'I would have won if I'd put my name in'

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1: Two men will compete for the right to lead the OBA into the next General Election, party chiefs announced today.

Senator Craig Cannonier, the Shadow Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, will challenge MP Bob Richards, the shadow Finance Minister, for the top job.

Senator Michael Dunkley — who was also tipped to challenge for the top spot — has stood aside in a surprise move, but will go up against veteran MP Trevor Moniz for the deputy leadership.

Party chairman Michael Fahy has also stepped down, with political newcomer Thad Hollis being elected the new chairman unopposed.

Mr Fahy said: “The OBA has fashioned itself in such a way that we can be the agents of change that Bermuda needs.

“We have put together a strong, thoroughly representative group of people to translate our vision of a new Bermuda into reality.

“We think we have a unique opportunity. Bermuda wants us to succeed. We think people will vote for us and we believe that with hard work, we can translate that confidence into a win at the polls.

“It is those people who have been nominated for high office in the party who are to be be responsible for capitalising on that opportunity and delivering results for Bermuda.”

He added that he had taken the chairmanship on an interim basis – and signalled that he intended to throw his hat in the ring for a more frontline role in the party, although he declined to comment on whether he would be aiming for Senate or the House of Assembly.

In a recent Bermuda Sun online poll, people were asked to choose between Mr Dunkley and the two candidates for the leadership.

Although not carried out on scientific lines, more than 530 people responded and — although 172 voted for “none of the above” — Mr Dunkley notched up 146 votes, with Mr Richards on 136 and Mr Cannonier in last place with 80.

In a profile of the potential leaders recently, observers cited Mr Dunkley’s privileged background and close ties with the former UBP as likely negatives in a General Election.

But Mr Dunkley told us today: “That did not play a part at all in my decision. I can’t change, nor would I want to change, who I am. In public service, you stand on your record, nothing else.

“It’s been overwhelming the number of people who wanted me to put my name forward — so much so, I was comfortable I would win if I did put myself forward.

“We are in a crisis in Bermuda – a lot of Bermudians have moved past looking at skin colour. There are those who will think that’s important and I accept that. And sometimes people like you if you are successful and think ‘that guy’s got a track record’. If I’m elected deputy leader next week, I can still play an important part in the party and I look forward to working with the new leader, whoever that might be.”

Determined

But he added that he was determined to win the Smith’s North seat he fought for in the 2007 General Election after standing down from his safe Devonshire South seat to allow then-Senator Richards to enter the House of Assembly.

Mr Dunkley said: “I’ve always believed if you start something, you have to finish it. I made a commitment to Smith’s North and I will honour that commitment.

“If I had run for leader, somebody would have had to give up a seat for me and I didn’t want to walk away from Smith’s North.”

He added: “There are many ways to lead and you don’t need the top position to do that. You can lead by example and by your work in the community I’m looking forward to standing in Smith’s North at the next election.”

In a message to caucus members issued yesterday, Mr Dunkley said that “many factors” played a part in his decision to opt to run for deputy leader.

He added: “There was only one goal in my heart – to do what is right for Bermuda and our party and do everything in my power to best position us to win the next election so together we can make the change this island so desperately needs.”

Mr Dunkley also said that his work in Smith’s North, which he contested in the 2007 election and lost after standing down from the safe Devonshire South seat to allow then-Senator Richards a shot at a seat in the House of Assembly, wasn’t finished.

He added: “Now is not the time to walk away from that commitment to serving the people of Smith’s North. As convincing as some of your arguments to put my name forward for leader were, I feel strongly now is the time to finish that job.

“Also on the list of considerations as I went through this process was the fact that after the September 10 leadership election, it’s vital that the OBA show the right balance between a face of change and also the experience that the island is looking for.

“We cannot take our eyes off the ball and risk compromising the public trust we’ve all worked too hard to regain and will need in the days ahead.”

The new leadership team will be chosen at a party conference at the Fairmont Southampton Resort on Saturday, September 10.