Government sources said Mr. Smith will be sworn in as Minister of Youth Development, Sport and Recreation this morning at a Government House ceremony.

Neither Premier Pamela Gordon nor Mr. Smith would comment on the matter, but The Royal Gazette understands from party insiders that he will be given the portfolio this morning.

Today's promotion would mark the second time that Mr. Smith had held the post.

He voluntarily stepped down from his post earlier this year when then-Premier David Saul reshuffled his Cabinet to make room for members of the so-called "People's Five''.

At that time Mr. Smith said that he would serve again if he was given the opportunity.

Mr. Smith was one of the youngest Cabinet Ministers ever appointed. He was moved from the Ministry of the Environment to Youth and Sport in November, 1995 after only three months.

The move followed controversial remarks about a planning application from then UBP rebel Trevor Moniz which a radio microphone picked up.

Mr. Smith has maintained that he did not think that he lost his Cabinet post as a result of that mistake.

But even as a backbencher he was banned from the House of Assembly for one day after he refused to apologise publicly for remarks he made in an interview with The Royal Gazette .

The interview took place just after the 42-second-passage of a bill allowing foreign ownership of the Bermudiana Hotel site.

Mr. Smith said Opposition MP Reginald Burrows -- who introduced the bill in the House -- should have launched a debate.

He accused Mr. Burrows of duplicity in the handling of the matter but Speaker Ernest DeCouto said Mr. Smith's comments suggested deceitfulness on the part of Mr. Burrows.

Moreover, Mr. DeCouto said Mr. Smith's comments implied that (the Speaker) had been derelict in his duty of directing a member of the House.

Consequently, he gave Mr. Smith an opportunity to apologise publicly but Mr.

Smith refused and was banned for a day.

Mr. Smith's ascension this morning comes after former Sport Minister David Dyer announced that he was leaving politics at the end of the month.

It is understood that a series of advertisements for potential candidates to replace Dr. Dyer in his Pembroke West constituency, a UBP stronghold, will appear within two weeks.

Currently, no-one has formally stepped forward in a bid to contest the seat that will become vacant at the end of the month.

The only known person to have publicly expressed an interest is former Planning consultant Erwin Adderley.

Cabinet post So far the former Director of Planning who is now in private practice, has not made a formal approach to the constituency party.

Mr. Adderley -- an approved candidate for the UBP -- is the first contender to throw his hat in the ring.

Newly installed UBP branch chairman Joyce Hall said she had not received or heard of any formal expressions of interest for Dr. Dyer's seat.

"No-one has come forward at the moment,'' Mrs. Hall told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"I have an ad going in the paper that will explain the cut-off date but that will appear a bit later. At the present time there has been no-one else coming forward -- but there could be.'' UBP branch chairman for the Pembroke West constituency Mr. Michael Hollis resigned from his post on September 15.

It is understood that personal commitments were a large part of his reason for stepping down.

When Mrs. Hall was asked whether Mr. Hollis' resignation was an indication that he was interested in contesting the Pembroke West seat she said: "I am sure that if Mr. Hollis had wanted to run he would have made that clear at the time of his resignation.

"But in consideration of the circumstances under which he resigned, he has no such thoughts.'' The Pembroke West vacancy in the constituency was caused when Youth and Sport Minister David Dyer decided to quit politics for personal reasons.

It is believed the Minister, appointed under previous Premier David Saul, was finding it difficult to balance his political commitments with the demands of his dental practice.

Dr. Dyer is expected to formally step down as an MP on September 30.