The Premier paid tribute today to Walter Roban for his “unselfish service” to the Progressive Labour Party.

Mr Roban, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs, announced last night that he would be stepping down from politics.

He said in a statement that it was “now time to move into the next phase” of his life and that he would not be contesting the next General Election.

David Burt said his deputy “is leaving on his own terms and sets a powerful example of how to step aside to make way for the next generation of PLP leaders”.

The Premier said Mr Roban played a key role in him joining the ruling party.

He said: “Walter brought me into the PLP as a recent university graduate in 2004 and has served as both a mentor and a friend over the years as we’ve shared political highs and lows.”

He added: “I look forward to continuing to work with and serve with him as Deputy Premier until the next General Election.”

Mr Burt said the two leaders “believe political service should not be a lifetime endeavour”.

He said both men joined the PLP while in their twenties and both “feel strongly that it is important that leaders make way for the next generation of the Progressive Labour Party”.

Mr Roban’s retirement will see the PLP furnishing a new leader and deputy in 2026, as the Premier repeated his pledge to stand down as party leader when that time comes.

He said: “The Progressive Labour Party has significant talent in our ranks, a vibrant youth wing, and many approved candidates seeking seats in the House of Assembly.”

Mr Burt said he plans to announce developments taking place in the party as its Central Committee and Candidates Committee work “to ensure that the PLP has a smooth transition to the next generation of leaders of the oldest political party in Bermuda”.

He added: “I thank the Deputy Leader for his service, leadership and sacrifice and join all members of the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party in celebrating his life of political service to our party and our country.”

In announcing his retirement on Monday, Mr Roban said “it was never meant to be a lifelong job and I am now at the point where I am ready to make a shift”.

He added: “My life has always been about service, and political service has taken precedence for the past 25 years.”

Mr Roban said that at the next election he will be “a bystander politically, but I will always be a supporter of the party”.

Meanwhile, a row broke between the PLP and the One Bermuda Alliance over Jarion Richardson’s statement on Mr Roban’s retirement.

In a brief statement, the OBA leader wished Mr Roban well in his retirement.

He added: “While we don’t yet know the reason for his departure, this is a blow to David Burt and the PLP Government.”

Mr Richardson said: “The Minister of Public Works has already said he won’t run again.Now the Deputy Premier has announced the same. This will continue to create more anxiety about Bermuda’s future.”

In response, the PLP said: “The Progressive Labour Party finds Mr Richardson's statement classless, clueless, tasteless and opportunistic.”

A party statement said “it is disappointing to see the One Bermuda Alliance attempting to politicise this personal choice.

“This less-than-dignified statement contrasts the more respectful posture of the PLP members during their most recent retirements, which also required costly by-elections.”

The party said Mr Richardson's “insinuations about a ‘blow’ to our government and creating ‘anxiety’ about Bermuda's future are baseless and reveal a lack of understanding and respect for the democratic process”.

It said it remains “strong and committed to the people of Bermuda.”

The statement added: “Our party has a deep bench of talented and capable leaders ready to step up and continue the fight for a better life for Bermudians and against our opponents’ schemes to open the immigration floodgates and ruthlessly slash Bermudian jobs in what they like to call a ‘bloated’ Civil Service.”

The PLP said the retirement of Mr Roban and Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, who said he will retire at the next General Election, “is a natural part of political life, allowing for new ideas and fresh energy to enter the political arena”.

Subsequently, Mr Richardson said the PLP’s response to his comments “shows how thin-skinned and panicked they are”.

He said his comments “were limited to well wishes, and then a calm observation about how senior cabinet members leaving politics impacts Bermuda”.

He added: “The PLP should stop spending time on thin-skinned overreactions and faux outrage. This is getting old.”