The Bermuda Regiment believes it would need to have 100 full-time soldiers at an annual cost of $4 million to meet its obligations in an independent Bermuda, the Bermuda Independence Commission report revealed.

The Report released to the public yesterday found that neither the Bermuda Police Service, nor the Bermuda Regiment is trained or equipped to deal with an international act of aggression or a terrorist scenario.

And should the country decide to go independent, the UK?s existing responsibilities for the defence of Bermuda would cease and Bermuda would no longer be protected by NATO.

This meant Bermuda would have to enter into some form of treaty of friendship with a friendly country to come to its defence in a time of need.

But the Regiment said in submissions to the BIC that it believed it would also need a full-time company of 100 soldiers to augment Bermuda?s exisiting security arrangements.

Suggestions made by the Progressive Labour Party through submissions to BIC in June this year, included an immediate increase in the full time complement of soldiers to accomplish additional tasks and the inclusion of at least one operational coastal vessel with the capability of covering a twelve mile radius around the Island.

Regiment Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Edward Lamb agreed with that assessment, but added the Regiment believed it would need the full time company.

The BIC did not pass judgment in the report on the proposal, but suggested as an alternative that the Government of the day might decide to strengthen the Bermuda Police Service land and marine capability instead of that of the Bermuda Regiment, or to strengthen the manpower of both organisations.

This would enhance Bermuda?s state of readiness to handle a serious challenge to internal security, it said.

In what Lt. Col. Lamb deemed to be the unlikely event of a threat of external aggression, he said the full-time company would assist local forces in managing until military assistance arrived.

Following its six month long investigation, the Independence Commission estimated that the annual cost of expanding the Bermuda Regiment with a company of full-time officers and soldiers would be $3.53 million and the operating and maintenance costs for two 40-foot vessels would be a further $275,000.

Kit and equipment in current inventory would be used to equip a full-time company and the purchase of the vessels would cost in the region of $600,000.

In the 2004-2005 Budget year, Government estimated the Regiment and the overall Defence Department?s budget to hit $5.4 million.

The BIC also suggested that an independent Bermuda could enter into negotiations with NATO in its (Bermuda?s) own right, but said meeting all of the NATO requirements for membership by way of a lengthy process.

Another option would be joining the Organisation of American States (OAS), a grouping of countries in the Western Hemisphere cooperating in a number of areas that the Organisation lists as defending democracy, protecting human rights, strengthening security, fostering free trade, combating illegal drugs and fighting corruption.

Bermuda might even want to consider political neutrality, similar to Switzerland, the report said.

In its earlier submission to BIC, the PLP also suggested that the Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment still be appointed by the Governor ? after recommendations from the Defence Promotion Board.

And it said the Bermuda Regiment should remain under similar administrative framework as it currently is with the Governor, with a future Governor General.

However, constitutional changes would be required as a new regime of responsibility must be created with Ministerial responsibility added to the organisational structure, the report said.