Defence lawyer Mark Pettingill has been urged to apply for the post of Bermuda's top prosecutor, The Royal Gazette has been told.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) post, currently filled by stand-in Kalundra Ratneser, has been advertised but the recent pool of applicants did not come up to scratch and Government House is now considering new ways to attract suitable applicants.

Mr. Pettingill said recently: "I have not applied and have not been offered that position, but I have been encouraged in certain areas to consider applying...'

"I am sure a number of Bermuda's practising criminal lawyers have been encouraged to do the same thing.

"Another matter of politics might come into play," said Mr. Pettingill who was a senator for the United Bermuda Party (UBP) and stood for the party at the last election. "When considering the DPP, that's something we need to put aside."

He said many of the Island's top criminal lawyers had well known political affiliations. Defence lawyer Victoria Pearman was a senator for the Progressive Labour Party and attorney Larry Mussenden has just taken on that role.

Colleague Elizabeth Christopher had been tipped for that post while Larry Scott has been a senator for the UBP.

Another snag in snaring top local lawyers is the DPP's salary of $127,000-a-year, which is far less than most make in private practice.