Comments on: Nine Colonels: ‘Regiment Is Now Under Strength’

By: Family Man

Family Man — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 10:43:20 +0000

Is that why they go on those Jamaica ‘training’ sessions?

It’s all starting to make sense now.

By: tribda

tribda — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 00:15:25 +0000

if it was full time I would be there in a second, hope they change the laws!

By: PBanks

PBanks — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:11:44 +0000

There’s a significant difference between encouraging people to serve and dragging those in, against their will.

And while you continue with the disconnect between military service and disaster relief, it’s been shown time and time again that if there’s anything that Bermudians of all walks of life can come together on, it’s helping our neighbours after a hurricane strike. The regiment soldiers who give their time to assist, are gladly appreciated, but we won’t drop down wailing in despair if for whatever reason they’re not available because of cutbacks in numbers.

By: PBanks

PBanks — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:06:13 +0000

Certainly there’s a 420 joke in here somewhere

By: PBanks

PBanks — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:03:57 +0000

If Bermuda was to become independent, then indeed, we’ll have to review the status, composition and roles of our existing military service dept. Right now though?

By: PBanks

PBanks — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:01:54 +0000

This policy was put in place by the OBA government, so please leave the political nonsense out of this one.

When it comes to the question of does Bermuda even need a military force, the island’s remote location is a decent reason. On the flip side, other UK OTs in this hemisphere (Cayman, BVI, TCI, Anguilla) seem to get by without one.

By: Imjustsaying

Imjustsaying — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 11:23:30 +0000

Oh boo hoo! I guess we are now vulnerable to a Russian or North Korean attack. Give me a break.

By: PANGAEA

PANGAEA — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 11:21:50 +0000

I did my time the Regiment and I am proud of it ,which give me the opportunity to call those who don’t, cowards.

” Be a man my son!”

By: Waste of money

Waste of money — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 09:48:33 +0000

The Bermuda regiment is a total waste of taxpayer money . It is not about pride it is economics. If you are looking for pride how about a bus an ferry service that show up on time . Those that think it is the regiment that put the Island back together after a hurricane are dreaming. Value for dollar they make W E seem like the deal of the century !

By: Family Man

Family Man — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 09:25:55 +0000

I’d rather our young men and women spend their time and energy on improving their education rather than training to put a tarp on someone’s roof. It’s a pretty sad reflection on our educational abilities when so many people think ‘there’, ‘they’re’ and ‘their’ are interchangeable.

By: BILLYBYE

BILLYBYE — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 02:50:54 +0000

How can anyone in there right mind think it’s a good idea to not have a defense force!!! Some of the comments, people are really out there!
Really sad to see how less proud we’ve become as a country over the years. This topic really speaks to the level of country Pride we have when we can’t even get people to serve there own country/people. And it’s not there fault.
Hope all you fools who encouraged our young folk that it’s better not to serve their people remember this when your old and in need of assistance one day.
And in case you haven’t realized yet, but the same young men you don’t/didn’t encourage to serve, sad to say but they are going to be the same ones your going to be looking for to put tarp on your roof, board up your doors and windows, come out in the storm and pick you up to take you to the hospital, clear the roads within hours for emergency vehicle access throughout the island and so much more, hope you”ll remember!!! And sure, you think “Oh the public will pitch-in”, you shall see, you will see!

By: BILLYBYE

BILLYBYE — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 02:21:08 +0000

You’ll notice when the next major hurricane strikes. Every country needs an insurance policy mate.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 01:20:59 +0000

We don’t need the Regiment for street cleaning after storms at all. The landscapers have the people, the know how & the equipment to do that. Before the last puff of wind they would be at their pre arranged areas.

We need a Regiment or National Guard for ceremonial duty, for supplimentary duty for special events to help the BPS on the water & on land. Sure don’t need 420 for that.

By: Wagwon

Wagwon — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 00:28:58 +0000

Its a waste of precious money. Id rather spend it on the ederly and fun things for the youth to do.

Keep a volunteer marching band for parades and have a trained and paid on call clean up crew for hurricanes and disasters. Simple.

By: pfc

pfc — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 21:49:45 +0000

why don’t you useless

By: wildcat

wildcat — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 21:09:44 +0000

The regiment is not a defense force even with full numbers.

By: NO MORE WAR

NO MORE WAR — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 20:41:32 +0000

Um hello, the Regiment does not bring in any revenue whatsoever. All that department does is hold its hand out for money and their officers are over paid. It is time to rid the island of the total waste of time expense. Put them to some use and have the permenant staff do guard duties for the governor premier and whomever else.

By: 6mbs

6mbs — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 19:16:06 +0000

Scrap regiment all together and create a national disaster recovery type team. These can consist of men and women who are loyal to the regiment, police men and fire men (when they have the time)and who ever else wants to get trained to use a chain saw and tie knots. The likelihood of Bermuda needing these type of people happens every summer during hurricane season. The likelihood of Bermuda ever needing a military is zero….and since independence isn’t happening for the foreseeable future I’m sure jolly ol Britain will send in the troops if Twitter fans of Ellen Degenerates want to invade us.

By: nerema

nerema — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 19:10:12 +0000

Obviously Waine Caines has failed. He oversaw the end of conscription and he has been unable to persuade enough recruits. So much for being minister of ‘national security’.

By: peelpee

peelpee — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 18:31:57 +0000

“An Island without a Defence Force.
PATHETIC”

The last time the regiment ‘defended’ the island was during the riots, where half the regiment was rioting.

You’re PATHETIC OJ, absolutely PATHETIC!

By: Son Goku

Son Goku — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 18:22:38 +0000

Make the regiment a worth while job with benefits then the numbers will swell. Think about it, why would anyone wanna run around and be yelled at for less than 20 an hour.

By: John Thorne

John Thorne — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 18:14:21 +0000

Let the 9 colonels and their families reinlist.

By: Mike Hind

Mike Hind — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 17:24:23 +0000

Yes. You are…

By: inna

inna — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 17:17:57 +0000

Still want to go independent!!??

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 16:51:21 +0000

Defence from what? Couldn’t even protect your granny from being pepper sprayed.

By: Onion Juice

Onion Juice — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 16:12:01 +0000

An Island without a Defence Force.
PATHETIC

By: Family Man

Family Man — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 15:49:03 +0000

420 is optimum? Optimum for what?

Why do we even need a regiment? Are we preparing to repel a Russian invasion?

First define what you want the regiment to do.
Then determine the optimum staffing.

We don’t need 420 people to clear the roads after a hurricane. What do we need 420 people for?

By: JohnBoy

JohnBoy — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 15:31:20 +0000

Good one!! Well played Sir.

By: Legalgirl

Legalgirl — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 14:59:03 +0000

Unless they are planning on a military dictatorship or coup perhaps best to accept that without conscription numbers and costs will drop.

By: Bermewjan

Bermewjan — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 14:42:46 +0000

While I’m not a huge fan of conscription, we need to maintain a healthy Regiment to support our emergency services during hurricanes and periods of public unrest, never mind supporting our defense god forbid we should ever require it. If conscription has now been proven to be our only course of action to make sure we have a healthy Regiment then we just have to get behind it. Anarchy isn’t an option in any civilized society, and certainly not a refined one, such as ours.

By: Gaymes

Gaymes — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 14:07:58 +0000

hahaha

By: PBanks

PBanks — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 14:05:29 +0000

Yep. Adapt, or go extinct.

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 14:01:37 +0000

Maybe it does not pay enough.

While I’m on it, nearly enough Colonels for a Junta.

By: kevin

kevin — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 13:34:14 +0000

You people who honestly believe that the regiment serves no real purpose will be the very first who will scream and shout when there is no one to assist you with putting a tarpaulin on your roof after a hurricane or assist with clearing the roadways. They also assist with keeping the peace during civil unrest …oh yeah you probably don’t think its necessary. I was in the regiment and there are great life lessons to be learned , well beyond the firing of a rifle.
Open your eyes before its too late

By: DS

DS — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 13:26:08 +0000

If the regiment were gone the contingency plan for many Bermuda agencies, especially Police and Fire, will have to be rewritten and there will be not easy or convenient solutions. Bermuda will be a weaker country without the Regiment. Calling on foreign soldiers or policemen will not go down well. The nine colonels are right about keeping conscription on the books and the perceived operational benefit, but they miss fail to argue the social benefits. Regardless, the days of conscription are over and the Regiment is changing with the times. They demonstrated success during the Americas Cup and on deployment to TCI and they are pushing for a maritime role. This is a government department that has been a top 10 employer for the past two years and also won the product and service award for best Government service last year.

By: haha

haha — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 12:46:34 +0000

too bad, you should have thought about that when you were busy wasting our time up warwick camp while sipping whisky in the lounge.

By: Onion

Onion — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 12:41:50 +0000

What a bunch of jokers.

Regiment is an expensive anachronism and aside from parades and some limited disaster relief nobody will notice if it disappears. Let alone if it just under-strength.

By: Major Insurgence

Major Insurgence — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 11:54:32 +0000

Another stroke of PLP genius. Get rid of the Regiment through stealth, and when it comes to hurricane clear up, give it all to W&E to make a fortune on overtime. Genius.

Meanwhile, we carry on down the road towards becoming a banana republic, and one with no military.

By: Time Shall Tell

Time Shall Tell — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 11:45:51 +0000

How many tin soldiers marching Front Street & on call post hurricane gardeners do you think we really need? If the time should come for dealing with civil unrest, history already tells us the course of action that would be put into place & it doesn’t include the local regiment (other than being used as errand boys for the imported solution).

By: Joe Bloggs

Joe Bloggs — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 11:40:09 +0000

If you live east of White Hill your opinion does not count!

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 11:32:07 +0000

How about the nine colonels keep their opinions to themselves…we don’t want it…

No indication of what optimum strength is, and for what purpose?