April 22, 2022

Thank you, Ms. Beale.
Members, the House is now in session.
Members, for the lis tening audience and public, today is a short session for one single item as
was requested when we closed on the 25th of March
when the House went into recess. We will sit today
for a special s itting just to table a particular matter
and any other business related to that matter.
We will be done today and then we will rise
and continue the recess until the 6th of May. So, this
morning we are going to go very quickly through the
orders . When we get to the necessary items that r elate to that one single item, they will be dealt with, and
then the House will rise.
CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
[Minutes of 21 and 25 March 2022]

Yes, Minister.
FAIRMONT SOUTHAMPTON HOTEL ACT 2022
Hon. V ance Campbell: Mr. Speaker, cruise ships
have returned to Dockyard, air arrivals and hotel occupancy are increasing, and we are on the cusp of events that will see the return of a growing number of visitors to Bermuda. Slowly but surely, the foundation for recovery is being laid.
Mr. Speaker, this Honourable House has r eturned today so that a Bill of national importance can be tabled. The Fairmont Southampton Hotel Act 2022

continues the delivery on a promise made to the pe ople of Bermuda. Mr. Speaker, in this Government’s 2020 Election Platform we specifically outlined that
the Government would (and this is an extract from that
platform) “suppor t . . . major public and private sector
building projects . . . to provide employment in construction over the next five years.” Among those pr o1246 22 April 2022 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly jects is the redevelopment of the Fairmont Southam pton Hotel.
Mr. Speaker, the Bill to be tabled today also
delivers on a key undertaking made by the Gover nment as part of negotiating the full extent of support
required to make this redevelopment a reality. I can
advise this Honourable House that those discussions
are at a technical and adva nced stage involving cou nsel for both sides working through the various pract ical aspects of the agreed heads of terms . The Ministry
of Finance is fully engaged in these matters , and it is
my expectation that the Honourable Premier and Mi nister of Finance will be in a position to further update
this Honourable House when this Bill is taken up for
debate.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of Bermuda has
moved quickly to fulfil its commitments by bringing this Bill today. Investors’ confidence in the Island and its
future must be met with nimble and flexible approac hes to ensure we achieve the economic growth necessary for economic recovery. The Bill’s proposed grant of concessions for 15 years represents that flexible
approach, and Honourable Members will note t hat the
extension of concessions for that period retains the
same protections contained in the Tourism Investment
Act 2017.
Mr. Speaker, I also wish for the public to know
that this Bill deliberately contains the necessary pr otections for Bermudian employ ment and Bermudian
upward mobility in the industry. The Government is
determined that those Bermudians who choose c areers in hospitality will be treated fairly and have every
opportunity to grow in the industry according to their work ethic, interest and c ommitment.
Mr. Speaker, today represents another critical
milestone in the advancement of economic recovery
and tourism renewal for Bermuda. I emphasi se that
this is a milestone because there are many more to
meet before we see tourists welcomed back to this
hotel. There is a considerable amount of work that
remains to be done.
Mr. Speaker, global demand for travel has
returned. Bermuda’s hotel bookings for the coming
months are said to be strong, and this is encouraging
for all elements of the tourism economy. The Go vernment is committed to advancing this redevelop-ment, signal ling that tourism can renew its claim as a
twin pillar of this economy, providing economic activ ity, economic growth and career opportunities for the people of Bermuda.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just a quick question.
On page 2, the second paragraph down, the
Minister says, “The Bill’s proposed grant of concessions for 15 years represents that flexible approach
. . .” and it continues on. Just curious —are they considering this to be a new standard for the industry? Is
this something that they are considering, or is this a
one-off for this particular project?

[Crosstalk]

Hon. V ance Campbell: Well, as the Statement says,
the Government of the day is here to discuss this particular Bill. This provides for 15 years. And as and
when the Government is required to entertain future
development requests under this [Bill], we will consi der the terms that we have to make that happen for
Bermuda, because this is all about being flexible, as
we have said in the Statement. We have seen these
developments and this investment in the tourism
product come to fruition. So the Government has stated that it will be flexible. It is being flexible in this
Statement here and in this instance here, and we will continue to be flexible as require d.

Was this a request by the
purchaser of South P or was this an offer fro m the
Government?

Hon. V ance Campbell: Mr. Speaker, as we stated in
the Statement, there were certain things to be finalised between the Minister of Finance and the parties
for the developer. So we would like to refrain until those matters are concluded.



Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Second supplementary?

Minister.

Hon. V ance Campbell: So if I understand the question, the projects that have already started, it is my
understanding that they have relief already provided. As I stated before, if they are prepared to bring a r equest before the Minister of Tourism, the discussions will be had with the Minister of Finance and their r equest will be given consideration. At this stage we do
not have a request in front of us.

Well, Mr. Minis ter, as you are a new
Minister, I will give you a little guidance.
If your Statement generates a question that
can be answered, it is appropriate to be answered.
No, I will not allow any debate to take place. I will not
allow any matters that are critical to the Bill itself that
speak to clauses of the Bill, et cetera. But if it is a
general question that can be generated from any
Statement that is given, it is a permissible question.
Hon. V ance Campbell: Okay, Mr. Speaker.
Well, Mr. Speaker, this Bill does not remove
the requirements under the planning application, so the developers will still have to go through the various
stages of that. The 2009 SDO s set out the parameters
of the development. And if that plan is to be revisited, it will be up to the developer to follow the law and make an application.

With no other matters to be taken up
other than the tabling of the Bill, I will ask that the Mi nister proceed to the tabling of the Bill.

BILL

FIRST READING

FAIRMONT SOUTHAMPTON HOTEL ACT 2022
Hon. V ance Campbell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
1248 22 April 2022 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Speaker, I am introducing the following
Bill for its first reading so that it may be placed on the
Order Paper for the next day of meeting: Fairmont
Southampton Hotel Act 2022.

Thank you for your participation this
morning in this short session. Continue your recess.
And on the 6
th of May, we look forward to coming back
for a full session of business.
Premier, would you like to adjourn us?

ADJOURNMENT
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I move that the Honourable
House do now adjourn until Friday, the 6
th of May.