Shadow minister calls for strategy to address more than 160 vacant posts
Statement from Shadow National Security Minister, Robert King:
The Minister of National Security today presented what was intended to be an update on recruitment across Bermuda’s uniformed services. Unfortunately, what the statement actually revealed is a troubling picture of serious staffing shortages across the very services responsible for keeping Bermudians safe.
According to the Minister’s own figures, Bermuda currently has more than 160 vacancies across national security departments. The Bermuda Police Service alone has approximately 47 vacant posts. The Customs Department reports 52 vacancies, yet only 14 of those posts are funded, meaning that 38 positions required to properly secure our borders are not even budgeted for.
The Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service has 11 vacancies, the Royal Bermuda Regiment has 46 unfilled positions, and the Department of National Drug Control has 11 vacant clinical roles.
These vacancies represent fewer police officers on the streets, fewer customs officers protecting our borders, fewer firefighters available to respond to emergencies, and fewer addiction professionals available to support those battling substance abuse.
There are operational risks being created by running essential services so far below their full strength. Public safety requires consistent workforce planning, proper funding of essential posts, and a clear strategy to recruit and retain Bermudians in these critical roles.
If the Government is serious about national security, it must explain why such significant shortages exist and what concrete steps will be taken to restore the staffing levels required to properly protect our community. As we will continue to have retirements and the staffing levels are already below what is necessary there needs to be a strategy shared with the public.
