before the end of the month.

The Royal Gazette understands the panel appointed to select the new DPP has reaffirmed its support for its original choice -- believed to be Principal Crown counsel Khamisi Tokunbo.

The selection panel to appoint the DPP met on Friday to review its nomination following an inquiry by a top London lawyer into the handling of an assault case against former PLP candidate Rodney Smith. The British Foreign Office, which was in the process of approving the DPP in October, held off from a decision then and ordered the review of the way the Attorney General's and the the Director of Public Prosecutions office handled the case.

Barrister John Roberts concluded the case had not been handled in the customary way and that contact took place between Smith and members of the AG's chambers which left officers open to suspicion and criticism. But he found there was no evidence the process was manipulated for political reasons or to give an advantage to Smith.

The review panel -- Deputy Governor Tim Gurney, Chief Justice Austin Ward, Bermuda Bar Association president Richard Hector, and Government Director of Personnel Services Judy Hall-Bean -- met on Friday and passed its nomination to Governor Thorold Masefield. The Governor, who must approve the nomination, is on the point of sending it to London for verification by Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

Mr. Gurney said: "The review panel met at the end of last week to review, at the request of the Governor, their original decision and they have forwarded their recommendation to the Governor, which he is on the point of sending to London.'' Mr. Gurney refused to divulge the identity of the nominee or to say when the new DPP will be announced, but said: "We are all looking to appointing someone quickly.'' The Smith case hit the headlines last October when the former PLP candidate said he had been told by someone in the AG's to attend that day and he understood the matter would be dealt with by a section 64 bind-over -- meaning no conviction recorded against him.