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A British MP has surprised Regiment officials by suggesting recruits have to pee in plastic bags after lights out.

The MP, Andrew Mackinlay, has been asking questions about the Regiment for years, usually about conscription. In his latest assault he asked the British Government to tell him "when the practice of requiring conscript recruits in the Bermuda Regiment to urinate in plastic bags after 11pm was ended?"

Government Minister Geoff Hoon responded saying: "It has never been the practice for Bermuda Regiment recruits to be required to urinate in plastic bags."

Here, Captain Marlon Williams, Second in Command of Training Company, is baffled by the question, although he suggests it might have originated from a story he read in another newspaper here.

"Surely he [the MP] would understand that is not the Regiment's proper protocol. There are measures in place to protect against those sort of abuses," he said.

Mr. Mackinlay then went on to ask: "Why is it necessary for a section commander to escort conscript recruits to the toilets after 11pm?"

Mr. Hoon replied: "The Bermuda Regiment has a lights out policy during recruit camp in order to enable recruits to sleep undisturbed between the hours of 11pm and 5.45am. Should a recruit need to use the toilet during these hours, he is escorted to the ablution block by his section commander."

He continued: "This ensures the security of sensitive camp areas, ensures the section commander is accountable for his recruits and helps to ensure the safety of the recruit."

The MP also opened the door to the issue of abuse in general in the Regiment. He asked whether the Government would "investigate complaints of abuse of conscript recruits by non-commissioned officers."

Mr. Hoon replied: "The Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment has confirmed that he has not received any complaints of abuse."

Recruit camp has ended now. The conscription process faced a legal challenge this year, but was not upheld by the courts. The objectors intend to challenge the ruling.

Captain Williams said he welcomes the challenge. "I hope we get a definite answer so we don't have to go through it all again next year," he said.[[In-content Ad]]

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