PLP & Ministry On Ending Regiment Conscription
“Bermudians should not be forced to wait 5 years for the OBA to figure out” how to keep their promise of ending conscription, Shadow Minister of National Security Walter Roban said, while the Ministry said they have “clearly set out the Government’s plan” and are “developing the framework for the required legislation.”
Mr.Roban said, “Premier Michael Dunkley’s contradictory comments on conscription appear to have come back to haunt him. Just a few years ago he stood side by side with Bermudians Against the Draft [BAD] and criticized the PLP on the process we chose to address this complex issue.
“He supported B.A.D.’s demand for an immediate removal of the process and supported their taking the government to the Privy Council. Now as National Security Minister he has a different line, ditching his former allies, and putting himself in opposition to their demands.
“The Progressive Labour Party as Government, were already moving to abolish conscription and announced our commitment to this in our election platform. This was followed, as Opposition, with a bill to abolish Conscription. The PLP has proven where it stands while the OBA Government changes its tune, stalls for time and young men continue to be drafted into the Regiment.
“After 20 months there been no legislative initiative and no clear plan or vision for the Regiment. We have had a National Security and Defence Review Committee report completed and tabled with exhaustive debate but the government can only say Conscription will be gone by 2019.
“The PLP agrees that the abolition of conscription must be done in an orderly manner. We agree that the responsibilities must be adequately addressed to ensure the safety and security of Bermudians.
“Yet the Premier who once urged rapid change can’t explain why the OBA will take another 5 years to keep their promise. Many Bermudians are rightly concerned and troubled by the sudden influx of non-Bermudian Regimental personnel in roles Bermudians can be trained to perform.
Mr. Roban added, “The Premier needs to explain:
- What role will the Regiment have in civil and territorial defence?
- Will there be a maritime capacity?
- How will it work in conjunction with security and emergency services?
- What other roles may the Regiment have in the development of careers, skills and professional development of Bermudians?
- Will there be an expansion of the relationship with our continental neighbors US, Canada and the Caribbean [CARICOM]?
- Will Bermudianisation of key essential positions be mandatory?
“The Regiment has a long tradition of developing our citizens and providing assistance in times of national emergencies. We must not only have volunteer focused service but also a professional service that develops people who contribute to the prosperity, safety, security and reputation of Bermuda.
Mr. Roban concluded, “It is important for the OBA to now prove that they were not just all talk as opposition and that they have vision and role for a 21st Century Regiment. Bermudians should not be forced to wait 5 years for the OBA to figure out how to keep this promise.”
In response, a spokesperson from the National Security Ministry said, “Seven weeks ago, on 11th July in the House of Assembly the Premier and Minister of National Security clearly set out the Government’s plan for the elimination of conscription and made specific reference the development of the maritime role of the Regiment.
“As promised, the Ministry is developing the framework for the required legislation to deal with modernizing the Regiment’s disciplinary system as well as providing for the elimination of conscription. The Opposition Bill did not deal with these issues.
“Additionally, the House debated the Report of the Security & Defence Review Committee and the Opposition signaled its support for the Government’s broad plans at that time.
The spokesperson added, “It should be noted that the Shadow Minister was not present in the House on the 11th July and therefore did not avail himself of the opportunity to question the Premier at that time.”
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Just end it, half of us don’t go anyway.
Yeah lol
“Premier Michael Dunkley’s contradictory comments on conscription appear to have come back to haunt him.”
Is Mr. Roban the same individual that was part of the previous PLP administration that fought BAD all the way to the Privy Council as a means to retain conscription? And he has the nerve to accuse others of making contradictory comments? Mr. Dunkley said he will seek to abolish conscription and has tabled the legislation that paves the way for doing so.
“The PLP agrees that the abolition of conscription must be done in an orderly manner. We agree that the responsibilities must be adequately addressed to ensure the safety and security of Bermudians.”
So is this a tacit admission that the PLP’s one paragraph legislation to abolish conscription was simply for politricks? If not, then how did the PLP expect ‘the abolition of conscription must be done in an orderly manner’ to be achieved via a hastily written amendment?
“Bermudians should not be forced to wait 5 years for the OBA to figure out how to keep this promise.”
It won’t be five years. The last conscription to take place will be in 2016. But then again the PLP has always been loose with the truth.
Again, maybe you, Mr. Roban should have fulfilled his duties as an elected representative and attend the House session when this legislation was tabled. He would have been able to ask all his questions at that time and carried a debate. But instead he and his colleagues reneged on their responsibilities for an early Cup Match holiday.
Thank you OBA for initiating the abolition of conscription as opposed to to the PLP tactic of going all the way to the highest court of the land to retain an outdated practice.
That is what you call progress.
“After 20 months there been no legislative initiative…”
Oh, by the way that is a blatant lie. It was tabled on July 11 2014. Where were you??
Exactly, It obviously is dumb, dumb season. A Party who fought it in the highest courts is now saying they where moving to abolish???
I call BS….
You ask why nothing gets done; it’s because of ignorance like this. Why does the opposition KEEP bombarding us with BS?
As for BAD; the previous Government fought you to the end, and now the new Government is working to do exactly what you have been asking all this time; but it’s not GOOD enough for you? It has to be done on your time-line?
You lost the damn case; be happy the new government is at least readdressing the issue.
SMDH
“Working to do exactly what you have been asking all this time?”
At no time have you heard me or anyone in the group state that conscription should be phased out over a seven year period. On the back of our T-shirts the words read “End Conscription Now” with an emphasis on the word NOW.
The OBA to date has done absolutely nothing to facilitate the aboltion of conscription. In essence their “plan” is to do nothing for three years, an incredibly long time considering the human rights violations, and then in 2016 begin the phase out process. That is unacceptable.
Furthermore I have it on good authority that this timetable has nothing to with time or money but is being dictated by outside influence. Read between the lines.
On November 25,2011, then Sen Dunkley stated that conscription was past its sell by date. Why then keep something which was out of date three years ago for another five years?
Because there’s a process.
The Regiment has been making great strides in attracting more volunteers in the past couple years, never once have I seen you or any the BAD members praising that.
Larry, The Regiment and conscription is not going anywhere. Read my lips.
Why? Because the queen says so.
Maybe you should inform the Premier as he does not have that inside info from Buckingham Palace.
Oh! i was unaware that the Premier was the Commander and Chief of the Bermuda Regiment.
That’s the PLP’s never ending motive. Just make stuff up.
Roban, it turns out, wasn’t even in the House of Assembly when the PLP, his team, supported the bill.
It’s not your week either, Roban.
Nothing was tabled on that date.
You’re right about no legislation beig tabled. My apologies.
But a report was tabled to discuss teh method of eliminating conscription. Which is much more than can be said for the Party that took you and yours all the way to the Privy Council to fight against your cause.
Do you really think the same individuals who did that all of a sudden had a change of heart? It’s all politics.
What do you think of teh Government’s report and its proposals?
I cannot express an opinion on a report that has not been made public.
And regarding what took place on July 11,2014 Again nothing was tabled on that date. No legislation or report.
I see this as lazyness.It is my opinion and mine alone, service to your country is a privilage,I was called up but I had served through some hard times with police service,there is fire brigade,St.Johns ambulance …as long as you serve you have contrubuted.By right this gives you certain entitlement and consideration or it should.
Many contribute by paying more in taxes because they earn more and spend more. Some of these earners and spenders own their own businesses which don’t have traditional working hours. The Regiment makes no concession for these individuals. I know of many instances in which someone has lost out in earnings because they had to attend camp. Yes, they are paid while at camp, but you can’t place a value on growing your own business. I’m not saying that the Regiment should only be for those who are unemployed, uneducated, or earn below a certain amount, but it certainly is an outdated system. I’d like to see conscription ended tomorrow in favor of a full-time Regiment system where we have maybe 40-60 full-time staff who are then supplemented by part-time reserves.
it would be a good way of reducing government expenditures…when hurricanes come I clean my own yard…and road. Maybe if everyone did the same the regiment wouldn’t be needed for these scenarios…same with trash collection – another unnecessary government entity…
the danger with no regiment is if or when the unrest rears its head due to racial and economic tensions on this island it’ll be the british regiment (replete with teargas and rubber bullets – hopefully not more) that will be sent here to quell the situation – even with an embodied bermuda regiment(remember the late seventies?)
one of the first things (if not the first thing) the OBA did was to install a foreign C.O. (they are good at that aren’t they?) at the regiment. Thinking he won’t be so apprehensive about using “necessary” force against bermudians in comparison to a bermudian C.O.?
what I am saying is be careful what you wish for in this regard. would you rather have foreign born troops patrolling our streets should marshal law be implemented for the above mentioned scenario or bermudian ones? – yes I know – Foreigners do everything better right? SMH…
Who would feel more sympathetic to the plights of the people (right or wrong)?
The foreign CO was installed because the Bemrudian that was groomed and due to take over the position was killed in a car crash in the UK. No under the new CO another Bermudian is being trained up for the future.
Don’t let facts get in the way of your brain dead xenophobic conspiracy theories.
Huh?…….who me?……I am right here.stop yah noise.
That’s why the PLP are the opposition. They just did things without looking at all the ramifications. e.g. the PRC issue, the payroll tax increase, etc.
What is the wascally woban on about now?
Let’s hear from BAD about who THEY support in relation to this issue. OBA policy or PLP….whatever they had.
And the PLP keep digging for things to misrepresent in attacks on government. If I remember correctly, it isn’t that conscription will end in 2019, it is that that is when the last conscripts will be finishing their service, conscription is due to end before that.
Conscription ends on the day when the last conscript leaves Warwick Camp. As there will be conscripts until 2019 that is when it will end.
Will there be any new ‘conscriptees’ pass 2016?
Mr. Marshall-
No.
Conscription (the compulsory enlistment for state service, typically into the armed forces) ends when the last person is enlisted.
In Parliament, Premier Dunkley said that Government proposes “a phased end to conscription working towards the last ballot for recruits in 2015 for 2016’s Recruit Camp and a completion of service for those soldiers in 2019.”
Conscription would end in 2015, when the last ballot is made final, or at the latest in 2016, when the last conscript enters Recruit Camp.
You and the Premier are both correct that there will be conscripts until 2019.
EW
Mr. Wells,
I have read several accounts on this matter. It is common to read that “conscription ended when the last conscript walked out of camp.”
As long as there are conscripts there is conscription.Without one you cannot have the other and vice versa. Otherwise those conscripted in 2016 could not be forced to complete their term. And what ensures they do? Conscription. As you’ve said the definition of conscription is forced mandatory service most usually in the military.That force remains in effect until 2019. Fact!
What you are suggesting is comparable to saying that slavery ended in 1834 and there were slaves for an aditional three years during the phasing out period but not slavery.
Mr. Marshall-
I respectfully disagree.
Slavery certainly didn’t end until the last slave was freed, but slavery (defined as one person forced to work for another without compensation or choice) is an on-going condition, and is not analogous to conscription (as defined above), which can only occur once, on one day (the day on which a person is enlisted for service to the state).
Under Premier Dunkley’s proposal, no one is at risk of being conscripted past 2015, when the final ballot is formed. Therefore, there cannot be conscription past that point.
But as I said, there will be conscripts that fulfill the remaining term of their compulsory service through 2019.
EW
Mr. Wells,
I think we are both missing each others points. Thanks for the input.
We’re nit picking at points, the act of conscription will end with the last conscripts entering in 2016, the last conscripts will serve until 2019.
However, your desire to see it end immediately, is both short sighted and selfish. When conscription ends, there will be a hole in our social safety net that conscription has inadvertently filled, and that has been to catch and give purpose to individuals that have otherwise fallen through the cracks until that point. Many have found in the regiment a chance to build a sense of self discipline that was never present or instilled into them prior to being called to service, and have benefitted and from this and allowed them to catch themselves from falling into bad conditions in life. Unless there are means to fill this hole, those that could have been caught, will be further missed, and that is a disservice to them and society as a whole.
Your views on the Regiment have always been singular, self-serving and negative, intolerant to the good that has come out of the regiment, and while it has not been all good, this fault lies not in the institution, but in the nature of humanity itself. What you get out of the service in the regiment is very much a reflection of what you put into it. It is a shame you sons never allowed themselves to experience the service, it could have been a positive and beneficial experience, but only if they could have removed their personal intolerances, and the regiment is a good place for that.
The OBA has taken the right strides toward the end goal; as with construction, if you want a solid building, you begin with a solid foundation, because if you rush that first stage, in short order, your walls will be coming down around you.
During my time in, I found a great many faults, some with the institution, most with selfish members, but having opened myself to its experience, I carried out a far more positive opportunity than I had expected and relish in the many friends and colleagues, across all walks of our society, whom I had a chance to cross paths with during my various stages of my career there.
In the end, I can tell you without a doubt, that what you get out of the Regiment, will be exactly what you put in and a reflection of your attitude toward life and others.
All the things that the PLP did not do or have the courage to do should be done instantly…who believes this garbage…..if only they let us all know what they were going to do during the 14 year disaster perhaps we would not be hanging by a very slender thread today….the PLP is not qualified to speak on important issues and recent history proves that
Great Here goes Roban again.
The PLP were boycotting the House on that day. The OBA have to deal with National Security in a mature manner. The timetable they have presented is reasonable so as to make proper provisions.
All you need to fix this is a small permanent (non-volunteer) force and reserves. I bet Bermudian males would much rather (at least this one would) spend 1 day, twice a year on the basics of clearing up a hurricane during their 3 year stint than all the onerous time commitment they have now. Additionally, as Bermudian male I would be happy to help my fellow people recover from a hurricane, with the regiment or not.
Its not an all out end to conscription, but it is a good compromise in the medium term.
- Permanent force for ongoing training and activities
- Reserves for disaster releif
But by making it ‘non-volunteer’, you’re pretty much perpetuating the conscription policy, to a different kind of service.
Frankly, minister if a rush was so important, why wasn’t it done under PLP admin. I’m all for phasing it out over a period
The PLP promised to table legislation ending Conscription in the 2011 Throne Speech and then did nothing.
You can’t make this stuff up.
Makes you laugh inna!
As far as i am concerned, the PLP has no say on this matter. They boycotted the house on the day this was talked about on the hill, so they can also boycott changes to Bermudas conscription policy. Please and thank you.
The PLP fought against banning conscription .
Remember the PLP took BAD to the Privy Council to make sure conscription was retained. Now they want the OBA to hurry up!
Please PLP,we do not forget.You did not ban conscription,you encouraged it. Stop trying to deceive us!
14 years & the PLP did nothing with the issue. Less thann 2 years into their term & the OBA has legislation drawn up & on the table.
What is the PLP’s problem?
As important as dealing with conscription is, it was top a top priority upon becoming Government to the OBA. There were other issues which were far more important.
they don’t have anything else to grumble about right now
All this is about is scoring Political brownie points — all this is a bunch of noise – the whole process still has to
still be decided by the UK Govt. – which consist of a debating and deciding process right up to the Queen.
You right the PLP had 14 years to deal with this issue but totaly ignored those who bought the Issue to light.
Ignoring Issues and People were one of the things I disliked about the PLP when they ran Bermuda.
Operation Pressure Cooking working like a charm.
Diversion at it’s best by the PLP.
Stay tuned for other issues.
These fools continue to LIE at the expense of all bermudians! The People’s Laying Party!!! They definitely stay true to their name! Anyways no need to hear from your ‘party’ or you cuz ya still boycotting parliament! Can someone within the PLoP call kim wilson plz cuz i am really tired of your front runners talking nonsense!
PLP = OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY
So, what do we do without a Regiment by conscription?
Expanding the subject abit, I believe all should do some sort of community service between the ages of 18 & 25. How long is up for debate but we all should be doing something.
At 18 you make your choices in order of preference. Could be St Johns Ambulance, Police Reserves, Fire Service, KBB, any of the many seniors homes that always need help etc. Oh yes, there is the Regiment. If you don’t pick some of the other options the Regiment will be picked for you.
There are those who like the military stuff. A drill squad for ceremonial stuff would be good. Ever seen a US Marines drill squad? Amazing precision!
I left out hurricane cleanup. Why? Because the landscapers have the people, equipment & knowhow to get the job done quickly to a point that W&E can continue at their slow pace.
PLP is a crock of S***
snore.
It was a promise made and will be fulfill in due time…By the way, don’t forget the P.L.P. didn’t even make any moves toward ending the Regiment
Also, remember the O.B.A. aren’t compelled (orders from The Motherland) to do away with the Bda. Regiment have they ? No, I didn’t think so either. So, just because Mr. Marshall didn’t want his sons in the army he got mad and all u’lot arejumping on the band wagon…Blind leading the damn blind!
Blindness is an unwillingness to accept the truth because of who speaks it.Blindness is the lack of understanding when it comes to the violation of basic human rights. For the record I don’t want anyone’s sons subjected to conscription and its inevitable abuses.That’s what BAD has fought for and everyone will benefit.
The blind are those foolish enough to believe that human rights violations are somehow justified in the name of national security.
Thing is, the people disagreeing with Larry Marshall are not even understanding his words. I’d like to know why people have something against Mr. Marshall? All he has done is fight against an unjust law. What’s so wrong about that?
Just scarp it at the stroke of a pen. Sell the land off, put the money in a separate account so they can pay private companies to clean up after a hurricane. After all that is all they do!
i can’t wait until we do away with this Regiment of toy boys…crybabies…i don’t wanna boys…so when things get rough we can bring in the Real Soldiers…you know the “Foreign” Soldiers…the ones that don’t have a problem killing women, children and babies…the world is becoming militarized more n more everyday and you people still acting like you all are just camping out on an island for a vacation…God forbid if we ever acquire a Privatized Military…and i shall leave it at that.
heck while we’re at it lets hurry into Independence so we can lose our travel privileges too…you be glued to de rock…Bermudians need to feel what they cannot seem to see…REAL HARD poverty by the MAJORITY of its inhabitants…yes! YOU. oh…an by the way…after you riot against the system,but have burnt out the half dozen stores we have…then what?
You’ll only scare the people with ALL the MONEY outta here and there goes the last of possible employment…THINK for ONE MINUTE PLEASE…YOU CAN’T LEAVE…AND NO ONE WANTS TO COME HERE. We will end up a society where as YOU will face death for taking a banana or vegetable out of MY garden without first asking for it…Survival it’s the name of this Millennium…it’s a New Game and a whole new set of rules…Forget what you thought you knew.
Why did the PLP not get this done as they said they would over the 14 years running Bermuda is the Big question.We Bermudians seem to have a very selective memory as to promises made by both parties .
Thank you Frank. Now Mr. Roban from the P.L.P claims they wanted to do away with the Regiments draft but the O.B.A. stopped them.
When it comes down to the Progressive Labour Party members, they will do / say anything to get a vote. Sad yes, but true
Truth of the matter is…..conscription is just a Political Red Herring…..it is Political maneuvering at its slimiest.There is not one valid Reason for removing Conscription.It is a universal Honour and opportunity to serve ones country of Origin or Birth.One who wants Bermuda Citizenship should want to serve the Country of his choice.Status without obligation amounts to …no status at all.!Poli-tricks is at the root cause of all of the Political Hogwash.Cowardice and Infidelity is the fuel of the ones stoking the unholy embers…!
Mr. Sharrieff I take it you’re a Muslim. Would you be okay with being forced to be a pork eating Christian? Point, I’m trying to make with you, is that if you can justify conscription in the name of serving ones country you can justify slavery in the name of serving ones country.
You should learn your history. Elijah Muhammad went to prison for the fighting the draft as did his son Wallace. The most Famous opponent to the draft was Muhammad Ali, yet another practicing Muslim. But of course you’re probably more of a Muslim than the three mentioned. For someone of color, you need to understand the racial context of conscription in Bermuda.
I’ll leave you with the below.
“You’re not to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.” Malcolm X
So why do so few countries have conscription, if it’s such an ‘Universal Honour’?
True, but Marshall & Co think that they are entitled to a free ride. They are not interested in any sort of community service. They don’t owe anything to the Country of their birth.
Free ride? Is a free ride equal to FREEDOM? If so, every individual deserves a free ride. There is no excuse for forced labor of any kind in a society that practices choice. So if you believe that forcing one rather than educating one is in the best interest of a country you Mr. Triangle Drifter need psychiatric help.
The way it is with conscription now, everyone besides the conscripts gets a free ride and you don’t seem to have a problem with that.
Maybe you should read the whole thread before jumping in with an opinion.
In an earlier post I suggested that EVERYONE between 18 & 25 do a period of community service, not necessarily the Regiment.
The only exceptions should be those furthering educations overseas, the medically exempt & the self employed.
The exception should be those who DON’T want to serve. When will you get it through your thick skull that forced labour is WRONG.
Why are we going backwards. We have had the conversation and debate on the ending of conscription and both parties agreed that it must end. What is taking Mr. Dunkley so long or should I even ask? Get on with it and stop stalling. It is for the Regiment to determine and find a way to keep operational with volunteers just like the rest of the world has been doing. Lets not keep making excuses as to why and when it will end. As long as men remain there forcefully they are conscripts, so in essence conscription ends when the last man goes through those gates.@Bermy Bud it maybe the premier who is lying, as I see no progress in ending conscription besides talk. Let the OBA put it in writing then I will believe them., Just imagine if all the supporters of conscription online would keep on volunteering, then we wouldn’t even need conscription, all you lovers of conscription, re-enlist. Is there a cut off age? It shouldn’t be, people of all ages can clean the streets after a hurricane.
Mr.Wisdom…..I remain committed to my Point that a citizen should serve the country of his choice or birth.If he is dissatisfied with his country of choice or birth then he along with others should fight along with others to change that country or take that country over then change it.I was a proud follower of The Honourable Elijah Muhammad during his lifetime and I came into The Nation of Islam as a follower of Malcolm x…!I am also a life Student of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed the Mujeddid of this time and age…..and a follower of Muhammad the Prophet of 1400years ago.!Muhammad Ali is my favourite Boxer and Roy Jones is next in line to him.I do not eat pork although I am in a pork eating society under a pork eating government.,,,,and I will resist slavery with every ounce of my very fibre.I am a universal free thinker and a good citizen of my country of birth.I under the racial context of everything that went on in Bermuda before the famous theatre boycott that busted all racial barriers in Bermuda in 1959….!I supported it and was an active participant.I also remember when the P.L.P. was formed 3 doors from my house in Mr Rio Richardsons Garage in Serpentine Road in Pembroke Parish.I also know when the P.L.P. the lifetime party of my choice, started to lose its way following in the footsteps of its devil master.I remain a Committed Muslim and a commited Bermudian , and I thank you for allowing me to tell my story.! Now ,,,,,what’s yours….?
With all due respect Takbir Karriem Sharrieff, in one breath you state, ” I will resist slavery with every ounce of my very fibre” yet conscription which is a modern day form of slavery you believe is acceptable? Either you’re intellectually dishonest (hypocritical) or just can’t comprehend what slavery is.
To force someone into work and threaten them with arrest if they don’t conform is a form of slavery, you are aware of this right?
Interesting aspect which has not come to the fore;Bermuda is still a British overseas territory and that means the governor has over all control of the courts; the police and I presume The Bermuda regiment. What is their view of the dismantlement of the regiment? Because if anyone harbours the belief that Bermuda with it’s very small population is going to be able to produce this all volunteer military force? well that will be a disappointment. In other countries with larger populations; long standing structure unemployment; although some will say Bermuda has reach that point; other economic factors have seen people turning to military service if only to earn a living. Even if Bermuda decided to pay what I suppose would be a full time scale down military force a real wage; the question still remains what role would it play in the Bermuda contexts? Again what is the British position on this? Does the Bermuda government know? Because if they do Premier Dunkley is not saying.
The British position was made clear in 2008 when the FCO issued a statement as follows:”Conscription is a matter for the Bermuda Government.”
I wonder how Cayman Islands or BVI deal with such things… oh wait
Britain does not have conscription,why should we?
By the way I served 3 yrs in The regiment after being conscripted.
Was ROME built in a day, The lot of you need to figure that no matter what IT WILL TAKE TIME and even more to do it PROPERLY FGS. At least there is movement in the direction. Also past sell by dates are only a suggested date, we all know the products will last beyond that date !!
Just END IT!! I served 4 years I loved it but I feel that it is a total waste of tax payers money! Plus 80% of the guys up the regiment don’t wanna be their.
End conscription?…not exactly…we will always need a regiment,it’s fuction could be more robust and inciteful,why not create a regiment that can do more than fight,a unique and useful highly trained indevidual with many crafts and expertise useful to them later on anywher they go…on call after service for a period of time in case of emergancy.Inter country conscript or choice all of commonwealth with citizenship at duality for time in service to country of service.Bermudian or as commonwealth citizen as concequence of service to commonwealth then commomwealth citizenship of all countries cooperating in this endeavor……do’t think small…think big!
Movement in the direction? that is not good enough, all this planning should have and could have been done ages ago, if one was serious about ending conscription. It looks to me like the Premier said anything to get elected and now is stalling. With the OBA’s record of not following through on their promises, this does not surprise me. @Raymone Ray where have you been? Mr.Marshall has not just been fighting for his sons but for all males who are likely to be conscripted,since it affects those who have the misfortune of being called up into the Regiment. Stop making this personal, this goes far beyond his sons, and my sons and even past the ‘tradition’ and ‘myth’ we have been brainwashed to believe which is that we need conscription.
Tell you like an old friend of mine once tole me…(No fall down…fall up!”Like I said propose to head of commonwealth this idea,pool conscript from an inter commonwealth pool of volunteers,of which you will have many if for service the possibility of commonwealth citizen with right to work and live in country…or countries of service…or commonwealth membership be offered.Is this not a forward thinking idea,all that would be required is no criminal history,this should also be a thing that could change for service providing tenure is good and effort is made to learn anything offered,more skills more consideration.Conscript or volunteer “should”,be made into a place of learning life skills and character building.Be all that you can be!
It is my humble view that if Some don’t wish to serve they shouldn’t have to,but….if you stand to gain from serving then you wouldn’t need a conscript.You would have abundant full time regiment.Again while serving schooling should be offered as a reward,or a consequence of serving,marine mechanics,electrical,piloting,bus driving,ambulance ,fire service,air conditioning automotive mechanics,heavy equiptment,and any and all formal education,(with a promise to work in govt. Till schooling is paid for,by that time you might enjoy your job.)It is a nateral evolution of regimental structure,and at the same time you learn responsibility,how to go to bed at night and wake up early in the morning, how to do your part sociologically speaking…we all serve a purpose in the grand scheme of things and this …of done properly would be a great beginning….
After all that’s said and done, all that don’t want to be forced into the regiment can thank Larry Marshall for sticking to his belief.. If it weren’t for his diligence, we won’t even be talking about this right now. For all that want to go regiment, you’re welcome to it. Hats off to Larry Marshall!
You really think a conscripted toy soldier Bermuda Regiment is a trusted backup for the BPS? Oh please…
Those that have come to take their service seriously are. Your attempt to generalize all soldiers serving, as those who waste their time there, is a disservice to those who don’t and you should apologize to them. I have had the chance to work with many there who take their duties seriously, some were happy to go in, some reluctant, all from different walks of life on this island, and all choose to make a positive use of their time there, and these are the ones who make up the active operations division that provides the primary support to the police from the regiment. Your remarks shows a willing sense of ignorance about that and an unjustified intolerance to those who volunteer to comprise the first line of this force.