Public Safety Minister Paula Cox was last night distancing herself from criticisms made by a PLP colleague against Bermuda's Police Commissioner.

And the incident, in which backbencher Derrick Burgess accused Commissioner Jean Jacques Lemay of weeding out senior Bermudians in the force, has been described as "a major embarrassment'' by an Opposition MP.

Mr. Burgess made the allegation on Tuesday following the news that Deputy Commissioner Harold Moniz is to retire. The Hamilton East MP said: "It would appear that the Commissioner and his consultant are advising the Governor to get rid of born Bermudians -- Mr. Moniz doesn't want to resign, he has a lot to offer this Country''.

But yesterday Ms Cox suggested that her party colleague had misplaced his criticisms.

And she hinted that the Cabinet had approved of the impending retirement of Mr. Moniz as part of a long-term strategy to Bermudianise the service.

"We were aware that he had reached retirement age and he would not be asked to stay on,'' Ms Cox said. "What we must not lose sight of, in any democracy your backbenchers are not always reading from the same page or the same line as the Government. Mr. Burgess could have different information than I had.'' When asked if Mr. Moniz had been forced out of the service -- an accusation made by Mr. Burgess, the Minister replied: "That's not my spin on it''.

But Shadow Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley said the episode could be illustrative of a rift within the PLP ranks or, at the very least, a breakdown in communication.

"It appears to me that any decision that the Governor announces is surely being made with the full consent of the Minister and the Government at large,'' he said.

"I was quite surprised to hear Mr. Burgess' comments. I guess the best way to put it is he appears very confused by questioning the wisdom of Paula Cox.

"He appears to be in direct contrast to this position and I would have thought that, at the very least he would have discussed this issue with the Minister.'' "Logic says that, if he's already discussed his concerns privately with the Minister and then he comes out with this public statement does Derrick Burgess have some sort of rift with the Government? "When the UBP was in government everyone used to bang on about there being a rift in the party if someone spoke out. This is a big embarrassment to the Government -- the Minister was in the loop and if the Minister was in the loop then caucus should be in the loop.

"But at this early stage, if it's a question of a problem with communication, surely it leads to decisions not being made correctly. If they can't get their communication straight with something as important as the Police Service then the people of Bermuda need to wake up.'' "The Governor is going to make a decision in the best interests of the people of Bermuda but obviously the Government is fully aware of what's going on and Derrick Burgess is out of touch.'' Mr. Dunkley also echoed remarks made by a UBP colleague that Mr. Burgess, as an MP and union leader, continually had a conflict of interest when representing Government workers in labour disputes.

Last night Mr. Burgess dismissed Mr. Dunkley's remarks, suggesting that he was "trying to set our agenda''.

"There's no rift and I think Ms Cox is one of the best Home Affairs Ministers we have had,'' Mr. Burgess said.

"Michael Dunkley is trying to create a rift. He should be spending time healing the rifts and scars and sores in his own party.'' GOVERNMENT GVT