Video: MP Mark Pettingill Resigns From OBA
[Updated with video] Mark Pettingill has resigned from the OBA, and intends to sit as an Independent Member in Parliament until the next General Election, when he said he “will likely resign from politics.”
A statement by Mr. Pettingill said, “I have this morning advised the Premier that I will be resigning from the One Bermuda Alliance.
“I intend to sit as an Independent Member in Parliament until the next General Election, at which time I will likely resign from politics.
“I find myself in a position of ongoing professional legal conflict with the Government on various existing litigation and potential matters that my law firm has been approached about having conduct over.
“Furthermore, I have unfortunately found myself diametrically and philosophically opposed to the Government’s position or approach on numerous issues in endeavoring to move Bermuda forward.
“I respect that the Premier and the Cabinet take a different View. In the interest of the country, I sincerely wish the Government every success for the remainder of their tenure in office recognizing that they have in fact accomplished many positive things for the Island.
“I have no doubt the Government will have my support on any number of pending legislative matters,” he said.
Update 1.02pm: The OBA won the 2012 General Election with 19 seats to the PLP’s 17, and with Mr Pettingill’s resignation from the party following after Shawn Crockwell’s, it now means the OBA holds 17 seats, with both Mr Crockwell and Mr Pettingill sitting as Independents.
Update 3.16pm: Premier Michael Dunkley said, “Mr. Pettingill’s resignation is a disappointing development for a Government that has been making steady progress on big problems facing the people of Bermuda.
“While he explained that he found himself in ‘ongoing professional legal conflict with the Government’ on various matters involving his law firm, I also note his statement that the Government ‘will have my support on any number of pending legislative matters.’
“I therefore look forward to continuing to work with MP Pettingill on the important matters facing Bermuda – as well as the other independent MP, Mr. Shawn Crockwell – and thank Mr. Pettingill for his service to the OBA.”
Just saying the number of elected MPs is now 17 OBA, 17 PLP, and 2 independents…hmmmm
Time to call a vote of no confidence and get the election over.
All Bermudians should have no confidence in the PLP, ever!!!!
I guess he must have had a sip of kool-aid.
I agree, I have confidence that the PLP can do just as bad a job as they did the last time they were in power.
Now we can elect the party that almost ruined the island financially! Burt was the Jr. Minister of Finance during the period of “possible criminal activity” according the Commission of Inquiry. Now you want the foxes to guard the hen house again?
Now we can elect the party that almost ruined the island financially! Burt was the Jr. Minister of Finance during the period of “possible criminal activity” according to the Commission of Inquiry. Now you want the foxes to guard the hen house again?
the make up the House now is as follows: 17 Government members and 16 Opposition members and two independents and the Speaker. 36 members not 35 FYI
Mark good for you my friend.
If it wasn’t for you and Crockwell who are both former BDA members the UBP & BDA would have never formed in to the ubp/OBA.
As you see some of the ubp/OBA clowns turn up theirs noses to you now. Learn this lesson my people…..if you leave the ubp/OBA you learn who your true friends are.
You and Crockwell and some others need to reform the BDA and I will vote for you all hands down I don’t care much for this ubp/OBA. Same old same old.
Mr. Pettingill and Mr. Crockwell now have an enormous amount of leverage should they wish to use it. Timing is curious given that he will remain as an independent anyway.
My cousins in Warwick who voted for him have not seen him since election day. Isn’t that something? He has conflict with some OBA positions and my cousins have difficulty that he has done nothing in the area and so they have a conflict with him.
U.B.P. are finished.
PLP are done!
Onion Juice, please advise who will lead the PLP into the next election? Will it be Mr. Burt who is the new “face” of the PLP, Dr. Brown who needs this election victory, Zane, or the one who does and says what we wants, Chris Furbert!
You need to worry about who is gonna lead U.B.P., you cant use stale milk.
So who is gonna be de Surrogate choice to get de delusional Black votes?
Mmmmmmmm
pop never had a chance plus nothing left
wow,
you sure got alot of like votes for such a small,boring comment.
Yeah, like you’re letting that boogeyman go anytime soon
Money.
Shalom.
And down goes Fraser. Down goes Fraser.
IMHO, this just proves that his ego is more important than Bermuda & he is only helping the PLP get elected which will no doubt massively increase his firms litigation against Govt….
Just proves that there is nothing humble about your opinion..
Translation: he will be earning $ in representing those named in the COI which presented business/political/ethical conflicts.
Yup.
Just say it plainly
… it is all about the money. After the speech about the UBP taking over the OBA during the debate about the airport, the resignation was only a matter of time…
Technically the OBA is a minority government and without Randy Horton as it’s speaker would have been force to step down and call an election.
No wonder Premier Dunkley did not except Ball’s offer of resignation as his house of cards threatens to collapse. He needs all the political support for his continue leadership of that party he can get.
*its
*forced
*accept
*continued
Gibberish Alvin, as usual.
Alvin, isn’t Mr Ball a Senator? That wouldn’t trigger an election and he could be replaced by anyone Premier Dunkley chose, no?
Good riddance if he keeps his word.
Sadly it all comes down to money
Bad decision, bad politics. Let him explain himself to those he’s supposed to represent.
Ya, like turncoat Horton.
That’s going to get his vote, especially the threats on his life lol. Don’t worry, you’ll get your wish soon enough, don’t regret it cuz you arent in the F&F plan.
Shut up and go play with grand daddy.
They’re both dead.
A blind man can see through the smoke and mirrors! Nothing to see here but EGOS and AGENDAS!! Good luck to both parties in the next election. They’ll both need it. At the end of the day I don’t want to see BERMUDA OR IT’S PEOPLE TO LOSE! REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU VOTE…YOU’RE THE ONE PAYING FOR INCOMPETENCE ON BOTH SIDES.
BERMUDA CONSTITUTION
Appointment of Premier and other Ministers
The Governor, acting in his discretion, shall appoint as the Premier the member
of the House of Assembly who appears to him best able to command the confidence of a majority of the members of that House.
Michael Dunkley does not “command the confidence of a majority…”
Darn! I always felt MP Pettingill was doing a great job representing my views, though can appreciate the conflict of issue dilemma. Not looking forward to the next election. Bummer!
Mark cares about Mark first.
“Mark cares about Mark first.”
He’s Bermudian, it’s one of our traits.
I’m sure it’s Mrs. P he cares about most.
Yes more independent MP’s. Both parties and their politrick sucks. In the next election it is truly time for Bermudians to think about who they want representing them and why. More independent MP’s disrupts the oligarchy on both sides.
Problem, it doesn’t appear that either Crockwell or Pettingil will run next election, because of the history of Independents in General Elections. Independents tend to get steamrolled by the party machinery and their voter bases.
“Michael Dunkley does not “command the confidence of a majority…”"
yet, he’s still better than anyone in the PLP.
Watch out, Alaska Hall bots are back. They need to invest in more. Looks way too fishy when it’s the same 90-188 bots disliking/liking comments.
Lol seriously? Why cant you UBP/OBA die hards just admit your party is fudging up just as bad as the other party they claim to be better than. Its only been 4 years and this govt has had more controversy then the last did in 14 years. But you wont acknowledge that. You wont hold them responsible for their actions or should i say inactions. All you gonna do is keep running off the same oba election rhetoric of well the plp this and the plp that to keep on deflecting from your failing govt. So take heed, those are not troll bot votes but real people votes from the majority telling you that oba is going to lose the election….now troll that…
nope those are bot votes lol n you can tell by the sample size voting. what is the oba messing up at?
Irony is what happens in the next few months will be decided by the PLP.
Mr. Horton has such great power.
Double irony.
And survey says…………………………….
All about himself this one. good riddance
the alliance is done. now its clear that I have the same two old self-destructive parties to choose from, both carry baggage from their pasts, one is heartless and lacking empathy, the other fighting a war from the 60s and lacks internal self control. Praying for Bermuda
Mr. Pettingill you decided to be a candidate for the OBA, because you disagree with the way certain issues are handled you resign!!!! You knew you had a law practice to run at the same time, but now $$$ are coming in to your law firm you decided to throw in the towel. You made us believe you were going to work for the OBA and we voted for you. Now at the eleventh hour you decide to quit the OBA. Next election make sure we all ask “Are you in it for the long haul.”? I have no time for people who flip flop between parties or resign before the term ends, or just before an election. Let me remind you of your biggest political career mistake. You took a ride on a private plane with a person not a Government official. I thought to myself wow this politician out of the three politicians should have been the one to say ”We are going on official Government business and Mr. DeCosta needs to get off this plane now!!!”. One unhappy voter of you. Next election trust me I will have a lot to say to my next OBA candidate.
The OBA just loss a very good talent. The question to ask is why is this happening again? The answer can only lie with the leadership of the OBA.
This nonsense needs to stop. What I don’t understand these MP’s are voted in by the people and by all accounts mainly because of who the MP’s represented i.e. OBA or PLP. If any MP who was elected through their respective parties and along the way they decide to resign that MP should not be allowed to be an Independent.
I totally agree…if someone is elected connected to a specific party then what right do they have to become independent when they were not elected as an independent? Not right!!!
all Horton needs to do now is step down from being the speaker
and take is seat over on the plp side
it now becomes 18 plp 17 oba
burt becomes premier
It’s 17 OBA, 17 PLP (including Horton) and 2 Independents. Total of 36.
Which means that pretty much anything is possible in that situation. Crockwell/Pettingil essentially become king-makers.
Good! Mark needs to focus on his next big case. Shawn has the patients to defend. Mark likes to lead and has not been happy since the AG debaucle and has not really been present as a politician either. He and Shawn need to do what they are doing they both lost interest, packed up their toys and left.
Vote individuals not party or you are part of the problem
But what’s the real story? “Party Politics” are definitely a problem but Mark and Mr Crockwell as individuals could also be a problem! For some reason Gambling Regulation issues will come to the fore in the not too distant future…. gambling is the driver…. Think
Tick Tick…
so lets see – looks like an election looming – oh great – we have to choose between an incompetent group of individuals mired in the political mindset of the 60′s (PLP) and a group of people who seem to be unable to govern effectively and suffer from a preponderance of arrogance (OBA) – anybody got a coin???
Oh boy …. Interesting times!!!!
When you are born from deception you only get destruction from with in. It was only a matter of time before the house collapses. The ubp weasled their way into power by putting black faces and new members at the front but control from the outside. For pettingale to resign from the same govt he must go against as a lawyer says a lot and it has nothing to do with greed but everything to do with he realises who he is working for to achieve a devious agenda…going to be an interesting election.
Going to be a HOT HOT summer.
*him realising
Deception? I guess that’s why both parties are imploding lol bias much?
Leah Scott next
No miss,would have lost in the next general election!
Saw this coming years ago.
PRC’s?
Only one left
Irony.
He is betting on casinos and/or some letigations. I am betting on OBA.
I just have to say this i don,t care who wins the next election were going to get the same old crap anyway, i say lets have a commision of inquirey into why the ubp left only 2oo million in our account when they left power they sure did,ant put any money into the infrastucture or the people ..like me or hate i don,t care, a least you can see where some of the money went after (for some who hava bad memory)the gov of the day complained about things that were,nt getting done they got done and then it was used against the plp in the election because they spent to much money..now look at how much debt were in now.from 200 million to billions..i guess to wrongs do add up to a right after all..