Defence Exemption Tribunal: no ‘determination’ on BAD members’ conscientious objector status
No determination has been made on whether anti-draft campaigners Lamont and Larry Marshall and Jamel Hardtman are conscientious objectors, the Defence Exemption Tribunal said yesterday.The Tribunal issued a statement through Government in response to a claim by Lamont Marshall’s father, Larry Marshall Sr, that his son was a conscientious objector.The statement said: “An application was made to the Defence Exemption Tribunal to consider the conscientious objector status of Larry Winslow Marshall Jr, Jamel Anthony Hardtman and Lamont Winston Marshall on Wednesday, June 1, 2011.“During the course of that hearing, the applicants’ conduct became abusive towards the Tribunal and consequently the chair was forced to adjourn the proceedings abruptly.“As a result, there has been no determination made on the application of these persons as to their conscientious objector status. The hearing has not recommenced and there has been no further progress in this matter as of this date.”As reported in yesterday’s edition of The Royal Gazette, regimental police visited Lamont Marshall at his Devonshire home on Thursday afternoon to arrest him for being AWOL as a serving soldier.Mr Marshall stayed inside his apartment and was not arrested but Regiment commanding officer Lt Col Brian Gonsalves warned he would be on a future date.Mr Marshall’s father, founder of Bermudians Against the Draft, claimed the officers had no right to pursue his son as he was a conscientious objector and was involved in ongoing legal proceedings against the Island’s part-time army.Mr Marshall said last night it was “inconclusive” at this stage as to whether his sons Lamont and Larry and their fellow BAD member Mr Hardtman were conscientious objectors.He said he anticipated that they would go before the Defence Exemption Tribunal again and that the outcome would be favourable.Meanwhile, a court hearing in March will determine if the legal proceedings brought by the trio against the Regiment will go to the Privy Council in London.