Axed Health Minister Nelson Bascome has hit out over his frustration about being shut out of Alex Scott's "compromise Cabinet".

Mr. Bascome said he had worked with eleven others to overthrow Premier Jennifer Smith for the good of the country but he was still left out in the cold nearly three years on.

He told The Royal Gazette: "I recognised I made a sacrifice at the last election which was going to create change for not only the Progressive Labour Party but for the country.

"It was my hope in making that stand that the change for the country would have vaulted us into the desired political atmosphere persons could thrive in.

"Whilst I believe being in Cabinet is the ultimate sacrifice one makes in serving the country I believe the captain of the team and the team itself had to have fortitude.

"He has a team. The public sees it. I get tired of people saying everyday: 'What's wrong with the Premier? How come he hasn't called you back yet?' I get tired of it because people know what I do and what I stand for.

"I look at it lightly. I can't take it seriously because I know it is a compromise cabinet. It is! Jennifer came all of a sudden with this team of misfits," said Mr. Bascome in a reference to the team of loyalists formed by Ms Smith for a matter of hours after she won the 2003 election and just before she was forced to step down by her own party.

"Then the compromise was with the dissidents. Now I would think the leader would say 'I am going to mould my Cabinet'. What is he doing? I think we have to move ahead. I don't think Bermudians are dumb or naive. You can only keep up a charade up for so long.

"Then you have to make some tough decisions. That's what life is. Making those decisions. Especially when you are making them for a country. With all due respect it's the Premier's call."

Mr. Bascome, along with then Environment Minister Dennis Lister, were the fall guys from the coup.

"We went into politics together, we entered Cabinet together, we got booted out together.

"Why me?" reflects Mr. Bascome who went on to to say the PLP had been integral to his life. "I had to do what I had to do. It was a conscious decision I made with certain colleagues," said Mr. Bascome who described Ms Smith's leadership style as very thorough and particular.

"Boy, when it came to details, that was her. To be over-detailed could have been part of the problem," said Mr. Bascome before adding he would not be airing any more dirty laundry over the matter.

Asked if the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal, which happened under his watch, might have led to his political downfall Mr. Bascome admitted he had regrets.

In his first major interview since Terrence Smith was convicted for stealing $1.2 million of taxpayers' money from BHC Mr. Bascome said: "I don't think justice has totally been done."

See interview Page 4