Barritt set to resign as MP tomorrow

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14: Interim OBA leader John Barritt is expected to stand down as an MP tomorrow to clear the way for new leader and Senator Craig Cannonier to stand for a seat in the House of Assembly.

Mr Barritt — who has served as an MP since 1993 and has represented Devonshire South Central since 2003 — promised to stand down if the elected leader of the party was not already an MP.

An insider said: “We expect an announcement on Thursday — he said when he was elected interim leader he’d step down if required and that’s exactly what he’s going to do.”

Mr Barritt is required to submit a letter to the Speaker of the House of Assembly resigning his seat and another to Governor Sir Richard Gozney submitting his resignation as leader of the Opposition.

The House of Assembly resumes after the summer recess on November 4 — but it us up to Premier Paula Cox to decide when a by-election will be held.

But any election must be held within two months of letters of resignation being delivered and within 28 days of a writ for the election being approved.

Sen. Cannonier can officially lead the new party — but Parliamentary rules forbid the official leader of the Opposition from sitting anywhere but the House of Assembly.

The election — although in what was a safe UBP seat — will be an acid test for the new party and likely to be keenly contested by a ruling PLP keen to put up a strong showing in its first electoral battle against the OBA.

Mr Barritt could not be contacted for comment yesterday.