Independence will be on the agenda for discussion, if his Cabinet colleagues want it, Premier Alex Scott promised yesterday.

But he said government may want to start a public education programme on the idea.

And government should be making a comprehensive vision statement soon, which could include changes, additions or enhancements to the election manifesto, he said..

Mr. Scott's Cabinet is, as promised, a combination of youth and experience. The 11 Cabinet Ministers were sworn in at Government House on Wednesday

“The talent pool that I had to pull from was deep,” said the Premier in brief remarks after the formalities.

“And in actual fact I wish to declare here that I was humbled by the way in which the Ministers before you put self last and government and country first.”

He reiterated previous comments that the Government team will be committed to the country.

“Our team is not going to about me, it's going to be about us. We're not going to be about our ambition, we're going to be about the country's interests.”

He said the entire team was united because everyone had put the political infighting of last weekend behind them.

Deputy Premier Ewart Brown echoed Mr. Scott's remarks and said: “We will not be susceptible to the efforts that some might make - some who don't quite understand what we are trying to do and may try to divide us. But I should tell you now that you should direct your energy elsewhere because we are a team and we will work as a team.”

He then thanked the Premier for the opportunity to “look at the various airports around the world”.

Dr. Brown was appointed Transport Minister, the same portfolio he held before the election.

New MP Patrice Parris has landed the Health and Family Services portfolio while Ashfield DeVent joins the Cabinet as a Minister without Portfolio.

Paula Cox, the former Minister of Education retains that portfolio but also takes on the role of Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

And lawyer Michael Scott, who was sworn in as a senator will take on the Ministry of Legislative Affairs to take much of the Attorney General's administrative burden off her shoulders.

Mr. Scott lost his bid for elective office and the Constitution requires at least one Cabinet Member to be a Senator.

Renee Webb, Ewart Brown and Eugene Cox retain their respective responsibilities for Tourism, Telecommunications and E-Commerce, Transport and Finance.

But Neletha Butterfield gets a promotion as the new Environment Minister. Previous she was a Minister without portfolio.

Housing will be Terry Lister's responsibility as Minister of Works and Engineering and Housing, while Randolph Horton, the former Community Affairs and Sport Minister has been appointed Minister of Labour and Home Affairs.

Dale Butler, who has never held a Cabinet post, takes over as Community Affairs and Sport Minister.

No longer in the Cabinet are former Health Minister Nelson Bascome, David Burch who had last served as Housing Minister, former Environment Minister Dennis Lister and former Premier Jennifer Smith.

Ms Smith and David Burch had been offered Cabinet posts but they declined.

“No one said, but I'm sure there was disappointments because many had talents that they felt they could have been served elsewhere in the Cabinet. I'm sure that there are those who are not before you who could have served equally well. But they put - those before you and those that you don't see - they put the country first,” Mr. Scott's statement continued.

Mr. Scott said later that he had not yet made his final senate selections.

“Independence - certainly, if the Cabinet wishes to discuss it, I won't resist it,” Mr. Scott said when asked if the country should expect a firmer statement of his party's position on independence.

“I wouldn't want to go any further (on Independence) because I don't know the disposition of my colleagues but it could be an idea whose time has come. I don't know.”

Former Premier Jennifer Smith shied away from the issue and it was completely left out of the party's electoral platform.

“The PLP were as an Opposition, obviously, was very much on the forefront of educating the public on the notion of independence,” he said.

“Maybe that's something the government should consider - just putting before the public what the process of moving a country forward constitutionally means. Full stop.

“And let the public respond. And if they throw their hands up and say ‘no, no, not now.' then it's an idea that may continue to be just talked about.”

Mr. Scott also said: “Sustainable development has got to be a main concern of Bermuda for no other reason than we are such a tiny jurisdiction - 21 square miles, a robust economy... It put strains on our infrastructure and we have to manage our resources very judiciously.

He added: “So, yes sustainable development has to be very much one of our primary concerns.”

Mr. Scott repeated his intentions to include the Opposition in his government's efforts to tackle some national issues.

“I must apologise to the Opposition Leader that I haven't had that conversation with him, but I will,” he said.

“I think he and I could probably serve both ourselves and the community if we just at least sat together. I have to accept that 48 percent of the voting population voted for the Opposition and 52 percent voted for the Government. And with that type of closeness - that type of divide in the community I should at least be aware of the Opposition's thoughts.”

Asked if the Government will be elaborating further on the PLP's platform promises, Mr. Scott said: “We certainly will be developing the platform position.

“The platform position circulated prior to the election is our position. If we develop new initiatives from it, that's to be expected. It doesn't mean we are limited by our platform. I think we are going to have new challenges, thus there will be new policies to make.”

Asked if that meant some changes, he said: “Maybe some changes. I will have to get together with my colleagues and see how they feel about where we were and where we are now.”

He said there had been “sufficient” input into the platform, when asked, adding: “If it wasn't more consultation than in 1998, it certainly was as much consultation as the 1998 platform.”