Labour Party shadow Ministers promised yesterday.

Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Renee Webb and Shadow Youth and Sport Minister Nelson Bascome said their experience with the portfolios would stand them in good stead during clashes across the floor of the House of Assembly.

Ms Webb said she had a lot respect for former Minister Harry Soares -- but Dr.

Terceira was still an unknown quantity.

And she warned Dr. Terceira that he faced "a mammoth task'' handling political hot potatoes and the biggest budget in Government -- and added she would be watching his every move.

Ms Webb said: "Resolving some of the problems with hospitals and social services and reducing crime through the prison system will not be easy.'' "What Dr. Terceira brings to the table, I don't have a clue -- but it's not going to be an easy task.

"If he is expected to do something major before an election, I don't think he will be able to do that in the maximum time of 18 months.

"He has a big job before him and as I know the issues at hand, I will be able to keep him on his toes and make sure things get done.'' Ms Webb said she would not be changing her approach with the new Minister, but added that she hoped he would continue Mr. Soares' practice of giving her briefings if requested.

And she added: "I hope Dr. Terceira will learn something from his predecessor on how Ministers should respond to Shadow Ministers.'' Shadow Youth and Sport Minister Nelson Bascome also said he would not be changing his game plan to deal with David Dyer, who replaced Tim Smith as Youth and Sport Minister on Wednesday.

He said: "They have made enough mistakes -- I can just continue to try and get them to review a number of policy decisions they have made and to make things better for sporting bodies.'' Mr. Bascome said Mr. Smith lacked experience in the sporting arena -- as did Dr. Dyer.

And he added: "Tim Smith tried -- I'm being kind. He had some faults but I think he was young enough to have grown into it and understood it better.'' Mr. Bascome said he did not agree with what he claimed was the Ministry's punitive approach to drug testing -- especially for young athletes. He added: "That's not the way we want to go about dealing with our athletes -- we have to allow room for recovery and rehabilitiation.'' Mr. Bascome added first-time Minister David Dyer appeared to lack a sporting background.

He said: "I still think there should be a real empathy for the sporting bodies and the individuals who are involved. We haven't really had a Minister who gave us that.

"I guess it's a bit early to assess Dr. Dyer -- I don't know just what his sporting background is. I don't think he has one of those extra-curricular activities you could call sport and I have a real problem with that.

"I suppose there is a lot of administration involved -- but his administrative abilities are untested as well.'' UBP grassroots concerned with issues, not individuals: Page 3