Ex-Health and Social Services Minister Harry Soares is set to make a surprise return to Cabinet in his old job.

For Premier Pamela Gordon is likely to announce Mr. Soares as the replacement for current Minister Clarence Terceira, who will retire from politics and his Pembroke West seat at the end of the year.

But Ms Gordon appears in no rush to name a successor to Dr. Terceira, 70, who announced his retirement at the weekend.

Dr. Terceira will not officially give up his portfolio or his seat until the last day of the year, allowing the Premier a fortnight to assess her troops and name a replacement.

The Premier has been uncontactable for two days.

The front-runner appears to be Paget West MP Mr. Soares, who held the portfolio until a January Cabinet shake-up brought Dr. Terceira and two others from the United Bermuda Party's rebel wing in the McDonald's burger wars back into the fold.

Mr. Soares last night refused to comment on a possible return to the front benches.

But also on the starting blocks is newcomer Paget East MP Kim Young, a book shop manager and ex-nurse with a track record in health and social issues.

Ex-Technology and Information Minister John Barritt quit his post only last month, but said he hoped he would only be out of Cabinet for a short while.

Mr. Barritt -- who quit over a potential conflict of interest because his legal firm acts in some matters for Cable & Wireless, currently locked in a legal battle with Government -- was also listed as a likely candidate for an early return to Cabinet.

But he is understood to have signalled that he does not see Health and Social Services as a role for him, while not ruling out a later Cabinet return holding another portfolio.

Rodney Smith, who increased the Progressive Labour Party's share of the vote slightly in Pembroke West at the November by-election caused by the resignation of Dr. David Dyer, will run again.

Mr. Smith said: "I think fortune is in my favour. We've been out canvassing and there is tremendous support in the constituency.'' The ailing National Liberal Party -- which scraped up only 34 votes in the by-election which saw Erwin Adderley take over Dr. Dyer's seat in the House, is also considering another shot -- probably with the same candidate, photographer Graeme Outerbridge.

Party leader Charles Jeffers said: "Graeme has already indicated his willingness to run -- he calls it his redemption run because he wasn't able to do much work the last time.

"It's still something which will have to be discussed -- we have to make sure we've got support from a working team as well as a candidate.'' HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA