All Bermudians are being asked to show support and understanding for an Island-wide call up of the entire Bermuda Regiment next month for a fitness for role inspection by a visiting five-strong military team from the UK.

The rule will be run across the Island?s servicemen and women during a weekend embodiment of the full fighting force.

It is likely to cause a degree of disruption to the Island as Regiment members leave their normal places of work and are away from home during the three-day inspection.

But all residents are being asked to show understanding for the situation, which forms a vital part of ensuring the Island?s protection in the event of internal turmoil or the befalling of natural disasters such as a hurricane.

The announcement of the forthcoming embodiment of the Regiment was made yesterday by Acting Premier and Minister for Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Randolph Horton in the company of commanding officer Lt. Col. Edward Lamb.

The call-up will be from November 4 to November 6 and full instructions will be soon be publicised.

Mr. Horton said it was important that the Regiment is prepared and able to respond to ?internal turmoil, both anticipated and unforeseen?.

He added: ?It is in this light that I am pleased to announce that during the coming weeks a fitness for role inspection of the Regiment will take place, a comprehensive review that will be carried out by a five-man team from the United Kingdom military.?

He revealed that in the past week a prison advisor of the UK Overseas Territories has been on the Island to carry out an annual view of the Department of Corrections and two years ago the Bermuda Fire Service was reviewed by HM Fire Inspectorate of the United Kingdom, as was the Police Service by the corresponding UK Inspectorate.

The review of the Regiment is designed to ensure it is operating at optimum level.

The UK military team will be examining the battalion?s fitness for its roles in internal security and public order.

?Mindful of the devastation caused by natural phenomena in different parts of the world, including our own harrowing experience with Hurricane Fabian two years ago, there can be no room for complacency. The various agencies in Bermuda must ensure that they are prepared to provide the kind of assistance that the Island will require during an emergency,? said Mr. Horton.

He revealed that last Friday the Regiment, along with the Fire and Police services and the Government, took part in a table-top exercise to assess how well each agency is prepared to respond to a national emergency.

Mr. Horton said: ?Exercises of this kind are intended to sharpen, to rehearse and to get everyone on the same page with similar levels of comfort and operational efficiency.

?Certainly, the recent Belco fire and the increasing threats from named storms in the Atlantic are a warning to all of us to be ready and to be prepared.?

He added: ?We fully understand that these individuals are valued employees and key support for their families. However, the review exercise is designed to ensure that the Bermuda Regiment is meeting the community?s expectations. It is designed to protect the interest of all Bermudians.?