The Premier reported on assistance Bermuda received during the pandemic, including help from the UK government, US Congress, and local donors totaling over $1.8 million for emergency funds. The Finance Minister announced formation of an 11-member Economic Advisory Committee and reported that over 9,000 people have received unemployment benefits totaling $23 million. Several economic relief measures were introduced including payroll tax relief for restaurants and bars, customs duty deferrals, and suspension of pension contributions.
COVID-19 assistance from international partners and local organizationsFood security measures and support for local farmers and fishermenEconomic relief measures including unemployment benefits and tax deferralsFormation of COVID-19 Economic Advisory CommitteeSuperyacht tourism recovery plan to attract visitors during pandemicSchool reopening plans and safety protocols
Various regulations tabled including Debt Collection, Electronic Communications, and Fisheries regulations
Information Commissioner's Office Annual Report 2019 [tabled]
Notable Moments
The Transport Minister announced a new superyacht tourism plan allowing luxury yachts to visit Bermuda during phases 2 and 3 of reopening, with 14-day quarantine requirements
The Deputy Premier warned about increased theft from farmers' fields and urged the public not to buy stolen produce
The Education Minister provided detailed updates on school reopening protocols, including safety measures and building preparations
Debate Transcript
507 speeches from 30 speakers
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning, everyone. Good mor ning, everyone. We ha d a technical difficulty getting everyone signed- in inside here. Even though you cou ld hear me, I could not hear you.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberWe cannot hear you much, Mr. Speaker.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberNot very loud. Another Hon. Me mber: I hear the Speaker loud and clear here.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberClear here.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. We seem to have resolved the problem of the sound coming in. So I just need to know that you all can hear me. Because I can hear you all now.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberYes, Mr. Speaker, we can hear you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Okay. Thank you, and sorry about the technical difficulty , but that is life in this now . With that said . . . [Inaudible interjection]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWith that said, we have 34 Members signed in, whic h means we definitely have our quorum. And, Mrs. Wolffe, I am going to ask you to begin in two minutes . I am just about to mute ever ybody, and then I will have . . . I muted …
With that said, we have 34 Members signed in, whic h means we definitely have our quorum. And, Mrs. Wolffe, I am going to ask you to begin in two minutes . I am just about to mute ever ybody, and then I will have . . . I muted all. Everyone’s microphone is on mute. Mrs. Wolffe, you can turn your microphone on. I will turn yours on in a minute and you can do the prayers. And once that is done, we will consider the session begun. Again, I am sorry for the technical d elay that we had. Mrs. Wolffe, your microphone is on now. You can give us a prayer. [Pause]
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberMrs. Wolffe's microphone is not on.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerIt is on now. The Clerk: I can hardly hear you, Mr. Speaker. PRAYERS [Prayers read by Mrs. Shernette Wolffe, Clerk ]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mrs. Wolffe. We will now move on to consider the House now opened, Members. We thank you for being pr esent for today's sitting. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES [Minutes of 6 April, 17 April and 8 May 2020]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMembers, the Minutes from April 6th, April 17th and May 8th have been circulated. Are th ere any omissions or corrections which are required? There are none. We consider the Minutes ac cepted and approved as printed. [Minutes of 6 April, 17 April and 8 May 2020 co nfirmed] MESSAGES …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. ANNOUNCEMENT S BY THE SPEAKER
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. 4008 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly PAPERS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TO THE HOUSE
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe have eight such papers today. The first is in the name of the Premier. Premier, would y ou like to present your p apers? Hon. E. David Burt: Good morning, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. EMERGENCY POWERS (COVID -19 CONTINUING PRECAUTIONS) AMENDMENT (NO. 2) REGULATIONS 2020 Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to attach and submit for the information of the Honourable House of Assembly the Emergency Powers (COVID -19 Continuing Precautions) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2020.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Premier. INFORMATION COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Hon. E. Da vid Burt: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to attach and submit for the information of the Honourable House of Assembly the Information Commi ssioner’s Office Annual Report 2019.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Premier. The next paper is in the name of the Deputy Premier. Deputy. DEBT COLLECTION (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 2020 ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS (REGULATORY AUTHORITY FEES) REGULATIONS 2020 FISHERIES (LOBSTER) REGULATIONS 2020 FISHERIES (LOBSTER) AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2020 DEBT COLLECTION (TRANSITIONAL PE RIOD EXTENSION) ORDER 2020 DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING (DELEGATION) NOTICE …
Thank you, Mr. Premier. The next paper is in the name of the Deputy Premier. Deputy.
DEBT COLLECTION (TRANSITIONAL PE RIOD EXTENSION) ORDER 2020
DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING (DELEGATION) NOTICE 2020
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Yes, good morning, Mr. Speaker. I have the honour to attach and submit for the information of the Honourable House of Assembly the following regulations: • Debt Collection (General) Regulations 2020; • Electronic Communications (Regulatory Authority Fees) Regulations 2020; • Fisheries (Lobster) Regulations 2020; • Fisheries (Lobster) Amendment Regulations 2020. Further, Mr. Speaker, • Debt Collection (Transitional Period Extension) Order 2020; and • Development and Planning (Delegation) N otice 2020. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Deputy. And I believe those are all the papers for this morning. PETITIONS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe have no petitions. STATEMENT S BY AND JUNIOR MINISTERS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe have seven Statements . . . actually, six Statements this morning. And the first again is Mr. Premier. Premier, would you like to present your Statement? Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. ASSISTANCE TO BERMUDA DURING COVID- 19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. …
We have seven Statements . . . actually, six Statements this morning. And the first again is Mr. Premier. Premier, would you like to present your Statement?
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
ASSISTANCE TO BERMUDA DURING COVID- 19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, Bermuda is justif iably proud of its ability to act on the world stage in all manner of ways and in several spheres. We are resil ient and innovative , and to a large extent we can fend for ourselves. But , Mr. Speaker, everyone can use help. While I am certainly not old enough to remember this song, Mr. Speaker, and it may not exactly be my musical taste, the Beatles ’ 1967 hit “I G et by with a Little Help from my Friends ” may best describe how we have managed during this pandemic. Mr. Speaker, early in this global event , immediate action was taken to shut our borders and our airport was closed to scheduled commercial flights. This necessary action left some Bermudians s tranded in countries in which they were visiting, studying or undergoing medical treatment. Mr. Speaker, returning residents of means sourced private jets to return them to Bermuda , and in keeping with a condition precedent for the approval of such flights they inevitably accommodated Bermudians needing to return home in seats that would otherwise have been empty. I wish to thank the leaders in Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4009
Bermuda House of Assembly the interna tional business sector who responded to this call and, through their acceptance of our policy and understanding the need to get Bermudians home, have restored students and other loved ones to the welcoming arms of their families. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members will know that in an effort to shore up its own supplies at home, the U nited States Department of Homeland Security adopted stringent measures around the export of any equipment destined for countries also fighting the pandemic. This was applied to items bound for Bermuda, and we were able to call on friends in the US Congress to “unstick ” a process that stood to deprive us of much- needed medical supplies. Mr. Speaker, in countries all over the world, social commentators have initiated a discussion that must serve to prick the conscience of us all. This pa ndemic has laid bare the raw inequality in modern soc iety. Even the veneer of affluence we enjoy in Berm uda cannot now mask the fragility of people’s exis tence. To that end, what is commonly refer red to as the third s ector has mounted a Herculean effort to meet the needs of people during this period. Mr. Speaker, numerous agencies have pr ovided meals, grocery vouchers, access to services and support for a significant number of people in the commu nity. To date, the emergency funds raised and co-ordinated by the Bermuda Community Foundation totals some $1.84 million, and $1.5 million of that has been spent in support of the charitable objectives, i ncluding the provision of an average of 10,000 meals per week. These efforts have been supplemented by some of our local hotel partners like The Loren and the Fairmont Hamilton Princess , who have both kept staff employed while feeding citizens in need and our frontline workers. This support has been invalua ble, and on behalf of the Government and people of Ber-muda I wish to thank all donors, volunteers and su pporters for their work. I should particularly recogni se Dr. Myra Virgil, Ms. Vivien Carter and Ms. Tina Nash, who have skilfully led the coordination of this effort. Mr. Speaker, I should also like to thank Mr. Richard Oduntan and his wife, Yemi, who donated $15,000 for supplies and PPE , and also Athene for a most generous donation of $416,000 to the Bermuda Hospitals Board for ventilators. In addition, the Bermuda Hospital s Charitable Trust donated $500 ,000 to the Bermuda Hospitals Board for the provision of additional supplies and ventilators. Mr. Speaker, tangible support for our efforts here at home has come from Her Majesty’s Gover nment in the U nited Kingdom . Almost 200 Bermuda residents were able to make it home on two airbridge flights arranged by the UK Government at a nominal cost to the trave llers. Further , Mr. Speaker, in spite of the challenges of supply in the UK, Bermuda was pleased to rec eive to date: • 15,000 PCR tests ; • 26,000 N95 masks ; • 3,000 surgical masks ; • 1,000 digital thermometers ; • 5,000 swabs ; • laboratory consumables including single- use data loggers, haztabs and saniti ser; and • over 150,000 other PPE items like gloves and aprons. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members should note that the cost of these items has been met from the UK’s Conflict, Security and Stability Fund [CSSF ]. Government House, the Governor and Deputy Gover-nor in particular have marshal led the considerable operation to reali se these critical supplies for Berm uda, and we thank them for this effort. Mr. Speaker, across borders and sectors in Bermuda, her people and its various institutions have been ably supported by the assistance provided by others —in many cases refusing to accept recognition for it. Among the selfless gestures made recently , Mr. Speaker, came from a Bermudian senior who wrote to me asking how he could surrender his social insurance pension to support someone else because his success in his working life meant that he could do without it. Mr. Speaker, this is a novel proposition, but the sentiment is as old as we are as a people — generous, caring and sensitive to the needs of others. As I indicated in my public remarks on Wednesday evening, this is the spir it that will carry us from the potential harm this pandemic has done to our society through the recovery and beyond. Long may it conti nue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Premier. The next Statement this morning is in the name of the Deputy Premier. Deputy Premier. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Hello, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. Hon. Walter H. Roban: And good morning [ INAUD IBLE] this morning. PROMOTING LOCAL FOOD SECURITY Hon. Walter H. Roban: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update this Honourable House about the ongoing measures being taken to ensure Bermuda has a safe food supply and local food production. …
Good morning.
Hon. Walter H. Roban: And good morning [ INAUD IBLE] this morning.
PROMOTING LOCAL FOOD SECURITY
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update this Honourable House about the ongoing measures being taken to ensure Bermuda has a safe food supply and local food production. Mr. Speaker, we find ourselves in extraordinary times. T he pandemic caused by the COVID -19 virus continues to test not only global health r esources, but also global food supply chains. One cannot help but read with concern in the international m edia headlines reports of food processing plant closures in the United States and wonder how this is go4010 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly ing to affect our grocery stores ’ shelves. Not in recent memory has our local food security been of greater importance. Mr. Speaker, to this I can say the Island’s supply chain has proven to be robust and our private sector suppliers resourceful. I must take this opportunity to thank our [shippers ], wholesalers, grocery store owners, farmers and fishermen for all of their efforts over the past weeks to ensure that we continue to hav e good availability of food and that our shelves remain stocked. I have been communicating regularly with our shippers, wholesalers, grocery store owners and representatives of the commercial farmers and fishermen throughout this period from March to date. They have been forthcoming with their ideas and efforts to ensure that the essential food products continue to be available , and I applaud them in their efforts. The public will, I am sure, have noticed some periodic “gaps ” in the shelves , and there have been some challenges in securing meat products. However , the core pro ducts continue to be available, albeit with less variet y of specialty items. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister of National Security and his team for all of their efforts to coordinate with our key stakeholders to ensure that the Island’s food security is in the best possible shape. The discussions have been extremely useful, not only allowing direct communication between the Government and our local food suppliers , but als o between our grocery stores, shipping lines and di stributors. These discussions have created an open forum to identify emerging issues, to share solutions and make decisions quickly to ensure that critical food supplies reach the I sland as efficiently as possible. Mr. Speaker, I now turn to our local environment. This unprecedented situation really makes us appreciate our Island. Not only are we one of the most beautiful places on earth, but we can be bountiful , too. This past growing season was good. Our farmers’ fields produced well , and there has been a good supply of local produce that is normally found at this time. Locally , all major commercial growers continue to be busy. The unfortunate loss of sales to hotels and restaurants meant that farmers had a larger supply of local produce for direct sale to the public. The dairy farms and commercial fishermen have found themselves in a similar situation. Mr. Speaker, over the past several weeks with the shelter in place in effect, the Government has striven to keep the public safe while also allowing our farmers and fishermen to sell their fresh vegetables, [milk,] fish and meat products. I would like to take this opportunity to make the public aware that, while far mers and fishermen can sell directly to grocery stores, many are operating roadside stands, as well as providing prepaid pickup and delivery services. For the awareness of the public, roadside stands can be in operation from Monday to Friday , 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. The grocery stores’ surname sy stem does not apply to farmers ’ and fisherm en’s roadside stands , and anyone can partake of their services during these opening times. For ease of finding a location nearest to you, sites for farmer s’ and fishermen’s stands will be pos ted and have been poste d on the government portal and the Department of Environment and Natural R esources website, www.environment.bm . However, Mr. Speaker, I must be extremely clear that any customers visiting these stands must practice social distancing, even though it is out in the open. Other requirements include that only two vendors [are permitted] per site; sellers and customers must wear [ face] masks; customers must be a minimum of six feet apart; and hand saniti ser must be available for the sellers. Teams from the Ministry of Home Affairs are regularly visiting sites and have the authority under the Emergency Powers (C OVID -19 Continuing Precautions) Regulations 2020 to close a locat ion down immediately if these requirements are not being met. Mr. Speaker, over the next four to eight weeks , our main growing season will be winding down as we move into the hotter time of the year, the hotter summer season. The public can expect that t here will be a dearth of local vegetables between July and September , and this is due to the seasonality of the pr oduce and is not related to the pandemic. This is an annual thing. It is anticipated that supplies of fresh produce will continue to be import ed from overseas. That said, Mr. Speaker, our local farmers are now gearing up their short -term planting schedules to a ddress our current local situation in light of the progression of the current global pandemic. This will likely see a change in what is normally planted. Looking to the short term and medium term, the Government will be exploring all opportunities to assist our local food providers , as well as encourage home growers to maximi se local food production. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has placed its annual overseas vegetable seed order, and a large supply of packaging boxes and bags has arrived for produce coming out of the fields. The Mi nistry of Home Affairs is currently working on a number of initiatives to increase our local food security, which I will look forward to presenting to this Honourable House over the next several months. They will include a study on opportunities for underproduced but locally desired produce, home- growing opportunities, a strategy for puttin g more arable land into production, and new regulations to manage aquaculture and other fisheries -related initiatives being developed as part of the Blue Economy Strategy and as part of the Berm uda Ocean Prosperity Programme. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately , I must report that there have been several weeks where there has been a significant increase of theft from farmers’ fields. While this is in some respects not unexpected, what is Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4011
Bermuda House of Assembly concerning is that there are reports that the produce being taken is being sold rather than eaten. The public are advised that, in addition to it s being illegal to be out during the curfew hours of 10:00 pm to 6:00 am, stealing from fields is an offense. Officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs are ramping up their oversight of fields. Offenders will be prosecuted when caught. I would ask the public that if anyone who is not a farmer attempts to sell large amounts of produce to them, do not purchase this food. I would encourage members of the public to please report any suspicious behaviou r to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources at environment@gov.bm or telephone 236-4201. Members of the p ublic and farmers can also report any incidents directly to the Bermuda P olice Service by phoning 211 , the emergency number. Mr. Speaker, I would like to this opportunity to encourage those who have an interest to grow their own vegetables. Home gardening is rewarding on a number of fronts. It provides good exercise, time away from electronic devices, fresh air and the ultimate satisfaction of picking your own food. I would encourage every one interested to contact local plant nurseries for availability of seedlings and seeds for the hot summer vegetables such as cucumbers, squash, peppers, corn, melons and carrots. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage the public to buy local and support our farmers and fishermen so that they can continue to provide for you. Lastly , please conti nue to follow all of the social distancing procedures to keep you and your local food producers safe during these challenging times. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister, Deputy Premier. The next Statement is in the name of the Mi nister of Finance. Minister of Finance. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Good morning, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. UPDATE ON COVID -19 FISCAL PLAN AND THE FORMATION OF THE COVID -19 ECONOMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE Hon. Curtis L. Dicki nson: Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise to provide this Honourable House with an update on the Ministry of Finance COVID -19 Fiscal Plan and the formation of …
Good morning.
UPDATE ON COVID -19 FISCAL PLAN AND THE FORMATION OF THE COVID -19 ECONOMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE Hon. Curtis L. Dicki nson: Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise to provide this Honourable House with an update on the Ministry of Finance COVID -19 Fiscal Plan and the formation of Government’s new COVID -19 Ec onomic Advisory Committee . Mr. Speaker, in my Ministerial Statement of the 8th of May 2020, I advised this Honourable House that, to appropriately navigate the crisis created by the COVID -19 pandemic, we would require the inp ut and advice from all stakeholders in the Bermuda comm u-nity, and to assist I would be establishing a COVID -19 Economic Advisory Committee. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce in this Honourable House the members of the new COVID - 19 Economic Advisory C ommittee. I will chair the Committee, and I have appointed the following 11 people to serve as members: • Ms. Teresa Chatfield, Owner/Director of MEF Bermuda; • Mr. Dennis Fagundo, Co- Managing Director of D&J Construction and President of the Chamber of Commer ce; • Mr. Chris Furbert, President, Bermuda Industrial Union; • The Honou rable Patricia J. Gordon- Pamplin, JP, MP, Shadow Minister of Finance & Health; • Mr. Marc Grandisson, President & Chief E xecutive Officer of Arch Capital Group Ltd., and Deputy Chair of the Association of Bermuda Insurers & Reinsurers (ABIR); • Ms. Cheryl -Ann Lister, Chair, Bermuda N ational Anti -Money Laundering Committee; • Mr. Michael Neff, Managing Director, Berm uda & International Wealth, Butterfield [Group] ; • Ms. Sylvia Oliveira, Chief Executive Officer of Wilton Re Bermuda, and Chair of Bermuda I nternational Long Term Insurers & Reinsurers; • Mr. Denis Pitcher, Chief Fin Tech Advisor, Government of Bermuda; • Mr. Patrick Tannock, Managing Director of AXA XL , and Chair of the Association of Bermuda International Companies [ ABIC ]; and • Mr. Stephen Weinstein, Chief Legal Officer of Renaissance Re Holdings Ltd., and Deputy Chair, Bermuda Business Development Agency. Mr. Speaker, the first meeting of the commi ttee was held on Wednesday, the 20 th of Ma y, during which time we discussed organisational matters i ncluding the Committee Terms of Reference. The Ec onomic Advisory Committee will provide insight and expert advice on how to protect jobs and stimulate economic activity during the economic crisis st emming from the COVID -19 pandemic. I look forward to wor king with this team to identify and eventually implement the measures to enable sustainable economic growth and mitigate the social impacts of this pandemic. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members are awar e that to assist people out of work due to the economic impact of COVID -19, the Government quickly intr oduced an unemployment benefit. As I mentioned at various press conferences over recent weeks, we continue to make progress to resolve problem applic ations, and last week we paid 1,241 applicants for the first time. Yesterday we processed a mid- cycle pa yment to get funds to approximately 250 additional persons. 4012 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Speaker, we will now have paid benefits to over 9,000 persons for a total cost of approxim ately $23 million. We expect further payments to continue on a bi -weekly schedule, which means another pa yment next Friday. It is important to continue to help people through these challenging times, and this unemployment benefit, despite some start -up pro blems, has provided temporary assistance to persons by providing financial support to meet their basic needs. Providing emergency financial relief to these families is a responsibility that this Government takes serious-ly. Mr. Speaker, in the days follow ing the phase 1 opening of our economy, more than 500 people had notified the Department of Workforce Development of their planned return to work. I am happy to report that this number has grown, and we expect it to continue, as Bermuda entered phase 2 of its reopening yesterday. While economic recovery may be a long road ahead, over 1,400 individuals have now returned to work or have notified us of their impending return to work. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the Government has implemented fur ther emergency measures to assist businesses that have a pressing need for financial relief as a result of this pandemic. The restaurant and bar sectors have been particularly hard hit by the significant decline in sales volume and job losses since the COV ID-19 outbreak began. A ccordingly, Government will immediately institute short - term relief from payroll tax to assist these sectors. During this quarter ending 30 th June 2020, payroll tax will be set at a zero rate for the restaurant and bar sectors, and t hese businesses will also cease deduc ting payroll tax from employees during this period. Mr. Speaker, the fiscal implications of these actions will be a reduction of government revenue. However, we anticipate that this relief will ease some of the pressure on restaurants and bars, and especial-ly lessen the pain being experienced by many Berm udians who work in this sector. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members may recall that in the Budget Statement delivered earlier this year, I pledged that (and I quote), “t he Customs D epartment will ease the financial burden on retailers by making the customs duty deferral process more user - friendly. This will assist retailers with their cash flow as customs duty will not be paid upfront but rather after they have sold at least a portion of their goods.” In keeping with that commitment, the Customs Depar tment will, with immediate effect, allow retailers and other commercial importers to apply for duty defer-ment for up to six months on imported business goods, subject to a minimal surcharge. Mr. Speaker, whereas import duty is normally payable at the time each import declaration is made to Customs, by deferring duty payment, the time of pa yment is delayed for six months. Upfront duty payment can place a strain on a business’s cash flow. This strain can be exacerbated by also having to pay overseas suppliers upfront or on limited credit terms, and with associated bank charges on each transaction. This additional cost and the administrative handling of each payment increases the cost of trading. Duty deferment will allow customs traders, in particular retai lers and customs clearing agents, to increase the eff iciency of payment handling, increase cash flow and reduce costs. Mr. Speaker, long- term duty payment deferral (more than six months) is also available in certain ci rcumstances. Although duty deferment was not orig inally intended to address the COVID -19 crisis, by r educing import duty -related merchandise carrying costs, it is hoped that this Government measure might assist so me businesses to cope with the economic effects of the pandemic. Mr. Speaker, last week the Senate passed the legislation amending the National Pension Scheme (Occupational Pensions) Act 1998 to permit a person under the age of 65 who participates in a pr ivate, d efined contribution pension plan or local retirement product to voluntarily withdraw up to $12,000 from the period that the Act was brought into force until the 30 th of June of 2021. To provide further support to employers and employees during thi s unprecedented period, it is pr oposed to amend the National Pension Scheme (O ccupational Pensions) Act 1998 to allow for a suspension of employee and employer contributions for a period ending on the 30th of June 2021. By providing such relief for employe es and employers, participating employees will see an increase in their take- home pay, and participating employers will benefit from a reduction in operating expenses. Mr. Speaker, this will be a temporary measure which will provide temporary relief to employers and provide additional income to employees. When the suspension of [contributions] comes into effect this measure will provide relief and have a potentially stimulative effect on our economy, with the stimulus to the economy being generated by the conversion of savings into consumer spending in the local economy and business investment in infrastructure and i mprovements. Mr. Speaker, this measure is mandatory; however, employers and employees can choose to make voluntary contributions should they wish. Mr. Speaker, the Government is mindful of the long-term implications on a plan member’s retirement income in permitting such suspensions. However, this concern must be balanced against the immediate and urgent needs in our community that have resu lted from this unexpected crisis. Mr. Speaker, I can also confirm that the Cabinet has recently approved a suspension on social i nsurance contributions for employees and employers. This proposal will provide further relief to assist bus inesses and employ ees who have a pressing need for Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4013
Bermuda House of Assembly financial relief. This emergency measure will be sim ilar to the National Pension Scheme suspension of contributions, and employers and employees can still contribute to the Contributory Pension Fund if they wish. These prop osals are sensible and intended to ease the financial burdens on employers and emplo yees as we navigate this pandemic. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that to supplement reduced revenues and additional COVID - 19 related expenditures, I will —as soon as today — execute a $150 million credit facility negotiated with local financial institutions. This will supplement an already executed $20 million credit facility with another financial institution. This borrowing capacity, together with current cash reserves and ongoing tax receipts, will assist the Government in taking the appropriate actions to mitigate the impact of COVID -19 in the short term. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I wish to once again thank all of our essential workers and everyone who is on the frontline working day and night to ensure our health and well -being. We are grateful for the sacrifice and dedication of all of those wonderful people keep-ing us safe and keeping this Island operating while putting their own safety at risk. Thanks also to thos e businesses and individuals who are generously donating funds, resources and supplies to assist in our ef-forts to fight this virus. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. The next Statement this morning is in the name of the Minister of Transport, Minister De Silva. [Pause]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister De Silva. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Yes, good morning, Mr. Speaker. Am I coming through?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Go right ahead. SUPERYACHT PANDEMIC POLICY Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Tourism and Transport is implementing today a “ superyacht tourism economic recovery plan” to attract superyachts to our shores this summer. This plan introduces “Superyacht Isolation” charters and …
Yes. Go right ahead.
SUPERYACHT PANDEMIC POLICY Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Tourism and Transport is implementing today a “ superyacht tourism economic recovery plan” to attract superyachts to our shores this summer. This plan introduces “Superyacht Isolation” charters and owner trips, with specific superyacht pandemic policy guidelines during phases 2 and 3 of Government’s reopening strategy. It also provides for a soft reopening of Bermuda’s borders for visitors until the airport commences commercial flights in phase 4. Mr. Speaker, by way of some background, the Superyachts and Other Vessels (Miscellaneous) Act 2019 became law on the 1st of January this year and provides for three types of vessel permits. And they are (i) transit, (ii) cruise and (iii) superyacht charters. Originally, Mr. Speaker, this season for superyacht charters was thought to be a casualty of the COVID - 19 pandemic. However, in April local port agents r eceived inquiries from owners, captains and brokers about “ safe harbouring” and chartering in Bermuda while the pandemic situation unfolded in Europe, the East Coast of the United States and the Caribbean. Mr. Speaker, the “ superyacht tourism ec onomic recovery plan” demonstrates a direct response to local stakeholder recommendations who have expertise in this area. In addition, the unfolding superyacht scenario revealed a new economic recovery opportunity for Bermuda vendors while ensuring quarantine and mitigating measures remain in place before commercial flights commence. Mr. Speaker, working in consultation with the Ministry of Health, the Bermuda Tour ism Authority and local marine stakeholders, the Superyacht Pandemic Policy Guidelines were approved by Cabinet to operate during phases 2 and 3, as follows: Until phase 4. (1) All superyachts arriving in Bermuda must appoint a local port agent. (2) Owne rs and guests of superyachts arriving by private jet or charter aircraft who join the superyacht are required to fill out the traveller screening form. (3) Owners, guests and crew arriving by superyacht must complete and submit the pre- arrival form and tr aveller screening form prior to their departure for Bermuda. (4) Owners, guests and crew must have ad equate health insurance that includes medevac in the case a person is found positive for COVID -19 after arrival or during their stay in Bermuda, or for an y other reason a person takes ill and requires hospitalisation. (5) Any owner, guest or crew can be denied entry into Bermuda and will have to return to their port or origin at their expense at the discretion of the Mini stry of Health if persons do not meet the aforementioned requirements or are deemed not to be fit to enter Bermuda. (6) Normal procedures (Passenger Ships and Other Vessels Act 1972) for application of superyacht transit, cruising or charter permits apply. (7) All vessels’ owners, guests and crew are subject to 14 days of quarantine aboard the superyacht beginning on the day of arrival in Berm uda. If the superyacht arrives prior to the owner or its guests, the 14- day quarantine commences again from the day of arrival of the last person who joins the ves-sel. (8) During the 14- day quarantine, all commerce will be contactless and will be delivered to the ship via its p ort agent, including stores, provisions and personalised shopping for guests. (9) If deemed necessary by the Ministry of Health, during or following the 14- days of quarantine COVID -19, (PCR) testing will be performed in Berm u4014 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly da. The fee for testing is $300 per person and will be billed via the port agent. (10) Once the 14- day quarantine period has ended, or if testing was deemed necessary by the Ministry of Health and owners, guests and crew r eceived negative test results, they will be permitted to come a shore and must follow all social distancing and mitigation regulations. (11) If Bermuda goes back to mandatory she lter in place orders, all owners, guests and crew will be required to shelter aboard the vessel. (12) If Bermuda enters phase 4 during the transit, cruising or charter permit term, phase 4 prot ocols will apply. Mr. Speaker, the Bermuda Tourism Author ity’s pre -pandemic report by Superyacht Intelligence, the “Potential of the Superyacht Industry for Berm uda,” suggested that the estimated weekl y spend could be between $8,000 and $317,000. These estimates took into consideration the smallest superyachts at 24 to 30 metres with just crew, or crew with approx imately 10 guests, as well as the largest superyachts at 80 to 90 metres with just crew, or crew and approximately 20 guests. In addition, Mr. Speaker, the Government of Bermuda would benefit from the new 6 per cent charter fee for each charter. Mr. Speaker, local port agents currently use a combination of small and medium -sized vendors to fill requests for their provisioning needs. Produce and stores can vary on the occasion and the day for crew and get more elaborate if the owner or charter guests are on board. One thing is for certain: Superyacht chefs are eager to find made- in-Bermuda produc ts and local farm -to-table fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and dairy products. Quite often I am told, Mr. Speaker, crew take a taxi on their own and visit local farmers and purchase fresh fish along the side of the road. For wine and liquor, the yachts are usually extremely specific about what they are looking for, and only certain merchants carry these products. Mr. Speaker, as part of this initiative we have encouraged local port agents to collaborate with the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation to d esign “ isolation shopping” opportunities online. This initiative is specifically designed for made- in-Bermuda products to include art, crafts, jewellery, keepsakes and clothing, to name just a few. Delivery arrang ements for samples and purchases will be m ade during the quarantine period and beyond. We see this novel idea expanding in the future. Mr. Speaker, in addition to the locally made products, this initiative also brings some economic recovery hope to wholesale, retail, restaurant and m arine service providers during the coming weeks and, hopefully, coming months. As we charter our way through these uncertain times, we are hopeful that a few interested superyachts will come to Bermuda during the quarantine period in phases 2 and 3, and ideally several more will follow during the summer months as this initiative gains momentum. The guid elines will be posted on www.mari neandports.bm , on www.rccbermuda.bm and on local port agent we bsites, shortly. In closing, Mr. Speaker, economic recovery is something that the Ministry of Tourism and Transport strives for every day. I would lik e to take this opportunity to thank all of my Government colleagues and industry stakeholders who have worked diligently with us to get our Island reopened in phases, and we look forward to slowly and carefully welcoming our visitors back to Bermuda. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. The next Minister who has a Statement this morning is Minister Foggo. Minister Foggo, would you like to present your Statement? Hon. Lovitta F. Foggo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning to you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. Hon. Lovitta F. Foggo: Good morning to my parli amentary colleagues, and good morning to the listening public. DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH, SPORT AND RECREATION UPDATES Hon. Lovitta F. Foggo : Mr. Speaker, I rise before this Honourable House to report on the role that the D epartment of …
Good morning.
Hon. Lovitta F. Foggo: Good morning to my parli amentary colleagues, and good morning to the listening public.
DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH, SPORT AND RECREATION UPDATES
Hon. Lovitta F. Foggo : Mr. Speaker, I rise before this Honourable House to report on the role that the D epartment of Youth, Sport and Recreation has and co ntinues to play during these challenging times for our community. Mr. Speaker, as the pandemic threatened our shores, the Premier made an early clarion ca ll for us to do what we can to help the Island get through these uncertain times. To that end, Mr. Speaker, the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation answered the call. In keeping with its motto “ Make It Happen, ” many of the department staff made themselves avai lable to assist Workforce Development with delivering on the unemployment benefits project. Mr. Speaker, the staff from the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation, along with the team from Workforce Development and other government departments, dedicated long hours and weekends to help get the benefit to those in need as quickly as possible. Mr. Speaker, I must give credit where credit is due and recognise my colleague and Honourable Member of this House, the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Curtis Dickinson, JP MP, and his team, who really drove this project and ensured that the benefit was paid out quickly to those in need. Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of April, Bermuda was under shelter in place, with schools and Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4015
Bermuda House of Assembly day-care facilities closed. The normal programmes of the department could not take place, including the after-school care at schools and at our community centres. The department offered their facilities and staff to assist the Ministry of Education in providing an e-camp for essential workers. The camps are being held at the Sammy Wilson Central Zone Community Centre and at Dellwood Middle School. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the e- camp was to provide [child] care for our essential workers such as medical personnel, supermarket/grocery store workers and others to en-sure that they could continue working. Mr. Speaker, the department’s community centre vans were also used to assis t with transporting essential workers who are employed by the Bermuda Hospitals Board to go to and from work. The vans and drivers even now are still available from 7:00 am 9:00 pm, Monday through Sunday. Mr. Speaker, as we move through the phased reopening of Bermuda, the resources and work of the department will change direction to meet the new normal. The department is currently working on plans for the afterschool program, summer camps and the reopening of the community centres and their pr ogrammes. T his planning includes consultation with the Department of Health on best practices and protocols for minimising the risk of COVID -19 transmission. Mr. Speaker, the department is also working with the National Sports Governing Bodies on ensur-ing that thei r members are aware of the phased re opening of Bermuda and how that applies to their r espective sports. We need to get Bermuda moving again as soon as it is safe to do so. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the staff at the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation for continuously answering the call and for operating outside of the box. They definitely do Make It Happen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. The next Minister on the order this morning is the Minister of Education. Minister, would you like to do your Statement? Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Can you hear me?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, we can. Go right ahead. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: All right. Thank you. BERMUDA PUBLIC SCHOOL REOPENING PLAN Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise to provide my honourable colleagues with an u pdate on the planning and related activities undertaken by the Department …
Yes, we can. Go right ahead.
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: All right. Thank you.
BERMUDA PUBLIC SCHOOL REOPENING PLAN
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise to provide my honourable colleagues with an u pdate on the planning and related activities undertaken by the Department of Education in preparation for schools reopening . A system plan is being developed that comprises four components: (1) planning for reopening —actions needed to resume school operations; (2) preparation of school buildings —plans for returning to the building; (3) recovery —transitioning staff and students back into normalcy; and (4) implementation of a hybrid learning model—teaching and learning for staff and students who are both in school and at home. Mr. Speaker, you are aware tha t the reopening of schools is planned for phase 3 of the Gover nment’s phased reopening process. Since phase 2 of the re- opening process commenced just yesterday, we do not know when phase 3 will be rolled out, but what we do know is that a plan must be dev eloped so we are positioned to receive our children back into our schools when the time comes. With this at the for efront, a collaborative effort involving technical officers in the department, school leaders from the preschool to the senior school level and school staff via their principals was instituted to obtain input and feedback for the framing of a system plan for reopening our schools. Mr. Speaker, just before the state of emergency was declared [and] schools were officially closed, officers in the Department of Education, the Ministry of Health and the Department of Environmental Health were working collaboratively updating guide lines and procedures for schools to follow when dealing with a pandemic. This collaboration continued during the shelter in place via telephone conferencing and Zoom meetings in that the health officers have played a pivotal role in providing expert guidance and support in developing safety and health protocols for schools. Their leadership, commitment and technical support have been exceptional. Mr. Speaker, I will now share with my honourable colleagues more in- depth information about the details of the school system plans for reopening schools. However, let me first say that the Commi ssioner of Education, my Permanent Secretary and myself have spent countless hours during the past weeks researching and sharing articles of literature to read on the best practices for school reopening. It is important that the system plan for our public schools is both comprehensive and thorough. As such, we are pleased to report that the system plan was framed using accreditation standards and indicators of quality as a guide. Best practices were gleaned from school reopening literature about international school jurisdi ctions such as New Z ealand, Denmark and Taiwan. The plan was also developed from guidelines outlined by international organisations such as UNESCO, CDC, OSHA and the World Health Organization [WHO]. Mr. Speaker, the planning for a system reopening plan is a mammoth task and involves exte n4016 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly sive considerations and factors that must be embedded in a strategy to ensure schools are safe for both students and school staff. In gathering data, our union stakeholders were invited to provide us with their i nput. I was most pleased with the questions posed, comments made, critical observations highlighted, and suggestions and recommendations put forth by our union stakeholders. It was a good meeting, and the additional information received helped to shape the system plan even more. Mr. Speaker, I must emphasise the i mportance of data to make sound and effective dec isions. Therefore, in order to plan well, surveys were launched by the department to obtain data from parents and school staff. In light of COVID -19, we are cognisant that sev eral students and staff may be at risk returning to school. Thus, the department sent out a brief survey to our parents to obtain potential numbers of children who would return should schools reopen. Mr. Speaker, although some thought this survey was a bit premature without knowing the details of the health and safety protocols, we knew that a number of our children may be at risk. And thus, there would be parents who would definitely take this into consideration and not send their children back to school . This data was relevant and was needed to help with our planning. Similarly, Mr. Speaker, in order to determine what schools could reopen the depar tment had to assess staffing levels. School staff were asked to share if they deemed themselves as vulnerable in alignment with the Ministry of Health guidelines. The data received from school staff thus far, although preliminary, allowed for meaningful projections for potential school reopening. Mr. Speaker, parents, guardians, school staff, the general public and my honourable colleagues all want to know what the Department of Education is doing to ensure the safety and health of children. Let us look at school buildings. The department has factored in so many considerations, as the safety, health and well -being of students and staff are of paramount importance. When schools closed in March, our school custodians undertook a thorough deepcleaning process using a deep- cleaning protocol guide. This was followed by an inspection check. Since March, custodians hav e been working in their respective school buildings three times a week to clean and ventilate the facilities. During the week of May 4 th, the custodians undertook another deep - cleaning process of schools, and inspections are presently underway. We are ver y thankful for the work of the custodians, who play an integral part in ensuring a safe school facility. When we are ready to reopen schools, our custodians will ensure the ongoing cleaning and sanitising throughout the day of highly used surface areas in schools. Mr. Speaker, other specific building protocols the department will be implementing include ensuring a current inventory of hygiene supplies at every school, posting of signs throughout school buildings as reminders of physical distancing, studen t education on regular handwashing, assessing the layout of classroom spaces to determine maximum occupancy of students and posting signs to remind students of entry and exit procedures. Mr. Speaker, survey results indicated that many parents want to kno w the details of the safety and health protocols. I am pleased to report that the Department of Health has developed draft safety and health protocols for the pre- , primary and middle schools; and our school for children with special needs, DAME. These protocols define the safety and health actions when students and staff first arrive on the premises. They stipulate how to drop off students at school if arriving by car or motorbike, how they walk up to the building entrance and prepare to enter the building with temperature- taking and hand- sanitising stations. The protocols continue as students and staff move along hallways, which will be clearly marked; outline how students engage in learning in their clas srooms and sitting at their desks; the procedure to follow when using school bathrooms, during recess snack and lunch breaks; and outdoor play activities. These safety and health protocols, although prepared by the Department of Health, have been ve tted by school principals and their school Safety & Health Committees or COVID -19 Response Teams. Mr. Speaker, these protocols were all pre- tested this week at a preschool, a primary school, a middle school and at our school for children with special needs, DAME. I shared in my press conference on Wednesday that the pre- test team comprises the following key stakeholders: • Department of Education technical officers ; • school principals for the selected schools ; • school custodians and the BIU [Bermuda I ndustrial Union] school custodians ’ represent ative; and • Department of Health, Healthy Schools officer and school nurses ; and Bermuda Union of Teachers [BUT] Safety and Health Committee representatives . Mr. Speaker, the pre- test process was detailed and thorough. The safety and health protocols are generally all the same for schools, with some di fferences for our younger children at the preschool and students at our special needs school, DAME. When the pretesting of the protocols was undertaken this week, the team was provided with the different sets of protocols for each school as they walked through the school building and began to visualise what the practice actually entailed. There were close to 15 persons on the pre- testing team. Mr. Speaker, the team visited all buildings at each of the selected schools, all floor l evels and many Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4017
Bermuda House of Assembly classrooms. The team discussed areas such as which entrances the school would use as entry and exit doors; they discussed how the handwashing hygiene would operate, bathroom protocols, physical distancing protocols, what surfaces would requi re the conti nuous cleaning and logistics for different classes. The pre-test of the protocols was more exhaustive for our special needs school, as the team visited the therapy room, multi -purpose room, nurse’s room, sensory room, time- away room, all classr ooms and all bat hrooms. The findings are now being collated, and the data will steer what improvements must be made to finalise the protocol guidelines. Mr. Speaker, the pre- testing of protocols will also need to be done for every school prior to schools reopening so that they are customised appropriately for the particular school. Additionally, the department will undertake audits before any school reopens to ensure that all of the safety measures and protocols have been effected. It is our intent to do what is needed so that when the Ministry of Health advises that it is safe to reopen our schools, then we are ready to receive our students, knowing that parents/guardians and school staff are assured it is a safe place for teaching and learning. Mr. Speaker, I also want to share more about teaching and learning for our students. Our stak eholders are aware that the current remote learning model includes online teaching, learning and services using a variety of applications and platforms, plus the provisio n of learning packets for students without devices. At the preschool level, student online indivi dual learning with their teacher accounts for 30 minutes face time per day, while online learning with other st udents ranges from one to two hours per day. Our pr eschool teachers engage in online teaching with three to five students at a time. Teachers also prerecord themselves for students to revisit and reinforce concepts. Our teachers at the primary and middle levels are following the essential curriculum t o be taught and will focus on teaching students the relevant curriculum standards. On average, our primary school students are spending nine hours per week engaged in remote learning with teachers. Our middle school students are engaged in four 40- minute f ace-to-face classes via remote learning with their subject teachers, up to two hours of independent classwork via online platforms, and teacher -developed assignments or tutor ials for extra support. The time differs for work carried out with Core and Encore teachers. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday I shared with the media and the general public a testament from one of our parents to the work that our teachers are doing. The parent shared that her child’s teacher (and I quote) “covers English, Mathematics, Scienc e and/or Social Studies. The Teacher designs lessons and as-signments to be interactive and engages with students through the use of various digital manipulatives and resources such as video storybooks, digital libraries, and STEAM experiments.” Mr. Speaker , I encourage my honourable colleagues to read the testament from the parent, as I included the full submission in my 1press statement . The department has also received questions about servicing students who require special or ind ividualised support. Students who require individualised services are students on an IEP (Individualised Education Plan). Our Learning Support and Specialist Teachers, such as ASD teachers, who would normall y teach and provide services for students when they are in the physical building, are now providing remote teaching and services to IEP students individually or in small groups. Mr. Speaker, last week I personally participated in a Zoom assembly with Suc cess Academy at the Heron Bay Primary School. The testimonials from both students and parents were moving. One parent was brought to tears at how well the remote learning was going for their child. However, Mr. Speaker, as schools move forward with new teaching and learning, it is critical for parents to ensure students are avail able for online instruction and complete the learner ac-tivities. Parents should also check that the work is completed for our students who receive learning packets in the mail. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday I shared that at the senior school level the students are continuing with their regular programme and schedule and are on target for completing their courses. The senior schools are presently following Cambridge’s guidelines for awarding assessed grades to those students who were due to sit IGCSE examinations in May and June. Let me add that our primary and middle school st udents are being assessed on an ongoing basis, using a variety of assessments. Students have to [complete tasks] which are provided and which provide evidence of what they actually know and can do. The work can be a typical assignment like solving a math problem, reading and then writing responses to questions to show understanding, or they may be asked to take a video of themselves doing an experiment or task as evidence that they can actually do it. There are instances when the teacher can see first -hand what students know and can do, via Zoom. Other times, students are asked to upload their work as evidence of wh at they can do. I can persona lly attest to this as I look forward to the notices from the P6 teacher at Elliot Primary School to let me know my daughter’s work has been marked and is available for viewing via ClassDojo. COVID -19 has required teachers at the prim ary and middle levels to examine the number of lear ning standards that remain to be taught for each sub1 Ministry of Education Press Statement 20 May 2020 4018 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly ject, to identify the most critical standards and then teach those specific standards. Mr. Speaker, I applaud our teachers. They are committed to sustaining the remote learning model. It is new, but together we will continue to work through improving it, as remote learning is becoming a part of our new normal. Mr. Speaker, let me close by reminding our parents who are returning to work during phase 2 that the department is organising an educational support programme for your children while you go to work. On Monday, May 25 th, the Education Support Programme will start for primary and middle school age children. The Preschool Education Support Pr ogramme will start on Wednesday, May 27th. All students will co ntinue to engage in the remote learning programme for their respective schools, but at a central venue. I must emphasise that the Educational Su pport Programme is only for children whose parents must return to work during phase 2. Only these parents should contact their child’s school principal. Lastly, I want to assure our parents that phy sical distancing will be practiced at the Educational Support Programme, as well as implementing safety and health protocols stipulated by the Ministry of Health. We will provide further details about the Educational Support Camp directly to the parents who have begun to contact the school principals. Mr. Speaker, we encourage our educational family to cont inue to use the BPSS [Bermuda Public School System] Family Feedback form to send in their questions, concerns, complaints and kudos about the work taking place in our schools and at the Depar tment of Education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. And that actually brings us to a close of the Statements this morning. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe have a report from the Deputy Speaker in regard to the Standing Orders Committee. REPORT OF THE STANDING ORDERS AND PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE — AMENDMENT TO STANDING ORDER 7(1) TO ALLOW VIRTUAL SITTINGS Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To Members of the Honourable House of A …
We have a report from the Deputy Speaker in regard to the Standing Orders Committee.
REPORT OF THE STANDING ORDERS AND PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE — AMENDMENT TO STANDING ORDER 7(1) TO ALLOW VIRTUAL SITTINGS Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To Members of the Honourable House of A ssembly: The Standing Orders and Privileges Commi ttee has the honour to submit the followi ng report: 1. The committee held a meeting on the 20th of May 2020 to consider a proposed amendment to the Standing Orders to facilitate the conduct of virtual meetings of the House and committees which have been conducted recently and possibly in the for eseeable future. 2. During this meeting, the committee agreed to the following amendment to the Standing Order 7: Add 7(1)(a) to read as follows: “Notwithstanding any other Standing Orders, where it is impracticable, by reason of a public emergency or any emergency as agreed by the Speaker after consultation with the Premier and the Opposition Leader, for the House or a Committee of the House to meet physically, the Speaker may grant leave for the House to meet virt ually so long as the Speaker is satisfied that the bus iness of the House may be conducted through electronic means that permit Members to be seen and heard by the Speaker or by a Chairperson of a Committee.” 3. Mr. Speaker, I now move that this new amendment to the Standing Orders be adopted as read.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMembers, the Deputy Speaker has given a report from the Standing Orders Committee and to the recent amendment which was adopted by the Standing Orders Committee. Are there any objections to the acceptance of this new amendment to our S tanding Orders? No objections?
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberNo, sir.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. We take it that it has been accepted. [Motion carried: Standing Order 7(1) amended.]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerFor our listening audience, that amendment now gives us the ability to be able to meet virtually as we have been doing. If you have noticed in our [virtual] sittings thus far, we have begun by asking for the suspension of the Standing Orders, which enabled us to be able …
For our listening audience, that amendment now gives us the ability to be able to meet virtually as we have been doing. If you have noticed in our [virtual] sittings thus far, we have begun by asking for the suspension of the Standing Orders, which enabled us to be able to sit virtually. Now we will not have to ask for that suspens ion whenever we sit virtually. It is now a part of our Standing Orders. When the need arises for us to sit virtually, we have the ability under the Standing Orders to do so. Thank you to the Standing Orders Committee.
QUESTION PERIOD
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAs you know, this is a 60- minute per iod, and it is now 11:13. First we have some written questions. The first written question that will be dealt with today is from the Honourable Opposition Leader to the Minister of Works, Minister Burch. These are three ques tions, and …
As you know, this is a 60- minute per iod, and it is now 11:13. First we have some written questions. The first written question that will be dealt with today is from the Honourable Opposition Leader to the Minister of Works, Minister Burch. These are three ques tions, and they are asked to be responded to orally. Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4019
Bermuda House of Assembly So, Opposition Leader, would you like to put your question?
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Can you hear me?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. I can hear you now. QUESTION 1: DEMOLITION OF VALERIE T. SCOTT AND ALLENHURST B UILDINGS Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Yes. Would the Honour able Minister please inform this Honourable House whether the Valerie Scott Building demolition was put out to tender? (Read all three?) [Crosstalk]
Lt. Col. Hon. David A. BurchAll right. The short answer is yes. But as I have stated publicly before, our intention was to combine the demolition process for both the Valerie T. Scott and the A llenhurst Buil ding. So in the interest of — [Inaudible speech due to microphone feedback]
Lt. Col. Hon. David A. BurchSo, in the interest of full disclosure, I will provide details for both of those. That plan did not work, as the two buildings are registered separately. The Department of Planning required two demolition permit applications, so the buildings were tendered separately. And accor ding to Financial Instructions, the budget …
So, in the interest of full disclosure, I will provide details for both of those. That plan did not work, as the two buildings are registered separately. The Department of Planning required two demolition permit applications, so the buildings were tendered separately. And accor ding to Financial Instructions, the budget estimate for these demolition projects was such that there was no requirement for them to be advertised— [Interference]
Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch—in the normal manner on the government portal or advertised in the local media. Because these demolitions are specialist in nature ––[because of] the location, complexity and signed sensitivity ––a selective tendering process was used. Quotes were invited from five local contractors that specialise and are experienced in these types …
—in the normal manner on the government portal or advertised in the local media. Because these demolitions are specialist in nature ––[because of] the location, complexity and signed sensitivity ––a selective tendering process was used. Quotes were invited from five local contractors that specialise and are experienced in these types of work. They are Accurate Excavation, Building Blocks Construction, Butterfield Excavating Ltd., Island Con-struction Services Ltd., and Smith Hauling and Exc avating Ltd. Site visits were conducted, and all five contractors attended. Four contractors returned quotes by the due date. End of ans wer.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary? Or will you take your next question? QUESTION 2: DEMOLITION OF VALERIE T. SCOTT AND ALLENHURST BUILDINGS Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Yes. I will move on to the second question. Taking into consideration the Minister answered part of the second question as well, so I will move to the …
Supplementary? Or will you take your next question?
QUESTION 2: DEMOLITION OF VALERIE T. SCOTT AND ALLENHURST BUILDINGS
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Yes. I will move on to the second question. Taking into consideration the Minister answered part of the second question as well, so I will move to the second part of the question, which was, Which company won the bid?
Lt. Col. Hon. David A. BurchIsland Construction Services Ltd. for the Valerie Scott Building, and Smith Hauling and Excavat ing for the Allenhurst Building.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerFurther supplementary? Or your third question? QUESTION 3: DEMOLITION OF VALERIE T. SCOTT AND ALLENHURST BUILDINGS Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: No, that is fine. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, then the third question, partially answered as well. But would the Honourable Minister please inform the House of the company names and …
Lt. Col. Hon. David A. BurchAnswer. For the V alerie Scott Building, Building Blocks Ltd., $61,805; 4020 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Butterfield Excavation Ltd., $44,100; Smith Hauling and Excavating Ltd., $31,153.24; Island Construction Services Ltd., $29,752. For the Allenhurst Building, Building Blocks Ltd., $350,733; Butterfield Excavating Ltd., $199,000; Smith …
Answer. For the V alerie Scott Building, Building Blocks Ltd., $61,805; 4020 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Butterfield Excavation Ltd., $44,100; Smith Hauling and Excavating Ltd., $31,153.24; Island Construction Services Ltd., $29,752. For the Allenhurst Building, Building Blocks Ltd., $350,733; Butterfield Excavating Ltd., $199,000; Smith Hauling and Excava ting Ltd., $75,989.50; and Island Construction Services Ltd., $229,735.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Is there a supplementary, Opposition Leader, or are you complete? SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Just a supplementary on the first numbers . I believe he said it was Allenhurst [sic], where Blocks was $61,000, and Smith $31,000plus, Island Construction $29,700. Can the Minister just speak to …
Thank you, Minister. Is there a supplementary, Opposition Leader, or are you complete?
SUPPLEMENTARY
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Just a supplementary on the first numbers . I believe he said it was Allenhurst [sic], where Blocks was $61,000, and Smith $31,000plus, Island Construction $29,700. Can the Minister just speak to . . . it is quite a varied amount in the bids that came across. During this time when it is difficult , I kind of thought that many of these companies would most likely be coming in very, very competitive. Can he speak as to what would make Blocks come in at $61,000 and Smith Hauling at $31,000plus—half . . . basically half the amount? What were the effi ciencies and some of these things, in broad terms, that he found as to why he then went with $27,000 [sic] with Island Constructions?
Lt. Col. Hon. Davi d A. BurchWhat we did was to select the lowest bidder in each case. And in fact, there is a real backstory to this, which is internally with our technical officer, it made sense to us to award both contracts to one contractor for the simple reason of mobilisation and [because] the …
What we did was to select the lowest bidder in each case. And in fact, there is a real backstory to this, which is internally with our technical officer, it made sense to us to award both contracts to one contractor for the simple reason of mobilisation and [because] the buildings are next - door to one another. And in fact, there is (what is the term?) a common wall between the two buildings, and much of the infrastructure was interconnected. So, because the buildings are listed in two different addresses, we needed two different applic ations, so we put out two different tenders. At the end of this process, we had decided to award both contracts to Smith Hauling, as the lowest bidder on the largest contract, so that it would be one contractor onsite. Not surprising, that decision did not sit well with the Office of Project Management and Procurement, who implied we were simply attempting to circumvent Financial Regulations, as the two co ntracts together then exceeded the $100,000 that r equires Cabinet approval. Apart from taking great exception to the suggestion that I would be party to something unlawful, I took the view that this accusation . . . and simply concluded that a common- sense approach was yet again defeated by the bureaucracy. And I would say that that is probably the source of my greatest frustration in this job. I did not wish to delay the project for the several weeks that Cabinet approval would take. So we reverted to approval of both contracts to the lowest bidders —Island Construction for the Valerie Scott at $29,000, Smith Hauling for Allenhurst at $75,000, both of which are under the internal estimate that the Mini stry made on these projects in the first place. I think that there is a greater disparity between bidding on the Al lenhurst Building, where the range is from $350,000 from the highest bidder to $75,000 as the contract was awarded. I asked that question, nat urally, of our technical officer. And it comes down to the individual decisions and risk assessment of bringing those buildings down, particularly the Allenhurst Buil ding, of each contract. And that is why the cost varied so much. But I do not mind telling you at this stage that our internal assessment of the Valerie Scott Building was $30,000, and we awarded a contr act of $29,752. And for the Allenhurst Building, it was $130,000, where a contract of $75,989.50 was awarded.
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That was very helpful.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. That brings us to a close of the written questions, the first set of written questions. The second set of written questions is from the Honourable Gordon- Pamplin, but they are for wri tten response only. They are to Minister Wilson. MP Gordon- Pamplin, have you received your …
Thank you. That brings us to a close of the written questions, the first set of written questions. The second set of written questions is from the Honourable Gordon- Pamplin, but they are for wri tten response only. They are to Minister Wilson. MP Gordon- Pamplin, have you received your written responses ?
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: I have. Thank you, sir.
QUESTIONS: LAB AIR QUALITY PROTOCOLS AT KING EDWARD VII MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Will the Ho nourable Minister please inform this Honourable House of the current protocols in place to ensure clean air working conditions for the staff in the labs at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH)
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Will the Ho nourable Minister please inform this Honourable House how frequently air quality inspections are carried out in the labs at KEMH?
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Will the Ho nourable Minister please inform this Honourable House if vents and hoods have been installed at the histology lab at the KEMH to enable a clean air working environment?
Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4021
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Thank you. The third set of written questions is from MP Dunkley for Minister Wilson. They are to be answered orally, and there are three questions. MP Dunkley, would you like to put your questions? MP Dunkley.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Good morning.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. QUESTION 1: ANTIBODY TEST IN USE AT MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Will the Honoura ble Mini ster please provide to this Honourable House the name of the manufacturer and source country for the ant ibody test being used by the Molecular Diagnostic L aboratory [MDL …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerBefore the response, I should indicate that Stand ing Orders allow for another Member of the Cabinet to answer, or a Junior Minister to answer on behalf of a Minister. And I believe that, Premier, you may be responding on behalf of Minister Wilson. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you …
Before the response, I should indicate that Stand ing Orders allow for another Member of the Cabinet to answer, or a Junior Minister to answer on behalf of a Minister. And I believe that, Premier, you may be responding on behalf of Minister Wilson.
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in response to the question, the response is Healgen Scientific LLC, and the source county is the United States of America.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. MP Dunkley. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you. Yes, thank you, H onourable Premier. Supplementary question. In what other juri sdictions or countries is this test actively being used? Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that is the second question of which was …
Thank you. MP Dunkley.
SUPPLEMENTARIES
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you. Yes, thank you, H onourable Premier. Supplementary question. In what other juri sdictions or countries is this test actively being used?
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that is the second question of which was asked, so it would not be a supplementar y. But I am happy to move to the second question if the Hon-ourable Member wishes to do so. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: No, Mr. Speaker. The second question has different wording.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerCan you repeat your question again? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I would be glad to. In what other jurisdictions or countries is the test actively being used? Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I do not have an answer to that question, as we have not tried …
Can you repeat your question again?
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I would be glad to. In what other jurisdictions or countries is the test actively being used? Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I do not have an answer to that question, as we have not tried to survey out of the thousands of tests which are in use in various countries to provide such an answer in sup-plementary. So I do not have that.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Okay. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Premier, any idea how long this test has been in use?
Hon. E. David Burt: In Bermuda or in the world?
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: In the world.
Hon. E. David Burt: I cannot answer that question.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Okay. Happy to move to question 2, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Go to question 2. QUESTION 2: ANTIBODY TEST IN USE A T MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Honourable Premier please inform this Honourable House which reputable international regulatory body has given approval for the antibody test being used by MDL at …
Okay. Go to question 2.
QUESTION 2: ANTIBODY TEST IN USE A T MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Honourable Premier please inform this Honourable House which reputable international regulatory body has given approval for the antibody test being used by MDL at Southside?
Hon. E. David Burt: I thank the Honourable Member. I thank the Honourable Member for his question. The tests have been approved for inclusion in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) by the Australian Ministry of Health Therapeutic Goods Association. It should be noted, Mr. Speaker, certainly that the Australian Therapeutic Goods Association represents a country that certainly has done partic ularly well during this particular epidemic. And the therapeutic association is a Commonw ealth Government agency that regulates medical devices and drugs, prescription medicines and over -the-counter medicines which meet Australian standards of quality in safety and efficacy and are included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Honourable Premier. Supplementary question, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Honourable Premier, what is the sensitivity rate for this test? 4022 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report B ermuda House of Assembly Hon. E. David Burt: The sensitivity rate for this particular test depends on whether or not it is looking at IgG particles …
Yes.
SUPPLEMENTARIES
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Honourable Premier, what is the sensitivity rate for this test?
4022 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report B ermuda House of Assembly Hon. E. David Burt: The sensitivity rate for this particular test depends on whether or not it is looking at IgG particles or IgM particles. The submitted sensitiv ity rates of which are seen by the submissions of which have been made to the global bodies is IgM sensitivity of 87.9 per cent and IgG sensitivity of 97.2 per cent, with a specificity of 100 per cent on those tests . On our local testing, we have found this to be rather viable. There was a first set of testing that was done with a sample kit, of which was provided, which had 100 per cent matches of known PCR positives and known PCR negatives. Thus, out of 25 of these tests that were ordered in Bermuda, we decided to order more because they work here. And they have been subsequently approved by the Australian Regis-ter of Therapeutic Go ods. So certainly, we had confidence that at least an international regulator of repute had looked at these tests, and we are comfortable to import them here. These tests cost $6.50, whereas other tests that were trying to be sold to Bermuda were in exc ess of $20 apiece .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Premier. Supplementary? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speak er.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSecond supplementary. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Premier, do you consider this test a diagnostic test or for research purposes? Hon. E. David Burt: It is not a question of whether I consider the test for diagnostic purposes; it is the a pplication of the Ministry of …
Second supplementary. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Premier, do you consider this test a diagnostic test or for research purposes? Hon. E. David Burt: It is not a question of whether I consider the test for diagnostic purposes; it is the a pplication of the Ministry of Health. I think the Minister of Health has made it clear inside her Statements. And I do not think that any of the regulatory bodies use these particular things for diagnostic testing. D iagnostic testing is when it is used for . . . and we use PCR testing for that, to diagnose accurately. That is the gold standard. Tests are not used for diagnosis of active infection. But these tests can certainly be used for persons if they want to . . . not actually persons, but for understanding the epidemiological impact of a partic ular virus on a society. So they have been done at Southside. They are being administered in conjunction with the various PCR tests. And I am aware of the statistics. I have 1,103 persons in the general popul ation who have been tested. Thi rty-two persons have tested positive for either IgG or IgM antibodies, which is a 2.9 per c ent rate of exp osure. And of the 32, we see no PCR pos itives. Spou ses of PCR positives who were themselves PCR neg ative at the test or other [INAUDIBLE] con-tacts and PCR positives who were themselves PCR negatives. Also, there were suspected positive cases who did not fit the WHO definition at the start of the local pandemic, so they were not tested. And then, also those who were in known outbreaks overseas, such as cruise ships or those persons who never suspected having COVID -19, were possible asymptomatic carriers. And it is the antibody testing that we are using. We have secured more supplies and will con-tinue to be administering those in conjunction with the drive -through PCR testing which is taking place at our Southside Lab and will be further rolled out to other locations.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Premier. MP, that was your second supplementary. Would you like to move on to your third question now? QUESTION 3: COVID -19— EMERGENCY FUNDING TO BERMUDA HOSPITALS BOARD Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Honourable Premier: The Honourable Minister of Finance informed this Honourable …
Thank you, Premier. MP, that was your second supplementary. Would you like to move on to your third question now? QUESTION 3: COVID -19— EMERGENCY FUNDING TO BERMUDA HOSPITALS BOARD Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Honourable Premier: The Honourable Minister of Finance informed this Honourable House on the 8th of May sitting that $2.8 million of increased emergency funding had been provided to the Ministry of Health for COVID -19 spending. Would the Honourable Premier please inform this Honourable House if any emergency increased funding to the Bermuda Hospitals Board is included in this amount?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPremier. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, the answer to that question—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI’m sorry, Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Oh.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead, Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, good morning. The answer to that question posed by the Honourable Member is no.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. MP, supplementary? Hon. Michael H. Dunkle y: Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance . . . in full disclosure, the Minister of F inance last night sent me answers to questions I had asked after his Statement on May 8th, which said that there were amounts included. So I …
Okay. MP, supplementary? Hon. Michael H. Dunkle y: Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance . . . in full disclosure, the Minister of F inance last night sent me answers to questions I had asked after his Statement on May 8th, which said that there were amounts included. So I will allow the Mini ster of Finance to interject here and get some clarity. Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4023
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Of the $2.8 million that was spent, $1.75 million was allocated to BHB [Bermuda Hospitals Board].
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Mr. Speaker, if I may?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary from MP GordonPamplin. Go ahead. SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health said cat egorically no, there was no money appended to the Hospitals Board. And the Minister of Finance has just indicated that t here was a $1.7 (I think he …
Supplementary from MP GordonPamplin. Go ahead.
SUPPLEMENTARY
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health said cat egorically no, there was no money appended to the Hospitals Board. And the Minister of Finance has just indicated that t here was a $1.7 (I think he said) mi llion. Can the Minister of Health explain the reason why she is out of the loop in this situation? Or appears to be (sorry.) Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you for that question from the Honourable Member, Mr. Speaker. The $1.75 million . . . it was not directly to BHB. It was because BHB helped to procure the items for us. Those items went to the Southside facility for use by not only the . . . “items” meaning PPE; excuse me. Those items went to the Southside facility for use for not only the Ministry of Health, but us as well, the essential services such as fire, et cetera, persons who are requiring the PPE. So for “accounting purposes,” and I use that word in inverted quotes, speaking to an accountant, the hospital, the o ne point . . . sorry, the warehouse at Southside is where the PPE was being stored. But the $1.75 million was not to give to BHB; it was so that they could source the supplies on our behalf for the acquisition of PPE.
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you. I will pass on a second supplementary, Mr. Speaker. I think it is a question that needs to be clarified offline. But I will speak with the Minister.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Supplementary, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThis is your second supplementary. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: No. I have not had a supplementary on this one yet. That was the Health Shadow Minister’s question, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerDid you not respond when the Minister of Health responded, and you brought in— Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: No. I asked . . . Thanks for the interjection from my honourable colleague, but, Mr. Speaker, I asked the question to the Minister of Health. And the Minister of Finance gave …
Did you not respond when the Minister of Health responded, and you brought in— Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: No. I asked . . . Thanks for the interjection from my honourable colleague, but, Mr. Speaker, I asked the question to the Minister of Health. And the Minister of Finance gave some clarity to it. So I have not got to a supplementary yet.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWell . . . Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: My question, Mr. Speaker, was simple.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerLet me hear what your question is going to be first. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Okay. My supplementary question, Mr. Speaker, supplementary question: Since the Honourable Mini ster of Health has given this explanation, can the Mini ster of Health now provide to this Honourable House if the Bermuda …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, thank you for that question. Yes, the hospital would have also secured PPE and had expenses related to that for the PPE that they would have acquired for Bermuda Hospitals Board. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Okay. Can the Honourable Minister please provide some details …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. That is your second supplementary now, this question that you are putting to her now. Repeat it again for her. That is your last su pplementary. Go ahead. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Can the Honourable Mini ster please provide details on the additional costs spent and what items they …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I thank that Honourable Member for that question. It is approximately $3 million that has been spent by BHB for the securing of PPE. It is also my intention to be delivering to Honourable Members a Ministerial Statement outlining the expenditures as it relates …
Thank you.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I thank that Honourable Member for that question. It is approximately $3 million that has been spent by BHB for the securing of PPE. It is also my intention to be delivering to Honourable Members a Ministerial Statement outlining the expenditures as it relates to COVID -related services, as well as supplies, for both the Minist ry of Health and the Bermuda Hospitals Board in due course.
4024 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Do I have another su pplementary, Mr. Speaker?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNo. You used them up. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Oh. Just checking.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerTwo supplementaries. Two supp leme ntaries. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThat brings us to a close of the written questions. We now move on to the questions from the Statements this morning. And there are quite a few Members who have questions. Premier, your questions this morning . . . there are two Members who would like to put questions …
That brings us to a close of the written questions. We now move on to the questions from the Statements this morning. And there are quite a few Members who have questions. Premier, your questions this morning . . . there are two Members who would like to put questions to you. The first is the Opposition Leader. Honourable Member, would you like to put your question?
QUESTION 1: ASSISTANCE TO BERMUDA DURING COV ID-19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier aptly quoted the song, “I Get by with a Little Help from my Friends,” and on page 2 he mentioned “call on friends in US to “ unstick ” a process that stood to deprive [Bermuda of its] much- needed medical supplies.” Just curious as to, when did those negotiations start as far as talking to our friends abroad?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPremier. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it would be very difficult for me to recall the exact time, as the last two months have been a blur with very little sleep for many of us. I do know that there were certain shipments that were …
Premier. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it would be very difficult for me to recall the exact time, as the last two months have been a blur with very little sleep for many of us. I do know that there were certain shipments that were either shipments that were ordered on behalf of the Government of Bermuda that had contained PPE. And after the [US] President had issued an executive order banning the export of PPE from the United States, there were some of these particular things which were held up. I think that some of them were ordered by local companies or the Hospitals Boar d, et cetera. So we did reach out to our contacts in Was hington, DC, to try to get those particular shipments unstuck, and they were unstuck in consultation and in conjunction with the U.S. Consulate General here in Bermuda, as well. So grateful to them f or their help.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Premier. Honourable Member, supplementary or other question? Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Yes, supplementary.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerContinue. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: If I were to look at the timeframe, I guess it was around April, or early April, that we had a report of this confiscation of goods, potentially, from Bermuda and other places. So the question that I had then is, taking that timeframe …
Continue.
SUPPLEMENTARIES
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: If I were to look at the timeframe, I guess it was around April, or early April, that we had a report of this confiscation of goods, potentially, from Bermuda and other places. So the question that I had then is, taking that timeframe in mind, when did we then finally get approval from abroad that they would not confiscate shipments that potentially were in route via the United States to Ber-muda?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPremier. Hon. E. David Burt: With regard to the question of the Opposition Leader, I believe there were reports of other countries. And there may have been local media houses here that were making speculation on things. When it comes to us dealing with our intern ational partners, we try …
Premier.
Hon. E. David Burt: With regard to the question of the Opposition Leader, I believe there were reports of other countries. And there may have been local media houses here that were making speculation on things. When it comes to us dealing with our intern ational partners, we try our best not to fully publicise details of such. I do not remember the exact date when the President’s ex ecutive order went into effect. But the President’s executive order did impact a number of items. For us the issue was only dealing with, I think it was a shipment of surgical masks and other items which had been ordered through local suppliers. I think t hat was it. And I know that those particular matters of assistance are with certain congresspersons from the Congressional Black Caucus, in addition to hard work of our lobbying firm of record, The Group, at Washington, DC. In addition, with the U.S. Cons ulate General we were able to make sure that those . . . But it was an executive order issued by the President that stated that PPE items could not be exported from the United States. And there was some lack of clarity on those things, but we managed to get them sorted. They were ordered beforehand, and we managed to make sure that we got them to the Island, as we did certainly need them.
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Supplementary.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary? Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Yes.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Taking that into consider ation, when you said these were ordered by private Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4025 Bermuda House of Assembly individuals, were these orders that were put in place to accommodate BHB? [Crosstalk] Hon. E. David Burt: Sorry, Opposition …
Go ahead. Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Taking that into consider ation, when you said these were ordered by private Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4025
Bermuda House of Assembly individuals, were these orders that were put in place to accommodate BHB? [Crosstalk] Hon. E. David Burt: Sorry, Opposition Leader, as I indicated before, I am not trying to be evasive. I just actually do not remember the circumstance around this. I do believe that at this particular time, if I r emember correctly, it was an order from a local suppl ier. And the local supplier was placing an order for the Bermuda Hospitals Board. That is the best of my recollection. So it was not one of our large orders from China, for instance. It was something here, but yes, it was a medical house that ordered something for the Bermuda Hospitals Board, and they were assisted by our friends in the United States.
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: I have a suppl ementary if I may, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary, yes. SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, sir. For the Premier: If you could explain and clar ify for us, if possible . . . we have heard of a flight that was coming from China initially via the United States and then ultimately circumvented the United …
Supplementary, yes.
SUPPLEMENTARY
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, sir. For the Premier: If you could explain and clar ify for us, if possible . . . we have heard of a flight that was coming from China initially via the United States and then ultimately circumvented the United States. Did we ever get that shipment from China that we–– or was that shipment part of those items that we were precluded from receiving? There just was no clarity around that.
Hon. E. David Burt: Sorry. Two of those things, the two individual circumstances have nothing to do with either one. This had nothing to do with a large shi pment of goods which came from Asia, of which there have been a number of particular shipments of goods which have come from Asia. So this was a completely different circumstance in its entirety.
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Opposition Leader, do you have another question? You did put one question, then two suppl ementaries. Did you have any more questions? Opposition Leader? None? QUESTION 2: ASSISTANCE TO BERMUDA DURING COVID- 19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE Hon. L. Craig Ca nnonier: Second question? Yes. Second question. So is the …
Thank you. Opposition Leader, do you have another question? You did put one question, then two suppl ementaries. Did you have any more questions? Opposition Leader? None?
QUESTION 2: ASSISTANCE TO BERMUDA DURING COVID- 19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE
Hon. L. Craig Ca nnonier: Second question? Yes. Second question. So is the Premier saying then that we are now not under that threat any longer, and I know it has been difficult for him to give us a timeline as to how long that has been. But I was not looking for the exac t day; I was just looking for an approximate timeframe. So from the beginning of April we knew that this was a major issue. We had heard about it, as we said about other jurisdictions. Are we now no longer under that threat from shipments via the US?
Hon. E. David Burt: So I am clear, and as far as working remotely allows us to go into the computer , [INAUDIBLE ] into my emails, the news release came on April 8 th from the Customs Border Control and F EMA joint statement on the [US] Defense Production Act for PPE. And so this particular issue, so it would be . . . the order was issued by the President of the United States on April 3rd. I know that we were having issues towards the middle of the month, so I want to say around April 16 th or April 17th. But we have not had any pro blems or issues since. I think that there is a broader understanding of the items banned. So I think it should be clear that . . . and I do not want Honourable Members to focus on . . . I do not want Honourable Members to focus on the br oad sensational headlines from other countries of things being seized and ventilators being seized and other essential items. As I said, we only had one particular issue, to the best of my recollection, with one partic ular shipment, which had happened duri ng this partic ular point in time. We were able to get that particular shipment released. I am uncertain of anything . . . well, not to my knowledge has it come to my desk. Things may have been handled through the mechanisms of government that they did not actually come to my desk. But this is the one particular case, instance, that I know that we had to start to use the best of our efforts and our [rel ationships] to make sure we got these particular matters cleared up to come into the country.
Ms. Susan E. JacksonIn all of the ordering of supplies and all of the shipment complexiti es, did Berm uda ever find that we had paid for equipment or supplies . . . we paid for [anything] did not ever arrive in Bermuda? 4026 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of …
In all of the ordering of supplies and all of the shipment complexiti es, did Berm uda ever find that we had paid for equipment or supplies . . . we paid for [anything] did not ever arrive in Bermuda?
4026 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. E. David Burt: I do not have any knowledge of that. And I do not think so. I think we have been having . . . we have been able to make sure that we have gotten our supply lines up and running. Mr. Speaker, I ind icated the last time the House spoke that we put together a formal committee to assist the persons who were doing procurement for the country. There was a recommendation from a Member of the Opposition to sit . . . not a Member of the Opposition, but a recommendation from the Opposition Leader , to be included in that group. There were a few others who were making sure they were using their international contacts in shipping, et cetera, to make sure that we got things here. So I do not actually think that we have had much problem since then. And I do not think that there has been anything, to my knowledge, that we paid for that we have not received. But I am happy to ask any Cabinet colleagues. If there is anything, I will be happy to make sure we report that. But I do not actually believe that is the case. And I believe there was this one particular issue.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Thank you. Opposition Leader, you had two questions. You have got one more question, your third question. Are you going to put a third, or are we going to move on? Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: I am fine, thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Premier, the next Member who has indicated that they have questi ons for you is actually the Member MP Tyrrell. MP Tyrrell, would you like to put your question?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. QUESTION 1: ASSISTANCE TO BERMUDA DURING COVID- 19 PA NDEMIC RESPONSE
Mr. Neville S. TyrrellMr. Speaker, I note on page 5 of the Premier’s Statement the Premier’s recognition of PPE provided by the UK Government. Can the Honourable Premier please advise how much PPE was able to be sourced by the Government of Berm uda to date by other sources?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPremier. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Honour able Member. Thank you very much for the question. In regard to the total amount of PPE, yes, the Government of Bermuda is certainly grateful to H er Majesty’s Government for supplies that were co ntained on the airbridge flights. …
Premier.
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Honour able Member. Thank you very much for the question. In regard to the total amount of PPE, yes, the Government of Bermuda is certainly grateful to H er Majesty’s Government for supplies that were co ntained on the airbridge flights. However, in addition to the 26,000 N95 masks which were supplied by the UK Government, the Government of Bermuda itself ordered 600,000 N95 masks and 200,000 A95 masks in addition to this we ordered . . . sorry, 600,000 N95 masks and 200,000 A95 masks. In addition to this, we ordered 700,000 surgical masks, as well, and which was supplemented by the 3,000 surgical masks of which were provided by the United Kingdom. In additi on to that, we ordered a large number of aprons. We ordered hundreds of face shields. We ordered 480 digital thermometers. These could be used in isolation. So there has been a robust ordering process that has made sure that we had our stocks in place, and these stocks are certainly . . . we ordered 600,000 N95 masks in total. And we are . . . our stocks are that we have 510,000 of those masks still in stock.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Supplementary, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary? Hon. L. Craig C annonier: Supplementary. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, I will let the Opposition Leader go first, and then I will ask a question after that.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOpposition Leader. SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speak er and Mr. Dunkley. Considering the assistance from the UK, was that an offer made to us, or did we seek out the UK for assistance? Hon. E. David Burt: That was made to all of their …
Opposition Leader.
SUPPLEMENTARY
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speak er and Mr. Dunkley. Considering the assistance from the UK, was that an offer made to us, or did we seek out the UK for assistance?
Hon. E. David Burt: That was made to all of their Overseas Territories and as part of the airbridge flight. And we are grateful to certainly accept any assistance that was given. You have to remember that during the time of the first airbridge flight, there was intense diff iculty regarding testing supplies, regarding lots of di fferent things. And there were things that were hit and miss, as well. I remember that Honourable Members will recall there was lots of conversation and discussion regarding the procurement of swabs. And, or when the first airbridge flight arrived, I want to say that it was around April 6 th or something, there was actua lly supposed to be 5,000 swabs on that flight. And unfortunately, there were not those swabs, and they came on the next flight, which was a supply that we were Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4027
Bermuda House of Assembly expecting to receive, which kind of set us back so we had to go scrambling and to look for other [sources]. But I think this was assistance that was given to all Overseas Territories, but during that particular period it was certainly welcomed. But as I think you said before, we accepted the [allocations] graciously. And we also made sure that we secured the amounts of which were necessary and needed to make sure that our health care workers remain safe.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSomeone else had noted a supplementary. Is that MP Dunkley? Hon. M ichael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, supplementary to the Honourable Premier: The UK helped us with a great deal of supplies, as the Honourable Premier has said. Who are the local suppliers of PPE that have stepped in and helped? Hon. E. David Burt: I would not …
Go ahead.
SUPPLEMENTARIES
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, supplementary to the Honourable Premier: The UK helped us with a great deal of supplies, as the Honourable Premier has said. Who are the local suppliers of PPE that have stepped in and helped? Hon. E. David Burt: I would not be able to answer that question as I am not directly involved in that particular matter. I am not certain if Minister Wilson would like to respond. [Pause] The Speake r: Minister, would you like to assist? No? Okay. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Second supplementary, and I appreciate the Honourable Premier bringing the information when he has an opportunity. Second supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Can the Honourable Premier provide the cost of the air shi pments to bring in private supplies by l ocal suppl iers?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPremier. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I believe that all those particular items would be outlined when the Minister of Health gives her Statement on th e total expenses incurred to date for the coronavirus r esponse. And I think that Honourable Members were expecting to have that out …
Premier. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I believe that all those particular items would be outlined when the Minister of Health gives her Statement on th e total expenses incurred to date for the coronavirus r esponse. And I think that Honourable Members were expecting to have that out today. But I think that Hon-ourable Members can expect that update next week. I think it will be at that point in time Honour able Members can actually have the [information] they wish on the costs related to these supplies.
[Crosstalk] Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Next week is a holiday, so I do not mind meeting in the ho liday.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNot [next week], Pre mier. Hon. E. David Burt: Two weeks from now, or our next sitting. My apologies.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNext sitting, yes. Okay. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: I have a suppl ementary.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThose are all of your supplementaries. Any other Honourable Mem ber wish to make a supplementary? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: I would like a supplementary.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou have a supplementary? Is that MP Gordon- Pamplin? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead with your supplementary. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, sir. Could the Premier advise how the community physicians are being supplied? Is the government supplying them? Have we sort of got a central point and private physicians are coming thr ough the go vernment to get …
Go ahead with your supplementary.
SUPPLEMENTARIES
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, sir. Could the Premier advise how the community physicians are being supplied? Is the government supplying them? Have we sort of got a central point and private physicians are coming thr ough the go vernment to get supplies for PPE and the like?
Hon. E. David Burt: As that does not fall under my remit, if the Minister of Health is on the line, I will ask her to respond.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, I wonder if that question could be r e-asked? I did not hear it all.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMP Gordon -Pamplin, could you put your question again? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, sir. The question is, How are the community ph ysicians supplied for PPE and the like? Are they getting from th e government’s central supply? Is government supplying the physicians? Or what is the …
MP Gordon -Pamplin, could you put your question again?
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, sir. The question is, How are the community ph ysicians supplied for PPE and the like? Are they getting from th e government’s central supply? Is government supplying the physicians? Or what is the procurement process? [ INAUDIBLE] Are the PPE and medical supplies required [ INAUDIBLE]?
[Pause]
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Oh. Sorry about that. 4028 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly I will have to get back to t he Honourable Member. I do believe that many of them have supplied their sources, the PPE sources locally through some of the local distributors. And we were looking into o btaining more PPE. We currently, I should say, are looking into obtaining more PPE s o community pr oviders can get it from . . . and I am saying Southside, but the warehouse that we have with all the PPE is in Southside, not to be confused with the Government laboratory at Southside. So there are two ways to answer that. One is that many of them are securing it privately through the local distributors that provide PPE into Bermuda, as well as you will see that there is quite a lot that is in stores to source as well. And we are also looking to source more [ INAUDIBLE ] and that we will be pr oviding that at cost to persons who require it.
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you. And just a follow -up supplementary, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYour second supplementary? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes, sir. Is there a procurement process from the doctors in order to be able to obtain supplies that they might need from Southside? If the Minister could de-liver that message perhaps publicly so that doctors are made aware as to how …
Your second supplementary? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes, sir. Is there a procurement process from the doctors in order to be able to obtain supplies that they might need from Southside? If the Minister could de-liver that message perhaps publicly so that doctors are made aware as to how they can access those supplies.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Honourable Member, Shadow Minister, for that. And I will make sure that that is clarified. I actually was on a call, I think it was last week, that the CMO [Chief Medical Officer] has with all of the medical community, and many of these questions did come up concerning requirements of PPE and the clarification of how they can source it. So thank you for that, and I will make sure that information is communicated accordingly.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Minister, that now brings us to a close of the quest ions for the Premier’s Statement. We now move on to the second Statement, and that is from the Deputy Premier. Deputy Premier, you have Members who wish to ask you questions. And the first question is from …
Thank you. Minister, that now brings us to a close of the quest ions for the Premier’s Statement. We now move on to the second Statement, and that is from the Deputy Premier. Deputy Premier, you have Members who wish to ask you questions. And the first question is from MP Dunkley. MP, would you like to put your quest ion?
QUESTION 1: PROMOTING LOCAL FOOD SECURITY
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Honourable Deputy Premier: What steps have been taken to protect food security, indeed our supply chain, by ensuring no virus contamination takes plac e on the supply ships that serve Bermuda? Hon. Walter H. Roban: If you are talking about shi pping, I think that is a question for the Minister of Transport. But I will attempt to deal with the issue of food. All the regular meetings that have been held —
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Excuse me, Deputy Premier. I understand that. I refer directly to the supply ships, so if the Minister of Transport wants to answer. I am worried about contamination. The crew has been quarantined for weeks, maybe months on that. W hat is being done to make sure that we do not cross - contaminate by people coming on and off the ship?
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Well, shipping was not a su bject of my Statement. So I think you might want to pose, provide those . . . other than I was in discussions with shippers about ensuring supplies. The actual issue that you raise is something that I think is something that has been in the media. And you might want to direct your questions to the Minister of Transport.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Okay. So you are unable to answer them? Hon. Walter H. Roban: Those are not questions that were the subject of my Statement. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Your Statement is about food security. But if that is what you wish, I will direct them to the Minister of Transport . [Crosstalk]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWell, let us not just debate back and forth. The Statement — [Crosstalk]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. The Statement basically did speak to, I guess, the local part of what was being done and not the i mport piece. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Exactly, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAnd as the Minister has indicated, that is probably more under the remit of Transport. So did you have another question? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: No, I respect that. I will move on. But it does talk about the I sland supply chain, Mr. Speaker. But I will move on …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. The next . . . Minister, you have a further Member who would like to put a question to you, and that is from MP Simons. MP Cole Simons. Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4029 Bermuda House of Assembly QUESTION 1: PROMOTING LOCAL FOOD SECURITY
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsYes, yes. Can the Minister speak to the challenges or issues that are taking place at the Devonshire dock?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Walter H. Roban: That is a question, but the Devonshire dock was not the subject of my Stat ement.
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsThe subject of your Stat ement was about fishermen. And I am asking because fishermen stopped me, and they said that the Go vernment has prevented them, or put a restraining or-der on them, and so they had to move. And so I just wanted to know what the details …
The subject of your Stat ement was about fishermen. And I am asking because fishermen stopped me, and they said that the Go vernment has prevented them, or put a restraining or-der on them, and so they had to move. And so I just wanted to know what the details are.
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Okay, good. Well, I thank you for the clarity on the question because you asked about the docks. And docks are not my remit. But, yes, fishing is. And the answer to the question, Mr. Speaker, is that there are certain places that have been allocated that are safe, as was referenced in my Statement, for fishermen providing sale of their catch. The Devonshire dock was particularly problematic because of the logistics of it. And it is not [INAUDIBLE ] by my team that social distancing or physical distancing and the requirements that are needed for the fishermen to safely participate in sel ling their catch could be carried out. So what has been done . . . so t hat is why there are a number of other sites. There is farther to the west down at the Ducking Stool, which is avail able. But I can also inform the House, Mr. Speaker, that an alter native is being devised for the fishermen who might be able, or who want to sell at Devonshire dock. I happen to know that one of the fishermen has act ually moved to the Ducking Stool to sell his fish. But I know there are others. So we are going to devise an alternative site for them, which is in the vicinity.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Give your supplemental. Yes. SUPPLEMENTARIES
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsYes. So, can the fisherman choose his own site, or does the site have to be des-ignated by the government? Yes, I have seen the fisherman at Ducking Stool. But can other fishermen who were at Devonshire dock go elsewhere and sell their fish without any restriction? Hon. Walter H. …
Yes. So, can the fisherman choose his own site, or does the site have to be des-ignated by the government? Yes, I have seen the fisherman at Ducking Stool. But can other fishermen who were at Devonshire dock go elsewhere and sell their fish without any restriction?
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Yes, as long as it is at one of the sites and the appropriate guidelines can be a d-hered to. And those guidelines were like detailed in my Statement. But as it relates to the specific Devonshire dock issue, I am working with my team to devise an alternative site for them which is in the vicinity for the selling of fish.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. QUESTION 2: PROMOTING LOCAL FOOD SECURITY
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsBecause I go to these docks quite a bit, so I speak to some of these fishermen. There was a recreational fisherman who has a little boat. And he goes out fishing for his family. And if he has excess, he might sell it to another fisherman who can sell …
Because I go to these docks quite a bit, so I speak to some of these fishermen. There was a recreational fisherman who has a little boat. And he goes out fishing for his family. And if he has excess, he might sell it to another fisherman who can sell it. But the challenge that he faces is that he cannot go fishing with his family member. He is not a professional fisherman, so he does not have a mate. How can we help these fishermen, recreational fis hermen, who do not have fishing licences go out fishing with someone to fish, to supplement their food, bas ically, and also supplement their income by selling their catch to other fishermen, commercial fishermen?
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Well, with all due respect, the answer to the question is a little challenging because you are actually talking about fishermen who do not have licences to sell fish getting permission to do ac-tivity where they can carry out an illegal act ivity. So I have a little concern about that.
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsSo . . . okay. Hon. Walter H. Roban: I do believe that the regul ations have recently been amended so that recreational boating can go on within the allocated time of the curfew, and the y can have more than one person on the boat. That was the subject, …
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsSo it is very, very difficult to secure a fishing licence. So during this time of COVID crisis, is there a possibility that we may be able to r elax the licence so that people can supplement their income by selling fish during this period only? B ecause it is …
So it is very, very difficult to secure a fishing licence. So during this time of COVID crisis, is there a possibility that we may be able to r elax the licence so that people can supplement their income by selling fish during this period only? B ecause it is tough to get a fishing licence.
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Yes. There are limited fishing licences; you are correct. But that is for reasons that you would know, as a former Minister of the Enviro nment. It is to protect our fishing stocks.
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsYes. 4030 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Walter H. Roban : During this time our fishermen are out, and I believe that they are adequately supplying our country with fish and are able to sell their fish. The regulations have been relaxed so that …
Yes.
4030 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Walter H. Roban : During this time our fishermen are out, and I believe that they are adequately supplying our country with fish and are able to sell their fish. The regulations have been relaxed so that people who rely on recreational fishing to supply their own needs can now go do it. Those were the changes that I believe were the subject of the recent . . . announced last week. So that was an issue, but that has been rectified. But as you know, as a former Minister of the Environment, persons selling fish commercially wit hout a licence is not legal.
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsI accept that. So my question to you again is, Given these unusual circumstances —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNo, no. MP, this is actually your second supplementary, see?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. And your last supplementary.
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsSo given that these are unusual circumstances, given that we waived the rule for others, to support small businesses and other indivi duals, can we make a similar relaxation for recreational fishermen who are in dire straits to sell their catch during this period only? I understand the environmental impact. …
So given that these are unusual circumstances, given that we waived the rule for others, to support small businesses and other indivi duals, can we make a similar relaxation for recreational fishermen who are in dire straits to sell their catch during this period only? I understand the environmental impact. But as you said before, we are trying to help the man in the street who has challenging times economically. And this could be a source of income for them. We have done it for other industries; I do not see why we cannot do it for this period for the fishermen. So can you address that issue for the recreational fishermen who are in dire straits who might be able to make some income out of fishing just during the COVID period?
Hon. Walter H. Roban: We can consider a number of different things. I would . . . as you would know as the former Environment Minister, this is a matter that would have to go in front of the—
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsThe fisheries board. Hon. Walter H. Roban: —Commercial Fisheries Council, who oversees the fishing industry. So I would have to put the question to them. And I will rely on their advice.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Deputy Premier, that brings a close to the questions for yourself. We now move on to the next Statement, and it is for the Minister of Finance. Minister of Finance, you have a series of Members who would like to put questions. The first one is from MP …
Mr. Scott PearmanThank you, Mr. Speaker. Can you hear me? The Speaker: Yes, I can. Go ahead. QUESTION 1: UPDATE ON COVID- 19 FISCAL PLAN AND THE FORMATION OF THE COV ID-19 ECONOMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Mr. Scott PearmanThank you. Minister of Finance, Honourable Minister, your Statement talked to certain elements of proposed r elief in the coming months for COVID -19. Have you any plans at this moment . . . Currently, t here are unemployment benefits that were supposed to last for a 12 - week …
Thank you. Minister of Finance, Honourable Minister, your Statement talked to certain elements of proposed r elief in the coming months for COVID -19. Have you any plans at this moment . . . Currently, t here are unemployment benefits that were supposed to last for a 12 - week period. Have you any views at this moment whether that 12- week period will be extended?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: We are assessing that.
Mr. Scott PearmanAll are on the relief points. Supplementary —another identified area of relief was the payroll tax zero rate for the second quarter. Do you have any plans to continue that into Q3, the third quarter, as well?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: So, the payroll tax relief comes at a cost to government r evenues. And Ho nourable Members will recall when I last spoke about this, I talked about trying to bring in a deficit number of $150 million down from a projection of $315 million. …
Minister.
Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: So, the payroll tax relief comes at a cost to government r evenues. And Ho nourable Members will recall when I last spoke about this, I talked about trying to bring in a deficit number of $150 million down from a projection of $315 million. Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4031
Bermuda House of Assembly We will need to assess the state of the economy. And so my view is for the relief that I am provi ding for the restaurants and bars, we are going to look at it on a quarter -by-quarter basis and assess it a ppropriately , because the last thing that we can afford to do is to make the hole in the deficit bigger. So we will manage it as we get the benefit of some exper ience, and are doing so.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYour second question. Continue. QUESTION 2: UPDATE ON COVID- 19 FISCAL PLAN AND THE FORMATION OF THE COVID- 19 ECONOMIC ADVISORY COMMITT EE
Mr. Scott PearmanYes. You also deal in your Statement with customs relief. At the bottom of page 6 of your Statement you talk about customs duty applications for relief being considered with immediate effect. And you state, “subject to a minimal sur charge.” What does that mean? Does that mean that there …
Yes. You also deal in your Statement with customs relief. At the bottom of page 6 of your Statement you talk about customs duty applications for relief being considered with immediate effect. And you state, “subject to a minimal sur charge.” What does that mean? Does that mean that there is going to be a cost if one applies for relief? Or that if you get a deferral, there will be some sort of interest charge on the deferral? Or something else?
Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: There is a fee that Customs has charged historically for the granting of duty deferment.
Mr. Scott PearmanWould the Minister consider waiving that fee? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: I would need to take advice from Customs on that, on waiving that fee. One of the things that Honourable Members need to be aware of is that the deferment of duty is actually a cash flow drag on …
Would the Minister consider waiving that fee?
Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: I would need to take advice from Customs on that, on waiving that fee. One of the things that Honourable Members need to be aware of is that the deferment of duty is actually a cash flow drag on the government. And I need to fund the government. And if I cannot get the cash from the taxes that are due from duty, then I have to go and borrow the money. And perhaps if the banks will waive the fees on my borrowing, I can possibly pass on those savings to those persons who participate in a duty deferment programme.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Go ahead. QUESTION 3: UPDATE ON COVID- 19 FISCAL PLAN AND THE FORMATION OF THE COVID- 19 ECONOMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Mr. Scott PearmanMinister, on page 7, also on duty, customs duty, you talk about long- term duty pa yment deferrals of more than six months available in certain circumstances. Is that a new or existing form of relief? And what are those circumstances? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: That is an existing form …
Minister, on page 7, also on duty, customs duty, you talk about long- term duty pa yment deferrals of more than six months available in certain circumstances. Is that a new or existing form of relief? And what are those circumstances?
Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: That is an existing form of relief, one that has seldom been used, I think partially because of the administrative burden and the process that has been in place. And what I had mentioned in my Budget Statement early in this year was that Customs was going to go have a look at their processes with a v iew towards streamlining the processes to e ncourage a more active use of the duty deferment pr ogramme.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Minister, the next Member who has a question for you is the Member Gordon- Pamplin. MP Gordon- Pamplin, would you like to put your question? QUESTION 1: UPDATE ON COVID- 19 FISCAL PLAN AND THE FORMATION OF THE COVID- 19 ECONOMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes. …
Okay. Minister, the next Member who has a question for you is the Member Gordon- Pamplin. MP Gordon- Pamplin, would you like to put your question?
QUESTION 1: UPDATE ON COVID- 19 FISCAL PLAN AND THE FORMATION OF THE COVID- 19 ECONOMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to the Minister: On page 10 of your Statement, Minister, you indicated that you are in the process of extending some credit facilities. Could you give [ INAUDIBLE ] of the terms and conditions of the credit facility for both the $150 million that you are planning on signing today, as well as the [ INAUDIBLE ] currently in place?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: With respect to the 150 facilit y, I do not have the documents in front of me, so I am recalling from memory. It is a facility that will e xpire in September of this year. Pricing is in the range of about 4 [per …
Minister. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: With respect to the 150 facilit y, I do not have the documents in front of me, so I am recalling from memory. It is a facility that will e xpire in September of this year. Pricing is in the range of about 4 [per cent] to 4.25 per cent. Banks involved are HSBC and Clarion. The view is that . . . I think I have mentioned earlier in the year, in the Budget Statement, that the Government would be contemplating doing a capital markets capital raise with a view 4032 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly towards refinancing credit facilities. In the case . . . in February I was referencing the Morgan’s Point facility. Now it will include any funds drawn down on this facil ity, the Morgan’s Point facility and the incremental $20 million facility. We have had the Debt Advisory Committee convene a meeting. I have conducted interviews with respective banking organisations. And I am waiting for a recommendation from them around the timing of accessing the capital markets, as well as a quantum of any potential financing and potential liability man-agement exercise.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minist er. Supplementary? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: No. I have a separate question.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSecond question. Go ahead. QUESTION 2: UPDATE ON COVID- 19 FISCAL PLAN AND THE FORMATION OF THE COVID- 19 ECONOMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE Hon. Patricia J. Gordo n-Pamplin: Yes. Pages 2 and 3 of the Minister’s Statement in respect of the 11 committee members who are participating on the Economic Recovery …
Second question. Go ahead.
QUESTION 2: UPDATE ON COVID- 19 FISCAL PLAN AND THE FORMATION OF THE COVID- 19 ECONOMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Hon. Patricia J. Gordo n-Pamplin: Yes. Pages 2 and 3 of the Minister’s Statement in respect of the 11 committee members who are participating on the Economic Recovery Committee, could the Minister, for the edification of the public, confirm that industries that have not been specifically represented by the 11 members of the council will be represented by su bcommittees that will feed into the overall work of those committees? I have had concerns when people say there are no retail people on the committee. But I do not want retail ers to believe that they have been left off. So could the Minister just offer for the edification of the public that all sectors of the economy will be co nsidered?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: I would like to thank the Member for —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThis ends at 12:13. It is now 12:12. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, sir. If the Minister can — Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: In fairly short form, Mr. Speaker, the intention here is to have a broad, broad range of people representing t he broad economy. The Chamber …
This ends at 12:13. It is now 12:12.
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, sir. If the Minister can —
Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: In fairly short form, Mr. Speaker, the intention here is to have a broad, broad range of people representing t he broad economy. The Chamber of Commerce is represented, and there is broad representation in the retail and other sectors within the Chamber of Commerce. But there will be . . . it is contemplated to be a subcommittee structure underneath the principal c ommittee that will be targeted towards certain industry verticals.
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I think I can get one last question in. And that is —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou may not get an answer, but you can ask it. No, that is i t. We are now at 12:13. We started at 11:13. That brings us to 60 minutes of questions now being closed. Thank you, Members, for your participation. There were quite a bit of Members who …
You may not get an answer, but you can ask it. No, that is i t. We are now at 12:13. We started at 11:13. That brings us to 60 minutes of questions now being closed. Thank you, Members, for your participation. There were quite a bit of Members who wished to have asked further questions for Statements given today. O f course, the time has not allowed that. So we will move on.
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: There was a technical difficulty at the beginning. So we should have been allowed an extra minute.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNo, no, not on this one. Moving on with the Order Paper. CONGRATULATORY AND/OR OBITUARY SPEECHES
The SpeakerThe SpeakerDoes any Member wish to speak?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. It sounds like Minister Burch.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. The cl ock is starting.
Lt. Col. Hon. David A. BurchOkay. Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer condolences to the family of Keithlyn Richard “Buddy” Wilson, whom you may r ecall and may be known to you, Mr. Speaker.
Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burc hHe worked at the quarry and could handle any machine we have down there. And you, in fact, wrote and commended him in 2007 —
Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch—for the work that he did in installing the replacement Bailey bridges. The S peaker: Yes.
Lt. Col. Hon. David A. BurchI have been looking through the file, obviously. And I would like to send condolences to his widow, Leeann Wilson; his chi lOfficial Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4033 Bermuda House of Assembly dren, Keisha, Keitha and Keiasha; and the wider fam ily. Mr. Speaker, I would also like …
I have been looking through the file, obviously. And I would like to send condolences to his widow, Leeann Wilson; his chi lOfficial Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4033
Bermuda House of Assembly dren, Keisha, Keitha and Keiasha; and the wider fam ily. Mr. Speaker, I would also like t o extend congratulations to Mr. Mitchell Johnson, who I am sure is known to you as well, from Somerset.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThat is family now. But go ahead.
Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Bu rchHe retires today from the Ministry after 21 years of service, most recently at Marsh Folly. And anybody who knew him would know that, you know, he had no debate over what team he would support in any sport. And it would be our team,
Lt. Col. Hon. David A. BurchIn fact, I am hoping to be able to put in a cameo this month. They are having a small celebration for him —no more than 10 pe ople—to be able to at least commend him and wish him well in his retirement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister Burch. Does any other Member wish to speak? Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: I do, Mr. Speaker, if you would oblige.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. The clock is on for Minister De Silva. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with your indulgence, I would like to read a short email that I received from a gentleman who had an experience at Transport Control Department [TCD].
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: And it goes like this: “Good day, Mr. De Silva. I am a senior and would like to take this opportunity to personally commend you and the Government for your awesome work for our country. I had the honour to visit TCD …
Go ahead. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: And it goes like this: “Good day, Mr. De Silva. I am a senior and would like to take this opportunity to personally commend you and the Government for your awesome work for our country. I had the honour to visit TCD over the last couple of weeks to license my motorcycle and my car, and also to retake my senior’s driver’s test. On all occasions, the staff I encountered were of the highest profes-sional standard —respectable, polite and giving pr ecise advice. “I am fully aware of the volume of people in attendance, but the services rendered were remark able and at a very high standard, considering the stress with COVID- 19. I was also pleased at the ease of rel icensing the vehicles online. I found the portal quite friendly. And I renewed my licences online. And I would like you to be kind enough to acknowledge the personnel at TCD with their unwavering professiona lism during these very difficult conditions.” And, Mr. Speaker, I say that this letter was received by a senior, and I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank him, Mr. Speak er. Paul Singh, you may know him; he is from up in the west.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: And I would like to thank him for thanking the staff at Transport Control D epartment. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank them as well, Mr. Speaker, for them coming in during that period when many people stayed home. …
Yes.
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: And I would like to thank him for thanking the staff at Transport Control D epartment. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank them as well, Mr. Speaker, for them coming in during that period when many people stayed home. And as you know, Mr. Speaker, it can be trying times for us all, waiting in lines and getting a little impatient. And I think they have done a tremendous job, and I would just like to emphasise the fact that their efforts are not only appreciated by me as the Minister, but also the management at TCD, and of course, as you could tell by this letter, the public at large.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThat is it, Minister? Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: That is it, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI recognise the Deputy Opposition Leader.
Ms. Leah K. ScottGood morning, Members and li stening public. Mr. Speaker, I would first like to start off with condolences to the family of J. Llewellyn Peniston. He passed a couple of weeks ago due to the virus. Lou was a very dear friend of mine. And he was always supportive of …
Good morning, Members and li stening public. Mr. Speaker, I would first like to start off with condolences to the family of J. Llewellyn Peniston. He passed a couple of weeks ago due to the virus. Lou was a very dear friend of mine. And he was always supportive of me in my endeavours. He was always helpful to me. And I would like to send my condolences to his family and to his wife, Diana, and to his young son Alex, and to his son Lou Peniston Junior . I would also like to offer congratulations to Inspector Troy Glasgow, who has reached his Hallelu-jah! moment that we are all looking forward to. And today is his last day with the Bermuda Police Service. So I would like to congratulate him on his retirement, commend him for his work and thank him for his service for the community and to the people of Bermuda. I wish h im all the best in his retirement. Thank you,
Mr. Speaker.
An Hon. Member Mr. Speaker.
An Hon. MemberMr. Speaker, I would like to— 4034 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Thank you, MP Scott. The next item on the order is . . . Premier, would you like to do your remarks? Hon. E. David Burt: Yes, Mr. Speak er. Thank …
Mr. Speaker, I would like to—
4034 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Thank you, MP Scott. The next item on the order is . . . Premier, would you like to do your remarks?
Hon. E. David Burt: Yes, Mr. Speak er. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate all of Bermuda’s graduating students and extend special congratulations to the 2020 graduating class of the Bermuda College. Yesterday the Bermuda College was due to have their graduat ion ceremony, which unfortunately had to be cancelled due to COVID -19. However, they have organised a week -long celebr ation next week that I am looking forward to being a part of. Also, as we know, we have seen on social media and in other places where t here have been many times and instances where there have been persons who have graduated overseas with their college degrees. To be graduating during these times, our students have proven their dedication and com-mitment to their studies. Though they may not be there walking across a stage, I would like them to know that they have made their families proud. And I join them in celebrating their success. Congratulations again to the Class of 2020! And I wish them all the best in the next phase of their lives. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to give a special thank you right now, if I may, to Chef Fred Ming, who has so graciously dropped off a surprise of fish chowder and shark hash for all Members of the House of Assembly here at the Cabinet Office. He was just here in my office, and he is a man who continues to uphold the cultural traditions of Bermuda. And so it is greatly appreciated of the work of which he continues to do.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Premier. The next Member, MP Ming.
Mrs. Renee MingGood morning, Mr. Speaker, can you hear me? The Speaker: Yes, we can hear you.
Mrs. Renee MingOkay, good. I have to give my remarks today on a sombre note because I would like to send condolences to the family of Ms. Beryl Broadl ey from Coot Pond Road in St. George’s. Ms. Broadl ey, there is no political person who would never have passed by her …
Okay, good. I have to give my remarks today on a sombre note because I would like to send condolences to the family of Ms. Beryl Broadl ey from Coot Pond Road in St. George’s. Ms. Broadl ey, there is no political person who would never have passed by her door. She was one who always offered an encouraging word. She did as much as she could in our community, Mr. Speaker. Everybody in St. George’s probably had her coconut cake, her fudge. She would graciously share the recipe with you if you wanted it. Ms . Broadl ey had a large family in St. George’s, and I would like for all of her children, her grandchildren, her great -grands to know that they truly are in our thoughts a nd prayers at this time. The one thing about Ms. Broadl ey, though, Mr. Speaker, that I really can recall is that she had been married to her husband . . . she was married to her husband for 75 years. And the fact that they have that bond after 75 years is remarkable. It is an inspir ation to those persons who are aspiring to just keep on going sometimes. So, Mr. Speaker, I want the Broadl ey family to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers . And I would also like to associate MP Kim Swan and Mini ster Foggo with my comments, as well, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP Ming. I now recognise MP Sylvan Richards. Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: Good morning, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: Good morning. I would like to be associated with the condolences offered to the family of Mr. Llewellyn Peniston. Llewellyn Peniston was a very familiar sight around the House of Parliament. We always shared a chuckle about our travels to places that we …
Good morning.
Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: Good morning. I would like to be associated with the condolences offered to the family of Mr. Llewellyn Peniston. Llewellyn Peniston was a very familiar sight around the House of Parliament. We always shared a chuckle about our travels to places that we li ked to visit. And I was very sad to hear about his passing due to his ai lment. I would like to offer condolences to his family. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to send condolences to the family of Mr. Davis Tannock, father of Patrick Tannock [whom] most of us are familiar with. Mr. Tannock was a quiet man, but he was a very r espected man in his Warwick community . His family are true [ INAUDIBLE] examples of—
[Crosstalk ]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister De Silva. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Wait a minute. Hang on a minute. Hang on a minute. Hang on a minute. I will call you right back. Hold on.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI got him. Go ahead, Mr. Richards. Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: Okay. Yes, so I just want to offer condolences to the Tannock family, on the passing of their patr iarch, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP Richards. The next Member is MP Gordon- Pamplin. Would you like to make your comments now? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to be ass ociated [INAUDIBLE] actually was a former Senator LlewOfficial Hansard Repor t 22 …
Thank you, MP Richards. The next Member is MP Gordon- Pamplin. Would you like to make your comments now? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to be ass ociated [INAUDIBLE] actually was a former Senator LlewOfficial Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4035
Bermuda House of Assembly ellyn Peniston served in a legislative capacity. And I would also like to associate myself with the condolences to the family of Beryl Broadl ey, whose [INAUDIBLE] is actually a very good family friend. Also, wi th the family of Davis Tannock . . . the family of Davis Tannock, Mr. Speaker, who actually is [INAUDIBLE] to my late Aunt Eleanor. So I know the Tannock family quite well, and, clearly, we offer our condolences, especially to his son Patrick, whom we all know is quite a contributing individual to our society, to our comm unity. I would like, Mr. Speaker, to offer condolences as well to the family of Scott Cooper. He was the husband of Alexia. They are from Paget. As well as I would like to offer condolences to the family of pilot, Brian Richardson, Mr. Speaker. Pilot Richardson was such a wonderful individual. His daughter “Mic ki” is a friend of mine. And, you know, she obviously, as ev ery member, as every family member would be on the loss of a lov ed one, they are faring not very well. I think it is important that they all know that they are in our thoughts and prayers as they go through these trying times of not just having to funeralise their loved one, Mr. Speaker, but having to do so under circ umstances that are so strained in terms of people not being able to reach out to them to give the normal friendliness and support one might normally be able to do. So I would just ask to have those cond olences offered to the families of those people whom I have mentioned. Thank you, sir.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP. The next person on the list is the MP from the East End, my friend Mr. Swan, down there wearing his blue-and-blue probably today. Mr. Swan. Mr. Swan? Have you lost your team ? [Inaudible conv ersation]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanMr. Speaker, point of order. You are going to have to give me another three minutes for that comment. That was very unparliamentary. [Laughter]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanPlease withdraw. St. George’s is counting on you to be impartial toward us. [Laughter ] Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would li ke to be associated with the condolences offered to [the family of] my friend, the late Llewellyn Peniston, former Senator, and also, …
Please withdraw. St. George’s is counting on you to be impartial toward us. [Laughter ] Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would li ke to be associated with the condolences offered to [the family of] my friend, the late Llewellyn Peniston, former Senator, and also, like me and you, a former Southampton Gleber under Dalton Tucker. To the family of Mrs . Broadl ey, I thank the Honourable Member from constituency 1 for being associated with condolences to that great lady who has passed on. And also to the Tannock family as well. Also, Mr. Brian Richards, who was one of our branch pilots for many years —the Honourable Member Gordon- Pamplin gave condolences —and whose life has been captured on CITV with his contribution to the pilots in Bermuda, as many from St. George’s have done before. And also to the family of Mr. Charles Hilgrove Gibson from Coral Acres, a dear family friend who has passed.
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanOur condolences go out to his entire family, and to the Coral Acres, Granaway Heights community and to the West End sailboat community because he loved his comet racing, as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP Swan. The next Member I have here is MP Famous. MP Famous, would you like to make your contribution?
Mr. Christopher FamousYes. Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, colleagues, and good mor ning, or good afternoon, Bermuda.
Mr. Christopher FamousI just want to give condolences to the Tannock family. We used to live on Hermitage Road, Lightbourne Lane. Also to Mr. “Snake” Eversley, another resident of Devonshire on Roberts Avenue. Mr. Kenneth Jolliffe, w ho was of Hermitage Road in Devonshire. And another gentl eman who lost his life …
I just want to give condolences to the Tannock family. We used to live on Hermitage Road, Lightbourne Lane. Also to Mr. “Snake” Eversley, another resident of Devonshire on Roberts Avenue. Mr. Kenneth Jolliffe, w ho was of Hermitage Road in Devonshire. And another gentl eman who lost his life this weekend, Mr. Henry Santucci. He was actually the (quote/unquote) “guard” outside Alaska Hall 24 hours a day. So, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Famous. Mr. Cole Simons, would you like to give a co ntribution?
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsThank you. I would like to associate myself with the comments made in regard to Scott Cooper. He worked with me. And his wife is a secretary of the Peter Lei t4036 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly ner Arts Scholarship. He recently passed, and I …
Thank you. I would like to associate myself with the comments made in regard to Scott Cooper. He worked with me. And his wife is a secretary of the Peter Lei t4036 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly ner Arts Scholarship. He recently passed, and I would like to associate my comments with him. But more sadly, his mother passed just 11 days after him. So I would like to send our condolences to the whole Cooper family in that they lost mother and brother and husband w ithin 11 days. I would like to also associate myself with the comments made in regard to Mr. Davis Tannock. He is a family man. He was obviously a PLP supporter. And I would like to associate my comments to his fa mily and Patrick, whom I have known for years. I would like to also associate myself with the comments made—I think it was done, but it may not have been done—Montague Sheppard. As we know, he was a pioneer when it comes to broadcasting and the empowerment of black people in the broadcasting industry. He was a trailblazer, and he was a man to change the season. So for him and to his family, I wish them my sincerest condolences and that his contribution to Bermuda’s history from a broadcasting point of view is stellar, and it has not gone unnoticed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member. Does any other Member wish to speak at condolences or congratulations?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMr. Tyrrell, you have the floor.
Mr. Neville S. TyrrellThank you. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, in [constitue ncy] 26 we lost quite a few people whilst we were on shelter in place. And I certainly would like to send condolences to the members of the family and the friends. And I will say, in order, Ms. Etoile Burch, who was …
Thank you. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, in [constitue ncy] 26 we lost quite a few people whilst we were on shelter in place. And I certainly would like to send condolences to the members of the family and the friends. And I will say, in order, Ms. Etoile Burch, who was actually in her 99 th year, of Bulkhead Drive. A person that I know that you would be familiar with, Mr. Speaker, Ms. [Janice] Dill , of Lusher Hill. And I understood she was your aunt. So please accept my condolences, as well. Mr. Wesley Scraders, Sr., of Smith’s Avenue, passed away this period. And finally, Ms. Pearl Smith, of Random Lane. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take the opportunity to send condole nces to the family of my wife’s aunt. And actually, I believe she is a constit uent of the Honourable Premier from Cox’s Hill in Pe mbroke, Verna Butterfield, lovingly known as “Cookie.” She was a very, very lovely person, very kind to me when I came into the family. And she will be dearly missed. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member. Does any other Member wish to speak? Hon. Walter H. Roban: Mr. Speaker, I have my hand up on the system.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Deputy Premier. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Yes, Mr. Speaker. I would like to be associated with the condolences to the family of Mr. Tannock. He was obviously somebody well -known to the Progressive Labour Party family. But I personally in my family have had a long association with the …
Yes. Deputy Premier. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Yes, Mr. Speaker. I would like to be associated with the condolences to the family of Mr. Tannock. He was obviously somebody well -known to the Progressive Labour Party family. But I personally in my family have had a long association with the Tannock family for generations, going back to my grandparents. So it would behove me to ensure that my voice was associated with the tribute to him and the condolences to [his family]. His children are all friends of mine. And I can reme mber as a very young boy being in the presence of Mr. Davis Tannock, but also his own parents when I was a young child in Cedar Hill. I remember visiting the Tannock homestead, or where Mr. Davis Tannock originates, although he cut his PLP sword in Smith’s Parish for us, of which we are very appreciative. And it should be recalled that he was a me mber of the class of PLP candidates that ran in 1968, of which we recently paid tribute to another member, hallowed member of that class, as well. And he was also one of the candidates who ran and held the banner for the PLP in 1968. So certainly our party has given him tribute, and it is great that the House is also giving him tribute as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Deputy Premier. Does any other Member wish to speak? I see MP Lister from constituency 28.
Mr. Dennis Lister IIII would like to also be associated with the comments with condolences [ of] MP Ty rrell to Ms. Janice Dill, who happens to be my great - aunt, as my grandmother’s sister. I would just like to give a few comments about her, that she was (I can be …
I would like to also be associated with the comments with condolences [ of] MP Ty rrell to Ms. Janice Dill, who happens to be my great - aunt, as my grandmother’s sister. I would just like to give a few comments about her, that she was (I can be corrected if I am not correct) the first black head of the post service, I believe.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerCorrect. First Postmistress.
Mr. Dennis Lister IIIPostmistress, yes. I stand co rrected. And she was also one of the leaders of the Bermuda Salvation Army, and she represented the Salvation Army at (again I stand to be corrected) the coronat ion of Queen Elizabeth in the 1950s.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4037 Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Dennis Lister III: All right. Thank you. So she has definitely played her part and did a lot for Bermuda. So as a relative of hers, I just wanted to and the rest of my family …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Does any other Member wish to speak? Hon. Jeanne J. Atherden: Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Hon. Jeanne J. Atherden: MP Atherden.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Hon. Jeanne J. Atherden: I would like to be assoc iated with the condolences sent to the family of the late Verna “Cookie” Butterfield. Verna was actually my cousin. And you do not realise that someone gets her name by things that they do when they are a child. …
Yes. Hon. Jeanne J. Atherden: I would like to be assoc iated with the condolences sent to the family of the late Verna “Cookie” Butterfield. Verna was actually my cousin. And you do not realise that someone gets her name by things that they do when they are a child. And she was an excellent person who could mak e cookies. And also b ecause we were a very similar age, we were what I would . . . I was going to say partners in crime, but really partners in enjoying fun. Because we were chi ldren who would go out and be able to enjoy what was happening in Bermuda. So I will miss her. But I also recognise that she is out of her il lness. We had many more years to her life than we thought we would have. So I think she will be missed, and I would just like to express my condolences. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member. Does any other Honourable Member wish to speak? No other Honourable Member? I am just going to take a few minutes before we close out this and just add a couple of remarks myself. As was said already by MP Tyrrell and MP Lister, Ms. Janice …
Thank you, Honourable Member. Does any other Honourable Member wish to speak? No other Honourable Member? I am just going to take a few minutes before we close out this and just add a couple of remarks myself. As was said already by MP Tyrrell and MP Lister, Ms. Janice Dill was the first black Postmistress for Bermuda. She was very much a strong soldier in the Salvation Army and quite a leader in the Girl Guides association in Bermuda. As my aunt, she was almost a second mother to me as a youngster. I tell people I am from . . . as all of you know, I am from the red-and-blue area of this Island. But I spent a lot of time in Warwick, where my mother is from. And when I was in Warwick, I was with my Aunt Janice at her house. She was like a second mother to m e. And her passing will surely be missed by not only what she did in our community, but deeply by her family. I think of her son, Clarence, and his wife and children at this time; I think of Rebecca who was a young lady that my aunt took in quite a few ye ars ago and raised in her household. And I would just like to share my thoughts at this time, knowing that they have felt her loss very deeply. My condolences go out to them. With that, Members, the indication was that we were going to go to lunch from 1: 00 to 2:00. I thought that condolences may have taken us closer to one o’clock. It is now 12:38. Would you like to go on? Well, let us have the Government Bills introduced, and we will see where time leads us there.
MATTERS OF PRIVILEGE
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. NOTICE OF MOTIONS FOR THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE ON MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are four Government Bill s to be introduced. The first three are in the name of the Premier, and the fourth in the name of Minister De Silva. Premier, would you like to present your Bills at this time? Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. …
There are four Government Bill s to be introduced. The first three are in the name of the Premier, and the fourth in the name of Minister De Silva. Premier, would you like to present your Bills at this time?
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am intr oducing the following Bill for its first reading so that it may be placed on the Order Paper for the next day of meeting . . . Oh, sorry. May I do them all at once, Mr. Speaker?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou can do them all at once, yes. FIRST READINGS SUMMARY OFFEN CES AMENDMENT ACT 2020 EMERGENCY POWERS AMENDMENT ACT 2020 COST OF LIVING COMMISSION AMENDMENT ACT 2020 Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you. I am introducing the following Bills for their first readings so that they may be placed …
You can do them all at once, yes.
FIRST READINGS
SUMMARY OFFEN CES AMENDMENT ACT 2020
EMERGENCY POWERS AMENDMENT ACT 2020
COST OF LIVING COMMISSION AMENDMENT ACT 2020 Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you. I am introducing the following Bills for their first readings so that they may be placed on the Order Paper for the next day of meeting. And those would be the Summary Offences Amendment Act 2020, 4038 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Emergency Powers Amendment Act 2020, and Cost of Living [Commission] Amendment Act 2020.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Premier. Minister De Silva, would you like to put your Bill? Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Mr. Speaker, yes.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, go ahead. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: I am sorry. I stepped out to the men’s room. Can you come back at me, please?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou are the last item under this categ ory, the Government Bill s. But you need to put the Merchant Shipping Amendment Act — Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Yes, I have got you. I have got you. Are you ready?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, we are ready. BILL FIRST READING MERCHANT SHIPPING AMENDMENT ACT 2020 Hon. Zane J. S. De Silv a: Mr. Speaker, I am introducing the following Bill for its first reading so that it may be placed on the Order Paper for the next day of meeting: Merchant Shipping Amendment …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. That brings us to a close of the Bi lls. There are no Opposition Bills or Private Members’ Bills. NOTICE S OF MOTION S
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere is notice of a motion. Premier, would you like to put your notice? Premier? Your microphone is off, Premier. Hon. E. David Burt: Oh, thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Inaudible crosstalk] MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF THE EMERGENCY POWERS (COVID -19 CONTINUING PRECAUTIONS) AMENDMENT (NO. 2) REGULATIONS 2020 Hon. E. …
There is notice of a motion. Premier, would you like to put your notice? Premier? Your microphone is off, Premier.
Hon. E. David Burt: Oh, thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Inaudible crosstalk]
MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF THE EMERGENCY POWERS (COVID -19 CONTINUING PRECAUTIONS) AMENDMENT (NO. 2) REGULATIONS 2020
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I hereby give notice that at a later point in the meeting, under the Orders of the Day, I will move the following motion: THAT this Honourable House take note of the Emergency Powers (COVID -19 Continuing Precautions) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2020; AND resolves that the duration of the Emergency Powers (C OVID-19 Continuing Precautions) Regulations 2020 be extended to the 30 th of June 2020.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Premier. Members, that brings us to the start of the Orders of the Day. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I have one more motion.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOne more motion? Hon. E. David Burt: One more motion.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOne more motion? Hon. E. David Burt: Yes. [Pause] Hon. E. David Burt: May I?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerTalk to me. Hon. E. David Burt: Go ahead. It is on the Order P aper. I will read it. The Spe aker: Yes, yes. Talk to us. MOTION TO REVOKE MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE (SALARIES AND PENSIONS) ACT 1975 Hon. E. David Burt: Okay. Thank you. Mr. …
Talk to me.
Hon. E. David Burt: Go ahead. It is on the Order P aper. I will read it.
The Spe aker: Yes, yes. Talk to us.
MOTION TO REVOKE MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE (SALARIES AND PENSIONS) ACT 1975
Hon. E. David Burt: Okay. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that at the next day of meeting, I propose to move the following Resol ution: BE IT RESOLVED that previous resolutions of this House made pursuant to section 2 and 15A of the Ministers and Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975 be revoked; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pu rsuant to section 2 of the Mi nisters and Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975 the a nnual salaries payable to Members of the Legislature listed in Part A and Officers of the Legislature listed in Part B of the table below shall be as set out in column 3 of the table with effect from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021, and with effect from 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022 shall be set out in column 2. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pu rsuant to section 15A of the Ministers and Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975 the contributions toward the cost of pensions payable u nOfficial Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4039
Bermuda House of Assembly der the Act by Members and Officers of the Legisl ature shall be reduced from 12.5 per cent of their sal aries to 0.0 per cent of their salaries with effect from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021, and with effect from 1 July 2021 shall be increased from 0.0 per cent of their salaries to 12.5 per cent.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Premier. I know you did not want me to leave that one off. Members, that brings us to the end of the m otions and things to introduce this morning. And next was actually the start of the Orders of the Day. As I indicated, we were going …
Thank you, Premier. I know you did not want me to leave that one off. Members, that brings us to the end of the m otions and things to introduce this morning. And next was actually the start of the Orders of the Day. As I indicated, we were going to take a lunch from 1:00 to 2:00. Being we are about to start on an order, I would think we would want to start fresh from there. So with your indulgence, I would ask that we take lunch now and be back at two o’clock. And we will start with the first Order of the Day, which will be the second reading of the Development and Planning (Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 Extension) Act 2020. Members, are you in agreement with us breaking for lunch? Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I am happy to ask that the House do adjourn for lunch at this time, to come back at 2:00.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Premier. Members, are there any objections to that? No objec tions. Members, we will now break. We will be back at two o’clock. I would advise that, rather than turn off your systems and maybe have a problem getting back on, if you would just mute y …
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Members, are there any objections to that? No objec tions. Members, we will now break. We will be back at two o’clock. I would advise that, rather than turn off your systems and maybe have a problem getting back on, if you would just mute y our microphone and your video, all your system s will remain on unti l we return at two o’clock. Enjoy your lunch, Members. The House stands adjourned for now until 2:00 pm.
Proceedings suspended at 12:4 3 pm
Proceedings resumed at 2:00 pm
[Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerIt is two o’clo ck on my clock. And I am confirming that we are now back live and ready to go. Is Minister . . . Deputy Premier, are you on? Hon. Walter H. Roban: Yes, I am. I am on the line.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay, good, because for the listening audience, we are resuming today’s sitting and we are on the point on our Order Paper where we are dealing with the Orders of the Day. And the first order of bus iness today is the second reading of the Development and Planning (Draft …
Okay, good, because for the listening audience, we are resuming today’s sitting and we are on the point on our Order Paper where we are dealing with the Orders of the Day. And the first order of bus iness today is the second reading of the Development and Planning (Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 Extension) Act 2020 in the name of the Minister of Home Affairs who is the Deputy Premier. Deputy Premier, would you like to present your matter?
BILL
SECOND READING
DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING (DRAFT BERMUDA PLAN 2018 EXTENSION) ACT 2020
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move that the Bill entitled the Development and Planning (Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 Extension) Act 2020 be now read a second time.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAre there any objections to that? No objections. Continue Minister. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce the second reading of the Development and Planning (Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 Extension) Act 2020. The Bill provides for the operation of the Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 to be …
Are there any objections to that? No objections. Continue Minister.
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce the second reading of the Development and Planning (Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 Extension) Act 2020. The Bill provides for the operation of the Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 to be extended beyond the period of 18 months to the 3rd of June 2021, notwithstanding the restriction in that we have imposed by section 10 of the Development and Planning Act 1974. Mr. Speaker, in accordance with section 10 of the Act, the Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 planning stat ement and Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 zoning were brought in effect 3 December 2018. The Draft Berm uda Plan 2018 covers the entire Island, with the excep-tion of the City of Hamilton. Mr. Speaker, the Draft Plan came as a product of consultation with the public, key stakeholders, statutory bodies and extensive research. The Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 will guide the development of the Island for the next 10 to 15 years. The overarching aim of the plan is to effectively manage Bermuda’s natural and built environment, resources and development, and to help build healthy, sustainable communities. In support of this aim, the plan is based on three strategies, Mr. Speaker: a development strat egy; a conservation strategy; [and] a community strat egy. Mr. Speaker, with the framework of these strategies the Draft Bermuda Plan sets out five key goals: 1. to conserve open space and protect the I sland’s natural and built heritage; 2. to provide sufficient development potential to meet the community’s needs; 3. to facilitate community improvements in neighbourhoods to create better, healthier and safer places to live and visit; 4040 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly 4. to encourage a more efficient and sustainable use and development of land and buildings; and 5. to ensure a high quality of design and acces-sibility in all new developments. Mr. Speaker, the Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 was the subject of a three and a half month public consultation period from the 3 rd of December 2018 to the 15th of March 2019. During this consultation period a total of 469 objections and counter -objections were received. Mr. Speaker, in accordance with the Act, on the 10th of January 2020 a tribunal comprising of three persons —John Payne, Carlos Amaral, and Miss Jennifer Haworth— was appointed to hold a public inquiry into the objections and representations of the Draft Bermuda Plan 2018. Three alternative members were also appointed. Mr. Speaker, the tribunal process is guided by section 11 of the Act and the Development and Planning Tribunal Procedure Rules 1992. All objections and presentations are heard by the tribunal. The agenda of all tribunal meetings are published in the official Gazette and on the Development and Planning website for a minimum of seven days prior to the tr ibunal inquiry. During each inquiry, which is also held in public, objectors have the opportunity to present their cases to the tribunal in person. Upon the culm ination of the tribunal’s inquiries, a report is prepared by the tribunal and submitted to the Minister. Mr. Speaker, following the Minister’s decisions on the objections and representations, the policy document and zoning will be amended accordingly. Thereafter, the final Bermuda Plan 2018 will be forwarded to the Cabinet for approval. The plan, together with the tribunal report, will then be introduced to the Legislature for consideration and approval. Once approved by Legislature, notice of the approval of the Bermuda Plan 2018 will be published in the official Gazette. Mr. Speaker, the tribunal inquiries for the Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 commenced on 27 th of February 2020. However, on the 17th of March 2020, the trib unal inquiries were suspended following the need to shelter in place due to the COVID -19 pandemic. In recognising the need to practice physical distancing, and given the requirement for tribunal inquiries to be open to the public, the Depart ment of Planning is now investigating alternative methods, such as virtual meetings with the tribunal and participants to be live-streamed for the public in order to make proceedings resume in accordance with its statutory requirements. Mr. Speaker, section 10(1) of the Act requires that the draft plan must be approved as a final plan within 18 months of the draft plan being declared o perative. The Draft [Bermuda] Plan 2018 was declared operative on the 3 rd of December 2018 and, as such, should be approved by the Legislature by the 3rd of June 2020. Given that the tribunal process and the preparations of the Final Bermuda Plan 2018 were not completed by the current due date, the Bill proposes that the prescribed period be extended for one year until the 3rd of June 2021. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the tribunal for their hard work and the contributions to the Bermuda D evelopment Plan thus far. In addition, I would like to recognise the efforts of Ms. Victoria Per eira, the Dire ctor of the Department of Planning, and the whole team at the Department of Planning, along with Ms . Alsha Wilson of the Attorney General’s Chambers for the work that they have done around this matter. Mr. Speaker, I now move that the Bill entitled Development and Planning (Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 Extension) Act 2020 be read a second time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister, I appreciate that. Does any other Honourable Member wish to speak? Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: Yes, Mr. Speaker, Sy lvan Richards here.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood afternoon, MP Richards. The floor is yours. Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, for the listening public, I know the Minister mentioned it in his statement, the Bermuda Draft Plan 2018 is basically the operational development plan for the entire Island, with the …
Good afternoon, MP Richards. The floor is yours.
Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, for the listening public, I know the Minister mentioned it in his statement, the Bermuda Draft Plan 2018 is basically the operational development plan for the entire Island, with the exception of the City of Hamilton. As mentioned, the plan was first gazetted on December 3, 2018 and is due to expire on June [3], 2020. The Bill that we are contemplating today extends the Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 until June 3, 2021, which is an additional 12 months from the date of the original expiration date of June 3, 2020. Now, the Minister mentioned in his brief that the additional time is needed for a number of reasons, one of those being the need to shelter in place due to the present COVID -19 environment we find ourselves in. But one question I did have for the Minister is: Are there any other extenuating reasons for the 12- month extension? There was a consultation period that occurred, and that period ended March 15, 2019, which is quite some time ago. The question I have is: Given the fact that Bermuda is not going to be the same, considering the environment that we are operating in, and COVID -19 is changing the world in ways that we have yet to fully contemplate and understand, which is also going to apply to Bermuda, I was curious if any consideration has been given to extending the consultation period, or revisiting the consultation period, i n order to contemplate ideas that the public and stak eOfficial Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4041
Bermuda House of Assembly holders may have as to Bermuda operating in a post - COVID environment. You know, Mr. Speaker, during our lunch break I took a walk just to get some fresh air and get some vitamin D, which some have said protects you against getting sick from this virus, and Aberfeldy Nursery was full of people and full of cars. And they were practicing social distancing and the customers were wearing masks. But since this whole COVID -19 environment, I have never seen plant nursery bus inesses doing such good trade. I think if there is a business that is benefitting from all of this it is going to be the plant nursery business. Many Bermudians are now understanding the need for food security. A lot of Bermudians are using this time to plant gardens for food. Also, just for recr eational use, to get out, get some exercise, get some vitamin D, plant some flowers, create a more cheerful environment. I was curious if the consultation period, if there is a definitive close or will there be additional allowances because of the environment that we find ourselves in? So, we support the extension. I would just like to hear from the Minister if there were any other fac-tors that contributed to the extension. Obviously, stakeholders such as architects would have been consulted. And I am also curious as to whether . . . because of the environment we find ourselves in, are there strategies being looked at to contemplate COVID -19, or is this just basically we are where we are in the process, it’s behind schedule, and i s the plan just to forge ahead without taking into account any changes as a result of a future, a COVID -19 future, in terms of planning and development in Berm uda, protecting our open spaces, and so on and so forth? So, those are two of my remarks, Mr. Speaker. And I will close now so that if any other Members wish to weigh in they can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP Richards. Does any other Member wish to speak? Any other Member? Minister, there seems to b e no others. Would you like to wrap up?
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanMr. Speaker. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Mr. Speaker, I think there were others —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. I hear . . . I hear . . . Mr. Swan is it?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMr. Swan , would you like to make a contribution?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou can continue on right now.
Mr. Hubert (Kim) SwanYes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to certainly thank the Minister for the work that he does in t his space with regard to the environment and just speak ever so briefly on a su bject that is near and dear to my heart. As we look at …
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to certainly thank the Minister for the work that he does in t his space with regard to the environment and just speak ever so briefly on a su bject that is near and dear to my heart. As we look at sustainable development and this plan and the extension of the time limit [to] 2021, whether intentional or not, [it] is timely in the aspect, as mentioned previously by the previous speaker, of COVID, because the whole landscape has changed. And I say that both literally and figuratively. Open space and the importance of open space and the va lue of open space has grown exponentially as a consequence of this pandemic. And for those of us who hold open space as near and dear, I am reminded [of] a conversation, Mr. Speaker. Back in the early 1970s, my good friend the late Lloyd James and I were playing golf. And you would know that the late Lloyd once sat in this very Chamber as well as being an iconic sportsman. And he said this to me, he said, You know, if Bermuda ever had a situation where we could not depend on our food supply, this very 18 th hole and 17th hole could very well be a garden again. And, of course, young fellow that I was, I chuckled and I was all full of myself and my golf development at that time. I said to myself, Well, I’ll jump the pole at the farm down there near Whale Bay . I don’t think it’ s going to go back to a farm again. But I am reminded of that conversation now, some 45, 46, 47 years later when this pandemic has caused me to have three gardens around my house today, to have clipped the basil and the scallion, r ather than having to run down to the store to go get it. And [with] the shelter in place putting limits on the [number] of days that you can go, it is a lot more convenient to go around to the back yard and get that scallion than it is to go run down to the store and to go and look and search through to find it. Many of us are forced to do things that many old-timers told us were very practical. And the good thing about it, Mr. Speaker, is this: Many young people today are starting to see the benefits that many of us were brought up on. And out of bad situations are coming some good principles and values as it relates to the environment. I would say that this [one] year extension could very well be the opportunity to revisit as best we can how to better utilise our environment for food pr oduction and the protection and enhancement of better food production. I know the Minister, it is very much 4042 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly near and dear to his heart when it comes to the i mportance of fresh vegetables and fresh fruits and the best use of our land for that which helps to fee d us. And let us not forget that we are a seafaring people and that presents an opportunity for us, as well, to look at how we can capitalise on ways in which once frowned upon industries —and I say “frowned upon” because we moved away from an agrarian soc iety and became more metropolitan than the metropolitan areas. But our open spaces, and in my constituency we are very blessed in Ferry Reach and some other areas to have large tracts of open spaces that, in my respectful opinion, add value to our community. As we look at the principles of sustainability and the development plan, let us look at the modes of transportation that are required, that will best suit us as we have to also contemplate the dangers [that] being in enclosed enclaves [which] presents more disproportionately to the lower working persons in all communities, including ours; disproportionately to those who are from the black community as this pandemic has borne out, as the recession bore out, as previous recessions have borne out, as hi story has borne out, dare I say. We certainly must look at ways in which we can provide commuter transportation— be it on land and sea—that allows us to be better spaced. In the eventuality that something as similar [to what] is happening now reoccurs, or something new comes along, we must position ourselves as nations like Taiwan who experienced SARS in the early 2000s. [They] were better positioned for the pandemic that is hitting us now because they had a very bad experience in that disaster. Let us look and take the opportunity that is presenting itself in this terrible situation to look at how best we can position ourselves. And let us not forget the mantra of health as, in this very report, it speaks of healthy communities. We have heard the jingle that we all relate to that has been played by healthy communities. But COVID has proven that this is more than just a jingle, that is a necessary mind- set that we must forge forward and we must do it with our youngest so that the next generation is far better prepared than the current one and fulfils the aspirational objectives of this Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 extended to 2021. And as we look at community strategies, let us also tie it in to how the communities that are more densely populated can be better advised going forward as well. And we know where communities are which are more densely populated than others. And as we look at our current circumstances, let our cur-rent circumstances to dictate us to take an earnest look and an honest look at how we go forward. And let the critical eye look, whilst we have some additional time afforded, at this in the current context, which was not available when it was in its preparation stages. And finally, Mr. Speaker, while those of us who are now more enlightened than before are putting gardens around our houses, let us also look at opportunities where, in public spaces and in private spaces, those areas that catch the most sunlight during the day could also be equally as enlightened to capturing the sun rays to get energy as well. A more sustainable Bermuda in the next three to five years because of current situations would bode well for future gener ations. And in closing I say this, as a proponent for open spaces, we certainly have to look at ways in which our open spaces best fulfil an objective of our country to make us prepared for those situations, like the current situation we were not prepared for. No one had planned for it and, unfortunately, some are more vulnerable because of it. So, because we have had this experience, let us take it to know that it can ha ppen, and if it does, we will be better prepared for it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member. I recognise the Honourable Member Ms. Furbert. I think you have indicated you would like to speak next?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, I hear you loud and clear.
Mrs. Tinee FurbertOkay, good. Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon to the listening audience. I just want to s tart by thanking all the persons who are involved in this Draft Bermuda Plan —all the committees, all the people who were involved — because this draft is a very, very lengthy …
Okay, good. Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon to the listening audience. I just want to s tart by thanking all the persons who are involved in this Draft Bermuda Plan —all the committees, all the people who were involved — because this draft is a very, very lengthy one and a very, very detailed one, and can almost operate as a book and a great res ource for our beautiful Island home, Bermuda. Minister Roban has already spoken as to what this plan is supposed to do for us, the people in the island of Bermuda, providing regulations for development for land and how we use that land. It is . . . you know, if you have not had a chance—for those listening in the public —to take a look at this plan, I think you would be quite, quite impressed. It is very, very detailed in what we should be looking for in the pr otection and the advancement of Bermuda and its land. Just like any other plan, Mr. Speaker, and sometimes we reference plans, we have put all this work into them and they sit on a shelf . . . hopefully, I do not see that [happening] with this plan. We are still taking the time to dig a little deeper into perfecting this plan. And so, it is great that we . . . you know, unfort unately, due to the circumstances of COVID, some of the time to look at this has been cut short. But I am glad that the Government is taking the stand and stance to take more time to perfect such an involved and detailed Bermuda Plan. Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4043
Bermuda House of Assembly I just wanted to highlight a couple of things in this plan because one area that touches me greatly is the accessibility part involved in the plan. There are many pieces in there that address what our country should look like as far as accessibility. Just one ex-ample is our sidewalks and our pedestrians and how curb cuts should be accessible for the persons with disabilities. It also speaks to even looking further into our electric vehicles where . . . and this is just an example of how parking lots that have 10 or more vehicles are to have, or it is recommended that they have a char ging station for electric vehicles. And so, these are recommendations that we should be encouraging people to push forward to. And, again, it is a “plan.” A lot of times we get asked those questions as a Government: What was your plan? What is your plan? And this definitely, this Draft Plan that we are pursuing, is a plan for our country. And so, there is something out there which will help all of our citizens to make decisions for our land. And so, I just want to say that it is a great r esource. I support the time that we are taking to dig a little bit deeper. I did notice in the report that it is recommended that such an extensive plan like this has a review every five years. And so, I guess that five years will come into effect once it is finally approved through Cabinet. Something else that I had noted was that Morgan’s Point was referenced in this plan, or, you know , referenced similar projects like Morgan’s Point. And so I had a question around that in regard to the progression as it stands for Morgan’s Point now. But I guess Morgan’s Point was probably just put in there as an example of the type of communities that we want to build for our people. So, I just want to say kudos and thank you, again, to the people who have put in the hard work for this plan. And just like COVID -19 has hit us, we do not know what sort of environmental factors will hit us in the future, but at least we have this resource and this plan to try to make Bermuda a better place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP. Does any other Member wish to speak?
Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerI recognise the Opposition Whip. Honourable Member, you have the floor.
Ms. Susan E. JacksonThank you, Mr. Speaker. I just have a few words about the Draft Bermuda Plan. It is, to me, a little unfortunate that we have decided to delay the finalisation of this plan, mainly because I believe that it is going to continue to keep a number of people up …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just have a few words about the Draft Bermuda Plan. It is, to me, a little unfortunate that we have decided to delay the finalisation of this plan, mainly because I believe that it is going to continue to keep a number of people up in the air, especially around the architectural engineering and some of the construction that is taking place on the Island. I understand and accept the fact that COVID - 19 has sort of put us all in limbo for a while, but a June 2021 extension, you know, does have this feel — especially with the Draft Bermuda Plan— that we may be putting the Island on hold. And I certainly would not want , in particular around the development of Berm uda, for us to delay any kind of progress that we might be able to make with our infrastructure based on the distractions that may be caused due to the COVID -19. I would suspect, and I have heard from some of the architects in our community, that the Draft Plan continues to cause the potential for some confusion because there are a number of technical features of the Draft Bermuda Plan that are left up in the air and it becomes a little difficult for people to interpret what exactl y either should be continued from the past or what should be introduced [in] the future. And, for me, I would interpret that to mean that, you know, people can do what they want to do and then apologise for it afterwards, Mr. Speaker. And I certainly would want us, with this very finite land mass, to make sure that whatever is taking place now and over the next year is done in such a way that there is some thought given to it. And particularly in this new environment, where people are spending more time at home, with the boundaries of where we live and how we build our homes, the obstructions which may appear because of a building, that we do need to be particularly sensitive to this. And if we are going to keep a Draft Bermuda Plan in limbo for another year , I am just worried about the kind of mistakes or maybe, you know, not paying much attention to the Bermuda Plan because it is a “draft” and then we end up with a number of landow ners, developers, who have maybe not done what the community as a whole would like to have done, but has had the opportunity to kind of do a little bit about what they would like to do because they are not sure whether it is about the past or whether it is about the future, so they have some liberties in between. So, I am anxious. I am looking forward to the final draft. Clearly, there are a number . . . I heard the Minister say that there were over a hundred suggestions, questions, queries. So I am hoping that those are all being addressed and that we can get to a final plan. And M r. Speaker, I hope that the Minister does not hold himself true to the June 2021[date]. If the plan proceeds and they are able to come to agreement on a final draft before that date, [I hope] that the Minister will go ahead and bring that report to the House sooner rather than later, and that we may be able to see this become final and there will be more clarity and definition in our future development. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
4044 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Thank you, Honourable Member, O pposition Whip. I have indication t hat Honourable Member Famous . . . would you like to make a contribution?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThat is good. Anything on the west is good, my friend.
Mr. Christopher FamousMr. Speaker, speaking of west, sometimes when I drive west, I see something about Somerset people . . . I am sorry, people across the bridge, who have these big yards. And, you know, coming from town you are thinking, Why, there is enough space to put three apartments right …
Mr. Speaker, speaking of west, sometimes when I drive west, I see something about Somerset people . . . I am sorry, people across the bridge, who have these big yards. And, you know, coming from town you are thinking, Why, there is enough space to put three apartments right there, bye. What are these byes doing with all these big yards up here? And then the [ INAUDIBLE ], Well, you know, town and country are different. I just listened to the Honourable Member from constituency 20, the Opposition W hip. And she expressed the concerns of architects and developers, which, you know, that is the constituency that she a dheres to. But here is the thing, Mr. Speaker, a couple of weeks ago people were sending around notes, left, right and centre, concerned about food. They were going, waiting in long lines; then inside stores across this Island the food shelves were empty. All the chic ken is gone, or they have signs up “only two packs of chicken per family”; “only so- and-so many potatoes per family.” Here is the thing, Mr. Speaker, it is nice to build condos. It is nice to build townhouses. But we cannot eat the concrete. We need food. And if it is not coming from America, it has got to come from Berm uda, right? Mr. Speaker, allow me to read something from Forbes magazine if I may.
Mr. Christopher Famous2Forbes magazine, Senior Contributor Daphne Ewing- Chow: 2 Forbes 20 February 2019 “According to the FAO, between 2005 and 2017, the proportion of undernourished persons in the Caribbean region decli ned by 23.3% to 16.5 %.” That is based on the fact that people are eating more. But what are …
2 Forbes 20 February 2019 “According to the FAO, between 2005 and 2017, the proportion of undernourished persons in the Caribbean region decli ned by 23.3% to 16.5 %.” That is based on the fact that people are eating more. But what are they eating? They are eating foods that primarily are coming from America or pr ocessed foods, foods full of this, full of colour, full of things that are not real ly good for us. So, we all know organic or fresh food is what is best for us, right? So, the other day as I was getting all these WhatsApp, I was hitting up the Honourable Minister Roban, I was saying, Listen, what are we going to do about food security? And he said to me, MP don’t worry, my plan is to increase domestic food production, and it is all coming under this draft Bill. So, here is the thing, Mr. Speaker, on Sunday mornings we are used to eating what? Cod fish, pot atoes and what?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerBananas. I have not had a banana for a long time.
Mr. Christopher FamousThe bananas in Bermuda, commonly found in Bermuda, are called Cavendish Bananas.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerCavendish, okay, that is a new one for me.
Mr. Christo pher FamousThat is the specific brand or whatever, strain, I guess you want to say. But worldwide Cavendish Bananas are now in a shortage because of a bug that went around and has just destroyed —decimated—crops worldwide, including Bermuda, all right? When last did you have a Bermuda orange, Mr. Speaker?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI can’t even think of a Bermuda lemon.
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsI have oranges and lemons. Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4045 Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Christoph er Famous: Honourable Member Cole Simons, what is your address again? [Laughter]
Mr. Christopher FamousOkay, all coming out of the woodwork now. My point is, Mr. Speaker, these are the th ings that we grew up on, commonly —
Mr. Christopher Famous—and we could find them left, right and centre. But because of overdevelopment in our country over the last 20, 30 years, up to 2007 we had housing development on steroids in th is cou ntry. All right? The price of land has gone up. The price of construction has …
—and we could find them left, right and centre. But because of overdevelopment in our country over the last 20, 30 years, up to 2007 we had housing development on steroids in th is cou ntry. All right? The price of land has gone up. The price of construction has gone up. But our food, our domes-tic food supply has gone down. So, I am going to take a page out of the Ho nourable Member Richards from constituency 7, al though he lives i n constituency 22. The fact of the matter is COVID has shown us the importance of getting back to, not just community, but getting back to na-ture. Now am I saying we just plant gardens all over the place? Do we tear up Port Royal like the Honourable Member from constituency 2 recommended? No. I am not saying that. But what I am sa ying is, this year gives us a pause to properly lay out us being able to increase food supply —domestic food supply —in this country.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI was waiting for that Mr. Swan because I know you did not say tear up the golf course — not you. POINT OF INFORMATION
Mr. Hubert (Kim) SwanNo, I said it was recommended . . . it was suggested to me that that might be something that might have to happen. It was recommended to me in the 1970s by a former Member who became a very good friend of mine when we were playing golf. And …
No, I said it was recommended . . . it was suggested to me that that might be something that might have to happen. It was recommended to me in the 1970s by a former Member who became a very good friend of mine when we were playing golf. And I dismissed it then, but it certainly has great merit because food is an important staple. But I did not suggest that that is what needs to happen at this point.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. I appreciate your clarification. Go ahead, Mr. Famous.
Mr. Christopher FamousAnd that is my batting partner talking. Mr. Speaker, as you know, right, one of the things I have been tasked with is to be attached with CARICOM. CARICOM over the last two months has put a mandate together that domestic food production in the Caribbean must increase. Now, there …
And that is my batting partner talking. Mr. Speaker, as you know, right, one of the things I have been tasked with is to be attached with CARICOM. CARICOM over the last two months has put a mandate together that domestic food production in the Caribbean must increase. Now, there are going to be those who say, Oh, well, we’re not in the Caribbean. We’re not worried about that. That don’t apply to us . But we still eat, don’t we ? Do you know, Mr. Speaker, in the Caribbean, including Bermuda, we spend over $5 billion per year on importing food from America? Five billion [dollars]. We spend how much more money on health care? We see with COVID that one of the things that is af-fecting people, those that have obesity, high blood pressure, so on and so forth . . . so we can see a correlation between getting away from domestic food, spending all this money on foreign food, and destro ying our health all along. So, where along the line do we say enough is enough? So, what I am simply saying to the Honour able Member from constituency 20, who is also sort of a fitness person too, it is nice for architects and deve lopers to say, Hey, we can build something here and we can build something there. But along the line we have to think about how we are going to feed our people. Because if another pandemic comes and the ships stop coming from America, then w hat are we going to do? Are we going to feed them a tunnel? Are we going to feed them some granite tile? I do not think so. So, I commend the Minister, more importantly his staff who have worked hard on this draft. And I say to all Members, think about the WhatsApps that you got over the last few weeks. People were desperate for food. Think about the long lines outside of Lindo’s. Think about the long lines outside of MarketPlace. And think about how we are going to put our people back to work, growing Cav endish Bananas, Bermuda oranges, and Bermuda lemons. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Oh, and can I get the address for Honourable Cole Simons, please?
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberYou will probably have to go up to Warwick looking for those . . . for that crop.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAll right. Honourable Member Famous, thank you for that contribution. Are there any other Honourable Members that would like to make a contribution? Hon. Jeanne J. Atherden: I would, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead, is it MP Jeanne Atherden? Hon. Jeanne J. Atherden: Yes, it is, Mr. Speaker. 4046 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Go right ahead. Hon. Jeanne J. Atherden: First of all, Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the Minister reminded us of …
Go ahead, is it MP Jeanne Atherden? Hon. Jeanne J. Atherden: Yes, it is, Mr. Speaker. 4046 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Go right ahead.
Hon. Jeanne J. Atherden: First of all, Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the Minister reminded us of what the 2018 Plan was supposed to do with respect to com-munity with respect to all t he things that we need to do to make sure that Bermuda has the type of environment that we want. Because when we start talking about our concerns, we can actually put that into the type of framework. And I just wanted to make a couple of observations. Fir st of all, when the Minister reminded us that it was supposed to be development, conservation and community, then I realised that when I talk to di fferent people about the plan and how it was affecting them, that I could put it into context now. The Mini ster—it was great to know that he had this tribunal, he has got some very good people on it that would bring different backgrounds, there was a lawyer, someone who is a farmer, someone who is a community person—so that I could put it into the context. And if you stop and think, I think we all have to remember that although this plan would not be f inalised for this year, once it was tabled and had the consultation, it has actually been viewed as if it were in operation. So, people were looking at it from the point of view of if this is the way it is going to be going forward, what does it mean from the view of my . . . what does it mean from the point of view of Bermuda? What does it mean from the point of view of construction? What does it mean from the point of view of open spaces? So, that I was quite surprised that he said he had . . . I wrote down 469 objections and then counter -objections. And, therefore, it is not surprising that, with this tribunal having to have these meetings so that the public can be aware that this is going to take a lot of time. And so, while I am remembering that it is, effectively, as if it was in operation already, lots of pe ople have been going and gearing themselves to sa ying, Okay, if it is this way, then let me turn around and operate along those lines. Now, some people, obviously, felt that it was not going the right way, which is why you have the 469 objections. But I do think —and I agree with my colleague Sylvan Richards —that this COVID -19 gives us an opportunity to take pause for a moment and say Berm uda, are we going to have the type of Bermuda that we need going forward for the next 20 years? Because even though it is reviewed every five years, most things, once you put things in place, you do not have the opportunity to turn around. Buildings that you build are going to be there forever. Space that you have gotten rid of cannot be brought back. And who would have ever thought that we would be looking at, you know, working from home and that maybe now you do not have as many . . . you will not need as many big buildings because ever y-body does not want to be together. That maybe now we can go back and say that, you know, what is going to make Bermuda attractive to our tourists? Because the type of product that we had, you know, when people were coming back where we were this nice little, I will not say “sleepy” Island, but this Island where you could come and it was our beauty, it was our natural charm —those were the things that caused people to come to Bermuda. We might have to go back and say, as we start to roll out of our phase 4 plans, et cetera, and our future plans, what can we do to sustain ourselves? But also, what can we do to turn around and, if you will, have commercial development, but at the same time, make s ure that as the plan says, that we have sustainable development? There will always be the challenges of conservation offset against development. And that is why, you know, you always had arable land and you had residential land and then you had all of thos e different [codes] from the point of view of things that might be, what I call, in either category and then it was up to the Minister to make decisions. Now, I know that now more of these things are being put back into the director’s hands to be able to make the judgment. But I do think that this might be a time for us to say, as we go forward and we have to make decisions on whether we decide for something to go ahead and something not to go ahead, that the tribunal people would have to look at that we m ight have to say the future of . . . the type of Bermuda that we want, let us make sure that we understand what it is and that the tribunal members will say, okay, pr eserve it. This whole thing about food, yes, it is very i mportant. The whole thing about open spaces, it is very important. The whole thing about community . . . these things they have already . . . they have always been there, because that is what the Minister said when he talked about the three categories. But, although they have been there, someti mes you get into a situation where, if you are . . . if you are trying to decide which one is more important, depending on where your mind -set is at the time, you can sometimes decide that finance is more important than, what I call, comfort. And so, and obviously, that is where the tribunal has to look at, but also, that the plan itself sets out some directions. And I know that part of the plan was also to make people understand that, going forward, people were not going to go on the basis of they break a rule and then, afterwards, they can ask for forgiveness; that you would find that people would not break a rule because they would know that the penalties were so . . . they were going to be so harsh that they would not want to turn around and do somethin g. So, I think that it is very important for us to turn and to say, take an opportunity right now with where Bermuda is right now and say, what is most Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4047
Bermuda House of Assembly important? Because you cannot have three things being of equal importance, it just does not work. There is always going to be one of these things which is more important than the other —which is talking about d evelopment, conservation and community —one will be more important than the other. And usually it is based on what the factors are at the time that you are trying to deal with. And maybe right now our factors are going to have to be that we have to make sure that we protect the small Island that we have and we have to be aware of the new way of life that we want for ourselves so that while we are out . . . everybody is out enjoying the walking and ev erybody is out enjoying the exercise. You and I all know, we all know that . . . you know, we have been talking about health, we have been talking about ob esity. We have been talking about all those things that we should do better. But human nature being what it is, we take the line of least resistance. We love being able to eat, we love being able to eat and then go to a gym and work it off. And I am as guilty as everybody else. But I do think that the plan is supposed to try and set what should be the target, the goal for Bermuda. And this, I think, is an opportunity for us to make sure that we re- examine, as we go into phase 4, of what the new Bermuda is going to be like. How do we want that to be going down the road in terms of 2021? So, this year in which the Minister has not o nly given the tribunal the opportunity to look at the objections, but also to look at the objections from the point of view of saying, where do we need to be . Where do we need to be going forward? And maybe the Minister himself has to go back and have a di scussion with his technical officers, with the people, to say, you know, do we need to do anything different right now because there has got to be a different Bermuda going forward? It is not going to be business as usual as we always said. So that it might be an opportunity to say, okay, if we were going to change paths slightly now, what would we need to do? And if that is the case, have the consultation with the people who are goin g to be impacted by it. And I say consultation because consultation has never been something that is har mful—consultation with the community people, consultation with the people who are going to live there, that are going to be advising. We want people to come to the Island. We want people to come and bring their money and bring their businesses. We have to think about what type of island will they want to live in. What type of community do they want to live in? And maybe we should take pause for a month or two and just say to the Minister, does this COVID -19 or will Bermuda need to be . . . is there something that we need to do differently? And, therefore, while we are looking at the objections, try to see whether we have to tweak it in any way, shape or form because Bermuda . . . these 22 square miles are not going to change. We are not going to have any more land. But we can have better use of land. And, you know, someone reminded me of how many derelict buildings that we have, and sort of said, Well, you know, we have so many derelict buil dings, but we were building new buildings. All of these things that . . . hindsight is 20/20 when you have to go back and say, Should we have done something differently before? So, I am saying right now let us see what w e want to do now. And in this year going forward, obv iously deal with the objections, but make sure that if there is something that we want to do differently when we weigh one objection against another objection, because as the Minister said you have an objection and then you have a counter objection, so that there is always somebody that thinks something should be done and somebody else that disagrees with him. And, therefore, that is why the tribunal has to come down and make that final decision to cut the baby. So, I would like to say to the Minister, he has the responsibility to try and make sure that he deliver s on the Bermuda . . . not that we want to have right now, but the Bermuda that our grandchildren and chi ldren will want to live in, because, as I said, the space is not going to change. But how they are living in it, what they have and they can stand back and say to us Our forefathers left us with a Bermuda that we are happy to be [in] . And [we] are happy that they left us a jewel. So, Mr. Speaker , with that, those are my comments that I would like to make.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member. Does any other Honourable Member wish to speak? Any other Honourable Member? No other? Minister, would you like—
Mr. Rolfe CommissiongYes. Mr. Speaker, I had the benefit of listening extensively to the Members who have weighed in on this and it has been very thought -provoking. I would like Members to use this opportunity to just reflect on the news we got last week. A deve loper who we all …
Yes. Mr. Speaker, I had the benefit of listening extensively to the Members who have weighed in on this and it has been very thought -provoking. I would like Members to use this opportunity to just reflect on the news we got last week. A deve loper who we all know, we end up talking about him in some way, shape or fashion at least on average once every three to five years. He has been very s uccessful by certain standards. And he is now in the position of developing a major tract not too far from where my wife and I live on the railway trail that borders that ar-ea in the Paget West area, a significant amount of footprint in terms of acreage, putting an apartment 4048 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly complex right in the midst of it. That should serve as a wake- up call to Bermuda. Not to paint Mr. Developer as the bad guy, because then you would have to ask yourself over the last few decades [ INAUDIBLE] if you are going to go down that road. No, you know, we look in the mirror and we find out that the enemy is, indeed, us. One of the things about the America’s Cup that was really eye- opening for me was those drone shots. It looked beautiful from up high, of course. The waters, if you had your HDTV and, ah, it was so Bermuda—the water, the seashore. But then when you started to see shots, and in pictures the same thing, flying over, flying west, for example, to the US, in that first seven minutes in the air, you begin to realise that Bermuda is already overdeveloped. So, I think we need to [be] realistic —perhaps more than we have— of where we are. I think we also need to acknowledge that the mode of economic and even capitalistic development that we have . . . that has been the mainstay of our economic growth, at least over the last six decades, it may have run its course. And so, to me, this would require a significant, major, re -engineering of our economy. And I will contend that it will also entail a major reengineering of our values as well. It is interesting that brother Chris Famous, and I think brother [Kim] Swan, talked about how the impact of COVID -19 and the issues of food security are looming now. But remember, along with so many other countries . . . and I think brother F amous was very interesting because I think he talked about the [INAUDIBLE ] he used in a couple of cases, the term American- style diet or something like that, because we have become so dependent on processed foods from America. But we do know . . . and Mr. Lister, for these youngsters here, we are old enough to go on to testify to the old Bermuda, where our grandparents . . . and so we were born in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Many of us here . . . [have] at least maybe two out of four of our grandparents still alive. And we would go and visit their homestead, for example, and they had the garden on the land they had. They had the chickens running around like crazy (or in the pens, I should say). And then, some of them that were a little more fortunate, perhaps they had maybe a goat staked in the yard. But due to the dictates of the way the Bermuda economy began to develop in the 1960s and 1970s that rapidly began to disappear. And a major part of our culture was lost as well. I had another example of that today (again, just going down memory lane in a good way). Mr. Fred Ming provided the shark hash. And for me to bring it home where I am now . . . my St. David’s mother -in-law and my wife were getting into a discussion about rival recipes. It was very int eresting. But I was thinking about how we were far more secure, had far more food security, and our par-ents and grandparents, of course, as they were coming up, out of necessity, than we have now. But we are not alone. The same trend, countries throughout Africa in the post -independence world or pre - independence world, and ultimately achieved ind ependence, for example, going down towards West Africa where a lot of us share a lot of DNA —Nigeria, Ghana and all the rest. They were net food producers, well now they are net food importers. Most of that food coming from the US and other western and other so-called developed nations. This gives us an opportunity, again, to rethink about the type of economic development, at the risk of repeating myself, that we have endured over the last five or six decades with, again, an aim of . . . and taking into account the impact we are seeing from COVID -19 to reflect on our [ INAUDIBLE ] model. I had a [INAUDIBLE] the other day, a Bermudian, formerly worked in finance, our age, Mr. Speaker, who said to me, Well, the Bermuda model is not sustainabl e; it’s broken. We were talking about the context of the i mpact of COVID -19 and the pandemic globally. And he very well may be correct. And so, we need our leaders . . . and I am talking broadly now. Not just your Premier and the usual suspects here, your Deputy Premier and your Finance Minister, but all of us are leaders who really begin to understand that we may have come to the end of the road. When you, again, look at those pi ctures there flying over Bermuda, going over west to the US, for example, and those first seven or eight minutes of that flight, nine minutes, as the plane is climbing. All you see is . . . the only open spaces are you get this tract from Paget up to Southampt on and the Railway Trail and that is being eaten away in pieces such as what I just described with the developer we all know . . . and golf courses. What is left? That is the question. And so, does the plan rise to the level now of the challenge at hand i n light of what has happened with COVID, the questions that COVID and the pan-demic —take your pick —ask of us? That is a really weighty question, a weighty issue to consider. Finally, the questions about where do we . . . how do we move forward? Some of us have a lot of ideas about how we begin to reengineer Bermuda and they must, again, as I said, entail a question about values and what values we think are going to be necessary to help us to recover from this, but in a way that is going to create a very healthy Bermuda. One of the benefits . . . and I am sorry about my friends in small to medium -sized businesses and owners and all the rest. One of the benefits of the I sland shutting down, as [INAUDIBLE] experience, particularly in so -called developed world, especially in the west, was going outside in the morning, my wife and I taking walks, Harbour Road, or wherever. And you could hear a pin drop. Even the air you breathe . . . it felt better. It smelled better. It . . . there was a sense Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4049
Bermuda House of Assembly of a peace and cal m in the community. Let us think about that as we contemplate this very important di scussion on this issue. And we cannot take this for granted. This is tied into who we are, who we want to be, the types of economic development we will see develop over the next 25 years. One thing we do know, that model, which has gotten us to this point, to echo the words of my friend, is no longer sustainable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, sir. Does any other Member wish to speak? No other Members? Minister, would you like to wrap up? Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to all those Members who have taken the time to speak on this matter. I know that matters of …
Thank you, sir. Does any other Member wish to speak? No other Members? Minister, would you like to wrap up? Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to all those Members who have taken the time to speak on this matter. I know that matters of development, even sometimes when there are just very small cha nges, or administrative changes we are making, it does bring about a certain wider perspective from people about the direction of the country and where we are going and our sustainability versus our sustainability in development and how we balance those pi eces. So, I appreciate [those Members] who took the time to speak to this particular amendment Bill, even though it is very small and very minor. But I know that deve lopment questions are bigger questions for many of us. So, if I could just go . . . I wil l address some of the issues that were raised through the debate, Mr. Speaker —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Hon. Walter H. Roban: —to close out before we go to the next chapter of this debate. Just to note that it is . . . we are only changing the year, we are cha nging from June 3, 2020 to June 3, 2021. And so, we are just …
Yes.
Hon. Walter H. Roban: —to close out before we go to the next chapter of this debate. Just to note that it is . . . we are only changing the year, we are cha nging from June 3, 2020 to June 3, 2021. And so, we are just making that minor change and there are no other changes that relate to the impact of the development or the Bermuda Plan. And no additional time will allow for the tribunal to i nquire . . . to ma ke the inquiries or to go through the process of its own inquiries to finish, for the Minister to then approve the tribunal decisions, and for the plan to go to the Legislature. The Ministry and the department will revisit . . . if any additional extensions are needed on any other aspects of this, we will revisit that and we will act accordingly. And the only question raised was by the Honourable Member who sits in constitue ncy 7 about what other factors are influenced by the extension, and the answer is r eally no. Three months were lost as a r esult . . . to this process as a result of COVID -19. That is three months that members of the public have not had an opportunity to make their case around the zo ning appeals that the tribunal is considering. So, it i s important that we give that time back, but also give the quality of time that is needed to ensure that this plan is given the treatment that it needs. It certainly gives people more opportunity to prepare whatever submissions they might have planned to make. So, I think this is in the service of the community, not necessarily the Government. This serves the wider public consultation which is necessary for this plan to reflect the community and its needs. Going on from that, this is not the same plan that existed prior to 2018. This plan, as I outlined in my presentation, has three strategies: a development strategy; conservation strategy; and community stra tegy. Those sorts of characteristics have not been pr edominant in previous plans. So, we are looking to make sure that Bermuda’s proper development is sustainable and managed and planned for the future. We want to make sure that conservation is seen as a priority, that the Bermuda Plan is not just about how we build Bermuda, but it is how we also conserve Bermuda. And also, going forward, the community is going to have a role in shaping this plan going forward. One of the chief components of the development plan going forward is that there is going to be an ongoing community engagement, parish by parish, p arish by community, where people are not just going to have to wait 10 years to effect a change that they might want to see in their own property or, perhaps, within the general approach to the plan. There is going to be a community component where the com munity is e ngaged on a regular basis and we will go from parish to parish and they will be able to talk to the planning technical people about issues that pertain to their neighbourhoods and their community separate from a St. George’s, separate from a Pem broke. And, as we know, there are some areas, as has been articulated in the debate, that are different, that have a more rural history. Some have had a more urban history. So, you need to take that into consideration then, not just have a one- sized plan that fits all. This allows the plan to be tailored to different comm unity needs and that is what we are very pleased with. And I outlined the five strategies, which I do believe will strike the right balance. Just going on to some other points . . . the question of food security seemed to ring quite heavily with many people. The big answer of this plan covers food security. And I can assure you that, not only personally, but as a part of this plan and as a Gover nment policy, the preservation of agricultural land is something that is of great importance to us. I think Bermuda has something like 750 acres of agriculturally zoned land. We are only using about half of it. So, that just shows how much more potential we have from the standpoint of agriculture in our 4050 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly community. We used to have a lot more agricultural land, but what we have available we are still not using to its potential. So, there is a lot more opportunity to not only focus on community gardens and what people may do in their backyards, but also, we have ar eas of land that could potentially be used going into the future to sustain us and our food needs. So, food s ecurity is a big part of this plan. There really is not any need to reopen the public consultation because, as I said before, the three- prong strategy and the five key tenets of the plan will allow for constant community engagement in the Bermuda Plan going forward from now until the next time that it goes through its major review. And part of the priority of planning is to balance develop-ment with all these other factors. Yes, COVID has showed us a different world, a world where less traffic, less development, less human activity, actually is complementary to our exis tence. And that will be factored into any discussions that have already s tarted, that have already begun in planning. I have already discussed with my planning team about how we identify other zones or areas of the Island that we can, potentially, target for additional food production —10, 20, 30 acres —[which] I would like to se e at least in the next year or so, brought into production that can complement Bermuda’s agricultural needs. But certainly, as has been said by many, COVID has changed how we see our whole Island community and what we consider to be important. B eing green now is certainly good, and we should, as a country, not only pursue our development opportunities, but we must with a passion conserve our conservation opportunities. And this plan actually speaks to all of that. And, as I said, the department is engaged i n discussions with a number of agencies and it will, with the community, talk about post -COVID development and how we deal with the management of our assets beyond COVID. Just to go on further, the plan is, as I think some Members have already said, availa ble online for everybody to see. So, any member of the public can go online and take a look at it. And if they have comments around certain issues they certainly can pr esent them to the Minister, or they can present them to the department for consideration , because this plan is a living plan. It will change. It can be organic between now and the next 10 to 15 years. So, we invite people to comment and give suggestions which will enhance their own community. I think that is highlighting most of the actual comments that I think were made by Members. Thank you very much for all that you have stated around this amendment. It is a very small amendment, but as I said, I do appreciate that deve lopment issues, Mr. Speaker, bring about a lot of at-tention. And over t he last three months, and the exp e-rience that we all have gone through together, I think we all are a little bit more sensitive and feel more pr otective of our natural world because we are seeing how the natural world . . . not only are there certain challenges or dangers with the natural world, but we also see how the natural world is helping to save us and preserve us and nurture us and make us feel safe and actually replenish our natural feeling by our appreciation of the natural environment around us. So, with that, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Bill be committed.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. The Minister has now moved for the matter to be moved to Committee and I will call on MP Ming to chair in the meeting. MP Ming, are you available?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. You now have control of the House . . . of the Committee.
Mrs. Renee MingThank you and good afternoon Members. House in Committee at 3:17 pm [Mrs. Renee Ming, Chairman] COMMITTEE ON BILL DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING (DRAFT BERMUDA PLAN 2018 EXTENSION) ACT 2020
The ChairmanChairmanHonourable Members, we are now in Committee of the whole [House] for further consider ation of the Bill entitled Development and Planning (Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 Extension) Act 2020 . I call on the Minister in charge to proceed. [Pause]
The ChairmanChairmanI cannot hear you, Minister. Minister? Hon. Walter H. Roban: Madam Chai rman, for some reason my . . . I was muted. Sorry.
The ChairmanChairmanOkay, I can hear you now. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Sorry about that, Madam Chairman. May I move both clauses? Hello?
The ChairmanChairmanI am sorry, Minister, I could not hear you. It was going in and out. Did you ask to move the clauses? Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4051 Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Walter H. Roban: Yes, clauses 1 and 2.
The ChairmanChairmanSure. It has been moved that clauses 1 and 2 . . . I am sorry, it has been moved that clauses 1 and 2 be approved. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Well, let me . . . I am ha ppy to give explanation of the clauses. For the record, …
Sure. It has been moved that clauses 1 and 2 . . . I am sorry, it has been moved that clauses 1 and 2 be approved.
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Well, let me . . . I am ha ppy to give explanation of the clauses. For the record, I will read the explanation of those clauses, Madam Chairman, if you do not mind.
The ChairmanChairmanSurely. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Madam Chairman. The Bill provides for the operation of the D raft Bermuda Plan 2018 to be extended beyond the period of 18 months, notwithstanding the restriction in that behalf imposed by section 10 of the Development and Planning Act 1974. Clause 1 …
Surely.
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Madam Chairman. The Bill provides for the operation of the D raft Bermuda Plan 2018 to be extended beyond the period of 18 months, notwithstanding the restriction in that behalf imposed by section 10 of the Development and Planning Act 1974. Clause 1 provides for the title of this Bill. Clause 2, Madam Chairman, provides that the Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 will continue to be operative under section 10(1) of the Development and Planning Act 1974 as a development plan until 3 June 2021. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
The ChairmanChairmanDoes anybody wish to speak to these clauses? Just to be clear, does any Member wish to speak to the clauses? [Inaudible interjection]
The ChairmanChairmanMinister? Hon. Walter H. Roban: All right. Thank you, Madam Chairman. I move that clauses 1 and 2 be approved.
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that — Hon. Walter H. Roban: I would like to move the pr eamble as approved.
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that clauses 1 and 2 be approved. Is there any objection? No objection? Agreed to. [Motion carried: Clauses 1 and 2 passed.] Hon. Walter H. Ro ban: I move that the preamble be approved.
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that the preamble be approved. Is there any objection to that motion? No objection. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Madam Chairman, I move that the Bill be reported to the House as printed.
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that the Bill be reported to the House as printed. Is there any objection to that motion? No objection. Agreed to. The Bill will be reported to the House as printed. [Motion carried: The Development and Planning (Bermuda Plan 2018 Extension) Act 2020 was co nsidered …
It has been moved that the Bill be reported to the House as printed. Is there any objection to that motion? No objection. Agreed to. The Bill will be reported to the House as printed.
[Motion carried: The Development and Planning (Bermuda Plan 2018 Extension) Act 2020 was co nsidered by a Committee of the whole House and passed without amendment.]
House resumed at 3:20 pm
[Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair]
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING (BERMUDA PLAN 2018 EXTENSION) ACT 2020
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Madam Chairman. Members, I understand that the Bill has now been reported to the House as printed. Are there any objections to that? No objections. The Bill has been reported and moved, accepted, as pri nted. That now brings to the conclusion of [Order] No. 1 and moves …
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Members, I understand that the Bill has now been reported to the House as printed. Are there any objections to that? No objections. The Bill has been reported and moved, accepted, as pri nted. That now brings to the conclusion of [Order] No. 1 and moves us on to [Order] No. 2, which is a motion to be moved by the Honourable Premier. Honourable Premier, would you like to move your motion now? Premier?
An. Hon. Member: The Premier just lef t the meeting.
Hon. E. David Burt: No, no, the Premier is here. The Premier just switched his computer off. Standby for one second, Mr. Speaker, som ehow I just literally got a computer switch- out and I am—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe hear and see you, so you are co nnected with us. Hon. E. David Burt: I am short on my motion, but I am about to bring it up as we speak. All right, thank you. Sorry, Mr. Speaker. 4052 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of …
We hear and see you, so you are co nnected with us.
Hon. E. David Burt: I am short on my motion, but I am about to bring it up as we speak. All right, thank you. Sorry, Mr. Speaker.
4052 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 23
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I move that Standing Order 23 be suspended to allow me to move the motion on the Order Paper under my name.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMm-hmm. [Motion carried: Standing Order 23 suspended.]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMove your motion. MOTION EMERGENCY POWERS (COVID -19 CONTINUING PRECAUTIONS) AMENDMENT (NO. 2) REGULAT IONS 2020 Hon. E. David Burt: The motion is that this Honour able House . . . I move that this Honourable House now take under consideration the following motion: “THAT this Honourable House take note …
Hon. E. David Burt: The motion is that this Honour able House . . . I move that this Honourable House now take under consideration the following motion: “THAT this Honourable House take note of the Emergency Powers (COVID -19 Continuing Pr ecautions) Amendment (No.2) Regulations 2020 ; “AND resolve that the duration of the Emergency Powers (COVID -19 Continuing Precautions) Regulations 2020 be extended to June 30, 2020.”
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAre there any objections? No objections. Minister, you sit down. Premier, proceed. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members may be forgiven for the feeling that these past several weeks of regulations and restrictions have been a blur. Bermuda has come from flight …
Are there any objections? No objections. Minister, you sit down. Premier, proceed. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members may be forgiven for the feeling that these past several weeks of regulations and restrictions have been a blur. Bermuda has come from flight restrictions, to closure orders, to mandatory quarantine and shelter in place. A four -phase process was laid out for the reopening of Bermuda and, after a phase 1 in which we still managed to contain this virus, I am pleased to advance a separate regulation that signals our entry into phase 2 of that plan. Mr. Speaker, the motion before this Honour able House invites the House to take note of the amendment regulations, which I shall refer to as “the No. 2 Regs” and also, invites Honourable Members to support the extension of the regulations themselves as constituted, once consolidated, through the 30 th of June 2020. Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago in the previous sitting o f this House we engaged in an extensive d ebate on the content of the regulations and, as such, I do not propose to rehearse them in any great detail. The changes that form phase 2 have been the subject of public statements by myself as well as my col-leagues the Honourable Members the Minister of Health and the Minister of National Security. Honourable Members will note the principal changes in support of reopening Bermuda are as follows: • Licensed day -care centres and day -care pr oviders. Licensed day -care ce ntres may now open with the permission of the Minister of Health. • Outdoor weddings and funerals may now be attended by no more than 20 people, properly wearing masks and subject to appropriate physical distancing. • Retail stores are now open to in- store customers on the same basis as grocery stores. • Restaurants and licensed bars are open with the prior permission of the Ministry of Health for outdoor service only. • Beauty salons and barbers are also open, subject to adherence to guidance published by the Mini stry of Health. Which means that you cannot cut your beard, Mr. Speaker, which is why I seem like I have a fresh hai rcut, but I am growing a longer beard by the day. • In addition to recreational boating, charter boats can now operate for no more than 10 persons, including crew, likewise subject to guidance and appropriate physical distancing. Mr. Speaker, I wish to highlight two matters that are unchanged by the No. 2 Regs. Firstly, the night -time curfew between the hours of 10:00 pm and 6:00 am remains in place. As I indicated in my public statement on Wednesday, we are not out of the woods yet and whilst this is a r estriction on our freedom of movement, it is a necessary one to continue to meet the challenge posed by this ongoing pandemic. Secondly, Mr. S peaker, is the ongoing authority of the Minister of Health to close any business found to be in breach of the regulations. Mr. Speaker, the temptation to operate outside the regulations may be economically tempting, but the consequences of such could spell economic ruin and, of course, could also lead to health cha llenges. Compliance with the public health measures is pivotal to our progression to subsequent phases. The guidance has been painstakingly devised to pr otect customers and service providers alike and must be followed so that the progress we have made is not reversed by carelessness. Mr. Speaker, as I commend these regulations for the consideration of the House, I would also invite Honourable Members to support their extension through to the 30 th of June. Mr. Speaker, the extension of the regulations beyond the original expiring date of the 31st of May requires a resolution of both Houses of the Legislature. The date to which I pr oOfficial Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4053
Bermuda House of Assembly pose that they be extended coincides with the end of the state of emergency. This does not suggest that as a date certain for our progression to phase 3, but it provides a necessary latitude for whatever may be required based on the ongoing public health situation and advice. Before I close, Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind Honourable Members, as I said in my previous public statements, that the Cabinet has set up a subcommittee of Ministers chaired by the Honourable Lt. Col. David Burch, the Minister of Public Works and consisting of the Minister of Health, the Minister of National Security, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Tourism and Transport. And this body is responsible for examining the conditions to ensure that Bermuda moves through these phases in a correct and proper fashion. And it is important, Mr . Speaker, to recognise that those ministries combine all of the requirements which are necessary for us to move to the next phases of opening. There is no set and determined time for these particular phases, but it is important that, as His Excellency the Governor has requested the House to extend these regulations, that we extend these regul ation to June 30 th. Mr. Speaker, I am, therefore, pleased to commend these regulations for the consideration of all Members and for their support in the extension to June 30, 2020.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Premier. I now recognise the Honourable Member MP Smith. I believe you are going to reply for the Oppos ition as the first speaker?
Mr. Ben SmithYes, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon. The S peaker: Good afternoon.
Mr. Ben SmithFirst, we would like to say that the Opposition is in support of regulations that have been implemented, the changes that have happened in phase 2. I will say that the opportunity to be a part of the Committee has given us, as the Opposition, an opportunity to give feedback, …
First, we would like to say that the Opposition is in support of regulations that have been implemented, the changes that have happened in phase 2. I will say that the opportunity to be a part of the Committee has given us, as the Opposition, an opportunity to give feedback, suggestions, concerns, and to have the dialogue within . . . for myself and the Minister of National Security Caines, has given us an opportunity to give our feedback and to have a better underst anding of what is actually happening through this process. I believe it is really important for everybody to understand that as we go through these phases there is a lot of conversation that is happening behind the scenes. There are many suggestions that are put forward that people want to move faster in some cases, and other people, actually from a more conservative point of view, think that maybe we are moving too quickly. But it is important to know that behind the scenes the conversations that are happ ening and the thought that is going into these decisions is very i mportant. And there are a lot of people working really hard behind the scenes in order to make sure that the decisions that are being made are covering a very thin balance between making sure that we are keeping our country safe and healthy, [but] at the same time trying to get the country moving again because we all know the impact that these changes have had on our eco nomy. I would like to thank all of the people who sit on the committees who have been going through all of the information that allows these regulations to be brought forward. A lot of times that hard work happening behind the scenes, they do not always get the thanks for the work that they are putting in to do that. The Mini sters that are putting in the tireless effort to get these things done, I just think it is important that we take out the time to thank everybody for the hard work that is going into moving through these phases. But, with the changes that have been put forward that the Honourable Premier has just mentioned, there are not a lot of changes that happened from phase 1 to phase 2, but they are important changes as we start to slowly turn the tap to open up the econ-omy. But as we are doing that, I think it is im portant that we understand what is actually happening within our economy in some of the industries where the anxiety has continued to grow of whether certain bus inesses are going to be able to survive as we are going through this phased process. So, the fi rst one that I would like to discuss would be the retail sector and the reopening of retail. In phase 1 they had the opportunity to do some curbside pickup and to be able to at least start to get back to business. Most people will know that the retail sec-tor was actually struggling before we got to this point of this pandemic that has really shut down the entire country and actually shut down the world. So, as they are going through this process of trying to reopen, they are having to look at the details of having their workers be on benefit, because by being closed they do not have the ability to bring in revenue and be able to pay for their staff members. So, that first step that allowed them to maybe do some curbside pickup and at least start the business, maybe they were able to bring some of their workers off the benefit and to be able to start working. As we move to this next phase, which started yesterday, some of the changes would be welcomed by the retail sector because they are able to actually have some customers come into their facilities. But when you look at the restrictions that are still in place, and understanding that the restrictions are being put in for health and safety reasons, but once again, as we are talking about this balance between the safety 4054 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly and health of our citizens along with the health of our economy, as the person who is in charge of a bus iness is looking at, do I bring somebody off of the benefit and bring them back to work? Am I going to be able to bring enough revenue into the business to be able to afford to pay for those workers? And that is that decision- making process that goes on when they are now having to make sure that everybody that is going to be inside of their facility is going to have the proper protection wit h masks and, potentially, taking temperatures of someone that is coming into their store, and making sure that the physical distancing is happening, while continuing to do the curbside pickup. So, as you are making those decisions you are having to look at more employees involved in order to have the business run. But as you are making that decision you have to also understand that, with the restriction of the last name basis, potentially [fewer] customers will be coming through the door. Now, that is done from a protection standpoint, but it is also based on having it be the same as the grocery stores. But the grocery store business is a little bit different in that it is an essential business so that you are going to have a larger portion of the population going to a gr ocery store, which is why we had the long lines. And then you had to put in restrictions to reduce the size of those lines so that we could make sure that we had the physical distancing. The difficulty with having that same concept for retail is that, as the retailer is going to have to go out of their way to have all of the pieces in place to do the physical distancing, making sure that they are sanitising their facility, with the idea that they might have such a reduced number of people comi ng into the store that now it actually has not become viable for them to be in that business. And that is the balancing act that they are going to have look at as they are in this phase 2, that, potentially, opening up is going to put them in a risky situa tion of putting the business as a whole in trouble. Because now they are going to have to pay for not only their staff and benefits of that staff, but all of the other expenses that go along with having a business open in Bermuda when, potentially, they we re struggling before this started. Moving on to the restaurant industry, which, everybody will be fully aware, has been really put in a bad position during this pandemic with most of the staff from the restaurant industry being shut down, other than really the companies that were able to help out with the third sector in feeding our population. The first step would have been in phase 1 allowing the take- out and the delivery portion for restaurants. But most people need to understand that the restaurant industry works on a very tight margin. So, what they are usually going to be looking for is to turn over tables at the restaurant. And they are going to have to turn them over as often as poss ible and that is what allows them to pay for the staff, pay for all of the supplies, for the food that is provided and then, if after all of those bills they are able to co ver those, whatever is left over is going to be the profit of the restaurant industry. But that line is very tight. So, when they start off with the position of take- out and delivery, it is only going to be a small portion of what would be their normal business for the restaurant industry. So that was step one. The bus inesses which were able to start with that have done that. But we all know that not everybody is feeling comfortable with being out and about. We also know that a large portion of our population is suffering and does not actually have the ability to go out and spend that money because their resources have been cut so significantly. So, that means that that industry was only getting a small portion when they opened that up. So, the next phase—the phase that we are moving into now —is giving them the ability to open up a little further by having the ability, if you have an outside area that was utilising outside service prior to this pandemic, then you can now reopen with that, but using the physical distancing, six feet apart, potentially having shielding between the tables in order for you to be able to make that distance a little closer. But e ach of these things is going to mean that there are [fewer] tables available to them and the restrictions, along with the additional cost of the PPE and the cleaning up of bathrooms after each customer, and all the di fferent pieces that are added within th e guidelines, are going to make it difficult for those businesses to mai ntain the revenue that it is going to take for them to be viable. So, we have already seen some of the bus inesses actually get into deep trouble right from the beginning. Some business es that do not have the o ption of outside dining are not going to be part of this phase because they do not have that availability. And bringing the staff in during this phase is a very difficult position because as you are taking them off of the government benefit, you have to make sure that you have enough business to allow that group to survive. So, as we are on this balancing act, I think it is important that we all pay attention to what this looks like—this change, which we all are hoping continues in this direction if we can continue to keep the country safe. But the strain on these businesses is actually very significant. And as we move forward, we have to be mindful that the potential of a lot of them not ma king it is going to be there. So, the other part that was talked about briefly . . . and I know that the Premier mentioned the beards when it comes to salons and barbershops, I know that there was quite a bit of discussion within the commi ttees regarding this change and this phase where, obviously , opening up the barbershops and salons was something that everybody was looking forward to be-cause over the long period a lot of us grew out our hair, or we were not able to groom at the same level that we would have before. But there are a lot of pe oOfficial Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4055
Bermuda House of Assembly ple looking forward to the ability to groom their beards or have somebody do that service for them. If possible, I think it would be important for the Premier to give some feedback on exactly what that position is and why that decision was made. I believe they have spoken to it before, but it is something that would be important to reiterate because I know a lot of people within the salon and barbershop industry had some anxiety about that not being part of it because it is a big portion of their business. And as they are g oing to only have a certain amount of customers that are able to come through their doors in a day because of the servicing in between each customer, having to sanitise, making sure that you are changing your gloves and everything else, those added costs are going to mean that they want to be able to offer as many services as possible to their customer. Once again, this has to do with the safety of your customers and the safety of the person actually giving that service. So, if we could get some more details about why that decision was made, I think it would be just important for the population to know what that was. As I was talking about the PPE that is needed for all of the retail or restaurants, for our barbers and salon people, they are going to have to be going through this quite quickly as they go from one cus-tomer to the next, as you go from one table to the next. There is going to be a lot of need for those supplies. I wonder if there has been any discussion on potentially adding to the requests that are coming from the government to get PPE from overseas, i ncreasing our buying power and potentially reducing the cost. And then have these private industries purchase directly from this large supply so that they can reduce the cost, just because within the business they are going to have to be using these items over and over again and that cost will eventually then be added on to the customer. So, if we can reduce that cost, then obviously, we will reduce the amount of extra cost that goes o n to the customers. What I would say before closing is [to] people in Bermuda who have the ability to buy in Bermuda, to go to the retail stores, to purchase online locally, not overseas. Please go out of your way to make sure that you are going to support the local retailers, that you are going to take the opportunity to go to the local restaurants, to order the take- out, order the delivery, try to get those industries moving again. I know a lot of people have been rushing out to get haircuts. Let’s keep doing that to make sure that we are supporting the local industry so that we can get them moving again. This is a very tough time that they are all going through as well as everybody else in this Island. We do have a large portion of our population that wil l not be able to partake in this because they do not have the money. They are having a hard time just surviving, just being able to get food for themselves and for their families. And so, on top of us going out and making sure that we are supporting indust ry and that we are supporting our local businesses, make sure that you are also looking out for your neighbours, that you are looking out for the people less fortunate, that do not have the ability to maybe go out and get take out. Maybe take an order for somebody else on top of the order that you are doing for your own family so that we can look out for each other, look out for the businesses in Bermuda so that we can get people back to work and start our economy moving again. And with that, I would like t o thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP Smith. The next Member who has indicated he would like to speak is Minister Caines. Minister, would you like to make your contr ibution now? Hon. Wayne Caines: If it pleases you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Can you get a little closer to your microphone so that we can hear you clearly? Hon. Wayne Caines: Is that better, Mr. Speaker?
The SpeakerThe Speaker[Did you] adjust yourself?. Hon. Wayne Caines: Is that better, Mr. Speaker?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Hon. Wayne Caines: Mr. Speaker, today, this mor ning, I had the opportunity about 12:30 to get a haircut. I went to the barbershop this morning and when I got to the door, the door was locked. I knocked on the door and the door was opened by a …
Yes.
Hon. Wayne Caines: Mr. Speaker, today, this mor ning, I had the opportunity about 12:30 to get a haircut. I went to the barbershop this morning and when I got to the door, the door was locked. I knocked on the door and the door was opened by a masked barber. I was immediately directed to a hand sanitising station. I went to my seat in the barber chair and before I sat down the barber disinfected the chair with a spray. I then sat down and he again sprayed my hands. There was no one waiting i n the barbershop. There was another man in the chair across from me, he, too, was masked, as was the barber. I was i mpressed with the way that the Millenium Barbershop had the regulations posted within the establishment. I looked around and I could see tha t a significant effort was placed into ensuring that the establishment had followed the regulations. And then I started thinking that this just did not happen—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister, you dropped out for a little bit there. Hon. Wayne Caines: Yes, Mr. Sp eaker?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNo, I said you faded out a little bit, but you are back in now. 4056 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Wayne Caines: Sorry, Mr. Speaker. The long and short of it is we . . . going into phase 2 we have the …
No, I said you faded out a little bit, but you are back in now. 4056 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Wayne Caines: Sorry, Mr. Speaker. The long and short of it is we . . . going into phase 2 we have the opportunity to watch Bermuda slowly come back to having commer ce and customers in a very managed way. The Premier was very careful to systematically go through the stage and the key elements of the regulations. With your permission I would like to talk a bit about enforcement. Enforcement is one of the key elements to ensuring that we go smoothly through this stage. We believe that with the right enforcement we will be able to monitor, we will be able to check, we will be able to hold people accountable for if there are any breaches to the legislation. Mr. Speaker, the enforcement will take place with the Bermuda Regiment and the Bermuda Police Force. Heretofore we had members . . . bailiffs who were helping with the enforcement and traffic wardens. And so, there were a number of people that were in the community that were not working during a specific phase and they helped with the enforcement. The full commander of the operation is Assi stant Commissioner Martin Weekes. He and his team have put together a plan for monitoring the bars, retail stores and other establ ishments, and they will be making sure that the establishments are following the rules. Whilst we do not want to make this seem like a policing, it is very important for everyone to understand that if the Bermuda Regiment or the Bermuda Police Service go t o an establishment and they inquire ––and the waiting staff or the store staff do not have on their masks, or they do not . . . they are not executing the hand sanitising regime, our team will notify the staff. They will take notes and they will go back and tell the Health Minister and she can close those bus inesses down. It is possible that the if the Commissioner of Police and the Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment are going around and they see anything . . . the Bermuda Police Service can, under their power, do a few things, a bit more. They can do a few more things because they have limited powers under the legislation, under the law. We must understand that the enforcement part of this is very critical. For instance, prior to the Regulations coming out, all of the elements were gi ven to the training officers at the Bermuda Regiment and at the Bermuda Police Service. And the regul ations and the guidelines were given from the Ministry of Health to the Bermuda Regiment and to the Ber-muda Police Ser vice. And they are . . . they were able to put together a training programme for soldiers and for the Bermuda Police Service that they can have a clear rubric of going to establishments understanding what has to be done with the legislation. There is a major step that we will be using and this is what we call a joint decision- making model. The first stage is to gather information and intelligence to assess risks and develop a working strategy; co nsider powers, policies and procedures to identify options and predictions; and to take action and to repeat what happened. Let me read that again. The process that we are using for this is called a joint decision- making model process. The first stage is to gather information and intelligence to assess risks, develo p a working strategy; consider powers, policies and procedures to identify options and predictions; and to take action and to repeat what happened. The main effort is to understand how this decision -making process helps to prevent the spread of the virus a nd does the decision—
[Crosstalk]
Hon. Wayne Caines: —present a risk to public health. Can you hear me, Mr. Speaker?
The SpeakerThe Speaker[INAUDIBLE ] Hon. Wayne Caines: Mr. Speaker? And so, the opportunity has come for us to look at the regulations. They are, indeed, fit for purpose. We have the Bermuda Regiment, we have the Bermuda Police Service and they will be going into restaurants, they will be going into bars, …
[INAUDIBLE ]
Hon. Wayne Caines: Mr. Speaker? And so, the opportunity has come for us to look at the regulations. They are, indeed, fit for purpose. We have the Bermuda Regiment, we have the Bermuda Police Service and they will be going into restaurants, they will be going into bars, they will be going into retail establishments, they will be going to outdoor facilities, and they will not be heavy -handed. They will be using the matrix that has been put t ogether to ensure that the rules are being followed. We are coming to the weekend where there will be a spike in the amount of people that go into restaurants, that go into retai l stores, that are using outdoor facilities. We would like the public to be mind-ful that we have a plan and we will be following the rules and the regulations and that people will be held to account. Last week, Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to go . . . I was going to the markets, to ride around and see and observe for myself. And in the main the majority of the people in our country were following the rules and were following the regulations. I do not think that it will be any different in this phase. And we have an opportunity for us to follow the phases, understand that enforcement is a key piece. If there are entities that do not adhere to the guidance which are [found] in the training documents that have been pr ovided by the Ministry of Health, then those businesses will be shut down. And there is a possibility that the business will not be allowed to reopen. Mr. Speaker, we are now looking to go to the next phase. And in order for us to be able to go to the next phase, we must follow the terms and conditions that are contained in the regulations. I believe that we have the opportunity to do so. I believe that the reg uOfficial Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4057
Bermuda House of Assembly lations clearly outline all that will be required. The Bermuda Police Service have been trained and the Bermuda Police, . . . excuse m e, the Royal Bermuda Regiment have been trained, the Bermuda Police Service have been trained. We have to divvy up into teams that will be for the east, and the west and central. They will be given a list of restaurants, retail establishments and stores that will open in the east, west and the central [parishes]. And they will be working the lists in their particular east, west and central parishes, going on a rol ling patrol, ensuring that the shopkeepers, that the business persons, that the persons in the restaurants and everyone is following the rules. This will not be something that will be heavy -handed, but it is som ething that must be done consistently over the weekend to ensure that they are following the rules. Mr. Speaker, we have a number of 2- 1-1 that people can call if they see a breach or they can go onto the police portal and just click on the icon that goes to reporting challenges, and if they see someone that is not wearing a mask or someone is not properly social distancing. There is a physic al distancing, there are elements . . . go online or call 2- 1-1 to report any breaches of the regulations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Does any other Member wish to speak? Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Mr. Speaker —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThe Honourable Member is . . . Hello? Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: I put my name on the list.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Yes, I can hear. Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Unfortunately, I could not hear . . . Mr. Speaker, thank you very much and good afternoon to everyone. I could not hear very well the Minister when he was speaking. But the gist of it seemed . . . what …
Okay. Yes, I can hear.
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Unfortunately, I could not hear . . . Mr. Speaker, thank you very much and good afternoon to everyone. I could not hear very well the Minister when he was speaking. But the gist of it seemed . . . what he was getting to was talking about the policing of it. And I was heartened and encouraged by the fact that he was laying that process out so that those out there in the community —business owners, small business owners, and even customers —are aware of what that process is. And so, I want to thank the Minister for laying out the policing process for phase 2. But what I would also like to be able to do is speak to the Shadow Minister Ben Smith and thank him for his industry breakdown and concerns that he has laid out, whether it was the restaurants and other businesses —the small type businesses in particular — that he was encouragingly speaking to [about] many of the questions that do come up as we are moving from phase 1 and to phase 2 and, encouragingly, into phase 3. And one of the things that piqued my interest was, especially this morning when we were listening to the Education Minister when he spoke about . . . he put out a questionnaire and was seeking out infor-mation about parents, seeking to move through to this next phase, going into phase 3, and having their kids go back to school and beginning to understand a little more about how we are gathering this information. And as I have been watching the process, the Cabinet is then coming together to pull these regulations t ogether and then these regulations, in some format, are then moved onto the EMO who then scrutinise and go through them and question back and forth as we go along to ensure this time for phase 2 that we have a bit more collaborative effort in getting information out. One of the concerns that I brought up to the Premier in our discussions with him . . . and I know he does not mind this. My co ncern is that it is important that we get this consultation out from the very begi nning. So, I am not sure exactly where Cabinet is ge tting its information and gathering and pulling this i nformation together to ensure that industry is consulted before it g ets into written form and then sent on to the EMO. It would be nice to hear a little more about that process. And the reason I say that is because we are beginning to see more and more, as we are moving through these phases, the small man, the small bus iness guy and [the small business] woman who are not getting their voice to the table. And so, it is okay for us to talk to the big buys or the Chamber of Commerce who will help collectiv ely pull some information together, but because of the nature of small business in Bermuda, there are so many independents out there. And so, many of these folks who hire people, they are being lost in the wash. And I want to ensure, as I mentioned in the last House of Assembly session, that we are doing as much as possible t o ensure that we get as many [business people] as possible to the forefront giving their ideas. And I encouraged those out there in different industries to ensure that they communicate with Go vernment about how they can open up and be proactive in this ca se. But it also requires our Government to be just as proactive in collecting information toget her to ensure that, as we move through this troubling time . . . and I know time is a constraint in many cases and we are still trying to deal with the ongoing day -today challenges. But these are a part of those chal-lenges. And I believe that we can probably get better at this here in ensuring that we are taking all these recommendations to heart and working through them, especially with the Health Ministry who w e are sure is having to vet most of this here to ensure that when Cabinet does present something that it is well thought out. And by no means am I throwing any stones at anyone, I am looking at the process here and I realise 4058 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly that we are morphing as we go along. But what we are finding is that more and more people are coming forward and saying, Well, what about this and what about that? And I was smiling at the Shadow Minister when he talked about beards. I mean, I think, beards are probably more groomed than peoples’ hair on their head nowadays. I have watched even my Shadow Minister, Sylvan Richards, as his beard has gone from completely black to now completely grey.
[Laughter]
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: And I am not sure where he is going to be if he cannot get his beard done. But anyhow, it is imperative that we speak to many of these industries. And the reason I am saying that as far as possible is because I mentioned this last year, year before and the likes, small businesses right now, medium -sized b usinesses, they are all . . . and my goodness, large businesses as well, they are all right now surviving on a shoestring here. I have mentioned many times before, that cash flow is vital to the survival during these tough times. Now that was before COVID -19, and now we move into this phase where we are trying to deal with COVID -19, and you know, what I was saying about cashflow has just been thrown out of the window with COVID -19 because there is very little cashflow moving about businesses right now. So, my fear is that if we do not spend the m ajority of our time up front gathering information toget her to ensure that we are covering as many bases as possible . . . and we will never be able to cover them all and I get that. But because of the prevalence of things that are coming after the fact when a phase . . . or regs are being presented, and the amount of information that floods immediately afterwards about my particular situation and this business that I am doing or the other position in what they are doing . . . I am hoping that we will get better at this here. I would like to hear more about the actual pr ocess in who Government is then actually talking to when they are putting these regulations together. O bviously, I am sure that they are speaking to the different industries, but in some of my conversations I guess I did become a bit concerned in speaking to Members that there could be a potential for us to do even better, and so I am encouraging that to happen. I had the privilege yesterday morning of going out and picking up some paint, and the company was doing high volumes of paint. I was there waiting in line with many other vehicles and vans and trucks and things picking up paint, and he said to me, Listen, with phase 2, we are not even going t o bother to have customers come in. We are doing well with the situation of ordering online. And it has gone well for them. Now, this is just one particular business and industry that may be doing well because of ordering online. And so this is very, very encouraging. But when you hear from this particular gentleman and the amount of paint that they are suppl ying and supplies that are associated with painting and the likes, it is evident that we no longer are living under the same conditions, as I said bef ore, prior to January and February of this year. Things are different. So, the more that we are able to collect information beforehand . . . and I believe what we should also be doing now is looking at how we can collect information as we move through each phase and where these businesses are because then we certai nly can help, and Government will be able to help in directing others into success stories. And not ever yone’s success story may be out there right now, and Government can be collecting this infor mation to assist with others who may be struggling or do not have the means, like some other businesses, to be able to re-invent themselves, singularly. And if a model was out there, they would probably more easily be able to pick up that model and to use it. But the emphasis right now for me is, how are we gathering this information together in the first place as we put these regs together ? And then more i mportantly, are we taking into consideration many of these smaller businesses that are out there ? And we know that they are probably in the thousands who are , effectively , trying to survive. Now the flipside to this here also is, as we move through these regs , I am aware . . . and I heard the Premier speak to and thank many of those out there who are helpi ng in the field of assistance to many , which is very admirable, by the third tier , as it was called . I would like to encourage small , individual businesses , singular , and two and three mom -andpop shops, you name it, retailers . . . many of those folks who are out there we have just a couple of people within a small area working, please, put forward your ideas, be proactive. We are all in this fight t ogether, and it is vital that we do as much as we can. I am just encouraging them to please help Government because I recognise that maybe they may not get it all correct. But I also recognise that it takes two. So both Government and industry need to be proactive, need to be getting out there speaking their mind about how they feel they can move through the next phase. So now that we are moving into phase 2, we need to ensure that . . . Government needs to ensure [and] Opposition needs to ensure that they are out there finding out what is going on, how they are making out, and then also work toward moving to phase 3, how we can be more effective when we get to that phase, that people are actually ready for it in a proactive way. Really, that is the message that I want to get out there. I apologise again, I could not hear much of what the Minister was saying when it came to policing. The part that I did pick up was good. Again, I want to thank the Shadow Minister [of Social Development Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4059
Bermuda House of Assembly and Sport and National Security] for that breakdown that he gave (Ben Smith) on the different industries and the concerns that he is actually hearing out there. Thank you once again, Shadow Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Opposition Leader. Does any other Member wish to speak? Any other Member? Hon. E. David Burt: I am happy to go, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWell, I am just waiting to see. No other Member? Premier, you can close us out on this. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as this is an actual affirmative resolution, and I thank [all for their] comments. I will make my brief comments …
Well, I am just waiting to see. No other Member? Premier, you can close us out on this. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as this is an actual affirmative resolution, and I thank [all for their] comments. I will make my brief comments before I ask that the House send a letter to His Excellency the Governor, if I may please?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAs long as they are brief. [Laughter] Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am grateful for the consultative process and grateful for the comments from the Members of the Opposition and also the Minister of National Security. To get to some of the statements from the Leader …
As long as they are brief.
[Laughter] Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am grateful for the consultative process and grateful for the comments from the Members of the Opposition and also the Minister of National Security. To get to some of the statements from the Leader of the Opposition, what I will say is, and I will admit this, that we can do a better job of consultation. And one of the things that was done and was laid out is that this phased approach was to allow us to signal where it is that we are going but also to allow the consultative process to take place for those individual phases in advance of them happening. So there has been a consultation that has been done in advance. For instance, the Minister of National Security has had a meeting with some me mbers of the clergy in planning for future phases, so that work is happening. But what I will say is I will a ccept the Opposition Leader’s comments that we can actually do a better job of consultation. And that is one of the things of which I have charged the subcommi ttee under the leadership of Colonel Burch to make sure that we are doing that consul tation in advance of where it is that we are going. I would say that the Chamber of Commerce inserts in our business groups have actually been helpful in this particular regard. They have been hel pful in submitting their thoughts, they have been thoughtful in submitting their ideas and I know they have been assisting the team with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation , in as well as the Ministry of Health as they are putting together these particular regulations. And so from that perspective as we ar e looking forward to the things which are going to come in phase 3, there is an opportunity for that advanced consultation to continue, and that is what the next few weeks will be about prior to any announcements in phase 3. I will certainly welcome comments from Honourable Members of the House. I know that I speak with my caucus colleagues on these particular matters and I meet with the Opposition Leader once a week to seek his thoughts and so we will be meeting on Monday and we will have a conversation, discu ssion, on those particular issues. On the issue of cashflow, which the Leader of the Opposition raised, he is correct on that particular aspect. But I think that it is important for us to recog-nise what it is that we have got, because in Bermuda, we have taken unprecedented financial steps to ease the burden in a lot of cases, which lots of other coun-tries have not been able to do. So, for instance, the fact that we were able to the persons who were di splaced from work to be able to provide them with a benefit of about 60 per cent of their salary up to $500 a week, is a big deal. And when we look at countries around our region, there are many that have not done anywhere near close to that. So this is something that we have actually done and something w hich I think is something that we can be proud of in this particular case and instance. Additionally, and I think that this is also som ething that is particularly important to recognise, the support of which we have given to small business through the Berm uda Economic Development Corporation through these grants and loans is helpful. Now, I recognise and I understand that there are some businesses that do not want to take on additional debt inside of this environment, and that is completely and perfectly ac cepted. I understand that in its entirety. But there are also businesses that may be on a level that they are going to be able to continue their bus iness but may have short -term cashflow issues. They are never going to get a better deal than what the Berm uda Economic Development Corpor ation is offering, where you can get some cashflow into your business and only have to pay back half of that. That is something that is certainly incredible, certainly something that is not being done in other places, but is something that we are putting in place to protect small business and medium -sized businesses in these regards. So, that is something we have done recog-nising the challenges of which we have to make sure that we can address those particular issues. But for us it is critically important as a country that we are paying attention to the rules and regul ations and making sure that we are reducing the risks as much as possible inside our individual transactions to make sure that we can minimise any future spread so that we can move to phase 3 sooner. 4060 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly One of the things which I have always said is that Bermuda did not come into an epidemic like other countries such as, you know, cities like London or York, or even cities in Europe, [Bermuda] did not have that massi ve epidemic. So our reopening can certainly be, in my view, quicker than others. But we are not going to do it too fast and not balance the health aspects , because the last thing that we want to do is to find ourselves with a massive increase in cases.
[Crosstalk ; feedback ]
Hon. E. David Burt: Someone has unmuted their m icrophone. Okay. In saying that, Mr. Speaker, and I think that it is particularly important that we get this, we want to make sure that we can reopen our economy. But we have to make sur e that we do it safely. And we are going through this particular process and so we have also been flexible in looking how to adjust to the risk of certain items. So, when we look at outdoor dining and outdoor bar facilities, those were not things that wer e originally considered inside of the phasing documents, but when there were suggestions and items which came to us, we considered them. And looking at the relative risk of doing outdoor activities and recognising that this could in some instances get cert ain persons back to work, whether that is in our hotels where they know they have lots of outdoor dining facilities, in our restaurants, and even in some places where there are outdoor bar facilities as well. This is all about getting more people back to w ork and balancing the risk of those activities while we are still making sure that for the most part we have minimal transmission of the virus pandemic. But that risk has to be balanced and it cannot be a free- for-all. So the Shadow Minister of National Security had mentioned some comments around the issue of beards. Now, this is an issue which has been one that has been hotly discussed, and I am not going to say that it isn’t. And clearly the Shadow Minister of N ational Security can understand because the policy p osition of the Government, and this was one of the things that I represented not only to my caucus when I gave a briefing to my caucus, but also to the Oppos ition when I gave a briefing to the Opposition caucus, was about this issue with beards. And the policy reason for having limited personal services in phase 2 versus phase 4–– when people would think that they would typically be there, given the close proximity ––was that we did not want activities that could easily take place underground to happ en in an environment where we could open ourselves up to a superspreader where there could be one particular barber, one specific hairdresser, two people together, something spreads and all of a su dden we have a large cluster which is very difficult to track. At least at this particular case and instance where people are in licensed establishments . . . just like I went to the barber today and the barber had to take down (as is required) all of the customers names and addresses, et cetera, so that the cont act tracing can take place in the case of anything that happens, that is particularly important. And that is not the stuff that would happen if we had things at personal services, which we know people want to get done, pushed way out to phase 4. We could have had just as bad of a risk. So it is a question of, How do we balance it? However, there was the view that in shaving som eone’s beard or touching someone’s face or doing ey ebrows or those other things, or activities which allow a large amount of touching of the body which are higher risk activities and not as possibly necessary, these were things where, upon discussion, it was thought that it was best to limit where we start to see where we are in two or three weeks and then we can poss ibly move to expand those particular items. But right now we need to make sure that we are taking it slow and that we are making sure that we are being, I would say, smart about this. And so that is the reason why beards are not included. And believe me, I want nothing mor e than to get rid of my beard. I know there are a lot of persons who want nothing more. My barber today was telling me that some of the people, you know, The barbers are all upset and they are going to write a petition and ask for these things. It is not necessary. We are balancing the risks. The last thing of which we want . . . let’s say, for instance, people when they have to keep their masks on throughout the duration, let’s just say, for instance, there was a superspreading of it. Let’s say, for instance, there was an asymptomatic carrier who had their beard done that somehow was in close contact with the barber and, for whatever reason, whatever happened they managed to get enough v irus to infect themselves, they may have been asym ptomatic, spreading i t to a few more persons and di fferent things. Maybe other persons inside of the shop that . . . it can cause more of an issue. So for us it is important to make sure that while we continue to build the capacity to detect this virus in the country that we are being safe. Here is what I can say, Mr. Speaker. In the Health Advisory Council meeting, which I held yester-day with the Minister of Health and the hierarchy of the health officials, one of the things which we are actually looking to advance is the sali va testing of which they are doing in other places, which can use the similar PCR [ polymerase chain reaction] equi pment which we have, but can actually detect the virus through a saliva sample versus the PCR test where you have to go up the nose and use PPE, et cetera. In this particular instance, this is something that could be more widely available. It could be som ething that is easier. And my directive to that group was Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4061
Bermuda House of Assembly to get that up and running as quickly as possible. So the target of which they have is three weeks. And I said, I would like to see if we could get it done in 10 days. Let’s figure out exactly what are the parameters around this, and let’s get ready, b ecause that can help us scale our testing. It is the exact same stuff that is being done in Hong Kong upon entry. And if we can scale up the testing inside of the country, scale it up even more than we have, we can have more of an ability to detect. I know that the testing group right now is meeting and they are actually discussing the Gover nment’s targets of making sure that we are doing at least 200 tests a day, making sure that we are screening and including persons who are working inside of personal services, persons working inside of restaurants, et cetera, to make sure that we are minim ising and reducing the risk in these particular instances. So, Mr. Speaker, it is important that we balance this as we move forward. And from this perspective I think that in this phase 2 guidance we have struck the correct balance in this particular insta nce. So we are making sure that we are taking care of the economy, we are making sure that we are taking care of getting persons back to work in their many establishments. There are a lot of persons who are continuing to work from home and in those par-ticular places which are more high risk, such as where people are in enclosed spaces for a long period of time, like churches and movie theatres and entertai nment centres, et cetera, they are going to take a little bit more time. But we are going to be methodical in moving forward, and I think that this strikes the right balance. And I am happy that we have the support of both sides of the House because I think that it points to the fact that , in our particular case, as we have a pproached this as a united Government —and I say that not just Cabinet, there is our Progressive Labour Party Government caucus who has been instrumental in making sure that the feedback talk has been . . . is informing our thoughts and decisions . The Oppos ition as well who share their ideas and persons in the coun try who have said, This is what we would like. These are the types of things we would like to see and how we could bring it about. I think [INAUDIBLE]. So with that, Mr. Speaker, I move that the resolution be approved and that a suitable message to be sent His Excellency the Governor.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThe matter has been asked to be a pproved and a message sent. Are there any objections to that? Any objections? Any questions? None. I take it then that the matter has now been approved and the appropriate message will be sent to the Governor. [Motion carried: The House took …
The matter has been asked to be a pproved and a message sent. Are there any objections to that? Any objections? Any questions? None. I take it then that the matter has now been approved and the appropriate message will be sent to the Governor. [Motion carried: The House took note of the Emergency Powers (COVID -19 Continuing Precautions) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2020 and r esolved to extend the Emergency Powers (COVID -19 Continui ng Precautions) Regulations 2020 to 30 June 2020]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThat brings us now to the close of what was on the Order Paper today. So Deputy Premier, would you like to do the third reading for your draft Act? Hon. Walter H. Roban: Yes, Mr. Speaker. [Crosstalk ; feedback ]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. You are sounding very distant, Deputy. Can you get closer to your microphone? Hon. Walter H. Roban: Can anybody hear me? Can you hear me, Mr. Speaker?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe can hear you very faintly. Hon. Walter H. Ro ban: I do no t know why; I am right up to my —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Go ahead. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Hello. Can you hear me now? Mr. Speaker? The Speaker: Yes, go ahead. Go ahead. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21 Hon. Walter H. Roban: Okay. I move that St anding Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move the Bill entitled Development …
Okay. Go ahead. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Hello. Can you hear me now? Mr. Speaker? The Speaker: Yes, go ahead. Go ahead.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Okay. I move that St anding Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move the Bill entitled Development and Planning (Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 Extension) Act 2020 be now read a third time by its title only.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAre there any objections to that? No objections. Continue on, Minister. [Motion carried: Standing Order 21 suspended.] Hon. Walter H. Roban: I move that the Bill be now — [Crosstalk ; feedback ]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerHold on one second, one second. I just muted everybody to block out the noise. Deputy, you can unmute yourself again and start over because we are getting a lot of feedback. 4062 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly BILL THIRD READING DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING (DRAFT …
Hold on one second, one second. I just muted everybody to block out the noise. Deputy, you can unmute yourself again and start over because we are getting a lot of feedback.
4062 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly BILL
THIRD READING
DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING (DRAFT BERMUDA PLAN 2018 EXTENSION) ACT 2020
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Bill be now read for the third ti me by its title only and passed.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAre there any objections to that? No objections. It has been read by its title for the third time, moved and passed. [Motion carried: The Development and Planning (Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 Extension) Act 2020 was read a third time and passed.]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThat now brings us back to you, Premier. ADJOURNMENT Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am advised that . . . I am sure that my Whip has submitted that Members fro m my side will be speaking on the motion to adjourn, …
That now brings us back to you, Premier.
ADJOURNMENT
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am advised that . . . I am sure that my Whip has submitted that Members fro m my side will be speaking on the motion to adjourn, but with that, Mr. Speaker, I move that this Honourable House do now adjourn until Friday, June 5 th.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerFriday, June 5th. I would like to know if there is any Member who wishes to speak on mot ion to adjourn. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, there are a number of my Members who wish to speak, and I am sure that my Whip has submitted—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI am waiting for the first one on your list to jump in. Mr. Hayward, I believe it is going to you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. HANSARD —MP QUESTION S ACCURACY OF 16 MARCH 2020 HANSARD
Mr. Jason HaywardMr. Speaker, thanks for giving me the opportunity to speak today. In my comments today I do not mean to be, nor am I being, cantankerous. I think some clarity needs to be given to some comments I made in the sitting on March the 16th, which is Friday’s meeting, …
Mr. Speaker, thanks for giving me the opportunity to speak today. In my comments today I do not mean to be, nor am I being, cantankerous. I think some clarity needs to be given to some comments I made in the sitting on March the 16th, which is Friday’s meeting, to the media. Mr. Speaker, during that March 16th sitting in the House I rose to my feet to provide intervention on the debate with regard to pension legislation. At that time I did make a statement, How dare a Member of this House refer to people of this country as being at the bottom of the earth. I made the comment because I recalled hearing a Member refer to people as bei ng on the lower spectrum of the earth. As an individual who has a lways worked for justice and has actively represented the people of this country for over a decade, I found the statement alarming. Since March 16 th, the Hansard has been pr oduced and there is an inconsistency between what I recall hearing and what is recorded in the Hansard. Mr. Speaker, I have had an opportunity to r eview the audio recording, which can be found on the parliamentary website, and there is also an inco nsistency between the audio recording and the Hansard. If you review the audio recording at the time period (7 hours, 7 minutes and 19 seconds), you can clearly hear a Member referring to people as being at the lower spectrum of the earth. This statement was later cor rected; or ra ther the original sentence is not recorded in the Hansard, just the correction. Mr. Speaker, the local paper has chosen to run two articles on the events surrounding March 16 th. Mr. Speaker, Members go back and forth all the time in the Honourable House, and I am really curious as to why the exchange between me and another Member has been highlighted by the media. I have been wondering if it is a deliberate attempt to tarnish my reputation or to create division . Mr. Speaker, the 3article which is featured in today’s paper actually refers to me as being the “ne west invitee” to the lower House. Mr. Speaker, that is a statement that I actual ly find insulting, because all of us who sit in this House were elected to the House. Mr. Speaker, these events took place prior to COVID -19. At this point in time it is not the timeframe or the period where we should be engaging in political theatre . There are too many people in this country relying on us to navigate this country through the current crises. The health care cris is has led to econom ic crises, and the economic recovery will be difficult for us all. I have since which been actively working with my parliamentary colleagues to develop policies that support the Bermudian population and will assist us in moving this country forward. The Government has been working flat out, Mr. Speaker, and I am commi tted to working with my colleagues to ensure tha t we provide the leadership that is required during these times. Mr. Speaker, before I close, I would just like to send condolences to all of the families of those who have had loved ones who have passed during this pandemic, and I would also like to say thank you to
3 Royal Gazette 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4063
Bermuda House of Assembly the frontline workers and all of those who are working tirelessly to assist us in the country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member. The next Member that I recognise is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Member Scott. [Pause]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. ASSISTANCE TO BERMUDA DURING THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE
Ms. Leah K. ScottThank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I first would first like to raise some concerns I have with the Premier’s accolades this morning to certain members of the third sector. I would first, Mr. Speaker, like to herald all of the unsung heroes because one’s recognition of the third sector …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I first would first like to raise some concerns I have with the Premier’s accolades this morning to certain members of the third sector. I would first, Mr. Speaker, like to herald all of the unsung heroes because one’s recognition of the third sector should not necessarily be connected to the value of their donation. Mr. Speaker, Martha Dismont has under - girded our community for at least 30 years with the Family Centre. She has been a stalwart of the third sector and she is someone that I have partnered with for a very long t ime. And we have during this pandemic been working to assist young black males who are actually heading up households. And, you know, our young black males are generally forgotten about, but they are even more particularly forgotten about during this pandemic. So I do not know how Martha Dismont could have been overlooked. The Women’s Resource Centre with Elaine Charles came on board at the beginning, it came out early. The Open Your Heart Foundation, which is in Somerset, has been doing a mammoth job. I visited them last week. Sandys Middle School actually has donated them their kitchen facilities. Mr. Speaker, at the start of this pandemic they were delivering (I think it was) 150- something meals a week. They are now delivering over 632 meals per week. I have friends who have donated $50, $35, $100, $200, $500, [or] $1,000 to help everybody in this community. So, kudos should not be given to just those who are the high- roller donors. And I do not say that with any malice, but there are people who are contin uously and consistently giving and who were continually propping up our community prior to COVID -19 and they should be included in the recognition. So I would like to recognise them now. In addition, Neletha Butterfield, with C.A.R.E. Learning Centre. You know, she has been helping out with the online education for our children and assisting people to continue to be able to get their GED. So there are more people who have been helping our community than those who were called out by name this morning, Mr. Speaker. Now, the Minister of Finance has revealed members of the COVID -19 Economic Advisory Committee. And with all due respect, and as expected, it is comprised of high- flyers and the 70 to 100,000 quick - thinkers, which I totally understand. But, Mr. Speaker, we have had the SAGE Report, we have had the BermudaFirst Report, we have had the Fiscal R esponsibility Panel, we have had reports prepared prior to even those reports being prepared. And those r eports were always consisting of people who are thinking at the high level. And, you know, BermudaFirst had a structure and an action mandate. What has happened to that? The third sector has access to the most vulnerable people in Bermuda, but I do not see anybody on the committee from there, and they are the people who are actually in there with the people who are most vulnerable. So I cannot see how they would not fit into the conversation for economic r ecovery. So, in my opinion, Mr. Speaker, we are just generally creating another top- down committee who will impose trickle -down suggestions. And the cha llenge is that this trickle- down was not working before the virus. It is certainly not going to work now. So, in my opinion, we need cross -thinking in our forward planning, we need to have a bottom -up meets topdown so that we can have middle of the road, pract ical, life -changing solutions that are going to be sustainable for this country and for the people of this country, Mr. Speaker. We need to look beyond emergency relief and we have to have viable solutions t hat are going to help us address economic inequality, the cost of living, our immigration policies, and structural racism. What is the deal with Ascendant? If the A scendant deal could go through, we would have a huge, immediate cash injection into our eco nomy. Why is it being held up? Is it the Regulatory Authority? Is there—
Hon. E. David Burt: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSay it again. Hon. E. David Burt: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI will take your point of order. POINT O F ORDER Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, it is . . . I am trying my best to remain silent and maintain my veneer of attempting to maintain bipartisanship, but for the Honourable Deputy Leader of the Opposition to insinuate …
I will take your point of order.
POINT O F ORDER
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, it is . . . I am trying my best to remain silent and maintain my veneer of attempting to maintain bipartisanship, but for the Honourable Deputy Leader of the Opposition to insinuate 4064 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly that an Ascendant deal is being held up, when she, I think, holds the Shadow Ministry Portfolio for Regul atory Affairs, and could easily ask where this particular matter is, instead of throwing out accusations, she would know that it is with the Regulatory Authority fol-lowing a regulator y process that is spelled out in law.
Ms. Leah K. ScottThank you, Mr. Premier. And I was not insinuating that it was being held up, I am asking— POINT OF ORDER Hon. E. David Burt: Point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Honourable Member said, Why is this being held up?
Ms. Leah K. ScottOkay. Well, I said Why is it being held up? I would like to know where the progress is being delayed then. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, point of order.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberWhat is your point of order?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPoint of order, Premier. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I am going to ask that the Honourable Member withdraw her statement. She is misleading the House by saying that the trans-action is being held up. It is following the proces s that is laid out …
Point of order, Premier.
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I am going to ask that the Honourable Member withdraw her statement. She is misleading the House by saying that the trans-action is being held up. It is following the proces s that is laid out in law and no specific person is holding an ything up, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMember, I think you are clever enough to be able to get around that.
Ms. Leah K. ScottThank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I will contact the Regulatory Authority to get an update. Mr. Speaker, the reality is that top- down sol utions fail and they will continue to fail because there are decisions being made by people who are actually not feeling the impact of the things …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I will contact the Regulatory Authority to get an update. Mr. Speaker, the reality is that top- down sol utions fail and they will continue to fail because there are decisions being made by people who are actually not feeling the impact of the things that are going on in our community. And t hey are made by people who do not contact the people who actually matter. So when it comes to innovation, you know who has the best ideas, Mr. Speaker? [It is] the pe ople who are doing the jobs, the customers and the end users, because they know the products. They know the services. They know the process. You know, I bet if you went to any of the people who are performing “essential” service functions (at the grocery stores and other places), they could set up processes that would make the process that the y are currently undergoing even more efficient. They are the ones who are able to identify the potential for change. So, Mr. Speaker, I would like . . . and my colleague actually did mention this morning, or ask the Minister of Finance whether or not subc ommittees would be formed. But I think that there are subcommi ttees that need to be formed with people who are actually in the business. So I did call his name on Mo nday when I spoke to Mike Sharpe, Paul Wilmot : How do we provide something and we create a level pla ying field there ? Dale Fox and Coolie Robinson know about construction. Marico Thomas knows about sustainable health care. Trae Cannonier, Dwayne Robi nson, Stefan Johnson: How can we support them in their social media? Trevor Lindsay, Ceola Wilson, Ayo Johnson, and Print Media: How do we enhance that? How do we bring them together into this process? Tom Wadson, [who knows] farming and fruits sustainability, which are going to be a critical need for this country if we continue to go the way that w e are going. You know, there are already disruptions in the food chain in the United States now. Lisa Rivas and Sharron Fenn are young women, entrepreneurs in retail. What about contacting them for their ideas ? Chris Sabir for landscaping. Delvin Bean for fishing and tourism. There are multiple people who we need to be having discussions with who are actually on the ground doing the work. And we will not get anywhere until we have cross -thinking and forward planning, Mr. Speaker. We, as Legislators, have to develop suppor tive legislation that is going to secure the future of our country and bolster innovation. I was glad to hear my colleague, Zane De Silva, this morning speaking about the superyacht isolation endeavours, and I applaud the Minister. But, yo u know, Mr. Speaker, it is kind of ironic that the Premier has consistently berated America’s [Cup] 35 as a boat race for billionaires and he touted it as an advantage that appeals to only a narrow segment of society, but now we are chasing the billionaires who form that narrow segment of soc iety to get their boats back here. Go figure, Mr. Speaker. And, you know, Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day no plan is going to be successful without a hard look at immigration. And I know it is an uncomfortable conv ersation, but COVID -19 has actually slowed the flow of people and trade and capital worldwide, not just Bermuda. So how are we going to address it? And I understand people saying, We don’t want to be like Cayman. Or, We don’t want to be a banana r epublic either. So we have got to find a way to be ec onomically sound. We have got to find a way to [attract] investors into Bermuda. If the billionaires have the money and they want to come here and they have certain considerations or criteria that they would like for us to consider, we now have to consider those things. Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4065
Bermuda House of Assembly We are not a country that can be self - sustaining. We do not even have our own money. We are pegged to the US dollar. So how are we going to create a future that is going to be viable —
[Inaudible speech due to microphone feedback]
Ms. Leah K. Scott—our innings are just about to this next to last over , but we have to endeavour to create and sustain a country for our children’s chi ldren’s children. I do not even add children’s childre n anymore. And so how are we going to do that? Mr. Speaker, you …
—our innings are just about to this next to last over , but we have to endeavour to create and sustain a country for our children’s chi ldren’s children. I do not even add children’s childre n anymore. And so how are we going to do that? Mr. Speaker, you know, a lot of people have been saying, Oh, I can’t wait to get back to normal and . . . I do not really want to go back to normal, because “normal,” as I understand it, was equal to i ncome inequality, joblessness for people, homeles sness for people, pay disparity and inequality between men and women, gender inequality, structural racism. So, no, I do not want normal. I want new, better and different. And I am prepared to put skin in the game to help to ac hieve it. So we have to move forward with innovative and new ideas. And for the armchair quarterbacks who want to criticise, I say, Get out of your chair and get in the game and start throwing around ideas and solutions that will help us get to the goal. Mr. Speaker, my colleague, MP Famous is correct. We cannot put people back to work in just agriculture, but we can open our borders to invite in job creators and innovative thinkers who will assist us in creating jobs and creating support for our economy. I have heard interesting comments from everyone t oday about the regulations, and sustainability and things like that. But we cannot keep dancing around the immigration elephant . We are going to have to eat that elephant one bite at a time. It might not be palatable, but immigration is going to be the key and the essence to our survival as a jurisdiction. There is no getting around it anymore. I agree that we have some rough times ahead; however, we will get through it. We are going to have to take giant le aps and changes in our mindset and how we think and how we behave. And the overall impact will be none like we have ever felt or had before. But at the end of the day, what I say to people is, What’s the worst thing that has ever happened to you? And if y ou are here today to talk about it, that means you got through it. You might be bruised, you might be battered, you might be worn and war -weary, but you got through it. We will get through it, but we have to be changed and we have to be changed for the bet ter. We have a whiteboard in front of us that we can create whatever we want to do, and we need to create something that is going to be viable, sustainable and different. We can no longer be contained wit hin the box. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I will mute my m icrophone. Thank you, very much.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member. The next Member I am going to call on is the Government Whip. Honourable Member, would you like to make your contribution? HANSARD —MP QUESTIONS ACCURACY OF 16 MARCH 2020 HANSARD
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottYes, thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, me, my, mine, these are words that do not rhyme. Us, we, our s, together, these are words that last forever. Now, I start by saying that because my father taught me quite a while ago that language is the …
Yes, thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, me, my, mine, these are words that do not rhyme. Us, we, our s, together, these are words that last forever. Now, I start by saying that because my father taught me quite a while ago that language is the fingerprint of our emotions. Now, in ps ychological terms that would be known as a “Freudian slip.” For those spiritual members in our community, that would be Psalm 19:14, Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be understand ing to him, be pleasing to Him. But, Mr. Speaker, between the dates of March 16 th and May 8th, speaking of meditation of hearts and just speaking of one’s heart, between those two dates I have sat in countless meetings focused on getting the country back up and running, talking with airlines, and trying to make sure that our tourism stakeholders are . . . remain interested, ready and chomping at the bit to come back to Bermuda when we are ready to open our borders. I have been managing and overseeing Skyport and Aecon and ensuring that that pr oject remains on time and on budget, minimising our exposure to the risk of additional expenditures as per the project agreement, and also making sure that the risk exposure about the minimum revenue guarantee that the previous administration signed this country up for is as least impactful or hurtful as it can possibly be. I have also personally called 900 of the 1200 registered voters in my constituency throughout the different phases to mak e sure that they are okay, that they are making it through. And those members of my constituency who had issues and were having trouble affording food, having trouble going to the grocery store . . . I worked with the third sector. I helped deli ver food to those families inside my constituency. And not just inside my constituency, but inside other Members’ constituencies. I have also personally helped some of the 33 women and 17 children who needed to escape abusive situations during the lockdown. And so, Mr. Speaker, that is not everything. That is just some of the things that I have done during that time period. In addition to that, outside of dealing with COVID -19 related issues, I have also been mentoring some of our youth in how to hone their craft, w hether it be on social media, whether it be journalism, photography, and also educating them on how Parliament and the Westminster system that governs us works. 4066 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Now, Mr. Speaker, you better than most will know that this year is the 400th anniversary of th e House of Assembly, and that the House of Assembly is putting together a team of young Bermudians to help create a programme (which we should be launc hing later on this year) that helps educates persons by breaking down the way the Westminster system that governs us works. The thing is that one of those things and one of the aspects of that programme is educating people on the roles of the different officers of the political system and of Parliament. And one of those roles is that of the Whip. Now, the Whip is expected to be well versed in all rules, policies and procedures of the House of Assembly. So, now, Mr. Speaker, with that backdrop, I am aware that when it comes to the Hansard, contrary to popular belief, that it is a written document of the sentim ents of a parliamentary meeting, not a transcript of the same. Now what do I mean by that, Mr. Speaker? That if you know Bermudian dialect, we always like to mix it and for our more seasoned me mbers in society, we often like to change and interchange our w ’s for v’s. Like, O pen the “vindow ” and get some “w entilation ” to go through.
[Laughter]
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottRight? So, but now, Mr. Speaker, when you look at Hansard, Hansard will have, Why don’t you open the “window” to allow some “ventilation” to go through. . . so, therefore, in doing that there is a way within the rules that a Member can amend the Hansard to reflect …
Right? So, but now, Mr. Speaker, when you look at Hansard, Hansard will have, Why don’t you open the “window” to allow some “ventilation” to go through. . . so, therefore, in doing that there is a way within the rules that a Member can amend the Hansard to reflect the context of what they were trying to get across, not what they actually said. Meaning that you can have some words added, you can have some words changed. And as long as it does not dramatically change the . . . the . . . as long as it does not dramatically change the context of what is going on, then it will be allowed. So, therefore, if you had a Member in the House of Assembly t hat was to use the Hansard to vindicate themselves, it is . . . it could be seen as mi sleading at best. Because how can the foundation of your vindication be a document that that same Member can directly amend? However, that is not my biggest concern, Mr. Speaker. Also part of the parliamentary procedure is exactly where we are now, Mr. Speaker, the motion to adjourn, MTA. That is when a Member is allowed the opportunity in which they can raise any and every feeling, concern, challenge that their constituents have raised to them. They can raise that profile of the situation. They can have the Government be made aware of a challenge that their voters are facing right now, Mr. Speaker, and it puts it on a public . . . it a llows for any Member of the legislatur e, for any Member of the House, any Member in the Chamber to hold the Government accountable for what is going on in their constituency that they are not happy with. So, Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned those dates before from March until April, the two months that we were facing a worldwide pandemic, when we come back from a two- month somewhat hiatus, the first topic that a Member brings to highlight, to flag as an i mportant issue . . because remember “I, me, my, mine these are things that do not rhyme.” The f irst thing they bring back is to talk about themselves and som ething that happened to them two months ago which people have probably forgotten. But now what concerns me even more than that, because that right there shows you where the focus of that individual could be. Right? And from there what happens and what concerns me even more is that the daily, the Royal Gazette, with ever ything that is going on right now decides that today is the day to try to plant seeds of discontent amongst Members, and then to try to disguise it by saying, Well, the Premier said we were going to work toget her. The Premier said it was going to be Kumbaya. Of all the time they put today . . . they put in the daily t oday something that could be used and could be seen as “them are f ighting words,” and try to get Members to go down into the depths, to go down into the mud and the mudslinging . . . what does that say about the focus of the Royal Gazette? Because, Mr. Speaker, I do not remember back on February 3, 2017, when a Member used pr ofanity that, if I was to utter those words my mother would have washed my mouth out with soap immediately —
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberMy, my, my.
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottI do not remember seeing an op-ed from the editor himself saying that this should be tak en seriously, that we need to have somebody apologise for that. It took the Opposition at the time (which is now the Government) to raise that concern, to hold them to account. So, …
I do not remember seeing an op-ed from the editor himself saying that this should be tak en seriously, that we need to have somebody apologise for that. It took the Opposition at the time (which is now the Government) to raise that concern, to hold them to account. So, Mr. Speaker, as I said —
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Mr. Speaker, poi nt of order.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPoint of order. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes, he is mi sleading the House whether intentionally or not. But it was the Speaker of the day who r equested that the comments to which the Honourab le Member is now referring be withdrawn, and they …
Point of order.
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes, he is mi sleading the House whether intentionally or not. But it was the Speaker of the day who r equested that the comments to which the Honourab le Member is now referring be withdrawn, and they were done at that point in time. So I just want to make sure that this is clear. It was not the Opposition at the time, it was the Speaker who thought that it was inappropr iate for the words [which] were spoken to the HonourOfficial Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4067
Bermuda House of Assembly able Member by a member of the press to be . . . I mean, sorry, by a member of the public, to be repor ted verbatim.
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottAnd Mr. Speaker, I know that time heals all wounds. But those comments back then were horrible, and they are still horrible today. And I would appreciate . . . I think the country would appreciate if the Member were to apologise again for such unparliamentary language, would apologise for …
And Mr. Speaker, I know that time heals all wounds. But those comments back then were horrible, and they are still horrible today. And I would appreciate . . . I think the country would appreciate if the Member were to apologise again for such unparliamentary language, would apologise for bringing the House into disrepute, Mr. Speaker. Hmm! My word!
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Continue. Go ahead. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: I am sorry. I was not sure if you were acknowledging my point of order.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI was just about to make the comment before you jumped in . . . I was just about to remind the Member that the matter was addressed at the time that it took place. And it was quite a few years ago and there have been many things that …
I was just about to make the comment before you jumped in . . . I was just about to remind the Member that the matter was addressed at the time that it took place. And it was quite a few years ago and there have been many things that have been said in the past years that would have been addressed and we moved on. And we would not want to have to open up a can of worms where we are asking people to get up time and time again to apologise for things that have already been addressed in the past. So just be mindful of that, Member, in your comm ent.
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottOkay. Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker. I will be guided by your com-ments. But, Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting that going back to the Hansard and using the Hansard as vindication when the audio . . . the audio . . . and I invite Members to listen …
Okay. Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker. I will be guided by your com-ments. But, Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting that going back to the Hansard and using the Hansard as vindication when the audio . . . the audio . . . and I invite Members to listen to it. I invite persons to listen to it, and they can judge for themselves to see what was said and what was not said. And going back to the daily, the Royal G azette, one thing is that they are quick to use my name but slow to gi ve me a phone call. Because I have yet to receive a call to find out what my side of the understanding is. What did I hear? Because I was there. I do not recall them, the editor himself, being there. But yet he is quick to write about that. So, therefore, while we are on the . . . while we are under a pandemic, while we are under a state of emergency working to get this country back up and running, facing challenge after challenge, for the daily, for the Royal Gazette to purposely try to sow seeds of discontent, I believe that that article and that opinion piece should be retracted because they did not do their due diligence. They did not . . . all they did was take the Hansard, which they were not under the . . . which they did not realise could be amended by Members, because they do not understand how Parliament works. But yet they are quick to put out information that is inaccurate. And when you put out information that is inaccurate and you are held to account, you should apologise, Mr. Editor, for misleading the country. And I would expect that not just tomorrow, b ecause tomorrow is not the biggest media or print day or highest viewership or readership of the Royal G azette, but on Monday morning there should be a r etraction from the Editor of the Royal Gazette on that piece with an apology to myself and to Jason Ha yward for mischaracterising us, for misrepresenting us. And so, therefore, Mr. Speaker, I felt as though it was time for me to make sure to do my job as the Whip and educate, not just Members of the House of Assembly, [and] to educate not just me mbers of the community, but to educate the Editor of the Royal Gazette on the way Parliament works. And I hope that other Members, and other members of the community and the youth will listen to the programme that the House of Assembly will be putting out later this year which breaks down the way this Westminster system works so that no longer can anybody in this community pull the wool over our eyes, because a better educated community, politically, makes better political decisions, which means that we have better governance. And with better governance all persons can be successful with governments. The haves can continue to have, but the have- nots will have more. Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member. The next Honourable Member I would like to recognise is the Honourable Member Gordon-Pamplin. Honourable Member. HANSARD —MP UPHOLDS ACCURACY OF 16 MARCH 2020 HANSARD Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned when we came back to the House …
Thank you, Honourable Member. The next Honourable Member I would like to recognise is the Honourable Member Gordon-Pamplin. Honourable Member.
HANSARD —MP UPHOLDS ACCURACY OF 16 MARCH 2020 HANSARD Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned when we came back to the House two weeks ago, I mentioned then that whenever, or if ever, I misspeak I am the first to acknowledge it. And it was based on that that I had the motion to adjourn that I did. I stand by what I saw in the Hansard. The Honourable Member who just took his seat, who just finished speaking, indicated that a Hansard is not a verbatim report but, rather, a representation of what was captured, and that Members can change the Hansard. I can say I unequivocally, Mr. Speaker, that in the events of that particular day at no time was any request made of me to change or clarify anything that 4068 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly was said on that day. So I can simply say that the Hansard, to me, represented exactly what I said. And I am bi g enough to say, Mr. Speaker, that I did not go back and listen to the recording, because one of the things that I do find is that when you come back with a recording and you transcribe it you can then be accused of manipulating it to suit your own purposes. And that is just not what I am about, Mr. Speaker. So let me just say that when the Honourable Member who just took his seat indicated that “I, me, my, and mine are words that do not rhyme,” and what did we hear that since the last . . . the 16 th of Mar ch to 18th of May the number of “I’s” that the Honourable Member had in his Statement about “I” p olled my constituents, “I” sat on this committee, “I” did this, “I” did that. Mr. Speaker, let me just suggest, or let me just remind not just the Members of t he Honourable House, but there is nobody sitting within the sound of my voice who would have any different experience, other than perhaps the boards on which the Honour able Member sat —for which he is being paid . . . nobody would have had different experie nces —
[Inaudible speech due to microphone feedback]
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: —our outreach to our respective communities and our constituents. So, Mr. Speaker, I said what I said in the last Hansard. I have not listened to the . . . to the tape to which the Honourable Member alluded earlier. And I will do so, because I am never one who would want to stand by something if it was inaccurate. But I know what I said, Mr. Speaker. I know who I am. And I know how I think. And it is in that vein that I was able to say the things that I said. It is not up to me, Mr. Speaker, to be the d ecency monitor for Members of the House. It is not up to me, Mr. Speaker, I could . . . I reported, as the Honourable Member said, back in 2017 what was said to me as I was on the way to the House, as an indic ation of some of the insults and the indecencies that we as Members of Parliament experience on a day -to-day basis in doing the only job that we set out to do, and that is to do the best that we can for the people of t his country. That has never changed, Mr. Speaker. I have been in Parliament, as I mentioned, for 21 years. And during that period of time the only objective of my presence here is to do the best that I can for this country, Mr. Speaker. How it is chosen t o be reported is beyond my control. I do not call the press and say, Do this article. Or, Do that article. They do what they do. And if they do things incorrectly, then it is up to any individual to go back and say to them that, I think it is important tha t you correct it. Or whatever. Mr. Speaker, you can rest assured that there was no time . . . under normal circumstances when we are asked to correct the Hansard . . . the Honourable Member made it sound as though we could rewrite history. But the only tim e that we are asked to correct is—
[Inaudible speech due to microphone feedback]
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: —and the last time that I was asked to correct the Hansard was be-cause there was a —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWell— Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: —they showed that there was a “PHONETIC” representation of a name that was said, and could I clarify that that name was correct. And that was all that I have ever been asked to—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou are buffering a little. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: —respond to in respect . . . I’m sorry? [No audible response] Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: That was the only thing that I was asked to respond to in terms of a Hansard, and that was to clarify a …
You are buffering a little. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: —respond to in respect . . . I’m sorry? [No audible response]
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: That was the only thing that I was asked to respond to in terms of a Hansard, and that was to clarify a name that had been misspelled. And it had nothing to do wit h this partic ular instance. So let me just leave it at that, Mr. Speaker, because I will go back and I will listen to that tape b ecause that is who I am. And I have no objection to being . . . to correcting myself if, in fact, I have misspoken in any way, shape or form. But as I said, I know me. And that is not like something that I would have said. However, I am not going to belabour that particular issue anymore, Mr. Speaker, because, as I said, if people feel as though they can say whatever they want t o say and do whatever they want to do, and because they said it that they have to be correct, that is on them. I really, honestly, as I said, Mr. Speaker, believe, Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disap-pointed. And on some people in this particular arena, Mr. Speaker, I have no expectation, so I have no di sappointment ––
[Inaudible speech due to microphone feedback]
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: —in respect of those things that I hear. But I want to move on, Mr. Speaker, and th at is in recognising the fact that — [Microphone feedback] Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: —some of the situations that we have that, from a country and from Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4069
Bermuda House of Assembly a financial perspective we are, as has been articulated by a friend of mine, on the second swirl down the to ilet. And, Mr. Speaker, it does not leave much to get the pictorial as to what that represents. So if we do not start pulling together and coming up with ideas in which we can help to enhance experience that our people are possessing, then I believe that we are fai ling in our calling, Mr. Speaker.
ONLINE EDUCATION CHALLENGES
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Mr. Speaker, the other thing that I wanted to speak to as well was in respect to education because I had the privilege last Thursday of being one of the—
[Microphone feedback] Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: —members on the virtual education platform for the Civics class for Dalton [E.]Tucker [Primary School]. It was a great experience. I know other Members have participated in similar e xperiences, and I would encourage that we all do so to the extent that we possibly can. But with that said, Mr. Speaker, one of the things that perhaps disturbed me more than ever was the announcement at the beginning of the session that one of the indivi duals, one of the children, was unable to join the class by virtue of the fact that her mother had the only device that had data so that she could be able to listen to the Zoom presentation, and the mom had to go to work that day thereby leaving the child at home without the benefit of having access, to be able to attend the class. Now, Mr. Speaker, what do we do in circumstances like this, other than to say [to] the parent, when the parent gets home and the child has access, feel free to call so that we c an relay the information so that no child is left behind in terms of their peer group and how they are able to learn and understand things that their friends will be able to know that they would have heard from somebody externally, in order for that individual not to be left behind. And I think that this is critical. And I say that to ask that the Education Minister . . . I know he did indicate that some of the teachers are permitted to take education packages home. But there are some experiences that cannot be replicated by virtue of a written package. And I think that we have an obligation, I think, to ensure that not only are all of our students brought along on the same platform at the same time, but to the extent that they are left wanting as a result of insufficient or inadequate access to the appropriate mechanisms to be able to do online training and lear ning, then that child needs to have special attention. I think we have to figure a way, Mr. Speaker, by which . . . and I do know that there have b een some organisations who have volunteered to ensure that the . . . that computers, and laptops, and the like are made available to some young people. And it is important, Mr. Speaker, that this availability be made manifest as soon as possible so that we do not have children being left behind. It has been difficult enough, I would believe, for both parents and students, as well as teachers, to try to ensure that at the end of the school year we actually are on top of the curriculum and that students have been able to learn and to be able to be functional in their knowledge of all the things that are i mportant. And from that perspective, Mr. Speaker, I be-lieve that we have to do whatever is necessary to ensure that those . . . that the outreach is there in order to make sure that our kids are not left behind.
COVID -19 ECONOMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: And finally, Mr. Speaker (I am not sure how much time I have left, but finally), I would like to speak to the comments that were made by my Honourable Deputy Leader in r espect of the committee that has been established. You will recall that it was at the 25 th of March that I had in fact asked that the Government put t ogether such a committee. And while it has [taken] a little longe r coming together, we have at least reached the point where a committee has been established. And, yes, it is important to be able to have people who can look from an overview of the situation on how we can best compile ideas for the benefit of the country , I think we also will have the starting point of the reports to which the Honourable Member referred, such as the BermudaFirst Report, the Fiscal Responsibility Report, the SAGE Report, all of those reports are there and literally are the starting point f or deliber ation. But I believe what is key, and I think the point was mentioned by the Honourable Deputy Leader, is that everybody who needs to have input needs to be able to know that there is a source—whether it is through Members of Parliament, whether it is through the committee members themselves, whether it is through some subcommittee, however they need to reach out —to ensure that their positions are not just articulated but they are articulated and understood. So with that said, Mr. Speaker, I woul d like for us to do a better job in terms of when we are making policy, and especially under these emergency situations, and as we go into stage 2 now, and as we are moving onto stage 3, and stage 4, that we do start to listen to some of those people who are involved intr icately in the operations of their particular area of di scipline and that we listen to them. I do know that from . . . of the . . . the Premier, I have made some r equests for particular areas of the economy where people have had input and t he Premier has been . . . he has acquiesced, and he has been most amenable to ensuring that these meeting have been arranged. And I think that these are the important things to know that we always have the opportunity to listen 4070 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly to people as they, you know , put ideas forward. B ecause these . . . you know, our people are struggling. We are struggling. And this is not just from any parti cular segment of the community. There are some who may be financially better off than others, but they are struggling in ter ms of recognising that life is not life as normal, Mr. Speaker. And if life is not life as normal, then I think that we have to recognise what the new normal is likely to be, and we have to be able to adjust with the least possible pain for the most possible people. So, we want the majority of us to have as little suffering as we possibly can. And I think that this is . . . therein lies how we can continue to work together, Mr. Speaker, as parties, as a country, to be able to get to be able to weather the storm that has been given to us in this unprecedented experience that we are ha ving.
HANSARD —MP UPHOLDS ACCURACY OF 16 MARCH 2020 HANSARD
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Now, Mr. Speaker, finally, I am pleased to know that you made reference to the stat e that when years have gone by that perhaps some of the things that we say at that point in time can perhaps . . . I mean, you know, you can apologise from now until forever for things that have been said. And if an apology is not accepted then you might j ust as well not apologise. So, when people continue to bring things up way down the road, just recognise that it goes two ways. Because when we as a party in Government were called cockroaches, Mr. Speaker, that was okay. You know, it was lauded, it was applauded, it was . . . you know? And it was deemed to be appropriate. I never considered that to be appropriate. And yet when that comes up again at some other point in time, people do take exception, and I took exception to it because, Mr. Speaker, when y ou speak of one Member of Parliament you effectively speak to us —speak of all of us. None of us is unique in this parliamentary experience. We all are tarred with the same brush whenever there is a criticism that is made. It is never necessarily that the OBA Members did this or the PLP Members did that, but it is “the Parliamentarians.” So if there is something unsavoury about what somebody has done, it reflects on every single one of us, Mr. Speaker. So I can end, Mr. Speaker, by saying I will go and lis ten to 7:7:19, as the Honourable Member said, as far as the audio is concerned, but I can confirm without fear of contradiction and in a most unequiv ocal manner that I have never changed any Hansard that has been sent or, you know, that has formed part of the historic record of Parliament. If the Whip of Government is indicating that the Hansards are useless or that they are not acc u-rate, that they could be changed, that they could be manipulated, then I think we have a bigger problem than that which I thi nk that we are discussing today, Mr. Speaker. But as I said, I am not the decency moni tor. It is not my intention or desire to visit decency upon those who just may not possess it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member. I now recognise the Honourable Member F amous. Honourable Member Famous.
Mr. Christopher FamousMr. Speaker, I had the privilege during the lockdown to freaky travel because I am an essential wor ker. But among those days of traveling, nights of traveling, there was something eery about you being the only car on the road, like, da ytime, nighttime, literally you see no other …
Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege during the lockdown to freaky travel because I am an essential wor ker. But among those days of traveling, nights of traveling, there was something eery about you being the only car on the road, like, da ytime, nighttime, literally you see no other car on the road. On my journey I drove across Devonshire Church which has a graveyard. I drove across St. John’s Church which has a graveyard. And I park my car next to the Methodist graveyard on Cemetery Road. That is every day. And in the time of driving on the road by myself, it gave me time to reflect that no matter what cha llenges we have, the fact that Mr. A ugustus, or Mr. Rawlins, or Mr. Amis has not pulled up in our yard, we have to give thanks. Mr. Speaker, the theme of my short, short speech today is Give Thanks [and Praises]. Bob Marley who passed away some 29 years ago, I want to say, had a song: Give thanks and praises to the Most -I [(Jah!)]; Give thanks and praises so high So, today, Mr. Speaker, I am just going to give thanks for a few things. First, top of the list, I want to give thanks to the OBA. Because desp ite whatever little pettiness that goes on at times, when I see what is going on in other countries, the Opposition and the Government are like literally at war during a pandem-ic. And the OBA, for all of its flaws, just like the PLP Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4071
Bermuda House of Assembly has its flaws, has been in lockstep with the PLP, the Government, as the Premier said. Today we listened to the Honourable Shadow National Security Minister, Ben Smith, give a quite detailed report of what goes on in the EMO [Eme rgency Measures Organisation] and how decisions got to be made, and how things are working out best to work out for businesses, and how he was able to be a part of that equation. And you say to yourself, Wow, he gave a very comprehensive report. And in other countries you are not going to hear the Oppos ition Shadow Minister gi ving that type of report. They will be degrading the Government, Oh, why are you not allowing this? Why are you not allowing that? So, give thanks for the O pposition Leader and their caucus allowing him to sit in on the EMO. Give th anks to even the Deputy Oppos ition Leader. Today I was sitting there wondering, like, Wow, she sounds like she wants to be PLP now. Like she is saying, Let’s stop this trickledown. It didn’t work. It didn’t work then and it’s not going to work now. And we need to start from the bottom up. And I thought, Oh, wow! I better send her a membership slip. Mr. Speaker, I say that not in jest but in effect that this situation has me, all of us, realising what is important and what is not really important. Over the last week I have seen a lot of negative remarks about civil service, about the unions, about the workers of Bermuda. So, I want to say give thanks to the civil service. Give thanks to the Customs and Immigration [officers] who secured our borders when per sons were coming in, possibly with COVID -19. They stood on the front lines and processed the passports. Give thanks to them. Give thanks to the [Bermuda] Police [Service] and the Regiment. When everybody else, 99 per cent of the population, was safely at h ome they were out there on the streets 24 hours a day ensuring safety on the roads, ensuring compliance with the shelter in place. Give thanks to the nurses and all the medical staff at KEMH, at MWI, attending to those who are physically ill, attending to those who are mentally ill, attending to those who [have] unfortunately passed away, but passed away in dignity. So I give thanks to them. I give thanks to the people at the Workforce Development who meticulously, pain . . . go through a lot of pain. [They ] went through 11,000 (some were triplicates) applications for unemployment benefits from Bermudians who more than likely had never been unemployed before. It takes something to see someone apply for . . . I won’t say a handout, but a need. And it took com passion for these people at the Workforce Development to deal with these. Not ever ything was done correctly or everything was done perfectly, but it was done. Of those who have applied, 80 per cent have been paid. So we give thanks to them. In some counti es, Mr. Speaker . . . I give thanks for thought of it from Honourable MP Jason Hayward and Minister Foggo who first conceptualised this. I did a survey of other Caribbean islands, and you know, Mr. Speaker, Bermuda is the only island that was paying people every week during the pa ndemic. In Turks and Caicos people got a one- time payment of $1,200 —a one -time payment. In Cayman Islands (the place people tell us, We got to be like Cayman Islands ) they got a one- time payment of $500, whilst in Bermuda people ar e getting . . . both Bermudians and guest workers are getting $500 per week. We are going to take licks for it on the balance sheet, but we give thanks that we have a Government that is willing to put their neck on the chopping block to ensure people are able to go to the grocery store. So I give thanks also to those at the Finance Ministry who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes, wor king to the nighttime, working during the weekends, to ensure these payments went out. Again, not ever ything was done perfectly, but 80 per cent who have applied so far have been paid. So I give thanks to them, and they were led by the Finance Minister. I give thanks to the sanitation workers because as we know four -legged creatures can increase a pandemic. And they came out every day during the lockdown to ensure our streets were cleaned of refuse and trash. So we give thanks to them. I give thanks to the teachers who have had to innovate and do Zoom teaching. I have had the priv ilege of being invited to two Zoom meetings, and it was amazing to see the children attentive and the teacher keeping them focused on the lessons that had to be learned. So I give thanks to the Ministry of Education who has switched from in- class to online teaching. Despite one or two people who might not have an i nstrument here and there, the bulk of students have [what they need for] Zoom learning. Mr. Speaker, most of all, I give thanks to the people of Bermuda who have been disciplined, who have attentively listened to information versus scar emongering. At first persons were, Oh, 5G is killing off people. Oh, this is killing off people. Oh, Bill Gates is killing off people. But they listened to those press conferences every week, every day, when it was first coming out, and they learned. They studied. They di sciplined themselves. You could hardly find . . . you see people driving around with masks on now versus . . . that is not really needed, but the point is they understand the gravity of the situation. And, finally, Mr. Speaker, that is the disc ipline of our people which has allowed us to move from phase 1 to phase 2. So I am asking the people to r emain disciplined in the new norm that is going to allow us to move to phase 3, because in moving to phase 3 4072 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly we are able to get more of our people off of unemployment benefits and back on to the . . . I won’t say regular pay cheques, but back to a steady pay cheque. We are facing something economically as my colleague and cousin, Rolfe, likes to say, that we have never seen before, a black swan event. A nd we are going to have to put our heads down. I mean, this committee that was formed, committees that were formed before, we are all going to come to the same conclusion: we have to cut expenses. We have to look for more income. It is really simple. How w e cut these expenses is the key. So, to those public officers out there this Government will never, never neglect you. We will take licks because we want to save your jobs. So, on that, Mr. Speaker, I give thanks and praise to the “Most -I”. I give thanks and praise to the Opposition and the Government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe Speaker[Thank you], Mr. Famous. The next Member I am going to acknowledge right now is actually the constituency next to you, Mr. Famous. Mr. Dunkley, would you like to make y our contribution at this time? HANSARD —MP SEEKS SPEAKER’S ASSESSMENT OF HANSAR D’S ACCURACY Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank …
[Thank you], Mr. Famous. The next Member I am going to acknowledge right now is actually the constituency next to you, Mr. Famous. Mr. Dunkley, would you like to make y our contribution at this time?
HANSARD —MP SEEKS SPEAKER’S ASSESSMENT OF HANSAR D’S ACCURACY Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank honourable colleagues for their comments in the motion to adjourn. Before I get into the substance and part of what I would like to say, [I am] disappointed that my honourable colleague, Patricia Gordon- Pamplin, had to defend herself. I have known her as one of the most honourable persons in politics because she serves with a passion, she serves with an open heart, she is not afraid to recognise an error in judgment or in what she might have said, and she is not afraid to stand up at all times. And I am disappointed to see that that matter surfaced again. And, Mr. Speaker, I guess what I would like to see from that is that there are certain, I guess, suggestions, would be a light way to put it, about the Hansard. And if you could provide some clarification at another time on the accuracy of the Hansard, I believe it would be important, because many of us in the House of Assembly quite often fall back on the Hansard. We refer to the Hansard—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWell, let me save you, Mr. Dunkley, in that— Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI have already had communications with my t echnical people to ask them to do a proper assessment of what was discussed earlier on that matter and we can move, you k now, we do not have to grapple with that. Okay? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. …
I have already had communications with my t echnical people to ask them to do a proper assessment of what was discussed earlier on that matter and we can move, you k now, we do not have to grapple with that. Okay?
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that because as the Hono urable Member for Tourism and Transport, he is so keen on saying, Refer to the Hansard. I want to be able to refer to it and use that as an accurate comment, Mr. Speaker.
GIVING THANKS
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Following on from where the Honourable Member Mr. Famous was, I would not say that the Opposition has been in lockstep with the Government. The Opposition has clearly been very supportive of the Government in many areas and, u nlike the PLP, in my view, when they were in Oppos ition, we have tried to deliver any criticism in the a ppropriate way, especially during these very difficult times that we face where the community from one end of the Island to the other lives in a great deal of uncertainty, many people live in fear, many people are rea lly strug gling, and the problems that we face seem i nsurmountable for many people at many times. But I do appreciate Honourable Member Famous’ comments about giving thanks. And it is something that I think we should do because as we have been locked down, as many p eople have been shut off from their family and friends for long periods of time, they probably have felt more insecure than they would normally feel because they have not been able to reach out. Part of the value of humans in our lives is to be able to reach out to friends and family and to be able to have communication, to get together, to laugh, to cry. And we have not been able to do much of that through this pandemic period. So, yes, we need to give thanks for everyone in the community for helping us get through that. And quite often, Mr. Speaker, well, actually twice a week, I like to look back at what I believe are pertinent quotes that stand the test of time. And yesterday I posted something that had me reflecting for a period of time when I read it , and it goes like this: Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the pote ntial to turn a life around. That quote, Mr. Speaker, I think epitomises the challenges we face as a community now. And it is great to see Members of Parliament reaching out to their colleagues, as we have heard earlier, reaching out to their constituency, as we have heard earlier because many people are living in a void, living in a vacuum. And that is the only way we are going to get through it is if leaders in the community rally together, do everything we can to try to put ourselves in a better position to go forward.
Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4073
Bermuda House of Assembly PROMOTING LOCAL FOOD SECURITY
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: So, while we have been very supportive of Government, Mr. Speaker, tonight I would just like to make a few comments and ask a few questions to Honourable Government Members because while, generally, their handling of this virus pandemic has I t hink been very good, and we have been very supportive often about it, there are some chinks in our armour that, I believe if we paid attention to, we would be in a better position going forward. Now, Mr. Speaker, earlier in the day we ran out of time on Mi nisterial Statement questions, so I just wanted to ask a couple of questions on those Statements and the first one was in connection with food security. And taking your advice, Mr. Speaker, the question I will ask —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAs I have said to you, and I also had communication with the Minister, it is a little leniency in allowing it, but don’t stretch the grace too far. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I will attempt to ask the question to the Minister of Tourism and Transport …
As I have said to you, and I also had communication with the Minister, it is a little leniency in allowing it, but don’t stretch the grace too far.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I will attempt to ask the question to the Minister of Tourism and Transport which, with your guidance, is what you suggested should be done.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerBasically I was saying that you could address the Minister of . . . who you put the original question to under the guise of what his Statement was. Meaning, his Statement did mention “shipment,” but you have to direct it to the food supply and not anything else in …
Basically I was saying that you could address the Minister of . . . who you put the original question to under the guise of what his Statement was. Meaning, his Statement did mention “shipment,” but you have to direct it to the food supply and not anything else in reference to shipment. If it was som ething else in relation to shipment, you need to put that in another question at another time because that was not the content of the Statement this morning. The Statement did mention “shipment.” I can give you credit for that. But it did mention shipment as it related to food supply, nothing else.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Right. Right.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerIf your question is related to shipping and something else, it would have to come at another time, in another format, because that was the part of the Statement this morning from that particular Mini ster. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the guidance. …
If your question is related to shipping and something else, it would have to come at another time, in another format, because that was the part of the Statement this morning from that particular Mini ster.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the guidance. So, as the Statement did refer to protecting local food security, and in his Statement the Honour able Minister mentioned food supply chain, shipper and shipping lines, and global supply chains, and the list goes on. The question was, What steps have been taken to protect local food security, our supply chain, ensuring no virus contamination on supply ships? And it is a general question, Mr. Speaker, because we closed off our borders early, and I think that was very effective. We have seen that the shipping lines have kept crews on ships for a very extended period of time, and I understand that there are probably moves afoot to change out the crews. And so in looking at how we progress from the lockdown to phase 1, to phase 2, and on, it is important to make sure that if there are any potential holes in our safety net that we address them. And one of the ways that has been raised to me, and I am sure it has been raised to the Gover nment, is making sure that our shipping, our chain of supply through the three freighters that come in on a regular basis are not put off by any contamination on board the ship. So the question was generally to the Gover nment on what steps have taken place to make sure that any changeover of crews, if that happens, or any changing of pilots as the vessels come into the Island every week, is done to make sure that there is no spread or cross -contamination if it was to be impactive on any of those individuals. I think it is an important question and I am sure it is one that the Government has c onsidered and it is one that I think the community would look forward to some answers on, because in the beginning of the pandemic we were very concerned about the frequency of the freighters bringing in our supply. And while that concern might have ebbed slightly over the past couple of weeks, I still think it is something that we need to make sure that we continue to have that strong chain of supply. So, that is the question I would like to address to whichever Minister would like to an-swer that part of t he question.
SUPERYACHT PANDEMIC POLICY
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: The second thing, Mr. Speaker, is in connection with the Statement by the Honourable Member of Tourism and Transport in r egard to our superyacht policy. I am pleased to see that the Government is focusing in on superyachts, and I fully support the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s comments about the change of position from the Government when they were in the Opposition. But that point has been made. In regard to that Statement, I believe t hat superyachts can play an important part in our economy in Bermuda. However, Mr. Speaker, the Statement left many questions to be answered. And I will just ask the question to the Honourable Minister. In his Statement he talks about consultation with the Minister of Health, which would be natural in this case, the Bermuda Tourism Authority and local marine stakeholders in regard to any guidelines to this superyacht pandemic policy. The question that I would like to [ask], Mr. Speaker, is outside of that consultation in Bermuda, what type of research or consultation did we do with any other jurisdictions or overseas bodies? And the 4074 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly reason why I say that, Mr. Speaker, is because obv iously Bermuda has worked hard to build up a superyacht desire to come to our jurisdiction. The pandemic has closed it off all over the world, and if you take a look at our neighbours to the south in the Caribbean, they are starting to open up for business. So if our policy is not at the cutting edge of making Bermuda enticing, i f it falls short of what might be happening in jurisdictions to our south, we will certai nly not see any movement there. Secondly, Mr. Speaker, let me say before I make this comment, that, you know, there is a fine balance between opening up our economy and making sure that we still protect the health and safety of all Bermudians from this pandemic. Those are the calc ulated risks that Government has to make every day. We appreciate just how difficult those decisions are. But having said that, looking at t he superyacht policy, and it says until phase 4 there are a number of different, 12 different points that have to be followed. And point 7 says “All vessels’ owners, guests and crew are subject to 14- days of quarantine aboard the superyacht beginning of th e day of arrival in Bermuda. If the superyacht arrives prior to the owner or its guests, the 14- day quarantine commences again from the day of the arrival of the last person who joins the vessel.” [I have] a number of questions there. One is, will they ha ve to be quarantined on board that yacht and not get off the yacht for any activities such as swimming, snorkelling, fishing or anything like that? And secondly —
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe will take the point of order. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: The Honourable Member is misleading the House and misleading the general public. I do not know . . . it seems like he is reading from my Ministerial Statement. But if he reads …
We will take the point of order.
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: The Honourable Member is misleading the House and misleading the general public. I do not know . . . it seems like he is reading from my Ministerial Statement. But if he reads it again the answer is right there for him. Is he having a problem understanding English? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister, were you going to clarify the point or were you going to save that for when you get to your feet? Hon. Zane J. S. D e Silva: Well, the Honourable Member said, you know, when he asked the question or made the statement, when people arrive on Ber-muda …
Minister, were you going to clarify the point or were you going to save that for when you get to your feet? Hon. Zane J. S. D e Silva: Well, the Honourable Member said, you know, when he asked the question or made the statement, when people arrive on Ber-muda will they have to stay on the yacht or not? Read the paper; it is right there, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, I read that clause 7, and yes, I understand English, and those types of comments, certainly, I would think, are ina ppropriate if we are trying to have a reasonable debate. But that is the way the Honourable Member tries to be from time to time. My point being—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerDirect your comment here. Just direct them here. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: The question is asked and the point behind it is, Mr. Speaker, why would the Government think that any superyacht owner would come to Bermuda [and] quarantine on a boat for 14 days? That is the question. And …
Direct your comment here. Just direct them here.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: The question is asked and the point behind it is, Mr. Speaker, why would the Government think that any superyacht owner would come to Bermuda [and] quarantine on a boat for 14 days? That is the question. And if you go back to the questions I asked earlier, have we compared what they are doing in ot her jurisdictions? Because if other islands to our south are opening up and allowing more freedoms, then we certainly do not have a chance of having this be successful. So, Mr. Speaker, if Government believes this initiative is going to bring some type of economic activity, this is for them to take that appropriate opportunity and look at it. I do not believe that a superyacht will sail to Bermuda and stay on board for 14 days because they can do that anywhere. And I am sure they can go to the Caribbean and do it with much less restrictions. So, who have we consulted overseas, what are our competitors doing and are we in line with them? Now, based on the way that testing is going and some of the progress that we have made in r ecent times, Mr. Speaker, will the Government be very flexible if there are breakthroughs to allow more freedom to these types of policies? Now, the bigger question about all of this, Mr. Speaker, is: While I said Government has done a reasonable job through this pandemic period, one of the big talking points that very little attention has been paid to is tourism generally. And if you see over the past couple of days Delta has announced a number of flights that are starting back up to the Caribbean. Caribbean countries in many cases are opening up: Ar uba in June; St. Lucia on June 4 th; Antiqua and Barb uda on June 4th; Bahamas on July 1st. I think Granada is opening up in June. All with varying degrees and requirements, but, certainly, they are clearly enunciating what their policy is. They have airlines starting to announce that flights are flying back there. And Mr. Speaker, while I am not saying that Government should come out and say exactly when Bermuda is opening up, we need to be devoting more time to tourism because, while we slowly start to open up, one of the biggest challenges we face in our economy is . . . a lot of jobs are in hos pitality and resOfficial Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4075
Bermuda House of Assembly taurants, transportation, retail and wholesale. And until we get tourism operating with some degree of success, many of those jobs will be unable to return back and get to work. The hotel and restaurant industry started to see a little bit of an opening in phase 2—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI will take your point of order. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottYes, the Honourable Member is misleading the House. He is making people believe that there is no tourism plan and that we are not talking to the airlines. We are talking to the airlines, as I stated in my time when I had my turn to speak. We are talking …
Yes, the Honourable Member is misleading the House. He is making people believe that there is no tourism plan and that we are not talking to the airlines. We are talking to the airlines, as I stated in my time when I had my turn to speak. We are talking to the airlines on a constant basis. There is a plan. And with the recovery t his is not a situation where you want to be the first out of the blocks. You want to be able to look at other nations, see what they are doing, see their mistakes, and learn from their mistakes so that we do not make the same ones, so we can be better off than they are.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: —in no way am I saying that we had to be first out of the blocks. We need to do a better job of communicating what is happening with tourism. And this is not me saying this. This is what people in the industry …
Go ahead.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: —in no way am I saying that we had to be first out of the blocks. We need to do a better job of communicating what is happening with tourism. And this is not me saying this. This is what people in the industry are saying. This is what struggling Bermudians are saying. This is what you hear from one end of the Island to the other. Government needs to focus more attention to what is going to happen in tourism because if we do not have a plan some businesses, some hotels, will never open up again. Some Bermudians will never get those jobs back again. There are almost 5,000 jobs in the hotel and the restaurant industry. How many of those will come back if there is a 15- month hiatus until the tourism season opens up in 2021, if that is the case? There are over 4,000 jobs in retail and whol esale. How many of those jobs will never come back if we do not get people coming to our shores, Mr. Speaker? We cannot continue to allow our compet ition to be more vocal about where we are going. And then just today, I believe, Mr. Speaker, we hear from the Bermuda Tourism Authority, who I have a lot of faith in and a lot of confidence in, say that in a few weeks Bermuda aga in will be opened up. We will not be opened up for business in a few weeks, Mr. Speaker, because clearly Government has not enu nciated those plans and given a timeframe for that. So what we want is . . . we want to save those struggling businesses. We want to save those em-ployees who work in that industry. We want to be able to give them some hope and opportunity about where we are going to go. But we are not talking about it enough as far as the Government is concerned. And other jurisdictions are making more noise. That noise is attracting people’s attention. We need to attract their attention back here again, Mr. Speaker, and that is important. I do not want to be the first to open up because we could have some challenges if we do it in haste. But, Mr. Speaker, we have to have a plan. And I do not think the community knows what the plan is. I do not think the community has any understanding of when we could expect to see the airport open up again. I do not think the community . . . I do not think the hot el industry knows how they are going to be supported—
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottPoint of order, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: —as they go forward, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPoint of order. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottMr. S peaker, the Honourable Member is misleading the House. There is a plan. There is phase 1, 2, 3 and 4. Everyone knows that the airport is going to be reopened in phase 4. Everybody knows that Government workers go back to work, and schools will probably be reopened …
Mr. S peaker, the Honourable Member is misleading the House. There is a plan. There is phase 1, 2, 3 and 4. Everyone knows that the airport is going to be reopened in phase 4. Everybody knows that Government workers go back to work, and schools will probably be reopened in phase 3. So, there is a plan that has been put out there. The Premier talks about this on almost every one of his press conferences with the substantive Ministers. So, the country —
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, that is not a valid po int of order. The simple fact is the Honourable Member wants to keep saying that the airport is going to open in phase 4. So that means, if you take it literally, that somebody is going to be able to book the Delta flight from Boston and come to Bermuda and stay at a hotel in phase 4, whenever it starts. I am not sure Gover nment wants to say that at this point in time, or can give a date when that is, Mr. Speaker. So, you know, let’s just put some more understanding around the subject of where we are going. Because not only do people in the industry want to know, people who are trying to get a job—
4076 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: You have 15 seconds left, Member.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: How much time left, Mr. Speaker?
The SpeakerThe Speaker[It is] 15 seconds. Hon. Michael H. Du nkley: [There is] 15 seconds left. Well, Mr. Speaker, having said that, these are i mportant subjects that the Government needs to take this as constructive criticism. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI now recognise the Honourable Member Mr. Swan. Mr. Swan, would you like to give your contribution? [Microphone feedback] Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Mr. Speaker —
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan—I heard the Minister trying to get your attention. I would yield if the Minister wanted to jump in. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Yes, I do.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMr. Swan, you are yielding for the Mi nister?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister , would you like to make a couple of comments? Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Yes, please, Mr. Speaker, I certainly would.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerContinue. SUPERYACHT PANDEMIC POLICY Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Mr. Speaker, the Honour able Member Dunkley who just took his seat, who seems to try to be the Shadow Minister of everything, what he should do first of all is consult with his own party Members. For him to …
Continue.
SUPERYACHT PANDEMIC POLICY
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Mr. Speaker, the Honour able Member Dunkley who just took his seat, who seems to try to be the Shadow Minister of everything, what he should do first of all is consult with his own party Members. For him to stand up and tell the country there is no plan with regard to tourism, our Premier is in constant contact w ith his Leader, Mr. Cannonier. There are several Members, Ministers and Members on the Progressive Labour Party side of the House who are continuously meeting with the Shadow Mini s-ters of the OBA. So for him to say that there is no plan, I find that astounding. Astounding, Mr. Speaker! When he says that the superyachts . . . who would bring a superyacht to Bermuda and be quarantined on their yacht for two weeks? I thought the Ho nourable Member Dunkley was a little bit smarter than that. Mr. Speaker, these superyachts are predom inantly owned by multimillionaires, if not billionaires. And when these folks use their yachts to travel around the world, Mr. Speaker, what do you think . . . do you think it takes a day to travel from the Mediterranean to Bermuda or to the Caribbean or to Australia? These folks are used to being on their superyachts for weeks —if not months —at a time. In fact, Mr. Speaker, I was very specific when we changed the law back in January . . . back in last year—
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPoint of order. POINT OF ORDER Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Putting aside the childish personal comments, my point about the owners of these superyachts is simply this. It is not traveling around t he world; it is coming to a destination and sitting on a yacht for …
Point of order.
POINT OF ORDER
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Putting aside the childish personal comments, my point about the owners of these superyachts is simply this. It is not traveling around t he world; it is coming to a destination and sitting on a yacht for 14 days without being able to do any activities. They have freedom to roam wherever they want. And they will look at the most freedom they can get. And I find it highly unlikely they will c ome sit in Bermuda tied up to a mooring for 14 days and not be allowed off that boat. That is the point.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Again, Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Member is showing his inexperience and lack of doing homework. Mr. Speaker, I can speak from experience. I have had the luxury of traveling on a superyacht. And let me tell you, if we get a superyacht come …
Minister.
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Again, Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Member is showing his inexperience and lack of doing homework. Mr. Speaker, I can speak from experience. I have had the luxury of traveling on a superyacht. And let me tell you, if we get a superyacht come to Berm uda, or to the Mediterranean, or to the Bahamas, or wherever those superyachts travel, they often stay in one spot. Very often. In fact, many people that own these superyachts actually work and live off them for many months of the year. So for the Honourable Member to say that superyachts are going to come Bermuda, he cannot see anybody sitting on a boat for t wo weeks, well, who would have thought six months ago that anybody would come to a country and have to sit in a hotel or at home for two weeks under quarantine? The differ-ence with a superyacht is they have all their luxuries, all their amenities on their yacht. I mean, really, Mr. Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4077
Bermuda House of Assembly Speaker, for the Honourable Member to make that statement, wow! He just needs to do a little bit more work. Now, Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Member says that we do not have a plan and we are . . . no one . . . up and down the c ountryside people do not know what is going on. Well, if the Honourable Member does not know it, every Wednesday morning from 10:00 until 11:00, I host a show. And it is call “Tourism in Focus.” And every Wednesday, Mr. Speaker, we inform the country as to what we are doing. So, for the Honourable Member to say that, and I will elaborate just a little bit more in a moment, Mr. Speaker, just two weeks ago I had his colleague, his Shadow Minister, Mrs. Leah Scott, on the show with me. And we talked about a host of things that we need to be doing, we need to be thinking about, this is what we are going to be doing, this is what . . . we are going to collaborate, we are going to discuss things, we are going to exchange ideas, no different than what the Premier i s doing with the Honourable Member Dunkley’s boss, his Leader, Craig Cannonier. I mean, you know, we have put bipartisan politics aside with regard to this virus and we are doing a lot of work, Mr. Speaker. And when he says no one knows what is going on, he even said that the hotels do not know what is going on, the Honourable Member needs to talk to some of the hotel owners. We are talking to all of them, Mr. Speaker. We have a group of hoteliers, the Bermuda Tourism Authority and a host of other business owners and the unions and we are talking three times a week, sometimes two to three hours at a time. Trust me, Mr. Speaker! We are working very, very hard to work out where we are g oing to be, at what time we are going to be at, and where we are going to be in two to three months from now. And a lot of decisions cannot be made just yet. We are preparing, Mr. Speaker. But remember, until our trading partners open up their borders, we are not going anywhere. So the consultation, the many hours and hours of m eetings that we are having, Mr. Speaker, is going to bear fruit. And trust me, Mr. Speaker, if there is . . . as one prepares for war, when . . . when a soldier . . . what does a soldier do all year every year? They are in the trenches, they are training, they are working, they are learning how to fight, they are learning how to shoot their weapons or fly their planes, and they are ready! When the war comes, they are ready, Mr. Speaker. And that is what we are doing in tourism in the country. We have a huge amount of stakeholders who are participating in this, Mr. Speaker. And, may I say, all across the spectrum, by the way, all across the spectrum. So, for that Honourable Member to say that there is no tourism plan, he needs to only talk to the colleagues that he sits next to in that very House, Mr. Speaker. That is all he has to do. [Pause]
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Mr. Speaker, the Honour able Member Dunkley also said, before he took his seat, he said that, you know, we have to do better. But at the same time he said we can’t be hasty. Some words to that effect; I am paraphrasing. We can’t be hasty. Well, you can’t say that we are not planning, we are not talking to the people of the country, and then in the same breath say we can’t be too hasty. But let me assure that Honourable Member who just seems to be out of the loop with his own folks, he certainly is out of the loop with the hotel industry, and he is certainly out of the loop with the Progressive Labour Party Government . . . but let me assure him, this is not a time to be grandstanding and making stat ements that you think might be politically correct be-cause some consultant has told you to say it. It is not a time for that. This is a time for us to really lock hands and try to get this country back in order as quickly as we can.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPoint of order. POINT OF ORDER Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is no consultant that is anywhere near my employment —unlike G overnment, who should reduce the consultants now in this pandemic.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Wow! He is really grasping at straws now, Mr. Speaker. But anyway, let me say this. We do . . . we have consultants right now . . . I ha ve . . . I have probably, Mr. Speaker, about 60, 70 …
Minister.
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Wow! He is really grasping at straws now, Mr. Speaker. But anyway, let me say this. We do . . . we have consultants right now . . . I ha ve . . . I have probably, Mr. Speaker, about 60, 70 consultants. And you know who they are, Mr. Speaker? The stakeholders of this country. And let me tell you, I have enjoyed wor king with them. I enjoy having their knowledge to assist us as we get ready f or reopening, to assist us to come up with ideas of specificity in terms of our priorities and what we are going to do in terms of criteria as we open up the doors to this country, Mr. Speaker. So, you know, I am just happy that we as a team, this Governm ent team, have been able to talk to the stakeholders in this country. You will know that the Finance Minister announced his economic recovery team today. Those are the types of things that we have been doing and will continue to do to get this country on t rack, Mr. Speaker. And what I would advise that Honourable Member to do is, look, do not use this forum to grandstand at this particular time. 4078 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Let’s get the country back up and running and let’s get our people to work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. The Opposition Whip, would you like to make your contribution now? COVID -19—ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL NEEDS OF SENIORS
Ms. Susan E. JacksonI can certainly go ahead. I did not know if Member Swan wanted to speak but I will take my sp ot. So, Mr. Speaker, I have come to realise that apples really do not fall far from the tree. Since I have been at home as we shelter in …
I can certainly go ahead. I did not know if Member Swan wanted to speak but I will take my sp ot. So, Mr. Speaker, I have come to realise that apples really do not fall far from the tree. Since I have been at home as we shelter in place, it has given me an opportunity to get in touch with folks who are living at home, who are retired, who are age ing. And the more people who I speak to and the more people who I have been living with in close proximity, because we are all sheltered in place now, I am becoming more and more aware of and on the verge of becoming concerned to make sure that our seniors are kept in the forefront and are honourably taken care of. In the first instance, and of course, yes, ev erybody recognises in this COVID -19 landscape that, yes, our senior population is at the highest risk. We certainly, immediately, had probably our bi ggest scare of this COVID -19 infection in our rest homes, so add itional attention was brought to the senior community here in Bermuda. And of course as we have now all been at home and stores are closing, we are realising the numbers of our seniors who are not able to get to the grocery stores easily, that maybe do not even have the financial capacity to purchase large amounts of food in order to keep in their house for the length of time that we had the shelter in place, and thank you, thank you, thank you to all of those in the corporate and the third sector that have provided sustenance for our seniors over this period of time. But I realise that it is not just in this COVID -19 environment and what is really coming to the surface to me is that as I have heard the Minister of National Security say, this is our opportunity to start to plan and create an environment where we can support our most vulnerable so that when we come out of this COVID -19 pandemic, we can have a new normal that is so much more supportive for the most vulnerable in our community. Mr. Speaker, I see that there are so many fears, and our seniors who have spent so much time in this country, on this earth, have a wealth of knowledge and experience just by their time, their age, the experiences that they have had. And when I see that we are observing our elderly who as they have medical needs that require hospitalisation and the fear that going into the hospital there is going to be the additional risk of infection, the possibility is there, the fear is there for them . . . I do not know. I do not know if there are seniors who are at home in di scomfort right now because they do not want to leave their homes because they are afraid that, one, if they venture out into the public that they ar e going to be susceptible to this virus, or if they are sick enough and require a hospital treatment, that they may be entering into an environment where they will end up with a secondary situation which could be the COVID -19 virus as an infection. And so as I am observing and listening to many people in the community who are seniors and are at home, [INAUDIBLE ] and it is interesting b ecause now that there are so many people at home, the community feel because we are home with them, so those who are retired and spending their days at home now have the company of neighbours and fam ily because we are here, and we are not distracted by the nine to five, and the five to eight, and the 24- hour hamster wheel that so many are on in the business world. So, this is an opportunity for us as a comm unity to really get in touch with and recognise that we do have a population of people who are at home who are super valuable to this community but we need to absolutely support and love and take care of, not just now while w e are at home and we are in close proxi mity and can pay more attention to people who are at home because they have retired, but that when we come out of this we certainly need to keep the m omentum of making sure that we provide support. So I do not know . . . there was a time when the OBA was Government there was a senior advisory committee. And I believe that this committee remained through the transition into the PLP Government. There was a lot of work that was done to have an action plan put in place to support people who are ageing at home. I know that there were an awful lot of regul ations and policy and that the Ageing Disability Services [ADS] department, I am sure had taken on the tasks, especially with rest homes, to make sure that there were stand ards and procedures and all that good stuff. But I am talking about that community support. I can remember in that senior advisory committee, you know, there was talk about people who volunteered and would make the rounds and visit with people who were inf irmed and living at home who could not get out on a regular basis and that there could be a community of people who, you know, had clusters of people who they would commit to visit. There was talk of day care facilities and places where people could go and have some camarade-rie during the day. Of course, if those things are . . . and I do know that there are some [of those things] that are taking place. And of course, in this COVID -19 environment it has also been closed and curtailed for now. But I am just wondering whether this isn’t a really good time for the likes of senior advisory committees or, you know, I know that at one point, Mr. Speaker, Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4079
Bermuda House of Assembly there was some talk about having a statutory council that focused on seniors. And I am wondering if this isn’t a good time for the Government to consider pul ling together again, or reactivating, revitalising a co mmittee, or maybe even considering a statutory council, that would be able to create and support a new normal for our seniors. I certainly would, you know, do anything to support that kind of initiative if the Government were willing to pursue it. I just feel that there are so many fears out there. And because of that, our seniors are . . . many of our seniors are suffering in silence. And I just want to make sure that we have some sort of watchdog, some sort of oversight to make sure that our seniors are not being abused, to make sure that our seniors are not being left alone without the support, to make sure that they are able to keep their utilities and their homes in functional order. Because that was the plan, you know, that people would be able to age at home. And yes, I know that there are probably going to be increased fears around rest homes. Rest homes are going to have to do probably a pretty big amount of public relations in order to get the confidence of our community again after, you know, the feeling of higher risk and vulner ability for the virus and by living in the homes. And you know, if we could come up with a model, if we could come up with some sort of commi ttee or council that could provide some sort of oversight, then you know, maybe there is even the poss ibility to increase the number of places for seniors to live in communities, you know, maybe even som ething in between the senior trust, where there is sort of independent living in apartments, to rest homes where it is, you know, quite dependent living. But maybe there is even something that could be created that is in between, where there is a little more independent living, but yet there is still the support of the communi-ty surrounding them. So, I guess, Mr. Speaker, all I want to do is I want to start that conversation because this is the time. Now is the time for us to consider how we might create a more supportive environment for our seniors. And the same holds true for education. There has been so much talk for so long about, well, what could be done to just make that shift in education? And there are so many different variables and so many components, so many different things that if we could just shift it and shift it all, like you know, some sort of watch with linked points that you kind of turn them and just get that right combination. But now would be a really good time. And I understand that the Ministry of Education, t he D epartment of Education, the unions, the teacher unions all have to concentrate on the now. Because as our Member, Minister of Works and Engineering has said, we are painting a moving bus here. So there are . . . most of our subject matter experts are s pending an awful lot of time just trying to handle the now. But if there was an opportunity to have, even in the form of a think tank, some chance to brainstorm what a new normal might look like . . . I mean, I was watching a news programme, it may have been on BBC. But it was talking about how in Denmark they are doing much more outdoor learning. And they did not go into great depth about it because you could see that it was evolving as they were telling the newscas ter the story. But, Mr. Speaker, I am j ust feeling as though, you know, we have an opportunity in the education space as well with the new digital landscape that has been created through online learning. And we can expose our young people to anything in the world that has to do with education, art, science . . . it is all on the Internet. And with guided educational support our children are going to get the exact same exposure as many, many other children in this world. And it puts us all on a level playing field that we have not been on before. And so, as we are trying, as with our seniors, as with our youth we are trying very hard to figure out how to handle out what is happening right now in the present. But, Mr. Speaker, I am just putting it out there that it would also be an advantageous ti me for us to consider what we could do in the future, now while our community is virtually at a standstill. And so it has gi ven us pause to think, How can we make it look tomorrow? What will the future look like? How can we control that a little bit now? And so I certainly put it out, challenge the Government, including the Opposition, all of us, to see what we can’t do to really brainstorm and step outside the box. And I know, I personally feel like it is a real challenge to do that, to come up with ideas that pe ople are not used to hearing or cannot quite visualise, and of course ridiculed. And people just think that it is the craziest of ideas. But unless we are able to hear and accept and consider those crazy ideas, it is going to be a really, really to ugh comeback. And I notice that already our youth just aut omatically can come up with new ideas because they see the world through such different eyes. And because there are so many of us who are over the age of 50 who would not necessarily fall into that bracket of having the youthful eyes, we really have to work hard to open up and consider some suggestions and brainstorm ideas that will assist us, moving forward. And with that, I am going to mute my micr ophone and bid you a good weekend, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member. I now recognise the Honourable Member, Mr. Commissiong. Mr. Commissiong, would you like to make a contribution at this time? 4080 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Rolfe Commissiong: I certainly would, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo right ahead. COVID -19—TOURISM SECTOR’S QUIET DESPERATION
Mr. Rolfe CommissiongThanks so much. Mr. Speaker, I was watching the news last night with my wife. And they had an interview of the manager at the Lindo’s in Warwick from the store l ocation, I guess. And he spoke so highly . . . and they focused on the staff, some …
Thanks so much. Mr. Speaker, I was watching the news last night with my wife. And they had an interview of the manager at the Lindo’s in Warwick from the store l ocation, I guess. And he spoke so highly . . . and they focused on the staff, some of the staff who are just happy to be working there. They are in a stockroom. But he took time out to really celebrate the selfles sness, the initiative of one of my constituents. Her name is Brandi Stone. And I say, Hats off! to Zach for doing that. At a time when we were locked down, Brandi and one or two other ladies were out there making deliveries , especially to our seniors and others who could not gain the sort of personal access to these stor es that they would have needed to be able to secure the goods, the foodstuffs that they needed to sustain themselves. That is example of the Bermudian spirit. And I bring that up because when you get right down to it, that is what is going to see us throu gh here. We know that this viral pandemic has spawned an economic pandemic. And the economic pandemic is going to take a massive toll on this economy. In fact, it has started already. I liken it to, there is a fog in front of us. Some can see through the f og and believe that the recession/depression is already with us. But for many of our people, they have not yet been able to really see through that fog. I believe it is up to leaders of both sides not to sugar -coat, not to indulge in what I call reckless bouts of optimism and positivity based on quicksand, because it makes people feel good. This is not the time for that right now. We need to call it as it is and enlist our fellow Bermudians in this army. This is not going to be a sprint. This is going to be a marathon. I think that is a quite apt metaphor, Mr. Speaker, in light of we are in May, and the marathon that should have taken place will not now do so. In fact, would anybody bet against Cup Match not happening this year? It is highly unlikely. There has been no official announc ement. But, Mr. Speaker, I want to just talk about this issue of shared sacrifice because we are hearing that again. We heard it in 2008, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14 and ’15. Many Bermudians have not yet recovered from that r ecession. And I will tell you right now, this economic pandemic will make 2008 look like a tea party. This may be 2008 times five or six. Our Finance Minister has made it clear that worst -case scenario is a deficit ballooning to between $275 [million], over a quarter -billion, to $375 [million] [sic], that being the range. He has proposed mitigation to reduce that to his goal of having, at the end of the day, a deficit no greater than $175 million. He said that, however, before the growing and increasing demands that come from various economic sectors. We hear all . . . apparently a leaked doc ument coming from the Hotel Association. We know there are other demands coming from other sectors. There is a level of quiet —and increasingly it is not going to be so quiet —desperation out there. Because people see what time it is. Look at our hotel sector or hospitality sector. And our tourism sector. Four -hundred- odd million do llars in revenue last year, I think it was the biggest year we have had in a long time, something along those lines. Right now I am going to tell you, that has gone from over $400 million down to relatively zero. [INAUDIBLE] , just to hedge my bets a little bit, but not by much. It represented . . . and I wish somebody could correct me here. I am get ting competing figures here like 12, 13, 14 per cent of the overall economy in terms of GDP. Well, that is down to relatively zero, too. I know people will . . . because, you know, you have got these cheerleaders of IB [international bus iness], uncritical cheerleaders who only want to look at the upside. They do not want to acknowledge that it also comes with baggage. But you have some who would say that, Yeah, tourism is gone. Hey, but listen. We still have IB. But let me disabuse people of that view. You see, it is the Brandi Stones in Bermuda who are working in IB . . . I mean who are not working in IB, who are working in tourism, hospitality. Berm udians, particularly black Bermudians, still form a m ajority of that workforce. A significant number of for eign workers all work for it, as well, but my eyes were opened. Bermudians are still the majority, making some of the lowest wages in Bermuda. And the way things are going, many of those workers —it is not all of them —are going to be idle or not going to be working in that industry for at least a year. That is my prediction, my projection. I hope I am wrong. For one year. But see, it is not . . . for those who talk about, We still have IB. Oh, thank God we still have IB! So you have well over 1,000 Bermudi-ans—I am not going to count the foreign workers right now. That is not casting any aspersions their way. But at a time of crises, we have to look out for our own people, just like Cayman did three months ago. (I will get to that in a second.) But, so we know there are a significant number of Bermudians who are in the tourism sector, hos-pitality more broadly, which includes the restaurants, cafés and the like. We know that there are scores of Bermudian workers, almost totally Bermudianised, in the retail sec tor. They are also dependent on the revenue that comes from tourism throughout the year — Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4081
Bermuda House of Assembly not totally, but it forms a significant part of their rev enue in shops, from Dockyard down to St. George’s and into Hamilton, of course. What about the wholesale indus try? I had my business up Dockyard. Yes, I used to have a business up in Dockyard for eight, nine years selling phone cards, as you know, Mr. Speaker, to the crew me mbers, [which was] 80 per cent of my business, and 20 [per cent] or 30 per cent [came from] the passengers up there, at a time when phone cards were still a thing. And I had a virtual monopoly just with that mar-ket, with some Blackstar Communications card. And because of then- Communications Minister, I think, or E-Commerce Minister Renee Webb, s he afforded me the opportunity t o have my own branded card and Logic was carrying my . . . Anyway, I did very well for about eight, nine years until the technology, as it will do, became outdated. Nonetheless, every day we were up there and a ship was at that port. Wholesalers and other ve ndors were delivering products from Bermuda, provi ding goods and services from the Bermuda market to these ships. So the multiplier effect . . . wait! Hold! Sorry. Oh, my God, I almost forgot about them. What about the 700 to 800, my guesstimate now, guesst imate, taxi and minibus drivers? Senator Richardson, owner/operators? Does all of their income come from that sector? At least a significant number of them, a percentage of that, my guesstimate 700 to 800, yes. Seventy t o eighty per cent of their yearly revenue. That is what time it is. And so even as tourism became post -85 or 86, . . . kind of tourism, you still had a significant number of Bermudians, despite the way that wages dropped in the industry, despite the fact that we lost property’s right, left and centre over the last four decades, you still had a significant number of Bermudians holding on to that industry as a lifeline, literally. I just hope I never hear Bermudians say . . . even some of our own, you know, they have done very well. They will say, Yeah, we had tourism. But hey, we still got IB. And talking about IB, Mr. Speaker, as I move along, I just . . . I had to go back into my archives, and there was a paper published internationally by the Racial Just ice Network. And that paper was called “The Finance Curse.” I think they put it into a book as well, The Finance Curse . And the authors, the researchers were Nicholas Shaxson and John Christensen. Anyway, the book was trying to explore how oversized financial centres attack democracy and corrupt economies. And if I may, Mr. Speaker, let me read one paragraph here, to help me segue into where I want to go.
Mr. Rolfe CommissiongThank you, sir. It speaks to this subcategory called “Country Capture.” Think about that —country capture. And they are talking about how when finance centres . . . when finance sector becomes such a large part of your economy in terms of GDP, et cetera, it also brings in its …
Thank you, sir. It speaks to this subcategory called “Country Capture.” Think about that —country capture. And they are talking about how when finance centres . . . when finance sector becomes such a large part of your economy in terms of GDP, et cetera, it also brings in its wake social harm and economic harm. Again, when it becomes too large a part of one’s economy. Let me just read this. It says, “The Finance Curse is a story about ‘Country Capture’ —where an oversized fi nancial sector comes to control the politics of a finance- dependent country and to dominate and hollow out its economy.” (Notice that there— hollow out?) “Some elements of this ‘capture’ are already well understood but our book introduces a wide range of ne w ideas and analysis.” They are talking about hollowing out. How many years have we been talking about that versus we need to diversify our economy? Has anyone ever thought that maybe the biggest headwind to doing that has been the “ success, ” (quote/unquote) of IB in Bermuda? Which drove up the cost of doing business here to such an extent that the wiggle room, or the ability, the opportunity to usher in new industries b ecomes almost impossible! We need to talk about systemic change here. That is what we need to talk about. And before I get to that, I want to stick on this issue. We are going to be asking, because there is no way around it. You hear the term “ shared sacrifice” I mentioned seven, eight minutes ago. The Royal Gazette had an op- ed the other d ay admonishing the BPSU [Bermuda Public Service Union] members to get on board the shared sacrifice train. Many of us would have read that. But few of us would have said the following: Why are they the only ones that the Royal Gazette is calling out? Why are we likely to have to place the onus of shared sacrifice and —and I will even use a worse word — austerity on the backs of the working poor, who are overwhelmingly black, and a black -dominated civil service, which to some degree represents the shrinking, shrinking black middle class? John Swan and the leaders alluded to that . I am going to get to him, too, if I have time, Mr. Speaker. Because that is what is going to occur in the absence of our ensuring that the wealthy in Bermuda pay their fair share of tax. Oh, the Royal Gazette, that was conveniently left to the side. Let us not go there! What are you trying to do, start a class war? It is all right to have a class war on the working poor, Mr. Speaker! Especially in the black, in this multi -racial society with a history of racism and slavery and the whole nine yards. Hey! But heaven forbid . . . So for example, the other day we had Mr. Greg Wojciechowski , of Polish descent, (I have got to take pride when I can pronounce those types of names; sorry for the digression.) He has come up with an idea to further Bermuda bonds. Mr. Speaker, I have no feeling one way or the other on whether that is a good idea. I do not. But this is what I do know. 4082 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Neither Mr. Greg Wojciechowski on a personal level nor the corporation he heads, the stock exchange in Bermuda, such as it is, have paid their fair share of taxes in Bermuda. I am not saying that they have not paid what they legally owe. But you cannot talk about shared sacrifice when you are facing —and some can make the claim we are already in —an economic depression and those at the pinnacle of wealth and power in Bermuda are not carrying their fair share. Cannot do it. Let me go to someone in, you know, the pastor of my dear mother. And he, my mother and Junior Talbot, you know, they were running and playing around in that pond, and smelled that you- know -what, Mr. Speaker. Uncle Junior and Sir John. As you would know, Mr. Speaker, you know my relationship with Sir John, it was sort of conflicted. Yes, our families were close, very close in that Marsh Folly, 42 nd Street —St. Monica’s Mission, sorry , sorry. Government Gate region. Oh, our families were very close to them. But when I have had to go after (I hate to use that term, but go after) Sir John when I thought he was not being honest about the real racial realities in Bermuda, when I thought he was probably defaulting a little too much about John Swan’s bottom line, I have done so. And I want to tell you, today I want to praise Sir John when he said. . . it is bela ted. The actions he proposed still happened when he was leader, but at this type of crisis we have got to let that go. We have to not forget it, but let me tell you right now, share if I may what his words were in the Royal G azette, Mr. Speaker. If I may, Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Rolfe CommissiongThank you. In an interview, or was it an op- ed? I think it was an op- ed, sorry, where he talks about the crisis, focusing on t he economic pandemic, he said the following: “How can we”(I guess it is a royal “we” he would probably use by default) …
Thank you. In an interview, or was it an op- ed? I think it was an op- ed, sorry, where he talks about the crisis, focusing on t he economic pandemic, he said the following: “How can we”(I guess it is a royal “we” he would probably use by default) “How can we sell the reengineering of Bermuda in a way that is going to get buy-in, let’s be honest, from the black working poor, the black lower - and middle- income Bermudians and those few whites who are also more progressive in their thinking in Bermuda?” So, Sir John says this. He says, “ 4The average Bermudian may be thinking, What’s in it for me? At the end of the day, I’m no better off .” (I continue.) “However, I could benefit if the economic activity of the country rose and the government had a facility by which some of the wealth that was created” —
4 Royal Gaz ette 20 May 2020 The Speaker: Honourable Member, you are actually in your last minute.
Mr. Rolfe Commi ssiongThank you. I will end on this. He then goes to say, he referred to Singapore, an offshore financial centre, and he also referred to Scandinavian countries with progressive systems. Sir John then went on to say, “‘Over the years, wealth attrition h ad occurred in Bermuda, particularly in the …
Thank you. I will end on this. He then goes to say, he referred to Singapore, an offshore financial centre, and he also referred to Scandinavian countries with progressive systems. Sir John then went on to say, “‘Over the years, wealth attrition h ad occurred in Bermuda, particularly in the black community,’ he said. ‘Representation of blacks on local boards of directors, for example, was too low. And there were very few large local black -owned businesses.’” Mr. Speaker, I want to come back to this , hopefully, next week or our next meeting in two weeks’ time.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. [Crosstalk]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Your time just expired. [Crosstalk]
Mr. Rolfe CommissiongThank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to continuin g at a later date. Thank you,
Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerMs. Furbert, would you like to make your contribution now? COVID -19—ADDRESSING NEEDS OF BERMUDA’S SPECIAL NEEDS CITIZENS
Mrs. Tinee FurbertThank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to s tart off by sa ying that yesterday I had the opportunity to do a Zoom meeting with some of our athletes of the Special Olympics. They invited me to just say hi to them as they have their weekly …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to s tart off by sa ying that yesterday I had the opportunity to do a Zoom meeting with some of our athletes of the Special Olympics. They invited me to just say hi to them as they have their weekly check -in and meeting with each other. They are Special Olympics athletes. And they were showing me how they were attending to their gardens. They were showing me their vegetables that they grew, through the pictures. And they were saying to me how they stay healthy and conditionedup during these COVID -19 times. [They] told me how they were drinking their water and eating healthy, because they are planning to prepare to go to the Special Olympics in Germany in 2023. That is their hope, and that is their aim. But what was interesting throughout this meet ing with them was that they are very in tune into what is going on around us in Bermuda with COVI D19. And they were, you know . . . about some of the comments that the Premier shared, you know, how you have to listen and stay inside and stay protected. Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4083
Bermuda House of Assembly If not, you do not want to go back and have to go back through these earlier stages, because we want to stay . . . you know, we want to encourage everyone to stay healthy and safe. But what was interesting was that some of the special athletes stay in group homes. And w hat they shared with me was how, just like the nursing homes and rest homes, they are limited to the number of vis itors that they can have, including their family, and how they miss very much the presence of their family members visiting them. So not only is this COVID -19 affecting our seniors in our rest homes and nursing homes; it is also affecting a population, a special needs population, and even a mental health popul ation of persons who live in group homes, you know, affecting their freedom and liberti es to be able to visit with their family and loved ones. So we cannot take for granted our ability, you know, for us not living in group homes, rest homes, nursing homes, to be able to go freely and visit some of our family members right now. But they are very much looking forward to the lifting of shelter in place and also moving towards the phases of 3 and 4. They said this today: When are we getting to 3 and 4? So I just wanted to highlight that.
COVID -19—BERMUDA’S TESTING REGIME
Mrs. Tinee FurbertI also wanted to highlight the fact that Bermuda has a very great COVID -19 testing r egime. And you may have heard it in the news or through social media, and also the Premier and the Minister of Health, you know, have reported on our progress as a country …
I also wanted to highlight the fact that Bermuda has a very great COVID -19 testing r egime. And you may have heard it in the news or through social media, and also the Premier and the Minister of Health, you know, have reported on our progress as a country as it relates to testing. In actuality, Bermuda is ranked the highest per capita in the region in terms of testing. Bermuda is ranked 11 th in the world in terms of testing per capita. Our Gover nment has ensured that drive- through testing is conducted at no cost to our people. At one point there was a time where we were uncertain about our testing regime, and people were saying, We need tests. We need tests. We need to test more people. We need to test our people. And now today we can proudly boast that we have capac ity to test up to 200 persons per day. And we can proudly boast that Bermuda ranks number one across the Caribbean with being able to test 1.88 per cent of its people. And so for that, we as a country are truly blessed. And for that, as a country we should surely and truly be thankful for, —
[Inaudible interjection]
Mrs. Tinee Furbert—that we have access now to testing kits and testing supplies and testing centres. The ability to test or . . . sorry, we must not be afraid to get tested because I know sometimes with any sort of diagnostics that people usually do not want to find out whether …
—that we have access now to testing kits and testing supplies and testing centres. The ability to test or . . . sorry, we must not be afraid to get tested because I know sometimes with any sort of diagnostics that people usually do not want to find out whether or not they have some sort of condition. And so people will tend to shy away from testing because they do not want to know. But for those people who are symptomatic and are shying from testing, [you] are not doing our country and our citizens any favours. [You] will have to get tested so that [you] can get help and get treatment. Particularly if you are an essential worker, Bermuda has afforded us the opportun ity to get tested. If you are symptomatic, please go get tested. Please report this information to your physician. Even testing those who are asymptomatic, because we do know that many people who we have found to have tested positive for COVID -19 are actua lly persons who have been asymptomatic. So again, our Government has afforded us this opportunity at no cost to go get tested for COVID -19 to help with reductions of rates of COVID -19. I was watching a news report overseas on other parts of the world. They were speaking to . . . they were having a difficult time having access to tes ting. And particularly those areas around the world which affect black communities, they have a hard time. There are some areas that really have a hard time having access to testing. So what happens when we do not have access? We are unable to get tested. It delays our access to diagnostics. It delays our access to treatment. And this will affect our health status if we are, particularly with COVID -19, positive. There are also reports on the news that I have seen in which persons are waiting weeks to get their test results back. And again, that is not good news for people in other parts of the world. I cannot say were Bermuda . . . that people were not experiencing weeks before they get their test results back. I had the opportunity to go get tested because I am an essential worker. And I had my results back within 24 hours. So kudos to the team, particularly the team down at Southside, who is participating and who is doing the tests for us as Bermudians, or people in Bermuda. I was also noting that some countries or tourist destinations or other Caribbean countries are going so far as considering virus -free certificates to ensure tourists are free of the novel coronavirus before they enter their countries. And the World Health Organiz ation has released . . . stated disapproval for this, for the technique or requirement ahead of a vaccine. But it is interesting to know that some countries, in order to get a quick start to their to urism economy, are considering making sure that people traveling to their country, or even their citizens, have to show that they are virus free or have some sort of COVID -19 certif icate to show that they are virus free. But I just wanted to share this information in regard to our testing because should we have to show some sort of certificate, traveling to other islands or other countries once our airport does finally open up, that Bermuda, you have access to testing and that we should be very grateful. I cannot reiterate it enough. I 4084 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly am and we should be very grateful to have access to the testing that we do have. With that, Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to say that we should not let this COVID -19 pandemic allow us to forget that we are Bermudians. And I wou ld just like to wish all of in the public and the listening audience to have a happy Heritage Day and a happy Bermuda Day coming up. And remember that we are going to get through this together. I also would like persons to know that the Progressive Labour Party Women’s Caucus is having a Facebook live discussion on our new normal. And that will be happening on May the 24th at 4:30. I invite anyone who is interested to tune in. And again, everyone, have a happy Bermuda Day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Spe aker: Thank you, Honourable Member. Now I would like to recognise the Opposition Leader. Honourable Member, would you like to make your contribution now? Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: I had to reboot three times just now. Unfortunately, I got kicked out. [Crosstalk] COVID -19—MAKING BOLD MOVES TO SECURE BERMUDA’S FUTURE Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: I just got back on. So I am grateful. And I would like to lead off where the …
Go ahead. Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: I had to reboot three times just now. Unfortunately, I got kicked out.
[Crosstalk]
COVID -19—MAKING BOLD MOVES TO SECURE BERMUDA’S FUTURE
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: I just got back on. So I am grateful. And I would like to lead off where the last Member just left in saying happy Heritage Day, as we celebrate a time whereby we look at ourselves as Bermudians and how we have, quite frankly, impacted the world by sticking together. We are still to this day a phenomenon around the world, and I believe that we should be celebrating everything that is good about what it is that we do, how we do it and the great mix of people that we have here who have made it special. And that also goes to our expats, who add flavour to the already flavourful Bermuda that we have. I am reminded of a saying I heard not too long ago, that when you are surviving, you cannot dream. And we are in a period right now where we are survi ving. We are attempting to survive based on the conditions that none of us has control over. We are now in a position whereby we must rely on one another. And as the Premier said, I can get by with a little help from my friends. And the realities that we are facing, Mr. Speaker, are stark. When you look at the size of our economy and understanding that we have always punched above our weight, yet dollar -value- wise our economy pales in comparison to many around the world. Yet we have many friends. Despite the impact of our size, we have been able to be impactful around the world. And one of the things, Mr. Speaker, that I have been calling on for some time now is that we must move with some swiftness in stimulating the economy. And here we are now having to seek out solutions, having to go to places that we would have preferred not in seeking out our financ ial assistance to ensure that we take care of our people. And I heard the Honourable Member Famous talk about a Deputy Leader in the OBA, Leah [Scott], as if she was talking like she was PLP. And I beg to differ. No, she was talking like she was Leah. She was talking on behalf of herself and what she represents. One of the beautiful things about Bermuda is that it has a cross array of people throughout our politics. And one of the challenges that we do have is that we have tended to, based on a name, clas sify one another as not being sometimes black enough or maybe we are too white. And these things have led to a large part of degrading and bringing down the pure nature of us as a people, and that is willing to strive, to be the best that we can be, to ens ure that this econ omy has, probably next to any other, more millionaires and more people who are doing well who are of colour than who are white. And I certainly take into consideration the many things that we heard from the Honourable Member Commissiong and how many of us who are out there recognise that there are great discrepancies even within our economy, within our society here in Bermuda, and that more can be done. But what I will say is this: Many have stepped forward. And as we take a look around at what is going on today, you are going see many lines of people seeking out opportun ities to feed themselves and feed their families. And many have come to the rescue, including, I must say, us as politicians. So I am going to give thanks to all of us, t he 36 of us. Because I know that every single one of us, in our way, has been contri buting the best that we can, and maybe we can do even a little better. But I do realise that everyone is working overtime to ensure that we look out for the benefit of Berm uda as a whole. One of the things that did concern me, however, as I opened up the paper and looked in the paper today . . . and when I say “concern me,” it is an awareness is what I am talking about. Our Chief E xecutive of the Chamber of Commerce pointed out some stark realities for us. And we are the leaders. And that is this: Our people and our businesses are terrified right now. They are afraid, and they are struggling. And it is incumbent upon us as politicians . . . we are a part of that fear. We are a part of that struggle. We ourselves must do everything possible to Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4085
Bermuda House of Assembly ensure that our people recognise that they can trust in the efforts that we are putting forward as we, as a people and as an economy, seek to survive during this terrible time that the w orld is going through. When you are surviving, you cannot dream. And it is incumbent upon us to seek out solutions, to seek out cooperation, but not only that, to instil some hope and to remind Bermuda that it will not always be this way. It will not alwa ys be this way! And we have got to recognise that this is a teaching moment, Mr. Speaker. This is a teaching moment! How many times have we heard from business leaders and those out there who are working in the community that we as politicians. . . it is r equired, they are looking for bold initiatives. This is a teaching moment. And some of those bold initiatives are, quite frankly, that we work together to ensure the benefit of everyone in this Island —rich, poor, indifferent, north, south, you name it —that we are working in the interest of everyone. And quite frankly, within Bermuda, we are coming from so many different worlds, so many different experiences within this small Island, yet we as politicians have got to instil back again that this will not las t forever and that we will get through this. I concur with the sentiment of the Chief Executive, Kendaree Burgess, that our people and our businesses are terrified right now! But let not this m oment go by and not recognise that this is a teaching moment. A good friend with all of us within the House, I am sure, Patrick Tannock, said, There are bold moves that must be made. And each and every one of us as politicians know the reports that are out there that are going to need to be dusted off, and we need t o make those bold moments, or movements. What a great time when we are saying that we are trying to work together, that we do that in the interest of Bermuda. It will change our politics, it will change the thinking of our people and it will change our eco nomy. All three, [it is vitally] important that we work with all three of those components to ensure the safety and the sec urity of us as a people. This teaching moment is also telling us that we do not need to wait for others, as might have been suggeste d earlier, to show the way. We are a smart people! And we have shown that. As we have moved through phase 1 to phase 2 in working together to ensure that we come up with, as best we can, solutions, we are a smart people. We need to go back to leading again and showing the rest of the world how to do it. Now, I know people always hate to say, Well, you know, you’re bringing up some of the same stuff about Cayman. Well, Cayman made a bold move and went out and got supplies, so much so that we even took some of those supplies. We need to start making some bold moves as politicians —Government and Opposition; Opposition and Government; PLP/OBA, OBA/PLP. We need to be making some bold moves! So it is imperative upon us as a team to pressure one another. Our Fina nce Minister needs to get going with that team because I know that we are planning to put plans in place. But we certainly do not know what the plan is yet. That is why the team is being put together. And it needs to move with some swiftness. And I recognise he is going to need support, and we are there to support him. And he knows that. I have not spoken to him here lately, the Finance Minister. But he knows he has my support in moving forward. And so one of the things that we have got to do, as the Chief Executive said in the newspaper, Listen, we have got to get people back to work . And how we are going to get people back to work is through direct investment back into this Island. And so we need to call on those relationships that were built to ensure that we survive throughout this. And we need to show that we are willing to build an infrastructure which will lead us into the future. And we need to stop skirting around this immigration issue, because we know that it is the lifeline to what it is that we need to do! We need to make these bold moves. And they cannot wait. We are already seeing that the dependency on the system that we all have right now is not working. It is not meeting the needs of our people. And the world is seeing that, the way it is laid out. We are taking too long to get things done. And we have got more information in front of us than at any other time in the world! At the push of a button, you can learn how to do something. And I recognise that our Ministers are working overtime. I recognise that our Shadow Ministers are working overtime. And so this is the time that we, as leaders, need to conti nue to batten down and gird out because our survival depends on it. As we move into celebrating our Heritage Day, we are still in the business of creating and making a great people. And so when we celebrate this Heritage Day, you know, and we move on into the summer and having heroes that we elect and the likes, Bermuda has the potential to lead. We must li sten to industry players. We must li sten to our people. And we must recognise that what we have in exis tence today is not working. It is not working! And so today we are going to have to go into more debt to secure the future. That means our children and our grandchildren and their children are going to have to pay for this. No blame here. We have got to find a way through this. One of the things that I am aware of is that when we put our minds together, we come out of that debt faster than we would by continuing on with a sy stem that is not working for our people. And so we have got to revamp everything that it is that we are doing and improve on the things that we already know that we are doing well. But that requires stepping out of our political cocoon and trying to be safe. And I am speaking to myself, and I am speaking to all of us as 4086 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly politicians. Now is the time. This is a teaching moment for us. And, as leaders, we cannot be ignorant to the fact that this is a teaching moment, because ign orance will only breed fear, and fear is only go ing to lead to hatred, and that hatred is going to lead to de-struction. And that is the last thing we want for this place we call paradise, the last thing we want. And so when I listened to some of the speeches this evening and we are scrubbing over thing s that have nothing to do with the pain, the terror and the fear and struggling that people are having right now, I can only shake my head. Quite frankly, I could care less what Royal Gazette has to say —could care less! Especially at a time when we are str uggling. So I will continue to work with our Premier. We continue to have some very frank conversations. He knows that I have been pressing the envelope, and he also has attempted. But I know that he and I can do better. The Premier and myself can do bett er! And so it is going to be an interesting meeting this coming Monday. I have many thoughts, and I am go-ing to be sharing those with him, especially many thoughts coming from our Members within our team, who, just like within PLP’s team throughout this st ruggle, are afraid. What is coming next? What is coming next? And although we cannot predict the future, I am always reminded of that foundation that I was brought up in. And that is, we do know who rules the future. And so we have to have a faith in a hi gher b eing, and our people need to have a faith in us, that we will do the right thing. There is going to be a moment when people are going to talk about you. We know that. We are politicians. We have got to be [more] broad- shouldered than that. We are all taller than that. Yes, I know that sometimes that they get on some of my colleagues’ nerves, and even the PLP’s nerves. It is reciprocal; we know that. But I also know that they are Bermudian. And they want the best! And so I am expecting the best from al l of us. Heritage Day is going to be different. We will not be able to go out and socialise like we normally do. One thing I have learned though, this social m edia, boy, Mr. Speaker, wow, it has brought us serious creativity. So our business in Bermuda wi ll not always look the same. But we do have players within the field who are willing to help, who are willing to assist and who will continue to do that regardless, because they are in love with Bermuda. I encourage all of us during this rough time, as we move into our celebration of a holiday, that we celebrate one another, the beauty of who we are. So much mixed blood in this Island . . . incredible. And that has led to the powers of Bermuda, that we have been an accepting people, brought people in to he lp us move ahead. And now that we in a position that we have the education, we have the experience, we have got to show true leadership. And we have got to show this leadership by making better moves. I will not ac-cept the fact that we have got to wait for somebody else.
[Crosstalk]
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: We have the intellect and ability. [Crosstalk]
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for this time. Happy Heritage Day. As we get ready to celebrate, and to all of my colleagues, all 35 of you, Mr. Speaker, and you, happy Heritage Day. Have a great holiday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Opposition Leader. The next Member — [Crosstalk ; feedback ]
The SpeakerThe Speaker—after this is the Honourable Member— [Crosstalk ; feedb ack]
The SpeakerThe Speaker—from St. George’s, Mr. Swan, are you still willing to speak?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThen take the microphone and you will be recognised.
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanI can hear a lot of other talking on the line, Mr. Speaker. [Crosstalk ; feedback ]
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberMr. Speaker, I think it [ INAUDIBLE] microphone. Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4087 Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: All microphones have been muted. Mr. Swan, if you would like to speak, turn your microphone on.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. COVID -19—REMEMBER THOSE WHO MADE BERMUDA WHAT IT IS
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanGood evening, Mr. Speaker, and good evening, Bermuda. I, like all of us, pretty much have 100 per cent attendance thereabouts in this remote session, Mr. Speaker. I can say that I have listened to every speaker the entire time that we have been here. There are only probably one …
Good evening, Mr. Speaker, and good evening, Bermuda. I, like all of us, pretty much have 100 per cent attendance thereabouts in this remote session, Mr. Speaker. I can say that I have listened to every speaker the entire time that we have been here. There are only probably one or two Members that I can r emember could sit in the Chamber for the entire time.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI have been here all day myself, sir.
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanAnd I do not think I am alone, as I was going to say, in doing that here r emotely. But I do know that when we are in in the Chamber, we ebb and flow. As such, I want to congratulate all of those and congratulate us on moving …
And I do not think I am alone, as I was going to say, in doing that here r emotely. But I do know that when we are in in the Chamber, we ebb and flow. As such, I want to congratulate all of those and congratulate us on moving into the future because of COVID -19. And, Mr. Speaker, when we speak about COVID -19, I have listened tod ay. And sometimes we can speak of COVID -19 like it was a thing of the past. COVID -19 is as much with us today as it was two months ago. It has taken on different forms, and ec onomics is certainly driving the whole world to look at this pandemic differently today than we were looking at it two months ago, for good reason. Because no one has the ability, except a few countries, to be able to print their money. In Bermuda we rely on foreign exchange in order to make ends meet and make our economy tick here. And from that standpoint, Mr. Speaker, reality has to set in and is starting to set in. But as I look at CNN, I am sure like other folks look at different news media around the world, I am reminded of the importance of Dr. Fauci, how political will can caus e the scientific positions not to be as widely publicised. I do not want us to fall into that trap. Our closest and largest economic trading partner is the United States. And they are by no means the poster child for us to follow in this pandemic. I think the world knows how they in their election year are at sixes and sevens with each other. I want us to not lose sight of the reality that this COVID -19 is still with the world. And while we are hearing persons . . . the Opposition Leader was tal king about bold; you need to be bold and do . . . we need to measure twice or three times before we cut once because our 65,000 people pale in comparison to countries like Taiwan who rely on international business, international trade and tourism, who have 23 million people with 444 cases and six deaths.
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, we will take your point of order. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Unfortunately, I think the Honourable Member may have misinterpreted or is misleading the public with what I said. I never said or inferred that in bold moves we do not measure twice and cut …
Yes, we will take your point of order.
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Unfortunately, I think the Honourable Member may have misinterpreted or is misleading the public with what I said. I never said or inferred that in bold moves we do not measure twice and cut once. Part of being bold is doing your due dil igence as well.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member.
Mr. Swan.
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanThank you for that. I do not want to misrepresent, and I appreciate the interjection by the Opposition Leader. Taiwan is looking to open back up more freely. Their travel numbers fell in half, from about 7 million down to about 3 million travellers. They still allow travel. They are …
Thank you for that. I do not want to misrepresent, and I appreciate the interjection by the Opposition Leader. Taiwan is looking to open back up more freely. Their travel numbers fell in half, from about 7 million down to about 3 million travellers. They still allow travel. They are not that far off of the coast of China. They have some policy and political differences to the way they govern than China, but in their 23 million people they have 440 cases and six deaths. And yet, with 28 days without local transmission, they are now starting to look. And I would say that a country like Taiwan, who fared very badly under SARS, are in [the] position that they are in because of the way in which they were hit bad in the early 2000s. A nd even though they may be in a position better than “some others,” they know who they rely on to get their visitors, is where COVID - 19 originated, right off of their shores. And so, they are still being cautious, measuring probably three and four times before they cut. I just felt it my country duty to urge us to make sure that we are on the right side of erring on this one because it has been since 1919 that a pandemic of this magnitude has been perambulating the globe. Mr. Speaker, as we look forward in our community of St. George’s , I am grateful that the Tourism Ministry is looking forward, thinking. But I know the Minister , the Honourable Zane De Silva and I know the interim CEO Mr. Glenn Jones. I know persons within the Minist ry. I know they are talking with the Chamber. I know that they are in talks with the [Bermuda] Hotel Association. I know that the opinions of other stakeholders in Health are being sought after. I know that the Minister is reaching out to the Oppos ition Shadow. I know that they are looking at when the number comes from . . . when the call comes from the 4088 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly health officials in Bermuda that Bermuda will be pr epared to go forward. In our community of St. George’s , the yach ting community will be important to us. I am certainly hoping, Mr. Speaker, that our long- awaited marina and what it takes to make sure that that becomes a reality sooner rather than later is acted on post haste. Although the hotel that is being built will not be fi nished by the end of the year, it is going certainly to be available in the not too distant years, as it is taking shape. The golf course that is being resurrected and restored pretty much in the way it was before, Mr. Speaker, will provide for Bermuda, and St. George’s in particular, the opportunity to have at least 20,000 rounds or more taking place on an annual basis —and that is the type of visitor -ship to a community that stays for several hours, and with the additional spill over guests who come with it, there will be a signif icant increase of dollars spent in the community when that is completed. How would I know? Because 35 years ago, or 38 years ago now, I came to St. George’s to do just that and we were able to achieve that. We have had some experiences, Mr. Speaker, where persons may be using the golf course from time to time for shortcuts, and there have been some areas where persons are doing illegal dumping. And there is some damage that has taken place over time. And we are appealing to the public to realise how i mportant the restoration of t his product will mean to the economic rejuvenation of our community. And so, Mr. Speaker, with that in mind, I cannot underscore enough how important it is to convey that message across to the people of St. George’s whose property values will increase and have been increasing as a great deal of work is being done on the golf course in particular to provide us with a first -class tourism product. It was mentioned earlier by another Member who, like I, has participated with the social studies curriculum at the public schools. And I commend the Minister for taking on this initiative, and the Ministry. Having had some experience, Mr. Speaker, of going into primary schools for the last 30, 40 years as well doing that with golf, it is really enlightening and grati fying to interact with the young children who are now learning remotely, just like us, and, may I say, taking on an opportunity caused by COVID -19 that may pr epare them even better for the future because many businesses today are finding that remote learni ng is in some respects still allowing them to be productive in areas where it works. I know some folks are finding that where they saw little of each other because someone was wor king long hours at one location and the other person was working long hours at the other location only to say hello when they came home, are able to see more of each other. And quality of life, Mr. Speaker, is so important to all of us as we evaluate how we should go forward. Earlier, we did have a chance to explore the importance of sustainable development and sustain able living. And yes, this pandemic is wretched, and yes it has torn the heart, economically, out of us and it has caused deaths. And yes, we are saddened, as many of us have lost family members and we cannot grieve when even if the loss of that family member was not caused by the COVID. But we can certainly look at what we can take positive out of it as we look to move forward. So, as I conclude, Mr. Speaker, let me say that on this heritage month of May leading up to Bermuda Day, let us celebrate what makes us Bermudian. But let us celebrate the great people who have caused us to appreciate who we are really. As I have been able to go into primary schools virtually it has caused me to reflect on some great people in my life. The late Elsie Bascome, who I sang to at Southampton Glebe on her final retirement. Through doing some research to go into the clas sroom, I found out that she was the first principal of Heron Bay [Primary] School. She influenced many in this co mmunity. The late Dalton E. Tucker, who Southampton Glebe was named after, was more than just a great schoolteacher whose name bears a good primary school up in Southampton, but she also was a lady of God who made sure that wherever she could she spread g ood news and a good word to children, to their parents and to their grandparents. And although she has been gone, probably within the last 10 years, her legacy will live on for many generations because of the good work that she had done. And the Elsie Bas comes and the Dalton E. Tuckers are up and down this country from East End to West End, from Heron Bay to Harrington Sound, from St. David’s right across to Purvis, at Elliot, at West Pembroke and all the public schools and all the other schools, private s chools and home schools in this country, there are good men and women who have made them happen. They are the ones that spread the spirit that makes us Bermudian. The Dale Butlers of this world. The Robert Hortons of this world. The Ellen- Kate Hortons, the Randy Hortons —and I am naming those because those are the ones who taught me. The Winton Williams give me an angle. The Roderic Pearmans. The men and women of this country who have gone on and some are still here, let us remember them. Let us celebrate t hem. Let us bring them in our schools and let us glean the history that are in their hearts today to help us use this period of difficulty to come out of it stronger people, appreciating what made us who we are and what can make us better than who we are. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4089
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Thank you, Honourable Member . Minister of Education, did you still want to make a contribution?
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, I know I did.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou can make a contribution now, if you wish. BERMUDA PUBLIC SCHOOL REOPENING PLAN Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker, I tuned in earlier and I was li stening to a few people speak and I just want to make a few comments …
You can make a contribution now, if you wish.
BERMUDA PUBLIC SCHOOL REOPENING PLAN
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker, I tuned in earlier and I was li stening to a few people speak and I just want to make a few comments about education to clarify a few things. I was really disappointed in some of the comments of the Opposition Whip. Mr. Speaker, it is diff icult enough for us when we have announcements, when we have press conferences, when we put out information to the public, to get the public to understand what is h appening with education. But it is that much more difficult when we have Honourable Members inside this House who get up and speak and make it painfully obvious that sometimes they are speaking because it just seems like something to say, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker, when then that Member did suggest that we need to start thinking of what educ ation could look like in the future, I have to wonder where has that Member been over the last two- plus years. The Progressive Labour Party was elected on a platform of reforming education. It was part of our platform. And I just wonder where that Member had been even during the last few weeks when the various announcements have been made about where we are going with education and how we see that this COVID -19 crisis is going to make us do something different with education, how education is going to look different from what we see today. But, I only mention that, Mr. Speaker, because that just completely stood out to me because, you know, I tend to hear that sometimes and I do understand that people do miss announcements and I do take time out so that I am on the street and Mr. and Mrs. Smith will come up to me about education. I will take time to explain what we are doing because I know they may have missed that. But, Mr. Speaker, for someone within our House who listens to the var ious statements and you hope listens to the various press releases and stuff about what is going on with education, it only tends to highlight how critical it is . . . how critical it is, Mr. S peaker, for all of us to be on the same page as we are moving forward, because that is the only way education will get to the point where it needs to get to, Mr. Speaker . We have to be all on the same page and all moving in the same direction. We cannot j ust always be just speaking of things. So, I will commit to send that Member all of the releases that have come out, all of the Ministerial Statements, et cetera, that are rel evant to the changes that we are looking to do within education over the next few years. So, just to make sure that that Member does have that information so we can move forward, we can move forward on the same page true. Mr. Speaker, I also want to respond to the comments made by the Member from constituency 23. As the Member that just spoke before me, I am very excited and proud that the Honourable Members in this Chamber answered the call that I put out to come and assist our public school children with their Zoom lessons and share their thoughts from social studies. I reached out because the social studies portion that they are going through now deals with the Constitution and politics, and it was no better time than now for our Member s to be able to give our st udents first -hand knowledge of what it is like to be a member of these C hambers, a member of the Legisl ature and talk about the Constitution, talk about how laws are made, talk about what it is like to be an MP, what it is like to be a Minister . So, kudos go out to everyone who has r esponded to that call and has appeared on a Zoom lesson, Mr. Speaker . It gives our students that rare opportunity to interact and question their legislators. And I have to wonder how many countries out there have a setup where their legislators can get online and students can talk to them directly and ask them those questions. So, for that, I want to thank the Honourable Member s who have taken part thus far with that programme. However, Mr. Speaker, when the Member from [constituency] 23 was speaking she brought up how one student was unable to connect with the call due to a parent, I think, taking the device that the household uses to work. I do empathise with her on that point. It is . . . I have mentioned on numerous occasions, and I have mentioned in these Honourable Chambers, I just wish that we had the ability to put a device in every student’s hands tomorrow. But what I took particular offence with on that comment was when she went on further to challenge the Department of Education to work harder to get devices into these students’ hands. M r. Speaker, we are working very, very hard to get devices in our st udents’ hands, Mr. Speaker . But, you know, I am not one that wishes to r ehash the OBA nightmare error that we did have for Education. But from time to time, Mr. Speaker, when Members Oppos ite, and members of the public when they speak out of pocket about issues that we are go-ing through and fail to come to the wicket and actually just apologise . . . apologise for some of the things that they have done that have directly led to where we are now with our education, Mr. Speaker . About that, Mr. Speaker, I think about what in terms of devices in 4090 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly students’ hands if it was not for the $20 million slashed from the . . . under four and a half years of the OBA Government , Mr. Speaker . How many devic es would be in our students’ hands if our Government , if the PLP Government , did not have to borrow [ $165 million] to bail Bermuda of the Morgan’s Point deal? A deal that was signed by a former Government that has now shown itself to give Government all of the exp osure and protect the owners if that project failed. Mr. Speaker, how many devices would we have been able to buy, if we did not —
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Mr. Speaker, point of order, Mr. Speaker . Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: —from a $12 mil lion profit making — Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Point of order, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe will take your point of order. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: —protect the company — POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, Mr . Speaker . Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Member is misleading the House and, you know, they incessantly and persistently talk about the …
We will take your point of order. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: —protect the company —
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, Mr . Speaker . Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Member is misleading the House and, you know, they incessantly and persistently talk about the OBA Government and the deal at Morgan’s Point/Caroline Bay. What is important —and I am going to mention it one more time, hopefully for the last time in order to ensure that people understand the truth. The agre ement that was made to transfer Southlands to Morgan’s Point was covered by a government al guarantee that was given in 2006 through to 2007 with the negotiations. The OBA was nowhere, even in the a pple of their father’s eye, at that point in time. So, that is misleading. It is untrue. And I think the Minister needs to correct it. And in terms of what if . . . what if, Mr. Speaker, the money that was spent just willy -nilly between 1998 and 2012 was still in the kitty? So, let us not go back and talk about what if. Let us be realistic.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member . You made your point about Caroline Bay. Thank you. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . I think the facts do stand for themselves and the fact does remain that we are on the hook and we are currently negotiating our way out …
Thank you, Member . You made your point about Caroline Bay. Thank you.
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . I think the facts do stand for themselves and the fact does remain that we are on the hook and we are currently negotiating our way out of a bad deal, period. Mr. Speaker, as I was interrupted by the Member, how many devices . . . and she can talk about . . . but how many devices would have been bought from us turning our airport from being a $12 million profit for the Government to a potential $12 million drain as we have to guarantee revenues for the new owner? How many devices would have been purchas ed from the confiscated assets fund if it had not been —
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, point of order, Mr. Speaker . Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: —failed attempt to settle political scores —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPoint of order. [Crosstalk ; feedback ] The Spe aker: Point of order. POINT OF ORDER Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Member is getting carried away to new lows even for himself. The former PLP Government considered building a new airport borrowing $500 million. Can the Honourable …
Point of order.
[Crosstalk ; feedback ]
The Spe aker: Point of order.
POINT OF ORDER
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Member is getting carried away to new lows even for himself. The former PLP Government considered building a new airport borrowing $500 million. Can the Honourable Member ask where that money would come from and who would have paid it back?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: You know, Mr. Speaker, it often . . . the term often goes, Thou doth protest too much. Mr. Speaker, [INAUDI BLE] too much. The fact remains that the deal to build a $500 million airport was never consummated, but the deal to …
Thank you.
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: You know, Mr. Speaker, it often . . . the term often goes, Thou doth protest too much. Mr. Speaker, [INAUDI BLE] too much. The fact remains that the deal to build a $500 million airport was never consummated, but the deal to build the airport that is going on now is currently in place. So, we can only talk about what has happened.
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker , point of order, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYour point of order? POINT OF ORDER Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Protest too much is what the Honourable M inister is doing, but plans for that airport were within Government Ministries so that fact is reality. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, the reality is that we currently have …
Your point of order?
POINT OF ORDER Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Protest too much is what the Honourable M inister is doing, but plans for that airport were within Government Ministries so that fact is reality.
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, the reality is that we currently have Aecon building the airport. And I will leave it at that. But, Mr. Speaker, how many —
Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4091
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Minister , there is plenty of good stuff to talk about in your Ministry. This would be a good ti me to just go ahead and talk about some of the things that is going on in your Ministry.
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: And I will move on, Mr. Speaker, I will. But, Mr. Speaker, as the Member did just mention . . . I do not mention it to cast blame or aspersion because I had forgotten about the OBA time in Government because it is now our responsibility, the Progressive Labour Party’s responsibility to move on and do what needs to be done for education. But I want to let the public know, Mr. Speaker, that e ven in the crisis that we do face, where we have to reduce costs across the board, there are plans in place. There are plans in place that I will be looking to elaborate on within these Honourable Chambers in the very near future, that we are looking to see devi ces in the hands of our students, in the hands of the majority of our students, come September, Mr. Speaker . I will reveal those details in due time but, Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to make it known that we will put what needs to be done to get our Bermuda public school system moving forward and not standing in place or regressing. Mr. Speaker, I cannot wait to reveal plans where we look to take our entire system to a digital education delivery in the near future to support the new hybrid system that we know is going to have to happen in order for education to move forward. Now, as the Member I spoke earlier, the Member needing a plan, Mr. Speaker , I want ever yone in these Honourable Chambers to know that we have a plan. A plan that was promised to t he people of Bermuda in 2017. It has been worked on and is now in train. As I said, Mr. Speaker, and I will continue to repeat this, I would love to have a device in all st udent’s hands tomorrow. But that is just not feasible. But it is part of the future of education. We can use this current situation to forge out - of-the-box solutions and we have a team in place that is going to do that, Mr. Speaker . That is something that we are cognisant of and that is something that we plan to put in place. The future of education in Berm uda . . . despite the few negative comments, Mr. Speaker, will continue to move forward. We will continue to do what needs to be done. We will continue to bring our education plans to reality because this is what our children deserve. T his is what they need, and this is what they will get, Mr. Speaker . I want to thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me this time, and following [along with] my other col-leagues who have wished Bermuda, I wish Bermuda a happy Heritage Day next Friday, and ple ase continue to be safe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. I believe the next person is the Premier. Premier? Hon. E. David Burt: I am here, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNo one else is –– Hon. E. David Burt: I just wanted to ma ke sure that no one else speaks.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNo, I do not want you to get left out this week. I think there was a pause and I think you should take the opportunity. Hon. E. David Burt: Okay. Are we good, Mr. Speaker?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo right ahead. ASSIST ANCE TO BERMUDA DURING THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE Hon. E. David Burt: All right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of conversation, discussion this evening on the motion to ad-journ. And I want to make sure that I leave the …
Go right ahead.
ASSIST ANCE TO BERMUDA DURING THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE
Hon. E. David Burt: All right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of conversation, discussion this evening on the motion to ad-journ. And I want to make sure that I leave the people who are listening in the country with no doubt as to the direction of this Government and where we see our current situation and where we are going in the future. And it is really, really hard to sometimes leave the politics which does not necessarily help us in these particular situations when it is talking about looking back and making sure that we look forward. So, sometimes there is a necessity to correct the rec-ord and other times that we sometimes need to leave things alone. But the fact is that we are in unprecedented times in this country and the fact is that the world is in unprecedented time—a once in a century pandemic is upon us. And there is fear, but I do believe that the skies are beginning to clear. As I said in my response to some parl iamentary questions earlier today, Mr. Speaker, I think that we can make sure that we chart our own course and I think we have done a good job of charting our own course today. But let me touch on some of the comments from Member s during this motion to adjourn because as the mover of the motion, it is important that I r espond on behalf of the Government . The first speaker was the Deputy Opposition Leader and I am not going to allow the attack on my statement from the Deputy Opposition Leader to stop me fr om serving as the unifying leader that this country needs right now. But it is really troubling, Mr. Speaker, that we can sing Kumbaya at one point in time and try to at4092 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly tack and drag down at the same time. So, when you get questions like why is the BELCO transaction being delayed versus asking a simple question of what is the status of the transaction, or when we go to, you know, I take exceptions to the Premier’s statement about who he did not name , I am not necessarily sure that is the most constructive way to engage in the debate that we need to actually have. And so the only thing I will say to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is that I know full well that the Shadow Minister of Tourism involves you in many different meetings and many different disc ussions about what is taking place. And the only thing that I would say is that if you say that you are going to take exception to my statement and why these things were included, I will just ask you, you know, to possibly phrase it in a different way, bec ause I have, over the last two months —
Ms. Leah K. ScottPoint of order, Mr. Speaker. — Hon. E. David Burt: —had so many different persons in the third sector —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe will take your point of order. Point of order? POINT OF CLARIFICATION
Ms. Leah K. ScottA point of clarification because . . . could the Premier state what things I thought he left out? I am sorry I missed the first part of that.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou asked for a point of clarification on what the Premier just stated?
Ms. Leah K. ScottYes, he said I left — Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I will move on and I think it will be clear to the Honourable Deputy Leader of the Opposition because the Honourable Deputy Leader of the Opposition took offence at who was not named in my statement. And …
Yes, he said I left —
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I will move on and I think it will be clear to the Honourable Deputy Leader of the Opposition because the Honourable Deputy Leader of the Opposition took offence at who was not named in my statement. And what I said is that over the past two months, whether it be press conferences, whether it be interviews on news, whether it be things of which I have written, et cetera, I have thanked all parts of the third sector of this country, all parts of the volunteer community. I have recognised persons up and down so I do not necessarily need to be told about whether it is Open Your Heart [Foundation] or Women’s R esource Centre, or XY and Z. I mean, Open Your Heart reached out to me . . . exemptions to the first shelter place to go ahead and make sure they can deliver meals to persons. And there are many people who have given out meals, maybe people here or online, how many people have gone out of their pockets —I know the Leader of the Opposition is del ivering meals just about every day. And so I know that particular Members are—I know MP Famous in Devonshire and many other persons are doing this work inside of their community. So, we have thanked churches, community organisations, individuals, students , teachers, up and down. And like MP Famous said, there are many to give thanks to. So, I just take . . . I am not just understanding how constructive it is to pick on the fact of whom I did not name inside of a statement. And the only thing I will say to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is when you are criticising the Economic Advisory [Committee] that the Minister of Finance has decided to put together to —
Ms. Leah K. ScottPoint of order, Mr. Speaker . I was not criticising —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPoint of order. POINT OF ORDER
Ms. Leah K. ScottPoint of order. I was not critical, Mr. Speaker , at all. What I said was that solutions need to be bottom-up and top- down. That is not a crit icism but that is a fact. We do not need high- level comments and we do not need high- level …
Point of order. I was not critical, Mr. Speaker , at all. What I said was that solutions need to be bottom-up and top- down. That is not a crit icism but that is a fact. We do not need high- level comments and we do not need high- level policies put in place if it is somebody sitting in their apartment with their lights out and no food and we do not have a solution—
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker —
Ms. Leah K. Scott—as to how to get them to work — Hon. E. David Burt: Can I continue my statement please?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay, thank you, Honourable Member. Premier? Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Deputy Leader of the Opposition doth protest too much, because she went ahead and she made her particular comments. And I am now responding to her comments in that light. So, the fact is that this …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPeople do have the right for a point of order or a point of clarification. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you. I got it, Mr. Speaker . Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4093 Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Premier? Okay. Hon. E. David Burt: It is dealing …
People do have the right for a point of order or a point of clarification. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you. I got it, Mr. Speaker . Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4093
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Premier? Okay.
Hon. E. David Burt: It is dealing with the economy. In my opinion, her comments were critical, Mr. Speaker . And if she does not believe that it is, that is fine. But that is the way in which I took them. And when I say that the Economic [Advisory] Committee is it is dealing with the economy. So, it is not dealing with things like technology or healt h care or education or the various things that the Gover nment is working on and the work that continues. We have an economic problem and just like how we had a health care problem, we have health care experts to do things, we have an economic problem. But this whole thing about speaking of the bottom -up, Mr. Speaker, how much more bottom -up can we be than to open up an online discussion on forum.gov.bm
where there have been suggestions that have been made by so many persons —222 ideas that have been submitted, complete with comments and voting. So, the economic ideas for this country, Mr. Speaker, are not limited to the ideas of those persons on the Economic Advisory Committee and if the Honourable Member feels so pas sionate about those particular instances regarding this particular Committee, then understand the Minister of Finance gave her party a seat at the table and her Leader elected to put the Shadow Minister of Finance on the Committee.
Ms. Leah K. ScottPoint of clarification, Mr. Speaker . Hon. E. David Burt: And if she wants to refer —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPoint of clarification? POINT OF CLARIFICATION
Ms. Leah K. ScottI am well aware that our Member is on that Committee. I have no issue with the Committee. My point is that if they have a forum where people have given ideas — Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I do not accept the point of clarification.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member . Premier? Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . So, when we speak, Mr. Speaker, about bottom-up, when we speak about inclusivity, when we speak about these particular things, I think what is most constructive is how to help, h ow to assist, how to …
Thank you, Member . Premier? Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . So, when we speak, Mr. Speaker, about bottom-up, when we speak about inclusivity, when we speak about these particular things, I think what is most constructive is how to help, h ow to assist, how to make sure that maybe as the OBA has a seat at the table that maybe the One Bermuda Alliance can get together ideas and get together all these persons and then submit those ideas through their member on that Committee, Mr. Speaker . It is wide open! That is the way that this Government is approaching situations, Mr. Speaker . That is why it is important . . . and her party has a seat at the table, Mr. Speaker . That is why it is important and her party has [INAUDIBLE], Mr . Speaker . So, go ing on to the issues about another Honourable Member , MP Dunkley, who spoke about tourism. As I have just said, we in this Government have had our Minister s make sure they engage not only with our backbench on particular issues, the foreign policy recommendations, but have also reached out to Members of the Opposition. And I know for a fact that MP Zane De Silva involves the Shadow Minister of Tourism in many of the various different discussions. So, if MP Dunkley has a question about tourism, he should pr obably ask the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. But, yes, we are going to open this economy, Mr. Speaker, and, yes, it is going to happen. That is a fact. And the only thing that I would say, the only thing that I would say is that Honourable former Premie r, MP Dunkley, does not have to wait until June 5 th to ask questions. He does not have to wait until motion to adjourn to get up and, as some people said, you don’t make those speeches . He can ask either his Deputy Leader who is involved with these, or he can ask the Ministers who have been very good at trying to get back —
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Point of order, Mr. Speaker. Hon. E. David Burt: —to [ INAUDIBLE ] on these particular instances.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPoint of order? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank y ou, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. POINT OF ORDER Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: The Honourable Premier . . . I gave a comment in the motion to adjourn tonight which was my opinion and my belief. In it I asked some questions. The Premier is well aware that I ask questions on an ongoing basis, …
Yes.
POINT OF ORDER
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: The Honourable Premier . . . I gave a comment in the motion to adjourn tonight which was my opinion and my belief. In it I asked some questions. The Premier is well aware that I ask questions on an ongoing basis, such as in the meeting we had earlier this week about phase 2, where I asked questions about free diving and I am still wai ting for answers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I shall continue.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. 4094 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. E. David Burt: Because this is the point, Mr. Speaker . The point is that we will open up the economy. There is work that is taking place with the Berm uda Tourism Authority, the Minister of …
Okay.
4094 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. E. David Burt: Because this is the point, Mr. Speaker . The point is that we will open up the economy. There is work that is taking place with the Berm uda Tourism Authority, the Minister of Tourism spoke to it very, very clearly. So, the fact is that it is almost as though if . . . here is the thing, Mr. Speaker, as the leader of the country, you go ahead and you put down your sword and you say this is the time that we all need to work together. You invite Opposition Members onto c ommittees, and then you get treated to these questions during motion to adjourn with criticism. I get it and I understand. But if we have these particular instances in these constructive forums of which to engage, then I try to get how we move from where w e are trying to be— which is always at odds with one another —to moving to a place where we can actually filter ideas, filter our suggestions, filter our things so that as a country we can be unified because that is what it is that we need, Mr. Speaker . So, despite the bows and arrows which are coming from some Members of the Opposition, I am going to hold to the faith and trust the Leader of the Opposition who has been critical in private but supportive in public because that is the thing that this country needs to see because we know how quickly we can fracture and divide, Mr. Speaker . I would urge Honourable Member s to take advantage of the engagement of which has been put forward. It was brilliant earlier to listen to the Shadow Minister of National Sec urity talk about how he has been involved in meetings and all these types of things, Mr. Speaker . That is the leadership of which we are trying to provide.
COVID -19—ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL NEEDS OF SENIORS
Hon. E. David Burt: Now, moving on to MP Jackson. I appreciate the issue of which she raised regarding our seniors. It is actually not something that I had personally thought about before, about the social needs of our seniors and the need to make sure that interac-tivity happens. And certainly as they are a shielded and a vulnerable population, I certainly think that there needs to be some follow up on that. We do have an Ageing Well Committee so there is no need for the creation of another statutory committee. And what I will do is undertake to set up a meeting with MP Jackson and the Chair of the Ageing Well Committee, which is Senator Ianthia Simmons - Wade and so we can talk about those particular i ssues. I know that they are engaged. I know that there [are] persons from Age Concern and other persons who sit on that committee. So, I am looking forward to setting it up and I appreciate her comments on the motion to adjourn because, as she said, the apple does not fall far from the tree. I certainly think that we need to, especially at this time, think about the issues of our seniors and those that are certainly living in isolation.
COVID -19—TOURISM SECTOR’S QUIET DESPERATION
Hon. E. David Burt: Moving on, Mr. Speaker, to some of the comments from some of my own Members, especially MP Commissiong. The j oke that I will say, Mr. Speaker, it looks like we tried to replace MP Bob Richards in how are things, you know, the doom and gloom. But here is what I am going to say, Mr. Speaker, I do not agree with MP Commissiong that there will be no tourism and no jobs in tourism this year b ecause I know the hard work that the Minister of Tour-ism has engaged in, the stakeholders of the Bermuda Hotel Association, the Bermuda Tourism Authority and others who are working to make sure that we can have some semblance of a tourism season this year. I will say this, Mr. Speaker, I am not allowed to speak about what happens in meetings that take place on Tuesday, but if we let this country get to as bad as he says it will get, then we should not have our jobs, because I think that there is work of which we can do. Yes, the economic pains will be difficult, Mr. Speaker . I get it. But if we do not have a tourism season this summer, that is a problem. And as persons have said, there are countries that are opening up their tourism industry. We are not going to leave our borders closed for the rest of the year. We can be wise and we can adopt a risk -based approach to make sure . . . and we can do it such as other countries do where you have testing at the airport, where you have mul tiple things, where you have quarantine to make sure that these type of items work. So, I do not agree and accept that we are not going to have a tourism industry this year or tourist season this year because we have to work to make that a reality. Will it look like every other year? Cer-tainly not. But we can certainly have something so I do not believe that contribution can be zero and that is what is responsible for us working collectively to make sure we work together.
COVID -19—BERMUDA’S TESTING REGI ME
Hon. E. David Burt: One of the keys to that, Mr. Speaker, is what MP Furbert touched on, and that is about testing. We have done a great job with testing, Mr. Speaker . Do you know why, Mr. Speaker ? Because as a Government we were bold. Just like the L eader of the Opposition said, the need to be bold. We were bold because there were questions that we heard earlier from MP Dunkley. I get the understanding of the reason, you know, why he asked them, trying, you know, to say, O h, you know, how is the Gover nment brought in these tests and, you know, where do they come from and are they FDA approved and all the Official Hansard Repor t 22 May 2020 4095 B ermuda House of Assembly rest? And I have said it publicly before and I have gotten into a little bit of trouble for it. I am not going to commit this country to follow the lead of the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America for managing the coronavirus crisis. I am not. B ecause there is an example of a country that probably has not done as well as they should. Just because you get advice from the United States or the United Kingdom does not mean it is the right advice. And for us, Mr. Speaker, we were bold to step out in our own way and we said this is what we need, and this is what we are going to get, Mr. Speaker . And that is what we have done, and we have done it with our young people and our young scientists and those around the table who said we can do it a different way. Look at where we have come, Mr. Speaker. We have come from a contract with H elix who have done excellent and amazing work from the beginning, which has cost the Government a significant amount of money to where we are moving to a place where it is far more cost -effective, where we are able to provide mass testing at a low cost. That, Mr. Speaker, is being bold. So, we have pushed the envelope in that particular area and that is what is going to allow us to reopen the tourism industry. So, I want no one who is listening to be under any illusions or thoughts. The FDA is not going to be our guide. The CDC is not going to be our guide. We are going to make decisions in this country because I trust the scientists who advise us, I trust the doctors who we sent away to get that education, we gave those scholarships to, to come back and give us a dvice, Mr. Speaker. And I am not going to wait for the permission of the US CDC, the US FDA, Public Health England or anyone else to tell this country what we can do for ourselves, Mr. Speaker . It makes no sense in sending our people away and then to say we cannot trust them to make the decision. That ends now, Mr. Speaker , and look at what it has gotten us, Mr. Speaker . It has gotten us to a place where we are certainly in a better position than many when it comes to tests. Now, here is where I will close, Mr. Speaker, because the Leader of the Opposition alluded to that we can do better and we certainly can. And that is the reason why after our conversation last week, I said, you know what, Leader of the Opposition? We need to make sure we set up a regular meeting every week so we can go through these particular items. So, we are meeting on a weekly basis, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMm-hmm. COVID -19—MAKING BOLD MOVES TO SECURE BERMUDA’S FUTURE Hon. E. David Burt: Here is what I will agree with him. Reports are not there to be sitting on the shelf. And, Mr. Opposition Leader, rest assured r eports are not sitting on the shelf. I just got off a …
Mm-hmm. COVID -19—MAKING BOLD MOVES TO SECURE BERMUDA’S FUTURE Hon. E. David Burt: Here is what I will agree with him. Reports are not there to be sitting on the shelf. And, Mr. Opposition Leader, rest assured r eports are not sitting on the shelf. I just got off a call at lunch time today, during our lunch break, with Philip Butterfield who is the Chairman of BermudaFirst and there are avenues inside of BermudaFirst which were worked on inside of that report which are advancing— the work of which they are doing with the Minister of Education; the work of which they are doing with the technology group; the work of which they are doing insofar as health care, making Bermuda a centre of health care excellence. Those recommendations of which were there are being advanced. But he is correct, Mr. Speaker, we must be bold. And sometimes in this country we are afraid to be bold. We are afraid to say we can do it ourselves and it is something that has always bothered me, Mr. Speaker, that we wait for the approval of the United States, the United Kingdom or someone else when we need to step out and say we are going to do it differently ourselves, Mr. Speaker . So, that is the case. This is a defining time in our history. Whether or not we are able to say, You know what, we have put our young people, sent them away to school, they have come back, they have id eas, they can work with us and we can advance to a certain place and get ourselv es to a different direction, Mr. Speaker. I have no doubt that through ––
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou are in your last minute, Premier. Hon. E. David Burt: —that through BermudaFirst —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPremier — Hon. E. David Burt: —that we will certainly, Mr. Speaker, be in a better and different place. So, with that. Mr. Speaker, I want to say I wish everyone over the next two weeks a very happy Ber-muda Day holiday. I hope that we all remember to maintain …
Premier — Hon. E. David Burt: —that we will certainly, Mr. Speaker, be in a better and different place. So, with that. Mr. Speaker, I want to say I wish everyone over the next two weeks a very happy Ber-muda Day holiday. I hope that we all remember to maintain our social distancing and while, Mr. Speaker, we are consider ing these various options, while we are considering what this holiday may mean now and into the f uture, I want us all to reflect not only on our heritage but to think about what the future of this country can be if we have the courage to believe in ourselv es, believe in our own decisions and believe in our collective ability to chart our own course, Mr. Speaker . Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThat brings us to a close of today’s session and the House now stands adjourned until the 5th of June at 10:00 am. Members, be safe and enjoy the holiday next Friday. Thank you all for your participation today. 4096 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly …
That brings us to a close of today’s session and the House now stands adjourned until the 5th of June at 10:00 am. Members, be safe and enjoy the holiday next Friday. Thank you all for your participation today. 4096 22 May 2020 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly An Hon. Member: Thank you.
[At 7:46 pm, the House stood adjourned until 10:00 am, Friday, 5 June 2020.]