Nelson Bascome's axing from the cabinet surprised nobody - probably least of all himself.

While his early years as Health Minister passed without too much incident his handling of the corruption at the Bermuda Housing Corporation stained him. He dismissed the allegations out of hand in the hope they would all go away.

They did not and today the Corporation is the subject of a police investigation. He had the Housing portfolio taken off him but he also failed to deal with complaints that Government MP Arthur Pitcher had exposed his workers to asbestos.

He sought to expand the issue into a the wider issue of asbestos on the Island but that report was never released nor was the public given an explanation why.

Growing problems at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and with rising health insurance costs - especially for the elderly - compounded the problems facing him, as did his admission that he had fathered a child while separated from his wife.

He was a late switcher to the rebel group seeking to oust Jennifer Smith and probably ended up being trusted by neither faction.

Backbench colleague Wayne Perinchief said: “Basically I think he will welcome a rest.”

It is ironic that just as his popularity began to go upward David Burch was kicked out of Cabinet - a likely sacrificial lamb to the anti-Smith lobby.

As Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Burch was the most highly visible of Jennifer Smith's clique as she indulged in an almost presidential form of Government.

In every anecdote about the Premier's haughtiness, “The Colonel” usually featured in a supporting role while MPs and Cabinet ministers outside the circle felt the un-elected Senator had too much power.

Interestingly anti-Smith MP Wayne Perinchief said: “His popularity was starting to go up with the Housing portfolio, people respected that he did a lot of cleaning up of the mess in housing.”

But while Lt. Col. Burch dealt mismanagement in scandal-hit Bermuda Housing Corporation and tackled rent-dodgers there were precious little promised to Bermudians struggling to find affordable homes.

The PLP's manifesto weakly said the BHC was “exploring the feasibility of various forms of non-traditional building methods as well as non-traditional complexes” while the Opposition was floating exciting plans of $2,000 mortgages and promising 100 new homes in two years.

In the Senate Lt. Col. Burch was effective but his bluntness often got the better of him.

His comment “we don't care what you don't think” said to Opposition Senators was a prime example for those who felt the Smith Government was growing ever more remote and stands in marked contrast to Alex Scott's offer to include the Opposition in policy making.

But Mr. Perinchief noted that Lt. Col. Burch's style was typical of any military man.

Mr. Burch, who trained at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, chose loyalty to his leader Jennifer Smith to serving under new Commanding Officer Scott.

Alex Scott said he offered Lt. Col. Burch a job in cabinet but it was turned down.

Dennis Lister, an MP since 1989, started off at the Ministry of Youth and Sport when Jennifer Smith formed her first Cabinet in 1998 and was then promoted to Environment.

But as Alex Scott has chosen to boost Smith supporters in his new Cabinet and marginalise the faction led by Dr. Ewart Brown, Mr. Lister was shown the door.

At 44, Dennis Lister still has time on his side and he made all the right noises when contacted by The Royal Gazette<$>.

He said: “I support the Cabinet Mr. Scott has put in place and am prepared to work with the cabinet in any way possible.”

In the meantime he can devote more time to his insurance agency.