OPPOSITION Leader Dr. Grant Gibbons yesterday accused Premier Alex Scott of trying to "spin his way out of a difficult position" with his comments on the appointment of the Chief Justice.

And he said Mr. Scott's position had little credibility as the ruling Progressive Labour Party had appointed non-Bermudians over Bermudians for previous top Civil Service posts.

"The Premier's protests and clear politicisation of the appointment of the Chief Justice would be more meaningful if the PLP had practised what they preached with respect to other appointments," said Dr. Gibbons.

"Where was Mr. Scott when (Jamaican) Stephanie Reid was appointed chief executive officer of the Bermuda Hospitals Board?

"Where was Mr. Scott when (Jamaican) John Prescod was appointed Commissioner of Prisons?"

"Mr. Scott has also been very quiet on the possible appointment of (Bermudian and UBP General Election candidate) Mark Pettingill as Director of Public Prosecutions."

Mr. Pettingill recently declared he intended dropping out of the running for the DPP post because of a lack of political support from the Government.

The current stand-in DPP is Sri Lankan Kulandra Ratneser.

Dr. Gibbons denied Mr. Scott's claim that he had "abrogated his constitutional responsibility by deferring to the deliberations of the Chief Justice interview panel.

"It seems that the Governor did what was required under the Constitution and consulted with the Premier, who consulted with the Opposition Leader," Dr. Gibbons said. "All that was done.

"On the subject of the panel, surely the Governor has the right to seek the advice of anyone he wants to in helping him to formulate his own recommendation."

On the interview panel were three Bermudians ? Sir James Astwood, Nelda Simons and David Kessaram ? as well as Foreign Office legal adviser Ian Hendry.

Dr. Gibbons said the United Bermuda Party's position had, from the start, been to avoid politics coming into it and to select the best person for the post.

And Dr. Gibbons produced evidence that Mr. Scott was fully aware of the convening of the interview panel before interviews took place.

In a letter from Dr. Gibbons to Mr. Scott, dated October 20 this year, Dr. Gibbons wrote: "Having now had the opportunity to reflect on the vacancy, I believe a technical panel, such as the Governor has constituted, will have the ability to fully examine the background and strengths of the prospective candidates."

The candidates were interviewed the following month.

Asked whether the letter to Mr. Rammell could jeopardise relations between Bermuda and London, Dr. Gibbons said: "I think Mr. Scott has found himself in a very difficult position, given that he went out on a limb and was unsuccessful.

"I think that now he is trying to spin his way out of it and it will be seen as such."

l Government House believes that required constitutional procedure was followed in the appointment of Mr. Ground as Chief Justice, a source informed us last night.

It is understood that Governor Sir John Vereker is adamant that he did consult with Premier Alex Scott, who in turn consulted the Opposition Leader on the matter, as required.

And on Mr. Scott's assertion that the interview panel had "neither constitutional nor statutory authority", the Government House source said none was required. And it was at the Governor's discretion whether he set up a panel.

The source added that British Ministers had given careful consideration to the appointment.

The Governor himself declined to comment.