Video: OBA Pledge ‘Less Talk, More Action’
It’s not going to be politics as usual anymore, according to the leaders of the One Bermuda Alliance.
OBA deputy leader Senator Craig Cannonier and chairman Michael Fahy said the party is intent on breaking the mold of Bermudian politics and bringing new faces, new ideas and new energy to the process.
Rolled out last week following a long-anticipated merger between United Bermuda Party Members of Parliament and the Bermuda Democratic Alliance, the newly-fledged OBA says it is looking for all Bermudians to get involved.
Describing Bermuda’s current social and economic conditions as “gut-wrenching for all of us”, Mr. Cannonier offered an open invitation to all Bermudians to get involved with the new party
“It’s not somebody else’s kids getting shot; it’s our kids getting shot and we’re waiting for someone else to fix the problem?” said Sen. Cannonier. “Now is an opportunity to get that corrected. To get involved …”
Sen. Cannonier – named as Shadow Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry by OBA interim leader John Barritt – said the party’s focus was on “less talk and more action”, adding Bermudians have “had enough of the environment they’re living in.”
The OBA deputy leader said the party was actively seeking fresh blood and fresh faces and was encouraging Bermudians who might previously have been reluctant to participate in the political process to come forward.
He and Mr. Fahy said there was no established hierarchy in the OBA and anyone who becomes a member of the party had an opportunity to run for a Parliamentary seat.
“The OBA’s looking for all Bermudians to get involved: this is a clean slate, folks,” he said. ” … We need to be engaged in what’s going on in Bermuda … Now is an opportunity to get involved.”
Good to see we have engaged persons who want to talk about the issues, and get Bermuda back on track. OBA has my vote.
which politician promises MORE TALK AND LESS ACTION…and exactly how much action can yu take with like 1/3 of the seats?
Do you have suggestions to make Bermuda a better place??
Plain ole moon bats!
well our premier has entertained a group from Nigeria…. to see how they can help us out.
Vote for the independents.
I think that John Barritt is got what it take to lead the OBA and should remain has party leader.
He is White so that means it would be political suicide to keep him as leader before the next election. The PLP will spin him as some sort of plantation slave driver and the public will continue to vote PLP because they would rather have a an Island in economic and social turmoil, which is getting worse by the hour, than a white leader. This is the level of ignorance we live in under the present administration.
Finally…a group of people, who want more people involved, who seem to truly dig Bermuda out of this quagmire that it has buried itself into over the past 13 years.
Hopefully there will be a balanced mix of youthful enthusiasm & aged experience. We need people who are in it for the good of Bermuda, not as a personal money making career.
Fahy – ex UBP Senator, ex BDA chairman, now OBA chairman…
Cannonier – ex BDA leader, now OBA deputy Leader…
Jeanne Atherden stated that the core values of the BDA and UBP have always been the same…
Therefore UBP=BDA=OBA
(UBP + BDA = OBA) = OMG
PLP=Gangstaa friendly
Always rerefhsing to hear a rational answer.
Don’t just sit around and laugh. If you don’t want to be part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.
@Black Soil – - I have read their entire website. I have read their constitution. I have taken the time to research what they believe, what they plan to do, and where they are as a group.
After all that reading, I am still not convinced that they are the team to lead my country – I will explain and support my thoughts.
Their position is one of “change”. They stated on their website their position points for correcting the economic, social and other issues we face in Bermuda. They gave a broad overview of what they plan to do – - however, the plan is, of course, very brief on the “how”. I understand you can’t show your whole hand in politics, but there needs to be something to engage me as a voter.
They are playing the political game of gaining voters – nothing more. Everything stated above by Fahy and Cannonier is simply rhetoric and “sound bites” to appear “cool” and “new” to those voters who are upset with the PLP government.
I cannot support or join the OBA based on how they were created. I have stated on Bernews before that turncoats and backstabbers do not get my vote – - they have a long road ahead of them to sway me to hear their voice – - and I am the actual voter they are trying to engage – - sad, isn’t it?
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
Everything you say makes sense from a logical stand point, but in terms of intellectual capital they still have to be better than the PLP. I have little faith in the PLP to dig us out of the hole in the next few years. I hoped the PLP would do a better job than they have done, but the reckless spending and the inability to run the public transport sector at the moment is very worrying. They have to get this part of the job right as it is the minimal level of performance required by ANY government. At present it looks and acts like a shambles.
Inviting people to join the party is not empty rhetoric. It is substantive. Do you want change YngBlackMind? If so what is that? Now approach the PLP and the OBA and see which party is more willing to embrace your vision for Bermuda.
The UBP is the party to join, especially now without the detractors, doubters and critics. The UPB old guards are all now with the OBA
Remember Charlie nor Kim was ever part of a UBP government team and they are proven men of integrity and honesty!
Richards, Gibbons, Barritt, Moniz and Alan Marshall were all part of the UBP government Team. Great For the SWANS they now have the opportunity to say that the party is cleanse of its old baggage. really LMAO
@Black Soil
You seem to be confusing points here. My statement above clearly indicated my position at this point on both political parties, thus your question appears to be a thin veiled attempt to mask the wrongdoings of the OBA in their creation.
I have a clear view of what Bermuda requires for success going forward – - I will share that vision with both the OBA and PLP and the UBP if they have a candidate in my area – - based on those answers will be how I vote – plain and simple.
My comments above simply show that the OBA is simply “politicing” at this point – the truth will come out in the wash.
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
Still no real solutions, just talk and no real sense of direction where they want to go !!! Focus so much on painting a picture of PLP in a negative light…..name one place in the world today that is not dealing with crime, ecomony, education……….. Easy to say you will fix it……It sure is another thing to really make the changes……If you had solutions why is “GANG/GUN Violence still going on ??…..ONE does not have to be the government to fix any social problems within the community !!!
I agree…they will not win a campaign based on blaming the PLP…what are they offering that is different? what suggestions have they made? all they are dooing is being politically disingenuous and trying to take the voters for fools.
Where was Craig Cannonier blaming the PLP? If there is any party which takes the voters as fools it’s the PLP who just sit back and play the race card.
you really are spashal aren’t you.
The best solution lies with the family. But in Bermuda too many homes are broken cuz the family is fragmented. Many families have moms & dads who are working 2, 3 jobs to make ends meet. Govt can play a role to better regulate the business environment to enhance incomes. And sorry specialgirl4you…if you are not the govt then you have no power to affect change to govt policy. And there are many countries in the world which do not have rates of violent crime as high as Bermuda. What we are seeing in Bermuda is not (I hope) the “new normal”.
mr cannonier basically sold himself out for this senate seat. it is ridiculously sad.
Regrettably, Craig Cannonier will go the way of so many others who thought they could tame the beast that is the core of the UBP. In giving birth to the OBA they have replayed one of the most serialised movies in Bermuda politics: the angry black man who suddenly finds that he has been used. Craig, like Kim, Jim, Jerome, Sir John, Llew and others, they won’t even invite you for “tea and cookies” when they’re done. Sad but true.
@Hmmmmm You don’t have the slightest idea of what you’re talking about. Please don’t regret what you do not know.
HMMMMMMMMMM is speaking from public knowledge and black soil from ignorance?