New Tourism Minister David Burch yesterday denied that the Premier's latest Cabinet reshuffle had left him with too much on his plate.

In the wake of Ewart Brown's resignation from Cabinet, Mr. Scott split the former Deputy Leader's key portfolio ? handing the Works and Engineering Minister the Tourism job, while putting Walter Lister in charge of Transport.

Asked if he thought his sprawling, cross-departmental workload was now too large, Sen. Burch told reporters: "Maybe for some. But I do not think it is for me.

"I thrive on hard work. I would not agree to do something if I didn't feel confident I could carry out the responsibilities."

Outspoken Sen. Burch already has the task of tackling the Island's affordable housing crisis and overseeing large building projects. Now he has the huge tourism portfolio ? and yesterday accepted that his increased workload would be heavy. He added: "Clearly I have a lot of responsibilities already. But I suspect the Premier has taken the view that if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it."

He said he was "looking forward to keeping tourism going".

He added: "It's on a very positive footing and no one can do anything but commend Dr. Brown for his efforts in that regard."

Mr. Scott announced the latest Cabinet shuffle ? his second major shake-up in little over a month ? some four hours after Dr. Brown confirmed mounting speculation and signalled his intention to challenge for the leadership.

He accepted the timing was not ideal, but said that Dr. Brown's departure gave him the chance to see through a long-term ambition of giving Ministers "broader responsibility" in a smaller Cabinet. He said that he would keep the slimmer set-up under review.

Critics, however, said that now that the starting gun had fired on the leadership race, the Premier had simply run out of candidates in his party willing to join his Cabinet. One source said that Mr. Scott was not talking about a streamlined Cabinet when he created the role of Minister of National Drug Control last year.

But Mr. Scott yesterday told reporters: "I believe that when an organisation is prepared, then change is not a challenge. The members of Cabinet are equipped to serve at a moment's notice.

"Therefore, I can assure you that we will move the country forward."

He said he believed the second resignation in recent weeks, following hot on the heels of Terry Lister stepping down from the education hot-seat, would not impact on Government's ability to perform.

Mr. Scott said he had already received positive feedback since September's top-level changes and added: "If I call it right, Government becomes stronger.

"Let's give these gentlemen a chance. Give them a honeymoon period and I think Bermuda will be well served and better served."

Speaking after the 4.30 p.m. press conference, Sen. Burch said he found out his workload had risen dramatically at about 1.30 p.m. yesterday.

Referring to Dr. Brown's departure, he said that Government had been "thrown a curveball".

Asked about his reaction, he said: "I belong to a political party and have agreed to serve. When asked to take on extra responsibility, I assess if it's in my ability and I say 'yes' or 'no'. In this case we have been thrown a curveball and have caught it and I said yes to the Premier."

Dame Jennifer Smith's former right-hand man said he was not surprised by Dr. Brown's move.

"This is a political party. If people do not aspire to leadership they need to get out of politics. Clearly, he has decided it's his time."

Sen. Burch denied that party feuding had left Government unable to operate efficiently. "We are operating and in the space of four hours have new Ministers in place."

He said he was not aware what was in the top of his in-tray at Tourism and had yet to visit the department, but confirmed he had spoken to the Permanent Secretary Marc Telemaque, who is currently overseas on departmental business.

"The key now is to find out where tourism is at right now, what's on the agenda and pick up that ball and run with it."

And the former Regiment high-flyer added: "I'm a soldier. I'm used to getting change in orders. This is just a different set of orders."

He later joked that a bed should be put in his office, but stated: "I expect to get some sleep. It's about management."

Asked how he was going to get more tourists to come to the Island, he said that he had lived in Bermuda for 50 years and "knew what tourists like.

"I will take advice and I have ideas of my own. But it's going in the right direction and will not do anything to jeopardise its success."

The Minister ? who has rarely been out of the headlines since taking over at Housing, hitting out at the likes of the Governor and the Auditor General in outspoken attacks and getting investigated by the Human Rights Commission over controversial radio comments ? continued: "If it works out that I'm failing, although that's not an option for me, I will be the first to say to the Premier, I have done too much and he can give it to someone else.

"But I'm confident I can manage the two."

Mr. Lister, who was the floating Minister without Portfolio before yesterday's shake-up, had the Transport role when the PLP were in Opposition.

The 64-year-old said: "This will be an opportunity for me to serve with the Government full-time."

A PLP source last night said that a recent civil service review had recommended a smaller Cabinet. "I think it makes sense to show the public what Government might be in future. This is perhaps not the ideal conditions we would want to do it in."

He said that there could be another change in November after the PLP conference, if Alex Scott remains as Premier, but said the leader had to act fast yesterday in the wake of Dr. Brown's departure.