local protests over the recent hiring of two English officers as Bermuda's top cops that he has offered to submit a 5,000-signature petition to the proper UK authorities, Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade revealed yesterday.

"He (Mr. Grant) has already tabled questions in Parliament and received a response from the Foreign and Commonwealth junior minister Mr. Tony Baldry,'' Mr. Wade, who has spearheaded the campaign against the hirings, said in a statement.

"Additionally, Mr. Grant will be seeking clarification for the reasons that the Bermuda Governor and Government chose to go overseas to secure Bermuda's top cops...(and) querying the difference between the Commissioner designate Colin Coxall and the retiring Commissioner Lennett Edwards.'' Added Mr. Wade: "(Mr. Grant) was so impressed with the reported strengthening of the support for the protest against the hiring of the two UK officers that he has offered to come to Bermuda personally, collect the petition and present it to the appropriate authorities in the UK.'' Mr. Grant -- an MP for the British riding of Tottenham -- has been a vocal critic of the hirings since he received a call for help on the matter from the Progressive Labour Party.

The party, which has circulated the petition that Mr. Grant has offered to take back to England, has argued that the post being vacated by Mr. Edwards should have gone to one of two Bermudian Assistant Commissioners, Mr. Wayne Perinchief or Mr. Harold Moniz.

The Governor, who is responsible for the ultimate hiring decision, announced last week that Deputy City of London Commissioner Mr. Coxall had been chosen to lead the Bermuda Force for the next three years.

Grant to submit petition Lord Waddington added on Monday that Mr. Michael Mylod -- second in command of the English county of Hampshire's 3,000-strong Police force -- would take over from Deputy Police Commissioner Mr. Alex Forbes, who is also retiring.

Last week, Mr. Grant said the decision to seek replacements abroad was an attempt to "recolonialise'' Bermuda and smacked of racism.

Mr. Wade added yesterday that the MP, who was labelled a "rabble rouser'' when he spoke at the PLP's Founders Day Banquet five years ago, will continue to press Mr. Baldry on the matter by probing "deeper into the financial and contractual arrangements between the Bermuda Government'' and the two incoming officers.

In the meantime, the Opposition Leader issued his own fighting words yesterday, saying the hiring controversy had "left a bitter taste in the mouths of most Bermudians'' and questioning the "Constitutional validity'' of Mr. Coxall's confirmation.

"(I have) grave misgivings over the manner in which the Governor held the Bermuda Constitution in contempt and the Public Service Commission under `house arrest' during the so-called period of free and independent consultation as set out in Section 87 of the Constitution,'' Mr. Wade said in his statement.

"His Excellency had volunteered that he stood `outside the door' while PSC (members) allegedly conferred among themselves.'' The PSC, which advises the Governor on public appointments, has rejected the Opposition's charges of yea-saying, claiming it was consulted on Government's plan to hire foreigners "for a specified period of time'' and the reasons for which it was doing so.

A short list of candidates had been presented to Lord Waddington after Labour and Home Affairs Minister the Hon. John Irving Pearman and Deputy Governor Mr.

Peter Willis met with eight applicants in London earlier this month.

But Mr. Wade said yesterday that the "secrecy surrounding the Grundy report to the Governor and the bold contradictions being offered as explanations for Mr. John Irving Pearman's involvement in the recruitment of the two foreigners'' had resulted in strong public support for the PLP's petition.