Throne Speech: Pledge To End Conscription

November 2, 2012

[Updated with video] During this morning’s [Nov 2] Throne Speech, the Governor said the Defence Act 1965 will be amended to end conscription.

The Governor said: “The strength of the organisation makes it ideally suited for modernisation and the further amend the Defence Act 1965 to provide for an expanded full-time element in the Regiment and an end to conscription.

“The focus of a 21st Century Bermuda Regiment will be on an enhanced maritime role, greater engagement in border control and increased operations with the other uniformed services.”

“The timetable for the end of conscription and the transition to a modernised Regiment will be set out in 2013 by the Ministry of National Security.”

The policy of conscripting young men to serve in the Bermuda Regiment has been in the news for some time, with the group Bermudians Against the Draft [BAD] leading the anti-conscription movement. BAD took the case against conscription all the way to the British Privy Council, which upheld conscription in 2010.

The Premier had indicated this last month, saying they are “committed” to “move away from mandated conscription”.

Update: National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief speaking on the matter at the post-speech press conference:

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Comments (29)

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  1. Sandgrownan says:

    Hmmmm…not before time, but a standing “army” or other force is hugely expensive.

  2. 1minute says:

    Anyone else smell an election?
    This is more like electioneering than a throne speech…

  3. Ha! says:

    “The policy of conscripting young men to serve in the Bermuda Regiment has been in the news for some time….”

    and Now you want to end conscription? I smell and election….and a whole pile of BS just to get votes.

    • frank says:

      you know you asked for it to end they said they will end it and you are still grumling stop being so dammm stupid

      • frankly dear says:

        So why exactly did this government waste hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting it and let it go to the privy council in 2010, if they were against it????? I smell a rat, or maybe just the smell of incompetance!

  4. SB NINJA says:

    i do beleive that both sides are preparing for an election, and will say anything to get your votes….. you only have 2 minutes or less of democracy every 5 yrs and that is when you step into the booth to place your vote. So no sense complaining.

  5. Triangle Drifter says:

    My my my, all of the election candy is being thrown out on the street. Watch out. It is really poison.

  6. Really? says:

    so what are you gonna do for or give to all us young men who went before this? I wasted portions of 3 years of my life for this backwards, outdated establishment???

    To be honest the young people of today (IDIOTS) need this discipline a lot more then my generation did…

  7. Pastor Syl Hayward says:

    Working hard to get your vote…

  8. Pastor Syl Hayward says:

    Except the actual end won’t be any time real soon:

    “The timetable for the end of conscription and the transition to a modernised Regiment will be set out in 2013 by the Ministry of National Security.”

    So we will get a “timetable” next year. Not an actual end.

  9. Vote For Me Blah Blah Blah says:

    Of course its obvious electioneering ploy. Its really farcical beyond comical.

  10. Truth is killin' me... says:

    Yeaaaaaaaaaah right…you must take me for a fool…”FOOL ME ONCE SHAME ON YOU…FOOL ME TWICE SHAME ON ME…BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD ALL DE WAY!!!!

  11. Blankman says:

    Just how long have the PLP been in power? When you answer that question you might want to ask why they’ve waited for the eve on an elecion to make this promise (and while you’re at it, ask yourself if they’ve ever made the same promise before).

  12. Judge Dredd says:

    What you buffoons seemed to have missed in your drunken rage is that the GOVERNOR said it. The GOVERNOR is not the GOVERNMENT.

    • MPP says:

      Here’s your homework: Go find out who writes the throne speech.

    • Truth (Original) says:

      That’s unfortunate that you said that. The Governor only reads the speech that is prepared by the Government.

      Fact.

    • frankly dear says:

      Read carefully Judge dread…..The Premier had indicated this last month, saying they are “committed” to “move away from mandated conscription”. Who’s the Buffoon now.

    • Mad Dawg says:

      You really are an idiot.

  13. Keepin' it Real...4Real! says:

    i didnt hear anything about decriminalizing marijuana…did you..?
    boy if they really wanna clinch it thats the way to go…so much more.

    • Come Correct says:

      Far too much revenue to be made there, plus they would have to be the ones to admitt people have been lie to about the plant for the last century. The funny thing is anyone with that as their platform is going to get majority of votes anyway. I know unregistered weed smokers that would go register just to vote for that, not to mention at least half this islands native population smokes. In Bermuda you pay $150 for 7grams of crap, in the states you pay around $120 for medical grade. Could you imagine the revenue the government would make by regulating it, and the revenue the illegal drug trade would lose! Now consider the amount of jobs it would create, especially if we processed the hemp. Anyone can grow weed, literally, if you could provide the nutrients it will grow in sand. Then you need security, workers in the dispenceries, workers to build secure facilities, workers to process the hemp and create products that we could potentially EXPORT. The list goes on. Tourists would flock here for the island life and to smoke without persecution. The US is doing it, select European countries are jumping on the wagon, why is Bermuda always behind? Always following the leaders rather than creating something of our own. They say America will disown us, I call BS, medical marijuana has been sweeping their nation for over two decades…oh wait…I’m talking to myself again… I can dream though…

  14. stillpulse! says:

    Superpowers gotta plan to undermine third world men,….hi tax and cutbacks for military defense……….touch of a button fingertip control….the list goes on…so we’ve been told..

  15. Prayerful says:

    Judge Dredd, I am surprised at you for thinking that the Governor actually came up with all the stuff. He just read it!

  16. Hayward says:

    I believe we need these young people (boys & girls) to go into the army more than ever before. What other discipline do they have? None at home, none at school, no respect for themselves; let alone others. At least the army gives them a way to learn that life isn’t all about them. They need time away from their comfort zones, tv, movies, bb’s, their friends and families to perhaps learn to appreciate what it’s like not to have everything they want (for a few weeks!) and to get up early and learn some life-skills? What’s wrong with that? We have a handful of whining parents who don’t want “Johnny” to be shouted at? boo! hoo! It’s exactly what they need – a wake-up call!

  17. watchfuleyes says:

    The handwriting is on the wall, conscription will end, just a matter of time now- so why doesn’t the govt save the country the money they are paying through the courts, since now they say they want to ‘end conscription’, yeah right

  18. hmmm says:

    judge dread u are funny bie…..