set-up -- but not yet.

And she signalled changes in personnel on Government Boards as well.

Ms Smith said her Cabinet was a stopgap measure set up under the system inherited from the former UBP Government.

Ms Smith said: "This in no way means that we endorse the way that the Ministries were set up or that we intend to keep them that way.'' And she said: "It was expedient for us to install the Ministries which were set up.'' But Ms Smith added the current set-up was a good way to introduce first-time Ministers to Civil Service staff and their responsibilities before changing things around.

And she added that her Ministers would also have to prepare themselves and their Ministries for next week's Throne Speech.

Ms Smith said: "Our next step will be to see how we can better reorganise our Government and Ministries in the manner which we see will operate more efficiently and in a streamlined way.'' But she added: "I don't envisage that happening in the next few months -- certainly not before the Budget debate -- but that is our goal.'' And she appeared to rule out cutting Civil Service jobs as part of an efficiency drive.

Ms Smith said: "I don't see a PLP Government coming in and cutting jobs. I see us saying we're going to come in and make sure we have more effective and efficient management.

"Effective and efficient management is not synonymous with loss of jobs. They are not one and the same and we should not think that way.'' Ms Smith was speaking minutes after the debut PLP Cabinet meeting ended.

She said: "Change is gradual -- hope is immediate. We intend to, from this moment on, start working on the change which will see hopes realised.'' Ms Smith said it was "customary'' under the Westminster style of Government for members of Government Boards to stand down when a new Government is voted in so "the new Government can consider whether to change that system''.

She added her Ministers would be looking at the various boards which come under their responsibilities and would report back on whether any changes are needed.

Ms Smith said she had not formally contacted the UK's Labour Party Government over the ongoing probes into dodgy financial jurisdictions by the multi-national organisations.

But she said: "We have many friends already in the British Government and we look forward to meeting with them.

"We will be using our contacts both in the US and Britain to get what is best for Bermuda's interests.'' See Page 11 for your guide to Who's Who in the new Cabinet.