Defence (Amendment) Act 2021
Passed
08/07/2021
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2021-07-05

OBJECTS AND REASONS

This Bill would amend the Defence Act, Cap. 159 to broaden the officer corps and make use of the expertise of retired officers and to provide for related matters.

Arrangement of Sections

Short title

Amendment of Cap. 159

Validation

1.

2.

3.

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BARBADOS

A Bill entitled

An Act to amend the Defence Act, Cap. 159 to broaden the officer corps and make use of the expertise of retired officers and to provide for related matters.

ENACTED by the Parliament of Barbados as follows:

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Defence (Amendment) Act, 2021.1.

Amendment of Cap. 159

The Defence Act, Cap. 159 is amended by inserting immediately after section 169 the following new section:

“Command of Force during the exigencies of service

Notwithstanding section 169 or any enactment to the contrary, the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Defence Board, may appoint, where the exigencies of the service so require, a retired officer of the Barbados Defence Force

who held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or the equivalent Naval or Air Force rank; and

who is over the age of 55 years but has not attained the age of 65 years

in whom the command of the Barbados Defence Force will be vested, and, subject to the terms of his appointment, that officer has command of the Force during the pleasure of the Governor-General.

The Governor-General may confer on an officer referred to in subsection (1) such rank as the Defence Board recommends.”.

169A.(1)

(a)

(b)

(2)

Validation

The continuance in office of any officer or soldier of the Barbados Defence Force, or the appointment of such an officer or soldier to any office, before the commencement of this Act, contrary to the provisions of the Defence Act, Cap. 159, the Defence (Officers) Regulations, 1979 (S.I. 1979 No. 162) or

2.

3.

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the Defence (Barbados Defence Force Reserve) Regulations, 1981 (S.I. 1981 No. 48)

after such officer or soldier had retired from the Barbados Defence Force; or

after such officer or soldier had ceased to be a member of the second class of the Barbados Defence Force Reserve,

shall be deemed to have been lawful and valid; and any function performed by such an officer or soldier before the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to have been lawfully and validly performed.

(a)

(b)

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