THE ROLE OF the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) has been to protect and defend this country through its regular and reserve forces. Thankfully, it has never been pressed into such service. Our military has never sought to usurp civilian authority as has happened in some developing nations.
The BDF has generally been the provider of a unique service which has known its place. It has been blessed with outstanding leadership since its establishment and judging from its corps of officers the future looks stable.
It is perhaps because of those at the helm, that there is no “civilian-military divide”. We have never had a draft for military service and the mass sacrifices of life and limb made by members of the military in either domestic or overseas conflicts have never been our experience.
The BDF was established at the height of the Cold War, when the priorities of that era and for this region were different from today’s realities. We do not need a military force capable of projecting power against subversive neighbours, nor to keep naval lanes open and free from pirates.
Barbados’ stability has been such that unlike Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, the military has not routinely been put on the streets to help maintain law and order or quell any serious threats to national security.
While it will maintain a veil on some of what it does, the BDF should now embrace the civilian population in its future plans.
Its role, we suggest, must move beyond the traditional battlefield into areas such as nation-building.
In these times of tight budgets and cutbacks, questions will be raised about the purpose and relevance of the military. The BDF should therefore start by producing a defence strategy document highlighting its capabilities and intentions.
It must offer enhanced intelligence services, respond to new forms of aggression and be ready for a role in a wider variety of contingencies, while at the same time bolstering the Regional Security System.
They are new emerging threats that need the intervention of the armed forces, ranging from terrorism which knows neither border nor nationality, arms and drug smuggling which is a major national and regional problem, the rise in human trafficking and the threat of cybercrime.
The roles of the BDF in post-natural disasters and with the fight against pandemics are also new necessities. Our Defence Force must be well prepared and equipped to take on missions far removed from the conventional old order for which boots on the ground are traditionally trained.
At the same time, the BDF must maintain a leading role in the partnership for national development –whether by expanding its health and wellness programmes or helping the youth population to become a talented productive force. The BDF should also take full ownership of the Barbados Youth Service.
It must look to the future with new resolve.
