Opposition Leader in Bermuda loses vote of no confidence

HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Opposition Leader Jeanne Atherden has lost a vote of no confidence and is expected to be replaced by businessman Craig Cannonier, who resigned as premier four years after becoming embroiled in a controversy involving an American tycoon.

The likely change — in the wake of a crushing general election defeat 14 months ago — comes after eight of the One Bermuda Alliance's (OBA) 11 Members of Parliament reportedly voted against Atherden, who had defeated Cannonier in a leadership fight last year, in the motion of no confidence on Wednesday night.

Atherden, Michael Dunkley, the former premier, and Trevor Moniz reportedly opposed the move to dump her after little more than 300 days in the post, although it is believed the three were not present at Wednesday’s meeting.

The OBA constitution states that a leadership election will take place if two-thirds of the party MPs pass a vote of no-confidence in the OBA leader endorsed by the OBA caucus.

Government House confirmed that Governor John Rankin had been contacted and it is thought talks took place on Thursday to discuss the party’s future leadership.

Atherden and Cannonier were not immediately available for comment and party officials have so far remained tight-lipped.

Leah Scott is expected to remain the party’s deputy leader.

Cannonier, 55, had voiced concerns over Atherden’s leadership of the party.

Last December, after the resignation of OBA chairman Nick Kempe, he said: “we are not heading in the direction I would like to see the party heading.”

Cannonier entered politics in 2009 as a candidate for the short-lived Bermuda Democratic Alliance (BDA) and became party leader in 2010.

The BDA later merged with most of the remaining United Bermuda Party (UBP) MPs to form the OBA in 2011 after the UBP, which had run the country for 30 years after the introduction of party politics in 1968, was disbanded and Cannonier was elected party leader.

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