Public Service Commission chairman Mrs. Jeannette Cannonier has rejected an Opposition call to include Bermuda's two Assistant Commissioners in the final hiring process for the top two Police posts.

In a statement yesterday signed by Shadow Delegated Affairs Minister Mrs. Lois Browne Evans and Shadow Labour Minister Mr. Alex Scott, the Progressive Labour Party said Bermuda's Constitution gave the PSC an opportunity and responsibility to advise the Governor to interview Assistant Commissioners Wayne Perinchief and Harold Moniz.

Section 87 of the Constitution vests the power to make the appointments in the Governor, "after consultation with the Public Service Commission.'' Governor Lord Waddington is soon expected to interview the three finalists for the two positions.

A Police Commissioner has not been brought in to head the force since Mr.

George Duckett in 1969. Government has said the imminent retirements of Commissioner Mr. Lennett (Lennie) Edwards and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Alex Forbes have left the force with a short-term leadership "vacuum.'' The three-man short list was arrived at after Deputy Governor Mr. Peter Willis and Labour and Home Affairs Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman met with eight applicants in London last week.

The PLP said the Constitution "sets the stage'' for the PSC to advise the Governor on whether his hiring plan is appropriate.

Mrs. Cannonier and the PSC should call for Mr. Perinchief and Mr. Moniz to be interviewed "along with the three British officers, who are being flown out to Bermuda (at taxpayers' expense) to meet with the Governor,'' the PLP said.

But Mrs. Cannonier said the Governor has already consulted with the PSC. The PSC was advised of the Governor's and Government's plan to hire abroad "for a specified period of time, and the reasons why it was deemed necessary to do so,'' Mrs. Cannonier told The Royal Gazette .

And the PSC believes "the course of action being taken ... is appropriate, and that Bermuda and the Bermuda Police force will benefit greatly in the long run.'' Mrs. Cannonier said the PSC expected to be consulted further before any appointments were made.

Meanwhile, Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan entered the debate, saying Bermudians have already proven they can do any job in the Country and should not be "embarrassed'' about hiring from abroad.

Recently returned to the Island from abroad, the Premier said many organisations in Bermuda were once staffed with non-Bermudians, but community pressure and strict control of work permits had changed that.

"We still have some way to go, but we have made a tremendous amount of progress in a relatively short time,'' he said. "We have certainly proved that with the right education, and the right experience, there is nothing a Bermudian cannot do.

"We don't need to prove it over and over again.'' Bermudians "should by now have gained some confidence in our abilities,'' Sir John said. "As a people confident in our abilities, we don't need to be embarrassed about admitting that every once in a while, we need some outside help.'' Sir John rejected the Opposition charge that the force was being "recolonised'' by the hiring of a British Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner for three and two years respectively.

Bermuda could not take a chance with the Police, "especially at a time when all of us are so deeply concerned about increases in violent crime and drug-related crime,'' he said. "We have been advised that our best course of action at this stage of the game, is to get some help in taking a real, hard look at the way the force works.'' The Premier said "the traditional methods of promotion to senior ranks in the force haven't worked very well recently.'' Mr. Edwards is retiring due to illness, and Mr. Forbes because he has reached retirement age. The previous Commissioner, Mr. Clive Donald, also held the post for a relatively short time. And Mr. Edwards "has not made it clear who he feels his successor should be,'' he said.

The Premier said Mr. Perinchief and Mr. Moniz "are well-versed in the traditional methods of policing in Bermuda, but we are worried they may not have the tools to respond to the new demands being placed on policing in this community.

"We want to give them those tools.'' The first priority of the officers brought in would be to look at the talent on the force "to ensure the continued development of Bermudians to take command of the most senior levels, using the most modern policing and management techniques,'' Sir John said.

A third Assistant Commissioner would be added "to broaden the senior command establishment and give an additional opportunity to young Bermudian policemen to gain experience at the top.

"Quite frankly, I expect that Bermudianisation of the Police is going to be assisted by this process in the longer term.'' Mrs. Janette Cannonier.