The Class of '93 took over Government's key posts in a massive reshuffle of Ministers and portfolios.

Premier Pamela Gordon -- herself elected in 1993 -- now has six Ministers out of a Cabinet of 13 who won their seats in that year's General Election.

And three others -- Grant Gibbons, Erwin Adderley and Kim Young -- all took their seats in by-elections following the 1993 victory.

Announcing the changes at Government House yesterday, Ms Gordon said: "What we are trying to do with this change is to present to Bermuda a Government which meets the needs and the concerns of the people in a manner which is far more efficient and effective.'' And she added: "The average person in Bermuda will feel a connection to what the Government is doing on their behalf.

"I believe that the new structure will further move towards accomplishing our goals.'' The reshuffle sees the creation of two new Ministries -- Development and Opportunity under ex-Education Minister Jerome Dill -- replaced at Education by ex-Youth and Sport Minister Tim Smith -- and the Ministry of Government and Community Services, headed by Sen. Yvette Swan.

A shock casualty of the changes was Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness, out of Cabinet after 30 years in politics.

And the reshuffle marked a surprise return to Cabinet for Hamilton West MP Maxwell Burgess, who, with ex-Premier Sir John Swan, sparked a crisis in the United Bermuda Party over their bid to bring burger chain McDonald's to Bermuda.

Mr. Burgess becomes Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety, which now includes prisons, rehabilitation of offenders and the National Drug Commission.

That Ministry, however, loses responsibility for training and employment, which goes to Mr. Dill's Development and Opportunity Ministry.

Former Youth and Sport Minister Tim Smith gets a leg-up to a stripped-down Education Ministry.

Mr. Dill takes human affairs and race relations from his former Education role to his new post.

He will be also be in charge of developing new business opportunities, consumer affairs and the Bermuda Land Development Company.

Also out of a top job is Environment Minister Irving Pearman, elected to Parliament in 1983, and one of the Rebel Five who battled against Independence in 1995. The rebels also broke with their party in the battle of the burgers.

Ex-Transport Minister Wayne Furbert takes over the revamped portfolio of Health and Family Services, which now includes housing and women's issues.

Newcomers include former Director of Planning Erwin Adderley, elected to Parliament late last year, now behind the wheel at the Transport Ministry.

Kim Young, who won Sir John Swan's Paget East seat in a by-election in May last year, joins Cabinet as a roving Minister without Portfolio -- seen as a back-up for Ms Gordon in a trouble-shooting role.

Major changes to Cabinet Returning to Cabinet are John Barritt, one-time Technology and Information Minister who quit last year over a potential conflict of interest between his law firm and Cable & Wireless.

Mr. Barritt will take over the Youth and Sport Ministry, which will now include Legislative Affairs, as well as its old role of youth development, parks, sports and recreation.

And backbench Paget West MP Harry Soares, who once ran the old Health and Social Services Ministry, takes over Mr. Pearman's Environment seat in Cabinet.

Minister of Finance Grant Gibbons keeps control of the Country's purse strings, while David Dodwell remains in charge of Tourism.

One of the two Senators in Cabinet, E.T. (Bob) Richards, keeps his Telecommunications Ministry.

And veteran politician C.V. (Jim) Woolridge, the last Cabinet survivor of the MPs elected in 1968, holds on to his Works and Engineering post.

Ms Gordon said yesterday that the revamp was the result of "a few months of effort.'' She said she had spent her first year in office examining her Ministries before deciding to act and set up the squad she will lead into this year's General Election battle.

Ms Gordon added: "One of the things you can clearly see is that the United Bermuda Party is about change -- meaningful change and effective change.

"We believe that the people we have on board will serve this Country well and we are ready to fight.''