Government was rocked by a political thunderbolt yesterday after a Canadian suddenly quit his $74,000-a-year Police job.

Byron Rafuse ended his three-year contract as finance and administration manager after just two days, blaming "personal reasons''.

Now another non-Bermudian is likely to be appointed within two months to replace Mr. Rafuse.

Yesterday, Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness said Mr. Rafuse's shock departure was a blow to Bermuda.

"It is very unfortunate and is going to set us back.'' His Shadow counterpart Alex Scott said serious issues and questions were raised, including: The contract breach highlighted the importance of recruiting personnel in Bermuda; Would Mr. Rafuse pay a penalty for breach of contract?; and How much had Police Commissioner Colin Coxall's shake-up of the Service cost Bermuda? Mr. Edness, however, struck back: "Mr. Scott has to make everything political.

"Instead of crowing about the Police and their administration problems, let me hear him say something about crime. Then I will take him seriously.

"He should pick on the criminals, instead of picking on the Police.'' Mr. Edness said the Coxall strategy was already reaping rewards with falling crime figures.

"The benefits are there to see with an excellent fight being put up against crime.'' Mr. Rafuse started on Monday in his civilian job, working directly under Deputy Commissioner Michael Mylod, who had described the appointment as "absolutely key'' for the Service.

The appointment was one of several civilian management posts created by Mr.

Coxall as part of plans to divert officers away from desk jobs into mainstream Police work.

Mr. Rafuse was the first Canadian to work for the Bermuda Police Service, with other overseas appointments being made from Britain.

A single man, he had a three-year contract, handling a wide-ranging portfolio.

The Nova Scotia Justice Department official was responsible for matters including financial planning, strategic planning, budgeting and management of resources and administration.

He was also responsible for developing a new computerised financial record-keeping system.

In a brief statement yesterday, the Police said Mr. Rafuse had been "obliged to terminate his contract and return to his native Canada because of pressing domestic circumstances. Arrangements are now in hand to appoint a replacement''.

Mr. Mylod later stressed Mr. Rafuse's departure had nothing to do with the political controversy over his appointment.

"I can tell you categorically that the reason for his premature departure and breach of contract is for pressing personal, domestic circumstances.'' He said Mr. Rafuse arrived in Bermuda last Thursday and had settled in.

"He was at work on Monday and Tuesday. It was on Monday night this particular crisis broke.'' Canadian quits top Police post Mr. Mylod explained Mr. Rafuse would not have to pay any penalty -- other than the cost of travel and transferring his belongings.

It had been agreed Mr. Rafuse, who had now left the Island, would not be paid for the two days he worked.

Mr. Mylod said the second and third choices for the job -- a Canadian and a Briton -- would now be approached.

"It could take up to two months for the new appointment to be made.'' Yesterday, Mr. Scott said of Mr. Rafuse's departure: "I think it underscores the importance of us recruiting in Bermuda because we inherit a multiplicity of problems when we recruit overseas, especially for posts that could be filled here.

"It raises the question of what are the terms of the contract Mr. Rafuse has breached.

"Surely under the contractual arrangement there is an indebtedness to Police Service since we have had little or no benefit from Mr. Rafuse's services.

"If the administrative shoe was on the other foot, Bermuda would have to provide a golden handshake.'' Mr. Scott said Mr. Edness also had to address the question of Mr. Mylod "breaking his contract prematurely''.

"I think he leaves shortly. Mr. Mylod was supposed to be here two years, and he may make one-and-a-half years. "It has cost us to get talent out here and house them, and now Mr. Mylod and Mr. Rafuse are leaving. What recompense will Bermuda get? "Again the Minister must answer and reflect on Mr. Coxall's strategy.'' Mr. Scott said a group of senior officers recently went to Government House to raise concerns about the strategy.

"What has happened to the representation they made to the Governor? I heard they were promised a response from the Governor and did not receive one.'' Mr. Scott also voiced concern at the cost of Coxall's shake-up of the Service, which led to a lawsuit after former Assistant Commissioner Wayne Perinchief lost his job.

"That court case could prove costly.'' He added: "My final point is this. The Coxall administration has been given far more budgetary support than that given to previous Police Commissioners who complained they did not have enough resources.

"We now request that the Minister respond and gives an accounting of how much the implementation of the Coxall strategy has cost us to date.'' Mr. Edness, however, advised Mr. Scott to keep politics out of Mr. Rafuse's departure.

"He shouldn't say anything. He should simply recognise it as something that happens.

"He shouldn't attempt to make any political mileage about it. If he does that, more fool him.'' Mr. Edness did not believe Mr. Rafuse should be penalised for breach of contract.

"The man could not take this job for serious reasons. We are not a monster Government.

"We are going to let him go. I certainly don't advocate him paying a major penalty.

"We should concentrate on getting someone else. We wish to recruit Bermudians, but we need to get a person in place so we can continue our training of Bermudians.

"I don't know why Mr. Scott is making a big thing of this. It happens in employment. "It's unfortunate that it's going to set us back, but the same thing could have happened to a Bermudian. Sometimes Bermudians can't go through with their commitments.'' Of Mr. Mylod's proposed departure, Mr. Edness said: "There is no penalty with him leaving.

"Every contract has an out, and he gave us notice.'' He added: "I'm sorry to lose Mr. Mylod, who has done an outstanding job. I would like to thank him for what he has done.''