For the third time in five years, a leader of a United Kingdom overseas territory is out of office amid allegations of corruption as Craig Cannonier resigned as premier of Bermuda Monday.
Deputy Premier Michael Dunkley was sworn in Tuesday morning to replaceMr. Cannonier, who said he will remain a member of the Bermuda Parliament.
In a televised statement, Mr. Cannonier maintained that no laws were broken during what some reports call “Jet Gate.”
“This controversy has called into question my integrity and my leadership, the confidence of my colleagues and the support of my party, threatening the good work of the government going forward,” he said. “Nothing illegal was done, but I accept there was a failure over time to be completely transparent.”
But many unanswered questions remain.
The scandal came to light last May, when opposition members accused Mr. Cannonier of accepting a free ride on a private jetfrom United States land developer Nathan Landow, which the opposition described as “accepting favours” in breach of Bermuda’s Ministerial Code of Conduct.
Last week, The Bermuda Sun reported that Mr. Landow and a group of other US businesspeoplehad donated $300,000 to Mr. Cannonier’s political party, One Bermuda Alliance, through an affiliated political club.
See the May 22, 2014 edition for full coverage.
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