PLP veteran Lois Browne Evans would like to see Supreme Court Registrar Charles-Etta Simmons become the Island's first female Solicitor General.

"That department should not try to bring in any other overseas persons,'' she warned. "We caught hell enough bringing in an outside Attorney General.'' Local SG wanted From Page 1 Former Magistrate Ms Simmons, who was acting in the post from April 7 to May 31, has returned to her Supreme Court duties, leaving the second highest law office vacant.

And officials contacted yesterday could not say when the $98,000-a-year post -- occupied for the past five years by Barrie Meade -- would be filled.

Government's Senior Personnel Officer David Anson told The Royal Gazette the Public Service Commission was awaiting a recommendation from Attorney General Elliott Mottley.

"I'm not sure if someone has been selected,'' Mr. Anson said. "I know that the papers are up with the Attorney General and he will be making a submission to the Public Service Commission, I think, around mid July.'' However, Mr. Anson could not say why no one was acting in the post.

"My understanding was that the acting post was very much a temporary post,'' he said. "Whether it was because the person acting had to go back to complete her work because I don't think anyone was appointed to act for her, I don't know. It maybe that she felt the need to go back. But it was always only for a temporary period.'' Once the Attorney General had made a submission to the PSC, the PSC will recommend to the governor an appointment, Mr. Anson explained.

"If we are recruiting somebody locally, then it is pretty straight forward,'' he added. "If we are recruiting someone from overseas, then we have to get Immigration approval and so on. It takes a bit longer.'' Mr. Anson said he did not know whether or not the Attorney General's recommendation was a local person.

Ms Simmons, who as a civil servant is not allowed to speak with the press without permission of the Cabinet Secretary, referred queries to Cabinet Secretary Leo Mills.

But Mr. Mills said he had no idea why the post was still vacant.

"I have nothing to do with appointments in the Attorney General's Chambers,'' he stated. "That is a matter for the Attorney General. I do not get involved in the appointment of Crown counsel or Solicitor General or anything like that.'' And Legislative Affairs Minister Quinton Edness also could not comment on the issue and referred inquiries to the Attorney General's Chambers.

"That is an independent office,'' Mr. Edness said, adding that the Public Service Commission was responsible for filling posts in the Attorney General's Chambers.

Barbadian-born Mr. Mottley was off the Island yesterday and unavailable for comment.

However, Mrs. Browne Evans, the shadow legislative affairs minister, said she knew several people had applied for the post.

"But I trust that she (Ms Simmons) will get it,'' she added. "She's the person that has moved up. She has administrative ability by being the (Supreme Court) Registrar and she has been a defence lawyer.'' Mrs. Browne Evans said persons with less qualifications have filled the Solicitor General post in Bermuda.

However, Mrs. Browne Evans said she did not believe it was strange to have the post temporarily vacant.

"The Attorney General seems to be doing a lot of the cases himself which normally the Solicitor General would have been doing,'' she noted. "So maybe he just wants to do some cases so he won't get rusty.'' Charles-Etta Simmons GOVERNMENT GVT LEGISLATION LEG