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Crunch meeting to decide UBP’s fate

The fate of the United Bermuda Party is to be decided at a crunch meeting today.UBP leader Kim Swan and UBP chairman Jeanne Atherden are said to be ready to pull the plug on the 47-year-old party this afternoon.It is understood they will tell the Executive Council that “there’s no way forward” for the party, which is represented in the House of Assembly by just two MPs.The interim injunction, spearheaded by Mr Swan, also looks set to be dropped, as now that the One Bermuda Alliance has been launched it would be “nothing more than an empty victory.”These moves leave “a strong possibility” that both Mr Swans will switch to the OBA in time for Friday’s House of Assembly session.Sources predict today’s after-work meeting at the UBP headquarters on Queen Street will “more than likely” mark the demise of the UBP, which ruled for 30 years until November 1998.The “meeting of the minds” is being dubbed the “moment of the truth” for the UBP. The Executive Council is expected to be given instructions to take the matter of dissolving the party to the people “as quickly as possible.”This will ensure voters have the final say of the UBP’s ending as the party starts the official process of winding down.It comes a couple of weeks after Central committee members voted 68 to 14 in favour of forming the OBA by reuniting with their former colleagues who broke away from the UBP in September 2009. Kim Swan’s motion to adjourn and join forces with Harold Darrell’s political party was voted down.When UBP MP Charlie Swan was asked what he thought about only two MPs flying the flag for the UBP in the House of Assembly, he said: “Is that a done deal? 24 hours is a long time in politics.”He said he planned to take his seat in the House, but added: “I don’t know if I will be UBP, anything’s possible.”When asked if Mr Swan, who represents Southampton West, would be representing the OBA instead, he said: “I can’t say. It’s one option.”Mr Swan spoke to The Royal Gazette as he was boarding a plane yesterday to return to Bermuda after attending his son’s wedding in Miami. He said he was “feeling real good” and had been in continuous contact with UBP leader Mr Swan.He said he had been following what had been happening. He added: “The OBA’s launch is exciting, everyone should be excited.“It’s in its infancy with the interim period, but I’m sure the new party will come out with all sorts of interesting plans.”The interim injunction, obtained in the Commercial Court, prevented then UBP MPs Trevor Moniz, John Barritt and Ms Atherden signing the UBP and BDA merger papers. The handful of UBP rebels argued the merger process was flawed, as the proper procedures to wind up the UBP had not been followed.However, the OBA was launched on Tuesday with John Barritt named as leader and Craig Cannonier as deputy leader.It came just days after seven out of the nine UBP MPs resigned to sidestep the injunction and sign the new party’s paperwork as individuals. This week has also seen UBP leader Kim Swan quitting as Opposition leader and Senators Michael Dunkley and Suzann Roberts-Holshouser resigning from the party.Meetings between UBP members have already taken place discussing the need to drop the interim injunction. But the injunction legally remains in place, as there has been no court hearing to say legal proceedings have been withdrawn.However, Charlie Swan yesterday told us: “The injunction is being stopped.”It is understood that UBP members now see the injunction as a “waste of time and legal costs.”It was their intention to stop the merger but they believe there is “little point in continuing as the OBA is now up and running”The decision to end court proceedings looks set to be confirmed today even though a lawyer, acting on behalf of the three respondents, yesterday entered an appearance. This suggests the three respondents would be willing to go to court to defend their actions.UBP leader Mr Swan and Ms Atherden did not respond to our requests for comment yesterday.However, Mr Swan’s out-of-date voicemail message at his office still says: “You’ve reached the leader of the Opposition.”