The formation of a new political party could be on the table at a United Bermuda Party retreat this weekend.

One senior party source, speaking on conditions of anonymity, said last night that any new grouping would not be a mere rebranding.

"It's got to be a whole new thing. It could mean a movement away from individuals, it would seem like a break or split."

Acting leader Patricia Gordon -Pamplin said talk of a new political group was not on the agenda but she conceded it could be raised by members under 'any other business'.

New MP Donte Hunt said the party needed an extensive review after crashing to its third straight defeat.

Mr. Hunt, who took St. George's South from the PLP as his colleagues sunk to another 22-14 defeat, said everything needed to be discussed.

Asked about talks on a new party, he told The Royal Gazette: "We have a retreat coming up. That is when we are going to talk about it.

"Outside of a formal discussion at the big post mortem with all the members, it was mentioned. What should we do? We are not too far off."

Asked for his own views, he said: "I am not leaning anywhere. We have to have all the options on the table. I am very neutral. We need all the facts. There is a huge gap between the options and the decision.

"We need a big review. Bermuda needs us to be diligent in how we come up with a decision. We need to be an effective Opposition.

"You hear that from everybody — whether people say it's a shame we lost or 'we are glad the PLP won' — everyone says 'Guys, you have to be an effective Opposition.' The staunchest PLP supporter will say that — you guys really have to be on your toes'."

Asked if it would make a cleaner break to have a new group at the beginning of Parliament rather than have new MPs possibly sit for a session as UBP MPs before joining something new, Mr. Hunt said: "I have run under the umbrella of the UBP, I have worn the colours so to speak.

"So whether I stay for a session or not I don't think it really matters.

"Whatever we do there is a risk. If we break up there is a risk we could go the way of the NLP, but then there is the risk of staying the same and another election comes and you lose more ground.

"In a way the decision is sort of easier because there is a risk either way."

Asked what any new group would have to do to distinguish it from what exists now, he said: "You have to resonate to people's hearts. Hearts trump minds. People's hearts are very perceptive. They know when they are being spoken to in a way that's void of passion.

"We need a leader who brings a major level of passion. Look at any great movement — your Gandhis, your Martin Luther Kings — you have leaders who brought this great passion which resonates to the hearts which moved vast amounts of people.

"You have to have your ducks in a row ¿ have a constitution, some plans, a good bunch of people, but you need someone who can bring a dream and a hope back to Bermuda. I know it sounds corny but it is true.

"Passion-filled speeches have mobilised and made people sacrifice and made people do things they otherwise wouldn't have done from something written on a piece of paper or some policy.

"Personally speaking, if a new group was formulated I think it should include anybody — PLP, independent, anybody. I think a new group would attract that. I think there are some PLP people who are not happy with the party as it stands now. Maybe those people who say they can't vote for the UBP now would vote for another entity, as long as they saw it as a group that wasn't just another UBP."

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said the party had attracted 47 percent of the vote and shouldn't be disheartened after losing three elections.

She said the disbanding debate had cropped up after the 1998 and 2003 elections too.

"We don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater," she said.

Mr. Hunt said the issue needed to be addressed as the PLP was boxing the UBP in on the race issue.

He said: "I have had people saying 'I like you, I don't like what's happening in the PLP but I can't vote for the UBP'."

But equally he said he has had people who don't like the party but have still voted for him because they believe individuals can create change.

"Some are party people and some are person people — it's a close 50/50 split," he said.

"Most people understand — 'you guys are going to lose on the past issue time and time again, what are you going to do?' There is no doubt we really need to focus on the race issue.

"This campaign we were focused on the issues facing us — housing, crime etc. But it is evident we have a race issue. That is the primary issue at least for the election.

"We saw in the last week a shift in the PLP campaign towards race.

"We have 47 percent but we lost a percentage point. We would have hoped to have made some ground.

"The review has to start now and be extensive. Our options are totally open at this stage. Everyone in Bermuda has contemplated maybe the United Bermuda Party should fold up or rebrand."

But any concrete pronouncements would be premature.

"If I have learned anything from life it is you need to take time with major decisions. Whatever happens it is going to take time and effort."

And he said it was necessary for the party to tackle that issue, not hide from it.

For the second time running, the UBP lost an election with a white leader.

Mr. Hunt said: "Philosophically I didn't see a problem with a white leader."

But he said Mr. Dunkley's claim "not to see colour" was not the wisest approach.

"Personally I used to say 'I don't see colour'. Now I say I do see colour, I do see culture, I do see gender and age," he said. "You have to see those things which help you to be sensitive, to give proper responses in life.

"While I think I know where he is coming from, I don't think it was necessarily right to say that because in a way you have to see these things. It is not a criticism. It is more an acknowledgement that to say you don't see colour is maybe not correct."

The weekend retreat is expected to see further talks on the leadership issue with a resolution likely next week. Indications from some UBP sources are that John Barritt might get the nod over Bob Richards who bled 200 votes in Michael Dunkley's old seat of Devonshire East.

Mr. Hunt said: "We will be deciding soon — the names of Bob and John have come — some people have drawn back.

"For the Opposition and where we stand now, with all the thoughts that are rushing around, that is playing into why no one is rushing into becoming leader at this stage."