Police training for 30 BDF soldiers

THIRTY SOLDIERS of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) have started a training programme following a recent amendment to the Police Act that grants military personnel deployed alongside police officers equivalent powers of arrest and legal protections.

Over the next six weeks, they will receive training in law, policing procedures, evidence handling, use of force, conflict de-escalation and community engagement.

During the opening ceremony at Hodgson Hall, St Ann’s Fort yesterday, BDF Chief of Staff Brigadier General Carlos Lovell said the powers granted were “significant and not to be taken lightly”, stressing the importance of operating “within the four corners of the laws of Barbados”.

Here, Lovell (centre) chatting with Deputy Commissioner of Police Erwin Boyce (left) and Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Barry Hunte after the opening ceremony as the soldiers look on.

(Picture by Reco Moore.)

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SOLDIERS are falling in line with plans to deploy them alongside police officers with similar powers of arrest and legal protections.

Thirty members of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) have begun a comprehensive six-week training programme following a recent amendment to the Police Act that grants military personnel patrolling with police such powers. The initiative marks a step towards enhanced inter-agency cooperation in national security.

Addressing the opening ceremony at Hodgson Hall, St Ann’s Fort, Garrison, St Michael, BDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Carlos Lovell, said the powers granted were “significant and not to be taken lightly”, and stressed the importance of operating “within the four corners of the laws of Barbados”.

The amendment enables soldiers to stand beside police officers with “the same understanding of the law, the same expectations of accountability and the same shared mission – to protect, to serve and to reassure the people of Barbados”, Lovell explained. He said transparency remains crucial for maintaining legitimacy and public trust in the security forces.

Over the coming weeks, participants will receive training in law, policing procedures, evidence handling, use of force, conflict de-escalation and community engagement. The programme addresses a fundamental difference in approach between military and police operations, requiring soldiers to bridge this gap to deliver effective law enforcement services.

Lovell cautioned trainees: “You do not rise to the level of your expectation; you fall to the level of your training.”

He stressed that in split-second situations requiring immediate response, personnel will rely on their training rather than intentions alone, making the quality of preparation critical to success in the field.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, Barry Hunte, who provided the programme overview, outlined several core pillars of the training. These include legal and procedural mastery, human rights and ethical standards, and operational competency in policing skills. He urged participants to learn Chapter 3 of Barbados’ Constitution – which covers fundamental rights and freedoms – verbatim.

“We are not asking you to unlearn that which you have been taught, but to build upon it, but within a different context, with a different mental construct, to think as policemen,” Hunte explained.

He emphasised the importance of cultural awareness, noting that soldiers must understand the demographics, complexities and expectations of the communities they will serve.

The training structure combines theoretical instruction with practical field exercises. Assessment will be continuous, featuring weekly evaluations, scenario testing and a final competency examination through simulated joint operations. Successful participants will receive certificates of competence. (DDS)