weeks if not months away, The Royal Gazette has learned.

The appointment is one of hundreds yet to be made by President Bill Clinton.

One Washington source, who requested anonymity, said White House officials only last week began considering names for the Bermuda post.

The White House has declined to comment.

"Our policy is not to discuss personnel prior to an announcement,'' a White House spokesman said.

The last US Consul General, Mr. Ebersole Gaines, left Bermuda in mid-January just before Mr. Clinton was sworn in as president.

Mr. Gaines was a Bush appointee and his departure cleared the way for Mr.

Clinton to appoint his own person to the post.

Mr. Clinton has been the subject of growing criticism for his slowness in making the hundreds of appointments each new President must make.