Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday confirmed that Prison Superintendent Dr. Elliston Rahming is being considered for a diplomatic post, but stressed that it would only happen after a suitable replacement is identified. Christie dismissed reports that current Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Bethell was selected to replace Rahming. "The question came up as to the availability of Dr. Elliston Rahming and the suitability of someone to replace him," Christie said.

"So discussions would have taken place, but the net result of the discussions would have been that Leon Bethell remains a police officer, he is qualified and called to the bar as a police officer. "He sees himself as having a career on the police force, so we did not reach a point where Leon Bethell was selected to replace Dr. Elliston Rahming." Christie added, "We are not going to hurt one institution to equip another. So that is where we are."

When contacted yesterday, Rahming said he had no comment on the matter and Bethell said he was never approached about the prison job. Christie was expected to announce the remaining diplomatic appointments by Christmas but said yesterday he was satisfied that the offices overseas were running efficiently without the appointments. "But it is coming to a point where the mid-term budget will be coming up in February and I would want to make some appointments [by then]," he said.

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