suing the Government.

The officers, whose jobs were terminated in March by Police Commissioner Mr.

Lennet Edwards, are suing the Attorney General.

Mr. Edwards axed the jobs of 21 British and West Indian Policemen to fulfil Government-imposed budget cuts.

Lawyer Mr. Saul Froomkin yesterday said grounds for the suit centred on the legal concept of "negligence misrepresentation.'' In an earlier interview, he told The Royal Gazette the suit would centre on "the fact that their (five-year) contracts were not renewed based on certain premises.'' The writ was filed as Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman told the House of Assembly on Monday that non-Bermudian officers might have to be hired this year despite the cuts made last year.

He told Parliamentarians the Police Service was stretched last year, with increases in violent crime.

Mr. Pearman also said the 1993 cuts were part of an effort to Bermudianise the Police force.

The Minister said Government would continue to push for the hiring of Bermudians. However, Bermudianisation had sharply lowered the average age of the force, and it might be necessary to hire experienced officers from abroad this year.