Former United Bermuda Party MP Jamahl Simmons was yesterday named as the Premier's new press secretary — just a few months after stepping down as executive aide.

Mr. Simmons replaces Arnold Minors, whose departure was announced last week after he served for less than six months in the post.

Dr. Brown told a press conference that Mr. Simmons was familiar with the Cabinet Office and had the right experience for the job.

Referring to his decision to quit as Premier in October, Dr. Brown said of Mr. Simmons: "He has some political experience which will lend itself to the last seven-and-a-half months of this marathon. "We are going to need all hands on deck in order to counter some of the activities that we perceive."

Mr. Simmons said the appointment was a vote of confidence in him and his abilities and that he was grateful for the opportunity.

The father-of-two served as the Premier's executive aide for two years, leaving the job at the end of last year because he was "just ready to do something else".

He said at the time he hoped to stand for the Progressive Labour Party at the next election. "I have things that I want to do," he said. "This job requires 100 percent of your attention and devotion. There are things I want to do with my family, things I want to do professionally and things I want to do politically."

Mr. Simmons, whose father was a PLP MP, was elected a UBP MP in a 2002 by-election, after being a member of both the PLP and the National Liberal Party.

He quit the Opposition in January 2007 after claiming racists in his Pembroke West branch were trying to oust him and served briefly as an independent in the House of Assembly. He rejoined the PLP before the December 2007 general election.

In December, he ran unsuccessfully for a position as common councillor on the Corporation of St. George; he lives in the town.

Dr. Brown would not comment yesterday on why Mr. Minors was no longer press secretary. "We have decided to leave that as a private decision," he said.

Mr. Minors, who came back to Bermuda last year after 45 years of living in Canada, sent a message to members of the media yesterday afternoon.

"I have agreed to continue as speech writer for the Premier," his e-mail said. "My best wishes to all of you and thank you for making the role interesting."

Asked why he was leaving the post, he replied: "I won't be commenting for a while, at least."

He said the speechwriting job would be a contracted position.