It was a year of ups and downs for the Island's first political party. Opposition to Premier Jennifer Smith's leadership went into high gear during the spring, peaking with a parliamentary caucus vote in May.

The motion demanding that the Premier resign her position was tied nine-nine and it was a matter of some debate whether a victory by her detractors would have had any legal impact.

Critics within the party, led by backbencher Wayne Perinchief, continued to be open and vocal in their criticism of the Premier, causing some consternation among party supporters.

The party's machinery sprang into action with its own public relations offensive as former secretary general Walter Roban and chairman Neville Tyrrell explained that many of the criticisms were already being addressed, and key party functionaries organised a series of meetings to air out the issues with grassroots supporters.

By late summer, as the organisation geared up for its annual symposium, the critics had fallen silent and a triumphant Jennifer Smith and the entire party leadership was returned unopposed at the party's leadership conference in November.

As criticism over the electoral reform process continued throughout the year, Government scored a moral victory when the Boundaries Commission report was finally debated in October. Pamela Gordon declined to go along with her party's call for a referendum, insisting instead that Britain be accountable to Bermuda and make it clear what the Island's options were going ahead.

But even diehard PLP supporters must have been dismayed at revelations of possible corruption, and the announcement of a Scotland Yard assisted investigation, at the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

Ms Smith's latest Cabinet shuffle saw Health Minister Nelson Bascome handing the Housing portfolio to Sen. David Burch who immediately set about on a no-nonsense clean-up mission of the quango.

It also saw Mr. Perinchief's running mate Neletha Butterfield's entry into the inner sanctum as Minister without Portfolio, and a doubling up of duties for Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb who was given the tourism portfolio.

The reason for the changes was, of course, the death of David Allen, the flamboyant Minister of Tourism and one of the party's key players.

Mr. Allen's death in September brought the party its most sombre moments, but it also helped to bring about some much needed unity and cohesion as the party entered an General Election year.