Larry Marshall Sr. Appears In Court
In Magistrates Court this morning [Jan.25], 56-year-old Larry Marshall pleaded guilty to a charge of using threatening behavior to Mr Gavaska Lodge, and was given a conditional discharge.
Senior Magistrate Archie Warner called it a minor offence which occurred in the heat of a controversy, and also noted Mr Marshall has no previous convictions.
On the day of the offence, 19th January 2012, Lodge was performing duties as a Colour Sergeant of the Bermuda Regiment.
Crown Counsel Cindy Clarke read into evidence that Mr Marshall was present when C/Sgt Lodge and two Regimental policemen came to the Marshall residence to arrest his son. Ms Clarke said that Mr Marshall had shouted: “Not today. You won’t be taking my son today.”
The evidence was that Mr Marshall continued shouting at C/Sgt Lodge that: “You’re nothing but a dumb n%$#er taking orders from a white man.” Ms Clarke said that Mr Marshall was showing anger and caused C/Sgt Lodge to fear that he would harm him.
The Crown Prosecutor said that Mr Marshall had said to C/Sgt Lodge: “I’m going to remember you and take it out on your family.”
Following this outburst, C/Sgt Lodge and the two RP’s left the residence, with Mr Marshall still yelling at them as they left.
After a complaint was lodged, Mr Marshall was arrested on 21st January 2012. At the Police Station Mr Marshall admitted making comments to the Regimental personnel.
Having read in her evidence, Ms Clarke told the Magistrate that the Crown was suggesting that the matter could be dealt with by way of a Conditional Discharge.
In mitigation, Mr Marshall’s lawyer, Mr Philip Perinchief, said that his client has been under tremendous pressure but admitted the threatening words. The lawyer pointed out that Mr Marshall had been cooperative throughout the police investigation, and suggested that the matter could be dealt with by way of a Conditional Discharge.
For himself, Mr Marshall said: “I apologize for my actions. It was out of character and unbecoming behaviour for me. I have been under pressure for 5 – 6 years. I was fearful of my boy being arrested. I apologize for my actions. I only asked him if had family. For the other racial remarks I apologize. It’s not like me.”
Before ruling, Senior Magistrate Archie Warner said: “This is a minor offence. This offence occurred in the heat of and relating to a controversy that this Court in not involved in and does not wish to get involved in and has no interest in. The defendant has no previous convictions and says that he is remorseful.
“It was his son who was involved. The Crown is aware of all the facts and if the Crown felt that a Conditional Discharge is appropriate, why bring the matter to Court in the first place?”
The Magistrate continued that, given the facts, there was little point in convicting and then ordering a Conditional Discharge that would come with attached conditions. The Magistrate concluded: “In all the circumstances, I order an Absolute Discharge and I’ll not waste any more of the court’s time.”
A complete waste of time!! Like the magistrate said, why was it even brought before the courts????
“If you accept a democratic system, this means that you are prepared to put up with those of its workings, legislative or administrative, with which you do not agree as well as with those that meet with your concurrence. This willingness to accept, in principle, the workings of a system based on the will of the majority, even when you yourself are in the minority, is simply the essence of democracy. Without it there could be no system of representative self-government at all. When you attempt to alter the workings of the system by means of violence or civil disobedience, this, it seems to me, can have only one of two implications; either you do not believe in democracy at all and consider that society ought to be governed by enlightened minorities such as the one to which you, of course, belong; or you consider that the present system is so imperfect that it is not truly representative, that it no longer serves adequately as a vehicle for the will of the majority, and that this leaves to the unsatisfied no adequate means of self-expression other than the primitive one of calling attention to themselves and their emotions by mass demonstrations and mass defiance of established authority.”
― George F. Kennan
I don’t go to church anymore but the good Reverend surely recalls this piece of scripture ‘ RENDER UNTO CEASAR THAT WHICH IS CEASAR’S’ Rev you gotta obey the law of the land unless that law conflicts with your religious beliefs…..nothin in the Bible says you can’t serve in the BDA Regiment.
HUH? With a raised eyebrow!
If you can’t read between the lines @ Can’t, I’ll spell it out to you….the Marshalls are fighting a loosing battle. The law is the law and no court will overturn the law until our POLITICIANS amend the law to do away with conscription…..they’ve wasted several hundred thousand dollars all for naught. The kid had other choices i.e. St. Johns Ambulance, so if he can’t represent his country in the Regiment, he should give up his dream of olympic representation……or move to England, France, Canada, etc under refugee status
Assuming he will qualify for the Olympics? I wish him the best in his efforts but instead of wasting all of this time money and effort he should have tried to work with the system and he would have been out by now.
Many men have done the Regiment, St. Johns & Fire Brigade (and learned from it) and have contributed to the community called Bermuda.
What Mr. Burchell is forgetting is that who is called when we have a hurricane or other disaster? We cannot draw from other countries the manpower that is needed to assist in times of emergency.
I applaud the efforts of BAD. These men are beng forced to beg for there freedom. That is the disgrace.
HUH? With a raised eyebrow!
I said it becasue I did read between the lines. My personal beleifs are that no one should be forced to do something that they choose not to. To say otherwise is that of enslavement and the promotion of communism. Basically your adopting the do as we say or else campaign.
That’s the problem today . . . No is made to do anything. Everyone wants to do what they want and no one is taught accountability. Just do your time, get it over with and move on with your life.
* no one is made to do anything
This is true, but when do we all stand up and say enough is enough? Or do we continue to just lie there and take it like the wh$#es we are?
That is a frightening opinion you hold. North Korea is
like that.
Does that mean i dont have to pay taxes? cause i sure as hell would “choose not to”
m8
I don’t like obscure taxes being auto deducted from my pay, but I’m not gonna stop working because of that. I don’t like driving at 35kph but I’m not gonna walk. I dislike the supermarket franchises that artificially inflate their prices but I still have to eat…..rational tells me that I’ll only be hurting myself, now do you get it?
Come on, you know you do way more than 35k. To say otherwise is a straight up lie!!!
Is waking up every morning going to work for someone else slavery or being responsible supporting oneself? You clowns don’t have a clue what slavery was like… As a matter of fact, slaves didn’t or couldn’t own shyt.
Wage slaves exist today. Slaves used to receive room and board as compensation. What is your freedom worth?
Actually there are things Biblical against serving in the army. Say you are a Christian serving your country in the U.S. Then there’s another Christian serving in say Iraq (there are Christians there) and your two countries go to war. You are both serving your country and following orders when told to kill your fellow Christian. Does God approve of that?
Also, in the Bible the Israelis wanted a king to reign over them like the other nations. God warned them what would happen if they did that. Part of that warning goes like this: ‘He (the king) will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war, and equipment for his chariots…’ (1 Samuel 8:11, 12)
God goes on to give a list of things the people would be forced to do once they appointed for themselves a king. It’s notable that he mentioned that the men would be forced to serve in his armies and make and use weapons. God clearly felt the need to let the people know what they were getting themselves in for, so He clearly saw these things as unfavourable and felt people deserved to know.
The bottom line is how can anyone FORCE a person to take up weapons if they don’t want to? Whatever happened to Freeedom of Association which is a basic human right? In other words, people have the right to associate with whomever they choose-they should not be forced to associate with people they do not wish to associate with. This whole thing is just so, so wrong. I hope the Marshalls continue to fight-someone has to have the courage to do it!
BTW-those Military police sound like a bunch of wimps. I thought the Regiment was supposed to toughen you up-guess they missed that part!
there are several non combatant roles, medic, radio ops, admin, signals, stores procurement, etc. The Bible actually does address taking up arms against an enemy. Several examples of just and unjust warfare, depending on your perception. The scripture I used as an example was open ended and interpreted as just that…. you are to obey any law that does not confict with your religous beliefs. Be reasonable, what chance does he have of actually killing someone on the battlefield?
Also, ‘rendering unto Caesar’ means to pay your taxes without complaining. The notion is that it’s not really our money as it has the face of our ruler on the money-therefore it is there’s and not ours. E.g. our money has Queen Elizabeth’s face on it so technically it is her money so we should not object in giving up that money to her government. “Rendering unto Caesar’ has nothing to do with joining the army and taking up arms so I’d suggest you check your facts before you go off spouting Bible verses.
And you say that to say what?
2 Cor. 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
Uh-I was talking to ‘All Clogged Up’ or can you not read? S/he was quoted the ‘Render unto Caesar’ scripture to support serving your country in the military. My point is that that particular scripture has to do with paying taxes-nothing else.
They never started off as conscientious objectors. If they had, they would have been released. They all went the legal route instead because they were mislead by him. It will take a lot of church collections to pay off those bills. Start praying and apologizing for misleading your sons. Now at this late hour when you have lost and lost suddenly they are conscientious objectors. And remember this law abiding Christian also left a hearing after being so disruptive, childish and unGod like. Now he pleads conscientious objection. Lord help us.
In November 2005 larry Marshall jr. went before the Defense Exemption Tribunal and stated he was a conscientious objector. The grounds were religion and political.
They rejected his application. Please know the facts before speaking with authority about something you know very little about.
That being the case YOU ARE WRONG. Apology accepted in advance.
Furthermore in 2007 on the advice of our lawyers we focused on legal aspects as to try and bring an end to conscription.
As far as leaving the hearing last year again you are incorrect. Please re-read the RG story and show where it states that. It was adjourned after a heated discussion precipitated by a threat made towards Lamont by William Maderias a former Regiment major. But of course Willy was impartial and objective.
Mr Marshall, the court should of found you guilty of a racial remark and thretening the guys family, who are you no matter what they were there to do. If you had said this to me i would have made sure you were aressted and convicted. People like you really need help.. every thing is racial and you said the white man well bermuda regiment is run by your so called black goverment……which we all answer too.
@ all clogged up: LMAO!! He preaches from the kitchen table…
Larry:
They just trying to break your spirit. Keep up the good fight. Nelson Mandela fought for what he believed in and accepted his imprisonment and then was revered when released. Instead of Brian Gonsalves and the Regimental Officers only focusing on Lamont, why don’t they go and get some of these gang bangers and put them in their Regiment as it is obvious that they like to shoot and they love to be in disguise. Should be a match made in heaven, but they will not do that as they do not want any loose cannons in their regiment.
Brian Gonsalves and the Regimental Officers have no control over who is and who is not called up. As for Lamont, they are referring to him as Private, which leads me to believe that he has already been processed at some point in the past and is in holding company. They’ve already said they are going after 15 or so others in Lamont’s position (AWOL), and they are not singling him out.
I’m no fan of the regiment but we need to keep the facts straight here.
If you are so concerned about the facts thenask the following question: Why is it that the Regiment has only gone after Lamont and Jamal and there are thirteen soldiers listed as AWOL?
You would have to be a fool to believe that the ONLY two addresses they have of the thirteen just HAPPEN to be those of BAD members.
In the space of eight days Lamont had received five letters from the Regiment.And the only reason they released him last night was because the guard room was closed in December 2010 as it was deemed to be in an unsatisfactory state.
Do you really belive that in three weeks the Regiment could only catch one guy?
What I do beleive is that the media doesn’t give to sh1ts about how many times the RPs have unsuccessfully attempted to arrest other AWOL soldiers.
Because of the high profile of your son and other BAD members, every time anything remotely interesting happens we have to hear about it.
The RPs are out all the time looking for people who have disappeared. The only time the public hears about it is when they end up in Magistrates court. If it is dealt with within Warwick Camp, then we never hear about it.
So to answer your question, there is no way either one of us could know with any certainty that your son is the only one they have attempted to round up in the last three weeks.
I do know with certainty because the press would have reporeted it and they have not. The onus is on you to provide evidence that there has been other arrests otherwise keep quiet.
If you can name one other person that has been arrested then please provide the name and prove me wrong.
You can’t because there have not been any other arrests because the guard room was closed in December 2010 by the Governor and therefore there is no place to put them. Check that fact out!
Why not just admit that you dont have a clue about other young mens’ problems with the regiment. Some people don’t run to the RG when the regiment comes knocking at the door – they try to sort it out privately
I agree, this is a high profile case and it gets reported, many others have been arrested and they dont run to the rg to let everyone know their bussines…
I served time in the Regiment, believe me there were plenty of loose cannons there who shouldn’t have been anywhere NEAR a firearm. But of course, when you have a lottery conscription system, any Tom, Dick and Harry can wind up a soldier even if they don’t have the aptitude for it.
Thumbs up to you!!! I totally agree
Larry would you feel differently about this whole thing if the CO was black?
Can’t support this guy for comments like the above althogh I am not a regiment supporter. As I said to the lawyer who started in the regiment with me. How does race even get involved here? How many times have we all heard that blacks are the majority of the country? Only those that choose the Corporals’ Carte get promoted everyone else stays a private.
LOL what do I know 9464 out……………….
As a black man an emphatic yes!
How would you feel differently?
Are you saying you would not have been as upset if it was a black CO that had sent the RP to arrest Lamont?
Please re-read the question, then my answer and you’ll have your answer. Go real slow see.
So Colonel Burch wasn’t a black man?
Marshall was out of order and it is his character, whats inside you must come out. A big man defending his sons like that you need a cut behind, and you told them you know their family, yes take him to court he is used to them anyway.
Oh be quiet he is just supporting his son. What’s wrong with family sticking together??? i guess you won’t know!
I think it’s terrible what they are doing to the Marshall brothers. The Government should be giving Bermuda’s best runners a grant/sponsorship to train/race abroad and develop them even further into world class runners to represent Bermuda.
I grew up running against these guys and they are awesome runners with alot of talent. Lamont and Larry are also very nice people!
So, the gov’t should support them in running to represent the island (to who), but they (Marshall brothers) shouldn’t serve in the regiment which serves the country as a whole in times of nature disasters and the like. REALLY?? The first serves him/themselves and the latter would serve the country as a whole. Just MHO.
How is that? I was in the Regiment in the aftermath of Hurricane Emily. A couple of platoons spent 2 weeks cleaning the Aboretum (a park) and Government House ( the domicile of an upper class gentlemen). I gave great service I suppose. My own house went 2 weeks with a massive hole in my roof. My time would have been better spent elsewhere.
Some Bermudians new motto: Me first and I’ll think of others later. Thanks for your service even though you wish you didn’t have to give it.
Looking forward to days ahead as I see where we’re headed. I shall prepare now before its too late.
Why should Bermuda give him our money when he will not do his duty? He still be nice guy & run doing the Regiment.
Shows where your confused priorities are.
So your saying only talented people can run? A fool can run too and a good fool at that… It seems like the Marshall’s are good at running, Sr. his mouth and Jr. his azz…
People like you who make these comments need to get a life!
Wrong is wrong & right is right. Mr. Marshall is wrong and should have been dealt with severely. Mark my words, he will do this again. There should always be consequences to bad behaviour
Mr Marshall acted as any man should. He is the King of His Castle. How can you be bad in your own home?
Why didn’t he get fined like Richard Foggo? Or Remanded into custody like Jahfari Raynor?
Is the court system scared of him?
They should send him to Warwick camp for 2 weeks as punishment.
Hmm so both son and father breaks the law……..
As did Mandela, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali.
Anyone who is fighting against an unjust system inevitably breaks an unjust law. Was Harriet Tubman wrong for breaking the law when her underground railroad was used to free many slave?
Was Anne Frank wrong for hiding Jews from Nazis(who supported conscription)during the Second World War?
Were black Bermudians who broke the law in the 60′to end segregation wrong?
Do some reading about human rights struggles before making sarcastic comments please. This is not to justify the words I used.
Do something for your country, and send your sons to the regiment.
What do you do for your country????????
We are doing something for this country and that is bringing to an end a corrupt system that has hurt so many people. In the end we will be vindicated.
What about the sexual abuse that has gone on up there? Is that doing something for your country? We have our own Penn State. Check the headline of RG on February 8,2011.
” Commander admits soldier tried to rape fellow soldier.” Yeah that’s doing something for your country. Let’s bring down Jerry Sandusky to help out.
Minister Larry Marshall,
Where is the support from your clergy men/women. Bishops-Reverends-layreaders-worship leaders-Pastors-Rectors-Imans-Rabbis etc.
Marshall preaches in house, his house… What he says in his house goes. Or else.
You pontificate on the contributions made by truly great men like Mandella, Ali, Malolm X etc. and somehow liken your family’s behaviour to their struggles yet you find yourself in court for uttering words that truly disgrace what they accomplished. May I remind you of YOUR words : “You’re nothing but a dumb n%$#er…..”
From this I can gather that Mr. Larry Marshall Sr. is a loving and supportive father who is standing up for his beliefs and protecting his son. When fathers are not involved in their children’s lives, certain parts of society wants to criticize them and cast blame, yet when a good father invokes his natural instinct to protect his children, in some eyes of society, he is still a bad father, which is sad.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but mine is that conscription is outdated and severely counterproductive in regards to certain freedoms that our ancestors fought so hard to overturn. No person should be forced to partake in military related activities against their free will. And those of you who simply say that its the law and that we should just obey it, sound incredibly stupid. Law doesn’t always mean right! There was once a time when it was law for whites to own blacks, when certain minorities couldn’t vote, Jim Crow Laws, etc. So according to some people, people back then should have just followed these unfair laws because they were LAW. A few paid volunteers for disaster relief would do just fine, and would be the moral thing to do..
They are grown men and the father broke the law its as simple as thats all it is
In other words, you are pro slavery based on your response to N/A’s comment?
Slavery is not akin to military service just because you don’t want to do it? Besides there are legitimate ways to avoid the Regiment if you took the time to figure it out. Simple solution, Marshall should be an undergrad on full athletic scholarship at a well known University, not hanging from the trash truck monkey bar slinging garbage bins
Really? Conscription into the regiment is forced labor which is a form of slavery……you mention Marshall going to University, maybe you should go as you don’t seem to understand the meaning of slavery…..
That is an insult to Lamont and all the men who work on the trash trucks in the city of Hamilton and throughout the island.
So you think of them as hanging from a monkey bar? It’s an honorable job and some of his colleagues are some of the nicest people you could meet.
And they would never consider making such a cowardly attack under a pen name.
And Lamont already has a degree but thank God for the COH giving him the opportunity to work at a job which is both well paying and enables him to train like he does.
As his father I am proud of what my son does and often my wife and I drive into town to see him and his co-workers keep our city clean.
You have a serious problem with arrogance to have such a condescending view of theses hard workers. Shame on you!
You are one ignorant person who needs to be slapped! So what its a job. What do you do for a living???? How dare you lash someone for their job occupation. You dnt know what this boy has been doing or his circumstances as to why he hasn’t been to University!! i suggest you get a life you fool!
NOT SHARP “ALL CLOGGED UP”, NOT SHARP @ ALL……need to clog your mouth and your fingers from typing!!!
lol thats not at all what he said.. you’re just making that up.
of you want to take it down that road, then mandatory schooling when growing up is considered slavery?
dont be ridiculous. Conscripted military time is NOT the same as slavery and to say it is is an insult to those who actually were held as slaves.
Conscription is a TYPE of Forced Labor which is a TYPE of slavery. No one says it is ‘the african slave trade’. I mean it’s in the dictionary. It is FACT not our opinion.
You are right… but i would say it is safe to assume that although no specifically spelt out, that was the implication of the poster.
And who would you turn to in a crisis ie. hurricane to what is necessary – tarp your roof, clean the roads etc. etc.?? Mr. Marshall instead of wasting your time and our money and try to work something out with the Regiment. So far all of your battles have been lost.
And will continue to be lost as the majority of your arguments seem to revolve around racism as an argument. You don’t even work for your self imagine those that own a business having to give up time(=money to them) to go to the regiment or guys with a wife and kids? Your not in their shoes to my knowledge is it so hard to give back to the country? As stated I’m not a regiment supporter at all but I got in did what needed to be done finished with that. It’s as hard as you make it just like life. Until the law is changed your in voilation of that law which once convicted will carry all that that intails. My advise go to camp while trying to change the system you might find that you would get more support that way.
you say slavery all the time, and also white man…who are you to say this, Have you served your country?????
you are the one that is a racist and should be punished according to the laws of our country
Regardless of opinion on conscription, this is not just a case of a father tryign to protect his child vs fathers who have no part in their childs lives..
this is a case of a father knowing/allowing/supporting their son in breaking the law..somethign that we all have raged about with regards to gangbangers.
Perhaps people find the conscription law unjust, and yes he has every right to protest it to have it removed, but if he openly breaks the law, and his father threateningly supporting this, then there will be consequences.
Yea-He is also prejudicial too!
Sounds like Waco to me…
Wonder what the courts would say if all the conscripts who are yelled at by reigment officers took them to court for “threatening behaviou”?! Pretty sure they say and do a lot worse at Warwick Camp….regiment wants to be outside the system for most everything, so it’s funny that they should run to the courts for this one
Good point. How hypocritical for those who are so offended by the n word, which I apologized for, yet turn a deaf ear to the multitude of insults spewed out at Warwick Camp in the name of”discipline.”
So I’m taken to court for using the n word but at Warwick Camp young men can be referred to as fag–ts, vaginas and waste of sperm but that’s okay.
And for those conscriptionists please don’t insult my intelligence and say, “It doesn’t happen anymore . It does!
I was thinking the same thing about the hypocrisy. I am so disgusted right now because we all know how they talk to these guys up there and then this military policeman acts like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth and that he felt threatened-give me a break! Anybody with half a brain can see that the Regiment is just determined to pick on a few select people and the Marshalls are at the top of the list.
I lost respect for the way the Regiment acts a long time ago. My son was called up but he had just had surgery and so took a doctor’s note so he could get a deferment. While taking the note from him, the Regiment officer sneered ‘Who wrote this-your Mommy?’ Then after reading it, he said something like ‘This isn’t even fit to wipe my a$$ with.’ He wasn’t even a medical person so how the hell would he have known whether it was good enough or not? When the REAL doctor read it, my son got the deferrment because he clearly wasn’t fit to serve at the time, but the whole experience made him so angry. These men think it’s ‘instilling disclipline’ by being as ugly and nasty as possible. They better hope it doesn’t blow up in their faces some day.
have you been there and witnessed the above???? or is it hearsay…you have intelligence?????????????????
Wow. In a country where roughly 65% of the population (and about 90% of the elected officials) are black it shames me that there is no will to challenge a law that is clearly unjust and discriminatory against males. I’m just grateful that Rosa Parks and all the champions of the civil rights movements overseas and locally didn’t simply throw their hands up in the air and say “the law is the law”.
wtf does it matter than the majority is black if you say its unjust towards males??? There are white males in bermuda too.
Because black Bermudians should know better than anybody about discrimination and stand against it. In this case the discrimination is against Bermudian males.
(Note I said in my original comment that it is discriminatory against males. Not just black males.)
Thats very fair that some say its discriminatory, and i’ll take your point about blacks knowing about discrimination,
but if the issue is more about discrimination and not the actual regiment itself, then why is the fight about stopping conscription, as opposed to ending the discrimination, and forcing women to be recruited too?
Your last point about Mrs Parks is well placed and believe me i agree that the men should fight on if they honestly believe conscription should go away. I do hope however that they keep fighting for what they say they believe in AFTER their regiment requirements are finished. Then they will gain far more credibility then they every can pre-regiment.
Agree if the issue is not just about them having to go and more about ending the discrimination. Once the ladies get in to they might be faster to support a move to well paid voluntary service but to many right now they are just whining…..
LOL
That’s not the same thing… You talking about civil, meaning ordinary people being effected which doesn’t relate to military or church matters.
But Marshall boys have this thing about civil disobedience…
Grow up Larry Marshall.
Stop wasting the publics money.
Are your boys so precious that they can not
give a small amount of their time?
Just grow up Larry Marshall and the rest of
your kind.
Yes my boys are precious to me which is why I don’t want them to be subjected to forced labor and it’s inevitable human rights violations and abuses. I love my sons which is why I fight for them as well as ALL young men’s right to freedom in this country.
If I had a dollar for every parent who came to me and confided how their sons were physically, emptionally and yes sexually abused I’d be a rich man. But don’t listen to me read the comments of Gonzalves acknowledging that a vicious sexual assaul involving a balded weapon took place in 2005.
If growing up means accepting that type of abuse then I’ll stay a child.
But hey you’re so much of a man/woman you don’t even sign your own name.
Forced labour? Where did you get your brains Larry? I served in the US Military and am proud that I did. Military service in Bermuda is not like military service in the U.S.
So they give up a some time for the regiment, so what.
I think these boys ” and I say boys ” are really children.
Let my Daddy protect me so I don’t have to go to the army.
Larry, maybe you should grow up along with these boys “children”.
Were you forced to serve or did you go willingly? There’s the difference. Not everyone want’s to do what “Southampton’ wants to do. They aren’t boys for standing up for what they believe in, it’s quite the opposite. It takes a real MAN to stand up for himself. How is it NOT forced labor? Because it’s not like the military in the US? Wow GREAT justification there!
Where did you get your brains from? The constitution says it’s forced labor as well as common sense. Let me speak real slow for you Southampton. They are forced to go up there and they are forced to labor. What part of that don’t you understand.
As far as you serving in the US military you make our point as that army is voluntary. But let me get this straight. You voluntarily served in another country’s army but not your own?
Read my comments on cowardly people writng under pen names. Man the US army really taught you courage now didn’t it?
I was living in the U.S. and am an American. I was drafted during the Viet Nam war.
U.S. military taught me a lot more than your idiot words do.
Your poor little boys (children) are forced to be soldiers for a couple weeks each year.
You should grow up along with your boys.
you guys have to figure out what the problem is. one day its the entire regiment…the next day its conscription that’s the issue, not the regiment…the next day it is sexual abuse at the regiment…the next day it is cursing etc. If you have a problem with conscription fine – then leave the other stuff out of it. but the moment you start bringing sex abuse allegations etc into it you cloud the issue.
No U need to Grow up Southampton!If this is what the Marshall’s believe in then thats what they believe in and if you dnt like it boo hoo!! Why dnt you go give up a small amount of time to the regiment!!!
what does the rest of your kind mean?
Yet again, the Regiment’s sexist, discriminatory and outdated policy of conscription is wasting people’s time and money, and causing unnecessary stress. Having been called up myself, I can tell you it is a completely natural human reaction to feel anger at those who seek to take away the basic freedoms we all take for granted.
Conscription was ended in the UK shortly after the need for it dissolved after the second world war. The year is 2012 and many Bermudians wish to move on from various Colonial legacies of the past and yet there is no active serious discussion on ending conscription among the politicians. Why can both parties not come out with an official position on the future of conscription, with timelines, and let us vote on a real issue for a change!
The army are a bunch of cowards who had to take this less than trivial matter to the courts. Shameful
So Larry looks like you just all the support you had from the White community. Looks like your true feelings have been revealed…………..good luck with that fund raising!
I agree with your pen name. As far as losing support from the white community you ONLY speak for yourself and it’s more wishful thinking.
I have an idea. If these guys want to put an end to conscription, how about they go up there with hidden cameras. During the weekend camps it becomes a place where everybody can smoke their weed. I did my time in the regiment. The money used to fund the regiment should be used towards something more beneficial. Maybe a coast guard or something like that.
Or just become Muslim and refuse to where the cross on your head.
LOL
And yet when corporals attack and make threats to privates, and the regiment find the offender guilty (whilst making it known there was a criminal offense that took place), they sweep it under the rug as if nothing ever happened and don’t get the police involved. Why pick on Larry when you have threateners in your own ranks regiment? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander…no?
Oh what a circus this has turned into!
I am no fan at all of the Regiment, in its present form. It has always been a waste of time & money IMO, & yes, I did my time there.
Still, the law is the law & IMO Lamont & Daddy are doing nothing but trying to get out of service, any kind of service to the land they live in.
Slavery was the law. Segregation was the law. In some some countries female circumcision is still the law even today. In Saudi Arabia women cannot drive or walk in a public place unless accompanied by a male. In certain regions of one country if a women is raped it’s okay for a close relative to kill her for getting raped and bringing dishonor to her family.
In Bermuda blacks couldn’t even use the same urinals as whites but hey it was the law. Good point.
yes that maybe true but we are so far past that and you are repeating the past. We should never forget the past but everyone needs to move forward.
How is it that the regiment states that there are 15 soilders AWOL? So what they are basically saying is that if you dont go to the army and sign the paper work, ignore the names in the paper and dont respond to letters sent in the mail you are free. This being said, this proves that the system is flawed. You are punishing a young man who is doing good things for our country for actually responding to the calls for duty even though hundreds do exactly what i stated earlier…….. I will put it out there for all to see because obviously they refuse to put this in the daily papers. If you dont want to go to the Army simply ignore your name in the paper, letters in the mail and you will be clean and clear because there are surely more than 15 AWOL at this present time. I would ask anyone that knowes different to state their case……. Be real Bermuda this system is flawed and they are punishing a young bermudian who is standing up to this utterly flawed system.
With this shooting and chase today i wonder if any of these young men doing these shootings have been called up to the army????? hmmmm I wonder how many of these young men have been located by the RP’s and taken to the cells at Warwick Camp like Lamont? I hope this is opening up peoples eyes to this system that Brian Gonsalves stands so proudly behind as their leader.
I am tired of this entire episode… The bottomline is fairly simple and quite clear:
BAD tried to end conscription in Bermuda but failed to change the law. In their attempts, they tried to destory the reputation of the Regiment by attacking specific officers, and the organization as a whole with allegations of sexual misconduct and the like. IT BECAME A PERSONAL VENDETTA OF MR. MARSHALL.
I do not completely agree with conscription (I’ve shared this with members of BAD); however, I do not believe that the Regiment should be eliminated (and have been attacked verbally by members for that view).
This is where their organization will never gain the support needed to change the thoughts and minds of the masses – - YOU ARE DIVISIVE TO THE POINT OF YOUR OWN DEMISE.
When given the opportunity to be classified as conscientious objectors, your group could not humble themselves to be civil and allow the process to conclude – - No, they cursed and walked out (citing that they knew BEFORE they walked in that they wouldn’t be treated fairly) – so why should we, the people of Bermuda, care that a few individuals do not want to serve? They say that they are fighting on behalf of the generations to come – - I applaud the ideal and efforts – honestly I do. Your methods and your motivations are what I deem unclear.
In regards to Bro Lamont being unfairly “targeted” for arrest, that is pure bull! Anyone who refuses to attend military duty can, and has been, picked up by RPs – including myself. HE DECIDED NOT TO ATTEND, THUS HE OPENED HIMSELF UP TO ARREST – PLAIN AND SIMPLE. HE IS A MAN, NOT A BOY – HE HAS HIS CONVICTION TO STAND BY – ALLOW HIM TO SEE THEM THROUGH.
I hope you see, Mr. Marshall Sr., what your hatred of the Regiment has given unto you. I respect your sons, Lamont and Larry Jr. – without question. I have publicly applauded their fight against conscription, citing that I may not agree with all their positions, but accept their right to fight for what they believe. However, I only hope and pray that you take a look at your motivations and re-assess.
David please do not get peersonal with me and my family with your colorful reputation. I will embarrass you big time. These two boys are MINE! Do you catch my drift?
Ask yourself why out of thirteen AWOL’s ONLY Lamont has been picked up in three weeks.
And I’m getting tired of this ,”It’s the way you do things”. What has the PLP done about conscription for the past thirteen years. Absolutely NOTHING!
And I am proud of my hatred of an institution that has brought so much suffering to this country. Yet it is my love for freedom and justice that motivates me not hatred.
You caught me on the right day bro. I know too much man. Stop now.
I have to disagree with your statement.In reading what was written, Mr Minors did not disrespectful or personally attacking your family. However, he brought reference to and proved by your response that your manner and anger in dealing with situations such as this is what is causing you to loose favor and public support. He has raised a valid point in that you have lost focus of what you are fighting for by throwing in personal attacks (and yes you did unnecessarily attack him regardless of your intent in actuality it was a threat). He even praised your sons for taking this stance and agreed that he does not fully agree with conscription despite the fact he doesn’t think it should be completly disolved. Your attack on the Premier, Ministers and now members of the community outside of what you are fighting for is what is loosing the support. In drawing reference to your fight in comparison with some of history’s greatest, although they were aggressive and stood fast to what they believed, they were not disrespectful and gained respect and support by conducting themselves in a proper manner dispite the controversy.
“actuality it was a threat” and that in fact is why Mr. Marshall found him self in court if you did infact say this:
“I’m going to remember you and take it out on your family.”
LOL
Mr. Marshall, I don’t like how when some one disagrees with your opinions you start attacking them outright. Mr. Minors stated that he agrees withdisagrees with your methods. Where in his statement is there a personal attack on you or your family? I have read many of your statements and what is a common thread is that you attack all that don’t completely agree with your view. You call people arrogant and ignoranent while failing to recognize your obvious arrogance and ignorance. Not everyone is going to agree with your views and because we don’t doesn’t make us ignorant, it makes us individuals with different opinions.
I have a question for you. When you final exhaust every legal avenue and if the last and final judgment goes against you, will you comply with the judgment given and have your son serve his time as required by law? Or will you then refuse to comply and therefore break the law with no one left to appeal to. I ask because if you plan to refuse to comply then what is the point of going to the courts for a ruling? If you don’t like the ruling then you just ignore it?
Also, you state that you are fighting for the rights of all but the timing of your battle against conscription is very convinient for your family. I don’t remember you fighting against it years ago when my name and others were called to serve. Did you just decide that you were against it when it was your son’s time to serve or have you always been against it but turned a blind eye because it didn’t affect you or your family at the time? You are looking for support against your battle but I don’t remember hearing or seeing you when others individuals fought against conscription. I remember when an individual was held down while his hair was shaved off with pictures in the paper for all to see. And he battled as an objector. Where was all your outrage and disgust then? I don’t remeber you speaking out for this young man. What you are doing is fighting a battle for your sons. Anybody that happened to want out of conscription at the same time as them were able to jump on your bandwagon. But please, don’t try and make it seem that you are fighting this battle for all the young men in Bermuda because if it wasn’t an issue for your sons you would not be fighting this battle.
And I agree with Mr Minors on the fact that your sons are grown men and made a decision. Let them stand as men and fight their own battle. You mention Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Malcolm X. All of those people went to jail for what they believed in. If your son is going to battle against the system then he and you must accept the fact that they may have to spend time in jail, that’s just the way it goes. Whether or not you like or agree with the law at this time, that is the law and if you are fighting it expect the punishment which comes with breaking it until you are able to change it.
Mr. Minors:
Do you really believe that they are not personally targeting Lamont? There are hundreds not just 16 people AWOL including females that volunteered who have been AWOL. #FACT
In regards to the reputation, The organization in question has done their reputation no good. They are the same organization in which the CO admitted under oath what he previously denied in regards to sexual assaults taking place not us. The regiment is an extremely toxic environment and you continue to defend it.
No matter how great you think the organization is, think of those who have suffered because of it. Those who have lost jobs, families, and sanity…..Mr. Minors the place is toxic and the process of conscription makes it even worse.
I will be very interested in hearing the views of the recruits that are there now, after their two week camp. You guys paint the organization as one step from hell. That is simply not the case. That said, I think the new recruits should be offered an opportunity to speak to their experience to get a better contrast.
Minors Mr. Mederios made a comment that sparked the outburst. He made a threat so we reacted but again you wont speak out on that. You talk of the sexual misconduct yet you show no desire to see the culprits punished if they indeed commited the offences, or if they are to be cleared. There were 13 allegations yet there is not any rage from you that this can happen. Perhaps you don’t care about the suffering. You to me are one of the biggest hypocrites I know when it comes to conscription. You can’t respect me because I share the same hatred for the system of forced labor as does my father.
“For the other racial remarks I apologize. It’s not like me.”
Actually, a lot of his remarks relating to conscription are racially charged. It takes away any sympathy I have for his cause.
I admire the tenacity of the Marshall family for standing up for what they believe in and trying to get rid of the draft, but that battle is well and truly lost. At this time the draft remains, but there are options available for those who prefer not to serve in the Bermuda Regiment. I have a relative who chose to work with St. John’s Ambulance Brigade – that was his choice and he gives of his time and energy to that very worthwhile organization.
I believe that all young people, including females, should be required to either serve in the Regiment for 2 years or volunteer their time to a worthwhile organization so they broaden their horizons and appreciate the needs of others.
All this anger from Mr. Marshall Snr has to stop – for his sake. The Magistrate did the right thing giving him absolute discharge. We all realize that he is making a stand for what he truly believes in but at the end of the day it’s the majority that rules, and I believe that the majority of our people (regardless of race) support our young men either serving in the Regiment or serving in the community. If Mr. Marshall continues his tirade he will either finish up with a serious health problem, or possibly in jail if he appears before the Courts again.
Regiment is truly a waist of time.. Its a place for grown men and women to escape to once a week and for 2 weeks a year. free trips overseas. These soldiers party, drink, and have sex.
Most of us know people in the regiment that can tell you some grand stories.
Bermuda’s dollars should be better spent.
Waste of time? Next time you need some assistance when a hurricane hits us, don’t
call for help, you silly fool!!
Looking says, you are stupid fool!!
So Marshall Snr is a man of the cloth is he??? And in a fit of anger he launches into a racial triade does he? Anger usually brings out how people really feel. Maybe Marshall Snr should be thinking of another vocation.
If I were a member of his congregation I’d be seriously thinking of changing the church of my choice.
The evidence was that Mr Marshall continued shouting at C/Sgt Lodge that: “You’re nothing but a dumb n%$#er taking orders from a white man.” Ms Clarke said that Mr Marshall was showing anger and caused C/Sgt Lodge to fear that he would harm him.
Let’s also remember that th RP’s have the same rights as the police to arrest whilst on duty. from this judges ruling you can call the Police anything you want and should expect the same decision.
BUT we all know what would happen if you attempt this with a pOlice officer….
totally agree JoPublic2. Disgusting he’s been let off (should have read your comment before my own
)
The RPs only have powers of arrest over soldiers or during a state of emergency declared by the governor. In this situation, their only authority is over Marshall Jr and not Sr. They did the right thing by reporting the conduct of Sr to the police.
When you become a man you must give up childish things! When will the 2 sons grow up and protect themselves? Send them overseas to get degrees if they so badly want to avoid the regiment!
Chidish things? Fighting against forced labor is most mature and under these circumstances courageous and selfless.So In your opinion Muhammad Ali was childish as was MLK, Ghandi, Malcolm X all who were adamantly opposed to the draft.
But using your distorted description of manhood Adolf Hitler was.
As far as me sending them away what you are advocating is a most SELFISH way and that’s the problem with this issue. Those who have the financial wherewithal can afford to send, and keep, their children out of the island while those on the lower end of the socio-economic scale cannot.
That’s why there is a dispropotionate number of one group because the system was specifically designed with that in mind back in 1965. And my sources come from that group which avoids the draft.
you can’t be serious….Bermuda is 65% black – therefore one must apply the same ratio to those who can afford and are not rich…..get with the program…..you have a simpler solution but your weakness doesn’t allow you to exploit the solution…it is right in your face. i believe this is personal though. did someone do something to you or your family that is up the Army?
Nonsense, that is indeed the reason I can’t support your cause. Your argument is not supported by fact. Once your called they take you up to 35 no one is in school for that long…………………..
LOL
Why should this man be let off with this? What he said was disgraceful! I’m sure I read last week about someone getting an almighty fine for swearing at a policeman and threatening him – why didn’t this guy get the same – friends in high places?? smh
Please Gillian, do you really believe I have friends in high places. I apologized but you want your piece of flesh don’t you?
Not justifying the use of the ‘n’ word but consider how three PLP politicians have all used this word and never even came before the courts.
David Burch actually used it over the air and thousands of listeners heard him demean a young black man simply because he supported the staus quo regarding independence. That is he wanted Bermuda to remain a colony. The aforementioned have friends in high places including the toothless HRC.
“David Burch actually used it over the air and thousands of listeners heard him demean a young black man simply because he supported the staus quo regarding independence.” Offensive language was it the use of the ‘n’ word or was it the threat to the RP and his family that ended you up in court. This would explain why Burch did not go to court and you did………
LOL
Please, if you have never been in the Regiment don’t comment on it.
This has got to be the stupidest comment I have ever seen……so if you’ve never been to prison you shouldn’t comment on it? If you’ve never been raped you should not comment on it…..your name “backwards” describes you perfectly
jah says: That’s the best comeback I’ve seen in a long time. It graphically illustrates the level of stupidity we are dealing with. Well said. On a difficult day you’ve made me laugh.
How about if you’ve never been on a plantation don’t criticize slavery. Or, if you’ve never been punched in the face don’t criticize those who are punching others in the face.
Where does it stop?
I believe that when you can get something concrete on the table and not these outdated accusations or empty promises of how many people have spoken about what goes on up there now…you will gain credibility.
don’t get caught in slips again with your tirades even if filled with frustration.
you have exposed a weakness, cover it up with credible complaints. i wish fo all this to be over but it won’t as long as you have emotion filled evidence that is inaccurate or out of touch with what is “supposed” to be happening up there.
no sense asking us to not vote – this is so low on the nation’s priority list – the notion of not voting jeopardizes all the other issues facing Bermuda today. don’t fail because of desperation, frustration or
i-ration………
the problem with comparing the two, is that those have been in prison usually didnt like it. Those that have been raped overwhelmingly didnt like it, those that were on the plantation overwhelmingly didnt like it. Those that have been punched in the face mostly dont like it…
however, i have yet to hear from someone that did regiment that honestly said they wish it never happened to them. Sure some say it was a waste of time… others taht it was pointless… but not one person has told me that of all the thigns they gained (be it skills, viewpoints, friends, people they met) that they would rather not have done it.
THAT is what makes it difference than your attempt at a slippery slope argument.
Larry Marshall,
I have such weird feelings about you and the cause.
I admire the way you fight for your cause.
I hate that fact that when you speak it always comes accross so hostile.
I admire the love that you have for your sons
I hate that fact that you dont allow men who are in the mid to late 20′s the to stand and fight in the front for themselves they do a good job of it.
I know you are a man of God standing for Principle
I also know that a Man of God does not spew words of hate and pain, (words to David minors where unkind)
I like the way your have used Media in the past
Now it comes across as grand standing and it cheapens the cause and dilutes the message.
I love your knowledge of history and all the champions you quote of justice and equality.
it pains me that the Chief Model of Christ, loved, embraced all and was forgiving whilst standing for the right.
I have been watching this saga unfold, I think when the final chapter is written, people will get it. you are a powerful man, and you are standing for something in this country. Please for the cause and your son, step back, and allow your sons to lead, give them the suppport, the tools, and the prayers to make it work. They are capable and compitant. MLK let the world at 23, Jesus Christ died at 33 years old, your sons with a college education, are in a position to articulate theier points with your support but not with your voice. You now are taking away from the core messages.
I know it is hard, as you have invested so much of your time, and money and emotions in this. We get it, we bleed with you and for you. But sometimes you have to allow the young men that you help develop and shape. Face the paths of their choosing with your support but you have to step back.
again with the greatest respect, as a father. you must Allow you sons to be men, you will get greater support from the community if 25 plus (young men) stand as men and get your support.
said in love.
all the best in your endevors. (written in a rush and on a blackberry)
Please re-read the personal attack made against my family by David Minors and then reconsider whether I was out of line. And why didn’t you criticize him when he made those remarks as they had been posted for hours? And this is not the first time he has done so.
And please do not attempt to give me advice on how to “allow my sons to be men.” They are already men and held up as role models by many in this community. I have taught my sons integrity, honesty and courage.
So please don’t pontificate while hiding behind a pen name in a country like Bermuda. It’s absolutely ridiculous to suggest that in a fight of this magnitude somebody step aside when BAD is already outnumberd.
You mentioned MLK who I have the greatest admiration for as a fellow minister and human rights advocate. Yet what many Bermudians ignore is that MLK was criticized just like I am criticized.
Recently the renowned actor Samuel L. Jackson potrayed the late MLK on Broadway in a play which depicted him using profanity. Yet people like you would ignore that but castigate me for one outburst. That’s not consistent. Also MLK was harshly criticized for actually inciting riots which of course he did not.
A part of maturing in Christ is to accept the truth about ourselves, even when it emanates from a pen name. You put your thoughts out there and I believe that the words spoken by “sad” are reasonable and insightful. If you listened, your cause might gain strength.
This sordid tale of BAD v the Bermuda Regiment has now become a farce ! Mr Marshall Sr, loses his credibility every time he opens his mouth. Last week he insulted our Premier and was forced to apologize. This week he has appeared in the Magistrates Court and plead guilty to using threatening behavior and offensive words ( called the Regimental Police Officer an Ni**er).
Larry Marshall Sr, has become a hindrance to BAD’s efforts to end conscription. His antics are turning this into a side show. He is losing all credibility and is taking what could be a noble and worthwhile endeavor and ensuring that BAD’s arguments are nullified in the Court of Public Opinion and in the Court(s) of Law. Larry Sr is currently seen as an irrational, illogical, ill-tempered, racist, overindulgent and overprotective father.
If BAD are to retain on shred of integrity and respect, they must separate themselves from the actions of Mr Marshall with immediate effect.
Larry Sr has taken the fight as far as he can take it, it is now time for BAD to find another public figure to represent their plight both publically and legally.
Larry,
You have done your part. Step aside. You can not take it any further. Remember Moses God said speak to the rock, you took your rod and hit the rock. You now can see but you will not be able to journey in.
You will get this and a few others.
STEP ASIDE YOU ARE HURTING A VERY NOBEL CAUSE.THIS IS ONE OF THE most critical civil rights battles of our time. Most will not get it now, but when history tells the final story they will. Don’t taint the struggle,story or message. You are now in the way of the big picture. You have become greater than the movement with the side show.
For forty years this despicable institution brought immense suffering to an innumerable amount of young men and their families and nobody did a thing to bring it to an end.
Politicians turned a blind eye to it because it was, and still is, politically expedient thing to do so. That is reprhensible.
Our group stepped in and through tremendous sacrifice have made considerable progress in this human rights struggle and now you, who have never supported the cause in any meaningful way, if at all suggest that I step aside. I think that’s a decision for me and the group not an anonymous critic who lacks the guts to put his full name. So cowardliness rules you out.
As far as Moses smiting the rock instead of speking to it consider that that was in violation to a direct command of God as opposed to an understandable outburst in a most stressful situation. The Bible is full of stories of men who made alot more mistakes than I did and still continued on. So please understand the scriptures in their entirety before referring to them.
Brian has attended the TACC Course (officer training Course) at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He has served at every level in the regiment, platoon commander, company second in command, company commander, Bermuda Regiment 2nd in Command and now the Colonel. Brian has been on at least 10 overseas training courses, he has served in Serra Leonne in Africa on attachment. He has trained with the Marines in the US. He has lead overseas training excercises. Brian is more than qualified for the post.
Brian’s problem is his personality or lack there of in that he has the military credentials but he does not have the ability to mold men, (he demands respect, he does not command respect). Brian is not agent of change, nor does he have a transforming influence on those who serve under him. Brian lacks the skill and ability to motivate men/woman and he cannot build a team (intrinsically).
Brian represents an era past. He is a relic and part of a system that has fundamental flaws. This pimple has come to a boil and must burst. It is serendipitous that Brian would have his legacy defined with this saga and BAD is seen as his Waterloo.
I must be clear, BAD do not have my endorsement, but I glory in their ability to agitate and challenge our system. Their challenge is a part of our democracy. As much as BAD make me sick, I accept their right to challenge our system.
At the end of the day, when it is all said and done, the Regiment has to stand on its own merit and if must transform and morph to be a relevant institution in today’s society.
Those who have dealt with Brian on a professional level within the regiment will know that he can only mask his deficiencies for so long. He might provide for good sound bites here and there but when it comes down to the management of soldiers and their issues his true colors show and his bull-headedness shines brightly. You said it well when you said he demands respect and does not command it. His time is past and he/his ilk will soon fade into the darkness of a bygone era here in Bermuda. The timing of the collapse of the Bermuda Regiment couldn’t happen with a better guy in charge.
Agreed I was charged $100 for bring my 3 year old up there cause I had no one to look after my child (wife and family away on a family matter which require their attention and my parents at the time were dealing with cancer and all that suggests as the end was near) I had no choise, at least I went and that guy had the nerve to charge me $100 so I am no fan of the regiment or Brain as I think he spends less time with his family than most men (IMO). The kicker is that some people regularly bring there kid to camp and nothing is said to the lady maybe thats why? I don’t even want to meantion the langaue that was used infont of my child I almost hoped over that man desk but fear what that would be teaching my child. To Mr. Marshall I was truely with you until you brought out race in your argument.
LOL
well said. i support both BAD and the Army in principle….both are worthy but both have to change
If these people insist on dragging this young man into the Regiment, what he needs to do is be the most incompetent soldier EVER. If they say turn right, he should turn left and vice versa. Mess up whatever they give him to do. They can’t prove if he’s doing it on purpose or not-not everyone’s cut out to do that stuff. They say he needs to be a soldier but there’s no law that says he has to be good at it. If I was him, Id’d just do subtle things to mess up and frustrate the daylights out of them until they’re glad to see the back of me!!!
You don’t think that has not been done before? You have never been there have you.
LOL
Fact: the Bda regiment focus their concerted efforts on those who aren’t ‘yes men’. If you fight the unjust system of conscription in it’s current form and they will have it in for you. Fact. They will assault you, arrest you at work for no other reason than to try and embarass you, call you names, lie and make up false charges against you…but when the chickens come home to roost (sooner rather than later by the looks of things) we won’t have a conscripted regiment in Bermuda anymore and those of us who are enlightened into the true nature of our regiment will have the last laugh…
lol mr snr marshally
listein 2 de white men lmao u showin ur tru colors now ur son gonna do hes time
u just prove urself dont go up their 2 listen 2 de white men
LMAO 90 % OF ALL THAT GO UP THEIR HATE DE ARMY BUT THEY DO THEIR TIME
SERIOUS U ALL WANNA TALK RACIST LAMB WAS THE ACTIN COMMANDIN OFFICER AND MR OUTERBRIDGE WAS DE COMMADIN OFFICER
SO ALL STOP DE WHITE AND BLACK ITS GETTIN OLD SERIOUS
NOW U USIN WHITE HAS AN EXCUSE SERIOUSLY GET 2 NO UR FACTS A BUNCH OF HEAR SAYS THAT COME HERE
Surely Marshall in accordance with what he preaches,said a prayer, apologised to Lodge and asked for forgiveness—right?
Rockfish, he played the race card …
Why don’t they leave this man and his sons alone?! Not everyone wants to be a toy soldier! It’s a shame that so many Bermudians(while not surprising) are in favor of breaching human rights. Disgusting!
First of all I am proud of MY father for standing against conscription with us. He has and is a model father and if I have children I hope to be atleast half the man he has shown me over my 28 years. Forced labor is wrong and our mission is the same and will not change. The personal attacks on my family will not deter us. Such hypocrisy on this site is laughable Thank you to the true supporters of BAD and all anti-conscription fighters………BAD
Oh how about those 13 sexual assault allegations. Why won’t any of you regiment supporters bring justice to those people? Or at least fight for the truth.
Larry, why don’t you expose what you know about these 13 sexual assaults allegations ? maybe then we can understand your plight .
I myself cannot share all I know because I am respecting some victims as you can imagine this is a hard thing to come out with. We (BAD) called for a royal commision. Took it to the Human Rights Commision and they still haven’t finished their investigation. Hmmmmm…….. I wonder why? So I/we (Bad) have done our part and will continue to try and bring justice for those who have been victimized.
so y don’t u speak of ur time in the army. when u were drunk, absent, serving and all
I’ve never served up the army but that doesn’t mean I can’t comment on it. As someone said in an earlier post I haven’t been jail but I can comment on it.
Are any of the 13 willing to come out and talk to the authoities about what happened?
LOL
To be honest, i think you have a lot more “anti-conscription” supporters than you think… its just about how the battle is fought.
By all means fight the law if you feel it is unjust, but dont be surprised or call unfairness when the consequences of breaking that current law.
If his, and your,s and your fathers convictions are true, and he does end up serviing out either his regiment time, or the jail time associated with being AWOL, then i hope that you as a group will continue to fight the campaign afterwards.
its one thing to fight to get out of it… its another to truly believe it is unjust and fight for those unrelated to you to not have to suffer it.
Also, i think the case against conscription would be a lot stronger if it was run by those who have already been through the system. Those that have yet to do their time only look like they are trying to escape it, and the credibility for “why” is not really there yet.
get somebody REAL to come forward….u guys are about a bag of ghosts that u claim to have happened
Mr. Marshall proclaims to be Christian. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Garbage in Garbage out. What would Jesus do or say?
Jesus wuoldn’t be pleased with what goes on up the regiment I can assure you of that. Maybe that would be the only way those allegations of sexual abuse would get dealt with.
The Regiment is merely a reflection of our Society since it draws it’s members from that same society. It will inevitably get drug dealers, homosexuals, paedophiles, molesters, women beaters etc etc. it will also get upstanding men and women to serve and the latter by far outnumbers the former.
Where you guys lose a lot of support is when you try to paint the entire organization as corrupt and filthy when I believe that in your hearts yu all know that is not the Truth.
Speak the truth, in love….
The OBA still needs to learn that.
LOL
lol bernews dont 2 that i NO U SEE THIS DONT EDIT
U LL GET EXPOSED TRUST ME DONT PLAY TOUGH
ACTUALLY U REALLY R WORKIN WIT DE GOVEMENT
U R GETTIN EXPOSED LMAO SEE HOW U CAN EDIT THAT GIVE IT TIME
HOW DE LAMB GET WARDEN
ITS 2 FUNNY BERNEWS U R JOKERS AFTER EDIT A COMMENT
The PLP has had over 13 years to change the form of the Bermuda Regiment. They have done nothing. Want change? Your chance to make it happen this year. Make it happen. Vote OBA. They have already indicated that they would be bringing the Regiment from the 1950s way of doing things to the 2010s.
Vote PLP & get more of the same. Your choice Bermuda voters. Talk or action?
So what’s your point? The U.B.P. had over 30 yrs to change it… There are more important issues to contend to then this regiment bullshyt… Besides, the guys that don’t wanna go up to Camp are probable the one that backtalk their momma’s and grandparents who spoiled them stupidly in the first place…
oh PLEASE!
WHY U HIDIN DE TRUTH
LM,AO BERNEWS
To Mr. Marshall & sons, as Marley sang ” dont give up the fight”
if your son if representing bermuda then they shouldnt be stressing him out over being in the regiment.
Mr Marshall, I hope you will not take my reflections in a negative way, as this is not my intentions. I just hoping to share my observations. Please allow me to do so…..it is not to argue, or demean, or put down. Rather, my hope is to lift up and move this issue in a more positive direction.
It is with great hesitation that I enter this discussion, I would not even suggest it is a debate. But one must be willing to be “open and listen” carefully to what others are sharing, even if their “worldview” does not line-up or is “different” from what you stand for. Sometimes we can gain valuable information from just listening, and not fighting back. Mr. Marshall I would like to recommend that it is not necessary for you to answer every comment people make. It is not necessary, as you know everyone is free to express their concerns “for or against” an issue. It is not necessary that you allow yourself to respond to every person that makes a remark. People will differ in their worldview on many issues in this world. We must learn to respect persons that do not share the same views.
Furthermore, Mr. Marshall is it clearly apparent by the comments that many people understand and respect your right to fight for an issue that you strongly believe in. Support for BAD is not the issue here, based upon the comments. But, persons are asking that you also must respect others beliefs if they do not to agree with your position on this issue. It it apparent that people have applauded BAD’s fight against conscription, while indicating that they may not agree with all their positions, but “accept their right to fight” for what they believe.
The underlying factor appears to be that people are struggling to understand your more recent behaviours in terms of how you are dealing with this matter. Folks also expressed the same concerns regarding Jamel Hardtman’s recent interview on Cherry J talk show. Many think the tone has become too “harsh,and extremely harmful noneffective approach.” Many also have challenges with comparison to great great man like Martin Luther King, as his fight was much greater, greater than BAD’s during that particular era. Mr. Marshall I think you are likely to win more support if the approach by BAD was more tactful, and fought based upon a strong arguments, rather than allowing it to get personal and blaming the issue on various persons. The “verbal fighting” approach appears to be failing BAD, as it is evident that nothing has changed over the past 3 years. The use of negative language, and attacks on MPs and others, serves no point at all. “BAD is still find fighting to win.” This may because the fight has dropped to an extremely low level, and looks like this will continue to work against BAD. Maybe “BAD” needs to reconsider if the current approach is serving any “real purpose to win the battle?” I do believe it is a battle that can be won, but just like in the army, the “game plan” may require a change. Mr. Marshall, I support your fight, and hope you will take my advice from a good place in my heart. I am in no way am attempting to dismiss the importance of your position, but just asking that you re-examine all factors.
Careful reflection of the events over the pass several days, suggest that it is always good to “re-evaluate” a situation, and take time out to “breath” and see things in a different light. Currently, the approach and arguments you are using now, have not been effective in winning your case. Maybe it would be best to step away from it for a while, and take time to reflect upon where BAD is now, and take a different approach to win your fight. Remain cool and calm, and stop allowing every statement, or viewpoint someone shares with you allow you to fly of the deep-end of the earth. These types of behaviours by you and Jamel do put both of you in a bad light. It is not good for you, ask God to help you manage this issue in a more effect way. Wishing you all the best in the near future..
First thing you’ve said i agree with…….. Now to the OBA replace Mr. Marshall with your name and the same applies.
LOL
It really is time for Larry Marshall to ease back a little – for the sake of both his health and his sanity. By all means continue the fight through the Privy Council, if you have the funds, but this is a losing battle. Conscription in the Bermuda Regiment is a world away from slavery or indentured labour. It is abundantly clear just from this one article and all of the comments made by Mr. Marshall and his son, that they are so emotionally involved in this issue they simple cannot see the wood for trees.
I hope they can get over this and get on with their living their lives.
Thus guy gets more airtime than the American president. Enough already.
Mr Marshall,
I applaud you for standing up to this unjust system. Please do not let recent events or the negative responses from the public deter you and the other BADmen from continuing to fight for this cause. I would be proud to call you a father or husband and would encourage you to press on. So many are quick to fall in line but slow to stand up for principles they believe in.
Judging from all of the comments above, it is quite interesting to note that this community has some strong feelings about the BAD vs Regiment situation! I note that there seems to be open hostility towards the Marshall’s because of their stand. I also note that there is irritation because the Marshall’s won’t let the situation rest! It’s been going on too long!
I am puzzled by the fact that none of this hostility is directed at the career criminals that have been ruining our island during the past 13 years. I don’t understand why people are not attacking the characters of our politicians when they use the race card and call each other N….. In and out of Parliament! I find it interesting that nothing is said and yet these buffoons are applauded and put before the Bermudian community for re-election.
Where is the public outcry for the loss of jobs in the international business sector, construction industry and the legal community for skilled, qualified workers? Oh wait I forgot… They can wash pots in a dead hospitality industry.
Frankly it appears to me that because of the BAD directive Lamont has been singled out and the community seems pleased because of the stance his Dad has taken!
People direct your anger elsewhere. It is clear that both sides are doing what they feel is best and at some point in time after much legal deliberation and expense a decision will have to be made regarding BAD!
In the meantime the community really needs to figure out if they want gang members drafted into the Regiment. The Regiment has in some ways always been viewed as a finishing or disciplinarian passage for some of our young man. But those were the days when the Bermudian community truly believed in family first and we did not have the social ills of today. Recruitment for these gangs are happening as early as 11 years old. I am concerned about the fact that a gang member will quietly go thru the Regiment system and use what he learns.
The community also needs to realize that the diminishing public purse has and will continue to cut back on the number of new recruits. Why waste time and energy on the pursuit of making people serve? Fill the Regiment with those that want to be there! Sooner or later this community wil have to grow up, acknowledge our social ills and lack of finances and do away with Conscription. Let those that want to be there, let them serve!
To Mr Marshall Keep fighting for what you believe!
I am not sure if it is still the case, but back in my day if you was a volunteer fireman or police reserve you didn’t have to do the regiment. So those of you who refuse the regiment because of the violence, had another option.
As to Larry Marshall’s “forced labour” it is civic duty. Giving back to your country.
As for the yelling at the soldiers, look around the world… They are all tough on their conscripts.
“A Voteless man is a Hopeless man,” Mr Marshall it is hoped that you will “re-consider” your stance on asking young black man not to vote. Please remember the history of those great black leaders that fought so hard for the “rights of blacks to vote”, and now you are asking them not too? The reference to greatest leaders of our time, would not agree with your approach, as this does nothing to preserve or respect their historical achievements. To ask young black men not to exercise the most important voice they have in their country, is unfair and somewhat backwards. I think you can change your approach to wining this fight, and the current image that had put a dark shadow over BAD during the past several weeks,if this can be re-considered. Once again you are using treats to gain victory in your fight, and this approach may not be the best method of attack. Really! take some time as I mention and think this through, do not engage in “emotional thinking,” but consider more serious factors to promote your goals for BAD. Please, you and Jamel are allowing your “emotional judgement” to cloud the real fight in the best interest of BAD. Often when persons allow their emotions to get in the way, seldom do they have much success with anything.
Motive revealed I woundered why you chimed in on this. ahhhhhh so Mr. Marshall must have more support than some would like to admit.
LOL
Point 1
The Main issue: BAD must focus their public and private discourse (legally) on Conscription. BAD should argue that conscription is unconstitutional and has no place in a Modern civilized society.
BAD often meander into the performance of the Regiment (cursing, sexual assault etc) the afore-mentioned Matters no matter how egregious, do not form part of the Legal issues surrounding Conscription. They are emotional points that are evocative and confuse/muddy Conscription Argument.
Point 2
BAD appear in front the Exemption Tribunal= They argue that Conscription is not constitutional and a breach of their Human Rights, They are told that they must attend the Bermuda Regiment
BAD Appeal the Exemption Tribunal to the Supreme Court of Bermuda= They argue the same points in the Supreme Court of Bermuda. The Sumprem Court Rule against BAD
BAD Appeal to the Privy Council (Highest Court) in England= the Privy Council says that Conscription is legal (BAD Lose)
BAD Appear before a independent Committee Set up to hear their Arguments= BAD members walk out stating the Committee was a waste of time, biased and the equivalent of a Kangaroo Court
After exhausting all of the remedies articulated above, BAD members have now limited legal recourse and must attend the Bermuda Regiment for Military Service.
The Regimental Police acting on the instructions of the Lt Colonel of the Bermuda Regiment, arrest Larry Marshall Jr. (lawfully). There is consternation and a major fracas when Larry Marshall Jr is arrested. The main protagonist is BAD spokes person Larry Marshall Senior.
I must remind all that a huge part of being a martyr, losing one’s life ! Why would Larry Sr, fight and act insane when his son is taken to jail, he must have calculated that the ultimate sacrifice for his STAND, was imprisonment… Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die…
Standing for one’s right comes at great sacrifice, Larry Jr, must be prepared to be imprisoned , this is all a part of this voyage, it is not just about Court and TV. His stance has serious consequences for his life which include the loss of his liberty.
Point 3
I watched Larry Marshall Sr on the news last night, he is profoundly mistaken if he believes his antics to not affect the plight of BAD, they do ! right thinking people see him as a loose cannon. He is losing credibility by the day. The 13 men of BAD must find another voice to advocate on their behalf. The Noble fight of BAD is being hindered by the public shenanigans of Larry Marshall Sr.
For all of those who keep harping on about the fact that the regiment ‘helps out after a hurricane’ can one of you tell me why we need a REGIMENT to do that and not a volunteer ‘natural disaster response group’? The regiment trains our men how to shoot, about warfare, etc… nobody is taught what to do in the event of a hurricane, etc. So please, tell me why we need conscription to clean up after a hurricane? And guns and camo?
Too many PLP higher ups…Burch, Lambe, Mussenden, Telemac etc. will see to the downfall of BAD and it’s members. They where all Bermuda Regiment recruits once and happily served and will deffinitely see to this. Larry and Co. you are waging a war you cannot win. Wait and see!
please understand, most people in this country actually support BAD, what we are tired of is Larry Marshall Sr. he now is a distraction and in one word a ” bully”
He is an angry man, who wants everyone to see it his way and if they dont, then he has nothing for them.
his 15 minutes of fame are up, and he needs to take down the venom. Read the comments, most people are simply saying to him,
A. stop fighting the world an fight the cause.
2. step out the limelight and put your grown a$$ sons out front
3. choose your battles.
4. act like a man of God and not a street thug.
we believe in the cause, just not another, angry, hateful, messenger.
Yadda,Yadda “I was fearful of my boy being locked up”. There you go “my boy” grow up son. Why not do St. John’s then helloooo? there are some battles (excuse the pun) the can not be won.
Are we breeding sissies in this country? Why are we even entertaing Mr. Marshall and his sons, who are aged men and he still consideres babies? When will they all grow up? His ass should have been locked up anyway for his abuse to the Colour Sergeant. All he is doing with his propaganda speeches is influencing the young male to disrespect authority. We have enough of that from the dysfuctional family enviroment. Why do a complete year and than complain? Why not make dispute of being called to the Regiment when it first came up? Yes, search him down and lock him up for being AWOL. It happens to other personnel who refuse to show up. Why is his boys the exception? They offer no valid argument as to why Lamont cannot serve. This whole matter of entertaining these people in the media is nonsesne and a wasted read.
Marshall family stand strong and keep fighting for what you believe in. No man should be forced to participate in the army or any activity if they choose not to. Laws are made and CAN be changed. This law definitely needs to be changed. Stay focused don’t let them distract you. They are feeling it, they know you are speaking the truth the end is near.
When Mr. Marshall sr brought the race card into it, I have now lost all respect for him & BAD.
I know this is kinda random but can somebody explain to me how Brian Gonsalves became the commanding officer of the Regiment? Seeing him on t.v. he doesn’t come across as an authoritive career army man to me. He looks like he couldn’t bust a grape in a fruit fight…
Politely P, would you rather see rings in his ears and him being able to smash grapes with his cheeks?
Don’t you dare make the mistake of judging Brian Gonsalves based on PR appearances. I happened to meet a Vietnam vet Green Beret last summer. He had the mildest of demeanors. Hard to imagine such a personality as such a dangerous man capable of killing you barehanded in seconds.
SOOOOOO what is your opinion of Col Burch and the earings ? I think Gonsalves did what he was ordered to do and he had to follow the law !!!! you had to bring fruit in this discussion LOL.
No one else to choose from and from what I understand he did not want to be the commander as he would have to leave afterwards.
LOL
LMFAO!