The Royal Bermuda Regiment (RBR) Coast Guard led 10 search and rescue operations, conducted 136 patrols and made four arrests in June 2025, Minister of National Security Michael Weeks told Bermuda’s House of Assembly in testimony July 18. He also acknowledged that, amid the successes, the Coast Guard still faces “ongoing challenges.”
“This dedicated team of 14 full-time and 22 reserve Soldiers is fully mobilized for robust summer operations, reinforcing weekend and holiday shifts to maximize visibility and enhance response capabilities during peak boating periods,” Weeks told members of Parliament (MPs). He also noted, “they partnered with Police and Customs in two joint operations and supported the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on two occasions, further underscoring their critical interagency collaboration.”
Weeks provided the MPs with a summer update on the RBR’s work. From June 1-14, the regiment conducted the Junior Non-Commissioned Officer Cadre Camp at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Eighteen RBR students participated alongside four Soldiers from the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment and one from the Cayman Islands Regiment. “This challenging and essential leadership course, held for the first time in three years, equips our future leaders with the necessary skills to effectively command a section of eight Soldiers,” he told the MPs.
From June 27 to July 4, the RBR hosted “two highly successful youth camps involving a total of 40 young Bermudians.” Two dozen middle and high school students participated in the Junior Leader Program, a rigorous, weeklong residential camp divided into junior and senior groups. “Our young leaders undertook foot drills, weapons training, and a memorable overnight exercise,” Weeks said.
“The senior cohort also experienced live-fire exercises, and both groups proudly showcased their discipline in a drill display at the Passing Out Parade,” he said. The RBR Band, meanwhile, hosted a Junior Band Camp, which was attended by 16 students between 11 and 25 years old.
Weeks also told the MPs about the Coast Guard’s adoption of a high-tech tool. “In a significant advancement, the Coast Guard recently commissioned three state-of-the-art FLIR [forward-looking infrared] cameras, enhancing nighttime fisheries and rescue operational capabilities.” He said the high-resolution, heat-sensing cameras were valued at a total of $172,000 and were funded by the United Kingdom’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
While celebrating RBR successes, Weeks also said more work needs to be done. “We must acknowledge ongoing challenges. The Coast Guard’s fleet of 11 vessels, primarily composed of aging former police boats, restricts its operational efficiency due to limitations in endurance, sea state performance, and crew protection. Addressing this remains an urgent priority, as does increasing the unit’s capacity.”
He said efforts are underway to double the size of the Coast Guard, from 14 to 28 full-time members. “Achieving this expansion will provide sustainable operational coverage, alleviate overreliance on reserve personnel, and ensure continuous professional training,” Weeks told the MPs.
Weeks said the new Coast Guard Station at the former St. David’s post office is scheduled to be completed in mid-December and will significantly increase the Coast Guard’s presence in the East End. “This new facility will reduce response times for eastern search and rescue operations, enhance oversight of fishing activities, expedite customs procedures in St. George’s, and strengthen emergency responses to aircraft incidents,” he said.