Ayo Johnson reviews the high and low points of the political year:

Trevor Moniz was officially OUT after two years in the political wilderness when the Opposition United Bermuda Party parliamentary group voted in January not to reinstate him.

But he made a dramatic comeback in September when the same party reinstated him. Weeks later he was appointed Shadow Transport Minister.

Jamahl Simmons gets IN by winning the Pembroke West seat vacated by the resignation of Gary Pitman. Mr. Simmons is later appointed Shadow Environment Minister.

Mr. Simmons, the youngest Member of Parliament, was quick to make his mark as Opposition spokesperson and the harshest and, some say, shrillest critic of the PLP Government.

Broadcast journalist Ashfield DeVent breaks IN to the House on November 26 with a comfortable win at the Pembroke East Central poll to replace former Tourism Minister David Allen, who died of abdominal cancer in late September.

Victoria Pearman (PLP) and Neville Darrell (UBP) IN as they are appointed to the Senate in February.

Sen. David Burch IN a portfolio in October when he is appointed Housing Minister; public image soars. Neletha Butterfield IN Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio.

Longest running political story

The Boundaries Commission and the electoral reform process. Government's plans to realise its long held dream of eliminating inequities in the voting system ended its first stage after much criticism and scrutiny by the Opposition United Bermuda Party and interest group the Association for Due Process and the Constitution.

The critics contended that a constitutional conference must be held before changing the constitution and opposed the process of using the Boundaries Commission to redraw the electoral map.

In the end, though the Government scored a moral victory at the August debate of the Boundaries Commission report, when former Opposition Leader Pam Gordon declined to support her party's position on a conference.

Thousands of column inches were devoted to concerns over construction of the new senior school at Berkeley. Auditor General Larry Denis issued a report toward year's end which announced that the project cannot possibly be completed before the start of the next school year ... but...

The most intense coverage of the year was devoted to...

Allegations of corruption at the Bermuda Housing Corporation. The story was broken by The Mid Ocean News which printed copies of documents showing what appeared to be massive overpayments to a painter, a gardener

The first of lawsuits against allegedly shady contractors was launched in December.

Most controversial political speech

Telecommunications and Tourism Minister Renee Webb's comments about empowering "people who like me" hit a nerve with many of those who actually don't look like her. Cherie Blair, the wife of the British Prime Minister, who said essentially the same thing when addressing the Women in Public Life conference, was well received however.

Most contested Government decision

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown's plans to improve service in the taxi industry with computerised dispatching and GPS (geographical positioning system) had hundreds of taxi drivers up in arms. Cabbies protested with calls for the Minister's resignation, driving at the speed limit (a "go slow" in Bermuda terms). Cabbies lobbied politicians and the community in the battle of wills. The measures passed the House of Assembly - with ruling party whip Ottiwell Simmons voting against - but were sent back to the House by the Senate.

Most Significant Political Story

Government achieved its mission of transforming the electoral landscape from an unfair dual seat system to a single seat system with 36 equal-sized constituencies each returning one member to parliament.

Most Overdue Legislation

Children's Act - abolishing illegitimacy, requiring both parents to be equally responsible for the care of their kids, although father's rights advocates said the new law did not go far enough.

Most Controversial Politician

Renee Webb (see above).

Makeover of the Year

The Opposition United Bermuda Party (UBP) ended the year sounding and looking like the Progressive Labour Party. The "New UBP" says it is now the party of equal opportunity, rights for all and economic empowerment for downtrodden financial minorities. The party's annual conference held at the Southampton Princess - a slick, glitzy affair complete with fireworks, video presentations and a motivational speaker - attracted hundreds of guests.

Attempted comeback of the Year

Former Premier Sir John Swan made news headlines when community activist W.A. (Toppy) Cowen led a campaign to draft Sir John back into politics to take over the leadership of the United Bermuda Party from Grant Gibbons. Mr. Cowen insisted that the resurrection of Sir John would give the Opposition party a stronger chance of winning the election. Both denied that they were working in cahoots with each other and the bid fizzled out.