be held within the next few days, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

And it is understood a special interview panel will initially interview at least four on-Island candidates for the $113,000-plus job out of as many as a dozen applicants -- most from overseas.

Among the candidates for the first round are thought to be Attorney General's Chambers Senior Crown counsels Khamisi Tokunbo, Brian Calhoun and Peter Eccles.

From outside the Crown service, one name mentioned as a possible candidate is former Magistrate Cheryl-Ann Mapp.

According to sources in the legal profession, most of the applicants for the job were from overseas.

One might be former Bermuda-based lawyer Robin McMillan, currently working in the Caymans.

But the initial series of interviews will concentrate on candidates already in Bermuda -- a mix of Bermudian and non-Bermudian candidates and not all from the ranks of the public prosecution service.

The interview panel is expected to consist of Chief Justice Austin Ward, Bar Association chairman Richard Hector, Personnel Services director Judith Hall-Bean and Deputy Governor Tim Gurney.

Mr. Gurney yesterday declined to discuss applicants for the new job or the timing of interviews.

But he said: "There is a short list of people for interview and the process is actively being pursued at the moment.

"The Governor has asked the board to consider the applicants and make a recommendation to him.'' The DPP's post -- including the salary rating -- was advertised in the Official Gazette last month.

The job was made necessary by the appointment of Progressive Labour Party veteran MP Lois Browne Evans to the post of the Island's first political Attorney General in modern times.

Mrs. Browne Evans will handle civil cases against Government and give legal advice to Cabinet.

Search on for new DPP The English-style DPP is needed to avoid potential conflict of interest in the prosecution of criminal cases.

The advertisement for the new job said: "The successful applicant for this new position will be responsible for the management and supervision of all criminal prosecutions, ensuring their swift and efficient disposal.

"The Director will be expected to take a personal hand in the prosecution of complex cases.''