Regiment troops have been praised for their dedication to duty while enforcing stay-at-home safety regulations.

The Royal Bermuda Regiment was embodied last week after Government imposed strict public safety regulations in an effort to stem the recent surge in Covid-19 cases.

This morning Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Beasley, the regiment’s commanding officer, said he was “proud” of the way recruits had conducted themselves while manning road check points across the island.

Lieutenant-Colonel Beasley revealed that just a handful of the thousands of motorists stopped at checkpoints in the past week were in breach of public safety regulations.

He said: “The regiment’s community advisory point teams are stopping about 10,000 vehicles on weekdays and about half that on the weekends.

“We have only turned around 23 vehicles and nine have attempted to evade the checkpoints, at which point it becomes a police matter. These numbers are encouraging.

“Although I am immensely proud of the soldiers who are consistently praised by the public, I am likewise grateful to the families and employers who are once again doing without a family member or employee whilst they conduct service for their country.”

Around 100 soldiers have been on duty this past week, manning roadside checkpoints and supervising queues at the Bermuda College and KEMH vaccination centres.

Private Marketa Raynor, posted at the Crow Lane checkpoint in Hamilton, said: “I get to help put smiles on the public’s faces. I see they are stressed out during this hard time.

“I enjoy it. It’s one of the reasons why I joined the regiment – to help out my community.”

Private Raynor, who works in construction when not on regiment duty, added: “If you don’t have to come out, please don’t come out. Think about your loved ones and even those who you may not love.”

That message was echoed by Corporal Laurent Wellman, who has been leading a community advisory point at Rural Hill.

He said: “We are asking public questions about where they are trying to go, make sure they are out on the right day, and ensuring they are heading to work, or conducting essential movement.”

Corporal Wellman, who has served with the regiment for six years, encouraged the public to get vaccinated.

“Because if you feel somebody in your household is vulnerable, at the end of the day you help them,” he said.

Corporal Shunto James has been leading a team of soldiers marshalling residents getting vaccinated at the Bermuda College.

He told The Royal Gazette: “We check everyone in, make sure that people are socially distanced, and manage the line.

“Soldiers inside the building register the patients, answer questions where we can, and provide assistance.”