After weeks of protest by lawyers, the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) has refused to accept the nomination of controversial Jamaican lawyer Hugh Wildman as the next Attorney-General of Grenada.

The rejection is a bitter blow to the ruling New National Party (NNP) Government of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell which had put forward the recommendation of Wildman for the top judicial post.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Legal Affairs Minister Elvin Nimrod who was disappointed by the decision said the ruling by JLSC simply means that the protesting lawyers were able to convince the body to make that particular ruling.

The lawyers objected strongly to Wildman landing the job on account of his attitude and behaviour over the years. Nimrod was asked to comment on whether the government was thinking of having its own way on the appointment by offering Wildman a position in the Senate to allow him to occupy the post of Attorney-General in a political capacity.

He said: "The Constitution of Grenada states that the post of Attorney-General can either be that of a Public Officer or a Minister. So you would understand that the government can exercise that right (through the Senate) under the Constitution to bring him (Wildman) in as Attorney General as a Minister, which is the fall back position".

"Our options are not limited. The Prime Minister has the right to make recommendations for Senators, to revoke appointments and make new appointments....if he feels that he wants to do that", he added.

While political observers do not expect Wildman to be appointed through the Senate, the feeling in some quarters is that if the government goes that route then the likely casualties are Senators Nigel Stewart or President of the Senate, Leslie-Ann Seon.

Minister Nimrod also sought to clear up the status of the post of Attorney-General by stating that the current holder Raymond Anthony has no contract for the job with government.

"The government has done all that it has to do in terms of terminating the post of Attorney General in so far as Mr. Anthony in concerned", he said.

Nimrod pointed out that Anthony's appointment was on a contractual basis and it would have ended in November but government decided to exercise its right to terminate the contract at an earlier stage. He said the termination of that contract took effective last Wednesday and technically the office of Attorney General is vacant.

"The Government has tendered a cheque to Mr. Anthony, compensating him for the unexpired term of his contract that is up until November and in addition for accrued vacation leave. So he has gotten his money", he remarked.

When asked about the actual amount paid to Anthony, Minister Nimrod said that this was "privileged information and I will not like to disclose the amount of money he received". "If he (Anthony) wishes to do so, then it is his choice", added the senior government minister.

Legal sources have told this newspaper that Anthony would have to be paid over $100, 000.00 E.C by government to bring an early end to his two-year contract as Attorney-General. These sources have also pointed to problems between government and Anthony over the manner in which attempts are being made to remove him from the post.

A well-placed official said that Anthony is denying claims in a letter sent to him by Nimrod that he (Anthony) had agreed in a meeting with Prime Minister Mitchell to "demit" office and to give the government a free hand in appointing a new Attorney-General.

Anthony is also said to be disputing the limited financial package offered by government in an effort to bring an early end to his contract.
"There seems to be some problem with the manner in which the package was put together. The compensation package from government made mention of some kind of severance payment for Mr. Anthony", said a source close to Anthony.

"It appears that Mr. Anthony is disputing this since his contract makes mention of gratuity payment to be made to him at the end of the contract", he added. Minister Nimrod was specifically asked whether the government had moved against Anthony because it had lost confidence in his ability to perform the job.He said: "I wish not to say the Government lost confidence but the Government is free at any time to replace officers especially when it is on a contractual basis".

According to Nimrod, the post of Attorney-General cannot remain vacant for too long and as such government will have to move quickly to fill the void. "....We have already done everything necessary on our path.

The search will be out for an AG but we have no one in direct consideration and I will prefer not to speculate (on) such an important post but do not forget that we can exercise our option to reconsider the same person (Wildman)", he remarked.