Security review will examine role of the Regiment

A major review of Bermuda’s security and safety is due to get under way soon, involving Government and Governor George Fergusson.

Mr Fergusson told the Bermuda Sun: “It will be looking at what Bermuda needs for its security and safety and how that can best be organized.”

He added: “I wouldn’t want to preempt the discussions, but who does what at sea is one of the most useful areas the review could look at.”

The previous Government signalled before the general election that it would move to abolish conscription to the Bermuda Regiment and instead create a smaller, full-time force.

Earlier, it also said that it was looking for the Regiment to assume a greater maritime capability, taking over the responsibility of policing the island’s sea approaches from the Marine Police.

Both proposals have been backed by the new OBA administration.

Mr Fergusson, who is also Commander-in-Chief, said: “It’s no threat to any of the organizations currently doing it, but it’s an opportunity to look at things on a holistic basis, to look at what is done and in terms of who does what.”

Mr Fergusson added that the appointment of a British Army officer to head up the Bermuda Regiment following the tragic death of Major Chris Wheddon in a car crash while training in England, would help the Regiment through any transitional period or change of responsibilities.

Maj. Wheddon was in the final stages of training to assume the Commanding Officer’s role, replacing Lt. Col. Brian Gonsalves, when he was killed.

His death left a gap at the top, with more junior officers not yet qualified for the top job, leaving the option of a part-time Bermudian CO drawn from the ranks of former senior officers.

Mr Fergusson said: “It’s not a systemic change, although it’s the first time it’s happened since 1965, when the Regiment was formed.

“It’s not a policy change, but, for one reason or another, and given the Regiment is facing the likelihood of changing, it wasn’t the right time to have a part-time CO rather than a full-time one.”

He added: “The recommendation from the promotions committee was that we needed to look elsewhere.

“It’s a response to a position we haven’t faced before and the British Army was extremely generous in making that selection process available and ensuring we get a very high calibre officer.

“In the longer term, we will go back to having Bermudian Commanding Officers.”

Lt Col. Mike Foster-Brown, whose last posting was Afghanistan, will take over as Regiment CO in the summer.

The UK Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, made his first visit to the Bermuda Regiment last month and said that the door was open to closer cooperation between the Regiment and British Army.

Gen. Wall said: “A relationship like the one the British Army might have with the Bermuda Regiment is a tile in that mosaic — it may turn out to be an important tile. 

“This visit confirmed my sense there are linkages that are worth refining and developing.”