The Senate held an emergency session to pass the Public Health Amendment Act 2020, giving the Health Minister power to close schools, cinemas, churches, hotels and other public places to prevent the spread of communicable diseases like COVID-19. The bill requires the Chief Medical Officer's opinion that there's an imminent disease outbreak risk before the Minister can act. All senators supported the legislation, recognizing the need for decisive action during the pandemic while acknowledging the economic and social disruption it may cause.
Emergency public health powers to combat COVID-19 spreadAuthority for Health Minister to close public places during disease outbreaksDefinition and scope of "places of public resort"Self-quarantine requirements and enforcement questions
Bills & Motions
Public Health Amendment Act 2020 - Passed all three readings and became law
Foreign Currency Purchase Tax (Exemption) Order 2020 - Notice given for future consideration
Land Tax (Exemption) Order 2020 - Notice given for future consideration
Government Fees Amendment Regulations 2020 - Notice given for future consideration
Six additional bills received first reading but not debated
Notable Moments
Senator Jardine raised concerns about the unclear definition of "places of public resort," questioning whether restaurants and shops were included
Senator Jones asked about self-quarantine requirements and enforcement, though this was deemed outside the bill's scope
The government emphasized that any closures would be based on medical advice and public health notifications would provide ongoing guidance
Debate Transcript
1 speech from 1 speaker
Madam President.
The PresidentThank you, Senator Simmons -Wade. Would any Senator care to speak on this Bill? Senator Jardine, you have the floor. Sen. James S. Jardine: Madam President, I certainly am in support of this Bill. I had a question. It is the definition of “a place of public resort .” I …
Thank you, Senator Simmons -Wade. Would any Senator care to speak on this Bill? Senator Jardine, you have the floor. Sen. James S. Jardine: Madam President, I certainly am in support of this Bill. I had a question. It is the definition of “a place of public resort .” I went to the Public Health Act, and it is mentioned in there, as well. But it is not defined. I could not find it anywhere in any Acts within govern-ment laws online. So I did go to an online reference to find the definition. My concern was that it did not specify, for example, restaurants or shops. And so I was concerned that there might be some misconception out in the public as to what the definition of “ a place of public resort ” includes. And the only definition I could find, if you will allow me to read this definition . . . The President: Certainly. Sen. James S. Jardine: And it says, “Place of public resort means a building or a defined or enclosed place used either as the church, chapel, mosque, temple or other place where public worship is, or religious cer emonies are perform ed; or as a community club, country club, cinema theatre, public exhibition, concert, lecture hall, public ballroom, museum, stadium or pu blic place of assembly for persons admitted thereto by tickets.” I could not find any definition that either excluded or included restaurants or shops. And so I was just seeking some clarification of that definition as to whether restaurants and shops in particular are i ncluded or excluded. Otherwise, I am very much in support of this Bill. Thank you, Madam President. The President: Thank you, Senator Jardine. Would any other Senator care to speak on this Bill? Senator Jones, you have the floor. Sen. Marcus Jones: Yes. Good morning, Madam President, and to my fellow Senators. The President: Good morning. 824 16 March 2020 Official Hansard Report Ber muda Senate Sen. Marcus Jones: Of course, all of Bermuda and the world are on high alert with this particular crisis. And of course, we are in wholehearted support. And in talking with members of the public and trying to get a fuller understanding of all of the ramifications, we know that a number of businesses are going to be affected. We know that schoolchildren . . . the whole public at large will be at risk. But we are glad that the Premier and the Government have made very im-portant steps to keep the country safe. One question that has been brought to my attention, and I do not know if it is a question that can be answered at this particular juncture, but the question has been arising. S elf-quarantine—w hat specif ically does that mean? We know that this is going to be mandator y as of tomorrow. And I believe it would be great for the public to have a full and clear understanding of what it means to be self -quarantined. And in fact, a suppl ementary question to that would be, How will it be e nforced? Thank you, Madam President. The President: Thank you, Senator Jones. Would any other Senator care to speak on this Bill? No? Then, Senator Simmons -Wade, you have a couple of questions. Sen. Ianthia Simmons -Wade: The words “ place of public resort ” or “meeting” are not actually defined in the Public Health Act 1949. So the wording would ac-tually take their natural meaning. The language “other place of public resort ” is old -fashioned. But from the context, the meaning is clear: a place where people gather to meet. On to the second question, it is not related to this Bill. So this is not a question that I will answer. Sen. the Hon. Kathy Lynn Simmons: Madam Pres ident. The President: Senator Kathy Lynn Simmons. Se n. the Hon. Kathy Lynn Simmons: If I can assist with regard to the question pertaining to quarantine. Senators and members of the public are advised to heed the public notifications which will conti nue to be issued by the Minister of Health and other measures that will be spoken to publicly from the Mi nister of Finance and the Premier. So at this particular time, they are advised to watch that notification space to get further direction and clarification with the issues of quarantine. Th e President: Thank you, Senator Kathy Lynn Si mmons , Attorney General . Senator Simmons -Wade . Se n. Ianthia Simmons -Wade: Madam President. Th e President: Yes. Se n. Ianthia Simmons -Wade: Madam President, I move that the Bill entitled Public Health Amendment Bill 2020 be now read a second time. Th e President: Is there any objection to that m otion? No objection. Carry on, Senator. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 2 6 Se n. Ianthia Simmons -Wade: Madam President, I move that Standing Order 26 be suspended in respect to this Bill. Th e President: Is there any objection to that motion? No objection. [Motion carried: Standing Order 26 suspended.] BILL THIRD READING PUBLIC HEALTH AMENDMENT ACT 2020 Se n. Ianthia Simmons -Wade: Madam President, I move that the Bill entitled Public Health Amendment Bill 2020 be now read a third time. Th e President: Is there any objection to the third reading? No objection. Se n. Ianthia Simmons -Wade: Madam President, I move that the Bill do now pass. Th e President: It has been moved that the Bill ent itled the Public Health Amendment Act 2020 be now passed. Is there any objection to that motion? No objection. The Bill is passed. [Motion carried: The Public Health Amendment Act 2020 was read a third time and passed.] Th e President: Thank you, Senator Simmons -Wade. Now, yes. Moving on then. MOTIONS Th e President: There are none.
B ermuda Senate CONGRATULATORY AND/OR OBITUARY SPEECHES The President: Would any Senator care to speak? No. ADJOURNMENT The President: Then, Senator Kathy Lynn Simmons, Attorney General and Government Leader in the Senate, you have the floor. Sen. the Hon. Kathy Lynn Simmons: Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Senate do now adjourn until Wednesday, March the 18th. The President: Would any Senator care to speak on the m otion to a djourn? No. Therefore, the Senate will stand adjourned until Wednesday. And thank you all for your atten dance today. [At 1:0 2 pm the Senate stood adjourned until 10:00 am, Wednesday, 18 Marc h 2020.] 826 16 March 2020 Official Hansard Report