The following is a statement Larry Marshall gave to the Defence Exemption Tribunal in November. He gained a deferral for one year.

Good-afternoon, I am here today due to what I consider to be an unfair and unjust system called conscription.

I am also here today to assert my right as a citizen of a British Overseas Dependent Territory. As such I am under no obligation whatsoever to join the Bermuda Regiment seeing that it is a blatant violation of that right. There is no way I can be forced into conscription seeing that it was abolished in Britian many years ago.

I find it indeed ironic that Larry Marshall of the small island of Bermuda is obligated to pledge allegiance to the Queen of England whilst citizens who are of similar age in her very own country are not.

A further irony is seen in the relative importance of the British military compared to that of the local regiment where function is primarily one of entertainment while the former performs a vital and necessary function in order to insure the safety to Britain.

In essence you have a situation where the country on which our local regiment was modelled actualy abolished conscription long ago seeing that it violated the basic human right of its citizens.

This action was consistent with that of many other countries which felt exactly the same. Yet when the rest of the world was going in that particular direction, for some inexplicable reason the Bermuda Government decided to go in the opposite direction and institute this most unfair practice.

This despite what had transpired in Britian and elsewhere; the end result being that Bermudian citizen of conscription age were derived the same rights exercised in a large percentage of countries world-wide.

The fact that this was done by a then white government speaks volumes. Does this tribunal really believe that during the turbulent 60's when racism was rife, the then government of the day had the best interest of young black men at heart?

After all it was that same government which only two years later showed its true colours when it decided to close the Bermuda Technical Institute simply because it was producing qualified and capable young men who became productive citizens of society.

Years later a member of that government who went on to become Premier acknowledged that they were concerned because of the institute's production of a so-called 'black elite'.

And this is the government which instituted conscription. Having knowledge of the most obvious contradictions only strengthens my resolve to stand up against this injustice which has been perpetuated against Bermudian youth, predominately black, for an astonishing forty year period.

Until recently there was no recourse for people like myself — apart from jail time — which some unfortunate enough not to know their rights as citizens of a British Dependent Territory, actually served. How sad.

On a personal note I have a brother who was also conscripted who has absolutely nothing good to say about this regiment. He described his experience in the initial 'boot camp' as one he would rather forget.

He further described an atmosphere most unhealthy in which vile language and filthy jokes were the order of the day. He truly regrets the knowledge now at my disposal was not at his.

Otherwise he too would have fought against this injustice masquerading as an institution of discipline. In any event that knowledge is readily accessible today thanks to forerunners like Gavin Smith, Antoine Lugo and Audley Campbell.

These three men I come to admire because they had the courage, information and financial wherewithal to stand-up against your institution.

They stood on their conviction rather than be dictated to by people who are more than prepared to exploit the weak because it 'appears' the law is on their side.

And on the subject of conviction it is necessary at this time to tell you a little about myself so you might understand why I feel so strongly about this issue.

In 1983 I was born in a Christian household the son of Larry and Rhonda Marshall. From the first time I can remember, church was an integral part of our life as godly principles were taught both verbally and practically.

Our home is one where God is first. See my parents did not send me to Sunday School and church — they took me. They did not tell me about Christianity — they showed me.

As a result I consider myself privileged to have been exposed to the greatest and most important discipline there is.

Apart from that spiritual discipline I also have disciplined myself in the area of athletics for the past ten years specifically as a middle distance runner.

Anyone who knows anything about running will acknowledge it is a sport which demands the utmost discipline.

Due to that discipline and by God's grace I was able to secure an athletic scholarship at St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, N.C.

There I also excelled academically being on the 'Dean's List' every year and graduating with a 3.5 G.P.A. So as you can see you have here a young man who is disciplined spiritually, athletically and academically.

Yet I am being told to give up an incredible five weeks of every year for the next three years of my life simply because my name was pulled out of a hat and the Regiment has decided to "make a man out of me".

To that I say, I am already a man thanks to Almighty God and the tremendous sacrifice, nurture and support of my parents who disciplined and taught me valuable lessons of life.

These lessons, from what I have heard, are not taught here and even if they were, my convictions would remain the same. That is, conscription is just wrong.

Again no institution should have the authority to force anybody into the military. If this is not slavery then it is the closest thing to it in the 21st century.

But fortunately certain precedents have already been set by the three men I've just named. This means they can be appealed to in any curt of law either locally or internationally.

And rest assured that I am prepared to fight this thing to the bitter end to insure that my rights as a citizen of a British Overseas Dependent Territory are in no way violated or taken for granted.

After all that is what is most important here today. The right of any young man in Bermuda who stands against conscription to exercise that right just as his counterpart in Britain.

To know that right is just as valid here today and will not be trampled on by those whose only agenda is the continuation of the Regiment irrespective of how many young men are hurt in the process. Thank you!