House of Assembly yesterday.

Mr. Cromwell Shakir and three supporters were protesting Premier David Saul's recent decision to let Mr. Tim Smith remain in Cabinet.

After a public outcry over controversial remarks he made about a Planning appeal, Mr. Smith, who was Environment Minister, offered to resign from Cabinet.

But Dr. Saul this week refused to accept the resignation, and instead moved Mr. Smith to the Youth and Sport Ministry. Ms Pamela Gordon , who held the Youth portfolio, took over the Environment.

"Little Tim done wrong so you took a toffee away from him and gave him a lollipop,'' said a sign Mr. Shakir carried. "Not good enough.'' Mr. Shakir's son Bilal, Progressive Labour Party central committee member Mr.

Rolfe Commissiong, and a fourth unidentified man carried similar signs.

Mr. Shakir told The Royal Gazette he felt Dr. Saul had "brushed over'' what Mr. Smith had done. "His actions...indicated that he was biased, impartial, and prejudiced,'' he said.

Mr. Smith "must be removed (from Cabinet) in the best interest of the community''.

Mr. Shakir said he was a member of the PLP, but said his protest was not prompted by the Opposition Party.

Dr. Saul said he was not concerned by the protest.

He said the organisers were connected with the PLP and "that's their democratic right''.

Asked if Mr. Smith was having second thoughts about his new Ministry in light of the fact that Government was still being criticised, Dr. Saul said he would not allow second thoughts. "He needs to get on with the job and show people his true face,'' he said.

Mr. Smith, who did not attend the morning session of the House yesterday, made off-the-cuff remarks to another MP on November 10 which were picked up by a live microphone and broadcast over the air.

They followed the vote on the Deputy Speaker. Opposition MP Mr. Stanley Lowe defeated Government nominee Mrs. Grace Bell when five Government backbenchers known as "the people's five'' stayed away from the House and missed the vote.

Mr. Smith said one of the five, Mr. Trevor Moniz , had submitted a Planning appeal for "an illegal house''.

"I haven't even looked at it,'' Mr. Smith said. "I said I ain't looking at it for now. The naughty b*****. He built it anyway. Couldn't care less.

They're a law unto themselves.'' unidentified man, Mr. Shakir's son Bilal, Mr. Rolfe Commissiong, and Mr.

Shakir protested Premier David Saul's decision to leave Mr. Tim Smith in Cabinet.