Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

Attorney-at-law Hugh Wildman is hopping mad over the failure of the Public Service Commission (PSC) to interview him for the job of director of public prosecutions (DPP).

Wildman, a former deputy DPP in Jamaica, was one of six applicants for the job to replace Kent Pantry and was identified by inner legal circles as one of the front-runners for the post.

But when the PSC conducted interviews in February, only four of the applicants - senior deputy DPP Paula Llewellyn; deputy DPP Lisa Palmer; Resident Magistrate Marlene Malahoo-Forte and Vinette Graham Allen, a former prosecutor in the office of the DPP in Jamaica - were interviewed.

The other applicant, Terrence Williams, a former prosecutor in the office of the DPP was also not interviewed. Llewellyn was eventually selected for the job with wide support from members of the legal fraternity and the general public.

Speaking with The Sunday Gleaner from Grenada, where he now serves as legal adviser to the Cabinet and director of the Financial Intelligence Unit, Wildman expressed disappointment at being overlooked.

"I'm not upset about the selection of Llewellyn, but everyone who looked at my résumé agreed that I deserved an interview," Wildman says.

Application

He argues that he submitted his application long before the January 25, 2008, deadline and received an acknowledgement on February 8, 2008.

"But after that, nobody contacted me; I only heard that a DPP had been selected.

"This was a clear denial of due process and a shame," Wildman adds.

He said his lawyer has since written to the PSC but is yet to receive a response.

"I'm thinking about what other action I will take," Wildman discloses while referring to his résumé.

Wildman has served as director of public prosecutions for Grenada in two stints, split by a term as deputy DPP in Jamaica.

He also served as Crown Counsel in the office of the DPP here and clerk of courts in the Kingston criminal courts.

Wildman is also now serving as a part-time lecturer in business law at the University of the West Indies, Marryshow House, Grenada, but he said that would not stop him from returning to Jamaica.

"Nobody said that my not living in Jamaica would be an issue and I don't know if that was the reason why I was not considered," Wildman comments.

But chief personnel officer in office of the Services Commission, Jacqueline Hinkson, has downplayed the significance of the decision not to interview Wildman.

Hinkson argued that it was standard practice for the PSC to shortlist applicants and interview only those shortlisted.