personalities, an insider claimed yesterday.

He was speaking after a Cabinet re-shuffle brought three UBP rebels back into the fold -- and returned three Ministers to the back benches.

The insider said: "What worries people are things like housing, low-cost housing, the Base lands, education and employment.

"The mood seems to be focusing not on who is in or who is not in Cabinet, but on the issues which concern them.'' He admitted some within the party may not welcome the rebels from the ranks of the "People's Five'' -- but that people expected moves in that direction.

And he said: "The Premier has made some changes -- things should settle down in the party now. I don't think we will have a lot of trouble.'' Premier David Saul brought in three of the five Independence and McDonald's rebels to replace Health Minister Harry Soares, Works Minister Leonard Gibbons and Youth and Sport's Tim Smith.

The three, with MPs Trevor Moniz and Ann Cartwright DeCouto, campaigned for a `no' vote in ex-Premier Sir John Swan's 1995 Independence Referendum.

And they split the party in 1996, voting with the Opposition Progressive Labour Party to ban fast food franchises with a foreign flavour.

They also voted with the PLP in a motion of censure over Dr. Saul's role in the original decision to allow Grape Bay Ltd., which included Sir John and UBP backbencher Maxwell Burgess, to open a McDonald's franchise on the Island.

Taking over Health and Social Services is Dr. Clarence Terceira. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge takes over Works and Engineering and the Youth and Sport portfolio goes to Dr. David Dyer.

The party's inside view was backed by party chairman and Senator, Gary Pitman, who attended yesterday's caucus meeting of the UBP.

Sen. Pitman said: "I think the mood was good -- it's good to have everyone back and rowing in the same direction.'' He added that there were "some mixed feelings out there''.

"I haven't spoken to a lot of people -- but some aren't completely happy,'' he said. "But they appreciate we are working towards the healing process and ahead to the future.'' And he agreed with the inside view of the party's mood.

Sen. Pitman said: "Bermudians in general, as people are around the world, are concerned about education, drugs, crime and that kind of thing.

"I think if they have faith in the individuals put in positions of power to do the job, it is issues more than personalities that matter.'' But Sen. Pitman was staying tight-lipped over news that the Premier was now considering a shake-up in the Senate.

He said: "I wouldn't want to even try and second guess the Premier -- I would think we will be looking ahead to make sure we are positioned well in the Senate and the Lower House for the future.'' POLITICAL PTL