Bermuda Democratic Alliance Is Dissolving

May 16, 2011

After just two years on the island’s political scene, the Bermuda Democratic Alliance will be dissolving tomorrow [May 17] as its three Parliamentarians join with former United Bermuda Party MPs to form a new combined opposition party, the One Bermuda Alliance.

BDA chairman, Michael Fahy said, “Today seven MP’s from the UBP resigned from the UBP in anticipation of the launch of the One Bermuda Alliance. In accordance with our agreement [with the former UBP members], the BDA will be dissolved upon the launch of the OBA tomorrow.”

“The BDA formed to effect real change in Bermuda. Tomorrow marks the real beginning of the change Bermuda needs and desires. It will be a New Day.”

bda banner democratic

In 2009 UBP MPs Donte Hunt, Mark Pettingill and Shawn Crockwell split from the UBP’s Parliamentary ranks to form the Bermuda Democratic Alliance.

Last week Craig Cannonier and Michael Fahy released statements regarding the Bermuda Democratic Alliance [BDA] plans to dissolve and join with members of the UBP to form the One Bermuda Alliance, with Mr Fahy saying “A divided opposition cannot stand.”

The BDA was founded by former UBP Young Turks Shawn Crockwell, Donte Hunt, Mark Pettingill, Wayne Scott, Michael Fahy, Sean Pitcher and Michael W. Branco.

Dissatisfied with what they perceived as organisational inertia and a lack of motivation within the UBP, the BDA founders launched the party as a clear alternative to the UBP/PLP duopoly which has defined Bermudian politics since the 1968 General Election, the first held under the Westminster two-party system.

The BDA only faced one electoral test in its two-year history — when insurance executive Sylvan Richards challenged the Progressive Labour Party’s Marc Bean and the UBP’s Devrae Noel-Simmons in the Warwick #26 constituency former Premier Dr. Ewart Brown represented before he resigned from Parliament last year. [Mr Richards is pictured below with BDA Leader Craig Cannonier when his candidacy was announced].

BDARichards-1-8

At the December by-election former Government Senator Mr. Bean romped to victory in the safe PLP constituency while Mr. Richards and Mr. Noel-Simmons divided the traditional opposition vote almost evenly. Merger talks between the UBP and the BDA began shortly after the Warwick vote.

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  1. The OBA Dawn « "Catch a fire" | May 17, 2011
  1. Mike says:

    I’m not going to call this a joke. But very disappointing.

    • Black Soil says:

      Like to see you do better Mike.

      • Snake Dunk says:

        So whats new? Grantee? Pam Lin? Barite? Monizella? jackass? Simple Simon, snobbob,

  2. Black Soil says:

    The BDA is doing this for the good of Bermuda. The OBA is the BDA. The BDA will form the next govt.

  3. onionpatch85 says:

    Thank God -now the plp have some competition for good governance and Bda can have a corruptfree system..

  4. Kathy says:

    Congratulations! I hope the new OBA will be an inclusive black/white party for all Bermudians who are fed up with the status quo and want to see REAL change in Bermuda.

    There are families struggling, there is an unacceptable level of crime, our school systems need an overhaul, we need to educate our youth and if they don’t want to be educated we need to discipline them in a way parents are not by way of some other form of educational/vocational program aimed at making our youth accountable and forcing them down a path that will eventually lead to success in life.

    We need change and perhaps now it will be someone else’s turn to try!

    Best of luck to the new party!

  5. Whisling Frog says:

    For something to be affective it has to be up and running, once that happens the operation has to be fine tuned. That takes time… When dealing with people only time will tell… I’m guessing at least 10 yrs plus before seeing any real change. The PLP are still making changes that the UBP put in place over 30 yrs of politricking. It’s taking the PLP this long to get things right, so don’t look for any immediate change with this OBA…

  6. Whistling Frog says:

    For something to be affective it has to be up and running, once that happens the operation has to be fine tuned. That takes time… When dealing with people only time will tell… I’m guessing at least 10 yrs plus before seeing any real change. The PLP are still making changes that the UBP put in place over 30 yrs of politricking. It’s taking the PLP this long to get things right, so don’t look for any immediate change with this OBA…
    Reply

  7. Flikel says:

    I am a bit confused.

    The BDA split from the UBP. Then the BDA and UBP remarried under the name OBA. So how is this different from the original UBP?

    The faces are essentially the same. PLP supporters did not leave their party and join the BDA or UBP.

    So, in the end… we have a party with a different name, but with a different leader, and whose supporters are those who once supported the UBP.

    So what has changed?

    • Scott says:

      unless you have all new people, there is never 100% change.. and if you did get all new people, we’d have an issue of inexperience..

      compare the BDA to the ex-ubp’s that joined the PLP… some will say they just jumped on the bandwagon, others will say they had a change of heart regarding issues..some PLP people are the exact same people that served in UBP, but their minds changed on things..

      the way i see it, these members may be the same physical people that were in the UBP, but their outlooks on issues, and ways to fix them has changed from the old ways to a new, more progressive way…

    • Co-Sign says:

      Thank you for stating the OBVIOUS!! There hasn’t been a change at ALL besides the name and the leader!! Barrit has in the UBP since 1993, around the time they were ruining our education system and I’m supposed to believe that the OBA isn’t the same as the UBP… same faces to me means the same ideologies!!! LMAO at the people that just don’t get it!! One day the “PEOPLE” will get sick and tired of the political hogwash and that’s when REAL CHANGE will take place. Until then enjoy the “smoke and mirrors” because that’s all that it is!!! NWO spells OWN backwards 21st century slavery is coming and people are welcoming it with open arms. We have been dumb down so much half don’t know their elbow from their knee!! A sad day is coming soon and the worst thing is that it can be prevented if people would only WAKE UP!!!

  8. sigh says:

    One thing the BDA cannot be accused of – is political expediency. Shaking My Head.

    This is perfect example of selling their principles just for political expediency. Mr. Cannonier, I am so disappointed in you. What happened to A Better Way? Now you have joined forces with the same people you condemned. You have sold our Sir. All for a Senate Seat. Sad to see.

    • LOL (original) says:

      Not like you would have ever supported him in the first place. You know where your vote is and will always be even if the country is taken under. So stop complaining and watch and see how things unfold unless you have a hidden agenda and hence your posting on these threads. How’s the quarter back are you in line for the head cheerleader………………

      LOL

      • sigh says:

        Actually i had great respect for Mr. Cannonier. But he has quite obviously played his political hand to see what he can get as fast as possible. He isn’t the first, won’t be the last. But it’s unfortunate.
        Many BDA members truly looked up to him and their team. Now they are realizing they were only pawns in this political game. Now Mr. Cannonier, Mr. Fahy, Dr. Michelmore have all sold out to go back to the UBP aka OBA.

        • LOL (original) says:

          I feel the same way about the PLP sold out, sold out Bermuda, their supporters and members as labor is not what they stand for anymore than the UBP stood for labor. Otherwise we would not have MP complaining about were they sit in church and such nonsense. A people’s government would happily sit among the people just to use a recent example.

          LOL