On the evening of Tuesday, December 18, Neletha Butterfield was celebrating with the rest of the Progressive Labour Party as both she and her party soared to resounding victories at the General Election.

Less than 24 hours later, Ms Butterfield was told on the phone by Premier Ewart Brown that her services in Cabinet were no longer required for the first time since 2002.

But Ms Butterfield — who in the past year has repeatedly found herself in the firing line after making some of the toughest decisions an Environment Minister has ever had to make — says she isn't bitter.

Loyal to the core, she plays down her disappointment and shows no disrespect for Dr. Brown, who handed the new Environment and Sports portfolio to his former running mate El James.

Ms Butterfield also bears no grudge against the green campaigners who called for her head as she passed Sustainable Development Orders for controversial building projects during her tenure.

She says they helped her understand the delicate balance between development and protecting Bermuda's open spaces — a tightrope Mr. James will now have to walk as he returns to the political field.

And she seems just as happy to return to her old job teaching young people who have fallen through the cracks as she is saddened to have lost her Ministerial duties.

Little wonder, perhaps, that Ms Butterfield was known simply as Honey before growing accustomed to the formal title of Minister over the past few years.

She found out she was a backbencher once more when Dr. Brown e-mailed her to ask if she would call him on December 19.

"I was surprised," she admitted. "I live by the four 'P's: prayer, preparation, people and purpose. One of the 'P's I neglected was the motto: be prepared. I would say I wasn't prepared for it because I felt I still had some time to offer in that position as Minister.

"One of the things I believe in is the representation of females in the House and at Cabinet level. When I first went to Cabinet there were five women.

"My other issue is continuity. Quite a bit did get done under my direction. I felt that, hey, I want that to continue."

Describing her initial reaction, she said: "Calm. The first thing I needed to do was thank God for letting me serve the Progressive Labour Party and Bermuda.

"There comes a big adjustment. Number one, you're jobless. Number two, you have no transportation. There's been an adjustment. Each day it gets better and better."

Asked if she was upset, she paused for a moment before saying: "No, because it's to be expected. But you don't expect this — so I don't know how you word that.

"You pack up everything on the eve of the election. You say goodbye to your staff because there's no guarantee you would be back. In my case, that's exactly what happened. I didn't go back. You can't get upset, you just have to move on. My branch was upset, my workers were very, very upset, especially with the results that we got. They questioned why.

"We had to explain that every leader has responsibility of leading his or her Cabinet and we now have to respect that.

"My only upset is that I will miss all those employees that I worked closely with. Just look at our Parks people for example. Because of our behaviour, they always have to be picking up after others. If complaints came in, they were there to clear up."

Ms Butterfield is already moving back into her old office at the learning centre she founded in 1983, Children and Adults Reaching for Education (CARE) in Hamilton. Party colleague Ashfield DeVent, who had been working in the office until recently, has cleared his desk to make way.

When The Royal Gazette visited for this interview, she was half way through unpacking her boxes and vowing to tidy the place up — not that Mr. DeVent was blamed for any mess.

Among the many photographs of friends and party colleagues on her wall is one of herself with former Premier Alex Scott, taken at a Throne Speech some years ago.

When Dr. Brown appointed Ms Butterfield to his first Cabinet in November 2006, this newspaper speculated it was an attempt to buy peace with the faction which had supported Mr. Scott during the Premiership fight.

On the suggestion she belongs in Mr. Scott's camp, Ms Butterfield said: "That's not fair. I'm here to serve.

"I just am available to serve and will always be willing to serve in that capacity. I would have hoped I could have served another term.

"I don't think there's any reason. When leaders come in, they pick who they feel will best carry the mandate."

Shortly after the Cabinet announcement, this newspaper received an e-mail about a rumour — which turned out to be unfounded — suggesting Ms Butterfield had been part of a group plotting to oust Dr. Brown if election results were unfavourable.

At the time, she rang the newsroom to dismiss the allegation and point out such a move would have been totally against her character.

"I can say I have never met with anyone to plot anything," she said.

"One thing I have learned in my life is that I have to respect those in authority and they all come with a different leadership style. Dame Jennifer had hers, Premier Scott had his and Dr. Brown has his leadership style and you just have to respect those in authority.

"Any member of the public: my phone number is in the book and they can give me a call if they have any doubt, and I will say yes or no."

One of Ms Butterfield's most controversial decisions last summer was to approve an SDO for the 500-bed multi-storey resort at Southlands, a scheme which provoked a protest petition of more than 3,000 signatures.

Protesters urged her to resign — just as some did when she when she delisted the Grade One "Queen of the East".

"I think criticism is good," reflected Ms Butterfield. "It helps you to understand how people are feeling about the environment. There has to be collective responsibility. Discussions have to be made and I gladly accept criticism. It's very helpful."

Asked if the SDOs would be how she was remembered as a Minister, she said: "When I was canvassing, you meet hundreds of people. There was one person who said: 'I know you — you are the one who issues all those SDOs.'

"I said: 'You know about me and the SDOs, but you didn't say something about the other things you know about the environment.

"SDOs will continue to be given for national importance, especially for housing and tourism. I worked for the interest for all Bermudians but you can't please all the people all the time."

Other than the breaking of continuity her removal brings, the only dissenting voice Ms Butterfield is keen to raise regards the lack of females in the new-look Cabinet. In 2002, she was one of five women; now Deputy Premier Paula Cox and new Attorney General Kim Wilson are the only two female Ministers.

As a recipient of a string of top women's awards from various international bodies over the years, female representation is clearly an issue close to Ms Butterfield's heart.

Her office is scattered with ornamental elephants, a symbol of matriarchy, while she has a collection of more than 100 at home. Many are gifts from Progressive Labour Party colleagues including Dame Jennifer Smith, Ms Cox and Renee Webb.

"Elephants live in close family units. I always say you should take a lesson from an animal," she explained.

Ms Butterfield was elected in Pembroke West Central in 1998 and became Minister without portfolio under Dame Jennifer Smith in 2002. Since 2003, she has had responsibility for the environment apart from a brief spell as Education Minister at the end of Mr. Scott's Premiership in 2006.

Now she's simply looking forward to serving her constituents, getting back to helping people at CARE and being called Honey again.