Defence Headquarters, 23 OCT. ‘23 (RBDF): In an effort to enhance and strengthen its administration
of military justice, The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), over the past weeks, has engaged in
discussions with various international and regional partners, in the form of a Two-Week Training Seminar
aboard HMBS Coral Harbour from October 2 to October 13, 2023.
The primary purpose of this seminar was to provide legal and judicial training to Warrant Officers, Junior
Commissioned Officers, and Senior Commissioned Officers within the RBDF. This training focused on
the Defence Act Chapter 211 and the Defence Regulations Chapter 211 and was aimed at equipping these
officers and marines with the knowledge and skills necessary to objectively and effectively fulfill their
roles and functions within Summary Court and Courts Martial proceedings.
Additionally, the seminar seeks to improve their understanding of the practices and procedures associated
with these legal processes.
The seminar covered specific roles, including:
- Convening Officers
- Duties of the President and Members
- Duties of the Judge Advocate
- Authorizing Officer
- Prosecution Counsel
- Defence Counsel
- Other key actors within Summary Court and Courts Martial proceedings
By providing comprehensive training in these aspects of military justice, the RBDF is poised to transform
the legal structure of the Defense Force. This transformation is likely to result in a more competent, fair,
and effective military justice system, enabling the RBDF to uphold its legal responsibilities and
obligations with greater proficiency and integrity.
The course culminated in a focused discussion with Sir Michael Barnett, the President of the Court of
Appeal for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, where RBDF members had the opportunity to discuss
issues and pose questions to him concerning military law as well as law in general. The training also
included two (2) members of the Barbados Defence Force: Captain Neville Corbin and Lieutenant
Kashara Forde.
This legal training is a continuation from last year’s training which took place is Georgetown, Barbados
and represents another significant step toward achieving a higher standard of legal administration within
the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.
