HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Premier-elect Craig Cannonier says helping victims of Bermuda’s dismal economy will top his new One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) government’s to-do list after his party won a fiercely contested general election yesterday.
Cannonier, a relatively new comer to politics in the Overseas British Territory, addressed the island’s spiralling unemployment rate, estimated at 10 per cent, soon after the OBA won 19 of the 36 seats contested in the elections and preventing the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) from securing a fourth consecutive term in office.
“To those who cannot feed their families, seniors who cannot afford to stay in their own country, the OBA will work for you,” he said, adding “we have a lot of work to do and first thing … we will be getting jobs back out there for Bermudians. We need to get Bermudians back to work”.
In addition to the jobless rate, Bermuda’s national debt has ballooned to US$1.4 billion amid a four-year recession, but the OBA, which was formed only 19 months ago in a merger between the now defunct most United Bermuda Party (UBP) and the short-lived Bermuda Democratic Alliance (BDA), fears it may be worse than the PLP has let the population to believe.
Asked about the economy, OBA finance spokesman Bob Richards said: “Job one, to find out what’s under the hood (car bonnet).” Shortly after calling the OBA leadership to say she would be visiting Governor George Fergusson to discuss handing over power to her opponents, Premier Paula Cox told party supporters “we’re not going anywhere. “We thank you for being here, that’s the first thing,” said Cox, who was interrupted by shouts of “We love you”. “We love you too,” replied Cox, the first sitting Bermuda Premier to be beaten at an election. It remains to be seen whether the PLP’s deputy leader, Derrick Burgess, becomes the new Opposition Leader. He resigned from cabinet in June after an altercation with a colleague in the House. (CMC)
