Principal Crown Counsel Vinette Graham-Allen has been confirmed as the new Director of Public Prosecutions.

A statement released by Government House said her three-year contract would start shortly.

It said: ?In recognition of the need to maximise opportunities for properly qualified, experienced and competent Bermudians, a condition of Mrs Graham-Allen?s contract is that she identifies and trains a suitable Bermudian prosecutor as a potential successor to herself.?

Other candidates thought to have been in the running for the $127,000-a-year post were former DPP Khamisi Tokunbo, a female candidate from overseas and local lawyer Justin Williams.

Mrs. Graham-Allen arrived from Jamaica in late 2000 to take up the post of Senior Crown Counsel and was then promoted to Principal Crown Counsel after the death of Dorien Taylor. As number two in the DPP?s office, she has often acted as Director.

She will replace Sri Lankan-born DPP Kulandra Ratneser who has been working on a temporary basis.

Mrs. Graham-Allen?s appointment was welcomed by Shadow Attorney General Trevor Moniz who said: ?I don?t know her personally but she appears to have worked there and has some considerable experience.

?It provides continuity which I am very interested in seeing. I understand Mr. Ratneser is staying on for at least a year as counsel to assist.

?That gives me some comfort but it isn?t a guarantee of success. You have Mr. Ratneser there so it is a prudent way forward.?

However, Mr. Moniz was less than happy with Government?s handling of judicial appointments and called for an end to the state of flux.

More than three years ago, Archibald Warner was appointed as an assistant Supreme Court Justice and has remained in that temporary post ever since.

His place as Senior Magistrate was taken by Carlisle Greaves who has also remained in a temporary acting position.

Mr. Moniz said he hoped the current justice review would tackle the problem and make the posts permanent.

?I understand the report has been given to the Minister. He will give it to the Cabinet and I am hoping it will be soon tabled in the House and it will address this issue.

?It?s clearly not satisfactory. The problem is the money in the budget. You can?t have people acting in positions on and on and on.?

He said it was clear Archibald Warner liked his role in the upper court.

Currently, Bermuda has four permanent Supreme Court judges ? Chief Justice Richard Ground and Charles Etta-Simmons, Norma Wade-Miller and Ian Kawaley ? while Mr. Warner is temporary, but has steady work.

Attorney General Larry Mussenden declined to comment on the matter and said it was for the Chief Justice and the Governor to speak on.

However, Mr. Ground refused to speak to and a Government House spokesperson said: ?The Governor and Chief Justice keep these appointments under regular review but there is nothing specific at the moment.?

Mr. Moniz said it wasn?t acceptable for the Government to pass it off on the Governor and said it was a matter of cash and priorities.

He said: ?There is no full-time position. We have to get a budget sorted out. That?s a matter of political resolve. The Chief Justice is given a budget but he can only do so much.?