Wayne Perinchief a massive cash pay-off is set to generate heat on the first day of the new session of the House of Assembly.

The Civil Establishment Act 1988 aims to take responsibility for staffing in 15 Government departments out of the hands of politicians and give it to Governor Thorold Masefield.

Government Whip Rick Spurling said: "The bill could provoke some discussion.'' And he said in the run-up to a General Election, "people will be looking to try and score some political points.'' Mr. Perinchief lost his job in January, 1996 after then-Police Commissioner Colin Coxall streamlined the force's rank structure.

But Government did not pass legislation to legally alter the rank structure and Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller ruled that the top cop had been wrongfully dismissed.

The new Act, if passed, will end problems with the creation and abolition of posts in Government departments.

The Governor already holds the same powers over 45 other departments -- and the Government wants to transfer powers from Ministers to the Governor, who has powers under the Constitution to abolish or create posts, for the remaining 15 departments.

When the bill was tabled by Finance Minister Grant Gibbons earlier this year, his Shadow Eugene Cox said his party would probably oppose the legislation.

He said Parliament was "supreme'' and taking powers out of its hands would be "a backward step.'' Also on the agenda for today's meeting is debate on the supplementary estimates for the 1994-95 financial year.

MPs will also consider Government bids to buy land at Abbott's Cliff, Hamilton Parish and Ridgeway property in Pembroke.

AG'S PLANS STILL ON HOLD AG AG's plans still on hold Long-awaited plans for the Attorney General's Office to completely take over prosecutions in Magistrates' Court remain on hold.

Attorney General Elliott Mottley confirmed this this week after The Royal Gazette noted Crown counsels prosecuting minor cases.

Crown counsel Charmaine Smith has handled the daily plea court session under the watchful eye of veteran Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor.

But the Island's top prosecutor Mr. Mottley said plans for his office to take over the duties of the Police prosecution Department were still unfinished.

"That's what will happen in all or almost all of the cases in the future,'' Mr. Mottley said. "They (Police prosecutors) have the expertise, but one day our office will handle it.'' In November 1996, then Solicitor General Barrie Meade said prosecutors had been hired and the AG's Chambers were up to strength for assuming the additional duties.

Last July Crown counsel JoDina Pearman revealed that people were still being trained for the move.

"I was hired for that purpose (of handling prosecutions) and to give you an idea of how long it's been, I've been here for three years,'' she told the The Royal Gazette .

This week, Mr. Mottley said the ball was in the court of the Legislature for changes to go forward.

"The legislation is being drafted and will have to be passed,'' he said. "I am not in a position to say when it will happen though.'' The proposed changes also hinge on the completion of the sophisticated computerised records system that will link the courts, Police, Transport Control Department, prisons and the Attorney General's Chamber's.

The Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) is presently only used by traffic wardens and the traffic department of Magistrates' Court.