New Minister Walter Roban hasn't exactly tiptoed quietly into Premier Ewart Brown's Cabinet.

As a wave of big hitters have departed Dr. Brown's team amid a storm of anger over his leadership style, Mr. Roban has been the backbencher going against the flow and graduating to the front bench.

While seasoned politicians like Terry Lister and Elvin James have publicly called for the Premier's head, relative newcomer Mr. Roban has been one of the few Progressive Labour Party MPs to openly state his support for the leader — and he's done it in a way that's caught everyone's attention.

He's infuriated sections of the community by dismissing anti-Dr. Brown demonstrators as "rabid dogs anxious for their pound of flesh" and e-mailing complaining white resident Claire Smith to denounce her as a bigot.

Some have even suggested his promotion was a reward for his essay on the PLP website which called for solidity behind the Premier and likened his detractors to white supremacist English group the British National Party.

It's certainly not been a gentle introduction from a new MP taking on the huge task of temporarily replacing the late Nelson Bascome as Health Minister. "The last few weeks have been somewhat overwhelming, he tells The Royal Gazette, "but at the same time it's perhaps further solidified my resolve."

Along with Government Ministers Glenn Blakeney and Derrick Burgess and backbencher Zane DeSilva, Mr. Roban has been characterised as a member of a 'Dr. Brown camp' increasingly outnumbered by the Premier's critical colleagues.

Mr. Roban argues that's a generalisation which doesn't tell the full story behind his support for the man in charge.

He says he backs Dr. Brown because he's the constitutionally elected leader of the PLP, just as he supported his predecessors Alex Scott, Dame Jennifer Smith and Frederick Wade.

"That's the commitment I have made when I became a member," he says.

"I think it's been more of a media reshaping that has turned me into this for whatever reason. I support Dr. Brown for those reasons. The next leader, I will support the same."

But by keeping his Cabinet in the dark about the Uighurs move and trying to sneak the cruise ship gaming bill through behind the backs of its backbench opponents, Dr. Brown has certainly angered enough of his colleagues. So why is Mr. Roban not annoyed?

"Up to now, there's nothing that the leader has done which has been in violation of the PLP constitution, or that anyone has presented any reason for me to reconsider his leadership of the party," he argues.

"This has been the essence of the last couple of months. No one has presented me with a sound case as to why I should reconsider supporting his leadership."

His "rabid dogs" essay is still online. Reading it, it's clear he took the protests as an affront against his party.

And as a PLP loyalist to the core — an active member since joining the youth wing in the 1980s and hardly ever spotted without a green tie — he reacted with rage.

Many have called for Mr. Roban to apologise for his correspondence with Ms Smith.

Dr. Brown has said he doesn't think Mr. Roban should say sorry, and refused to admonish him because his comments came before he was appointed Minister. Mr. Roban declines to comment, possibly keen to let bygones be bygones.

He's more comfortable reflecting on the rebels situation and how the PLP can now recover.

"They are entitled to their opinions but their position should be backed up with justifiable reasons that can be embraced by others," he says.

"One person doesn't make a choir. You know, just because one person says it, doesn't make it so. You would need to have a substantial amount of people saying it and verifying it to make it so.

"We have dealt with it appropriately. The PLP comes together and talks to whatever issues come about, internally.

"We have seen what happened. That's been a result of the actions of those gentlemen.

"That doesn't change the direction of the PLP. The party is made up of members and a number of internal organs. As a party, we came together and decided in our own way how to go forward.

"What's happened has happened with those gentlemen. As a result of what they chose to do, the party will have to deal with what comes next. The choices those gentlemen made were the choices they made.

"I'm not going to go back over and try and review whether they were wrong or not. Even those gentlemen — they are PLP; they are the family. I'm not going to spend any time publicly beating up my brother or my sister. They are part of me; I'm part of them; we are all PLP.

"That's why our members are close to us, even when things perhaps get a little strange. I think Nelson's passing has calmed emotions, and brought some reflection for everybody irrespective of your opinion."

In the meantime he'll be getting on with his new day job in the Health Ministry

This summer there's contractors to deal with for the hospital rebuild; continued phasing in of FutureCare; and legislation to be drafted to cover a range of professionals in the health industry. Not to mention the delicate matter of introducing regulations to cover stem cell treatment.

Praising Health Permanent Secretary Warren Jones for helping make the transition as smooth as possible, he seems eager to get on with the job, whether or not he ends up doing it permanently.

"My priority right now is to ensure the message goes out that the Government's health priorities continue; that the unfortunate death of Nelson Bascome doesn't change anything," he says.

"I perhaps bring a clear understanding of the PLP's objectives to the table.

"I have 20 years of involvement with me. I also bring a willingness to learn what this Ministry does."