September 16, 2022

Thank you, Madam Clerk.
Members, the House is now in Session.
Please be seated.
Each of you should have an Order Paper in
front of you on your desk . We will follow the procee dings as laid out on the Order Paper. I will now give the
opening words of condolences. When I complete my
remarks, I will call on Madam President [of the Se nate] and she will give hers . After Madam President
has finished, I will call on the Premier to move the
motion and give his remarks. The Opposition Leader
will then be called on, and then we will call off the list
of Members who have indicated that they wish to
speak this morning.

CONDOLENCES BY THE SPEAKER

Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Sr., Speaker: With that said, i t
is with great respect that I rise to say a few words in
tribute to our late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
I believe most of us within this Chamber , as I
look around this morning, are under the age of 70 (most of us ), which means that we have experienced
no other monarch other than Her late Majesty. She
has embedded in us the standard of which is expected of a monarch—a standard that it seems she has never wavered from during her long reign of service.
After her ascension in February 1952, Berm uda was the first Colony that she visited. And, like all of
our visitors to this Island, she was drawn to return.
And indeed she did, gracing our shores on a further
three occasions , in 1975, 1994 and 2009, plus two
stopovers in 1976 and 1983. I cannot speak to the first
two visits or the stopovers, as the first was before I
was born. And I was overseas in school during her
visits in the 1970s and in 1983.
However, I personally can remember the last
two visits, particularly the last visit, because I had the good fortune of greeting Prince Philip upon his arrival
outside the Clocktower building in Dockyard. Photos
of that greeting went around the world. No, no, not
because he was meeting me, even though on an occasion I have implied that it was because of me. But the real truth is that it was because of a colourful pair
of Bermuda shorts that were given to him as a pr esent. I then escorted him upstairs where he joined the
Queen in chatting with the surviving m embers of the
Dockyard apprentices, who decades earlier had
trained in the UK as tradesmen. It was a charming moment, as together the Queen and Prince Philip
reflected on those years with the apprentices.
As mo urning continues, we get to remember
that, although at times she may have seemed larger
than life, the late Queen throughout it all was a wife, a
mother and a grandmother. Collectively we share in
this family’s loss and offer our deepest sympathies as
they share their loss with people around the world.
At times like this we are reminded that with
every rain comes sunshine. And the Queen’s passing
brings the dawn of a new era when most of us
throughout the Commonwealth will for the first time be
saying, Long live the King! (Those of us all under 70,
right?) And as this new era begins, it was just a couple of months ago that I had the pleasure of spending
time with King Charles III at one of the royal residences whilst I was in the UK for the first meeting between the OT [Overseas Territor ies] Speakers and the UK
Speaker. And, like his mother, he brought a personal
touch to each conversation.
In our conversation, he took delight in asking
how immensely proud I must be to have my son in
2 16 September 2022 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly and Senate— Special Joint Sitting Parliament with me. I agreed with him , and then joked
about how many of my family have photos with his
family. It was one of those rare personal moments that
we both joked about and laughed about.
Let us also reflect that this new era brings
change, a change that comes because of the loss of our longest -servin g monarch, but change yet still. And
as the UK and its people embrace this change, let us
likewise embrace the change, the need for change.
My deepest sympathies are with His Majesty
the King and all other members of the royal family to whom I offer my mos t sincere condolences and support at this very, very sad time.
As I close, allow me to do a bit of housekeeping. The tributes will be done as they were in the UK Parliament. Members will be called per the list of
Members who have indicated their desire to speak,
rather than the custom of having Members jump to
their feet to try and catch the eye of the Speaker. This
will be done to honour the reverence of this solemn
occasion.
With that said, I call on Madam President [of
the Senate] to give her remarks.

CONDOLENCES BY
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Sen. the Hon. Joan E. Dillas -Wright, MBE, JP,
President of the Senate: Good morning, Mr. Speaker.
I am very pleased to give these very brief r emarks about Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of
her death on September 8th, 2022, at age 96.
Queen Elizabeth II visited Bermuda on four
occasions. On her first visit in 1953 I was one of many schoolchildren who went to Front Street to wave a flag
of greeting to her. And on her third visit to these I slands, I had the occasion to see her when she visited King Edward VI Memorial Hospital and talked to a
number of patients.
Queen Elizabeth II was considered a trailblazer. She was, in fact , a sole woman on the world
stage during her 70 y ears of rule. Many people speak
of her dedication and her steadfastness to the role of
Queen, further, that she had a profound respect for
service and duty, which was reflected in the manner in
which she ruled. Indeed, this was highlighted at age
21, while in South Africa, when she had stated the
following : “I declare before you all that my whole life
whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your
service . . . .” This she did over the past 70 years, right
up until her death. In fact, only two days before her
death she swore in the new Prime Minister of Britain,
Liz Truss.
Queen Elizabeth II was an inspirational role
model to many. There are many quotes attributed to
her, and the one I wish to share at this time is the
quote she made on leadership in a speech before the
United Nations. And here I quote her : “I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have
observed that some attributes of leadership are un iversal and are often about finding ways of encoura ging people to combine their . . . insights, their enthus iasm and their inspiration to work together. ” I do b elieve that this quote has relevance for us here in this
Chamber.
May Queen Elizabeth II rest in peace.
In closing, I hereby offer my deepest condolences to her son, King Charles III, and the entire ro yal family.
Thank you.

Good morning.

MOTION

THAT THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE CONVEY ITS
DEEPEST SORROW ON THE DEATH
OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Hon. E. David Burt: I move that this Honourable
House do now take under consideration the following
motion:
THAT this Honourable House conveys its
deepes t sorrow o n the death of Her Majesty the
Queen; expresses its sincere condolences to His Majesty the K ing and other members of the royal family
and acknowledges her association with Bermuda and
her people.

There is no objection to that motion , is
there?
None.
Continue, Premier.

[Motion carried.]

CONDOLENCES BY THE PREMIER

Hon. E. David Burt, JP, MP, Premier, Minister of
Finance: Mr. Speaker, we convene in this rare fas hion today , a Joint [Sitting] of the Legislature, to reflect
on a historic life of committed service and incompar able duty.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II lived an i ncredible, almost surreal , life, one of great privilege.
But also a life dominated by certain core ideals to
which we can all relate, irres pective of her elevated
status.
Mr. Speaker, in the last picture of the Queen,
inviting her 15th Prime Minister to form a government,
it is ironic to think that the frail hand extended to the


Bermuda House of Assembly and Senate— Special Joint Sitting new Prime Minister was a hand kiss ed by Sir Winston
Churchill , a hand that danced with Gerald Ford, a
hand that waved to millions across so many countries .
In extending that hand for that final time, the Queen
demonstrated to the world that she had been true to the vow that she had made in 1947 to devote her life
to service.
Mr. Speaker , none of us , not even kings and
queens , can decide the circumstances into which we
are born. But it is what we make of our lives that determines how we are remembered, or if we become a
footnote to the long story of life.
Mr. Speaker, even at the age of 96 Her Ma jesty’s death has shocked many. Her life and the constancy of her service meant that whether we warm ed
to the idea of the monarchy or not, the Q ueen was the
single most immovable feature on the world stage.
Mr. Speaker, even t he world's most ardent r epublicans have been compelled to salute Her Majesty’s life of unparalleled devotion to duty . With her
passing so soon after the observance of the Platinum Jubilee, we have been reminded that the 70 years
during which the Q ueen serv ed the United Kingdom
and the Commonwealth have been marked by such
remarkable global change, change that she not only
weathered, but through which she thrived.
For all of the tradition and the age- old ritual s
that surround the institution of the British monarchy,
this Queen struck that enviable balance between pr eserving the past and embracing the future. Her cor onation made history by being televised, permitting a technological intrusion into the centuries -old cerem ony. And at her death, she was the owner of an iPad
amongst the latest iteration of the technology which came about during her 70 year reign.
Mr. Speaker, Her Majesty was variously
known as a symbol or a figurehead. But in truth, Mr.
Speaker, she w as a leader. Asked why she tended to
wear br ight colours when on official engagements, the
Queen famously replied, “I have to be seen to be b elieved .”
Mr. Speaker , Her Majesty was forced to overcome a natural shyness and mitigate the challenge
presented b y her small stature. Despite, and perhaps
because of these qualities, she determined early that leadership in or from the shadows would not be ac-ceptable to her people. That steadfast devotion to
duty has been the refrain of every remembrance the
world over , and I am sure will be in this Chamber t oday. It meant that just two days before her death she
discharged the constitutional functions of her role
even when there were others who might have done so in her stead.
Mr. Speaker , Bermuda has hosted numerous
royal visits. However, none have generated the level of local interest as those of the Q ueen. Some H onourable Members will recall her most recent visit in
2009 for Bermuda’ s 400
th anniversary of settlement.
That visit culminated in a State Dinner hosted by the then Premier , Ewart Brown , at Tucker ’s Point . Mr.
Speaker , it is said that the menu that night featured
various local dishes , from rockfish to seasonal vegetables. But the intrigue of the evening surrounded that
local delicacy , cassava pie. After some diplomatic
assurance from her host , I am pleased to share that
the royal palate can be said to have sampled that
unique Bermudian dish .
Mr. Speaker , the embedded continuity of the
institution of the British monarchy means that a King
now assumes the throne , and with great pageantry
the end of one era and the dawn of another has been
recognised around the world.
Mr. Speaker, as I observed on the day of the
Queen's passing, more than a monarch, she was the
matriarch of a family , a mother, a grandm other and a
great grandmother. On behalf of the Government and
people of Bermuda, we extend our sincere cond olences to His Majesty the King, the Queen C onsort,
their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of
Wales , and the entire royal family. The loss of a
mother and grandmother is felt equally whether her
picture hangs with those with the rest of the family on
a living room wall , rests on a bedside table, or whet her her picture happens to be on the currency.
Mr. Speaker, let us reflect on the Queen's
decade of undimmed duty and service , and her quiet
but steadfast leadership and devotion over a long and
well-lived life.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker .

Thank you, Mr. Premier.
We now call on the Leader of the Opposition.

CONDOLENCES BY
THE OPP OSITION LEADER
Hon. N. H. Cole Simons , JP, MP, Opposition Leader, Shadow Minister of Finance : On behalf of the
entire One Bermuda A lliance, we send our sincere
condolences to His Majesty King Charles III and the
royal family on the passing of Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II who died earlier this month.
Throughout the 70- year reign , the world wi tnessed her iconic calm strength , and her ability to
adjust to changes in society , even in the most challenging of times, both publicly and privately . By mai ntaining principles of freedom, justice, and democracy,
she earned the respect of thousands of people from
all walks of life, from the common person to pres idents, kings and queens around the world.
Her son, His Royal Highness King Charles III
described his mother as a shining example of selfless duty. She upheld the commitment she made to be of
service for the rest of her life. Just days before her death, the Q ueen held an audience with the UK outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and the incoming
new Prime Minister, the Honourable Liz Truss . She
was up and about and held a productive meeting and
4 16 September 2022 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly and Senate— Special Joint Sitting demonstrated her selfless duty and service to the very
end.
Personally, I had the pleasure of meeting the
Queen on two occasions, once in London at the
Commonwealth Sec retariat , and then here in Berm uda. In London, we shared our thoughts and our experiences with our common passion through the horses and equestrian sports. On the second occasion, we
also spoke about the diversity of the Commonwealth
and the challenges tha t it b rought . [It was] very, very
interesting, very, very enlightening to hear her exper ience.
Mr. Speaker, we applaud her dedication to the
sense of communion with the people of the Commonwealth, the UK , and the British O verseas Territories ,
by respecting and honouring their individual sovereignty. She played a vital role in the evolution and
development, economically and socially , of the Commonwealth family of nations. She did so by epitomising a woman of grace, humility and dignity . Her rel igious convictions and beliefs d aily guided her dec isions as she encouraged people to focus on the future and do better.
Despite the division of opinions, with many r ecalling the legacy of violent atrocities during the dark days of colonialism, the overwhelming sentiment of
the death of the Queen appears to be of sorrow, loss ,
and a loss of a family member , whether we were connected by blood or just a member of the public. Inter-estingly, despite the Commonwealth ’s chequered
past, the Commonwealth membership continues to
grow with Rwanda, the Gambia, the Maldives joining
between 2009 and 2020, and Gabon and Togo b ecoming members in June of this year, bringing the
total Commonwealth member countries to 56, with a
population of 2.6 billion people from the Pacif ic, the
Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
The growth of the Commonwealth family is
largely motivated by the desire to expand political,
trade, social and diplomatic relations beyond the
Francophone network , and to have access to a variety
of technical assistance resources aimed at strengt hening the institutions that support good governance ,
public sector, climate change adaptation and human rights framework.
Mr. Speaker, I talk about the Commonwealth
because, as you know, the Queen was pa ssionate
about the Commonwealth. She was passionate about the family members of the Commonwealth, and it was
a priority to her during her 70- year reign.
Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honour to be
here today to pay tribute on behalf of the O pposition
and the people of Bermuda. I extend our prayers and
best wishes to His Majesty King Charles III, the
Queen Consort and the entire royal family.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise this morning to pay
tribute to Her Majesty the Queen upon her passing,
and to extend the condolences of my family and all of
those I represent to the new K ing, King Charles III,
and his family as well.
Mr. Speaker, not everything that we do in life
is a job; in some cases it is a calling . And you do not
have to reply to every call , but she did at a very young
age. She took on the weight tha t is royalty and wore it
not as armour but , rather , as a restraint. She surre ndered some very basic rights that we all have —the
right, for example, to have a public opinion, the right to
become involved in everything that we desire. And
she did that so that she could be emblematic of a
greater good, not just in her corner of the world, but all
over the world.
She demonstrated grace in leadership in
places and times when it was not necessary. She made sure that the entire world had someone to look
to for st eadiness, stability, for vision, for continuity.
These things are not easy, Mr. Speaker, for any one
of us to do on any given day. And she did that con-sistently for 70 years. To that end, she demonstrated
the value of constitutionality, the value of believ ing in
greater good, and she has become for many, many
people, not just the Q ueen, but very much a grandmother, someone to look up to and someone to lead
us in this new, bold age.
She leaves a legacy that is second to none.
And I know , speaking for myself , Mr. Speaker, that I
will always be humbled to think about someone who
committed so much of herself to so much of the world.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I again offer my co ndolences and pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Eliz abeth II.

Good morning.


Bermuda House of Assembly and Senate— Special Joint Sitting Sen. Ben Smith: Mr. Speaker, I would like to join in
the condolences to the new King Charles III and the
entire royal family with the passing of Her Majesty the
Queen.
Mr. Speaker, I did not have the opportunity to
meet the Queen, as some people here have had that
opportuni ty, but I I will be able to say to you that I can
speak from what my father, the late Hubert Smith, Sr.,
told me of his opportunity to sit and talk with the
Queen. Some people would know that he actually
wrote a song that was played on the radio when she
visited the Island . He spoke fondly of that opportunity.
He also always spoke fondly of the way the Queen
talked to him personally during that conversation and
what that meant to him.
Mr. Speaker, when I was thinking about this
opportunity to give my words today, I thought about
what we could learn from what the Q ueen did during
her 70-year reign. First, a young woman taking on a
leadership role at a time when women were not given
those kinds of opportunities to be in leadership , over
those 70 years women i n the world progress ing to
leadership positions promoted by having a constant leader in the world that was a woman. When you think
of the way that she met with many of the top leaders
in the world, who were looked at , potentially , as tyrants at times, and the humble way that the Q ueen
was able to manoeuvre the diplomacy that it takes to
talk to people when you do not always agree with their
beliefs ; you do not always agree with the things that
they do. Watching her adapt through those 70 years
to the changes through time, from coming out of a war
period and seeing multiple opportunities to interact
during conflict , and what that can show us , we should
take that as a lesson on how we can behave as leaders in this country.
I think when you reflect on how she led and
what she was able to do behind closed doors , and
when she had the opportunity to speak to the world, that example of her grace and humbleness . The example of being able to step across the line and talk to
people and work with people that you do not always
agree with is an example that we can pass on to the
next generation by following in her lead.
So, once again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to
give my condolences to the entire royal family and say
that for someone who for my entire life has looked at
having a Queen to now know that it is a K ing, thank
you to the Queen for her entire reign. She will be
missed.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to be
associated with the condolences offered this morning
to Her Majesty ’s family on her passing.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take a little different
tack, and speak of someone who came in my living room as a child. Anyone who is of my age would r emember that television did not come on and go off
without a young lady wearing a crown who bore a
resemblance to my queen —my mother —with a long
neckline, similar features and tone, colour. Mr.
Speaker, as young children, that was an image that stuck w ith not only my household, but I am sure many
households around the world, that we often take for
granted.
[The year] 1953 was the time she chose to
first come to Bermuda. But in the early 1940s her
uncle, who by then was going by the Duke of Windsor,
also graced our shores for the sport he loved called
golf. He played at the Mid Ocean Club at a round that
was featured and covered in the newspaper by the
great Louis Raphael “Kid” Corbin, who I had the ho nour of being part of catalogu ing his story. And he
played with persons whose grandson sits in this Honourable House today as well. So the royal connections
of Bermuda, as being a part of Bermuda, go into the
1940s and 1950s .
Her Majesty came to Bermuda in the 19 60s,
and in 1975 when, thanks to the Honourable former
[Deputy] Speaker , Walter Lister , I have pictures of her
with one of my mentors, the now late (who passed
away this year as well ) Walter King , as young parli amentarians on the steps of Parliament. But it would
take a hiatus of some three decades , when many of
our relatives to the south of us were becoming independent countries , for the Queen to return to our
shores. And when she returned to Bermuda at that
time, Mr. Speaker, I held a constitutional responsibi lity.
So on this occasion, when I give condolences,
I speak on behalf of my my wife, who was honoured
this year amongst the last persons to ever be honoured by the Queen, and a party that is often spoke n
of with an ill tongue . . . and I can take it , because, you
know, I accept who I am, Mr. Speaker . And I speak on
behalf of those who were in the United Bermuda Party, which many people choose not to embrace, and
say that they were part of escorting the Q ueen around
this country.
The Honourable Lancelot Swan, I saw a picture of him
(such a great youth minister ) taking the Q ueen around
St. George ’s (where I am now a Member of Parli ament ) proudly with all the children. And there are
6 16 September 2022 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly and Senate— Special Joint Sitting many children in this country that saw that , the example that we in this country need to take whether we
are for independence, like I, or royalist s, like my wife ,
or closet royalist , like many in this country . I say that
all of us need to take a page out of the book of duty and service and commitment and know when it is time
to say plenty and say nothing,
Mr. Speaker, there are many lessons to be
learned no matter where you sit in life, no matter what
station you hail from. There are many lessons to be
learned from a life of service of over 70 years who, in
one’s 96
th year, got herself up, dusted herself off, purposely —purposefully —did not put on gloves to greet
the new Prime Minister of Britain, whose name is Eli zabeth (like many around the world who were named
after her either by first or middle name) .
So I guess, Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would
say there is only room enough in Britain for one “Liz”,
one Elizabeth, one Lilybet. And now there is only one
of each s till. I offer condolences from my station in life,
Mr. Speaker, and urge all of those who came to serve,
whether it be in public service, whether it be in elected
service or in the civil service , service and duty come
with an understanding of protocol and respect of st ation. No matter whether you are for it or not, respect ,
as my mom used to say, and my grandmother used to
say, is due a dog.
So with that , Mr. Speaker, I offer profound
condolences from a country boy from up in the valley
who used to turn on or turn off his TV and see a
young Queen , who turned on his TV and saw a 96year old lady serve her country until the bitter end with
her boots on.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Good morning.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: And good morning to colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, like all Members in this Honourable House, I am certainly honoured to have the opportunity to provide a tribute to Her Majesty the
Queen, and at the same time to send condolences to
King Charles III and the entire royal family on the
passing last week of a truly remarkable person.
As colleagues have said before me, Her Majesty reigned f or 70 years and 214 days . She ascended to that position of prominence as the Qu een and
the monarch at the very young age of 25 years , Mr.
Speaker . I think we should take some time to reflect
on that. And through her reign she managed to b e-come popular , and remained popular through most of
her entire reign. That says a lot about who s he was,
what she stood for , and what she actually did.
Mr. Speaker, it was apparent to me that aside
from her ceremonial duties, the Queen was keenly
interested in government and political affairs , and is ,
rightly so, credited for modernising the mon archy . As
the Honourable Senate President has said, on her 21
st
birthday tour through South Africa, in a broadcast to
the British Commonwealth she made the pledge, “I
declare before you all that my whole life whether it be
long or short shall be devoted to your service and the
service of our great imperial family. ”
And I repeat that, Mr. Speaker, after the Honourable President, because those words proved so
true and correct . Through that remarkable tenure, she
backed up her words. And that leaves a very strong legacy .
Mr. Speaker , like others in thi s Honourable
place, I was blessed to have an audience with Her Majesty, and it was truly an enjoyable time. She r efused to talk about political matters, but instead talked
about her time in Bermuda , and the time, while she
stayed and enjoy ed the comforts of G overnment
House, she sampled the Dunkley ’s “blue” milk. And
while her aid e was keen to have the conversation
move somewhere else, the Queen would not let it go .
She wanted to know about the process. Well, Mr.
Speaker, I have learned a few things in life. And one
is that when the Queen is talking to you or with you ,
you certainly don't listen to the aide. You listen to the
Queen.
Mr. Speaker, I have always held the Queen in
the highest regard with the deepest respect and adm iration for Her Majesty. I have been blessed to be
Premier of this Island that we all love, to serve in Parliament for over 25 years , and all of that time under
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
My heart is heavy today, l ike millions of pe ople around the world. But I am comforted by the message the Queen sent to the U S a fter the horrific terrorist attacks on September 11. The Queen’s message was read out by the UK Ambassador to the US,
and it said “G rief is the price we pay for love. ”
Mr. Speaker, I have certainly grieved with my
family since the passing of Her Majesty last week. But I am comforted by the fact that she was an impressive
leader who served through many generations. There
is no doubt, Mr. Speaker, that she w ill be greatly
missed. But she has left a mark on the UK, all the
Territories , and indeed the entire world. It was her
guidance as Queen that has built up a track record that is certainly admirable and will never be forgotten.
So, Mr. Speaker, from my fam ily to King
Charles III and the entire royal family , may they be
blessed by the Lord. And may they be comforted and
given strength by the Lord during this very difficult
period.
Mr. Speaker, may Her Majesty rest in peace.


Bermuda House of Assembly and Senate— Special Joint Sitting The Speaker: Thank you, MP.
Sena tor Wight, would you like to make your
contribution at this point?

Sen. John Wight: Thank you, and good morning, Mr.
Speaker.

Good morning.

Sen. John Wight: I am honoured to have the opportunity to say a few words about Queen Elizabeth II
and her remarkable life.
Like the House Speaker, I was born after the
Queen started her reign 70 years ago. As a kindergarten student in Canada , one of my early memories in
life was singing “God Save the Queen” as we started
every day i n school. Now, as a 37- year resident of
Southampton, I often walk down St. Ann’s R oad, past
the plaque in her honour near Gibbs Hill Lighthouse ,
which she admired so much. I believe it was the visit
in 1953 when she stopped and she just stood there.
And for several minutes she admired the view that we
all love l ooking across the Great Sound.
I have two daughters, 30 and 29, who look to
female role models to emulate in life. The grace and
values that she has exhibited her entire life are, in my
view, exempl ary for females and, indeed, for all to
emulate. Her leadership during the pandemic . . . the
words of comfort that she offered not just to the mi llions in the UK but to millions around the world was a
recent example, for me, of her tremendous leadership
skills.
I offer my condolences to King Charles III and
the entire royal family.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

First, let me say thank you to
Her Excellency the Governor for declaring a holiday
on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, and to you , Mr.
Speaker , for making this opportunity possible today.
And I would also like to thank the P remier for his
words of condolences to the royal family and for the
fact that he is actually going to be travelling to the
services.
I believe it is fitting on this occasion, the pas sing of a one- of-a-kind, quite frankly —I do not believe
that we will ever see another type like Queen Eliz a-beth—that we do our justice, as was said already , and
give due respect for the passing of Queen Elizabeth.
For m any over the past few days . . . there
has probably been a preoccupation about the life of
Queen Elizabeth. You can go on YouTube, a nd I am
sure many of us have, and learn a whole lot about
things that you just did not know , and the humour that
she had when meeting folks . She was very light
hearted when you had the opportunity to meet her .
We mentioned that in 1975 the Queen came
to Bermuda. I , like many of you (I am looking around)
of a similar age would have been around 11, 12 years
old. My colleague [MP] Renee [Ming] would know that
St. George ’s was full. The schools were emptied and
the streets were full for an opportunity to get a glimpse
of the woman that we know as Queen Elizabet h.
I did not have the privilege of meeting Queen
Elizabeth. However, as we fast forward to today, I can say her cautious and wise judgment, her grace, her
elegance and humility, her authority and efforts to
move all towards common ground can be seen
aroun d the world. A real example of leadership; an
exceptional life; one of a kind.
Now, I did not have the privilege of meeting
the Queen, as I mentioned, but I did have the privilege
of meeting our now King Charles (who was then
Prince Charles ) at the World Islamic Economic Forum.
He has a similar attributes as his mother . He has this
odd humour, this kind of dry humour that you would
have expected also from the Queen . In our deliber ations it was interesting to hear some of what he knew
about Bermuda, and some of what he actually did not
know. I was surprised, actually. I can say that of late,
our King, who is someone who believes in green e nergy and the like . . . it is going to be interesting to see
the passing of this torch, per se, as he takes on this
mammoth task . I would say that he should not dare,
not try and attempt to be like his mother ; but he
should be himself . There is no way for him to fill those
shoes ; but be himself.
So, to King Charles and the royal family I extend condolences. M ay our Queen rest in peace. And
may we, as an Island, continue to give due respect to
the Queen who has shown to us and many around the
world what it truly means to be a leader.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

And on this occasion, good
morning to the Bermudian people.
8 16 September 2022 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly and Senate— Special Joint Sitting Mr. Speaker, the death of Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II is a truly momentous occasion that has
impacted billions of people throughout the globe, and
not merely those two billion or so who are in the
Commonwealth family. This is one of those significant events that causes us to pause and take stock of
where we are in our own lives, our own short lives. It
is an impactful milestone.
To reign for more than 70 years on the throne
of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth is a
particularly rare achievement, as many speakers have recognised before me. The Queen has presided over
a massive shift in the world, from the world of 1950s ,
all the way through to the world of today, seven de cades of very considerable and meaningful change.
There are, of course, some few small voices who
have offered criticism . Because she reigned over seven decades her reign at times clearly did witness and
must have witnessed deep flaws and atrocities in humanity. But the truth is that during her reign she was,
in effect, the personifi cation of the United Kingdom
and her people. And, of course, the United Kingdom
and her people are not perfect. The United Kingdom is
not perfect because humanity itself is imperfect.
But as we humans go, Her Majesty the Queen
has been a bastion of constancy, leading by her example to us all. Whether you are a devout monarchist or an ardent republican , any objective assessment
reveals a monarch who has demonstrated dignity, humility, grace and quiet, quiet strength. A velvet anvil.
Mr. Speaker , Queen Elizabeth demonstrated
a sense of duty unparalleled. Unparalleled. In doing
so, she became the cornerstone of English- speaking
nations.
Your people thank you, Your Majesty , and
your people will miss you deeply.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to be associated
with the condolences for Her late Majesty, Queen
Elizabeth II. And I would like to pay tribute to her as a
role model for women. As I reflect on the life of Queen
Elizabeth, I think about what it must have been like
growing up. She would have thought that one day she
would be a mother and a wife and live in the countr yside. Her father would sit on the throne as King and
she would be able to live out her life according to the
ways of the traditional role of the female, as a mother
and a wife. And to imagine in the early twenties, the age of 25 or 26, being thrust , unexpectedly, emotionally charged, into a position of such significance is
monumental. And to think that within days of imagi ning her life in the countryside with her family, she was
thrust into a position of having to rub shoulder to shoulder with world leaders, president s, clergy, people
way beyond anything that she would have imagined at
the time, and for her to have dug deep as a woman to
say, I am going to take on this responsibility with di gnity, with pride and with commitment as a woman, Mr.
Speaker, it is almost unimaginable.
Queen Elizabeth did not have the freedoms of
thought and opinion that so many women in this world do have. But as Queen she was able to do what she
could for women. She pushed the bar forward for
women; she stood as a representation of dignity. She
stood as a representation of pride and has inspired
politicians, female and male. But I am speaking today
about her role model for women. She inspired women.
She inspired women in politics. And we have to giv e
her great credit for that.
She shouldered a responsibility, Mr. Speaker,
that many in her family , older, arguably wiser, had run
from. But she stood the course, Mr. Speaker . I want to
share my personal appreciation for that. She was a
strong and steady woman, Mr. Speaker. She had
pride and dignity, aspirations that many of us would
only hope to achieve.
I would like to end, Mr. Speaker , by saying
that I feel deeply for the loss of this woman, who every
day of her life tried t o live up to the impossible expectations of others. My condolences to her family. My
condolences to all of those throughout the Commonwealth in the w orld who grieve the passing of H er late
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It was the Beatles, perhaps second only to the Queen in their global recognition, who sang :

Her Majesty ’s a pretty nice girl
But she doesn't have a lot to say
Her Majesty ’s a pretty nice girl
But she changes from day to day.



Bermuda House of Assembly and Senate— Special Joint Sitting Mr. Speaker, while I think we can all agree
that the Beatles were correct , and that Her Majesty
was sparing in her public utterances, they were quite
wrong about her changing day to day. Her Majesty
provided a steady point of reference for generations, a
constant in our modern history.
Mr. Speaker , Her Majesty was an exemplar of
duty and standards (a nd we have heard a few comments about that today already ), maintained over an
almost unimaginable length of time for one person or even one country. Not all may agree with her standards or even with her duty . But all should respect
them and H er Majesty ’s commitment to her unique
and heavy role.
Mr. Speaker, in the course of her dut ies she
was present throughout many significant changes in
how our lives were lived, how we viewed what was
acceptable and what was not , and how we even
thought about it. And today ’s world is very much not
the world in which Her Majesty started her reign. As a
result, the end of her reign has been the occasion of much remembering across the world, much of it
pleasant, but some of it, frankly, quite unpleasant.
And although Her Majesty ’s position a s
Queen, which she did not choose, wou ld not allow her
to speak fulsomely and frankly on history during her
lifetime, I believe that Her Majesty would accept it as her duty that her death might be a catalyst for us all to
reflect on that history so that we might learn from it.
And with that learning inform our own standards and
our own duties to our country and our people. And,
Mr. Speaker, if we could carry out our own duties with even a fraction of the dignity and dedication as Her Majesty, we in turn will be doing a great service to our
own people.
So, to King Charles III and other members of
the royal family , I extend my sincere condolences and
wish that Her Majesty the Queen m ay rest in peace.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Good morning.

Sen. Robin Tucker: It is indeed a privilege to be here
today to celebrate the life of Her Majesty Queen Eli zabeth II. I wish to express condolences to King
Charles III and the royal family , and to all persons in
Bermuda and around the world who loved and
revered Her Majesty the Queen.
On the cover of today's agenda, there is a
photo of Her Majesty the Queen, and beneath her pictur e is her birthdate, a dash, and then the date of
her passing. Her Majesty ’s “dash” reflects a life well lived by a woman who recognised her call to duty and ,
as a young woman, dedicated her life to public service. World leaders had the privilege of meeting the
Queen, have delivered tributes, and many described
her as being a stabili sing force and a steady hand as
a guide. They have also talked about her charm, great
wit, sense of humour and warmth and responsible
leadership. Those of us who watched from the sidelines were afforded the opportunity to see her as
many described, especially as she encouraged and
reassured so many during the most difficult times .
We have all seen the media and learned
about a remarkable monarch that lived full serving
people. But let us not forget that she was also a wife,
a mother, a grandmother and a great grandmother.
She lived and loved her family . And what is plain to
see is that they equally loved their “Mummy,” as King
Charles recently called her before the media, and
“Granny,” as we have heard Prince Harry also refer to
her.
Her Majesty has run her race and has finished
the course that was set before her . She did it with
grace, dignity, warmth and a sense of humour. And most of all, she did it with style.
Madam President stated earlier a quote that
came from Her Majesty. And I will also repeat that
quote. I am going to end today with the quote on
leadership that has been attributed to the Queen that I
believe is an example and encouragement to all of us
as we as we move forward in our own commitments to
public service.
The quote, as I restate, is “I know of no single
formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal
and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights,
their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work toget her.”
I pray these words of collaboration, from a
woman whose life and leadership has had a signif icant impact on the world, will become a tool in the
hands of us to help us to learn from the past and to
build a better tomorrow. This important lesson is just
one of the many gifts that Her Majesty the Queen has
left us that we can readily apply today . By modelling
the way for future generations , who will also read our
“dash” and judge us according to the impact of the
legacy that we leave behind, hopefully our legacy will
be one of great leadership, responsibility, grace, and,
most of all, committed service to improving the lot of mankind in Bermuda and in the world.
May Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II rest in
peace.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Senator.
Members, Senators and MPs, that brings us
to the end of the list of Members who had indicated
that they wished to make remarks today.
10 16 September 2022 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda House of Assembly and Senate— Special Joint Sitting I now call upon the Premier to move the m otion.
MOTION
THAT THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE
SEND GRACIOUS MESSAGES TO
HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES III
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I move that the
House d o now approve the following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Honourable
House do her ewith agree to send the gracious messages from the M embers of the L egislature of Berm uda as recorded this 16th day of September 2022, to
His Majesty King Charles III.

Thank you, Premier.
The House will now stand adjourned until next
week Friday.
As we close, let me just do a little bit of
housekeeping, again for our listening audience, just to
reemphasise that this was a S pecial Joint Sitting to
pay tribute to the passing of Her l ate Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II. It is not often that we have joint sittings . In
my memor y (being one of the longest -serving Members in Parliament ) I can only think of a couple, as I
stand here right now, the last being the anniversary of
the 1968 Constitutional Order , when we celebrated
that in 2018, and I think on the occasion of the pas sing of sitting Members of Parliament in previous years.
So, we recognise this as being really a rare
occasion for us, and it is duly fitting for the service that the Honourable Queen gave in the length of her reign, the type of honour and standard that she set, not only
for the monarchy, but for all of us in the political world
in how we conduct ourselves as we represent those who put us here to represent them.
With that, Members, enjoy your weekend.
Enjoy the holiday. Remember the reason for the hol iday and take time to reflect on the family. With those remarks, the House now stands
adjourned.
[At 11:10 am, the Special Joint Sitting of the Legislature in Honour of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
was adjourned. The Hous e will resume at 10:00 am,
on Friday, *23 September 2022.]
*[The House resumed on Friday, 30 September 2022.]