In The Mid Ocean News this week, UBP MP John Barritt points out that, while the Premier may be able to dominate his disgruntled backbenchers within internal PLP meetings, he may not be able to do so in the House of Assembly.
Most Bermudians assume that the party leader of the party that dominates the House is automatically made Premier. That is not the case.
Bermuda Constitution Section 58(1)
The Governor, acting in his discretion, shall appoint as the Premier the member of the House of Assembly who appears to him best able to command the confidence of a majority of the members of that House.
Herein lies the reason that so many of the Premier’s pet projects are being hastily re-shuffled on the legislative agenda. Many have not been adequately exposed to – and support won from – parliamentarians. A defeat on one of these bills, which are so clearly linked to the Premier, could lead to a sudden vote of no confidence in the Premier.
In such a situation, if the Opposition were to throw their support behind another PLP figure, Dr. Brown’s days would be decimally numbered.
Heck, a Cabinet drawn from both parties might be the best thing that ever happened to Bermuda.
Now, Dr. Brown is a smoky room tactician of considerable skill. The question is whether the backbench and Opposition can exert their authority as Bermuda’s “check and balance” on unbridled power.
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