The Premier had better watch out. It seems El James's competitiveness in sport may be rubbing off on his political ambitions.

The former national cricket team manager and MP for Warwick West is not only ready to win Warwick North Central at the next election, but is prepared to aim higher. Mr. James, who considers himself a 'Warwick man' through and through, says: "Warwick has always been one of the great parishes and I feel it needs great representation.

"If you look at all the parishes, Warwick has probably produced more Premiers than anywhere else on the Island. I would be elated to win this seat, and if there is something available more than just a Parliamentary representative then I would be delighted to take it."

He says: "Anyone going into politics should go in with the view that they're not only material to represent a constituency but also to go for a ministerial post and maybe even the top post.

"One should go into politics with that thought in mind, with the confidence that you're not just capable of tending to your parish and being a regular backbencher, but also being a minister and possibly the Premier, the leader of the country."

Mr. James will not be drawn on whether he has an eye on the Premier's role, and laughs, saying: "I've always been ambitious."

So has his former fellow Constituency MP for Warwick West, Premier Dr. Ewart Brown, hinted at a possible Cabinet role if he gets elected?

"All he wants me to do at this point is win a seat," says Mr. James. "After that I don't know."

He adds: "Warwick has always been a difficult parish, and I don't have a safe seat. You can never take any of those seats as being safe. Everything is a battle and that is why I'm out every night canvassing, knocking on doors. I won't stop until the election and even afterwards, I will continue because I want to hear people's concerns.

"I've no idea when the election is going to be called but I want to be ready," he says.

Asked how he feels in being picked in place of current Warwick North Central MP George Scott, Mr. James says: "I think it's a strategic move, something that any party anywhere in the world will do in any election. They come up with a strategy to maximise the number of seats.

"This is a strategy the party came up with, and I think they had good reason to do so. Whether it works or not, we'll have to wait and see."

As president of the Bermuda Cricket Board and national cricket team manager, Mr. James, 58, is only too aware of the importance of being a team player. "I was involved in team sports in football and cricket and played both of them at the national level," he says. "Being involved with a team you have to get along with everyone you're playing with and work together for victory.

"Politics would be no different. We have to work together to get a final result and everyone has to be on the same page."

He says: "In the end, whether in sports or politics, the real winners are those on the side watching."

On current direction of the party, he says all it needs is a bit of "fine tuning". "The Premier is a very good tourism minister and has done a tremendous job, bringing about some real positive changes," says Mr. James.

"The fact that he's getting criticism and complaints, whenever you're doing something there will always be areas where there's complaints. As long as we are doing things, there will always be those who disagree. But if you look to tourism - the air flights we have, and the hotels getting full, the outlook for tourism is very, very good.

"I think the present Government is on track," he says. "Like anything, you can have fine tuning and you can question certain things, but I think right now we're on track. It's a matter of putting things in place and getting it right.

"Look at education – it has always been an issue. The Government is now taking steps to bring about some changes in education. As far as housing is concerned, we've taken measures and I think we will see some real steps over the next few months when housing units do become available to locals."

Mr. James was one of six siblings born to parents Arthur, a stonecutter mason, and Arlene, a member of Warwick Parish Council. He attended Purvis Primary School and Howard Academy before graduating with a Bachelors degree in education and psychology from Atlantic Union College in Massachusetts. He then taught for four years at the Bermuda Institute and Elliot Primary before working in the Prison Service as a vocational education officer. Before his retirement in 1996 he was the personnel manager and a sales manager at Shell.

Mr. James's son Xavier now teaches at Gilbert Institute while daughter Zonique teaches at Port Royal Primary School.

Education is obviously a priority for him and over the next year, he is to hold an education forum in Warwick to address parents' concerns about middle and senior school standards. "We find a lot of people in Warwick are concerned about the education system in general, but particularly about education post-elementary, when children go to middle and senior schools," he says.

"Whether this is perceived or real I don't know, but we will talk to the minister. We probably have the highest rate of individuals attending private school in the world. I don't know whether that's due to our affluence or whether it's down to the perception of people towards our public education system, but we have some work to do.

"We want to get to a point where everyone believes in the education system all the way through, that in Warwick the schools are working for people in the area."

Sport of course, is the other passion in his life, and he is keen to establish after-school training centres for young people. As team manager he helped the Bermuda national side reach the Cricket World Cup 2007, and says: "I think sport develops character and it helps you to go on and do whatever you want to do in life."

Mr. James's son Xavier has exhibited his father's sporting prowess, representing Bermuda in the 100 metres sprint at the last Olympics and other international events.

"I think he did well considering our small island and limited resources. He did very well just to qualify," says his proud father.

"Right now we're beginning to see the funding of sport. There's been a lot of funding into cricket and football and I think in time we will see results and a change in our young people so I support the funding totally."

"Sport could play a bigger part in changing and helping our young males, giving them a sense of belief in themselves, making them feel worthy of being fully fledged citizens.

"I believe that we could set up enough centres in the Island in every sport after school, such as a centre for sailing, football and cricket."

Mr. James also wants to bring out the best in Warwick. The executive committee for constituency 27 has drawn up a 12 month action plan "to try and bring back that community spirit", and residents of all political persuasions are being encouraged to get involved.

Yesterday a group of volunteers bleached the roof of the Lorraine Rest Home and next Sunday women are invited to a car care maintenance workshop at Warwick Bowling Alley. In November a homemakers workshop is planned, teaching people how to cook.

"Those volunteers coming out are showing an interest in the parish and hopefully that interest will carry on," says Mr. James.

His hands-on approach comes from his upbringing, with a father who was not only a mason, but a farmer and fisherman. Mr. James, who has a masters degree in business management, says: "I have beehives - that's one of my hobbies, and I also love to farm, fish, and build."

So why did he first get involved in politics?

"I've always had an interest in what happens on this Island and I have children and grandchildren, so I am concerned. I was always making suggestions, as well as criticisms of the politicians. Then I thought 'why don't I get involved, because I have an interest in the Island'."

He says the reason why he stood down in 2003 was because of other commitments.

"At the time I had some other pressing issues," he says. "I had some other business and loose ends to tie up.

"I view politics as something that requires one's full energy. Now I am fully retired I feel I can join the fold and make a difference. Being an MP is a time consuming job and it's getting even more complex right now with all the issues of drugs, crime and housing. These are all pressing issues and we can't deal with those on a part-time basis because they are not part-time problems."

He says: "I always felt I would come back and continue. I don't think it was a job finished the last time. I still feel there's a lot of work to be done in Warwick and I intend to give it my all."