Premier Ewart Brown could have a difficult task finding Bermuda's eighth Education Minister in 11 years.

Dr. Brown is seeking a replacement for Elvin James, who left Cabinet along with Energy Minister Terry Lister on Sunday after calling for the Premier to resign last Friday.

However, many senior backbenchers are said to be so angry with the Premier they wouldn't want to join his team despite the $160,000-plus salary.

And the Premier's biggest supporters — such as backbencher Zane DeSilva and Minister Without Portfolio Walter Roban — are thought to be too inexperienced to take on one of the most important Cabinet roles less than two years into their careers as MPs.

Some Progressive Labour Party members even speculate former teacher Neletha Butterfield — appointed as Culture Minister just three weeks ago — could be invited to take up the Education post she has previously stated she desires.

That would leave Mr. DeSilva and Mr. Roban to fill the remaining slots on the Cabinet. Others, such as Michael Scott or Walter Lister, could also be rewarded for refusing to speak out publicly against the Premier.

The weekend's events mean that of the 14 PLP backbenchers, seven have been sacked at one point by Dr. Brown since he became Premier in November 2006: Randy Horton, Dennis Lister, Terry Lister, Walter Lister, Patrice Minors, Wayne Perinchief and Mr. Scott (twice).

Mr. James has not yet confirmed whether he was sacked or resigned, while Dale Butler quit in dismay of Dr. Brown's handling of the Guantánamo Bay affair last month.

Of the other backbenchers, former Premier Alex Scott and Ashfield DeVent are frequent critics of the Premier's leadership style, while Dr. Brown led the ousting of then Premier Dame Jennifer Smith in the aftermath of the PLP's election victory in 2003.

That leaves Whip Lovitta Foggo — who is said to be unhappy the Premier falsely told her the cruise ship gaming bill would not take place last Friday — and Mr. DeSilva, serving his first term as an MP.

However, the Premier has previously sacked Ministers and successfully enticed them back: Nelson Bascome and Ms Butterfield both serve on Cabinet.

One MP said: "The chances of him finding someone are slim. The big question is: who will do it? Who's he got? Zane DeSilva and Walter Roban? You can't put a rookie in Education."

The Premier angered his backbenchers by instructing Ms Foggo to spread the word that the gaming bill would not take place on Friday — and then attempting to carry out a vote first thing in the morning before most of the bill's opponents arrived at the House of Assembly.

He antagonised them further by disappearing from the chamber for virtually all of the subsequent debate on gangs, a motion he had introduced himself; and leaving his seat empty as four PLP MPs stood to call for him to resign.