Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Khamisi Tokunbo is hoping to swell his declining ranks after receiving 18 job applications for senior posts.

Mr. Tokunbo, who has suffered the loss of five key members of staff since February this year, told The Royal Gazette he was in the process of setting up interviews and hoped to appoint new staff as soon as possible.

As the Island's chief prosecutor, Mr. Tokunbo said he aimed to have Bermudian lawyers in the top jobs in his department within four years.

But he admitted that no Bermudian within the DPP currently had the experience to take on the number two and three roles, so he was forced to look overseas.

As of Tuesday night he claimed to have received 18 applications from qualified attorneys in the Caribbean, America, Australia and Canada who were hoping to take one of the three vacant senior Crown roles.

He said: "The interviews are being scheduled now. All the logistics are being arranged.

"I don't know when they will take place. I will just simply say that we have something like 18 in total and we have got some applicants to choose from.

They have a range of experience.

"We are hoping to get them in as soon as we can, but it will depend on when they can be released from their present positions.

"I would imagine we will have more applications coming in.'' Concern has been raised in recent weeks over the alleged lack of experience in the DPP, which now has just two prosecutors with significant experience of working in Supreme Court.

There are other prosecutors able to work in the Supreme Court, but who have less experience, leading to fears that the criminals and defence lawyers have the upper hand.

Lawyer and MP John Barritt was joined by other members of the United Bermuda Party in tabling questions in the House of Assembly to ascertain the current staffing position in the DPP.

And he said Principal Crown counsel Brian Calhoun, who left the department a fortnight ago after his contract came to an end, should have been told his contract would be renewed.

He said the DPP would not be suffering such a lack of experience if Mr.

Calhoun, who has worked on the Island as a prosecutor for 15 years and was known for his high success rate, had been kept in the post.

Last night, Mr. Tokunbo said he would not discuss personal situations within the department.

But he did say: "Brian Calhoun's contract has already expired and he no longer works for the Government.

"His contract would have expired in the autumn if it had ran its natural course but because he had established leave and lieu time, he has concluded his services.

"His contract came to an end. I'm not in the business of discussing this or anything in connection with personal staffing matters.'' Khamisi Tokumbo