The Barbados Defence Force (DDF) says, in a statement, that it wants to reassure the public that its members are not above the law of the land, and that it is “committed to investigating and supporting the investigation of allegations, as they do not reflect the high standards of our military”.
The statement, by the BDF, follows the appearance of a soldier in court, last week, on a charge of indecently assaulting a woman. The soldier, who was not required to plead to indecently assaulting the woman on December 27, has been released on BDS$5,000 bail and is due to return to court on January 6.
The soldier has also been charged of assaulting three police officers on December 27.
The DDF said that throughout its 40-year existence, it has remained committed to “our primary role in the defence and security of Barbados and, inseparably, to the highest standards of discipline of all service persons”.
“The conduct of all members of the Barbados Defence Force is governed by the laws of Barbados, military law as set out in the Defence Act and grounded in the Code of Conduct and Core Values of the organization. Members of the Barbados Defence Force are not exempt from adhering to the aforementioned laws, legislation, rules and regulations,” the Force said.
In its statement, the BDF said all its members are committed to upholding the laws of Barbados and working, collaboratively, with stakeholders to maintain law and order.
