Michael Dunkley has no intention of dwelling on the past, even if the Progressive Labour Party insists on doing so.

The Premier is likely to face a baptism of fire in the House of Assembly today, his first session as the new leader of the One Bermuda Alliance.

In his first in-depth interview since the dramatic events of Monday night, Mr Dunkley gave his full support to Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell, and said he intended to draw a line under the Jetgate affair, which ultimately cost Craig Cannonier his job.

Focused on moving the country forward, the Premier hinted that casinos, cannabis, and conscription, are among his immediate priorities, while debating the past is most certainly off the agenda.

“I can’t dwell on what happened — people expect you to make decisions and move on,” said Mr Dunkley. “We’ve got real challenges facing Bermuda, and we have to move forward and deal with these challenges we have.

“I have little intention of going back and reflecting on the past — we’ve been involved in it too much, and for too long, and we have to move forward.”

Moving past Jetgate might be harder than the new Premier would like. PLP leader Marc Bean has been exceedingly vocal in his demands for Mr Crockwell to go, and that cry is likely to be taken up all along the Opposition benches today.

However, Mr Dunkley said the Tourism Minister Crockwell “most definitely” had his full confidence.

“We all make decisions that people question — that’s life,” said the Premier. “We can’t agree on everything. But look at the body of work that Mr Crockwell has done.

“I have a good relationship with him — we have tremendous respect for each other so I look forward to continuing to work with him.

“I don’t intend to continue to two-step with the Opposition about these things, I will deal with them accordingly, say what’s on my mind.

“But I have to be focused moving forward — I can’t let people focus on looking back. You can look at where you come from, and understand it, but you have to move forward in life. Life’s too short.”

Adversarial conflict in Parliament is something Mr Dunkley would like to leave permanently in the past, and believes the public would support the sentiment of having a House that got the job done, rather than one which regularly descends into the adult version of school-ground argument.

“I think the vast majority of people, when they listen to the debate in the House, are frustrated by how much we debate back and forth, and how little we actually do to contribute to the well-being of the people moving forward,” he said.

“What I would like to do is to get the debate to a higher level where both the Opposition, and the Government, can be more concerned about how we face our challenges.

“While the Motion to Adjourn might be fun, people might have some good soundbites and things like that, at the end of the day it puts nobody back to work. It doesn’t build a hotel, it doesn’t make the community safer.”

With a major announcement concerning the old Club Med site in St George’s expected today, and a desire to focus on loosening laws surrounding marijuana, the new OBA leader is determined to put his own stamp on Bermuda’s future.

Legislation designed to allow casinos in Bermuda is likely to be debated in the House next month, while ending conscription to the Bermuda Regiment will also be put up for discussion.

Describing himself as an energetic personality, Mr Dunkley said he would welcome outside input on any topic, but would, ultimately, be the one making the decisions.

“Every person is different,” he said. “I’m the type of person that has a great deal of energy, and I’m not afraid to put the time in. I certainly like advice and I’m willing to listen, but I make decisions.

“I’m not going to procrastinate, and I’m going to be open and honest. I’m a bad poker player, so I’ll be straight up with people.”

Mr Dunkley is likely to continue focusing his energy on his role as Minister for National Security, a position he is hesitant to hand-off to someone else, at least for the time being.

“I have every confidence I can do it,” said the Premier. “I’m hesitant to relieve myself of National Security at this time because I think we’ve made good progress, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.

“And even though I’m the Premier, and there is tremendous responsibility in that, I have enough energy to handle both portfolios.”

He will, however, need a deputy, and expects to make an appointment to fill his old position within the next two weeks.

Before all that though he needs to get through today, and what is likely to be a fiery session in Parliament.

Not that the PLP’s attacks hold any fears for a man who has been in the House for more than a decade, the majority of which was spent on the Opposition benches.

“I’ve been in the House for a number of years,” he said. “I won’t have any problem with listening to what they have to say, but they’d better be prepared for what we have to say as well.

“People know me — I don’t wait for things to happen. I’m going to be firing back. If the Opposition want to come, talk sensibly and [talk about] moving Bermuda forward, I’m all with them.

“If they want to continue to talk about the past, and the Deadgate issue, I’m not going to deal with it. I’ll deal with it accordingly and move forward.”

The loss of Mr Cannonier has further diluted the representation of the former Bermuda Democratic Alliance in Cabinet, with most, including the new Premier, having links to the now defunct United Bermuda Party.

Opposition attacks on that score have been swift, but the Premier brushed them and insisted he would not apologise or defend his past.

“I get it,” he said. “I was in the Opposition for a number of years, so I understand the tactics. I might be doing a similar type of thing [in their shoes].

“I’m not going to apologise for where I was, and what I learned. If I make mistakes I might apologise, but I’m not going to be focused on what went on in the past. The Opposition can do that all want they want.”