Craig Cannonier perhaps didn't know what he was letting himself in for when he vowed to sit in the House of Assembly's public gallery every single Friday.

After spending the summer as a spectator to countless spats and seemingly endless bickering while the Island's business has been conducted on the hill, Mr. Cannonier can say that he knows now. And the Bermuda Democratic Alliance leader — the first non-MP to head any of Bermuda's political parties — is more convinced than ever that the time for the old way of doing politics is over.

The question is whether his own fledgling party can play a significant part in a new dawn for the Island's political scene. As the BDA gets ready to unveil more than 20 election candidates, Mr. Cannonier believes it can.

While the Progressive Labour Party prepares for a new era under a fresh leader, and the United Bermuda Party tries to stabilise after a couple of traumatic years, the BDA has been quietly getting its ducks in a row.

Too quietly, according to former National Liberal Party leader Charles Jeffers, who fears the Alliance isn't doing enough to present itself as a credible alternative to voters. Mr. Cannonier argues noise for the sake of noise isn't necessarily the most effective approach.

Shortly after his election at the party's inaugural conference in February, he pledged to be a regular face at the House even though he wouldn't be allowed to sit among the parliamentarians.

Speaking yesterday, almost a year after Shawn Crockwell, Donte Hunt and Mark Pettingill quit the UBP to form their own party, Mr. Cannonier told The Royal Gazette: "As soon as I walked into the House of Assembly it was very evident things need to change.

"You have the UBP on one side and the PLP on the other and the bantering that goes on within is just childish. I'm amazed at the MPs and their conduct. One MP said you have to understand that's the way things are done. As if it's a fraternity. It's that kind of statement that's destroyed the perception of politics in this Country.

"Sitting in the House, I have seen on numerous occasions that our process of dealing with the issues for the Country needs to be upgraded. Regular Bermudians should be very, very upset that we conduct business the way we do. To say it's been done this way for so many years does not suffice. We need to be a Country that progresses."

Mr. Cannonier maintains the best way to attract quality people into politics is to get rid of the old mentality of us versus them. "Bermuda seems to be very, very slow to recognise it has so many great young men and women who are able to get involved in politics in this Country," he said.

He says a thriving third party is Bermuda's best chance of getting politicians to focus on the issues instead of each other.

Mr. Jeffers agrees, but isn't convinced BDA is going about it the right way.

"I talk to several individuals and they assure me they are working and making headway," he said. "I'm a little more pessimistic about what's going to happen. We don't have a long time before an election is called.

"It's almost like the UBP may be getting a new life by default. What's the Democratic Alliance doing? People are fed up with the Government, so what's the natural choice? They say they are having meetings and what have you. From what I gather, they are having meetings very quietly. I frankly don't know how much they can do quietly now at this stage, unless they are having town hall meetings."

Mr. Jeffers said the BDA should bang the drum on the economy, claiming they could cash in on public doubt over Finance Minister and PLP leadership favourite Paula Cox.

"The economy is what's scaring people," he said. "If I were electing a party now, I would want to know what you are going to do about the economy.

"I think from a PLP perspective there are a lot of people who emotionally want Paula Cox but they look at the fact that she's been Finance Minister all these years. Did she agree with what's happening or was she overwhelmed by the Premier and those in Cabinet?

"The question is how does the BDA capitalise on this? Who is their finance guru? They need to make sure they have got somebody in their corner who knows finance and who's prepared to stand up and say, 'Hey, here's how we would do it'. They have got to come out with some very strong statements and some sound thinking on the issues that are important to this country, and I don't see that happening."

Alliance chairman Michael Fahy, recently appointed finance spokesman, says his experience in international business and active interest in the economy give him as much of an understanding of the subject as an attorney such as Ms Cox.

"People need to read the paper and look at what's been said. A lot has been said in the last number of weeks," said Mr. Fahy, pointing to recent op-eds and articles in the media.

The BDA's platform on the economy says Government must:

• make a commitment to spend less than they earn, and commit to a five-year plan paying down national debt;

• use sound judgment in spending and be transparent in decision-making;

• encourage economic activity by promoting new industries and working with existing ones;

• look for new and innovative ways to raise income;

• review its tax policy to give relief to those with low incomes.

Last month's Royal Gazette poll showed 14 percent of people would vote BDA in an election, compared to 34 percent for the PLP and 25 percent for the UBP.

But with membership having now past 500, Mr. Fahy said he's optimistic voting mindsets are changing. Mr. Cannonier said the Alliance can improve its rating by showing it's not about politics as usual, setting up legal advice clinics, trashathons and even attending beach parties.

"Just be out there and say I'm willing to help you," he said.

Mr. Fahy said the Alliance has tried to be different by tackling issues on their merits instead of just opposing all PLP ideas; they met jointly with the Corporation of Hamilton and Minister Zane DeSilva to try to find middle ground a few days before the municipalities vote.

The past few months have also been a learning curve, such as when Mr. Hunt spoke out against gambling even though the party line was supportive of Premier Ewart Brown's hopes.

"We learnt some lessons from that, said Mr. Fahy. "But at the same time there's other more and important pressing matters for Bermuda. If people want to criticise one of our members for what he said on gaming, they want to get a grip."

Mr. Fahy angrily dismisses the suggestion the BDA will simply split the UBP vote and allow the PLP to clean up at the next election.

"I don't believe that," he said. "It gives absolutely no credibility to the mindset of black voters in this Country. If that's all we end up doing, we have failed. It's not in our interest to even think about that."

And while Mr. Cannonier won't even entertain the possibility that the BDA could end up winning no seats at all, Mr. Fahy said: "If we had none, there's not a lot of hope left for Bermuda.

"We would forever be stuck in a rut. If people do not see that, if people can't understand that, then all this talk of change, amounts to nothing."