Eight weeks is not a long time to head a Ministry — but Neletha Butterfield accepted with good grace yesterday her swift removal from Education.

Ms Butterfield, who founded an alternative learning centre in the basement of her home in 1983, now reverts to being the Minister of Environment — a position she was first given in August 2003.

She also takes on the Telecommunications and E-Commerce briefs.

She told The Royal Gazette: “I’m feeling very good. Education is still close to my heart. When I was appointed the Environment Minister before, I took education to the ministry; now I will just take it back. My only sadness is all those precious little children that I have met over the eight weeks. I was looking forward to doing some very special things with them.

“I’m a little sad about them. But some way I’ll get those little children to come and see me.”

Ms Butterfield was described by former Premier Alex Scott, when he promoted her to the Ministry of Education last month, as having “an almost unmatchable personal passion and dedication” to helping young people and all Bermudians.

She said she was not surprised to be included in Dr. Ewart Brown’s Cabinet — despite being seen as a loyal supporter of Mr. Scott.