After Premier Paula Cox announced her picks for Cabinet, The Royal Gazette took to the streets to find out what everyday Bermudians thought of the selections.

This paper asked ten random people their opinions on the new Cabinet and got a variety of responses from "excellent" and "well thought out" to "questionable".

Former MP and BIU leader Ottiwell Simmons said: "I think it's workable. It's a good working group because each of them for the most part are a highly experienced group of parliamentarians and I think it was a good idea of bringing (Michael) Weeks in as one the new Members of Parliament."

Contractor Thomas Smith, 37, agreed, adding: "I think it's a well thought out Cabinet and it's just a matter of them addressing the serious and pertinent issues like education, employment and tourism. These are the areas that really are in crisis and need to be addressed."

Technician Shane Simons said: "I think it's a good team. Unfortunately time has not healed any wounds from inherited problems so needless to say they still have their work set out for them. Time will tell if they can do that. I do not have any reservations, but we will see what happens."

Travis Caines, 35, a paralegal at ASW, said it was important to give the new parliamentarians a chance to do something before judging them.

He said: "I have been so busy at work I haven't had a chance to look at the full Cabinet. Regardless, let's see how they work together as a team and let's hope they have the best interest of the Island."

Pat Davis, a statistician, called the new Cabinet picks "good" and was confident the new Ministers would deal with the issues "straight up". She said: "If we have problems we will fix them. We are used to that."

Jay Riihiluoma, 48, manager at Flying Colours, said the biggest issue on the Island was education. He doubted whether the Progressive Labour Party's first Premier, Dame Jennifer Smith, was right for the job of Education Minister.

"I just can't see Jennifer Smith being able to put education in line when she wasn't able to do it as Premier and that is our number one priority. I think crime and the other social problems [would go away] if we educated our kids; these people would have jobs instead of smoking weed in the park."

Some people were willing to give their views on the new Cabinet selection, but they asked not to be named. This included a woman in her 50s who questioned some of the new Premier's picks.

"I think very minimal sections of the Cabinet are strong. Some of them are questionable and I am wondering about the expertise of some of the members who have been put into certain positions," she said.

Meanwhile a 48-year-old man in the hospitality industry said: "I would say just like anything, give them the opportunity, give them time to get in there and see what they can do about turning this Country around.

"But I would not give them too long a leash because this Country has gone too far already, because really we need a good shot now and if they are willing to do it than give them the opportunity."

The man urged Ms Cox not to keep MPs in position for a full term if they weren't bearing good fruit. "You will know in a year or 18 months if it is working," he said.

A 35-year-old construction project manager said: "I think the choices are a really good idea. It's a major change. I really think [Premier Paula Cox] certainly has her eye on the ball. For her to take over the capital works projects says a lot for her ability and the fact she has absolute confidence in what she is able to do.

"I think that is going to go well with international business. She is not someone who makes waves. She is certainly a level-headed person and it's time for her to stand up and take control."