Suspended Sentence For Absentee Soldier
Magistrate Archie Warner this morning [June 9] sentenced Bermuda Regiment soldier Pte Joshua Kent Tweed to six months in prison [suspended] for failing to attend for military duties on thirty two separate occasions between 25th March and 8th September 2010. Mr Tweed had pleaded guilty to the charge.
The sentence was suspended for twelve months which means that if Pte Tweed is brought back before the Magistrate on any offence within the next twelve months, he may be sent to prison.
In his defence Mr Tweed said that he had sustained an injury to his right ankle, and that he had a letter from his doctor that said that he should be excused. Questioned by the Magistrate, Mr Tweed said that his injury happened 9th September 2010, that his doctor’s letter covered the period September to December 2010, and that he had not brought the letter with him.
Asked what he had been doing since September 2010, Mr Tweed told the Magistrate that he had been working. Asked why he had not attended for military duties, Mr Tweed told the Magistrate that no one from the Regiment had contacted him.
Bermuda Regiment Adjutant, Captain Ben Beasley, informed the Magistrate that prior to March 2010, Mr Tweed had been disciplined, for absence, on four separate occasions; and that so for he had completed a total of only 14 drills whereas the annual requirement was for a minimum of 40 drills per year. The Magistrate was told that Pte Tweed was enlisted in 2008 and still has one year’s service left.
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It’s time for the regiment to change their “hiring” practices and get rid of the draft. With unemployment at current levels they could fill their ranks with willing soldiers who would probably do a better job than the paid slaves they have now.
Define slaves “Mate”. Are you talking black history or just slavery per sey.
slaves as in forced laborers. is there anywhere else in Bermuda that uses conscription? as an active soldier, I would rather not have most of my time up camp wasted and lose the income.
look into the regiment’s yearly performance targets, they hardly exist!
so many people use the argument that the regiment provides discipline and leadership, isn’t that what the school system is for? if they were educators they should be teaching in the classroom.
I agree with you about face. The regiment’s standard argument of providing discipline for young men in Bermuda is total nonsense. Two weeks of yelling at a 18-20 year old man is not going to suddenly change him. This money would be so much better invested in Big Brothers and the Mirrors programs, actually providing young men in Bermuda genuine role models at an age that will actually influence. Instead we wash 8.3 million dollars a year down the drain for something that is too little too late. I would guarantee that we could establish a separate hurricane relief/riot control unit, remove the useless parading, spend the remainder shoring up institutions that provide actual support for young men who need discipline and guidance (through the aforementioned programs and educational support) and get far better results from it.
Bermuda is not the only place with conscription, Switzerland and Singapore also have drafts, but their military’s are serious institutions. Ours is a place for a bunch of middle aged men to play dress up and collect and easy second paycheck.
@About face and thoughts
I couldn’t agree with you more. I feel that the regiment is a complete waste of Bermudas time and money. Why cut the budget for transport, education etc. when there are millions being invested into the regiment that really do nothing for Bermuda?
I think people who feel the same way we do, need to start banding together and do something to either have the regiment disbanded, or get rid of the drafting process.
8 million for Regiment !!! 2 million for college educations??? seems like these government leaders are betting on us young men to fail
Instead of staying after work some nights and studying for my professional designation I have to go to the regiment and sit around and DO NOTHING of value for my community.
Instead of studying on some weekends for my professional designation I have to go to weekend camp and DO NOTHING of value for my community.
And then afterwards I’m too tired to study because they’ve run me around and made me do pushups and situps because some jacka** wouldn’t pay attention.
I’d rather volunteer in the community and ACTUALLY HELP BERMUDIANS…not get yelled at by some guy in a uniform who thinks he’s a boss.
Or how about we as Bermudians encourage and assist our youth in their professional development beginning with changes to our education system in order to better prepare young Bermudians for our rapidly changing business environment?
Perhaps I’m asking too much…
There’s A LOT of changes that need to be made to “the system”, but it’s human nature to resist change.
Some of these changes that I’ve alluded to:
Euthanasia laws need to be adjusted because it should be a legal option once quality of life has been depleted. We say it’s the “HUMANE” thing to do when we put our pets to sleep because their quality of life has deteriorated, but we can’t treat our “HUMAN” family members with the same decency.
Conscription should be illegal because it interferes with a person’s natural human rights. Nuff said.
Marijuana laws need to be amended because they are failed policy and in my opinion they also interfere with a person’s natural human rights. How am I allowed to go out and buy as much alcohol and cigarettes (which are both man-made DRUGS) as I like and get completely inebriated (at which point “my” actions are now out of “my” control), but I can’t smoke or even eat some weed that could be grown naturally on my own PRIVATE property?! By making marijuana illegal it puts more money into the hands of criminals…some of which are in our own government…hmmm I wonder why it’s still illegal? With medical marijuana laws in the United States progressing rapidly, why aren’t we being progressive too? Afterall, isn’t our government run by the PROGRESSIVE labour party?
Open your mind and you might see, a better world for you and me.
damn my brother you got a little off topic but preach on!!
Well said!
Progressive Mind. Nah….never mind. Your too busy and can’t multitask. Shame….
The army was designed to capture young black Bermudians while the young white ones go off to college and skip this so called “discipline” the army supposedly gives you.
Then when you dont go to army, BANG !!! ANOTHER REASON TO LOCK OUR BLACK ASSES UP !!!
Get my drift?
funny this white ass came back from college and ended up regiment………
Lay off the Ganja, mon. This white Bermudian went to college then got called up as soon as I got back. There’s many more like me too. I dont care either way whether you agree with the regiment, thats your prerogative, but dont make it something it isnt.
So IGNORANT race-driven comments are cool on Bernews?
Lotta whinging here.
Yep! I someone tells you to eat Sh!t you should just get on with it and lick the bowl clean. Thats the attitude from the likes of you and the leaders of the Bermuda (joke of a) Regiment. Freedom of speech, movement! Don’t be so foolish, no good has ever come from someone protesting or even discussing social progression. Now stop whining about the whiners!
The regiment is a waste of time and keeps a lot of smart bermudians out of the country. There has got to be a better way to spend the taxpayers dollars other than making people do push ups for not having clean shoes
Maybe if some you whiners stopped whining while you were there, you might get something out of it.
In less than 6 months he missed it 32 times… he needs to make up that time…
Hmm. I understand that if you have to do something you do it, and since the regiment is part of our defense act there is a legal responsibility for this man to do his time (or make up for the times that he skipped). I was drafted and am doing my time. To be honest, it has made me less disciplined in the long run. It has also taken time away from my volunteering as a Big Brother and from my studies (since I already have a college degree I was denied permission to take additional study leave to further educate myself, meaning a job that I should soon be qualified for will go to an expat).
I have learned that it is easier to beg forgiveness/play dumb than ask permission. I have learned that it is easier to hide your talents as it will create less work for you. The regiment has showed me that the only prerequisite for moving up through the ranks is being there for longer, as opposed to demonstrating talent/ability.
Some things have been good about the regiment. As David Burch has said numerous times “regiment is the ultimate racial equalizer”, I agree with that. It brings together Bermudians of all races and social backgrounds and that is a giant benefit to this island. But does it have to be in a negative setting? Why must young black and white men be forced together to do our “civic duty” as opposed to doing something genuinely positive for the island. Do not try to tell me it is for hurricane relief, as a group could be established far more efficiently to do that job.
Instead why don’t we bring young black and white men together through the National Service Plan (I believe that is what it was called), where we can achieve something tangibly beneficial for the island. Instead of having us learn to clean our rifles, have us provide tutoring services up at Warwick Camp free of charge (we have some of the brightest minds in the world, who have been educated at quality institutions currently doing their time). Instead of having us camp in the bush, have us clean up our beaches to improve our tourist product. Instead
I am not whining. I am doing my time, but wish to see a better Bermuda and will continue to do so long after I finish this farce called the Bermuda Regiment.
‘Thoughts’ are you serious? White guys finish last, can’t jump but always turn up. Where your logic…..
Oh thats right. They have a silover spoon stuck up their ass.
Terry get off the insults and listen to the logic of thoughts….there’s some actual good in what he has to say!
First mistake is joining in the first place. Personally I objected to wasting my time there, and had myself placed on the conscientious objector list. They bully you until you give in and join, then they have you. If you have the self discipline to resist and the conviction and courage to endure anything they will throw at you then there really isn’t anything they could teach you anyway. Perhaps this young man really just wants more discipline and wants to take it to the next level and get locked up for a while…
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A conscientious objector (CO) is an “individual [who has] claimed the right to refuse to perform military service”[1] on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion.[2]
In some countries, conscientious objectors are assigned to an alternative civilian service as a substitute for conscription or military service. Some conscientious objectors consider themselves pacifist, non-interventionist, non-resistant, or antimilitarist.
The international definition of conscientious objection officially broadened on March 8, 1995 when the United Nations Commission on Human Rights resolution 1995/83 stated that “persons performing military service should not be excluded from the right to have conscientious objections to military service.”[3] That definition was re-affirmed in 1998, when the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights document called “Conscientious objection to military service, United Nations Commission on Human Rights resolution 1998/77″ officially recognized that “persons [already] performing military service may develop conscientious objections.”[4][5][6][7]
All power to Bermudians Against the Draft. Bermuda has suffered under conscription longer in the past than it will in the future.
Please vist http://www.draftresistance.org for more info on their struggle.
I did my time and I was studying for my professional designations, I applied for deferral due to exams which were in a January window during camp and they made me delay taking them so I could attend camp ( I was 28 years old!). All in all I recon it added about 2 years onto me achieving my designation due to time wasted sitting in the bushes and waiting, a lot of waiting, there is no organization less efficient or professional than the Bermuda regiment. I had very little free time and I must admit, as a young professional trying to get ahead the only thing the regiment really did was stop me progressing as quickly as my expat colleagues, so as a young Bermudian the regiment was detrimental to my career. I really did not need it at all. Make it professional, there is a recession and people need the jobs right now. W&E employees will need the overtime hours to clear up storms. We should not rely on cheap forced labor as disaster relief in this present economic climate. Nor should we spend $8m plus on an annual basis in order to make the likes of Gonsalves and Co happy they can still play soldier on Tax payer’s money. Camps abroad for 3 weeks, how much does that cost? Combat training for what? We would be crushed like flies against any professional force. Riots, when? If they did happen then what are the police for? The British Government would have Soldiers here in a heartbeat to deal with the problem, professional soldiers. It is useless and ridiculous and only feeds the ego’s of the people who love to berate young men. The regiment claims to do so much good for the Bermudian male, well why do we have big social problems with young Bermudian males in that target bracket? It proves no positive results. END CONSCRIPTION, REFORM THE REGIMENT!
The only ones that complain about the Regiment are the LAZY ASS DREGS OF SOCIETY!!!
Normally I would not waste time responding to an ignorant and gutless person who writes under a pen name for the obvious reason. I’ve found that pen names engender cowardliness as well as embolden punks who otherwise keep quiet.
However there comes a time when one must respond to ignorance in order that common sense prevails. And seeing that this person has decided to shoot arrows in the dark it is indeed necessary to respond.
First I take offence to such an insult being used to describe young men who are modern day freedom fighters and have courageously stood up for what they believe.
Second they are an no way as__s as they all possess an intellect far superior to that of this so called “truth is killin me” which is an apt pen name as the truth is indeed killing him/ her.
As far as being lazy nothing could be further from the truth as these individuals work tirelessly on behalf of all young men to bring freedom to our country. Look at the volunteer resume of Jamal Hartman. Do you think anyone who is lazy can run from Somerset to town in 72 minutes? That is Larry and Lamont Marshall.
These are all individuals gainfully employed who dare to make a difference and have the guts to PUBLICLY stand up for what they believe. This puts miles between them and the aforementioned coward who writes in the shadows.
To Bernews perhaps such insulting comments should only be allowed if the person writing them signs their real name.
Mr. Marshall,
Thank you for this submission. Very poignant points have been made. Consequently, whilst I admire your candor to come the defense/defence as head of BAD, I am inclined to think that with the latest turn of events and actions of members at the latest tribunal, the behavior of such doesn’t exemplify men who are conscientitous objectors but more or less angry men popping off at the mouth.
All in all, (from a woman’s perspective) I will never understand what many of these men endure. However, it does beg me to question and ask some of the male bloggers if the regiment is such of a waste of time and caused one to sacrifice his time why did many of you continue to follow through (just a question)? If you have completed your time, then why not join the likes of BAD and express your concerns to support BAD and exposing the inner workings? To me, there’s nothing more transparent than having the support of former members who agree that BAD and their members should continue to the fight?
Now, I will agree that there are a number of educated minds from all races and ethnicities that the regiment forces (indirectly) to meet due to the nature of conscriptive laws. What I have yet to hear is whether you or addtional members with the exception of a few bloggers have actually implemented a replacement program or challenging the law here in Bermuda to change (a bit vague in my description but I am specifically referring to those that can amend/abolish/etc) to replace with a revised National Plan and under that umbrella the division of Military Defence can be used to employ others in a hands-on career that supports projects like hurricane relief, etc (I hope you get the jist).
And playing devil’s advocate, perhaps the Regiment should hire the Marshall Brothers to implement a fitness plan for its staff. I will agree that the shape or brand of company stars with the imagery/look.
Current motto of the Bermuda Regiment “Train hard, fight easy”
Should be “Hurry up and wait!”
I was there doing my time nearly twenty years ago and from what I’ve read above, not a lot has changed unfortunately. Just a bunch of loudmouthed dumbasses shouting and swearing at conscripts because it’s their idea of enjoyment, a hobby of sorts. Something they do to wind down after a day’s work.
As for the silly racial stuff, when I was there it was disproportionately black, but there were more than a couple rich white boys there doing their time as well as college degree holders from all colours. I never thought about the regiment not getting a budget cut, but $8 million can pay a lot of guys to clear roads after a hurricane with a lot of change left over.
If the regiment’s role is internal security and can’t be sent overseas to war, why do we train in the States and Jamaica? That money alone could hire some qualified teachers and put fuel in a ferry boat or two.
@Bermyman: Well said! I too was significantly slowed down in obtaining my professional qualifications. I was 28 when I started and I look back at those three years with horror and regret that I did it. My advice too all my younger friends now is to simply never show up. They are so unorganized and run by generally stupid people that you a high probability of never getting caught.
I have no doubt that simple economics will shut that place down very soon. If I was one of the lazy full time employees of that place I would:
1. Issue a statement of apology to all conscripts that ever went through while they were employed there
2. Start looking for a new job.
I can ensure you that I will never employee anyone that was anything above a private conscript in rank just because I feel that in order to climb in that place you must have serious moral shortcomings.
BAD, you guys are fighting a good fight and know that there are a lot of people out there admiring you.
@Truth is killin’ me…: some of the laziest, sloppiest, nastiest joke-of-a-human individuals are Sgts, and “Officers” up there in the Regiment. I suspect you are one such lazy individual. My advice to you would be to quit the regiment, go get a university degree and hope that other clowns like you don’t drive away the ONE AND ONLY life blood of this island, international biz, before you can come back and grovel for an entry level office job.