The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal of more than a dozen police officers who claimed they were sent on forced vacation by the Antigua and Barbuda authorities in 2006.

The 18 police officers, including acting Commissioner Rawlston Pompey, his deputy, James Hill, and Assistant Commissioner Phillip Isaac, had asked the court to rule that the action of the government and the Police Service Commission was unlawful and that they should be compensated.

Former prime minister Lester Bird had termed as unfair and politically motivated, the action against the police officers. Bird said it was believed that many of those who were sent on leave were affiliated with the opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP).

The officers said they were humi-liated and suffered indignity in the manner in which they were sent on vacation, with some alleging that they received letters close to midnight on May 20, 2006, directing them to proceed on immediate vacation.

Attorney for appellants, Cosbert Cumberbatch, in addressing the three-panel court comprising Chief Justice Hugh Rawlins and Justices Michael Gordon and Errol Thomas, said some of the offers sent on leave did not have the accumulated 90 days and that they had not applied for any vacation at the time.