BDF renews appeal for youth to join modernising force

Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Chief of Staff Brigadier Carlos Lovell has again urged the nation’s youth to consider military service, even as he used the force’s 47th Anniversary Parade, Medal and Sunset Ceremony on Saturday to underscore the need for a modern, adaptable force in the face of emerging threats.

The event was held on the historic grounds of St Ann’s Fort, where traditional military pomp and pageantry were on full display. Chief Justice Leslie Haynes inspected the troops on parade, while Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw, members of the diplomatic corps, and others were also in attendance.

Even as he made the appeal to Barbadian youth, Brigadier Lovell noted the role of the Barbados Cadet Corps in offering a positive path built on discipline and purpose.

Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw and Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force Brigadier Carlos Lovell depart the parade square at the conclusion of the 47th anniversary military parade.

“The uniform must become not merely a symbol of national service but an invitation to young people to discover what they are capable of becoming,” he stated. “When we, in this Barbados Defence Force, stand shoulder to shoulder, united in purpose and ready for anything that may come, there is no obstacle that we cannot overcome.”

He said the force must evolve to meet non‑traditional, transnational threats such as cyberattacks, gun violence and natural disasters by modernising its equipment and technology.

“In the face of these threats, the BDF cannot stand still. We must evolve to become more agile, more versatile, and to become the most highly capable military force that Barbados has ever seen,” he said and spoke of developments in advanced drone systems and national cybersecurity capabilities.

Paying homage to those who laid the foundation in 1979, he remarked, “They understood something fundamental: a sovereign nation must be prepared to protect what it values. They understood that security is not a luxury; it is a foundation upon which peace, prosperity, and national development are built.”

In apparent reference to the theme of the celebration, Called to Serve, Committed to Excellence, Brigadier Lovell said that military excellence must be a daily habit, reflected in every facet of duty.

Outlining the modern operational scope of the force, the Chief of Staff pointed to recent humanitarian missions in Jamaica and Venezuela, operations alongside the Barbados Police Service to tackle violent crime, and ongoing maritime protection by the Barbados Coast Guard.