Former Progressive Labour Party Senator Phil Perinchief is warning the One Bermuda Alliance could cash in on a growing perception the ruling party is failing badly.Mr Perinchief urged his PLP colleagues not to dismiss the OBA an amalgamation of the two Opposition parties as simply a reincarnation of the United Bermuda Party destined to continue its run of election defeats.And he said the PLP must address its image as a “rudderless ship in the hands of a hapless captain and crew” to avoid losing core members and supporters to the new party; while the OBA could also attract new people to politics.“It is curious that a shift of PLP core members and supporters to the OBA, or simply away from the PLP, would simultaneously be a sea-change for both the PLP and OBA,” the former Attorney General said in a statement for The Royal Gazette.“Such a move would be key to the quick and sure ascendancy of the OBA and the quick and sure demise of the PLP with both outcomes being accomplished in one fell swoop.“Without this group the reverse is true: there will be a slow, painful plod forward for OBA and the PLP will slowly die on the vine as it twists and turns in the political winds of misfortune. Both OBA and PLP would do well to court this group or ignore it at their political peril.“In the result, OBA, if managed correctly and patiently, should not be taken lightly nor cavalierly by the PLP nor treated disdainfully as just another UBP and BDA parody in drag.“In spite of itself, particularly in this climate of a growing antagonism towards this current PLP administration, OBA represents and presents, at a minimum, a psychological alternative to the status quo.“There is a growing and popular perception that the current administration is a rudderless ship being swept to and fro without a compass along tumultuous political seas, in the hands of a hapless captain and crew.“This is a perception that must immediately be addressed and dispelled by the current PLP administration and hierarchy if it wishes to avoid the calamitous movement and result alluded to above.“Arrogance and ignorance is a terrible concoction I caution. Complacency, incompetence, arrogance and ignorance is disastrous and will send the PLP in the same direction as the UBP only quicker.”Mr Perinchief said it would be “sheer folly” to play down the political potential of the group rising from the UBP’s ashes.“To be certain, the ghost and spectre of the UBP will for a time lie in state in the new OBA, haunting and stalling its ascendancy for a time,” he said.“However, once the influence of the old guard of the UBP wanes then the real transformation of OBA, like Saul to Paul, will emerge and take root.“This transformation will assume its very own image as OBA’s ranks could be joined and strengthened by a very strange, even ironic but potent union: newer, less-experienced political neophytes together with currently marginalised, competent and experienced PLP core supporters, members and former politicians, persons who believe that their talents and contributions are not respected or even wanted by the current PLP administration but who feel that they still have something to offer Bermuda.“Sensitive and careful observers of our local political scene have discerned the emergence of such a group, those who have had enough and are tired of being apologetic for the failure of the current administration to come to grips with the many adversities besetting our community.“The memory of the former [Ewart] Brown administration, and anything reminiscent of that administration, only worsens matters.”However, Mr Perinchief said he was pleased the UBP had voted to disband at a central committee meeting on Tuesday night.“Because of my visceral abhorrence of the UBP and all that it stood for as a party of oppression and obfuscation, you mightn’t be surprised to learn that I am not sorry to see it go,” he said.“This is notwithstanding that some very fine individuals, well-meaning but misguided, served that party. That is my partisan view.”