A top Policeman axed from the Service is a victim of racism, a shadow minister claimed at the weekend.

Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott said that Assistant Commissioner Wayne Perinchief did nothing wrong except "be born black'' in Bermuda.

But Home Affairs Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness condemned Mr. Scott for" making this appear to be a racial thing''.

But last night the NLP added its voice to the growing chorus of criticism of Mr. Perinchief's redundancy.

Acting public relations officer Mr. Charles Jeffers said:"The NLP is very concerned about what we see as reverses in Bermudianisation. Not only have we gone back to the old position of having a foreigner as Police Commissioner, we have added a foreign Deputy Commissioner.'' Mr. Jeffers said the NLP was not against any changes that would improve the Police Service.

But he said there were several questions that Mr. Edness needed to answer such as why Mr. Perinchief was disqualified when he had pursued further education on his own initiative and was a veteran of 31 years.

Also he asked if there were any Bermudians being groomed for the top positions.

He said the NLP also wanted to know why Assistant Commissioner Moniz who was older and less qualified than Mr. Perinchief still allowed to stay on.

Mr. Scott compared Mr. Perinchief to former Assistant Cabinet Secretary Mr.

John Drinkwater, who was named Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs last week, saying: "If we were to hear today of Captain Drinkwater's career being made redundant -- it just couldn't happen in Bermuda, it wouldn't happen in Bermuda.'' But Mr. Scott said: "It was nothing he did but be born black in Bermuda, because someone, somewhere, was able to say he was going to make this a leaner, meaner organisation.

"We support that, but we will never support the symbolic trashing of a man's career at a time when all black Bermudians, when all young Bermudians, were looking for someone to believe in.'' Mr. Scott added that the end of Mr. Perinchief's career in the Police would be a blow to a service already suffering from low morale and would discourage recruitment.

He said: "People will laugh at the young Policeman and woman who go into the service -- when will their careers be ended?'' Mr. Scott added that Mr. Edness had warned that there would be more shocks to come in the Police restructuring programme.

And he said that if officers of Mr. Perinchief's experience and calibre were not safe, all officers would now be fearing for their futures.

Mr. Scott said that he was not speaking on behalf of Mr. Perinchief, but "for the Country''.

He added: "This is a tragedy, not just for Mr. Perinchief, but for the Country and those who will come behind him.

"The Minister has said things will get worse before they get better. We must not follow this path. We must not throw our children out.'' He added: "I ask the Governor, I ask the Commissioner, to pause and rethink what they are doing.'' But Mr. Edness said that Mr. Scott had failed to mention that another senior officer, Supt. George Rose -- who is white -- was also being made redundant.

He said: "If you start to make this appear it is a racial thing which is taking place...that will not serve any useful purpose.

"If you compromise, you might as well throw up your hands and go back to an inefficient service which is not able to cope with crime in this community.

"This has to be done and if you stand firm and treat people fairly then we will have the kind of Police service which will contain crime.'' And Mr. Edness apologised for saying things would "get worse before they got better.'' He said: "I meant some will be have to be redeployed and some will be given other options. I wish to withdraw the statement that things are going to get worse before they get better.''