Dear Sir,

It’s sad and unfortunate what transpired to Roslyn Lima’s daughter as a result of a vehicle that Lamont Marshall was operating, and I wish her daughter a full recovery.

What bothers me about Ms Lima’s letter is the attack on the parents of a grown man, and an issue that is so far removed from this situation being conscription.

Let me address the conscription issue first. In case no one is aware, Lamont actually spent time in the Bermuda Regiment. While there, he won the race that takes place during recruit camp — his reward was a case of beer.

Yes, beer, which contains alcohol. The Bermuda Regiment has long been known as a place with a drinking culture, so I’m not exactly sure that’s a place a person who anyone may deem has a drinking problem should be going for help. Furthermore, I’m not exactly sure how exactly abolishing conscription has anything to do with the choices that Lamont has made in his adult life.

Now the attack on his parents is ruthless and uncalled for. His parents have done their job and many would say a fine one at that. Their job was to raise a child, not parent a man.

In regards to his father speaking out against conscription, he was not speaking up just for his son(s), he wasn’t even just speaking up for the members of the group, he was speaking up for an entire voiceless generation that simply didn’t and don’t have the same rights as those not drafted into the Bermuda Regiment.

With that said, while I can’t relate to the pain of Ms Lima’s daughter, or even Ms Lima herself, the Bermuda Regiment as an organisation has caused more harm to the lives of Bermudians than Lamont has in his lifetime.

Don’t believe me? Check the archives.

Respectfully,

JAMEL HARDTMAN