The Premier has spoken publicly for the first time about the battle to outlaw conscription in Bermuda — and his comments have outraged campaigners.

Steering clear of expressing a direct view on the draft, Dr. Ewart Brown stressed the importance of giving "some form of national service" back to the Island.

However, his remarks were taken as criticism by the lobby group Bermudians Against the Draft (BAD), with a spokesman launching a stinging attack on the "out of touch" Premier in response.

As The Royal Gazette revealed on Saturday, 13 men in their 20s are embarking on a test-case at the Supreme Court which aims to get compulsory Bermuda Regiment service declared illegal.

The court documents, which will be served on Governor Sir John Vereker — the Commander in Chief of the Regiment — plus the Deputy Governor and Attorney General, alleges the ballot that chooses conscripts is gender-biased and a breach of human rights because only men are picked, not women.

BAD has branded the policy "a form of 20th century slavery" and made allegations of ill-treatment of conscripts at Warwick Camp.

Sir John hit out at the campaign earlier this week, telling this newspaper there was no public or political support for it.

Minister for Public Safety and Housing, Senator David Burch, also criticised BAD, accusing it on TV news of trying to tarnish the Regiment's reputation.

Adding his voice to the debate, Dr. Brown said in a speech to Sandys Rotary Club: "Much has been said about the service of young Bermudian males in the Bermuda Regiment and the Minister of Public Safety and Housing said it best when he wondered what those young men who have said they are against serving in the Regiment would do for their country."

Referring to Larry Marshall, Sr., the man behind BAD, he added: "I was saddened to hear the comments of one of the elders in the movement that he thought that there was no requirement to give back to Bermuda by some form of national service.

"The price of living in paradise is that we as citizens must always contemplate how it is that we can give back to our country. I have chosen the realm of politics and many of you (the Rotarians) have served with distinction in other areas.

"I cannot predict the outcome of any matter before the courts but my hope is that these young men will serve their country in some way and do so recognising that duty takes many forms, Regiment service is but one."

Responding to Dr. Brown's comments, Mr. Marshall, Sr. accused the Premier of being "out of touch with young Bermudian men who feel so passionately about the issue" and said criticism would not sway BAD members.

"Dr. Brown has grossly underestimated the support for the movement and grossly overestimated the influence of the propaganda machine of the Bermuda Regiment," he said.

"It's interesting that he refers to conscription as 'service'. It's not. It's forced labour."

He added: "Dr. Brown should also be prepared to deal with the ramifications of this action once the truth emerges and the Bermuda Regiment is exposed for what it really is."

Referring to past comments Dr. Brown has made about master-servant relationships on plantations, Mr. Marshall said: "All this from a man who constantly talks about plantation mentality.

"The closest thing to a plantation in Bermuda is Warwick Camp. Dr. Brown — your credibility just plummeted to an all-time low among young men in this country and especially among young black men."

He accused the Premier of misquoting him, claiming he had not simply said national service was not required, but had gone on to say that the voluntary aspect should be included in the equation.

"This would bring Bermuda into line with the rest of the civilised world," he said.

Neither he nor Dr. Brown have served in the Regiment — the Premier because he was studying abroad and Mr. Marshall because he was never called up.

According to information from Defence Administrator Larry Burchall on the Government website, around 30 percent of Bermudian men have served.