March 4, 2026

I would like to take the opportunity to wish a belated happy birthday to Mr. Colbert Pe arman, who celebrated 90 years on this past
Monday. Many of you will know the song, Bermuda Jewel of the Sea, which is the song that was composed
by Mr. Colbert Pe arman. And I just want to pray God's
continued blessings on him as he goes forward. And
there was an announcement of a competition that will
be amongst the schools to do new variations of the song, Jewel of the Sea, as we lead into our heritage
celebrations.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Go right ahead.
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, first, it would be remiss of me if I did not stand to my feet and be associated with the condolences for the late Lloyd Duncan, offered by the Honourable Member for constituency 6
and echoed by the Minister of National Security.
My family, of course, knew the family of the late
Bishop Duncan, and it is without question a tragedy.
And we will certainly mourn along with the family of a loss of someone who was always very spirited in carry-ing the word forward.
I remember when I had first moved back to Bermuda and the evening commercials on ZBM News was the church in the hood that will do you some good. And
he was always finding a way to make sure to spread the word and the gospel of Jesus Christ. And so, from
that particular aspect, I just want to make sure that the
condolences of the Government are extended to his
family as well.
Mr. Speaker, I did not stand to my feet on Monday. However, I do wish to send a belated happy birthday wish to one of my favourite constituents. And this
is a lady, Mrs. Margaret Burgess, who turned 100 towards the end of last month. It was funny because, as
you know, Mr. Speaker, one of the responsibilities of being Premier of the country is that you do look to at-tend as many hundredth birthday parties as possible. I
must say I cannot count how many I have done in my
time in office, but it has been quite a number. But it isn't very often that you get to celebrate
one of your own constituents who is actually turning 100.
And I remember the first time that I canvassed
Mrs. Margaret Burgess when I was first running in con-stituency 18. And, you know, you have the lists an
d
t
hen there's this lady and, you know, she was in her late
80s at the time. And then you see the age on this sheet,
and you get very nervous about what, you know, youmay encounter.
But this young lady at that time was incredibly
bright and sprightly. And I actually remembered can-vassing before the 2025 election and going up to her
house. And she was the exact same way. And she reminded me, she says, I'm 99, you know, I will turn 100
next year . And so said, so done. But it was a great celebration with her family at the Cocoa Reef [Resort] . And
I just wanted to take the opportunity to wish her a happy belated 100th birthday. I was clearly able to give it in
person, but I would certainly ask that the House send a
letter of congratulations for the celebration of her 100th
birthday.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you.
Does any other M ember wish to make a contribution at this time?
There are none other.
Before I move on, I would just like to add my
words and thoughts to the condolences that have been
expressed to the Duncan family on behalf of the pass-ing of Bishop. I have known both he and his wife and
his in -laws and his mother for quite some time. My parents worshi pped with them. And Bishop Duncan is one
that is held in high esteem in my household, my family. And their loss is felt deeply in my house. And my
mother and sister still worship there. And they have
been close friends with both he and his in- laws and his
. . . who passed a few months ago and his mother as
well.
So, our condolences from a personal level felt,
and I was quite shaken yesterday when I did receive
the news. So, I add my words of condolences to those
that have been expressed.
We now move on.
MATTERS OF PRIVILEGE

That now leads us to the reason of today's sitting, which is the continuation of the debate on
the resumption i n the Committee of Supply for the further consideration of the Estimate of Revenues and Expenditures for the year 2026/27.
As for the listening audience, once we go into
Committee the Speaker will be out of the Chamber, and the time allotted for the debate today is eight hours. So,
I will be out of the Chair for that period of time.
We will start the debate this morning dealing
with the Ministry of Health for the first four hours, and
the second four hours will be the Ministry of Transport, Tourism, and Culture.
I will now call on the Member of the Chair P anel
to take the Chair, and I will call on the Premier first to
move us into Committee, and then I'll ask the Member
of the Chair Panel, MP Linda Smith, to take the Chair
after that.
Premier .
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much.
Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now resume in Committee of Supply to consider the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for fiscal year 2026/27.

Good morning, Members. It having
been moved, Honourable Members, we are now in
Committee of Supply for the further consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year
2026/27.
We are doing the Ministry of Health this morning, starting with heads . . . well, we are going to cover
Heads 21, 22, 24, and 91. We have a four -hour debate
starting now. And I am calling on the Minister of Health
to bring us forward.
Thank you.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, I move the
following heads: Head 21, Ministry of Health Headquarters; Head 22, Department of Health; Head 24, Hospitals; and Head 91, Health Insurance, be now taken under consideration.
The estimates of revenue, expenditure, performance measures, and FTEs for the Ministry of Health
are found on pages B -149 through B -170 of the Budget
Book. And, Madam Chairman, this relates to Head 21 Headquarters.

HEAD 21 —MINISTRY OF HEALTH
HEADQUARTERS

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The Capital Development and
Acquisitions estimates are found on pages C -5 and C -
12 of the Budget Book. The Grant estimates are found
on pages C -18 and C -19 of the Budget Book.
Madam Chairman, the Ministry of Health has
been allotted a total of $302,478,000 for the fiscal year
2026/27 for the heads of its headquarters, the Department of Health, Hospitals, and the Health Insurance Department.
Madam Chairman, today I am pleased to present the budget for the Ministry of Health and its depart-ments and quangos, starting with Head 21, the Ministry
of Health Headquarters, found on pages B -150 through
B-153 of the Budget Book.

Mission

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the mission of
the Ministry of Health Headquarters is To ensure affordable access to quality health care while protecting
vulnerable populations and strengthening the sustainability of Bermuda's health system.
The Head 21 budget reflects the efforts of
headquarters to create a health system that provides
equitable access to health care services in the most appropriate settings, drives efficiency through digitalisation initiatives, and ensures that our health car e infrastructure can adapt to evolving public health needs
while maintaining the highest standards of fiscal responsibility.
Through disciplined financial stewardship,
strengthened regulatory oversight, strategic investment
in digital health infrastructure, and the phased advancement of universal health coverage, this budget
2124 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly positions the Ministry to move from planning to measurable implementation. It supports data- driven decision-making, enhances system transparency and accountability, and reinforces Bermuda's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health risk.

Expenditure Overview
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, a total of
$23,721,000 has been allocated for Head 21 Head-quarters for 2026/27, which represents an increase of 52.0 per cent or $8,087,000 over the budget of fiscal
year 2025/26. This constitutes 7.8 per cent of the total
budget allocated to the Ministry of Health.

Revenue Overview
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The Ministry of Health Headquarters is projected to generate $54,000 during the
2026/27 fiscal year, which represents, Madam Chairman, an increase of 93 per cent from the $28,000 in
revenue in the previous fiscal year. And this increase is
attributed to a projected increase in the total number to
be collected in fees for the re- registration of doctors.

General

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, I will now address the first programme under Head 21, General.
Line item 2101 General. Madam Chairman, the programme 2101, General, comprises 15 FTEs and the programme's total budget found on page B -150 of the
Budget Book is $21,583,000.

General Administration
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Of that, $13,151,000 has been
allocated to [31000] General Administration. This represents, Madam Chairman, a 90 per cent, or a
$6,228,000 increase compared to fiscal year 2025/26.
The General Administration budget covers expenses
associated with the day -to-day operations of the Ministry, including the Accounts S ection and the Project
Management Office (or PMO) which is helping to imple-ment the Universal Health Coverage (or UHC).
For UHC, Madam Chairman, a total of
$1,595,000 for the PMO, including a director, two pro-ject managers, and a health informatics nurse, and
$1 million for the engagement of subject matter experts, marketing, and communications. Additionally,
Madam Chairman, $3 million has been allocated to digital health projects and $6,200,000 for the subsidisation
of FutureCare premiums, providing targeted financial
support to eligible participants and equitable access to
essential health services.
Line item 31000, General Administration.
Madam Chairman, this Government remains commit-ted to delivering a health care system that is equitable,
integrated, and financially sustainable for the people of Bermuda. Universal health coverage is a structured reform programme designed to ensure that every resident can access essential health care services without
experiencing financial hardship. During fiscal year
2026/27, the Ministry of Health will continue t ransitioning from health system design and financing models to
advance measured implementation of UHC.
Madam Chairman, health care expenditure in
Bermuda remains high by international standards, with
11.6 per cent of the gross domestic product being
spent on health, representing the third highest in the
OECD. At the same time, our health outcomes are disproportionate to our spending, underscoring the urgency for health reform to address structural pressures
associated with an ageing population, a high burden of
chronic noncommunicable diseases, fragmented funding arrangements, administrative duplication, and ineq-uities in access to care. These challenges require coordinated and evidence- based reform to ensure longterm sustainability.
Madam Chairman, the Universal Health Coverage Project Management Office will continue to oversee actuarial analysis, financial modelling, and structured reform planning. During this fiscal year, Cabinet
will receive a fully costed core benefits package supported by financial stress testing under multiple utilisation scenarios, phased implementation options, and de-fined risk mitigation strategies. The purpose of the core
benefits package is to establish a defined set of essential services accessible to all residents, with a focus on
primary care, prevention, and chronic disease management.
This approach is intended to direct health expenditure towards community -based services that provide the greatest population health benefit. The Ministry
is also advancing the structural framework for a singlepayer system. The objective of this work is to reduce
duplication, improve administrative efficiency,
strengthen fiscal oversight, and improve equity in access to services. A streamlined financing structure centralises funding flows, improves claims administration, and reduces administrative costs, which drive health
system efficiencies. To this end, Cabinet will also receive structured implementation options during this fiscal year for decision.
Madam Chairman, under the Integrated Care
Pathways (or the ICP) workstreams of UHC, the Ministry will transition from pathway design to operational implementation of the ICPs for diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and mental health. These pathways were designed to improve coordination between providers, standardise treatment protocols, strengthen early disease detection, and reduce preventable hospital admissions. Pathway implementation will focus on measurable improvements in care, c ontinuity, and patient
outcomes.
Madam Chairman, legislative modernisation
also remains a priority to drive health reform, and during this fiscal year, the Ministry will advance legislative


Bermuda House of Assembly drafting to support health system governance, financing arrangements, and patients' rights protections.
These legislative measures are intended to provide a
stable and accountable UHC framework.
In parallel, Madam Chairman, the Ministry is
progressing the National Digital Health Strategy, including the phased implementation of electronic health
records across the Department of Health Services. The
introduction of integrated electric health records will improve the accuracy, availability, and timeliness of clini-cal information across care settings. This will enhance continuity of care, reduce duplication of tests and services, and support safer and more coordinated treatment.
Importantly, a modern digital health infrastructure will enable the Ministry to generate reliable population health data, strengthen performance monitoring, and support evidence- based service planning. Improved data analytics will assist in identifying uti lisation
trends, forecasting demand, evaluating outcomes, and allocating resources more effectively. This investment
in digital health is therefore foundational to improving
quality, efficiency, and long -term system sustainability.
Madam Chairman, universal health coverage
is being implemented through a phased and financially
disciplined approach. Each stage of reform is subject to
actuarial modelling, financial review, stakeholder consultation, and fiscal oversight. This Government re-mains focused on ensuring that Bermuda's health care
system supports seniors, working families, and vulnerable populations to access the care they need in the most appropriate settings.
The objective of universal health coverage is to
ensure that all residents have access to the health ser-vices they need, including prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care, without suffering financial hardship. To ensure that residents receive clear and timely information, the Project Management Office will
implement a comprehensive communications strategy,
outlining implementation progress to date, the next
phases of reform, and the expected implications for
residents and providers. Ongoi ng engagement and
transparency remain essential components of imple-mentation.

Mental Health
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, during fiscal
year 2025/26, the Ministry of Health issued $370,000 in grants to community organisations, including $150,000 to MASC Bermuda to increase utilisation of mental
health services among men and boys, $120,000 to the
Family Centre ’s Intensive Counselling Services to increase early detection and intervention for mental
health challenges among children ages 4 to 18, and
$100,000 to the Women's Resource Centre for person-alised mental health interventions among women.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health facilitated a
two-day Youth Mental Health First Aid training sessions in June [2025], and a Youth Anti -Stigma Summit in October of 2025. Together, these initiatives have not only bolstered the community capacity to identify and respond to mental health concerns among youth and
adults, but also engaged students, educators, and community partners in breaking the stigma around
mental health and normalising open dialogue about
mental well -being as a part of holistic health.
Madam Chairman, during fiscal year 2026/27,
efforts for mental health promotion will be amplified
through sustained campaigns that promote emotional well-being, encourage the reduction of stress, and promote self -care. The integration of mental health disc ussions into everyday life, whether at a barbershop or beauty parlour or within a faith- based community, remains a priority for mental health promotion activities.
Community engagement and partnership with
non-governmental organisations will also continue
through pop- up initiatives in non- clinical settings and
capacity building via the Mental Health First Aid training sessions, making workplaces, schools, and communi ty
spaces safer and more supportive.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on business unit line Item 31000, General Administra-tion.

Grants Administration

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now, Madam Chairman,
to line Item 31015, Grants Administration.
Madam Chairman, at page C -18, it outlines the
Ministry of Health's grants to various agencies that deliver critical front -line services supporting public health
and social assistance, as well as a grant dedicated to
health education initiatives. The total budget for the
business unit is $7,805,000, and these grant funds are
allocated as follows:
• $4,000,000 for the Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association (or the LCCA), to cover overseas
medical care for uninsured and underinsured
persons;
• $1,250,000 for the Bermuda Health Council;
• $120,000 for the Family Centre to assist with
the delivery of counselling services delivered at
no charge to families in Bermuda with children
between the ages of 4 and 18 years old;
• $150,000 for the Men and Masculinity Support
Centre of Bermuda (MASC) to provide coun-selling and support services for men as part of
the mental health initiative;
• $120,000 for the Women's Resource Centre to
assist with programmes that support women in
poverty and transition by providing access to
therapeutic services with individual counsel-ling, community support groups, mindfulness
and wellness activities, and support services,
including access to housing and food, employ-ment, and education support;
2126 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly • $63,000, Madam Chairman, for the Sexual Assault Response Team (or SART), to assist
them to provide comprehensive support to survivors of a sexual assault;
• $200,000 for the Dr. Barbara Ball Public Health
Scholarship, and
• $1,902,000 in mental health grants.

Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, starting with
the Sexual Assault Response Team (or SART). The grant to SART is being managed by a part -time coordinator in collaboration with the chief nursing officer. There are three trained forensic nurses who rotate weekly for 24- hour on-call duties and are linked via telemedicine with Tulsa, Oklahoma, for support if necessary. With the retirement of one forensic nurse, training
has commenced with two other nurses. Of the 15 fo-rensic examinations performed by the Sexual Assault
Nurse Ex aminers [SANEs] in 2025, six were conducted
on individuals under the age of 18.
The SART committee drives engagement
across government departments, NGOs, and quangos
to raise greater awareness. In the previous year, health promotion activities were celebrated during Forensic
Nurse’s Week, and SART also had a strong presence
at health fairs and on radio campaigns, sharing information and resources to combat sexual abuse in our
community. Additionally, collaborations have been realised with IRISi, which is a UK -registered charity that's
dedicated to improving the health care response to
gender -based violence, and the United Kingdom
Health Security Agency (or UKHSA). This fiscal year, a
train-the-trainer course on domestic abuse is planned
to build capacity among health professionals to identify
and respond to these challenges. SART remains com-mitted to advancing the capacities of the newly trained
SANEs and refurbishing a newly dedicated space that
safeguards the privacy of clients and confidentiality of
interactions and services.

Bermuda Health Council

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: As Bermuda advances significant health system reforms, the Bermuda Health Coun-cil (or the Council), continues to serve as one of government's most strategic delivery agencies, linking policy intent to execution, regulation to reform, and innovation to fis cal stewardship.

Mandate
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The mandate of the Bermuda
Health Council remains committed to ensuring quality,
accessible, and cost -effective health care for all residents. It was established under the Bermuda Health
Council Act in 2004. The Council is mandated to regulate, coordinate, and enhance the delivery of health services while advising the Ministry of Health and gov-ernment on system performance, sustainability, and reform.
The Council acts as an independent, evidencebased authority, conveying government, health profes-sionals, health insurers, health service providers (businesses), patients, and international partners. Its work
underpins regulatory compliance, workforce over sight,
health financing reform, and long- term system planning, particularly as Bermuda prepares for the phased
implementation of UHC.

Expenditure Overview
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, for fiscal year
2026/27, the Bermuda Health Council's total operating expenditure is projected at $4,805,065. This reflects minor board- approved adjustments following financial
budget review while maintaining overall fiscal discipline
in the context of inflationary pressures, contractual obligations, and expanded statutory responsibilities.
Key areas of expenditure include the following.
• Payroll expenses in the amount of $3,223,756.
This is reflecting the final board- approved staffing costs, including salary progression and targeted capacity to support regulatory moderni-sation, policy development and enhancement,
and systems reform activit ies.

Minister, we are approximately 30
minutes into this debate, and I just wanted to remind
the listening audience that we are in Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2026/27. We are currently debating the Ministry of Health, Head 21—Headquarters.
And, Minister, if you would like to proceed.
Thank you.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, yes, I was
talking about the key areas of expenditure.
• Building expenses for the Bermuda Health
Council total the sum of $452,888, covering
contractual rent increases and essential services required to maintain safe, secure, and functional premises.

[Pause]

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: One moment, Madam Chairman.
My tabs are falling out.

Take your time, Minister.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Professional fees.
• Madam Chairman, professional fees in the amount of $542,083. And that is provided to
enable the strategic use of actuarial, regulatory, policy, legal, and information technology


Bermuda House of Assembly expertise, particularly, Madam Chairman, in
support of UHC preparation, long- term care reform, and legislative modernisation.
• Training and workshops in the amount of
$72,875, supporting continued professional
development, stakeholder consultation, and
targeted local and overseas training aligned
with best practice.
• Madam Chairman, operational expenses in the
amount of $167,216, supporting governance,
digital platforms, communications, stakeholder
engagement, and core compliance functions,
excluding the Bermuda Nursing and Midwifery
Council.
• And finally, the Bermuda Nursing and Midwifery Council in the amount of $200,000, providing operational support in line with the
approved Bermuda Nursing and Midwifery
Council's budget.
Madam Chairman, depreciation and amortisation are budgeted at $146,247, reflecting existing asset holdings. While no standalone capital grant is reflected
in the base budget, the Council will undertake essential
capital investments during fiscal year 2026 /27, particularly in digital infrastructure. These investments include
registration and licencing platforms, professional and service registries, donor databases, and the Unique
Patient Identifier (UPI) infrastructure.
Madam Chairman, these capital costs will be
met through a combination of existing reserves and a portion of the additional $250,000 in operational grant funding requested, ensuring that critical digital systems
required for regulatory effectiveness, data i ntegrity, and
system efficiency are delivered in a timely and fiscally
responsible manner. These investments are foundational to improving billing accuracy, reducing administrative friction, strengthening oversight, and supporting affordability access to t he health care system.

Revenue Overview
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, projected revenue for the Council for fiscal year 2026/27 totals $4,654,506. Consistent with the Board- approved
budget, revenue sources remain diversified and they
include the following:
• Government Operational Grant in the amount
of $1,250,000;
• Mutual Reinsurance Fund (MRF) transfers in
the amount of $2,978,016. This is to support
core operations, the kidney transplant programme, and innovation- related activities;
• licensing fees for insurers, health professionals, and health service providers in the amount
of $309,490;
• rental income in the amount of $21,000; and
• interest income in the amount of $96,000.
Madam Chairman, based on these projections,
the Council anticipates an operating deficit of approximately $150,560 for the fiscal year. When noncash depreciation of $146,247 is excluded, the projected cash position is effectively balanced. The Council will continue to actively manage expenditure, pursue
operational efficiencies, and explore perm issible revenue opportunities throughout the year to minimise any
variance from budget neutrality.

Positioning and Priorities

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the Bermuda
Health Council continues to play a central role in modernising regulatory frameworks, strengthening health
system accountability, and advancing digital transformation. Over the past year, the Council has completed
the following:
• continued operation and expansion of a blockchain- enabled digital credentialing platform
currently used for registering health professionals;
• strengthened the kidney transplant coordination programme, including advancing agreements with overseas transplant centres that will deliver significant long -term cost savings
and improved patient outcomes;
• enhanced oversight of health insurers and
health service providers, and enforcement of
mandates for coverage, transparent billing and
patient protections;
• advanced health technology assessment processes to support evidence- based decisionmaking;
• improved system- level data collection, analytics, and public reporting to support transparency and policy development; and finally
• supported preparatory work for UHC, including
stakeholder engagement and financial model-ling.
Madam Chairman, the Council maintains a
strong record of governance and accountability, with year-over-year unqualified audit opinions and publication of annual reports and financial statements.

Plans for the Upcoming Year
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: In fiscal year 2026/27, the Health
Council will continue advancing major health system
reforms while progressively shifting several initiatives
from development to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The Council’s programmes will span regulatory modernisation, digital health infrastructure,
health financing reform, and population health policy. Key priorities for this upcoming year include:
• implement ing support for UHC through continuing policy development, financial modelling,
stakeholder engagement, and operational
readiness towards activities to support Ber-muda’s phased transition toward Universal
Health Coverage;
2128 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly • monitoring the performance, uptake, data quality, and user experience of Helping Hub that it
delivers measurable value as Bermuda’s national health and social care directory;
• advocating for the Patients’ Bill of Rights and
supporting the development and adoption of
policies that strengthen transparency, fairness,
and protections for health care consumers;
• support advancement in the review and update
of health system legislation and modernising
health professional regulation to ensure a
framework that remains proportionate, responsive, and aligned with contemporary practice
and workforce realities;
• continuing the onboarding of health professionals and health service providers for expansion
of the digital credentialing system workstream
to strengthen regulatory oversight, workforce visibility, and compliance efficiency;
• supporting accountability measures that improve quality, safety, and financial sustainability within hospital services;
• strengthening and clarifying oversight of health
service (business) providers to ensure services
are safe, effective, responsive, caring, and well-led;
• advancing standards, monitoring frameworks,
and policy development for residential and
community -based long- term care;
• progressing evidence- based policy work for
the First 1,000 Days of Life focused on mater-nal, infant, and early childhood health, recognising the long- term impact of early -life interventions on population health outcomes and
system sustainability;
• conducting structured cost -effectiveness and
feasibility studies of proposed new services,
service expansions, and adjustments to where
and how existing services are delivered. This
is all an aid to support value- for-money decisions and efficient use of resources;
• providing analytical and advisory support for
health insurance reforms, with a focus on affordability, benefit design, reimbursement
structures, and consumer protections;
• advancing implementation of the Unique Patient Identifiers (UPIs) to strengthen data integrity, continuity of care, and system analytics in
a database that allows providers to securely
verify patient insurance status, reduce admin-istrative friction and sup port appropriate access to care;
• enhancing interoperability, cybersecurity, and
responsible data sharing across regulatory and
system functions;
• working closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office to strengthen understanding
and application of the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) within health care set-tings;
• advancing policy, guidance, and system under-standing of the appropriate use of artificial intelligence to improve health care delivery, regulatory oversight, and operational efficiency in
health businesses;
• continuing the use of advanced actuarial and
population health modelling to support sustainable health financing and long- term system
planning;
• laying the groundwork for centralised research
and data repositories to support evidencebased decision- making and international collaboration; and
• advancing workforce development and internship programmes to support skills development, workforce exposure, and succession planning across the health system.
These initiatives , Madam Chairman, are designed to improve access, quality, safety, affordability,
and financial sustainability across Bermuda’s health
system, while ensuring innovation is implemented re-sponsibly and in the public ’s best interest.
Madam Chairman, the Bermuda Health Council benefits from a dedicated and experienced Board,
supported by ex -officio members from across the g overnment. On behalf of the Ministry of Health, I extend
my sincere thanks to outgoing Board members for their
service, and appreciation to returning and newly appointed members (which I think were just gazetted a
day or two ago) for their continued commitment to
strengthening Bermuda’s health system.
Madam Chairman, the B ermuda Health Council remains a cost -effective, high- impact organisation
that consistently delivers value for public investment.
Through disciplined financial management, evidencebased regulation, and strategic collaboration, the
Council will continue to support the government in
achieving a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient health system for Bermuda.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on business unit 31015, Grants Administration.

Thank you, Minister.
Do you want to proceed?
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Sure.

Corporate Services , 31020

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The estimated budget for Head
21’s Corporate Services unit is $626,000. This unit
serves as the Ministry’s strategic engine, housing the
leadership and planning functions essential to our mission.
[Pause]



Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Just a minute, Madam Chairman.

We are just taking a short break here,
and just to remind the listening audience that we are in Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and E xpenditure for the year
2026 /27, and we are debating the Ministry of Health,
Head 21, which is headquarters.
Minister, are you ready to proceed?
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, I am.

Okay.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chair man, central to this
unit is the Policy Directorate, which manages the lifecycle of health legislation and policy from initial drafting to
final evaluation. Corporate Services also provides my
office with the direct administrative and advisory support necessary for stakeholder engagement and the
clear communication of g overnment objectives. This
unit is critical to ensuring that every Ministry initiative is data- backed, agile, and fully aligned with our national
health reform goals.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on business unit 31020, Corporate Services.

National Health Emergency , 31997
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, still on page
B-152, line item 31997, National Health Emergency.
Madam Chairman, for fiscal year 2026/ 27,
there has been no budget allocation for the National
Health Emergency unit. Many of the responsibilities for
emergency preparedness, including maintaining and
exercising the Public Health Emergency Response
Plan, coordinating simulation exercises, strengthening
inter-agency readiness, and ensuring alignment with international health security obligations, continue to be
absorbed across existing business units, ensuring that
Bermuda remains resilient and ready to respond effec-tively to evolving public health risks.
This ends , Madam Chairman, my presentation
on business unit 31997, National Health Emergency. Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on the first p rogramme under Head 21, General.
Madam Chairman, I will now address the second programme under Head 21, and that is the Office
of the Chief Medical Officer. Madam Chairman, that is
at [page] B -150.

Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO), 2102
Expenditure Overview
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The estimates of expenditure and
revenue and full- time equivalents for programme
2102 —[Office of the Chief Medical Officer ] (OCMO) under Head 21 are found on pages B -150 through B -152
of the Budget Book. Its total budget for fiscal year
2026 /27 is $2,138,000, which funds three business
units , namely : 31030 —Health Care Registration and
Regulation ; 31040 —Epidemiology and Surveillance
Unit, and 31050— Port Health. The Office consists of 13
FTEs.
Madam Chairman, the OCMO serves as a vital
authority in protecting our community's well -being
through rigorous regulation and strategic oversight. Its
core mission involves upholding the standards of our
health care workforce through professional registration
and maintaining strict controls over pharmaceutical distribution. Furthermore, the office spearheads our epi-demiology and disease surveillance efforts, fulfil s essential statutory health duties, and leads the I sland’s
health emergency planning, resilie nce, and response,
ensuring Bermuda is prepared for any public health crisis.

Health Care Registration and Regulations , 31030

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, line item
31030, Health Care Registration and Regulations, still
on page B -150.
Madam Chairman, an allocation of $898,000
was made for the Health Care Registration and Regulations business unit. The Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO) serves as the primary regulatory body
for medical practitioners and pharmacies across Bermuda. Beyond its licensing duties, the Office provides
the essential administrative framework for the Bermuda Medical Council, with the CMO acting as its Executive
Officer. By presiding over the Professional Conduct
Committee, the Office ensures that patient gr ievances
are addressed and that the integrity of medical and
pharmaceutical care remains beyond reproach.
Madam Chairman, over the last fiscal year, this
business unit has demonstrated its commitment to the
health care sector through high- volume, high- precision
service delivery. Specifically, the team managed the
registration of more than 200 fully licensed medical
practitioners and adjudicated over 250 applications for
controlled pharmaceutical drug licenc es. These figures
represent more than just paperwork, but rigorous
2130 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly checks and balances that uphold the quality and safety
of health care services across our I sland.
The Registrations business unit continues to
meet its performance benchmarks with consistency. By
maintaining exhaustive and accurate professional reg-isters and supporting statutory boards in their disciplinary and licensing duties, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer acts as a critical gatekeeper. This ensures
that only those with appropriate qualifications are au-thorised to practice.
Madam Chairman, the OCMO’s role is equally
vital in its capacity as a strategic advisor to the g overnment and a facilitator of legislated health functions. Crucially, the Office serves as Bermuda’s Public Health
Focal Point which is the dedicated conduit for real -time
health intelligence from international organisations , including the World Health Organization (WHO), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and Caribbean
Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
Our collaboration, Madam Chairman, with
these global partners is an investment in our local work-force, providing access to specialised training and technical facilities. Furthermore, these alliances bolster our
national resilience, offering the expertise required to mitigate and manage pub lic health emergencies, ranging from disease outbreaks to the health impacts of ex-treme weather and natural disasters.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on business unit 31030, Health Care Registration and
Regulations.

Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit , 31040
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, line item
31040, Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, still on page B -150.
The Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU)
has been allocated $699,000 for fiscal year 2026/ 27.
Fun fact: before I became the Minister of Health, I did
not even know what an epidemiologist was and now I
realise the critical importance that they play insofar as
helping to safeguard Bermuda with respect to public
health measures, keeping the data and s o forth. So,
shout out to the epidemiologists in the Ministry.

I am sure we are going to have more
insight into that as you proceed.
Thank you, Minister.

[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I went around the corner, and I
was like, What exactly do you do?

[Laughter]

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The ESU delivers public health
surveillance, produces priority population health indicators to support evidence- based decision- making,
(this is what they do) and they fulfil the national and international reporting obligations. Through continuous disease monitoring, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, the ESU supports timely public health action and preparedness for emerging health threats. The
ESU works closely with h ealth care providers, laboratories, regional and international partners to investigate
unusual disease events, assess public health risks, and
coordinate appropriate response actions. Core functions include case investigation, contact tracing, and case management, which remain essential to preventing and controlling outbreaks. The Unit’s work also supports compliance with international health security obligations.
Madam Chairman, following a confirmed measles case reported in 2024, the first in Bermuda in over three decades, the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit
undertook a comprehensive review of the outbreak response to strengthen future preparedness. During the
2025 /26 fiscal year, the ESU led After -Action Review
meetings with key stakeholders to assess response co-ordination, surveillance processes, and operational
readiness. The review identified priority areas for improvement, including clearer inter -agency rol es and responsibilities, refined escalation and notification path-ways, stronger integration between surveillance and re-sponse operations, and the need to strengthen surge
capacity and data flows.
In fiscal year 2026/ 27, the ESU will focus on
implementing these recommendations through up-dates to surveillance and response protocols, targeted
training and simulation exercises, enhanced coordina-tion mechanisms, and continued collaboration with regional and international p artners to ensure readiness
for future outbreaks.
Madam Chairman, during the 2025/ 26 fiscal
year, the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit conducted a wide range of communicable disease investigations in response to reported cases, clusters, and
signals identified through routine surveillance. Over
95 per cent of these investigations were initiated within
established public health response timelines, aligned with internationally recognised early detection and notification benchmarks. This included investigations that required public communication and inter -agency coordination, such as confirmed cases of leptospirosis,
where the ESU undertook case investigation, exposure
assessment, and risk communication to inform appro-priate public health response.
During the 2025/ 26 fiscal year, Madam Chairman, the ESU maintained ongoing syndromic and communicable disease surveillance to support early detec-tion of public health risks. Most monitored syndromes
and priority conditions remained within expected levels,
with targeted increases and alerts identified a nd managed as appropriate. To support transparency and in-formed decision- making, the ESU published weekly updates and monthly Surveillance Summary Reports on


Bermuda House of Assembly its website and provided additional updates to the public through the website and other communication channels as required based on alert levels. These surveillance activities supported timely risk assessment and
proportionate public health responses throughout the
year.
During the 2025/ 26 fiscal year, the ESU also
focused on the development and piloting of the Ber-muda Health Information System (BHIS) to modernise
surveillance and data management processes. This
work included configuring system modules for surveillance use, testing workflows, and piloting data capture
and reporting functions with selected users. The pilot
phase supports identification of system requirements,
workflow refinements, and data quality considerations,
while aiming to reduce reliance on manual and fragmented reporting processes.
In fiscal year 2026/ 27, the ESU aims to transition from piloting to implementation of BHIS for routine surveillance activities. This will include expanding system use across relevant programmes, strengthening data flows from laboratories and health care providers,
and embedding BHIS into routine surveillance and reporting processes. Full implementation will support
more timely reporting, improved data quality, enhanced analytical capacity, and more efficient use of surveillance data to inform public health action and health system decision- making.
Madam Chairman, population health surveillance remains a core function of the Epidemiology and
Surveillance Unit, particularly through the STEPS to a Well Bermuda survey. During the 2025/ 26 fiscal year,
the E pidemiology and Surveillance Unit continued implementation of the survey, which is designed to pro-vide nationally representative data on risk factors for
chronic non- communicable diseases. Implementation
highlighted operational challenges, including workforce availability, field logistics , and participant engagement,
which are not uncommon for large- scale population
health surveys.
Nevertheless, the data collected through the
STEPS survey are expected to yield [ important ] insights into key risk factors and health behaviours, sup-porting situational understanding and informing future public health planning. In fiscal year 2026/ 27, the ESU
will pursue complementary data collection methods to
support continued monitoring of population health indicators.
Madam Chairman, in response to the rising
prevalence of non- communicable diseases in Bermuda, the OCMO is actively developing chronic disease clinical standards and guidelines. Collaborating
closely with the UHC project management team, the
CMO is facilitating the creation of clinical standards for
the treatment of common diseases in Bermuda. This initiative involves health care professionals and specialists from both the public and private sectors, ensuring a comprehensive approach to chronic disease management. The CMO further supports UHC efforts by chairing the Clinical Senate and participating as a
member of the UHC Steering Committee, thereby contributing to the strategic direction and implementation
of these initiatives.
These efforts are critical to ensuring consistency, quality, and equity in care across the health
system. By establishing national clinical standards, the
OCMO aims to align care practices with international
best practices while adapting them to Bermuda’s
unique health care context. This work will help reduce
variations in treatment across health settings, promote
evidence- based decision- making, and improve patient
outcomes —particularly for conditions such as diabetes
and hypertension. As Bermuda continues to pursue
UHC, the development and adoption of standardised
clinical guidelines will serve as a foundation for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of health services across the I sland.
Madam Chairman, the ESU team has been instrumental in building capacity for public health emer-gency response in Bermuda. Their work ensures that
the country can rapidly detect, assess, and respond to
health threats, minimising the impact on the population.
ESU played a pivotal role in completing the Bermuda Public Health Emergency Response Plan. This is a
simulation exercise, planned for fiscal year 2026 /27,
which will serve as a critical test of the P lan’s effectiveness, allowing for the identification of gaps, refining of
protocols, and strengthening of inter -agency collaboration.
The office works to coordinate efforts and enhance Bermuda's preparedness for public health emer-gencies. This plan is scheduled to be updated bienni-ally to ensure its relevance and effectiveness and underscores the Ministry’s commitment to maintaining a
high level of preparedness and resilience in the face of
evolving public health risks.
Madam Chairman, the scope and complexity of
the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit’s responsibilities continue to expand, driven by evolving public
health threats, increasing data demands, and the growing use of digital surveillance systems. Sustained investment in workfor ce capacity, analytical skills, and
supporting infrastructure is essential to ensure that the
Unit can continue to deliver timely surveillance, investi-gations, and public health intelligence. Without adequate capacity, there is a risk that gains in early detection and response could be undermined, resulting in
delayed action and higher downstream costs.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
for business unit 31040, Epidemiology and Surveillance.

Port Health, 31050
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, I would like to
draw your attention to line item 31050, Port Health, still on page B -150.
2132 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly The Port Health business unit has a budget allocation of $541,000 for fiscal year 2026/ 27. This Unit
ensures Bermuda meets its obligations under the International Health Regulations in relation to travellers,
conveyances, cargo and the p oints of entry. Their role
is to mitigate public health risks at all points of entry by
managing environmental health risks. This includes the
issuance of ship sanitation certificates, and detecting,
notifying, reporting, and controlling all potential health
risks, including risks associated with food and vectors.
Madam Chairman, under the technical guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO), Pan
American Health Organization (PAHO), and Caribbean
Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Port Health completed the Level 3 Ship Sanitation Certificate course
and participated in training on t he Caribbean Vessel
Surveillance System (CVSS), the electronic data sharing platform created to capture illness information, particularly disease outbreaks, in real or near -real time on
passenger vessels. This recent training builds capaci ty
for a harmonised approach and promotion of consistency and uniformity in surveillance, coordination
and response during public health events.
Madam Chairman, in 2025, the Port Health
Unit inspected over 30 cruise ships and luxury yachts
and completed 12 cargo ship inspections. This business unit will continue to enhance its operations in the inspection of food items and medicines to safeguard the public as there have been over 62 items inspected
under the Public Health Act 1949. As recruitment efforts continue, the unit’s capacity will be strengthened.
Overall, Port Health maintains its compliance, regulation and authorised port health capacities for the issuance of Ship Sanitation Certificates and in 2026/ 27
looks forward to increasing public awareness of Port
Health services through collaboration and education.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on Business Unit 31050, Port Health.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
with respect to programme 2102, Office of the Chief
Medical Officer.

Capital Acquisitions

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, turning now
to Capital Acquisitions.
The Capital Acquisitions for the Ministry of
Health Headquarters found on page C -12 allocated
$47,000 for the purchase of new computers to replace outdated equipment and enhance operational effi-ciency.
Madam Chairman, this concludes my presentation on Head 21, Ministry of Health, Headquarters.

Okay, thank you.

HEAD 22 —DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chair man, I would like to
turn now to Head 22, Department of Health, and that can be found at pages B -154 to B -157 of the Estimates
of Revenue and Expenditure in the Budget Book.
Madam Chairman, it gives me immense pleasure to present the budget for Head 22, the Department of Health, again found on pages B -154 through B-157
of the Budget Book. The total current expenditure is es-timated to be $41,700,000 for 2026/ 27. This is an increase of 13 per cent, or $4,936,000, compared with
the original 2025/ 26 budget. The 2026/ 27 budget allocation for Head 22, Department of Health, also constitutes 14 per cent of the overall budget for the Ministry
of Health.

Mission

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the Department of Health’s vision is Healthy People in Healthy
Communities . The Department’s mission is To promote
and protect optimum health and well -being in Bermuda.

Expenditure Overview

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, 300 Department of Health Officers ( I am on page B -157) work in
26 public health programmes to ensure the health and
well-being of the population. The 2026/ 27 full -time
equivalent (FTE) estimate is an increase of four posts
or 1 per cent over post levels from the budget year
2025 /26. The total number of FTEs reflects the unfreezing of posts from the 2024/ 25 fiscal year, and the reorganisation of the Occupational Safety and Health, Port
Health, Child Care Regulations, and Child Health business units of the d epart ment.

Revenue Overview

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the projected
revenue for the Department of Health, found on page
B-156, totals $4,011,000 and this total is in relation to
various fees, licenc es and medication.
Madam Chairman, I will first address the Administration programme under Head 22, line item 2205.

Programme 2205, Administration
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the Department of Health’s s ection 2205 , Administration comprises the business units of Administration, Health Promotion, Comprehensive School Health and Child Care


Bermuda House of Assembly Regulations. The Administration Section consists of 12
FTEs.

Business Unit 32230 , Administration

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the 2026/ 27
budget estimate for business unit 32230, Administration (and I am on page B -155, Madam Chairman) is
$925,000. This represents a decrease of $70,000. This
business unit is responsible for providing strategic direction, overseeing the recruitment and retention of a
competent workforce to ensure that the department delivers quality public health services to the community,
managing the department’s infrastructure, including facilities, vehicles and information technology, and budget monitoring and management . This business
unit comprises only three FTEs , namely: the director,
assistant director and administrative assistant.
Madam Chairman, the department is on track
to achieve a 90 per cent staff retention rate and is aiming for a 95 per cent retention rate. The department is
focused on succession planning for retention and to addressing attrition over the next 10 years due to retirements, contract expiry, resignations, and promotions
and provide opportunities for staff development and preparation of the next generation of leaders. With a
large percentage of contract workers, the department
continues to implement strategies to recruit and retain
Bermudians. This includes bursary students and trainees in these hard- to-fill posts, including public health
nurses, environmental health officers, speech language pathologists, physiotherapists, and l aboratory
analysts.
Madam Chairman, the department still has
challenges in recruiting and filling posts within a timely
manner and has introduced Key Performance Indicators to measure the length of time for local and over-seas recruitments. Programme m anagers have also
been trained as recruitment managers themselves, to lead in recruitment drives, thereby reducing the length
of time of recruitment. This has shifted the primary
cause of failed overseas recruitments from taking too
long, to sticker shock and the cost of living in Bermuda.
This ends my presentation on business unit
32230, Administration.

Business Unit 32240 , Health Promotion
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The 2026 /27 budget estimate for
the Health Promotion and Wellness business unit of the
Department of Health, listed at cost centre 32240 on
page B -155 of the Budget Book , is $778,000.
Madam Chairman, Health Promotion is the first
strategic principle of the Bermuda Health Strategy
2022 –2027, highlighting healthy living and preventive
care as essential to a strong, sustainable health system. The Health Promotion and Wellness Programme
leads this effort by developing public health policies,
programmes, and educational tools that empower individuals and communities to make healthy choices. Working with public health partners, the programme
raises awareness, reduces risk factors, and supports
wellness across the lifespan.
Madam Chairman, the annual Health Promotion Calendar highlights health- promoting activities led
by the d epartment and community partners. The 2025
edition, produced in partnership with the Bermuda Ar-chives, featured the theme “Old Bermuda,” using historic photos to spark conversations with older adults and encourage them to share memories and stories, strengthening connections between older and younger
generations and supporting social well -being and
healthy ageing.
Madam Chairman, two of the Department of
Health events on the calendar that Health Promotion
annually sponsors are Public Health Week and Cele-brating Wellness. Public Health Week , Madam Chairman, is a week -long observance dedicated [to] recognising the contributions of public health, celebrating successes, and highlighting issues critical to improving
the Island's health. For 2025, the World Health Organization’s theme was “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures ." And this was adopted here in Bermuda. This
campaign highlights the critical need to improve mater-nal and newborn health, aiming to reduce preventable
deaths, promote quality care, and ensure better longterm health for mothers and their babies.
Madam Chairman, the Health Promotion and
Wellness Office hosted a Let’s Talk panel discussion on the topic “ Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures: The
First 1000 days of Life in Bermuda. ” Bermuda’s First
1,000 Days Integrated Care Pathway is a key initiative under its UHC programme, focusing on maternal and
child health from conception to age two. It aims to enhance perinatal care, strengthen mental health support,
and improve early childhood nutrition and development. The panel included local health professi onals
providing information and answering audience ques-tions.
Madam Chairman, celebrating Wellness Week
is an annual event geared towards increasing awareness and promoting measures to address the epidemic
of non- communicable diseases, which continue (regrettably) to severely impact our health, economy, and
sustainable development of Bermuda. The 2025 Celebrating Wellness Week theme was, “Engage, Empower, Elevate” and it brought the community together
to improve health and well -being through fun, free, and
accessible activities.
During Celebrating Wellness Week, three community events were conducted focusing on community, families, and corporate groups including:
• Dancing in the City, which was an evening of
fun, music, and movement;
• Family Fitness Fun which brought together the
whole family for an evening of movement,
laughter, and wellness —promoting healthy
2134 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly habits, reducing stress, and creating lasting
family memories; and
• The Corporate Team Fitness Challenge, which brought together coworkers for team games,
group fitness, and fun activities that build teamwork, boost morale, and promote workplace
wellness.
These events promote healthier lifestyles,
strengthen community connections, and support both physical and mental well -being. They also align with the
Government’s 2025 Throne Speech commitment to make wellness and prevention national priorities.
Madam Chairman, the 3rd annual Move More
Bermuda Games was postponed [to] 2026 due to
scheduling conflicts . However, it will take place on Friday, 5 June 2026. The Move More Bermuda Games is
part of the Department of Health’s Move More Bermuda
campaign launched in 2011. These initiatives aim to promote the importance of incorporating physical activity into our daily lifest yles.
Madam Chairman, continuing the work on
destigmatising mental health, in 2025, nearly 200 professionals participated in the Community Adolescent Mental Health Training Programme. The cohorts were
composed of professionals from the Department of Ed-ucation, the Department of Health, the Bermuda Hospitals Board, the Department of Child and Family Services, the Office of Youth Affairs, the Department of
Corrections, partners from the Nonprofit Alliance, and
members of the public.
Madam Chairman, a training schedule has
been created for the year, offering at least one training
per month and instructors are now all certificated to deliver the course virtually and in- person. Moving forward
we will be able to offer a half -day introduction session
and a shorter course for those who need to refresh their mental health knowl edge and skills. We are conducting
research among those who previously took the course
to see how it has impacted their work with adolescents.
Madam Chairman, the Well Bermuda Strategy
to Improve the Nutrition Environment of Bermuda
2026 –2030 was developed in close collaboration with
43 community members representing the farming industry, health care providers, education, health and environment sectors, health promotion and disease prevention services, community organisations, churches,
parish councils, and the private sector in a consultative stakeholder engagement workshop conducted in June
2025 .
Participants exchanged diverse perspectives
and insights about their current experiences and observations and proposed actionable approaches to
strengthen Bermuda’s nutrition environment. Following
the workshop, a draft copy of the Strategy was provided
to stakeholders in September 2025 to obtain input and
feedback. Stakeholder consensus around the four pillars of actions for this Strategy, Prevention, Promotion, Policy and Partnership, underscore the need for a coordinated and multi -tiered approach to impr oving nutrition and building a Well Bermuda.
The four pillars , Madam Chairman, of the Well
Bermuda Strategy 2026 –2030 are as follows :
1. preventing nutrition- related diseases through
upstream interventions;
2. promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles
across all life stages;
3. implementing policies that enable a sustainable nutrition environment; and
4. strengthening multi -sectoral partnerships for
coordinated and lasting impact.
To successfully implement the Well Bermuda
Strategy 2026– 2030, a national [ intersectoral ] steering
committee and subcommittees will be established to
lead the implementation and monitoring of the Strategy.
The strategy will be officially launched in March 2026.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on business unit 32240, Health Promotion.

Thank you, Minister. Just a bit of a
break here and a reminder to the listening public.
We are in the Committee of Supply for further
consideration of the Estimates of R evenue and E xpenditure for the year 2026 /27. We are doing the Ministry of Health right now under Head 22, Department of Health.
Minister, please proceed.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Business Unit 32265 , Comprehensive
School Health

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I woul d like to invite you to turn
with me on line item 32265, Comprehensive School
Health.
Madam Chairman, the 2026/ 27 budget estimate for the Comprehensive School Health, also known as Healthy Schools , business unit 32265 can be
located on page B -155 of the Budget Book and they
have—

[Page] B -155?

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes. They have been allocated,
Madam Chairman, the sum of $175,000.
Healthy Schools promotes health in schools
through the Department of Education, the National Drug Control and Mirrors, and t he Department of Child
and Family Services as well as community health part-ners such as the Bermuda Diabetes Association, Bermuda Cancer and Health, and the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. This business unit also collaborates with other Department of Health school -based
programmes, including Child and School Health, Nutri-tion Services, Oral Health, Community Rehabilitation
Services, and Environmental Health.


Bermuda House of Assembly Madam Chairman, the Healthy Schools Programme collaborates with schools to implement 10
components of health and integrate them into academics. Schools receive tips for making improvements and
feedback about what health looks like on their cam-puses. Each April to May, schools complete a self -assessment that their compliance with the 10 c omponents of health and their progress is celebrated at the
Annual Healthy Schools Awards Ceremony in May.
The 10 c omponents of h ealth under Healthy Schools
have been adopte d by 32 of 33 public and private
schools since 2007.
In compliance with the school nutrition policy,
the Healthy Schools team is working more closely with
the Department of Education to limit all fast -food deliveries to schools for any reason and food- focused fundraisers to no more than once a month. Healthy Schools has provided schools with recommendations for nonfood fundraisers and rewards. Additionally, all public
and private schools have at least one filtered bottle- filling station and/or a filtered water system, making fresh,
clean water the easiest ch oice. Healthy Schools supports and recognises those schools that choose to implement their own w ater-only policy.
Madam Chairman, a healthy lifestyle assembly
is provided by Healthy Schools in as many preschools,
middle, senior schools, and camps as possible, which
includes fun and interactive discussions about the importance of adopting, practicing, and maintaining
healthy habits and lifestyles.
The Healthy Schools programme has also designed a Wellness Wednesday Calendar that preschools and schools can use to highlight healthy habits
each Wednesday. Students and staff are also encour-aged to practice one healthy habit throughout the week.
Healthy Schools has developed a School Health Policy
Manual that schools can reference when they have a question or concern related to safety and health at
school. All schools have received one and are due to
receive the third edition.
Madam Chairman, in 2026 /27, Healthy
Schools will continue to encourage schools to grow edible plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also, to help students understand their own health- related fitness,
Healthy Schools will continue to work with the Department of Education's Curriculum Officer for Physical Education and Health to improve the completion of the FitnessGram assessments for P5 through S4 students in
terms on e and three. Meetings are planned to encourage schools to integrate small bursts of physical acti vity
throughout the day in the classroom, and to implement
the Daily Mile with students and staff each morning.
Healthy Schools and the Department of Education's facilities manager, in partnership with the Envi-ronmental Health Programme, work closely with school
custodians and cleaning companies that clean schools to raise their environmental cleanliness standards
through frequent inspections, and provide feedback to
each school custodian for improvement. Madam Chairman, since 2020, Healthy
Schools has been working with public and private
schools to improve compliance with the Bermuda
School Asthma Policy and ensure optimal environmental health in schools, by having schools reduce clutter in classrooms and other school areas; and eliminate
the use of plug- in air fresheners and aerosol sprays.
Madam Chairman, since the summer of 2021,
Healthy Schools has been coordinating out -of-school
camps during all school breaks and after -school programmes throughout the school year. To ensure children’s safety and health, Healthy Schools provides
support and public health updates, monitors safety and
health standards, and conducts surveillance visits, as
needed. Discussions have commenced with the desired result of setting standards for camps to ensure the
safety and health of all children in out -of-school c amps
and after -school programmes.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
for business unit 32265 , Comprehensive School
Health.

Business Unit 32290, Child [Care] Regulations
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the 2026/27
budget estimate for the Child [Care] Regulations [CCR]
business unit 32290 on page B -155 represents a
budget of $846,000, which is an increase of $336,000
or 66 per cent. This funding ensures the continued success of a programm e that has five full -time staff members, who help to ensure long- term continuity and stability for childcare oversight in Bermuda. Additional
funding in 2026/27 is provided for child safeguarding and enhanced training and development for day care
providers and day care centres.
Madam Chairman, this business unit remains
steadfast in its responsibility for the registration certifi-cates of day care providers [DCP] and licences for day
care centres [DCC]. I am pleased to report significant
gains in our operational reach. They include the following:
• A remarkable 91 per cent completion rate for
the S.T.A.R.S. inspection tool for all day care
providers and day care centres. This evaluated
performance in domains such as child supervision, safety, sanitation, health, and parental
and family engagement;
• Investigations of complaints within the strictly
allotted 48- hour timeframe for safety concerns
and five days for non- safety risks. This efficiency is sustained through our robust and ongoing working relationships with the Bermuda
Police Service [BPS] and the Department of
Child and Family Services [DCFS]; and
• The offering of targeted information sessions conducted online for day care providers and
the day care centres to provide crucial updates
and practical tips for navigating the S.T.A.R.S.
inspection framework.
2136 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Madam Chairman, the Developing Professionals Programme (CCR’s capacity building programme
for day care professionals) has seen exceptional
growth this year, offering 11 comprehensive workshops. These sessions were facilitated by a diverse group of experts, including Child Care Regulations
staff, Department of Health professionals such as
health visitors, nutrition services and occupational therapists, and external specialists such as ParentGuide.
Madam Chairman, notably, we have partnered
with the UK Health Security Agency [UKHSA] to intro-duce the e- Bug initiative to our day care centres. These
teaching resources are specifically designed to promote positive behaviour changes in children to prevent
the transmission of infections. This training was offered to all centres through our professional series, with one
centre inviting the development officer to actually host a dedicated session for their children. Participant feedback from e- Bug training ha s been overwhelmingly
positive, and all participants can now access these valuable resources for free online to implement in their own programmes.
Madam Chairman, the Child Care Regulations
(CCR) Programme is also introducing a new Extra Sup-port Pilot project, an initiative that utilises a three- tier
support model to help centres thrive, including:
• Tier 1: Core support, which involves sharing resources, updating policies or recommending
trainings for staff;
• Tier 2: Strategic support which could include
an operational observation with recommendations, presentations at a centre staff meeting
on a specific topic or the provision of feedback
for inspection preparation; and
• Tier 3: Intensive support which involves specific training typically required following a substantiated complaint or investigation to ensure issues are resolved and do not reoccur .
Madam Chairman, while these successes are
praiseworthy, there are still challenges facing the sector. For the Bermuda College Child Care Certificate
programme, only 4 out of 15 eligible persons participated in the third cohort. Barriers such as the cost of
the programme and the time constraints of staff who work during the day and attend classes in the evening
must be addressed to further support professionalisation in the field.
Madam Chairman, the CCR team remains
committed to its mission: Happy, Healthy, and Safe
Child Care. Stakeholders continue to have a voice
through the Relationship Building and Collaboration
Survey and dedicated quarterly meetings where providers can learn from one another. Additionally, in January
of this year, a "Mix and Mingle" event was hosted in recognition that while many providers work in the same
field, they often do not know their colleagues. It was a successful afternoon that allowed the dedicated providers and child care centre operators in Bermuda to connect and build a stronger, more unified child care
community.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on business unit 32290, Child Care Regulations.
This ends my entire presentation, Madam
Chairman, on s ection 2205, Administration.
The second section that I will present under
Head 22 is Community Health.

Programme 2201, Community Health

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, I would like to
draw your attention to 2201 line item entitled Community Health. The Department of Health’s section 2201 ,
Community Health , can be found at p age B -154 of the
Budget Book. And that, Madam Chairman, comprises
13 business units and has for 2026/27 an estimated budget of $30,445,000. Overall, Madam Chairman, this
represents an increase of 14 per cent over the 2025/26
original budget. The business units of the Community
Health Programme consist of 221 full -time equivalents.

Business Units 32000 and 32015
Lefroy [House] Care Community and
Sylvia Richardson Care Facility
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the Department of Health operates two exemplary long- term care
facilities. Namely, the Sylvia Richardson Care Facility
in St. George’s and the Lefroy House Care Community
in God’s Country and the holders of the Somerset Cup
Match in Sandy’ s.

[Desk thumping]

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: He’s not even listening!

That’s good stuff. That’s good stuff.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I was just making sure the Honourable Member was still awake.
[Laughter and inaudible interjection]

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the 2026/ 27
budget estimate for Lefroy House Care Community
listed at business unit 32000, again still remaining on
page B -154, is $6,215,000. Madam Chairman, the
2026/27 budget estimate for Sylvia Richardson Care Facility, listed at business unit 32015, still remaining on
page [B -154], represents the sum of $7,171,000. These
amounts are increased by 17 per cent and 15 per cent,


Bermuda House of Assembly respectively, from the original 2025/26 budget
amounts.
Madam Chairman, both facilities provide care
and promote independence and optimal health for persons aged 65 years and over, who have significant nursing and care needs requiring 24- hour facility -based
care. The two facilities are residential care communities, providing comprehensive medical, nursing, environmental, and recreation services to the residents and respite care elders. Our aim, Madam Chairman, is to
maintain and improve quality of life for elders and their loved ones.
Madam Chairman, at Lefroy House, the physical bed capacity is maintained for 32 residents, includ-ing two respite beds. Infrastructure projects continue to
improve and optimise the living space for elders. This
includes the replacement of porch covering mat erial in
the courtyard area that is underway, with internal ceiling areas to recommence next.
The redesign of the new Lefroy House Care
Community was awarded to Geoff Parker Architects
following a design competition held last July. There is a
steadfast commitment to invest in the infrastructure to
improve the capacities and environment for the care of
seniors.
With the ongoing improvements, Lefroy
[House] Care Community [ LHCC] has been able to improve its operating licence score from a C to an [A] this
past licensing period, enabling LHCC to continue to operate at full capacity. Respite care has commenced after receiving much needed new beds. Furthermore, ed-ucational opportunit ies continue to be facilitated so that
the staff have the required skill set to continue to provide a high level of care.
Madam Chairman, maintaining the required
minimum staffing levels 24 hours per day, whilst ensur-ing coverage is found for staff who are out on sick leave and vacation have resulted in significant overtime expenditure. The operating costs have increased sign ificantly, especially the cost of supplies, food, and utilities. Additionally, the costs for repair, replacement of
equipment, and maintenance have increased, including
the updates for the door lock system which crashed,
and installation of cabling to accommodate the new fi-bre phone system.
Madam Chairman, an online survey was created for the family members of residents at LHCC to ascertain feedback on the facility’s service delivery.
Madam Chairman, 53 per cent responded with overall
satisfaction with the care provided. Areas identified for
improvement were furnishings and communication in-frastructure throughout the facility to increase access to
registered nurses.
The LHCC Management and staff are committed to enhancing the quality of care through staff education and capacity building. Staff participated and completed several training courses, including Safety
Care Training, Fit Testing, ServSafe Certification, and
Mental Health First Aid. Turning now to the Sylvia Richardson Care Facility (SRCF). Sylvia Richardson [Care Facility] is continuing to work on its infrastructure, as attention is required on the exterior of the building. Replacement of
the flooring is required in most areas. The ageing water pumps require replacement to ensure reliable water
pressure and safety. The funding to this unit will help
reduce maintenance costs and ensure compliance with
facility standards. An independently provided survey on
the condition of the facility is being used to guide the
programmed maintenance of the Sylvia Richardson
Care Facility.
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
(HVAC) units need continued upgrading to improve cli-mate control and energy efficiency. Funds will enhance
resident thermal comfort, reduce energy use, and require fewer emergency repairs. These initiatives will have significant upfront costs, but a long- term reduction
in utility expenses.
Madam Chairman, more staff education is also
planned for the team focusing on dementia care and
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). And that training will also be provided to staff. As well they will receive training for the Dietary and Handyman Departments. Funding for education and workshops in this
unit will help improve resident, family and staff relationships, and compliance with best practice standards.
Madam Chairman, similar to the situation at
Lefroy [House Care Community], higher overtime usage is also being experienced at Sylvia Richardson
[Care Facility] due to staff shortages and unexpected
absences. The noticeable rise in payroll expenses requires further review and continued recruitment.
Furthermore, the last year has shown rising
prices in food, medical supplies, utilities, and contracted services. Consequently, the facility is experiencing higher operational costs due to inflation and
overtime. While the upgrades require more funding,
there will be a reduction in long- term maintenance and
utility expenses. The budget accounts for rising overtime needs, and inflation to [ensure] stable, high- quality
service delivery throughout the year. Finally, tendering
for the design phase for up to a 2 4-bed extension at
Sylvia Richardson [Care Facility] is also anticipated in this fiscal year 2026/27.
Madam Chairman, the Sylvia Richardson Care
Facility team is committed to enhancing residential care
and operational efficiency by upgrading essential infrastructure, strengthening staff training, and promoting a competent environment. Additionally, the Syl via Richardson Care Facility, with good effect, has introduced family meetings to improve communications overall.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on business units 32000, Lefroy House Care Community and 32015, Sylvia Richardson Care Facility.

Business Units 32010, Community Health
Administration and 32060, Community Health

2138 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now, Madam Chairman,
to line items [32010], Community Health Administration
and 32060, Community Health
Madam Chairman, the 2026/27 budget estimates for business units 32010, Community Health Administration, and 32060, —Community Health which
fund the nursing team, both are found on page B -154
of the Budget Book, are $2,258,000 and $2,433,000,
respectively.

Minister, we are about 10 minutes
away from the stopping mark for 12:30 pm. I don't know
whether you feel comfortable doing both of those or just
one of those, but I'll let you make that decision and just
time it out.
Thank you.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Okay. They are tied together,
Madam Chairman, so the submissions are actually
overlapping, so it probably would behove me to go
ahead and proceed.
Thank you.

[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, for —
[Pause]

[Inaudible interjection]

[Business units] 32010 and 32060.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I know where I was. I was just
trying to not repeat myself. Anyway, I'm going to have
to.
The 2026/ 27 budget estimates line item 32010,
Community Health Administration, which receives
$2,258,000 and line item 32060, Community Health,
which receives $2,433,000, respectively.
Community Health Administration’s budget will
increase by $685,000 which represents a 44 per cent
increase. These costs will be used for digitalisation of
paper records; relocation of the stores department away from the Hamilton Health Centre thereby freei ng
up space for client facing services; and staffing costs
including the training of a public health nurse trainee.
With respect to the Community Health Nursing’s budget for 2026/27, this will increase by $132,000
which is a 6 per cent increase.
Madam Chairman, the Community Health Administration business unit consists of administration
support and health education. The business unit provides administrative support for the programmes offering preventive and curative services including child
health, school health, travel health, immunisations, community nursing, sexual and reproductive health,
nutrition, clinical laboratory, rehabilitation, speech and
language pathologists, two long- term care facilities, vaccine storage, medical and office supplies, and logistics. The programme assures conditions in which the
facilities can operate safely, effectively and efficiently
for clients and staff.
Madam Chairman, redesign of the Hamilton
Health Centre is urgently required to modernise and
provide services and equipment for this area, particularly for persons living with disabilities, mobility adaptive equipment, and accommodations for other access,
safety and health, functionality, and privacy considerations. To date, the clinical laboratory was repurposed to accommodate staff.
Moving forward, the anticipated recruitment of
new staff within the Community Health Administration requires new workspace to enhance the public health
programmes. Establishing positive practice environments is an essential strategy for the retention of t he
health workforce.
Madam Chairman, construction work on Mangrove Bay Clinic is substantially complete with an an-ticipated occupancy in May 2026. There were two vehicular replacements and one new vehicle added to the
fleet, as well as upgrades to the recharging electrical
stations for universal use.
At the St. George’s Clinic, windows in the waiting area were replaced and a new security alarm system was installed.
At the Warwick Clinic, some renovations were
done involving entry ways for safety and health purposes.
Madam Chairman, the demands on the social
worker team remain high. In 2024/25, there were a total
of 141 new referrals. Of the new referrals, 67 per cent,
or 68 clients were discharged following resolution of the
primary issue.
This is reflective of the team’s effective and efficient role in helping to meet the increasing needs of the community and connecting persons with the appropriate services. The main reasons for social worker referrals were financial hardship, care support, and care
home placement assistance. The complexities of cases are related to a lack of health insurance, limited access
to essential medications, and the inability to secure affordable housing. In this regard, collaborations with
NGOs are ongoing to address the challenge of home-lessness, which of course, Madam Chairman, is a social determinant of health.
Madam Chairman, the majority of the referrals
have been received through the Adult Preventive
Health Community Nursing programme, which has
been instrumental in identifying persons in need. In
2025, there were 1,560 service events which included
home and office visits, collaboration and correspondence with other agencies, family correspondence, and
transportation assistance. Additionally, ongoing representation of Community Health in the bi -weekly long -
term care committee meetings ensures an efficient ad-mission process to the Government long- term care facilities for seniors.


Bermuda House of Assembly In 2025, Madam Chair man, the Community
Health Administration's programme efforts focused on
training, succession planning, and cross -programme
integration. The celebration of World's AIDS Day, the
expanded programme on immunisations, and other ob-servation days on the health promotion calendar were
priorities, and podcasts were also introduced as a strategic tool for enhancing health literacy.
Madam Chairman, there have been significant
delays with implementing the reorganisation of the
Community Health Restructure, primarily because of the lack of human resources. And in this regard, the
report for the Nursing and Midwifery Workforce Survey
was completed, with implications for attracting, recruiting, and retaining nurses to meet the future health care needs of our community.
Madam Chairman, there is a need to invest in
facility modernisation, especially if technological advances are to be incorporated into service delivery and
services are expanded to include the adult population
who are under - and or uninsured. Our health fac ilities
and services must be fit to accommodate the needs of
our ageing population.
Madam Chairman . . . I wonder if that might be
an opportunity to break for lunch, because I will be turning to a different business unit.

A motion has been made that we break
for lunch and return here at 2:00 pm.
Are there any objections? If no—

[Gavel]

Proceedings in Committee suspended at 12:26 pm

Proceedings in Committee resumed at 2:03 pm

[Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo, Chairman]

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY

ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE
FOR THE YEAR 2026/27

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

HEAD 22 —DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Continuation thereof]

Yes, Minister.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, Madam Chairman.
When we broke for lunch, I had an opportunity
as I was walking back to the office to share briefly with
the Honourable Member who sits next to me, opposite
me, as well. He was accompanied by a former Member
of the Opposition in the Senate who may, having been
a former Member not realising and remembering the
rules . . . So, I thought for the public's edification, which
he invited me to do, I wanted to just provide a quick
overview as to the purpose of this particular exercise and who sets the time limits and the Heads for debate.

Please continue.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: So, in the Westminster parliamentary system, the Committee of Supply is a funda-mental annual process in which the House sits as a committee of the whole [House] to examine and approve the Government 's proposed expenditure for the
upcoming financial year. Bermuda follows that same
model through the House of Assembly, consistent with
the traditions.
The core purpose of the Committee of Supply
is financial accountability, the exercise of Parliament's historic power of the purse. The Executive may propose expenditure, but only Parliament may authorise it.
Through debate on the estimates of revenues and expenditure by the Heads (and you keep hearing us refer
to the Heads ) the Member s have an opportunity to
scrutinise the public funds and whether they align with stated priorities, whether allocations are justified, and
whether spending reflects policy commitments.
For clarity and for the members of the public,
as well as that former Opposition Senator, under the
Standing Orders of the House of Assembly, the total
time allotted for debate on the estimates in Committee
of Supply is fixed at 56 hours pursuant to Standing Order 39.
Standing Order 40( 4) further provides that the
Opposition shall determine the order in which the
Heads of expenditure are considered upon written notice to the S peaker and to the Government . As debate
proceeds subsequently through those Heads, this effectively determines how the 56 hours are distributed across ministries.
And accordingly, while the overall debate period is prescribed by the S tanding Orders, the practical
allocation of time among ministries is shaped by the
2140 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly order selected by the Opposition, and not by the Government .

That is right.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Given the size, complexity, and
public importance of the health portfolio, I would have
expected that sufficient time would have been allocated
to allow for full and thorough scrutiny, particularly as we
frequently approach the time limit with limited opportunity remaining for questions.
That was for the edification of the public, but in
particular, the former Opposition Member Senator , who
perhaps has been out of his place for quite some time and forgot how the rules go.
We do not set the time limit.

That is right.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you.
Now, Madam Chairman, thank you for that indulgence.

Business Units 32010, Community Health
Administration and 32060, Community Health
[Continuing]

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Pursuant to . . . I was at s ection
20 . . . sorry, for the 2026/27 Budget Estimates under
Community Health, and I am reading from business line
(and I invite you to join me) 32060.
They received $2 million . . . I am reading from
page B -154, Madam—

Yes.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, that line item
represents a budget allocation of $2,433,000. The
Community Health Nursing t eam comprises highly
skilled and dedicated nursing staff and is currently
staffed by one community health coordinator , nine public health nurses , and one community health worker.
A recruitment initiative is underway currently to
secure one advanced practise nurse. In addition, plans
are underway to reclassify two public health nurse positions to the title of senior public health nurse roles to
strengthen clinical capacity, leadership, and scope of
practise within the service.
Madam Chairman, moreover, the transition of
two community health social workers has proven to be
a vital enhancement to the team, given the increasing
volume and complexity of social issues that are being
encountered, which I spoke about earlier before lunch.
Their expertise, Madam Chairman, has strengthened
the team's capacity to assess and respond to systemic barriers faced by clients, resulting in more coordinated
and effective support services.
Preliminary findings indicate that many barriers
to cardiovascular disease risk reduction are not solely
attributable to individual behaviours but are influenced
by broader structural and socioeconomic factors, including access to services or other context -specific determinants of health. In this regard, the multidisciplinary
team will continue to document these barriers to inform
service planning, support future research, and
strengthen the local evidence base for equitable and
sustainable prevention strat egies in Bermuda.
Madam Chairman, the HEARTS initiative utilises a standardised clinical protocol for the treatment and management of hypertension in primary care. It
has been effective in strengthening clinical follow -up,
blood pressure control, and continuity of care through
a coordinat ed, multidisciplinary clinical model.
Madam Chairman, the Adult Health Clinic
leads clinical management using team- based care, evidence- based treatment protocols, and monitoring systems to improve population health to guide quality im-provement. These efforts are supported by the N utrition
Services team, which support client behaviour change
and readiness for sustained lifestyle transitions. This


Bermuda House of Assembly integrated approach is improving hypertension management and reducing cardiovascular risk across the
community.
Madam Chairman, the department's record
and submission on prioritising accessible health care for hypertension management to achieve universal
health coverage was accepted and published by the
Pan American Health Organization and World Health
Organization [ PAHO/WHO ] and selected as one of the
four featured practises from successful submissions by 44 countries across the region of the Americas.
Additionally, at the invitation of PAH O and
WHO, the Bermuda team travelled to the Cayman Islands to share implementation experiences and conduct quality improvement sessions to strengthen
HEARTS locally. This collaboration demonstrates Bermuda's leadership in regional knowledge exchange, supporting the Cayman Islands as they newly join the
Americas in the implementation of the HEARTS initiative.
Madam Chairman, during the 2024/ 25 fiscal
year, a total of 87 adult preventative clinics were deliv-ered, including wound care clinics that were conducted
on four afternoons weekly compared to 55 clinics in the
previous year. A total of 776 patients were seen for new
and follow -up appointments, wound care, education,
and blood pressure and glucose monitoring, represent-ing a 37 per cent increase from the previous year when
566 patients were seen. The growth in clinic volume,
patient numbers, and case complexi ty underscores the
need to expand adult health services, improve access
to appropriate facilities, and strengthen advanced practise nursing roles.
Madam Chairman, over 6,780 home visits
were conducted, supporting wound care management,
post-discharge follow -up, maintenance of client independence, long- term care assessment, and ongoing
health education. A significant proportion of clients are
linked with two or more agencies. The volume of clinics
delivered, clients served, and home visits conducted
reflects both the essential role of C ommunity Health
Nursing and the growing needs of the population. This
trend reinforces the need for a modernised, adeq uately
equipped facility to support service expansion and
quality improvement. Community health nurses have
also ensured continued service delivery to homebound
clients, reducing the pressures on the acute care services.
Madam Chairman, community nursing activity
was analysed using a visit -based population approach,
reflecting care delivery across a dynamic caseload.
During the reporting period, 62 per cent of visits addressed low -dependency needs, 33 per cent mediumdependency needs, and 4 per cent high-dependency
needs. While a large proportion of visits relate to low -
dependency health maintenance needs, these visits remain time- intensive and essential to sustaining client
independence and preventing deterioration. A smal ler cohort presents with high- dependency needs requiring
ongoing resource- intensive support.
Madam Chairman, patient satisfaction surveys
indicate high levels of satisfaction with the service ac-cessibility and response times, with 88 per cent of clients reporting being satisfied with the care received.
Throughout the year, the team participated in 19 health
promotion activities and education sessions, conducting screening and referrals as appropriate. The team
also supported emergency response efforts during hurricane season, with staff deployed to the CedarBridge
Academy shelter during Hurricanes Imelda and
Melissa.
Madam Chairman, funding allocated to these
service areas supports not only clinical care but also
addresses social determinants of health, strengthens
partnerships, and promotes a culture of prevention across Bermuda's community health system.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
for business units 32010, Community Health Administration and 32060, Community Health.

Child Health, 32030
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now, Madam Chairman,
to line item 32030, Child Health. And I still remain on
page B -154, Madam Chairman.
The 20 26/27 budget estimate for Child Health,
listed as business unit 32030, is $3,185,000, representing an increase of $61,000, which is a 2 per cent increase.
Madam Chairman, the Child Health Unit consists of three subprogrammes, namely immunisation, child health, and school health. And this includes
asthma education and the travel health. These sub- programmes provide preventative and curative health services for infants, children, adolescents, adults, seniors,
and the travelling public. These are conducted through
various clinics, schools, and community settings. Services include health and development assessments,
screenings, referrals, treatment of minor ailments, health education, health promotion, anticipatory guidance, adult and senior immunisations, and travel consultations for travel to high- risk areas.
Madam Chairman, the Child Health programme has achieved favourable results with 86 per
cent of parents of newborns receiving home visits
within the first 14 days of birth. [One hundred] per cent
of mothers were screened for maternal well -being. This
increased percentage also accounts for new mothers
who had moved to the Island and those that required
repeat screening. Three per cent of mothers screened
were referred to specialist mental health services , or
given extra support from health visitors such as li stening visits.
Madam Chairman, health visitors are essential
in delivering health services to the community and fam-ilies with children under five. Little Listeners, which is a
successful initiative spearheaded by a health visitor in
2142 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly partnership with the Youth Library services, was piloted
this past year. The purpose of this initiative is to
strengthen community ties, enhance social development, increase father involvement, and support early
literacy.
To combat childhood obesity at an early age
and in early stages, Madam Chairman, initiatives to
promote and increase breastfeeding rates need to oc-cur. The exclusive breastfeeding rate at six weeks postpartum is 53 per cent , up from 44 per cent in the previous year. With the aim of continuing this upward trend,
interventions such as one- on-one breastfeeding sessions, group classes, special initiatives during breast-feeding awareness month, and collaboration with King
Edward VII Memorial Hospital and the Nati onal Breastfeeding Committee must continue.
Madam Chairman, the school health programme has slightly increased its human resources but
is still operating with fewer staff than its FTEs capacity.
In the 2024/25 school year, 46 per cent of five -year-old
school health assessments were completed, 2 per cent
less uptake than the previous year. School nurses are
working diligently to promote this free service. Last
year, 23 per cent of five -year-olds were identified as
overweight or obese, which represents an increase of
2 per cent from the previous year. And in this regard,
school nurses are implementing preventative measures such as nutrition talks, promoting physical activity, and referring students to public health nutritionists.
Furthermore, to support these efforts, Child
Health team nurses received comprehensive training
from the Caribbean Public Health Agency, or CAR PHA.
This training focused on accurate techniques for measuring children's growth and developing motivational intervention skills to provide effective nutrition counsel-ling based on growth assessments. These interven-tions address key issues including childhood obesity
and malnutrition.

[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the primary
focus for the school asthma education programme was
to follow up with students who missed school due to
asthma- related illnesses. It highlights the importance of
consistent, proactive asthma management and the
need for a robust support system in schools. The
school asthma nurse provides asthma education ses-sions to school staff and encourages schools to host
Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre talks on smoking,
marijuana, and vaping.
Madam Chairman, lastly, the demand for the
travel health services has increased this past fiscal year with 721 consultations, which is 77 more than the
previous year. Reminders were sent to the public en-couraging individuals to book appointments two to
three months prior to travel to ensure adequate immunity and to receive key travel health safety information. Travel consultations provide education on water, food and vector -borne illnesses, and prevention to reduce
the risk of Bermuda residents returning wi th infectious
diseases. Work is underway to digitalise the appointment system that will allow clients to book their own ap-pointments.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
for business unit 32030, Child Health.

Expanded Programme for Immunization, 32070
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, turning to
32070, Expanded Programmes for Immunisations, or
II, Madam Chairman, in 20 26/27, the budget estimates
on Expanded Programme for Immunisations [EPI]
listed at business unit 32070 on page B -154 represents
the sum of $1,312,000, and this remains relatively un-changed compared to the fiscal year 2025/26.
The Expanded Programme for Immunisations
is Bermuda's national framework for preventing vac-cine-preventable diseases across the life course. It
aims to reduce morbidity and mortality, ensure equita-ble access to vaccines, standardise immunisation services, and support disease control, elimination, and
eradication in alignment with the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organi zation guidance. The programme also strengthens the health system through surveillance, workforce development, and
improved service delivery infrastructure.
Madam Chairman, Bermuda's EPI provides immunisations for infants, children, pregnant women, adults, seniors, travellers, and other vulnerable groups.
Vaccines are primarily procured through the PAHO Revolving Fund to ensure quality, safety, and cost -effectiveness. Delivery occurs through both public and private sectors. In 2025, the programme transitioned to a
dedicated business unit, namely 32070, fully separating from 3203[0] Child Health business unit with reorganisation continuing towards full operation al maturity.
Madam Chairman, post-COVID, declines in
volume and the vaccination coverage alongside persis-tent misinformation and vaccine hesitancy continue to
challenge uptake, particularly for measles, mumps, and
rubella —the MMR —and the human HPV vaccines. A
regional measles outbreak and two confirmed measles
cases in Bermuda within the past year underscore the
ongoing risk of disease importation and community
transmission.
Following the 2024 measles outbreak, the first
dose MMR coverage exceeded 95 per cent in 2025.
This improvement is partially attributed to the revision
of the immunisation schedule to administer the first
MMR dose at 12 months and the second dose at 18
months of age, instead of four to six years old.
Madam Chairman, additionally, administration
of the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, which is the
Tdap, vaccine to antenatal mothers increased from
23.5 per cent in 2024 to 24 per cent in 2025, representing a 2.13 per cent increase.


Bermuda House of Assembly Madam Chairman, despite these gains, the
proportion of children fully vaccinated by two years of
age remains below the 96 per cent target. Coverage for
the primary series, which is diphtheria, tetanus, pertus-sis, polio, and Haemophilus influenza type b, is approximately 90 per cent, indicating the need for continued
targeted interventions. Addressing vaccine hesitancy
through community engagement, partnerships with
trusted leaders, and collaboration with healthcare professionals remains a strategic priority .
Madam Chairman, during the 2024/25 influenza season, 1,983 influenza vaccines were administered, including 1,070 doses to individuals aged 65
years and older including long- term care residents. The
Department of Health's Flu Express campaign, which ran between October and November 2025, vaccinated
821 clients, predominantly aged 65 years and older, with online registration and payment improving access
and client flow. From October 2025 to January 2026,
1,902 influenza vaccines were administered. A total of
3,150 doses were distributed to private facilities. Overall, 4,800 influenza doses were procured, with 4,512
distributed excluding privately imported vaccines.
Madam Chairman, the expanded use of the
Electronic Immunisation Registry [EIR] has strengthened data quality, reporting timelines, and coordination across providers. Stakeholders are now routinely using
the EIR for immunisation documentation and online vaccine ordering, improving operational efficiency.
Madam Chairman, in 2025, Bermuda's EPI
demonstrated measurable progress despite resource constraints. Sustained collaboration across government, healthcare providers, and communities is essen-tial to main coverage gains, address hesitancy, and strengthen programme resilience. While business unit
32030 continues to face staffing and operational pres-sures, active recruitment efforts are underway to sup-port long- term programme effectiveness.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
for business unit 32070, Expanded Programme on Immunisation.

Sexual and Reproductive Health, 32040

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, I am still on
page B -154 of the Budget Book, and for 2026/27 , the
Sexual and Reproductive Health [business unit] re-ceived $1,052,000. Savings are being achieved by delaying the recruitment of a vacant administrative post
for part of the year.
Madam Chairman, the Sexual and Reproductive Health, or the SRH programme, consists of two
sub-programmes : one, maternal health; and two, communicable diseases. Sexual health requires a positive
and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, and the programme addresses this through high-quality information and education, treatment, and
interventions. Services provided include antenatal and postnatal care, cervical screening, mammogram referrals, family planning, emergency contraception, free condoms, pregnancy testing, unplanned pregnancy advice, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted in-fections , testing for HIV [and] counselling, contact tracing, and vaccines for the HPV, among others. These
services are offered to uninsured and underinsured
populations at low cost.
Madam Chairman, this budget brief outlines
service demands, activity trends, and clinical workloads within the SRH services to support continued and enhanced funding. The data shows sustained high utilisation, increasing complexity in sexual health screening,
and ongoing need for family planning, pregnancy -related and cervical screening services.
Total pregnancies increased by 18 per cent in
comparison to the previous year, while 14 per cent of
pregnancies were unplanned, representing a decrease
by 8.2 percent. They remain a significant component of
service demand and underscore the ongoing need for
accessible family planning and sexual health education.
Madam Chairman, demand for family planning
services remains consistently high across all age
groups. There was a reduction of 27.4 per cent in first -
time family planning starters in 2025, but ongoing appointment volumes indicate sustained need for clinical
capacity. Teenage family planning appointments decreased by 16.5 per cent as a result of young people
living abroad for education purposes and legal restrictions around the age at which they can access the
SRH services without parental consent. However, t eenage family planning activity remains substantial, requiring continued investment in youth- friendly confidential
services.
Madam Chairman, antenatal care coverage is
an indicator of access to and use of health care during
pregnancy. The number of women attending the clinic
for a minim um of four antenatal visits decreased by
seven per cent in 2025. Efforts have been focused on
the delivery of antenatal education and antenatal yoga
classes, which provide evidence- based physical, psychological, and educational benefits that complement routine antenatal care and align well with the preventa-tive remit of SRH services. It is important for Sexual and
Reproductive Health Services to provide antenatal
classes because they deliver measurable outcomes across clinical, psychosocial, and public health de-mands. Regular antenatal education has been delivered free i n the clinic and community with 100 per cent
client satisfaction.
Having a sufficient and well -balanced quota of
midwives within SRH services is critical for safety, qual-ity, continuity, and equity of care. Seventy -eight per
cent of women booked for antenatal care had babies
born with birth rates above five pounds five ounces.
Birth weight is influenced by antenatal factors and highlights the importance of early booking for antenatal care
2144 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly and regular antenatal contacts to address modifiable
risk indicators during pregnancy.
Madam Chairman, cervical screening remains
a core preventative service. Of the 93.6 per cent of normal results, 6.4 per cent of women had abnormal results which required referral, a decrease of 1.3 per cent
of referrals in comparison to the previous year. A con-sistent proportion of abnormal results necessitate specialist referral, coordination with secondary care, and
follow -up support, all of which have staffing and administrative cost implications.
Madam Chairman, sexually transmitted infections (or STIs ) screening and laboratory activities saw
an 8.6 per cent increase year over year, driving up laboratory and staffing costs. Additionally, the rising STI screening attendance of 1,523 attendees in 2025 reflects increased clinic and community needs and ap-propriate service uptake. Moreover, the volume and diversity of laboratory investigations, representing 4,185
in total, indicate significant costs for consumables, laboratory processing, and clinical interpretations. Over
50 per cent of laboratory activity related to complex
multi -pathogen STI testing. Expanded testing aligns
with best practise guidelines but does require sustained financial support.
Madam Chairman, health promotion and education are essential to SRH services , schools , and
communities because they provide information that informs decision- making, encourages healthy behaviours, reduces stigma, and promotes mental and emo-tional well -being. Despite staff shortages, SRH services were able to contribute to a few health promotion
activities each month. Sexual health education sessions were provided in schools, on radio shows, through podcasts, workshops, career and community
health fairs, and SRH staff also supporting Fl u Express,
travel clinics, and health promotion events throughout the year.
This ends my presentation for business unit
32040, Sexual and Reproductive Health.
Madam Chairman, turning now to line item
32080, Physiotherapy, and 32120, Occupational Therapy.

Physiotherapy, 32080
Occupational Therapy, 32120

Hon. Kim N. Wilson : The 2026/27 budget estimates
for business 32080, Physiotherapy, and business unit
32120, Occupational Therapy both are found at pages
B-154 [and] represents $1,570,000 and $1,462,000 respectively. Both budget amounts have increased
22 per cent and 26 per cent respectively over the
2024/25 original estimates.
Madam Chairman, within Community Rehabilitation Services, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy aim to maximise the functional potential and independence of children with sensory motor delays and individuals with physical movement challenges while preventing avoidable injury complications and loss of
function. This rehabilitation service spans the age
spectrum and is organised into three teams : early intervention, school -based therapy , and seniors. The staff
is comprised of nine registered occupational therapists,
eight registered physiotherapists, and one coordinator
and one team administrative assistant whose services
are shared with the speech and language pathology
programme.
To strengthen Bermuda's healthcare workforce
and the programme's staffing capacity, an additional trainee post was created. The trainee posts were introduced to address persistent hard- to-fill vacancies, particular in paediatric early intervention where therapists support babies and young children with more involved
developmental and neurological needs including medically compl ex cases that require specialist therapy
skills, consistent follow -up, and close family support.
Furthermore, continued investment in professional development remains a priority with staff sup-ported in accessing both virtual and in- person training
opportunities. This ensures our clinicians remain cur-rent, competent, and confident in delivering effective,
high-quality , evidence- informed therapy services.
Madam Chairman, within the early intervention
team, dedicated specialist OTs and PTs provide early intervention for babies and young children from birth to age four at risk of developmental delays and or disability. The OT and PT early intervention service aims to
complete a full assessment of referr ed clients within 20
working days to ensure appropriate intervention is provided and to mitigate delays in functioning. Approximately 90 per cent of referrals received for PT services
and 84 per cent for OT serv ices were assessed within
the established time frame this fiscal year, while an estimated 91 per cent of clients on the PT caseload and
95 per cent of clients on the OT caseload were making
steady progress towards the established goals.
Madam Chairman, assessment clinics are held
weekly to promptly identify and address sensory motor
delays in babies and young children, thereby enhancing their functional potential and quality of life. These
clinics reduce waiting times by expediting children's
transition from referral to assessment and by providing
a clear plan for support. In addition, parent and multidisciplinary training sessions have been delivered
throughout the year helping children get the right support early and reducing both the number of children
needing school -based therapy and the intensity of services required later.
Madam Chairman, the school -based paediatric
therapy team aims to increase early recognition of sensory motor and developmental delays and to provide a
more equitable service for school -aged children
throughout the year, not just during school terms. The OT and PT school -based service aims to complete a
full assessment of referred clients within 20 working days. Approximately 79 per cent of referrals received
for PT services and 68 for OT services were assessed


Bermuda House of Assembly within the established time frame , and an estimated
85 per cent of school -aged clients on PT caseload and
84 per cent on OT caseload were progressing towards
the established goals.
The OT team experienced a period of reduced
staffing that affected assessment timelines. However,
through strong coordination and prioritisation, the team
maintained service impact through consultation, targeted intervention blocks, and practical home and
classroom programmes delivered with parents, caregivers, and education staff.
During the fiscal year, the team successfully
conducted sensory motor screenings for each child entering primary one in the government school system.
Additionally, during school breaks, therapy services were extended to summer camps and in the homes of
school -aged children with complex medical or physical
needs. These extended services helped to preserve
gains made during the school year, reduce the ris k of
regression, and maintain participation in daily routines.
Madam Chairman, the OT and PT seniors -
based therapy team aims to support clients in remaining as independent as possible in their own homes. The
seniors team conducts home safety and falls risk assessments for all eligible seniors referred, helping to re-duce falls at home, prevent injury, and avoid unnecessary hospital visits. In this reporting period, client and
caregiver training was provided to maximise function
and promote ageing in place. In addition, several health
promotion and education activities w ere conducted to
further promote healthy ageing in our community.
The OT and PT seniors -based therapy team
aims to support clients in remaining as independent as
possible in their own homes. The seniors team con-ducts home safety and falls risk assessments for all eligible seniors referred, helping to reduce falls at home, prevent injury, and avoid unnecessary hospital visits. In this reporting period, client and caregiver training was
provided to maximise function and promote ageing in
place. In addition, several health promotion and education activities were conducted to further promote
healthy ageing in our community.
The OT and PT seniors -based service aims to
complete a full assessment of referred clients within 20 working days. Approximately 93 per cent of referrals received for PT services and 91 per cent for OT services
were assessed within the established time frame, and an estimated 92 per cent of clients on PT caseload and
95 per cent on OT caseload were progressing towards
established goals.
This ends my presentation on business units
3208 0, Physiotherapy, and 32120, O ccupational Therapy.

Clinical Laboratory, 32090

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now, Madam Chairman,
to line item 32090, Clinical Laboratory , the 20 26/27
budget estimate for the clinical laboratory listed at business unit 32090 can be found at page B -154. And
it represents the value of $769,000. This budget re-flects the Bermuda Government 's clinical laboratory, or
the BGCL, which is registered and approved to operate by the Bermuda Health Council. The 14 per cent
budget decrease is due to staffing adjustments.
Madam Chairman, the clinical laboratory is responsible for diagnostic testing, supporting pro-grammes within the government clinic s across the Island. The primary clinic, which is the Hamilton Health
Centre, requires testing for their diverse programmes such as the Maternal Health and Family Planning, the
Communicable Disease Clinic, the Adult Health Programme, Child Health, and Oral Health. The clinical laboratory also serves as the public health laboratory for
Bermuda, assisting with outbreak investigations and
public health emergencies.
In the 2026/27 budget year, the BGCL aims to
adopt a One Health approach, which is recommended
by the World Health Organi zation. The One Health approach combines humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment, all of which are
closely linked and interdependent. The Bermuda Government clinical laboratory plans on expanding testing
for veterinar y and environmental surveillance for the
2026/27 budget year. Additionally, wastewater surveillance remains a priority for 2026/27 as this can pr ovide
early warnings of potential public health threats that require action. The Bermuda Government Clinical Laboratory will continue to expand capacity in antimicrobial
resistance surveillance using culture, PCR, and whole
genomic sequencing.
Laboratory staff, Madam Chairman, remain
compliant with the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority and
International Air Transport Association, or IATA, by
maintaining certification to transport infectious shipments by air, sea, and cargo to the Caribbean Public
Health Agency laboratory or to the UK Health Security
Agency.
Currently, the Bermuda Government clinical laboratory provides specimen referrals for highly infectious organisms that cannot be tested locally. The
BGCL aims to increase the local capacity for disease
detection and will continue to rely on assigned reference laboratories if there are limitations with local testing capacity. Moreover, the BGCL will remain intentional with using whole genomic sequencing, developing a system for surveillance, testing pathogens of high
priority, and implement ing surveillance o f antimicrobial
resistance.
The BGCL maintains accreditation standards
under the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation, or
COLA, and upholds registration requirements by the Bermuda Health Council. The BGCL currently provides
clinical chemistry, haematology, serology and immunology, microbiology, and molecular diagnostics using
a robust quality ass urance system.

[Inaudible interjection]
2146 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Sorry.

Members, we are in Committee of Supply on Heads 21, 22, 24, and 91 u nder the Ministry of
Health, and the Minister is going to resume.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you.
PCR testing for sexually transmitted infections
such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia remain to be the
gold standard for sexually transmitted infections identification. During the 2025/ 26 budget year, the laboratory
expanded the routine STI screening panel to include
[Mycoplasma] genit alium and Trichomonas vaginalis
using PCR.

Yes, trichomoniasis , I believe it is.
Okay.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: —now allows both males and females to be screened as screening in previous years
was limited to females only.
Thank you, Madam Chairman.
BGCL has technological advances such as
real-time PCR and will in the future have the capacity
to perform whole genomic sequencing benefiting the
several sectors within health. The BGCL now offers
real-time PCR for influenza A and B, providing subtyping such as H1N1 and H3 at full capacity, transitioning
from using point -of-care testing. With increased PCR
capacity, the BGCL has remained on standby for testing measles, mpox, or any other emerging threats that
can potentially be imported into Bermuda. Meanwhile, COVID -19 testing represents 1.65 per cent of the overall testing. Having local capacity to investigate public
health threats has significantly reduced the turnaround
time for case management, assisting with epidemiology
and surveillance measures.
Madam Chairman, the laboratory has performed 5,984 sexually transmitted diagnostic tests dur-ing the 2024/25 budget year, which is approximately
64 per cent of the overall diagnostic testing provided for
the government programmes. For clinical chemistry, 6.7 per cent of testing was performed, doubling the
amount of testing from the last budget year.
Madam Chairman, I am pleased to report that
the forecast performance measures were achieved.
The target goal outcome for communicable disease testing was slightly under the target goal with testing
6,196 tests. Additionally, the outcome for non- communicable disease testing has been met with 3.1 per
cent above the target goal outcome due to the testing
for the adult health programme.
As the clinical laboratory continues to expand,
the performance measures for noncommunicable dis-ease testing will also be influenced. The Government
clinical laboratory continues to enrol in proficiency test-ing as a quality assurance measure, providing competency and assessing the capacities and capabilities of all who work within the laboratory.
Madam Chairman, in budget year 20 26/27,
BGCL continues to expand testing for government pro-grammes using the c hemistry analyser and i mmunoassay analyser. The objective of expanding clinical chemistry testing is to provide diagnostic support for the adult health programme, targeting the uninsured and the underinsured. The aim is to make diagnostic testing available to all who require support in healthcare. A nd to this
end, Madam Chairman, there has been a significant increase in chemical analysis in 2025/ 26, and the laboratory will continue to expand as it is needed.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
for business unit 32090, Clinical Laboratory. Turning
now to line item 32100, Speech and Language.

Speech and Language, 32100

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, I still remain
on page B -154, and the Speech and Language Services for budget year 2026/27 represents the sum of
$2,089,000. T his represents a six per cent increase
over the 2025/ 26 original estimates accounts.
Madam Chairman, the Department of Health's
Speech and Language programme provides speech,
language, feeding or swallowing assessments, and in-tervention services across the community. When fully
staffed, the programme consists of 14 speech- language pathologists, one trainee post, and one programme coordinator. Of these, three speech- language
pathologists provide early intervention services in collaboration with the Department of Education's Child Development Programme for children from birth to age 4
or 5 years of age.
Eight speech and language pathologists are
school based, providing services across all levels of the
Bermuda government schools ages 4 through 18. One
speech- language pathologist provides services to students with special needs who attend the Dame Marjorie
Bean Hope Academy, ages 4 through 18, and one
speech and language pathologist provides services to
our adult and senior population.
Two posts were vacant in fiscal year 20 25/26,
and the recruitment drive is currently active. A recommendation has been made for the trainee to become
full-time effective [the] 1st of April 2026, leaving the
trainee post vacant to accommodate another Bermudian in the field of speech- language pathology who


Bermuda House of Assembly needs clinical experience. Following the recruitment
drive, interviews and recommendations will follow.
Madam Chairman, a combined 516 cases
were followed for intervention by S peech and Language services this year, which represents an increase
from 382 in the previous year . The caseloads vary between 45 and 65 clients per officer.
Madam Chairman, speech- language
pathologists work closely with parents, school personnel, allied health professionals, and private homes and
clinic settings to raise awareness of speech and lan-guage delays and disorders, to promote functional
communication skills, as wel l as to prevent life- threatening complications that may occur during feeding and
swallowing. The speech and language pathologist therapy services include the provision of prevention and
promotion information, screenings and assessments, cons ultations, as well as interventions. Services also
include the delivery and provision of treatment for those
identified as needing intervention.
Client improvement, that is , the effectiveness
of treatment, is measured by the reduction in the sever-ity of the communication or swallowing challenges.
Madam Chairman, this year, the waitlist numbers for early intervention services are still high, but we
are happy to report that they are lower than the last reporting period. While current programme time guidelines aim to provide an initial assessment for young chil-dren within three months of internal initial referral, the
average wait time is six months or less.
In 2025, fifty [sic] cases were referred to the
school -based programme. All students who were referred received an initial assessment within the pro-gramme's time guidelines of 35 working days. Once identified as needing services, clients are provided with
therapy interventions .
Currently, there are no school -based students
on a waitlist. Clients are reassessed on a routine basis
to assess their status and to measure progress. Services to middle and senior schools have been adapted
to be provided through a consultative model where the
therapist provides school personnel and parents with
the appropriate resources and strategies for clients with
complementary direct services.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
for business unit 32100, Speech and Language. [I am]
turning now to 32110, Nutrition .

Nutrition, 32110

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the 2026/27
budget estimates for 32100, Nutrition Services , remain
on page B -154. They were allocated for this budget
year the sum of $308,000, and this represents a
$22,000 or 8 per cent, increase over fiscal year
2025/26. This increase is justified given the high instance of diet -related disease in Bermuda. About half
of the increase is from salary uplift and regrading, and
the remainder is intended to enhance the programme. Madam Chairman, the nutrition programme
has two public health nutritionists who support government and nongovernmental organisations in promoting
healthier lifestyle behaviours and prevention of chronic
diseases through consultative nutrition services across Bermuda's population. Nutrit ion intervention programmes support the promotion of healthy dietary habits and help reduce food insecurity.
Madam Chairman, it is important to implement
a contingency plan that educates and empowers the
community to grow their own produce in the event of import disruptions. To that end, two community -focused programmes supporting this initiative are the
Bermuda Parish Gardening Competition and Grow,
Eat, Save.
Gardening programmes, Madam Chairman, including garden competitions and educational commu-nity gardens, are cost -effective health promotion initiatives that encourage increased fruit and vegetable consumption and improved health and well -being. By increasing access to fresh, affordable produce and
strengthening food and nutrition literacy, these programmes enable participants to grow and eat more
fruits and vegetables, thus increasing sustained improvements in healthy eating behaviours. These initiatives als o promote physical activity, mental well -being,
and social connection while reducing financial barriers to healthy food choices.
Through food sharing and community engagement, gardening programmes strengthen food security and health equity, offering a low -cost preventative
health investment with measurable community -level
benefits.
Madam Chairman, this year, the Ministry of
Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, expanded the Grow, Eat, Save educational programme and secured a pilot location. This initiative
supports the Department of Health's goals of scaling the programme across all parishes whilst advancing
the Ministry of Home Affairs' Affordable Bermuda
Agenda by promoting food security, healthy living, and
long-term cost -of-living interve ntions.
Madam Chairman, the PIVIO lifestyle intervention programme has demonstrated strong demand and
meaningful improvements in participant health out-comes, supporting positive changes in nutrition, physical activity, and overall well -being. Participants have reported greater awareness of healthy lifestyle practises
and increased fruit and vegetable consumption, which is reinforcing the programme's effectiveness in promoting sustainable behavioural change. However, cost and
access to healthy foods were identified as challenges
for some participants, underscoring the need for continued investment and supportive interventions to ensure equitable participation. PIVIO was offered to government employees as part of a broader employee
wellness initiative aimed at improvi ng health, fostering
long-lasting healthy habits, reducing absenteeism, and
increasing productivity. Investing in employee wellness
2148 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly strengthened the Government 's most valuable asset,
which is its workforce, whilst also contributing to improved performance, long- term cost savings, and overall organisational success.
Madam Chairman, Nutrition Services received
96 medical nutrition therapy referrals across the lifecycle. Eighty per cent of these referrals were generated
internally by the Department of Health's practitioners.
For example, the launch of the H EARTS p reventative
clinic contributed to a significant increase in referrals for
the clients served.
Nutrition counselling continues to prioritise
high-risk individuals who are uninsured or underinsured
to advance health equity. Among the clients, 72 were adults, 22 were school -age children, and two were infants . No maternity clients were referred.
Madam Chairman, Nutrition Services completed the annual inspections of both public and private
senior care homes to assess compliance with the Code
of Practi ce nutrition standards. Seventy -one per cent of
homes met the requirements for providing a nutritious
and varied diet to promote good health. Homes that
were not in compliance at the time of the inspection received lower scores and were informed accordingly.
Nutrition Services also partnered with Age Concern to
deliver educational sessions for senior care homes to
review expectations for meeting the Code of Practi ce
nutrition standards. Fifteen of the 18 homes attended,
and these sessions will be offered again to support follow-up and improved compliance.
Nutrition Services continues to support the Department of Corrections in meeting the requirements for
healthy, cost -effective meal planning. F luctuating food
costs continue to pose challenges for both senior care
homes and the Department of Corrections. Madam
Chairman, the food cost estimates, or the FCE, were
developed by Nutrition Services for the Department of Financial Assistance to estimate food card allowances
based on age, gender, sex, and daily calorie requirements. Rising cost -of-living pressures have prompted
revisions to include a separate cost for essential goods. As a result, Nutrition Services has partnered with the
Department of Financial Assistance and external consultants to facilitate this task. Additionally, monitoring of the nutrition policy, which mandates the provision of nutritious food options aligned with the Eat Well Plate
guidelines, indicat es that amongst responding schools,
91 per cent are compliant.
Madam Chairman, Nutrition Services, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, serves
as the focal lead for the Baby -friendly Hospital Initiative.
In 2025, meetings were held with King Edward VII Memorial Hospital staff to discuss implementation of the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, and this initiative
remains ongoing.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
for business unit 32110, Nutrition Services.

Adult Health, 32130 Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now to 32130, Adult
Health, I still remain on page B -156. This Adult Health
[unit] received for the 2026/27 budget $621,000. The
Adult Health programme consists of three sub- programmes
1. correctional health for medical services to inmates in correctional institutions ;
2. occupational health for the medical assessment of recruits to the uniformed services and occupational health services to government
employees in hazardous and high- risk occupations ; and
3. forensic services to the Bermuda Police Service and medical supervision of detainees in police custody.
Together, these services are integral to protecting pub-lic servants, maintaining institutional health standards, and promoting the humane treatment of individuals in
custody.
Madam Chairman, the Adult Health programme continues to play a central role in safeguarding
the well -being of individuals within Bermuda's correctional system and supporting essential public sector
workforce functions. During the 2025/ 26 budget period,
clinical demand within Westgate Correctional Facility
remained significant, with 1,314 inmate physician consultations conducted. This volume reflects both the complex health needs of the incarcerated population
and the programme's commitment to ensuring timel y
access to medical care.
Madam Chairman, a critical component to intake health management is the initial medical evaluation provided for individuals entering correctional insti-tutions. The programme maintained a strong performance in this area, with 95 per cent of all newly received inmates receiving an initial medical evaluation.
(That is the number. On intake, they receive a medical assessment.) This high completion rate underscores
the programme's effectiveness in early identification of medical, mental health, and public health risks, which
is essential for both patient care and institutional safety.
(This is for persons that are under remand.)
Beyond correctional health, the programme
also supported government operations through pre -
employment medical assessments. In the 2025/ 26 period, 125 recruitment medicals were completed, ensuring that new hires met required fitness and health
standards. These assessments helped reduce long -
term occupational health risks and contribute to a
healthier, more resilient workforce.
The programme responded to 80 callouts for
medical assessments and forensic medical examinations, reflecting its role in supporting law enforcement
and judicial processes. These services are oftentimes
sensitive and require specialised clinical expertise, further demonstrating the programme's broad operational
scope and the need for sustained investment.
This ends my presentation for business unit
32130, Adult Health.


Bermuda House of Assembly Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
for the Department of Health, Section 2201, Community Health.

Oral Health

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The third Department of Health
section that I will present, under Head 22, is Oral Health, 2202. Madam Chairman, this represents line
item 32150, Oral Health Control ; 32155, Oral Health
Administration; and 32160, Oral Health Prevention.
Madam Chairman, the 2026/27 budget estimates for p rogramme 2202, Oral Health, listed at business units 32150, 32155, and 32160 can be found on
page B -155, and that represented collectively the sum
of $1,785,000. T here are 16 FTEs in this programme.
Madam Chairman, the oral health programme
provides comprehensive public health dental services
to Bermuda's children age 0 to 18 years of age and
seniors age 65 years and older. The oral health services are based on high- quality patient -centred care,
including dental examinations, consult ations, preventative and dental hygiene appointments, as well as a
range of restorative clinical treatments, including extractions and fillings. There is a strong emphasis on
preventative care, especially for children and a dolescents , and restorative and minor surgical procedures.
Madam Chairman, oral health is not separate
from overall health. It is a critical component of it. Poor
oral health has been linked to a range of systemic con-ditions, including heart disease and diabetes. For older adults, untreated dental issues can lead to pain, nutritional deficiencies, and increased risk of chronic illness.
In children, dental probl ems can affect growth, school
performance, and self -esteem.
By providing accessible, preventative, and restorative care, the oral health p rogramme not only addresses immediate dental needs but also contributes to
better long- term health outcomes and reduces the burden on other areas of the health care system. This programme exemplifies the importance of integrated, equitable public health services by prioritising the oral
health of our youngest and oldest residents.
Madam Chairman, of utmost importance is the
need to address the personne l needs through human
resource development to assure continuity of the full
range of oral health services. Following the onboarding
of two dentists, the St. George's Dental Clinic, which
was suspended for one year, resumed in October
2024. Experience has shown that the dental officer posts are hard to fill. To ensure continuity of care during
the closure of the St. George's Clinic, patient treatments were accommodated by transferring al l support
staff to the Hamilton Health Centre.
Moving forward, it is intended that all dental assistants are cross- trained and upgraded in their skills
and knowledge base to enable them to function in any capacity as their job description dictates. T his process
of retraining has begun through the introduction of one-on-one clinical rotations, and it is also intended to introduce and reinforce changes in clinical skills, exposure
to new materials, equipment maintenance, and advances in technology. This also presents the opportunity for staff to acquaint themselves with different providers as the programme has just onboarded a third
dentist in anticipation of the reopening of the renovated
Mangrove Bay facility in the months ahead.
Madam Chairman, the final quarter of the year
saw the onboarding of two temporary relief staff members, both Bermudian, one a male dentist and one a female dentist assistant. The addition of the two officers
came at the appropriate time. The dentist has been engaged mainly to treat the population at Westgate Correctional Facility, reducing the backlog of inmates
needing dental treatment. This service has been very
successful with the experienced male dentist being
able to accomplish most of the treatment ne eds of the
population. The addition of the relief dental assistant also came in at the appropriate time, substituting for
staff on leave due to sickness and vacation. A nd both
new staff are functioning well in their positions.

I will just take two seconds to let the
listening public know in the House that we are now in
the final hour of this debate, and we are debating
Heads 21, 22, 24 and 91 under the Ministry of Health.
Minister, you may continue.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you.
Madam Chairman, the school -based programme is an essential part of oral health services.
Children in primary schools upon entering grade P1 are
examined by the school health team to obtain baseline
health status information. The d ecay ed, missing , and
filled teeth index is used during screenings to document
the oral health status of each child. Annual screening using this tool serves to observe trends and introduce
appropriate programmes to address oral disease and
maintain healthy mouths. Children who are examined
and who need urgent care are referred to the clinic or their primary dental provi der for immediate attention.
Madam Chairman, in the past, the medical and
dental teams made separate visits to the schools to
conduct screenings, gather information, and in the case of the medical team, provide other services such as immunisation. This way of operating between the medical
and dental teams often presents a distraction for the
school, students, and the curriculum itself. However,
this school year the oral health and the medical teams have collaborated to provide the health screening on
the same days and times. Through this collaborative
effort, there has been a minimisation of interruptions
and distractions of school schedules.
During the 20 25/26 school year, a total of 273
and 285 children were examined as part of the school
health assessment. Sixty -eight per cent of the children
had no active tooth decay, which resembled the 2024
experience among the same age group. Of the 36 per
2150 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly cent of children with cavities, 29, or approximately
10 per cent, had one decayed tooth. All children with
dental cavities were referred for treatment.
Madam Chairman, the Oral Health Department
spearheaded two successful community clinics in St.
George's, and I will pause to thank you for coming to
support those, Madam Chairman. Programme managers within the Department of Health supported the ef-fort, which made for a very comprehensive and holistic
delivery of services. Public support was overwhelming,
demonstrating the need for care and awareness of the services delivered at the clinic. A combined total of 180
patients in all age groups were attended to by dental,
medical, and nursing teams in a collaborative effort demonstrating the all -encompassing nature of primary
health services.
Madam Chairman, the dental team was able to
supplement services through the purchase of a mobile
dental unit, which augmented the stationary equipment
in clinics and allowed for more persons to be treated
within the allotted time. At the last outreach held in De-cember 2025, we were able to partner with the private
sector, Dr. M akanjuola, for the use of his mobile van,
which proved to be a great asset to the providers and the clients. The overflow of patients in the waiting area was able to [be] comfortably accommodated in the van
which was welcomed by all.
Madam Chairman, the Department of Health's
Oral Health services provided comprehensive dental
care through 2025, servicing a total of 5,193 patients across all age groups with a monthly average of 433 patients. Of the total number of clients served, 1,551
were children up to the age of 18 , and 965 were adults
ages 19 to 64. A nd 2,677 were seniors aged 65 years
and older. Services included preventative, restorative,
curative and rehabilitative, and follow -up care services
with a strong focus on seniors and u nderserved populations.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
for programme 2202, Oral Health.

Environmental Health, 2203

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now to the fourth programme under Head 22, which is 2203, Environmental
Health, Madam Chairman, I still remain on page B -155.
The budget for 2026/27 estimates for the programme 2203, Environmental Health, that the Department of Health listed consists of five funded business
units, including 32170 Institutional Hygiene, 32171 Public Health Nuisances, Pollution and Outbreak Control, 32175 Environmental Health Administration,
32190 Vector Control, and 32270 Occupational Safety
and Health. The combined operational programmes of
those items I just discussed represents a budget of
$4,778,000, and this represents an increase of 13 per
cent over the 2025/ 26 original estimate and incorporates an increase in recruitment for some vacant post s. The Environmental Health Programme consists of 48
full-time equivalents.
Madam Chairman, based on the long- held
principle that prevention is better than cure, the Environmental Health P rogramme delivers a broad range of
essential functions designed to protect and promote
public health. These responsibilities include regulating
business activity, conducting environmental monitoring, controlling disease vectors, enforcing public health
legislation, investigating potential offences, and offering guidance and support to both businesses and the
wider community.
Madam Chairman, the programme's remit is
extensive, covering food safety, nuisance control,
workplace safety and health, tobacco control, drinking
and bathing water quality, and housing standards. Environmental Health o fficers and v ector inspectors are
effective problem solvers whose work is vital to safeguarding the well -being of our residents and preserving
Bermuda's reputation as a safe jurisdiction for business
and tourism.
A new C hief Environmental Health Officer was
appointed in January 2025, and the programme has
entered a period of modernisation. A new case management system has already been implemented, and
in the coming year, the programme will seek to digitalise its application and inspection processes to improve efficiency and service delivery. They will also expand
their use of social media and other communications
tools to better engage with the public and the business
community, ensuring that accurate information is
shared widely and encouraging positive behaviours that protect public health.
Madam Chairman, the work carried out by environmental health officers and vector inspectors is
both varied and rewarding, touching the lives of every
Bermudian and every person who visits or works in our
Island home. To ensure the sustainability of the profession, plans are underway to support a pipeline of qual-ified Bermudian environmental health officers through
trainee posts, scholarships, and practical placement opportunities.

Institutional Hygiene, 32170
Public Health Nuisances, Pollution and
Outbreak Control, 32171
Environmental Health Administration, 32175

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Line items 32170 Institutional Hygiene; 32171 Public Health Nuisances, Pollution, and
Outbreak Control ; and 32175 Environmental Health
Administration— the 2026 /27 allocation for those line
items that I just discussed, Madam Chairman, represent $922,000, $62,000, and $1,422,000 respectively.
Madam Chairman, managing a complex mix of
reactive and proactive responsibilities, these business
units form the backbone of the Environmental Health
programme. In the year ahead, they anticipate licencing approximately 2,000 businesses. While the majority


Bermuda House of Assembly of these are expected to be food- related establishments, their remit extends far wider. It includes pest
control operators, hotels, and a range of businesses
that provide high- risk services to the public, such as tattooists, barbers, hairdressers, skin piercers, and cosmetologists.
Madam Chairman, in addition to their duty to
safeguard public health, our Environmental Health officers also play a crucial role in supporting the local
economy by offering expert advice and guidance to
business owners, helping to ensure that their opera-tions remain safe, compliant, and successful. These
same officers also respond to a wide range of environmental health complaints, including concerns related to
air quality, drinking and bathing water quality, pollution
incidence, noise, odours, and numerous other potential
nuisances. These matters are often highly emotive and
must be approached with professionalism, sensitivity,
and fairness. When left unaddressed, such issues can
significantly affect the well -being of those impacted,
making the officers' role in resolving them both es sential and deeply valued.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on business units 32170 Institutional Hygiene; 32177
Public Health Nuisances, Pollution and Outbreak Control; and 32175 Environmental Health Administration.

Vector Control, 32190

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now to 32190, still remaining on page B -155, is Vector Control. Madam
Chairman, the cost centre for Vector Control at 32190,
representing the budget for 2026/27, represents an allocation of $1,992,000.
The Vector Control p rogramme is charged with
safeguarding Bermuda from the serious public health threats posed by diseases spread by rodents and mos-quitoes. Illnesses such as l epto, which is the shortened
version, but it is l eptospirosis, dengue, and chikungunya, and Z ika present a significant risk to our island.
Even a small number of cases could place considera-ble strain on our primary and secondary healthcare services, disrupt the economy, and damage Bermuda's
hard- earned reputation on the global stage. Through
extensive surveillance and robust interventions, the
Vector Control p rogramme maintains a highly visible
and reassuring presence across our communities,
providing expert advice to residents and businesses
alike. Day in and day out, our vector inspectors are in
the field inspecting land and buildings, treating mosquito breeding sites, clearing vegetation, and baiting
and trapping rodents. The tactics, techniques, and procedures they employ reflect best practises an d are
comparable to worldwide class vector management
standards.
Madam Chairman, beyond their operational
duties, the Vector Control programme also invests in
outreach and education. Through wellness fairs, career
days, school visits, and public events, they raise awareness about the importance of controlling mos-quito and rodent populations and offer practical guidance on how every member of the public can play their
role. This vital work helps to prepare future generations
of Bermudians and builds stronger, better -informed
communities that are resilient to the risk posed by vector-borne diseases.
Madam Chairman, in the current year, Vector
Control is scheduled to receive replacement vehicles,
ensuring that inspectors have the tools they need to
carry out their duties more effectively and efficiently.
Additionally, recruitment will remain critical to the programme's continued success, particularly as several
long-serving vector inspectors are due to retire after
many years of dedicated service to Bermuda.
Madam Chairman, modernisation efforts will
also continue at pace. Vector inspectors are already
equipped with tablets to support field work, streamlining
data collection, enhancing operational efficiency, and
improving the quality of service provided to the public.
These investments, both in people and in technology, will strengthen Bermuda's capacity to manage vector -
borne threats and protect the health of our communities.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on the business unit 32190, Vector Control.

Occupational Safety and Health, 32270

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now to 32270, Occupational Safety and Health, Madam Chairman, Occupational Safety and Health was allocated $380,000 for the
2026/27 budget. As Bermuda's regulator for workplace
safety and health, this unit carries a crucial mandate to
conduct inspections across workplaces Island- wide, investigate serious workplace accidents, and advances
the well -being of our workplace and workforce t hrough
the development of modern policy standards and pro-cedures.
Madam Chairman, in September 2025, a new
safety and health inspector was welcomed to the service. His interventions have already produced tangible
improvements in workplaces that might otherwise have gone unaddressed. Over the past year, the business
unit also facilitated additional employee asbestos training programmes, which is an important step given the
scale of ongoing development across the Island. Additionally, for the first time, businesses were able to submit their annual accident data online, mak ing compliance both more efficient and more accessible.
Madam Chairman, looking ahead, work is underway to refresh the Advisory Council for Safety and
Health, ensuring it remains both effective and fully representative of Bermuda's evolving workforce. Equally,
accelerating the ticketing of safety and health offences
will rema in a priority in fiscal year 2026/27, strengthening compliance and supporting safer working environ-ments across the Island.
2152 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Finally, recruitment for an additional safety and
health inspector will take place in the year ahead. This
appointment will effectively double capacity to safeguard Bermuda's workers, enhancing the unit's ability
to prevent harm, uphold standards, and champion safe and healthy workplaces for all.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on the business unit 32270 Occupational Safety and
Health. And this ends my presentation for programme
2203, Environmental Health.

Central Government Laboratory, 2204

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The fifth section I will present under H ead 22 is the Central Government Laboratory.
Madam Chairman. T he 2026 . . . I am sorry ; I am at
Head 2204. And the . . . I still remain on page B -155.
The Department of Health's programme Central Laboratory consists of business units 32200 Forensic Analysis and 3222 0 Water and Food Analysis. The
estimates for the business units are $1,268,000 and $700,000 respectively for 2026/27. This represents a
19 per cent and 17 per cent increase respectively from
the 20 25/26 budget. The drivers for these increases are
uplifts in salaries, increased callout remuneration for fast-tracked cases, additional funds for laboratory supplies and lab gases, import duties, preventative mainte-nance contracts for equipment, and increased electric-ity bills. The Central Government Laboratory p rogramme consists of nine full -time equivalents.

Forensic Analysis , 32200
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The Forensic Analysis programme performs seized drug analysis and toxicology
analysis. In 2025, the total number of exhibits that were processed was 6,645. The laboratory continues to manage very large case submissions with the largest
ones being intercepted via the airport, cruise ships, and
washing up along our sho re lines. The drugs identified
were cannabis and cannabis products totalling 628 kil-ogrammes, cocaine totalling 52 kilogrammes with an
average purity of 61 percent, and one k ilogramme of
MDMA, also known as Ecs tasy. Diamorphine or heroin
submissions have decreased and are being replaced by the more dangerous drugs such as fentanyl and pink
cocaine, which consist of MDMA, which is ecstasy, and
ketamine mixture. Most worrying was the first submission to the laboratory of carfentanil, which is a compound that was developed as a tranquillizer for large animals such as elephants and has not been approved
for human use. It is 100 times more potent than fentanyl
and carries a very high risk of overdose and death
when taken.
The laboratory continues to receive submissions of these dangerous compounds, confirming that the drug use landscape in Bermuda is changing. There
is a need to maintain and keep abreast with the analytical equipment required to correctly identify these substances. Many pieces of the current equipment are
nearing their 15- year life expectancy and require replacing. Equipment that is requiring imminent replacement includes the high- performance liquid chromatography machine and the Fourier transform infrared machine.
Toxicology analysis [is] also performed on coroner's cases, cases of driving under the influence, and
urine analysis for stakeholder agencies. The compounds that are routinely tested are for common drugs
of abuse in Bermuda, which include cannabis, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and fentanyl. T here continues to be a
steady year -on-year increase in cases submitted to the
laboratory , and the previous year has been no different.
The laboratory processes 367 cases as noted in the
performance measures. Fifty-four cases have been
processed from the previous backlog with 156 that are
being worked on. The drug submissions are now being
reflected in the toxicology case results , and there were
three toxicology cases that recorded fentanyl at fatal
levels. I am going to repeat that. [There were] t hree toxicology cases that recorded fentanyl at fatal levels this
last year.
The increase in cases is requiring a marked increase in laboratory supplies and maintenance of analytical equipment. There is also a need for sustainable
human resources as this area is very technically spe-cialised. And in this regard, the laboratory has hired two
Bermudian scientists —one as a bursary student and
one as a trainee. Both students are following a trainee
path that will contribute to the sustainability of the laboratory. Nevertheless, there is still the need to engage
a dedicated toxicologist and a further trainee to ensure
successful succession planning in this technically specialised area. Additionally, the organisational structure
and staff in the lab are being reviewed to ensure [there
are] entry -level positions for Bermudian scientists with
clear growth and succession pathways.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
for business unit 32200 Forensic Analysis.

Water and Food Analysis, 32220

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The Water and Food Analysis
programme performs analytical testing of potable
(drinking ) and nonpotable water samples, dairy products, and food. It is primarily a laboratory support service to the Environmental Health programme with the
results used to proactively identify bacteriological and
chemical risks in both human and animal health. It is
through this collaboration that the Department of Health maintains a low incidence of water and food- borne diseases.
Potable drinking water analysis includes samples from Works and Engineering, Watlington Water,
ROCON Ltd., L.F. Wade International Airport, hotels,
private dwellings, restaurants, and care facilities. Nonpotable water samples include seawater, [sewage]
effluent, and water from animal habitats.


Bermuda House of Assembly There w as a total of 4,719 water samples
tested during this reporting period, less than 100 samples tested compared to the previous year. This positively signals that less follow -up testing was required
and guidance to the public was brought to bear. The
affordabil ity of quality water testing undertaken by this
programme allows a substantive savings to the public
when compared to private entities. It is noteworthy that
the water quality of our main bathing beaches contin-ues to meet the United States Environmental Pr otection Agency's guideline value every week through our
routine seawater testing.
Local milk samples are now being analysed bimonthly to determine whether they meet legislated lim-its as set out in the Public Health (Milk and Dairy farm)
Regulations 1952. Milk samples that do not meet the legislated limits cannot be used for supply and are re-ferred to the government 's veterinary for assistance
and intervention.
Madam Chairman, this programme continues
to excel with respect to its performance measures. Turnaround times of 5 or 10 days for disseminating water, dairy, and food testing results were achieved 99 per
cent of the time, and the programme is on target to accomplish the same for the upcoming year. Achieving
short turnaround times affords timely intervention and
remediation.
As indicated in section B -163 of the B udget
Book, there were fewer dairy samples analysed, and
this decline was due to the shortage in human re-sources. The number of food samples tested remains low as Bermuda continues to maintain a low instance
of foodborne disease. Ninety -one per cent of external
quality assessment scores met the international standards, demonstrating the high standards to which our
team produces results.
The World Health Organi zation recommends
that governments ban the production and use of partially hydrogenated oils , or PHOs , as an ingredient in
food products. Testing and enforcing compliance with
policies is critical to maximising and sustaining health
benefits , and to this end, the Water and Food Analysis
programme is working diligently towards building local
laboratory capacity to test food for partially hydrogen hydrogenated oils . Our goal is to have testing capacity
in situ by May 2026. A legislative order to ban partially
hydrogenated oils in food in Bermuda and a communi-cation plan for various stak eholders is imminent. This
project is supported by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency.
Madam Chairman, lastly, this programme is
collaborated with the Bermuda g overnment clinical lab,
Department of Environmental and Natural Resources ,
and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer to test for
Salmonella Mississippi and avian flu in our local feral
chicken population. Our goal is to have tested 100 feral chickens by the end of March 2026 for both microorganisms. Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
for business unit 32220 Water and Food Analysis. This
ends my presentation for p rogramme 2204 Clinical
Lab.

Capital Development
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Capital Development is found at
page C -5. For 2026/27, the Department of Health will
receive $2,040,000, and allocations have been made
for the Sylvia Richardson Care Facility in the amount of
$450,000, the refurbishment of parish clinics to the
amount of $890,000, and Lefroy House Care Commu-nity in the amount of $500,000, with $200,000 for minor
works expense incurred for the repair and maintenance of the Department of Health facilities.

Capital Development Acquisitions
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The Capital Development estimates for the Department of Health [are] found at page
C-12. It totals $43,000, and that's for Lefroy House f urnishings.
Madam Chairman, that concludes my presentation for Head 22, Department of Health.
Madam Chairman, you would have heard what
I said when I started this afternoon with respect to the
time constraints. I am looking, and we have about,
what, 20 minutes left?

You will have to be really fast.

HEAD 24— HOSPITALS
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, I am pleased
to present the budget for Head 24, Hospitals, found on page B -166– B-167 of the B udget Book.
Madam Chairman, the mission of the Bermuda
Hospitals Board [BHB] is to provide safe, high- quality
hospital care delivered efficiently and aligned with Ber-muda's evolving health financing framework.
Madam Chairman, Bermuda Hospitals Board
delivers emergency, critical care, acute care, chronic care, long- term care, learning disability, substance
abuse, and mental health services.
You will note that the Honourable Member that
sits opposite did nod for me to go ahead and continue.

Yes.

2154 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Kim N. Wilson: BHB is the only provider of 24hour healthcare services in Bermuda, seven days per
week. BHB services are delivered from the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, the Mid- Atlantic Wellness
Institute, and the Lam b Foggo Urgent Care Centre, as
well as various group homes and community settings.
BHB serves Bermuda's resident population as well as
the many visitors who come to the Island each year.
BHB has the second largest number of employees in
Bermuda, with about 1,600 full-time staff and 2 00 oncall and locum staff.
BHB's mandate is set out in the Bermuda Hospitals Board Act 1970 and its amendments. The Act de-fines what services BHB is required to offer, and the
only services provided outside of that mandate are
long-term care and intellectual disability services,
which are delivered by BHB and directed by the Ministry of Health.

General —2401
King Edward VII Memorial, 34000
Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute, 34010

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, a total of
$211,146,000 has been allocated for Head 24 Hospitals for 2026/27, which represents an increase of
19 per cent or $34,005 ,000 over the budget of the previous year. This constitutes 70 per cent of the total
budget allocated to the Ministry of Health for 2026/27,
compared to 72 per cent of last year's budget.

Grants and Contributions

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: [The] Head 24 budget comprises
a hospital patient subsidy in the amount of $112 million
for youth, the aged, and indigent. BHB further receives
$55,550,000 for payment for outstanding debt, and this allocation will support the BHB in meeting time- bound
statutory , contractual , and operational obligations as
well as address its immediate cash flow pressures.
In addition, the BHB has been allocated
$937,000 in operational grants for 2026/27. This allocation includes support for salary and expenses of the
BHB tumour registry in the amount of $143,000 and funding to support costs associated with the ambulance
service from the Lamb Foggo Centre. Of the total expenditure estimate for Head 24, [a] $42,161,000 allocation was made for the Mid- Atlantic Wellness Institute,
or MWI, for its operational expenses, which is equivalent to last year.

Revenue
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, [for] l ine item
2401 —General, 34000 King Edward [VII] Memorial,
and 34010 Mid- Atlantic Wellness Institute r evenue,
Madam Chairman, BHB receives funds from
the following sources : one, the Ministry of Health's
budget, which for the upcoming fiscal year amounts to $211,146,000; a fixed payment from the Mutual Reinsurance Fun d [MRF] for all services included under the
Standard Health Benefi t [SHB] since BHB's funding
model was changed to a block grant in June of 2019.
This portion of BHB revenue is not a budgeted line item in the Budget Book, but it is a significant portion of
BHB's overall revenue. For the fiscal year, total funds
from the MRF for SHB services are budgeted at
$172,800, 000, which represents a slight increase compared to the previous year. The overall revenue funding basis for MRF and government funding between 2019 and 2026 has been relatively flat and has formed over
90 per cent of BHB's total revenue.
Madam Chairman, out-of-pocket costs paid by
individuals who do not have insurance and non- residents who need urgent or emergency health care services while on Island —this comprised about 4 per cent
of BHB's total revenue in the last fiscal year. This revenue is expected to grow further this fiscal year given the
300 per cent fee adjustment for inpatient reimbursement rates. There is also a short list of services under
[section] 4b of the fee schedule of BHB, which allows
BHB to charge for such things as specialist services like
oncology.
Madam Chairman, donations through the Bermuda Hospitals Board Charitable Foundation totalled
$400,000 in fiscal year 2025/26. A nd the Hospital Auxiliary of Bermuda has also allocated $400,000 for BHB
in the upcoming fiscal year.

Financial Impact —Expenditure and R evenue
Overview

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, several factors including high medical inflation have contributed to
the significant financial strain for BHB. BHB has no
cash reserves and owes $55 million—$13 million in
overdraft and $42 million in loans . BHB is currently
maximising utilisation of its credit facilities, which is used for operational expenses month to month, and
does not have cash for major projects. By the end of 2025, BHB had recorded a net loss of $15,200,000, and
this is, however, $10,007,000 better than the projected
loss of $25 million due to cost savings and government concessions. Government concessions amounted to
approximately $7,200,000.

[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes. By 2025.
Net revenue is slightly above budget by
$1,800,000, and expenses are $9,000,000, or 3 per
cent, below budget. BHB is looking to find different revenue opportunities outside of the government funding
and is hopeful that alternatives will materialise in the
next fiscal year. BHB will also seek to introduce limited
charges for services where the costs are driven by ex-ternal local forces, international markets, and overseas
vendors, for example specialist drugs and medical


Bermuda House of Assembly supplies, and when the activity is directed by external
providers.
Madam Chairman, regarding the auditing process, BHB has audited financial statements now up until 2023, and all audits have been unqualified. The 2021, 2022, and 2023 annual reports have been submitted to this Honourable House and p ublished, and
the auditing process for the financial statements for the
2024 fiscal year will be completed this year . Work on
the 2025 fiscal year audit is currently underway, and the BHB is expected to be in compliance with audit re-porting going forward.

Investments in Upgrades and I mprovements : Clinical
and Operational Improvements.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, investments
in repairs, maintenance, and upgrades have been limited to only what is essential. This ensures th e basic
safety of equipment , technology , and the facility and
ensures BHB keeps pace with international standards
of care but does not allow for more proactive activity
and planning. Nevertheless, despite a financially pressured year, BHB has continued to focus its vision on
pursuing excellence through improvement to make Bermuda proud.
Madam Chairman, in March 2025, BHB announced a replacement and upgrade programme for its diagnostic imaging equipment. Throughout the year,
nearly all of its ageing equipment has been replaced
and upgraded. The $12 million, five-year investment ,
includes a comprehensive package of replacements,
upgrades, installations, and ongoing services. Modalities replaced and upgraded under the programme so far include X-ray, CT, MRI, nuclear imaging, and ultrasound at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. The X-ray
equipment at the urgent care centre is currently in the
process of being replaced and will reopen in March 26.
As the only 24/ 7 emergency diagnostic service
in Bermuda, BHB sees some of the most complex illnesses and diseases on Island. Such patients require
the best equipment with the best possible quality images. The new equipment is faster and uses less contrast and radiation, which are important for patient
safety and well -being. This upgrade project means
BHB has the safest, most advanced equipment in Bermuda for its patients.

Sterile Processing and D epartment Upgrade

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The Bermuda Hospitals Board
successfully completed its $4,500,000 sterile processing department upgrade project in August 2025.
Work included the installation of state- of-the-art washers and sterilisers, infrastructure modernisation, and
new flooring and furniture, ensuring safer, more reliable services with expanded capacity. This investment directly addressed the risk of ageing s terile processing
equipment and infrastructure, much of which was over 15 years old. Sterile processing is critical for surgical
safety and sterilis ing vital equipment and tools used
across the hospital.

New Hip Replacement Procedure

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, starting at the
beginning of last year, the BHB became part of the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration's clinical study for a new
orthopaedic implant hip replacement procedure. The
Polymotion Hip Resurfacing [Device] is a new hip replacement device that will be used in men and women
under the age of 65 as part of a clinical study. The first
hip replacement surgeries using the polymotion implant
took place in KEMH in January of 2025. Over 200 patients are expected to be enrolled in the study, which will run for at least two years. About 20 Bermudians in total are expected to be enrol led in the study.

Launch of N ew Human R esources and
Payroll Systems
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, BHB rolled
out new payroll and human resource systems this year as the previously used systems were no longer supported by the vendor. The four -year implementation
process has a cost of about $5 million. There are future
phases to this project, but the main implementation is
complete.

Digital Health

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The National Early Warning
Score [2], or NEWS2, is a standardised tool used in
hospitals to identify and respond to patients who are at
risk of clinical deterioration. NEWS2 helps in the early
identification of patients who are becoming critically ill.
As an early warning dashboard in P EARL , the electronic medical record system, [it] was formally launched
in 2025 and is currently in use. Based on clinician feedback, BHB is currently modifying P EARL to make the
NEWS2 score available within patient charts. There are
several other updates to P EARL , including a clinical AI
digital assistant, which was implemented in P EARL as
an artificial intelligence scribe for physicians.
BHB also rolled out the physician mobility application, which allows physicians to access P EARL
from their mobile devices. This speeds up and provides better access to physicians when off site and on call.
Finally, the data lake project, which allows for
the storage of data from various sources, including da-tabases, logs, and social media images and video to be
stored, has continued. A nd this project picked up at the
end of 2025 and will continue until the upcoming fiscal
year.
Madam Chairman, 24 new medical administration carts [MAC] , also known as workstations on
wheels, were purchased for inpatient units at BHB at a
cost of $250,000. MACs are mobile workstations and
2156 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly used to carry medication , supplies , and a computer
workstation, allowing for the update and access to patient electronic medical records on P EARL at the bedside. The new units have a longer battery life and are more ergonomic than the previous units that were pur-chased about 15 years ago.
Madam Chairman, the renovation of Keepers
Cottage was completed this year costing $1,150,000. The renovation of this standalone building at MWI's site
was required as the building was ageing and the facility needed to be made appropriate for intellectual disability clients with behavioural issues. The first client has already moved in.
The demolition of Archl yn Villa is scheduled for
March 2026. Although it was a historic building, it ha d
fallen into such disrepair that it could not be maintained.
The building was not only a safety hazard but also det-rimental to the neighbouring properties and an eyesore
for neighbours. BHB retains ownership of the site and
is hopeful that it will be the site for future staff accommodations. BHB was advised of the retention of some elements from the building, including a plaque and tiles
that are of historic significance.

Community Outreach
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, this past fiscal
year, BHB had a presence at numerous health fairs,
provided community education presentations, and offered training and screening. The mental health services have been particularly active, making presenta-tions, underscoring regular interv iews, and attending
fairs to help reduce stigma and share information about mental health and the services available for those in need of them. Moreover, the MindFrame PhotoVoice
exhibit took place in September 20 25, helping to foster
understanding and insight into the people who use MWI services through art, photography, and poetry.
Madam Chairman, in September ’s Recovery
Month, Turning Point undertook interviews with clients
telling their stories, and that had led to a purple sock
day in honour of all persons recovering from addiction.
During Stroke Week, along with education
around stroke awareness, free screening was also offered in partnership with the Bermuda Diabetes Association and Evolution Healing Centre. And BHB has
supported the Evolution s urvey of stroke survivors to
help gather data on rehabilitation experience in order to
identify service gaps, unmet needs, and improve care.
Regarding charity, the BHB made a medical
supply donation of sterile, single- use needles, gloves,
masks, surgical gowns, and coveralls to Jamaica following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa.
The supplies went to help equip Black River Hospital,
which is located in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica.

Performance
Quality Audit and I mprovements
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, in the previous fiscal year and as part of the Johns Hopkins Medi-cal International L LC clinical affiliation agreement contract, BHB u nderweight went a quality audit. BHB's external measure of quality is usually through accrediting bodies, but there are also monthly quality metrics that
are reviewed by leadership and the board from hand
hygiene to falls and pressure injuries. Improving t hese
metrics and meeting international benchmarks is a con-stant driver, and to facilitate this process, Johns Hopkins sent hospital quality specialists from its own net-work to work with BHB. This work has begun, and BHB
not only shares its results with Johns Hopkins but also
is updating how it shares its metrics internally. Subsequently, action plans are drafted and implemented to
address any of the areas that need improvement.

Greenl ight Procedure for P rostate Hyperplas ia
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Nearly two years ago, BHB introduced green light laser prostatectomies through the kind donations f rom Argus and Chubb through the Bermuda Hospital s Charitable Foundation. Used to treat
benign prostatic hyperplas ia, a common condition affecting men as they age, this treatment means men no longer require a surgical intervention, including a hospital stay after treatment. Data released this year shows that in the first 18 months after it was established, 46 men underw ent the green light pr ocedure,
and none needed an overnight admission. This translates to safer, faster recoveries and freed up hospital capacity. In fact, the new procedure avoided about 138
patient days, which are disruptive to patients' lives and costly to the healthcare system. Financially, this meant
BHB avoided about $3 70,000 of inpatient costs, reduced nursing demands, and auxiliary services resulted in additional savings.

Emergency Department Performance

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, as we continue the presentation of Head 24 Hospitals, it is important that we speak candidly about one of the most
significant operational and financial pressures facing
our health system, and that is the ongoing strain on the emergency department at the Bermuda Hospitals
Board.
This year has been extremely challenging for
the emergency department. A high number of medically
fit for discharge patients at King Edward VII Memorial
Hospital has caused long wait times for patients await-ing admission to inpatient units. Those awaiting beds
remain in the emergency department and in turn, the
emergency department itself becomes filled beyond capacity. This is not merely an operational issue, it is an
ongoing matter that affects parents, families, patients,
healthcare workers, and the sust ainability of our
healthcare system. Misuse of the emergency department at King Edward VII Hospital is contributing


Bermuda House of Assembly significantly to overcrowding, placing pressure on the
hospital's ability to deliver timely, high- quality care. The
emergency department is designed for urgent, life- saving care for serious illness and injury requiring immediate intervention. However, the increasing use of emergency services for non- urgent matters contributes to
longer wait times, inefficiencies, and delays for those
who genuinely require acute medical attention.
Recent data shows that acute hospital beds
are occupied by medically fit for discharge patients for
an average of 49 days, and in some cases, more than
300 days. This creates system- wide blockages. It prevents incoming emergency patients from accessing
beds, limits surge capacity in the event of major incidents, and delays elective surgeries. From a budgetary
perspective, this represents a high- cost use of acute
hospital resources for care that could and should be delivered in more appropriate, lower -cost community
settings.
This is not about assigning blame; it is about
fairness, efficiency, and responsible stewardship of public funds. There are complex social and financial
factors that influence when and where people seek
care, and we recognise that this is a reality. However,
we must also recognise the broader implications for the
cost and efficiency of the health system. To ensure the
emergency department operates within its mandate of
acute care, it is critical that non- emergency conditions
are directed to general pr actitioners or urgent care facilities. Appropriate use of care setting improves patient experiences, whilst preserving hospital capacity.
The government investment alone cannot resolve this issue. Partnership is essential. Families must remain engaged with the loved ones who are admitted and collect them promptly when medically cleared.
Homes must be prepared where appropriate. And necessary financial assistance for long- term care applications must be pursued by families in a timely manner.
And where private resources exist, they should be utilised responsibly, rather than defaulting to the hospital
for extended stays. Care homes and communit y providers must also play their role by avoiding unnecessary transfers to the emergency department for nonemergent matters, and by accepting residents back promptly once medically cleared. And as a community,
we must all work together to protect the acute hospital
capacity for true emergencies.

Members, we have about 11 minutes
remaining.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Do you want me to keep going?

[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Do you want —

[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Oh. Okay. Do you want me to
do? Will I get to human resources? Okay. Or do I . . . I
do not mind pausing now. It is up to you.

[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Keep going?

[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Okay. Okay.
Despite this reality, outside of patients waiting
for an inpatient bed, the majority of people are seen and
discharged from the ED faster than international benchmarks. This was highlighted in performance data collected and collated as part of the Emergency Services
Day in May 2025.
Furthermore, between April 20 24 and March
2025, the Emergency Department recorded approximately 29,105 visits involving about 18,123 individuals,
96 per cent of whom were Bermuda residents. Among
them, 1,188 patients presented with life- threatening
conditions such as heart attacks, major trauma, or severe respiratory distress that required immediate highpriority care.
Madam Chair man, about 15,000 other attendances involved urgent but not immediately dangerous conditions , which still required significant resources
such as tests, imaging, and consultations to diagnose
and manage. Despite the high volume, the Emergency
Department team consistently delivered timely care.
The median time from arrival to triage, which is the in itial nurse assessment, was 14 minutes . And patients
who did not require admission typically spent around three hours and eight minutes from registration to treatment . About 12 per cent of patients were admitted to
the hospital for further care, while the remainder were safely treated and discharged. It should be noted that
internationally, most public emergency departments
aim to keep the median time between registration and
discharge w ithin four hours.
While this performance is commendable, it
should be noted that just under half of these patients
are in the lowest two levels of acuity, meaning they
have conditions or injuries that do not require emer-gency care. These patients should have been seen by
their family doctor or, if it is the weekend, go to the
Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre or other community
urgent care centres.
Madam Chair man, keeping patients informed
has been a key focus for the BHB [Bermuda Hospitals
Board] . Patients in the waiting room can now see a
large display that includes the wait times. It also advises how many low, medium, and critical care patients
there are and how many are waiting in the department
for a bed. A KEMH [King Edward VII Memorial Hospital]
performance data snapshot report is also published
every month on the BHB's website statistics page with
2158 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly a day -by-day summary of wait times, admissions, outpatients appointments and surgeries.

Human Resources

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Pay. Madam Chair man, as a
matter of public record, increases in the cost -of-living
increases are putting salary budgets under pressure.
So, in April 2025, the Bermuda Industrial Union [BIU]
staff received a 4 per cent salary [increase] and related
retroactive payments. The BHB and BIU look forward
to completing negotiations for the new collective bargaining agreement effective the 1st of October 2025.
Additionally, the Bermuda Public Services Union [BPSU] and the BHB agreed on a cost -of-living adjustment, or COLA, from 1st of April 2022 to the 31st of
March 2028. And subsequently, the BPSU staff were
given an 18.23 per cent increase, bringing wages in line
with COLA from their last increase in 2018 to the 2025
levels and maintaining COLA increases throughout
2028. BPSU nurse employees will receive back pay in the total of $38 million , supported by the Government,
and will be paid in two instalments of $19 million in January and April of this year.
Notably, there are other groups including physicians and directors who also have not had a pay increase, some since before 2018 . And BHB is working
on a process to review salaries for these groups and
the BIU negotiations are also underway for the current
three- year period and should conclude in this fiscal
year.

Recruitment

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Real quickly on recruitment , attracting and retaining local and global professionals re-mains a key focus for the BHB , and this is most keenly
felt in the nursing workforce. As you know, Madam
Chair man, we have discussed that there are worldwide
shortages of healthcare professionals, not least of
which are nurses, and they will continue their intensive
global search. It is hoped that BPSU salary increases
will help in attracting staff . And their vacancy rate currently is at 12 per cent , which is slightly above its 10 per
cent target, and this includes critical areas, especially
nurses that remain a high focus , as globally they are,
like I said, in short [er] supply [than] nurses, general registered nurses , such as surgical and oncology nurses.
Madam Chair man, how many minutes do I
have?

You have six minutes.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the Bermuda
Hospitals Board employs 45 local students who were selected from 141 applicants . And they are between
the ages of 20 and 29 and are studying in the
healthcare field or related fields during the summer of
2025. Following the successful partnership with
BHB's Intellectual Disability Programme in the previous
year, BHB also allowed five of their clients to be part of
a rotation for the summer student programme, providing these promising young people with an equal oppor-tunity to be acquainted with and gain workforce experience.
Madam Chair man, I do have more to do with
respect to BHB, and I have not even touched Head 91.
Should I pause?

I recognise the member from constituency 12. Member, you have the floor.
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Thank you very much.
I would like to just essentially close out by saying that I have been doing this for quite some time now,
and this budget brief for H ealth was quite extensive. It
is probably one of the most detailed that I have heard
in the last 15 years, so I will give the Ministry and its
team huge accolades.
I did have, like, about 175 questions.

Well, that would have taken, what,
eight hours within itself, right?
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Taken a whole notepad.
However, I will say this : Because of the detail
of the Minister and her team, a lot of those questions


Bermuda House of Assembly were actually answered. But one of the concerns that I
do have, and I will go to [page] B-150, from [page] B149 to [page] B-150.
It appears to me that we really do have a challenge for the H ealth Ministry . All of the good that is being done . . . I recognise also that it seems that the pain
that our people are feeling within this industry continues
to get louder and louder, and it almost feels like there
needs to be another department that is helping pull this
all together.
As I listened to the M inister and the numbers in
the debate, throughout every Head the revised
amounts are hugely different than the original amounts ,
and the amount for 2025 /26 original amount, and then
for the estimate d amount. And so, there are these variances that I wanted to get into, and I will ask the M inister on the side for some of them that are more dramatic than others.
So, I guess my question really centres around
these increases around Universal Health [Coverage] ,
and how do we get there. And the question really is,
phase one. We keep hearing about finalising phase
one, but we are still a long way away from getting to
where it is that we need to be.
Has the M inistry considered that until we get to
this long -term phase, have they considered and will
they consider look ing at how we can spend monies on
insuring the uninsured during this period of time until we get to the Universal Health [Coverage] ? Have they
considered it? Will they consider it? Because there are
far too many people since 2010 /11, when we are talking about Universal Health [Coverage] , who are still not
insured. And we could be spending a lot of that money
right now insuring these people to ensure that we get
those who are unfortunate to be in that position up to a
position. And that is one of my major questions.

You can very quickly , your last few
minutes
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I will talk quickly .
Phase one of UHC [Universal Health Coverage] was introduced in January of this year, which allowed for HIP and FutureC are patients to receive one
physical free in support of our preventative measures.
It increased the drug prescription benefit for HIP clients from $1,000 to $3,000 per year, and for F utureC are
from $3,000 to $5,000. That was phase one of UHC.
You will see from the budget we also received
$15 million to support low -income seniors as it relates
to their F utureC are payments, and we also received further funds so that we can look to advance or provide some types of services for persons who are under and
uninsured with a goal . . . still, the objective is the implementation of phase [one] UHC for Q3 -2026.

That brings us to the next M inistry, and
that is the Ministry of Tourism, Transport, Culture, and
Sports.
Minister, you have the floor, and I will tell the
listening public that this debate will be for four hours.
Minister, whenever you are ready, you may
begin.

MINISTRY OF TOURISM, TRANSPORT
AND CULTURE AND SPORT
Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you, Madam Chair man.
I just want to say good afternoon to the listening audience as I get all of my paperwork and the like together. Good afternoon to my Honourable Member
from the other side. I am sure he is locked and loaded
and ready to go.
Madam Chair man, I move that the following
Heads for the Ministry of Tourism, and Transport, Culture, and Sport , Head 71 Headquarters, [Head] 34,
Transport Control Department, [Head] 35, Public
Transportation, and [Head] 48, Transport, be now
taken under consideration.

[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Head 52 was not on your thing.
That is what we were talking about. And Head 52,

Yes. It has been moved that Heads 71,
34, 35, 48, and 52 be taken under consideration.
Are there any objections to that?
There are none.
Minister, you have the floor.
2160 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda House of Assembly HEAD 71 –MINISTRY HE ADQUARTERS
Hon. O wen D arrell: Thank y ou, M adam Chair man.
Madam Chair man, I am going to start my
budget brief this afternoon with Head 71, which is the
Headquarters. This could be found on pages B -233 to
B-237 of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.
Madam Chair man, it gives me great pleasure
to present the budget for H ead 71, the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, Culture and Sport Headquarters,
found on pages B-233 to B -237 of the B udget Book.
The mission statement of the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, Culture and Sport Headquarters is ,
To enhance visitor experience by positioning our destination as a diverse and globally competitive hub
through strategic networking and relationship building,
to further expand access to cultural and sports and to
ensure the transportation of all people and goods efficiently and safely, as found on page B- 234.
Madam Chair man, a total of $39,120,000, as
shown on page B -235 of the B udget Book, has been
allocated to the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, Culture and Sport Headquarters, H ead 71. This budget allocation represents 36 per cent of the total budget allocation for the Ministry as a whole. Madam Chair man,
Head 71 Headquarters now reflects the consolidation
of the former H ead 48, and Head 71, following the merger of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport with
the Ministry of Transport in February of 2025.
As part of this restructuring, the functions, resources, and responsibilities previously recorded under
Head 48 have been fully integrated into [Head] 71. Accordingly, Head 48 has ceased to exist as a stand -
alone H ead. As a result of this consolidation, there is a
zero budget allocation under the former Head for the
2026 /27 fiscal year , and no activity will be recorded under it. All financial and operational activity is now appropriately reflected within Head 71.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN
HOUSE VISITOR

While the M inister is adjusting his microphone, I want to take the opportunity to recognise
the Senator, Mrs. Lindsay Simmons -Wilson.
Welcome!
[Desk t humping]
[Head 71 –Ministry H eadquarters, continuing]
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chair man, the Ministry of
Tourism and Transport, Culture and Sport Headquarters serves as the central engine for strategic leadership, policy direction, and oversight across Bermuda's
tourism, transport, culture and sport sectors. It sets the
overall vision and ensures that these interconnected areas work together to drive national progress. Through coordinated initiatives, legislative development, and high- level guidance to the department
and agencies, Headquarters play a key role in strengthening governance, improving service delivery, and po-sitioning Bermuda as competitive and forward- looking
both at home and abroad.
This investment supports the continued modernisation of Bermuda's transportation infrastructure. Madam Chairman, I will repeat, this investment sup-ports the continued modernisation of Bermuda’s trans-portation infrastructure, including our ports and public
transportation systems, while also advancing the development of our sports and cultural sectors. Together,
these efforts enhance the daily lives of our residents, create economic activity, and elevate the overall visitor experience, reinforcing Bermuda's reputation as a vi-brant, well -managed destination.
Madam Chair man, the departments which
come under the Ministry Headquarters remit include:
•Department of Sport and Recreation, Head 20
•Department of Marine and Ports, Head
30
•Transport Control Department, Head 34
•Public Transportation, Head 35, an d
•Department of Culture, which is Head 52.
In addition, the H eadquarters oversee 28 authorities, boards, councils, and committees.
They are as follows : The Bermuda Airport Authority . The Bermuda Arts Council, Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority, and Bermuda National Events and Entertainment Committee. Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority . The Bermuda Sport Anti- Doping Authority and the Appeals and Discipline Boards . The Bermuda Tourism Authority, Golf Courses Board, Hotel Li-cens ing and Appeal Tribunal, and Liquor Licensing Authority . National Sports Centre Board, and nine parish
councils . Naming and Recognition Committee, Public
Service Vehicle s Licensing Board. Ports Authority
Board, Road Safety Council, Medical Reference Com-mittee, and the Water Safety Council.
Madam Chair man, as shown on page B- 236, it
is anticipated that during the 2026 /27 budget cycle,
Headquarters will collect approximately $1,444,000 in
revenue. This revenue is mainly collected from vaca-tion rental fees, liquor licen ce fees, and hotel licens es.
Madam Chair man, I will now explain the breakdown of budget allocations by business unit. These
amounts are found on page B -235.
General Summary Expenditure
and Subjective Analysis
Business Unit 8100, Administration
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chair man, the estimated
budget for the Administrative Section is $38,496,000. This represents an increase of $5,017,000 . or an increase of approximately 15 per cent when compared to
the prior year.


Bermuda House of Assembly Bermuda Airport Authority

Hon. Owen Darrell: The Bermuda Airport Authority,
Madam Chair man, include d in the administration
budget is a grant to the Bermuda Airport Authority in the amount of $15,900,000, as found on page C -20.
This represents an increase of $999,000, or approximately 7 per cent from the previous year.
Madam Chair man, the Airport Authority currently employs 61 full -time equivalent staff, inclusive of
vacancies. This team is made up primarily of Bermudian professionals who are responsible for delivering
critical air navigation and meteorological services that
keep our skies safe and our airport operating efficiently.
Their work is highly specialised and essential to maintaining international aviation standards, ensuring the
aircraft can land and depart safely in all weather condi-tions.
A portion of the increased expense allocation
will be directed towards strengthening the Authority's workforce for the future. This includes progressing succession planning to ensure that institutional knowledge
is preserved as senior officers approach retirement . Investing in talent development to prepare the next generation of aviation professionals, particularly in light of
an ageing workforce.
In addition, funding will support the recruitment
and selection of qualified individuals to fill existing va-cancies within the aviation support services, ensuring
that operational capacity remains strong and uninterrupted. These investments are about maint aining
safety, building local expertise, and securing long- term
stability for Bermuda's aviation services.

Bermuda Tourism Authority
Hon. Owen Darrell: The Bermuda Tourism Authority,
Madam Chair man, also included in the Administration budget is a grant to the Bermuda Tourism Au-thority's $19,500,000 for 2026/27, found on [page] C20. This amount represents a $4 million increase, or approximately 26 per cent , compared to prior fiscal
years.
Madam Chair man, this increased budget allocation to the Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA] represents focused investment in Bermuda's tourism sector
to drive demand, particularly in the non- summer
months. This will aid in the expansion of sales and marketing activity to support the 617 new hotel rooms anticipated to come online later this year . By growing
sales efforts and investing in high- profile sporting and
other pinnacle events that attract visitors and global attention, this budget is intended to increas e visitor arrivals, strengthen economic impact across the Island,
and deliver measurable returns for Bermuda.
Madam Chair man, the BTA's total income for
2026 /27 is forecast ed at approximately $37 million, with
approximately $18 million generated from visitor -related fees paid by hotel guests, vacation rental occupants, and cruise ship passengers. Nearly 90 per
cent of direct expenditure is dedicated to sales and
marketing initiatives that drive visitation. Central to this year's business plan is productivity, efficiency, as well
as accountability. Every dollar invested must demon-strate a measurable return.
Madam Chair man, while total visitor arrivals
declined 9.8 per cent , total visitor spending increased
by 3.5 per cent , reaching $550 million. That distinction
matters ! Because what drives the economy is not
simply volume ; it is value. Air arrivals declined modestly, influenced by significant storm activity and reduced capacity from certain US gateway markets. Yet,
per-visitor spending increased, cruise ship spending
strengthened, and the superyacht segment delivered exceptional growth. Bermuda welcomed 119
superyachts, generating $6.2 million in direct spending,
a 64 per cent increase year over year.
Madam Chair man, despite the headwinds,
Bermuda's tourism product demonstrated resilience.
Strategic diversification proved essential. Canada emerged as a standout growth market, with more than
20,000 visitors, which was up 26 per cent . [There was]
$38.9 million in visitor spending from the Canadian
market , which was up 20 per cent . This growth was
supported by enhanced connectivity and the commitment of airline partners.
I wish to acknowledge BermudAir, whose more
recent market entry has expanded options and connectivity.
Madam Chair man, Bermuda has seen significant private investment in its hotel product in recent
years, with major upgrades across properties including Rosewood, Fairmont Hamilton Princess, the Grotto
Bay [Beach Resort] , Rose don [Bermuda], and Cambridge Beaches [Resort and Spa] , as well as others.
This year, following extensive renovations, Bermuda
anticipates the reopening of the Fairmont Southampton, a major expansion of room inventory and a clear
signal of investor confidence.
There has also been a partnership renewal
with the PGA Tour for another three years, not simply
because its prestig ious, but because it delivers measurable return. The 2024 Butterfield Bermuda Champi-onship generated $14 million in direct on- Island spending; $1.35 million in donations to 60 local charities ; and
tens of millions in global media value.
In 2026, Bermuda will also welcome the return
of the Apex SailGP and other signature events that will strengthen global visibility and drive high- value visitation.
Madam Chair man, tourism is not a single job.
It is a career economy. Through continued support of
the Signature School at Sands Secondary, the expansion of the BTA + learning platform, now offering 38 professional development courses , and the AnchorB DA
City & Guilds Assured programme developed by Bermudians for Bermuda, local participation across the
tourism ecosystem is strengthened.
2162 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Sustainable tourism means diversification. It
means high- value growth. It means collaboration. And
it means ensuring that Bermudians are prepared to
lead within their own industry.
Madam Chair man, I now move to Business
Unit 81060, Transportation Planning Team.

Business Unit 81060, Transportation Planning Team

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chair man, as found on
page B -235, the Transportation Planning Team section
sits within the Ministry Headquarters and includes one
full-time equivalent employee. The budget allocation for
2026 /27 is $154,000. The Transportation Planning section is responsible for managing cruise ship operations
in Bermuda, including contracts, logistics, regulations,
and day -to-day coordination, to ensure continuous and
efficient service delivery. It also leads to transportation
projects and undertakes policy research and analysis
to support the Ministry's strategic priorities and longterm planning objectives.
Madam Chair man, in 2025, the cruise ship
season began with 179 scheduled calls and a projected
passenger count of 80 per cent occupancy for
475[,000] passengers. One call was added mid- season. By the end of the season, 22 calls were cancelled,
17 due to adverse weather conditions, 5 as a result of
itinerary changes, resulting in 159 actual calls ending the season with just over 467,525 passengers. This
represents a reduction of [7,475] passengers, or 1.57
per cent. Despite cancellations, the 2025 season outperformed in passenger spending, increasing the per -
person spend from $214 per passenger to $296 per
passenger.
Madam Chair man, the economic impact for
2025 included $23,200,000 in passenger taxes and
$10,900,000 in transport infrastructure tax.
Additionally, other cruise ship revenues were
estimated at $7 million in cruise ship visitor fees ;
$158,100,000 in combined passenger and crew spending, and $9,600,000 in cruise line disbursement expenses locally. This culminated in an estimated total of
$208,800,000 in economic activity for 2025.
Madam Chair man, the 2026 cruise ship schedule was first published in November of 2025, highlight-ing 193 calls.
Madam Chair man, the Ministry is forecasting a
similar number of cancellations as experienced in 2025. Therefore, projections are at 90 per cent, which
is 174 calls of 2026, with 561,859 passengers, which is
an increase of nearly 100,000 passengers over 2025.
Madam Chairman, a very healthy economic
impact to Bermuda is projected for this season, as well as $25,600,000 in passenger taxes and $12,900,000 in
transport infrastructure tax. Additionally, cruise ship
revenue is estimated at $7,500,000 in cruise ship visitor fees, $191,200,000 in combined passenger and crew
spending and $9,700,000 in cruise line disbursement
expenses locally. Madam Chairman, current projections indicate
that approximately $246,900,000 will be injected into
Bermuda's economy over the course of this season.

Regulatory and Policy

Hon. Owen Darrell: The Regulatory and Policy Unit ,
business unit 81065, falls under the Ministry Headquarters [HQ] and has been allocated a budget of $470,000,
as found on Budget Book [page] B-235. This unit is
staffed by four individuals, a senior manager, two compliance officers or hotel inspectors, and one administrative assistant.
Madam Chairman, the unit is responsible for
the inspection and licens ing of the tourism accommodation inventory , which includes hotels and vacation
rental properties. As of January 2026, there were 45
operating licens ed hotel properties, including four large
resort hotels, 15 small hotels , four cottage colonies,
three clubs, two vacation rental homes, six large cot-tages, suites and apartments, five small cottages,
suites and apartments, two inns, four bed and breakfasts. The newest category, vacation rental homes, is
best described as a vacation rental home, whic h can
accommodate 10 or more guests.
Madam Chairman, the Tourism Investment
Act, enacted in October 2017, is administered by the
senior manager of the Tourism Regulation and Policy
Unit. Applications for the Tourism Investment Orders
are processed in consultation with the Attorney General's Chambers, the Office of the Tax Commissioner,
and the Department of Customs. The Minis ter responsible for tourism ushers the application through the
Cabinet and the Legislature.
Upon approval and assent, the Tourism Investment Order is gazetted, t hereby initiating the granted
period of concessions to the applicant , the hotelier, the
restaurateur, or the entrepreneur. Madam Chairman,
the Tourism Investment Act was amended in September 2025 to provide expanded periods of tax relief to
• new hotels from 10 to 15 years ;
• refurbished hotels from 5 to 15 years ;
• new restaurants from 3 to 5 years,
• existing restaurants from 1 year to 3 years ; and
• attractions from 1 year to 5 years.
To date, 20 Tourism Investment Orders have
been issued. They include four attractions, three special Acts, namely St. George's Resort Act, the Fairmont
Southampton Hotel Act, and the Loren ( Pink Beach and
Elbow Beach) Act.
Madam Chairman, the Vacation Rentals Act
2018 is jointly administered by the Regulatory and Policy Unit , for vacation rental properties with an annual
rental value of over $22,800, [and] the Department of
Consumer Affairs Rent Control Section within the Ministry of Home Affairs for vacation rental properties with
an ARV below $22,800.
This Act amended the definition of a hotel as
per section 1 of the Hotels (Licens ing and Control ) Act


Bermuda House of Assembly of 1969 to mean a place which provides sleeping accommodation for 10 or more guests. This was increased from six or more guests. As such, a vacation
rental unit is one that provides sleeping accommodation for nine or fewer guests. Vacation rental properties
and proprietors are required to register and secure a
vacation rental certificate issued by either the Ministry
responsible for Tourism or the Ministry r esponsible for
Rent Control. To date, 69 vacation rental certificates have been issued for the registration period of 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026.

Capital Expenditure

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, 2026/27 Capital Development Budget for the Bermuda Airport Au-thority totals $3,505,000, as found on page C -7.
Madam Chairman, the Bermuda Airport Authority will
continue to oversee several ongoing and upcoming
capital infrastructure initiatives related to IT and cyber
resilience, structural health and safety improvements, and aviation and weather services equipment upgrades
using the capital funding as mentioned earlier. These
include, but are not limited to
• infrastructure health and safety improvements ;
• phase one weather radar upgrades ;
• firewall server and technology access point upgrades ;
• hydrogen gas generator design and survey ;
and
• Phase 2 Cyber implementation.

Manpower
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, as seen on
page B -236, there will be a total of 14 full -time equivalent employees in the Ministry Headquarters, Head 71. Compared to the prior year, 2025/26, this represents an
increase by one.

Performance Measures by Business Unit

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, I am pleased
to [report ] that the department's forecast performance
measures found on page B -237 for fiscal year 2025/26
were achieved.

Business Unit 81000 , Administration
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, this business
unit is responsible for the strategic , policy development ,
accounting support for the Ministry. Under this business unit, the performance measures for 2025/26 were
all completed. However, due to the expanded role and
portfolio of the Ministry, it became necessary to discontinue those measures and replace with the following
new performance measures, for which the target date of completion [ for] both March 2027:
• completion of the E lectric Vehicle Policy; • completion of the National Electric Vehicle
Infrastructure Policy.

Business Unit 81065, Regulatory and Policy Unit

Hon. Owen Darrell: As mentioned prior, this business
unit oversees the end- to-end handling of tourism investment relief applications from intake to implementa-tion. It also carries out inspections of hotels and vacation rentals to ensure they meet regulatory standards
and compliance requirements.
The performance measures for 2025/26 included ensuring hotel and vacation rental properties
are inspected and licens ed by the annual deadline of
the 31st of March and the 31st of August, respectively.
Hotel and vacation rental complaints are acknowledged
within 24 hours of receipt , and hotel and vacation rental
complaints are investigated within 24 hours of receipt
and ensuring final report of hotel and vacation rental
complaints are issued within 10 days of complaint. All forecasted outcomes were successfully achieved.

Plans for the U pcoming Year
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the Ministry
Headquarters will continue to serve as the strategic and
policy hub for the Ministry, providing clear leadership
and coordination across its departments and quangos.
Our focus is on ensuring Tourism, Transport , Culture
and Sport all work closely together, building stronger
synergies, advancing key priorities, strengthening governance, and maintaining sound financial management.
In the year ahead, we must build on the successes of this past year while continuing to deliver practical results for the people of Bermuda. We are commit-ted to cutting unnecessary red tape, streamlining processes, improving collaboration, and using data t o
guide smart decision- making so that services are efficient, responsive, and forward- looking. Madam Chairman, Headquarters will also continue to lead and support the 28 boards, committees, and authorities as they
carry out their legislative responsibilit ies and community initiatives. These bodies play a vital role in our national development and through strong guidance, ac-countability, and partnership with HQ, their work will
continue to strengthen our communities and help build
a stronger, better Bermuda for everyone.
Madam Chairman, a full, strong focus will remain on building Bermuda's events and entertainment
landscape, with 38 recipients receiving funding support
to help bring diverse and dynamic experiences to our
Island. These investments ensure that Bermuda remains vibrant, culturally rich, and attractive to both residents and visitors alike.
From community festivals and sporting events
to cultural showcases and live entertainment, this sup-port stimulates economic activity, creates opportunities
for local entrepreneurs and artists, and enhances the
2164 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly overall energy of our I sland. By continuing to back
these initiatives, Bermuda's reputation is reinforced as
a lively, welcoming, and engaging destination year -
round.
Madam Chairman, the Bermuda National
Events and Entertainment Committee has been recently established to bring people around the table to
take a more coordinated, practical approach to how
events are planned and supported across the I sland.
The goal is simple, to make sure we are working to-gether, not in silos, and that the events calendar makes sense for Bermuda.
One of the committee's first priorities has been
completing a clear and easy -to-follow Bermuda events
and entertainment calendar. This will help organisers
avoid clashes, give businesses time to prepare, and allow us to better promote what is happening on the Island throughout the year. At its heart, this is about supporting our community, giving local talent and the promoters the platform they deserve, and keeping Bermuda active, energised, and full of life year -round.
Madam Chairman, the Bermuda Airport Authority will continue to oversee several ongoing and upcoming infrastructure initiatives related to aviation and
weather services, using the capital funding mentioned earlier. These include, but are not limited to the
• Aeronautical Information Services to Aeronautical Information Management organisational transition;
• Air Traffic Engineering infrastructure upgrades ;
• Bermuda Weather Service , [weather radar random refurbishment and resealing ;
• Bermuda Weather Service application programming interface;
• Bermuda Weather Service website design;
• Bermuda Service hydrogen gas generator phase one; and the
• Cyber Security System s infrastructure upgrades.
Madam Chairman, in the tourism sector, the
Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA] will build upon the
foundation established for geographic diversification, and reduce its over -reliance on any single region into
the visitor pipeline. Beginning in the first quarter,
2026/27, the BTA will lead a series of regional activations across the northeast in partnership with a strong
group of hotel and on- Island experience partners.
Madam Chairman, these roadshows will directly engage travel advisors, corporate planners, and media,
ensuring Bermuda remains competitive and top of mind.
Sales and marketing efforts will expand to support hundreds of new rooms coming online over the next two years, with a focus on driving year -round demand, leveraging technology and AI to target the right visitor at the right time, reducing the cost of visi tor acquisition, growing high- quality group and incentive
travel, expanding presence in the UK luxury market, continuing investment in the superyacht segment to attract high net worth and ultra- high net worth visitors.
All of this will operate within a disciplined,
transparent accountability framework where performance and productivity are paramount.
Madam Chairman, I would like to thank the
dedicated teams at Head 71 Ministry Headquarters, the
authorities under the Ministry for their hard work and their solid commitment to the Ministry and its mandate.
Madam Chairman, that concludes Head 71,
the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, Culture and Sport Headquarters.
Madam Chairman, would you like me to move
to [Head] 34, the Transport Control Department [ TCD] ,
or should I pause there for questions?
[Ms. Renee Ming, Chairman]

Minister, you can continue.

Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you, Madam Chairman.

HEAD 34 —TRANSPORT CONTROL DEPARTMENT
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, Transport Control Department, is found on pages B -249 to B -252 of
the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure. Madam Chairman, the budget for Head 34, the Transport Control Department, commonly referred to as TCD, can be
found on [pages] B-249 through B-252 of the Budget
Book .

[Crosstalk]

Continue, Minister.

Mission Statement

Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you.
Madam Chairman, the TCD, or the Transport
Control Department ) mission statement is, To assure
the safety of all road users, is found on page B -249.

Expenditure Overview
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, as shown on
[page] B-249, the d epartment's budget allocation for
2026/27 is $6,047,000. This is an increase of $39,000,
or 0.6 per cent , when compared to the prior fiscal year
of 2025/26.

Revenue Overview

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the estimate
for revenue to be collected during the 2026/27 budget
cycle is $29,807,000, as shown on page B -250. This
represents a 5 per cent decrease over the 2025/26 total
revenues due to the reduction of the private motor car
licensing fees by 10 per cent . The concession will come


Bermuda House of Assembly into effect on 1 April 2026. That's nice. A couple days
before my birthday.

[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Owen Darrell: That's nice. That's nice.

General Summary Expenditure

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, as shown on
B-249, the expenditure by business unit will now be explained.

Business Unit 44000, E xamination
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, for 2026/ 27,
the examination section's estimated budget is
$1,444,000. This represents a $51,000, or 4 per cent
increase over fiscal year 2025/26 to cover approved
negotiated salaries and wage uplifts.

Business Unit 44040, Registration

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the registration
section processed 80,622 face- to-face customer transactions and 8,609 online transactions in 2025. The estimated budget for this section is $1,207,000 for fiscal
year 2026/ 27. This is an increase of $130,000, or
12 per cent , compared to prior fiscal year 2025/26.
This increase represents a reallocation of
funds from the administration section to cover credit
and debit card commission fees
Madam Chairman, data recorded by the registration section shows that the end of year total number
of vehicles on the road for 2023 was 49,997. For 2024,
it was 50,560, and at the end of 2025 was 51,845. This
shows an average year -over-year increase of just under 2 per cent .

Business Unit 44090, Road Safety
Hon. Owen Darrell: The estimated budget for the road
safety section is $321,000. This represents a 20 per
cent increase, or $53,000 to facilitate the Project Ride
programme upgrades, negotiated salary and wage uplifts, and additional media campaigns aimed at promoting safer driving to reduce collisions. It should be noted
that with regard to promoting safe driving and reducing
collisions, the Road Safety Council will receive a grant from this business unit in the amount of $125,000, com-pared with $80,000 received in the prior fiscal year, as
outlined on [page] C-20.

Business Unit 4410, Traffic Control
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the estimated
budget for the traffic control section is $796,000. This
represents a $49,000, or 7 per cent increase over the
prior year's budget. This increase is necessary to cover approved negotiated salary and wage uplifts, and to
provide a consistent presence for most of the cruise
ship visits scheduled for the 2026 season, as traffic officers often work weekends to monitor public service
vehicles at ports of entry and places of i nterest.

[Inaudible interjections]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Hey, you got your time on Friday
to talk about that.
[Inaudible interjections]

Hon. Owen Darrell: I will give you plenty of time.

Business Unit 44210, Administration

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the estimated
budget for the administrative section is $2,279,000.
This represents a decrease of $244,000, or approximately 10 per cent , less than the prior year's
budget. This decrease is a result of transferring funds to the registration section to cover credit and debit card
commission fees, as previously stated.

Manpower

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, on 2026 /27,
budget estimates for manpower can be found on [page]
B-251. Total full -time equivalence requested is 46, and
this remains consistent with the prior fiscal year's original budget request.

Performance Measures b y Business Unit

Hon. Owen Darrell: The department's performance
measures can be found on [page] B-252, and they all
have been achieved.

Business Unit 44090 , Road Safety

Hon. Owen Darrell: The objective to achieve 90 per
cent pass rate for Project Ride was maintained in
2025/26. Project Ride remains a fundamental foundational programme in equipping Bermuda's youth with
knowledge, discipline, and practical skills required to
navigate our roads safely and responsibly.
Madam Chairman, the Auxiliary Bicycles (Project Ride) Amendment 2026 was debated and passed
in this honourable place just two days ago on 2 March
2026. These amendments add on- road instruction and
practical examinations to the programme. In the future, students will acquire a learner's permit at 16 years of
age after successfully completing the theory exam and
training in the TCD yard. They will then be given onroad instruction and eventually completing the pro-gramme by taking their final examination ride with a
TCD examiner. Students successful in this final discipline will then be able to acquire a Bermuda youth
2166 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly licence. This new process is identical to that acquiring
the Bermuda driver's licence.
Madam Chairman, on February 9, 2026, the
Bermuda Police Service released collision data to TCD
that highlighted the harm that has been caused by col-lisions on Bermuda's roads. Madam Chairman, 702
people have lost their lives on our roads between 1962
and 2026. F rom 2006 to the above date, there have
been 234 road deaths. During that period, 2,417 serious injury collisions, 12,936 slight injury collisions, and
19,316 damage- only collisions were reported to the
Bermuda Police Service. Madam Chairman, the Bermuda Police Service data also revealed that a slight injury collision occurs every 15 hours. A serious injury
collision occurs every three —
[Crosstalk ]

Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Recalculating.

[Laughter]

We can confirm you are in the House
of Assembly. You can continue.
[Laughter]
Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you. Thank you, Madam
Chairman. No idea where I was, Madam Chairman.
Bear with me. Got it.
Serious injury collisions occur every 3.5 days,
and there [is] a fatal collision in Bermuda every 31 days.
Most collisions are avoidable.
Madam Chairman, as mentioned in the subjective analysis for the road safety section, the budget has been increased by $53,000 for this fiscal year to allow
more education and awareness to be promoted by the
department and the Road Safety Council. The established approach to tackling poor driving is education,
enforcement, and engineering.
The additional funding will be allocated to an
enhanced, consistent media presence, using the vari-ous forms available to educate motorists. The enforcement and engineering elements will be driven by other
ministries with support of this M inistry.

Business Unit 44110, Traffic Control

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, a s for the previous fiscal period of 2025/26, the objective to keep the
response time to reports of abandoned vehicles re-mains 10 business days. The section continues to encounter difficulty removing four -wheeled vehicles due to the I sland -wide demand for towing service vehicles.
On a positive note, the section has acquired a truck with
a lift to collect abandoned cycles. The officers in this
section can now remove abandoned cycles and auxiliary bikes after 30 days if not collected by either the owner or a repair facility. The expectation is for this performance measure to be met again throughout this
budget cycle, because the section is now fully staffed
with eight officers.

Business Unit 44000, Examination

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the target of
providing 90 per cent of driving test appointments
within 10 business days was successfully achieved in
2025/26. A full team of examiners in this section means
that the objective should again be met in 2026 /27. The
daily schedule still has three examiners dedicated to
conducting both driving and riding tests. This has significantly improved efficiency by reducing the average
wait time for appointments to within 10 business days.
Madam Chairman, during this budget cycle, a
review will be undertaken of the process currently in
place for vehicle examinations due to the commissioning of the new testing equipment at three facilities. As
a result, there will be some changes for the better. This
modern equipment is very thorough and raises the testing regime to international standards.
The outcome will be safer vehicles on Bermuda ’s roads through consistent risk -based road worthiness inspections. Similarly, Madam Chairman, a review will be conducted of the computer and practical examinations to create better educated and training rid-ers and drivers. This initiative will be supported by the
activities planned by the Road Safety Section. Together, the aim is to raise the standard of riding and
driving in Bermuda.

Business Unit 44040, Registration

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the goal of servicing 75 per cent of customers within 30 minutes of
ticket collection was successfully achieved by 20 25/26.
This target was expected to be met in 2026/27 because
the section is currently fully staffed. The customer management system is a critical component to achieving
this target because it efficiently allocates customers to
the clerks to maintain an even distribution of work.

Business Unit 44210, Administration

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, in 2025 /26, the
target to answer 60 per cent of incoming centre calls
within five minutes was successfully achieved. The
second customer service representative is in place to
ensure that the objective of managing the high volume
of 12,000 calls received each month is maintained. The
customer service representatives deliver service by


Bermuda House of Assembly providing general information and guidance on the new
online applications and requests.
In 2025/26, the goal of processing accounts
payable and receivable invoices within five business
days was achieved to avoid financial risk. This perfor-mance target is expected to continue in the upcoming
year due to a full complement of staff in the section.

Plans for the Upcoming Year

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, I'll now lay out
the plans for the upcoming year.
The Transport Control Department —

Minister. It is five o'clock. I just want to
do an announcement on the air just in case for our lis-teners.
We are currently in Committee of Supply for
further consideration of the E stimates of R evenue and
Expenditure for the year 2026/ 27. We are currently on
Head 34, Transport Control Department, also known as TCD. Thank you.

Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
TCD continues to work on fulfilling the 2024
Throne Speech i nitiatives to “ remove red tape” by eliminating the requirement to undergo a medical assessment every 10 years as part of the driver licence renewal process until the age 70. Reducing the number
of vehicle inspections required for a new vehicle and
introducing abbreviated licensing periods for private
motor vehicles.
Madam Chairman, currently the process for renewing the driver's licence every 10 years requires the licence holder to submit a completed medical form.
This process is maintained until the licence holder reaches the age of 70. In each case, the applicant must
cover the cost of the medical assessment, thereby increasing expenses. Further, scheduling appointments
with the physician and presenting for the assessment
proves cumbersome for customers.
Madam Chairman, it is therefore proposed that
after the initial grant of a driver's licence, subsequent
renewals require the applicant to self -report only in relation to any medical conditions that may impair the
ability to safely operate a vehicle, thereby eliminating
the requirement for further medical assessment until a
person reaches the age of 70.
Madam Chairman, the second initiative covers
private motor car annual inspections. Currently, a new
private motor car must undergo inspections every other
year up to five years, and then annually thereafter. This
frequency of examinations may feel excessive, particularly when the vehicle is still considered relatively new
and is unlikely to have significant structural or mechan-ical issues.
The third- year examination requirement will be
removed to reduce the burden on vehicle owners, allowing them to have the use of their vehicles without unnecessary interruptions. Streamlining the vehicle examination process is the removal of red tape, and it is
in the best interest of the public as well as the Transport
Control Department, although this convenience will result in a loss of approximately $90,000 in revenue.
Madam Chairman, this Honourable House and
the public should be aware that TCD has been chosen
as the government's pilot for stablecoin payments. The
department's self -contained information technology
system makes it easy to integrate a digital payment
method because it is a relatively modern system. This
initiatives is in keeping with the government's vision,
which is , A future- forward Government for the people
of Bermuda.
Madam Chairman, it is hoped that everyday
transactions will transition into a digital form within the
next three years. Customers will have the option of using phones and storing the value and scanning QR
codes to pay for goods and services. The Transport
Control Department will be the first government department to accept this kind of payment. Madam Chairman,
each of the aforementioned new approaches to provid-ing service is designed to align with government's core
values : Customer -centric, future- focused and to promote prosperity.
Madam Chairman, I close Head 34, the
Transport Control Department, by thanking the leadership and the staff for their dedication to providing excellent customer service to our residents. Thank you,
Madam Chairman. That concludes the brief for TCD ,
Head 34.
I now move, if it's at your pleasure, to Head 35,
the Department of Public Transportation.

You can continue.

HEAD 35 —DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION
Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Madam Chairman, Budget Head 35, the Department of Public Transportation, is found on pages B -
253 through B-256 of the Budget Book.

Mission Statement

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the mission of
the Department of Public Transportation is , Moving
Bermuda with a quality public bus service. It can be
found on page B -253.

Expenditure Overview

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, as shown on
[page] B-253, a total of $26, 083,000 has been allocated
for Head 35. This represents an increase of $804,000
over the prior year, and 3 per cent increase. The increase is primarily due to cover approved negotiated
salary and wage uplifts.
2168 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly The department has five business units, bus
operations, repair service, inventory management, administration, and management support. As shown on
[page] B-253, the analysis by business unit is now explained as follows.

Business Unit 45010, Bus Operations

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the budget estimate for bus operations is $13,721,000. This repre-sents an increase of $518,000, or a 4 per cent increase
over the prior year's budget.
This increase is required to cover approved negotiated salary and wage uplifts.

Business Unit 45090, Repair Services
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the budget estimate for repair services [is] for $4,654,000. This represents an increase of $196,000 or 4 per cent over the
prior year's budget. This increase is required to cover approved negotiated salary and wage uplifts.

Business Unit 45115, Inventory Management
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the budget estimate for inventory management is $1,545,000. This represents an increase of $18,000, or 1 per cent over
the prior year's budget. This increase is required to
cover approved negotiated salary and wage uplifts.

Business Unit 45120 , Administration

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the budget estimate for administration is $5,050,000. This represents
an increase of $26,000, or 1 per cent over the prior
year. This increase is required to cover approved negotiated salary and wage uplifts.

Business Unit 45200, Management Support
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, t he budget estimate for management support is $1,113,000. This
represents an increase of $46,000, or 4 per cent over
the prior fiscal year. This increase is required to cover
approved negotiated salary and wage uplifts.

Revenue Overview

Hon. Owen Darrell: The revenue for the department is
estimated to be $5,501,000 [sic] as shown on page B -
254. This is in line with the prior year's online original
budget. The department has maintained its revenue
levels a year after introducing [the] Shorelink app which
modernised the service by providing a digital option for purchasing fares directly through a mobile service.

Subjective Analysis
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the subjective
analysis of the current account estimates of the Depart-ment of Public Transportation is found on [page] B-254.
Aside from higher energy costs attributed to higher oil market prices, the only other material change in the ex-penditure for 2026/ 27 is directed to salaries and wages
and these increases are required to cover the approved
negotiated salary and wage uplifts.

Capital Development Expenditure

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the capital development estimate for the department can be found on
page C -7 and is $1,300,000. This capital will be used
to continue upgrades at the Fort Langton and satellite
depots.

Capital Acquisition Expenditure
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the capital acquisition estimate for the department can be found on page C -14 and is $6,169,000.
This capital will be used for the acquisition and
landing of 20 new electrical buses, the continued innovation of the digital fare media system, the digital transformation of the dispatching system, and the replacement support vehicles, updated computer eq uipment,
and other necessary upgrades to the facilities, tools,
and equipment.

Manpower

Hon. Owen Darrell: The total complement of full -time
equivalents is estimated to be $243,000 as shown on
page B -255 of the Budget Book .
This is a decrease of one full -time equivalent
from the prior fiscal year 2025 /26 original budget request.

Performance Measures by Business Unit
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the department's performance measures can be found on page B-256 and have, for the most part, been achieved. I will
now expand.

Business Unit 45010, Bus Operations

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, bus operations
provide 11 bus routes between 6:00 am and 1:00 am
every day of the year. Sweeping through all nine par-ishes, the public bus is a treasured method of transportation for many residents and visitors to the I sland. Residents, school students, and seniors enjoy free passage on this unforgettable and world- renowned system.
[Inaudible interjection]



Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Owen Darrell: Yes, we got that .

[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Owen Darrell: An increased level of compliments
has surged into the Bermuda government online feedback forms while complaints have been slashed,
Madam Chairman, by 50 per cent . There was a 14 per
cent reduction of serious vehicle incidents as opposed
to the target of 30 per cent . The necessary analysis will
be conducted to identify a more effective approach to
prevention. The target to improve ridership passenger
count was exceeded at a rate of 7 per cent . Investments in improving the passenger experience ( e-buses
and digital Fare Media app ) have led to improved ridership. Further investment in technology -driven collection of ridership data is planned.

Business unit 450 90, Repair Servicing
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the public
buses, support vehicles and heavy equipment are
maintained by the repair servicing team. Madam Chairman, 75 per cent of the time, the industry standard of
80 per cent of the total fleet was in service daily. The
target of maintaining buses at 90 per cent of the preventative maintenance programme was achieved.

Business unit 45115, Inventory Management
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the store section that falls under the inventory management is responsible for the procurement, storage, control, and insurance of parts for vehicles and equipment. The target
for the average number of buses out of service due to
parts was successfully achieved at 5 per cent or less.
All planned maintenance was achieved due to inven-tory management maintaining 70 per cent of parts as
required for the planned preventative maintenance pro-gramme.

Business unit 45120, A dministration
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the administration section is primarily responsible for developing departmental strategy policies and procedures for ensuring that the people, processes, and resources are in
place to deliver the mission. Madam Chairman, 95 per
cent of identified occupational safety health issues
were addressed against 100 per cent target. Further
alignment of resources will facilitate additional improvements in the delivery of training to meet the targeted
outcome of 100 per cent of front line staff completing
customer service training.
Three critical vacancies were noted at the end
of 2025/26. Recruitment and training will continue with
the aim of meeting the target outcome of zero critical
vacancies.
Business Unit 45200, M anagement Support

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the management support team manages the sale and process of
bus and ferry fares and provides administrative support for the accounts, procurement , and human resource
functions. The team sought to process all vendor payments within five business days. However, it fell short of the target at 90 per cent . The department plans to
improve performance by recruiting staff to address cur-rent shortages and by strengthening processing proce-dures to ensure that all targets are met.

Plans for the U pcoming Year

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the Department of Public Transportation will be in receipt of 20
new electric buses in the first quarter of the next fiscal
year, 2026 /27, taking the department closer to its target
of full electrification of the public bus fleet by the year
2030. Passengers can anticipate improved service with
rides that are more timely, smoother and more comfort-able. Travelling throughout the Island on the pink and
blue buses will become increasingly beneficial for all passengers.
Madam Chairman, the Department of Public
Transportation plans to begin the revitalisation of bus operation section by transforming the way buses are
dispatched and tracked. By introducing technology -
based and process -orientated improvements, the section will gain access to the critical data required to make informed scheduling decisions and implement the
changes internally. Th e modernisation of business
practi ces promises to catapult the department into the
21st century.
Madam Chairman, plans will soon be underway to roll out a new and improved way of riding the
bus. Passengers would need only to tap their bank card
or their handheld device on the payment display of any bus or ferry, after which they will receive immediate
confirmation that their fare has been processed. Residents and visitors have been enjoying the benefits of
real-time information by using their mobile device to
monitor the location of the next bus while waiting at the bus stop. Downloading the Shore link app is a quick and
simple process that can change the game for passengers wanting to purchase fares and track the next bus.
Madam Chairman, efforts will continue to focus
on identifying and developing potential successes for
both current and anticipated vacancies. In preparation
of a higher number of retirements, the department will
emphasise effective knowledge transfers to safeguard
essenti al intellectual and technical expertise. Cross -
skilling will be a critical component of the company's
strategy to maintain agility amid unexpected fluctuations in staffing levels.
Madam Chairman, I conclude Head 35 by expressing my appreciation to the leadership and the entire team at the Department of Public Transportation for
2170 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly their ongoing commitment to providing excellent transportation to the public.
I now move to Head 52, Madam Chairman, the
Department of Culture.

Okay, that's fine. Proceed.
Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you, Madam Chairman.

HEAD 52 —DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the Department of Culture can be found on page B -259 through
B-263 of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.
Madam Chairman, I now present for the fiscal
year 2026 /27 Estimates of Expenditure and Revenue
for Head 52, the Department of Culture, which can be
found on [pages] B-259 through B -263 of the Estimates
of Revenue and Expenditure Book.

Mission

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the department's mission is , To develop our creatives, preserving
our heritage and to celebrate our people. Culture
shapes an understanding of us as Bermudians and this
budget reaffirms the G overnment's commitment to heritage, creativity, and storytelling.

[Inaudible interjections]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Yay. No.

[Inaudible interjections]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Just like your book.

All your comments can come to the
Chair.

Expenditure Overview and
Plans for the Upcoming Year
Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
The Department of Culture administers two
programmes and 12 business units. The total budget
estimate for fiscal year 2026 /27 is $2,646,000 as
shown on page B -260. This represents an increase of
$149,000, or 6 per cent over 2025/ 26 original budget.
For 2026 /27 budget year, the Department of Culture remains focused on strengthening Bermuda's cultural
identity and supporting artists and tradition bearers.
Building on last year's progress, the d epartment continues to prioritise programmes that preserve and celebrate heritage while encouraging creativity and
growth across the cultural sector
Madam Chairman, I will now outline the accomplishments, programme plans, and changes in estimates for business units associated with the Department of Culture as shown on [page] B-260.

Business Unit 62000, G rants to O rganisations

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the total
amount budgeted under this business unit [62000] for
2026 /27 is $334,000. This amount reflects an increase
of $17,000, or 5 per cent as compared to fiscal year
2025 /26. In 20 25/26, thirty individuals received Bermuda Arts Council funding, w hile 14 organisations
were funded through grants from the d epartment.

Bermuda Arts Council

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the Bermuda
Arts Council grant as shown on page C -20 has remained consistent at $167,000 for fiscal year 2026/27.
One of the primary roles of the Bermuda Arts
Council is to review applications submitted by individual
creatives and organisations for developing artistic projects and further educating themselves about their
craft. In 2025, the Bermuda Arts Council revolu tionised
its grant system, introducing a digital platform that offers a more streamlined and accessible process for local creatives, aligning with international standards and grant giving. In 2025, the Bermuda Arts Council
awarded grants to artists, organi sations, and student
scholarships.
Madam Chairman, in 2025, individual grants
[supported] a range of creative disciplines including
music by Kyra-jaye Harvey [and] Terence “Tino” Martinez ; literary arts by Yusef Bushara and Fredrick Remaul Hassell; dance by Krystal S. Lowe and Malaysia


Bermuda House of Assembly De Rosa; photography by Kayla McConnie; and visual
mixed- media practi ces by CoShaun Evans.
Organisational funding supported Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation's art education programmes ,
while international education and experience grants assisted Aden Peets, Jasmine Lee, Yasmin Eve- Townsend. Together, these awards reflect the Council's continued support for artistic development across disciplines and career stages.
In 2025, the Bermuda Arts Council awarded
three student grants totalling $20,000. Nicole Smith re-ceived $10,000 to support undergraduate studies in
creative direction and curation [for] fashion at Nottingham Trent University.
Keimya Rayne Smith was awarded $5,000 towards her Bachelor of Fine Arts programme. Daisy
Mapes Gould received $5,000 to support her doctoral
studies. The Bermuda Arts Council awards took place
in January 2026 and honoured six recipients.
The department would like to acknowledge the
hard work of the Arts Council, particularly the Arts
Council Chair, Visual Artist and Graphic Designer, Ms.
Shanna H arris [sic].
[Inaudible interjections]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Sorry. Shanna Hollis. Thank you.

Heritage Grants

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, in addition to
the fine work of the Bermuda Arts Council, we also
gave significant grants through heritage grants.
Those individuals were the Bermuda Historical
Society, Bermuda National Trust, Underwater Exploration Institute, Friends of St. Peter's Church, St. David's
Islanders , St. George's Foundation, the St. George's
Historical Society. I am sure you like that, Madam
Chairman. And the seven active Gombey troupes .
These heritage grants totalled $72,850.
The Department of Culture also provided a
grant to the Bermuda National Gallery for their steward-ship of the Watlington collection, owned by the Bermuda Government, and the Bermuda National Trust to
assist with their annual Christmas Walkabout in St.
George's , Madam Chairman.

[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Owen Darrell: I thought MP Swan was here.

Business Unit 62001 , Administration
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the allocated
budget for fiscal year 2026/27 for this business unit is
$1,206,000. The amount reflects an increase of $79,000, or 7 per cent .
Madam Chairman, the allocated budget supports cooperations, including salary and wages. The remaining funds provide for office supplies, board fees,
website maintenance, and telephone services. The
budget also includes funding for the department -wide
promotion, particularly through social media engage-ment. The increase of the administration budget is pri-marily due to salary uplifts, with an additional increase
to support digital media and the department's participation in the annual Regional Cultural Commit tee meeting
with international cultural counterparts.

Business Unit 62 010, Emancipation and
Cultural Festivals
Hon. Owen Darrell : Madam Chairman, the total
amount allocated for this business unit was $81,000. It represents an increase of $14,000, or 21 per cent .
Madam Chairman, the business unit highlights
the contributions of African, Caribbean, Azorean, British, and St. David's Island native core cultures in alignment with the National Culture Heritage Policy , delivering public events and education programmes that deepen the understanding for diverse roots, cultural,
and pride generations.

Emancipation Programme

Hon. Owen Darrell: The Department of Culture delivers an annual commemoration of Bermuda's emancipation through programming that examines the history
of enslaved segregation and experience by Bermudians of African descent, while also celebrating African
heritage and Black Bermudian excellence.
The 2026 Emancipation Commemoration will
include a production of a film documenting the Black businesses [in] Bermuda, highlighting entrepreneurship, resilience, and economic contribution across generations.

Celebration of the Arrival of the
Portuguese Community

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, 2025 also
marked the first celebration of the arrival of the Portuguese community led by the Department of Culture,
now established as an annual observance, Madam
Chairman, in alignment with the Government's commitment to preserving our and celebrating Bermuda's diverse heritage.

Business Unit 62020 , Heritage Celebrations

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the total
amount budgeted for this business unit is $360,000. It
represents a decrease of $19,000, or 5 per cent compared to [2025/] 26. This business unit covers the cost
of both celebrations of Bermuda Heritage [and the Bermuda] Day Parade.

Heritage Celebrations
2172 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the Bermuda
Department of Culture annually produces a calendar of
heritage and cultural events in the month of May. Highlights of this calendar include support of the Gombey
Unity Weekend, a lecture on Bermuda's Native American connections, and a Centre of Mindfulness hosted
by the Department of Culture's Maker Space.

The Bermuda Day Parade

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the 2025 Bermuda Day Parade was a vibrant celebration under Bermuda's cultural resilience and community spirit. The
then theme was “The Future is Now.” And the parade
showcased creativity that ranged from futuristic to fan-tastical, demonstrating what is possible when the community comes together.
In 2025, Madam Chairman, 20 of the 62 entries
received financial support, offsetting cost and allowing
for more robust participation from a diverse array of
community groups, including some groups that previously had to stop participating due to cost concerns.
The Bermuda Day Fund has proven to increase the diversity of representation and participant numbers in the
Bermuda Day Parade.
Madam Chairman, the theme for this year's
Heritage Month is “T he Future” . . . I'm sorry. No, it's
wrong. The theme for this year is “F or the C ulture. ” This
year's theme honours the spirit that connects us to our
Bermudians. Our culture is bold, creative, and deeply
rooted in our community. I look forward, Madam Chair-man, I know where you sit, to a very lively Bermuda Day
Parade 2026 that lives with the rhythm of the drums, the art that our stories tell, and the parade that will fill our streets and the people who bring it to life.

Business Unit 62030, Cultural Educational
Programming
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the amount
budgeted for this business unit is $45,000. This repre-sents an increase of $14,000, or 45 per cent when compared to 20 25/26.
Madam Chairman, I will now talk about cultural
education in schools for fiscal year 20 25/26.

Cultural Education in Schools

Hon. Owen Darrell: The department rebranded their
Tradition Bearer in Public Education Schools [Programme] to be “Cultural Education in Schools. ”
Through this renewed focus, middle and senior school
educators were engaged to identify resources that support the delivery of the Bermuda social studies curriculum and enhance student development.

Annual Stakeholder Cultural Conference
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, t he department's annual Cultural Conference is also funded
within this business unit, focussing on education sup-port and the promotion of the Bermuda stakeholders.
The Department of Culture plans to bring stakeholders together again this budget year 2026/27, continuing the
important dialogue to foster collaboration and shape
the future of cultural initiatives.

Business Unit 62050, National Heroes Day

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the amount
budgeted for this business unit is $39,000. It represents
a decrease of $15,000, or 28 per cent when compared
to 2025/26.
The decrease in this is based on no anticipated
new National Hero as part of the legislation in 2026.
Madam Chairman, no new National Hero was named
in the last financial year following the conclusion of the first nomination cycle. And according to the legislation,
the public nomination process occurs once every 10
years and will not reopen again until 2034.
In 2025, the department instead focused on
honouring Bermuda's existing N ational Heroes through
a public celebration recognising their enduring legacy and national significance.

Business Unit 62060, P romotion of the A rts

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the amount
budgeted for this business unit is $32,000. This represents a decrease of $17,000, or 35 per cent less when
compared to 2025/26. The decrease in this business
unit can be attributed to the hiatus of art and public
buildings programme for a future year.

Art in Public Buildings
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the Art in Public Buildings project was launched in 2019 as part of the
Throne Speech. In 2025, the department issued a third
call to Bermudian artists to submit two- dimensional visual pieces. With the assistance of the selection committee, the department selected 18 pieces created by
16 local artists which were printed and displayed in government buildings. This programme will take a hiatus in
financial year 2026/27 to allow for other programmes to
be developed.

Premier’s Concert

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, in 2026, the
Department of Culture returned the Premier's Concert
to its original focus, celebrating and showcasing the exceptional young talent in Bermuda. The event continues to highlight local performers while providing an important platform to inspire and support the next generation of Bermudian artists.

Business Unit 62070, Folklife


Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the budget allocation of this business unit is $95,000, reflecting an
increase of $22,000, or 30 per cent compared to that of
2025/26. Activities that come under this business unit include the Bermudian Heartbeat s Lecture Series and
the Cultural Apprenticeship Programme .

Bermudian Heartbeats

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, in 2025, the
Bermudian Heartbeats Series celebrated its 22nd anniversary. Throughout the year, Bermudian Heartbeats
delivered a diverse programme of lectures and experience. They began in March and they went throughout
the year, Madam Chairman
Madam Chairman, in 2026/27, part of this programme, the Department of Culture will feature events including a tour of the West End Farms, panel discussions and the annual spooky storytelling and carolling
through the parish's events.

Cultural Apprenticeship

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the Department of Culture's Cultural Apprenticeship Programme
is designed to preserve and pass down Bermudian cultural knowledge and skills across generations by pairing exceptional tradition bearers with emerging practitioners. Funding in the 2026/27 budget will support the
continuation and expansion of the Cultural Apprentice-ship Programme.

Business Unit 62080, Research and Publication
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the amount
budgeted for this business unit is $81,000. This repre-sents an increase of $20,000, or 33 per cent when compared to 2025/26.

Gold Bermudians and Voices of the
Rock Documentary Series

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the Department of Culture continues to support creative development, heritage preservation and the celebration of Bermudian achievement through the Gold Bermudians
Documentary Series. This programme brings together
all three pillars of the department's mandate by documenting and sharing stories of Bermudians whose con-tributions reflect excellence and impact.
The Department of Culture will continue to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Bermudians in
2026/27 by continuing the Gold Bermudians and
Voices of the Rock Documentary Series.

Business Unit 62180, Special Projects

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the amount
budgeted for this business unit is $151,000. This represents an increase of $31,000, or 26 per cent from
2025/26. The funds allocated from this business unit
are typically used to support special cultural projects.

Maker Space

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, in alignment
with the [2023] Throne Speech, the Department of Culture will continue to support the operations of MakerSpace launched in December of 2024. Developed in
direct response to feedback from Bermuda's creative
community, Maker Space continues to address the
need for accessible artistic infrastructure and provides
a shared space for creatives to work.
During fiscal year 2025/26 , the facility averaged 20 to 30 bookings per week, demonstrating
strong and consistent community use. In 2026/27,
these spaces will be further developed . . . further developed, Madam Chairman, to develop and support
student use during the day. The Chair of the Educators,
you will be listening to this one.

[Laughter]

Hon. Owen Darrell: That is at CedarBridge Academy.
So essentially, Madam Chairman, the students during
the day will have the ability to use Maker Space.

Creatives Culture Labs
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, in 2025/26 , the
department hosted the fourth set of Creatives Culture
Labs professional development workshops within the Maker Space, continuing to support artists and creatives. These workshops provide tools to enhance participants to foster their growth in Bermuda's cultural industries.
Funding has been allocated in the 2026/27
budget to continue developing these valuable programmes and partnering creatives with industry mentors to support growth.

Business Unit 62210, the Gombey Festival

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the amount allocated for this business unit is $141,000. This represents an increase of $3,000 , or 2 per cent compared to
2025/26.

The Gombey Festival

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the 2025 Bermuda Gombey Festival weekend celebrated one of the
most vibrant aspects of our cultural heritage. And as we
have seen before, we know that this festival showcases
all of our Gombey troupes . It also brings local vendors,
family -friendly activities, and the continu ation of the
Gombey s in the Gardens C ommunity Art Programme.
2174 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly The 2025 Gombey Festival weekend also included a “C ulture and Codfish” event at the Mid- Atlantic
Sports and Boat Club and a Gombey- themed open mic
jam [session] by The Chewstick Foundation, creating a
space for the community to connect “ behind the mas k.”
Madam Chairman, the allocated budget for
2026/27 will cover the cost of event infrastructure, financial awards for the nine active Gombey troops, support for other local dance groups, and additional weekend events celebrating the Gombey art form.
Business Unit 62100, Uncover the Arts Programme
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the allocated
budget for this business unit is $81,000. This amount remains the same when compared to 2025/26.
Creatives Live
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, in 2025/26,
funds from this business unit supported the Creative Lives Performing Arts Series. This programme benefits both local artists by providing performance opportunities and Bermuda ’s social clubs by promoting community engagement.
Madam Chairman, in 2026/27, the department
will build on the success of the Creative Lives Programme by hosting another series of evening concerts
at social clubs and continuing to sponsor open mic
events in partnership with our cultural collaborates.
Gombey Revue
Hon. Owen Darrell: Revue . . . Review? Yes, Madam
Chairman.
In 2026/27, the department will continue the—
Ah! I got it . . . the Rendezvous Gombey . . . let's just
call it Gombey Exhibitions. We'll go there. [The department will continue] a winter season performance series
supporting local Gombey troupes and celebrating Bermuda cultural traditions. The programme provides regular platform for performances that educate, entertain, and engage residents and visitors while addressing the need for consistent public access for Gombey presentations.
The Gombey Exhibitions will remain free, family-friendly initiative that strengthens community connection and cultural visibility.
Subjective A nalysis
Hon. Owen Darrell: The subjective analysis of current
account estimates for Department of Culture is found on [page] B-261.
I will highlight the codes and their increases
and decreases, Madam Chairman. Salaries increased
by [$]89,000 , or 9 per cent from 2025/26. This increase
is required to cover approved negotiated salary wage
uplifts. Advertising and promotion increased by
[$]3,000, or 3 per cent from 2025/26. This increase reflects the department's digital marketing strategy to access users of non-t raditional media to share Bermuda's
history and c ulture. Profes sional service increased by
[$]24,000, or up 3 per cent from 2025/26. This inc rease is
necessary to c over contractor c osts that aid cultural
events and activities driven by the department.
Grants and c ontributions increased by
$40,000, or 9 per cent from 2025/26. This inc rease is
attributed to additional grant funding supported by government's c ommitment to funding the arts, artists , students, c ultural ev ents, and organisers.
Capital Ex penditure
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, as shown on
page C-7 , the capital development budget for the Department of Culture is $69,000. These funds are allocated for the further development of Ma kerSp ace.
The capital acquisition budget for the department as shown on [page] C-14 is $1,000 for the purchase of computer equipment. Madam Chairman, the
full-time equivalents remain at 10 as found in [page]
B-261.
Performance Me asures
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, the department
met or exceeded its performance measures for the
year, reflecting a strong return on public investment.
These performance measures can be found on pages
B-262 and B-2 63 and are further explained as follows .
Business Unit 62000, Grants to Or ganisations
Hon. Owen Darrell: The Bermuda Arts Council’s
grant successfully funded 35 artists, students, and
organisa-tions as planned. While support for cultural
heritage preservation surpassed the target, benefiting 16
organ-isations instead of 12.
Business Unit 62001, Administration
Hon. Owen Darrell: Social media engagement exceeded expectations with average monthly reach of
9,500, surpassing the target of 8,000 and increas ing
public awareness of the department's programming.
Busines s Unit 62010 , Emancipation
and Cultural Festivals
Hon. Owen Darrell: The department met its target by
supporting a number of significant cultural initiatives.
The department also held an annual Robinson/P ackwood Memorial Lecture. Madam Chairman, 80 per cent of
survey ed participants rated their experience as s atisfactory or better.
Business Unit 62020 , Heritage Celebrations


Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Owen Darrell: A total of 650 schools, community
groups, and businesses were engaged to participate in
Bermuda Day Parade, surpassing the target of 500.
Additionally, 75 per cent surveyed participants rated
their Bermuda Day experience as satisfactory or better.

Business Unit 62030 , Cultural Education Programme

Hon. Owen Darrell: The department successfully
hosted the annual conference for cultural heritage and stakeholders.

Business Unit 62050, National Heroes Day
Hon. Owen Darrell: The percent age of attendees who
completed the survey that felt the National Heroes fos-tered national pride was at 100 per cent .

Business Unit 62060, Promotion of the Arts
Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, t he Art and
Public Buildings Programme and the Premier's Concert
supported and promoted local artists by providing public exhibition and performance opportunities. This work
reflected in the performance measured number of art-ists supporting through department's promotional initiatives. Of 2025/26 forecasts of 12 artists, a revised
forecast of 18 artists, and a targeted outcome of seven.

Business Unit 62070, Folklife Bermuda

Hon. Owen Darrell: The Bermudian Heartbeat s Lecture Series played a key role in achieving 100 per cent
satisfaction rate amongst attendees who rated the cul-tural lecture events as satisfactory.
Madam Chairman, 80 per cent of apprentices
reported gaining valuable cultural knowledge and skills through the Cultural Apprenticeship Programme, highlighting its continued effectiveness in preserving and
passing down Bermuda's traditions.

Business Unit 62 080, Research and Publication
Hon. Owen Darrell: The department advanced its research and publication work through cultural and storytelling projects.

Business Unit 62100, Uncover the Arts

Hon. Owen Darrell: The department hosted eight
events showcasing supporting performance artists, including four open mics and four creative live events.

Business Unit 62180, Special Projects

Hon. Owen Darrell: These new performance
measures reflect the transition of Creative Cultural
Labs programming and MakerSpace operations into
the Special Projects b usiness unit, allowing for more focused development and enhanced support for performing artists and creative initiatives.

Business Unit 62210, Gombey Festival

Hon. Owen Darrell: The department successfully
showcased and honoured the contributions of Bermudian Gombey troupes.

Conclusion

Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam Chairman, t his concludes
my presentation for the budget allocation for Head 52,
the Department of Culture.
Madam Chairman, I wish to thank the incredible team at the Department of Culture whose creativity,
care, and dedication help preserve and celebrate the stories that make Bermuda unique. I also extend my
appreciation to all of our artists, our tradition bearers,
and cultural leaders whose work continues to inspire
pride, spark imagination, and connect generations. Together with our staff, cultural partners, grantees, and
community contributors, we are ensuring that Bermuda's heritage is not only protected but continues to grow
and thrive. I am truly grateful for their passion and commitment to our I sland's cultural future.
Madam Chairman, that ends my presentation
for Head 52 under the remit of the Ministry of Tourism
and Transport, Culture and Sport.
Madam Chairman, that also ends my presentation for today's Heads 71, 48, 34, 35, and 52 under
the remit of the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, Culture and Sport.
Thank you, Madam Chairman. And I am sure
that the Honourable Member from the other side will
love the amount of time that I have given him to ask all
of the fabulous questions that he would like answered.
Thank you, Madam Chairman.

[Ms. Renee Ming, Chairman]

Thank you, Minister, to you and your
team.
For the listening public, we have just completed the Minister's presentation in the Committee of
Supply for consideration of the Estimates of Revenue
and Expenditure for the year 2026/ 27. The Ministry was
the Tourism and Transport, Culture and Sport, and the
heads of the presentation were [Heads] 71, 48, 34, 35,
and 52.
I call on any Member who would like to speak
at this time.
I recognise the member from constituency [30],
MP Robinson.

Thank you so much.
So, we will start on Head 71, at page B -234.
And my first question here is on the Department Objectives. I see here number three is to support the contin-ued delivery of an air service development plan for Bermuda. I looked for an update on this plan . And the last
one that I found was in 2024. So , I just wanted to see if
the Minister would be able to give an update on the status of that continued plan, and how it is faring in
2026 /27, and also to give us some highlights on that.
Just moving over to [page] B-235, I'll go up to
General. Actually, let me go down. I will go down to the
. . . Well, actually, no, I will stay in General , 81065, Regulatory Policy and Hotel Air. I just wanted to get a bit of
context. As the Minister mentioned, this is where hotel
inspections and other inspections are held. So, I just
wanted to get a bit of insight into some quantified numbers on how many are done yearly . What are the past
requirements for these inspections ? And just general
knowledge that t he listening public may not have on hotel inspections. Because as we may have seen in our
report recently, there was an unsafe asbestos report up
at Fairmont, which was cleared up later. But I know a
lot of my constituents had concerns about the inspection of the work environment at the hotel. So , I would
appreciate that.

[Inaudible interjections]

Yes, well, you know, but
that's, you know —

[Inaudible interjection] Mr. Dwayne Robinson: So just moving down to Subject Analysis of Current Account Estimates. You have
a training headline in there on page B -235 that was zeroed out in the 2024/ 25 actual and has now been budgeted for $23,000. So, I just wanted to know what was
the reason this training was zeroed out in 2024/ 25, and
what exactly has transpired where this training budget
is now being brought into place and utilised ? Just for
the validation of the listening public.
Also, you know, this is a favourite topic of ours,
but you have the line item under travel.

[Inaudible interjection and laughter ]

There you go.
So, I am just looking to inquire on the reason
for that increase as the actual was only $36,000. So, it
looks like more has been allocated to that travel. And so, what is the Minister's anticipated travel ? Or is this
for the Mi nister ? What is the anticipated travel to be utilised in this line item and who is it for?
Moving to professional services on that same
page, we have a pretty big increase. And I believe this
may be because of the M inister's mentioning of the
amalgamation of the BTA into this head. But I just
wanted to ask the question anyway . Under Professional Services in the 2024/25 actual, it was $48,000.
And we have seen this jump to $804,000 in the original
estimate of 2025/ 26 and going up to $809,000 in the
2026/27 estimate. So, this is obviously a pretty marked
increase. And I just would like to get some insight on
that and why it's happened.
Just moving now over to [page] B-236. Under
revenue source we have 8090, Vacation Rental Fee.
This particular fee continues to underperform in the
Ministry's estimates. We have seen this now for a few
years. I have actually advocated for it to be done away
with completely because it has constantly received criticism from the Airbnb Association. But I just wonder,
why is it that it is still being budgeted a bit higher than
what it is earning? And is there any methodology behind the M inistry or the Minister's reasoning for budgeting that for $400,000? Is there considered to be . . . I
heard in the brief, but it [was going] by pretty fast and
we don't get the briefs. So, I heard a mention of some
registration of the Airbnbs . But I wonder if this increase
is correlated with the Ministry's potential increase in
revenue there.
We also have Hotel Licences . Which again, is
by the 2024/25 actual $25,000, and we have an estimate in 2026/27 of $44,000. So, I'm just wondering if
these revenue estimates are indicative of the Ministry


Bermuda House of Assembly kind of pushing for an increase in revenue, or is there
any sort of methodology as to why this revenue would
be projected to increase when it hasn't in the last few
fiscal years?
Just going down now to full -time equivalents .
We have 81060, which is the Transportation Planning
Team. And I just wanted to know what , specifically , is
this team responsible for , as it seems to be a team of
one. And is that $154,000 that's budgeted for that person's salary or is that including the entire operation of
said team?

[Inaudible interjections]

Here they go.
Okay, I'm going to go to [page] B-249 under
Transport Control Department. So, page B -250 . . .
sorry, page B -250 under subjective analysis of current
account estimates. So, again, one of our favourite topics. I see an increase in travel here as well from
[$2],000 in the 2024/25 actual , to [$]25,000 running
from the original, 2025/ 26 to the 2026/27 estimate. So,
I just wanted to know what that increase in travel was
for.
In Communications as well, I see a marked increase from the 2024/25 actual. So, we are looking at
$125,000. So, I just wanted to get some insight on the
reason for this increase as well , and what that communications department is doing within TCD , just for the
listening audience.
Going down to Repair and Maintenance, for
the 2024/25 estimate of [ $]221,000, we saw a marked
increase to [$]481,000 in the revised 2025/ 26 budget,
and we have marked it down to [ $]271,000 in the
2026/27 estimate. So, I would just like to know what this Repair and Maintenance line item is responsible for
when it comes to TCD , and also what has led to this
savings . [Do] we have any confidence that the savings
in this budget line item will be held when the spending
starts ? Because if we have gone up to [ $]481,000, what
is the methodology that allows us to believe we will stay
to [$]271,000 this time around in the 2026/27 estimate?
And just going to [page] B-251, under 44090,
Road Safety. It's a bit concerning to me that there is
only one FTE in this very critical position . We heard
very sobering statistics from the M inister about the
number of serious road collisions, the number of
deaths, and the loss of life that we have had on the
road, which is . . . and I understand that the Minister's
efforts are supported by the Road Safety Council . But I
do believe that, you know . . . I would like to get a little
insight on this one FTE and some of the responsibilities, because this has to be a very critical job, and
whether or not they have enough resources for them to
be able to complete that function.
So, heading to 44110, Traffic Control. Another
critical service, in my opinion, especially with the recent
concerns around enforcement of traffic laws and policy.
They are down two full -time employees . So is there . . .
I see that it is budgeted to restore that to seven . . . or,
no, restore that to nine, sorry. How is this hiring effort
going? And, you know, how likely is [that] the Ministry
feels that they will be able to restaff that position, those
positions, in this fiscal year?
And just a general question on this same page.
You know, is the Ministry confident that there will be no
need for an increase in resources or full -time equivalents for the new potential r ideshare service that is
slated to be coming into fruition? Is there no additional
admin or any additional service support for the Public
Service Vehicle Licensing Board to be able to take on
this increased load? And I believe the amount could be
up to 150 additional vehicles.

That's the one I support.
But, moving to [page] B-252, just looking at this
business unit 44090, Road Safety . The Project Ride
pass rate, I just wanted to ask for I guess my own benefit of curiosity, with the new on- road safety test that will
be coming in, will we get any statistic added here on
the pass rate for that specifically? I just think, because
it is a new policy, it would be excellent to see how folks
are taking to it, and how, you know, they are passing it.
It doesn't have to happen. But I thought I would ask,
because sometimes we like to see how policies are developing. And because it's already a pass rate line item
there, I thought it would be nice to maybe have an inclusion of that particular line item so we could see how
the new test is making out, and how the learners are making out.
Going down to Examination, which is 44000 on
the same page, I see that it's 10 random vehicle audits per week. And I just wanted to know the methodology
behind that particular number. Does it have to do with
the number of cars that are on the road? Does it have
to . . . well, the number of vehicles that are on the road.
Because [there] is no way to tell whether this is a particularly high number or low number . So, I'm just looking for a bit of quantifying insight on that, as to whether it's based on the num ber of vehicles that are actually
on the road right now.
I also was hoping that in the same performance
measures we may get in the next budget . . . this is
more wishful thinking from me. And of course, I understand there's a lot of work . So, I appreciate the work
that went into this Budget Book. But could we get some
performance measurements on enforcement ? Because, like we have been debating, and I understand
that, you know, in this Honourable House we can go
back and forward. But there are people in the community who are genuinely curious and concerned about
the level of enforcement. I think it would be very helpful
if we could have some performance measures on enforcement and some insights. And if the M inister is willing to share some insights within this performance
measure on enforcement of traffic policy and law, I
would appreciate it. Obviously, it is not required, because it is not in here. But [I am] just throwing it out
there if he decides to be nice today and offer up some
free statistics on this.

[Crosstalk and laughter ]

I am looking at this point five.
And I just wanted to ask about the transition of the bus fleet to fully . . . well, from diesel to electric by 2030. I
heard something slightly in the budget brief from the
Minister, but I just wanted to get some clarification, if I
can, on how confident the Ministry is on reaching this
goal still. What is the update, and where are we going?

[Crosstalk]

Thank you, Madam Chairman.
So, going down to general summary for 3502
on Maintenance. So, we have a slight increase here in
Repair Services , 45090. And I just wanted to know
whether or not this was due to an increase in repairs
necessary or just an increase in cost to do repairs . Because I think that is an important distinction to have for
us who are examining the budget as to whether or not we are looking at a cost of getting these buses repaired
versus actual repairs and actual breakdowns.
And just going over to 3503, Administration.
[There] has been a steady increase in this particular
line item . And I just wanted to get some insight as to
why this administration line item here is getting an additional budget allocation. Is this also part of the negotiated salary uplift ? Or is it due to something else? But
it has increased from $4,417,000, and is progressively
going up, in this 2026/27 estimate, to $5,050,000. So,
we were seeing that sliding scale and I would just like
to know a little bit of insight into that. Thank you.
We have [page] B-254, Public Transportation.
So, up in the subjective analysis I see a line item here for Transport. And the 2024/25 actual there is
$200,003, and then it is revised down in the next fiscal
year to $80,000 and carried over to 2026/27's estimate.
I just wanted to know what the spike in cost was in that 2024/25 actual, and what the reason is for the anticipated drop to $80,000, and whether or not that will
cover this Transport line item.
And again, in this same topic of Travel . Once
again, Travel has increased from [$]12,000 in the
2024/25 actual to [ $]63,000, carrying over to the
2026/27 estimate. So, I would just like to know what the
cause of that increase is.
And moving to Professional Services, we have
a line item here that shows in 2024/25 actual it was


Bermuda House of Assembly [$]787,000, and it has increased to [ $]1,228,000. So,
this is, again, a significant jump. And I just would like to
get insight into that cost increase and what the Professional Services line item actually entails.
Heading down to Materials and Supplies, in the
same box . We had a very large actual here in 2024/25
of [$]1,788,000 for Materials and Supplies. I just would
like to understand what that spike in cost was compared to the budgeted amount going forward, which is
[$]988,000, because, you know, just to get some insight
into that, and also why the new budget is so much lower
than that, which is a good thing. But, you know, we
have to make sure that we can maintain that when the
spending starts . Right?
Okay. So, going to full -time equivalents, I see
that we are down 31 bus operators. So, I'm at 45010
and 14 full -time equivalents in Repair Services, 45090.
So, I'm just wondering how the hiring is going there,
because, obviously, that is a significant shortage of
staff there. And how is it affecting the output and the
staff who are currently working in those two sections?
And also, going down to management support,
we see a decrease of about, I think, seven full -time
equivalents there, from 15 to 8. And it is budgeted to go
back up to 14. But even though we have seen a decrease in staff in the 2024/25 actual, there was
$951,000 allocated to that line item. And though there
is less staff, the 2026/27 estimate is $1,113,000. So,
can the Minister share some insight on this discrepancy
of having less staff, but more money allocated to this
line item?
Let me just check my notes here and make
sure I'm not missing anything.
Now, heading to page B -256, in performance
measurements. In public transportation we have the
number of passenger complaints in business unit 45010 bus operations. I just wanted to know whether or
not this line item, and all the line items under here, can
be numerically quantified. And by that, I mean how
many actual complaints were made, and 50 per cent
less of what ? We only have percent ile-based reporting
here. So, I just wanted to know . . . and this goes for the
number of passenger complaints, reduce the number of serious vehicle incidents, and the improved ridership. If we could get that in actual number quantity,
that would be very helpful.
Going to business unit 45115, Inventory Management, same thing. So, we have an average number
of buses out of service due to parts at 8 per cent in the
actual for 2024/ 25. And it's estimated to come down to
5 per cent . And I just wanted to know that numerically
. . . like how [many] are we dealing with?
Heading into Administration 45120, we have
complete customer service training for frontline staff ,
which is forecasted , or targeted, to be 100 per cent ,
which was the same forecast in the 2025/ 26 original
forecast. But we have seen only 1 per cent of staff completing that. And I mean, I would just like to know why
it's 99 per cent below the estimated forecast, and what the cost is. And how will the M inistry remedy that to
make that target outcome for 2026/ 27?
We also have in that same line item of 45120,
Administration, number of critical vacancies . So, we
have a revised forecast in 2025 /26 of three. And obviously, the hope is that these critical vacancies will be
filled in the 2026/ 27 target outcome. I just wanted to
know what these three critical vacancies are for the department, and whether or not there has been success
in hiring since this was printed.
[Pause]

Thank you.
So, heading to page B -260, which is the Department of Culture, we have general summary. Under
line item 62001 we see an increase there, under administration again. And I wanted to just ask what the
cause of this increase was, going from $927,000 in the
2024/25 actual to the $1,206,000 in the 2026/27 estimate.
And heading down to the 62030 Cultural Education Programme, which I think is excellent. Could I
get a bit of insight on that curriculum as far as what was brought forward by . . . when the Minister sent out that
request and folks got back to him, what was arrived at
as a final ?
Heading to the Promotion of the Arts, we see a
decrease of $17,000, which is a big concern, mainly
because promotion of the arts as you read it as a line
item is something that you think you would want to increase during a time like this. But I just wanted to know
what the reasoning was behind that decrease from the
$49,000 in the 2025 revised, to the $32,000 in the
2026/27 estimate .
So, just an observation that if you were to add
up in the Cultural Affairs Department, the Grants,
Emancipation Cultural festivals, H eritage Celebrations,
Cultural Education Programme, National Heroes Day
and Promotion of the Arts and the Gombey Festival
based under the 2026/27 estimates, they would end up
at $1,032[ ,000] , which is lower than what we pay for
Administration. Right now, we are paying $1,206[ ,000]
in Administration, which is basically more than all of the cultural activities that we are doing in this department.
And I understand that it may be necessary to
have that Administration, but I would like to see a bit of
parity as far as what the taxpayer is spending and what
is being allocated back to them as far as these cultural
outreach and these programmes, which I think are all
very excellent and should be nurtured. So that is just
something that I wanted to bring to the attention of the Minister and the listening audience.
2180 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly And just moving over to page B -261, I see that
in this particular line item under Department of Culture
Subject Analysis, travel is completely zeroed out.

I said, W ow, okay. So, this is
a great buck to a trend here but, I just wanted to know
what the cause was of that zeroed out . Has it been reallocated into another line item? Or is it simply just discontinued in this particular department head?
So professional services, once again, is receiving a bit of a steady increase, not as much as the last
head, but I still would like to know what professional
services are being provided to the Department of Culture and why is it that they are increasing year over
year.
Repair and Maintenance was an interesting
line item to find under Department of Culture. And I see even though $1,000 was spent in 2024/25, it has been
allocated $6,000. And I just wanted to know, what is
some of the repair and maintenance that is happening in the Department of Culture in this line item and why
was it budgeted for an increase?
So, going to [page] B-262, we have business
unit 62001 Administration under performance
measures. And I just wanted to know why this particular
performance measure was discontinued when it came to the average social media reach per month, creating
public awareness .
And on to business unit 62030, the Cultural Education Programme. It was just concerning to me to see
under the Cultural Education Programme, produced educational materials was discontinued. And I feel like
under the Cultural Education Programme, producing
educational materials is kind of a must. So, I am just
wondering why this measure was discontinued and
what does it mean for the functioning of the E ducation
Programme when it is not able to produce educational
materials .
I am j ust going to jump back into my notes
here. I have a few questions.
Okay, so I want to head to [page] C-20, under
the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, Culture and Sport . We have the Tourism Authority Grant. And I just
wanted to get an update on how much of this particular
grant has been spent on the search for the CEO of the
Bermuda Tourism Authority. What is the update on that
search? How is it progressing? And also, I heard in the
brief that it was also meant to drive demand in the slow season. I think that is an excellent metric to aim for. I
just wanted to know how . . . or what presentation was
made that was part of the increase of this $4 million?
What was the business plan? And what was the strategy behind that in improving arrivals during the slow
season?
And I just wanted to know if this also includes
the mitigation of global instability and how that is going
to impact tourism arrivals and the cost of flying. Because, I mean, right now, that cost is looking to go
up for a lot of people. And that is not something that the
Ministry or M inister can control. But this is just an external concern that I have as a Bermudian and someone who really loves tourism and wants it to thrive. Is that
being considered in this plan for the Bermuda Tourism
Authority and its c ollaboration with the Minister?
Also, based on that same line item, has the
BTA produced any statistics or any data to the Minister
to verify that the increase of tourism arrival spending
isn't inflationary? Because, yes, if you are purchasing
more or something costs more, it can be reflected as
an increase in visitor spending. However, if you are getting the same bottle of water, the same Aquafina, and
it is now $4 —and it was $2 last time you came—that
can reflect in visitor spending. But are you getting an actual increase in value? So, I just wondered if the Minister was provided with that data to justify this increase
in $550 million visitor spending, and whether or not
there are any statistics to show that this translated into
any sort of increase in profit for the tourism and hospitality sector . Because along with the rising cost, it
means that the cost of doing business also increases.
So, I just wanted to know if there was any data provided
there to justify and to reinforce that claim of additional
spending of visitor arrivals.
Also, there is a projection of the same number
of cancellations for cruises under that same line item in the brief for the BTA's grant. I just wanted to know, are
those same cancellations from last year factoring in the
potential increase in global instability , again, which
could see many more cancellations, many more drops in travel numbers, especially for cruise ships .
So, I just wanted to know whether or not that
was also included. And forgive me if I missed it in the
brief as to the increase of funds given to Bermuda Airport Authority. If I did, my apologies. But I just wanted
to verify the increase. There is the same one on [page]
C-20 in the same category underneath the Ministry of
Tourism and Transport , Culture and Sport. We see an
increase from $14,901,000 to $15,900,000. I just
wanted to know what the cause of that increase was.
Heading down to line item 7 099, Culture and
Entertainment Support. So, this is something that I
think is money well spent.

[Inaudible interjections]

Yes, yes. There you go. But I
just wanted to inquire.
We have seen a trend here where in 2024/ 25
actual , you had $587,000 and the Ministry actually
budgeted $1,000,000 to increase that, which is good news. But then it seems like the reverse has happened.
We are heading into the revised estimate. We ended
up going over that $1,650,000. And we decreased the
estimate back to . . . Well, I should say we maintained
the estimate of $1,000,000. And I am just wondering , if
we have seen now that the actual cost of this exceeds


Bermuda House of Assembly that, why attempt to go back and budget it down? And
will the M inistry provide the methodology to the Minister
on what are the odds of that $1,000,000 actually being maintained when the spending starts? Because we
won't be able to see until the next fiscal year. So, it's
good to know.
[Inaudible interjections]

Oh, I'm on [page] C-20.
So, on page C -20, under the National Road
Safety . . . the Transport Control Department for the
Road Safety Council . I see an increase from $80,000
to $125,000, which I think I agree with. I just wanted to
know whether or not we would get any KPIs for the Bermuda Road Safety Council . Like, what are the key performance indicators [KPIs] that they are using to justify
any sort of increase in funding ? I also wanted to know
how much policy has been recommended to the Minister from the Bermuda Road Safety Council, and
whether or not we can get any insight on that policy that
has been recommended from the Bermuda Road
Safety Council. And also, if the—

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
On that same line item 6962, Road Safety
Council, can the Minister confirm that the pledged National Road Safety Plan is still on schedule for April 2026 ? And could we get just a bit of insight into what
may come from that , and whether or not the funding for
that line item is secure for that road safety plan in April 2026 ?

[Inaudible interjections]

Thank you so much.
Heading to [page] C-7, I just wanted to go down
to the Department of Culture in 75366, Maker Space for
Creatives. And I just wanted to know, expounding on
the amount of use that the Minister had alluded to, are
the bookings . . . is there a way to determine whether
or not these bookings are done by a select few repeat-edly or a large group over time? And the reason why I
ask that is because I'm trying to gauge, based off of the
brief, the community buy -in for these particular M akerSpaces , because I believe they are a good initiative .
But I want to know whether or not they are being used
by the many , or by the few repeatedly. So, I just wanted
to get that quantified.
[Inaudible interjections]

Is there anybody else that would like to
speak to Heads 71, 34, 35, 48, or 52?
The Chair recognises MP Michael Fah y.

Hon. Michael Fahy: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And
good evening, listening audience, and good evening,
Minister.
Starting with Head 34, I am going to take the
liberty to read out the department objectives, because
whilst we have our Budget Book , the listening audience
does not. It has four Department Objectives :
1) To Improve customer service standards.
2) To regulate and control the number, size and
quality of all vehicles and their operations.
3) To review and modernise Motor Car and Road
Traffic legislation.
4) To develop an improved public service vehicle
network utilising modern technology.
Now, those are very lofty objectives, and we
have already been warned by the Chair man who was
sitting previously to tread carefully in respect of legislation that has been tabled before the House. So, with
that in mind, what I would like the Minister to give answers to is how the department objectives have actu-ally been measured. Because when you look at the performance measures at [page] B-252, there are a bunch
of different areas that have been measured.
And my colleague, the Shadow Minister, has
already made mention that there are no percent ages or
anything to be a true measure of performance. When
2182 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly you have at [page] B-252 outcomes “Achieved, ” “Expected to Achieve” and “Achieved, ” that tells me really
nothing. In fact, that looks like almost a cut -and-paste
job on that page, because everything has been expected to be achieved as a forecast, and it is revised to
say achieved. We have to assume it's achieved without
any real measurables. So, I would hope that maybe
next time around, as my colleague had said, there are
some percent ages.
But with that in mind, it says , To improve customer service standards. There is no real measurability
on that. We see that it is been achieved that, say,
75 per cent of customers get their queries answered
within 30 minutes . Versus what . . . 65? Fifty-five? I
don't know.

Member, just for clarification, you said
that there are no percent ages. There are percent ages
in the performance measures, and it is achieved according to that percent age.
I will use business unit 44090, Road Safety.
The indicator , or the performance measure, is to maintain Project Ride pass rate of 90 per cent . And that is
achieved; that has been achieved with the original . . .
well, is expected to be achieved for the original forecast
for 2025/ 26.

Hon. Michael Fahy: Okay.

That is the . . . on that particular one.
Hon. Michael Fahy: Thank you for the clarification in
respect of that.
What we are saying is in terms of percent ages
overall for one. I mean, I can move on from that if you
wish. But I am talking about when you see performance
measures in other areas, it tells you those numbers in
totality. So achieved and may be achieved . . . or what
is the wording that is used, expected to achieve. But I
draw that back to the department objectives again, im-prove customer service standards . So perhaps the Minister can opine on how those customer service standards have been achieved in terms of department objectives.
It goes on, To regulate and control the number,
size, and quality of all vehicles and their operations .
Well, we have had questions asked here already in respect of the tax industry and enforcement. And it is very
difficult to have any form of real debate on a transport
industry when the key figures really are not here to look
at in any form when you talk about measurement of objectives. What you would really want to see here, I
would submit, and I would encourage the M inister to
ask his staff to get these numbers included next time, that if your objective is to regulate and control all vehicles and their operations, then you should have some
numbers on inspections in respect of taxis . How many
taxis have met the required number of hours pursuant to the regulations and the law ? How many had enforcements taken against them ? What in fact are the enforcement officers doing under those specific objectives?
To review and modernise Motor Car and Road
Traffic legislation . Perhaps there should be some
measure, Mr. Chairman, in respect of the number of
pieces of legislation that are being modernised in this
upcoming year and the expectations by the M inister in
respect of those objectives. I believe that there was one
just tabled that we debated the other night . But if it is to
review and modernise Motor Car and Road Traffic leg-islation, one would expect that there would be some measurables on that.
And then we see , To develop an improved public service vehicle network using modern technology . I
suppose we will get all the details that we want in Friday's debate in respect of that particular objective, I would say, unless, of course, the Minister is prepared
to give us a taster this evening so we have a real un-derstanding of what that improved public service vehicle network is going to look like and, of course, utilising
all the modern technology that is listed in the objectives.
Now, moving to [page] B-256 . . . sorry, I'm just
going to move to Public Transport, that is Head 35.
And, again, I'm going to start with those department objectives. And I won't bore everyone by reading all of
these ones because there's quite a number . . . six . . .
six, I think. But first off , To deliver a convenient and
cost-effective daily bus service. And the M inister was
very robust in his presentation about the amazing bus
service. “World -renowned, ” I think, was the phrase that
was utilised in respect of the Bermuda bus service.
But, again, what is interesting, to me at least,
is under the performance measures . It does not get into
the number of routes that were cancelled throughout the year. It does get into some of the details about the
number of buses that are not on the road for various
reasons. But what people really want to know when you
look at performance measures is how many bus routes are cancelled, because that is a daily occurrence.
Now, it's believed, and it's certainly been stated
by the Government that presumably moving over to this electric vehicle fleet by 2030, and the M inister has said
and indicated to my colleague that that, I believe, is on track. But I do find these things interesting because in that same presentation that the Minister gave he said
that the EV policy, I think is coming out in 2027 for
transport overall. Again, these things seem to me to be
backwards. And perhaps the Minister can opine on how
you hit a target of 2030 when the overall policy we have
not even seen yet.
I find these things at odds. We are buying
buses that are electric. We are moving forward, which
is okay. But how does that match with the EV policy


Bermuda House of Assembly overall? Maybe you can comment on that and undertake, of course, to table that report that he makes mention of in this House rather than like sometimes we see
in this Government just simply bringing it to the press.
It would be useful for open debate.
So again, in respect of those performance
measures, it's interesting as to what is not here. And
that is the main performance measure of the number of cancellations. So perhaps the Minister can share with
us the number of cancellations of last year and how that will improve with the major purchases that we saw un-der the capital grants in s ection C of the number of new
buses.
Again, staying with this particular performance
measure, there is no real measure here from what I
could tell in terms of buses being on time, how close do they come to what is the expectation, et cetera. I also
heard the Minister . . . So that, in fact, goes under the
department objective. Again, s ection [page] B-253, it
says, To ensure buses operate reliably according to the
published schedule. Now, that brings me to a comment that I believe the Minister said that there was going to
be some capital invest ment in a new system to assist
scheduling of buses.
Now, when I heard that, I have to tell you, Mr.
Chairman, I got very excited, as excited as one can be
under the world- renowned bus system in Bermuda.
That maybe, just maybe, there is a new schedule coming.

[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Michael Fahy: No, no, I'm just . . . I think what
was said . . . Maybe the M inister can intervene on that
one point. I would be happy to give way on a point of
information.
But perhaps, given that it is according to the
published schedule, it would be useful to know if there is likely to be a new schedule.
To maintain the fleet in accordance with technical specifications . There's not much that I can say
about that.
And, To promote increasing use of digital fare
media. And the M inister made some useful comments
in relation to giving all riders the ability to use electronic means on buses. And that has been a long time coming, because I can share that that was something that,
when I was M inister, gosh, eight, nine years ago, we
started to explore. And then our time ran out. So, we
congratulate the M inistry if, in fact, that can happen, instead of passengers scrambling around for some
change. I do not know who even carri es change anymore. But, there we are. So perhaps that's helpfu l.
The Shadow Minister has already inquired as
to the number of buses that are electric already . And
perhaps the Minister can outline in some further detail
the number of buses that are anticipated still to be re-placed. We are still seeing, obviously, a number that are running off of . . . I believe they use diesel. And he
can opine on that.
So, if I can also now turn to the Transport Control Department, otherwise known as TCD, which the
Minister advised us of, which . . . I'll leave it there.

[Laughter]
Hon. Michael Fahy: The Minister made mention of the
fact that there are plans to remove the requirement for this medical test that is done every time you renew your
licence up to the age of . . . and then when you hit 70. I
think it is going to change to only doing it when you
reach the age of 70. And then it is a self -declaration as
to advising the department if you have any issues that
may prevent you from driving. Perhaps the M inister can
share why the age of 70. It's an arbitrary number . Is it
based on specific data as to acci dent rates? Is it based
on some other data? Because we should be datadriven when decisions are made. So, hopefully, he can
opine on that.
I do recall that this issue, though, of removing
the requirement for a medical test was announced quite
some time ago. And the Minister had said in his statement that he's cutting red tape, and all of these things .
Really great buzzwords. How long does it take to take
a medical form out of circulation and say it is not required? It could happen today, just like that. And I am
not sure why it has taken so long. I just don't . . . I find
it . . . the words don't add up in my brain. We cut red
tape, but we are still here months and months later
opining on the removal of the medical form.
Minister, come on. We can do faster. We can
do better on that for sure.
That leads me on to the next remark that the
Minister had made in respect of new vehicles where,
quite right, when you have a brand- new vehicle, to have
it inspected as frequently as may be required. And I believe the Minister said you would then remove the requirement for the third- year inspection. I think that's
what was said.

[Inaudible interjections]

Hon. Michael Fahy: Great. I don't think anyone can
complain about that.
But with that in mind, perhaps he can advise
when that is going to happen. Give us a specific date. I
think that would be useful so the public can plan. They can have an understanding of what the expectations
are, not just saying it's happening. We hear this all too
frequently. Things are happening; things are coming.
And here we still are with some of these issues.
Looking at page . . . Sorry, I am just going to go
back. Forgive me, Mr. Chairman, for dancing around a
bit on some of these heads. I'm just going to claw back to Head 35 on [page] B-254.
When you look at some of the revenue numbers there on passes and the like, we see that numbers
2184 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly are going . . . What's the number here? Sorry. Eighty -
eight. So, if you look at tickets and tokens and whatnot,
the numbers are not really changing overall. For the
2025 /26 original estimate on revenue, it was
$5,551,000. The revised remains the same. And the
estimate for 2026/27 is exactly the same as this past
year. I find that number hard to understand.
Given the speech that was . . . the brief that the
Minister read, that the public transport system is so
world -renowned, everybody should be using it . All
these health benefits . But the revenue is not increasing.
It should, really, if we are driving towards . . . and forgive the pun, but if we are driving towards using the
public transportation system, that revenue number
should really be going up, certainly to match the brief
that the Minister gave, I would suggest.
In terms of page B -256, and we are looking at
the employee numbers and full -time equivalents, I note
that in 2024/25 there were 134 bus operators. The original estimate in 2025 /26 was 168. It was revised down
to 137. But the estimate for this year goes back up to
168. But I believe I heard the M inister use a phrase of
. . . and forgive me, I didn't write it down as quickly
when I heard it . But there was something about cross -
collaboration, or people filling different roles . And I think
perhaps the Minister could opine on that and how that
relates, if I heard it correctly, to public transport ; how
there are potential cross -roles within the public transportation system.
My concern here, Mr. Chairman, when I see
these numbers of anticipated full -time equivalents, is
I'm just not sure where the staff are going to be re-cruited from. And the reason I say this, and I would like
some further details as to why this department believes that it can have an inc rease of quite a significant number, when in the previous year, the previous 2024/ 25,
they could not recruit, or at least the numbers show that there was no increased recruitment, as to how that is
different this year when we have heard repeated representations from another Minister about how Bermuda
has full employment. So where are these numbers
coming from?
And this is throughout a lot of these heads. We
say we are going to recruit, but where from? It's going
to be very difficult to find the individuals to do this work
when we know, as the Minister has said, and this is
across the industry, when we know that there are ageing drivers across most of public transport . And we see
it in areas as well in heads that we haven't chosen for debate.
But the point is being, I think, well made, that
we must understand how those numbers . Because
when there are budgets like this, it can be confusing.
And I'm just going to give a brief explanation, if you give
me some latitude, Mr. Chairman.
You budget for full -time equivalents. Those
numbers stay in that budget even if those people are not recruited. So, in some way, it kind of gives a false
narrative as to what the true numbers are, because you are budgeting for something that may or may not happen. And when I see numbers of increased staff over
and above the previous year , when those numbers
were not met from the year before that, we have to be
very careful. Are these numbers just pulled out? And if
there's no schedule change, which we have been told
there is not, then what is the requirement for those increased numbers of staff? If the routes are not chang-ing, why need more staff? Again, perhaps the M inister
could opine on that point.
Now, maybe, maybe the answer is that there
has been so many bus cancellations because we don't
have enough staff. Maybe the Minister can show that ,
if, in fact, that is the case . Because if it's not, then it's
something else. And if it's buses out of service, and it's
parts not available, then perhaps we should be delving deeper into the numbers in the budget about servicing of buses and parts and things like that. So, I'll leave that
there. I think I have given enough for the Minister and
his team to opine on.
Let me just look at . . . Right. If I can please turn
to [page] C-24, which is the Grants for the different . . .
Sorry, [pages] C-23 and C -24. It's the Grants and Contributions (for those who are interested in understanding and listening to what we are saying, because you
do not have a book in front of you) . It is the contributions
to sports development by this M inistry . And it lists,
gosh, I mean, there must be 30 or so different contributions that are given. And in a number of ways it seems
just arbitrar y. Numbers are just put out there.
Now, in the grand scheme of things, when you
are looking at a budget of a Bermuda Government of
(what ?) $1.2 billion these, overall , are not particularly
large numbers in the grand scheme of things . But they
are still important . Because, Mr. Chairman, each one of
these mostly involves young people, mostly involves
development of our youth. And I would like some understanding from the Minister as to the criteria that is,
in fact, utilised in respect of allocating this money.
So, take, for example . . . I'll jump to Bermuda
Triathlon Association, $40,000. Okay? We have a gold
medal winner who has competed in triathlon. So one
has to say, Well, okay, that's $40,000 there. But then
there are other numbers where you say, Well, Bermuda
Netball Association gets $125,000. I just would like
some understanding as to how each one of these is allocated, because it's based on a simple application.

Just a quick correction. On page C -23,
Bermuda Triathlon Association was allocated $65,000.

Hon. Michael Fahy: Yes. Sorry. That's my . . . I think it
was, I was looking at the line before . . . sorry, Bermuda
Volleyball Association was $40,000, the next line down .
You are right, $65,000.


Bermuda House of Assembly But the point is still made. How are those numbers allocated in total? I look at Bermuda Basketball
Association, for example, $5,000. That does not seem
like . . . that seems [like a] paltry sum compared to, say,
netball. I'm not following. Maybe it's because they didn't put in a proper application. I don't know.
We see, on the next, we see Bernews. Presumably, they get an allocation of $10,000 because they do coverage for sporting events. I mean, I don't
know. But these are extensive numbers of grants, and I have no doubt that some recipients as much as . . .
will be quite upset when they perhaps see the grants
that are given to other sporting organisations.
And again, I just point this out because you
take, for example, Bermuda Karate Federation is
$20,000, and then you see the Bermuda Sanshou Association gets $35,000. Very similar sports, I think. But
again, I think the point is well made.
I will leave that there for the moment. I will likely
come back with some further questions, Mr. Chairman,
when I get the opportunity. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
And I appreciate the opportunity.
I want to start off by thanking the Minister for a
comprehensive brief and also allowing persons time to
engage in the debate. And I would just like to declare
my interest . I am a member of the Bermuda Tourism
Authority. And I just want to just take the opportunity to
thank the fellow board members and our new chairman, substantive chairman, who is doing a very good job. And [I] thank the Minister for the increase that was
afforded to the Tourism Authority.
In fact, for a few years the BTA had to operate
with a decrease in its budget. And I know it is very appreciated that an increase was forthcoming. And for
that, [I am] very appreciative. And I can concur with the
Minister, Mr. Chairman, with regard to the focus on the
November to April period, which some people call the shoulder months. It's had many . . . I concur because
that is one of my hobby horse events.
I have a couple of questions for the Minister.
And I will declare my other interest is that I have spent
55 years in this industry. And I owe my life to it. And I
am very passionate about it, as I am sure persons know
already.
I would like to ask the Minister if he can just
share how he would feel [about how] the collaboration
between the Ministry and the BTA is from his estimation. In particular, because he has some of the very critical points of tourism in an all -encompassing Ministry,
as you would know, Mr. Chairman: Transport . We can't
go anywhere without air or sea. He also has Culture, which is critical to the identity of Bermuda. And he has Sport, which is the heartbeat of many a community, including ours.
I would like to know how the Minister sees being able to integrate those, even those domestic events
like the arts, into Tourism. And I would like to ask him
to address that, if there's time. Although I think he's left
some time to be able to jump in again.
I have another more specific question as it relates to Head 35, which . . . and [page] B -257 programme 4801, 58010. And it deals with the planning
team of Transport. So, more policy as it comes out of
Transport.
And I declare my interest, I'm the Member of
Parliament for constituency 2, St. George's West. So , I
apologise if this might be somewhat specific to that. But you would know that we are a seaport, the oldest sea-port in the Western Hemisphere. And I would like to
know if the Planning Team of Transport are planning to
have a commuter service by sea between St. George's and the C ity of Hamilton. Obviously, I work also and
sometimes ply my trade at Newstead. So, I have al-ways advocated for the pink. And so, I want to know if
there is any consideration, not only for commuter service, which I am praying will happen, but also for —

[Inaudible interjections]

Well, in the Tourism vein ,
are we considering commuter services that will feed
people from neighbourhoods to the bus so that persons like me can help the Minister get the word out and tell
people why they should get on the sea and avoid being
in their cars ?
And I think those are the questions that I had
for the Minister, but just to thank him for his efforts and
that of his teams.

Yes. Good evening, Mr. Chairman,
members of the listening public and this Honourable
House.
Just a couple of questions regarding performance measures on H ead 35, page [B -]256, business
unit 45115, minus 5 per cent buses out of service for
parts and stock parts, preventative maintenance 70 per
cent. The question I have is the performance measure
regarding the stock parts of 70 per cent. How does that
impact on the buses being out of service? Is that the causative factor for the buses being out of service? And
does it suggest that maybe the parts need to be
stocked 100 per cent of the time?
2186 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly I will go to business [unit] 45010, number of
complaints . It is important, I think, for the listening public and for the administrators of the Transport Control
and Ministry of Transport to understand the nature of
the complaints so that any action taken will be appro-priate to address that. I would want to know, and I think
the listening public as well, were the complaints to do
with safety ? Or was it about professionalism, or other?
Business unit 45090, Repair Servic es. I would
ask why the goal was not 100 per cent to make sure
that repair servicing occurred 100 per cent of the time
because we are aiming for the absolute best service for
the sake of our locals and tourists.
Business unit 45120, Administration. Mr.
Chairman, 1 per cent of persons receive customer service training . And I'm wondering why that was set a s
the target. I am not sure if my colleague already mentioned that.
Performance report analysis was discontinued.
And under service, it would seem as though that would
be the most important performance measure because
it gives a detailed analysis of what the issues were that
needed to be addressed to improve performance and
safety regarding public transportation.
And those are my submissions. Thank you.

Thank you, MP.
Are there any other M embers who would like to
speak to Tourism and Transport , Culture , Heads 71,
34, 35, 48 and 52?
The Chair recognises the Honourable Michael
Fahy.

Hon. Michael Fahy: Thank you again, Mr. Chair man.
Just looking at Tourism, and I'm looking at
Head 71 to begin with, and again looking at the department objectives. And the final one says , To increase
collaboration between cultural sport and tourism sectors to drive economic growth and innovation. And
again, when you look at these lofty goals, I always want
to see how in fact they are measured.
And perhaps the M inister can give us some information on how the collaboration of this Headquarters
has helped drive economic growth and innovation, es-pecially in the hotel industry . Perhaps he may opine on
the development , or lack thereof , at Ariel Sands or
some other areas like the White Sands Hotel , and other
opportunities to help drive economic growth and innovation, because Tourism still is a second part of our
economy after International Business.
And notwithstanding that the BTA has an enormous amount of responsibility, the Minister did in fact
say before that it is essentially a marketing agency. So,
in terms of finding ways to drive economic growth, perhaps the Minister can share with us what the department has done in respect of those objectives to help
drive that economic growth and support his M inister of
Labour and E conomy. When you look as well . . . then you skip to
[page] C-20, and you see that there [is] a significant
sum that was spent in 2024/ 25, which was $16,040,000
. . . it then went down, which that was last year's B udget
Debate. But again, still a strange thing when we are
looking to increase Tourism opportunities to
$15,500,000. That revised estimate is still $15,500,000
and has now jumped significantly to $19,500,000.
Now the Tourism Authority gets quite a significant grant . And I am wondering, given that we have a
hotel opening, the Southampton Princess, and given
the revenues that I believe the Tourism Authority will
get from the opening of the new hotel and the numbers
of people that are expected to frequent that establishment, why is that jump as a grant when the Tourism
Authority should be able to find a way to support itself ,
as was always envisaged , with some of the revenues
that are coming in from hotel occupancy? Again, there
should be reliance on that . And perhaps the Minister
can opine on that for us.
When we look at Culture and Entertainment
Support, again, this is [page] C-20, Mr. Chairman, and
it's line item 7099, and the M inister has made many
representations in this H ouse about the money that has
been spent on different events . In fact, I seem to remember in a speech during the economic debate that
he mentioned about the fantastic drone show . I think it
was at Christmas or the New Year, I saw it . But what
are the measurables that the M inister or his department
use in respect of these events to measure the number
of tourists that it is supposedly aimed at that are then
contributing to the grants that are given to the BTA to fund these events?
Because sometimes I believe that we are putting money into different events at a time when there
really isn't, and there are not a lot of tourists that are
flocking to Bermuda to see certain events at all , and
they are nice haves . And I just wonder if there are those
measurabl es. It's certainly not to take away. I do not
want the Minister to say , Oh, this Member doesn't care.
And it's great to see that we have different opportunities
for different types of shows and events . But if it is for
Tourism and to increase the levels of Tourism through
these different grants, I would like information. And I am
sure the listening public would like information as to
how those grants are given in measurability.
So, when we talk about the drone show as an
example, how can the M inister measure the success of
that in terms of driving Tourism growth ? And how does
that then affect the following year's grant or funding for these different events? Perhaps the Minister can share
that with us as well.
Now, forgive me, I might have not heard it, but
I see at line item 6918, parish council commitments has
risen heftily . And again, we are not talking about millions. We are talking $37,000 to $70,000. Again, it's important to at least raise these things because little num-bers add up across an entire Budget Book. And when
you are talking about costs and red tape, et cetera, et


Bermuda House of Assembly cetera, you want to understand where these numbers
come from. So, perhaps the M inister can opine on that .
And again, Grants to External Bodies . Forgive
me if the Minister did speak about it, it has gone from
$542,000 to $ 8,000, [it has] gone the other way, and
perhaps he can opine on that as well.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I suppose the
Minister will spend some time answering, and we can
always come back with more questions once we hear the answers —

[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Michael Fahy: —or . . . Well, you know, we shall
see. The Minister does say he's so very generous, we
shall see. Thank you, Mr. Chair man.

[Inaudible interjections]

Good afternoon, thank you, Members.
Is there anybody else who would like to . . . are
there any other Members who would like to speak to
Tourism and T ransport, Culture, Heads 71, 34, 35, 48,
or 52?
For the listening audience, this was a debate
that has just over one hour left. It will be ending at 8:14 [pm], and it is currently 7: 11 [pm]. The M inister is
going to take the floor next and answer the questions
and submissions that have been posed to him.
Minister, you have the floor.
Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you, Mr. Chair man.
And I acknowledge the Honourable Member
from constituency 2, who did acknowledge that I gave
everyone that is in here this evening a robust two and
a half hours . Even longer than I spoke to respond to . . .
or ask questions and dig right into this, you know, sub-mission of budget. I am surprised you didn't ask something. Two and a half hours . I thought you would. I tell
you, you ain't getting no more. It's over. It's over.
[Laughter]
Hon. Owen Darrell: So with that said, I will go through
this as best I can and in as much detail as possible, Mr.
Chair man, because I am sure after the extensive time I
gave that the public are listen ing intently to get the detailed answers and information to the questions that the
other Members did ask. So, I am going to start from the
top. I know some of these questions bounced around
to different heads that we did, but I am going to go
through, and I want to thank the team who are here so
that we can [give] as many answers as possible.
So, the first question, and if you don't mind, Mr.
Chair man, just so the listening audience and everyone
who is in here can follow along as to where we are, I
will repeat the question so that everyone knows exactly
what we are answering about and what we are talking
about. And if I may, Mr. Chair man, I would also like to elaborate a little further on some of the answers, if that
is okay with you.

As long as you don't reflect on a previous debate earlier today or pre- empt a debate that is
already on the O rder Paper.
Hon. Owen Darrell: No, no, not at all. Not at all.
So, the first one was the department objectives
number three. I think it was asked if I can provide an
update on the continued Air Service Development Plan
for 2026/27 and the highlights. And I would first like to
point out that the Air Service Development Committee involves a few individuals. It involves an individual, the
acting CEO from the Bermuda Tourism Authority, Ms.
Erin Wright, who is currently down in Routes America s,
representing Bermuda as the Routes. . . at the Routes
Americas Conference.
And, Mr. Chair man, you would know that this is
a major airline conference, and a majority of individuals
who go down there go specifically to talk about air service development. So that was such a fitting question
by the Honourable Member from the other side about
our Air Service Development Committee.
So, as I said, Ms. Erin Wright is on the Air Service Development Committee. The CEO, President of
Skyport, Mr. Aaron Adderley is also on the Air Service
Development Committee. As we know, our airport providers should definitely be a part of air service development when we are doing that.
We also have Mr. Lester Nelson, who is the
CEO, Mr. Chair man, as you would know, of the Bermuda Airport Authority and the part that they play in air
service development. And the final member of the Air Service Development Team is the C hair, the current
Chair of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, Mr. Billy Griffith.
So, I'm very happy that the Air Service . . . Mr.
Chair man, you are on that Air Service Development
Committee too as well. I'm shocked to see you. I
thought you would have made it down in Routes as
well. But we are so glad that you are here to shepherd
us through this so important Budget Debate. So , with
the Air Service Development Committee, as the Honourable Member from the other side asked, I'm happy
to talk about what they are doing and the strategy that
we have.
As it has been noted previously , the Air Service
Development Committee does go and meet with air-lines. And one example, if I can give with the time and resources and money that is spent on this committee,
is that we had a meeting with one airline and we asked
them, Listen, every time you come to Bermuda, the
business class section is full. Could you consider putting a different aircraft on to expand the business class
for many of the business travellers who come to Bermuda? And any of you who have ever travelled recently
out of New York would know that the 737 has been put
2188 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly on instead of the [Airbus] A319s. So, [they] have doubled the business class .
And I am sure the business travellers coming
from New York are happy about that . Because you
would know , the Air Service Development Committee
as was asked by the Honourable Member, pointed out
that people are spending far too much money on prices
to sit in a non- business class seat. So , we are happy
that the Air Service Development . . . that is just one
example of what they have done so eloquently to make
sure that air service development is being talked about.
The Air Service Development Committee has
updated its strategy with 2025 data as well as 2026 projections. And the committee, which [is] made up of the
representatives I did speak about, is continually working on the plan. So, they are working the plan that they
have. In fact, as I did say , representatives are right now
in Routes Americas at a conference that has thousands
of people who talk about air service development.
I just got a note this morning, Mr. Chair man,
that one of our major carriers would like to discuss with
us a new route coming to Bermuda. So, this is all due
to the Air Service Development Committee. So, the
funds that are being spent on this, as we are talking about the B udget Debate, Mr. Chair man, are definitely
funds well spent for this Air Service Development Committee, so that we can continue to get routes to Bermuda, make sure that we are making the right deci-sions so that we can ultimately get our vi sitors to Bermuda.
Whether it be in the business realm, we have
got a hotel opening up, and the Air Service Development Committee continues to let these partners know
that we are increasing our room rates and the like. So,
while the Air Service Development Committee is very,
very important, and I want to thank the Honourable Member for asking about the Air Service Development Committee so that we can update the public on how
they are.
Our air capacity —

Minister, just to add to that, the hotels
are also represented on the Air Service Development Committee as well.

Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you, Mr. Chair man. I appreciate that.
And air capacity to Bermuda in 2026, due to
the work of this Air Service Development Committee,
Honourable Member on the other side, is expected to increase tremendously. So I really , greatly thank you
for asking those questions on air service development.
On to the second question asked by the Honourable Member from the other side. It was regarding
general, I think, on s ection 81065. The Honourable
Member from the other side asked if I can provide insight as to how many hotel inspections are conducted each year, and what the past requirements are, and
any general information that the public may not have. I mean, I am not going to go all night, Mr. Chair man, because I only have a little under an hour left, but I can
speak quite substantively about general inf ormation
that these . . . our tourism inspectors are doing.
Inspections are conducted twice annually,
once in the summer, largely to do with the exterior components of the properties . And that would be, Mr. Chairman, swimming pools, et cetera, porches, balconies,
and that type of stuff. And then you have one winter
inspection. And the winter inspection is conducive because of the elements outside that you do a lot of the inspections indoor s, including consultation with the Department of Health, the Bermuda Fire Service. These
inspections are carried out as per the H otels (Licens ing
and Control ) Regulations 1976, and they largely ensure
that the safety and health of visitors is at the fore.
So, I really do appreciate this question regarding this lovely work that the inspectors in the Tourism
Policy and Regulation Unit do to ensure the health and
safety of our visitors. These inspections are conducted
to ensure that the properties are maintained at international standards. Very important, Mr. Speaker
. . . sorry, not Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chair man, that we are
on the cutting edge of what the rest of the world is do-ing, and we are meeting those standards.
Formal inspections are carried out by the end
of March 31, each year. There are currently 45 hotel
properties that are listed on the Tourism Accommodation Inventory. And I would just like to say here that it
was mentioned about some matters that may be happening at a hotel that is not currently online. That would
be considered a construction site . And those types of
matters are actually carried out from a different ministry, the Ministry of Health. So, hotel inspectors would
not be, at this time, conducting inspections at the property of which I think you were talking about, and some
of the matters that we see up there.
So, thank you for asking about that. I'm sure
that the hard workers and inspectors in the Tourism
Policy and Regulation Unit will be very pleased that you
asked about the role that they play and the importance
that they play in carrying out these inspections.
So, Mr. Chair man, I'm going to move on, if you
allow me to, to go to the next question. There was a
question about why training was zeroed out in 2024/ 25.
The training budget was not used in 2024/ 25. However,
it was budgeted for 2025/ 26. Training will occur in quarter 2 of 2026 to ensure that compliance officers are all
up to date with these international standards.
There was a question under travel. The Honourable Member from the other side has asked if I can provide a reason for the increase in travel, and what is
the anticipated travel to be used for this line item, and
who is it for . I just wanted to issue and offer some clarification around that, Mr. Chair man, if I may . There is
no increase in travel from the prior year, 2025. However, from 2024 the marked increase is due to the
changes in the M inistry portfolio that came about in


Bermuda House of Assembly 2025. And travel is in relation to [me], and other relevant technical officers.
So, as you know, this M inistry has increased
quite substantially. And at many times, as you talk
about going back to the Air Service Development, when
it talks about different national sporting governments
that have come and requested that the government
support them in certain international competitions .
There was a major cultural fest, CARIFESTA , that is a
full showcase of cultural and regional displays that
would have been a shame if Bermuda did not make it to those cultural festivals.
So, you know, we are doing hard work, good
work in this M inistry. And that is why you would see that
increase. And I can tell you that it is a very, very important work that is being done in those spaces.
So, the next question was regarding professional services, Mr. Chair man. And the Honourable
Member from the other side has asked if I can provide insight to the marked increase in this line item. And that
is just kind of a procedural matter, that this is due to a merge between Head 48 (which was the previous one)
and the new one, which is Head 71. So that is the increase in that line item, and that is why you would see it there.
The following question came from page B -236,
Mr. Chair man. And the question was, under revenue
source vacation rental fee, why is it still being budgeted for more than what it is earning? Is there a methodology
behind the budgeting for this line item? The compliance aspect . . . it is very important , you know that compliance is important in effective governance, Mr. Chairman. So , the compliance aspect of this vacation rental
sector is still under review. Vacation rental property
owners are largely non- compliant. And compliance includes the inspection of vacation rental properties.
The projected revenue has been targeted in
the anticipation of increased compliance. Increased
compliance will help to protect the integrity of Bermuda
as a jurisdiction, and it will ensure the safety of all those
who choose Bermuda as a travel destination. So , although it has not been compliant, you cannot just say,
Well, we're just going to forget about it and drop it off .
As far as, you know, the anticipated revenue. You have
to put it there so that we are on par, as I stated before
in a previous answer, with international standards.
So, the question wa s, are these numbers indicative of a hope for greater revenue? Nothing that the Government does is of hope, Mr. Chair man. If I may
say. I mean, it is of the hard work that we are all doing
and proper evaluation and looking forward. But increased compliance as per the law. We always tell people as legislators, we have to follow the law.

Mm-hmm.

Hon. Owen Darrell: So, Mr. Chair man, sorry, as part
of the Vacation Rentals Act 2018, this will result in increased revenues as part of the Vacation Rentals
(Application and Registration) Fees Act of 2023.
The following question was regarding 81060.
And what is this team of one responsible for? Are the
funds here allocated for that one person's salary or for
a team? It is the salary of one full -time employee who
manages all aspects of the cruise ship operations in
Bermuda for the M inistry, including the contracts, including the logistics, regulations, and day -to-day coordination with stakeholders to ensure continuous and efficient service delivery. All right ? This individual also
leads key transportation proj ects and undertakes policy
research to support the M inistry's priorities and longterm planning.
And I know, we have a major conference that
is coming up . And I know that in this section, this individual is key as far as organising that and making sure that we have a proper strategy in place when we go
down to increase the work that is Bermuda in this cruise
ship industry.
The question that has come from [page] B-250,
where he asks about subjective analysis. What is the
increase in travel for ? Also, for communications in TCD
. . . it was a question. I'm not sure I captured that question effectively, but I will try to answer the part of it that
I can. There was no increase in funding for the budget.
Mr. Chairman, 2024/ 25 speaks to the actual funding
that was used.
Next question is, what is the repair maintenance line item for, and what has led to this savings, and what was the method that leads to the belief that
this will stay within the budget? The repair and maintenance line item is for maintenance needed within the three TCD sites. As you would know, Mr. Chair man, we
have made it easier that not everybody has to come
into the C ity of Hamilton and have to visit TCD down on
11 North Street to get their car passed.
The Transport Control Department saw fit
many years ago to put satellite sites (they call them).
One is the main site at Transport Control Department
on 11 North Street. The other one is down at Southside,
which is down in the P arish of St. George’s , and the
other one is up in Sout hampton, which is at the Rockaway just by the Rockaway Ferry stop is.
To address these facility maintenance issues
within the infrastructure, examination equipment has
helped us with this line item. So that's where that line
item comes from.
There was a question on [page] B-251 when
we talked about [business unit] 44090. And this is one
that I understand, Mr. Chairman , that individuals are
talking about in the news often, and that is road safety.
So, they've asked us to provide an insight as to the full -
time employees when it comes down to road safety and
their responsibilities. And there was a question as to if
there are enough resources at TCD with this individual
to complete their functions. The full -time employee that
is listed here works in collaboration with the Road
Safety Council, and that's what we want to hear from.
2190 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Right? It is the individuals who are selected to be on
that Road Safety Council who come from many different aspects around the I sland.
And you can go many years back where Dr.
Froncion i was the chairman of the Road Safety Council. And he came with an expertise from his professional
background that he brought to the Road Safety Council. And it remains that fact, Mr. Chairman. So, while I
know we're questioning what that one employee does, [much] of the work and [much] of the policy is driven on
the advice that comes through the officer , and then is
briefed, and it might go into a policy document that may
turn into legislation. [That] comes from the Road Safety
Council. This individual manages the information that is
sent out.
So, you get in a room with the Road Safety
Council . You may have I think it's 12 people on that
Council that sit in a room. And it has to be managed. It
has to be brought together so it goes effectively either
to the public or to drafters who are doing legislation or
even into schools at times. So, they manage that information, they send it out to encourage safe driving behaviours.
This individual is also instrumental with the execution and training of the Project Ride instructors. I'm
not touching on a debate that we had previously, Mr.
Chairman, but that goes directly to what that individual
does. And we've seen in a previous debate ( that I'm not
going to go down that road of ) that there's a lot that
goes into this. There's a lot that goes into making sure that our young people at the first opportunity are trained up correctly . And that starts with the Road Safety Council members . And then it is brought together again almost, like people say , quarterbacked by this full -time
employee.
They also deal with strategy development
within the Road Safety Council, as well as the imple-mentation of those strategies throughout the year, and
it makes sure that it is all executed. You know, you will
see also some other things that , when we have Road
Safety Week, someone has to bring that together. So
that's what this full -time employee does.
You would see that we have a very well -attended session that they usually have at City Hall. What
you do not see is that they also help the Road Safety
Chairman with coordinating school visits. I know they
go into the high schools, and some of these visits can
get very gruesome because the information that needs
to be passed on to our young people about correct habits on the roads is very, very important. So that is the full-time employee that was listed there. And I'm happy
to be given the opportunity, Mr. Chairman, to speak to
what that employee actually has remit over.
The next question was on [business unit]
44110 around traffic controls. How are the hiring efforts going, and how likely does the Ministry feel that they will be able to restaff those positions? We currently
have two temporary reliefs that are fulfilling those positions. We have commenced advertising efforts with advertising those positions, and it's due to go out this
Friday. It is our belief that we will be able to fill those
full-time . . . I'm sorry, those temporary reliefs thereafter.
So, I guess the question was how likely? I
would say very likely, Mr. Chairman.
Going on to the next question: Is the Ministry
comfortable that there will be no need for additional resources or support for the Public Service Vehicle Licens ing Board to account for the increased load? Currently . . . the traffic office has recently increased from
six to eight . And a review will continue to determine if
additional resources are required. We are in the process of recruiting, because it does say nine. So, we are
in the process of recruiting to fill those PID numbers.
We are also exploring t he idea, Mr. Chairman, of hiring
part-time officer s to assist with enforcement on nights
and weekends.
[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Owen Darrell: Yes.
So, question [on page] B -252, [business unit]
44090, more on Road Safety. With the new on- road
safety test, will the public receive any statistics on the pass rate? Yes. The answer is that the current pass
rate is 90 per cent. But statistics are currently maintained and reported. And yes, with the new policy that we discussed and debated on Monday, we will continue
to maintain and report those statistics.
A question was around [business unit] 44000
and Examinations. What is the methodology behind the
number of vehicle audits? Is it based on number of vehicles currently on the road? At TCD, we have a
method of total volume of vehicles within the category,
operational capacity, and trend analysis. While we can't
speak at this time, Mr. Chairman, to historical numbers,
with the new examination equipment due to launch at
the end of March, as well as the newly hired manager
of technical services, we will be ensur ing going forward
that there is a much more consistent . . . and we will
continue to keep the public informed. So, I thank the
Honourable Member from the other side for that question.
The Honourable Member has also asked, C an
we get performance measures on Enforcement and insight? The traffic office handles many abandoned vehicles around the Island. Enforcement , as it pertains to
illegal uses of vehicles and trailers, is also instrumental
in assisting the Public Service Vehicle Licensing with
illegal public service vehicles. While we don't have any
statistics on that, this is something that the traffic office
is working on, especially when it comes to abandoned
vehicles. I would just lik e to put it here, Mr. Chairman ,
that this also includes abandoned boats, bikes, cars. It's a lot.
And I just would like to say that while we and
the enforcement team are able to deal with these vehicles that are in public areas, I just want to put on record


Bermuda House of Assembly in this debate that we do not remove vehicles that are
on private property. So, I would remind individuals that
have empty lots that may be on the side of the road that
you should secure your property. Because once they
become a dumping ground for these vehicles, it is not something that the traffic officers actually have remit to
deal with. So, I just wanted to say that.
A question came from page B -253 regarding
the transition of the bus fleet to electric. And there's
something, Mr. Chairman, that I think came to fruition
under your watch, on the electrification of buses. So,
thank you again for overseeing this. And the question
was, how confident is the Ministry in reaching this goal
of getting to the total electrification by 2030? And can I
provide any updates ? How many buses are electric at
this time? So currently there are 70 electric buses. Twenty are due to arrive in the spring of 2026. So, any
day now. And another order of 20 is anticipated in the
2026 /27 budget year.
The question of the . . . from the [programme]
3502 summary on Maintenance, Does this increase in
repairs reflect an increase in the number of repairs or
the increase in cost of repairs? The shift in the maintenance budget is as a result of the salary and wage uplift. I guess from the Repair section, I think that's how
I'm understanding it. And my amazing team is saying
yes. So that's where that comes from.
Question from the Administration, [programme]
3503 . Why is this line item receiving an additional
budget? Is this due to salary increases? Yes, this is due
to salary increases and the increase in electricity cost
as well.
[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Yes.
So, question [page] B-252 . . . sorry, a question
from page B -254, subject analysis for Public Transportation. What is the spike in cost here for the 2024 /25
actual and the anticipated drop? And whether it will
cover this line item. The answer is that repairs and maintenance costs are expected to be streamlined as
decrease in ageing diesel buses as a total percentage
of fleet as well as an addition of newer and more effi-cient electric bus replacement s.
A question was asked by the H onourable
Member from the other side on Professional Services.
What does the line item associated with professional
services mean? Professional Services, Mr. Chairman ,
comprises security services for all bus depots, support
of ongoing implementation for fare media and digitisation, as well as the technical support of the DPT network, as well as digital fare media technical updates,
the ShoreLink app and RTI for public ridership. So that,
I hope, gives you the breakdown of the Pr ofessional
Services, Mr. Chairman.
Another question was for Material and Supplies. Can I provide the context in the budget for this line item? Primarily the purchase of inventory for the repairs and maintenance of the bus fleet. Moving the
fleet increasingly from diesel to electric has streamlined
purchasing. This will be subject to variables such as
shipping and tariffs in the coming year.
Another question, Mr. Chairman, for full -time
equivalents from [business unit] 45090, how is the hiring going for this line item and how is it impacting the
output and the current staff who work in these sections?
There was a large number of applications, approximately 200. And the process for recruitment is steadily
taking place in this area.
So that was something, Mr. Chairman, that I
did make mention of . You know, a place ( where I s at in
another place) did question about that and the hiring
and how we were going about it. And I was happy, if I
can tell this story, Mr. Chairman, right along this, that I
was in a place the other day where I frequent often. And
a young man sa id, This is the last time that you will see
me here.
I said, Why is that?
He said , Because I have a new job as a bus
operator .
So, he's very happy that he was going into the
training process. But what that means is that the recruit-ment process is going well. I have received many applications for that. So, we hope that once the training,
because you know, you can't train 200 people at once.
But as we train and it goes on, you will see that there is
an increase of . . . or a decrease of these gaps as far
as operators go.
For the management and support, can I provide the discrepancy of having more money allocated
to this line item but fewer staff? There were some vacancies during the 2025 /26 budget cycle. However, the
department plans to fill those vacancies prior to the end
of the next fiscal year.
The question came from page B -256 as far as
performance measurement and [business unit] [ 45010]
in passenger complaints. Can these be numerically
quantified? How many complaints were made, and reduced the number of vehicles , and improved ridership
as well? So, they're looking for data. And right now, this
improved data measurement is expected with the integrated transit management system implementation
that's coming. So, the data that we currently have is
based on cumulative manual reports. So that's why
you're getting it the way it is there.
And for [business unit] 45115 Inventory Management, can these be numerically quantified?
Measures are based on fluctuating counts and out -ofservice buses and average d across the year. Preventative maintenance measures are dependent on the availability of parts in a timely manner from overseas
vendors, based on aligning with scheduled programmes and coordination.

And just for the listening audience, we
are into our debate o n Transport and T ourism , Culture,
Heads 71, 34, 35, 48 and 52. [There are] 30 more
minutes left in this debate when it ends at 8: 14 pm. And
the Minister is currently answering questions that were
put to him on the floor of the H ouse.
And so , Minister, you now have the floor.
Thank you.

Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
For Administration , [business unit] 45120, the
question that was asked by the H onourable Member
from the other side was, Why are we 99 per cent below
the forecast? And how will the Ministry remedy this to
make the target outcome for 202 6/27? The training will
commence in earnest once the complement of frontline
staff is increased. Bus operations are unique in that
every roster must be covered while employees are in training.
A question that was asked regarding [business
unit] 45120, A dministration , Mr. Chairman: What are
these three critical vacancies and have the r oles been
filled since the budget was printed? Two critical vacancies have been filled since the completion of the budget process , and we are working on the third.
A question on page B -260. [Department of ]
Culture, [business unit] 62001: What is the cause of the
increase in administration? In financial year 2025/26, two new posts were funded within the department with
costs found from within the existing budget. Increases
from 2026/27 are from the salary uplifts.
A question regarding 62030 C ultural Education
Programme: Can you provide insight into the curriculum? Working with Long Story Short, the department funded a professional development session with social
studies teachers on cultural memory. This has since
been used for further consultation with the Ministry of
Education for ways that we can support the delivery of
the social studies curriculum, the results of which are
still currently under development.
A question regarding the promotion of the arts :
What is the reasoning behind the decrease here? The decrease is due to the hiatus of the arts and public
building programme which occurs every two years.
There was a question regarding . . . on page B -
261, subject ive analysis . Travel for this line item has
been zeroed out, what is the cause of this? Has this
been reallocated to another line item or discontinued
for the department here? The Department of Culture
does not plan to travel in 2026/ 27 and is focused on onIsland activities and programming.
Professional service question: What are the
services that are being provided and why is it increasing year over year? These services include everything
from sound vendors, security and performing artists at
events to the cost of producing documentary film series. The increase year over year reflects not only the
increased cost of business but also the increased outputs of the department.
What are some of the repairs and maintenance
that are happening in the department and why is it budgeted for an increase? The repairs and maintenance line items of the Department of Culture include
things like a computer and photocopier repairs.
A question on page B -262, [business unit]
62001: Why is this performance measure discontinued? The performance measure for social media reach
was discontinued because most social media platforms have stopped providing reach numbers and have
switched to providing view analytics. It was replaced
with new performance measures, Mr. Chairman, for
views which were checked with both internal and external social media professionals to ensure that it's not
only realistic but a good measure for public dollars
spent.
A question on [business unit] 62030 : Why is
this measure discontinued and what does it mean for
the functioning of the education programme when it
cannot produce education materials? This performance
measure refers to the Department of Culture's previous programme creating printed study guides to accompany feature- length documentary series for students.
Having consulted with teachers over the past two
years, we have learned that these resources are considered to be outdated and too long. So, we are now
reformatting the delivery of cultural education pro-gramme as expanded upon in the brief. The d epartment continues to produce documentaries, research short films, and sharing them with our education part-ners.
A question on [page] C-20 regarding the To urism Authority grant. I've been asked, Can I provide an
update on how much of this money has been spent for
finding the CEO and what is the update on the search?
Mr. Chairman, I'm not sure that the update on the
search is a budget question or . . . I would like your
guidance on that one. I could understand the question
about how much money has been spent, but I take your
guidance on what is the update of the search and how
is it progressing.

I think that that would fall outside of the
lines of the budget debate. If you're asking how much
the CEO is getting paid or how much is allocated for the
CEO, that is within . But an update on the search is outside of the . . .
Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, I
won't talk about an update on the search and at this time, those figures . . . are not available at this time. But
I will endeavour to get them.
What is the business plan for improving arrivals
during the slow season, also factoring on global instability and the predicted increase in travel costs? Mr.
Chairman, the BTA will continue to leverage pinnacle


Bermuda House of Assembly events such as the Butterfield Bermuda Championship,
the [Chubb] Bermuda Triangle Challenge, the Goodwill
Golf Tournament, and other new and existing sporting
events into the non- summer months. Additionally, sales
and business development teams are keenly focused
on leveraging the anticipated Fairmont Southampton
reopening to drive corporate and incentive groups with
a focus on booking from September 2026 to April 2027
and beyond.
Mr. Chairman, key partnerships with airlines
and hotels have been identified to develop co- marketing programmes focused on driving travel during the
same period. Diversification of markets is also a vital
part of addressing seasonality with investments and
partnerships in Canada as well as the United Kingdom.
Travellers from these geographic regions are known to
stay longer, Mr. Chairman, enjoy non- summer weather,
and are avid consumers of cultural, wellness, culinary,
and sporting activities.
The question regarding the BTA is, Have the
BTA provided any statistics or data to myself to show
that the increase in spending is not the result of inflation? Mr. Chairman, I am happy to report that total
spend reached $549.9 million, representing an increase of 3.5 per cent compared to the U.S. inflation
rate of just 2.6 per cent in 2025. Given that total spending increased when visitor levels decreased, that high-lights that per -visitor yield has in fact gone up for both
cruise and air visitors. Cruise spending was the main
driver of the total spending increase, driven primarily by
increased spending on excursions as well as tours.
Data is validated with industry partners on ground to
ensure the accuracy. I hope that answered that, Mr.
Chairman.
The question that came about projection on
cruise cancellations [was] , Are these projections from
last year factoring in global instability, which would neg-atively impact travel frequency? I would say this, Mr.

Projections for cruise cancellations is 19
calls in 2026. This is similar due to weather events and
average schedule changes. We are actively monitoring
global events now, and there are no early indicators
that cruises to Bermuda will be affected.
Also, a question from Budget Book page C -20
regarding the increase of funds for the Bermuda Airport Authority . Mr. Chairman, which you would know this
quite well. What is the cause for this increase? The increase is to support the succession planning. And Mr.
Chairman, I'll read it, I mean, because sometimes rep-etition is good, especially as a former educator . I clearly
laid this out in my brief, but I'll say it again. The increase
is to support succession planning and talent development for an ageing workforce. This increase also includes the continued training and the development to
support Bermudiani sation. Also included are resources
to support regulatory requirements for fatigue management of our air traffic control system.
Mr. Chairman, you will recall, and some Members will recall, that the BAA's budget was reduced by $2 million in the 2024/ 25 budget cycle. However, this
increase ensures that critical and essential aviation and
regulatory support is brought back to optimal levels,
and it is stabilised. So, thank you for allowing m e, Mr.
Chairman, to reiterate that, even though it was said earlier in the brief.
Question, [7099] on Culture and Entertainment
Support. Why is this item being budgeted down? Can
the Ministry provide the method to ensure that spending is actually being maintained? Well, see, Mr. Chairman, it's not actually being budgeted down. Budgets are based on the projections. This year is anticipated to
have some larger entertainment events with larger
budgets, versus next year, where the projections incorporate smaller budgeted events, although the quality of
entertainment and events in this countr y is expected to
remain high.
And this just goes to speak . . . and I'd like to
talk about the new, as I did in the brief, Entertainment and Events Committee. They are going through ways
to make this a more efficient process. We are looking
to streamline. You would have seen, Mr. Chairman,
that a tourism investment order was given to an event
space. And then you have that event space, and they're
able to bring in economies of scale. The cost of putting on an event for a promoter will naturally go down.
So, it doesn't mean that we're going to have
less events. It doesn't mean that we're going to see a
decrease in fun times in this Island. It just shows that
we are doing it more efficiently.

[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Yes, absolutely. So, I'm clear.

Minister, you have just about 15
minutes left.

Hon. Owen Darrell: I will make sure that I go through
those minutes and use them expeditiously, Mr. Chairman, to answer all questions that were asked of me by
the Honourable . . .

[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Yes, absolutely. Absolutely, I am
sure you would appreciate that, Honourable Member
from the other side.
I gave him two and a half hours, Mr. Chairman.
[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Absolutely. Thank you.
On page C-20, when it comes to the Road
Safety Council : Will we receive any key performance
indicators to justify any increase in funding? How much
policy has been recommended to the Minister by the
Road Safety Council, and can the public receive insight
into the recommended policies?
2194 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Chairman, I'm happy to report that this rise
in funding was in response to a need to raise road
safety awareness across this I sland. It has been a call
all across this I sland, in all outlets and in community
spaces , that the Government needs to invest more time
and effort into creating safe driving behaviours in new
as well as experienced drivers.
So, Mr. Chairman, I am happy to report that the
Road Safety Council has played, they will continue to
play, a vital role in the tabling of what happened the
other night, the Project Ride Amendment to the Road
Traffic Act 1947 and the Motor Car Act of 1951.
We're also in the process, Mr. Chairman, and
I'm not going to get into debates that are to come, but just, you know, give them a little bit of what's to come.
[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Yes, absolutely, absolutely .
We are currently in the process of drafting recommendations for on- spot fines, enforcing the impounding of vehicles, Mr. Chairman. And we're looking
into recommending stricter penalties for driving under the influence offences, Mr. Chairman.

[Desk thumping]
[Crosstalk]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Mr. Chairman, there was a further
question. They had two and a half hours. I'd like to point
that out , to continue to point that out, Mr. Chairman.
That still wasn't enough.
[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Owen Darrell: The question: Can the Minister
confirm that the Road Safety Plan is still on schedule
for April of 2026 ? And can I provide insight as to what
may come from that and whether the funding for the
line item is secured for the R oad Safety Plan? Absolutely, Mr. Chairman, is the answer. This will be
launched during the new fiscal year, which starts in
April 2026. Imagine that. And the Road Safety Plan is
entitled Operation Action—

Ooh!

Hon. Owen Darrell: —which is a five -year plan from
2026 to 2031. So, Mr. Chairman, they heard it here first.
Yes?

[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Owen Darrell: The questions you ask ed, we answer.
Question from [page] C-7, [business unit]
75366, MakerSpace for Creatives. Is there a way to determine if these bookings are done by a select few or repeatedly by different groups, persons over time?
Maker Space continues to receive steady bookings from long- standing users with recurring reservations, as well as regular interest continues to grow as
we expand our programming to host more events in the
MakerSpace facility. We anticipate that with students
now being able to use these rooms during the day, we
will receive more community interest as people learn
more about the space and everything that it offers.
From Head 34, TCD, how are the department
objectives being measured? Customer service standards have been improved by way of the removal of red
tape, Mr. Chairman. Focus on inspections is significantly less on cosmetics and more on what matters, which is safety, Mr. Chairman. Customer feedback surveys are conducted regularly to attain this feedback and to make any necessary changes if and when
needed.
A question that came in was, Is the M inister
willing to provide insight into the improved public service vehicle network? The improvements to the public
service vehicle network will be debated at a future date,
Mr. Chairman. Hence, it would be premature for me to
discuss this at the time. And I'm sure that the M embers
from the other side are chomping at the bit to have that
debate on Friday. You cannot wait.

Can't wait.

Hon. Owen Darrell: Can’t wait.
Question from Head 35, namely, the Public
Transportation . Is there likely to be a new bus schedule? The department is in the process of procuring a
system that will effectively create bus schedules that
are responsive to the needs of passengers. The system
will also create rosters that complement the demands
of the schedule.
You may know, Mr. Chairman, and some M embers that may reside on the eastern end, a re seeing
that we've made modifications to schedules to assist people of which we serve, Mr. Chairman. And I know
another debate is coming on Friday, but I want the Members to remember that we make these necessary
adjustments in the name of service to our people.
So, I look forward, Mr. Chairman , for the H onourable Members from the other side —

Is there a schedule or not?

Hon. Owen Darrell: —getting on board with the
changes and the adjustments that we are making to accommodate the people of which we all serve, Mr. Chairman.
And the system will create rosters that complement the demands for the schedule. It will allow the de-partment to manage dispatching, scheduling, rostering,
and passenger counting in- house.



Bermuda House of Assembly [Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Mr. Chairman, I think they want
me to repeat that.
It will allow the department to manage dispatching, scheduling, rostering, and passenger counting in -house. Very clear answer, Mr. Chairman.

[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Owen Darrell: Can the M inister outline the number of buses that are going to be replaced? Forty
buses, Mr. Chairman , are expected to be replaced over
the next 12 to 18 months.
TCD and medical requirements for licences.
Why the age of 70? Is this based on particular data? Is it based on accident rates? Why has the removal of
medical forms taken so long to implement? The medical assessment requirement is legislated. Therefore,
we cannot just remove forms, Mr. Chairman. And I
know the H onourable Learned Member from the other
side knows this, that you just cannot remove forms that
are legislated, Mr. Chairman.

[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Steps have commenced internally
within TCD, and we have had preliminary discussions
with the Department of Health for the safe evaluation
forms to start the process required to amend the relevant legislation.

[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Owen Darrell: For new vehicle inspections, Mr.
Chairman . . . I gave them two and a half hours, Mr.
Chairman. Two and a half!

And Minister, you have five minutes
left.

Hon. Owen Darrell: I tell you . . . two and a half hours.
They still couldn’t get all their questions in. Just imagine
if they were to put Marine and Ports in there.

[Laughter]

Hon. Owen Darrell: For vehicle inspections, can you
advise when this will happen? The process has started. However, proper scrutiny must take place on legisla-tion. The change is anticipated to happen by the summer session.
On Head 35, page B -256, can the M inister
opine on cross -ministry r oles and where the staff are
being recruited from? The recruitment process, Mr. Chairman, to onboard bus operators is continual . The
department receives hundreds of applicants. I think we
said 200 earlier, Mr. Chairman, for this role, and there
is a very stringent screening process. The bus operator is likely to be highly skilled and has the responsibility to navigate Bermuda's roads , sometimes only within
inches on either side of the bus.

Buy a smaller bus.

Hon. Owen Darrell: The cross -skilling will continue to
be used as a training tool within the supervisory post in
the bus operator section. This will allow employees to
hone and use their expertise in the dispatching, the
scheduling, the rostering, as well as data collection.

[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Can the M inister provide some
outstanding criteria for allocating the items falling under the Grants and Contributions page on C -23 and C -24?
Again, I think it was mentioned, these are actually
sports grants under Head 20, which will be debated
next week. So, we'll allow the O pposition Leader to answer this question. Yes , your boss.

[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Owen Darrell: Can the M inister share on his estimation how it has benefited Bermuda to incorporate
Sports , Culture and T ransport into T ourism? The portfolio merge has benefited from significant synergies,
Mr. Chairman. Transport and Tourism are tied at the
hip for obvious reasons. One cannot do without the
other.

[Crosstalk]

Hon. Owen Darrell: Sports and C ulture are very natural elements in the world of tourism, and these are actually used, Mr. Chairman, in various tourism products.
For example, sports tourism is a very popular strategy
that is used within the umbrella of tourism product development.

That is one of the greatest
winter initiatives.

Hon. Owen Darrell: How many bus cancellations?
There have been 2,679 bus cancellations out of
218,892 runs. This represents, Mr. Chairman, only
1.22 per cent cancellations. So, I would say, Mr.
2196 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda House of Assembly Chairman, that this is a huge improvement in the service of buses.
[
Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Owen Darrell: Head 35, coming from page B -
[252] , and the Planning Team. Is the team planning to
host a commuter ferry service between St. George's and Hamilton?

Oh!
[
Laughter]
Hon. Owen Darrell: So, I'm going to have to talk about
this maybe at another time. Maybe on a motion to adjourn or in a ministerial statement I'll tell them about all
the great things that we are doing with ferry service to support the people of which we serve down in the eastern end. But, I mean, we've heard so much about ferries and stuff that I thought that they would, Mr. Chair-man, debate Marine and Ports .
[
Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Owen Darrell: But we move, we move, Mr. Chairman, we move.
Head 35, [page] B -256, performance
measures, [business unit] 45115. This will be the last
one, Mr. Chairman . I think I've run out of time, unfortunately.

You have two minutes.
Hon. Owen Darrell: Two minutes, that's good.
How does this performance measure impact
buses being out of service? Does it suggest that parts
need to be stocked at all times ? This refers to stock
parts, Mr. Chairman, to ensure preventative mainte-nance is performed in a timely fashion and is largely impacted by the availability of parts from overseas ven-dors, global shipping of said parts. Coordination efforts are consistently managed to ensure the optimisation but ar e subject to global availability at times and certain
shipping constraints that we may have.
There was a question on [business unit] 45090
on R epair S ervicing. Why is the goal not 1,000 [sic]?

One thousand per cent seemed a
bit high.
[
Laughter]
Hon. Owen Darrell: Yes, a little bit.
The whole public bus fleet would not remain in
service for any length of time. It is expected that at least 20 per cent of the fleet is always to undergo repairs,
preventative maintenance at any given time. And this
prevents the breakdowns and bus service cancella-tions, which as we already pointed out, Mr. Chairman,
is only at 1.2 per cent. So, it's amazing.
So, Mr. Chairman, while I do have a few more
questions, I would love to get to —

Are there any objections to that motion?
No objections. Agreed to.
Thank you, Minister.
[Motion carried: The Committee of Supply agreed to rise and report progress and sought leave to sit again.]
House resumed at 8:13 pm

B ermuda House of Assembly [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair]
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE
FOR THE YEAR 202 6/27

Just for clarification, earlier this morning
when we were on Q uestion [Period] , there was one
question that the Premier was able to su pply the response to, which hadn't been received. It has been received now .
And Mr. S omner, we will make sure that it's in
your hands before you leave this evening, okay?
Thank you.
With that, Mr. Premier .
ADJOURNMENT
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I move that this Honourable
House do now adjourn until Friday, March the 6th at
10:00 am.

Members, we rise at this point to bring
this House to a close for today . And I would like to say,
everyone, thank you for your participation today, and
we look forward to seeing you bright and early on Fri-day morning.
With that, the House now stands adjourned.
[
Gavel]
[At 8:15 pm, the House stood adjourned until 10:00 am
Friday, 6 March 2026 .]
2198 4 March 2026 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly


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