post, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

For Mr. Tokunbo is understood to be emerging as favourite to take the new job of Director of Public Prosecutions.

And the role of Attorney General is most likely to go to current Minister of the Environment Arthur Hodgson, a former Magistrate and ex-Rhodes scholar.

A legal insider said yesterday: "Khamisi does seem to be being tipped for the job.'' Mr. Tokunbo has worked at the AG's Chambers for several years and has attended a major UK/Commonwealth conference on money laundering -- a hot issue at the moment -- and undergone specialist training in dealing with child abuse cases.

He started off at the AG's Chambers in 1988, but left three years later for a stint in private practice before returning in 1992.

Mr. Tokunbo has worked on the criminal and civil sides and is currently Principal Crown counsel of the civil law section of the chambers.

Yesterday, he was staying tight-lipped over reports he was in front of the pack for the new post.

But he added he "would not rule out'' putting himself forward for DPP when the job becomes available.

It is understood that news of Mr. Tokunbo's emergence at the head of the pack has sent some rumbles through the legal profession.

It is believed some lawyers question his experience, while others claim he has close links with the PLP.

But Mr. Tokunbo said: "I'm a civil servant -- my politics, whatever they are, are private and personal.'' It is also said his image took a knock due to his close involvement with the botched Rebecca Middleton murder case.

Kirk Mundy admitted being an accessory after the fact and was jailed for five years -- a case handled in court by Mr. Tokunbo.

Murder accused Justis Smith later walked free from court after a judge ruled there had been abuse of process and insufficient evidence to put the case to a jury. That ruling is now being appealed.

The creation of the new DPP's job has been made necessary by the new PLP Government's decision to make the Attorney General's job a political appointment.

The AG's positions in both Scotland, which has its own legal system, and England and Wales are political posts.

So the Bermuda Government could follow convention and appoint an Attorney General from the ranks of MPs and Senators.

And that leaves them little room for manoeuvre as suitably-qualified candidates are thin on the ground.

Among the lawyers in the House are Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox and Legislative Affairs Minister Lois Browne Evans.

But Ms Cox -- who got off to a confident flying start with her new Ministerial role -- is likely to be reckoned to be too valuable to move.

And Mrs. Browne Evans, although the first woman lawyer and first black MP in Bermuda and with a distinguished legal background, would probably be reluctant to move to the AG's Chambers at this late stage in her Parliamentary career.

In Senate, lawyer Michael Scott could be considered -- but he has only been a Senator since the new Government took over and has never served as an MP.

And Premier Jennifer Smith is likely to want an elected MP rather than a appointed Senator as the Government's top legal advisor.

And a shuffle of Ministers following this month's Budget would be the ideal time to single out a MP for the AG's Chambers.

Acting Premier Lois Browne Evans said the issue of where a political AG would come from had been decided at the Constitutional conference at Warwick Camp in the late 1970s.

She added: "When we met at Warwick Camp with everyone else, it was perceived that it would be like every other Country with an English legal system. It would be a member of the Legislature, like the Attorney General in England.'' She confirmed she would be reluctant to take on the AG's job.