Saying that the country “cannot afford” the tens of millions of dollars being spent on the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn has called on Government to reimagine the role of the armed forces .He said while the BDF had provided sterling service over the years, the cost to the taxpayer of maintaining it was high compared to the limited tasks executed by the Force daily.Speaking during Wednesday’s debate in the Senate on the Defence (Amendment) Bill, 2021, he suggested that the BDF numbers and expertise could be better utilized as a paramilitary arm of the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF).
