Dame Jennifer Smith, Patrice Minors and Terry Lister are all back in Cabinet after Premier Paula Cox shook up Government with a wave of new Ministries yesterday.

Michael Weeks is elevated to Cabinet for the first time as Minister without Portfolio, while several more switch responsibilities in a completely new-look set-up.

El James is out as Education Minister, while there is no place for defeated leadership candidate Dale Butler or a string of backbenchers who were hoping for recalls.

Meanwhile Ms Cox — who has pledged to tighten controls on spending, contracts and project management — will take charge of issues previously handled by Works and Engineering through a new Procurement Office.

Cabinet changes mean:

• Ms Cox retains Finance, which still has revenue collection, although some duties are given to a new National Security Ministry;

• Dame Jennifer takes over from Mr. James in Education — her first Cabinet position since resigning as Premier in 2003;

• Michael Scott is promoted from Energy Minister to Attorney General, replacing Kim Wilson;

• Sen. Wilson takes a new Economy, Trade and Industries Ministry, picking up work permits and labour from Sen. David Burch;

• Sen. Burch has the new National Security Ministry, instead of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, and assumes responsibility for border controls;

• defeated leadership contender Mr. Lister takes on a new Transport Ministry;

• Mrs. Minors heads up another new Ministry as Business Development is combined with Tourism;

• Walter Roban is in Environment, which now has its own Ministry;

• Glenn Blakeney takes on Youth Affairs and Families, which includes sports and many of the responsibilities from the now defunct Social Rehabilitation Ministry;

• Zane DeSilva replaces Mr. Roban in Health;

• Deputy Premier Derrick Burgess' Ministry changes from Works and Engineering to Public Works, but his duties remain the same;

• Neletha Butterfield is in charge of a new Public Information Services Ministry.

In the Senate, former Progressive Labour Party chairman David Burt comes in as Junior Finance Minister, and Junior Minister of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Development; community activist Cromwell Shakir is Junior Health and Works; and party loyalist and The Worker's Voice editor LaVerne Furbert is Junior Education and Youth Affairs.

Walton Brown and Thaao Dill are both dropped from the Senate, with Marc Bean also departing as he prepares to fight the by-election in former Premier Ewart Brown's Warwick South Central seat.

Ms Cox has earmarked Mr. Burt as a Chief of Staff, but will not be appointing a press secretary, while contracts will not be renewed for Dr. Brown's consultants Mr. Bean and Mr. Commissiong.

At a swearing-in ceremony at Government House yesterday, the Premier described her team as dynamic, able and with integrity: "A team that's prepared to work."

She said the Ministers would be getting to grips with their new portfolios ahead of Friday's Throne Speech, adding: "It's not going to be business as usual."

Some had predicted Mr. Lister could be left out in the cold after criticising Government's spending record during his leadership campaign.

But Ms Cox said yesterday: "We are adults. This is politics, but we have now had the election and we have got to move on and do our job without getting caught up in personalities."

Mr. Lister said of his comeback: "I am pleased to return to Cabinet at this time. Bermuda is facing many challenges and I look forward to being able to assist in moving the country through these difficult times."

Reacting to her appointment, Mrs. Minors said her Ministry represents two of the main pillars of Bermuda's economy.

She said taking on Tourism is a "tad daunting" but added: "It's an opportunity to get my feet wet. I'll be jumping in at the deep end, quite quickly, I might add."

Mr. Scott said: "I woke up this morning and felt great about these new responsibilities."

The new AG said existing legislation could be tweaked with the possibility of more new bills while fighting crime remains at the top of the agenda.

"Security for Mr. and Mrs. Bermuda and our tourists is the main concern," he said.

Sen. Wilson said: "To be honest I was initially a bit disappointed when the Premier asked me to be the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, as opposed to Justice, as I had enjoyed the work of the Ministry.

"However, once I actually reviewed what came within the portfolio, I was excited to see the synergy that can be established between the various departments."

Mr. Burgess said of his Ministry: "I am very excited because I think it's a work in progress. We will certainly address the challenges that confront us on a daily basis i.e. the safety on the roads, how do we slow down traffic, and keep the infrastructure that we are responsible for in good condition.

"Anywhere the Premier would have asked me to go I would have went. These Ministries do not belong to any particular Minister, you go and try and serve and do your best no matter where they send you."

Mr. Roban said of his switch: "She obviously has felt that I have other contributions to make. I'm very happy to be in her Cabinet and that she has a role for me that's new, and fresh, and exciting."

Mr. DeSilva, the former Minister without Portfolio, said: "As most people will know, I love a challenge. The Ministry is a large Ministry. I think there will be some changes and we are working on those as we speak and they will unfold in the next few weeks.

"Then it will be business as usual in making sure the Ministry stays on track and giving all the people in Bermuda the best opportunity we can for good health care. And I am looking forward to the challenge."

United Bermuda Party leader Kim Swan said yesterday: "On behalf of my colleagues in the United Bermuda Party, I want to extend our best wishes for the success of the Government.

"I know many will question our sincerity in this, but we do so for the sake of the Bermudian people. They deserve better Government.

"Bermuda is not working for many today. We see it in spreading joblessness, shrinking paycheques, street shootings, collapsing tourism, billion-dollar debt and the continuing failure to reform education.

"The case for a change in Government is compelling.

"Unfortunately, this Cabinet shuffle will not give Bermuda the change it needs. This is the same tired group that has presided over a period of unprecedented national decline.

"Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Premier's decision to continue as Minister of Finance, despite an atrocious six-year record marred by soaring debt, uncontrolled spending and ethical failures.

"The United Bermuda Party is prepared to work with the Government to get Bermuda back on track. We have talented people who are committed to getting Bermuda working again. We will push reforms to strengthen Government accountability, transparency and fairness. We will push plans to reduce Government spending, strengthen the economy and grow jobs.

"There is much to do. Bermuda depends on it."