blow in his quest to bring his understaffed department up to strength with yet another resignation.

Bermudian prosecutor Larry Mussenden informed Mr. Tokunbo of his intention to leave earlier this week after receiving an offer from one of the Island's most respected law firms.

He told The Royal Gazette last night that he was due to leave the DPP's office at the end of September after working there for four years.

But he said his decision had nothing to do with the present lack of experienced staff at the DPP and said he had enjoyed his time there.

Mr. Mussenden, who did not wish his new employers to be revealed at this point, said: "I think the DPP's office is a wonderful place to work. It is very challenging and exciting.

"But there are lots of opportunities available in Bermuda for lawyers and I have accepted an offer with a local firm.

"I cannot name the firm at the moment, but I am going to be doing both civil and criminal work.'' Concern has been raised about the lack of experienced prosecutors at the DPP's office since the departure of five members of staff, four of them senior, since February this year.

Senior Crown counsels Leighton Rochester, Peter Eccles, Sandra Bacchus and Brian Calhoun all left within the space of a few months.

Junior Crown counsel Veronica Daley also left in April.

Mr. Tokunbo has repeatedly denied there is a crisis in his department, as alleged by some members of the legal field and United Bermuda Party MP John Barritt.

But at the inquiry into the handling of serious crimes on the Island, Mr.

Tokunbo admitted to having difficulty in finding experienced lawyers to fill two outstanding vacant senior posts within his department.

And he said Government needed to review the pay and incentive package offered to prosecutors in an effort to attract the kind of candidates he wanted.

Mr. Tokunbo said: "One of the hazards of a central prosecuting authority is the ability to maintain and recoup competent and experienced barristers.

"I have just recently undergone an exercise of trying to recruit two senior members and it has not been easy.

"There is no problem of people applying, the question is what is the quality of people.

"We are competing in Bermuda with other jurisdictions that offer packages that are more attractive.

"We need to place more emphasis in terms of the value of these people and the packages they get, so we get them and keep them.'' He said he believed the lawyers that leave the DPP's office and take up positions in private firms around Bermuda are the best on the Island because it offers the greatest training.

He said he had cast his recruitment net wide, as far as Britain, the US, Canada and Australia, but still had found problems.

And he said he did not know whether his office would be required to follow the CURE regulations with regards to the ethnic make-up of his staff, but he was mostly concerned with employing the best people for the job.

He added: "I'm concerned about competence and experience, but competent and experienced people that can fit in.'' Mr. Tokunbo was not available for comment last night.

Khamisi Tokunbo