Gazette today turns the spotlight on United Bermuda Party Whip and caucus chairman Mr. John Barritt, one of the MPs for Devonshire South.

*** With a father who was a former Speaker of the House and his uncle a former senator and Community Affairs Minister, it was almost inevitable that lawyer Mr. John Barritt would enter politics.

But the newly-appointed United Bermuda Party Whip, who turns 43 on November 5 -- the day Parliament reconvenes, did not become actively involved until he was in his late thirties.

Mr. Barritt attended Saltus Grammar, but finished high school in Belleville Ontario at Albert College boarding school.

He later attended Trent University in Peterborough where he earned his degree in history and politics.

He took a year off in 1972 and married his wife Sharon in the Azores. They have a daughter Rachel who is 17 and a son Justin who is 13.

The Appleby, Spurling and Kempe scholar earned his law degree from the University of Calgary in the mid eighties.

He was called to the Bermuda Bar in October, 1986.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, he was a Royal Gazette reporter and later an assistant editor. He then became editor of the Bermuda Sun, and later a ZBM newsman.

Mr. Barritt said he fell into journalism in the 1960s after contributing articles as a summer student.

But after realising that he could go no further in the field in Bermuda and giving in to a burning desire to become more active, he said: "I decided to do something that I'd always thought that I would be good at as well and that I wanted to do, and that was law''.

Shortly after his return to the Island in the mid 1980s he was approached by those who were anxious to have him throw his hat into the political ring.

"I resisted that initially,'' Mr. Barritt recalled, "because I was just re-establishing myself in a second career and I thought it was important that I establish myself in my legal career before I ventured into politics because that is very much another career as well and a big demand on your time if you do the job properly.'' But he said the idea of entering politics was always in the back of his mind.

"Back in the days when I was a reporter with The Royal Gazette , then the Bermuda Sun, then ZBM, I used to enjoy going to the House of Assembly as strange as it sounds.

"I did not like the idea of reporting on them verbatim. But I used to enjoy doing comment columns and watching what I call the theatre of politics being played out. I thought I would like to be a participant too.

"But as a journalist one of the things I tried to maintain was my independence, my objectivity and my integrity. And that would not permit me to get involved politically in any way.'' But during the 1989 election campaign Mr. Barritt actively supported and worked for his uncle Mr. Robert Barritt when he was Pembroke East Central MP and his running mate was Mr. Lawson Mapp.

"I've always liked, admired, and respected my uncle,'' he said. "And it seemed like a very natural thing to do as well. At this time, my father had retired from politics.

"After working behind the scenes for some years I made up my mind that I would give it a crack.'' He decided to run in Devonshire South where he grew up and now lives.

Mr. Barritt beat out businessman Mr. Giorgio Zanol in a close UBP Primary two years ago.

In canvassing months before the Primary and up to the election and after, he said he realised people want to know that their MPs are accessible and in the area visiting and keeping in touch with what is happening and what people are thinking.

"It's difficult at first motivating yourself to do that,'' he said. "But once you get yourself into the habit, it is a very good habit to be in. And that's one that my running mate, Dr. David Saul, and I will continue.'' He added that that was the reason the UBP won the election on the door step.

Concerning his recent appointment as the party's whip and chairman of the caucus, he said: "Prior to the election, I became keen on the procedural and organisational aspects of the party and how we can better organise ourselves as a team to be more effective.

"As a result of which I had indicated to a number of people after the election that I would be interested in serving as the chairman of caucus because in that position I thought I could usefully serve and start to put my money where my mouth is and start to walk the talk''.

He noted that the Premier decided, before he had anyone in mind, that the person who will be in charge of caucus should also be the Whip.

"After he spoke to me and said he would like me to do the dual role, there was a certain appeal and logic to the argument,'' Mr. Barritt said. "I accepted it and said I would be happy to do that because ultimately it is a position where you truly are serving people and ultimately you will only be able to do as much as people are prepared to allow you to do.'' Mr. Barritt is very much aware of what could happen in terms of motions in the delicately-balanced House and he believes that his colleagues will work as a team.

The Appleby, Spurling and Kempe lawyer, who realises that he will have his work cut out for him, said: "I am sensitive to the demands that will be placed on my time and it will be important that I juggle them in the right amount -- as father, husband, lawyer, and politician''.

When he is not fulfilling professional or political duties, Mr. Barritt enjoys golfing with his wife or son, or reading, or swimming.

He also tries to swim every morning and believes in cycling.

"That's good exercise and a good way to get around the constituency,'' he added.

His philosophy is that one should contribute without allowing the process to change him or her "unduly'' or to change him or herself so that they become what they think people want them to be.

With that in mind, Mr. Barritt said: "One goal that I will try to attain is that I don't allow the process to change me.'' PHOTO NEW MP -- Mr. John Barritt.