Deputy Premier, Minister Walter Roban, for placing your faith in me as a candidate. Your trust and support mean so much to me.

To the Members of Parliament, my family, friends, the people of Bermuda, the members of the media, and the public, it is with great honor and a deep sense of responsibility that I, Joanne Ball-Burgess, stand before you today as the candidate for Constituency 25.

This opportunity represents my unwavering commitment to serve our community. I am driven by a desire to make a tangible difference in the lives of the people of Bermuda, fostering growth, equity, and opportunities for each and every person.

Warwick North East: My Home, My Community

I grew up in Warwick on Marl Lane, where every day was an adventure:

✔ Evening swims at Surf Side
✔ Selling snowballs with friends on Ord Road
✔ Skating down Spring Hill
✔ Running through the tracks near Bright Temple Church
✔ Picking loquats and cherries
✔ Attending Brownies and Girl Guides at Cedar Hill
✔ Rescuing the occasional stray cat

One of my mother’s favorite stories captures the spirit of my childhood perfectly:

A parent once approached her, concerned because her daughter was overwhelmed with lines she had to learn for a play. My mother, puzzled, asked, “What play?”

It turned out that I had gathered the neighborhood kids, handwritten scripts for everyone, and convinced them to perform a play for the parents.

Even then, I had a knack for bringing people together, organizing, and making things happen.

So Warwick North East is not just my constituency—it is my extended home.

A Journey of Service & Global Perspective

Born and raised in Bermuda, I have a deep love and understanding of our island’s culture, history, and community values.

Having lived and worked in four countries, I also bring a global outlook that has shaped my ability to approach challenges with creativity and innovation.

📚 In 2009, I authored and published the best-selling book, The Lizard and The Rock.
🏫 In 2016, I founded The Cottage School in Nairobi, Kenya, a micro-school that emphasized arts integration in education.

Both experiences demonstrate my commitment to:

✔ Fostering literacy
✔ Celebrating local culture
✔ Designing educational opportunities that inspire growth and development

These values also reflect my dedication to supporting my constituents and the PLP in building a future that uplifts every member of our community.

A Life-Changing Moment: The Westgate Mall Attack

I have always cared deeply for those on the margins of society, but this focus became even more personal after one of the most harrowing experiences of my life.

On September 21, 2013, during the Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, I found myself trapped as terrorists stormed the building.

In that moment of terror, it was an unsung hero—a woman who cleaned the toilets—who led me and eight others to safety.

I never knew her name, and I never saw her face again.

But the whole experience changed me, shaping my understanding of what heroism truly means.

Recognizing Bermuda’s Unsung Heroes

That experience makes me ask:

🟢 Who are the unsung heroes of Bermuda?
🟢 Who are the ones whose names we may never know but whose contributions carry us forward?

The caregivers, janitors, lunch ladies, maintenance persons, mentors, and community builders who work tirelessly to ensure that others can thrive.

These are the people who quietly shape the fabric of our community, and their efforts are essential and invaluable to the well-being of our society.

Strengthening Education & Community Support

In my most recent assignment in communications and engagement in education reform, I gained a deeper understanding of the unsung heroes of education in Bermuda.

Teachers, department staff, support staff, ERU leads, counselors, and others navigate complex systems and advocate for the needs of students, parents, and educators alike.

While there have been successes, it is clear that implementation must improve.

For the sake of marginalized communities and future generations, I am committed to working with the PLP, bringing my voice and expertise to ensure that we achieve transformative and lasting progress.

We owe it to these unsung heroes—and to future generations—to get it right.

Tackling the Issues That Matter

As I stand here today, I am deeply mindful of the concerns facing our community:

✔ The high cost of living
✔ Housing accessibility
✔ Adequate healthcare
✔ Gang violence
✔ Domestic abuse and violence
✔ Care for our seniors—and let me state clearly that our seniors will not be forgotten!

Since moving back, like many of you, I’ve navigated the challenges of:

🔹 Raising a family
🔹 Managing in a volatile economy
🔹 Ensuring that our children have the tools they need to thrive

Committed to Listening & Taking Action

I recognize that I am a new candidate, and I am ready to get out onto the doorsteps to meet the people of C25.

🔹 It is important for me to listen to your concerns and truly understand the issues that matter most to you.
🔹 I want to create and continue the dialogue well beyond February 18th.
🔹 I want to build an ongoing relationship that ensures that your voices are not only heard but reflected in action.

A Fairer, More Equitable Bermuda for All

Together, we can build a future that reflects the needs of our community and helps to create a fairer, more equitable Bermuda for all.

Thank you.