smiling.

Dr. Saul spoke to the Pembroke West United Bermuda Party branch only days after a bill backed by five rebel MPs to outlaw fast food with a foreign flavour passed in the House of Assembly with Opposition PLP support.

Pembroke West's Dr. David Dyer and Dr. Clarence Terceira both supported Ann Cartwright DeCouto, one of the UBP MPs for Pembroke West Central, and her bill to ban fast food like McDonald's from Bermuda.

But Dr. Saul said of Pembroke West: "We have had these two MPs who have said `right' and they are prepared to play team and restore the United to the UBP.'' And he held out the prospect of an olive branch in the form of Cabinet posts for at least some of the rebel five.

Dr. Saul said: "It's my intention over the next month to be making some changes to the Cabinet and heal some wounds by bringing one or two new faces in.'' But the Premier stayed tight-lipped on who would get the axe and who would be brought in to Cabinet.

Dr. Saul was speaking after being invited to speak to the Pembroke West members following an earlier meeting where they backed their MPs' stance on fast food franchises.

The row broke out after Grape Bay Ltd. -- controlled by ex-Premier Sir John Swan and involving backbencher Maxwell Burgess -- was earlier this year given permission to operate a McDonald's in Bermuda. Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto's bill passed the House of Assembly in the last session, but stalled in the Senate.

Dr. Terceira said the meeting "went very well'' and said Dr. Saul got the message that the branch had been unhappy.

"I think the best aspect of the night is that there was a positive note to it throughout -- we just have to wait and see how it goes from here.'' Dr. Terceira, however, also played his cards close to his chest over the prospect of Cabinet posts for rebel MPs.

"He has asked some of us before, as he said tonight, and our answer was `get McDonald's out of the way then you can come and talk to us'.'' Branch chairman John Kyle echoed the politicians' view of the two-hour meeting at Admiralty House, Spanish Point, attended by around 50 of the party faithful.

He said: "It was a very positive meeting and a lot of opinions were aired and the subjects of Independence and fast food franchises are dead -- not an issue.

"Dr. Saul was well received and it was a good meeting -- a united meeting.'' RESTAURANT EAT