Sooknandan is D.P.P. but contract not yet final

The government today announced the appointment of a new Director of Public Prosecutions. He is attorney Lutchman Sooknandan. The only problem with the announcement is that it may be premature, as according to Sooknandan, he and the Judicial Services Commission have yet to sign his contract. Speaking to News Five this afternoon Sooknandan said that he had presented his compensation proposal to the Commission and they were looking it over. The veteran lawyer pointed to his considerable experience, beginning in 1986 as a Crown Counsel, then Senior Crown Counsel and finally two years as acting D.P.P. from 1993 to 95. Since that time he has been in private practice. Sooknandan told us reports that he was holding out for a salary and benefits package bigger than that received by his predecessor Kirk Anderson, were untrue as he has no idea what Anderson was paid. One factor, however, that is not so mysterious is the question of Sooknandan’s health. On August twenty-eighth he suffered what he described as a “small stroke.” Sooknandan underwent extensive rehabilitation in a Tampa, Florida, hospital and told us that despite a clean bill of health from doctors, he’s still receiving some therapy at home. The D.P.P. designate expects the contract details to be worked out by tomorrow and will then proceed to take up his duties.