Deputy United Bermuda Party leader Trevor Moniz yesterday claimed “cocky” Bermuda Democratic Alliance leader Craig Cannonier is dashing hopes of a coordinated Opposition.Mr Moniz believes the BDA’s three MPs his former UBP colleagues Shawn Crockwell, Donte Hunt and Mark Pettingill realise the Progressive Labour Party could end up with a huge majority if the Opposition parties split the non-PLP vote at the next general election.However, he said Mr Cannonier appears determined that the BDA will go it alone and ignore suggestions of a coalition or agreement not to fight for the same seats.“The trouble with the BDA is, who do you talk to? At the last by-election the three MPs never showed up at the polling station so it appears that the public face is Craig Cannonier,” Mr Moniz told The Royal Gazette.Pointing to Mr Cannonier’s suggestion that the UBP should “switch off the lights” and disband, Mr Moniz said: “Craig’s attitude is quite cocky.“He doesn’t appear to be interested in having any talks with us.”Mr Cannonier replied last night: “Mr. Moniz’s comments merely highlight what everyone should already know: that I am the leader of the Bermuda Democratic Alliance, that the voters delivered their verdict on the UBP three times over the last 12 years, and that the three BDA MPs spoke loudly and clearly with their feet when they left the UBP.“It should also be noted that the BDA is a movement that does not share the legacy of the UBP. Mr. Moniz is entitled to his opinion, however contradictory it may be.”Mr Crockwell and Mr Pettingill will both have to fight for the BDA in traditional UBP strongholds if they opt to stay in Pembroke West and Warwick West; Mr Hunt faces a three-way battle with the UBP’s Suzann Roberts-Holshouser and Leroy Bean of the PLP in St George’s South.Regarding the three MPs, Mr Moniz said: “I find them realistic. I have known them. I don’t have deep discussions with them. I feel they are more realistic about the likelihood of what will happen at the next election.“There’s no way that the UBP will be anything worse than the official Opposition. If the BDA are lucky, they may end up with a seat.“As House Leader for the UBP, I always make sure to speak to members of the BDA there.“Outside the House, I think Craig is in charge. There’s a perceived split between the parliamentary group and leadership of the BDA.“Craig Cannonier is beating his chest saying the UBP should shut off the lights. We don’t have the MPs saying that.”Sources say talks are ongoing between senior members of both parties in the wake of the Warwick South Central by-election defeat, in which Marc Bean won for the PLP by a margin increased to more than 50 percentage points.Mr Moniz said: “I know absolutely nothing. I know in theory that rumours kept getting out about talks.“Generally people in our group have friends in the other group and they talk, but it’s not official.”He said the BDA’s heavy by-election defeat attracting 70 votes against the UBP’s 78, with 310 for Mr Bean should serve as a wake-up call.“The BDA is almost like the youth wing of the UBP,” he said. “They claimed they were going to go out there and woo away PLP voters. That’s why they put Sylvan Richards up there in Warwick, a recognised PLP face.”The deputy and UBP leader Kim Swan have both publicly stressed the need for a strong Opposition, without declaring they want an amalgamation.Yesterday, Mr Moniz would not be drawn on whether the parties should officially merge, saying: “We have one party who wants to talk and the other one says there’s nothing to talk about. You have to decide you are going to talk before you decide what you talk about.“We have been keen on communication; we are keen on talking. If we are going to be an effective Opposition, we really need to get together. If you spend all your time fighting, you will end up an Opposition with eight seats. Is that in anyone’s interest?”