A little coastguard

Dark and Stormy's Bill Davidson has mixed feelings about the Premier's suggestion that the role of the Bermuda Regiment be expanded to include "a little coastguard":

"[This is] something I have been an advocate of for many years. Sadly enough, [the Premier] is talking about this to the head of the Jamaican coast guard. There goes any drug interdiction model."

Comments

[ken on 13.03.06 at 13:54]

I think this would be a wonderful opportunity for young Bermudians to take on this venture. We are surrounded by water and from my experience in the REgiment, the guys that formed the Boat Troupe seemed to really enjoy that particular training. Many young men in Bermuda love boats - both sailing in them and the mechanics of them and they love the water.
While oftentimes the regiment is viewed in negative terms, as I in fact did prior to my conscription, I do believe the government is trying to make it more relevant and beneficial in terms of transferable skills. I think the more you can gain from it, then hopefully it would be a bit more attractive to Bermuda's youth.

[sandgrownan on 13.03.06 at 14:04]

It's always puzzled me why Bermuda hasn't directed at least 50% of The Regiment's resources to a marine force.

I agree with Bill Davidson, shouldn't "The Man" be talking to the US Coast Guard and the UK authorities how how best to do this?

And agreeing with Ken, you'd have blokes queueing to do this, follow it as a career, rather than being forced into The Regiment. Imagine the training opportunities..

[Tiger Bay on 13.03.06 at 14:14]

This would be a terribly wasteful duplication of effort.

If we need maritime protection, then the money should go to the Marine Police who have law enforcement powers and are a full-time force.

The Regiment have been most useful in helping Bermuda get back on its feet after a storm; that's where their resources should be dedicated.

Let's be realistic here.

[ken on 13.03.06 at 14:20]

Tiger Bay,

"The Regiment have been most useful in helping Bermuda get back on its feet after a storm; that's where their resources should be dedicated"

Maybe the regiment has been most useful in the capacity because it hasn't full developed itself in other areas...I mean I don't see this being a duplication of efforts. I don't think anyone anticipates at least at the very onset that the regiment will be the only defence of Bermuda via the water.

[SmokingGun on 13.03.06 at 14:21]

How about the Marine Police role be expanded to include a Coast Guard/Search & Rescue program in conjunction with the Regiment?

[ace on 13.03.06 at 14:25]

"the guys that formed the Boat Troupe seemed to really enjoy that particular training"

I would have enjoyed it too. Laz around drinking beers until you get a radio call to take some people from point A to point B. Then, back to base camp for a nice meal, followed by more beers.

In Jamaica they used to get little kids to bring them beers and nice meals out in the "bush".

It may be different now, but Boat Troop was always considered a doddle of a job when I was in.

[Tiger Bay on 13.03.06 at 14:25]

This government needs to learn how to reduce its spending, not accelerate it.

[ken on 13.03.06 at 14:37]

Ace,

I wasn't in boat troupe, so I concede my comments were purely hearsay, but i do wonder why we are so quick to put a negative spin on everything. It might have negatives to it, but there also could be positives to it. Why are we so quick to highlight and focus on all the negatives?

[sandgrownan on 13.03.06 at 14:43]

Ken - it's because 8 years of this bunch of muppets have caused us to be overly cynical.

I do think, on balance, that a redirection of some regiment resources to an expanded Marine POlice and/or COastguard is a good idea. We are an island afterall. I guess that what is important that if you join the "coastguard" you should be exempted from Regiment duty. In other words, the coastguard should not be run under conscription but should be a professional service.

[observor on 13.03.06 at 15:06]

ken

I completed my regiment experience about 5 years ago and can confirm ace's observations as being entirely valid, both for boat troupe as well as a number of other regimental units.

With regard to the "negative spin" of posters I firmly believe this is directly correlated with a significant portion of the electorate's complete dissatisfaction with the (lack of) performance of the current PLP government. Having spent billions of OUR dollars and commenced a plethora of start-stop, meaningless projects, committees, task-forces, panels, policy units, advisory boards and cross-ministry initiatives .... where are we? Unless you’re a cabinet member (or related to one) in need of some new (or improved) government housing, a fast ferry and/or bus passenger or a travel agent ... what has this government done for the betterment of us all?

P should be spending more time on the Rock addressing our current economic and social issues versus fawning around the Caribbean spouting off pie in the sky verbiage that does nothing more then factitiously elevate his self-perception.

[SmokingGun on 13.03.06 at 15:36]

Tiger Bay - I look at it a little differently. I think it might actually be a worthwhile investment for a variety of reasons. Take for instance that we will always need a Marine Police that actually already handles some coast guard/rescue duties. A program such as this will help train and prepare those that wish to enter that field. Duties could include drug searches, fire fighting and emergency evacuation services.
Take for instance that we shall expand our Ferry systems with more and more high tech equipment, people would become qualified to take on those duties. Consider the opportunity to open up a private water taxi program, people would be trained for that. Coast guard licensing for captaincy would be an added benefit. Deisel marine motor mechanics for all the boats on the island, well technically just off the island, but you get the point.

A couple of boats and I imagine a plethora of positive potential could be reaped from the experience.

[Adjustah on 13.03.06 at 15:48]

"While oftentimes the regiment is viewed in negative terms, as I in fact did prior to my conscription, I do believe the government is trying to make it more relevant and beneficial in terms of transferable skills. I think the more you can gain from it, then hopefully it would be a bit more attractive to Bermuda's youth."

Exactly. The Regiment still fulfils a much required social role in our society - like it or not. Not to mention an increase in SAR capabilities an coastguard would bring. Need proof? Go look at our new 'lost at sea' memorial. I'm still scratching my head as to why Smatt's efforts to have a locally based SAR helicopter never took off - pun intended. I suppose that the costs were prohibitive, but if you run SAR in conjunction with drug interdiction you may be able to rationalize the cost. I suppose that we're only a quick jump for a P-3 or Coastie C-130, but still will the USCG respond quickly, if at all, to a local problem?

"I guess that what is important that if you join the "coastguard" you should be exempted from Regiment duty. In other words, the coastguard should not be run under conscription but should be a professional service."

Not a bad idea in the long run, but in the short term you still need the core to draw from. Not to mention the fact that, on an island such as Bermuda, a landbourne element is invaluable and necessary. To do this properly you would also need quite alot of capital. You'd also need to steer the whole venture correctly - free of politics (another benefit to a military structure in that it's apolitical) otherwise you end up with the Police Service party boat scenario which I think they haul out for Cup Match and the occassional fishing tournament.

[reality on 13.03.06 at 15:53]

The boat troop is for the most part there for rich boys who weasel their way into the easiest part of the regiment. Don't believe me look who's in it and been in it, a who's who of guys that went to Saltus.

[ace on 13.03.06 at 16:37]

"but i do wonder why we are so quick to put a negative spin on everything"

Probably because I never win the Friday caption contest and I'm thinking certain posters who win regularly are performing sexual favours of some sort on Phil, or possibly Mandy.

lol

Nah...just kidding.

It is the PLP's fault.

;-)

[SmokingGun on 13.03.06 at 16:48]

Ace - Is that a pot shot? Just so you know I don't smoke nuthin' but a cigar and only when my buddies have their babies. ;)

[Village People on 13.03.06 at 16:59]

In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, people, make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)

[Michael Taylor on 13.03.06 at 17:13]

Reality,

"The boat troop is for the most part there for rich boys who weasel their way into the easiest part of the regiment. Don't believe me look who's in it and been in it, a who's who of guys that went to Saltus."

I don't know much about who's been in it but speaking as someone who just finished my time with A-Company and know's who most of the boat troop guys are, I can tell you the vast majority aren't rich or Saltus boys and "easiest" is not the word I'd use to describe boat troop. It's not as gruelling as the infantry but they serve cosiderably more time than almost all the other units including quartermaster's, and there is nothing remotely tough about Q.M.'s dept..

[pittsbay on 13.03.06 at 17:18]

Having been part of Boat Troop during my time in the Regiment, I can honestly say that I would much rather have done that then be in a Rifle Company!!

Thoroughly enjoyed myself in Jamaica!!

As to the capabilities of Boat Troop - there is only so much that you can do with 2 "boston whaler" type boats. If it was expanded, I think you would find that the scope of the work undertaken would also expand.

[Tiger Bay on 13.03.06 at 17:22]

There's a huge difference between what is entertaining and what is 1) needed and 2) useful!

[ace on 13.03.06 at 17:24]

lol Smokingun.

I think pittsbay went to Saltus...he spelled "thoroughly" correctly.

[Darkside on 13.03.06 at 17:33]

Now ace ... don't be bitter.

[Pitts Bay on 13.03.06 at 18:35]

Ahh - Tiger Bay - I think you will find that if something is entertaining and enjoyable then people will tend to do a better job at it! Search & Rescue comes to mind.

I don't think it would normally be said that Rifle Company was enjoyable, but Boat Troop could be (in between the waiting around!!). If that is the case, expand the role; give people some pride in what they do; make it functional. You get much more "bang for your buck" that way.

[Combat Banker on 13.03.06 at 18:51]

When I was at the Regiment, Boat Troop was indeed well known as where the slackers went, but not overly burdened with ex-Saltus kids. I can only think of one when I was there, and he ran a Dive Shop, so it actually made sense.

Too be frank as many of the white ex-Saltus kids volunteered for the Cadre as weaseled their way into Boats, Comms, Cooks etc. The Regiment was one of the only places in Bermuda where I found you were judged on what you contributed, not whether you were light green or dark green.

Anyway. All aside from the point. Why was Boat Troop a joke and a dodge? BECAUSE it was underfunded and not scaled to it's proper use. I fully applaude any effort to bring the Regiment into a proper role in Society.

As for consulting with the Jamacian Defense Force: The JDF and the Bermuda Regiment have for a very long time had a good working relationship together. To ask their advice for me only makes sense. The JDF is one of the Regiment's long time friends. I would hope and believe that a consulation with the US coast guard and the Royal Navy (or perhaps the RNLI) would be necessary and likey in the future.

[snarf on 13.03.06 at 21:00]

This is just a cheap way for David Burch to get a promotion to admiral.

[ace on 13.03.06 at 21:53]

Rear Admiral maybe.

[Combat Banker on 13.03.06 at 21:54]

You just had to go there!

[VB on 13.03.06 at 22:11]

Looking down this thread it is obvious that very few posters are boaters. At least a few have actually been in the Regiment so can post with some first hand knowledge.

I don't suppose the Regiment has changed much since my time in the early 70s. It was a waste of time & money then aside for entertainment purposes for our visitors. These days it appears to be a much better equipped waste of money. All we had was a couple of Landrovers, 2 Mini Mokes & 2 Toyota trucks. When transport was required for a weekend exercise PWD trucks were used. No comphy buses for us.

We used to have the services of a Navy chopper stationed here to do SAR. Thoses services were used often by those who would go out without a radio & in boats unfit for leaving the dock. "What's the worry? The chopper will find us" was the attitude. Anyone else notice how seldom somebody is lost at sea since the Navy left taking their chopper with them? Bermuda boaters are much more careful now knowing full well that there is nothing here to fly out & pick them up.

Technology has taken the 'search' out of SAR. If you can transmit a signal on ch16, Harbour Radio knows where you are down to a very small area. Conducting an effective surface search takes far more training, skill & time gained experience than can be had from a partime boat troop, whether they attended Saltus or anywhere else.

A Regiment manned 'Coast Guard' is just pie in the sky. Looks good, feels good & sounds like a great idea to those with limited knowledge of how the Regiment works or the challenges of the sea but just won't float.

Even post hurricane cleanup could be done faster, better & for less $$$$ if done by the commercial landscapers. Just try to get the Regiment to move on anything without at least 48 hours notice.

[Slowhand on 13.03.06 at 22:12]

Awwww crap..... I wish I had said that!!!

ROTFLMAO

[Slowhand on 13.03.06 at 22:14]

I refer to what ace said...

[It Does Matter on 14.03.06 at 06:52]

A poster said that the Premier should not be in Jamaica discussing a Coast Guard, he should be in the US or UK.

Another poster said the government has mis-spent billions of dollars and the population of this country is no better for all. He went on to say that the government should promote things which elevate us all. But that evidently doesn't include a Coast Guard.

Another poster said that government should decrease rather than increase spending.

Are you amused at the close mindedness of some people? If they are not close minded, then you may think the only conclusion which can be reached is that those people are destined to disagree with whatever proposals are put forward by a PLP government. Why they would promote a disagreement objective is open to conjecture, but I would suggest the answer is somewhere in the following comment:

"P should be spending more time on the Rock addressing our current economic and social issues versus fawning around the Caribbean spouting off pie in the sky verbiage..."

The Regiment was never under the umbrella of Government. Like the police, the shelter the Regiment gets is stamped with the seal of Her Majesty's Governor. Money will always be provided for the Regiment. You may think it more beneficial to all of Bermuda if the money was spent on a more Bermuda-friendly force. Instead of crawling on their bellies and firing guns into beautiful beaches, I suggest it is more appropriate that the recruits and officers take to the water to learn skills of substance. Skills which may provide emergency rescue. Skills which may be utilized so as to protect our waters if necessary.

I suggest that a waste of money would be leaving the Regiment as it is.

[Onion on 14.03.06 at 17:11]

"Even post hurricane cleanup could be done faster, better & for less $$$$ if done by the commercial landscapers. Just try to get the Regiment to move on anything without at least 48 hours notice.

Posted by VB on 13.03.06 at 22:11"

VB,

After Hurricane Fabian troops were out on the ground within 12 hours. The bulk of the debris was cleaned up within one week. During that time troops also assisted in repairing roof damage.

I invite you to ascertain the cost to tax payers if private commercial operators were asked to do the same thing. Go right ahead!

I can tell you that certain tradesmen were very upset because the regiment was cutting into their over-time work because the soldiers were working so tirelessly and efficiently.

Give credit where credit is due. Why all the negativity?

[Tiger Bay on 14.03.06 at 17:26]

Onion, I think the Regiment does a very good job in storm recovery (disclaimer: like many here I served in the Regiment as an NCO). But I think that's where its focus should remain. I simply do not believe that a regimental coast guard is a cost-effective use of taxpayer money. Those tasks are better allotted to the Marine Police or Marine & Ports.

[thisgrassman on 14.03.06 at 18:12]

Give credit where credit is due. Why all the negativity?

Posted by Onion on 14.03.06 at 17:11

VB must own a landscaping company?

Do we not all remember the gouging practices after Emily? The price of Bermuda slate went through the roof (pun intended)

If you didn't have the regiment cleaning up your street / yard you would have the cost and charge bandits lining up to cash in on the situation.

[SmokingGun on 14.03.06 at 18:32]

Personnally I'd rather see $11 million spent on expanding Marine Police into a Coast Guard role in conjunction with the Regiment over a Cricket program.

We've got to create opportunities that can help diversify our job base.

[green on 14.03.06 at 18:47]

Onion,

"I invite you to ascertain the cost to tax payers if private commercial operators were asked to do the same thing. Go right ahead!"

Thanks for the show of support for us soldiers! I just want to clarify that the army is not and should not be there to save the taxpayer money.
I was told many times including by Col. Lambe, that the purpose of our Regiment in a disaster situation is not to provide a source of cheap labor. This was repeated to us during the Fabian deployment. Prior to the embodiment we were told that our tasks in the event of a disaster were only to aid in the restoration of essential services, not to be exploited as cheap labor. We were to make roads passable, not clean. For the most part that is not what happened. Many soldiers were frustrated for over 24 hours while they sat with no task knowing that their freinds and family had been left to clean up the mess themselves. Some units DID provide services within our mandate for the full week of the embodiment but the remainder were exploited in the meantime.

While I am very proud of the work I did after Fabian, conscripts should not have been forced to clean streets. In my opinion, the Bermuda Regiment performed very poorly at its mandated task of making roads passable. For the most part this was done very quickly by private citizens while the commanders ran around trying to find something for us to do.

[green on 14.03.06 at 19:14]

Expanding the role of the regiment to include a "little coastguard" sounds like a great idea but if the public understood the true nature and roles of the current Bermuda Regiment they would know that this is pretty much nonsense. I highly doubt the Premiere is too serious about this. The only way I can see this idea even being viable is if the Regiment became full time or if a full time unit were created to fill the role. But if that were the case wouldn't it be better to just start a stand-alone coastguard.

[JSM on 14.03.06 at 20:41]

You get the best weed when the regiment returns from training in Jamaica...I look forward to it every year!

[Adjustah on 15.03.06 at 06:51]

"You get the best weed when the regiment returns from training in Jamaica...I look forward to it every year!"

Yeah, that was the only time my bye's ever "cammed up" completely too. It was like Sniper school - 30 bye's with weed under every epaulette, piece of webbing and possible hole in their boonie hats. Think Green Wookies.

So proud. Now put it back.

Drug dogs nearly exploded when they walked by us at the airport.

[39Alpha on 15.03.06 at 09:27]

Green,

Soldiers sitting around for 24 hours was not the fault of the Regiment. The men were ready to go within 12 hours. Blame the EMO for any delays.

I don't know where you were located but the Regiment did a fine job making roads passable, getting slate from government quarries to buildings, moving fallen telephone poles, etc. Soldiers that were no longer even enlisted went over to the airport on their own accord to help fix up the place. What platoon were you in?

[green on 15.03.06 at 10:53]

39Alpha,

At that time I was in Training Company 9 platoon, which I'm guessing from your call sign you were in too. The soldiers WERE ready to go within 12 hours but they could have been being dispached as they came in. 12 hours after the storm was over, the roads had long been made passable, admittedly with some help from regiment units that had managed to get out (some against orders). Everything I saw and heard would lead me to believe EMO coordination WAS the main problem after that point as you said.
Like I said before, I am happy to have been given the chance to help out the way we did. Repairing the causeway and some of the tasks being undertaken by other units was clearly part of the Regiment's job but the work that was tasked to training company platoons and some units in other companies was not within our remit. I am guessing the problem was that the Col. or the Governor couldn't figure out how to embody half the army so they had us clean the streets. The bottom line is, we were not supposed to be used as cheap labor and some of us clearly were. We were put on display so the public and news cameras could see the cheap labor with gleaming cap badges in action. Now we have people who think that's what the army is there for.

Sorry for going way off topic.