two British officers to fill the top positions on the Bermuda Police Force.

With Police Commissioner Mr. Lennett (Lennie) Edwards retiring on March 1 due to illness, and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Alex Forbes leaving at the same time, Government stated that they had to make the decision to "break the tradition'' and hire from abroad.

But the PLP is asking the Governor and the UBP Government to immediately take steps to review their "controversial decision to re-colonialise the hierarchy of the Bermuda Police Force.'' The party added: "In view the of the PLP there exists sufficient depth of talent and experience among the current ranks to provide the Bermuda Police Force with a solid leadership team. The PLP has learned that the senior command course at the Police Staff College at Bramshill in the UK has been operating for more than 30 years, and has been available to Bermuda all this time.'' The PLP also said that while it is known in Bermuda that the Police Force of England and Wales send their inspectors and superintendents to Bramshill to prepare them for senior command, it has not been used by the Governor and the UBP Government.

"It is instructive to note that while the former commissioner Clive Donald and deputy commissioner Alex Forbes did not go to Bramshill, commissioners Frederick (Penny) Bean and Lennett (Lennie) Edwards and assistant commissioner Harold Moniz did attend the college,'' the party said. It added that assistant commissioner Wayne Perinchief attended the college on his own expense and initiative because of a Police policy decision not to send any more local officers to Bramshill despite the fact that it was mandatory for senior British officers "like the two that Government is proposing to recruit.

"In addition while it is known that Mr. Moniz and Mr. Perinchief have over 60 years of Police experience between them they both also reportedly have academic achievements that previous commissioners and deputy commissioners did not possess,'' the PLP said.

It added that this strongly suggested to the PLP that these two officers and others currently with the Bermuda Police Force "must be considered as serious candidates for these two posts.''