A probe launched more than 19 months ago into sexual misconduct allegations at the Bermuda Regiment has yet to be completed by the Human Rights Commission.The news was revealed by Senator LaVerne Furbert, Junior Minister for Youth, Families, Sports and Community Development in response to parliamentary questions tabled by Shadow National Security Minister Michael Dunkley.The probe was publicly announced by the HRC on October 15, 2009. Its then chairman Venous Memari said at the time that commissioners agreed to immediately launch their own inquiry into revelations by The Royal Gazette that 14 male soldiers made claims of sexual assault or harassment between 1989 and 2002.Ms Memari said the inquiry could take up to nine months and encouraged victims to come forward. The HRC has made no public comment on the investigation since.The Ministry of Youth, Families, Sports and Community Development is responsible for the HRC and Senator Furbert also sits on the Commission.Senator Dunkley asked her on April 4 whether the HRC had completed its inquiry and whether the outcome would be made public.In an answer provided in the Senate on Wednesday (June 1), Sen Furbert said: “The investigation by the investigations officers in the Human Rights Commission is in its final stages.“Upon completion, the final report will be presented to the Human Rights Commissioners for consideration and final determination.“The results of the inquiry will likely be made public by the Human Rights Commission upon review and acceptance of the report.“The Human Rights Commission formally notified the public by way of a press release [of the inquiry’s launch] and protocol would suggest that the public will be notified in a similar manner.”Sen Dunkley also asked when the HRC’s annual reports for 2009 and 2010 would be tabled in the Legislature.The Commission must in law produce a report on its activities no later than six months after the end of each calendar year and the relevant Minister must then table it in Parliament. The last report tabled was for 2008.Sen Furbert replied: “It is anticipated that the 2009 annual report for the Human Rights Commission will be tabled in the Legislature during the current parliamentary term.“The 2010 Annual Report for the Human Rights Commission is in preparation and will likely be tabled in the Legislature in the subsequent parliamentary term [in] fall 2011.”Sen Dunkley said last night: “I find it surprising that an inquiry launched in 2009 has still not been completed and when one couples this with the fact that the annual report for 2009 has not been tabled in the Legislature, there appears to be a trend where acceptable or legislated time frames are not adhered to. Surely this is a matter that can and should be rectified.”l Useful websites: www.hrc.bm, www.bermudaregiment.bm