The Editor, Sir:

It has been reported that the Chief Justice and the President of the Court of Appeal will be retiring in a few months time and that the Director of Public Prosecutions might be leaving office this year. Depending on who are appointed to succeed them, other vacancies for judges and senior law officers might result.

This is an opportune time to start making the processes of appointing judges of the Supreme and Appeal Courts, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Solicitor-General less opaque. I would not, at this time, suggest any radical change or diminution in the power of the Prime Minister or relevant Service Commission to determine appointments - desirable though this might be. This would require constitutional changes.

a step in the right direction

Advertising vacancies and inviting interested persons to apply or suggest suitable candidates would be a step in the right direction. The public should be given the opportunity to comment on candidates. This would not prevent persons other than those applying or suggested from being appointed. This suggestion may be criticised for not going far enough but it can be readily adopted, can do no harm and can only enhance and ventilate existing procedures. It should be noted that the Caribbean Court of Justice, to which the present administration is irrevocably committed, advertises for judges and other personnel.

The above comments have not addressed the need for reforms in the methods of making judicial and legal appointments. They merely seek to make existing procedures a bit more transparent.

I am, etc.,

BERESFORD HAY

P.O. Box 1191

Kingston 8