Former Technology and Information Minister John Barritt stood down as a matter of conscience, The Royal Gazette has learned.

Mr. Barritt -- a partner with law firm Appleby, Spurling and Kempe -- quit his post to avoid a possible conflict of interest after he found out his firm was representing telecommunications giant Cable & Wireless.

The news came as Mr. Barritt, who was responsible for telecommunications in his previous Ministry, was being touted as a replacement for Clarence Terceira at Health and Social Services.

Dr. Terceira, 70, announced at the weekend he was quitting his Ministry and his Pembroke West seat.

Another possible candidate for the job is Paget West MP Harry Soares -- who held the portfolio until he was replaced by McDonald's rebel Dr. Terceira by then Premier David Saul in January this year.

And Paget East's Kim Young, elected an MP in May, a former nurse with an interest in health and social issues, could also be in the running.

But her relative inexperience in the House of Assembly could count against her.

The Royal Gazette understands Mr. Barritt discovered in the summer that his law firm had been retained to act for Cable & Wireless in some corporate matters.

The problem came to a head when the former monopoly international phone service, using the legal firm of Cox and Wilkinson, appealed against a Ministerial decision not to allow a summer price cut.

Health and Social Services Minister Clarence Terceira stood in for Mr. Barritt then and the firm is currently suing the Minister, now Sen. E.T. (Bob) Richards, over the decision.

Mr. Barritt later went to Premier Pamela Gordon and said he could not continue in his post and asked to return to the back benches.

And in November, the Premier split the Ministry as part of a reshuffle, with Technology going to new Government Senate Leader Sen. Richards, while she took the Information brief under her own wing.

Mr. Barritt said at the time that circumstances at work had changed, which had influenced his decision to stand down -- but did not elaborate.

He admitted, however, that he had "mixed emotions'' and said he hoped his return to the backbenches was a temporary move.

Neither Ms Gordon or Mr. Barritt could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

The rock-solid United Bermuda Party seat of Pembroke West went to the polls only last month after then-Youth and Sport Minister David Dyer quit politics to concentrate on his dental practice.

Former Director of Planning Erwin Adderley was elected by a massive majority -- and without a primary.

But professional golfer Kim Swan, understood to have been interested in contesting the November by-election at one stage, could try and make the cut this time.