Hansard — December 4, 2020 — Bermuda Parliament

The Speaker The Speaker Good morning, Members. The House is now in session, so we will start with the morning prayer s. And Ms. B eale will say the prayer s now. PRAYERS [Prayers read by Ms. Kara Beale, Assistant Clerk ]

The Speaker The Speaker Amen. Thank you. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES [Minutes of 27 November 2020]

The Speaker The Speaker Good morning, Members. [Gavel]

The Speaker The Speaker The House is now i n session. The Minutes from the 27th of November 2020 have been circulated. Are there any amendments , corrections or adjustments to be done to those Minutes ? There are none. The Minutes are confirmed as printed. [Minutes of 27 November 2020 confirmed] MESSAGES FROM …

The Speaker The Speaker There are none. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER OR MEMBER PRESIDING

The Speaker The Speaker On the Order Paper you will see that the announcement was supposed to be for the Stand-ing and Sessional Select Committees. I am going to hold [off doing] that until next week because there are some Members who have yet to respond to the information which has been sent. I …

The Speaker The Speaker There are none. PAPERS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TO THE HOUSE

The Speaker The Speaker There is one this morning in the name of the Premier.

Mr. Premier. Hon. E. David Burt premier Good morning, Mr. Speaker. The Spe aker: Good morning. PREMIER, MINISTERS AND OPPOSITION LEADER PERSONAL STAFFS ACT 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to attach and submit for the information of the Honourable House of Assembly the Premier, Ministers and Opposition Leader Personal …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. PETITIONS

The Speaker The Speaker There are none. STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS AND JUNIOR MINISTERS

The Speaker The Speaker There are some five Statements to be tabled this morning. And the first Statement is again Mr. Premier. You have the floor. [Pause]

The Speaker The Speaker Now, Mr. Premier, are you looking at your camera? Hon. E. David Burt: Oh, I am, but let me move this seat out of the way. 178 4 December 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Yes. We see the chair rather than you, sir. That is …

The Speaker The Speaker I could not get my mouse to go that time to hit the mute button. Thank you, Mr. Premier. The next Statement this morning is in the name of the Minister of F inance. Minister, would you like to present your Statement? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Good morning, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Good morning. US$1.35 BILLION DUAL SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES DUE 2030 AND 2050 Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members are advised that on Thursday, the 20 th of August, the Bermuda Government issued $1.35 billion in senior notes , split evenly into two tranches: a 10 - year maturity …

The Speaker The Speaker Mr. Lamb . . . I checked with him this morning. He had put all the Statements up. I believe it is up there on the SharePoint. Is it on SharePoint?

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member It is there.

The Speaker The Speaker Go to the homepage; it should be there. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: I am looking at it now. I just saw the Premier’s last one, but I do not see the F inance Minister’s Statement.

The Speaker The Speaker Okay.

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member Nor do I. I see four Statements, but not his. [Pause]

The Speaker The Speaker If you go un der the Ministerial section, it should be there. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Okay. Continue. I will find it then. I do not see it, but go ahead.

The Speaker The Speaker It is there. Okay. Minister, continue on. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: In accordance with section 2(3) of the Government Loans Act 1978, I am pleased to rise this morning to inform this Honourable House of the execution of this borrowing transaction pursuant to the requirements of the Act. Mr. Speaker …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister. The next Statement this morning is in the name of the Minister of Health. Minister, would you like to present your Statement at this time? Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Good morning, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Good morning. UPDATE ON COVID -19 PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, as the world’s efforts to eradicate the cor onavirus focus increasingly on the manufacture and distribution of approved vaccines, all of us in Bermuda need to centre our immediate efforts on containing …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister. The next Statement this morning is in the name of the Minister of Social Development and Se niors. Minister Furbert, would you like to present your Statement? Minister? [No audible response]

The Speaker The Speaker The Mini ster is having difficulty. Can we move on to the next Statement, in the name of the Minister of Education? Minister of Education, are you available? Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: I am here, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Can you proceed to present your Statement ? Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Sure.

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and good morning, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I do apologise; I am not ready. I was given the wrong Statement.

The Speaker The Speaker Can you sort yourself out? Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Yes, yes, yes. Just give me a second. [Pause] Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, I am ready.

The Speaker The Speaker Okay. Proceed. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise before this Honourable House to giv e an interim report on the annual . . . Just a second, Mr. Speaker. I need to start my video. Here it is. BERMUDA COLLEGE FALL 2020 FINANCIAL SUPPORT UPDATE …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister. Is the Minister of Social Development and Seniors available now? Hon. Tinee Furbert: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Minister, would you like to present your Statement? Hon. Tinee Furbert: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Go ahead. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Hon. Tinee Furbert: Mr. Speaker, yesterday people worldwide participated in events in r ecognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities . Berm uda held several events to recognise the day, the most notable being a motorcade held by the Bermuda …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister. That actually brings us to a close of the Mini sterial Statements for this mor ning. We now move on to the next item. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

The Speaker The Speaker There are none. QUESTION PERIOD

The Speaker The Speaker This brings us now to the Question P eriod. Before we look at the Statements from this mor ning, we have two sets of written questions this mor ning. Both require an oral response. The first question this morning is to the Mini ster of Health from the Member from …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, the PCR testing kits and reagents are available as follows: Test kits and reagent -type Roche kits available on Island, 142,848. SEASUN biomaterial kits are available on Island, 155,200. There is no potential shortage of PCR tes ting or reagents that …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank y ou. Supplementary? SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Oh, yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in light of the fact that we are testing at a very rapid rate, what is the access for the Government to obtain more? And how much time would it require to be …

The Speaker The Speaker Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have continued since the beginning of this pandemic to secure and procure items that are needed in Bermuda so that we could ensure that we have . . . I do not want to use the word “stockpile,” but …

The Speaker The Speaker Supplementary or new question? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: So, Mr. Speaker, just for clarity, the Minister is saying that at this point there is no challenge to accessing and the timely arrival of the suppl ies on the Island?

The Speaker The Speaker I think that was interpreted from that. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Okay. Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Speaker?

The Speaker The Speaker Your second supplementary, yes. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, maybe I did not catch it in the initial answer. Does the Minister feel comfortable and confident that our PPE will not be in short supply in the foreseeable future, certainly through the winter period?

The Speaker The Speaker Minister. Hon. Kim N . Wilson: Yes. With respect to the PPE, for gloves we have approximately 360 [sic] pairs cu rrently on Island. For surgical masks, we have approximately 730,000 on Island. For N -95 masks, we have Bermuda House of Assembly approximate 690,000 on Island. For gowns, we …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Supplementary? Well, you used your suppl ementaries. You have a new question? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Excuse me, Mr. Speaker. Could the Honourable Minister repeat for gloves? How many pairs did she say? I thought I heard 360, but that cannot be correct. [Crosstalk]

The Speaker The Speaker He is just seeking clarity, not another question. Just clarity on the number. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: That number that I quoted is absolutely correct, 360,000 pairs of gloves. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Okay, 360,000. I must have missed the “thousand” in that. Mr. Speaker, second question?

The Speaker The Speaker Put in your second question now. QUESTION 2: COVID -19 VACCINE Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, sir. Will the Honourable Minister please provide this Honourable House with the details of any arrangements the Bermuda Government may have with the U K or any other suppliers of a COVID vaccine, …

The Speaker The Speaker Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The Bermuda Government, Mr. Speaker, current ly has streams of COVID -19 vaccine sources. The first stream is from Public Health England, which is a health authority in the United Kingdom and has committed to providing a proportionate number of vaccines related to the total …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Your second supplementary? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: First supplementary, Mr. Speaker. That was a question.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. That was a question. This is your first. Go ahead. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Honourable Minister: Honourable Mi nister, can you inform this Honourable House which company these vaccines will be from? Certainly from Public Health England and COVAX, which of the …

The Speaker The Speaker Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, the Public Health England in UK is sourcing from the Oxford AstraZeneka, as well as Pfizer, and the COVAX facilit y has ind icated that they will be sourcing from whichever ones they are able to secure that are approved first.

The Speaker The Speaker Supplementary, your second supp? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, my second suppl ementary, Mr. Speaker. Can the Honourable Minister please provide details on the current plan for the priority list for provi ding the vaccine to people? Has the Government laid out the priority of how it will be given …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. All questions and supplementaries have been asked. We now move on to the second written question this morning. And that is in the name of MP — Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Mr. Speaker! Mr. Speaker. I had you down for a supplementary on COVID.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes, yes. We have not got to the Statements yet. We have not got to the Statements yet. We are still on written questions, still on written questions. The second written question this morning is from MP Jackson to the Minister of the Cabinet Office. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: …

The Speaker The Speaker Oh, on these written ques tions? Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes.

The Speaker The Speaker Okay, supplementary on the written question. Yes. Put your supplementary. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: My question, Mr. Speaker, is, How much is the vaccine costing the Government of Bermuda? Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, the Government has committed to the COVAX facility the sum of $269,000, which …

The Speaker The Speaker Yes, take your second one. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Mr. Speaker, a lot has been said about the efficacy of these vaccines from reput able sourc es, doctors, et cetera. A number of Bermudians have, in essence, decided not to take the vac-cine. —

The Speaker The Speaker If you do not mind, put your camera on. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: —My question to the Mini ster is this: How are we going to manage those res idents who elect not to take the vaccines and thereby possibly increase the risk to the country?

The Speaker The Speaker And just to remind you, Opposition Leader, when you are speaking have your camera on. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, I thank the Honourable Opposi tion Leader for that question. In fact, I will perhaps be calling on him for his assistance because what we do intend to do …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Now, Opposition Leader, your question that you wanted to ask, it was in reference to the written statement [sic] or the Statement that was read this morning? You do not want to ask any related to the Statement?

Mr. Scott Pearman I think he has one on the written statement as well, Mr. Speaker. May I ask a supplementary on this answer on the written statement, please? (It is MP Pearman.)

The Speaker The Speaker Okay. Ask your question. SUPPLEMENTARIES

Mr. Scott Pearman Honourable Minister, when you were giving the answers orally to Mr. Dunkley’s questions, you were speaking about the vaccines and you were talking about the Public Health England vaccine and the COVAX vaccine. You indic ated the earliest dates for both, if I heard you correctly, were anticipated to be …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, based on our communications with Public Health England, they have indicated that the initial timeframe for delivery is as early as the 14 th of December 2020.

Mr. Scott Pearman And supplementary?

The Speaker The Speaker Supplementary, yes.

Mr. Scott Pearman That is the earliest date; is that the likely predicted date? Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, based on the di scussions that we have had with Public Health England, the information they have provided to us is that the earliest possible date is the 14th of December 2020.

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Scott Pearman: Honourable Minister, Mr. Speaker, second question?

The Speaker The Speaker You had two supplementaries.

Mr. Scott Pearman I had my one supplementary to my first question, Mr. Speaker, and I would now ask to move my second question.

The Speaker The Speaker No, no.

Mr. Scott Pearman Excuse me; I am so sorry. Second supplementary.

The Speaker The Speaker You had two supplementaries to do. You do not have two questions under this.

Mr. Scott Pearman That is right, yes. May I have my second supplementary?

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member You asked two already.

The Speaker The Speaker You asked two. You have asked two questions. [Crosstalk]

The Speaker The Speaker She gave an answer. The Minister a nswered. Then you gave the second question. Oka y?

Mr. Scott Pearman Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Does any other Member have a question they would like to put to the . . . a supplementary on the written statement [sic]? This is still on the written statement from the Member to the Minister of Health— Hon. E. David Burt: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Does anyone have a supplementary to that statement? Hon. E. David Burt: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker What is your point of order? POINT OF ORDER Hon. E. David Burt: Just for clarity, I think you are asking for supplementary questions to the written questions, not the written s tatement .

The Speaker The Speaker The written questions, yes, the written questions. Hon. E. David Burt: I just want to make that clear, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. We are still on the very first written question that was put to the Minister of Health. Hon. E. David Burt: Right.

The Speaker The Speaker Before we move on to the second wri tten question, does anyone else have a supplementary on the first written question?

Mr. Jarion Richardson I do, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker And, MP Richardson, put your suppl ementary. You will have two supplementaries. SUPPLEMENTARIES

Mr. Jarion Richardson Yes, Mr. Speaker. I have a question to the Honourable Minister as it relates to . . . In light of the temperature requir ements for some of these vaccinations, what arrang ements have been made as it relates to transporting it and storing it on the Island? Hon. Kim …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. MP, do you have a second supplementary?

Mr. Jarion Richardson I do, and I thank the Honourable Minister for both answering the questio ns and later on providing more detail. My second supplemental, Mr. Speaker, is that, in regard to the total 25 doses of COVAX, I understand that is a double dose required. So is it act ually—do you …

The Speaker The Speaker Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, that is 25,000 doses, 25,567. And that would represent two doses. So each individual has to be immunised twice with respect to that. So that would represent the tota l for 2,000—sorry. So it will be approximately 12,000 individuals will be able to …

Mr. Jarion Richardson Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Honourable Minister. 190 4 December 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The S peaker: Thank you. Does any other Member wish to put a supplementary question to the Minister regarding the wri tten question this morning? No other Member. We now move …

Ms. Susan E. Jackson Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The Speaker The Speaker Good morning. QUESTION 1: VERTICAL FARM FACILITY

Ms. Susan E. Jackson My first question is, Will the Honourable Minister please provide this Honourable House the total projected dollar amount , with a list of estimated expenses to fund a vertical farm facility in Bermuda?

The Speaker The Speaker Thank y ou. Minister. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. The Honourable Member is well aware of confidentiality, as she works for a bank. We ourselves are under confidentiality with potential developers. What I can say is that no funds have been paid or committed to date. Everyone …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Supplementary, Member?

Ms. Susan E. Jackson Yes, I have a supplementary.

The Speaker The Speaker Your first supplementary. SUPPLEMENTARIES

Ms. Susan E. Jackson Is the Government in its negotiations also considering any other private requests for proposals? Are you setting up an RFP for other private individuals to get involved in investments of government vertical farming?

The Speaker The Speaker Minister. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: When you say “government vertical farming” . . .

Ms. Susan E. Jackson Yes, where the Government is pursuing, as you said, confidentially pursuing cer-tain arrangements with com panies. And I am just wondering whether you— whether the Government is also considering going out to tender and looking at any private organisations or groups of people who may also want to get involved …

The Speaker The Speaker The answer is yes.

Ms. Susan E. Jackson I have a supplemental.

The Speaker The Speaker You can put your second supplementary now.

Ms. Susan E. Jackson Mr. Minister, will there be a formal RFP, [an] open to tender [RFP] for private ind ividuals to subm it proposals for vertical farming in Bermuda? Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: RFI, I foresee it as an RFI, request for information.

Ms. Susan E. Jackson Okay.

The Speaker The Speaker Okay? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary.

The Speaker The Speaker Supplementary? You have a suppl ementary? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: I do.

The Speaker The Speaker Put your supplementary. Do your first supplementary. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: I thank my honourable colleague for the question. Mr. Speaker, in the original answer, the Mini ster said that there were no funds paid to date and there was no commitment. So this is obviously in early stages. …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Second supplementary, or you are done? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, second supplementary.

The Speaker The Speaker Put your second supplementary. Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Second supplementary, yes. Following along from my question, so does Government have any intention of being an investor in this programme? Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: I am sorry. I could not hear, Member. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Honourable …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Does any other Member have a supplementary to the Member’s first question?

Mr. Jarion Richardson I do, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker MP Richardson, put your question, your supplementary. SUPPLEMENTARIES

Mr. Jarion Richardson Thank you. Would the Honourable Minister please provide the total amount Government is willing to commit to this project? Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: As I said, we are under confidentiality. And as ti me goes on we will inform the Honourable Minister where we stand.

The Speaker The Speaker You have a second supplementary, MP?

Mr. Jarion Richardson Yes, I do. Thank you, Honourable Minister. So that, would you confirm then that this, the total amount that you are willing to commit to this pr oject is dependent on the counterparties involved? Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: That is right.

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Does any other Member have a supplementary to put to the Member’s first written question? No other Member? Then, MP Jackson, would you like to read your second written question? QUESTION 2: VERTICAL FARM FACILITY

Ms. Susan E. Jackson Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Honourable Minister please provide this Honourable House a list of job titles, with qualif ications, that are needed to run the proposed vertical farm? Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: My first Statement, Mr. Speaker, stands as it was, confidentiality with developers . Until then . …

The Speaker The Speaker Okay. Members, do you have a supplementary?

Ms. Susan E. Jackson Yes, I do. Yes, I do, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Go ahead. SUPPLEMENTARY

Ms. Susan E. Jackson Minister, what if anything has been d one to review, restructure the agricultural i ndustry as we have in Bermuda now? And there are some 300 acres of unused arable, government arable land. There are many people without homes, and there is an initiative toward environmental protection. So what is …

The Speaker The Speaker Member, let me remind you that your supplementary should speak to the topic of your original question. And the original question is directed solely at the [vertical] farming, nothing else. [Crosstalk] The S peaker: Your supplementary should centre around that.

Ms. Susan E. Jackson Then, may I ask, Minister, what is being done in advance of any confidential n egotiations to prepare and encourage more Bermudians to get involved in agriculture, in particular vertical farming? Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Honourable Member, as far as agriculture does not come under myself, but as I just …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Supplementary, Mr. Speaker? 192 4 December 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Supplementary? Yes, we will take your first supplementary. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Honourable Minister: Have the Board of Ag riculture and …

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Is that not putting the cart in front of the horse, using farmers’ verbiage? Would you not have discussion with the Board of Agriculture and the local farming industry to get them on board first? Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: It depends on how you look …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Does any other Member wish to put a supplementary to the second question that was asked by the Member?

Mr. Jarion Richardson Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker MP Richardson, your firs t supplementary. SUPPLEMENTARY

Mr. Jarion Richardson Yes, Mr. Speaker. Would the Honourable Minister please provide us—are there any like projects in other jurisdictions, whichever ones we are using as examples or guid elines to assist us in this proces s? What are the qualif ications that are used in those jurisdictions for vertical farming? Hon. Wayne …

The Speaker The Speaker Point of order? POINT OF ORDER Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I hate to continue to draw attention to the Standing Orders. But as you have already indicated, questions, supplementary questions on Parliamentary Questions have to be r elated to the actual question which was asked. And the question …

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. Premier, I was just about to bring that question back as I did with the former quest ion that was asked out of order. You must keep your supplementaries in line with the verbiage that was asked in the original question, the written question. But if you can tie …

Mr. Jarion Richardson Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question was related to qualifications, which was in number 2. I am happy to skip that over. And I under-stand, and thank you, Mr. Premier and Mr. Speaker. As it relates to the qualifications, I can ask that question. Are there any locals already qualified? …

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. Minister. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: You asked me whether individuals are qualified for certain jobs? I would have thought so, yes.

Mr. Jarion Richardson Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Honourable Minister.

The Speaker The Speaker Does any other Member have questions for —

Mr. L. Craig Cannonier Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Supplementary in regard to the original written question?

Mr. L. Craig Cannonier Supplementary, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker MP Cannonier, you can put your supplementary. Bermuda House of Assembly SUPPLEMENTARY

Mr. L. Craig Cannonier Yes. In light of the question on list of job titles, qualifications and the like, we know that in another place it was mentioned it would be a project of approximately $30 [million], I believe, or $38 million. Does the Honourable Mini ster have a fram ework in place which …

The Speaker The Speaker That is a long stretch there to bring that figure into the qualifications and job titles. Yo u said you were going to speak to qualifications.

Mr. L. Craig Cannonier Well, I am asking the question because it has already been stated in another place that it is going to be approximately $30 [million] to $38 million.

The Speaker The Speaker It may.

Mr. L. C raig Cannonier If you have that, then you should already also have in place, when you come to that kind of summary, a list of titles, approximate amounts that you are going to spend.

The Speaker The Speaker Well, basically, basically, Member, we are addressing the question. And what may have been said at a different time and a different place does not relate to the particular question that is before us. I am not disputing [what] was said before; I am just drawing our attention to the …

Mr. L. Craig Cannonier Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. But if I could just qualify. The only way that you can come to a conclusion of that amount is if you a lready have in place titles and qualifications and the likes, to come to that conclusion of $30 [million] to $38 million. That …

The Speaker The Speaker I am still trying to tie it in , because basically I am going to draw a scenario. We are looking for a proposal, and I say whatever the proposal is here is my maximum that I am prepared to spend, $1 or $100. So that is basically the context …

Mr. L. Craig Cannonier But that has to be qual ified— [Crosstalk] The Speaker: —It does not necessarily mean that that amount was fully quantified; — [Crosstalk]

The Speaker The Speaker —it just means based on all the [r equests for proposals] and due diligence, as the Mini ster said earlier. They are looking for due diligence right now. So I am trying to tie your number into that; I just cannot tie your number into that question. You can ask …

Mr. L. Craig Cannonier Mr. Speaker, there is no way that you can come up with a business proposal or even put out in the public that you are willing to spend the public’s money of $30 [million] to $38 million wit hout a framework in place. And that framework would include employees and …

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member Point of order Mr. Speaker. Point of order.

The Speaker The Speaker Member, your point may be a good point , but it does not fit into this question. No. If it ca nnot fit into this question, I cannot allow it to be put. If you could reframe what you are after, maybe. But in the form that you are putting …

Mr. L. Craig Cannonier Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker The earlier question actually spoke to funding. This one does not. You might have been able to tie it into the first question because t he first question spoke to funds. This question does not speak to funds. Read the first question that the Member put. You could have possibly …

Ms. Crystal Caesar Yes, please. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Go right ahead. QUESTION 1: BERMUDA’S TECHNOLOGY - DRIVEN COVID- 19 RESPONSE

Ms. Crystal Caesar Mr. Speaker, some of my co nstituents who have downloaded the WeHealth app have received a message that says (and I quote), “This region is not fully supported by the app. You will continue to get exposure notifications but can only share an anonymous COVID -19 diagnosis if you are …

The Speaker The Speaker Mr. Premier. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I thank the Ho nourable Member for her question. And I thank her for allowing me the opportunity to clarify for her constit uents. In this particular instance, as I explained during the Statement, the app itself is not really going live …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Do you have a supplementary?

Ms. Crystal Caesar No, Mr. Speaker. The Premier sufficiently answered my question with his fulsome answer. I appreciate that. Thank you.

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Premier, there are no further questions for you. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary.

The Speaker The Speaker A supplementary? Yes, put your su pplementary. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Ho nourable Premier for the Stat ement. On page 4, the Honourable Premier says, “Thus, everyone’s privacy is ensured and guaranteed, and this has been verified by Bermuda’s Privacy Commissioner.” …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Premier. Do you have a second supplementary, Member? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes. Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answer from the Honourable Premier. Honourable Premier, in light of the fact that the person has to enter their positive diagnosis, do you believe that people will actually do …

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. You put both of your supplementaries. Does anyone else have a supplementary for this Statement? Nothing further? We move on to the second Statement this morning, which was from the Minister of Finance. Minister of Finance, you have two Members who have indicated they have questions for you. The …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Minister. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, just by way of correction, the $2.97 billion that the Honourable Member referred to represents the net debt number. The debt cei ling, the gross level is $3.5 billion, and gross debt is currently $3.35 billion. With respect to the question …

The Speaker The Speaker Put your supplemental, yes. SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: While talking on the debt, the $1.35 billion placement, can the Minister confirm whether there was any plac ement in the local markets?

The Speaker The Speaker Minister. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: My understanding is that there was not substantial, if any, placement of the debt securities in the local markets. We used HSBC and Goldman Sachs, who were the underwriters on the offering, and they were responsible for the alloc ations. My understanding is that there …

The Speaker The Speaker Is this a new question? Or do you want to do a supplementary to that one? Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: No, This is my second.

The Speaker The Speaker Okay. That was a supplementary to your first one, but okay. Go ahead. Ask your second one. QUESTION 2: US$1.35 BILLION DUAL SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES DUE 2030 AND 2050 Hon. N. H . Cole Simons: Second question: The Mi nister said that the underwriters were Goldman Sachs and HSBC. Is …

The Speaker The Speaker Is this a supplementary to that question? Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes.

The Speaker The Speaker Supplementary, yes. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: How much did the plac ement cost the Government of Bermuda? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: That is a great questio n. I would wait for my technical officer to send me that number. I think the gross spread was a little over …

The Speaker The Speaker Seco nd supplementary to that question, yes. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Did we take any other bids from other service providers before you agreed upon Goldman Sachs and HSBC New York? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, I thank the Honourable Member for that question. He may not be …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Do you have a third question, Member? QUESTION 3: US$1.35 BILLION DUAL SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES DUE 2030 AND 2050 Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes. The Minister has made a commitment to provide details on the cost of the placement. When he provides that response, can he provide …

The Speaker The Speaker Minister. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: I can undertake to do that, Mr. Speaker. I am actually trying to calculate the numbers right in front of me right now. But if . . . I can Bermuda House of Assembly undertake t o get those figures back to him, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you, Minister. I have no further questions.

The Speaker The Speaker Okay. Thank you. Minister, you have other Members who have questions for you. The next Member who has a question for you is MP Pearman. MP Pearman, would you like to put your question? QUESTION 1: US$1.35 BILLION DUAL SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES DUE 2030 AND 2050

Mr. Scott Pearman Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Honourable Minister. Honourable M inister, at page 5 of your Stat ement, you talked about the current level of gover nment debt, which now stands at $2.97 billion. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: No, no. That is net, he said.

Mr. Scott Pearman I was just about to go—in answer to the question put by the Opposition Leader, you clarified the $2.97 billion figure is net and that gross debt is —I think you said $3.35 billion. But I would be grateful for clarification. Honourable Minister, can you just explain for those who …

The Speaker The Speaker Minister. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Sure. Mr. Speaker, we typically, I think in conversations both of this Gover nment and previous Governments, have often used the term “ net debt. ” And net debt is the result of the gross debt less any cash that is held sitting in the …

Mr. Scott Pearman Thank you, Honourable Minister. So—

The Speaker The Speaker Do you have a supplementary or a new question?

Mr. Scott Pearman Mr. Speaker, I have a suppl ementary. Thank you.

The Speaker The Speaker Put your supplementary. SUPPLEMENTARIES

Mr. Scott Pearman Honourable Minister, so in terms of the amount of money Bermuda actually owes, it is $3.35 billion. But your answer is that we have suff icient cash between that number and $2.97 billion to pay some of the debt. Is that correct? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Well, we owe $3.35 …

Mr. Scott Pearman Thank you.

The Speaker The Speaker Second supplementary or new question?

Mr. Scott Pearman Second supplementary.

The Speaker The Speaker Continue.

Mr. Scott Pearman Can the Honourable Finance Minister share with us roughly as of what date the $3.35 billion debt Bermuda owes is? Is that as of t oday’s date or the 1 st of December , or what rough date? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: That was the debt that was incurred at …

Mr. Scott Pearman August 2020? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: That is correct.

Mr. Scott Pearman Second question, Mr. Speaker?

The Speaker The Speaker Second question, yes. QUESTION 2: US$1.35 BILLION DUAL SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES DUE 2030 AND 2050

Mr. Scott Pearman Given the —this is at page 3 of the Honourable Finance Minister’s Statement where he stated that the original target of the new borrowing was $1.25 billion. And then he goes on to state at the bottom of page 3, “This also enabled us to upsize the transaction to $1.35 …

Mr. Scott Pearman Thank you, Honourable Minister. Supplementary? The S peaker: Supplementary, yes. SUPPLEMENTARIES

Mr. Scott Pearman Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Minister, given that the gross debt is at $3.35 billion and the debt ceiling is at $3.5 billion, as I understand it, does the Honourable Minister feel that there is a need, given the borrowing just done, to seek to increase the debt ceiling? Or …

The Speaker The Speaker Minister. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Well, I would not use the word “comfortable,” you know. [Laughter] Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: It is $3.5 billion. I believe that the debt ceiling that we have in place today is appropriate, given our circumstances.

The Speaker The Speaker Supplementary or do you have a new question?

Mr. Scott Pearman Yes, final supplementary, I believe.

Mr. Scott Pearman Honourable Minister, at what point in time do you think we might need to revisit the debt ceiling, if at all? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, my focus right now is on getting our economy moving again so that we can generate surpluses and repay the debt. And all …

Mr. Scott Pearman Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Honourable Minister. The Speaker: No more questions?

Mr. Scott Pearman Not from me.

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Minister, you have one other Member who has a question for you, and that is MP Richardson. MP Richardson, would you like to put your question now?

Mr. Jarion Richa rdson I am afraid, Mr. Speaker, that MP Pearman has done that, has taken my question. So thank you, Minister of Finance.

The Speaker The Speaker No problem. Minister of Finance, you are finished with questions for this morning. I will now move on to the next Statement that has questions this morning, and that is for the Minister of Health. Minister of Health — [Crosstalk]

The Speaker The Speaker Mr. Pearman, you can turn your micr ophone off. [Crosstalk ]

The Speaker The Speaker The question this morning, second question . . . Sor ry. Minister of Health, your question this morning is from MP Dunkley. MP, would you like to put your question? QUESTION 1: UPDATE ON COVID- 19 PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Do you have a supplementary or a new question? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Go ahead. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, in regard to wearing masks, on page 5 the Honourable Minister says in the second paragraph, “please …

The Speaker The Speaker Minis ter. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, just for clarification, under the existing law there is a requirement for masks to be worn if you are unable to adhere to physical distancing of six feet. What this new provision seeks to do is to provide a fine …

The Speaker The Speaker Supplementary or new question? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Well, sup plementary, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Second supplementary. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, I am trying to get some clarity on that answer, Mr. Speaker. Because the Minister’s Statement is very clear that if physical distance of six feet cannot be maintai ned between people, they must wear a mask. But further down in the Statement, …

The Speaker The Speaker Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again if persons are able to physically distance over six feet, then there will not be a requirement to wear a mask with respect to work conditions. Most work conditions are such that the persons, unfortunately, are in close proximity …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. That is your second supplementary on your first question. Would you like to put a second question? QUESTION 2: UPDATE ON COVID- 19 PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Honourabl e Minister for that clarity. I think it is helpful to …

The Speaker The Speaker Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Honourable Member for that. And I just want to repeat for the edification of all of those persons who are listening. Bermuda does not have community transmission, nor have we had community transmission, community spread. I think …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank yo u, Minister. Do you have a supplementary for this? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Supplementary. Just let me remind Members we began the Question Period at 10:54. It is now 11:51. So we have got three minutes left. Put your s upplementary. SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, in regard to the traveller wristband, what are the consequences if individuals are found taking …

The Speaker The Speaker Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, Mr. Speaker. There will be a penalty in the sum of $500 for removal of the band.

The Speaker The Speaker Second supplementary or new question? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: New question, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Go ahead. QUESTION 3: UPDATE ON COVID- 19 PUBLIC HEALTH GUID ANCE Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Minister says on page 8. And it was in addition to the Statement, the Honourable Minister was reading out the new guidance that clearly states that people can take public …

The Speaker The Speaker All right. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Well, that was the question, Mr. Speaker. Clarity on why that was the reason? Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Because it is easier for the hotels to effectively bubble their guests with respect to the travellers.

The Speaker The Speaker Second supplementary? SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, final supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister is rolling—the regulations will roll back to times that bars can be opened from 2 :00 to midnight. Mr. Speaker, in light of the fact that most bars only have reasonable business after 10:00 …

The Speaker The Speaker Minister, you are right on that time if you can give a quick answer. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I will. But, Mr. Speaker, the Government has always maintained the concern of ensuring that we strike the proper balance between keeping the economy afloat as well as ensuring that we have …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister, and thank you, Members. The clock has just run out on us. And the question- and-answer period has now passed. We now move on to the next Order on the paper this morning. CONGRATULATORY AND/OR OBITUARY SPEECHES

The Speaker The Speaker Would any Mem ber wish to speak to this?

Mr. Scott Simmons Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. You have your three minutes if you turn your camera on. That is the Government Whip, correct?

Mr. Scott Simmons It is.

The Speaker The Speaker We do not see you, though. We hear you, but we do not see you.

Mr. Scott Simmons Yes. I turned my camera on— there it is, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, sir.

The Speaker The Speaker Now we see you. You have your three minutes.

Mr. Scott Simmons Yes, Mr. Speaker. I rise in this Honourable House on, firstly, sad notes and ask that condolences be sent to the family of Mr. Paul Kevin Darrell. Mr. Speaker, I have known of Paul and his family for the better part of my life, as he attended the Bermuda Institute …

The Speaker The Speaker That was done last week, so you ass ociate yourself.

Mr. Scott Simmons Yes, sir. I would be associated with that, and also to the families of Ms. Patience Godfrey and Ms. Aberdeen Matthew of the Seven- day Adventist community, Mr. Speaker. Also, Mr. Speaker, the Somerset community will be greatly diminished this weekend with the passing of Mr. Jerry Lynn Simons. Our …

Mr. Scott Simmons Yes, sir. I wish to associate m yself with that, as he will be greatly missed. Mr. Speaker, I will finish on an up note and ask that I rise in this House to formally congratulate a fellow Member of our House. I mean a fellow Member of our House …

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member Associate me, please.

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution at this time?

Mr. Vance Campbell Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker That sound s like MP Campbell. You have your three minutes.

Mr. Vance Campbell That is right, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like birthday congratul ations to be sent to the following constituents of mine: Ms. Susan Wellingt on, who celebrated a birthday last week Friday, the same day that I celebrated mine; Mary Draycott , who celebrated her 80 th birthday on …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution at this point? Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. You have your three minutes. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do apologise. I was out of the room, and I do not kno w if condolences were sent to the family of Mr. Alonzo Leroy Landy.

The Speaker The Speaker No, not yet. Hon. E. David Burt: Okay. Well, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give condolences and ask that a condolence message be sent on behalf of this Honourable House to the family of Mr. Alonzo Leroy Landy, a Bermudian, a veteran of the United States Armed Forces and, …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Premier. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution?

Some Hon. Members Some Hon. Members Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would.

The Speaker The Speaker It sounds like MP Furbert, now Minister Furbert, ra ther. Minister would you like to? Hon. Tinee Furbert: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to take this opportunity to congrat ulate the graduates of the mental health course. Mini ster Renee Ming and I attended the graduation last …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution? Hon. Renee Ming: Mr. Sp eaker, I would.

Mrs. Ianthia Simmons -Wade Mr. Speaker, MP Simmons -Wade. [Crosstalk]

The Speaker The Speaker I will call on Minister Ming first. Minister Ming. Minister Ming, are you passing to someone else? I can see you, but I cannot hear you, Minister Ming. [Pause] [Inaudible interjections]

The Speaker The Speaker Okay. I see you. We do not see you now. We see you now, though.

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member They need to turn off their speaker, Mr. Speaker. There is a lot of feedback there with the radio and all of that. [Pause]

The Speaker The Speaker Okay. Minister Ming, would you like to begin now? Or I will tell you what, Minister Ming. We are going to go to MP Simmons -Wade because she looks like she is ready until you sort out your technical [i ssue]. So, MP Simmons -Wade, you have yo ur three …

Mrs. Ianthia Simmons -Wade Okay. Yes. I would like to extend my congratulations to my namesake, Ianthia Butler, who turned 70 on Sat-urday. She is a resident of constituency 25. She is a lifetime member of the Progressive Labour Party. And she has served on various committees, as well as many boards over the …

Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo Would you associate me with that? (MP Foggo.) Can you please associate me with your congratulations?

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. MP Foggo would like to be ass ociated with the remarks. Hon. Walter H. Roban: I would like to be associated as well, Mr. Speaker. (Walter Roban, Deputy Leader.) [Crosstalk]

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. Go ahead.

Mrs. Ianthia Simmons -Wade And I would also like to associate myself with the congratulations to Wayne Caines on his new position as president. Thank you.

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution at this time? Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. Sounds like MP De Silva. You can turn your camera on. We can hear you, but do not see you. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Okay. How is that, Mr. Speaker?

The Speaker The Speaker No—yes, now we see you. You have your three minutes. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to be associated with the condolences that were sent out last week to Ms. Sherlyn Jones. And as we all know, her husband passed recently, …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, MP. Would any other Member like to make a contribution at this time?

Some Hon. Members Some Hon. Members Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Opposition Leader, we see you in the camera and we hear you. So you have your three minutes. Hon. Renee Ming: Yes, Mr. Speaker. (Renee Ming.) Hon. N . H. Cole Simons: Yes. I would like to be associated with the remarks made in regard to Arnold Landy’s son. I …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Opposition Leader. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution at this time? Some Hon. Members: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. Minister Ming, we actually have you on camera. 204 4 December 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Renee Ming: Mr. Speaker, I would like to first of all associate with the comments for Ianthia Butler and MP Wayne Caines. And, Mr. Speaker, I would also like …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister.

The Speaker The Speaker Does any other Member wish to make a contribution?

Some Hon. Members Some Hon. Members Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker MP Foggo, is that you?

Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo Yes, it is, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker We hear you. Can we see you now?

Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo My camera is on. So —

The Speaker The Speaker Yes, we see you now. And you have your three minutes.

Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo Okay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to be associated with the remarks that went out last week for LeiLanni Nesbeth. I do believe her accomplishments put her on the world stage and are indicative of being an ambassador for Bermuda. And it would be remiss of me …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution?

Some Hon. Members Some Hon. Members Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. I hear two male voices.

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan Swan.

The Speaker The Speaker Okay. MP Swan, we hear your voice. We do not see you, though.

Mr. Hu bert (Kim) E. Swan Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker We do not see you yet.

The Speaker The Speaker Okay. We see you.

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member Mr. Speaker, he is in the Cabinet Chamber. [Inaudible interjection]

The Speaker The Speaker Ahh. Okay. You ha ve your three minutes.

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to be associated with the condolences to the family of [Alonzo] Landy, a school friend of mine from way back in the Glebe days.

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan And we were very much closely related to each other. [Our] families are intertwined. And my heartfelt condolences go to them. Also to my friend, Patience Godfrey, from St. George’s ,and a constituent. To her family, the Jones family down there, and all her friends, dear friends who will miss …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Honourable Member. Bermuda House of Assembly Does any other Honourable Member wish to speak?

Mr. L. Craig Cannonier Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Honourable Member Cannonier, we hear you and you were on the camera.

Mr. L. Craig Cannonier Can you hear me?

The Speaker The Speaker We heard you. We were watching you, and then you disappeared.

Mr. L. Craig Cannonier Thank you.

The Speaker The Speaker Can you get back on the camera? Yes, here you go.

Mr. L. Craig Cannonier The camera is on.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. We see you. You have your three minutes.

Mr. L. Craig Cannonier Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to congrat ulate the Honourable Member, Wayne Caines, for his appointment. I must say that [it is] very, very fantastic news to hear that he has been given this appointment. So I wish him all the best as he goes …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, MP Cannonier. Does any other Member wish t o make a contribution? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker I hear the voice; I do not see the face yet. MP Dunkley? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker I am just waiting for you . . . you are not on camera yet. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Well, I turned it on. Is that better, Mr. Speaker? Delayed reaction all coming from Devonshire.

The Speaker The Speaker There you go. There you go. You have your three minutes. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speak er. I will just be very brief, but I just wanted to associate myself with the comments by my colleague, former Premier Cannonier, in regard to the new DPP, Cindy Clarke. …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, MP. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution?

Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Minister Burch? 206 4 December 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Yes, sir.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. You have your three minutes.

Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to be associated with the congra tulations to my colleague, MP Caines, on his appointment as President of Ascendant. I would also like to be associated with the congratulations to, firstly, Ms. Cindy Clarke on being appointed the Director of Public Prosecutions. I …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister. Does any other Member wish to speak? No other Member. We can move on. MATTERS OF PRIVILEGE

The Speaker The Speaker There are none. PERSONAL EXPLANATIO NS

The Speaker The Speaker There are none. NOTICE OF MOTIONS FOR THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE ON MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

The Speaker The Speaker There are none. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS GOVERNMENT BILLS

The Speaker The Speaker I believe there is one Government Bill today. Minister of Finance. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. FIRST READING TAX REFORM COMMISSION AMENDMENT ACT 2020 Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, I am intr oducing the following Bill for its first reading so that it might be placed on the Order Paper for the next day of meeting: Tax Reform Commission Amendment Act 2020.

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. You can go get your tea now. Thank you. That is the only Bill for the day. ORDERS OF THE DAY

The Speaker The Speaker We now move on to the Or ders of the Day. And it is now 12:20. We are going to go to lunch at 12:30. The first item for today is the consideration of—is it the second reading [of] the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes [(Transfer of Functions) Act …

The Speaker The Speaker Okay. The second reading [of] the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes [ Transfer of Functions) Act 2020] in the name of the Minister of Health. Minister of Health, would you want to use the 10 minutes, 8 minutes that help you introduce it? Or do you want to go …

Mr. Speaker. The Speaker Go ahead and get started, and we will break at 12:30. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I move that the Bill entitled the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes (Transfer of Functions) Act 2020 be now read the second time.

The Speaker The Speaker Are there any objections to that? None. Continue. BILL SECOND READING RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES AND NURSING HOMES (TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS) ACT 2020 Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Health is committed to improving and advancing our Bermuda House of Assembly health and long- term care system. The …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister. Does any other Member wish to speak to this? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker MP Dunkley, you have the floor. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to start out by thanking the Honourable Minister for that brief on the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes (Transfer of Functions) Act 2020. As the Honourable Minister said in her brief, this is …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, MP. We are now at 12:30. And we wi ll rise for our lunch. And we will continue at 2:00 pm. Premier. Premier, or Deputy, would you like to— Hon. E. David Burt: Sorry, Mr. Speaker. My sincere apologies, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Okay. Hon. E. David Burt: I move that this Honourable House do now adjourn until two o’clock for lunch.

The Speaker The Speaker Are there any objections to that? No objection. We will stand as adjourned until 2:00 pm. [Gavel] Proceedings suspended at 12:30 pm Proceedings resumed at 2:00 pm [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr. , Speaker, in the Chair]

The Speaker The Speaker Good afternoon, Members. It is now 2:00 pm and we can resume the debate. For the listening audience, we were on the first Order of business for the day, which is the Res idential Care Homes and Nursing Homes (Transfer of Functions) Act 2020 in the name of the Minister …

Mr. Vance Campbell Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Vance Campbell Member from —

The Speaker The Speaker MP Campbell?

Mr. Vance Campbell Yes, that is correct.

The Speaker The Speaker You have the floor.

Mr. Vance Campbell Mr. Speaker, at the last sitting of the House the Bill entitled the Health Professionals (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2020 was passed. And Mr. Speaker, you will recall, that the Bill sought to provide a framework to regulate health care professionals and to standardise and streamline the regul atory functions of …

The Speaker The Speaker Continue, Member.

Mr. Vance Campbell Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Bermuda Health Council Act was introduced to the House of Assembly in 2004 to establish the Bermuda Health Council with specific responsibility to regulate, importantly, and to enhance the delivery of health services. The purpose of the Council, according to section 4 of …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Honourable Member. Does any other Honourable Member wish to make a contribution to this debate? No other Member? Minister, would you like to . . . Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank Honourable Members for their contributions. I also thank the Opposition …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister. Deputy. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The Speaker The Speaker You can take us into Committee. House in Committee at 2: 11 pm 210 4 December 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly [Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr., Chairman] COMMITTEE ON BILL RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES AND NURSING HOMES (TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS) ACT 2020

The Chairman Chairman Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Members, we are now in Commi ttee of the whole House for further consideration of the Bill entitled the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes (Transfer of Functions) Act 2020 . Minister, you have the floor. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I …

The Chairman Chairman Continue, Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this Bill seeks to transfer the functions of the Minister of Health under the Reside ntial Care Homes and Nursing Homes Act 1999 (and hereafter I will refer to it the “principal Act”), to the Bermuda Health Council, …

The Chairman Chairman Thank you, Minister. Are there any further speakers? Hon. Michael H. Dunk ley: No questions, Mr. Chai rman.

The Chairman Chairman Okay, thank you, Mr. Dunkley. Minister, will you move the clauses and the Schedule? Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, Mr. Chairman. I would like to move clauses 1 through 7 be approved.

The Chairman Chairman It has been m oved that clauses 1 through 7 be approved. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. Approved. [Motion carried: Clauses 1 through 7 passed.] Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, I move that the preamble be approved.

The Chairman Chairman We do the Schedule first, then the preamble. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I am sorry, that the Schedule be approved, Mr. Chairman.

The Chairman Chairman It has been moved that the Schedule be approved. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. Approved. [Motion carried: Schedule passed.]

The Chairman Chairman Now you can do the preamble. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, sir. I move that the preamble be approved, Mr. Chairman.

The Chairman Chairman It has been moved that the preamble be approved. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. Approved. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, I now move that the Bill entitled the Residential Care Homes and Nur sing Homes (Transfer of Functions) Act 2020 be r eported …

The Chairman Chairman It has been moved that the Bill be reported to the House as printed. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. The Bill will be r eported to the House as prin ted. Thank you, Minister. Bermuda House of Assembly [Motion carried: The Residential Care Homes …

The Chairman Chairman Mr. Speaker. House resumed at 2:12 pm [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] REPORT OF COMMITTEE RESIDENTIAL CARE HO MES AND NURSING HOMES (TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS) ACT 2020

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Deputy. Members, the second reading of the Bill ent itled the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes (Transfer of Functions) Act 2020 has been reported to the House. Are the re any objections to that? No objections. The Bill has been reported and accepted. We now move on …

The Speaker The Speaker Any objections? There are none. Continue, Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Health seeks to support our community by providing cost-effective health insurance policies through the Health Insurance Department. The Health Ins urance Plan and FutureCare health insurance policies are available to any resident in Bermuda. …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution to this debate? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker MP, continue. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Opposi tion supports the Health Insurance (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2020. And as the Minister said in her brief, it focuses in on two areas, the temporary extension of the period for premium payment, and also to allow a more …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Member. Does any other Member wis h to make a contribution at this time? Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: I would like to make a brief contribution, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Mr. Opposition Leader, you have the floor. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Mr. Speaker, I just have a question, in essence. A lot has been said about tel emedicine. My concern is that a number of patients in Bermuda are basically dealing with overseas pract itioners in regard to telemedicine. …

The Speaker The Speaker Yes, MP Campbell, you have the floor.

Mr. Vance Campbell Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the previous speak ers spoke about the cost of health care in Bermuda, and this is well - documented. In fact, the 2019 National Health A ccounts Report indicates that if you used the 2006 [year] base, Bermuda is ranked third amongst OECD countries …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Member. Does any other Honourable Member wish to make a contribution? There are none. Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank colleagues for their contributions and the su pport from the Opposition with respect to this particular Bill. Mr. Speaker, this Bill specifically …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister. Deputy, would you take us into Committee? Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Yes, Mr. Speaker. House in Committee at 2:35 pm [Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr., Chairman] COMMITTEE ON BILL HEALTH INSURANCE (MISCELLANEOUS) AMENDMENT ACT 2020

The Chairman Chairman Honourable Members, we are now in Committee of the whole House for further consider ation of the Bill entitled the Health Insurance (Miscell aneous) Amendment Act 2020 . Minister, you have the floor. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that all five clauses …

The Chairman Chairman Continue, Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, this Bill would: validate the extension to 90 days of the period in which premiums that were due between 1 February 2020 and 1 April 2020 had to be paid under the Health Insurance (Plans) Regulations 1987, and amend the Health Insurance …

The Chairman Chairman Thank you, Minister. Are there any further speaker s to clauses 1 through 5 of this Bill? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Chairman.

The Chairman Chairman Mr. Dunkley, you have the floor. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In regard to clause 2, the temporary extension of the period for premium payment under the Health Bermuda House of Assembly Insurance (Plans) Regulations 1987, a question to the Honourable Minister, when does this extension end?

The Chairman Chairman Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is 90 days after the 1 st of April. Hon. Michael H . Dunkley: So, Mr. Chairman, it has already ended. Did I hear the Minister correctly in sa ying that there has been no take- up on this legislation …

The Chairman Chairman Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: That is correct, Mr. Chairman. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Okay, Mr. Chairman, then help me out here. If the extension has ended and there has been no take- up, why are we doing this clause of the legislation? Hon. Kim N. Wilson: We went through …

The Chairman Chairman Minister. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Couldn’t this clause have been removed from this legislation? Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, Mr. Chairman. There was up-take in asking for the delays with respect to paying the premium. So, initially, under the legislation there was up to 60 days and there were some …

The Chairman Chairman Any further questions, Mr. Dunkley? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: No, Mr. Speaker. I think I made the point. I thank the Honourable Minister.

The Chairman Chairman Okay. Any further speakers to clauses 1 through 5? There appear to be none. Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that clauses 1 through 5 be approved.

The Chairman Chairman It has been moved that clauses 1 through 5 be approved. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. Approved. [Motion carried: Clauses 1 through 5 passed.] Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that the Schedule—

The Chairman Chairman Preamble. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: —preamble be approved.

The Chairman Chairman It has been moved that the preamble be approved. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. It has been approved. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, if I could add that this is simply validating . . . for the edification of MP Dunkley, this is …

The Chairman Chairman It has been moved that the Bill, the Health Insurance (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2020, be reported to the House as print ed. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. Approved. [Motion carried: The Health Insurance (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2020 was considered by a Commi ttee of …

The Chairman Chairman Thank you, Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The Chairman Chairman Mr. Speaker. House resumed at 2:40 pm 216 4 December 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] REPORT OF COMMITTEE HEALTH INSURANCE (MISCELLANEOUS) AMENDMENT ACT 2020

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Deputy. Members, are there any objections to the Bill entitled the Health Insurance (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2020 being reported to the House as printed? There are none. The Bill has been reported as printed. That moves us on to the next it em. The next item today is …

The Speaker The Speaker It does, continue. BILL SECOND READING COMPANIES AND PARTNERSHIPS (ELECTRONIC REGISTRY) AMENDMENT ACT 2020 Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, I move that the Bill entitled the Companies and Partnerships (Electronic Registr y) Amendment Act 2020 be now read the second time.

The Speaker The Speaker Are there any objections? No objections. Continue. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, the Bill before the House is the Companies and Partnerships (Electronic Registry) Amendment Act 2020 . This Bill amends the Companies Act 1981, the Partnership Act 1902, the Limited Partnership Act 1883, the Exempt ed Partnerships Act …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister. Bermuda House of Assembly Does any other Member wish to make a contribution? Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the Opposition I will start by sa ying that we support this legislation. I would like to also thank the Minister for …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution in this stage?

Mr. Vance Campbell Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. MP Campbell?

Mr. Vance C ampbell Yes, sir.

The Speaker The Speaker You have the floor.

Mr. Vance Campbell Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we heard earlier today from the Premier about examples of how technology has been used in the fight against the COVID -19 virus. So, Mr. Speaker, if technology can be used in a fight against a virus, then it makes sense that it be …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Honourable Member. Does any other Honourable Member wish to make a contribution at this time?

Mr. Scott Pearman Mr. Speaker. MP Pearman.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. MP Pearm an, you have the floor.

Mr. Scott Pearman Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Opposition Leader has already spoken to the Bill so I will be very quick and not repetitive of his points. But I would like to again share his observation that the Opposition is supportive of this Bill. Bermuda House of Assembly We would like to …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Honourable Member. Does any other Honourable Member wish to make a contribution? There are none. Minister. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Addressing the questions in the order in which they were presented, the first, I believe, was in r espect to beta testing. Internal testing …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister. Deputy [Speaker], take us into Committee. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr. : Yes, t hank you, Mr. Speaker. House in Committee at 3 :13 pm [Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr., Chairman] COMMITTEE ON BILL COMPANIES AND PARTNERSHIPS (ELECTRONIC REGISTRY) AMENDMENT ACT 2020

The Chairman Chairman Honourable Members, we are now in Committee of t he whole [House] for further consider ation of the Bill entitled the Companies and Partnerships (Electronic Registry) Amendment Act 2020 . Minister, you have the fl oor. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This Bill amends the Companies Act …

The Chairman Chairman Continue, Minister. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Clause 1 is the standard citation clause. Clause 2 amends the Companies Act 1981 in sections 2A, 25, 35, 117, 131, 135 and 139 and i nserts section 24B. ● The Companies Act is amended to repeal and replace section 2A, to empower the …

The Chairman Chairman Thank you. Thank you, Minister. Any further speakers on clauses 1 through 8? Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes, Mr. Chairman.

The Chairman Chairman Honourable Opposition Leader, you have the floor. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you. I would like to direct the Minister to [ clause 2 (2), new section] 2A(3) and speak to the regulations. Can the Minister give us an indication as to when the regulations will be made available …

The Chairman Chairman Minister. Hon. Curtis L. D ickinson: Mr. Chairman, can I ask the Honourable Member to repeat the first question for me, please? I’m sorry.

The Chairman Chairman Honourable Opposition Leader. 222 4 December 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: My first question is the regulations. You speak to the regulations on [page 2, clause 2(2)] [new section] 2A(3). “The regulations made under subsection (1) — (a) may provide for any …

The Chairman Chairman Thank you — Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes, the permit c ompanies, so what is the equivalent for local companies? I am thinking it is voluntary liquidation, but I am not sure. And those are my two questions .

The Chairman Chairman Thank you, Honourable Leader. Any further questions while the Minister waits for information? There appear to be none. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I am advised that, as I mentioned earlier, at the beginning of the new year this may happen, in January and Febr uary of 2021. With …

The Chairman Chairman Any further questions for the Mini ster? Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes. So if they are struck off, do they have t o do voluntary liquidation? Or do they just have to do a liquidation? [Pause] Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: I am just waiting; sorry.

The Chairman Chairman Okay. Understood. Is that all your questions, Mr. Opposition Leader? Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes, sir.

The Chairman Chairman Okay. [Pause]

The Chairman Chairman Minister, you are waiting? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I am advised that there are two different processes. If they are struck off, then they are dissolved. Liquidation is an entirely different process.

The Chairman Chairman Any further speakers? There appear to be none. Minister, do you want to move? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I move that clauses 1 through 8 be approved.

The Chairman Chairman It has been moved that clauses 1 through 8 be approved. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. Approved. [Motion carried: Clauses 1 through 8 passed.] Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I move that the preamble be approved.

The Chairman Chairman It has been moved that the preamble be appro ved. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. Approved. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I move that the Bill be reported to the House as printed.

The Chairman Chairman It has been moved that the Bill be reported to the House as print ed. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. Approved. [Motion carried: The Companies and Partnerships (Electronic Registry) Amendment Act 2020 was co nsidered by a Committee of the whole House and passed …

The Speaker The Speaker Are there any objections? There are none. Continue, Minister. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Mr. Speaker, today I present to this Honourable House the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Amendment (No. 2) Act 2020. These amendments pertain to the laws and regulations governing the granting of land licences and will streamline the …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Minister. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution?

Mr. Jarion Richardson I would, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes, MP Richardson. Continue.

Mr. Jarion Richardson Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First, I would like to th ank the Minister of the Cabinet Office for bringing this legislation before us. This is very good that we take . . . that we . . . (what is the best way to say that?) . . . that …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Honourable Member. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution? Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Yes, Mr. Speaker, yes.

The Speaker The Speaker MP De Silva, you have the floor. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, l et me start off by first congrat ulating the Minister for bringing this legislation. I was a little disappointed in the Member who just took his seat with regard to …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to speak? Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you. I would like to speak, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes, Honourable Member, you have the floor. Hon. N. H. Co le Simons: I would like to start by sa ying that I support this initiative. But it also raises a question, Mr. Speaker. And the question that it raises is that, historically, yes, it has taken six to seven …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Honourable Member. Does any other Honourable Member wish to make a contribution? There are none. Minister. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I would like to thank those Honourable Members for their contributions. And I would like to especially thank my honourable colleague, Zane De …

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: I would just like for the Mi nister to address my issue with regard to providing bundle services with Immigration allowing residency permits to work with the approval of the licence. Can he speak to that? And what process do w e have in …

The Speaker The Speaker Minister, would you be able to answer the Member’s question? Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: I will say, Mr. Speaker, a Member cannot speak twice within this particular —

The Speaker The Speaker He wasn’t speaking twice . He just . . . asked his question. He was — Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: I did say that we are a team. I did mention that part. The Honourable Member, J ason Hayward, and I are a team. We work together. We do not …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. [Crosstalk]

The Speaker The Speaker You can move us to Committee now. Mr. Chairman. House in Committee at 3 :53 pm [Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr., Chairman] COMMITTEE ON BILL BERMUDA IMMIGRATION AND PROTECTION AMENDMENT (NO. 2) ACT 2020

The Chairman Chairman Honourable Members, we are now in Committee of the whole [House] for further consider ation of the Bill entitled the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Amendment (No. 2) Act 2020 . Minister Furbert, you have the floor. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to …

The Chairman Chairman Continue. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Clause 1 is self -explanatory. Clause 2 amends the definition of “Minister” in section 2 of the principal Act, and inserts a definition into section 72 (definit ions for Part VI), to reflect the transfer of responsibility for Part VI to the Minister r esponsible …

The Chairman Chairman Thank you, Minister. Are there any further speakers on the Bill Bermuda Immigration and Protection Amendment (No. 2) Act 2020? Any further speakers? There appear to be none. Minister. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Chairman, I move clauses 1 through 7.

The Chairman Chairman It has been moved that clauses 1 through 7 be approved. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. Approved. [Motion carried: Clauses 1 through 7 passed.] Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: I move that the preamble be approved.

The Chairman Chairman It has been moved that the preamble be approved. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: I move that the Bill be r eported to the House as printed.

The Chairman Chairman It has been moved that the Bill be reported to the House as printed. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. The Bill will be reported to the House as printed. Thank you, Minister. [Motion carried: The Bermuda Immigration and Pr otection Amendment (No. 2) Act …

The Chairman Chairman Mr. Speaker. House resumed at 3 :58 pm [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] REPORT OF COMMITTEE BERMUDA IMMIGRATION AND PROTECTION AMENDMENT (NO. 2) ACT 2020

The Speaker The Speaker Thank yo u, Deputy. Members, the Bill entitled B ermuda Immigr ation and Protection Amendment ( No. 2) Act 2020 has been reported to the House as printed. Are there any objections? There appear to be none. The Bill has been reported as printed. And Members that brings us to …

The Speaker The Speaker Minister of Health. [No audible reply ]

The Speaker The Speaker Minister of Finance. [Inaudible i nterjections] SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21 Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, I move that Standing Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move that the Bill entitled the Companies and Par tnerships (Electronic Registry) Amendment Act 2020 be now read the third time …

The Speaker The Speaker Are there any objections? Continue. [Motion carried: Standing Order 21 suspended.] BILL THIRD READING COMPANIES AND PARTNERSHIPS (ELECTRONIC REGISTRY) AMENDMENT ACT 2020 Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, I move that the Bill be now read a third time by its title only and passed.

The Speaker The Speaker The Bill has been read a third time by its title only . Are there any objections to its passing? There are none. Minister, the Bill has been passed. [Motion carried: The Companies and Partnerships (Electronic Registry) Amendment Act 2020 was read a third time and passed.] Hon. Curtis L. …

The Speaker The Speaker Please do yours. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21 Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: I move that Standing Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move that the Bill entitled the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Amendment (No. 2) Act 2020 be now read the third time by its title only.

The Speaker The Speaker Are there any objections? No objections. Continue, Minister. [Motion carried: Standing Order 21 suspended.] [Inaudible interjections]

The Speaker The Speaker No, no. Minister of Health, you missed your turn. This is now the Minister of Immigration [sic] . Minister of Immigration, [s ic] finish reading. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Minister for the Cabinet O ffice, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes, Minister for the Cabinet Office. I am sorry. BILL THIRD READING BERMUDA IMMIGRATION AND PROTECTION AMENDMENT (NO. 2) ACT 2020 Hon. Wayne L. Fu rbert: Mr. Speaker, I move that the Bill be now read a third time by its title only and passed.

The Speaker The Speaker Is there any objection to it being read a third time by its title and passed? There are none. The Bill has now passed. [Motion carried: The Bermuda Immigration and P rotection Amendment ( No. 2) Act 2020 was read a third time and passed.]

The Speaker The Speaker Minister of Health. Are you now in your seat? Minister of Health. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21 Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, I move that Sta nding Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move that the Bill entitled the Health Insurance (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2020 be now …

The Speaker The Speaker Are there any objections? There are none. Continue, Minister. [Motion carried: Standing Order 21 suspended.] BILL THIRD READING HEALTH INSURANCE (MISCELLANEOUS) AMENDMENT ACT 2020 Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I move that the Bill now be read a third time by its title only and passed.

The Speaker The Speaker The Bill has been read a third time by its title only and is now passed. [Motion carried: The Health Insurance (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2020 was read a third time and passed.]

The Speaker The Speaker Minister, do your next one. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21 Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, I move that Standing Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move that the Bill entitled the Residential Care Homes and Nur sing Homes (Transfer of Functions) Act 2020 be now read the …

The Speaker The Speaker Are there any object ions? There are none. Continue, Minister. [Motion carried: Standing Order 21 suspended.] BILL THIRD READING RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES AND NURSING HOMES (TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS) ACT 2020 Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I move that the Bill now be read a third time b y its title only …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Members and Ministers for your contribution today. That now brings us to the end of the day.

Mr. Premier. ADJOURNMENT Hon. E. David Burt premier Mr. Speaker, good evening to you. At 4:00 pm on a very cold Friday afternoon, I move that this Honourabl e House do now adjourn until Friday, December 11, at 10:00 am. I know that my Members wish to speak, Mr. Speaker. [Crosstalk]

The Speaker The Speaker Mr. Premier, I was reaching for the gavel —

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker I hear the voice of one of your Members.

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan How are you this afternoon?

The Speaker The Speaker I am good.

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.

The Speaker The Speaker I see two gentlemen on the camera right now and I’m trying to figure out which one it is. I know —

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan This is the voice from St. George’s West, [constituency] 2.

The Speaker The Speaker Well, I was about to say, I know both fellows supported the East End. But we wi ll take the fellow from constituency 2 then. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: I don’t see any cups in that picture, Mr. Speaker, can you tell me why?

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan Mr. Speaker, please do not count that towards my minutes.

The Speaker The Speaker We know it has been a long time before any particular cup stayed down at the East End, but we will let the fellow from the east keep talking. [Laughter]

The Speaker The Speaker MP, you have the floor. ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2 DECEMBER 2016 PROTEST

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that photo that I used as my pr ofile picture was taken outside the southern gate of the House of Parliament of which I am actually facing and looking at right now from my vantage point. It was taken on December 2, 2020, when …

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan Right? A little country boy like me, I went to Troy. No, I am not the boy from Troy [University], but I am a boy from Troy because I went to Pike County in Alabama, the same town that John Lewis came from. I was educated down there in the …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Honourable Member. Does any other Honourable Member wish to speak? Any other Member? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker I hear a voice. Honourable Member, you have the floor. Hon. Michael H. Dunkl ey: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak —

The Speaker The Speaker I am trying to get the camera on so I can identify who it is. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Oh, I turned the camera on.

The Speaker The Speaker MP Dunkley. Yes, we see now. MP Dunkley, you have the floor. ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2 DECEMBER 2016 PROTEST Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to speak to two matters. First, let me address the comments by the Member from constituency 2. …

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Point of order. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan The Honourable Member is misleading the House. He is cherry -picking. A summons came long after many attempts were made to get the Honourable Member there and was a last resort. And a summons came long after the Honour able Member, and others, tried to get myself and others removed …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, there is not hing wrong with people questioning the process and people questioning the setup of a committee. Once we had worked through that, you know I gave you my commitment to testify to the committee, and I did. And, Mr. Speaker, …

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan Point of order, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Point of order. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan The Honourable Member is misleading the House again. By inference the Honourable Member is trying to suggest that I was suggesting that there was acrimony in the House. In our meetings when he came before the committee, when he was summoned to appear in front of me, I made no …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Member. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, I hope his interjections do not cut into my time. Mr. Speaker, I say those comments because the Honourable Member from St. George’s was very passionate when he said Nothing to help the invest igation. And I beli eve he banged …

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan Point of order, Mr. Speaker. [Crosstalk]

The Speaker The Speaker Members! Members! Let me caution both Members with this point. I have tried to be quiet on this one, but I did play a role in that, in that a lot of the process had to be cleared through me. And I know there was hindrance in the process. And …

Mr. Hub ert (Kim) E. Swan I did put a point of order,

Mr. Speaker. The Speaker Ah! Ah! Ah!

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan Sorry.

The Speaker The Speaker Anyone who wants to speak, let’s speak to what the process really was in the fact that there was hindrance to the process . What may have happened in the end, how willing somebody may have been in the end, does not speak to the hindrance that got us to …

The Speaker The Speaker I said we will move along, would you like to speak or you want me have somebody else speak? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: No, Mr. Speaker —

The Speaker The Speaker Good. Then you have the floor. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: I am happy to s peak. Okay. If you are not going to hear another point of order, that is fine.

The Speaker The Speaker You have the floor. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker —

The Speaker The Speaker Be mindful of what I said. I am well aware of that whole process. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Of course, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker I, unfortunately, had to get involved to get things happening, which I should never have had to if the process . . . if people had followed the pr ocess that was p ut forward. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, I am well aware of that, and I am …

The Speaker The Speaker Move on. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the last thing I will say on that is that t he Honourable Member made some reference to Platinum. I believe the Honourable Member and some of his colleagues seem to still be confused about Pla tinum, because …

Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan Mr. Speaker, can I pr ovide a point of clarification? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, I am happy for the clarification, yes.

The Speaker The Speaker Just continue on. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, are you r eferring to me or the Honourable Member?

The Speaker The Speaker Continue on. OPENING OF BERMUDA AIRPORT Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the airport is due to open next week, and I look forward to that opening of the airport because anybody who has driven by will see that it is a structure that certainly …

The Speaker The Speaker Point of order. State your point of order. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading, Imputing improper motive] Hon. E. David Burt: The first thing is number one, the Honourable former Premier is recklessly and purpos ely misleading the Ho use, which should come as no surprise to anyone. And secondly, imputing improper …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Premier. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, I thank the Honour able Premier for those comments, Mr. Speaker, and what I will say to that is while I appreciate the clarific ation that the money has now been transferred, as of last week it was not —and I stand …

The Speaker The Speaker Now let . . . hold on, hold on. I was just about to ask a question to the speaker. The Premier indicated the funds have been transferred and the funds are accounted for. So, if the funds are accounted for, and the Premier indicated that the process was being …

The Speaker The Speaker We will take the point of order. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading, Imputing improper motive] Hon. E. Da vid Burt: Again, the Honourable Member is misleading the House and imputing improper m o-tive, and it is beneath him as a former leader of this country to stoop to this level. If …

The Speaker The Speaker Continue Member. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, while I appreciate the comments of the Premier, I have said over and over again that I believe in many cases the Government has handled this matter very effectively. I said it earlier tonight, Mr. Speaker. But one …

The Speaker The Speaker We will take the point of order. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. E. David Bu rt: The Honourable Member is misleading the House. To say that we do not like quesBermuda House of Assembly tions asked is not correct . Questions may be asked. The fact is answers [are] provided …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you. [Timer chimes]

The Speaker The Speaker Member, the 20 minutes on the clock has run down. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, I thought I started at 4:18.

The Speaker The Speaker Your 20 minutes has run down. It was 4:16 when you started and it is 4 . . . oh! Guess what? I hadn’t, ah, 4:16, 4:26, 4:36 . . . yes, okay. The clock has run down. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: What time did I start, Mr. Speaker?

The Speaker The Speaker At 4:16 and it is 4:37 now, 4:36, 4:26 and then 4:36, I think that is 20 minutes. Would any other Member wish to speak? No other Member? Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. Hon. E. David Burt: I know that MP Famous is there waiting.

The Speaker The Speaker MP Famous, you almost lost an opportunity that time. MP Famous, are you trying to get our attention? Hon. E. David Burt: And we cannot hear you at all, MP Famous.

The Speaker The Speaker MP Famous, I see, but I don’t hear. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Anyone else wish to speak? Hon. E. David Burt: Zane is there. MP De Silva is ready.

The Speaker The Speaker MP De Silva. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Whilst my colleague, Mr. Famous is sorting out his technical problems, I would like to make just a few comments, Mr. Speaker, with regard to former Premier Dunkley’s — The Speake r: You have your 20 …

The Speaker The Speaker Thank you, Honourabl e Member. Mr. Famous, have you resolved your audio? Mr. Famous? We still . . . okay. Mr. Famous, how do you wish to speak? Hon. E. David Burt: Hello?

The Speaker The Speaker You have . . . Does any other Honourable Member wish to make a contribution at this time because Mr. Famous is having technical issues? Hon. E. David Burt: Hello?

The Speaker The Speaker Premier, I see you and your comments.

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member Unmute your microphone, F amous. Hon. E. David Burt: I was just hoping that MP F amous, — [Crosstalk] An Hon. Mem ber: The microphone is muted. Hon. E. David Burt: Your microphone looks muted, Chris.

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member Yes. Another Hon. Member: Unmute your microphone, Famous.

The Speaker The Speaker Let’s see if we can help.

Mr. Christopher Famous Can you hear me, Mr. Speaker ?

The Speaker The Speaker We can hear you now. Hon. E. David Burt: Eh!

The Speaker The Speaker We lost you again. Yes. We hear you.

Mr. Christopher Famous Can you hear me? Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker Yes. Does anyone else wish to speak? Mr. Famous, you have to resolve your pro blem. Can you go on your phone and do the connec-tion? In the meantime, does someone else wish to speak while Mr. Famous is sorting himself out?

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member Yes, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker The Speaker I heard yes . I am trying to recognise the . . . [Crosstal k; Feedback]

The Speaker The Speaker If no one is going to take the opportunity to step up I will close the House. The House will close if no one — Hon. E. David Burt: Oh, he has got two microphones up now, Mr. Speaker; I think he might be okay.

The Speaker The Speaker Do you see what is in my hand, gentlemen?

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member Gavel away! Gavel away! [Crosstalk; Feedback] Hon. E. David Burt: Hold on a second. Mr. Speaker, I see him up there. I will — [Crosstalk; Feedback]

An Hon. Member An Hon. Member Mr. Speaker, can you hear me? Hello? Another Hon. Member: Hit the gavel, Mr. Speaker. [Crosstalk; Feedback]

The Speaker The Speaker If there is no other speaker at this point if no one else is stepping forward. Mr. Famous is having technical issues. [Crosstalk; Feedback] Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Good evening, gentleman. I think ev eryone should have a good weekend. Good night. The House is closed. [Gavel] [At …

December 4, 2020

Session Summary

Key Topics

Bills & Motions

Notable Moments

Debate Transcript