Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Commodore Roderick Bowe said there is a need to boost the RBDF’s manpower now that 20 per cent of the organisation’s officers are now assisting the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

While speaking to reporters at the Rotary Club of Nassau’s weekly meeting at Lucianos, Mr. Bowe said the RBDF has had to make do with what officers they do have.

“We’ve adjusted but we understand the need to keep the country safe. As a result of those persons being moved to assist the police but it has not affected the patrol operations. If someone was moved off the ships’ patrols then they were replaced,” he said.

“Each of those vessels requires 80 persons to man those vessels and we suspect that it would 330 needed all together to man the vessels. In addition to that the rate retirement has grown over the years and we have to replace those persons who are retiring. The first rate of retirement started in 2010-2011.”

Two RBDF have landed in themselves in hot water after it was alleged that this mistreated and beaten Cuban detainees, who were housed at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, earlier this year.

Now the two officers are now subject of an internal hearing into those allegations.

Mr. Bowe said even though those officers have accused the RBDF of abandoning them in their dark hours, moral in the organisation has not been affected.

“If I were to put a thermometer on it I don’t think there would be any rise or lowering of the morale. I think the status quo will remain the same. Persons who have not done anything have nothing to be concerned about and that should not affect their morale,” he said.

“I think I have a good understanding of my role and I try to do it in accordance to the provisions that are there in the Act. I will not go outside of it. I will remain in my authority to carry out my job.”