Premier Alex Scott declined to say whether he is against Mark Pettingill's bid to become Bermuda's new Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

But he said Mr. Pettingill, who is a member of the Opposition United Bermuda Party, was welcome to apply.

Mr. Pettingill believes he has support of the Police and the Department of Public Prosecutions but elements in Cabinet don't want him for political reasons.

However Mr. Scott said unlike with the appointment of the Chief Justice, the constitution didn't require his advice to the Governor.

"I don't have a public view. To make a statement would only pre-empt any decision. It would poison the pool. If I were to say 'yea' it would suggest one thing, if I were to say 'nay' it would suggest another. Every Bermudian has a right to apply."

Yesterday Deputy Governor Nick Carter said he had not heard anything about Government not wanting Mr. Pettingill.

He said: "If he wants to apply he can."

Shadow Attorney General Trevor Moniz predicted Bermuda will end up appointing another overseas candidate.

He believes those qualified to do the job in Bermuda would not want to apply while others vying for it lacked the experience.

But last night Mr. Moniz said: "My view is they need someone in the DPP's post who has a vast span of experience in prosecutions.

"We have no one who fits that description other than senior members of the bar like Richard Hector and Saul Froomkin."

He said neither would be likely to want the $127,000 a year job which will be advertised in the new year after Government House failed to find a replacement for stand-in Kulandra Ratneser in the summer and he was re-appointed.

The Deputy Governor said some qualified overseas candidates were ruled out last time because they came from islands smaller than Bermuda and so could not prove they could handle a department the size of Bermuda's DPP.

Bermuda Public Services Association General Secretary Edward Ball said qualified Bermudians who fitted the criteria should be getting the jobs.

He said the principle of the civil service was that those working for Government were loyal to it and if disloyalty was suspected the public service commission could investigate.

"If we keep going overseas we are sending the wrong message to young people who are trying to get qualified and come home. We are breaking the national spirit."