When Premier Pamela Gordon took office she stressed that family values would be the pivotal theme behind Government policies.

The appointment of Kim Young into the Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio in last month's Cabinet reshuffle is perhaps the biggest manifestation of the Premier's intent.

Not because Mrs. Young, as a woman, mother and former nurse, might be seen as some token face of a caring Government, but because those values are something that she passionately supports.

Although politically inexperienced, Mrs. Young, 55, clearly has the respect of her party colleagues, as well as formidable support from her constituents. She thrashed the opposition in the Paget East by-election and now, just a year on, she finds herself in the Cabinet with a key organisational role to play.

So what exactly does the Minister without Portfolio do? "It's difficult to explain, but basically when we have a plan my job will be to ensure that plan is activated, '' she said.

"The ministers are all very busy and I'll be able to cut through the red tape and say `hey, we need to get this done now' and pull three or four ministers together and say lets concentrate on this and get everyone's input and put it together.'' "A good example is the issue of child care where we are reviewing this because there are so many parents working, and it comes under three different ministries so we're trying to have a look at it to see if we can come up with some ideas that will make us more family friendly.

"Some people call it trouble shooter, but we have a great team spirit within our new Cabinet and I would like to think of it as facilitating.'' Mrs. Young does not agree that she was selected for a ministerial role because she is a woman and she refutes the claim that the re-shuffle is a pre-election gimmick.

"It's the Premier's choice,'' she said. "She probably thought it would be more efficient. I think she was waiting first and listening to what everyone had to say. Now her mandate is to make sure she does things to help families and I'm just part of that process.

"But I don't think the fact that I'm a woman came into the equation in her mind.

"I don't think its a gimmick its a sensible thing to do. People wanted a change and the UBP have been in for 30 years.

"But I think when people talk about a change, they're not talking about a change in philosophy. One party has one philosophy and the other has another and you don't change philosophy just for the sake of change. "If you look at the Cabinet now I think the difference between the two parties is that UBP represents all people and it's perceived that the PLP represents labour and the black community. It has to be better to include everyone, in my opinion.'' The Minister is particularly keen to stamp out social injustice and feels that women sometimes get a raw deal.

"I think the people are looking for social issues and they're high on our priority -- that's what we want to concentrate on,'' she said.

"We need to come up with a bill on equal pay. Government employees get equal pay for equal work but in the private sector there is no such legislation. We need to do that and then deal with equal pay for equal worth which is much more complicated.

"Most female jobs are paid a lower amount of money just because it's traditional - women were thought of as the secondary wage earners but now many women are the primary wage earners.

"Women have a higher level of tertiary education but when you look at the wages that are being paid, that's not reflected.'' Mrs. Young is a great admirer of the Premier, describing her as determined and tenacious, qualities that could also be used to describe herself.

Although new to politics and clearly enthusiastic about her cabinet role, she answers questions like a seasoned veteran, never tripping up. The one thing she finds hard to answer is why she went into politics in the first place.

"It always sounds lofty and I've never been able to find a good answer to that question,'' she said.

"I went in because I had a keen interest in making life good for all people.

I want to make sure that your children, my children, everybody's children will have a good a life as I have. I want to help maintain the quality of life for all Bermudians.'' When asked if the Government will win the next election, she doesn't have to think for a second before giving her answer and you know that she firmly believes in what the Party is doing.

"We'll win because people want to see things remain stable,'' she said.

"There are many people -- single women with children for example -- who are the sole breadwinner with a good job and doing well. If everything stays stable economically they will have a good life and they recognise that.

Were sailing a straight course. We're doing the right thing because its right -- the right thing to do.''