Junior Justice Minister Michael Scott was yesterday unveiled as Bermuda’s new Minister of Health.

Mr. Scott, a former Minister of Telecommunications and E-Commerce, replaces Nelson Bascome, who stepped down from the position during a Police investigation which led to his arrest last week.

Governor Sir John Vereker swore Sandys North MP Mr. Scott into the role yesterday morning, before Premier Ewart Brown announced the move in a press conference at Cabinet.

Since Mr. Bascome’s resignation in February, Senator Philip Perinchief has been holding the health portfolio in addition to his duties as Attorney General. Addressing the press conference, Mr. Scott said he was “proud to be a member of a team led by Ewart Brown”.

He said early priorities in his tenure would be to oversee the installing of urgent care units at each end of the Island and signing a contract enabling Kurron Shares to begin as management consultants to Bermuda Hospitals Board for the next five years. Supervising the closure of the Medical Clinic and the transfer of its patients to the private healthcare sector will be another key task, he added.

“I stand ready to reflect the kinds of energy I know the Premier will require of me,” he said. “Many of us know many of the challenges we face in the healthcare system.”

Mr. Bascome stepped down from Cabinet in February when a file was passed by Police to the Department of Public Prosecutions. He was charged with theft and corruption following his arrest Thursday.

The Royal Gazette understands the charges relate to his business dealings. On the subject of Mr. Bascome, Dr. Brown told the press conference: “Officially, Mr. Bascome has resigned from Cabinet. We look forward to the early resolution of his issues and we support him as a member of our Government.”

Mr. Scott, a lawyer who has been involved with the Progressive Labour Party for 14 years, served first as Legislative Affairs Minister and then as Telecommunications and E-Commerce Minister under former Premier Alex Scott. Regarded as a Jennifer Smith acolyte, he lost his Cabinet position when Dr. Brown replaced Mr. Scott last October and the Telecommunications role was absorbed by the Environment Ministry. He was kept on as Junior Minister of Justice.

Flanked by other Cabinet members including Deputy Premier Paula Cox and Mr. Perinchief at yesterday’s conference, Dr. Brown said: “Mr. Scott is an exceptional lawyer and generous public servant to the people of Bermuda.”

The Premier said Mr. Scott had learned much from legendary former PLP leaders Dame Lois Browne Evans, who died last month, and the late Frederick Wade. Dr. Brown also paid thanks to Mr. Perinchief for serving as Acting Health Minister for the past few months.

According to the PLP’s website, Mr. Scott’s legal skills have made him one of the party’s key advisers. He founded his own Somerset legal practice, Scott and Associates, and was previously associated with Browne and Wade Chambers, the law firm of Dame Lois and Freddie Wade.