Former United Bermuda Party leader Wayne Furbert yesterday vowed "something has got to rise to the surface" to form a credible Opposition to the Progressive Labour Party.

But Mr. Furbert's former party colleague Maxwell Burgess said it was time for the party to pack up after it suffered another defeat at the polls.

Both men — former running mates — pointed to the hard work the party had put in only to deliver a devastating 14-22 defeat in Tuesday's General Election, the same margin as in 2003.

Party members are currently in crisis talks, with campaign chairman Shawn Crockwell earlier this week refusing to rule out that the UBP could disband.

Yesterday, an emotional Mr. Furbert joined Mr. Crockwell and acting leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin in ruling himself out of the running to become the new leader following Michael Dunkley's defeat to Patrice Minors in Smith's North.

"It hurts me," said Mr. Furbert. "We have got to find a way to make it happen. We can't have a one-party system. Whatever it takes, we are going to do it. Whatever it takes. We have got to make sure Bermuda is protected and that means everybody. Something has got to rise to the surface.

"There's some soul-searching going on. This was not a fight about who had the best plan. Our ideology did not meet up with the populace of Bermuda. As far as the UBP goes, many people, particularly the black community, has made their mind up forever. There's no ghost of a chance ...

"I had a friend who said: 'I don't like Ewart Brown. I don't like the PLP. But I hated the UBP.'"

Asked why he didn't hate the UBP himself, Mr. Furbert said: "I believe the UBP reflects who I am. I'm the UBP. Donte Hunt is the UBP. Shawn Crockwell is the UBP.

"The party reflects good governance; ideologies of making it easier for blacks to get the share of the economic prosperity of Bermuda; the importance of education; healthcare.

"It came down to race. We have got to look beyond parties. It's about Bermuda and how we ensure generation after generation is protected."

Mr. Burgess, who retired from his seat in Hamilton South before the election, said: "I think they will have to call it a day — if you look at the amount of money, time and energy that went into the campaign to get that result. The party has to deal with the fact that people are simply not interested in your product.

"If that is true you have to accept it is beyond tinkering — that is simply not going to work."

He said if the party tried to con itself that but for 20 votes here and 50 votes there it could have won, then it risked the same result. "That's what they said last time."

But he believes the UBP will take the same tack as the United Bahamian Party which soldiered on for 25 years before disbanding after repeated failure.

"They will do two more elections before they finally find themselves at the point of collapse."

He said the Westminster system worked best with a strong Opposition.

Asked how the party could collapse itself, he said: "Pack up the office, hand over the keys to the landlord. The members should sit as independents — some might feel they are a part of something new. Some might feel 'I am out of here'.

"There might be some by-elections for those no longer interested in the new product."

He said the idea of constantly ending up with 14 seats which the party got in the 1998, 2003 and 2007 elections, even if the individual seats were different, was like shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.

But he doubted the party would make the move. "I am satisfied it is beyond their grasp."

He said he had urged radical change on the party but had not been able to persuade his colleagues so he was not about to give tips now, although he believes five members of the present group of MPs understood a radical overhaul was needed.

Mr. Burgess denied rumours he had joined the PLP but said he was willing to take appointments on public boards if offered by the Government.

Another candidate, Sarah Burrows, who failed in her bid to oust Walter Lister from his Sandys South seat, said she was frustrated at attacks on the UBP's past.

"I'm tired of being beaten up for being a white person," she said. "I feel hopeless and helpless. Our campaign was an above board and intellectual campaign. I think what we saw was totally an emotional and devious campaign.

"It worked on emotions, but is that what's best for Bermuda going forward? Does that help to heal the race problem we have got, or does it create a bigger divide?"