Comments on: Ministerial Brief: Defence Amendment Act 2015

By: watching

watching — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 14:05:34 +0000

Premier Dunkley must think the electorate have very short memories. He clearly stated on numerous occasions that the OBA would abolish conscription. He never said they would make it a last resort. He said it would be ABOLISHED. Now we get excuses as to why it hasn’t been abolished. All he has done is play politics with people to get elected.

By: watchfuleyes

watchfuleyes — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 11:39:24 +0000

What a farce… what military tactic is this…bob and weave… hide in plain sight… put Conscription in the coffin as Mr.Walter Roban stated!!!

By: Onion Juice

Onion Juice — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 05:00:36 +0000

Its good pay for those who come POOR countries.

By: Build a Better Bermuda

Build a Better Bermuda — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 01:11:31 +0000

The only quoted pay I can see on their website relates to just the service during the 2 week recruit camp, for which is $2000. Upon completing recruit camp, there is the weekly drill nights, then there is the EMO/IS training weekend embodiments, plus the opportunity to go on additional training trips… so in a year, it is quite possible to pull in over $5000 for that first year of service… been there, done it… it falls entirely on commitment and attendance. Course I also stepped up to do advanced training too.

By: Keepin' it Real!...4Real!

Keepin' it Real!...4Real! — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 20:15:59 +0000

Why can’t we just fund the fifty or so volunteer’s and have them trained to become an Elite Squad for WHENEVER theyre needed solely for assistance in high risk assaults…forget this post wartime regiment…its War time again incase you didn’t know…let’s BE prepared

By: larry marshall

larry marshall — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 17:19:24 +0000

Interesting to note that the $5000 you quote is not consistent with the figure quoted on the Regiment web-site and repeatedly given out by officers. With that I agree. That said it is also interesting to note that there is absolutely no mention of exactly how many hours need to be completed. That is no doubt by design in order to deliberately mislead people. What you didn’t state was the number of hours required to obtain the $5000 is close to 500 which means about $10.00 an hour. Put another way: Forced cheap labor and that is wrong!

By: Sisu

Sisu — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 15:44:57 +0000

The Premier says “The Bill before this Honourable House does not end conscription immediately. It does not do so because that is not what we promised.”

Did he say this with a straight face? That is EXACTLY what they promised. See Throne Speeches 2013, 2014, and 2015… And numerous other talking points in the lead up to the election.

Like this: “During the legislative session, the Government will introduce amendments to the Defence Act 1965 to eliminate conscription.”

You suck OBA

By: Build a Better Bermuda

Build a Better Bermuda — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 14:59:56 +0000

Been there and your concept of the pay is off. The $300 is a bonus paid to those who volunteer and complete the basic training, as for how much someone can get paid, it is possible for a private to make $5000 or more in a year of service, it is tied to your attendance. If you decide to further and test yourself by going into a rank fast tracking program, the potential is there for more. But it is dependant entirely on your attendance, that is if you are there for most if not all nights and the annual 2 week camp, plus there is the EMO exercise embodiment weekend and usually a security train embodiment weekend at some point too. And then if there is an actual embodiment…

By: Build a Better Bermuda

Build a Better Bermuda — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 14:46:02 +0000

I understand the need to keep a conscription policy in place, however I would like to see something added to Clause 4 that would see an option added where should there be a short fall of required volunteers, there should be an option for those in that ar selected into the conscription pool to check off that they would volunteer to fill those spaces first, putting them in selection first ahead of those in the conscription pool that don’t want to serve if they are called.

By: Blackmon

Blackmon — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 14:38:26 +0000

Wow….Mr. Premier, out of ideas are we? What poor conceptualization for an “all volunteer” regiment! $300….hardly a show of a strong commitment to an all volunteer force! We know that many young people cannot find work in Bermuda today due to increased specialization and higher education required for jobs in Bermuda today, so why not pay each solider who volunteers a yearly “bounty” of , say, $5,000 and put them to work to train (and later, to perform) as semi-professional soldiers required to “donate” 250 duty hours per year to the Regiment.

With many now home at moma’s house doing nothing but passing the dutchie all day, and watching YouTube videos, the ability to earn a nice sum of cash learning some new skills, and get busier…just iin time for Christmas or Cupmatch would be a welcome bargain. We would never need to turn back to the black slavery of conscription again….

And the “new” regiment that resulted would best the best, most talented and professional force we have ever had.

By: Blackmon

Blackmon — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 14:35:23 +0000

What poor conceptualization for an “all volunteer” regiment! $300