Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

( L - R ) Llewellyn, Pantry

Director of Public Prosecutions Kent Pantry, QC, who was scheduled to retire last month, is still in the post.

He was at work yesterday and reports are that he is staying on until the new DPP is appointed. The appointment is expected to take place before the end of this month.

Pantry turned 60 on February 13.

It appears that Jamaica will have its first female DPP as only four women were interviewed for the job.

They are senior deputy DPPs Paula Llewellyn and Lisa Palmer, Resident Magistrate Marlene Malahoo-Forte and Vinette Graham Allen, a former prosecutor in the office of the DPP in Jamaica and former DPP in Bermuda.

There were six applicants but the other two who were former Deputy DPP Hugh Wildman, who is now legal adviser to the Grenadian government, and Terrence Williams, a former prosecutor in the Office of the DPP in Jamaica, who is now DPP in the British Virgin Islands, were not interviewed for the job.

Concerns raised

Concerns have been raised in certain quarters as to why the men were not interviewed.

Former Deputy Solicitor General Douglas Leys, who is the sole applicant for the post of solicitor general, is to be interviewed by the PSC tomorrow.

The post has been vacant since October last year when Michael Hylton, QC, resigned. Deputy Solicitor General Patrick Foster, QC, is acting in the post.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com