Premier Ewart Brown could be about to change his Chief of Staff with incumbent Wayne Caines, a lawyer, said to be keen to return to the private sector.

And former United Bermuda Party MP Jamahl Simmons, who defected to the Progressive Labour Party shortly before the election, is tipped to take up the $102,000-a-year post.

Sen. Caines would not comment yesterday while Mr. Simmons said: "I cannot speak on this right now.

"I can say Wayne Caines is the Chief of Staff and until there is a formal announcement I am not at liberty to discuss anything or speculate."

Although the legislation allowing the post was passed in 1983, the first Chief of Staff was Lt. Col. David Burch who helped arrange Jennifer Smith's travel and accompanied her to functions in the early years of her Premiership.

There was no Chief of Staff in Alex Scott's three years in charge but the post was revived when Dr. Brown became Premier in late 2006 with Sen. Caines getting the job.

Despite the title, the Chief of Staff does not have power to order civil servants around but is a behind-the-scenes organiser for the Premier.

Matters covered in the job include security, IT, human resources and communications.

The Premier's press spokesman Glenn Jones refused to comment on the matter other than to say: "Wayne Caines remains the Chief of Staff to the Premier.

"Beyond that it would be improper for me, or the Premier, to talk publicly about any employee's professional future."

One PLP activist with years of service in the party voiced her outrage last night at the proposed selection of Mr. Simmons — who also did a stint in the National Liberal Party after starting in the PLP and then going full circle.

She said: "I am absolutely speechless. You have people who have committed a lot of time and energy to this party.

"They didn't go from this party, to another party, on to another party and then back to this, to get an appointed position."

The source said the position should have been rewarded on party loyalty and experience, both of which she claimed Mr. Simmons clearly lacked.

"There are a lot of people jumping on the bandwagon now things are looking good and reaping the rewards — Zane DeSilva is another."

Elected for the United Bermuda Party in a 2002 by-election, after being a member of both the Progressive Labour Party and the National Liberal Party, Mr. Simmons rose in prominence and was a vocal spokesman on the issue of economic empowerment.

But he fell out with the UBP party hierarchy after claiming racists in his Pembroke West branch were out to oust him.

He quit to become an Independent before completing his political journey by rejoining the PLP in a crowd-pleasing spectacle at a summer rally.

Since then he has made it clear he was there to help the PLP if asked.