It may well be a clich? that behind every successful man is a successful woman but that's not what Olga Scott believes.

For the wife of Bermuda's new Premier prefers to see herself as standing husband Alex in an equal partnership.

That's not to say that the independent career woman and mother of two has not been supportive of her spouse's political ambitions. She has always been there for him throughout Mr. Scott's steady climb to the highest political office in the land.

"Undoubtedly, when you have new experiences it brings changes in one's life. I'm a very supportive wife and I've always been that way," Mrs. Scott said from the family's Paget home.

"Every day there is some political influence that one makes, it's part of the democratic system and whatever my husband is called upon to do I will be there for him," she said with confidence about the new Premier.

But as well as being a rock for her busy husband, Mrs. Scott has also forged a successful career for herself in the civil service and brought up two children

Currently the director of the Government Financial Assistance programme, Mrs. Scott helps provide financial assistance for people, particularly the unemployed, who are struggling to pay for life's basic essentials such as rent.

Despite being thrust in the spotlight, Mrs. Scott intends to continue her career.

"I'm an independent woman and I want to maintain my business. Once I'm no longer working I will be able to fully immerse myself into the political life, but right now I'm focusing on my work as well.

The couple have been married for 31 years and Mrs. Scott says she was confronted with change almost as soon as the two wed.

"I married someone who was an artist and a small business man and some where along the line the political person came out - I don't really know where it all came from," she said.

“But since 1972 he has been in politics and served in various capacities such as his appointment as opposition leader in the Senate, among many other political positions. At one point he was even balancing his career and politics, so he has always been able to handle many things well.”

When questioned about controversy or bad press that her husband has been involved in, Mrs. Scott shows that she's learned to roll with the punches that her husband has, on occasion, had to take in the political ring.

“He tells me that you win some and you lose some and he doesn't take things personally. He says that can be the cut and thrust of politics.”

Reflecting on the fact that, on an Island where one is bound to have a relative or friend in politics - possibly even on the other side of the political fence - Mrs. Scott said: “Bermuda is such a small place, any hostility is generally phoney. His family has been in politics for years and he has family members sitting on the opposite side in the House of Assembly like Louise Jackson. The two of them are related by marriage.

“The only time I would get concerned is if anyone ever criticised him as a father or a husband or a son.”

Perhaps the reason why the couple's union is so strong is that they both share that ability to juggle several roles at once. For while Mr Scott might be perceived by the public as an ambitious, hard-working and successful careerist, both in the political arena and in business, he too has another side.

“He's very much a family person,” Mrs. Scott confided.

The Scott's have two children, Robyn Eve and William Lawrence and Mrs. Scott said her husband is very “family focused”.

“He also routinely takes his auntie the newspaper every day. If he doesn't get it to her in the morning he goes up to give it to her during the day. Similarly, he took care of his mother when she fell ill but she passed three months ago and that's one thing we regret - that she didn't get to see him receive this position.”

“We used to play tennis together until he pulled his back out but now we go on walks together. He makes his great gourmet coffee and I love to garden. We're an easy-going family with close friends and family who are dear to us,” she said.

The Premier has had more serious and more widely publicised health concerns recently. In May he underwent surgery for an enlarged prostate, prompting some sceptics to question whether he was up to the top job His wife is eager to calm those fears.

“In our 31 years I've been the one who has been sick. He's been the healthy one up until now. This is not a debilitating illness but I am gratified by the outpouring of peoples' support,” she said brushing off any suggestion that her husband's health could become a larger issue.

“He's a very disciplined person when it comes to his health. He knows how much water he should be drinking every day.

“He's also disciplined about his work but it's a learning curve for this new post but he's not new to politics and he's very committed to what he does. He has a lot of family support as well.”

Citing their faith as the glue that has kept their family grounded, Mrs. Scott said: “Cobbs Hill Methodist Church is our home church, that's where our children were christened and where we go and get recharged, that is important to us. We're church going people and that counts for a lot and for me that's very important and it provides us with an anchor.”