Alex Scott has set his stamp on his new Cabinet. It is, as he promised, a mixture of old and new and youth and experience.

For those keeping score between the loyalists and the rebels in the Progressive Labour Party camp, the loyalists have won out, at least for now.

Out go rebels Nelson Bascome, the Health Minister, and Dennis Lister, the Environment Minister, along with former Premier Jennifer Smith and Housing Minister David Burch, both of whom were offered posts but turned them down.

In comes one rebel, Dale Butler, and three loyalists: Patrice Parris in Mr. Bascome's Ministry, Ashfield DeVent as Minister without Portfolio and Michael Scott, who will be back in the Senate as Legislative Affairs Minister.

Mr. Bascome's departure does not come as a complete surprise. Ms Smith stood by him in the face of the Housing Corporation scandal and other problems in his big Ministry when many other leaders would have dropped him like a hot potato.

Her reward was his departure to the side of the rebels. Mr. Scott's decision is not an entirely a surprise as he no doubt would like to know where his Ministers stand.

Mr. Lister's departure is more surprising. As Minister of Youth and Sport and as Minister of the Environment he was not as high profile as some of his colleagues, but he did little wrong either, and his departure may well anger some of the rebels.

Mr. Butler's arrival is long overdue, and unlike Mr. Bascome, he has always been quite straightforward about where his loyalties lie.

He should make a good Minister of Community, Youth and Sport and if he performs well there, it is likely that he will be promoted to the Education Ministry, which he has long coveted, when incumbent Paula Cox, who also becomes Attorney General, finds those dual roles too much even for her extraordinary work rate.

Ms Parris, Mr. DeVent and Sen. Scott are to a great extent unknown quantities. Mr. DeVent has only been in organised politics for the last couple of years, Ms Parris has one term in the Senate as has Sen. Scott. These are clearly rewards for loyalty to the PLP establishment. How they will perform in their roles remains to be seen.

Aside from Mr. Lister and Mr. Bascome, there will be other rebels who will feel slighted by the appointments, most notably Wayne Perinchief and Mr. Scott will now face an experienced back bench who may well give him trouble in the future.

Nor have senior rebels fared particularly well. Dr. Ewart Brown remains in Transport, but it is no secret that he wanted Renee Webb's tourism portfolio.

Terry Lister moves from Home Affairs, one of the most senior jobs in Cabinet, to Works and Housing, the most problematic. When the British politician Stephen Byers was made Transport Secretary by Prime Minister Tony Blair, he said two words came to mind: "Poison" and "chalice".

Mr. Lister must feel much the same way as he inherits the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal and the delayed Berkeley Institute project.

He is certainly capable of making a success of these two roles, and continuing the good work that Lt. Col. Burch began in Housing. But both may also hold political landmines that could blow up at any time, so Mr. Lister will have to take care.

The other major question facing this Cabinet lies in the personal health of Mr. Scott and Finance Minister Eugene Cox. Both have been unwell and it is anyone's guess how long they will wish to, or be able to, continue.

If either should step aside, it could open the still fresh wounds of the split all over again.