Fresh allegations have surfaced about objections made by Grenada Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell to Dominica's Brian Alleyne for the top post of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.

Alleyne is once again at the centre of a controversy that he as late as last October had been trying to defuse. The Dominican-born jurist, a former attorney general in his homeland, has been acting in the post for close to two years now, and many in the legal profession in the sub-region see him as the man for the job.

But the appointment is done through the unanimous approval of the OECS heads of government, and there have been persistent reports that Grenada, where he served as high court judge for a while and made some rulings that were unpopular with the authorities, is against his being considered for the substantive post of OECS Chief Justice.

A number of lawyers in Dominica have alleged that Grenadian objections are what has prevented Justice Alleyne being confirmed in the post. When he spoke to BBC Caribbean last October, Alleyne said he had no objection to serving under a new chief justice.

But Dominican lawyer, senior counsel Anthony Astaphan said  that Justice Alleyne wasnt ruling out being considered for the position.Thats the nature of the man, thats the decency of the man. Mr Alleyne would never make a fuss privately or publicly about his presence and stature and expectations on the bench, Astaphan explained.

He said that Alleyne had made a significant difference as Acting Chief Justice that couldnt be ignored.He has given us exemplary performance, competence and integrity. He has brought great respect and stability to the court, he said.

³To have had him act and then be overlooked we consider that grossly unfair and unjust², he added. Astaphans views are apparently shared by the OECS Bar Association that groups lawyers from the islands that make up the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.

It called in a statement for Heads of Government in the sub-region to reconsider the alleged exclusion of Justice Alleyne from the selection process. The Bar Association through its president Nicole Sylvester, said it was disturbed to learn that Justice Alleyne was being ignored in the selection process for the highest judicial office in the sub-region.

We do not intend to suggest who is the better individual, but our issue lies in the fact that Justice Brian Alleyne, Senior Counsel, has served for the past 21 months quite creditably so, as the Acting Chief Justice, and he brought to the bench exemplary judicial qualities, she said.

Sylvester also had additional praise for Justice Alleyne who she said ensured that reform work started by his predecessor Sir Denis Byron, was continued and we are now reaping the benefits.To have had him act and then be overlooked we consider that grossly unfair and unjust, the Bar president said.

We cannot allow in this day and age, the politicians to determine who should be the highest judicial officer in a manner that is unfair, lawyer Sylvester said, speaking from her office in the Vincentian capital, Kingstown.

Former Grenada Foreign Minister, Dr. Raphael Fletcher stated publicly that Prime Minister Mitchell often objected at Cabinet meetings to rulings made by Justice Alleyne against his government at the level of the high court.

Dr. Fletcher stated that the Grenadian leader would make sarcastic remarks and shout out, ³Alleyne again, Alleyne again², whenever the State loses a matter before the Dominican jurist.