Former United Bermuda Party candidate Gerald Fubler has denied rumours he has split from the party and he chided Erwin Adderley for withdrawing support because he was not nominated for the safe Pembroke West seat.

Mr. Fubler, a grass roots activist from Sandys, rang The Royal Gazette to confirm he is still a member and was firmly behind the UBP — although he disagreed with the dumping of leader Wayne Furbert.

Mr. Fubler fought and heavily lost the Sandys North seat in 2003. With an election looming it is unclear if the UBP has any candidates for the Sandys area which has long been a PLP stronghold.

Asked if he was going to stand again Mr. Fubler said: “I haven’t decided yet but the way things are going I am seriously considering it. I don’t like the way things are being handled in the country. I don’t have a problem with the party.”

And he denied claims by departing members Jamahl Simmons and Gwyneth Rawlins that racism existed within the UBP.

He said: “I didn’t see anything like that. I was surprised, I really was, I don’t know what the cause of it is. I didn’t see it and I am a very particular guy, believe me.”

Mr. Fubler said the party had changed dramatically from what it used to be. Asked about former MP Erwin Adderley’s decision to stop supporting the UBP after he lost out to party chairman

Shawn Crockwell for Mr. Simmons’ Pembroke West seat, Mr. Fubler said: “I think that is childishness — if you are for the party, you are for the party. What is the point of having a leader if everyone makes their own decisions?”

But Mr. Fubler said the party made a mistake by dropping Mr. Furbert.

“I told him not to resign. I felt they should have given him some time. It only happened because of those people leaving. He should have stayed and fought it.”

Mr. Fubler said swapping to white leader Michael Dunkley would lay the party open to criticisms of racism because of the way people thought.

“I think it will hurt the party.”

Despite the ongoing controversy within the UBP Mr. Fubler still believes it can win the election which most pundits predict will be called this summer.

He said: “The PLP is a party which cannot rule. They cannot lead this country.”

That fact had been proven in a number of spheres said Mr. Fubler — including housing and education.

“Yes, tourism is booming but people should realise that the megaships only come one day and the visitors are not spending money like they used to.”

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