that Det. Supt. Wayne Perinchief was demoted and passed over for promotion.

The claims have reportedly been made by several people, including an unidentified letter writer to The Bermuda Times.

In the letter, signed "Hypocrites All, Qualified Bermudians Beware'', the writer claimed Det. Supt. Perinchief was relieved of his duties as acting Assistant Commissioner of the CID (Criminal Investigations Department) last month "for no valid reason''.

The writer also said Det. Supt. Perinchief had been replaced "in the former acting rank'' by Det. Supt. Andrew Bermingham -- "a less qualified British national''.

And he or she claimed: "Bermudians on the Force are upset because Perinchief, who is an indigenous Bermudian, is said to be the most qualified person in the Police Service and has attained a Master's Degree.'' "He apparently has more qualifications than the present Commissioner,'' the writer stated.

But while Mr. Edwards admitted that Det. Supt. Perinchief was "well qualified'' in his position as superintendent in charge of CID and "continued to serve the force extremely well'', he told The Royal Gazette : "I can produce a list of numerous officers who entered the Force with degrees or attained them while here.

"The Police Force right now is filled with officers who have academic qualifications.'' "In fact,'' he added, "we have a constable who has a doctorate. And I would hope that people like him someday will not only be promoted to sergeants but higher.'' But Mr. Edwards also stressed that Det. Supt. Perinchief was not demoted and was still on the short list of applicants for the post of Assistant Commissioner that is expected to be filled before year end.

Explaining that officers were not kept in an acting position for long periods because it could give them a false sense of security, Mr. Edwards said Det.

Supt. Perinchief was told this when he was replaced as acting Assistant Commissioner by Det. Supt. Bermingham after about eight months.

Det. Supt. Perinchief had taken over the acting post from Det. Supt. Campbell Simons who filled the post for some seven months, Mr. Edwards added.

And he said if the post was not filled by year end, Det. Supt. Bermingham could expect to be replaced.

"Nobody's being shortchanged,'' he stressed. "Det. Supt. Perinchief is a fine officer, like the other officers (who applied for the post).'' Det. Supt. Perinchief, Det. Supt. Simons, Det. Supt. Bermingham, along with Det. Supt. George Rose, and Det. Supt. Alan Bissell have all appeared before the Public Service Commission this summer, Mr. Edwards said.

Their applications are still being considered by the Commission.

Mr. Edwards added that all of the above officers were Bermudians.

"Det. Supt. Perinchief and Det. Supt. Simons are born Bermudians and the other three are status Bermudians and all have served on the Force some 30 year,'' he said.

Det. Supt. Wayne Perinchief.