Bermuda's new Tourism Minister will likely be Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb or Transport Minister Ewart Brown, say observers.

Both expressed puzzlement at the speculation, which has been circulating on the Internet and in politically minded circles, since the Premier Jennifer Smith would have had little time since David Allen's funeral last Thursday to have made a decision on his replacement.

Ms Smith is faced with the task of choosing someone to replace Mr. Allen at the helm of the Tourism Department just over a year before an election must be called.

Most observers agree that the Premier's options range from the simplest change - having a sitting Minister assume responsibility for Tourism in addition to their own portfolio - to more creative ones. The Premier could, for example do a standard Cabinet shuffle and amalgamate two Ministries, or find a replacement from within Cabinet and bring a backbencher or Senator in to head up the newly vacated Ministry.

Nobody knows anything really, except the Premier.

Backbencher Delaey Robinson only knows that he won't be the next Tourism Minister - or any other Minister for that matter.

Mr. Robinson,who has declined an offer of a Cabinet post in the past, counted himself out as a potential candidate this time around, saying he may not be running in the next election.

"If I were offered I would probably respectfully decline," he said. "I don't think it would be fair for me to go into Cabinet at this stage because it doesn't look as though I'm going to hang around."

He is also fairly certain that the Premier will not be bringing in a backbencher.

When it was suggested to him that the Premier may want to make a gesture towards those backbenchers who have called for her resignation, Mr. Robinson, who is the Premier's running mate and supporter, said that he considered that to be among the most unlikely scenarios.

"There's not such a war going on. Peace has been established," he said. "I don't think that strong a gesture is called for at this time."

He added that the recent "behaviour" of some of the backbenchers would not have put them in the Premier's good graces.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown, who works closely with the Tourism Department, has been touted as one of the favourites to replace Mr. Allen, who died of abdominal cancer just over a week ago. Dr. Brown is widely regarded as a go-getter, and has earned his stripes at the helm of the Transport Ministry which works closely with Tourism. Further, his image is well suited to the role of Bermuda's ambassador that the Tourism Minister is expected to play, say his supporters.

But a number of other Ministers, most recently Alex Scott and Senator David Burch, have held the position in an acting capacity and observers say that they are also being seriously considered by the Premier.

But Mr. Scott, one of the more senior members of Cabinet, is unlikely to be moved from the giant Works and Engineering Ministry and Senator Burch while considered able to get things done, is said not to have the right public image for the job.

Community Affairs Minister Randolph Horton is considered affable and, as a former assistant director of tourism, is familiar with how the department works.

But the smart money is on Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb, whose name first came up on Berbiz, an Internet newsletter.

Ms Webb told The Royal Gazette yesterday that she has no idea where the rumour was coming from.

"I don't know why people are speculating," she said. "To my knowledge nobody has been chosen... I am sure the Premier is looking at all her options and I am probably one of those options."

But Ms Webb was initially hesitant when asked if she would accept the portfolio if it was offered.

"I would think long and hard" given the time and sacrifice involved in heading the Ministry, the single mother said.

Like Dr. Brown, Ms Webb is relatively young and possesses energy and charisma.

Her current portfolio, with a budget of around $7 million, is tiny compared to Tourism which has an allocation of around $37 million.

Adding Tourism would be a major promotion for Ms Webb, but, say her supporters, the change would be an easy one to manage because no other Ministries would be affected and the new Tourism Minister would simply have to carry forward initiatives already put into place by Mr. Allen.

Widely travelled, Ms Webb speaks fluent French and has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Studies and a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs from Schiller University in Paris, France. She has also studied Humanitarian Law, business development and marketing and has a degree in French Language and Civilisation from the Sorbonne.

After some reflection Ms Webb said that her training in marketing and business development would stand her well if she was appointed Tourism Minister. "I am sure I would find it challenging and I'd enjoy it without question," she said.