Cabinet ministers Mark Pettingill and Shawn Crockwell say they will not step down over Jetgate — despite fresh calls today from the Opposition for them to do so.

Opposition leader Marc Bean said in a statement earlier that Craig Cannonier, who resigned as Premier last night, was not the only One Bermuda Alliance official to have violated the ministerial code of conduct and “through omission, deceived the people of Bermuda”.

Mr Bean said: “Minister Shawn Crockwell and AG Marc Pettingill share responsibility with the disgraced Premier and should also do the honourable thing and resign.

“The Premier did not act alone. Yet, as it stands today, he alone is being held responsible. Under the Westminster system, the Cabinet shares collective responsibility.

“For 14 months, Cabinet ministers spoke in defence of the now disgraced Premier and supported his efforts to hide the truth from the people of Bermuda. They defended the indefensible, deflected questions and made excuses when they had the power to resolve this issue on the first day it became public.

“They have shirked their obligation to openness, honesty and integrity — all in the hope of clinging to power.

“The Cabinet shares in the former Premier’s culpability in one of the most disgraceful episodes of Bermuda’s political history and must be held accountable. Last night’s events are just another example of deception and cowardice on the part of the OBA and a continued pattern of rejecting the principles of transparency and accountability.”

Tourism Development and Transport Minister Mr Crockwell responded: “Since my appointment as the Minister responsible for Tourism Development I have worked tirelessly to attract foreign investment to Bermuda.

“Encouraging and facilitating development will create jobs to help revive our tourism industry and economy. This has been my focus. I have never engaged in any wrongdoing or knowingly misled my honourable colleagues in the House of Assembly, the media or the public.

“We have fulfilled our promise to transition tourism out of Government and to a private authority and will continue to work to encourage development in Bermuda. I serve at the pleasure of the Premier, who has publicly articulated his confidence in me and my Cabinet colleagues.”

Mr Pettingill said: “The Premier has expressed his confidence in me as the Attorney General and I am satisfied that I am able to discharge the duties of this office to the best of my ability.

“The ‘politics of the moment’ will not be allowed to distract me and my colleagues from the important work that lies ahead. More than enough has been said and reported about the events that surround what has become known as Jetgate.

“Furthermore, the Opposition pledged to work with the Government for the benefit of the people and it is time for that pledge to be matched by action as we tackle real issues and put an end to the political brinkmanship that has highlighted the last few weeks. As it stands, I am ready to continue serving Bermuda and to work with anyone who shares that goal.”

New Premier Michael Dunkley, after he was sworn into office at Government House this morning, was asked if Mr Crockwell and Mr Pettingill would remain in Cabinet.

He said: “Most certainly. I have full confidence in the Cabinet team. There will be no changes to Cabinet at this time and no changes to the Senate.”

Mr Crockwell and Mr Pettingill travelled to Washington DC with Mr Cannonier on a private jet owned by US developer Nathan Landow in March 2013 — the trip that sparked the Jetgate controversy.