Love him or loathe him, everyone has an opinion on Ewart Brown, notes former Senator Calvin Smith.

He remembers party polling of the public's perception of key figures before the 1998 election which yielded plenty of don't knows about most MPs.

“But people took a definite attitude about him.”

And Mr. Smith says most liked Dr. Brown, who has maintained a high profile since becoming Transport Minister.

“He's intelligent and doesn't hold grudges. The minute it's over, it's over.”

That might seem a strange thing to say about a man who declared upon returning to the Island in 1992 after a 28-year absence that he had revenge on his mind.

He famously said then: “If you think I've come here just to practise medicine, you couldn't be more incorrect. I have scores to settle, accounts to pull even.”

But for Mr. Smith the remark was justified given Dr. Brown's treatment by the Bermudian medical profession who had victimised him and led him to practise in the States.

“Anyone who went through what Dr. Brown went through would be considered a wimp if they didn't make that statement given what this island put a son of the soil through.”

Since then Dr. Brown, 57, had put aside his disappointments to work for the good of Bermuda, said Mr. Smith.

“We have a right to hold grudges but most of us don't. He got elected despite a very powerful campaign against him.”

He described Dr. Brown as a right-of-centre meritocrat who believes hard work and ability should be rewarded, just as his own ability had been rewarded.

“His competitiveness makes him the ideal person to lead Bermuda.”

He said Bermuda's head start on tourism and then international business could not be taken for granted and that Dr. Brown could drive the nation forward rather than let complacency creep in.

“He would be for anything that works in Bermuda.”

On the minus side, he said, Dr. Brown doesn't suffer fools gladly. “In the political arena you have to deal with people doing silly things and saying silly things.”

In 2000, Dr. Brown made his ambitions known by launching a bid for the deputy leadership of the PLP. He was soundly beaten by incumbent Eugene Cox but declared he would one day seek the top job.

During his four and a half years at Transport Dr. Brown took plaudits for the snazzy fast ferries.

Readily accessible to the media he was keen on holding Press conferences and built up a reputation as an eloquent speaker in the House of Assembly.

But he attracted controversy with his bid to bring in global positioning systems for taxis, a decision which was thrown out by the Senate.

His determination to push the issue is evidence of his leadership qualities, notes Mr. Smith, who says Dr. Brown would bring “vim and vigour”.

Just before the election the Auditor General said Dr. Brown should have declared an interest when selling property to the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

Opponents have sometimes labelled Dr. Brown arrogant, but Mr. Smith says this is often from those who have misconstrued his confidence and intelligence.

He said Dr. Brown was a pragmatist on the issue of Independence and would not push for it until the country was ready.

This opinion was shared by one former Cabinet Minister:

“He's easy to work with, he doesn't have any hang-ups. You don't have to worry about insulting him. He's bright and always says his point of view.”

Dr. Brown would also be capable of working to healing party rifts said the source. “Whether they accept that is another issue.”