GOVERNMENT backbencher Dale Butler has called for a referendum on the future of Bermuda Regiment days after a hunger strike by a reluctant conscript sparked a national debate.

Mr. Butler, a strong supporter of the Regiment, said he feared for its future and believed the people, rather than politicians, should decide on any changes to the conscription system.

"The future of the Regiment is not something that should be decided by a committee or by the House, it should be decided by the country," said Mr. Butler.

"Sooner or later they are going to cave in. Economically, we are spending more and more on chasing young men for the Regiment.

"But if we lose it, I can see that five years down the road people will change their minds and say, 'We need conscription'.

"It is a national issue that will affect generations to come. We should have a referendum. We could tag it along with the next election - if not, let's have it this term.

"We should have a debate in Parliament and then put it to the country. Do they want to see the Regiment continue as it is now, or do they want to see it changed? It is for the country to decide."

The issue of conscription was brought into focus last week when Magnus Henagulph refused food after he was locked up for two nights at Warwick Camp as punishment for refusing an order to pick up his kit. The conscientious objector was released last weekend and has taken his case to the Supreme Court.

Some have suggested that conscription is anachronistic and the Regiment is no longer relevant.

Top businessman and Mid-Ocean News columnist Robert Pires felt it was time for a serious re-examination of national service and its military emphasis.

"We are talking about people learning how to serve their country in a disaster," said Mr. Pires. "There are better ways of doing that than standing at the entrance to the airport holding a machine gun."

Mr. Butler, however, said the Regiment provided young men with the kind of discipline that was now lacking in everyday life.

"I was never conscripted but if I had been, I would have served," said former educator Mr. Butler. "I have seen the changes in students of mine who have served in the Regiment.

"It is one of the few remaining institutions that can give them some skills and the chance to network with a variety of people. That is something that will benefit them for the rest of their lives."

The loss of conscription or the Regiment would be a body blow to the community, argued Mr. Butler.

"We are whittling away at the foundations of our country, and if we whittle away too much we will weaken the country," he said.

Mr. Pires drew on his own experience to put the case that national service should be less about the military and more about emergency services.

He said he had been a conscientious objector and instead of the Bermuda Regiment, his voluntary service had been with the Fire Service.

"When I came back from university, I knew I had to do my military service duty," said Mr. Pires. "I didn't think I'd do well in the Regiment. My background as a Seventh-day Adventist gave me an aversion to ever holding a gun. I wanted to learn something more constructive.

"My father had been a volunteer with the fire brigade. When I did it, there was a group of about 20 or 30 of us and there was great camaraderie. We had to sleep overnight a couple of times a week. We had to sit in class and learn and we also did exercises like pulling dummies from a smoked-out fort. I have to say it was one of the best learning experiences of my life.

"As a result, I have immense respect for firemen. Those guys are amazing, They have to know about biology, chemistry and physics and they have to be physically fit. It was a privilege to work alongside them."

Top cricket umpire Randy Butler, who served for 23 years in the Regiment from 1967 to 1990, and reached the rank of Major, spoke in support of the institution.

"It's probably true that we're not going to have riots here any more and that Regiment soldiers are not going to be sent to help the British Army in the Falklands," said Mr. Butler.

"But the Regiment does still have a role. The skills you learn from it can help you in everyday civilian life. Writing schedules and forward planning - these things can be an asset to your job."

Mr. Butler felt the Regiment needed conscription nowadays because of the decreasing number of volunteers. This situation was partly due to the increase in numbers going overseas for further education, he thought.

"Years ago, the turnover at the Regiment was not that great," said Mr. Butler. "Fellas would come in and stay for years. After a while we needed younger people and so we needed to conscript them.

"Conscription really frightened some people. They heard stories about what would happen to them and they were scared. But the minute they got to work at Warwick Camp, they found it wasn't bad at all and they found that what you put into it, you will get out of it.

"Some people have tried to make the Regiment into a big joke. And when people get called up, others laugh at them at work.

"When people go away to university for four or five years to study for a profession, they often don't want to serve when they come back. Professional people seem less willing to give up their time these days. I think it's worth it."