selecting a new Health Minister.

The cabinet post became vacant at the end of last year when veteran MP Dr.

Clarence Terceira retired from politics. It is understood that Cabinet colleagues knew of Dr. Terceira's plans to resign several months in advance.

Now National Liberal Party chairman Charles Jeffers has accused the Premier of being derelict in her duty and preoccupied with by-elections and the upcoming General Election.

Mr. Jeffers said: "It has been almost two months since the former Minister of Health and Social Services retired from politics.

"This very important ministry has become the responsibility of an acting minister who has his plate full dealing with his own ministry. Is this being fair to the administrators and staff of both ministries? "It appears that political party issues such as the just concluded by-elections and the upcoming General Election have become the Premier's top priorities.'' Mr. Jefferis called for full-time Ministers to be put in charge of appropriate ministries being combined or more than one ministry.

Veteran MP Quinton Edness, already Minister for Home Affairs, has been standing in as acting Health Minister until a successor has been appointed.