The Royal Bermuda Regiment is on the verge of finishing a strategic review to guide the service through its next five years, according to national security minister Wayne Caines.

Mr Caines told Parliament that the report, which he has yet to see, could entail a reappraisal of the numbers required for the RBR, which at present has 343 members.

The Regiment will run a second recruit camp within the year, for the first time in the force’s 50-year history, with some 25 recruits expected to start the next camp.

Noting that numbers had fallen in the RBR’s band, Mr Caines said a “junior musicians programme” had been started, allowing high school aged musicians to join the band and get paid.

At present the programme has 20 participants, the minister added.

• To read the minister’s statement in full, click on the PDF below “Related Media”.