Retiring Narcotics chief Larry Smith has hit out at the decision to hire an overseas officer to fill the new post of Police drugs supremo.

He said it was a slap in the face for his hard work as well as a slight on Bermudian officers capable of taking over.

He said the Narcotics division had performed well despite being ill-equipped and virtually ignored by Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith.

And he had harsh words for former Police colleague Wayne Perinchief, now the National Drug Control Minister, for backing the decision to hire from Britain.

Superintendent Smith told : ?I am extremely concerned and disappointed at the proposed appointment of a foreign Assistant Commissioner, one who is supposed to have this great ability to readily crack the ever increasing drug problems in Bermuda.

?Firstly the rationale is insulting to the current administration of Narcotics, and a gross disrespect to the abilities of Superintendents Sinclair White and Randy Liverpool.

?Simply put, what the Governor and Government are saying to the current administration of Narcotics is: ?You have done nothing during your six years as Commanding Officer of Narcotics?.?

But Supt. Smith said Narcotics and Customs had seized $324 million worth of drugs during his tenure.

He said he was disappointed in Mr. Perinchief?s endorsement of the proposed appointment.

Mr. Smith said: ?My don?t we have short memories.

?During the past six years, Narcotics Division has gotten by on sheer guts and determination.

?Little or no equipment afforded us, little or no support from the senior management, in fact you can count with one hand the amount of visits that the outgoing Commissioner made to the division.?

There was never a focus on the drug problems in this country said Supt. Smith but there was major support to the Community Beat Policing and the Police Support Unit.

?But yet we constantly heard that drugs create the major criminal and social behavioural problems in the country.

?I do applaud any efforts of the Government to thwart the efforts of the so-called Mr. Big, but I?m afraid that the new Minister has been sleeping through the revolution of drugs and drug involvement since his days in the Service.

?Everybody can be a Mr. Big overnight.

?One successful shipment can enlarge one?s financial territory.?

Supt. Smith, who retires in February, congratulated new Commissioner George Jackson and new Deputy Commissioner Roseanda Young on their appointments.

He added: ?I?ve paid my dues without even a thank you, but you know what: ?God and my staff knows of my contribution and that?s all that matters?.

However Mr. Perinchief said he had long advocated bringing in a top Policeman from overseas to bolster Police leadership which has seen four Police Commissioners at the helm in the last decade.

He said Bermudians were not being passed over because the new leadership set-up would see the revival of dual Assistant Commissioners with previous Assistant Commissioner Carlton Adams remaining in his post.

That leadership would be further weakened by the loss of Supt. Smith said Mr. Perinchief.

A second Assistant Commissioner, from the UK, will be appointed in the new year to co-ordinate the efforts of the narcotics, intelligence and serious crime departments.

He said: ?It?s a pretty critical time for Bermuda as far as drugs are concerned. We need to step up our efforts.? Mr. Perinchief said appointing an outsider would remove any perception of corruption. ?But I am not saying there is any corruption.?