June 3, 2025

Thank you, Senator Simmons.
Just as a time check, we are roughly halfway
through our two- hour session.
Would any Senator wish to speak on Head 93,
the Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters?
Senator Foley, I see your hand up.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Yes, for Head 93, I do have a question —and
thank you, Junior Minister, for providing that information.
Regarding the increase, and I apologise if I
missed that part, regarding the increase of $806,000.
The question that I have is, Can the Junior Minister advise whether this increase in the professional services
allocation includes the continuation or expans ion of existing consultancy contracts, or whether it reflects new service engagements anticipated in the 2025/26 fiscal
year? That's my one question.

Thank you, Senator Foley.
Also, Senator Simmons, there were, I am
guessing, questions sent in advance. So, I think you
can address those if there were any that pertain to
Head 93.

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: All my pre- questions are in
my briefs. So, I am answering them in my briefs.

Sen. Maurice Foley: Yes, agreed. Those questions
that were asked were addressed in her brief.



Bermuda Senate The Chairman: Very good. Thank you, Senator Foley.
So, we just have that one question for Senator Simmons to respond to.
We have, okay, that's the second one. Senator
Jones, over to you.

Sen. Marcus Jones: Good morning, Mr. Chairman.
Good morning to my fellow colleagues and to the listening audience. I also want to add my gratitude and
thanks to the technical officers and those who work behind the scenes to ensure that this Ministry functions at
its optimum best. And I would like to thank the Junior
Minister for her brief, which she adequately answered
the pre- budget questions.
I just have one or two observations mixed in
with a question or two.
I see that CARICOM is one of the . . . it rests in
this particular Ministry. And I was curious to ask the
question, being that the objective within this particular
Ministry is to complete comprehensive consultation on
CARICOM membership, engage stakeholder s and the
public and deliver a Green Paper for decision. Being
that there is a fair amount of research and fact finding
that is required, I would think , in preparation to lead up
to this Green Paper, I think of certain questions that
need to be asked and answered in an expert fashion.
That being, How much impact would being a member
of CARICOM be on our workforce? How about the free-dom of movement between islands?
A question that arises in my mind is, Will the
Caribbean monetary system actually be considered le-gal tender in Bermuda? How much will this relationship
take away from our international business market
share, being that our rivals and competitors are under
one roof?
The reason why I throw out those questions is
because we would need some expert consultation that may be outside of our shores. So, my question would
be, If the Government, or specifically this Ministry, is in
the process of information gathering, are ther e expenses that they are anticipating in the upcoming year? Which line item will that fall under if in fact there are any
expenses that are going to be earmarked to cover ex-pertise within the investigation of getting into CARICOM? That's one question.
My second question has to do with performance measures. I noticed there on page B -312 under
the number of . . . the number of valid consumer complaint investigations . . . first of all, I would like to know
quite simply, What is considered a valid complaint as opposed to an invalid one? And once I get some understanding on that, if there is an estimate of 2,000 valid
complaints, what would be the expected total number
of complaints? I am trying to get an understanding of
what the workload would be for this particular department.
And then when it comes to consumer complaint investigations, we all know that housing and the
lack thereof and the affordability of housing, we know how that is a major issue in our community. I would really like to see how the number of consumer complaint
investigations actually revolve around housing, renters
versus landlords. I would like to see what the number
of complaints within that category wou ld be. Two thousand may be a little, it may be a lot, we do not know.
So, if the technical officer can give us a sense
of . . . give us some context on the load that this department has to take on to investigate these complaints,
specifically separating the tenant/landlord complaints, I
would appreciate that.
And with those two questions, I yield, Mr.
Chairman.

Thank you, Senator Jones.
Senator Simmons, whenever you are ready to
answer those questions from Senator Jones and Sen-ator Foley.

[Pause]
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So just to let you know, Consumer Affairs takes approximately 100 calls per week.
Some of them are just for information purposes.
The Government is not intending to participate
in the CARICOM single market and economy, [also
known as] Freedom of Movement. So, the [question]
that Senator Foley asked, the answer is no. With regards to the consultants , the $806,000 is not for consultancy contracts. These are due to the integration of Consumer Affairs into the Ministry.
And the other calls that we do get, the approximately 100 that we get, they are mere detail complaints requiring further investigation.
And likewise, there is no plan to join the monetary union of any kind.
Housing, including landlord and tenants, are
approximately 50 per cent of the contracts.
I believe that answers the questions so far.

Thank you, Senator Simmons.
Any other questions before we move on to
Head 89?
If not, thank you, Senator Simmons.
Please proceed with Head 89 on energy.

HEAD 89 —DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I am pleased to present the budget for Head
89, the Department of Energy, as detailed on pages B -
313 through B -315 and C -16 of the Approved Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.

Mission

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chairman, the mission of
the Department of Energy is to promote, advocate for,
164 3 June 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda Senate and develop policy legislation for Bermuda's space, energy, and telecommunication industries.
To accomplish this mission, the Department [of
Energy] pursues the following broad objectives:
• reduce Bermuda's reliance on fossil fuel imports while balancing energy security, sustainability, and affordability;
• provide education, guidance, and policy advice
on regulations across energy and telecommunications, including space and satellite [sectors]; and
• support the growth of Bermuda's infrastructure
and industry through the development [and
maintenance of] robust space, satellite, telecommunications, and energy infrastructure.
To meet these objectives, the d epartment operates
through a single business unit detailed on page B -313
and is supported by four offices under the heading Ad-ministration, 99000. Objectives:
• to reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports while
balancing the security, sustainability, and affordability of energy in Bermuda;
• to provide education, advice and guidance on policy and regulations for the energy and telecommunications sectors;
• to facilitate the growth of industry and businesses in Bermuda through supporting the
development and maintenance of robust
space, satellite, telecommunications, and energy infrastructure.

Expenditure Overview

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chairman, the department of Energy's total budget allocation for 2025/26 is
$526,000. This allocation is largely consistent with the
previous year's estimate, reflecting a slight increase of 5 per cent compared to the 2024/25 budget.
Notably, there is a modest increase in the salaries line item to accommodate expenditure relating to acting pay and necessary salary adjustments. The Director's post is a statutory position which [necessitates]
the appointment of an Acting Director whenever the substantive post holder is on leave.

Revenue Summary

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chairman, the Department of Energy estimates revenue for the 2025/26 fiscal year as outlined on page B -314 is projected at
$15,385,000. These revenues are made up of:
• telecommunications fees of $5,981,000;
• Integrated Communications Operating Licence (ICOL) and spectrum band fees of
$9,091,000;
• broadcasting fees of $30,000;
• electricity fees of $177,000; and • aircraft and mari time licencing fees of
$106,000.
This represent s a decrease of $1,964,000 or
approximately 11 per cent compared to the original revenue estimates for the 2024 /25 fiscal year. The primary
reason for this decline is a projected reduction in tele-communications revenue following the G overnment's
decision to lower the monthly tax on mobile phones by
50 per cent, from $12 to $6 ef fective 1 July 2025. This
policy change was a key initiative announced in the
2025 /26 Throne S peech and reflects the G overnment's
ongoing commitment to ease financial burdens on residents by reducing government -imposed fees.
The Throne Speech explicitly states the Government is acutely aware of the financial burdens
placed on families and will reduce the monthly tax on
mobile phones by 50 per cent to provide tangible relief
to working Bermudians. This initiative is designed to
make essential telecommunication services more affordable and aligns with broader efforts to address the high cost of living. Given the integral role that mobile
phones play in daily life, this tax reduction is expected
to deliver meaningful relief to consumers across the I sland.

Manpower

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chair man, the Department of Energy staff and details are provided on page
B-314 of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.
The department is comprised of four full -time
positions, all of which are held by Bermudians. At present, one of these positions is vacant. However, the de-partment is actively recruiting with the goal of filling the
vacancy before the end of the current fiscal year. The
full staff and complement include the Director, an Energy Policy Analyst, a Research and D evelopment Officer, and a T elecommunications Officer. The total salary allocation for these positions is $514,000, which ac-counts for 98 per cent of the department's overall
budget.

Output Measures

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chai rman, the Department of Energy performance measures are outlined on
page B -315 of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.
These update metrics reflect the G overnment's
commitment to public service reform and are closely
aligned with the department's core functions. A central
priority for the department continues to be the provision
of technical and project management support across
Government. Alongside its leadership role, it is collaborating with regulatory authorities to advance critical
policy and legislative initiatives across the energy, fuel,
and electronic communications sector.
The department's perform ance targets for fiscal year 2025/ 26 are based on its business plan, which


Bermuda Senate aligns with the Government's Throne Speech initiative
and platform commitments. These targets reflect the
department's planned outputs, including the number of
legislative amendments, policy recommendations, and
the Cabinet's . . . need to advance national priorities.
Legislative reforms expected during this period include
amendments to the Regulatory Authority Act, the Electricity Act, and the Electronic Communications Act.
The number of C abinet memoranda is calculated according to the business plan and encompasses
decisions prepared related to legislative changes and departmental restructuring, as well as information papers designed to update C abinet on strategic initiatives.
These documents are essential tools to support timely
decision -making and to present viable policy options for
the Government.
The department is actively managing five initiatives including: updates to the national electricity sector policy and the national fuel policy , oversight of the
integrated resource plan, engagement with the Energy
Policy Steering Committee, and public awareness cam-paigns. Additional cross -sector initiatives in energy, telecommunications, and space are also underway. Although five key projects were initially planned, the department expect s to exceed this number as emerging
priorities are addressed.
In the upcoming fiscal year, the department will
play a pivotal role in supporting the government's initi-ative to modernise Bermuda's regulatory framework.
The current enforcement and adjudication process em-ployed by the R egulatory Authority have been deemed
outdated, inefficient, and unnecessarily complex.
These processes often involve lengthy formal hearings
and administrative steps, which no longer meet the needs of a modern regulatory environment.
To address this, the G overnment is implementing a more streamlined and transparent regulatory model. This updated approach will introduce clearer
procedures for issuing warnings, making final deci-sions, and publicly disclosing enforcement outcomes
when appropriate. It will also strengthen the enforcement capabilities of the Regulatory Authority by enabling it to impose suitable penalties, amend or revoke licences, and take other necessary actions to ensure compliance.
To address this, the G overnment is implementing a more streamlined and transparent regulatory model. This updated approach will introduce clearer
procedures for issuing warnings, making final deci-sions, and publicly disclosing enforcement outcomes where appropriate. It will also strengthen the enforcement capabilities of the Regulatory Authority by enabling it to impose suitable penalties, amend or revoke licences, and take other necessary actions to ensure
compliance. Additionally, the consultation process with
stakeholders will be improved.
The current three- step process requires for
most cases with the option to revert to the original format for complex or sensitive matters when necessary. The enhancement s aim to make Bermuda's regulatory
regime more responsive, [ efficient] , and aligned with international [best] practi ces. The Department of Energy
remains committed to supporting these reforms and ensuring that the sector s under the R egulatory Authority's
oversight operates with a modern, effective, and transparent framework.

Major Achievements

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chair man, a major milestone was achieved through the Green Overseas ( GO)
Programme, EU-funded initiative, executed by Expertise France. The Green Overseas ( GO) Programme is
an initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France, a French international
technical cooperation agency launched in August 2020 with a budget of € 17.8 million over 68 months. The programme aims to support sustainable development and
climate resilience in overseas countries and territories,
(OCTs ), including Bermuda. Despite the United Kingdom's departure from the E uropean Union, UK OTCs
remain beneficial due to the agreement established
prior to Brexit .
The GO Programme operates through two
main mechanisms. The GO Facility, which allows individual territories to request specific national -level activities with a set financial range, and GO Communities,
which foster regional and inter -regional collaboration
among multi -territories.
In Bermuda, the GO Programme assisted i n
updating the Island's building codes for both commercial and residential structures , focussing on enhancing
energy efficiency and reliance to extreme weather events linked to climate change. This support includes
expert [consultations] and stakeholder engagement to
ensure that the revised codes effectively address the
unique environmental challenges faced by the Island,
such as rising sea levels and increased hurricane ac-tivities. The programme has significantly advanced
Bermuda's Sustainable Development Agenda.
A key accomplishment under this initiative, led
by the Department of Planning and supported by the
Department of Energy, was the successful facilitation
and approval of Bermuda's revised building code appli-cation on 13 October 2003. This achievement was the
result of a strong partnership with the GO Programme,
the Department of Energy, and the Department of Planning. Together, these entities worked to integrate effi-ciency measures and renewable energy technologies
into B ermuda's National Regulatory Framewor k.
The Department of Energy provided technical
leadership to ensure that all recommendations were
tailored to Bermuda's unique climate and socioeconomic context , while the Department of Planning led
the drafting and integration of these recommendations
into the updated building code.
Mr. Chair man, the technical modelling and
analysis conducted under the GO Facility produced
166 3 June 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda Senate several key insights. It was determined that many Bermudian residents already exhibited relatively high energy efficiency due to the Island's moderate temperature range. As a result, traditional efficienc y upgrades
such as wall installation and high-performance glazing
offered limited cost -effectiveness and longer payback
periods. Instead, the study found that passive design
strategies such as extended porches, roof overhangs,
and natural shading from trees deliver far greater impact.
This collaboration also identified two high- impact scalable technologies : heat pump water heaters
and balcony solar systems. Heat pump water heaters can reduce residential electricity consumption by up to
30 per cent if made widely accessible to lower -income
households. Meanwhile balcony solar systems, small
plug-in solar units that do not require Planning permission, [are] capable of meeting most daytime electricity
demand.
Collectively, these efforts have laid a strong
foundation for a more affordable and energy resilient built environment. The revised building code reflects
both ambition and pragmatism, accounting for Bermuda's specific development challenges while moving the
Island closer to sustainability and climate resilience
goals . These achievements mark a new chapter in Bermuda's approach to energy and environmental policies ,
one defined by initiatives, innovations, inclusiveness,
and long- term impact.
Mr. Chair man, it is also important to highlight
the department's oversight of Bermuda's subsea telecommunications infrastructure, which plays a crucial
role in the Island's digital and economic resilience. The
Bermuda Submarine Communications Cable Act [2020] provides the legal framework for licens ing and
managing the landing and operation of submarine ca-bles in Bermuda's territorial waters. With the exponen-tial growth of global data flows and the increasing strategic value of digital connectivity, submarine cables
have emerged as vital infrastructure, underpinning financial services, communications and data security.
The department continues to monitor the sector development s and will lead efforts to align Bermuda's legislative and regulatory regime with international best practises to ensure that the jurisdiction remains active
for future cable landings and investments.
In the upcoming fiscal year, the department will
also assess how this sector can be integrated more
broadly into Bermuda's long- term telecommunication
and digital economy strategies , identifying opportunities to support initiatives, sectoral evaluations, evolu-tion and new business development aligned with Bermuda's role as a digital ly connected hub in the Atlantic.
Mr. Chairman, during the most recent fiscal
year, the Government passed the Electricity Amendment Act 2024, introducing a new Bulk Generation Sole Use Installation, (BGSUI) Licence, as part of its ongoing efforts to modernise Bermuda's regulatory framework and accelerate the Island's energy transition. This legislative change directly supports the objectives outlined in the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP),
which calls for an 85 per cent reduction in fossil fuel use
for electricity generation by 2035 and permits greater
adoption of distributed renewable energy.
The new BGSUI licence permits Bermuda's
registered companies, government departments and
the statutory authorities to install renewable energy
systems exceeding 500 kilowatts for self -use while allowing them to distribute 30 per cent of their total
monthly generation to the transmission, distribution and
retail (TD&R) licensee.
Importantly, the Regulatory Authority must assess and approve each installation to ensure stability and safeguard ratepayers from potential cost impacts.
The amendment resolves a long- standing challenge
faced by developers who were previously required to
sell all of their generated electricity as a low feed- in tariff and repurchase it at a significantly higher retail rate.
The updated framework creates a more commercially
viable and equitable pathway for largescale renewable
investments by private and publi c sector entities alike.
Furthermore, it aligns with broad public support for
clean, affordable energy and responds to stakeholder
calls for more flexibility.

Future Ready Energy Legislation

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: By removing structural barriers and promoting responsible development, this reform reinforces the IRP's roadmap while advancing
Bermuda's national sustainability and energy affordability goals. The updated IRP, which is being led by the Regulatory Authori ty in accordance with the Electricity
Act 2016 is being finalised. The updated IRP is expected to be complete by the end of this calendar year.
The Ministry is balancing fossil fuel import reduction with energy security, sustainability, and affordability by supporting the increase of the independent
power producers, encouraging grid upgrades and permitting the integration of battery storage. These efforts
aim to reduce dependence on fossil fuel, ensuring grid
stability as renewable penetration grids , and maintain
affordability for consumers. The Ministry understands
the pressure that increased solar development placed on electricity costs for thos e who cannot install systems
and rely solely on the utility for power. However, proven
solutions and regulatory mechanisms exist to manage
the impact of rising solar PV adoption and energy prices. These measures are currently under review and
being address ed by the Regulatory Authority.

Plans for the Upcoming Year
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chairman, the Department of Energy remains a key partner in supporting in-terministerial initiatives and driving national progress
towards zero emission mobility.


Bermuda Senate Mr. Chairman, the Department of Energy remains a critical partner in advancing Bermuda's national objective for sustainable transportation. In the upcoming fiscal year, the department will continue to provide technical and project management support for th e
development and implementation of two landmark policy frameworks in collaboration with the Ministry of
Transport.

National Policy on Zero Emission Vehicles —EVolve

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: This framework forms the
foundation of Bermuda's long- term strategy to transition from inter -combustion energies to clean electric
mobility.
The national policy on zero emission vehicles
sets ambitious but achievable targets to phase out the importation of fossil fuel powered vehicles across all
classes. The policy, which is publicly available, also
permits EV -ready building codes and workforce training
to support this transition. The department will continue
to lead stakeholder engagement, scenario planning
and legislative alignment efforts to ensure timely implementation of these targets.
In direct support of these national goals, the
department has also expanded its collaboration with
the Ministry of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport,
which is embarking on its own sector -specific clean
transport transition. As part of this support, the department has reassigned one officer to provide targeted guidance on vehicle electrification infrastructure re-quirements and policy alignment to facilitate the Ministry's goal of modernising transport services within the
tourism economy. This officer's r ole has been adjusted
accordingly in the department's staffing plan, reinforcing the department's aligned and interministerial ap-proach to advancing national sustainability targets.
Mr. Chairman, the Government continues to
lead by example. Several ministries with the support of the Department of Energy have already initiated the
[conversion] of their fleets to electric vehicles, demonstrating a firm commitment to [decarbonisation] of Bermuda's transport sector. Notable actions include the introduction of electric motorcycles with the Bermuda Post Office, the deployment of electric vehicles within
the Ministry of Health and the ongoing integration of
electric vehicles across the Minis try of Public Works
and Environment fleet. Furthermore, the electrification
of Bermuda's public bus system represents a transformational shift. With 70 electric buses now operating across the Island. This initiative has significantly reduced emissions from one of Bermuda's largest vehicle
fleets while generating cost -savings through lower fuel
and maintenance expenses.
Mr. Chairman, marine transportation is also a
key focus. With support from the Department of Energy, Marine and Ports are assessing and evaluating
the feasibility of purchasing one electric ferry through a
potential pilot initiative. This project supports the long-term aim of modernising Bermuda's maritime infrastructure in a manner that is both climate resilient and
cost-effective. From electric buses to inter -ministry fleet
[conversions] and the [expectation] of electric ferries, the department will cont inue to support the various ministries to reduce emission, expand EV infrastructure
and stimulate the clean energy economy. These initiatives reflect Bermuda's commitment to building a modern, efficient and climate- [resilient] transport system
that benefit s all sectors of society.
Mr. Chairman, the Government's early adoption of electric mobility serves two strategic purposes.
First, it demonstrates leadership and builds public confidence, encouraging wider adoption of electric vehicles
in the public and private sectors. Secondly, i t supports
the expansion of the electric vehicles market, which will result in increased electricity demands measured in kil-owatts. This growth is economically significant.
By increasing energy consumption, fixed generation and distribution costs can be spread across a larger volume, potentially reducing the per kilowatt hour
cost of electricity and improving affordability and long -
term sector sustainability.
Mr. Chairman, the Government continues to
advance its clean energy agenda through strategic partnerships and targeted programmes that accelerate
the transition to renewable energy. Central to this effort
is the Government's solar programme, which is facilitating the development of solar photovoltaic systems
across 36 per cent of government -owned buildings.
The Department of Energy is providing support
to the Ministry of Public Works, who takes responsibility
of being the landlord for all government properties. To implement this initiative, the initiative is designed to reduce the Government's overall electri city consumption,
lower operational costs and set a strong example for
environmental stewardship across the public sector.
This programme is further strengthened through the
strategic partnership with the Rocky Mountain Institute
(RMI), a globally recognis ed energy initiative and implementation partner.
In 2018, the Government of Bermuda entered
a non- binding memorandum of understanding (MOU)
with the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a globally recognised non- profit organisation focused on accelerating the energy transition. As with any other contractual
agreement, the details of the MOU are confidential and
governed by the standard protocols. MOUs typically
outline a scope of work and terms of engagement, and in this case were thoroughly vetted by the Attorney
General's Chamber prior to execution to ensur e alignment with legal and policy requirements.
RMI has provided technical assistance, policy
guidance and energy modelling expertise that supports Bermuda's broader IRP and energy resilience objectives. Their involvement ensures the Government's efforts are aligned with global best practices and
groun ded in sound economic and environmental analysis. Together, the deployment of solar infrastructure
168 3 June 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda Senate across government buildings and the partnership with
RMI exemplify a whole Government approach to reducing fossil fuel dependence, cutting emissions, and fostering a more sustainable, self -reliant energy future.
These actions not only contribute to Bermuda's national
climate goals but also demonstrate the Government's
leadership and commitment to drive the Island's energy
[transition] forward.
Mr. Chairman, turning to communications policies, the department recognises the rapidly evolving
landscape of broadcasting driven by digital [conver-sions] and new media consumption habits. Bermudians
are increasingly accessing content through online platforms, mobile applications, and Internet -based [streaming] services, challenging the relevance of traditional regulatory frameworks.
To address this, the Government has introduced a new draft broadcasting policy entitled [Converged] Policy for Electronic Communications. This forward- thinking framework seeks to unify the regulation
of traditional broadcasting and Internet -based audiovisual media services under a single [modern] instruction. The policy aims to ensure that regulation keeps pace
with technological advancements while upholding public service obligations, quality standar ds, and accessibility.
Mr. Chai rman, a central [element] of the new
policy is the promotion of local content. Proposed measures include content requirements to maintain visibility of Bermudian stories and the establishment of a
national broadcaster dedicated to local programming.
These initiatives will protect Bermuda's cultural identity
and support vibrant, sustainable local media industry.
To uphold content standards, the policy will
contemplate the establishment of a content review
panel responsible for setting content guidelines, reviewing programming, and addressing public concerns. This panel will help to ensure that the content across all
platforms remain accurate, culturally appropriate , and
aligned with Bermuda's social and cultural values.
Mr. Chairman, in support of these objectives,
the licencing regime will be modernised to include other
emerging digital platforms. These licences will require
compliance with local content obligations, technical standards, and adherence to public interest principles,
ensuring a fair and consistent oversight.
Mr. Chairman, collectively, these broadcasting
reforms represent a bold and forward- thinking strategy,
modernising outdated legislation, empowering local
voices, and ensuring public access to quality content, creating a more responsive and inclusive media ecosystem that serves all Bermudians.
Mr. Chairman, in the space and satellite sector,
the Ministry continues to advance the development of Bermuda's space and satellite policy framework in collaboration with Access Partnership, whose scope of work remains valid through April 2026. The department
also initiated discussions with Bermuda's Business Development Agency (BDA) , regarding its potential
role in the space advisory panel.
Acknowledging the importance of aligning public policy with private sector opportunities, the renewed
interest in this initiative has been well received across Government, and the department remains committed
to delivering a fit -for-purpose regulatory and policy
framework that supports sustainable growth and innovation in Bermuda's emerging space and satellite sector.
Mr. Chairman, looking forward, looking further
ahead, the GO programme will play a crucial role in
shaping a climate resilient built environment. Upcoming
initiatives led by the Department of Planning and supported by the Department of Energy include executive
stakeholders' consultation, in- depth climate risk assessment, and international benchmarking of building
standards.
The programme will review the refined minimum technical requirements for structural resilience building energy performance and rainwater capture
and drainage measures. These efforts will culminate in
the development of an initiative commercial and residential building code tailored to Bermuda's unique environment context. Public awareness and education
campaigns will also be launched to build support within
the construction sector and wider community .
Mr. Chairman, the Energy Policy Steering
Committee remains a key advisory body to the Ministry,
strategically positioned to guide Bermuda's transition
towards a more sustainable and resilient energy future.
The Energy Policy Steering Committee (EPSC) was
established to provide expert guidance and strategic recommendations on Bermuda's energy policy, with a
focus on updating the National Electricity Policy and the
National Fuels Policy. These policy updates are essential to ensure alignment with the IRP, which serves as
Bermuda's roadmap to transitioning to a more sustainable and reliable energy future.
The EPSC held its inaugural meeting on the
23
rd of April 2025, and is chaired by Mr. Adrian Dill, Director of the Department of Energy. Members include
representation from the public and private sectors,
academies and utilities and civil society. The current members are Mr. Simon Clinton, Department of Energy; Mr. Dennis Pimentel , Power and Utility Sector
Consultant; Mr. Denton Williams , BAC and former Regulatory Executive; Mr. Craig Simmons , Economist; Ms.
Regina Ferguson, Ministry of Public Works; Dr. Ge offrey Smith, Department of Environment and Natural
Resources; Mr . Stuart Kriendler , Renewable Energy Industry; and representatives from the Blue Planet Alliance, Mr. Francois Rogers and Mr. Kneyone Murray.
The committee operates on a voluntary, unpaid
basis and does not impose any direct costs to the department. Any required administrative support is ab-sorbed within existing department resources. Meetings
are held bi -weekly and the committee functions under
the terms of reference that set out clear timelines and


Bermuda Senate deliverables. While the Regulatory Authority is responsible for overseeing compliance with the IRP, the EPSC
plays a vital role ensuring that updated energy policies
remain aligned with Bermuda's long- term energy objectives.
Mr. Chairman, as highlighted in the recent
Throne Speech, the Government is advancing targeted amendments to the Regulatory [Authority] Act to
streamline adjudication processes and strengthen the
Authority's enforcement capabilities. These legislative
changes are designed to create a more and responsive regulatory framework, one that is better equipped to address the complexities of Bermuda's rapidly evolving
sectors. The proposed revisions will enhance the Regulatory Authority's ability to uphold complianc e, resolve
dispute efficiently, and enforce clear, consistent stand-ards. By empowering the Authority to act decisively, these reforms will promote greater regulatory accountability and reinforce public trust in the governance of
Bermuda's regulated industr ies.
Mr. Chairman, in response to the department's
expanded mandate, a strategic restructuring is cur-rently underway to better align its organisational structure with the evolving responsibilities. The existing title,
“Department of Energy” no longer captures t he scope
of its work, particularly with the integration of electronic
communications and emerging regulatory obligations
surrounding space and satellite operations. The depart-ment is transitioning into a multi -disciplinary regulatory
and policy institute t asked with managing the complex
intersection of territorial and extraterritorial infrastructure spectrums of allocations and data governance.
At this time, it is leading efforts to promote energy efficiency across Government operations and to accelerate the public sector's shift towards renewable
energy, ensuring the Government sets the standards in emission reductions, energy optimisation, and tech-nical innovations. This restructuring represents a timely
and necessary step in modernising Bermuda's [institutional] capacity and ensuring it remains fit -for-purpose
in an increasingly digital [and] interconnected world while aligning with the Island's long- term sustainability
objectives.
Mr. Chai rman, in closing, I would like to extend
my sincere appreciation to the dedicated team within
the Department of Energy. Their tireless efforts and
professionalism continue to strengthen Bermuda's reputation as a clean, innovative, and forward- thinking jurisdic tion across the fields of energy, telecommunications, satellite, and emerging technologies.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Senator Simmons. Just as
a time check, we have roughly 15 minutes left for questions on this head and for the next . . . the last head.
Would any Senator wish to speak on this Head
89 on Energy?
Hearing none, Senator Simmons, you got off
lightly on this one. We can move on to Head 97.

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you.

HEAD 97 —LAND TITLE AND REGISTRATION
DEPARTMENT

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chairman, the budget estimates for Head 97, the Land Title and Registration Of-fice can be found on pages B -316 through B -318 and
C-16 of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditures.

Mission and Objectives

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chairman, the mission of
the Land Title Registration Office, the LTRO is to ad-vance accurate and reliable land management across Bermuda. Mr. Chairman, the mandate of the LTRO is
to establish, maintain, and safeguard a secure, accurate, and up- to-date register of the land ownership and
interests by providing a centralised system recording, verifying, and protecting property's rights.
The LTRO ensures legal certainty and transparency in all land transactions. Through effective land
title registration and adjudication processes, the LTRO
facilitates economic development, supports land- based
investments, aids in dispute resolutions, and s trengthens public confidence in property ownership. In doing so, it aims to modernise Bermuda's land administration
system by leveraging digital technologies and enhancing consumer -focused service delivery.

Expenditure Overview

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chairman, the budget allocation for the LTRO is outlined on page B -316 of the
Budget Book and totals $1,657,000 for the 2025/26 fis-cal year. This represents $82,000, or a 5 per cent increase compared to the original estimates from 2024/25.
A detailed breakdown of the current account
estimates is found on page B -317 as follows.
• Salaries on line 1 is the largest expenditure item totalling $1,316,000, which includes an increase of $142,000 and is a 12 per cent increase, to accommodate the addition of two
temporary staff for nine months required to
meet productivity demands.
• Professional services shown on line 7 is allocated $54,000 for the fiscal year 2025/26. This
covers the cost of retaining one consultant and
one representative, a decrease of $16,000 or
23 per cent compared to the original 2024/25
budget.
In the fiscal year, the department undertook
several major projects including a document scanning initiative with an external vendor and the implementation of the AI system. These initiatives necessitate a re-vised professional services budget of $160,000 f or that
170 3 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate period. Although the professional service allocation
was increased last year to support these crucial pro-jects, the 2025/26 figure is significantly lower than in the previous years. This is primarily due to the findings of a comprehensive management system review which
confirmed that three Land Title Officers previously engaged as consultants since 2018 should have been
transitioned to temporary additional officers. Accord-ingly, their consultancy fee was reclassified and incor-porated into the department salary budget to reflect their new status as temporary staff. This strategic shift promotes workforce stability and ensures alignment
with the public service employment standard.
•Rentals shown on line 8 sets $171,000 to cover
the annual lease for the Land Title and Registration Office at Milner Place.
•Repairs and maintenance on line 9 totalling
$64,000 which includes cleaning contracts for$15,000 and software maintenance licencin
g
f
or $47,000 to support the Landfolio electronic
registration system.
Revenue Overview
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chairman, the estimated
revenue for the LTRO in the 2025/26 fiscal year is
$412,000 as indicated on page B- 317 of the Budget
Book.
It should be noted that the revised revenue figures of $741,000 listed for the 2024/25 fiscal year in the
Budget Book is incorrect. The accurate revised figure
is $515,548. This correction reflects a decrease of
$103,548 in the projected revenue of 2025/26. The
LTRO's fee structure is closely tied to the property market and therefore revenues will fluctuate based on market activity.
During the 2024/25 fiscal year, the department
received 562 applications with 171 of these applications related to properties valued over $1 million, the
highest tier in the department fee scale. This volume of
high value applications led to the notable increase in
revenue for the year. However, this level of activity cannot be expected annually. Historical data shows that
the department's revenue typically fluctuates between
$400,000 and $500,000 depending on real estate market conditions.
Capital E xpenditure
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chairman, the LTRO's
capital allocation appears on page C -16 and totals
$550,000. This funding will support the acquisition of
Proof of Concept (POC) for the modernisation of the
Land Management system in alignment with the Government's strategic plan. This initiative seeks to upgrade the current electronic registry platform to enhance service delivery through modern technology.
The department anticipates completion of this procurement within the next fiscal year. Staffing
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chairman, staffing details for the LTRO is outlined on page B -317. The LTRO
currently consists of 13 dedicated full -time employees
with four vacant posts. Notably, the position of Trainee
Land Title Legal Officer, vacant since 2024, has now
been filled by Katrina Ball, a long- standing team member who joined the LTRO as a Land Title Officer in 2007. Ms. Ball's formal training began in May 2025. Ad-ditionally, a new office manager position has been in-troduced to support financial accountability and payment tracking. Recruitment is also underway for a temporary administrative officer to receive applications and assist with scanning documents for the AI initiative.
The increase in administrative staff will significantly enhance operation efficiency within the LTRO. By reallocating routine administrative tasks previously
performed by the Land Title Officers to dedicated administrative personnel, officers will be able to focus more fully on their core responsibilities, reviewing, pro-cessing, and completing land registration cases. A tem-porary Junior Mapping Officer will also be appointed to
assist with the additional mapping demands generated
because of fast application turnovers.
The department will continue to retain the services of a consultant until April 2026. This consultant's expertise in title examination and application authorisa-tion remains pivotal to ensuring the efficient processing
of land title applications and providing timely responses
to client inquirers. To strengthen internal capacity and promote long- term sustainability, the LTRO will recruit
a Senior Land Title Officer to eventually replace a con-sultant.
This transition will support workforce development within the department and align with the Govern-ment's objective to reduce reliance on external consul-tancy through the development of in- house expertise.
Performance Measures
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Mr. Chairman, the department's performance indicators are detailed on page B -
318 and reflect both public and value of operational ac-countability. Highlights include
•Land Title Registry adoption—90 per cent of all
incoming applications are now processedthrough the Land Title Registry system,demonstrating momentum in transitioning fro
m
t
he Deeds Registry.
•Application acknowledgement —100 per cent
of all first registration [applications ] are
acknowledged and received within five working
days of submission. Triggers include sale conveyance, long- term leases (21- plus years),
mortgages, and court -ordered conveyances.
Voluntary registrations are also accepted.


Bermuda Senate • Customer Service— 100 per cent of registered
information queries are responded to within 48
hours, maintaining high service standards.
• Dispute Resolution— 95 per cent of all land disputes are resolved within statutory timelines, exceeding the target of 90 per cent, which affirms the LTRO's commitment to fair and efficient adjudication.

Ten more pages, okay.
So, with that, would any Senator wish to speak
on this Head 97, Land Title and Registration?
Senator Foley, I see your hand up.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
For . . . under Head 97—as the Land Title Registry plays a critical role in legal clarity, economic development and generational wealth building, can the Junior Minister share whether any interagency collaborations, such as with the Tax Commissioner, Planning or the Courts, is being strengthened to expedite completion of the Registry?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Senator Foley.
Would any other Senator care to ask a question?
Senator Cunningham, I see your hand up.

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senator Simmons for that brief.
I just have a quick question on the digitising of
deeds of land ownership, and I think you mentioned that it was 90 per cent complete.
I just wondered what the number of incomplete
applications . . . so how many landowners in Bermuda
have actually registered their land and how many are
still outstanding to be completed?
Thank you.

If your brief is brief.

Sen. Lindsay Simmons: It is brief.

[Laughter] Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Yes.
So I would like to take the opportunity to thank
the staff of Home Affairs, led by the PS, Pandora Glassford, the Permanent Secretary ; Adrian Dill, Director of
Energy; Debbie Reid, Land Title Registrar; Tom Matvey, Acting Executive Director of Consumer Affairs;
Shavonna Simpson, Senior Policy Analyst and Special Advisor; David Northcott, Policy Analyst; Paula Carlington, Acting Enforcement Inspector, Melonie McDer-mott, Legal Land Title Officer, Simon Clinton, Energy
Policy Analyst. Thank you for your hard w ork in the Ministry of Home Affairs and especially thank you to the
new Minister, Minister Alexa Lightbourne, JP, MP.

[Pause]
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The processes of land valuation and planning are independent.
We can confirm that we work closely with the
OTC and the land valuation.
I believe that's all my time.

And thank you to all Senators for their
participation.
We are . . . it's 12:08 pm. We are aware that
there's going to be some construction in this building starting at 12:30 pm that will make it difficult for the listening audience, especially, to listen in.
So, we are going to break now for lunch and
we have approval to return and have the broadcast start at eleven . . . sorry, at 1:45 pm. So, it is 12:08 pm.
We look forward to everybody returning to
commence with the Ministry of Justice at 1:45 pm.
Thank you all.

Proceedings in Committee suspended at 12:08 pm
172 3 June 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda Senate Proceedings in Committee resumed at 1:46 pm

[Sen. John Wight , Chairman]

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY

APPROPRIATION ACT 2025

ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE
FOR THE YEAR 2025/26

Good afternoon , listening audience.
We have returned and will be starting the Ministry of Justice.
So, Senators, we are now in Committee of the
whole for further consideration of the Appropriation Act
2025 together with Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26.
The Ministry under consideration is Justice.
The heads for debate under this Ministry are Head 87,
the Ministry of Justice Headquarters; Head 3, the Judicial Department; Head 25, the Department of Corrections; and Head 74, the Department of Court Services.
The number of hours allocated to these heads is three. The Minister in charge is Minister the Honourable Kim
Wilkerson. Our start time now is 1:48 pm.
Minister, how would you wish to proceed?

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I will take each section and have questions after . . . each section.

Very good. Thank you, Minister.

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: It is my pleasure to present the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure starting with Head 87, the Ministry of Justice Headquarters.
These can be found on pages B -78 through B -82 of the
Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.

HEAD 87 —MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
HEADQUARTERS
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Mr. Chairman, it gives me pleasure to present these items from the Budget
Book. As I said, pages B -78 through B -82.
The mission of the Ministry of Justice is, To uphold the rule of law, to ensure justice for all and promote
a community where every individual is respected, empowered and their interests safeguarded.
Mr. Chairman, in this fiscal year the Ministry’s
total expenditure stands at $57,740,000. This repre-sents a 5 per cent increase from the previous year, primarily driven by salaries, legal and consultancy costs.
Within that allocation the Ministry Headquart ers has
been allocated $6,755,000, reflecting a 16 per cent increase and representing 12 per cent of the Ministry’s
total budget.

Revenue Overview

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: The Judicial Department under the Ministry's purview anticipates revenue
generation of $4,811,000, an increase of 10 per cent
driven largely by higher court fees, fines and civil fees.

Current Expenditure: Administration, 97000

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Mr. Chairman, the Administration business unit has been allocated
$1,322,000. This is a substantial increase of 104 per
cent, reflecting primarily the expanded responsibilities now held by the Ministry with the recent transfer of the Parole Board and Treatment of Offend ers Board from
the Ministry of National Security.

Legal Aid Office, 97030

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Mr. Chairman, the Legal Aid Office remains a cornerstone of our commitment to ensuring equal access to justice. For the
2025/26 fiscal year, the Office has been allocated
$2,223,000, a 19 per cent increase over the previous
year. In 2024/25, the Office processed 228 applications, granting 113 certificates.

Legal Services

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Urgent certificates
were issued within 24 hours, surpassing the targeted
three- day goal. Mr. Chairman, 80 per cent of new certificates were assigned to in- house counsel generating
approximately $880,000 in cost savings. This figure is expected to rise to 9 0 per cent as additional counsel
are recruited.
Legal Aid Counsel represented clients across
a wide range of matters including family law, criminal trials, constitutional claims and appeals. They also provided weekly representation in specialised courts and 24/7 legal assistance to persons detained by the police.
The Office remains vital in supporting vulnerable populations including individuals with mental health challenges and juveniles facing serious charges.

Training and D evelopment

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Recruitment efforts are
ongoing to add Bermudian barristers, ensuring longterm sustainability of services. A comprehensive review
will be undertaken to develop a strategic plan for continued growth and efficiency.
Mr. Chairman, in response to the question of
the reason for the increased allocation, please note:
The increase of $356,000 relates to additional funding
for rent associated with the Planned Legal Aid Office


Bermuda Senate relocation. Consultant costs have been allocated to
support the onboarding of three additional staff members, two legal aid counsel and one junior counsel to
handle increasing legal workloads.
Additional funds have also been set aside to
cover legal service costs for higher paid counsel in
more complex trials that are anticipated this year.

Parole Board, 97050

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: The Parole Board, as I
said earlier, Mr. Chairman, is now under the Ministry of
Justice and has been allocated [ a budget of ] $120,000.
The Parole Board plays a critical role in facilitating offender re- integration and reducing recidivism, meeting
three to four times per month in collaboration with multiple partner agencies.

Treatment of O ffenders Board, 97060
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Mr. Chairman, the Treatment of Offenders Board has been allocated
$98,000. This board provides rehabilitative oversight
within the Correctional facilities, meeting twice monthly
to ensure our correctional system emphasises rehabil-itation and restoration over mere incarceration. I would
add, Mr. Chairman, in addition to meeting at either of
the facilities at each end of the Island, once at Westgate
and once at the Co- Ed Facility in the east, the board
also undertakes what is call ed “rota visits” where at
least three members attend the facilities and meet with inmates on a more unscripted basis. This is part of the
strengthening of the oversight. They are permitted to
come into the facilities and observe, as required.

Justice Protection Programme, 97070
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Mr. Chair man, the Justice Protection Programme has been allocated [ a
budget of ] $320,000 , a 16 per cent increase over last
year.
This programme safeguards key prosecution
witnesses under the Justice Protection Act 2010 . Since
its inception it has supported 44 participants, represent-ing 62 individuals and contributed to an 88.2 per cent
conviction rate in high- risk trials.
With the forthcoming launch of the D omestic
Violence Court Programme we anticipate an additional
demand for this critical programme.

Financial Sanctions Implementation Unit , 97080

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: The Financial Sanctions Implementation Unit , otherwise known as FSIU, is
essential to upholding Bermuda's global financial reputation and has been allocated $ 376,000. This Unit ensures compliance with international sanctions and has
both the general and specific licences issued . . . sorry, general and specific licences, particularly under the Russia sanctions regime.
To date, over $230 million in frozen assets
have been reported and monitored. The Unit has also
introduced a new subscription service for real -time
sanction updates and continues to provide outreach
across Government and industry.

Law Reform Commission, 97100

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: The Law Reform Commission has been allocated $171 ,000. As Bermuda’s
laws must continually evolve to meet the needs of our
people and economy, the Commission continues to review and modernise our legal framework. The Commission is transitioning to a hybrid model paring independent commissioners with professional staff overseen by the Law Reform Policy and Strategy Counsel who is
situated in the headquarters.
The Ministry Headquarters will continue to provide administrative and financial support as this transi-tion progresses. Mr. Chairman, I would add, this is certainly an initiative that I have been quite excited about
because it is our opportunity to bring t he process of law
reform and the ability for any member of the public to
have input, to bring that into a more accessible grassroots level.

Grants

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Mr. Chairman, the Financial Intelligence Agency receives a grant of $2,125,000, a substantial 31 per cent increase. This
agency remains on the front lines in the fight against
money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation
financing.
In 2024, the FIA [Financial Intelligence Agency]
processed 870 suspicious activity and transactions reports, issuing over 215 disclosures to both domestic
and international authorities.
The Agency also conducted extensive training
on emerging risks such as cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence.
For the year ahead, the FIA will continue expanding its analytical capacity upgrading systems and enhancing public -private partnerships to strengthen reporting standards.
Mr. Chairman, the Ministry remains committed
to fiscal responsibility. Salary adjustments reflect staff reallocation. Legal and consultancy costs have grown
to meet increasing demand and capital expenditure of
$29,000 will support necessary office upgrades .
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, this budget is a
testament to Government’s unwavering commitment to
justice, fairness and the rule of law. Through these investments, tight investments I might add, we aim to expand access to legal services for those in need. W e
strengthen rehabilitation and reintegration services. We
protect vulnerable witnesses who ensure criminals are
174 3 June 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda Senate brought to justice. We safeguard our financial system
and global reputation. And we modernise our legal
framework for a dynamic and evolving Bermuda. The
Ministry of Justice stands firmly committed to serving
the people of Bermuda with fairness, integrity and accountability
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my presentation
on Head 87, the Ministry of Justice. And I will entertain questions at this point if colleagues have any on the
Ministry Headquarters.

Thank you, Minister.
I see Senator Tannock with her hand up. So,
Senator over to you.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Attorney General.
I wondered if you could talk a little bit or explain
a little bit about 97080, AML S anctions Implementation
and differentiate that from the role of 20100, NAMLC.
And also talk a little bit more about 97010, FIU, and how
these agencies operate. Because when you look at the
remit of NAMLC and you look at the remit of the AML
Sanctions unit, they do seem to be very closely aligned.
And then when you add in a FIU, which has an increase
of $500,000, you wonder if there are not overlaps
somewhere and where congr uencies can be worked together more efficiently so that there is no repeat in services considering that all of these units have increases
in this fiscal year.

Thank you, Senator Tannock.
Minister, over to . . . any other Senators care to
ask questions?
Senator Cunningham.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you very much,
Mr. Chairman. And thank you to Madam Attorney General for that brief brief. We appreciate the time. And I
also appreciate you answering my initial question about
Legal Aid. And I did have a follow up.
So, obviously, you said . . . my original question was [about] explaining the proposed increase in
Legal Aid that we are seeing on page B -80. And you
explained that that was to do with rent and the office
relocation as well as various different consultant costs
and legal service costs.
Would that then also be tied in with the increase we are seeing in the professional services?
Which is going up from [$]1.05 [million] on page B -80
to [$]1.94 [million]. And my question then would be
(a) is it that? And then (b) which you kind of answered,
looking for that additional expertise within the government, I am assuming that we are still outside for additional resources.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: If there are any other
questions, I will answer . . . Oh, I will start at the back.
[Laughter]

New question.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Okay. So, on page . . .
this is kind of the Ministry of Justice in general. So, on
page B -78, we are seeing the overall headcount of the
department rising from a revised 2024/25 of 411 to 418
but reducing from the original 2024/25 budget which
was 427. So, we are now seeing the Department of
Consumer Affairs left, and as we heard earlier, that has gone to Home Affairs with the loss of eight full -time. So
therefore, it seems like the count remains slightly flat.
Do you think in your opinion that staffing levels
are sufficient to provide the services required and to
promote the new Domestic Violence Court and any administrative processes associated?

So, with that, are there any further
questions? Just so that we can provide the Minister with
all the questions at one time on this head.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you.
So, Madam Attorney General outlined that the
Domestic Violence programme will fall under part of the
Justice Protection Programme, on page B -80. Do we
know, or could we get an idea of how much allocated
expense of that $320,000 would be directly allocated to
the Domestic Violence programme? And what about the number of full -time employees? Because I see no
numbers for that Justice Protection on the employee number section of page B -81.

Very good.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: —the questions, particularly the ones I am able to answer because I am
familiar with the subject matter.
So, there is not a specific allocation for Domestic Violence [programme] in that allocation but there is
an anticipation that once the Court programme is fully
up and running there will be a need to provide protection. That will fall under . . . that is difficult now to . . .
because of the way that statistics are kept, to be able
to say what that projected cost may be, so it is a proactive all ocation
The question on . . . I think it is a general question as to whether we have the number of full -time
equivalents to service all of our needs. Every effort is
being taken during this budget cycle to fill vacant posts.
But if you ask the people who are work ing, they will always say that they could use more help. So, we think
that we are meeting the planned vacancies, but you
know, if there was more money we would love to be
able to hire more people all the time.

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you. And then, I
seem to be having a bit of full -time employee thing going on here. So, I will stick on that. But I see that on page B -81 the Treatment of Offenders Board has one
full-time equivalent estimated for this upcoming year
with the Parole Board missing, and I just wondered how
many . . . What I have realised from other debates so
far is that these are what they have rather than what the actual open allocation could be. So, I was just won-dering if there is reason to hire any more people into
either the Parole or the Treatment of Offenders.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: So currently there is
one administrator. Previously each board had its own administrator. When the Parole Board moved over from
National Security, they kept the administrator, so we
have transferred over one administrator. So right now,
we are diligently working to determine if there are tools
that we could use, administrative tools, so that that one administrator could service both boards. Historically, it
has been a very manual task. Some of the meetings
last hours and hours. So, the process of having to take
minutes . . . but we know now that with AI tools many
of these things could be done faster.
So that is part of the investment as well, in tools
that may help. And we are trying to collaborate. So, we
were able to use staff in other places. That is really
what is happening, including, I think, my own EA has
been, you know, allocated to pinch- hit when it is necessary. Because it is very important that these meetings happen and that we do not engage in a practice of put-ting off the meeting because we do not have the administrative resource available.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: I think I would agree with
that.
I have one final question, and this is more just
informational. We note that Consumer Affairs has left
the Ministry of Justice to go to Home Affairs, the Parole Board has just left National Security to come into the
Ministry of Justice. I would like to kn ow whether Madam
Attorney General could explain the cost associated with
moving departments within ministries.
So how much did it cost . . . I don’t necessarily
need a dollar amount, but where would it be to see the Consumer Affairs leaving from one place to another?
Because you know they are going to move their desks
and their computers, you know, that kind of thi ng. And
they are going to get new headed notepaper and new email signature and then for the Parole Board to come
in from . . . you know, what is the rationale behind these
moves?

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Thank you, Senator
Cunningham.
I am afraid your corporate experience informs
your view of what it might be like. I can assure you,
there is no new letterhead anywhere, nor are there new
offices. So, when people operate within a unit, they
simply operate in a unit. It is actually moving the . . . just
the function. And so, I would say that Consumer Affairs
previously moved from the Ministry of Legal Affairs to
Economy and Labour and now went into Home Affairs.
As it relates to the moving of the boards, we
are in Global House, so the single administrator has ac-tually had to move from the third floor to another place
on the third floor. So, there is not an overhead associ-ated necessarily, at least with those very . . . they are
lighter units. Thank you
I will attempt now to answer Senator Tannock’s
question. I see my technical team has been typing furiously. Having just returned from the CFATF meetings,
I have a clear idea of how these differences work. So,
the AML Unit, Senator Tannock, you will know that is
René e Foggo and Jaleesa. That is that team. Squarely
engaged with the sanctions regime interpreting the law
changes from the UN and EU changes, that unit is separate from the FIA. Which I think was your question.

[Inaudible interjections]
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Financial Intelligence.
Yes. The FIA is financial crime. Right? So, whereas if
there was a breach of a sanction, there would be collaboration, when there is a breach . . . But promulgating
the sanctions is a separate regime from investigating
financial cr ime. That is the difference.
And then the NAMLC Unit is the unit that currently is not in the Ministry of Justice. They sit in the
Ministry of Finance. And that unit is tasked with Government -wide compliance on national anti -money laundering. So, they are kind of a small headquarters, if I
might put it like that, for which Government -wide
176 3 June 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda Senate interaction . . . if you can think of assisting in ensuring
that the reporting that is necessary for the jurisdiction
takes place . . . it is coordinated. So, they would be responsible for accepting reports from the BPS —from the
FIU, from the Sanctions Team, from the Registrar of Companies, from the lawyers and accountants, AML
groups and so on.

Senator.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: One more or . . .

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Two more.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Okay.

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: I am looking a t the performance measures on page B -82. I am interested to
know why the budget . . . obviously this is my first year
looking at the Budget Book, but why is Consumer Affairs gone? Why was that not included in the Home Affairs section ? But that is fine. My question is specifically
related to performance measures for . . . and I guess,
and I think we heard in another place that the Domestic
Violence Programme, it is more of a . . . kind of security
and a confidentiality thing so hence we do not have the
performance measures for those. But it is specifically
about A ML and ATF and the Parole Boards.
I would imagine that there should be some performance measures for those departments. So, I would be interested to understand why we are not seeing anything.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: So, if I would repeat
the question it is, Why aren’t there performance measures for the Parole Board?

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Yes, and the Offenders
Board and the Parole Board and then the AML. I see
you have got the outreach sessions, but nothing about
actually having anything of . . . you know, making sure
that there aren’t lapses or . . . I’m trying to think of the
word but . . . issues with it.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Each of those boards
is required to create an annual report. So, their progress and performance measures are in their annual
report. I will look to my comptroller . Why there isn’t a
line item here for performance measures given the
small amounts of the budgets, I think that that . . . it is
probably not material in terms of performance on the budget because the funds allocated really are board fees. So, they are not related to . . . you are not going
to get more money if you see less people or if . . . they
don’t correlate to performance is really the answer.
Their functions don’t in a financial way. I think that would be problematic if they got more money . . . if
more people got paroled or less.
And I think there was a second question I
missed.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: It was just clarity on the
Domestic Violence Programme not having performance measures. Just clarity on that.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Eventually we will see
that in, I think it will show up under Court Services. Some of it, yes. But we haven’t started it yet. And again, I don’t think that the functioning of the Domestic Violence Court Programme would be tied to a financial performance measure.

Thank you, Minister. It sounds like
Head 87, Ministry of Justice Headquarters is now complete, and you can move on to Head 3, Judicial Department. Thank you.

HEAD 3 —JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I am honoured to now present the 2025/26
budget for Head 3, the Judicial Department as outlined
on pages B -83 through B -90 of the Budget Book.
Mr. Chairman, the Judiciary holds a unique and
critical place in our constitutional democracy. As an independent branch of the government, its core responsibility is to adjudicate criminal charges, resolve disputes, protect individual rights and freedoms and to uphold the rule of law. Supporting this critical mandate is
the Judicial Department which provides the administrative services and resources necessary for the courts to
function effectively and independently.

Staffing

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: With respect to staffing,
our judicial system operates across three levels: the
Magistrates’ Court, covering criminal, civil and family
matters; the Supreme Court, which oversee s a broad
array of criminal, civil, commercial, family probate, and
appellate matters; and the Court of Appeal. The department currently employs 70 staff. Of these 79 per cent
are permanent appointments, 10 per cent serve in temporary relief roles, and 11 per cent of posts remain vacant.
Recruitment efforts are ongoing to ensure we
maintain that capacity needed to meet the increasing demands on Bermuda’s justice system.



Bermuda Senate Expenditure Overview and Current Accounts

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: For the upcoming fiscal
year, Mr. Chairman, the Judicial Department has been
allocated a total of $10,334,000 representing an 8 per
cent increase over last year's allocation. T his increase
is largely driven by salary adjustments , following union
negotiations which account for approximately $308,000. Additional funds have been provided to
cover legal service fees for assistant justices and pri-vate legal counsel as well as statutory obligations such as autopsy reports and transcription services .

Capital Expenditure

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Mr. Chairman, the department has been allocated $1,018,000. Of this
$1,000,000 is earmarked for the long- awaited replacement of our outdated JEMS case management system,
a crucial investment to moderni se court operations . A
further $18,000 will support upgrades to IT equipment .

Analysis by Business Unit

Supreme Court
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: In the Supreme Court ,
Mr. Chairman, the R egistry has been allocated
$1,184,0 00, a 16 per cent increase to support salaries
and necessary legal subscriptions . Courtrooms and
Chambers have received $3,231,000, a 19 per cent increase reflecting both salary adjustments and the need to engage assistant justices when our sitting judges are
conflicted (which is happening more and more).

Court T echnology Office

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Additionally , private legal representation is sometimes required when mem-bers of the J udiciary are named in proceedings . The
Court T echnology Office has been allocated $510,000,
an 8 per cent increase to maintain IT infrastructure,
transcription services , and system updates particularly
given increased demand for transcripts for criminal ap-peals .

Court of Appeal

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: The Court of Appeal
has received an allocation of $1,016,000, a 1 per cent
crease. T his provides for sitting and retainer fees for
the President and J ustices of A ppeal as well as administrative staffing . The court convenes three times each
year for sessions lasting three weeks .

Magistrates’ Court
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: The Magistrates’ Court
continues to serve as the gateway to justice for many in our community , handling a broad range of matter s.
Adjudication has been allocated $1,087,000, a 2 per
cent increase to support the Senior Magistrate, four
Magistrates and Acting A ppointments that provide opportunities for legal professionals to gain valuable judicial experience.
The Magistrates ’ Court oversee s criminal, civil,
family , traffic , and treatment court matters . The case
management court remains a vital tool in resolving procedural issues before trial contributing to significantly improved court efficiency .

Civil Records

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Civil Records has been
allocated $273,000, a 5 per cent increase to manage
civil claims up to $25,000 and landlord/ tenant disputes .

Family and C hild Support

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Family and C hild Support receives $531,000 reflecting a 4 per cent increase.
The court continues to address highly sensitive family
matters . Of concern, Mr. Chairman, is the 59 per cent
increase in domestic violence orders last year , rising to
155. This troubling trend reinforces the importance of
establishing a dedicated Domestic Violence Court programme.
Child support collections for the year totalled
$2,690,000. A dministrations allocated $1,336,000 , a
4 per cent increase supporting overall financial and operational management .
The Cashier's Office collected $5,650,000 in
fees and fines while accommodating those in financial
hardship through payment plans and community service alternatives .

Criminal and Traffic Records

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Criminal and T raffic
Records is allocated $595,000 reflecting a significant
28 per cent increase. In 2024/25, 538 new criminal
cases were filed, along with nearly 4,000 traffic matters
and over 29,000 parking cases .
Record request s increased to 2, 660 and plans
are in motion to review and adjust the current $10 fee
for these services .

Bailiffs Office

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: The Bailiffs Office is
allocated $577,000, a 5 per cent increas e. In the past
year bailiff s served 370 summonses, 128 domestic violence orders and executed 52 evictions .

Revenue

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Mr. Chairman, total
revenues for 2025/26 are projected to be $4,811,000 ,
178 3 June 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda Senate an 11 per cent increase. In the Supreme Court , civil and
commercial filing fees generated $136,473, with
$213,124 collected from court fees and charges , reflecting improved enforcement . Probate duties yielded
$1,649,000. I n the Magistrates ’ Court traffic fines
amounted to $1,647,000, parking fines $461,450 , and
criminal fines $137,684. Civil fees increased to
$138,615 following the recent long- overdue revision .
We continue to engage in discussions with the
Corporation of Hamilton regarding reimbursement for
parking fines collected by the court on their behalf . And
I learned with surprise, Mr. Chairman, there is a co mptroller sitting over on the side, Ms. [Onika] Mendes is
the one responsible for actually doing collection and
dissemination of those fees to the C orporation of Hamilton. And coming from a fee -for-service background, I
inquired , Why are we doing that for free? So, we’ll see.
There may be change on the horizon.

[Laughter]

Plans for the Upcoming Year

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Drawing to the close of
this head, I will talk about plans for the upcoming year .
Looking ahead, Mr. Chairman, the Judiciary remains
firmly focused on moderni sation . The implementation
of our new case management system will offer real -
time case tracking , improve scheduling and create operational efficiencies . The organi sational structure will
be strengthened with the addition of a second assistant
registrar and a new administrative officer dedicated to
matrimonial and probate jurisdictions . And I will say
here that we have heard loud and clearly the demand
for action on the probate backlog. And I am very , very
pleased to say it is being addressed admirably .
These changes will address the growing caseload complexity and enhance our capacity to serve the
public . Finally , the long- awaited renovations to the
Dame Lois Browne- Evans Building will move forward
creating desperately needed courtroom and administrative space following the full relocation from S essions
House.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, through this
budget we affirm the Government's deep commitment
to judicial independence, moderni sation and access to
justice for all Bermudians . By investing in people , systems , and infrastructure we strengthen the very foundation upon which our system of justice is built .
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my presentation
on Head 3, the J udicial Department and I will pause to
take any questions on H ead 3.

That is correct. Thank you.
So, would any S enator wish to speak on H ead
3, Judicial Department?
Senator Tannock.

Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I have a couple of questions which follow on a
little bit from the former head, but also what I would
have expected to have seen in H ead 3, which is when
I look at 13070, Ad ministration , and I look at expenditure over on page B -85 and T raining , and then I further
look in other areas which I'll go to, but in particular ,
1307 0, Administration , and then T raining, and then I
look at the fact that we are talking about instituting the Domestic Violence Protection Court or Domestic Violence Court, I don't see seei ng instituting that programme reflected in this budget .
So, I wondered if you could talk us through that
a bit more. And by that, I mean, how are we looking at
administration for this programme and what part of the
$51,000 increase will be allocated to that court ? Because we already know for the Judicial Protection Programme that you mentioned earlier there is a $47,000
increase from last year . So, i f we're talking about last
year, it was $47,000 less and part of that funds will be
instituted for this new programme. I would assume that
we will be looking at about $47,000 from that Judicial
Protection budget for this programme and then we
have Administration and that $51,000 increase. How
much of that will be afforded to the DV C, that's the D omestic Violence Court?
And then when we look at T raining, there is . . .
for training for judicial personnel , there is actually . . .
this has . . . well, actually this is not . . . this is not correct. It doesn't actually look like it's correct . And we see
this line item.

[Crosstalk]

Sen. Tawana Tannock: Right. So, actually, that line
item is actually not correct . Because for training it says
in 2024 /25 it was $ 37,000. So now for 20 25/26 it is
$46,000, but it's saying that there is no difference. So
that's actually . . . I think that might be an error. Yes.
That may be an error unless I'm looking at that incorrectly . It looks like the difference isn't recorded.

Yes.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: I wasn't sure which line
item you're looking at in relation to T raining .
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes, so when I look at the department and it's 1, 2, 3, 4 down, Training .
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: What page are you ?

Sen. Tawana Tannock: B-85. S o my question initially
was, how much of the training increase for judicial staff
is related to the court ? But then when I look at the actual line item in the budget , even though it says that for
2024/25 it was $37,000 and for 2025/26, it's $46,000,
when we look at what the difference is between
2025 /26 that's actually not reflected . Unless I'm just
reading it incorrectly .
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Yes, you are reading it
incorrectly .

—not the actual that the —

Sen. Tawana Tannock: Okay. Fine. Thank you.
So, then my question remains . How much of
that training increase is allocated to the DVC [Domestic
Violence Court]?
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: At this juncture, there
is no specific allocation to the DVP [Domestic Violence
Programme]. But what has happened is that the focus
of training . . . so funds already allocated for training,
the focus of that training is now domestic violence , as
opposed to something else. A nd so, you would have
seen publicly already that the Senior Magistrate along
with the member of the DPP [Department of Police
Prosecutions] have already attended a court in the UK .
I think it might have been mentioned in another place
that members of C ourt Services have already attended
training this year . So, their annual training , that would
already be allocated, but that's focused to D omestic Violence. So, they are on specific tracks.
And I would also say that the exciting thing
about bringing the Court Programme to fruition is that
the collaboration across the ministries is paramount .
And we've been able to see that in action. So, at the
same time through BPS there is also training. So, you
won't see that in my budget , but you'll see that in National Security’s budget where the police are also undertaking bespoke training in relation to domestic violence to support the programme. Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes. Thank you, Attorney
General.

Senator Tannock. Okay.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes.
Then when we go to page B-89, on performance measures , this question is regarding the number of times that a nolle prosequi was entered by the
Crown and cases withdrawn by the Crown and cases
where no evidence was offered by the C rown . And my
question is regarding target outcome.
Why do we have target outcomes for these
types of matters ? Why are we looking to target when
we have to withdraw a prosecution for lack of evidence
or because, you know, well sometimes nolles are because the defendant has died, so . . . Okay. That’s acceptable. But why would we have a target for that? Is
that based on statistics to say that we normally know
that through the process we will have one defendant
who . . . let’s just say, that unfortunately dies.
So we look to see that . . . we know that when
we budget we will have to budget for this amount of nolles and what are we doing about the cases where
we have to withdraw cases due to lack of evidence
which is , you know . . . a total number of traffic cases
where no evidence offered by the Crown, 225? And we
have a revised forecast, and we have a target outcome .
Why do we have outcomes for what could be deemed
failures ?
That's it . Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Tannock
Minister.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Thank you.
And I take that point entirely. But it's just the
statistical exercise until . . . I think it's an accounting
term or phrase that is written as an outcome. But it's like statistically it shouldn't be more than what you've
statistically seen before. It is n ot that we are trying to
have 200 or 44 nolles . Yes. But compared to . . . and I
think we have to look at these things as baselines. It is a baseline. So perhaps target outcome is not . . . When
we're thinking about the social justice aspect of it , a “target outcome” probably is not the right nomenclature .
But that would more be this is the statistical base that
we're comparing with.

Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you.
I have a further question on that same page.
And this is just again, this may be my error in reading
the budget . But the last line under F amily Magistrates ’
Court Division , number of active cases heard including
180 3 June 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda Senate new cases , nil, nil, nil, nil. Can we get some explanation
around that ?

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Thank you , Senator
Tannock.
I don't have an answer as to . . . it’s nil. Again,
a statistical exercise because the first column is nil and
the next column is nil. But as to why we are not reporting a separate field of new . . . It’s new cases , active
cases . I'm not sure what the difference is trying to be
there. B ut statistically it would be nil because the column before is nil, as a statistical exercise . But in terms
of the qualitative breakdown, I will try to get that answer .

Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you. Because I know
our F amily Magistrates do, you know, a lot of work . So
I don't think that that perhaps accurately reflects that . I
don't want to take up any more time, but I just do . . .
well, I do have two more questions . But just going —

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Senator Tannock.

Sen. Tawana Tannock: Sorry.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: This is the purpose.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Okay. Thank you.
So, I went ahead too far. G oing back to page
B-87 and under business unit [ 13000], Criminal Injuries, and the number of times the board met, number of
claims that were heard by the board, that entire section
says “With the Ministry ” can you explain that to us ?
So, page B -87, business unit [13000], Criminal
Injuries. A nd I have a particular interest in this having
sat on the C riminal Injuries Compensation Board not
only as a prosecutor but also as a private attorney .

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Again, this is reading
“With the Ministry” because the statistical exercise of
the column before . So it ends up being the same value .
The value is with the Ministry . And I don't know why the
performance indicators are not published there. The
baseline is . . . again I'll have to get an answer .

Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you, that would be
greatly appreciated.
And then I think that . . . sorry.

[Crosstalk]

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: I'm sorry . Okay. I'm being told that the . . . for the C riminal Injuries Compensation Board there is nothing there. It has . . . the whole
head has been moved out of J udiciary and it's actually
in Headquarters .
Sen. Tawana Tannock: So where would we find that
in the Budget Book? Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: It's in the head, but it
hasn't been stripped out separately . And that's an accounting move. The full allocation got moved to the Ministry head . Oh, oh, that’s what it means when it says
“With the M inistry ,”—

Sen. Tawana Tannock: —With the Ministry —

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: —It means with Ministry Headquarters.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: So, just please help me out .
Tell me to look at [page] B -something.
[Crosstalk]
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Oh, okay. I’m told it is
not . . . it has not been . . . it was transferred over , but
it hasn't been reflected in the Budget Book as a separate set of statistics .

Sen. Tawana Tannock: Okay.

Senator , with that answer , do you have
another question to ask of the M inister ?

Sen. Tawana Tannock: No, I would just like to request
if we could get the information pertaining to that particular section. So, the number of times they've met , the
number of awards that have been given out , et cetera,
et cetera. Thank you. Thank you, very much for allow-ing me time to ask my questions . Thank you.

Thank you, Senator.
Any other questions —Senator Cunningham.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I have a few of them. I am going to start with
hopefully a quick one. W here is liquor licensing moving
to? Or, reallocating to, should I say ? Just because I see
on page B -85 we saw $58,000 for actual 2023/24 and
then nothing for 2024/25 or 2025 /26. I would assume
we are still licensing liquor establishments.

[Crosstalk]
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: We are . . . it has been
reallocated to the Ministry of Tourism.

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Because our tourists like
to drink more than our Bermudians?

[Laughter]
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you very much.
No, it’s culture.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: It’s culture. Sweet.


Bermuda Senate Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Culture. Good one.
Okay, staying on page B -85, I am looking at
other personnel costs . Line 3 there on the top table ,
where we are going from $ 884,000 to $1.21 million , an
increase of 37 per cent. And I just wanted to know what
this was related to because looking at other ministries
the other personnel costs seem to be small . And this
seems to be quite a large percentage of the total salaries.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: I'm sorry , I've missed
where you are.

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: I'm looking at page B-85
and in the expenditure box at the top, you've got the
other personnel costs , third line down under salaries .
And we're going from $884[,000] to $1.2 [million]. I'm
just wondering what falls under that “ other personnel .”
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: I could stand to be corrected. I'll wait for an answer, but my understanding is
that that would be covering the cost of acting judges who are not . . . they're not salary because they're not
considered full-time. We’ve had a series of acting
judges .
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Okay. Thank you very
much.

Senator, another question?

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Yes, please.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: I'm sorry , it's acting . . .
the Court of Appeal . Sorry.
[Crosstalk]

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: So, this is just an interesting thing to me.
So, we look at page B -87 under the performance measures for the Supreme Court which is the second section down. Can the Minister outline the number of divorce petitions filed that were through the (in
my mind) newly designated no- fault route, versus the
traditional routes of, you know , someone's at fault ? And
is there a commentary on the increase we're seeing
from 86 originally forecast in 2024/25 to 160 in the revised and target for this year ?
And I guess as an aside to that , you know , if
you say the average household is “ X” and then it's
splinters because now you know Mr. and Mrs. or Mrs.
and Mrs. have now split , now you're needing two
houses . So potentially , you know , I don't understand
what our divorce rate is doing, but that could potentially
have a knock -on effect on our housing [and] on the emigration rate if people are then, you know , splitting up
and deciding to leave the I sland . So another question is , Are you seeing a trend
in overall divorce petitions being filed and is that con-cerning to Government ? Because that's a double . . .
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Okay. Senator Cunningham, I'm being told that the divorce numbers have
not been segregated by type of divorce as to whether
they fall under the no- fault regime or not . And on the
broader question as to whether the G overnment is concerned about the projected outcome as against forecast is flat . So that would indicate the G overnment
doesn't see a concern with divorces trending higher . I
think the expectation is that they're flat . And my personal perspective, having taken advantage of it twice ,
is that I think that the G overnment's concern is that people should be happy , finding ways to make that happen,
you know , with less stress.

[Laughter]

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: That’s one way of putting
it. And the courts make more money.

[Laughter]

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: I believe you have answered the probate .
So, another question . . . so overall , on page B -
84 . . . sorry , page B-85. I guess we're seeing the revenue source, the fines , overall increasing particularly
for parking fines, although not big in criminal fines . But
I just . . . is this an expectation that there will be more
fines being issued or are we going to be seeing some
kind of legislation in the H ouse to increase the value of
those fines ?
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: I believe the expectation is that with new technology there will easier ways
to pay a fine.

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: So, then a lot less warrants being issued for people who haven't paid them.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Yes, I keep asking ,
Why can't I just tap my card ?

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Renew my car and . . .
and pay my parking tickets .

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Mm-hmm.

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: So then on page B -89 for
the performance measures section, under Magistrates ’
Court , and clearly very busy with 4 ,476 revised traffic
convictions staying the same. Is there, you know , I
mean , going from an original forecast for traffic convictions , for example, which I see as not stopping, not licensed, [not] insured , and I assume stolen bikes or stolen vehicles , that's quite a significant rise from 2, 900, I
182 3 June 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda Senate guess from the year before, 4,200. But are there any
preventative measures being put in place or planned by
the Ministry or across ministries , I guess , between Education and Youth Services , National Security to reduce those crime and traffic infractions before they happen?
And then I guess secondary to that , Are there
sufficient rehab resources and court systems efficiencies in place to handle those projected caseloads without delays ?
And again , going back to my favourite, headcount , is there sufficient headcount to be able to manage an increase in those convictions ?
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: So, I'll start with kind of
the general perspective certainly from the Ministry of
Justice . In an ideal world we would be wanting to see
less people going to court . So, I think your question is ,
What preventative measures are coming out of the M inistry?
We are certainly always collaborating with National Security and with the R oad Traffic . . . Road
Safety Council , of which my J unior Minister was just recently the Chair. And so, the campaigns are ongoing
with respect to road safety . I think the data is showing
that those are having an impact . The projection though ,
as you can see, is flat in each of those.
I think you also asked about the preventative
programmes . I think I alluded to it yesterday in the alternatives to incarceration space. The DUI C ourt is
functioning very well , as well as the Mental Health
Court. I had the privilege of attending the Thanksgiving
service along with my PS O’Brien last November to see
people who have . . . and maybe they were speeding
or . . . and they have been found to have been impacted
by alcohol or drug abuse while whilst on the roads .
But to hear their testimonies of how they have
been really blessed to have had a chance not to go to
prison, that they've worked their programmes and they
stood in the court and told their stories. A nd that programme initially started by [Justice] Juan Wolffe, now
run by Senior Magistrate Maxanne Anderson, are just
amazing examples that I'm very , very proud of when we
talk about rehabilitation and restoration. And so doing
more to support those programmes is certainly on the
agenda for this M inistry .

Thank you, Minister.
I think that concludes the questions for Head 3,
Judicial Departments. T hank you for that and we can
move on to Head 25, Department of Corrections .
So, whenever you're ready , Minister

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

HEAD 25 —DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: It is now my pleasure
to move to Head 25 , the Department of Corrections
which is found on pages B -94 through B-96 of the approved Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure . The
mission of the Department of Corrections is clear : To
protect the public and provide rehabilitative services.
To achieve this mission the department remains focused on maintaining high security standards to ensure the safety of facilities , staff, inmates and the
public ; provide humane structured regimes that reduce
reoffending by offering incentives tied to personal effort and rehabilitation; and finally operating discipline systems that drive operational efficiency across all facilities.
And I'll pause here, Mr. Chairman, to just create some context for this particular head, and the importance of it to the Ministry of Justice. W hen I was appointed to this role—before being appointed— I was
asked by the P remier what my interests were. I said
that I was interested in C orrections . I was interested in
Corrections being part of my portfolio because I felt that
it better fit with J ustice than with N ational Security . So,
Senators who were here before me would know that
the Department of Corrections previously sat under the
Ministry of N ational Security . But with a focus on rehabilitation , restoration and valuing citizens , I felt it was
important that it be moved to the Ministry of Justice to which the Premier agreed. And that has happened.
I say all of that to say that I took it on fully understanding that there was a lot of work to be done . But
also, with the view that all we could do from here is get
better . So, there is a lot going on and I say that in the
context of recent public press reports about instances
of infractions , about officers being harmed by inmates ,
and these matters have hit the public press . We cannot
hide from them, Mr. Chairman, they are what they are.
But I will say that the Ministry of Justice , and I
personally take this seriously in valuing both the people who work in our correctional facilities and the inmates
who are there from this perspective. W e live on 21
square miles . There is one degree of separation between the people who live there. It is in our interest to
do what we can to ensure that people who have the
misfortune . . . sometimes it's the fortune though, to enter into a period of incarceration [and] can come out
better . But at the same tim e we must make sure that
our officers remain safe . And so while we have a mandate around rehabilitation and restoration I admit and
recogni se right here that we have an upward road. But
we are taking one step forward each day in that regard,
Mr. Chairman.
So, with respect to the overview , the department's total allocation for fiscal 2025/26 is $24.71 million reflecting a decrease of $ 1.017 million, or 4 per
cent compared to last year . This reduction results from
operational efficiencies , changing in staffing levels and
targeted cost controls . The department employees 224
full-time staff, up from 172 last year due to ongoing recruitment efforts for officers , nursing staff and


Bermuda Senate speciali sed programme personnel . And the recruitment
efforts are continuing.
In terms of human resource investment and
training , in 2024 /25 the department prioriti sed workforce development recogni sing that well -trained staff
are critical to both security and rehabilitation . Highlights
include : 37 staff completing management and leadership training ; 10 staff achieved use- of-force certification; 6 officers completed 12 weeks of training (they
were new recruits ); and there was training in CPR ,
mental first -aid, incident management and crisis intervention. And that was delivered widely across the department .
Succession planning was emphasi sed with
staff preparing for senior officer promotions through
qualifying exams , leadership classes , interview preparation and budget training.
I will talk about key facilities and programmes .
Headquarters at $17.915 million. This unit represents
72 per cent of the department ’s budget supporting staff
salaries , custodial operations and administrative costs .
The farm facility at $446,000. T he farm facility , housing
low-risk inmates , continues to serve as a model for rehabilitation and reintegration through work and skill -
building opportunities . The expanded agricultural programme produc es vegetables and 2, 114 eggs resulting
in food cost -savings —a very interesting piece of data—

[Laughter]
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: —when we consider
the price of eggs.
Animal husbandry programmes engage inmates with therapeutic and vocational skills . The w ork
release programme placed 10 inmates in external employment to transition successfully into the workforce after release. The “Step Up Work Readiness” initiative
provided community service opportunities fostering responsibility and work ethic . The Mechanics Programme
was reintroduced to equip inmates with automotive repair skills while helping maintain the department's vehicle fleet .
At the Co-Ed Facility there's an allocation of
$306,000. This facility supports female inmates , young
offenders , and males in substance abuse treatment .
Programmes offered included the GED education for
young offenders , religious and mentorship programmes for emotional and spiritual support , Alcoholics Anonymous groups to address addiction, carpentry ,
computer skills , and music arts programmes providing
certified vocational training.
[Also offered is] a therapeutic chicken programme fostering responsibility and care. H appy chickens, more eggs .

[Laughter]

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: The Westgate Correctional Facility at $ 1.188 million. Westgate is the department's largest facility , hous ing maximum to minimum security male inmates . Innovations in 2024/ 25 included a pilot refurbishment project where nine inmates
received paid work experience while improving facility
infrastructure. And I had the pleasure, Mr. Chairman, of
going to Westgate and actually viewing the one block
where these nine inmates were involved in the refurbishment . And I would have to say [it is] a first -class job.
The expansion of computer labs for education,
job search and life skills . The continued delivery of vocational programmes such as art and engine repair .
Down at the Co-Ed Facility, there is what's called the
Therapeutic Community Centre previously was separate as a Right Living House and now it's been combined. In 2024/25 , Right Living House successfully
transitioned under full management by the Department
of Corrections resulting in operational cost -savings . It
continues to provide targeted treatment for substance
abuse offenders , 15 residents engaged in multi -phase
rehabilitation, four residents transition ed into work release as part of reintegration, and six individuals participated in after -care programme support. G ardening and
work -readiness programme s were expanded.
Enhanc ing rehabilitation through speciali sed
services. Psychological services were allocated
$354,000. Psychologists deliver ed critical interventions
across all facilities including trauma- informed therapies, Life Minus Violence enhanced group programming for violent offenders , pre-sentence psychological
risk assessments for the courts and parole board, ongoing staff wellness support and reflective practice sessions to strengthen staff resilience and performance.
Social Services and C ase Management . There
is an allocation of $959,000. It's increased investment
here, allow ing for expanded staff and independent service providers . Notable initiatives include family support
programmes such as the Fathers and Children Together events , and [ Prison Fellowship] Angel Tree Programme gift distribution .
Grief Recovery [Programme] and Thinking for
a Change Programme to address emotional healing
and cognitive restructuring. Case management assessments and parole reports that guide rehabilitation and
parole eligibility .
Health Services , an allocation of $1.744 million. The Health Services Unit managed nearly 22,000
medical encounters in 2024/ 25. Services included
management of COVID -19 outbreaks , crisis intervention for suicide prevention, coordination of mental
health and medical care including transfers to the Mid-Atlantic Wellness I nstitute.
Educational Services resourced at $389,000.
Educational offerings remain central to successful reintegration. Achievements include 55 clients actively engaged in education and six students earning GED or
high school equivalency diplomas. There's been partnerships with the Bermuda C ollege PACE; Bermuda
Technical Institute Association and international online
programmes ; [and] new vocational offerings in
184 3 June 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda Senate FinTech, languages , graphic design and architecture.
And I would say just there, Mr. Chairman, pausing, the
Permanent Secretary [PS] and I have been invited on
Monday next to a graduation where one inmate will be
graduating with his associates degree in Bible studies .
Vocational Services have been allocated
$652,000. Inmates participated in a diverse array of vocational programmes including sewing , horticulture ,
and mechanics . The inmate c ooperative programme
was expanded as well as there was the resumption of the construction trade skills programme.
Recreational Services . There's an allocation of
$60,000. Recreation remains vital for inmate well -being, supporting physical and emotional health. And in
that regard, we'll see that in the recruitment efforts a
position has been made available for a W ellness Officer to be part of the programming at Westgate.
Performance measures and outcomes . The
department continues to focus on measurable outcomes . The current average daily population is 152 inmates . There are 47 first -time offenders admitted. Parole releases are projected at four inmates . Mr. Chairman, 40 per cent of inmates engaged in developmental
programming in 2024/25, with a target of 50 per cent
for 2025 /26.
Bermuda's recidivism rate remains at 20 per
cent which compares favourably with many international counterparts .

Capital Development and Infrastructure

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Mr. Chairman, ongoing
capital investment is essential to maintain secure , safe
and humane facilities . Key projects for 2025/26 include :
$402,000 in capital acquisitions for kitchen security and
HVAC upgrades ; $600,000 in capital development for
Phase two of the Black Creek I ntegrated Security System upgrade; replacement of the F arm Facility generator; a new intercom and paging system at the C o-Ed
Facility ; and the replacement of age ing vehicles .
The priorities for 20 25/26 reflect our dual commitment to safety and rehabilitation . There will be active
recruitment to fill custodial vacancies prioriti sing Bermudians first ; promotion of qualified officers into senior
management roles ; the launch of Uniformed Services
Training Programme as a Throne Speech initiative .
And we will have seen some of the public events
around the U niformed Services Training Programme
launching. And that initiative is across -ministries with
National Security as well so it will be uniformed trained
offices in every area including C orrections , Customs ,
the police and fire services .
Continued repairs and upgrades of a geing infrastructure. Expansion of the inmate work placement
programme with the Ministry of P ublic Works,
strengthen community partnerships for reintegration
support . And our M inistry is actively looking at proposals that have been submitted in that regard. There
is ongoing collaboration on criminal justice policy moderni sation , and in that regard our M inistry is actively looking at and engaging input around reforms for the [Prisons] Act, Prisons Rules and Treatment of Offenders Board A ct. Because they are all in need of
moderni sation .
Mr. Chairman, in conclusion, the work of the
Department of Corrections is not easy . As I said at the
beginning of my presentation here, it is not necessarily
a rosy picture. We recogni se the work that must be
done . It requires courage, professionalism, compassion and a firm commitment to public safety and second chances . Despite the challenges of staffing and infrastructure, the department continues to protect the public while investing in rehabilitation , education, mental
health and skill development for t hose in our care.
This, Mr. Chairman, concludes my presentation on Head 25 , the Department of Corrections .
I will pause here for questions from Senate colleagues .

Thank you, Minister.
Would any Senator care to speak on this H ead
25, Department of Corrections ?
Senator Tannock.

Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Madam Attorney General Senator Wilkerson.
My first question pertains to page B-94, 2502
Inmate Services, and 35106 Social Services and C ase
Management and the increase of $380,000 in that section. And I wanted to know if you could explain a little
bit more to us about that significant increase . I note and
I’ll just follow -up by saying that I note on the next page,
B-96, under 35106, it looks like there is an intention to
employ one additional person. So, I'm assuming that
that may be part of the increase, but I know that they're
not getting $380,000 . So, I wondered if you might be
able to describe to us . . . because that is quite a significant increase, what that increase entails . So that's my
question on that one.
I do have follow -up questions if you would like
me to continue.

Yes, please continue, Senator.

Sen. Tawana Tannock: If we go over to B -97 and we
look at business unit 35000, Headquarters and OTS ,
and we come down to item three, number of inmate/inmate assaults , we have major and we have one. Then
we have zero for 202 4, then we have a revised forecast
zero, and then we have target outcome one. And I am assuming that that is because we had one in 2023/24.
I just don’t follow how that reads. We just carry the number from 2023/24, but we didn’t carry the number from
2024/ 25? I guess I just need some clar ity on that.
Same thing we with the minor. Right? We had
one then we had 15, then zero, zero, zero and then we
have one and 15 again. So, I don’t know if that is just


Bermuda Senate . . . maybe that is just the way that it is written because
that was the last time we recorded it.
And then the same thing when we look at . . .
No, sorry. That’s that . . .
And then the other question was just a matter
of interest and wanting some clarity. And that is 6(b),
Number of inmates obtaining General Education Diplomas. I see that in 2023/24 there were 15 inmates. During 2024/25, there were two. During 2025/26, there
were four. It is the target outcome. And that is such a drop from 2023/24, I wondered if that was because the percentage of inmates who already obtained a GED
was higher. So, I would like to have some clarity around
why we have less inmates obtaining a GE D. My hope
is that it is because we have more inmates who already have a GED, so they don’t need to obtain it. But I would
be interested to know more around that figure.
Those are my questions for Corrections. Thank
you.

Thank you, Senator Tannock.
Any other Senator care to speak on this head?
Senator Cunningham, did I see you hand go
up? I did? Yes.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Yes. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister Attorney General. I actually found it insightful to hear how the Department of Corrections came into the Ministry of Justice. So, well
done for getting what you wanted, I guess. But, you
know . . . let’s see how . . . I think it is a l ot of work because as you said, it is not easy. But I think that, obviously, you have an appreciation of the officers. So I
think the officers and staff of this department do an ab-solutely fantastic job.
So, I asked you a pre- question on this and you
were kind of . . . I feel like you touched on it. But I didn’t
follow where you were going with it. So, I was asking
for capital acquisitions and development. And you were
talking about different refurbishments, and I was just
wondering if you could point me to where that would be
in the back of the Budget Book, because I was looking
at Corrections having minor works and refurbishment
in the prisons on page C -4. And then a few . . . furniture,
body scanner, an d CCTV system upgrades. Is that
what you were referring to in your brief?

Maybe you can ask . . . is there another . . . Do you want to answer that Minister or keep
on going?

Sen. Victoria Cunningham: So, my second question
to that, supplemental to that, is on page C -4, we see
that the total authorised figure for (let’s just say) the prison minor works was $700,000. Last year it was actual to $197,000 in 2023/24. The estimate last year was $503[,000] of which $200[,000] it was revised to. So
now it appears that that estimate is going to go over the
original $700,000 budget line, or total authorised figure. So, my question is, and this is more a budget thing,
does that extra money come out of the Department of
Corrections . . . or Ministry of Justice budget as a
whole? Or does it come from somewhere else? Or do you not think it is over budget? Well, it is not over budget yet, but it could be.

Minister.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: The first question was
about the increase of $380,000 under business unit
35030. And the question was around what was that
covering. The increase includes funding for three treatment providers. Not 1 per cent, three treatment providers as well.
And the next question from Senator Tannock
was why the number of inmates who have received . . .
it is about the number of inmates receiving the GED.

The numbers had gone down in the
last few years, and I think the Senator had asked whether in the first year when the numbers were so
high was that simply because there were so many inmates who already had their GED, versus the last couple of years where the number was much less. And just
the reasons why.

Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes, sorry. That is correct. So,
in 2023/24 we see 15 obtained. And then we see the
numbers decrease. They go to two and then to four.
And so, I wondered if there was an issue with the provision of the programme or was it that fewer inmates
actually requi red the GED.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: So, what I am told is
that the statistic is initially based on what is in an inmate’s case plan. So, their case assessment plan may
say that they are to do the GED, but they actually may
not complete [it]. They may start and not complete. And I think this is a very insightful question, Senator Tannock, that I also have been drilling into.
It is . . . we have the offering. And I question
why completion and take up sometimes is not the expectation in alignment with what might be in the assessment plan. And so certainly from my own experience as an adult with dyslexia, I have been curious abou t
whether our assessments are measuring barriers to
learning that could be an impediment. And sometimes
it might not be an actual diagnosable barrier. It could be just a traumatic experience with school that might
be a factor that might prevent someone wanting to take
on a programme, fully.
So, these are things that are definitely on my
radar and within the remit of things that we are asking
the psychologists on board to delve into as part of the
trauma assessments as well. So whether there are any
things that are truly barriers to learning that could make an entire difference.
186 3 June 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda Senate I have been very excited by conversations with
Workforce Development where the conversation has
been around bringing their career scope tools to the
Department of Corrections and what these assessments will do might identify perhaps, you know, some-one migh t already have a GED, but maybe there was
something that they hadn’t thought of that might be in
their career interest that could be discovered through
these tools. And the fact, again, is on collaboration.
These are tools that are being paid for by the Government already. So, the idea is to make those more widely available because we are already paying for
them.
So, we just hadn’t thought about bringing these
career -scoping tools to the Department of Corrections
for the benefit of people who are incarcerated. And
these are, what I consider to be, low -hanging fruit
where we actually could create some wins.

Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you for that thoughtful
and well -considered answer. I appreciate it.
I do have a follow -up question about the funding for the three treatment providers that comprise the
$380,000. Could we have the names of those treatment
providers? How much goes to each? And what are the metrics for success?

Thank you, Senator Tannock.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Okay. While I wait for
that answer, I think there was a question about inmate
assaults.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes, that was just a query on
. . . and it may be just the way that the report is produced, the 1001. Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Yes. I am told that the
change in the original, it is the changes. The change in the original forecast versus the revised is based on the
actual number of results . . . the actual number of assaults that are recorded. So, there would have been
one major assault recorded, so it is based on that.

Sen. Tawana Tannock: Okay. Thank you.

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: I am just going to move
around as the answers come in, just for the benefit of
time.
So, it was Senator Cunningham’s question
around prison works. I think minor works, $197,000 in 2023/24 was revised to $200,000 and will go over the
$700,000 budget. No, that was your question I believe.
Does the extra funding come from the Ministry as a
whole or somewhere else? If extra funding was required, it would have to come from the Ministry as a
whole.
And just flip- flopping to Senator Tannock’s
question about providers. I don’t have an answer [for] the specific treatment providers. But I will get that as it
comes during the course of the . . .
[Inaudible interjections]

Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Okay. I am advised
that, yes. And I did say earlier that we were actively
looking at proposals. The PS has reminded me that the
allocations have not been made because we have not
landed on finalising those contracts yet.