ST GEORGE’S, GRENADA: The man nominated to be Grenada’s next attorney general comes before the Justice and Legal Services Commission Monday. The commission, the eastern Caribbean body responsible of appointments of top legal officials in the sub-region, is meeting on the appointment amidst a four week swirling controversy. Hugh Wildman will be quizzed by the commission during a session in St George’s Monday, though legal sources say this does not mean his appointment is imminent. The meeting is taking place on the same day the Grenada Bar Association, which opposes Wildman’s appointment, is staging a day of protest, supported by local trade unions, business owners and non government organizations. Grenadians have been urged to wear red today in protest against the impending appointment, and a lunch-time march has been organized in further solidarity of the cause. The government of Keith Mitchell had hoped that Wildman would have taken over the Attorney Generalship by now, but this has been delayed by the commission’s seating, as well as the lawyers’ protest and an issue of severance of the current holder. Indications are that the position of Attorney General Raymond Anthony is further compounding the “transition”, since he is yet to fully agree on government’s terms for severance. Anthony has neither resigned or has been officially fired, but however he is being pushed out with a year to go on his existing contract. His exit has been held up by two factors, sources say – the exact amount due to him due to the early termination of his contract, and how he would be paid. The severance totals being discussed are in the vicinity of 100, 000 and 150, 000 dollars. Government has also proposed to pay the sum in installments, but sources say Anthony is pushing for a one-off payment. Official the Mitchell administration has not stated why it wants to change Attorney General, though opposition speculation is that it has a lot to do with a pending investigation into accusations of wrong-doing leveled against the Prime Minister himself. As an advisor to the police, Wildman had said there was nothing in the accusation against the Prime Minister of accepting a half million dollar bail to investigated, and had threatened to charge opposition leader Tillman Thomas with slander. However, subsequently Governor General Sir Daniel Williams ordered the investigation, which was delayed when Hurricane Ivan struck last September. Government critics have argued that Prime Minister Mitchell needs Wildman in the powerful Attorney General’s position to frustrate the process. There have reportedly been some concerns that Anthony has been too accommodating to the preparatory work, including efforts to try to get evidence from key witness Eric Resteiner, who allegedly paid the Prime Minister the money in a briefcase of cash. Prime Minister Mitchell had previously denied any wrong doing, saying he had received “approximately 15,000 dollars” as repayment for legitimate expenses. When the commission, whose membership included retired High Court Judge Monica Joseph and well-known Grenadian judge Justice Lyle St Paul meet Monday, it is expected to be a preliminary session. Head of the Grenada Bar Association Ruggles Ferguson is also expected to come before the commission. Ferguson will be sharing his time between the commission’s sitting and the protest activity, which is co-sponsored by the Grenada Trade Union Congress, the Employers Federation, the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the National Bus Drivers Association, The Grenada Calypso Association and a grouping of social non-government organizations. Prime Minister Mitchell and Legal Affairs Minister Elvin Nimrod is adamant about appointing Wildman, even though there appears to be some concerns about the issue among a small section of his cabinet. At a general council meeting of the ruling New National Party Sunday, there was open support for the policies of the government, but underneath there appears to a growing level of unease. Prime Minister Mitchell has refused a way out of the current crisis, flatly turning down a suggestion that Wildman publicly decline the nomination – thus giving the lawyers what they want, while at the same time saving the government face. Reprinted from caribupdate.com