Despite senior MPs pledging support for Wayne Furbert the United Bermuda Party leadership question is still open, says chairman Shawn Crockwell.

He said the issue would be dealt within the next few days while some party insiders believe Mr. Furbert will be ousted. One source close to the party said: “I would be surprised if he makes it ‘til Easter.”

And another party insider said the view of Mr. Furbert not being a good leader had “great traction” and the mood was to show him the door. Last week veteran UBP parliamentarian Maxwell Burgess called for Mr. Furbert, in the job for just a year, to resign over his handling of the internal party splits following the damaging departures of MP Jamahl Simmons and party chairwoman Gwyneth Rawlins who alleged a white elite had a stranglehold on the party.

Over the weekend Deputy Leader Michael Dunkley said the party was behind Mr. Furbert while others have come forward in his support including David Dodwell, Suzann Roberts-Holshouser, John Barritt, Louise Jackson and Trevor Moniz. However despite this party chairman Mr. Crockwell suggested the issue was still to be decided and he said a meeting of MPs would be held when Mr. Furbert returns.

Last night’s weekly caucus meeting was cancelled in light of Mr. Furbert’s and Patricia Gordon-Pamplin’s absences. And co-deputy leader Jon Brunson seemed lukewarm in his support.

He said: “I will support Wayne as leader until that changes. Those are things to be dealt with within the party caucus. That is where such matter need to be discussed.”

And he saw the current situation as a time of change for the party and said change could be a good thing, explaining: “One of the positive things that has come out is that people are openly and honestly talking about race.

“The dialogue has started and this can be a catalyst to continue that dialogue. I hope people have open dialogue about it, it is the only way to move forward as a country.

“That is one of the strengths as a Party — we embrace diversity.” When asked what impact he felt the events of the past two weeks have had, he replied: “These issues are being dealt with and the party is more galvanised now than it has been in a long time. People are now more committed to the party being successful and we shall take it to the next level.

“In Shawn Crockwell we have a dynamic person who has a lot to bring to the party and he has started bringing his vision as chairman. “It shows we have found an equally strong person to do the job. That shows the UBP has young, smart people ready to step up when asked to do so.”

Mr. Crockwell confirmed the leadership was far from settled.

He said: “The leader is off the island and he returns towards the end of this week.”

Asked why there was a need for a meeting when MPs were coming out in Mr. Furbert’s support, Mr. Crockwell said: “Mr. Furbert right now is our leader.

“As long as he is the leader he will be fully supported by the party caucus and organisation.

“But we have to address the issue that has been raised. It will be addressed. I cannot speak for other individuals but at this point we are all behind the leader. He’s our leader today, my understanding of politics, and I haven’t been told otherwise, is the people who make the decision are the members of the House of Assembly. They make the decision not me.”

He said the UBP did not have a fixed time limit on leadership elections — unlike the PLP which looks at the issue at least every four years.

UBP leadership elections were normally done when the leader takes ill or a no-confidence vote is tabled, said Mr. Crockwell.

He said Mr. Burgess was the only MP he knew of who was refusing to support Mr. Furbert but he has yet to table a motion of ‘no confidence’ although anything could come up at the next caucus meeting. Mr. Crockwell said an MPs meeting could be held before next week’s scheduled Monday meeting.

“We recognise the urgency of addressing this question — the public deserves an answer and we want to be able to properly give them an answer.”

Opposition MP Trevor Moniz said he thought Mr. Furbert was safe in his job. He said: “He’s fine.”

Asked about the perception in some quarters Mr. Furbert wasn’t doing a good job he said: “I don’t agree.

“Are the polls any worse than Grant Gibbons’? Was Grant Gibbons’ any worse than Pam Gordon?”

He said people were wrong to think there was magic person out there who could transform the party’s fortunes.