Welcome to 2009! A new year is here. Every year around this time a certain segment of the population raises the issue of the Bermuda Regiment - specifically whether conscription should continue. I must give these people credit, for no matter how many times the issue is thrown out of court, they still bring it up.

Hopefully the courts continue throwing these pleas out in perpetuity! However, it is time for recruit camp and this year the Governor decided to suggest that more women should be recruited. Not a bad idea although it has always been up to women whether they join the army.

Maybe it is time for this to change.

More on this after The Top 20.

Holding at number one is Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) by Beyonce.

Immovable at number two is Live Your Life by T.I. featuring hot girl and Bajan Bombshell Rihanna.

Refusing to give up the number three spot is Miss Independent by Ne-Yo, DJ LT's current fave.

Way up to number four is Right Here by Brandy, which is currently number one in a few dance and club play charts.

Falling to number five is the hip and cool new track by John Legend and Andre 3000, entitled Green Light.

Slipping to number six is the new one from Jazmine Sullivan entitled Bust Your Windows.

Sliding to number seven is Whatever You Like by T.I.

Down into the number eight spot is the new hit from Ne-Yo, entitled Closer.

Falling to number nine is Mrs. Officer by my namesake Lil Wayne featuring Bobby Valentino and Kidd Kidd.

Now some new hits.

I Hate This Part, by the sexiest group of ladies around, the Pussycat Dolls, climbs to number ten.

On the way up at number 11 is Chopped and Skrewed by T Pain featuring Ludacris.

Up to number 12 is Trading Places by Usher.

Jumping to number 13 is Sandcastle Disco by Solange, Beyonce's little sister.

Falling to number 14 is Get Up by Gospel Sister Duo Mary Mary and at number 15 is Dangerous by Kardinal Official, from Canada, featuring Akon.

Falling to number 16 is Jennifer Hudson's monster hip-hop track, Pocket Book, a duet with Ludacris.

Last week's essential selection, up to number 17, is Miles Away by Madonna.

Improving to number 18 is Pop Champagne by Jim Jones featuring Juelz Santana.

Tumbling to number 19 is current dance anthem Disturbia by hot girl Rihanna.

Now, this week's essential new hit.

In at number 20 is Keyshia Cole featuring 2Pac with Playa Cardz Right. You'll hear this one on the radio quite a bit these days - the track kicks and is well produced.

Now back to this week's words: the Bermuda Regiment.

Whilst it might not be time to conscript women into the Bermuda Regiment, it might be time to have all young people perform some type of national service. We could still have men conscripted into the army and women who like it could volunteer, as could men who are not conscripted.

Other countries enforce national service on their young people and for me the signs are clear that we need this in Bermuda. In Israel, both men and women must complete a period of mandatory service in the Israeli Army. I think this is good. It teaches discipline, respect, respect for authority, teamwork, leadership and, in addition, young people can learn a trade and prepare for a profession.

If we kept our young people busy doing some form of national service, from the age of about 16 or 18 until the age of 21, they would have better discipline, they would be more mature, they would have less time to engage in crime and antisocial behaviour. We could possibly see a lower rate of illegitimacy amongst teens and young people, they would have more respect for authority and the law, and Bermuda would be a much better place, with a higher incidence of young people who are high achievers and dynamic leaders of tomorrow.

Some people will say that women are the ones who are holding up their end of the bargain in this country and are picking up the slack left by many of the men. While that may be true, there is a large and growing number of young women who are just as unmotivated, disrespectful and as much a problem to society as some of the men.

Whilst it would not be a panacea and completely solve all of society's problems, I'm thinking that a period of mandatory service might help some of these young ladies. I've seen the behaviour and attitudes of many young ladies and can report that many of them are becoming thugs, hardened criminals, menaces to society, drug dealers, just as bad as some of the guys.

From what I understand, young women are aiding and abetting the young brothers by carrying their weapons because the Police will not normally search women but will search a young man.

Most of Bermuda is aware that an 18-year-old female has been charged in the recent murder of Kellon Hill. Times are changing Bermuda, our young people have changed. They no longer respect authority, no longer fear the consequences of their actions. I am appealing to our judges, juries, Courts of Appeal, Supreme Court, among others, to utilise the punishments provided by our existing law.

Speaking of punishment, prison should not be a party.

We are so focussed on making the prison experience a comfortable one in the hope of rehabilitating people, when it is clear that most of these criminals do not wish to be rehabilitated. I point to the rate of recidivism, which is high in Bermuda. The Police report that most crimes are committed by the same cast of characters. When so-and-so is not locked up, they can be guaranteed to commit certain crimes in certain areas. It's predictable.

Then when the Police bring these guys before the courts, they get a slap on the wrist or a minimum sentence in a modern, peaceful, comfortable correctional facility, all of which appears to not be a deterrent to committing future crimes.

So what do we do? In addition to making parents responsible for the actions of their children (which will deter potential young offenders from becoming actual young offenders), punishment must be swift and severe.

This is in addition to every young person in Bermuda being forced by law to complete some type of national service, it could be the Bermuda Regiment or something else.

However, we must look for alternatives to lengthy incarceration for those who commit minor felonies such as speeding, driving without a license or insurance and failure to pay child support.

The other side of this coin and the rationale for the previous statement is that you don't want people who commit lighter offenses spending too much time in jail with hardened criminals; for they, too, will become hardened criminals.

As usual, we shall put it all in prayer in the hope that crime will decline and that Bermuda can become a safer, happier, more peaceful island, where all people can live in harmony with nature and with each other.

Some will say that I'm a dreamer and looking for utopia, but you have to believe that it is possible to improve the current situation and the future of Bermuda.

Peace...