The United Bermuda Party?s Louise Jackson and Michael Dunkley have set out their top priorities for their new shadow cabinet roles.

Mrs. Jackson was handed the Health and Family Services shadow ministry in addition to her current Seniors portfolio last week. Michael Dunkley was shifted from Health and Family Services to Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety and Maxwell Burgess was made shadow Minister Without Portfolio.

Mr. Dunkley said he had a great deal of respect for his opposite number, Randolph Horton, of the Progressive Labour Party.

?I will not always be antagonistic. I will try to be as constructive as I can as that?s how we can move forward,? he said.

He believes there is real concern in the community about the level of violent crime.

?As someone who?s lived here all my life people are really concerned that their lifestyle has been changed by the perception that Bermuda is not as safe as it used to be, and that also affects our visitors. We need to do what we can to protect our image. Bermuda is still a very safe place but we can do better,? he said.

He also listed the drugs issue as a top priority, explaining: ?A lot of Bermudians don?t realise just how drugs have reached across every section of society, affecting families from St. George?s to Somerset. ?We need to do a better job of interdiction of drugs. We are 700 miles from the nearest land and we should be doing a better job of interdiction of drugs. Our resources don?t have the facilities to get the job done.?

Mr. Dunkley previously served in the role of Shadow Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister from 1998 to 2003.

Speaking about her new portfolio, Mrs. Jackson said: ?I believe that all our people, young and old, rich and poor, really deserve a health care system of the very highest standard.? She said she had concerns about the condition of the hospital and the morale of staff there.

And she added: ?Our seniors in some rest homes, Government and private, are suffering from inadequate care and in poor conditions. There is a need for inspection of residential and rest homes for our seniors.?

was unable to reach Mr. Burgess for comment.

When asked for the PLP?s reaction to the re-shuffle, spokesman Scott Simmons said it was of ?no interest? to them.

He added: ?We would urge all members of the Opposition who take some comfort in being selected, by their leader, to their respective shadow portfolios to spend more time working with this Government on the difficult issues like housing, sustainable development, crime, education and urban planning.?