Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and then on to Washington, we think it is time for Bermuda to take a look at its Regiment.

We are not certain why Bermuda has a Regiment. It is true that the soldiers and the band are colourful on ceremonial occasions, even though the band has been troublesome in recent years. It is very attractive for visitors to have some British-style pomp and pageantry. But other than that the Regiment serves no real day to day function.

There are, of course, many people who see the Regiment as serving a social function by instilling discipline in young men who lack discipline at home and in the schools. That may be beneficial but it is a very haphazard and very expensive way to buy discipline.

People also see the Bermuda Regiment as a protection from civil unrest and in the past it has been effective in that area but we don't believe that the existence of the Regiment acts as a deterrent on a regular basis.

It may be that Bermuda likes to have a Regiment because for centuries it was accustomed to having various British regiments stationed here. Or we may just enjoy saying to other countries that we have an army too. That philosophy will be sorely tried if we continue to allow people not to serve when they challenge on the basis of being Rastafarians.

The fact is that Bermuda is an isolated island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and it might well be that we have our military needs confused. We think it would be much more sensible and much more useful to have a Bermudian navy-coast guard. We are a water-oriented people and the ocean around us presents us with problems.

A Bermudian navy could take on the search and rescue functions which we are now organising on a civilian basis. Once the United States military undertook these functions free but they have left us. Bermuda would also benefit from some patrolling of our territorial waters which we all know are frequently violated.

Right now we have a Marine Police section which is too small for our needs and which we think could be incorporated in a Coast Guard function at considerable saving. That would allow Bermuda to do a great deal more marine intervention on the importation of drugs. That would include watching those Bermudians who go out to pick up drugs dropped at sea. We do very little sea prevention and there can be no doubt that drugs come into Bermuda not only on cruise liners but also on the large number of yachts which pass through, especially each spring and fall.

With a useful navy-coast guard, Bermuda would still have a disciplined force and if we want some pomp for ceremonial occasions there is no reason why the navy could not have a band and a small detachment of marines. The Royal Navy does that.