Secretary Robin Cook for approval as Bermuda's first Director of Public Prosecutions.

A legal insider said: "It's an open secret whose name has been forwarded to London -- and it's not an unexpected choice.'' But yesterday, Government House was playing its cards close to its chest and refused to comment on who had been put forward for the new $113,000-a-year post.

Mr. Gurney, however, confirmed: "It has gone to the Foreign Office -- the Governor's recommendation is one person.'' And he said: "I would hope we would get an answer within the next few weeks.'' But he added -- in what could be a reference to the appointment of ex-Solicitor General Barrie Meade as a consultant to advise Mr. Tokunbo -- that aspects of the new job were still under consideration.

Mr. Gurney said: "There are still a number of details to be sorted out.

"But the Governor has now put a proposal to the Foreign Office and we are awaiting a reply.'' Although Governor Thorold Masefield is invited to select the most likely candidate, the final choice lies with Mr. Cook.

He can accept the Island favourite or appoint someone of his own choosing if he wants.

But it is understood going against the Governor's recommendation and appointing an outsider would be a highly unlikely course of action.

The Royal Gazette revealed in February that Mr. Tokunbo -- principal Crown counsel on the civil law side of the Attorney General's Chambers -- was favourite for the job.

And The Royal Gazette was first to report that ex-Solicitor General Barrie Meade was set to be brought in as a consultant for up to two years.

It is understood Mr. Tokunbo was unhappy at the prospect of understudying a consultant for that length of time. But a compromise deal, probably involving a shorter time-scale, appears to have been thrashed out.

Mr. Tokunbo has consistently refused to comment on whether he was in for the job or if there had been disagreement over the terms of the appointment.

The post of an English-style DPP was due to the appointment of Dame Lois Browne Evans to the role of the first political Attorney General in modern times.

Public service AG's previously combined criminal work with being Government's main legal advisor.

But a separation of powers was deemed necessary to avoid the potential of conflict of interest in the prosecution of crimes.

Now Dame Lois will handle civil cases against Government and advise Cabinet on legal matters, while the DPP will concentrate on criminal cases.

Tokunbo closer to DPP Around 12 people applied for the DPP job -- most from overseas -- although the interview panel concentrated on interviewing as many as five local candidates.

These are thought to have included Crown counsels Peter Eccles, Brian Calhoun, and Philip Perinchief, a lawyer in private practice.

Solicitor General William Pearce has been acting as DPP since Dame Lois was appointed Attorney General in April.