Bermuda's Cabinet system could be in for a massive shake-up after a far-reaching review of the Civil Service, it was revealed yesterday.

Tourism Minister David Allen told a meeting of the Bermuda Society in London that the review, carried out by UK experts, had also looked at the political side of Government, including both Cabinet and Parliament.

He said: "The recent far-reaching review of the Bermuda Civil Service commissioned by the Bermuda Government has also addressed the question of the size of our Parliament and Cabinet, with a view to how, through such constitutional changes, we may better serve the people of Bermuda as we stand at the threshold of the new Millennium.'' Mr. Allen's speech is the first confirmation that Government could be looking at changes to the political set-up of Cabinet, as well as Parliament.

Bermuda's Constitution provides for 20 twin-seat constituencies in Bermuda, based on parish boundaries.

The Progressive Labour Party Government has already signalled it wants single seats, with the boundaries redrawn across parish lines to create constituencies of more equal size. And cuts in the size of Parliament -- perhaps to just 20 to 25 MPs -- would probably mean Cabinet would have to get smaller as well, most likely by combining Ministries.

Mr. Allen told guests at the House of Commons dinner that Britain's bid to improve relations with its overseas territories was a golden opportunity for a revamp of the Constitution.

He said: "These objectives do, of course, come against the backdrop of the re-evaluation and updating of the relationship between Her Majesty's Government and Britain's Overseas Territories, a process in which our Premier has been much involved, more recently by participating in a meeting of the newly-established Consultative Councils of the Overseas Territories.

"There is a historic window of opportunity to advance the democratic agenda in Bermuda. We in Government firmly believe this must include single-seat parliamentary constituencies of equal size, so that we have a system of one person, one vote, each vote of equal value, as called for in our 1998 General Election platform, which won us nearly two-thirds of the seats in the House of Assembly.'' Mr. Allen discussed his own Tourism portfolio, listing several upcoming investments in the Island, including the eco-tourism centre at Somerset's Daniel's Head and the $168 million redevelopment of the Marriott Castle Harbour site.

But he asked for help from the UK -- which negotiates airline agreements on behalf of Bermuda -- to ensure more flights, especially from the UK and Europe.

Mr. Allen said: "We are actually turning away business from the UK and the Continent, both individual leisure visitors and convention and meeting group business.

"While we're pleased with improvements British Airways has made, especially with the larger Boeing 777 craft, four flights a week in summer, three in winter, this still does not meet potential demand.

Government looking at Cabinet system shake-up "The assistance and co-operation of Her Majesty's Government, through the Ministries of Transport and Aviation and the Civil Aviation Authority, in ensuring that applications for new and additional air services to Bermuda are received sympathetically is essential to the recovery of Bermuda's tourism industry.'' Mr. Allen added that Bermuda had never been a financial burden to the British government.

But he said: "In order to keep our economy on an even keel, and to keep our hotel workers and others in the tourism industry employed -- and there has been diminution in this area -- we must have the tools to keep our life blood flowing.'' HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA