The decision to axe two senior Police officers is irreversible and was made on the basis of ability, the Home Affairs Minister said last night.

Mr. Quinton Edness spoke out over the controversy in a bid to lay to rest mounting criticism and rumour surrounding the decision to retire Assistant Commissioner Wayne Perinchief and Superintendent George Rose.

He lambasted the PLP for politicising the Police Service, denied there were any racial overtones and said he backed the streamlining of the Police hierarchy "to the hilt''.

Both Mr. Perinchief and Mr. Rose were offered early retirement or redeployment in the civil service, but the move immediately sparked strong PLP objections.

Three senior PLP MPs, including Mr. Alex Scott and Party leader Mr. Frederick Wade, met the Governor and presented "new information'' they believe could alter the decision.

They now hope to meet Mr. Edness, but are keeping the information under wraps until a debate in the House of Assembly next week.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Mr. Scott said last night: "The Party felt it was in possession of significant new information that warranted both discussion with, and a response from, the Governor, the constitutional head of the Bermuda Police Service.'' They were told Lord Waddington supported the Police proposals and will now seek a meeting with Mr. Edness and possibly the Premier, David Saul.

"We want now to discuss this soberly and privately with Mr. Edness. I would not like to pre-empt anything but there may be a compromise,'' added Mr.

Scott.

However, yesterday at a Press conference with Police Commissioner, Mr. Colin Coxall, Mr. Edness said: "From what has been recommended it is important that these posts be made redundant. To that extent the decision is irreversible.'' He did not rule out a meeting with the PLP but warned he would not be made a "pawn in the game''.

The decision to trim the three Assistant Commissioners posts to one was made public about four months ago in the Bermuda Police Service -- Service Strategy. Currently Mr. Perinchief, 54, is in charge of crime and Mr. Harold Moniz, 56, is in charge of uniform officers. The other post was being filled on a temporary basis.

The crime and uniform posts will be merged to form an assistant commissioner (operations) who will have a "hands on'' approach to Policing. A civilian is to be employed to deal with administration.

It was felt the all-round experience of Mr. Moniz was better qualified than Mr. Perinchief who has spent the majority of his career in CID.

Redundancy deals are now being worked out and it is thought Mr. Perinchief has been offered a package worth around $220,000.

It is also made clear in the Strategy that other Police posts will be axed and replaced by civilians with the officers redeployed to fight crime.

Mr. Edness said: "The choice was made simply and solely on the basis of ability.

"The choice was made by the people who are in the best possible position to be able to judge the ability of the two men concerned and I will back their decision to the hilt.'' He said the PLP welcomed the Service Strategy and went on the attack saying Mr. Scott's criticisms were "cynical in the extreme''.

"I deny flatly and absolutely that there is any racial motive at work here.'' He said by playing politics in the past "we Bermudians, all of us, got ourselves in a mess'' and were forced to hire Mr. Coxall and his deputy, Mr.

Michael Mylod.

"We have asked this man (Mr. Coxall) to do a job for us. Now we must trust him to do what is right for Bermuda and the Police Service, let him get on with it and give him support.'' Mr. Coxall added: "I have looked at both individuals and their qualifications and decided that Mr. Moniz has better qualifications for the remaining post of Assistant Commissioner of operations.

"On occasion the politics get in the way and slows my job down, but I have to live with that,'' said the Commissioner.