MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Jennifer Smith Bermuda Premier Resigns

Bermuda's premier resigned on Monday, blaming the decision on a narrow victory in last week's elections and “friendly fire” from within her party.

Jennifer Smith, who quit as leader of the Progressive Labour Party on Sunday, will remain a member of Parliament.

"It was the stated aim of the opposition to put an end to the Smith government," she said at a news conference. "It is more unfortunate that friendly fire has taken out the Smith government."

Alex Scott, a former public relations manager who was elected to lead the Progressive Labor Party over the weekend, is expected to become the next premier.

Bermuda's premier is the top political post in the British territory. While the British monarch is represented in Bermuda by a governor, the 1968 Constitution gave Bermuda internal self-government. Britain is responsible for military and foreign affairs. The island is the oldest British colony, established in 1684.

Smith came to power in 1998 on a promise to get a better deal for blacks, who comprise 60 percent of the island's 62,000 people but who are generally poorer than its white citizens.

She kept her parliament seat by only eight votes in Thursday's elections. Her party won a second term with 22 of 36 legislative seats in the elections, squeaking by with 51.65 percent of the vote.

The slim margin prompted five Cabinet members to withdraw their support for the premier on Friday. Half of the parliamentary bloc also turned against her.

Scott, the ex-works and engineering minister, said there was a message in the election results.

"We learned from the general election. It was close," he said.

Scott has promised more affordable housing and improved conditions for seniors but says the party's long-standing pledge to take the British mid-Atlantic island to independence is not an immediate priority.