BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – A six-member tribunal has recommended the dismissal of Sub Lieutenant Nakeida Gibson from the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) after she had earlier admitted to breaching the BDF’s fraternization policy by engaging in a personal relationship with a person of a junior rank as well as mishandling a service weapon.
The ruling was handed on Friday following the court-martial, in which the officer with 15 years of service also pleaded guilty to conduct and neglect prejudicial to good order and military discipline and willful misconduct and neglect in public office.
The charges against her stemmed from an incident at her home on July 10, involving a subordinate officer with whom she was involved in a relationship and the man’s girlfriend. Gibson discharged her firearm in the incident.
The court martial heard that Gibson negligently handled her service weapon, a semi-automatic Glock 19 pistol, causing it to discharge in the presence of others. Further misconduct occurred when she replaced a round of ammunition after the gun discharged and failed to report the incident, actions which amounted to abuse of public trust.
The court heard that Gibson had invited the girlfriend of the unnamed male petty officer to her home while the petty officer was present and in a “compromising position.”
She tearfully apologized for her actions, and during the sentencing submissions on Thursday, Major Neville Watson of the prosecution team recommended that the 37-year-old Gibson be dismissed for serious breaches of military discipline.
However, defense attorney Larry Smith SC argued that the officer deserved a second chance to continue her otherwise unblemished career and to be rehabilitated.
In a remorseful statement before the court martial on Thursday, Gibson expressed regret for her actions.
“I am truly and completely sorry for my actions,” she said, describing her actions as uncharacteristic.
She told the court martial hearing that she was disappointed in herself and wanted to “say sorry to everybody,” adding, “It’s not a good feeling.”
She pleaded with the tribunal to consider her welfare when deciding her sentence, noting that while she was aware of the laws and military procedures, a balance should be struck between upholding the rules and rehabilitation.
Several character witnesses, including her commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Derrick Brathwaite, and Ambassador Aquinas Clarke, a former BDF deputy chief of staff, spoke highly of the convicted officer.
They described the incident as a first-time “mistake” that was out of character for a dedicated and valuable armed forces member.
Her mother, Sandra Norris, also urged the court to allow her to continue serving, noting that her actions did not reflect her overall contribution to the BDF.
However, the prosecution maintained that the military’s core foundation is discipline and that despite her early guilty plea reducing the severity of the charges, dismissal was warranted given the nature of the offenses.