Supposed changes to the Bermuda Regiment stalled last month after implementation teams stopped meeting, The Royal Gazette has learned.

But Defence Department Administrator Larry Burchall insisted that the implementation goals, set out by the Ministry of Home Affairs, are being carried out.

An in-depth review of the Bermuda Regiment, completed by a British general almost two years ago, was supposed to be divvied up between two implementation teams who would decide how to carry out the changes.

But a Regiment source told The Royal Gazette the teams have not met for several months.

The review and implementation has been kept secret from the outset.

The original review by Brigadier Simon Young, who now heads up the British Army's personnel department, was never publicly released.

After examination by the Governor's Council, which includes Governor Thorold Masefield (the Regiment's commander-in-chief), Premier Jennifer Smith, and several ministers - the review was sent to Labour and Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox.

She reviewed the document and sent it back to the Governor's Council.

An amended list of "implementation goals" was released to the public.

Implementation goals included changing the obligation of service, or conscription, to be cut by one year, the establishment of a full-time maritime unit to include five full-time and 15 part-time personnel, static military guards for the Premier's residence and Cabinet Building and the introduction of basic training in literacy and numeracy for soldiers in need.

Other recommended changes included the appointment of a full-time Regimental Police contingent to include the Provost Sergeant, which is currently a part-time position.

Ms Cox called the secret review "a shopping list" and said the Ministry would selectively apply the recommendations put forward by the review team - which included Mr. Burchall (a retired Regiment Captain) and lawyer Victoria Pearman, a member of the Defence Board.

Deputy Governor Tim Gurney also insisted the implementation teams have been meeting regularly and minor implementations have been on-going.

He said the next implementation meeting could be sometime this month but that he could not be sure.

Mr. Burchall said the implementation team only meet when a decision has to be made with regard to a goal.

Within the review, Government does give allowance for time and said "some of the recommendations will take time to implement - for example, those relating to the planned reduction in active service from three to two years, but they will be introduced as soon as feasible".

But, this year's Budget included the allocation of nearly half-a-million dollars for the military guards at the Premier's residence and Cabinet building.

The Royal Gazette has learned that the Premier's guard implementation goal has not moved forward.

One of the implementation goals included the dismissal of 100 personnel, which the Regiment did by abolishing B Company.

However, Regiment sources said B Company was mostly made up of conscripts serving their final year of obligation and would be gone next year anyway.

The remainder of B Company was siphoned into Support, Quartermaster and A Company - A Company is the main infantry unit of the 566-person Regiment.

Other review expectations, including an expanded marine unit, did not appear in this year's Budget.

Mr. Burchall said progress was being made after the implementation team selected a Regiment officer for a Coxswain's Course in Canada.

He said Regiment's commanding officer, Lt. Col. David Gibbons, is heading up that initiative.

Lt. Col. Gibbons and Home Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary Robert Horton, met yesterday and talked about The Royal Gazette's inquiry into the implementation teams.

Lt. Col. Gibbons forwarded questions to Mr. Horton who forwarded questions to Defence administrator Larry Burchall.