Regardless of their efforts to downplay the implications, senior officials have yet to adequately explain why they would seek to bolster their capacity to suppress the civilian population, seemingly without justification.

Civil unrest of the degree that would necessitate the use of such equipment is totally unprecedented in this country. We therefore demand that the government outline in detail under what circumstances and to what ends it plans to use these potentially deadly military materials.

After all, the remarks of Minister National Security Bernard Nottage suggest that the government chose these specific items from a longer list of materials being offered as a donation by the Chinese government.

If this was the case, Nottage and his colleagues must tell the public why their selection included: two armored vehicles, two automatic anti-riot grenade launchers, 10,038 smoke tear gas grenades, anti-riot gear sets, and 60 portable low-light level night vision goggles.

Many civilians are already suspicious of the motives of this present administration, alarmed over its willingness to flout the rule of law to suppress opponents, and dismayed by its failure to be transparent about its' intentions.

The continued operation of a clandestine intelligence agency outside the confines of the law is case in point. The recent creation of am immigration reserve militia is another.

The GBHRA therefore urges the government to desist from any further efforts to militarize this society, and encourages officials to divert the funds being offered by the Chinese government towards more pressing needs that benefit all Bahamians.