The five female Ministers in Premier Paula Cox's new Cabinet hold all the key portfolios, according to former PLP politician Renee Webb.

She told The Royal Gazette yesterday she was delighted to see so many hard-working women in the 13-strong team assembled by Ms Cox to run the country.

The Premier has retained her Finance brief, while returning Cabinet Ministers Kim Wilson and Neletha Butterfield take on Economy, Trade and Development and Public Information Services, respectively.

Former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith has been lured back to Cabinet, to tackle Education, as has former Health Minister Patrice Minors, who will head the new Ministry of Business Development and Tourism.

Ms Webb — who has held several Cabinet positions in the past — said: "They hold all of the significant portfolios: Finance, Tourism, Education and economic development. So when you look at the numbers [in Cabinet], there might be less women than men, but we also have to look at what portfolios they are holding.

"It shows not only the strength of them individually, but also as a group. I think it bodes well that five strong women hold five strong portfolios and, of course, we have a woman leading the country."

The five female Ministers make up almost 40 percent of Cabinet, compared to the last administration, which had three female Ministers in an 11-strong team — or less than 30 percent.

Ms Webb said: "If you look at most countries in the world, 40 percent is actually very high. I think she [the Premier] has taken into consideration the effectiveness of women. It's a fact that women get the job done. That was my experience, working with women in Cabinet."

She said the new women Ministers were all capable. "All of them have had Cabinet experience, so none of them are neophytes, per se. They are all hard workers, I can tell you that."

Ms Webb said she was pleased to see that half of the PLP's four-strong Senate team was female, with the return of Senator Wilson and the appointment of LaVerne Furbert to the Upper Chamber.

Lawyer Michelle St. Jane, an advocate for women's rights, said she was delighted to see more women in the leadership of the Government.

"It's well known that when you have more women in leadership and government, the society becomes a little bit more equal," she said. "At least 50 percent [in Cabinet] would be a good thing for this Island."

Ms St. Jane added that she would love to see white and Portuguese women in Cabinet — though none are currently PLP MPs or senators.

"How about the Cox government actually showing a diverse and well-balanced government that actually represents the society it serves?" she said.

"Now that the black community has had 12 years to balance the books and get into leadership, are they just going to be a replica of the white government or are white women and Portuguese women going to get the chance to have a voice?"

Deputy Premier Derrick Burgess lauded the inclusion of five women in Cabinet. "I think having that number of women in the Cabinet is great — I welcome it," he said.

"I will venture to say I think the majority of those eligible to vote are female and I think it indicates to Bermuda that these women are represented not just because they are female, but because they have the intelligence to be able to do what they have been called to do."