Nagra Plunkett, Assignment Coordinator

WESTERN BUREAU:

Douglas Leys, who is on secondment to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in Barbados, has been selected to fill the post of solicitor general in mid-April.

This follows months of controversy surrounding the selection of a new solicitor general, a post which was vacated by Michael Hylton last October.

Former members of the Public Service Commission (PSC) initially recommended Professor Stephen Vasciannie for the position, but this was rejected by the Government.

Golding subsequently wrote to Governor General Professor Kenneth Hall and asked that the former members be fired for misconduct.

Thrown out

Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller subsequently took the prime minister to court for the action. The matter was, however, thrown out. Following the installation of the current PSC members, new applications were invited for the post.

Leys, a deputy solicitor general and general counsel in the CDB's Legal Department, was the sole applicant for the position.

When contacted, he directed The Gleaner to Jacqueline Hinkson, chief personnel officer for the Office of the PSC.

"She could best advise you as to what the current status is," Leys said.

Earlier this week, acting solicitor general Patrick Foster resigned from the post. His resignation takes effect on June 26.

nagra.plunkett@gleanerjm.com