ERROR RG P4 2.3.1999 A feature story on Premier Jennifer Smith, in yesterday's paper, incorrectly stated that she was Bermuda's first elected Premier. It should have stated that Ms Smith is the Island's first elected female Premier.

Not one for small talk, Premier Jennifer Smith continued to work at her computer as The Royal Gazette photographer and reporter entered her Cabinet Office.

After some ten minutes, Ms Smith came from around her desk and sat in a leather chair facing the Press.

"Welcome to my office,'' she stated curtly as the interview began.

Despite her journalism background, it is clear that Ms Smith's reign will not be a love affair with the Press.

In fact, she has little time and tolerance for the Fourth Estate. And she makes no apologies nor excuses for this.

Asked what was the easiest part of making the transition from Opposition Leader to Premier, she said: "The fact that I'm used to attending events and talking to people''.

The most difficult, she added, was not having enough time to do all the things she wanted to do.

"One could have said dealing with the media,'' Ms Smith said with a smirk.

"But I actually don't let that bother me.'' As the leader who will take Bermuda into the 21st Century, Ms Smith points out that she has more important issues -- such as education and strategic planning for the Island's future -- to think about.

And faced with a Throne Speech, Budget Debate, and an unexpected Paget West by-election in her first four months in office, Ms Smith has had to hit the road running.

But Bermuda's first elected Premier and the leader of the first Progressive Labour Party Government stressed she will always have time for the catalyst for victory -- the people.

"I did not expect the level and the intensity of the response that we received in November.

"And I am quite energised by the level of understanding of the Bermuda public, the Press notwithstanding, of what it is that we have to do and the amount of realistic time it might take to do it.

"They (people) are very supportive. They recognise that we inherited many things. They recognise the time constraints on the Budget, they recognise even our busyness in our schedule in our trying to touch base with everybody and learn at the same time. They have been so unbelievably understanding about all that and continue to be and are totally supportive.

"It's just so wonderful. And while we did think people would be supportive, it is the level of intensity that is surprising.'' Ms Smith admitted the transition from being the Opposition to Government was not easy.

"Our priorities were based on Constitutional deadlines and the need to set the foundation for what we did want to do and the promises we made in the Throne Speech,'' she said. "So that meant making sure that there were at least some funds in the Budget for those priorities; which meant getting to grips with what was already in the Budget and finding where changes could be made and there was quite a bit of work in doing that in time to meet the deadline.

"That,'' she added, "fuelled the challenge of appointing Senators, Ministers, and getting the House in operation so that we could do those things.

"And of course one of the guiding principles behind our opening of the House was to ensure that the annual registration, which would have taken place on January 15, did not go ahead because that was one of our campaign promises.'' Another campaign promise which Ms Smith, particularly as Education Minister, intends to accomplish is to raise the standard of education.

Government plans to do this by introducing a number of changes to the public school system, including establishing a uniform national curriculum for each level of schooling from pre-school to senior school.

"However,'' Ms Smith said, "I must admit that my priority right now is on raising the reading standards.'' While noting that the literacy problem was not the only issue facing the school system, she explained: "If you turn someone on to reading, you're actually turning them on to learning. And that will have benefits across the board in the other areas of instruction.'' The Education Ministry is in the process of working out the details of an islandwide school reading initiative to be launched in September, Ms Smith added.

Having been a Shadow Education Minister for more than ten years, Ms Smith explained her decision to keep the major Government portfolio.

"It is not something I would recommend,'' she admitted. "But I felt an obligation and a responsibility having been the Shadow Minister for so long to at least, now that I was in a position, see that the many things I have given voice to over the years were put in place and at least the framework for change established.

"It is difficult,'' she added, referring to juggling the responsibilities of being Premier and Education Minister. "But I must say that the staff at the Ministry have expressed a willingness to work at night, to come in whenever I was available.

"I try to spend at least two days a week, sometimes maybe one, at the Ministry in my office where I work through all that has to be done.'' However, Ms Smith did not rule out passing the Education baton on.

She will be reviewing the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle after the Budget Debate.

MPs' responsibilities will not be the only thing up for review in the coming months.

A review of the civil service is to be carried out by officials from the UK's Civil Service College.

The review, expected to take 11 weeks, is aimed at giving Government a better understanding of how it can improve its resources and services for the 21st Century.

While Ms Smith would not be drawn on the possibility of streamlining any departments, she admitted the PLP had complained that the Government Information Services Department was under-used.

"That is one of the reasons that when I came in, I called the department and said I would like somebody to come down and do certain things for me,'' she said. "And I must say they were very pleased to come and do. I have someone assigned to me, who is Valerie Pethen, and we use them.'' Asked about her accessibility either directly or through GIS, Ms Smith said: "I have not had any requests from Government Information Services for answers to questions.

"However, I do think -- depending on the topic, that Information Services is the way to go. For instance, if it is a question that is for me as Premier in my official capacity, it should go to Information Services.

"If it is a question that you're asking of me as Premier politically, then it can come through my office -- most likely through my staff.'' Ms Smith stressed that Government Ministers were well versed with their particular portfolios.

For example, she said, matters such as the future of the Bermuda Regiment and Police were in the capable hands of Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox.

Asked about a mini-mutiny in the Bermuda Regiment's top ranks and a Police succession plan, she added: "Both the Regiment and Police fall under Minister Paula Cox.

"Minister Cox was aware of what was going on (regarding the Regiment) and delivered on my behalf the information to the Commander-in-Chief (the Governor), because I was abroad.

"And Minister Cox has, I know, paid a visit to Police headquarters, met with the Police Commissioner and has the issues that were outstanding as well as those issues that we outlined in our party platform well in hand. And I will not presume to talk for her.'' Asked about other plans on Government's agenda for the year, she said: "I will imagine that after the Budget Debate we will have looked at our legislative programme and we might have seen where that is. In other words, stuff that we have already identified that we want to do, at which point is it in the process. Because there is a specific procedure through which legislation must pass. That will give us a better idea on how we can present things to the House.

"More immediately I will be faced with the issue of the by-election and we'll take it from there.'' "We plan, then we look, and we plan again,'' the Premier stressed. "One hundred days may be a media thing. I don't look at 100 days. I look at how much time it will take to do this. We set out the goal and then we look at the process to achieve our goal, whether that is 50 days or 200 days as long as it is achieved.'' As the interview ended, Ms Smith softened as she discussed something clearly dear to her heart -- children.

Pointing out on her office walls several photographs, poems and other writings from people congratulating her and the PLP on their victory, Ms Smith said: "In the past people use to think Bermudians were apathetic and did not follow politics. But even young people can tell you about politics.'' She recalled that a young boy at Victor Scott Primary School, when asked what did the PLP do, replied: "They won 26 seats.'' "It (his answer) wasn't just like they won,'' she noted. "They come up with very interesting things.

"One of the most touching poems that we got right after the election was written by a 15-year-old Berkeley Institute student from St. George's -- Tanya Raynor,'' she said. "Beautiful poem... I think she sat down and wrote it Tuesday morning (the day after the November 9 election) and it came right away.

"You see my picture with the kids,'' she beamed as she pulled out a mini photograph album of election preparation and celebration pictures. "I have one even better to show you...'' "See my kids... These are the St. George's group. This is our Thank the Workers party for the children. We had different age groups. We had one for the children. We've got one for another group of our workers, And we've got a third one planned for our other workers. But we did this for the children.

They know, they helped.'' Ms Smith also recalled that during a recent visit to Whitney Institute to see Harrington Sound Primary students -- who were relocated due to a fire at their school -- she was overwhelmed by their response.

"I just stopped and I was speaking to a supervisor,'' she said. "Well before we got pass the door these kids had come rushing over...Hi Premier Smith! They came over and got their hugs. And I got my hugs.'' "This morning I was at Bermuda Institute and the head girl was just dynamic, outstanding,'' she added. "The head boy, equally as so.

"We do have problems. But you've got young people coming up who are just outstanding. And I mean outstanding on an international basis -- who could hold their own anywhere.'' Premier Jennifer Smith on why she took on the Education portfolio: "I felt an obligation and a responsibility having been the Shadow Minister of Education for so long to at least, now that I was in a position to do so, see that the many things I have given voice to over the years were put in place and at least the framework for change established.''