Min. Dunkley, Sen. Baron Visit Recruitment Camp
Earlier today [Jan 14] the Minister of Public Safety Michael Dunkley and Junior Minister Sen. Jeffrey Baron attended Warwick Camp to visit this year’s new recruits.
The Bermuda Regiment is presently conducting its annual Recruit Camp and this year some 114 individuals are participating in the two week training exercise.
Minister Dunkley and Sen. Baron had a firsthand opportunity to meet with the recruits and were provided an update from Bermuda Regiment Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Brian Gonsalves, Company Commander Capt. Duncan Simons and Second-in-Command Lt. Shea Smith on how this year’s camp was progressing.
The day’s activities also included Minister Dunkley and Sen. Baron enjoying a reception hosted by the Regimental Sergeant Major W01 Gavin Rayner followed by lunch in the Officers Mess with the Commanding Officer and his senior officers.
Minister Dunkley said, “The annual Camp is off to a good start. The Recruits have positive attitudes and the training staff is already hard at work developing the necessary skills.
“It was a pleasure to meet some of the young men and women who have just started their military training and I am looking forward to seeing the results of these intensive two weeks at the passing out parade.”
Read More About
Category: All
Dunkley is all about “Show”. He is a one sided, one minded politician who will say and do whatever is necessary. Trust me. I have met him and shared political time with him.
Shady at best!
We believe you fool. Have some respect for your minister…….you shared nothing with him
None of these cats want to be there. But none have the balls to stand up and let it be known. The regiment runs on fear. If all those who felt being forced to be a part of a military unit was against their (christian?) morals or who opposed it on any ground made a stand against the system currently in place then real change would happen. Until then these yes-men will give the regiment exactly what they want. And until then we leave our collective fates in the hands of politicians who could care less about the average man. We expect these men to fight for our lives…yet they won’t even fight for what is morally right.
Sir:
How can you assume to know exactly what 114 different individuals want or don’t want? I won’t say that some of those individuals may not want to serve in the Regiment, but I can’t say that “ALL” or “NONE of these cats want to be there” as you put it.
The Regiment has a function – - and we, as a country, require them from time to time. My view is that the Regiment needs to focus more on a Maritime role – possibly train with the US Coast Guard to enhance the skill level – to foster a coastal patrol unit of some kind. Leave the Band, RPs, and one possible unit for ceremonial functions – - and the HQ for the administration of all units.
Conscription – I can agree – should be removed in favour of a full time Regiment, made up of full time soliders and volunteers.
However, the rhetoric used by some in regards to the Regiment isn’t about that – - – the focus moved from that a long time ago.
They are soley interested in destroying the Regiment due to their own very personal agenda. Be that as it may, I believe we will all see the end of conscription and the formation of a full time Regiment in the next couple of years – if not, this year.
Hopefully, that will be enough for them – - but I will wait and watch.
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
Take a poll of conscripts before entering recruit camp and I bet a vast majority would indicate they don’t want to participate. Having gone through the recruit camp process very recently I know firsthand the thoughts most soldiers hold when it comes to conscription/the regiment in general.
I also have firsthand experience with the abuses of power that take place there. Those in charge think they can rule with an iron-fist and not face the consequences. Their day of reckoning will come… The wholly unprofessional and sexist behaviour that currently exists is deplorable; especially from an organization that prides itself on doing things ‘right’. They talk a good talk but just like the used car salesmen selling you a lemon…true colours will always shine through. This comes straight from the top and makes me laugh every time I think about it. Incompetence is rife. Habitual lying is commonplace. Commonsense is lacking. Making a better Bermuda it is not.
Listen:
I didn’t disagree with you in principle – realize that. I simply stated that you can’t say that all didn’t want to particpate – and you still can’t say that. YOU ARE NOT THEM – THUS YOU CAN’T SPEAK FOR THEM – that’s all.
I can admit that power breeds abuse of that power – - and like you, I can say firsthand of the abuses of power I witnessed within the ranks of the Regiment. But that’s just it – - I don’t blame the Regiment – it is the person – - that individual – who is to blame for that abuse of power.
However, my opinion comes from a vast wealth of knowledge regarding the Regiment, not just “Having gone through the recruit camp process”. I served for several years – above and beyond the normall length of service – - I saw people come and go – from the top down – - and I can tell you – people will be people – - the Regiment will always stand as an organization committed to complete its mandate – but like ALL organizations, there will be some bad apples every once in awhile – - it is our job to identify them and weed them out.
Yng Black Mind
@youngblackmind——-me thinks your mind is more grey than black! who in their right BLACK mind would want a regiment!
@LONGADANYURS – You need to check your facts before opening your mouth and jumping in with both feet. I know for a FACT that one of the three recruits shown in the picture above WANTS to be there.
People have got to stop being so negative about things – give them praise and give them support for wanting to do something other than sitting on their a$$es on a wall somewhere.
Being ‘so negative’ NEEDS to happen when it comes to institutions and practices such as the regiment and conscription. There is NO need for either in Bermuda today. Congrats on knowing that one of those in the picture wants to be a TRAINED and SAVAGE MURDERER (that is, afterall, what soldiers do)… I’m sure it will really benefit Bermuda someday.
@pte:
This comment is on the borderline of “insane” with a sprinkle of “really?”!
Your apparent lack of knowledge and understanding of the functions of the Regiment are quite visible in your blanket statement “be a TRAINED and SAVAGE MURDERER”.
Yes – the Regiment has its issues – all organizations do; however, to vilify the Regiment as you have in the above comment is wrong – period.
Ask those persons who survived the ’77 riots if the Regiment was needed?
Ask those families who survived Hurricane Emily if the Regiment was needed?
But be prepare to get the answer you may not want – - that’s all.
Yng Black Mind
50 years. 2 events. Is that all you can come up with? Add in a few other hurricanes for good measure and we still have a complete and utter waste of taxpayer money/infringement on human rights/numerous abuses/etc. that date back 50+ years. The regiment’s record is not a proud one and one I would be very careful invoking in any debate. For every wrong-doing that makes it into the paper there are several more that don’t (swept under the proverbial rug in an effort to keep squeaky clean)… Fact: all regiment soldiers are trained to kill (bar the non-combatants). Right? And what are the regiment’s ‘functions’ as laid out in law? Me thinks you will find very little on hurricane clean-up, etc…
@pte – I hope when the chips are down and one of the TRAINED and SAVAGE MURDERERS has your back you turn around shake their hand and thank them for saving your life and if its during a hurricane and they come to tarp your roof or cut the fallen trees so you can move around you tell them thanks I really appreciate that. It is the small things that make a difference.
This is a common thought amongst many Bermudians and one that, unfortuneatley, will never lead us forward… Why do we need a MILITARY force to clean up after a hurricane? Why must we FORCE young men to be a part of a MILITARY UNIT in order to help clean up a hurricane once every 10-20 years? It’s assinine and makes no sense. In today’s Bermuda if the regiment’s main purpose is hurricane clean-up then come clean and tell the public that. Don’t infringe on people’s rights in order to save face and act like there really is a looming external/internal threat. And if hurricane clean-up really is what we are here to do… why is there next to NO training on clean-up procedures/protocol??
lmao I agree pte!!so true!
To BDA BOY
How dare you call Mr. Dunkley shady!!!! All your comments are out of order. You do not know Mr Dunkley well enough then to make comments like that!!!!! This man is a upstanding and genuine. Mr. Dunkley has Bermuda best interest at heart. He could have thrown in the towel years ago, but here he is still out doing what is necessary.
Mr Dunkley is shady! That is my opinion and how dare you tell anyone they cant think that way!
We have a lot of shady people in Bermuda, but Mr. Dunkley is not one.
And thats my opinion!!!!
I count 8 soldiers. That’s $16,000.00 wasted over the next two weeks. That money should be spent on sending our children to oversears universities… not for playing soldier!!