In order to be operate effectively, the Regiment's numbers must increase, Labour Minister Terry Lister told the House of Assembly yesterday during the motion to adjourn.

As he reflected on the Regiment's recent action of rounding up delinquent soldiers Island- wide, Mr. Lister said the deed need to be done. "Some people feel we should not have done it, but the Regiment offers a great service to the people of Bermuda," he said.

Besides carrying our their required Regimental duties, soldiers can perform an array of tasks including being called upon to assist the Police when necessary as well as provide Islandwide assistance in the event of a storm or hurricane.

"The Regiment is important because it teaches boys to become men," Mr. Lister said. "We need to give our young men role models. For some, when they come here, it is the first time they are in a disciplined environment."

And while he said 80 men voluntarily signed up for the Regiment, with a further 58 enlisted in recent weeks, the Regiment still intended to beef up its numbers of recruits.

"Our aim is to have 180 men at the next recruit camp," Mr. Lister said.

The labour minister also warned residents that RP's will continue to swoop the Island. "I want the community to know they will see RP's continue to arrest people.

"There's a lot of good in the Regiment, but there's a desire by many not to be there."

But he expressed hope that more men will come forward to save themselves embarrassment. "They don't want to see their names in the paper and they don't want to see their faces on the news," Mr. Lister said.