committees.

Longtime members would be replaced with more blacks, women, and young people as Government sought greater representation from "the new Bermuda,'' sources told The Royal Gazette this week.

It was also felt there was "dead-weight'' on some of the boards, sources said.

"Some people have been there for ten years or so,'' one Cabinet Minister said. Certain veterans would be kept because experience was needed, but "what you're looking for is people who can come in with fresh ideas.'' Appointments to the committees were almost finalised as of yesterday. The nearly 700 names were to be listed in the Official Government Gazette on December 31.

"I think we probably will see quite a dramatic difference this time around, as opposed to in previous years,'' another Cabinet Minister said.

Like other sources, he cautioned that while there would be more turnover than usual on the boards, the changes would not be wholesale.

"The extent to which we don't see a dramatic change is only going to be because of the shortness of time,'' the Minister said. "Most of our boards will reflect the new Bermuda.'' Asked what "the new Bermuda'' meant, the Minister said: "Reflecting the fact that we're not all middle-aged white males. Women play an extremely important part. So do black people.'' Nor would young white males, or anyone else be unrepresented, he said. "We have to strike the right balance. It's not about discrimination on any level.'' Most of the boards did their work far away from the public limelight and that would continue, sources said.

But the impact of the changes were still described as significant.

The boards, which were mainly advisory in nature, were "part of the evolved thinking and policy-making of the Government'', one source said.

"Advising a Ministry on practices and policies can have a substantial impact on the thinking of the Ministry.'' Better-known boards include the Board of Governors of Bermuda College, the Broadcasting Commissioners, the Development Applications Board, the Human Rights Commission, the Immigration Board, the Road Safety Council, and the Women's Advisory Council.

The more obscure ones include the Archives Advisory Council, the Cycles and Private Cars Advisory Committee, the General Improvement Area Tribunal, and the Stamp Design Advisory Committee.

But changes to the boards -- particularly when members have not been informed that they are being dropped -- have proved controversial in the past.

Not all members are drawn from the public at large. Many committees have ex officio members, or members representing specific industries.

A new body this year would be the National Drugs Commission. It was expected to form many subcommittees later in the year.