On the eve of her historic 1998 General Election victory former Premier Jennifer Smith once described her protege, then Patrice Parris, as her "secret weapon".

Today, Patrice Minors heads up the largest Government Ministry, while her mentor embraces the challenges of being a backbencher, and more than likely Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.

"I considered my interests and it was a natural fit," Patrice Minors said when asked in a recent interview why she accepted the position of Health Minister when new Premier Alex Scott called.

"Everyone knows this is the largest Ministry in Government. But what I enjoy most is it's very much people related with regard to dealing with social issues and health," she said.

"I was quite chuffed when I got the call from the Premier. My response was 'can I get back to you?' He said 'not really' so I took a deep breath and here I am."

Despite focusing on business at university and building a respectable business career, Mrs. Minors has always had an interest in social issues and relishes the challenge of grappling with a myriad of subjects that come under the Department's responsibilities.

In 1998, she was mulling going back to school for a Master's degree in Social Sciences but got distracted by the lure of politics and she joined the Progressive Labour Party's (PLP) campaign committee.

That was her first real involvement in Bermuda's political life. She then offered herself as a candidate for the old Smiths North constituency, lost and was appointed a Government Senator with responsibility for Finance, and Community, Cultural Affairs and Sport.

But she handily won the contest to represent the newly configured Smiths North - despite going off on a two week honeymoon in the middle of the election campaign.

And today, as Minister of Health and Social Services, she controls over $130 million of public funds, representing some 22 percent of Government's total budget. She is "keenly" interested on the protection of children and the welfare and care of Bermuda's seniors.

"But it's so diverse a Ministry that even though I'm interested in children, I can't let that be my total focus."

Having familiarised herself with the services her Ministry provides, she said she became particularly concerned about the treatment of women who are addicted to drugs.

"I have some thoughts and ideas about the NDC (National Drug Commission) and I regularly meet with the chairman," she said.

"I'm comfortable with it (but) I do have some concern about the extent of treatment of women in the area of substance abuse... (It's) just ensuring the level of interest - that they are getting the proper degree of interest with regard to their treatment. It is receiving that focus by the NDC. It's just an area that needs improving."

But she was quick to add that there were areas throughout her Ministry which needed some improvement.

What had surprised her the most as she received her orientation, she said, was the amount of very young children in foster care.

"I went to meet with the social workers at Child and Family Services and as I sat there I saw one toddler propped up on one leg and another propped up on another leg. I was sad to hear that both were in foster care."

The observation opened her eyes to Bermuda's "significant" need for foster parents. "You want to ensure that the children are getting appropriate levels of care and their surroundings are appropriate," she continued.

"Some tough decisions have to be made sometimes but if it's in the best interest of the child such decisions have to be made until parents can resolve their issues."

And she has no problem with being considered a Jennifer Smith "loyalist". The important thing, she says, is that she wants to play a part in improving the lot of the average Bermudian.

"There was a group of us that appeared at a press conference and the fact that I may have been considered as one of the loyalists does not take away my desire to contribute to the political process and improving Bermudian life."

She said she was "oblivious" to the political shenanigans that went on immediately after her party won the July poll.

"I went out to greet the masses on Court Street and went home to get a good night's sleep,"the Minister said. "I, like many, learned of it the next day."

She added that the fact that Bermuda was now witnessing the second Progressive Labour Party (PLP) Government "speaks volumes" about the leadership of the first.

And asked what lessons she learned from emerging unscathed, she said: "The lesson I take away is that I was available to God's will and if this is how he has laid out my path, that is what I would walk in . I don't know what's in store but at this time I will do what is required to do at this season."

But while her faith is clearly central to her life's purpose, she said she does not consider herself religious.

"I'm just trying to do the job that I'm called upon to do. I would just say that I am a believer trying to do the will of God. I don't call myself religious because of the connotations attached to being religious - one that is more drawn to the doctrinal or ritualistics of Christianity and not the personal relationship."

Educated at Berkeley Institute and Howard University in Washington, where she earned a degree in Business Administration, Mrs. Minors worked for 11 years at Bank of Bermuda, becoming Trust Manager and Assistant Vice-President, and then in a managerial position at the Swiss-owned company Lombard Odier International Trust Company (Bermuda) Limited.

She is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and the Institute of Directors, and has been a deputy chairman of the Bermuda College Board of Trustees.

An avid Scrabble player, she is a member of Bermuda Scrabble Club, and of Pride Youth to Youth and the All Bermuda Tennis Club.

She quit her job as Executive Director of Big Brothers and Big Sisters, when she agreed to become Minister of Health.

A good politician, she said, is someone "who is in it for the right reasons".

"I'm in it to have some influence on improving people's lives."