'No seat should be safe'

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7: Sitting MPs could see themselves fighting in new constituencies as the new OBA gears up to fight a general election, according to leadership candidate Craig Cannonier.

Senator Cannonier said there shouldn’t be any safe seats in Bermuda — and that sitting MPs should be prepared to fight anywhere the party wants them to go.

He added: “Our MPs may have a preference — but what we need to do is sit down and ask what the preference of Bermudians is.

“Our MPs should not be comfortable in their seats — you hear people say ‘that’s a safe seat’ but that comes about from legacy politics. I don’t believe any seat should be a safe seat.

“I believe that candidacies should be based on who is best for the job and we should be going after every seat with passion and conviction.

“That safe seat type of voting has led us to the issues we have today and Bermuda has had enough of it.”

Sen Cannonier, who holds the Economy, Trade and Industry shadow ministry, was speaking as he prepared to face off against Bob Richards MP, the shadow Finance Minister, for the leadership of the OBA on Saturday.

Sen Cannonier said: “We’ve already set the stage in that the interim leader John Barritt, who’s been around for quite some time, is prepared to make way for people who want to get involved in politics. That is huge for him to stand up and make that kind of statement.

“We are going to mix the seasoned politicians with the new ones — they’re equal in worth and information and knowledge is transferable. There’s much to be learned from experience and what that can bring to the table. But the legacy parties of the past have not done enough to get new blood and fresh faces into the political arena. There are a lot of new faces who are very influential in their communities and we need to get people like that involved in politics.

“When we all sit down at the table, I know everyone is willing to do what is necessary to move the party and Bermuda forward.”

But he added: “The biggest job is going to be getting people out of their homes on polling day and voting – I believe I can do that.”