Investigations have been launched into claims of abuse within the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Rangers Program.

The RBDF released a statement on Tuesday acknowledging the allegations and revealing the launch of an investigation. It read, ” the individual in question has been removed from duties pending the outcome. In addition to this, a Police investigation has been launched and the Commander Defence Force has convened a Board of Inquiry to determine what, if any, impropriety occurred. The RBDF is committed to ensuring appropriate processes are followed and remains committed to upholding accountability.”

According to reports the allegations emanated from Eleuthera where participants in the summer camp there were allegedly beaten, forced to drink toilet water and endured sexual inappropriate behavior. Investigations commenced after a complaint was filed by a parent.

Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Munroe commented on the issue outside of the House Of Assembly on Wednesday. He confirmed that a board of inquiry has been convened and explained, “the purpose of that, over and above dealing with what the marine officer has done, is to examine the systems that operate. To work out how this was able to happen in the first place, look at the people who had command authority and the event and make changes so that it could not happen again. And so that’s a process in the Defence Force be it an allegation like this, be it a grounding of a vessel or any other matter. The Defence Force is concerned with looking at the process, to design a process that will work better and not have the challenges if possible.”

Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, the Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin also weighed in on the allegations outside the House of Assembly. She said environments involving minors must be held to the highest standard of oversight. “We’re seeing a lot of cases, almost everyday, of matters right over there in the Supreme Court of Granduncles, Grandfathers, good friends, cousins, trusted individuals who have exploited children and they’ve been many convictions and many now are in Fox Hill Prison.”

The RBDF is taking this matter serious and is reviewing operations of the Rangers program.