Bermuda Democratic Alliance member Craig Cannonier last night delivered a rallying cry to potential recruits by declaring the fledgling party a David which can tackle some Goliath issues troubling the Island.

Mr. Cannonier rounded off BDA's debut public presentation at the Leopards Club by vowing to prove wrong the critics who have dismissed the notion of a third party ever getting off the ground.

He praised the bravery of the three MPs who quit the United Bermuda Party to take a chance on a new approach to politics, and told an enthusiastic audience of about 80 people: "We will not be bought. They can beg and scream 'please come back' but we will not be bought.

"We will not accept that we are too green. We will not accept it when people say that a third party has never worked.

"When there's hate, we will bring about love; when there's sadness we will bring about joy; when there's war we will bring about peace; when there's frustration we will bring about patience."

Mr. Cannonier, a likely BDA candidate at the next General Election, said Government had failed to emulate the Biblical David, who famously made the most of his available resources by throwing rocks at Goliath's head.

Claiming Government was wasting money on overseas consultants when solutions could be closer to hand, he continued in a rousing delivery: "We are finding all kinds of professionals coming in, but we don't have money for insurance for our senior citizens."

"When the giants of crime crop up, I know the BDA will be the David that finds a better way."

Earlier in the evening, MP Mark Pettingill had provided a glimpse of the Alliance's platform on crime — which he said had risen by 135 percent in seven years — by saying the group had been researching modern methods in other countries.

"We have developed a platform of real solutions involving real action," he said.

He said an initiative to electronically monitor criminals — announced by Government in the Throne Speech last month — was, in fact, developed and researched by BDA members and presented to Government.

"To their credit they are doing this with our full support," said Mr. Pettingill, who said the technique would enable Police to keep track of the movements of gang members.

"We have other well-researched and innovative ideas involving both reactive and proactive policies that will enhance the criminal justice system and fundamentally impact the crime crisis."

Mr. Pettingill said the Alliance had drawn up a draft constitution, but that it was not yet set in stone.

"Any one of you could be part of drafting the Bermuda Democratic Alliance's first platform. What an opportunity we all have," he said.

He said group member Myron Piper, the founder of Bermuda Educational Parents' Association, had stressed the importance of giving parents a voice in the public school system, and had some other "exciting ways" to improve education.

Another member, Kathy Michelmore, is using her expertise as a medical practitioner to help develop a vision on health care, while a number of people are working on ideas to help weather the economic storm.

Mr. Pettingill concluded: "Ladies and gentlemen, the time for sitting on the sidelines is over — the time for action is now."

Founding member Michael Fahy gave a Power point presentation outlining the Alliance's basic vision and core values.

He pledged BDA would support Government or UBP stances on issues when they reflect the BDA ideology — instead of the knee-jerk reaction to disagree to score political points.

The night ended with a brief question-and-answer session, in which one audience member said: "I'm literally standing here shaking because BDA is basically saying: 'Bermuda, we are going to use your voice to democratically put you together as an alliance to start making decisions about what's going on.'

"Honestly speaking, I'm sold."