Premier Jennifer Smith made sweeping changes to her Cabinet yesterday - eclipsing the announcement earlier this week of a leadership transfer in the Opposition ranks.

At a media conference attended by her Ministers, Premier Jennifer Smith announced that Senator Milton Scott was leaving the Cabinet for a position in the private sector, and she had decided to make some changes which would "broaden the Cabinet experience base".

Several Ministries have also been restructured. The changes are the most dramatic since the Progressive Labour Party took over the reins of Government.

The announcement came after days of media speculation - none of which turned out to be accurate.

"I am proud of all my Ministers," the Premier said. "They have done an excellent job in this the first term of the first Progressive Labour Party Government."

They have had to deal with a number of crises and unexpected events. Their skills of negotiation, their patience and yes - their resilience - have been tested and they have passed all tests with flying colours."

Tourism Minister David Allen and Transport Minister Ewart Brown who had been the subject of much speculation that they were about to switch seats, will continue to be tested in their respective portfolios.

Also unaffected was the Attorney General Dame Lois Browne-Evans and Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott.Ms Smith took the opportunity to announce her "complete and utter confidence" in Mr. Allen. Mr. Scott took over the education portfolio from the Premier in 1999 - months after the Progressive Labour Party won a landslide victory in the 1998 General Election.

Entering the Cabinet is Ms Smith's trusted aide-de-camp, Senator David Burch who will serve as Minister without Portfolio as of November 13 - the effective date of Mr. Scott's resignation.

Mr. Scott, who is not giving up his Senate seat, will serve as Minister Without Portfolio until then.

Paula Cox will take over the Education portfolio, which will be known as the Ministry of Education and Development "to highlight its responsibility for the Careers Centre and the Bermuda College", said the Premier. Replacing Ms Cox at the Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety is Terry Lister, who leaves behind his responsibility for the Environment Ministry, which has been stripped of a number of departments to focus solely on the environment. "He will also take with him responsibility for Training and Employment Services and the National Training Board," the Premier said.The new Minister for the Environment is Dennis Lister. Randolph Horton moves from his non-portfolio Ministry to a newly styled Ministry of Community Affairs and Sport.

Mr. Horton, who has acted for several Ministers since first entering the Cabinet during the summer, will handle Community Affairs, Consumer Affairs, Human Rights, Race Relations and the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality as well as Youth, Sport and Recreation.He was thoroughly ebullient when asked for his reaction to the appointment.

"I just love to work with people," he said."I'm a servant of the people. I'm in touch with the ordinary man. So I think the Premier has made a great choice."Paula Cox, while promising to bring enthusiasm to the job, wasn't quite so ecstatic.

"It's not something I would automatically aspire to," she told the assembled media.

Asked for her reaction to the news that Grant Gibbons is now the Leader of the Opposition, Ms Smith, after extending her congratulations, said: "I look forward to defeating him at the next election."

Barely four hours later, at his first press conference as Opposition Leader, Grant Gibbons offered this reaction to the Cabinet changes.

"The Premier felt that she had to do something as many in the community feel the PLP has not provided the leadership and the performances the country was looking for. Some of the Cabinet changes have been refreshing changes, but I feel she hasn't got to the core areas of weakness. Tourism is one area where something needs to be done."