A long-serving instructor with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) has been removed from active service following allegations that he assaulted multiple female marine trainees while intoxicated on duty at the service’s Coral Harbour base. The incident, which occurred last Wednesday, prompted immediate internal disciplinary action against the accused, Chief Petty Officer Eric Rolle.
On Thursday, Rolle appeared before an RBDF military court to face six total charges: five counts of assault and one count of violating the force’s regulations against drunkenness while on duty. The 21-year veteran of the RBDF entered a formal plea of not guilty to all charges, and the case has been adjourned for a future hearing.
RBDF Commodore Floyd Moxey confirmed that the disciplinary panel has ordered Rolle’s interdiction from service. Under this ruling, Rolle is immediately stripped of all official defence force responsibilities and prohibited from entering any RBDF facility. Moxey also noted that the veteran instructor retains the right to appeal the interdict decision, first to the Minister of National Security. If the minister rejects his appeal, Rolle may escalate the matter to the National Security Council, a governing body that counts the prime minister among its members.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Commodore Moxey reaffirmed the RBDF’s unwavering commitment to upholding a safe, professional training environment rooted in strict discipline and institutional accountability. “Where any of our training instructors fall afoul of law, we will be decisive,” Moxey stated. “We will act swiftly, and we will deal with it straight away. We will be transparent about it, because it’s all about integrity, and integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is looking and that is what we in this Royal Bahamas Defense Force is striving to do.”