the Island if asked to give evidence in the forthcoming inquiry into the handling of serious crime.

Concerns were expressed that the Commission of Inquiry, which begins next month, would not have the power to call overseas witnesses to testify.

Mr. Mottley was Attorney General at the time of the botched prosecution of two men charged with the murder of Canadian teenager Rebecca Middleton.

The failure to convict anyone of Miss Middleton's murder was the catalyst for the inquiry, which is expected to look at the handling of that case as well as the prosecution and investigation of other major crimes.

Speaking from Barbados yesterday, Mr. Mottley told The Royal Gazette he was sent the Commission's terms of reference and would attend to give evidence if invited.

Colin Coxall, the Police Commissioner at the time of the murder, said he would consider coming if asked.

From his home in England, Mr. Coxall said: "I would consider it. I would be anxious to do everything I could for Rebecca Middleton and her family and also everything I could to help the inquiry and the officers of the Bermuda Police Service who worked so hard on that inquiry.

"The Deputy Governor (Tim Gurney) sent me the terms of reference some weeks ago. I have no comment on them.'' The Commission will be chaired by the former Attorney General of Montserrat Justice Stanley Moore, accompanied by the former Deputy Constable of Derbyshire in the United Kingdom Don Dovaston, and Shirley Simmons, a consultant with Bermudian law firm Trott and Duncan.