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OBA must have a leadership election by September

The new OBA Premier Craig Cannonier who could face a leadership election in September. ¬ Photo David Skinner ¬

Bermuda could have another Premier in nine months when Craig Cannonier’s first term as Leader of the One Bermuda Alliance expires.Mr Cannonier was elected to serve a two-year term as leader of the Island’s newest political party in September 2011.The OBA constitution specifies that the term can be extended by a two-thirds majority vote of the party’s executive committee “to enable the Leader to stay in post in order to fight a general election”.That means, barring a decision to seek a fresh mandate from the electorate, the OBA will have to organise a leadership conference by mid-September this year.Mr Cannonier made history by being the first person to be elected leader of the Opposition who was not an MP.But the party’s Constitution, which came into effect after the 2011 leadership election, now restricts candidates for Leader to MPs.Early indications are that Mr Cannonier will not be challenged, come September.Finance Minister Bob Richards who had thrown his hat in the ring in 2011 — famously referring to Mr Cannonier as a “colt” — told this newspaper that he would not be doing so in September.“I’m not interested,” he said. “I’ve got a job and I don’t have time for foolishness.”Senator Michael Fahy, now Home Affairs Minister, said he does not expect Mr Cannonier to be challenged.“I would be very surprised if he was challenged,” Sen Fahy said.The Deputy Leader position, currently held by Michael Dunkley, as well as other party offices, will also be up for election in September.Should Mr Cannonier be challenged for his position, and loses, his tenure as Bermuda’s Premier would be the shortest in the country’s history — beating by about a year the current record holder, David Saul, who served from August 25, 1995 to March 27, 1997.