May 19, 2025

Thank you, Minister.
And we now proceed to Head 14.

HEAD 14 —DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, it gives me
great pleasure to present the budget for Head 14, the
Department of Statistics, found on pages B -175
through B -178 and C -12 of the Budget Book.

Mission

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, the mission
of the Department of Statistics is: To produce and
provide statistical information for data- driven decisionmaking for Bermuda. The department seeks to fulfil its
mandate by delivering quality data that aligns with international standards and best practices, to facilitate a culture of evidence- based decision- making for policies and programmes. As such, the Department of Statistics’ objectives are as follows:
• raise the Department of Statistics profile
through improved accessibility to statistical
data and information utilising innovative digital tools;
• ensure the collection, compilation and production of statistical outputs are based on the
most current international statistical methodologies, standards and best practices by using
data quality frameworks;
• operate a transparent and citizen- centric department by improving the understanding and use of statistical data and information; and
• engage in targeted external and internal training and development to build the statistical
capacity required to sustain a high- performing
department.

Expenditure Overview

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, a total of
$3,358,000 has been allocated for this head, which
represents an increase of $816,000 from the previous
year and constitutes 12 per cent of the budget allocated for the Ministry as a whole. This change is due
primarily to an increase in the amount budgeted for
salaries and wages, and for professional services required for the processing of the 2024 Household In-come and Expenditure Survey and preparations for
the 2026 Population and Housing Census.
Madam Chairman, the Department of Statistics comprises six business units as listed on page B -
175:
• 24010, Censuses and Special Surveys
• 24015, Administration
• 24020, Core Statistics & Publications
• 24025, Core Annual Surveys
• 24055, Census and Survey Research
• 24065, Household Expenditure Survey
Madam Chairman, in the past year, the Department of Statistics had nine vacancies due to retirements and officers pursuing other opportunities. The department has updated the job descriptions and
working with the Department of Employee and Organisational Development to fill the vacant positions. Recruitment for two Statisticians is in progress and the
recruitment for three Assistant Statisticians and four Statistical Officers is anticipated to begin in May of this year.
Madam Chairman, the Subjective Analysis of
the Current Account Estimates of the Department of Statistics is found on page B -176. Please allow me to
highlight the material [object] code increases and de-creases:
• Salaries —increased by $388,000, or 20 per
cent, because of an increase in the number of full-time equivalents (FTEs) after adjusting
funding in line with the 2022 Management
Consulting Services operational review recommendations and the negotiated salary up-lifts.
• Wages —increased by $139,000 due to hiring
temporary in- office staff to assist with the
2026 Population and Housing Census preparations.
• Advertising and Promotion— increased by
$10,000 to fund advertising via newspaper,
radio, online and other promotions for the
2026 Population and Housing Census.
• Professional Services —increased by
$270,000 to hire interviewers for the 2026 Population and Housing Census pre- test and
a consultant to assist with processing the
2024 Household Income and Expenditure Survey.
• Materials and Supplies —increased by $7,000,
or 12 per cent, due to an increase in office
supplies and printing costs associated with
preparing for the 2026 Population and Housing Census

Performance Measures by Business Unit
Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, I am
pleased to report that most of the revised forecast per-formance measures for 2024/25 were achieved.
666 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Madam Chairman, before commencing my
analysis by business unit, it is important to note that
comparisons are not like- for-like for the following reason: Funding for the Labour Force Survey was shifted from business unit 24055 to 24025.
Madam Chairman, I will now present my analysis of expenditure by business unit.

Business Unit 24010 —Censuses and Special Surveys
Hon. Jason Hayward: This business unit is responsible for conducting the 2026 Population and Housing
Census.
A total of $152,000 has been allocated to
Business Unit 24055—Census and Survey Research
Unit which represents an increase of $152,000. Within
this business unit, the greatest absolute increase was for Object Code 4275—Temporary staff with an increase of $139,000.

Business Unit 24015 —Administration

Hon. Jason Hayward: This business unit is responsible for the management and administration functions
of the Department of Statistics.
A total of $839,000 has been allocated to
Business Unit 24015— Administration which represents an increase of $204,000, or 32 per cent, from
the previous year. Within this business unit, the greatest absolute increase was for Object Code 4110 —
Salaries —Bermuda Public Services from the previous
year due to the negotiated salary uplift, partial funding
of the Statistical Systems Manager post and additional
funding allocated to the Senior Statistician position where a job description review anticipates a salary
uplift.
Regarding progress on the performance
measures, indicators. The indicator to raise the profile
of the Department of Statistics with improved accessibility to statistical data through innovative digital tools:
The revised Target (2024/25):
i. One monthly social media post
ii. One monthly messaging apps
iii. One quarterly online news ad
iv. One annual newsletter
I am pleased to report the outcomes for
2024/25. The outcomes are actually:
i. Twelve monthly social media posts
ii. Twelve monthly messaging apps
iii. One online news ad per quarter
iv. One newsletter per year called “By the Numbers”

Business Unit 24020 —Core Statistics
and Publications

Hon. Jason Hayward: This business unit is responsible for providing economic statistics relating to the
growth of Bermuda’s economy, retail sales and the production of goods and services via monthly, quarterly and annual surveys.
A total of $910,000 has been allocated to
Business Unit 24020— Core Statistics & Publications
which represents an increase of $72,000, or 9 per
cent, from the previous year. Within this business unit,
the greatest absolute increase was for Object Code
4110 —Salaries —Bermuda Public Services from the
previous year due to the negotiated salary uplift and converting one Census and Survey Clerk position to a
Statistical Officer position.
Regarding progress on the performance
measures, the indicator was 100 per cent of all outputs will undergo a formal review to ensure that the collection, compilation and production are based on
the most current international statistical methodologies. The revised target was 100 per cent and the
outcome, I am pleased to report, is 100 per cent.

Business Unit 24025 —Core Annual Surveys

Hon. Jason Hayward: This business unit is responsible for providing employment statistics, labour force
[statistics] and inflation rates via monthly, semi -annual
and annual surveys. A total of $584,000 has been allocated to Business Unit 24025—Core Annual Surveys which represents an increase of $218,000, or 60 per cent, from the previous year. Within this business unit, the largest absolute increase was for Object
Code 4110 —Salaries —Bermuda Public Services from
the previous year. This budgetary increase was due to
the negotiated salary uplift, a net gain of one partially
funded Assistant Statistician post and the Census and Survey Clerk position being converted to a Statistical
Officer position.
Regarding progress on the following performance measures, the indicator: Target response rates for major statistical surveys.
The revised target for 2024/25:
i. Labour Force Surveys (Spring/Fall) —80 per
cent;
ii. Economic Activity Survey (annual) —72 per
cent;
iii. Balance of Payments (quarterly) —93 per
cent; and
iv. Household Income and Expenditure Survey
(ad hoc) —24 per cent
I am pleased to report that the outcomes were
that the Labour Force Survey exceeded its target at
86 per cent; the Economic Activity Survey was on target at 72 per cent; the Balance of Payments was on
target at 93 per cent; and the Household Income and
Expenditure Survey exceeded the revised target at 46 per cent.

Business Unit 24055 —Census and Survey
Research Unit



Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Jason Hayward: This business unit is responsible for maintaining a core level of research capability
for the department. It also provides data from population and housing censuses, trade statistics, environmental statistics, vital statistics (births, deaths, mar-riages and divorces) and population projections. In
addition, this business unit conducts ad hoc surveys
and produces reports on the survey results.
A total of $551,000 has been allocated to
Business Unit 24055—Census and Survey Research
Unit which represents a decrease of $4,000 or 1 per
cent. This reduction was due partly to the Labour
Force Survey budget being shifted from business unit
24055 to 24025 and the budget transfer being offset
by salary increases and the negotiated salary uplift.
Within this business unit, the greatest absolute increase was for Object Code 4110 —Salaries —
Bermuda Public Services from the previous year because the business unit had a net gain of one partially
funded Assistant Statistician post, the Census and
Survey Clerk position was converted to a Statistical Officer position and the negotiated salary uplift.
Regarding progress against performance
measures, I report that the indicator Process Interna-tional Trade Statistics on a monthly basis for use in the production of key economic indicators such as the
Gross Domestic Product and Balance of Payments.
The revised target (2024/25) was data processed monthly. The outcome was: Processed 11
months of data by the end of the fiscal year.

Business Unit 24065 —Household Expenditure Survey

Hon. Jason Hayward: This business unit is responsible for conducting the Household Income and Expenditure Survey.
A total of $322,000 has been allocated to
Business Unit 24065— Household Expenditure Survey
which represents an increase of $174,000 or 118 per
cent compared with 2024/25. Within this business
unit, Object Code 5265 —Consultancy Services —
Overseas accounts for $208,000. This is for professional services for processing the 2024 Household
Income and Expenditure Survey.
Madam Chairman, the 2024 Household Income and Expenditure Survey is of national importance because it is the only statistical activity for
collecting private households' expenditure and income
patterns and levels. This data is used to update the
“market basket” of goods and services and household expenditure weights to compile the Consumer Price
Index. It also will indicate the overall living standards
of Bermuda’s residents.
Madam Chairman, the 2024 Household Income and Expenditure Survey was launched in January 2024. The Department of Statistics disseminated letters, brochures and pamphlets to each sampled
household outlining the importance and scope of the
survey. Data collection was expected to last for one year to capture variations in seasonal expenditure
patterns and income levels. Due to a poor response
rate, the Department of Statistics is continuing data
collection for the 2024 Household Income and Expenditure Survey until December 2025. It is important to note that for the selected households, participation
is mandatory, and the department looks forward to the
cooperation of participants this year.

Achievements

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, despite
resource constraints, the 2024 Household Income and
Expenditure Survey began on schedule. I would like to
thank Dr. Jahni Smith, Senior Manager and Statistician and the Household Income and Expenditure
team for their dedication and unwavering commitment to the survey’s successful launch.
Throughout the year, the Department of Statistics continued to produce its standard publications and produced the first issue of “By the Numbers”
newsletter in March.

Capital Expenditure
Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, if we look
at the Capital Acquisition for the Department of Statistics on page C -12, we will see an amount of $198,000
which has been apportioned in this year’s budget.
These monies will be used to support the online 2026
Population and Housing Census preparations and to
replace a desktop computer.

Manpower

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, as seen on
page B -176— Employee Numbers, there are a total of
27 FTEs in the department for the upcoming fiscal
year, which is an increase of five from the 22 FTEs in
the current year.
This enhances the department’s capacity to
perform effectively and in a timely manner. These
FTEs are for the positions of one Statistical Systems
Manager, two Assistant Statisticians and two additional FTEs are for temporary staff who are required to assist with preparations for the 2026 Population and
Housing Census.

Plans for the Upcoming Year

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, for the upcoming year, the department will continue the data
collection for the Household Income and Expenditure
Survey and preparations for the 2026 Population and
Housing Census. In addition, the department is committed to leveraging technology to develop standardised and streamlined solutions to automate and validate labour -intensive processes. This will improve
timeliness of reporting.
668 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Madam Chairman, the department will conduct the necessary censuses and surveys and collect
administrative data to produce the following core publications in the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26:
• Monthly: Retail Sales Index and Consumer
Price Index;
• Quarterly: Balance of Payments and Interna-tional Investment Position; and Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure;
• Semi -Annually: Labour Force Survey Report,
and,
• Annually: Bermuda Digest of Statistics; Bermuda Job Market Employment Briefs; Employment Survey Tabulation Set; Annual
Gross Domestic Product; Information, Communication and Technology Profile; Environmental Statistics Compendium and Tourism
Satellite Account Report.
Madam Chairman, the department conducts
ad hoc surveys, provides survey samples and undertakes in- depth research and analysis of data. In addition, the department provides statistical advice and
professional consultancy in the collection, processing
and analysis of data for Government departments.
Furthermore, the department fulfils statistical data re-quests from local and international organisations.
Madam Chairman, let me take this opportunity
to thank the dedicated staff at the Department of Sta-tistics under the leadership of Director, Mrs. Melinda
Williams, for their continued commitment to the Department’s objectives.
Madam Chairman, that ends my presentation
on Head 14—Department of Statistics.

Thank you, Minister.
Just to remind the listening audience that we
are now in Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for
the year 2025/26 and the Minister in charge, the Honourable Jason Hayward JP, MP, Minister of Economy
and Labour, is outlining the heads for us. And we will
now move on to Head 17 [sic], which is Immigration.
Please proceed.
Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, I believe
that is Head 27.

I'm sorry. Head 27, yes. Sorry.

Hon. Jason Hayward: Thank you.

HEAD 27 —IMMIGRATION

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, it gives me
great pleasure to present the budget for Head 27, the
Department of Immigration, found on pages B -179
through B -183 and C -12 of the Budget Book.

Mission Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, the mission
of the Department of Immigration is: To facilitate economic growth and to protect the future of Bermuda for
the benefit of Bermudians, residents and visitors while
protecting our borders.

Expenditure Overview
Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, the total
projected expenditure for the Department of Immigra-tion for 2025/26 is estimated at $6,867,000, reflecting an increase of $629,000, or approximately 10 per
cent, compared to the 2024/25 budget. This increase
is primarily attributed to the regrading of several job
descriptions within the department, as well as an increase in the software maintenance contract for the
border management system.
Madam Chairman, the material changes of
the Subjective Analysis of the Current Accounts Estimates, as compared with the 2024/25, can be found
on page B -180 and are as follows:
• Salaries —increased by $679,000 (18 per
cent), primarily due to the re- grading of several vacant positions necessary to facilitate the
recruitment and filling of roles.
• Professional Services —decreased by
$713,000 (75 per cent) due to the reduced
need for contracted consultants, which ad-dressed the backlog of applications and other
staffing requirements; and these consultants
are being replaced through recent recruitment
efforts.
• Repair and Maintenance—increased by $639,000 (63 per cent), primarily due to the
higher cost of the annual software mainte-nance contract for the border management
system, which is essential for the protection of
Bermuda’s borders.

Revenue Overview
Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, the total
revenue for the 2025 fiscal year is projected at
$18,627,000, which represents a decrease of
$3,023,000 or 14 per cent.
The most notable revenue changes compared
to the original 2024/25 estimates are detailed on page B-180. These changes are as follows:
• 8285 Work Permits —Work and Reside: based
on actual revenue collections from the past
two fiscal years, the revenue projection has
been revised downward by 64 per cent to provide a more accurate and realistic forecast.
• 8286 Work Permits —Appeals: the projected
revenue from appealed applications has been
aligned with actual revenue collected in the
past two fiscal years; with an increase of 67 per cent estimated to collect $120,000 in
revenue.


Bermuda House of Assembly • 8287 Work Permits —General: recent trends
show a higher revenue collection of general
fees, including those for add- ons such as advertisement extensions, permit amendments
late fees and others. As a result, the estimated revenues increased by 56 per cent.
• 8293 Residence Fees —revenue estimates
were reduced by $59,000 compared to
2024/25 [projections], reflecting actual reve-nues collected during the same period. Additionally, the dissolution of the One Year Work
from Bermuda residential permits, effective 28
February 2025 is expected to decrease revenue for the 2025/26 fiscal year.
• 8301 Status and Naturalisation[ —Other]: as
the anticipated changes to the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 1956 (BIPA) regarding Permanent Residence Certificate applications were not finalised, the estimated
revenue has been reduced by 63 per cent or
$1.5 million, which was the predicted revenue
for the previous fiscal year.

Capital Expenditure
Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, funds allocated for Capital Acquisitions for 2025/26 totalled $379,000, as detailed on page C -12. This amount will
support the initial phase of work to towards digitalisation of Immigration systems and application processes, as well as the replacement of small office furnish-ings.

Manpower

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, the Department of Immigration resources will be used to ef-fectively and efficiently deliver the day -to-day operational requirements of the business and key policy priorities. The department has a team of 50 staff carrying out its four major areas of work, as follows:

Section People
Corporate Services 12
Personal Services 12
Compliance 18
Finance and Administration 8
Total 50

Hon. Jason Hayward: I should note this team processes more than 14,000 applications annually, of which approximately 70 per cent are related to work
permits. The department handles over 100 different
types of applications of varying complexity. I highlight
this, Madam Chairman, as the extent of the volume of work handled by the department is often lost on the
public. We are committed to digitising and automating
all of our processes which will improve service output and add transparency, reflecting a win- win for our clients and the department.

Business Unit Performance
Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, the department’s performance outcomes against the performance measures are listed on pages B -182 and B -
183 of the Budget Book.

37010 Corporate Services

Hon. Jason Hayward: This business unit is responsible for processing 14,000 applications, referenced
earlier. The Corporate Services Manager, Industry
Relationship Officers and Customer Service Repre-sentatives liaise directly with employers to review and make recommendations for each application. While
the backlog of applications was reduced in 2024/25,
delays continue to occur with respect to issuing work
permit documents. The section continued to provide
timely notifications of approvals and on the occasions
when work permit documents were required to assist
with travel, i.e., for first- time applicants and visa controlled nationals, permits were immediately printed
and issued.

37020 Personal Services

Hon. Jason Hayward: As its name suggests, this
business unit liaises directly with the individual customer for applications relating to travel documents, the
acquisition of Bermudian Status, Naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories Citizen, Permanent Resident’s Certificate applications, issuance of related certificates, permissions to reside, seek employment and
attend school, and letters for spouses of Bermudians.
Key staff in this area include the Personal Services
Manager, Client Services Officers, and Customer Services Representatives.
The volume of passport applications continues to be high with peak periods resulting in larger
volumes. Generally, applications were processed between 11 and 20 weeks. Of significance, with the reinstatement of the BMU code in April 2024, there was little to no uplift in passport applications by existing
passport holders who wished to obtain a new passport
with the BMU code.
The temporary staff continued to provide invaluable assistance for the processing of spousal let-ters, and Permanent Resident’s Certificate applications. Naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories
Citizen saw a significant decrease in the processing
timeline —from six to nine months to three to six
months. The new targeted processing time for 2025/26 is six months (page B -182). In 2024, the department, in conjunction with the Deputy Governor’s Office, processed over 550 Naturalisation applications, an increase of approximately 316 from 2023.
670 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly 37030 Compliance

Hon. Jason Hayward: Under the leadership of the
Compliance Manager and two Principal Compliance Officers, Senior Immigration Inspectors in the unit are assigned to both Immigration headquarters in Hamilton and the L. F. Wade International Airport. The unit
continued to undertake investigations for potential
breaches of Immigration law, regulations and policy.
The penalty process for breaches against the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 1956 follows the guidelines in sections 71A and 71B.
The unit also began random assessments on
Permanent Resident’s Certificate holders to ensure that holders were not absent from Bermuda without
the permission of the Minister, for a period of two
years or more; this is in accordance with the section 31D of the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act
1956.
The unit also began random assessment on
Permanent Resident Certificate Holders to ensure that
holders were not absent from Bermuda without permission of the Minister for a period of two years or
more. This is in accordance with section 31D of the
Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 1956.
During the past fiscal year, the following cases are on record: as it pertains to General investiga-tions, there were 104 new general investigations of which 61 were completed.
As it pertains to Civil Penalty investigations,
there were 60. There was one that has actually been completed and seven which are awaiting a decision
for civil penalties. Enforcement Site Visits —we conducted 30 site visits. And when we say site visits , this
is where a complaint may come in, in terms of somebody working not according to policy or working without the relevant applications. And so, you can see that once those complaints are made, we do make on- site
visits to make sure that persons are in compliance.
And then Deportations —there were actually
nine deportations which were executed in the last fis-cal period. And deportations can arise from a number
of circumstances. One may be where an individual
has been incarcerated for criminal activity and upon incarceration the department works with the prisons
and the Governor’s Office for immediate deportation
of that individual so that they are not reintegrated back
into our economy. And the other would be pertaining
to persons who may be residing in Bermuda illegally
and there is a reluctance for them to leave on their
own.
As it pertains to Permanent Resident’s Certificate Holders’ absence . . . absentee assessments —
there were 220 assessments conducted. Less than
five were absent for two years or more without the
Minister’s permission. And so, Madam Chairman,
there is a requirement in law that if one obtains a
Permanent Resident Certificate, they must not have
periods of absence from Bermuda without the permis-sion of the Minister. That is because we do not want
to issue people residency who are not actual residents
in Bermuda. And they may be using the residency for
other purposes. And so, we had been doing ongoing assessments, not just for Permanent Resident Certifi-cate holders, but also for Resident Certificate holders
and we found for the most part, persons are compliant. Where persons are not compliant, the department
will write a Natural Justice letter to that individual and
ask for clarification as to why they may be absent. We may have had somebody who has also passed away overseas and as a result are no longer in Bermuda.
But those occurrences are extremely rare.

37040 Finance and Administration

Hon. Jason Hayward: This business unit is responsible for the department’s accounts, budget, financial
records/reporting, annual budget preparation, administrative support services, personnel administration
functions including recruitment, and Work from Bermuda applications. The unit is overseen by the Finance and Administration Manager.
In the past fiscal year, there were 18 vacant
posts. Recruitment was the main focus throughout
2024/25 and prior to the end of the fiscal year, of the
18 vacant posts, 12 suitably qualified applicants were selected. Given the need for approvals by the Public
Service Commission and the Governor, contracts
were issued and signed on 30 April 2025.

Major Policy Changes

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, the following policy changes have either already been made or
will be made before the end of fiscal 2025/26.

Prohibition of Entry Order

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, as a reminder, the Prohibition of Entry Order seeks to ensure that tourist visitors and residents of Bermuda have
ready access to the US, UK, and Canada through
commercial air service. During the past fiscal year, the
Order was updated twice. As the requirements by the UK, in particular, continue to evolve, amendments to
the Order are highly likely. In addition to this, the Department of Immigration will continue to enhance local
visa requirements, ensuring there is a reasonable bal-ance between securing our borders and the ease by
which travellers can be landed in Bermuda.

Work From Bermuda Initiative
Hon. Jason Hayward: This initiative concluded on 28
February 2025, after allowing remote workers (which we also refer to as digital nomads) and university students to work and study remotely from Bermuda for
four years. Since August 2020, the programme atBermuda House of Assembly tracted approximately 1,800 participants, with around
250 individuals applying to extend their stay.
Notwithstanding the cessation of the Work
from Bermuda initiative, applicants can transition to a
multi -year residency permission which, if granted, will
give them the ability to remain in Bermuda for up to
five years. Applications for residency must be submitted between one and two months prior to the expiration of the Work from Bermuda certificate.

Plans for the Upcoming Year

Hon. Jason Hayward: During fiscal year 2025/26, the
Department of Immigration will progress key action
plans
Digitalisation. Madam Chairman, work is well
underway to implementing a system that ensures that digital transformation is a reality for all of the department’s applications. In March 2025, the Senior Management Team visited Bahamas Immigration for the
purpose of gathering information about their Identity Document Management System (IDMS). A possible
vendor has been identified to carry out the work and a
formal proposal, including costs and timelines for key
deliverables is expected by June 2025. Following ap-proval of the proposal, work to design the new system
will begin in earnest. It is expected that the design and
implementation will be done in phases with the first phase comprising work permit applications. Key elements of the system will include: a dashboard that will
be accessible by employers and individuals, so that they can readily see where their applications are in
the process; tracking of email communications between the department and clients; and a seamless payment gateway, to name a few.
Work Permit Policy. The timely processing of
work permit applications is vital to business sustaina-bility for many companies throughout Bermuda.
Equally, a clearly defined Work Permit Policy makes
processing almost effortless. To this end, the Work
Permit Policy is currently being enhanced so that it is
clearer, leaving little room for erroneous interpretation,
and more user -friendly. The new policy will be implemented by summer 2025.
Madam Chairman, in conclusion, I would like
to thank the dedicated members of the staff at the
Department of Immigration under the leadership of Dr.
Danette Ming, Chief Immigration Officer and Ms. Marita Grimes, Assistant Chief Immigration Officer, as well
as the Chairman of the Board of Immigration, Mr. Scott Simmons, and the Immigration Appeal Tribunal
headed by Ms. Charlene Scott.
Madam Chairman, the H. M. Customs Department continues to work closely with the Depart-ment of Immigration to administer border controls at
the L. F. Wade International Airport and at our seaports. As such, I would like to thank the Collector of
Customs, Mrs. Lucinda Pearman and her team for the work they carried out for the Department of Immigra-tion during 2024/25.
Madam Chairman, that ends my presentation
on Head 27, the Department of Immigration.

Thank you, M inister.
Do y ou want to take a little break for some
water ? And then we can proceed to the next head,
which is Head 29, Registry General.
Hon. Jason Hayward: Thank you, Madam Chairman.

HEAD 29 —REGISTRY GENERAL
Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, it gives me
great pleasure to present the budget for Head 29, the Department of Registry General, found on pages B -
184 through B -187 and C -12 of the Budget Book.
The Registry General is responsible for maintaining civil registrations and providing public access to such records. Under the [general] direction and
control of the Minister of Economy and Labour, the
Registrar General exercises his statutory functions
and is assisted by such public officers as may from
time to time be authorised by the Legislature.

Mission

Hon. Jason Hayward: The Department of Registry
General ensures the preservation of vital and general
records and the protection of intellectual property
rights. This is achieved via the maintenance of a reliable system for the storage of public records, access to those records and provision of an efficient registry
service which supports the registration of every birth,
death, adoption, domestic partnership and marriage in
Bermuda. The Registry General is also responsible for
facilitating the registration of chattel mortgages; the
registration of trade unions, professionals and charitable organisations; the granting of intellectual property
rights such as trade and service marks, patents and
designs, and advising on copyright and related rights;
and assumes all administrative responsibilities with
respect to the registration of Country Code Top Level
domain names for Bermuda (.bm).
Madam Chairman, to meet these objectives,
the department has four business units as shown on
page B -184 as follows:
• Business Unit 39000 —Administration
• Business Unit 39010 —Intellectual Property
Registration
• Business Unit 39020— Property, Professional
and Organisation Registration
• Business Unit 39030— Births, Marriages and
Deaths

Expenditure Overview

672 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, the current
account estimates for Head 29, Registry General, can
be found on page B -184. The Registry General has
been allocated a total of $1,944,000. This represents a net increase of $143,000 or 8 per cent from the
amount allocated in the original budget for the financial year 2024/25.
Madam Chairman, the budget estimates of
$1,944,000, allocated to the Registry General, will
allow the Registry to provide the core services mandated by the law. The allocation of $835,000 to the [Administration] Business Unit 39000 will ensure that
the infrastructure and proper resources are made
available to facilitate the efficient and timely registration of all professional bodies, intellectual property,
organisations, vital and general events occurring in
Bermuda during this fiscal period.
The $652,000 allocated to the Intellectual
Property Business Unit [39010] will allow that section
to register or renew the registration of domain names,
trademarks, patents, and designs; and maintain the existing registration systems for intellectual property
and .bm domain names.
The department will continue to meet its output measures as it registers documents relating to
charities, professional bodies, chattel mortgages and
other legal transactions with the $148,000 allocated to
the Property, Professional and Organisation Business Unit 39020.
The $309,000 allocated to the Births, Marriages and Deaths, Business Unit 39030, will ensure that all these [vital] events occurring in Bermuda will
be registered.
Madam Chairman, the most significant variances in the estimated budget are further explained
on page B -185 as follows:
• An increase of $153,000, or 10 per cent, in
Salaries. The increase is a result of negotiated uplifts between BPSU and the Government.
• A decrease of $22,000 in Travel represents a decrease in the amount of money allocated
for business travel, for anticipated attendance
at CFATF Plenary meetings in preparation for the next Mutual Evaluation in 2027; and to attend training sessions arranged for IP staff at
the UK IP Office and the Trinidad IP Office.
• An increase of $9,000, or 8 per cent, for Repairs and Maintenance. This is largely due to the increase in cost for quarterly cleaning of
the Search Room to remove mould and dust,
due to the modified level of cleaning required.
• An increase of $8,000 or a [36] per cent increase for Other Expenses. This represents a
slight increase in money allocated for other
operational costs (that is, for bank charges
and commissions).

Revenue Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, on the revenue side, page B -186, the Registry General expects
to realise $2.2 million in revenue during 2025/26. The most significant amounts are explained below.
• $70,000 is expected from Charity registrations.
• $220,000 is expected from Trademark applications.
• $270,000 is expected from Trademark registrations.
• $370,000 is expected from Trademark renewals.
• $216,000 is expected from .bm Domain Name registrations.
• $260,000 is expected from applications for
Birth Certificates.
• $120,000 is expected from Marriage Licences.
• $120,000 is expected from Maritime Marriage
Licences.
• $37,000 is expected from Marriage Ceremonies.
• $90,000 is expected from Marriage Certificates.
• $70,000 is expected from Death Certificates.

Manpower

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, the manpower estimates for the Registry General, as outlined
on page B -186, are 20 full -time posts. Within the department four of those posts are vacant.
It is anticipated that the two vacant Trademark
Administrators, the Customer Service Representative,
and the Charities Administrator posts will be filled by
the beginning of the upcoming fiscal year. The Registry General consists of the following four sections:
• 39000 Administration, seven staff;
• 39010 Intellectual Property, six staff;
• 39020 Property, Professional and Organisation Registration, two staff; and
• 39030 Births, Marriages and Deaths, five
staff.

Performance Measures

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, the department’s Performance Measures are outlined on
page B -187. Although the department is operating
with three key posts currently vacant, and posts filled
by temporary relief staff, members of the Registry
General team continue to work hard and are dedicated to achieving these goals.
The department is responsible for discharging
duties conferred under a total of 36 Acts and Regula-tions which govern the operations of the Registry General. The main function of the department is to
ensure the efficient and timely registration of all intellectual property rights, vital and general events occurBermuda House of Assembly ring in Bermuda. All sections of the department met
the performance targets in 2024/25.
Madam Chairman, the capital acquisition for
Head 29, Registry General, can be found on page C -
12. The Registry General has been allocated a total of
$336,000. This represents a net increase of $237,000,
or 71 per cent from the amount allocated in the original budget for the financial year 2024/25.
Madam Chairman, $26,000 has been allocated for new office furniture and equipment for the department, and $310,000 has been allocated for the acquisition and installation of a new technology -based
registration system for the IP section.

Plans for the Upcoming Year
Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, in the upcoming year, the Registry General will execute the
following initiatives:
• Implement the amendments to the Registrar -
General Recording of Documents Act 1955 and relevant legislations (i.e., Registration
(Births and Deaths) Act 1949) by acquiring a
new technology -base system to provide for a
Voluntary Register and enable the processing of applications for the registration of vital
events (i.e., births, deaths, marriages) of
Bermuda’s citizens that occur outside our jurisdiction.
• Amend the Registration (Births and Deaths)
Act 1949 (the “Act”) to (a) make provision for
an adult to alter their name in the Birth Register, which will provide an alternative option for
an individual person to change their name as opposed to the current process via a deed
poll; and (b) to ensure that members of the
public cannot obtain a birth certificate of
someone else without their consent.
• Bring into effect the new trade mark legisla-tions (i.e., Trade Marks Act 2023, Trade
Marks Regulations 2023, Government Fees
(Trade Marks) Regulations 2023, and the
Trade Marks (Customs) Regulations 2025); amend the Patents and Designs Act 1930 to
introduce two standalone legislations (i.e., a
new patent act and new design act); amend
the Copyrights and Designs Act 2004 to implement a voluntary registration scheme for
copyright work.
• Continue with application to the UK Government for the provision of key intellectual property international treaties (i.e., the Paris Con-vention, Madrid Protocol for trade marks, Patent Cooperation Treaty, and Hague Agreement for designs) to be extended to Bermuda.
• Modernise the IP section’s technology -based
registration system to operationalise the new
IP legislative or legal framework. • Digitisation of vital records and general registration business processes by leveraging advance “Software as a Service” (SaaS) solutions that will efficiently and safely promote
online business transactions on any device
and from anywhere in the world.
Madam Chairman, the Registry General Department remains committed to delivering the various projects, with plans to have the new systems operational during the upcoming fiscal year. I also want to
add, Madam Chairman, that you will see a lot of activity in this particular House regarding the work we are
doing in trade mark and some public promotion around the work we are doing in trade mark. There
has been substantial work done in that area even to
increase our capabilities of having a first -class trade
mark regime and protecting intellectual property. I
know that the Shadow Minister knows a bit about this
because he assisted with some of the work carried out
to advance the trade mark framework when he was on the government benches and I thank him for that
work.
Madam Chairman, I would like to express my
gratitude to the team and dedicated staff members of
the Registry General Department, led by Mr. Aubrey
Pennyman, as they continue to take a proactive approach to ensure Bermuda remains relevant and
comparable with its global partners.
Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Thank you, Minister.
The next head up for debate is Head 60,
Workforce Development.
Minister , proceed.

HEAD 60 —WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, it gives me
great pleasure to present the budget for Head 60, the
Department of Workforce Development, found on
pages B -188 through B -193 and C -13 and C -19 of the
Budget Book.
Madam Chairman, the mission of the Department of Workforce Development is To develop a resilient workforce, to provide a sustainable and stable
community .

Expenditure Overview

Hon. Jason Hayward: A total of $4,519,000 has been
allocated for this head, which represents an increase
of $305,000 from the previous year and constitutes
16 per cent of the overall Ministry budget. This represents a budget increase of 7 per cent year over year
and is largely a result of a supplementary increase to
provide $140,000 for increased Apprenticeships and
$70,000 for Hospitality Training Opportunities.
674 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Additionally, the department has been granted
a capital expenditure of $16,750 for upgrades to the
training room computers for client usage.
Madam Chairman, the Department of Workforce Development comprises three programmes as noted on page B -189: 6001 General Administration,
6003 Career Development, and 6004 Training.
Madam Chairman, Programme 6001, General
Administration is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Department of Workforce Development. For the past three years I have had to report that . . . for the past three years, the Department of Workforce Development has been understaffed; however, today I am pleased to report, the
department is fully staffed in all sections.
One of the roles that was onboarded was the
Systems Support Officer. This role has been vital to enhancing the client experience at Workforce Development. Over the past year, the department has advanced digital transformation to enhance its services
to the public. A key achievement has been developing and enhancing the department's website, which now
serves as a central hub for all resources. The website
integrates programme applications, training schedules, success stories, and digital guides, making it easier for stakeholders to access relevant information.
department intake forms have also transitioned to a
fully digitised format, allowing for seamless submis-sion and processing. Course attendance is now digitally tracked, reducing paperwork and enhancing accuracy.
Programme applications for initiatives such as
the Summer Internship Programme, Summer Em-ployment Programme, Learn Through Experience Programme, Employer Participant Request, Skilled
Trades, and Graduate Apprenticeship Programme are now available online.
National Occupational Certification processes
have been streamlined by digitising Industry Assess-ment Panel (IAP) and Occupational Advisory Committee (OAC) assessments and implementing a public
National Occupational Certification Registry. The introduction of an online submission and approval system for trainee/apprentice timesheets and weekly logs has increased efficiency and reduced errors.
To highlight departmental achievements, a
dedicated section on the website now showcases success stories and event highlights. A digital department calendar has been integrated to provide better
planning and access to training course schedules. Comprehensive how -to guides have been developed
to support stakeholders in navigating various digital
platforms. Another significant advancement is the
successful implementation of a new client information
database that [has] replaced the previous system,
offering enhanced data management capabilities.
Madam Chairman, Programme 6003 Career
Development is comprised of Career Development
Administration 70300. This programme is responsible for developing Personal Employment Plans and Case
Management as a result of client assessment, core
soft skills training and employment readiness training.
The Career Development Section has successfully
executed a range of impactful programmes during the 2024/25 fiscal year, with a strong focus on youth engagement, workforce readiness, and digital modernisation.
Notable initiatives include the expansion of
youth employment pathways through the Learn
Through Experience, Summer Employment Pro-gramme, Summer Internship Programme, Graduate
Apprenticeship Programme, and public -private partnerships such as Shake Your Future with Bacardi
Limited. Additionally, the team piloted a targeted On -
the-Job Training (OJT) component within the legislated Personal Employment Plan (PEP) framework for Financial Assistance clients. Strategically, the Career
Development section has restructured its spending
priorities to amplify investments in Youth Development
and Employer Partnerships, expansion of programmes, job board management, client assessment
and case management.
Madam Chairman, Programme 6004 Training,
provides administrative support to the National Certification and oversight of the Apprenticeship Board activities such as the apprenticeship programmes, pro-fessional designation training programmes and the
national certification of the designated trades. Under
the governance of the newly created National Certification and Apprenticeship Board (NCAB), the training
and certification programme has had much success in
implementing training programmes in high demand industry -driven occupations and advancing National
Certification. The Board’s primary objective is to oversee and ensure the quality, relevance, and efficiency
of training and apprenticeship programs in Bermuda.
There was an adjustment of the number of
persons awarded certifications from 300 to 125 persons; however, the number of persons sponsored for
industry certification and training courses increased
from 200 to 232. The number of apprentices increased to 52, with 10 due to complete their multi -year
apprenticeship programmes during this calendar year 2025. Thirty -four Bermudians were awarded NCCER
Core industry certification.
Additionally, 26 multi -year scholarship recipients are studying at overseas institutions in the US, Canada, UK and the Caribbean and 10 one- time
Technical Vocational Education Training award recipients are studying in “short course” programmes of no
more than 12 months either online or overseas.
The Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Training
programme has 12 Bermudians in the first of a three
phase, two- year apprenticeship programme. There
were 50 local sponsored trainees studying at Bermu-da College and other local educational institutions and
11 sponsored trainees studying at overseas institutions. Increased industry stakeholder engagement


Bermuda House of Assembly with [cross] -ministry and external business and employers in various high- demand occupations to 37.
Through the innovative approach and implementation of offering micro -credential courses [(short -
term units of learning)] 25 Bermudians were able to
re-tool, [upscale] and earn certificates in their respective apprenticeship programmes.
Madam Chairman, the department successfully launched a pilot On- the-Job Training Programme in
partnership with Financial Assistance [and] the Ber-muda Post Office, providing Personal Employment Plan participants with hands -on experience and soft
skills training. All participants were offered long- term
employment, helping them transition from Financial Assistance. One participant shared that the programme gave them a renewed sense of purpose and
structure.
Madam Chairman, it is important to note that
we determined that the way in which we were going
about assisting persons on Financial Assistance,
where we made them just simply go out and do man-datory job searches was not producing the results that
we required in terms of those individuals becoming
employed. And so this House, under the leadership of
this Government changed the legislation to ensure
that the Workforce Development was a feature of
those persons, able- bodied, on Financial Assistance.
We called the tool Personal Employment [Plan] (PEP)
where we assess where people are, we work with the
team to develop the competencies and the capabilities
of those individuals to prepare them for opportunities of work.
So, the On- the-Job Training programme was
an initiative that was launched by the Department of Workforce Development to support individuals on financial assistance. The first three persons of that cohort were able to go into the workplace, share their value, and what the department is actually reporting is
that based off of the work that was actually done, p ersons were able to secure employment as a result . And
so they went from being able- bodied persons on financial assistance to persons who now have a source of income . And this just goes . . . bodes to when we
put the resources in place to work directly with individuals we can achieve the outcomes that we actually
desire.
To address the need for more Bermudians in
the hospitality section, the department launched the Learn Through Experience Programme —Hospitality,
an eight -week initiative combining professional development and paid work experience. One participant credited the Hospitality programme with helping them
secure their first job and boosting their confidence.
The team also managed the Summer Employment Programme and the Summer Internship
Programme, placing 180 students in career -aligned
roles across sectors. Additionally, the department continues to award scholarships based on financial need
and workforce demand in key areas such as hospitali-ty, health care, trades, financial services, and emerging technologies.
Madam Chairman, over the year we have realised a number of success stories from our training
programmes. We have had an extremely robust training calendar. I would like to highlight that we ran a
Butcher Apprenticeship Training Programme. In
June— it actually started in 2022. Those persons in
January of 2025 have completed the programme and are now fully employed as butchers, which is something extremely positive.
The department also ran the Heavy Truck
Driver’s Programme which enabled 34 Bermudians to
earn their heavy truck licences and complete certificates. The section also ran the Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Training Programme. The department also
ran the Mentorship Apprenticeship Programme.
Appliance Technician Repair Safety Training
Certificate. The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). Solar Photovoltaic
Certificate Programme. The National Certification,
Apprenticeship and Professional Development programmes as well as the National Occupational Certification programmes.
This department has touched, and this section
of this department has touched the lives of hundreds
of Bermud ians in the last fiscal period, providing them
with the vital skills which are needed to allow them to
excel in the current and future world of work
Oftentimes these stories that go . . . over
shadowed as it pertains to the work that the Govern-ment is doing and the Department of Workforce Development is doing, ensuring as to the work that we
are doing to put people on pathways to success. I
think that the work that we are doing and the work that
we are outlining with the funds that this department
does receive highlights that we have had a huge focus
on investment in people. When we say we have
touched the lives of dozens of persons, we are talking
about hundreds of individuals who have benefited
from the support that we have provided for investment
in people.
I think that this combined with our ability to
expand jobs in the economy allows greater levels of
opportunities and Bermudians to position themselves to take advantage of those opportunities.
Madam Chairman, for the 2024/25 period, the
department made amendments to its performance measures to better align with current workforce de-mands. The team examined the existing performance
measures to ensure they meet the criteria of being
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and
Timely [(SMART)]. Although there are a few new performance measures, there are some measures of
which to take note.
There were 683 persons seeking the services
of Workforce Development in the 2024/25 budget period. The department was able to refer 199 persons
for jobs. Let me repeat that, Madam Chairman, be676 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly cause I think that is significant. There were 683 persons that sought assistance from the Department of
Workforce Development. Some persons unemployed.
Some persons who may be on Financial Assistance. Some persons who are employed and looking to up-grade their skillset. Some persons who are underemployed and looking to transition to a new job. But this
department was positioned to service that volume of
individuals. Additionally, the department referred 199
persons for jobs. That meant employers contacted the
department directly or via the job portal as a require-ment of a work permit application and we were able to
refer 199 individuals for jobs in that fiscal period.
I want to use this opportunity to inform members of the public that you must register with the Department of Workforce Development to seize these
opportunities . And so when p ersons say that in the
past, they may have not had a positive experience
with going into the Government department and securing jobs or capacity to build and support , I would
say that based off of the statistics , the department is
well poised to serv ice persons who are seeking assistance.
The department hosted a robust monthly employment skills calendar of courses; this programme
exceeded its projected target by 46.33 per cent, with a
total of 439 participants compared to the initial projec-tion of 300. And so that was additional 439 individuals
who took advantage of the Department of Workforce
Development monthly training schedule that we put
out for the public.
While intake and training participation numbers have shown strong performance, job placement
results remain significantly below target. I want to reit-erate that the department is not an employment agency; however, the team does provide wraparound ser-vices for clients as they seek employment. The de-partment set a target of placing 100 clients; it fell short
by only placing 55. Additionally, the percentage of
completed Personal Employment Plans (PEPs)
reached only 64 per cent, falling short of the 80 per
cent target. This is due to clients disengaging from the
process and having other social factors that have delayed their PEP progress.
The department set a target of 40 per cent of
clients who were referred who secured employment
and the department ended the year at 39 per cent.
Additionally, 78 [per cent] of persons report having
improved skills three months post taking a class with
the department. I think that is an important statistic. We train and we develop persons to position themselves for jobs. Not everybody will secure a job directly after the programme in which they engaged. But
they are better positioned to take advantage of opportunities when they exist. It is not all the time that there
is a one- to-one alignment between somebody being
trained and the job opportunity being made available.
And so that one- to-one relationship doesn't exist. But I
believe that the department set out t o have at least 40 per cent of persons who will engage in their training programmes, become fully employed and the department reached the threshold of 39 per cent. I am
sure that the Shadow Minister will accept that the de-partment has met its target of 40 per cent for training
and development and ensuring that we transition persons into the work place but also understand that there
is a level of complexity to get persons employed after
they have been trained.

Plans for the Upcoming Year

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, as we look
forward to the upcoming fiscal year and beyond, the
Department of Workforce Development objectives for
the fiscal period 2025/26 can be found on page B -188
and read as follows:
• Continue to implement the Youth Employment
Strategy focusing on increasing educational
and vocational training opportunities tailored to high demand industries and supporting
youth in their transition from education to employment.
• Expand Apprenticeship and internship place-ments available to Bermudians; with a focus
on engaging young people in skill -building experiences.
• Strengthen employer partnerships for youth and apprenticeship placement.
• Increase engagement and communication
with Bermuda’s young people.
In the 2025/26 fiscal period, the Department
of Workforce Development is poised to expand cur-rent programmes and implement new initiatives to
make a significant impact on the Bermuda’s work-force.
The plans include the development of a new
Job Board to replace the existing system, providing an
improved platform for job seekers and employers. Enhancements are also being made to the digital employer referral process to facilitate efficient referrals.
Furthermore, the security vetting process is being re-fined to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.
Youth engagement will be scaled by expanding the Graduate Apprenticeship and Learn Through Experience programmes.
Furthermore, the department is exploring innovative micro- courses designed to offer efficient and
targeted certification pathways in various trades, ensuring a nimble response to the evolving needs of the
workforce in Bermuda. These initiatives collectively
reflect our commitment to nurturing a skilled, adapta-ble, and future- ready workforce.
Madam Chairman, the department is heavily
focused on ensuring that we reposition ourselves for high-demand occupations and skilled trades and the
work in these areas continue.
Madam Chairman, that ends my presentation
on Head 60—Department of Workforce Development.


Bermuda House of Assembly At this time, I would like to thank the team at the Department of Workforce Development, led by Director
Malika Cartwright, for their commitment to supporting
Bermudians as they navigate through Bermuda’s career landscape.
Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Thank you, M inister.
Honourable Members and members of the listening audience, we are now in the Committee of
Supply for further consideration of the E stimates of
Revenue and E xpenditure for 2025 /26. We are now in
debate, and we call on the Minister in charge, the
Honourable Jason H ayward, JP, MP , Minister of the
Economy and Labour to please proceed.
We are moving into H ead 94 which is Economic Development.

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, can you
just give an indication as to the time that the debate
commenced?

The debate commenced at 10:27.

Hon. Jason Hayward: Okay, thank you.

HEAD 94 —ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, it gives me
great pleasure to present the budget for Head 94, the
Economic Development Department (EDD), found on
pages B -194 through B -197 and C -19 of the Budget
Book.

Mandate

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, the mandate of the Economic Development Department is To
advance the sustainable growth, development, and
diversification of Bermuda’s economy. It does so by
• facilitating, creating, and implementing policies to support the Bermuda Economic Development Strategy 2023– 2027;
• in collaboration with industry stakeholders,
positioning Bermuda as an ideal test market
for innovative products and industry develop-ment;
• identifying the jurisdiction’s market fit, clearly
communicating its message, and driving opportunities that lead to economic activity;
• processing various Land Licenses and Incentives for Job Maker applications in a timely, efficient, and professional manner;
• facilitating opportunities for technology education, mentoring and training, and support for
e-entrepreneurship; and
• helping create a more attractive regulatory
environment for business and enhanced communication between the Government of
Bermuda and the private sector.

Expenditure Overview
Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, the subjective analysis of the current account estimates of the
Economic Development Department is found on page
B-195 of the Budget Book.
A total of $8,623,176 has been allocated for
this head, which represents an increase of $196,815 from the previous year. This budget constitutes 31 per
cent of the allocated budget for the Ministry as a
whole.
This budgetary allocation includes the total
current expenditure for the Economic Development
Department, which is estimated to be $2,054,424 for 2025/26, as well as two grants. The grants comprise
an allocation for the Bermuda Economic Development
Corporation (the “BEDC”) in the amount of
$2,338,752, and for the [Bermuda] Business Development Agency (the “BDA”) in the amount of
$4,230,000.
I will present to this Honourable House the
budget briefs for each of these grantees separately,
after I present the budget for the Economic Development Department (“EDD”). And so, to be clear, there
are three major areas of funding. O ne will be for the
Economic Development Department and then we provide two substantial grants which exceed the funds
that we provide to the Economic Development Department to the Bermuda E conomic Development
Corporation and to the Bermuda Business Develop-ment Agency. So included in this budget brief , I will
also provide clarity on how that grant funding is actually allocated.
But the three units comprise the substantial
investment that we put int o economic development in
Bermuda and ensuring that we have a sustainable
and robust economy that is able to expand and create
further job opportunities. Additional to that, these are
the departments that are responsible for diversifying
our current economy and I'll highlight the work that is
actually being done to support the diversification and
growth of our economy.

Revenue Overview

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, through the
Economic Development Act 1968, the Incentives for
Job Makers [Programme] allows companies to apply
for and obtain the concession of having their senior
executives exempt from needing a work permit. These
are persons responsible for the continued presence of
jobs for Bermudians in Bermuda. Successful applicants are exempt from needing a work permit, and
their family is granted permission to reside with them.
In 2024/25, the Incentives for Job Makers
Programme earned the Government $400,000 in rev678 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly enues, reflective of 20 successful exemption applications. This represents a slight increase in successful
applications from the previous fiscal year.
Looking into the next fiscal year, 2025/26, the
EDD remains committed to promptly processing appli-cations for Incentives for Job Makers. The EDD has
engaged with stakeholders to update and enhance the
efficiency of the process, aiming to reduce the processing time for each application.
Madam Chairman, the Alien Land Licensing
Programme, as detailed in Part VI of the Bermuda Immigration Act 1956, aims to protect land in Bermuda for ownership of persons who possess Bermudian
status by —
a) requiring restricted persons to have licences to hold or acquire land in Bermuda and preventing them from appropriating it;
b) requiring trustees to have licences to hold or
acquire land in Bermuda for the benefit of restricted persons and preventing them from
appropriating it; and,
c) preventing corporations from acquiring or
holding land in Bermuda, unless they do so in
accordance with legislation.
The Alien Land Licensing Programme includes applications by restricted persons to hold or
acquire land in Bermuda, to let their Bermudian properties, to take a mortgage or charge on land, as well as to apply for deferral certificates.
In 2024/25, the Alien Land Licence Programme earned the Government over $350,000 in application fee [revenues] reflective of 159 Land Licence applications received. Additionally, the Programme earned over $5.7 million in 44 landholding charges received.

Manpower

Hon. Jason Hayward: When we look at the staffing
of the Economic Development Department, Madam
Chairman, the department is comprised of seven full -
time posts, which is one Director, one Administrative Assistant, one Senior Officer, one Senior Development Analyst, one Analyst, one Senior Regulatory Analyst, and one Concierge

Performance Measures by Business Unit
Programme 9404—Research and Legislative Support

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, during the
year, the EDD made substantive progress in strengthening Bermuda’s Family Office Solutions Framework,
collaborating with the Ministry of Economy and Labour
HQ, the Ministry of Finance, the Bermuda Monetary
Authority, the Registrar of Companies, and key indus-try stakeholders. The framework is to offer comprehensive support for ultrahigh- net-worth families, en-suring asset protection, legacy preservation, flexible governance, and integrated lifestyle services.
This initiative underscores Bermuda’s commitment to providing a stable, compliant, and competitive environment for family offices, reinforcing the Is-land’s appeal to international investors.
The EDD also contributed to Bermuda’s legislative modernisation efforts, and specifically to the passage of the Companies and Limited Liability Company Amendment Act 2024, which removes the requirement for ministerial consent for leasing property for employee accommodations. This reform streamlines business operations while maintaining Bermuda’s regulatory integrity. Additionally, ongoing work
includes the introduction of public benefit companies
and the simplification of private trust company regulations, as well as easing administrative burdens, further enhancing Bermuda’s attractiveness as an investment
jurisdiction.
Key legislative changes include the Trusts
Exemption Amendment Order, which simplifies the
regulatory requirements for Private Trust Companies
by eliminating the need for Ministerial consent when
adding trusts. Furthermore, the EDD supported the
Government’s review of industry -proposed amendments to Bermuda’s Trustee Act 1975, which would allow trustees to align investment strategies with con-temporary family values, including responsible and
sustainable investing. This review is ongoing. The upcoming Benefit Entities Bill to support the introduction
of public benefit companies is another forwardthinking initiative designed to facilitate impact -driven
corporate structures, enabling businesses to achieve
financial returns while delivering positive social and
environmental outcomes.
Madam Chairman, in 2025/26, the EDD will
continue advancing key legislative efforts, including the Family Office Solutions Framework and the rollout
of the Maritime Business Permitting System. In the
future, these Research and Legislative Support performance measures will be rolled into those of the
next programme, Analysis and Policy.

Programme 9403— Analysis and Policy

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, over the
past fiscal year, the department’s Analysis and Policy
Division has primarily focused on engaging with the
community, composed of employers, investors, part-ners, educators, as well as learners, primarily in the
various fields of emerging technology.
1. Publishing Articles and Editorial Content.
Once again, the EDD exceeded its target for
this performance measure by making more
enhanced use of its social media channels and other tools. The department uses both
traditional media and social media throughout
the year to keep the public informed of its
work, aware of its initiatives and projects, and


Bermuda House of Assembly invited to benefit from its offerings. It also uses well- known magazines and journals to increase awareness of its activities. Looking ahead, the EDD plans to continue sharing updates with the various media outlets so the public can stay informed about its efforts and
accomplishments.
2. [Completing Stakeholder Engagement Initiatives.] The EDD continues to support innovation and workforce development through strategic collaborations that extend to digital liter-acy, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and
emerging technologies. The EDD advances
local talent and positions Bermuda as a global
hub for technology and innovation.
a. Cybersecurity 101. The EDD awarded a grant to cover hacking techniques, malware, and defence strategies
through hands -on training. Plans for
future sessions are underway.
And so, what I am doing right now, Madam
Chairman, is just highlighting the initiatives that the
Economic Development Department has actually exe-cuted on as it pertains to capacity building through
stakeholder engagement enforcing strategic partner-ships. And so, you can see that we have executed on
cybersecurity training with CyberSmarts pilot. We also
support the Annual Business Awards in the technology category through the BDC . The E DD funded three
innovations sprints , which include projects like Genomics [NFT] and Digital [Medical] Twin . We also assisted with the funding of the Technology Leadership
Forum and with summer internship. We initiate community offerings and skill and capacity development activities such as the FinTech T raining Programme .
We run monthly FinTech webinars .
And also, the E DD was very instrumental in
the Bermuda Coders I nitiative. The Bermuda Coders
Initiative is a three- year programme that offers free
digital skills for all residents. It was launched with
support from the UAE and through it, participants can earn certifications and enhance Bermuda’s techreadiness and workforce development goals.
Looking ahead to the 2025/26 fiscal year, the
EDD remains focused on delivering ongoing business services initiatives and projects. This includes continued support for the growth of emerging sectors. The
department is also committed to boosting and promoting the value of Bermuda -based talent —highlighting
the skills, experience, and professional networks that
[local] workers bring to incoming investors and employers.
I think what is important is that we make the
appropriate connection between the way in which the world is evolving in technology and ensuring that we
invest in the human capital so that we have inclusive growth in Bermuda. What we do not want to see is we
have emerging sectors, we have emerging use of
technology, and we do not see the equal integration of the human capital development in our community.
And so what EDD is doing is striking an appropriate
balance in terms of promoting new industry, promoting
the utilisation of technology but also ensuring that we
invest in the people of Bermuda to bring them along
the journey with us.

Programme 9405—Concierge and Engagement

Hon. Jason Hayward: The EDD’s Concierge and
Engagement Services Division provides assistance to
international businesses that choose Bermuda as their
preferred jurisdiction to domicile. The services provided benefit the overall economy by allowing the efficient inward flow of investment into Bermuda. And
that is an important feature of the value proposition of
Bermuda. When persons are looking for places to
domicile they are also looking for soft landings and the
EDD is well poised to provide the support to ensure
that the person gets the personal services that they
require, that they can engage in an efficient and effective manner with government departments that they
require, as well as ensuring that the capital that they
wish to invest in Bermuda goes directly into the corporate structure that they set up as well. So, kudos to
the EDD for the work that is being done in that particular area.
I think it is important to recognise that there is
high demand for companies to domicile in Bermuda. If
you look at the statistics that the BMA puts out, you
will see that there is an increase in licensing in a
number of categories. And so, there are companies
that are still seeking to domicile in Bermuda. We are held in high esteem as it pertains to our regulatory
environment, especially in the area of digital assets.
And there are a number of companies who are looking
to domicile in Bermuda as well. As those companies
are seeking Bermuda, they are also seeking clarity on
the process of having boots on the ground and the
EDD plays a very significant role in bridging that particular gap.
Madam Chairman, by streamlining and expediting government processes, the EDD helps shorten
the time it takes for new companies to set up and start
operating in Bermuda which allows for faster job crea-tion and revenue generation—and that is the aim of
that concierge service—to ensure that the capital is
put to work in a very efficient and effective manner.
Madam Chairman, I invite Honourable Members to note these initiatives are a testament to Ber-muda’s ongoing activities as it pertains to economic
diversification. The EDD is responsible for ensuring
that we have full execution of the items within the
Economic Development Strategy .
I would like to let the Shadow Minister know
that my team is currently working on reports for the
first strategic priority areas underneath the Economic
Investment Strategy. We will clearly outline the progress that is being made in that particular space. And
680 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly so, if he wants to reserve questions regarding that, I
will defer those to when those reports are submitted. It
is my aim to submit those reports in this House, in this
particular session, on an ongoing basis.
But what we want to do is ensure that they are
presented in a clear manner. What I just don't want to
do is just highlight 50 initiatives that we are executing
on. What I want to do is put it in an organised manner
so that persons know how the strategic initiatives in
the Economic Development Strategy are actually being executed on in an individual level and that the work that we are doing directly aligns with that particular initiative as well.

BERMUDA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION (BEDC)

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, it gives me
great pleasure to present the budget for the Bermuda
Economic Development Corporation, a quango under
the Ministry of Economy and Labour. The grant, through the Economic Development Department, can
be found on page C -19 of the Budget Book.
Madam Chairman, t he mandate of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) is
to oversee the operations of the Economic Empowerment Zones (EEZs), to provide financial support and
technical advice to small - and medium- sized businesses, to manage the operations of outside vendor
markets, and to managing vendors and issuing vending licen ces. The organisation’s key objective remains
to assist the Government in encouraging economic
growth for Bermuda’s local small - and medium- sized
businesses.

Expenditure Overview

Hon. Jason Hayward: A total of $2,238,752 has been
allocated as a grant for this quango for 2025/26, which
represents no increase from the previous year.
The total current expenditure for the BEDC is
estimated to be $5,344,000 —
[Pause]

Is that correct, Minister?

Hon. Jason Hayward: No, no. What happens is . . .
it's a number that is written and the wording of that number. And so, I thought I would cheat and just read the wording of the number, and the word number is
actually not correct. And so that messed me up a bit.
So, I'll go ahead and just read the actual number —

Okay.

Hon. Jason Hayward: —which is $5,344,252.

[Pause] Hon. Jason Hayward: So overall, that is just is a decrease of $421 million, or 7 per cent, compared to
2024/25. This decrease is due primarily to the reduction in anticipated revenues as there will be no increase in the Government grant, there will be less car-ryover funds from 2024/25, and revenues from fees
for services will be less.

Capital Expenditure

Hon. Jason Hayward: The BEDC has carried over
$2,000,000 into 2025/26 for major capital investment
projects and initiatives aligned with the Government’s
Economic Recovery Plan and economic development
goals. Specifically, investment in the development of
the Vertical Farm project to facilitate food security,
lower food cost, develop farm co- ops, and create jobs
in a newly evolved area of the agriculture industry.

Manpower

Hon. Jason Hayward: For all it achieves, the BEDC
is a relatively small and agile organisation. There is a
staffing complement of 18 [full -time posts].
I think what is most impressive about BEDC is
the work that it actually does. If you are a small - or
medium- sized business in Bermuda, there is no doubt
that you are well aware of the services of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation. And if you
were not aware, I would like to highlight some of the
services that they do provide. But when we look at
business advisement and engagement, the BEDC
conducted over 625 client meetings in 2024/25 provid-ing confidential business advice tailored to entrepreneurial needs.
This is important to note. When we look at
625 client meetings in 2025, we talk about the number of engagement and touch points with Bermuda ’s actual entrepreneurs. These services received a 92 per
cent satisfaction rating from exit surveys. In addition,
219 business visits were conducted in 2024/25
through weekly walkabouts within the EEZs enhancing support for local enterprises and promoting connectivity. Twelve businesses opened in the EEZs
bringing 21 jobs to the market.
And so, I think it's important when we look at
this, there is a great appetite for entrepreneurship and
small business development that we ought to continue
to highlight. Without getting into the weeds of debate about doom and gloom, I want to say that the numbers actually reflect that there is great interest in expanding business offerings in Bermuda. There is confidence in our economy and persons are seeking out assistance for their ideas.
What we want to do is ensure that we have
our entrepreneurship ecosystem that supports our
budding entrepreneurs, and that is the work that the
BEDC is primarily doing. When we talk about 12 businesses opened up in EEZs, we are talking about 12


Bermuda House of Assembly businesses in either the small Somerset village area
in the town of St. George's, or we are talking about in
North East Hamilton, and 21 new additional jobs created. I think that is a testament to the work that is
done to strengthen support for persons in those areas. But that is only a fraction of the jobs that are created
outside of our economic empowerment zones.
The BEDC has provided financial support and
approved 24 microloans, providing $687,000 in financing to local micro- , small - and medium- sized enterprises. BEDC also supported clients and maintaining
financial stability while managing its loan portfolio.
And so, the BEDC just doesn't issue loans to our entrepreneurs, they also provide ongoing support. And
so, it's kind of our nurturing environment.
I had the pleasure of touring Economic Development corporations in the East Coast of the United States and the majority of the small businesses that
start up in those citizen states survive as a result of
incubator and accelerator programmes providing the
necessary support. And I think that this is what we're talking about. When we have a support of entrepreneurship ecosystem, we are talking about these things
sometimes in the microloans and the additional support that organisations like the BEDC provide.
In 2024/25, the BEDC received 733 payments
on microloans and interest totalling $531,000 which includes 35 business owners paying off their loans fully to BEDC.
So, what does that tell us, Madam Chairman?
That actually tells us that persons are being support-ed. They are in a position where they're paying back
their loans and we had 35 businesses who would
have obtained loans from the BEDC, whose loans are fully paid off in the last fiscal period. And so that kind
of talks to a testament of the business survival in Bermuda.
We would hear stories that businesses are
closing down on an ongoing rate, but what we see is that persons are able to make their financial obligations and also to the extent where they pay off their
loans as well. I think what's also important is that the
BEDC continues to increase the membership on its
business register. And its membership on its business register increased by 333 entrepreneurs or 15.4 per
cent in 2024/25 and it currently has a total registration
of 2,528 registrants.
Madam Chairman, 72 per cent of the new
members identify as sole proprietors and 15 [per cent]
as vendors, and 62 [per cent] were registered as starting a new business. So, 62 per cent of the 333 new
business registrants were starting a new business. That is well over 150 new small - and medium- sized
businesses that have been started in Bermuda in
2024/25. I think that is encouraging. It shows a level of
resilience, but it shows that Bermuda does have an entrepreneurship spirit, and we need to find better
ways of unlocking the potential that the residents of
Bermuda actually have. But I believe that these num-bers are a clear testament that there is confidence in
the economy and persons are opening up business
and they are seeking support to do so.

If I could be excused for just a second, Minister.
We are currently at 12:27 pm. The house
normally breaks for lunch at 12:30 pm. I don't know
whether you want to move on to the next heading or
you've got some of this you want to continue or . . . I
just wanted to make you aware of the time.

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, what I will
do is I will ask for us to break for lunch and when we
return from lunch, I will finish this head, which would
include the BEDC and the BDA. I will have one final
head to produce and then we can engage in meaning-ful debate with the Opposition thereafter.

Thank you, Minister.
The Honourable Minister has made a motion
that we break for lunch.
Any objections? If not, the House is adjourned
until 2:00 pm.

Proceedings in Committee s uspended at 12:28 pm

Proceedings in Committee resumed at 2:0 1 pm

[Mr. Christopher Famous, Chairman]

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY

ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE
FOR THE YEAR 2025/26

[Continuation thereof ]

Good afternoon to the Honourable
Members and listening audience. We are now in the
Committee of Supply for the further consideration of
Estimates and Revenue and Expenditure for the year
2025/26, the Ministry of Economy and Labour.
The Honourable Jason Hayward, shall now
proceed.

HEAD 94— ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT
[Continued]

2024/25 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Chairman, before the
lunch break, I was highlighting the accomplishments
of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation,
or organisation, which champions economic growth
and the entrepreneurial spirit in Bermuda. I was high-lighting the expansion of businesses which were seek682 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly ing their services and the level of support that they
actually provide.
I do want to add that in the Economic Empowerment Zones [EZZ] the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation has facilitated the progress of
potential residential and mixed- use developments in
the newly established South East Hamilton EEZ, as well as in the EEZs in Somerset, St. George’s and
North East Hamilton. This is happening underneath
the remit of the [Urban] Development Authority, a
body that was developed to attract investment in
those zones. Certainly, what we are aiming to do is
ensure that we have an increase in our housing inventories, and we want to incentivise investment in our
Economic Empowerment Zones so that they can be
vibrant communities.
The BEDC continues to support community
events and markets throughout the Island. On average there w ere roughly around 40 vendors and 1,000
attendees , when we start to talk about the Court
Street vendors markets that were put on, as well as
other vendor programmes and markets that were put
on throughout the Island. We see over 100 businesses at times participating in these particular events . So,
there are alternative types of businesses outside of
brick and mortars , and we do have a large, active ,
vibrant vendor population within Bermuda.
A programme that I am extremely proud about
is the Enterprise Bermuda Incubator and Accelerator .
This flagship programme nurtured 22 entrepreneurs in
2024 delivering intense one- on-one mentorship training and resources .
Mr. Chairman , earlier I spoke about the valuable contributions that incubators and accelerators make in the survival of small businesses and how they
nurture and unlock the entrepreneurial spirit that exists within our economy . BEDC also offer ed four-week
courses in 2024/25. There were 96 participants who
took courses on Entrepreneurship 101, M indset 101,
and QuickBooks 101. BEDC also held 11 seminars
and webinars with over 500 participants equipping
entrepreneurs with the skillsets for business success .
Again, these numbers indicate that there is a robust
pipeline of persons seeking to expand their entrepreneurial endeavou rs in Bermuda.
BEDC also looks to inspire the future, and the
Youth Outreach [programme] is something that is also
commendable . In 2024 /25 the B EDC engaged with
over 930 students in both private and public sector organi sations . Program mes at Warwick Academy and
Dellwood Middle School introduced “Kidpreneurs” to
foundation al concepts includ ing business planning
[and] e ntrepreneurial mindset . We also ha d participation at various career fairs such as the Berkeley C areer Fair and “Wave of Opportunity Pitch Competition”
finals which had 225 attendees .
In the BEDC they continue to ensure that they
have the appropriate exposure to international experiences , allowing companies to scale beyond Bermuda shores. We also put workshops on to support the development initiatives within our local sports clubs . We
had a scheme where we looked to utili se underutili sed
commercial kitchens for small business owners so
that they can have a cost -effective culinary space.
And that will foster the growth and innovation of their
particular businesses . [That also included ] subleasing
kitchens to entrepreneurs . And those entrepreneurs
generated $42,500 in revenue in 2024/ 25.
The Economic Development Corporation also
has a “ Mind Your Business ” radio programme with
over 500 hours of content reaching 3, 364 view ers on
their platform. We continue to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week, and in 2024 we engaged with
1,100 entrepreneurs and stakeholders . We've also
extended strategic partnerships . That was all the work
that we've done in the previous fiscal period.
Mr. Chairman, in the 2025/ 26 fiscal period, w e
will develop a robust National Entrepreneurship Strategy for Bermuda. W e believe that entrepreneurship is
one of the most important drivers of job creation and
economic growth. It is crucial that we develop vibrant ,
formal , small and medium -sized businesses in Bermuda . And I think that the energy we are going to
place on developing and executing a N ational Entrepreneurship Strategy will demonstrate that this G overnment has [set] out its priorities clear ly as it pertains
to the support that we're going to provide for entrepreneurs .
We are also mandated with executing cooperative legislation as an alternative to traditional busi-ness models , but cooperative business models are
business models that are used effectively worldwide.
There are cooperatives in almost every industrial section. I think when we look at cooperatives in Bermuda,
we look at it from a shallow standpoint in terms of we
look at a cooperative grocery store. But there are a
number of cooperatives that you can have in almost
every industrial sector . It can also help with our housing inventory , if people want to come together in a
cost-effective way and have housing cooperatives and
things of that nature. B ut what we want to do is we
want to ensure that we have the proper framework in
place for persons who want to engage in cooperative
activity to effectively execute on those ideas .
We have worked to streamline the registration
process for entrepreneurs , so this is what we will be
moving forward with in 2025/26, making it easier for
persons to register as an entrepreneur and move from a concept stage into the actual execution of their business plan.
And it should come as no surprise that the
BEDC is currently partnering with an organi sation for
large- scale vertical farming in Bermuda. W e want to
ensure that we utili se technology and innovation in our
agricultural sector . We want to ensure that we have
options for greater levels of domestic food security .
We see a shrinking agricultural sector on an ongoing
basis . That is a trend that we do not want to see conBermuda House of Assembly tinue . We want to maximi se our capacity to ensure
that we have a stable and sustainable food supply .
The large -scale vertical farm is only one element of
utilising technology and agriculture . That is part of a
greater integrated agricultural strategy .
But in conclusion, Mr. Chairman, I think it is
clear for all to see that based off of the budget that
was actually provided to BEDC they have done a
phenomenal job with the work they have actually executed on. BE DC's initiatives to empower entrepreneurs and revitalis e communities has contributed significantly to Bermuda’s economic resilience throughout 2024/25. BEDC has demonstrated unwavering
commitment to innovation inclusiveness and growth .
The team is led by the Executive Director Erica Smith.
And I believe that this department is truly poised to
drive greater impact in 2025/ 26, building on the successes that we have seen in 2024/25. I think this
House can collectively agree that the work that B EDC
is doing is money well spent .
This ends my presentation of the Bermuda
Economic Development Corporation, but I'll move on
to the next .

BERMUDA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Hon. Jason Hayward: The Bermuda Business Development Agency [BDA] transitioned into an I nvestment Promotion Agency . They have been allocated a
budget of $4,230,000, and that can be found on page
C-19 in the Budget Book. The BDA was founded i n
April 2013. I t was designed to operate independently
as a private- public partnership dedicated to driving
inward investment and supporting sustainable growth
for Bermuda. T hey have a number of flagship events
that they host domestically on a yearly basis that we
can certainly see the promotion of brand Bermuda
and expose international guests to our value proposition.
But I would like to highlight more specifically
some of the work that they will be doing in 20 25/26
and some of the work that they will be . . . that they
executed in 2024. U nder the enhanced IP A [Investment Promotion Agency ] framework the BDA has
adopted a data- driven approach to prioriti se specific
markets and sectors where Bermuda holds distinct
competitive advantages with a particular focus on the
United States , Canada and the UK , the BDA is actively advancing five key pillars :
• High-Net-Worth (HNW) Services : Which includes the Economic Investment Residential
Certificate, Family Offices and Trust .
• Technology: Which includes D igital Assets,
Insurtech/FinTech, Regulatory Sandboxes,
and Compliance.
• Financial Services: Which includes Asset
Management, Hedge Funds, Insurance- linked
Securities (ILS), and Fund Administration. • Insurance & Risk: Which includes Reinsurance, Captives, Climate Risk Solutions, a nd
Life and Annuity Products
• Infrastructure: Where we can see greater emphasis on h otel development, housing, subsea cable projects, and space and s atellite
ventures .
By focusing on these prior ity sectors and key
international markets , the BDA is positioning Bermuda
to attract high- quality investment that directly supports
the Island ’s broader economic development goals .
This approach enables the BD A to channel resources
towards the most promising opportunities , fostering
innovation, stimulating job creation, and enhancing
Bermuda ’s global competitiveness . By aligning its efforts with clearly defined pillars , the BDA is not only
diversifying the economy but also strengthening its
resilience ensuring long- term sustainable growth that
benefits businesses , residents and the wider community.
Mr. Chairman, as articulated the BDA has
transition to an investment promotion agency . This
transition marks a significant step forward in how
Bermuda attracts, supports and retains investment . In
2024 , the BDA completed Phase 1 of this transformation w hich focused on strengthening its internal
foundation. T his included a detailed benchmarking
analysis to assess Bermuda’s global position , a review of key industries to identify growth opportunities ,
enhancement to our organi sational structure, and upgrades to our data system and customer relation management tools to improve investor engagement .
The BDA is now progressing through Phases
2 and 3 advancing in parallel . In Phase 2 they are focused on building the tools , technology and team to
support a more proactive and competitive investment
strategy . Staff have participated in target training and
development initiatives . Phase 3 centres on the implementation using refined market data to guide outreach, deepening engagement in priority markets and
embedding a performance- led approach across functions . The transformation reflects our commitment to
delivering measurable outcomes enhancing Bermuda’s global competitiveness and securing sustainable ,
long-term economic growth .
Mr. Chairman, while the BDA transitions to an
Investment Promotion Agency it has been busy also
focusing on the key strategic focuses of the previous year. And I don't believe that we've seen a compromise in the capabilities of the organi sation as it has
gone through its transition.
And as a result , they have a long list of key
achievements for 2024/25 fiscal period . [These
achievements were:]

Economic Investment Residential
Certificate Programme (EIRC)

684 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly • We saw the Economic Investment Certificate
Programme surpass the $500 million in direct
and associated investment mark.
• We attracted high- net-worth individuals
through a streamlined concierge- style process.
• Supported economic growth via investment in
real estate infrastructure and job creation.

Google’s Nuvem Subsea Cable

• The BDA played an instrumental role in securing Google’s new transatlantic cable connecting Portugal, Bermuda, and the United States.
• Supported the development of Bermuda’s
submarine cable legislation and global digital
infrastructure.
• Enhanced Bermuda’s connectivity, supporting
FinTech, Digital Assets, and innovation- driven
investment.
And so, it is one where the initial investment is
from the company but then there is also the subsequent value- added from that where we see the rest of
the country and the rest of our business community able to capitalise off of that.

Bermuda Risk Summit 2024

Hon. Jason Hayward: They continued to host the
Bermuda Risk Summit 2024 which is actually a flagship event of the BDA . That continues to have direct
economic impact, and they estimate around $2.5 million of direct economic impact . But then what we do is
we have ongoing impact in terms of companies who
are seeking to domicile in Bermuda, having a better
understanding of B ermuda's business ecosystem,
having a better understanding of Bermuda's value
proposition, and coming to the decision that they may
want to domicile their company in Bermuda to take
advantage of our regulatory environment , to take advantage of our very sophisticated business environment , our legal system, as well as operating in a safe ,
secure, politically stable jurisdiction .

London and Middle East Business Development Tour

Hon. Jason Hayward: The BDA continued his work
in London and the Middle East in terms of develop-ment .

WAIPA Membership
Hon. Jason Hayward: And they also joined the World
Association of Investment Promotion Agencies [WAIPA] which ensures that they keep up with global best
practice standards .

Trust Law Reform
Hon. Jason Hayward: There is work in trust and law
reform as well as global business development and stakeholder arrangements and a number of events
throughout the world . This department has been extremely active, and I'm pleased with the work that is
actually being executed by this particular agency .
From an economic development standpoint what you
have seen me layout is a comprehensive and robust
set of activities that improve our business environments , seek to attract investors , but also leads to ongoing continued growth and development .

Global Business Development
and Stakeholder Engagement
Hon. Jason Hayward: When we have a business
sector that is expanding, I think the proof is in the
pudding as it pertains to the G overnment's investment
in economic development agencies that lead to us chang ing laws and also us having companies aware
of what Bermuda has to offer and landing those companies on our shores .
There are some who support the notion that
somehow economic development happens on its own
without any intervention by the Government and as a
result there should be no credit from the Government
taken in those particular spaces . But that couldn’t be
farther from the truth. T he truth is we have dedicated
agencies which are set up to support economic
growth, economic development , the retention and the
expansion of industry in Bermuda.
These achievements reflect the BD As unwavering commitment to driving strategic sustainable
growth for Bermuda. A nd I would like to thank the
team of the BDA , led by the M anaging Director
Kendaree Burgess, for their commitment to advanc ing
Bermuda's future.
Mr. Chairman, this ends my presentation on
Head 94, E conomic Development Department .

Oh, you have got another head .

HEAD 99 —LABOUR

Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Chairman, I will now present Head 99, Labour.



Bermuda House of Assembly The Chairman: Okay.

Hon. Jason Hayward: This can be found on pages B -
198 through B -200 of the E stimates of R evenue and
Expenditure.
Mr. Chairman, the mandate of the Department
of Labou r is, To provide services to support and foster
positive employment relations and harmonious indus-trial relations within Bermuda in alignment with international best practices .
A total of $1,199,258 has been allocated for
this head, which represents a reduction of $72,650
from the previous year . This head constitutes 4.35 per
cent of the total budget allocated in the Ministry. T his
change is primarily due to a reduction in funds allo-cated for staff and accommodation rentals for the department . It is anticipated that the department will be
fully staffed in the second quarter of the financial year
resulting in the reduced salary allotment and accommodations rental funds required for the full complement of staff . And so that basically says , Mr. Chairman, that we have prorated the funds so that we anticipate scaling up and we recogni se that we did not
need the total amount of funds for the entire fiscal period.
Mr. Chairman, the budget allocated for the
Department of Labo ur provides for operational oversight that guides the Labour Relations Officers and
the Labour Inspectors to ensure that existing policies
and procedures are adhered to and that the depart-ment ’s operations are aligned with the current legal
framework and international best practices . Currently
the department oversees the certification and decertification of unions in the workplace, investigates and
conciliates employment , labour and wage- related
complaints , in both the private and public sectors ,
while also ensuring the statutory minimum hourly
wage rate.
The department promotes dispute resolution
and prevention as well as employee engagement
management by offering free and unbiased training
and workshop opportunities on its own and in conjunction with other Government departments, quangos
and private organi sations such as the Department of
Workforce Development, the Human Rights Commis-sion, the Bermuda Health Council and the Women’s
Resource Centre.
The department also provides guidance and
conciliation services regarding various employment
matters from the receipt of an employment or mini-mum wage complaint through to the settlement or referral of the same to the Employment and Labour Relations Tribunal.
Mr. Chairman, the department is continuously
reviewing ways to strengthen wage protections and
recently made changes to the Employment Act 2000 to increase the [ severance] allowance for long- serving
employees from 26 weeks wages to 32 weeks wages.
Further amendments to the Act were also made to safeguard the leave entitlement of employees who
receive the minimum hourly wage rate as a part of
their wages.
Mr. Chairman, $130,000 is allocated to the
operation of the Employment and Labour Relations
Tribunal which is responsible for the hearing and adjudication of unresolved employment and labour -
related disputes. These funds are also allocated for
the use of the Employment and Labour Relations Tribunal to defend against judicial review proceedings
should the need arise.
The department has allocated $16,600 for the
continued training of current staff and the training of
new staff in dispute resolution and the labour inspection which may consist of overseas, virtual and local vendor training. The d epartment aims to utilise such
training to resolve matters through conciliation and
reduce the number of complaints referred to the Employment and Labour Relations Tribunal for adjudication, improve legislative compliance and strengthen
harmonious industrial relations.
As we look at Manpower, t he department currently has an establishment of 10 full-time equivalents
which consists of the Director of Labour , the Labour
Relations Manager , Office Manager , three Labour Relations Officers , three Labour Relations Inspectors ,
and a Tribunal Coordinator.
With the transition from a s ection within Ministry Headquarters to a d epartment and the decrease in
the complement of staff from five substantive post holders to three in the 2024/25 budget year, the department has been working diligently with DEOD [Department of Employee and Organizational Development ] to recruit for the following positions: a Labour
Relations Manager, two Labour Relations Officers,
three Labour Relations [ Inspectors ] and one Tribunal
Coordinator. It is anticipated that recruitment for the
above- mentioned posts will be completed by August
2025.
And one would ask the question regarding the
reduction of staff, but we did also in that fiscal year have a number of individuals were seconded into the
Ministry of Labour to assist with our staffing complement so that we could continue to effectively execute
the work that needed to be executed on. So, while it was not mentioned in the full -time equivalents, I would
not want you to ask, How are we carrying out our
mandate with the reduction of staff? Because we did
get assistance from other departments to ensure that the Department of Labour remains staffed up so that it
could carry out its duties.

Performance Measures b y Business Unit

Hon. Jason Hayward: When we look at Performance
Measures, I am pleased to report the d epartment’s
breakdown of activity as follows:
There were 812 employee and wage- related
dispute inquiries lodged with the department . I am
686 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly going to repeat that, Mr. Chairman. There were 812
employee and wage- related dispute inquires lodged
with the department —638 were consultations and 174
were filed pursuant to the Employment Act 2000, the
Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 2021 and the Employment (Minimum Hourly Wage
Entitlement) Act 2022.
What that means is that people continue to
seek the services of the Department of Labour as it
pertains to their rights under the laws of Bermuda. We
will do a better job in the 2025/26 fiscal period to pro-mote worker’s rights so that they are abundantly clear
and their employers are abundantly clear. But we still
have 174 of those complaints or those inquiries that
led to those individuals filing disputes.
The Department of Labour provides a fundamental and critical role in assuring that the standards that are set out in our laws are maintained. I can’t underpin the importance of ensuring that we have the
necessary labour protections in place to protect the
workforce in Bermuda. We want to believe that we operate in a world where people will simply do the
right thing and that is not the case. We have laws in
place, and we have enforcement in place because we
find out that at times there is intervention required from the Government to support the workers of this
country. And by us indicating that we are even
strengthening the Ministry, the Department of Labour by number one, removing it from just a unit and giving
it its proper prestige as a department as well as ensuring that it has the appropriate staffing complement speaks to where the Government is investing in ensuring that the workers of Bermuda operate in a harmonious work environment but that their rights are actually protected and that they can get adjudication
in a timely manner for their complaints.
A further breakdown of complaints filed and
investigated by the department
• 81 pertaining to terminations;
• 30 pertaining to wages;
• 11 pertaining to constructive dismissals;
and
• 52 complaints regarding lay -offs, maternity leave, vacation pay, redundancy pay,
overtime pay, union certification and collective bargaining agreement procedures.

Plans for the Upcoming Year

Hon. Jason Hayward: In the upcoming year, Mr.
Chairman, t he department will continue to offer seminars, workshops and presentations to employer and
worker groups and individuals to broaden their understanding, reduce employment and wage- related complaints and ensure that they feel supported. To
achieve this the d epartment will continue its collaboration with partnered stakeholders and Government departments. The department will also continue to evaluate
the effects that legislative changes have had on the
working population and keep abreast of international
best practices to ensure that our national legislation is
up to date, and the protection of employee rights re-mains at the forefront.
And so, the Employment Act, [ Mr.] Chairman,
I view as a breathing document, a living, breathing document. And you should anticipate ongoing changes to the labour standards that support the workers of
Bermuda.
The department will continue to provide support to the Labour Advisory Council and the Wage
Commission, in its pursuit to recommend a living
wage for Bermuda.
The Department will continue to liaise with the
UK Office and keep abreast of the happenings within
the International Labour Organization to ensure compliance with the various c onventions and r ecommendations critical to the advancement of labour rights
within Bermuda.
The department will continue its close relationship with other Departments of Labour within the
Caribbean region through the exchange of ideas, information and experiences to promote innovation, accelerate problem- solving and boost productivity.
The Department of Labour will collaborate
with other relevant departments and stakeholders to
advance equal pay for equal work legislation and prioritis e policies related to raising the retirement age.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of the Department of Labour,
led by Director, Gabrielle Cann, as well as the mem-bers of the Employment and Labour [Relations ] Tribunal, for their hard work. As the Department of Labour
continues to provide excellent service to the people of
Bermuda and deliver in accordance with their mandate, their dedication to maintaining balance within the
world of work is noteworthy. Their commitment and
effectiveness necessitate the highest level of recognition.
Mr. Chairman, this ends my presentation on
Head 99, the Department of Labour. And with that I
conclude my presentation on the 2025/26 Budget of
the Ministry of Economy and Labour.
Thank you.

Thank you, Minister.
For the benefit of the listening public, we are
now in Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the
year 2025/26. Honourable Minister Jason Hayward
has finally concluded his presentation for the Ministry
of Economy and Labour.
And I now invite others to take the floor.
The Chair recognises the Honourable Vance
Campbell from constituency 9, Smith’s West.

No, but the brief was quite
comprehensive, and I have no problem in saying that.
I will ask some questions that were probably
already answered, but bear with me if that is the case.
In any event, I believe it is worth hearing the answer
again. It is extremely difficult to monitor your questions
and hear everything the Minister says, so in some in-stances, I only received . . . or managed to note part
of the answer.
So, I will begin on page B -172 with the Ministry of Economy and Labour Headquarters. I will start with the mission statement which says, To establish
effective policy that helps foster economic growth and
the expansion of jobs. My question is, How has the
number of people leaving Bermuda, i.e., emigration,
especially of Bermudians impacted the economic
growth and the expansion of jobs in the local econo-my, first and foremost, and (b) in the international
business area?
My second question is very similar, again, still
on page B -172, mission statement. It is very similar to
the first question, but if we can get some understand-ing as to how has the ageing population of Bermuda impacted economic growth and the expansion of jobs
(a) in the local economy and (b) in international business?
This is more of an observation than a question. I did note in objective number 4, on page B -172
the addition of the word “timely” in there. And I was
wondering if there was any consideration to add the word or words to the effect of “accuracy” as is located
in department objective number 6 on the same page.
We can move down to the General Summary
on page B -172. I did note, and it is a simple, it looks
as though the headings were not adjusted on that particular —

The Chair recognises the Minister
who is going to give clarity.
Hon. Jason Hayward: Yes, the Ministry did submit a
revised schedule with the corrected headings to the
Budget Office, and so that has been corrected. My
apologies. I do have it notated here that there needs to be changes in terms of the General Summary dates that are in the Budget Book.
So, when we approved the pages and the
heads, we just asked for the necessary amendments
to be approved as well.

Yes, I figured that was it. There
are a lot of pages in this book, so things will be missed. But the main thing is, I believe the numbers were correct underneath. We were able to figure that
out.
Moving down to the General Summary. This is
under business unit 54010. It says, Consumer Affairs.
It had a revised estimate for 2024/25 of $250,000. Am
I correct in . . . I thought I heard the Minister say that
this was in relation to the cost -of-living unit —I may not
have the exact name correct —that was transferred
briefly into the Ministry and out again.
If we can move to the Subjective Analysis on
page B -173, looking at Salaries. There is a reduction
of $65,000 with the total budget estimate of $575,000.
I missed the Minister’s explanation of this. So if he
doesn’t mind repeating that, it would be much appreciated. And I am not complaining when Government
reduces an expense, so don’t get me wrong. That is
not necessarily a bad thing.
The budget estimate for Travel, still on page
B-173, has an increase of $38,000 or 46 per cent. I
was just wondering, again, a breakdown as to why there is this anticipation of increased travel. We go
down to Communications, I am not exactly sure, I know a lot of times Communications is more than just
cell phone and landline for the company. But I see,
again, a decrease of $7,000 in this area. I am just
wondering if there was a simple explanation for that.
Again, not complaining when Government saves
money.
Again, if the Minister can provide the explanation, looking at Advertising and Promotion. There was
a 50 per cent reduction in that. There is a lot going on
in the Ministry Headquarters. I am not sure if a lot of the activity that rests outside of the Headquarters, but
within the Ministry is actually the promotion and adver-tisement of that is done at Headquarters, so an explanation for the reduction of 50 per cent in the Advertising and Promotion.
Professional Services on page B -173. This also dropped by $40,000 or 13 per cent from the
2024/25 original estimate. It is also $285,000 less
than the revised 2024/25 number. Was this as a result
of a contract reaching completion or was there an anticipation of engaging a consultant that did not happen? Or did not happen as early as it was anticipated?
If the Minister can advise, how many consultancy agreements, service contracts that the Headquarters has, and what they are for and the individual
688 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly value of each and what is the start and finish date of
each?
If we go down, still on page B -173, also a
question on the Consultancy Contracts and Service
Agreements. Are any of these included in budgeted salaries? I know that —

Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Chairman, if I can just ask
the Member to clarify that question. It is not clear on what is [being asked] as it pertains to whether or not
the consultancy funds allocated in the budget under Consultancy . . . Is the Member asking whether or not
it is also included under Salaries? Or whether or not
consultants are included under the Salaries line item?

Well, particularly, I am . . . the
scenario as it relates to that portion of the question,
that asks if anything is in Salaries, particularly, I am
thinking of a scenario where a consultant is hired specifically to fill a role because of an employee not being
onboarded or being out for whatever reason for a lengthy period of time.
Again, on page B -173, Materials and Supplies. My question around this is more what goes into Materials and Supplies. I tend to think of stationery and supplies. But there is also, it would seem no real
correlation to the number of employees and what
goes into Materials and Supplies, so just some clarifi-cation on that.
If we can look at some of the Performance
Measures, move on to page B -174. And I look at the
first thing under business unit 54060, the revised forecast for 2024/25 was moved down from 100 per cent
and this is percentage of Throne Speech initiatives
completed during the fiscal year. That was moved, the
revised anyway was moved, from 100 per cent to
60 [per cent]. And we are looking at 100 per cent.
Again, just asking, is that something that can be accomplished or is it slightly optimistic to believe that
100 per cent will be completed during the year?
And if I could back up one second to page B -
173, I would just like to know, as far employee numbers, how many of the anticipated five, or the estimated five FTEs are posts that are filled versus funded but unfilled, and are there any unfunded unfilled posts
in the Ministry Headquarters?
Back to the Performance Measures on page
B-174, again, under business unit 54060 Administration. I am looking at the Performance Measure that
states the variance approved, between approved es-timates and actual current account expenditure for the
Ministry of Labour, the original 2024/25 forecast was
plus or minus 5 per cent. The revised for 2024/25 was
plus or minus 10 per cent and the target outcome for
2025/26 is the plus or minus 10 per cent. I see this as
a relaxation of the target but, again, that is without
having intimate knowledge of what actually may have
or what portion of the expenditures in the Ministry are
prone to fluctuations that would warrant this shift. So if the Minister can provide some clarification on that it
would be much appreciated.
And moving to business unit 54210 Immigration Appeals Tribunal, there are two performance measures, percentage of tribunals held and number of immigration tribunals still outstanding at the end of the
period. I just need clarification from the Minister, is this
a target of just having three tribunals or anticipating
having three tribunals a year? Or is this actually three
tribunals that are anticipated to be held and completed?

Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Chairman.

Okay. I may be overthinking
this but under Percentage of the Tribunals Held, it
says 33 per cent and then the next performance
measure say Number of Immigration Tribunals still
Outstanding. So, if 33 per cent are held and two are
still outstanding, that would mean the total starting
with would have been three. But my question is, Is
that three actual tribunals or the anticipation of maybe
having three tribunals a year based on the needs or
the matters that are brought before the Ministry Headquarters? Does that help, Minister, to understand
that?

[No audible response.]

Yes, Minister.



Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Jason Hayward: If I can ask the Honourable
Member whether he wishes to do it head by head so
we can deal with these substantive questions on this
particular head before moving to the next head. This
will enable us to keep up with the questions, and it will also allow me to provide clarity on some of the questions he may have posed. I think it is just functional if
we can do it head by head. It allows us to better track
the questions and provide the clarity that the Honourable Member would like.

It is the Opposition’s debate, Member. You have one hour and five minutes.
Minister, do you wish to proceed with some
answers for this head?

Hon. Jason Hayward: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I thank the Honourable Member for his questions. When I look at the questions posed there
around our population numbers and how that impacts
the expansion of jobs, what I would say is [that] despite any notions regarding our population numbers,
the facts remain that Bermuda’s economy is continuing to grow year over year. When we look at the quarterly numbers, the economy continues to grow, and we do see an expansion of businesses and expansion
of jobs both in the domestic sector and what we would
consider to be international business. Overall, there
has been job growth, IB job growth is up. Unemployment is actually down. So, I do not believe that it is
having a significant impact on sustainability as it per-tains to that particular question.
The next was in reference to our ageing population. This Ministry has gone out in front of this and put out a position paper as it pertains to our ageing
population and the impacts it will have on our economy if not addressed. I would say an ageing population does have an impact on the sustainability of any
economy worldwide. You cannot detach the two. But
what I would say is that we haven’t seen signs of criti-cal trends heading in the wrong direction. And so we
still have economic growth which I believe is robust
and sustainable. We still have an increase of jobs.
What we are going to find is challenges regarding a labour shortage that we may have in work-force mirroring, which means matching the supply of
labour and the demand of labour within our economy.
The Ministry of Economy and Labour has also put out
a position paper regarding the retention of our local
workforce. And in that particular paper we talked
about skillset shortages and labour force shortages and so there will be a heavier requirement on expatriate labour to fill some of the jobs that exist within our
economy.
But the Ministry is also looking on retention
policies. How do we train persons who have turned
the age of 65 within our workplace? I don’t support the notion that once one turns the age of 65 they expire
from the workplace. And as a result, the Ministry is
looking at that. I do take note of the question, or the
comment the Honourable Member made regarding
timely and accurate. We can accept that the data we
put out should be timely and accurate. I think accurate
is a given in that particular sense. And we would not
want to just focus on the timeliness of the data. But it
is not a substitute for us not having accurate data, it
being timely. I think they run hand in hand. There is no . . . it makes very little sense to have timely data that
is not actually accurate. And that is something that I
do not support.
As it pertains to Consumer Affairs, up until
September 2024, well, from the previous September
2024 to February 2025, the section of Consumer Af-fairs was underneath the Ministry of Economy and
Labour. And that section would also receive supplemental funding in the mid- year review and the Minister
of Finance made additional allocations. As a result,
inclusive of the Cost of Living Commission would have
been all of the funds associated with the Consumer Affairs Department which now lies underneath another
Ministry.
The reduction of salaries in B -173, the reduction of $65,000 of the total budget. The decrease has
to do with the transition of a post to the new Department of Labour.
Under the line item on Head 44, under the object code description of Travel, the Honourable Member asked about travel activity. I would say that as the
Minister responsible for Economy and Labour part of my role and responsibility is to go out to the world and
promote Bermuda’s value proposition. Having a Minister as part of the delegation oftentimes has a greater
level of impact to those who are promoting Bermuda.
And they often aim to include the Minister for a number of reasons. Number one, to attract the top brass of
a company to be in the meetings that they actually are
requesting, but it also provides speaking engagements. And then we also want to expend economic
cooperation agreements with other nations around the
690 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly world. And so there will be a requirement for the Ministry of Economy and Labour to remain on the road.
The BDA has a full calendar of events as it
pertains to its action on the road. Not all of the events
require the attendance of the Minister, but there are events that require the Minister’s attendance. And
[this] also affords the Government speaking engagements in front of the right people at the right time. And
so, when we start to talk about expanding the Ministry
and competing, when we look at . . . we start to talk
about other jurisdictions, eating our food, they have
very aggressive strategies. And what we cannot do is
rest on our laurels and believe that everybody understands and knows Bermuda’s value proposition. So,
there is need for the Minister and staff, not just the
Minister, but staff within the Ministry of Economy and
Labour, to be on the road as well. And so that is why you see an increase in that particular travel budget.
We are able to better budget for travel now
than in previous years, the reason being is we have had proactive meetings with the BDA who now have laid out a full calendar of events in a timely manner
which would allow us to budget for those particular
events. Additional to that, if we have flagship events
where there is an expectation that the Minister at-tends, whether it be the RIMS Conference where
Bermuda still coins itself as the Risk capital of the
world, we want to move as it pertains to putting a
framework in place for our digital economy. We are
viewed highly in . . . as a well -regarded regulatory jurisdiction for digital asset companies.
If we move past the notion that this is an area
where it is populated with crypto fanatics, we now see
large- scale institutional investment going into digital
assets with reproval companies and reproval individuals associated with those companies. And so we are
competing with jurisdictions around the world. We are competing in the area of trust. We are competing in
the area of high- net-worth individuals. We want to be
extremely competitive to attract funds, the fund management businesses back to Bermuda. We were the
leaders of, or the inventors of the first Modern Captive. Bermuda had a marked position surpassed by
none in the captive industry, but what you have seen
is that position abate. And we cannot continue to allow
persons to, what we say, eat our lunch. And if we
want to ensure that we maintain our level of competitiveness, we need to be on the road.
And so, the Minister attends a fraction of
overseas engagements, but it is extremely useful for those who are promoting Bermuda as a jurisdiction to
have the Minister as part of the delegation, leading the
delegation at times and speaking directly with counterparts overseas for economic cooperation but also
being a front -facing ambassador and advocate for
Bermuda.
The Communications budget did decrease by
$7[,000]. But what you will see overall is that the
overall Ministry budget has decreased. And so, not-withstanding you see increases in some areas. They
had to be offset by decreases in other areas. And so,
this is a matter of prioritisation. And what we said is that we will lean on DCI and other agencies more for
communication where they have the capacity and the Ministry can draw down its budget in that particular
area and strengthen its budget in other areas, which I
just articulated, like travel.
The Honourable Member also highlighted the
reduction in Advertising and Promotion. And I think
that now that we have restructured BDA we can now lean on the BDA for heavier advertising and promotion. Where we had some challenges with that in the
past, I think that the Ministry had a desire to increase
our global impact and as a result we allocated funds
to ensure that we got Bermuda’s message out there.
Now that the BDA has transitioned into the Investment Promotion Agency then they can take on more of the
heavy lifting regarding advertising and promotion as
well as the Economic Development Department. I
would also like to say that the individual departments
have marketing and promotion budgets within their
departments as well and we will lean on those department budgets as much as we possibly can.
When we look at the Professional Services
decreasing by $40,000, this was another area in
which we determined that we were going to transition to ensure that we met the budget ceiling that was set
per Ministry. And we had allocated funds in that particular budget to do a full study regarding emigration.
That study has now been completed and so we do not
need funds to repeat that study again. I would say that
when you look at the Ministry’s consultancy budget and consultancy agreements and contracts, we had
none. What we did do is we set funds aside for where
we may need consultancy for legislative support. And
so, what we said is that we have a number of departments that may need consultancy in terms of broad
Throne Speech policy initiatives. And as a result of
that, instead of trying to determine which department
gets the funds, we said to ourselves, We will put in
place the consultancy funds in the Ministry to support
those Throne Speech items and then support the relative departments. And so Honourable Member Campbell, the Ministry of Economy and Labour does not
have any active consultancy contracts. I think that
may be music to your ears, as well, Mr. Chairman.

[Laughter]

For the benefit of the listening audience, the Honourable Minister Jason Hayward has
explained why his Ministry has reduced costs.
Continue, Minister.

Hon. Jason Hayward: The Honourable Member
asked what was included in the meagre $31,000 for Materials and Supplies. And so the department needs
to operate and that includes general stationery supBermuda House of Assembly plies, office supplies. In the olden days it may have
been used to purchase tea and crumpets for government departments, but we now have Keurig machines, and they support the pods that go into the particular machine but also water, printing, business cards, dishwashing liquids, the pens required for the
Minister to sign documents, the ink that goes into the
printers —
[Laughter]

Hon. Jason Hayward: I believed I looked into the
cabinet and there were trash bags that were purchased as well. And so those are the general items
that fall under office material but . . . I want to progress so I don’t take up too much time on this.
Also, when we look at the revised forecast in
the Performance Measures, when we look at Throne
Speech initiatives and you see 60 per cent, that was
60 per cent not because we didn’t believe we could
not execute on our Throne Speech initiatives but
some of these initiatives were shared with other ministries and departments. So, we can do our portion of
the work, but the Throne Speech initiative would not
be fully complete if it relied on the Ministry of Finance to execute on those particular items. We can now say
that where we have Throne Speech items that are
solely reliant on the Ministry of Economy and Labour, we have reviewed those items, and we can move that
benchmark to 100 per cent and we are confident that
we can execute on our particular items.
When we look at the variance of 10 per cent,
when we contracted the budget we said that we may
have reduced line items a little bit too much to meet the budget ceiling, Honourable Member Campbell,
and as a result this gives us greater flexibility to move money when required, understanding that the overall budget has been reduced. So I think it is a matter
where we tightened up our belt, but we are also allowing ourselves to effectively operate rather than tightening up our belt and then we cannot move money
where it may be required.
When we look at the Immigration Appeals Tribunals, which are actually outstanding, this is legacy items. The way in which I explained it is that you
would have had a person who made a complaint.
When we are trying to form a tribunal to adjudicate
that complaint, we cannot get in contact with the respondents. At times our respondent may or may not
have left the Island, or they have dropped the matter, notwithstanding that they made the complaint. And so,
we will try to work this year to close out those particular items and that is why you will not see two listed in
the 2025/26 outcomes.
All positions are funded and filled in the Ministry of Economy and Labour with the exception of one special advisor who is allowed for the Minister under
law. Mr. Chairman, I believe that is the answers to
the majority or all of the questions that were asked by
the Honourable Member and I will ask him to continue
on with questions for the remaining heads.

Okay. The Minister when
providing the explanation for Professional Services
indicated there was a study completed on emigration.
When can we expect to hear what those results are?
Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Chairman, I expect to table
a report in Parliament in this session explaining the results of the emigration study and making it clear the
factors which are considered when persons want to
leave the Island, for persons who have left the Island,
what were the driving factors around that, and from
their standpoint what is required to change in order to
entice them to return back to Bermuda as well.

Thank you, Minister.
I would like to move on to Head 14, Department of Statistics. I will start on page B -175, looking at
the Department Objectives. Please, Minister, forgive
my ignorance when it comes to statistical tools. But in
objective 1, it talks about utilising innovative digital
tools. And when I see the word innovative that means
something that is fairly recent to the market. Are we talking about a tool specifically designed? Or are we
just talking about using the modern technology
changes that we see on a regular basis when you talk
about these innovative tools? And if it is a specific set of tools related to statistical information, then has the
procurement process commenced and if so, do we
have any idea what they will cost? And in what way do
they improve accessibility to statistical data and infor-mation? And if we are not using these tools and we
are moving in that direction, will the transition to these
tools cause any delays or interruptions in the publishing of key statistical reports?
Still on page B -175, objective 2, I am not sure,
again, Data Quality Frameworks. The target says Ensure the collection, compilation and production of statistical outputs based on the most current international
statistical methodologies, standards and best practice
by using data quality frameworks by March 2026.
692 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Again, is that a specific set of data frameworks to the
Department of Statistics? And what are we using now
if the target is to use those by March of 2026? How
much would it cost? Again, will the transition to these
tools cause any delay in publishing key statistical re-ports?
So, if I could go down to objective number 4,
on page B -175, it talks about engage in targeted external and internal training and development to build
the statistical capacity required to sustain a highperforming department by March 2026. My question around that is, Have the training and development
needs already been identified? And I ask that question
in particular because the training budget on page B -
176 is the same as 2024/25 original. So there has been no increase in the training budget, but I see that
as . . . [objective] number 4, as one of the objectives.
So, I am just trying to relate to the budget being the
same and the need to . . . or the objective to increase
or have this targeted external and internal training.
If we could move down on page B -175 to the
General Summary, and I would also refer to page B -
176, the Full -Time Equivalents, business unit 24010,
Census and Special Surveys. This is classified under monthly to annual surveys. And we have an increase of $152,000 under business unit 24010 versus the
original 2024/25 budget. I am just wondering, again,
the Minister may have explained this, but I may have missed it. So, just an explanation for that increase of
$152,000.
Business unit 24015, the Administration. That
budget estimate is $204,000 more than the 2024/25
original. Is part of that due to the additional full -time
equivalent that is listed on page B -176? If not, what is
the reason?
Business unit 24020, Core Statistics and Publications. The budget estimate is $72,000 more than
the 2024/25 original. Again, an explanation from the
Minister would be great. Again, he may have mentioned this, as I said when I began.
We look down to business unit 24025, Core
Annual Surveys, and the budget estimate is $218,000
more and I believe the Minister mentioned that this was due to the salary uplift and a partially funded po-sition . If I could just get confirmation on that.
So, moving on to business unit 24055, where
the budget estimate of $551,000 is $4,000 less than the 2024/25 original. I believe, again, the Minister said
there was a shift in budget allocation that was partially
offset by salary uplifts. If the Minister can confirm that, that my understanding was correct.
And we go down to business unit 24065,
Household Expenditure, again remaining on page B -
175, under the General Summary. Household Ex-penditure Survey, the budget estimate is $174,000 or
118 per cent more than the 2024/25 original. Again,
confirmation that this is to do with the Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2024. And Professional . . . and the consultancy
contract related to that. Just a quick question for the
Minister, has this commenced? And when is the anticipated completion date?
If we could move to the Subjective Analysis
on page B -176, Salaries. We have a budgeted
amount for 2025/26 of $2,331,000 which is $388,000 or 20 per cent higher than the 2024/25 original. I believe the Minister said this is to do with the increase in the number of full -time equivalents and the uplift, a
combination of the two. I require confirmation on that.
I did have a question on the wages, but the
Minister explained that the budget amount of $139,000 for 2025/26 was to accommodate temporary
staff related to (I believe) the census or one of the
surveys. I am happy with that.
The Professional Services, the budgeted
amount is $515,000 versus $245,000 original 2024/25
budget. That is an increase of $270,000 or 110 per
cent. And if I am correct in my understanding, and I
just need confirmation from the Minister, this was to
do with the hire of individuals to conduct interviews.
No? Well then, I definitely would like clarification on
that.
Also, as I asked under the previous head, are
there any . . . what are the number of consultancy
agreements at the Department of Statistics? What is
each for? What is the value of each and what is the
start date and finish date of each?
We are still on page B -176, the Office Rental
is $161,000 which is the same as the previous year. I
would just like to ask the Minister if this space is a
shared space with other parts of the Ministry and if so, do the other parts of the Ministry share in the rent expense? I am just trying to determine how scattered the
different components of the Ministry might be.
Just moving on to page B -177 . . . sorry. Before we move on to page B -177, page B -176, did I
hear correctly when we are looking at the full -time
equivalents, I have a note here that there were nine
vacancies in the past year due to retirements. Is that
. . . did I hear correctly on that? How many of these
posts on page B -176, Employee Numbers, are filled
versus funded but unfilled? And are there any unfunded, unfilled positions in the Department of Statistics? Moving to Performance Measures on page B -
177, business unit 24010, Censuses and Special Surveys. Can the Minister explain why under Performance Measures for this business unit, if we look at business unit 24015, Administration, we have a performance measure of improved accessibility to statistical data through innovative digital tools, this has
been discontinued. There was a target of a 15 per
cent increase in 2023/24. I am just curious as to why
this is no longer a target. It would seem that you can
always increase accessibility, at least up to 100 per
cent.
In the next column, Raise the profile of the
department. Some of these are, obviously, if you are


Bermuda House of Assembly . . . some of the . . . the quantity of posts. I am just
wondering why in some of these instances there is
only post. Is it one post per month? Are these monthly
reports? Or monthly items that you are reporting on,
hence it makes sense for one per month? And the same, one per quarter, one per year, are these things
like the newsletter is one per year? Is that because
you only produce one newsletter a year? I am not
sure why it wouldn’t be more if you do produce the
newsletter, for example, more than one a year.
And I will pause there for now, Mr. Chairman,
so that Minister and his staff can respond.
Hon. Jason Hayward: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I thank the Honourable Member for his questions. When we look at the questions which were
asked, especially around Innovation and Consultancy, I can advise that the Department of Statistics does
utilise digital tools and certainly we have engagement
for consultants for the purpose of optimising the process for statistical outputs like the consumer price in-dex. While this process actually began in earnest in
2024/25 fiscal year, we have gone through a process
of robust tasking and verification in place to ensure
that there is no lapse in data outputs. And so we are doing . . . what we can do is a standard way of compiling data along with the digitised or the new way of utilising tools to ensure that there is accuracy. And additionally, utilising digitisation for the online census
that we seek to embark upon.
The Department of Statistics works under the
National Data Quality Assessment Framework, which
is a standardised metric of determining improving data
quality within statistical agencies. It comes at no cost, and it adds additional verification layers for publications to improve the efficiency. When we look at the training, the training budget does not have any in-crease. But when we look within where training actually emanates from, as an associate member of
CARICOM the department has access to the online
in-person training sessions. Some of these are free
while others are in- person. In the case where they are
in-person, the department benefits from a mixture of
funded opportunities and self -funded opportunities
and so we find that statistical officers are actually
sponsored to attend overseas training. And so, it is a
mixture, so not all of the training burden is placed on
the department by being an associate member of
CARICOM. We get to take advantage of the training
opportunities provided. We often engage in these training sessions across various areas and work programmes, at least one per month.
When we look at the business units, I just
want to confirm that most of the Honourable Member’s
assumptions were correct regarding the uplifts that he
actually stated. I will provide the clarity. So for busi-ness unit 24010, Censuses and [Special] Surveys, we
see that $152,000 has been allocated, which is an
increase. Most of that will be allocated towards tempo-rary staff for the conducting of the Census and Survey
information. When we start to look at business unit
24015, there is an increase of $204,000. The increase
is due to the public service increases, the salary uplift
and also partial funding of a statistical systems man-ager and additional funding to allocate to the senior
statistician position where the job review anticipates
an uplift. And so those are there . . .
I am going to jump to the targets and the
[Member] did ask about the one- monthly social media
post, one monthly messaging app, one quarterly
online notice and one annual newsletter. I will state
that we have exceeded those targets, and I did indicate that we did have 12 monthly social media posts,
12 monthly messages, one online notice per quarter,
and we did execute on the one newsletter.
When we look at the Core Statistics, there is
an increase of $72,000 and that is for the negotiated
salary uplift plus the conversion of a Census and Survey clerk position to statistical officer post.
And then when we look at the Core Annual
Survey, 24025 and the uplifts associated with that.
Yes, it has to do with the salary increases but also a
partially funded assistant statistician for the Census
and Survey clerk positions.
When we looked at the Census and Survey
research unit, we see a decrease of $4,000 but that is offset between what we would consider the budget
being transferred and salary increases and the negotiated salary uplift. In addition to that, we will also partially fund an assistant statistician, and we did have a
post conversion in that particular area.
And when we look at business unit 24065, the
Household Expenditure Survey was not due to tempo-rary staff but it was due to the professional services
for processing the 2024 Household Income and Expenditure Survey. So, we do need specialist assistance with the processing of the collected Household
Income and Expenditure Survey, and that is where
that line item, that increase . . . That satisfies two
questions in one, Honourable Member, as you did ask in terms of professional services, what was that uplift
associated with?
When we look at the Performance Measures
and the removal of the Performance Measures, the exercise that I asked the staff to actually go through is
identifying performance measures where they make
sense and whether or not performance measures
need to be removed. And so, we looked at the associ-ated goals and determined whether or not the performance measure made sense and in line with their
goal. It made sense not to just have performance
measures for performance measures sake. What you
now see is the beginning of a revision of performance
measures. Moving forward what you will actually find
is those actual performance measures you are going
to have revisions on an ongoing basis because the
performance measures will actually reflect not just
standardised performance measures but what is re694 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly quired to execute on the objectives that the department has set for that particular fiscal period.
I think I answered in terms of data quality and
assurance and that is just an ongoing exercise that we
do in terms of ensuring that we have incorporated in-ternational best practice. There was a specific question regarding contracts. We did have a management
service contract which was an internal contract. And it
was from the 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2023.
No, no, I’m sorry. The rent was paid to Gibbons Management Services Limited. That is a contract that we
do have for rent. The Department of Statistics is the
sole department in that particular office.
And then there is another contract which is
from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. That is an
$84,000 contract and that is to develop standardised
and streamlined solutions to automate and validate labour intensive processes. Like I said, in terms of the
CPI and other areas where we are looking to incorporate technology and that is with Info DaticsTech
There are currently 14 substantive staff and
five temporary additional staff. All vacancies are now due to retirements and others are due to officers pursuing other opportunities. So not all of those vacancies were as a result of retirement.
Some of those positions that we had were unfunded positions and now that we are open for re-cruitment, we are actually funding those positions, so you see the reverse. We did not have vacant, funded
positions that we didn’t utilise. We had vacant unfunded positions that are now funded.
Mr. Chairman, I think that answers the vast
majority of questions that were asked. I ask the Mem-ber to proceed with his questions.

Yes, Minister. Your brief would
have been quite helpful. I could have sent my question in advance, you know. Anyway, I do appreciate . . . we joke. But the
brief has been extremely comprehensive.
Moving on to Head 27, Immigration. We are
on page B -179, the mission statement. It says, Facilitate economic growth for the benefit of Bermudians,
residents and visitors while protecting Bermuda’s borders. I don’t see . . . and perhaps it is just hidden in
the language of the department objectives. I don’t see where there is an objective to facilitate economic
growth. Perhaps it is, like I said, hidden in the language as it refers to many enforcing and providing advice and that sort of language. Maybe it is hidden in
there rather than explicitly stated.
If I go to the General Summary, the business
unit 37010. For now, what I am going to do is skip
over to the Subjective Analysis on page B -180. Again,
let’s go to Professional Services. The budget estimate
for Professional Services is $236,000, a decrease of
$713,000, or 75 per cent. I believe the Minister said
this is as a result of the reduced need of consultants
who were hired to assist with the backlog in work
permits, or applications in general. I’m not sure which
one it was. If we could get clarification on that. And
what was the total sum of their contract? When did it
begin and when did it end?
Still on page B -188 under Revenue, we note
that there is a $66,000 budgeted amount for Penal-ties. And I am wondering if that is the anticipated revenue based on the announced sort of zero tolerance
policy that the Minister announced on April 22 at a
press conference. I know in the Government’s Budget
Statement it spoke, the Minister spoke, under Economy and Labour that the reform measures were related to (if I remember correctly) English proficiency and
layoffs. I believe today in his brief the Minister may
have mentioned another area of reform. I can’t remember exactly what it was. I think it had something
to do with digitisation and maybe expediting using that
digitisation to expedite the processing of work permits.
I am happy to be corrected on that.
So I guess my other question to the Minister is
we now have the report on emigration, when . . . the
report, or we have the survey completed, once we have the report in a final state, when do we . . . or
[when] does the Minister think we will start addressing
some of the items outlined in that report so that we
can reverse the effects of the emigration? So that they
do not become . . . or do not reach the point where
they may have an impact on the experience that potential investors and international business [have] in a
negative way.
With that, Mr. Chairman, I take my seat.

Minister, please proceed, with succinct answers.

Hon. Jason Hayward: I will do, understanding time.
As it pertains to the department’s objectives,
emigration is a natural feature whether it be the tourBermuda House of Assembly ism business development or economic development.
It goes without stating that emigration is a critic al lever
to ensuring that we have a sustainable economy. And as a result, while it is not stated as an objective, it is
embedded in those principles of economic develop-ment.
I would also state that the revision for the reduction of the professional services budget, I indicated that we have transferred the activities from temporary
staff to full -time staff members where we were able to
undertake successful recruitment. As a result, that
would be the substantial reduction in that particular
budget.
I would say that the $66,000 that was budgeted for Penalties is a conservative estimate of what we
will receive based off of us ensuring that persons are
adhering to our immigration policies. And I want to stress that we put immigration laws and policies in
place for them to be adhered to and there are penalties in place, and we ask employers and employees to
conduct themselves in an orderly fashion to ensure that we do not have to move down a place of penalties.
As it pertains to Immigration Reform, I do not
want the [Member] to confuse immigration reform with
the reform that we are doing to the Work Permit Policy. And so the first . . . some of the changes that you
spoke about earlier have to do with changes to the
Work Permit Policy regarding language requirements
and layoffs. The overall immigration reform is much
broader than that and it includes enforcement, it in-cludes digitisation, and it includes using immigration
as a lever for greater levels of economic activity.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to move to Head
60, Workforce Development. I have two questions in
this area. One being, What were the issues with the
old Job Board which led to its . . . I believe it has been
shut down, Minister, or is going to be, and replaced. What will the expected improvements be?
With some of the scholarships that are offered, the scholarships, if we go to page C -19, we see
Scholarships, 6866. Are these scholarships to over-seas entities or is it scholarships for local opportunities for . . . and what is the . . . for this amount here,
the budgeted amount of $400,000. What is the number of scholarships that will take care of? And what
are the obligations to the scholarship recipients? Are
there some obligations for them to return and work for
government? Or anything along that line?
Yes, that will be it, Mr. Chairman, for this
head.

Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Chairman, the Job Board
was monolithic, meaning that it only had capacity to post jobs and have people apply for jobs. What we are going to integrate is a more dynamic system that will
have additional features which allows for more information regarding occupations in all industrial categories. It would have the education requirements. It would have the experience requirement. It will provide
a complete career path trajectory. It will have testimonials from members who work in that industry. Also, it
will be embedded with training programmes. The functionality will be much greater than the current functionality of the Job Board. So, it is a complete enhancement of the product that we currently have.
As it pertains to scholarships, overseas and
local scholarships are provided. We provide 4,000 scholarships. The scholarships are primarily based off
of high- demand occupational categories. We did state
that part of the reduction of local workforce was that
we would transition into tying scholarship awards to
that person’s ability to return to Bermuda and work
after a seven- year period. We still think it is important
that people get overseas training.
There are currently 34 individuals who are on
scholarships. And we do not have stipulations, but we
are going to move to an area where there are stipulations as it pertains to persons coming back and working in our local economy.

Moving to Head 94, Economic
Development. I noticed that there is under unit 9405,
business unit 104120, Concierge Services. There is a
zero budgeted amount for the Concierge Services.
And I may have missed it, but has this service been
absorbed into one of the other business units? I do
note that under programme 9405 on page B -197 there
still exists the performance measures. So, I am just
wondering if that was the reason why there is zero,
because it was absorbed into another area of the
[concierge] service.

Hon. Jason Hayward: That assumption is correct. It
was absorbed into Administration.

I will spend that time, again,
thanking the Minister for his comprehensive brief. And
696 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly also, his members of staff who I am sure contributed
greatly to that. I wish I had more time —and this is no
fault to the Minister. He was generous in the time that he left —to get into the detail of some of the work that
is being done by the BEDC and the Bermuda Business Development Agency. But again, thank you to
the Minister and the members of his staff. Thank you.

Good afternoon, Honourable Members and the listening audience.
We are in the Committee of Supply for further
consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26. In the Ministry of
Health to be led by the Honourable Kim Wilson, JP
MP. The heads today are Heads 21, 22, 24, and 91.
Minister.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Madam Chairman, I would like to move the
following heads, namely Head 21, Ministry of Health
Headquarters; Head 22, Department of Health; Head 24, Hospitals; and Head 91, Health Insurance be now
taken under consideration.

Please proceed. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Madam Chairman, before I begin I would like
to pay homage and extend my gratitude to the hard -
working men and women at the Ministry of Health as
well as the quangos that are associated under Health, namely, the BHB and the Health Council for their continued hard work and dedication, particularly as they
assist in the Government’s initiatives in moving Bermuda forward and creating healthy people and
healthy communities.
Madam Chairman, with the assistance of
those persons who I have just thanked I will endeavour to provide a very comprehensive brief, that hopefully will provide assistance as well as clarification to
some answers to questions that may arise.
I note that previously all four of these heads
had received a five-hour time period. Last year was
the first time that it was reduced to four and it did not
provide for sufficient time for me to complete the detailed brief, which is very lengthy because it is a very
big Ministry. However, I will undertake to provide any unanswered questions to my Honourable Member
who sits opposite to me following the conclusion of
this day.
Madam Chairman, the Ministry of Health Estimates of Revenue, Expenditure, Performance
Measures and FTEs [full -time equivalents] are found
on pages B -149 through B-170 of the Budget Book.
The Capital Development and Acquisition estimates
are found on pages C -5 and C -12 of the Budget Book.
And the Grant Estimates are found on pages C -18
and C -19 of the Budget Book.
Madam Chairman, the Ministry of Health has
been allocated a total of $245,440,000 for the fiscal
year 2025/26 for its headquarters, the Department of Health, Hospitals and Health Insurance Department.

HEAD 21 —MINISTRY OF HEALTH
HEADQUARTERS
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, today I am
pleased to present the budget for the Ministry of
Health and its departments and quangos starting with Head 21, the Ministry of Health Headquarters. And
Madam Chairman, that can be found at pages B -150
through B-153 of the Budget Book.

Mission

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the mission
of the Ministry of Health Headquarters is To make
Bermuda healthier by improving accessibility to quality
health care services.
The Head 21 budget reflects the efforts of
headquarters to create a health system that is finan-cial sustainable and operationally efficient in meeting the health needs of the population.

Expenditure Overview


Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, a total of
$15,634,000 has been allocated to Head 21 Headquarters for 2025/26 which represents an increase of
52.0 per cent or $5,332,000 over the budget of the
fiscal year 2024/ 25. This constitutes 6.4 per cent of
the total budget allocated to the Ministry of Health.

Revenue Overview
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the Ministry
of Health Headquarters is estimated to generate
$28,000 during the 2025/26 fiscal year, down from
61 per cent from the $72,000 in revenue in the previous fiscal year. This reduction is attributed to a smaller projected number of registrations for doctors during
the 2024/25 fiscal year.

General

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, I will now
address the first programme under Head 21, General.
Line item 2101, General. Madam Chairman,
the programme 2101, General, comprises 15 FTEs.
The programme’s total budget found at page B -150 of
the Budget Book is $13,398,000.

General Administration

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Of that $6,923,000 has been
allocated to 31000 General Administration. This rep-resents a 74 per cent or a $2,923,000 increase compared to fiscal year 2024/25. The General Administration budget covers expenses associated with the day -
to-day operations of the Ministry including the Accounts Section and the Project Management Office (or
PMO) for implementing universal health coverage
(UHC). For the UHC a total of $462,000 has been al-located for human resources within the PMO. And
Madam Chairman, hereinafter I will refer to the Project
Management Office as the PMO and Universal Health
Coverage as UHC.
A total of $462,000 has been allocated for
human resources within the PMO including a director,
project manager, business analyst, and executive as-sistant. Additionally, $1,238,000 was allocated for the
operations of the PMO, including the engagement of
subject matter experts, marketing and communications.
Line item 31000, General Administration.
Madam Chairman, the Government is committed to the creation of an equitable, integrated and sustainable health system that prioritises the health needs of
the population. To this end, the Ministry of Health in
collaboration with its key partners and stakeholders is
leading the multi -year journey towards delivering universal health coverage. Universal health coverage
seeks to ensure that all people can access essential
health services without encountering financial hardship. This requires continued efforts to strengthen primary care services for health promotion, disease
prevention, and early detection and management of
health conditions before they become more costly to
treat.
Achieving UHC also requires a system- wide
transformation that aligns health care delivery with the
principles of accessibility, affordability and quality.
Madam Chairman, this includes leveraging data to
drive evidence- based decision- making, investing in
health care workforce development and integrating services across sectors to ensure continuity of care. As Bermuda's population ages and we continue efforts to address the burden of chronic diseases, the
health system must adapt to meet evolving needs
whilst also maintaining fiscal responsibility. The Ministry of Health remains focused on long- term reforms
that will support healthier communities, reduce disparities in health outcomes, and build a foundation for
a stronger more resilient health care system.
Madam Chairman, health care in Bermuda
remains amongst the most expensive globally. Persistent inefficiencies, inequalities and access and disparities in health outcomes underscore the need, the urgent need, for reform. The implementation of UHC is
intended to address these issues by closing coverage
gaps, improving health system performance whilst
reducing fragmentation, and ensuring the financial
sustainability of health care through international best
practices. In this regard, the UHC project management team has been coordinating several work
streams of projects in consultation with key stakeholders to achieve the following:
• The mapping and redesign of integrated
care pathways for diabetes, chronic [kidney] disease and mental health for coordinated and patient -centred care.
• Drafting an actuarial model of a core benefits package to meet population needs.
• Modelling of a single payer to reduce
fragmentation and improve the affordability of care.
• Development of population health metrics.
• Assessment of health workforce gaps.
• Drafting of a national patients Bill of
Rights.
• Development of a multimedia campaign to
keep the public informed of UHC updates; and finally
• Drafting of national clinical standards for
common chronic diseases.
Madam Chairman, these foundational efforts
represent critical steps in the long- term transformation
of Bermuda's health system. By aligning clinical, financial and operational elements, the Ministry of
Health aims to ensure that health services are not on-ly more accessible but also more equitable and effective.
Madam Chairman, as we continue the multi -
year journey of implementing UHC, our commitment
698 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly remains clear: To ensure that every resident of Bermuda has access to the diagnostic treatment and
medications they need when they need them without
encountering financial hardship. In alignment with this
vision during the current fiscal year the Ministry of Health will begin the first phase of UHC implementation by enhancing the benefits offered under the
Health Insurance Plan. And here and after I'll refer to
that, Madam Chairman, as HIP, and FutureCare.
As part of this initial phase, both plans will be
expanded to include an annual preventative doctor's visit and increased prescription drug coverage provided at no additional cost to the policyholders. These
enhancements reflect our commitment to prioritising
prevention and ensuring that essential health services
are accessible and affordable for all. Under these improvements active policyholders will gain greater ac-cess to routine care helping to detect health concerns
early and manage chronic conditions more effectively.
In addition, there will be an increase of $2,000
in annual prescription drug coverage for both plans,
raising HIP’s total benefit coverage to $3,000 and FutureCare’s coverage to $5,000 per year. Access to
prescription medications is a cornerstone of effective
health care particularly in our fight against noncom-municable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension,
and heart disease , conditions that are regrettably
prevalent in our population and contributed significantly to long -term health complications and health care
costs. Ensuring that individuals can afford and obtain the medications they need without delay or financial hardship is critical to managing these conditions and
preventing avoidable hospitalisations or deterioration
in health.
Madam Chairman, recognising the growing
health care needs of our senior population the Ministry of Health is also actively reviewing options to broaden specialist coverage under the FutureCare plan. As
individuals age, they are more likely to require ongo-ing management of complex and chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis , diabetes, and neurological disorders that often necessitate
access to specialised medical expertise. Expanding
access to specialty care will not only improve individual health outcomes but also provide more timely interventions and can prevent complications , reduce
hospital admissions , and limit the need for emergency
care. This approach supports a more proactive and
coordinated model of care that emphasi ses continuity ,
early detection and appropriate treatment . The Ministry of Health will continue to explore this approach with the aim of empowering seniors to live healthier ,
more independent lives , supported by the services
and resources they need to effectively manage their health conditions .
Madam Chairman, these changes represent a
significant step forward in strengthening our health care safety net , improving health outcomes , and reducing out -of-pocket expenses as we move steadily towards a more equitable health care system. As we
move forward with the first phase of UHC implementation, the Ministry of Health recogni ses that the involvement of health care providers is essential to the
success and sustainability of health care reform. The
Ministry is therefore committed to continued engagement with health care professionals through the relevant forms coordinated by the UHC P roject Management Office. Providers are vital stakeholders in the
delivery of health services and their expertise , experience and frontline insights are critical to shaping a system that is both effective and responsive to the
needs of the population. By working in partnership, we
can assure that service delivery models are practical ,
well-supported and aligned with the goals of improving
access, quality and outcomes across the health care
system .
Madam Chairman, in the coming weeks the
public can expect the launch of a comprehensive
communication strategy that will provide pertinent information on the overall vision, key concepts , and
progress on specific initiatives under UHC starting with the HIP and FutureCare enhancements . This
strategy , Madam Chairman, will ensure that individuals, families , health care providers , and other stakeholders are well informed about what UHC means for them, how it will be rolled out , and how it aims to improve access , affordability , and quality of care. The
UHC Project Management Office will continue fostering transparency , encouraging dialogue, and building
public trust as we work together towards a stronger ,
more equitable health care system.
Madam Chairman, the PMO will continue to
play a central role in guiding the financial and structural planning necessary for the successful implementation of UHC . This includes overseeing the actuarial
analysis , cost projections , and fiscal modelling required to support a cost -contained sustainable and
phased rollout . These technical assessments are essential to ensuring that decisions are evidence- based
and that resources are allocated efficiently to deliver
the greatest impact .
Madam Chairman, in the current fiscal year
the PMO aims to present to the C abinet a comprehensive set of options for their core benefits package
comprising essential health services that are aligned
with the most pressing health needs of Bermuda’s
population. Modelling for the package has already
begun and careful consideration of cost -effectiveness
to ensure that the package will deliver the greatest benefit for each dollar spent . The objective, Madam
Chairman, is to define a set of services that are accessible to all residents , promote prevention and early
intervention, and reduce the long- term burden of diseases .
Additionally , the PMO will outline the proposed structure and operational functions of a singlepayer system which is intended to streamline administrative processes , centrali sed funding flows , and maxBermuda House of Assembly imise efficiencies within the health care system . This
approach reduces duplication , complexity and fragmentation while still allowing residents the freedom to
choose their own health care providers . Most importantly , single -payer systems have been shown
globally to improve health outcomes by eliminating
barriers to access and fostering a more coordinated
and proactive model of care. These key decisions will
serve as foundational steps in building a more inte-grated, equitable and financially responsible health
care system for Bermuda.
Madam Chairman, the PMO will also support
the Ministry 's efforts to draft the legislative framework
needed to guide the critical components of achieving
UHC, such as stewardship and governance, health
care service delivery , health care financing, health
workforce, health technology , and digital health information systems . These components are the critical
building blocks for effective health system reform.
Such reformation cannot be achieved in the absence
of partnership and strategic collaboration. Therefore,
the PMO will continue to validate technical outputs
and build consensus on key policy and operational
elements of UHC by continued collaboration with the
Clinical Senate and forums for health financing, health
advocacy , health insurance, and health providers to
advance key milestones needed for successful UHC implementation for Q uarter 3 of 2025/26 .
This collaborative approach ensures that the
legislative and policy framework are grounded in the realities of Bermuda’s health system and reflect the insides of those delivering and receiving care. As progress continues , these partnerships will be instrumental in identifying practical solutions to implementation
challenges and building the broader support needed
to sustain reform over time . Ultimately , the success of
UHC will depend not only on sound policy and legisla-tion but also on the strength of the relationships and
the trust built throughout this process .

Mental Health
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, the Ministry
of Health continues implementation of the 2024 mid -
year budget in the amount of $2.29 million on a com-prehensive programme of mental health support initiatives. To date, Madam Chairman, targeted investments have been made in raising community aware-ness of mental well -being , building community capacity for support , and continuing engagement with adolescents for prevention, early intervention , and community -based care.
The Acute Adult Mental Health Integrated
Pathway and the research led by Daniel Cavanagh
and his team on youth mental health were instrumental in identifying key recommendations that have driv-en the priorities of mental health investment . Challenges such as anxiety , stress, violence , and substance abuse have placed immense strain on our health care services, schools and community organisations underscoring the urgent need for sustained and comprehensive mental health support . In response, the Ministry is leading efforts for youthfocused mental health first aid training , establishing a
national mental health advocacy organisation and enhancing support for community members to identify
and support persons who may be experiencing a
mental health challenge.
Madam Chairman, by investing in programmes that promote prevention, early intervention,
crisis response , and mental health awareness we aim
to reduce the long- term impact of untreated mental
health conditions . Organisations such as Age C oncern
Bermuda utilise d its grant to establish a comprehensive programme focused on improving the mental
well-being of older adults . The initiative aims to raise
awareness about the mental health challenges seniors face and provide educational opportunities to
equip individuals with the knowledge and tools to address these issues . The programme targets older
adults , their families , informal caregivers and professional caregivers .
Madam Chairman, the Family Centre utilise s
its grant to strengthen its intensive counselling services which focus on early detection and intervention
for mental health challenges in children and teens ,
age 4 to 18 years of age. These free services include
screening to identify at -risk youth and offering intake
or referrals to appropriate agencies . The programme
provides a safe space for children, teens and families
to heal , build coping skills , and address trauma, emotional and social challenges .
Madam Chairman, funding for the Women's
Resource Centre was used to support its comprehensive, therapeutic services programme which includes
individualis ed counselling, community support groups ,
and mindfulness and wellness activities . The initiative
addresses the critical gap in mental health services for
uninsured and underinsured women experiencing mild
to moderate mental health conditions . Without access
to publicly funded care many of these women face
significant challenges in daily life, including employment and parenting, often leading to reliance on social
services. This collaboration with the Ministry of Health
aims to expand access to essential mental health
support , promot e emotional well -being and foster
long-term empowerment and resilience as well as
self-sufficiency .
Madam Chairman, among men, the key barriers to mental health seeking are financial hardship,
social stigma , and the belief that seeking help undermines masculinity . These factors often lead men to
delay care until they are in crisis . To address this ,
Madam Chairman, funding to the M en's Access to
Support and Counselling , or MASC, is being used to
support expanded outreach and support for young
and adult men for mental health services . By removing financial barriers , particularly for those who are
700 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly uninsured or underinsured, the initiative promotes earlier intervention and supports long- term mental well -
being. The investment is also aimed at shifting cultural
attitudes towards men's mental health encouraging
openness and fostering emotional resilience.
The Bermuda College Foundation which is responsible for fundraising and stewardship of donations to the Bermuda College has taken a proactive
role in supporting student well -being, recognising that
the long- term sustainability of Bermuda College depends on the health and success of its students. The Bermuda College Foundation is committed to fostering both academic and personal development of students including mental wellness. With its funding, a
professional team will be established to drive action in
the areas of prevention and early intervention, stigma
reduction, and mental health literacy, improved ac-cess to services for youth and families, and advancement in research and policy.
Madam Chairman, a central focus of our efforts is expanding access to counselling , therapy and
crisis intervention services. By increasing the capacity
of these services, we can ensure timely care for individuals facing emotional distress, crisis situations, and
long-term conditions. This expansion will reduce wait
times and ensure that underserved populations have
equitable access to necessary mental health support
and resources.
In addition to enhancing service delivery public education campaigns will continue to play a role, and a key role at that, in reducing the stigma sur-rounding mental health. These campaigns will encourage individuals to seek help without fear of judgment ultimately leading to higher participation in men-tal health screenings and early intervention programmes. And by addressing concerns early we can help prevent more severe mental health challenges from developing.
Madam Chairman, the appointment of a mental health programme coordinator has been instrumental in managing these initiatives, fostering collaboration, and ensuring the efficient use of resources.
Looking ahead, one of our key goals is the establishment of a national mental health coordinating and advocacy entity. This centralised body will oversee mental health awareness, education, and policy coordination simplifying the navigation of the mental health
system and ensuring that individuals can easily access the support they need. Progress is already underway with the development of a national mental health website and the identification of the right leadership will be crucial to the acceleration of these efforts.
Madam Chairman, this month the Ministry of
Health officially launched Mental Health Anti -Stigma
Month, dedicated to opening minds, shifting narratives, and bringing mental health out of the shadows.
Under the theme, “We are not an Island.” The campaign emphasises community solidarity and the im-portance of mental well -being. Throughout the month
a series of events are being facilitated in partnership
with several community partners including youth
workshops, public forums, community art projects,
therapy dog sessions, and training opportunities. These activities are designed to foster dialogue, build
empathy, and create safe spaces for individuals to
seek support.
And as I pause, Madam Chairman, because it
is, like I said, the month of May launched the Mental
Health Anti -Stigma [Month] campaign, a lot of schools
and other organisations jumped onboard. And even in
today's newspaper, Warwick Academy did a series on
“Buzzing with Wellbeeing,” (B -E-E). And their logo
was a bee. And they did a drive- in event. They had a
Grub Day to raise awareness towards Amber's Wings,
which is an organisation that supports mental health.
And they had a BEE Kind event. Bee Kind to You.
Bee Kind . . . Beelieve in Yourself, and [You] Beelong
Here. So, we're trying to encourage other members of
the community to recognise the importance of mental
health awareness, and in particular, to do things to
break the silence and reduce the stigma. So, kudos to
Warwick Academy.
Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on business unit 31000, General Administration.

Grants Administration
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now, Madam Chairman,
to 31015 Grants Administration. I'm turning now to
page B —sorry page C -18, which are the Grants. And
it outlines the Health Ministry’s grants to various
agencies that deliver critical frontline services supporting public health and social assistance, as well as a
grant dedicated to health education initiatives. The
total budget for this business unit is $5,849,000. And
these grant funds are allocated as follows, Madam

• $3,000,000— for the Lady Culpit Compassionate Association (or the LCCA). And that's to cover overseas medical care for uninsured and underinsured persons.
• $1 million— for the Bermuda Health Council.
• $100,000—for Age Concern to operationally
support the activities focused on raising
awareness, and providing learning opportunities related to the mental well -being of older
adults as part of the previously mentioned
supplementary and mental health initiative
• $120,000—for the Family Centre to assist with
the delivery of counselling services delivered
at no charge to families in Bermuda with children between the ages of 4 and 18 years old.
Also, as part of the supplementary mental
health initiative.
• $100,000—for the Men and Masculinity Support Centre of Bermuda (or MASC) to provide


Bermuda House of Assembly counselling and support services for men as
part of the mental health initiative.
• $570,000—for the Bermuda college founda-tion in support of mental health initiatives to
establish collaborative and sustainable suicide
prevention initiatives, to reduce risk factors,
and increase factors that are preventative,
protective, and promote resilience. This is also part of the supplementary mental health initiative that I spoke about a few moments
ago;
• $100,000—for the women's Resource Centre
to assist with programmes that support women in poverty and transition by providing access to therapeutic services with individual
counselling, community support groups, mindfulness, and wellness activities, and support services— including access to housing and
food, employment and educational support.
And this is also part of the mental health initiative.
• $63,000 —for the Sexual Assault Response
Team (or SART) to provide comprehensive support to survivors of sexual assaults.
• $105,000—f or the Dr. Barbara Ball Public
Health Scholarship; and
• $691,000—in other grants.
Madam Chairman, the LCCA has been an integral part of the Bermuda community since 1932.
Since the 1950s it has been supporting residents who
required overseas medical treatment that is not locally available. Today the LCCA manages the Patient
Overseas Financial Aid Programme assisting individuals with limited or no financial means to access nec-essary care abroad by helping them to identify appropriate solutions. This support is particularly important in exceptional cases where a patient is responsible for medical treatment that costs more than $50,000.
Madam Chairman, the Dr. Barbara Ball [Public Health] Scholarship is given in honour Dr. Barbara Bertha Ball who was the first born Bermudian woman
to practice medicine in Bermuda. And every year the
Ministry of Health awards the scholarship to Bermudian students with proven financial need who wish to pursue careers or professional development in public
health. This year awardees received scholarships between the sum of $6[,000] and $9,000 each in support
of continuing their university studies. This scholarship
supports students and studies in various health care
disciplines that directly address Bermuda’s public
health priorities.
It reflects the Government's commitment to
building a stronger health care workforce, an essential component of both the Bermuda Health Strategy 2022 –2027 and the Universal Health Coverage [UHC]
agenda. Investing in the next generation of doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, public health lead-ers, and care workers is critical for addressing the Island's growing and complex health needs. With an ageing population, a high burden of chronic disease
and ongoing challenges in mental health, long- term
care and primary care access the demand for skilled health care professionals is only increasing.
The Ministry of Health will continue efforts to
encourage scholars to pursue health careers especially in underserved and high -demand areas because it
is vital to us building a resilient health system. These
students are not just recipients of support, they are
future care givers, future innovators, and future advocates who will shape the health and well -being of the
nation for generations to come.

Bermuda Health Council

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The Bermuda Health Council.
Madam Chairman, I want to highlight the work of the
Bermuda Health Council. It's a quango under the Ministry of Health. In these dynamic times for Bermuda’s
health system, the Health Council has emerged as
one of Government's most strategic partner agencies,
bridging expertise with execution, policy with people,
and innovation with prudent fiscal discipline.
Madam Chairman, the Bermuda Health
Council remains committed to ensuring quality, accessible and cost -effective health care for all residents. And the Bermuda Health Council is a major
part of the engine driving critical transformation in our
health system. With a legislated mandate to regulate,
coordinate, and enhance the delivery of health services, the Council plays a crucial role in driving key
regulatory functions, enforcing compliance measures,
and supporting system- wide reforms that aim to improve health outcomes and financial sustainability.

Expenditure Overview

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, Expenditure
Overview.
The Bermuda Health Council's budget for fiscal year 2025/26 totals $4,833,000, excluding poten-tial capital expenditure and reflects a modest increase
of 5 per cent over last year's allocation. Despite a confirmed operational grant for the new year matching the past few years of $1 million, the Council remains committed to executing its crucial functions with discipline and impact. As such, the Council is expected to
operate this fiscal year at a deficit and will use various
efficiency mechanisms and revenue- generation options during the year in an effort to be budget -neutral.
The key areas of expenditure for the Bermuda
Health Council are as follows:
• Payroll expenses in the amount of $3,171,000
reflecting the retention of core talent and targeted use of subject matter experts. This includes the expected new hire to meet critical
project demands.
• Building expenses in the amount of $431,000 to ensure secure and functional infrastructure
702 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly for operations. And this accounts for the increase in building rental payments.
• Operational expenses in the amount of $260,000 to support digital modernisation,
stakeholder outreach, and compliance activities; and finally
• Professional fees in the amount of $858,000
to enable the strategic use of consultants in
actuarial modelling, regulation health technol-ogy, and data analytics. This is in support of
UHC and other system- strategic reforms.
Madam Chairman, it is important to note that
funding needs originally identified for capital investment in corporate IT infrastructure, disease registry
development, and progress on digital platforms will be paused only if new revenue opportunities emerge.
This adaptive approach ensures fiscal prudence whilst
maintaining readiness to scale key innovations when
financially viable.

Revenue Overview

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The Council projected revenue
for 2025/26 stands at $4,549,000 marking a 1.19 per
cent increase from the prior year. And the major
sources of revenue include, Madam Chairman, Government Operational Grant in the amount of $1 million; Mutual Reinsurance Fund in the amount of $2,978,000; and Licensing Registration Contract and
Programme Service Fees in the amount of $570,810.
The Bermuda Health Council will continue to
diversify and strengthen its revenue streams through partnerships, strategic grant applications, and targeted services delivery —both locally and if available
abroad. For example, there are other countries within
the region that are at different stages of UHC implementation that may benefit from the Health Council's
expertise. The pursuit of revenue generation options
ensures that no opportunity is missed to advance
health reforms, support innovation, and build sustain-able infrastructures locally by way of additional funds.

Positioning and Priorities
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, a drug’s
formulary plays a critical role in managing medication costs by guiding the selection of clinically effective
and cost -effective treatments. It supports negotiations
for better pricing and helps balance coverage with
affordability ensuring that patients have access to es-sential medications. Meaningful engagement with key
stakeholders, including health care providers, pharmacists, patients, and other relevant experts is essential in developing a formulary that reflects the health
needs of the population. And in this context the Ber-muda Health Council has held five Pharmacy and
Therapeutics Committee meetings and coordinated
with four local medical experts to inform decisions on the inclusion of cardiac, pulmonary, and diabetes
medications.
Madam Chairman, significant progress has
been made to date as the Council has introduced 64
essential medicines on the Bermuda drug formulary with over 164 unique doses. Additionally, the Council
has proposed a reduction in the pharmacy dispensary
fee from $42.50 by 17.6 per cent to $32.00, along with
the proposal to cap the mark -up of the landed cost of
formulary medicines at 25.0 per cent to enhance price
control. Finally, the Council has transitioned drug application processes to the As ana system for preliminary approvals and renewals and has developed a
formulary education plan to engage and inform stakeholders. These measures reflect our continued commitment to working with the relevant stakeholders to
improve medication affordability and ensure equitable access to essential treatments for the Bermuda population.

[Crosstalk]

Just while we take a very quick break,
just to repeat that we are now in the Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates of
Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025[/26]. We
are hearing from the Minister of Health, the Honoura-ble Kim Wilson, JP MP. And we are under Head 21
right now, which is the Ministry of Health.
Minister.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you.
Moving forward, the Bermuda Health Council
remains . . . (just a minute) committed to ongoing
stakeholder consultation on the proposed pricing
structure for the drug formulary. A key priority will be
the establishment and standardisation of processes
for the pricing and procurement of formulary medicines to ensure consistency, transparency, and cost -
effectiveness. Additionally, the Council will prioritise
updating the Bermuda Health Council Drug Formulary
Regulations of 2021 to strengthen its mandate particularly in relation to the monitoring and evaluation of the
formular y’s performance and impact. To support its
educational mandate, the Council has also developed
a formulary education plan aimed at increasing
awareness and understanding among internal and
external stakeholders in sharing informed participation
and effective implementation.
Madam Chairman, the Bermuda Health
Council continues to be at the forefront of modernising our regulatory framework, driving digital health transformation, and elevating evidence- based and strategic
accountability and transparency across the health system. Through its convening power it has brought together insurers, providers, policymakers, and patients
to create smarter solutions for today's most pressing
health challenges. Today these health challenges are
broad, ranging from health professional regulatory


Bermuda House of Assembly administration, long- term care and the development of
care pathways, to procurement optimisation, legislative review and more.
Over the past year the Council has made significant strides in modernising the regulatory framework, enhancing digital licensing, and improving compliance enforcement. Key achievements include
• continued operation of a blockchainenable d online credentialing system for
health professionals streamlining registration and renewal process;
• strengthening the kidney transplant coordinator programme, noting that during fiscal year 2025, the kidney transplant coordinating team progressed an agreement
with the United Kingdom to expand our
options for accessing cost -effective, quality transplant centres that have the potential to save over $100,000 per transplant
episode;
• enhancement of health business licensing
and compliance enforcement ensuring
adherence to regulatory standards;
• refinement of regulatory oversight for
health insurers, ensuring compliance with
mandated coverage requirements and patient protections;
• advancement in data collection and system monitoring ensuring better access to
information for policymakers and the public;
• stakeholder engagement infrastructure
and development in preparation for the
implementation of universal health cover-age;
• health technology assessments for a
more rigorous evaluation of new medical
devices and treatment options ; and
• public education and health system awareness campaigns to improve public
knowledge about health care access and
patient rights.
Madam Chairman, although its scope of work
is extensive , the Council consistently demonstrates
timely financial transparency by closely collaborating
with the Auditor General and producing unqualified
audited financial statements year after year . The
Health Council's annual reports and financial statements are completed through fiscal year 2023, the
fiscal year 2024 is in progress , and the fiscal year
2025 documentation is being organised. The Health
Council's highly skilled and experienced team of 25
continues to have a successful paperless office with most information- sharing occurring electronically .
The Council is enhancing its IT tools to improve efficiency and cost -effectiveness for the G overnment and the health system. It recently began
managing a project to upgrade the central repository
and online directory for health and social care ser-vices using artificial intelligence to improve system navigation for residents .
In the upcoming fiscal year the C ouncil will
continue advancing the historic initiatives while placing greater emphasis on expanding UHC , improving
health service provider oversight , and refining the digital credibility system to streamline health care workforce management . More specifically , the planned and
continued projects include
• The development of the helpinghub.bm as a
centralised health care directory to help resi-dents easily access a database of health services, businesses and professionals .
• The advocacy for the adoption of a patient ’s
Bill of Rights to ensure transparency , fairness
and protection for all health care consumers .
• The onboarding of additional health care professionals for the expansion of the digital cre-dentialing system to streamline regulatory
monitoring.
• The strengthening of accountability measures
to improve quality , safety and financial sustainability through hospital oversight and gov-ernance enhancements .
• The strengthening of oversight of the businesses of health service providers to ensure that they are safe, effective, responsive and
caring and well led.
• The strengthening of policies and monitoring
frameworks for residential care and nursing
homes for long- term care regulations and
support .
• The expansion of the use of digital systems
for better integration, safer data sharing, and
improved continuity of care.
• The use of advanced predictive analytics
through actuarial modelling to improve finan-cial planning and evidence -based policy decision-making.
• The establishment of a clinical research repository to support medical research and international collaboration, including the sharing
of regional genomi c related research data.
• The fostering of collaborative and collaboration with local and international partners
through public -private partnerships to drive
innovation and system improvements .
• The expansion of UHC implementation efforts
through the development of policy frameworks and strategic implementation plans for health financ ing reform.
• The provision of workforce development and
internship programmes for skill building among emerging professionals in the health
care and health system administration sector ;
and
• The continued enhancements of the integrity
of health system data sets to support evi704 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly dence- based decision- making, health care
planning, and financing.
These priorities are not just task s. They are
strategic levers to create a healthier Bermuda. The
Health Council seeks to remain a cost -effective agency that delivers real value for public investment.
Madam Chairman, I would like to extend my
sincere gratitude to the outgoing board members from
the 2024 calendar year for their dedication and contributions to the Bermuda Health Council . Their expertise and guidance were invaluable in advancing the
Council's mission and driving important health system
reforms .
I would also like to sincerely thank both returning and new board members for their commitment
to the Bermuda Health Council . Their expertise is vital
in advancing the mission of the C ouncil and improving
health care regulation , access, quality and sustainability.
Madam Chairman, the board members of the
Bermuda Health Council for the fiscal year 2026 are
as follows:
Dr. Sylvanus Nawab, who is the Chairman;
the Deputy Chair is Dr. Nicola Paugh; the board
members are Dr. Darr ien Ray; Dr. Myra Virgil; Dr. Nicola Paugh; Dr. Samantha Scott O'Bannon; Mr. Andrew Simons; Ms. Ariana Caines ; Ms. F . Ann Daniels
and Lucia Pendleton and Ms. Lauren Bell .
Ex officio members include, Madam Chairman, Dr. Ricky B rathwaite who is the CEO of the
Bermuda Health Council; Dr. Shaun R amroop who is
the Chi ef Medical Officer; Mr. Chid . . . the FS , financial secretary —Sorry. The financial secretary for the
Ministry of Finance —

[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Pardon. Chidozie Ofoego .
Thank you.
And Keechia Tuck ett who is the Permanent
Secretary for the Minist ry of Health. And on behalf of
the Ministry of Health I thank the Bermuda Health
Council for its continued collaboration and commitment to transparent , equitable and evidence- based
decision -making in the interests of the people of Bermuda. Madam Chairman, this ends my presentation
on line item 31015, Grants Administration.

Thank you, Minister.
We are in the Committee of Supply for further
consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Ex-penditure for the year 2025/26. We have just moved
from Head 21, moving on to Head 22, the Department
of Health.
Minister, if you'd like to proceed.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, I will. Thank you.

Corporate Services Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Corporate Services, 31020.
Madam Chairman, the estimated budget for
Head 21, Corporate Service s Unit is $626,000. This
unit encompasses the core leadership and strategic planning functions of the Ministry of Health. It includes the policy directorate which is responsible for the formulation, coordination, and evaluation of health policies and legislative frameworks . In addition, it comprises the staff members who work directly with me ,
as the Minister , providing critical support in decisionmaking, stakeholder collaboration, and communication of government priorities . The senior management
team also forms an integral part of this unit offering
executive oversight and guidance in the development
and implementation of health policy , regulations , and
national strategic initiatives . Together this unit ensures
that the Ministry remains responsive, evidence- driven,
and aligned with the broader goals of health system
reform and service delivery improvement.
Madam Chairman, this concludes my presentation of business unit 31020, C orporate Services .

National Health Emergency
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Moving now to 31997, National
Health Emergency.
Madam Chairman, for the 2025/ 26 [fiscal
year] there have been no budget allocations for the
National Health Emergency unit representing a
100 per cent cost -savings , compared to $82,000 previously allocated for H ealth Disaster Coordination.
Since the COVID -19 pandemic , the Ministry of Health
has significantly strengthened its capacities to manage public health risk and emergencies . Through the
development of a robust system and a national public
health emergency response plan, the Ministry has
positioned itself to respond more effectively to future
challenges . With a focus on building back stronger ,
the budget allocation for this unit has steadily decline d
since budget year 20 23/24, as response capacities
have grown in resilience . Having stronger preparation
and response systems in place, allows the Ministry to
better allocate funds to critical areas of service deliv-ery and long- term health system improvements .
Madam Chair man, this ends my presentation
on the business line item 31997 National Health
Emergency . This completes my presentation on all the
business units under programme 2101, General.
Madam Chairman, I will now present the second programme, Head 21, the Office of the Chief
Medical Officer .

Office of the Chief Medical Officer

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, I will now
present the second [programme under] Head 21, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, [2102]. The expenditure overview is as follows.


Bermuda House of Assembly The estimates of expenditure and revenue for
the FTEs for programme [2102], Office of the Chief
Medical Officer (OCMO) under Head 21 are found on
pages B -150 through B -152 of the Budget Book. It’s
total budget for fiscal year 2025/26 is $2,236,000
which funds three business units, namely: 31030,
Health Care Registration and Regulation; 31040, Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit; and 31050, Port
Health. The office consists of 13 full -time equivalents.
Madam Chair man, the OCMO, has a pivotal
role in safeguarding public health through regulation,
oversight and strategic leadership. Its key mandates
are
• registration and regulation of health care
professionals ;
• pharmaceutical drug control ;
• epidemiology and surveillance;
• statutory public health responsibilities ;
and
• health, emergency planning, resilience and response.

Health Care Registration and R egulation —31030
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: An allocation, Madam Chairman, of $853,000 was made for the health care registration and regulations business unit. The Office of the
Chief Medical Officer oversees the registration and
reregistration of medical practitioners and the regulation of pharmacies in Bermuda. It also provides administrative support to the Bermuda Medical Council, with the Chief Medical Officer ( CMO ) serving as its
executive officer. The office ensures compliance with
best practi ce clinical standards, manages patient concerns and upholds the quality of medical and pharmaceutical care. Additionally, it administers the Profes-sional Conduct Committee for Medical Practitioners .
Madam Chair man, over the past year , the
section has effectively administered a range of pro-fessional services to Bermuda's health care sector.
This includes managing the registration of over 200
medical practitioners, holding full registration and processing more than 250 controlled pharmaceutical drug
licence applications. These efforts ensure compliance
with regulatory standards and contribute to the
maintenance of high- quality health care services on
the Island. The registration section consistently meets
its performance targets by maintaining accurate health
care professional registries and providing essential support to statutory boards in their registration and
complaints handling responsibilities. This ensures that
only qualified professionals are authorised to practi ce
thereby safeguarding public health and enhancing the
quality of health care services in Bermuda.
The O CMO 's role in safeguarding public
health through a range of statutory and regulatory
functions is invaluable. These responsibilities encom-pass advising g overnment departments on healthrelated matters, facilitating legislated health functions and supporting the essential regulatory work of statutory boards and councils. Additionally, the O CMO
serves as Bermuda's p ublic health focal point acting
as the primary communications channel for healthrelated information from regional and international authorities such as the World Health Organi zation, the
Pan American Health Organi zation, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency , and the Caribbean Public Health Agency. Collaborations with these international partners provide Bermuda with access to facilities for developing and training public health profes-sionals. Furthermore, these partnerships support and
implement strategic plans and offer technical assistance for the prevention, mitigation and management
of public health emergencies , including preparations
for disaster management and extreme weather
events.
Madam Chair man, this ends my presentation
on the business unit line item , 31030, Health Care
Registration and R egulations .

Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit —31040

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU), Madam Chair man, has been allocated $842,000 for fiscal year 2025/ 26. The ESU
monitors the prevalence of infectious diseases and
select chronic noncommunicable diseases on the I sland to mitigate their spread and impact. The unit also
collects data from health care providers and laboratories conducting investigations into unusual disease
occurrences . Integral to its functions , the ESU implements contact tracing and case management to pre-vent and/ or control potential disease outbreaks.
Madam Chair man, in November 20 24, Bermuda faced a significant public health challenge with
the emergence of a measles outbreak. The two cases
linked to international travel marked the first cases of
measles since 1990. The ESU team successfully coordinated the national response, working alongside
the Department of Health, health care professionals
and community stakeholders. The ESU ensured the
outbreak was successfully contained.
The ESU and the CMO also worked with international partners at the United Kingdom Health Se-curity Agency, the Caribbean Public Health Agency
and the Pan American Health Organization to ensure
the national response was effective. The ESU undertook activities including rapid case identification, con-tact tracing, public awareness and a period of enhanced surveillance. The outbreak was declared ended in February 2025, and the response of the ESU
team was described as impressive by international
public health agencies.
In the wake of these measles outbreaks and
these cases, the ESU will conduct an after -action review in May 2025 and this will focus on evaluating the response efforts, identifying gaps and opportunities for
improving preparedness for any potential future out706 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly breaks. In 2024/25, 97 per cent of communicable disease investigations were initiated within the established time frames by ESU.

Thank you.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: You are welcome.
Yes, line 31040, the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit has been allocated $842,000 for fiscal year 2025/26. The ESU monitors the prevalence of infectious diseases and select chronic non communicable diseases on the I sland to mitigate their spread
and impact. The u nit also collects data from health
care providers and laboratories conducting investigations into unusual disease occurrences . Integral to its
functions , the ESU implements contact tracing and
case management to prevent and/ or control potential
disease outbreaks.
As I indicated previously, Madam Chairman,
97 per cent of communicable diseases were investigated and initiated within the established time frames,
as set by ESU. The ESU team regularly conducts
community health surveys to assess and document
the health status of Bermuda's population. One such
initiative, which you have heard us speak about in this
Honourable Chamber, is the STEPS to a Well Bermu-da survey. This survey aims to provide a comprehensive snapshot of risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases, like diabetes, heart disease
and certain cancers.
The data collected from these surveys are instrumental in shaping public health priorities and in-forming strategic planning for the future. By understanding the prevalence of various health conditions
and risk factors, policymakers can develop targeted
interventions to improve the overall health of the
population. The findings from the STEPS survey will
also support Bermuda's ongoing health system reform efforts. In this regard, the ESU team will continue to
lead the STEPS survey and anticipates completing
the data collection process in 2025. Their efforts are crucial in ensuring evidence- based decision- making to
enhance health outcomes for our population.
Madam Chairman, in response to the rising
prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in Bermuda, the OCMO is actively developing chronic disease clinical standards and guidelines . Collaborating closely with the UHC [universal health coverage] project
management team, the CMO is facilitating the creation of clinical standards for the treatment of common
diseases in Bermuda . This initiative involves health
care professionals and specialists for both the public and private sectors, ensuring a comprehensive approach to chronic disease management.
The CMO further supports UHC efforts by
chairing the Clinical Senate and participating as a
member of the UHC Steering Committee, thereby
contributing to the strategic direction and implementation of these initiatives. These efforts are critical to
ensuring consistency , quality and equity in care
across the health system . By establishing national
clinical standards, the Office of the Chief Medical Office aims to align care practi ces with international best
practi ces while adapting them to Bermuda's unique
health care contexts.
This work will help reduce variations in treatment , promote evidence- based decision- making and
improve patient outcomes, particularly for conditions
such as diabetes and hypertension. As Bermuda continues to pursue universal health coverage, the development and adoption of standardised clinical guidelines will serve as a foundation for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of health services across the
Island.
The ESU team has been instrumental in building capacity for health emergency responses in Bermuda. Their work ensures that this country can rapidly
detect, assess and respond to health threats, minimising the impact on the population. ESU played a pivotal
role in completing the P ublic Health Emergency Response Plan, which will be simulated in June of 2025.
The simulation will serve as a critical test of
the plan’ s effectiveness allowing for the identification
of gaps, refining of protocols and strengthening of interagency collaboration. The office works closely with
the Health Disaster Coordination Unit to coordinate
efforts and enhance Bermuda's preparedness for public health emergencies. This plan is scheduled to be
updated biannually to ensure its relevance and effectiveness and underscores the M inistr y’s commitment
to maintaining a high level of preparedness and resilience in the face of evolving public health risk s.
Madam Chair man, this ends my presentation
for business unit 31040, Epidemiology and Surveillance.

Port Health— 31050
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now to line item 31050 ,
which again can be found at page B -150, Port Health .


Bermuda House of Assembly Madam Chair man, the Port Health b usiness
unit has a budget allocation of $541,000 for fiscal year
2025 /26. This u nit will take on the responsibility of
monitoring arriving travellers, conveyances and commodities at the airport and other ports of entry in order to provide controls against any infectious diseases
arriving on the Island from overseas. These functions
were previously under the Environmental Health programme but were moved to better align with the objectives of the OCMO.
The OCMO plays a pivotal role in protecting
public health in Bermuda through its comprehensive
pharmaceutical drugs control responsibilities . By registering pharmacies and overseeing the importance of prescription drugs, the OCMO ensures that controlled
substances are brought into the country solely by authorised health care entities. This oversight is crucial
in maintaining the integrity of Bermuda's health care
system and protecting the public from potential harm.
Furthermore, Madam Chair man, the OCMO 's
commitment to compliance with international standards is evident in its adherence to the quotas for controlled drugs allocated to Bermuda. Regular reporting
of import data to the International Narcotics Control
Board (INCB) in Vienna underscores Bermuda's dedication to upholding global drug control conventions.
Additionally, the OCMO ensures that all imported
medications comply with the P harmacy and Poisons
Act 1979, which is a key piece of legislation that regulates the importation, sale, and distribution of drugs
and poisons in Bermuda.
Madam Chair man, through these rigorous
measures the OCMO not only ensures the safety and
efficacy of pharmaceutical products available in Ber-muda but also reinforces the I sland ’s commitment to
maintaining high standards in public health and regu-latory practi ces.
This ends, Madam Chairman, my presentation
on business unit 31050, Port Health. This ends my
presentation on programme 210 2, the O ffice of the
Chief Medical Officer and this concludes my presentation on Head 21 , Ministry of Health Headquarters.

HEAD 22 —DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, turning now
to Head 22, which can be found on the following pages, B -154 through B -157 of the Estimates of Revenue
and Expenditure in the Budget Book.
It gives me great pleasure again to present
the budget for Head 22, the Department of Health,
pages B -154 through B -157. The total current expenditure is estimated at $36,764,000 for the 2025/26
budget year. This is an increase of 17 per cent, or
$5,464,000, compared with the original 2024/25 budget. The 2025/26 budget allocation for Head 22 also constitutes 15 per cent of the overall budget for
the Ministry of Health.
Vision and Mission
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The Department of Health's vision is Healthy people and healthy communities . The
department's mission is T o promote and protect optimum health and well -being in Bermuda. Madam
Chairman, 296 Department of Health officials —and
I'm still on page B -157—work within 27 Public Health
programmes to assume the health and well -being of
the population. The 2025/26 estimate is an increase of 20 posts, or 7 per cent over post levels from budget
year 2024/25. The total number of FTEs reflects the
unfreezing of posts from the 2024 to 2027 fiscal year
and the reorganisation of the Occupational Safety and
Health, Port Health and Child Care Regulations and
Child Health business units of the Department.
It is important to note, Madam Chairman,
however, that the apparent increase in 2025/26 is artificial and represents the restoration of 14 posts that
were deliberately unfunded in the previous budget
year.
Madam Chairman, you will recall that in my
budget brief from last year and the mid- year supplemental brief that the Ministry of Health committed to funding 14 posts so that they can be recruited in this
budget year 2025/26.
Madam Chairman, the projected revenue for
the Department of Health found at page B -156 is
$3,755,000 and that represents various fees, equipment and medication.
Madam Chairman, I will now address the first
programme [under] Head [22], Administration,
2102 [sic]. Madam Chairman, I am at 2205.

Thank you.

Administration— 2205

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chair man, the Department of Health Programme, 2205, Administration
comprises the business units of A dministration , Health
Promotion, Comprehensive School Health and Child
Care Regulations and the Administration ’s programme
consisting of 15 FTE s.
Are you w ith me ? Okay. I'm turning now to
line item 32230. That's still on page B -155.
This line item 32230 represents a $995,000
budget item and this represents an increase of
$530,000. This business unit, Madam Chair man, is
responsible for providing strategic direc tion, o verseeing the recruitment and retention of a competent work708 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly force to ensure that the d epartment delivers quality
public health services to the community , management
of the d epartment ’s infrastructure (including facilities,
vehicles and information technology ), and budget
monitoring and management. This business unit comprises only three FTEs and this is insufficient for one
of the largest government departments.
There is a proposal under consideration to
supplement human resources to better position the
Department of Health for modern and s trategic service
delivery and for change management that will be driven by the transition to universal health coverage and
an ageing population. This will include the addition of
a Health Informatics Manager and a H ealth Planning
and Performance Manager. These functions are key
for population health management programmes that
public health systems use to assure results when de-livering services to make populations healthier , ultimately promising strong return on investment through
improved population, health outcomes and efficient
service delivery .
Madam Chair man, for the 2024 /25 fiscal year,
the department achieved a 92 per cent staff retention
rate and is aiming for 95 per cent retention rate by
reintroducing and continuing opportunities for recogni-tion, like the long service awards, bonuses for exceptional performance and the revision of job descriptions
to ensure equitable compensation. The department
also continued providing training and development
opportunities, including reassignments to projects and
roles, to demonstrate public health competencies to sustain an optimal retention rate. The department is in
the process of completing succession planning to address attrition over the next 10 years due to retire-ments, contract expirations, resignations and promotions, and provide opportunities for staff development and preparation of the next generation of leaders.
With a large percentage of contract workers,
the department has made efforts to recruit and retain Bermudians for many of these specialised posts .
These include bursary students and trainees in these
hard- to-fill posts, including Public Health Nurses, Environmental Health Officers, Speech and Language
Pathologists, Physiotherapists and Laboratory Analysts.
Madam Chair man, two Cabinet memos were
approved in 2024/25 fiscal year , which included a reorganisation of the Environmental Health section and
the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer. This resulted in
new and redefined posts to ensure the moderni sation
of public health services. The department still has
challenges in recruiting and filling posts within a timely
manner and has introduced key performance indicators to measure the length of time for local and overseas recruitments. The Department of Employee and
Organisational Development supports the Department of Health to address the backlog of recruitment, which
has remnants of the COVID -19 pandemic , the aforementioned hiring freezes and natural attrition for a large department to ensure that we meet the targeted outcomes.
Programme managers have also been trained
as recruitment managers themselves to lead in the
recruitment drives, thereby reducing the length of time of recruitment. In this way, additional resources are
being engaged to bear on the ongoing need to recruit
approximately 20 to 30 post s annually. To keep pace
with turnover, two or three department of head re-cruitments must occur each month and more recruitments are needed to make headway into the pool of vacant posts that arose from the above- mentioned
reasons.
Madam Chair man, this ends my presentation
on business unit 32230, Administration.

Health Promotion— 32240

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I am still at page B-155, turning
now to line item 32240, Health Promotion. The
2025 /26 budget estimate for the H ealth Promotion and
Wellness business unit of the Department of Health,
listed at cost centre 32240 on page B -155 is
$773,000, and this is a 24 per cent increase over the
year 2024/ 25 and [is] accounted for not only by salary
uplifts but also additional modest funding for health
promotion events and funds that will support adoles-cent mental health training.
Madam Chair man, the first strategic principle
of the Bermuda Health Strategy is health promotion, which emphasises the importance of encouraging
healthy living and preventative care as foundational
elements of a strong and sustainable health system .
The Health Promotion and W ellness Programme
plays a central role in this effort, working to develop
and implement public health policies, programmes
and educational tools that empower individuals and
communities to make informed choices about their
health. In collaboration with p ublic health partners , the
programme focuses on raising awareness, reducing
risk factors and fostering environments that support
wellness through the lifespan.
A key element of successful health promotion
is health literacy, the ability of individuals to obtain,
understand and use health information to make ap-propriate decisions. Higher levels of health literacy are
directly linked to better health outcomes as they enable individuals to navigate the health system more
efficiently adhering to treatment regimes , engage in
preventative behaviours and manage chronic condi-tions. Equally important is the promotion of behavioural change, which involves shifting long- standing
habits related to diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol use
and medication adherence. These behaviours are
among the leading contributors to non- communicable
diseases which are prevalent in Bermuda and p ose
significant burdens on individuals, families and the
health system.


Bermuda House of Assembly By investing in health promotion that
strengthens health literacy and encourages positive
behavioural change, the Ministry of Health is laying
the groundwork for a healthier, more empowered
population . These efforts not only improve individual
well-being but also help to reduce the long- term demand on health care services. They help to lower system costs and support the broader goals of universal health coverage. In essence, health promotion is not
just about preventing illness. It is about creating a culture of wellness where people are informed, engaged
and supported in leading healthier lives.
Madam Chair man, the annual health promotion calendar is a product that the H ealth Promotion
Programme uses to inform the public of the many
health promoting activities and observances of the
department and community health partners. In the
2024 calendar, each month focused on a healthy recipe using fruits and vegetables that are grown locally. I
want to take a moment to recognise the late Pauleter
Stevens, who was the Health Promotion Officer who was responsible for coordinating the production of the
health promotion calendar. Paulet er was a true champion for public health and a stalwart with the H ealth
Promotion and Wellness Office. Her passion and dedication were evident to every facet of her work, and she will be deeply missed by all those who knew her.
Madam Chair man, two of the Department of
Health events of the calendar that Health Promotion
annually sponsors are Public Health Week and Celebrating Well. The 202 4 theme for Public Health Week
was “Protecting, Connecting and T hriving : We are all
Public Health .” Each day of P ublic Health Week focused on a particular public health topic and identified
ways to make a difference on that topic.
The topics were community , healthy neighbourhoods , violence prevention, sexual and reproductive health, mental health and food and nutrition. Activities related to each topic were offered to the community and a highlight was the “Let's Talk Mental
Health” that featured a panel of local mental health
professionals providing information and answering
audience questions regarding mental well -being.
Madam Chair man, the C elebrating Wellness
Week is an annual event geared towards increasing
awareness and promoting measures to address the
epidemic of non- communicable diseases which continue to severely impact the health economy and development of Bermuda. The 2024 focus was “P ower
Through Collective Action : Good Health is Our Right,”
and this event featured community partners who pro-vided information, health screenings and activities to
promote healthy living. To combat noncommunicable
diseases, we need to make commitments to live a
healthy lifestyle by moving more every day , choosing
water, eating more vegetables and protecting our
mental well -being. It is important to note that we must
work together as a community if we are going to promote mental well -being and tackle the chronic diseas-es and noncommunicable diseases , modifiable risk
factors for diseases like diabetes, heart disease and
cancer . The goal of the Department of Health is to
reduce the number of Bermuda residents who are at risk of chronic disease.
In 2024, Madam Chair man, the Department of
Health, in collaboration with the Bermuda National
Athletics Association, the Ministry of Social Development and Seniors and the Ministry of Youth, Culture
and Sports hosted the second annual Move M ore
Bermuda Senior Games. The Move More Bermuda
Senior Games i s part of the Department of Health ’s
Move More Bermuda campaign, which was launched
in 2011, and these initiatives aim to promote the importance of incorporating physical activity into our daily lives. We celebrated people 50 years and older who
enjoy being active and enjoy a little healthy competi-tion. The Move More Bermuda Senior Games provided our participants with various track and field events
that suit their abilities and preferences.
There are many benefits for those persons
over 50 and having an active lifestyle. According to
the National Institute of Ageing, staying active can
help an individual to maintain and improve their
strength, have more energy, improve their balance,
manage and prevent some diseases, sleep better,
reduce stress and anxiety, reach or maintain a healthy
weight, control their blood pressure and perk up their
mood. More than 50 local competitors participated in
the event, and it is scheduled to take place again in
June of 2025. I would invite all Honourable Members
50 and older to join with me as we participate in the Move More Senior Games.
Madam Chairman, continuing the work of
destigmati sing mental health, in 2024, there were 32
professionals who formed the s econd cohort of the
Community Adolescent Mental Health Training Programme. The cohort was comprised of professionals
from the Department of Education, the Department of
Child and Family Services and the Department of
Health. Participants in this programme learned about
stigma , completed the youth mental health first aid
course which was facilitated by Dr. Judith Bruce Golding of Mental Health First Aid [England] and local instructors Dr. Allison Daniels and Ms. Yosef yah
Spence. They learned about adolescent development,
signs and symptoms of common disabling mental
health problems and crisis situations , when and how
to refer students and how to promote anti -stigma in
the school environment. Several trainings are scheduled for 2025.
Madam Chair man, additionally, in 2024 we
commissioned an instructor training course through
Mental Health First Aid [England] and we trained five
local professionals and three from two Overseas Territory ( UKOTs ) islands to be instructors in youth mental
health first aid, thereby strengthening our local capaci-ty to offer more sessions . These sessions empower
adults to recognise the signs of mental health chal710 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly lenges in young people and respond with appropriate
support. The inclusion of participation f rom other UK
Overseas Territor ies al so fosters regional collaboration and knowledge sharing, helping to build a stronger, more resilient mental health network across our
island communities.
Madam Chair man, the H ealth Promotion team
started the refresh of the Well Bermuda Health Promotion Strategy, with assistance from the UK Health
Security Agency. The refresh commenced with a desktop review of the strategy and related documents, such as an action plan, progress reports and presentations, Government policies and other related Bermuda Government strategies. This was completed by
interviews with relevant stakeholders in Bermuda, including those who were directly involved with the W ell
Bermuda Strategy and those whose work is related
but have yet to be actively involved. The review aimed
to understand progress and achievements in data
across the objectives and priorities of the Well Bermuda Strategy , to understand the challenges reported
by stakeholders in delivering the core objectives and to collate views of future priorities for health improvement and health promotion.
And finally, Madam Chair man, the Health
Abets Podcast was launched in April of 2024, and the
aim of this podcast is to discuss everything from A to
Z on healthy living with the mission of empowering,
informing, motivating Bermuda's residents . Currently,
the podcast episodes are featured on the Department
of Health's Facebook and YouTube channels.
Madam Chair man, this ends my presentation
on business line item 3224 0, Health Promotion.

Comprehensive School Health —32265
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now to line item 32265,
Comprehensive School Health and that can be found
again at page B-155 on the Budget Book. And this is
also referred to, Madam Chairman, as H ealthy
Schools . The line item budget for this is $170,000,
which is a significant increase from previously
$157,000. The Healthy Schools Programme promotes
health in schools through government departments
such as Education, National Drug Control and Mirrors ,
Child and Family Services, community health partners
such as the Bermuda Diabetes Association, Bermuda Cancer and Health, the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute and the Department of Health s chool -
based programme including Child and School Health,
Nutrition Services, Oral Health , Communit y Rehabilitation Services and E nvironment al Health.
The Healthy Schools Programme collaborates
with the schools to implement the 10 components of health and ensure integration of those components
with academics. The 10 components include physical
education, nutrition education, mental and emotional
health, health services, healthy environment, health
promotion for staff , substance abuse prevention, fami-ly and community involvement, health and safety education and school policy and the environment. In
2024 /25, 80 per cent of . . . 25 of 31 schools took part
in the programme, adopting the 10 components. Schools receive feedback about what health looks like on their campuses and tips for making improvements.
And each spring schools compete in a self -
assessment that reflects the 10 components of health
and how they compl y with this year's health components . And then the progress of schools is celebrated
at the annual Healthy Schools Awards ceremony held
in May. And that was actually held last week. So honourable colleagues will probably hear more about that
and the schools that participate d.
So, Madam Chair man, in compliance with the
school nutrition policy , the Healthy Schools team is
working more closely with the Department of Education to limit all fast -food deliveries to schools for any
reason and fast food- focused fundraising to no more
than once a month. Healthy S chools has provided
schools with recommendation for non- food related
fundraiser s as well as rewards . And all public and private schools have at least one filtered bottle filling station and/ or a filtered water system making fresh, clean
water the easiest choice. Healthy S chools also supports and recognises those schools that choose to
implement their own water -only policy.
Madam Chair man, in 2025 /26, Healthy
Schools will continue to encourage schools to grow
edible plants, fruits and vegetables. Additionally, to
help students understand their own health- related fitness , Healthy Schools will continue to work with the
Department of Education ’s Curriculum Officer for
Physical Education and Health to improve the completion of the F itnessGram assessments for P5 to S4
students in terms one and three. Meetings are
planned to encourage schools to integrate small
bursts of physical activity throughout the day in the
classroom and to present strategies on how they can
implement the daily mile with students and staff each
morning.
A healthy lifestyle assembly is provided by
Healthy Schools in as many preschools, schools and
camps as possible that includes fun and interactive
discussions about the importance of adopting, practi cing and maintaining healthy habits and lifestyles.
Healthy Schools has also designed a Wellness
Wednesday calendar that preschools and schools can
use to highlight a healthy habit each Wednesday .
Students and staff are also encouraged to practi ce the
healthy habit throughout the week. Healthy S chools
has also developed a school health policy manual that
schools can reference when they have a question or
concern related to safety and health at school. All
schools have received copies and are due to receive the 3
rd edition.
Madam Chair man, for the e nvironmental
component, Healthy Schools and the Department of
Education’s facilities management in partnership with


Bermuda House of Assembly the Environmental Health Department will carry on
working closely with school custodians and cleaning
companies that clean schools to raise school's environmental cleanliness standards through frequent
cleanliness inspections and . . . they are monitoring
tools and provide feedback to each school custodian
for improvement.
In addition, since 2020, H ealthy Schools has
been working with the public and private schools to
improve compliance with the Bermuda Schools asthma policy and ensure optimal environmental health in
schools by having schools reduce clutter in classrooms and other school areas and eliminate the use
of scented plug- in air fresheners and aerosol sprays.
Madam Chair man, since the summer of 2021 ,
Healthy Schools has been coordinating out -of-school
camps during all school breaks and after school programmes throughout the school year . To ensure children’s safety and health, H ealthy Schools provide s
support and public health updates, monitor safety and health standards, and conduct surveillance visits as
needed. Discussions are planned to begin setting
standards for camps to ensure the safety and health
of all children enrolled in out of school camps and after school programmes.
Madam Chairman, finally, during 2025, the
Health Promotion team plans to conduct the World
Health Organisation’s Global School Health Survey as part of its ongoing efforts to better understand and
support the health and well -being of young people.
This internationally standardised survey collects crucial data on health behaviours and protective factors
among students, including physical activity, diet, mental health, substance abuse and exposure to violence. The insights gained are vital for the development and
implementation of evidence- based health programmes, policies and initiatives tailored to the specif-ic needs of Bermuda ’s youth. By identifying emerging
trends and risk factors early, the survey enables tar-geted prevention strategies, promotes long- term
health and strengthens disease prevention and efforts within this key population group.
This ends my presentation on business unit
line item 32265, Comprehensive School Health.
Turning now to 32290, still on page B -155, is
Child Care Regulations.

Minister, before you continue, can I
just remind the listening audience what they're hearing here? Thank you.
Listening audience, this is a reminder that we
are in Committee of Supply for further consideration of
the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the
year 2025/26. We are now in debate on the Ministry of
Health being led by the Honourable Minister Kim Wilson, JP, MP, and we are under the Head of Depart-ment of Health.
Minister Wilson, thank you.
Child Care Regulations, 32290
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you. Madam Chairman,
this is the budget as it relates to Child Care Regula-tions or the CCR business unit. And again, I am on page B -155 and their budget is $510,000, and this
increase of 38 per cent or $140,000 is entirely due to
staffing and budgeting for four posts to sustain the programme.
This business unit is responsible for the registration certificates of day care providers and licences for day care centres. For the fiscal year 2024/25,
Madam Chairman, 85 per cent of day care providers
and day care centres received the S.T.A.R.S. inspections and those were completed. The CCR team was
able to investigate complaints within the allocated time
frame (48 hours) for concerns for children's safety and five days for non- safety risk complaints. This was due
to clear procedural guidelines and productive partnerships with the relevant agencies when conducting joint
investigations. Following the inspection period, the
CCR team created focused professional development
workshops to help address areas of growth for day
care centres and day care providers. These workshops, in addition to access to pre- recorded professional development sessions, assisted with meeting
the target of offering the total hours of recommended professional development for the day care providers
and the day care centres.
Madam Chairman, our young children deserve the highest quality of care and education, and the field of early childhood education is constantly
evolving. Continuous learning is not only essential for professional growth, but keeping up with the advancements in the field allows providers and centre
staff to refine their skills, expand their knowledge and
become more effective in their roles, thereby increasing the quality of care. Knowing how important professional development is to those working with children,
the Child Care Regulations team started the developing professionals training in 2024. These th ree monthly professional development training sessions available to all providers and centre staff allow participants
to gain knowledge and skills on a variety of topics
based on trends observed by the [CCR] staff or based on the recommendations of participants, and we look
forward to expanding the list of presentations as the
series grows.
Madam Chairman, the second cohort of the
Child Care certificate programme commenced in September 2024, and we are excited to see persons interested in a career in the field of early childhood , taking advantage of this opportunity at the Bermuda College. These participants can apply the knowledge and
skills that they have gained in the classroom during
their practicums in our four - or five -star rated centres .
Without the collaboration between CCR, the Bermuda
College and Department of Education, this second
712 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly cohort would not have been possible, and this is a
win-win for all parties involved.
Madam Chair man, there continues to be an
increase in providers and centres that not only meet
the minimum requirements by law, but choose to ex-ceed them by implementing the best practi ce standards which are evaluating using an inspection tool
referred to as the S .T.A.R.S. The S.T.A.R.S. i nspection is a comprehensive tool looking at areas such as
supervision, health, safety, learning environment and
materials, caregiver competencies and parent /family
engagements to list a few. T he S.T.A.R.S. tool allows
the officers to evaluate various aspects of child care
while providing support and guidance throughout the process.
The aim is to ensure safe and enriching environments for our children to grow and to develop where quality continues to be raised. The public is
now able to access a list of all day care providers and
day care centres that are licenced and registered with
the Department of Health by parish and S .T.A.R.S.
rating. This is in addition to a summary report that allows parents to see how the provider or care centre
performed on their S.T.A.R.S. inspections in [20] 22
and [20]23. T he summary report lists the individual
areas inspected and how well they performed, and
this tool is a starting point for parents when considering the best placement for their child.
The CCR website also has a checklist and a
booklet to assist parents with what to look for and what questions to ask to help them make an informed
decision.
Madam Chair man, the CCR team continues to
make improvements to its programme using the data from the relationship- building and collaborative collaboration survey. The data shows that the team has made gains in several areas and the work to collabo-rate continues. The C CR team is committed to work
together with the sector to achieve its mission: Happy,
healthy and safe child care.
Madam Chair man, this ends my presentation
on business line item 32290, Child Care Regulations ,
and this ends my presentation on programme 2205,
Administration at page B -155.

Community Health, 2201
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The second programme I would
like to present is under Head 22 and it is Community
Health and that's at page B -154, l ine item 2201.
The Department of Health’s programme again
comprises 13 business units and it is again at page B154, and I will go through those units and the total
budgetary allotment for those 13 business units is
$26,741,000 . This represents an increase, Madam
Chair man, of 15 per cent over the 20 24/25 original
budget and is on par with the salaries uplift that's al-ready been previously mentioned. The budget units for the Community H ealth
programme consist of 221 FTEs. Starting with line
item 32000, Lefroy [House] Care Community and
32015 Sylvia Richardson Care Fa cility and again,
Madam Chair man, I am still on page B -154.
The Department of Health operates two exemplary long- term care facilities. The S ylvia Richardson Care Facility in St. George’s and the Lefroy
House Care Community in Sandys. T he 2025/ 26
budget estimate for Lefroy H ealth Care Facility listed
at business unit 32000 on page B -154 is $5,321,000.
The 2025/ 26 budget estimate for Sylvia [Richardson]
Care Facility listed at business unit 32 015 represents
$6,000,212. These amounts are increased by 6 [per
cent] and 4 per cent, respectively , from the original
2024 /25 budget amount .
Both facilities, Madam Chair man, provide care
and promote independence and optimal health for
persons age 65 years and over who have significant
nursing and care needs requiring 24- hour facility -
based care. The two facilities are residential care communities providing comprehensive medical , nursing, environmental and recreational services to the
resident and respite care elders. Our aim is to maintain and improve quality of life for elders and their
loved ones. The demand for nursing beds continues
to far exceed capacity. Sylvia Richardson and Lefroy
House collaborate with A geing and Disability Services, community health and the social work teams
from the Department of Health and the Bermuda Hospitals Board to prioritise and fill the vacant beds as
they become available.
At Lefroy House, i nfrastructure projects continue to improve and optimise the living space for el-ders. The kitchen , dining hall and storage areas have
been completely refurbished and the staff lounge and
toilet facility renovation is complete. Windows and doors have been replaced in the administration and
main buildings. The entire roof of the main building
was recovered and waterproofed. Replacement of the
internal sealing material in the communal areas is underway . With the completion of these major works the
restricted operating licence has been lifted with the Regulator allowing full occupancy of which the premises can have—which is a total of 32.
Respite care will recommence once the shipment of new beds is received in the weeks ahead.
Day care can no longer be facilitated due to the increased level of care that the residents and elders require, giv en that over 80 per cent of the residents
have dementia and that their client profile creates its
own staffing constraints . The activities programme
has been restructured to accommodate the needs of
the current clientele as we aim to provide elders with
meaningful engagement.
Finally, educational opportunities have been
facilitated so that the staff have the required skill set to continue to provide a high level of care. General repairs and maintenance, at Lefroy maintain a safe and


Bermuda House of Assembly comfortable environment for our resident elders and
staff. However, a new build is planned due to the demand for beds . Plans to build a new Lefroy House at a
new location are still moving forward as architectural firms have been invited to submit proposals for a design competition for a new build. Three firms have
been shortlisted for the conceptual design phase and
the winning firm is to receive $70,000 and the opportunity to design the new Lefroy facility . The deadlines
for the submissions of this competition were 2 May of
this year.
Madam Chair man, the Sylvia Richardson
Care Facility, has been accommodating at -risk seniors
referred from emergency admission via Ageing and
Disability Services, investigations and proposals for
increasing the capacity of S ylvia Richardson Care Facility, leveraging the existing staff and facilities to in-crease the long- term care capacity in Bermuda are
underway .
Madam Chair man, maintaining the required
minimal staffing levels 24- hours per day, whilst ensuring coverage is found for staff who are out on sick
leave and vacation have resulted in significant overtime expenditure. The operating costs have increased
significantly , especially the cost of supplies, food and
utilities. Additionally, the repair /replacement of equipment and maintenance costs have increased. New beds have been purchased and are being shipped. Overall, the performance measures indicate a positive
trend in preventative care and a higher percentage of
residents receiving physicals and a low incidence of
severe pressure sores requiring treatment or hospitalisation. However, there are areas needing improvement, such as the need for educational initiatives for key preventative measures like reducing urinary tract
infections, falls and pressure sores.
Madam Chair man, efforts were made to survey family members of the residents of Sylvia Richardson Care F acility with phone calls made to connect
with relatives to ascertain their feedback on the facility’s service delivery . However, only 12 out of 42 family
members completed the survey . While some families
indicated they would participate later, feedback from
the 12 respondents showed mixed opinions. Approximately one-third felt communication could be improved to better involve and inform them about their
family members well -being . On a positive note, about
one-third expressed satisfaction with the c are provided by Sylvia Richardson Care Facility, noting the
clean environment and that their loved ones appeared
well cared for. Conversely , around 14 per cent of family members suggested that certain staff members
would benefit from more training and dealing with elderly residents with dementia.
Madam Chair man, ongoing education and
training are critical to enhancing the skills and knowledge of the nursing home staff. Staff development has a direct correlation with improved patient
care, resident satisfaction and overall necessary skills to respond efficiently to the evolving needs of the res-idents, particularly in an era where health care is consistently changing. Recent studies have shown that a
well-trained staff is essential in reducing errors in
health care and improving the quality of life for residents. Thus, this increased allocation is not merely an
expense but a strategic investment in the nursing
homes foundational elements. The Sylvia Richardson
Care Facility management and staff are committed to
enhancing the quality of care through staff education
and necessary physical improvements. With the in-crease in the education budget and the attention to
furnishings and equipment needs, the nursing home is
positioning itself not only to maintain its high standards, but also to an exceptional living environment for
the residents and ensure that staff are fully prepared
to meet the evolving needs.
This ends my presentation with business line
item 32000, Lefroy [House] Care Community and
32015, Sylvia Richardson Care Facility.

Community Health Administration, 32010
and Community Health, 32060

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, turning to
32010, Community Health Administration and 32060
Community Health.
The 2025/26 budget estimates for business
line items. 32010 Community Health Administration
and 32060 Community Health, which [funds] the nursing team—we are still at page B -156—and represent
$1.573 million and $2.301 million, respectively.
Community Health nurses’ budget for 2025/26
will increase by $475,000, which represents a 26 per
cent. The Community Health Administration Business
unit consists of administration support and health education. The cost centre provides administrative support for the programme for preventative and curative
services, including child, school, travel, immunisation,
community nursing, sexual and reproductive health,
nutrition, clinical laboratory, rehabilitation, speech and
language pathology, as well as two long- term care
facilities and vaccine storage, medical office supplies and logistics. The programme assures coordination
and conditions in which the facilities can operate safe-ly, effectively and efficiently for clients and staff.
Madam Chairman, options to redesign the
Hamilton Health Centre are being explored to modern-ise and provide the services needed, particularly for persons with disabilities, mobility, adaptive equipment,
access, safety and health functionality, and privacy
considerations. The recruitment of new staff anticipated with the Community Health Administration reorganisation requires capacity for redesigned workspaces to
enhance the public health programme.
The risk assessment revealed privacy as one
of the leading concerns in all clinical areas requiring
strengthening. Additionally, the Mangrove Bay Clinic’s
renovation plans have progressed slowly, but it is at
714 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly the general contractor selection stage. Vehicular replacement included four electric vehicles to the fleet
with good effect for teams within the Community
Health section.
Madam Chairman, the social work team remains in demand, with one additional FTE position
filled. In 2024, there were a total of 109 new referrals
in addition to the existing case log. Of the new referrals, 65 per cent of the clients were discharged following resolution of the primary issue. This is reflective of the team’s effective and efficient role to help meet the increased needs of the community and connect persons with the appropriate services. The main reasons
for social worker referrals are financial hardship, care
support and care home placement assistance. Case
complexities are related to a lack of health insurance,
limited access to essential medications, and the inabil-ity to secure affordable housing. Collaborations with
NGOs to address homelessness continue.
Madam Chairman, the predominance of the
referrals has been received through the adult preventative health community nursing programme, which
has been instrumental in identifying persons in need.
There were 1,851 service events, which included
home and office visits, collaboration and correspond-ence with other agencies, family correspondence and
transportation assistance. In addition, biweekly participation in long- term care referrals team meetings occurred to ensure an efficient admissions process to
the Government’s long- term care facilities and for seniors.
The community health nursing team comprises a team of highly skilled, dedicated and community
nursing staff. Currently the team operates with only five full- time nurses and one temporary relief nurse.
To address the current staffing deficiencies and strengthen our capacity to meet the growing health care demands of our community, we have recruitment
drives ongoing. Another recruitment drive will be conducted this year to on board two more full -time public
health nurses. Despite the challenges posed by the existing staffing levels, our team has consistently delivered quality, professional care, maintaining a patient-centred and evidence- based health care approach.
Madam Chairman, the use of Penelope software for case management and electronic documen-tation reflects a commitment to staying technologically
advanced and is aligned with the Government’s initiative to be paperless. Numerous efforts have been made to streamline processes and make referral
forms and policies available online for other stakeholders to utilise. Although this is still a work in progress, completion before the end of the fiscal year is
anticipated.
Madam Chairman, the initiatives undertaken
such as the Adults Preventative Clinic and the HEARTS initiative demonstrate a proactive approach
to promoting healthy living practices and addressing prevalent health issues like hypertension, diabetes
and cardiovascular disease. The team continues to
provide excellent teaching to those within our services. Throughout the 2024/25 year, 54 acute preventative clinics were held once weekly with 566 patients seen for new and follow -up appointments, wound
care, education, blood pressure and glucose monitoring as well as other types of education. In February
2025, the clinic days increased, adding an additional
half-day for adult health clinics. The increase in patients, clinic days and complexity of cases highlights
the need for additional adult health services, improved
access to families that can meet these needs, advanced nurse practitioners and programmes for the
adult population in Bermuda. The addition of a Community Health social worker has been a necessary
asset to the team due to the number of complex social issues being encountered.
Madam Chair man, as Bermuda's population
continues to age and experience an increasing preva-lence of chronic illnesses, the demand for health care
services across acute community and home settings is projected to continue growing. While the need for
long-term care, skilled personal home care, respite
and palliative care rises there is a shortage of health
care professionals to meet these demands. Address-ing these demands requires a shift from the traditional physician centred model of care to one that leverages
the diverse skill set of a range of trained and quality
health professionals, including advanced practi ce
nurses. This year, the Ministry of Health will seek to
expand the role of advanced practi ce nurses, as a
part of the health care workforce strategy .
Madam Chair man, advanced practi ce nurses
are trained at the master’s or doctoral degree level
and are certified to deliver care within their competencies. Advanced practi ce nurses with training and
qualification and clinical assessment and prescribing
have an essential role in health care delivery, including the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of patients across various settings.
Madam Chair man, advanced practi ce nurses
play a pivotal role in increasing equity , access to
quality primary care services, especially for health
promotion, disease prevention and management of chronic conditions. In Bermuda's health care system,
there are significant opportunities to optimise the role
of advanced practi ce nurses, particularly by allowing
them to practi ce autonomously, including prescribing
medication within their areas of expertise. Additionally, collaborative practi ces with advanced practi ce nurses
have been demonstrated to improve patient outcomes
whilst alleviating physician workload, reduced wait
times, improving patient flow and enhancing efficiency. The Ministry acknowledges the need to ensure
appropriate accountability and infrastructure to sup-port the integration of advanced practi ce nurses into
the health care system and to update legislation to
protect the title of advanced practi ce nurses and reguBermuda House of Assembly late their practi ce. And we are committed to consulting
with regular health professionals to discuss the way
forward.
Madam Chair man, the H EARTS initiative continues to advance, with 119 clients on the registry who
have attended the clinic since commencing in 2022.
Much effort and training has been conducted to ensure adequate follow -up patient education and support for these those participating. The community
health nurses have also ensured that our homebound
population continues to be serviced and seen through home visits, reducing the burden of acute care services. There have been 6, 916 home visits conducted
within the community, providing wound care management, maintaining client independence and offering additional support with health care needs after
hospital discharge , education, long- term care assessments and other health care management needs.
A significant number of clients associated with
two or more agencies, and a substantial portion of the
client list requires a high level of support within the
community. Madam Chairman, 31 per cent of the
community nursing caseload receives financial assistance and finds it challenging to meet their basic
needs.
Madam Chairman, patient surveys have been
conducted showing 100 per cent satisfaction with the
timely responses of the Community nursing team and accessibility. It is particularly noteworthy that clients
reported being either very satisfied or extremely satis-fied with the services provided, reflecting a high level
of patient containment.

Thank you, Honourable Members ,
and the listening public.
We are listening to the debate for the Committee of Supply for the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditures for the budget year 2025 /26. This is two
hours into a four -hour debate , and we have been listening to the Honourable Minister Kim Wilson, JP, MP,
Minister of Health .
Minister, you have the floor. Please continue.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, throughout the year, the team
has participated in 16 h ealth promotion activities and
educational sessions, conducting health screenings
and referring clients according to their needs, demonstrating a comprehensive and proactive approach to
health maintenance. The team also collaborated throughout the hurricane season and was readily available with staff attending the hurricane shelter at
Cedar Bridge Academy last August.
Mr. Chairman, that ends the presentation of
business unit line item 32010, Community Health Administration and 3 2060, Community Health.

Child Health, 32030
Expanded Programmes on Immunisation, 32070

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chair man, turning now to
32030 Child Health and 32070 Expanded Programmes on Immunisation. I am still reading from
page B-154 of the B udget Book, in which C hild Health
listed at 32 030, received $3,124,000 and the C hild
Health budget has increased by $49,000 or 2 per
cent. The Child Health Unit consists of four sections :
immunisation, child health , school health including
asthma education, and travel health.
These sections, Mr. Chairman, provide preventative and curative health services for infants, children, adolescents, adults, seniors and the travelling
public. These are conducted through various clinics,
schools and community settings. Services include
health and developmental assessments, screening,
referrals, treatment of minor ailments, health education, health promotion, anticipatory guidance, adult
and senior immuni sations and travel consultations for
travel to high- risk areas.
Mr. Chair man, Bermuda’s Expanded Programme of Immunisation (or EPI ) plans for the needs
of vaccines in the child, adult, senior and travel health
immunisation schedules. EPI procures most of its vaccines through the Pan American Health Organi zation Revolving Fund. This process assures safe, effective and quality vaccines . Universal access for many
of the vaccines is provided through the public and private sector s. As the Department of Health undergoes
a structural reorganisation, the EPI programme under
its business unit 32070, will work across programmes
for the needs of individuals at all stages of life, and
this will impact business unit 32030, Child H ealth, as
funds will need to be reallocated to 32070 , the E xpanded Programme in Immunisation. And this programme has been funded for $ 1,003 ,000.
Mr. Chair man, the Expanded Programme of
Immuni sations in Bermuda provides equitable and
high-quality immunisation services to the population,
particularly targeting infants, children, pregnant women, adults, seniors, travel lers and vulnerable groups.
The programme aligns with global immunisation targets and public health guidelines established by t he
WHO a nd the Pan American Health Organi zation . The
EPI programme continues to play a critical role in en-suring the health and well -being of Bermuda's population, by delivering essential vaccines to prevent communicable diseases and prevent the importation and
transmission of diseases .
716 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Post COVID -19, Mr. Chairman, the declining
vaccination rate have highlighted the importance of
sustained immunisation efforts . Public concerns and
misinformation continue to affect immunisation, particularly for the MMR (the measles, mumps and rubella) and booster vaccines. Notably, the measles outbreak in November 2024 underscored the importance
of maintaining high immunisation rates and rapid response mechanisms.
Public Health Officers swiftly implemented
outbreak containment measures, including emergency vaccination clinics, public awareness campaigns and
private sector involvement. This resulted in coverage
of the first dose of the MMR achieving the target of
95 per cent by the end of 2024 . However, children
who are appropriately vaccinated by two years of age
remain below the target of 75 per cent , despite the
primary series of whooping cough, tetanus, pertussis,
diphtheria, polio and Haemophilus influenza achieving
90 per cent .
This requires more work through the vaccine
hesitancy strategy to develop trust and collaboration
with the community , key leaders and health professionals. Strengthening the information system and
timely reporting has realised popular and positive results through the use of electronic immunisation registry.
Mr. Chair man, the Department of Health administered 814 flu doses across the eastern, central
and western areas of the Island during the annual Flu
Express. Clients were able to get fast -tracked if they
registered and made payments online, which improved customer experience. The total flu vaccines
given between October 2024 to January 2025 was
1,691. Distribution to private facilities was 1, 461. A
total of 6 ,000 doses were procured and 2 ,790 doses
were distributed. This does not include what was im-ported by the private sector.
Mr. Chair man, I will now turn to the other
three sections of 32 030, Child Health Programme.
The Child Health continues to face human resource
challenges but is actively recruiting in all areas to
maintain high quality standards and services for child health and school health services. Despite this chal-lenge, the Child Health Programme has achieved positive outcomes with 88 per cent of parents of newborns receiving home visits within 14 days of birth and
all (100 per cent) of mothers being screened for maternal well -being at six weeks . Health visitors who are
advanced practi ce nurses are essential in delivering
health services to families with children under five .
Feedback from the First 1,000 Days Integrated Pathway community survey emphasised the need for additional antenatal support . And in response health visits
have begun offering antenatal home visits as a uni-versal service to pregnant women. Feedback has been positive so far and visitors plan to continue the
service to meet the community's needs. Additionally, initiatives to promote and increase breastfeeding rates have yielded positive results, with the exclusive breastfeeding rate at six
weeks rising to 44 per cent , up seven percentage
points from the previous year. Activities such as antenatal breastfeeding classes promotion during Breastfeeding Awareness Month and collaboration with King Edward Memorial Hospital and the National Breastfeeding Committee will continue to attain favourable
results.
Mr. Chair man, the School Health Programme
is still operating with fewer staff than the full -time
equivalent capacity. Despite these challenges, school nurses have diligently conducted health screenings
and assessments for five- year-olds. This dedication is
evident in the 96 per cent screening rate for the entire
five-year-old c ohort . In the prior school year, 48 per
cent of school health assessments were completed,
an increase of 19 percentage points over the previous
year and 100 per cent of school health assessments
were offered to all public schools. Last year, 21 per
cent of five-year-olds were identified as overweight or
obese, an increase of 1 per cent over the previous
year. Addressing childhood obesity remains a key fo-cus for school nurses, who are dedicated to promoting
healthy habits and carrying out the necessary interventions.
Mr. Chair man, the School Health Programme
collaborated with the Bermuda Public School system
to engage in the signature discovery sessions at
Whitney Institute Middle School . Through interactive
session, students explored nursing as a potential ca-reer path. This is in alignment with one of Bermuda
Health S trategy 2 022-2027 principal themes :
Strengthening Our Healthcare Workforce. The school
Asthma Education Programme is also actively gathering student asthma registries from all schools on the
Island, and this initiative focuses on educating school
staff about asthma management and providing per-sonalised teaching sessions for students who have
missed school due to asthma.
Mr. Chair man, finally , Travel Health. Travel
Health services continue to be in demand for the
community, with 644 consultations in 20 24/25, which
represents an increase of 283 consults from the previous year, likely a change in trend due to post
COVID -19. These consultations offer essential guidance on preventing waterborne, foodborne and vec-tor-borne illnesses , equipping Bermuda residents with
the knowledge they need to protect their health
abroad. By providing this crucial service, T ravel
Health aims to reduce the risk of infectious diseases
being brought back to Bermuda ensuring the safety
and well -being of our community . Looking ahead, this
unit will continue to adapt to evolving trends and
providing timely, relevant services that help safeguard
the health of our residents both at home and abroad.


Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Chair man, this ends my presentation for
business unit 32030, Child Health and 320 70, Expanded Programme on I mmunisation.

Sexual and Reproductive Health, 32040

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now, Mr. Chairman to
line item 32 040, still at page B -154, Sexual and Reproductive Health. Mr. Chairman, this was awarded
the sum of $985,000. Savings are being achieved by
delaying the recruitment of a vacant administrative post for part of the year.
Mr. Chairman, the Sexual and Reproductive
Health Programme consists of two sub programmes: maternal health and communicable diseases. Sexual
health requires a positive and respectful approach to
sexuality and sexual relationships, and the pro-gramme addresses this through high quality information and education, treatment and interventions.
Mr. Chairman, women make up approximately
54 per cent of Bermuda's population. Of these, more
than three- quarters, at any one time, want to either
prevent or achieve pregnancy. It is crucial that women have a choice and control over reproduction to ensure
pregnancies are planned and wanted, health is opti-mised before and during pregnancy and women who
do not wish to have children can effectively prevent
becoming pregnant. To reach these goals, the sexual and reproductive clinics offer comprehensive family
planning services to the underinsured and uninsured
populations at low cost.
Mr. Chairman, a planned pregnancy is likely
to be a healthier one, as unplanned pregnancies rep-resent a missed opportunity to optimise pre-pregnancy health. For this reporting period referrals
for termination of pregnancy had decreased by 11 per
cent in comparison to the previous year. Women seeking the service range in age from 17 to 38 and
despite the declining number of referrals, young women remain the group at the highest risk of unplanned
pregnancies. Outcomes for young parents and their
children are still disproportionately suboptimum, contributing to intergenerational inequity with increased
costs to the education, health and welfare services. Family planning is important for women of reproductive age, with contraception providing a longer opportunity to address any health issues in advance of a
pregnancy, leading to better health outcomes. There
was a 3 per cent increase this year in the number of
women accessing Sexual Reproductive Health clinics
for contraception and family planning information.
Mr. Chairman, the World Health Organization
recommends a minimum of four antenatal visits as more and better -quality contacts with health professionals will help to facilitate timely detection of risk, reduce complications and lead to healthy outcomes. In Bermuda, 74 per cent of women attending Sexual
Reproductive services had four or more antenatal.
contacts, of which 42 per cent were transferred care to OB/GYNs once they acquired health insurance,
5 per cent left to deliver abroad, 2 per cent miscarried
and 2 per cent had pre- term labour. These figures
underscore the importance of continued efforts to enhance access to antenatal care and ensure that all expectant mothers receive the support they need to
achieve the best possible outcomes for themselves
and their babies.
Mr. Chairman, the human papilloma virus, or
HPV vaccine, has proven to be a highly effective tool
in reducing the incidence of anti -genital cancers and
genital warts in both men and women. By preventing
the spread of high- risk strains of HPV vaccines significantly lowers the risk of developing several types of
cancer, including cervical, anal and throat cancers, as
well as genital warts. Since the introduction of the
HPV vaccine through the Sexual Health clinics, 82 per
cent of females and 18 per cent of males have received the vaccine. This initiative primarily targets individuals who may not have received the vaccine during adolescence, ensuring that even later in life they
are protected from the associated risk of HPV infection. As we continue to promote this vaccine, it is essential to recognise its long- term benefits, not just in
terms of cancer prevention, but also in reducing health
care costs associated with the treatment of HPV -
related diseases. Increased uptake of the vaccine is in
both genders will help prevent future cases of HPV -
related cancers, leading to healthier outcomes for the
community overall.
Mr. Chairman, sexually transmitted infections
including HIV pose significant public health challenges
and can lead to severe long- term health complications
if left undiagnosed and untreated. These complications may include infertility, chronic pain, cancer and
increased susceptibility to other infections. In the past
year, a total of 4,152 STI screening tests were conducted through the Bermuda Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinic at a cost exceeding $70,000. These
screenings are a vital part of our public health strategy
aimed at detecting infections early and ensuring timely
intervention.
Mr. Chairman, of the individual screened
1,348 people received comprehensive STI testing,
with 35 per cent found to require treatment. This significant percentage highlights the importance of making screening service accessible, confidential and
stigma free. By identifying infections early we are not
only able to prevent further health deterioration in in-dividuals, but also significantly reduce the risk of onward transmission within the community. Moreover,
early detection and treatment are essential tools in
curbing the spread of STIs and managing and mitigating the broader impact on public health. Ongoing investment in STI screening, public education, and access to treatment ensures that individuals are empowered to take control of their sexual health.
Mr. Chairman, that ends my presentation on
line item 32040, Sexual and Reproductive Health.
718 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Physiotherapy, 32080
Occupational Therapy, 32120

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now to line item 32080,
Physiotherapy and 32120 Occupational Therapy and I
am still on page B -154, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Minister.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The 2025/26 budget estimates
for the respective line items are $1,284,000 and
$1,164,000, respectively. Both budget amounts have
increased by 6 [ per cent] and 7 per cent, respectively,
year over year from 2024/25 original estimates.
Mr. Chairman, under the remit of Community
Rehabilitation Services, Occupational Therapy and
Physiotherapy Services aimed to maximise the func-tional potential of children with delays in normal motor
development or people with physical movement challenges. This rehabilitation service which spans the
age spectrum, is organised into three teams: early interventions, school -based therapy and seniors. The
staff is comprised of nine registered occupational
therapists and eight registered physiotherapists, one
coordinator and one team administrative assistant who is shared with the Speech and Language Pathology Service.
To strengthen Bermuda’s health care workforce, trainee physiotherapist positions have been initiated. One position is already filled and recruitment
for the second position is underway. Furthermore, in-vestments in professional development have led to all
paediatric therapies and most adult therapists obtaining certification in neurodevelopment treatment, ena-bling them to more effectively address complex neurological conditions, including stroke, developmental delay, cerebral palsy and various other neurological conditions. With an early intervention team, dedicated
specialist OTs and PTs provide early intervention for
babies and young children ages zero to four at risk of
developmental delays and or disability.
The OT and PT early intervention services
aims to complete a full assessment of referred clients
within 20 working days to ensure the appropriate in-terventions provided and to mitigate any delay in function. Approximately 93 per cent of referrals were received for PT services and 84 per cent for OT were
assessed within the established time frame this fiscal year, while an estimated 91 per cent of clients on the
PT caseload and 100 per cent of clients on the OT
caseload were making steady progress towards their goals that were established.
Mr. Chairman, improvements in staffing have
contributed to better outcomes even as demand for both early intervention OT and PT services remains
high. Additionally, outreach initiatives have been ex-panded to equip parents and caregivers with practical
strategies and home programmes ensuring early and
effective intervention. Assessment clinics are held weekly to promptly identify and address sensory motor delays in babies and young children, thereby enhancing their functional potential and quality of life.
Furthermore, parent and multidisciplinary training sessions have been delivered throughout the year, which have effectively reduced the number of referrals from
the early intervention team to school -based services.
Mr. Chairman, the school -based paediatric
therapy team aims to increase early recognition of
sensory, motor and developmental delays and provide
a more equitable service for school -aged children
throughout the year, not just during school term time.
The OT and PT school -based service aims to complete a full assessment of referred clients within 20
working days . Approximately 59 per cent of referrals
received for PT services and 73 [per cent] for OT services were assessed within the established time frame
and an estimated 87 per cent of school -aged children
for PT caseload and 84 per cent for OT caseload were
progressing towards established goals . While the
school -based PT team experienced a period of reduced staffing which resulted in fewer clients being
assessed within the established time frames, effective
teamwork and collaboration, particularly in the delivery
of home and classroom programmes for parents and
caregivers helped to mitigate these challenges.
Mr. Chairman, during the current fiscal year,
the team successfully conducted sensory motor
screening for each child entering primary one in the
government school system. Additionally, services
were extended to summer camps attended by children
with complex medical needs, ensuring the preservation of skills acquired during the school year and miti-gating the risk of regression. Furthermore, this year
selected students based on their level of severity and
in alignment with the programme’s intervention goals
participated in intensive neural development treatment
sessions as part of the Neuro- Developmental Treatment (NDT) certification workshop for therapists. Several children from the government school system, including Dame Marjory Bean Hope Academy, engaged
in off -site intensive multidisciplinary OT , PT and SLP
sessions.
Mr. Chair man, the OT and P T seniors team
aims to support clients in remaining as independent
as possible in their own homes . The seniors team
conducts home safety and fall -risk assessments for all
eligible seniors referred to minimise the risk of falls at home and in this reporting period, client and caregiver training was provided to maximise function and promote ageing in place. In addition, several health promotion and educational activities were conducted to
further educate and promote healthy ageing within our community . The OT and PT seniors -based service
aims to complete a full assessment of referral clients within 20 working days and approximately 96 per cent
of the referrals received for PT services and 92 per
cent for OT services were assessed within the established time frame and an estimated 72 per cent of cliBermuda House of Assembly ents on PT caseload and 77 per cent on OT caseload
were progressing towards established goals
This ends my presentation with respect to line
item 32080, P hysiotherapy and 32120, Occupational
Therapy .

Clinical Laboratory, 32090

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning to 32090, Clinical Laboratory and again I am still remaining on page B -154.
Mr. Chairman, the C linical Laboratory received $893,000 and this budget reflects the merged
laboratories which [were] once separately the Clinical
Laboratory at the Hamilton Health Centre and the
Bermuda Molecular Diagnostic and Research Laboratory, or MDL, in Warwick . The merged laboratory is
now renamed and registered by the Bermuda Health Council as the Bermuda Government Clinical Lab.
The 12 per cent budget increase is due to several factors. The L aboratory is now a separate facility which
requires maintenance and utility operations. The op-erational cost of real time PCR, which is a gold standard for communicable disease testing, also contributes to the increase in cost. This testing methodology
offers flexibility for the identification of new and
emerging public health threats . Funding is also allowed in expansion of testing for non- communicable
diseases, mainly for the adult health programme.
Mr. Chair man, the Clinical Lab is responsible
for clinical laboratory diagnostic testing for the pro-gramme within the various clinics, such as the Maternal Health and F amily Planning, the Communicable
Disease Clinic, the Adult Health Programme, Child
Health and Oral Health as needed and the clinical laboratory also serves as the public h ealth laboratory for
Bermuda, assisting with outbreak investigations and public health emergencies. The lab provides speci-men referrals for highly infectious organisms that cannot be tested locally. The collaboration with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) , as well as UK
HSA can be arranged to provide advanced testing of diseases which has major public health significance.
The merge d Bermuda Government Clinical
Laboratory maintains accreditation standards under
the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation
(COLA ) and upheld registration requirements by the
Bermuda Health Council . The lab currently provides
clinical chemistry , haematology, serology, immunology, microbiology and real time PCR using a robust quality assurance system. M olecular testing for sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhoea and
chlamydia continue to be the gold standard for STI
identification . The laboratory has performed 5 ,867
sexually transmitted diagnostic testing during the last
budget year, which is approximately 26 per cent of the
overall diagnostic testing provided by the Government
programme. Mr. Chairman, 3.5 per cent of the testing
is clinical chemistry. There has been significant decline in COVID -19 testing, which is constituting less than 10 per cent of the total number of diagnostic testing. This decline is due to less screening for the coronavirus.
Mr. Chair man, I am pleased to report that the
forecast performance measures were mostly
achieved. The target goal outcome for communicable
disease testing was underachieved due to several
changes in location. The outcome for non -
communicable disease testing has increased, which is due to the adult health programme and as the Clinical
Laboratory continues to expand, this will influence the
performance measures for non- communicable disease testing. The G overnment Clinical Laboratory
continues to enrol in proficiency testing as a quality
assurance measure providing competency and assessing the capabilities of all who work within the la-boratory . The Bermuda Government Clinical Laboratory continues to expand the testing for government
programmes using a newly installed chemistry analyser and an immunoassay analy ser.
The objective of expanding clinical chemistry
testing is to provide diagnostic support as it relates to
the adult health programme targeting the underinsured and uninsured populations. The aim is to make
diagnostic testing available to all who require support
in health care. The lab aims to provide real time PCR
trichomoniasis testing in men, which is not routinely
screened due to the sample and testing requirement.
The lab aims to offer real time PCR for influenza A
and B providing subtyping, such as H1N1 and H3 at
full capacity in 2025 /26. As most clinical diagnostic s
[are] using real time PCR , these tests are considered
laboratory developed tests and the lab continues to
undergo a rigorous test regime to ensure the data is of
excellent quality.
Wastewater surveillance remains an activity to
perform in [2025]/26, as this can provide early warnings of potential public health threats, which will require action. The lab also specifically aims to study
antimicrobial resistance, COVID -19 and other projects
deemed necessary.
Mr. Chair man, that ends my presentation for
business unit line item 320 90, Clinical Laboratory.

Speech and Language, 32100

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now to 32100 Speech
and Language. I'm still on page B -154 and they received in their budget $1, 971,000 and this represents
a 20 per cent increase over the 2024/25 original estimate accounts for the recruiting of two vacant speech
language pathologist post s.
Mr. Chair man, the Department of Health,
Speech and L anguage Programme provides speech,
language and feeding/ swallowing assessments and
intervention services across the community. When fully staffed , the programme consists of 14 speech
and language pathologist s, one trainee post and one
programme coordinator. Of these, three speech and
720 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly language pathologi sts p rovide early intervention services in collaboration with the Department of Education's Child Development Programme for children
aged from birth to four or five years of age. Eight
speech and language pathologists are school based,
providing services across all levels of Bermuda Government schools ages four to 18. One speech and
language pathologist provides services to students
with special needs who attend Dam e Marjorie Bean
[Hope] Academy which houses students between four
and 18. An d one speech and language pathologist
provid ing services to our adults and senior population .
Four posts were vacant in 20 24, and the recruitment
drive has recently finished with seven interviews held.
Recommendations have been made for recruitment
and onboarding to occur immediately.
Mr. Chairman, spe ech and language
pathologists work closely with pare nts, school personnel, allied health professionals and private homes and
clinic settings to raise awareness of speech and language delays and disorders , to provide functional
communication skills as well to prevent life threatening complications that may occur during feeding and swallowing . Speech and language pathology therapy services include the provision of prevention and promotion information, screenings and assessments , consultations as well as interventions. Objectives are meas-ured in terms of the provision of timely and respons ive
assessments . Services also include the delivery and
provision of treatment for those identified as needing
intervention client improvement , that is the effectiveness of treatment is measured by the reduction in the
severity of the communication/ swallowing challenges.
This year, the wait list numbers for early intervention
services are still high, but we are happy to report that
they are lower than the last reporting period. While current programme time guidelines aim to provide an initial assessment for young children within three
months of initial referral, the average weight is six
months or less. Additional staffing will be key in
achieving this target.
In 2024, Mr. Chairman, 50 cases were referred to the school -based programme. All students
who were referred received an initial assessment within the programme’s time guidelines of 35 working
days . Once identified as needing services , clients are
provided with therapy interventions. Currently there are no school -based students on a wait list. Clients
are reassessed on a routine basis to assess their status and measure progress. This also serves as an indication to determine if services are still required. A
combined 382 cases were followed for intervention by
speech and language services this year. Caseloads
vary between 50 and 70 clients per officer. Services to
middle and senior schools have been adapted to be
provided through a consolidative model, where the therapist provides school personnel and parents with
the appropriate resources and strategies for clients
with complementary direct services. Mr. Chairman, this ends my presentation of
business line 32100, Speech and Language.

Nutrition Services, 32110

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning on to 32110, Nutrition .
Still on page B -154.
Mr. Chairman, the Nutrition Services business
unit received $2 86,000 and this represents an increase of 13 per cent from the last fiscal year. And
this increase is justified given the high incidence of diet related disease in Bermuda. About half of the increase is from salary uplift and regrading and the remainder is intended to enhance the programme. In 2024 /25, Nutrition Services operated as a sub programme under both the Community Health and the Health Promotion and Wellness units. The programme
has a staff of two public health nutritionists who support government and nongovernmental organisations
and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours and preventing of chronic diseases through consolidated nutrition services across Bermuda's population. T he programme services include, but are not limited to health
promotion, n utrition policy development, development
and implementation of community -based nutrition
programmes, consultation and community nutrition
education, quality assurance visits, medical nutrition
therapy, nutrition research, assessment and monitoring of the nutritional status of the population, and
training and education.
Nutrition Services aims to deliver c ommunity
programmes that raise awareness of health strategies
for improved eating habits and healthier lifestyles. These efforts align with the Department of Health ’s
mission to protect and promote the health and well -
being of the people of Bermuda . The focus is on reducing chronic diseases through sustainable nutrition
intervention and health education to improve food security and good health. Two key intervention programmes aim to boost food security, namely the Bermuda Parish Garden competition and the G row! Eat!
$ave! programme. The gardening competition had 77
registrants in 2024, encouraging all skill levels to participate, leading to 34 successful garden submissions.
Categories that entered include 17 small gardens, 21
large gardens, 6 community gardens and 17 school
gardens and 16 nontraditional gardens. Since Grow!
Eat! $ave! launched in 2017, it has received nearly
800 registrants, and this year there were 42 commit-ted gardening graduates. Responding participants in
the combined Gardening Intervention programme re-ported a 71 per cent increase in their consumption of
the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables.
Recognising the importance of enhancing
Bermuda's nutritional environment, the refresh of the
Well Bermuda Strategy will result in previous nutritional service goals of establishing community gardens in each parish. This effort has the potential to


Bermuda House of Assembly enhance access to affordable and nutritious food, foster community engagement and cohesion, and promote physical activity , eating healthy and mental well -
being and we must continue to cultivate healthy com-munities and a healthy Bermuda .
Mr. Chair man, the P IVIO nine-week lifestyle
intervention programme, which saw high demand in
2024 with 23 participants, led to significant group
health improvements, collectively 128 pounds of
weight loss , 17 inches los t, decreased blood sugar by
64 points and decreased cholesterol by 361 points ,
decreased bad cholesterol, which is the LCD by 41
points and decreased levels of lipids and fats in the
blood as triglycerides by 7 06 points . All respondents
reported increased awareness with 74 per cent of participants indicating an increase in their consumption of
the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables
from the lifestyle intervention programme . Ha lf of
those who did not report an increase cited cost as a
barrier to consuming more fruits and vegetables. This
programme has achieved significant results in positive
challenges and lifestyle habits and behaviours. Unfortunately, barriers such as limited course availability
and course cost hinder its ability to meet the high demand. Therefore, future investment in PIVIO is essential in teaching sustainable healthy habits.
Mr. Chairman, Nutrition Services received 82
medical nutrition therapy referrals from across the life
course. Most referrals received were from internal
sources. This may be directly related to nutritional services primarily supporting high- risk individuals who
are underinsured or uninsured to ensure health quality
and equity. Most referrals were adults from the Adult
Health Prevention C linic in support of the HEARTS
programme. Group education classes will be incorporated to enable people to develop knowledge and skills in self -managed disease and confidence. To
ensure compliance with the code of practi ce for nutrition standards, 18 senior homes annual inspections
were completed in 2024 and 89 per cent of senior
homes met the requirements for a nutritious and varied diet to promote good health.
Additionally, the Department of Corrections
met the same requirement with assistance from Nutrition Services to support cost -effective menu planning.
Further to this, Nutrition Services in collaboration with
Age C oncern to facilitate a nutritional education and
curriculum in the senior homes supporting standardisation of food service and medical nutrition therapy.
The monitoring assessment of compliance and nutri-tion policy from responding schools suggest 84 per
cent compliance.
Mr. Chair man, due to the rising cost of food in
Bermuda Nutrition Services conducted a pilot baseline
survey to assess the extended food insecurity among users of the Department of Health Clinic . Food insecurity is defined as having limited or uncertain access to
sufficient high-quality food to meet basic needs. The
survey was based on the Hunger Vital Sign screening tool, which is a validated two -question assessment
designed to identify households at risk of food insecu-rity. Respondents who answered true or sometimes
true to either question: Within the past 12 months, we
worried whether our food would run out before we got
money to buy more; or, Within the past 12 months, the
food we brought just didn't last, and we didn't have
money to get more were classified as at risk for food
insecurity . Preliminary findings suggest that 59 per
cent of the respondents were at risk for food insecurity, providing critical insights for future intervention
programmes and policy development.
This ends my presentation, Mr. Chairman,
with line item 32100, Nutrition [Services] .

Adult Health, 32130
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now, Mr. Chair man, to
32130, Adult Health . This is again remaining on page
B-154 of the Budget Book in which they were allocated the sum of $624,000.
The Adult Health programme consists of three
sub programmes : correctional health for m edical services to inmates and correctional institut ions, occupational health for the medical assessment of recruits to
the uniformed s ervices , and occupational health services to government employees and hazardous and high-risk occupations and forensic services to the
Bermuda Police Service and medical supervision of
detainees and police custody.
Together, these services are integral to protecting public servants , maintaining institution health
standards and promoting the humane treatment of
individuals in custody . Recognising the scope and
distinct nature of these services, the programme is
proposed to be renamed Uniformed Services and Occupational H ealth . This new name more accurately
reflects the breadth of medical oversight provided to
uniformed personnel and high- risk occupational
groups.
Mr. Chairman, during the prior financial year
1,761 medical consultations for persons in prison
were conducted at the Westgate facility, 88 per cent
or 176 new persons in prison received an initial medi-cal examination within 72 hours of intake and 60 recruitment medicals were completed for the uniformed
services, namely police, fire or corrections. During the
same period, a total of 132 BPS forensic call outs
were at tended.
Mr. Chairman, although not budgeted for this
fiscal year, the department seeks to return a full-time
equivalent nurse position to this sub programme, as
the lack of nurses impacts the department's ability to
provide consistent services to uniformed services. The
lack of a nurse for the sub programme has negatively
impacted recruitment for the Bermuda Fire Service
and the Department of Corrections for the two budget years and is particularly critical as we look to expand
722 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly and provide occupational health services in the incremental package.
Mr. Chairman, the purpose of the incremental
package is to provide routine health assessments,
preventative health promotion and health education, as well as secondary screening services to the Department of Health employees, including Vector Control and health care workers. The aim is to modernise
the approach around health maintenance, help main-tain and manage the burden of illness for the ageing
workforce, as well as increase our compliance with
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA). It is anticipated that this will ultimately generate cost -savings for the Government of Bermuda and
increase productivity.
Mr. Chair man, this ends my presentation for
business unit 321 30, Adult Health and this ends my
presentation for programme 22 01, Community Health .

Oral Health

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The third programme I will present is under Head 22 , Oral Health.

Yes, the top of page B-155.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you.
Oral Health —20 25/26 budget estimate for this
programme listed . . . will include business units
32150, 32155 and 32160, h as $1,694,000. The O ral
Health programme provides comprehensive public health dental services to Bermuda ’s school children
aged zero to 18 and seniors aged over 65. The o ral
health services are based on high quality, patient -
centred care including dental examinations, consultations, preventative and dental hygiene appointments, as well as a range of restorative clinical treatments
including extractions and fillings. There is a strong
emphasis on preventative care, especially for children
and adolescents, and restorative and minor surgical
procedures.
Mr. Chairman, oral health is not separate from
overall health. It is a critical component of it. Poor oral
health has been linked to a range of systemic conditions including heart disease and diabetes . For older
adults , untreated dental issues can lead to pain, nutritional deficiencies and increased risk of chronic illness . In children, dental problems can affect growth,
school performance and self -esteem. By promoting
accessible, preventable, and restorative care, the oral
health programme not only addresses immediate dental needs but also contributes to better long- term
health outcomes and reduces the burden on other
areas of the health care system. This programme exemplifies the importance
of integrated equitable public health services by prioritising the oral health of our youngest and oldest residents. Of utmost importance is the need to address
their personal needs through human resources rede-velopment to assure continuity of the full range of oral
health services. Following the onboarding of two dentists, the St. George's dental services had been suspended for one year and resumed in October and it
has been shown that the dental offices posts are hard
to fill. To ensure continuity of care, patient treatments
were accommodated by transferring all support staff
to the Hamilton Clinic. Moving forward it is intended
that all dental assistants are cross -trained and upgraded on their skills and knowledgebase to enable
them to function in any capacity as their job description dictates . This process of ret raining has begun
through the introduction of one- on-one clinical rotations.
Mr. Chair man, the school -based programme
is an essential part of oral health services for children
in primary school upon age entering grade P1 and
they are examined by the school health team to obtain
baseline health status information and using the decayed, missing and filled teeth index. They are using
this during the screenings to document the oral health status of each child. Annual screening using this tool serves to observe trends and introduce appropriate
programmes to address oral disease and maintain
healthy mouths . Children who are examined and who
need urgent care, are referred to the clinic or their
primary dental provider for immediate attention. In the
past, the medical and dental teams made separate
visits to the schools to conduct screening and gather
information. And in the case of the medical team provided other services, such as immunisations. This way
of operating between the medical and dental teams
often presents a distraction for the school and students. However, this school year, the oral health and
the medical teams have collaborated to provide the
health screenings on the same day and time.
The ends my presentation, Mr. Chairman, for
2202, Oral Health.

Environmental Health, 2203

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The fourth programme I will
present is Head 22, Environmental Health. Still on
page B -155. Environmental Health [Programme] 2203
consists of five business units and the combined operational budget estimated as $4,217,000, and this
represents an increase of 12 per cent over the
2024/25 original estimates and incorporates an in-crease in recruitment for some vacant posts of 3.5
FTEs. The Environmental Health Programme consists
of 35 FTEs. [Business unit] 32170, Institutional Hygiene; 32171, Public Health Nuisance Pollution and
Outbreak Control programme; and 32175, Environmental Health Administration.


Bermuda House of Assembly The allocations for the heads that I just mentioned have been allocated $888,000, $62,000, and
$1.65 million, respectively, Mr. Chairman. The Environmental Health Programme provides monitoring,
investigative and regulatory services in diverse areas such as food safety, occupational safety, nuisance
safety, water control and tobacco control. Additionally,
the Environmental Health Programme has begun utilising a new data system to input plumbing information
and the administration team has begun entering licence details in preparation for inspections to conduct their inspections on the cosmetology and food sector
businesses for September 2025.
In April 2025, the Environmental Health Programme undertook a ServSafe training with the target
participants including food handlers, managers, restaurant employees and other relevant stakeholders.
Additionally, the Environmental Health staff will continue to focus on publicity, education and promotion to
raise the profile of the environmental health, informing
the public of the wide range of responsibilities and activities within the section. Finally, the Environmental
Health programme hopes to gain two bursary students
who will complete their qualifications for personal proficiency training and designation as environmental
health officers at recognised universities and the expected benefit is for continued delivery of environmental health services by qualified Bermudians .

Vector Control, 32190
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, 32190, Vector
Control was allocated $1.816 million, and Vector Con-trol is a dedicated and hard- working team within the
Department of Health tasked with protecting Bermuda
from the potential spread of rodent -borne and mosquito-borne diseases such as —I am not even going to try
to say that —leptospirosis, Dengue fever —

A valiant effort, Minister. There you
go. Dengue fever, there we go.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I can say that one and Zika and
there's another one—Chikungunya . . . through—
[Crosstalk and laughter ]

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: —through vigilant monitoring,
surveillance and timely intervention, the team plays a critical role in preventing public health threats from taking root in our communities. And their work includes the systemic inspection of properties, treatment of mosquito breeding sites and rodent control
measures, particularly in areas where high environmental risks exist.
In addition to the field operations, Vector Control places strong emphasis on public education and community engagement. The team regularly participates in outreach initiatives such as the Ministry of Health’s wellness fairs, career fairs, school visits and
other public events to raise awareness about the importance of environmental hygiene in disease prevention. Through these engagements, residents are empowered with practical information on how to minimise breeding grounds around their homes and businesses, safely storing waste and identifying early signs of
vector infestation.
In November 2023, Mr. Chairman, a representative from Vector Control attended the Cayman
Islands hosted workshop sponsored by the Pan Amer-ican Health Organization on regional mosquito- borne
diseases and this was held in collaboration with PAHO and CARPHA. These collaborative efforts are critical to ensuring that Bermuda remains well -prepared
to respond to vector -borne disease threats.
Mr. Chairman, that ends my presentation on
32190, Vector Control.

Occupational Safety and Health, 32270

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning to 32270, Occupational
Safety and Health. The Occupational Safety and
Health Office was allocated $386,000 and this unit
inspects places of work throughout the Island, investigates serious workplace accidents and ensures Bermuda’s workers safety through the development of
policies and procedures such as the requisite training
and permit system for asbestos abatement.
Safety and Health is onboarding two staff
members as inspectors, and the goal is to sustain a proactive workplace inspection programme that guarantees compliance with all relevant regulations. Oc-cupational Safety and Health staff will continue to focus on publicity, education and promotion to raise the
profile of Occupational Safety and Health.
Mr. Chairman, that ends my presentation on
business line item 32270, Occupational Safety and
Health.

Port Health, 32285
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning to 32285, Port Health.
The Port Health Unit of the Environmental Health Pro-gramme plays a critical frontline role in safeguarding Bermuda against the international spread of infectious
diseases. By monitoring arriving travellers, conveyances and imported commodities at the airport and
other ports of entry, the unit provides a vital layer of protection that ensures early detection and timely responses to potential public health threats. This includes the inspection and risk management and assessment of cruise ships and other vessels, with a
focus on hygiene standards, waste disposal practices,
potable water safety and any signs of illness among
passengers or crew. In close collaboration with Customs, the Department of Immigration and the Department of Marine and Ports, the Department of Health
Laboratory and the Port Health Unit also oversees the
724 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly safety of imported food products, pharmaceuticals and
other high- risk consignments verifying that they meet
public health and safety standards. Their responsibili-ties extend to issuing clearances for food shipments
and ensuring that any goods requiring special han-dling, such as perishable items, are stored and transported under appropriate conditions.
More importantly, the Port Health Unit is central to Bermuda's compliance with the WHO ’s International Health Regulation 2005, which require Member
States to develop core public health capacities at des-ignated ports of entry. This includes the ability to detect, assess, report, and respond to public health
events of international concern. By fulfilling this mandate, the unit supports Bermuda's global health responsibilities while protecting the Island from emerging diseases, food- borne illnesses and other cross -
border health risk.
As global travel and trade continues to grow,
the work of the Port Health Unit remains essential to maintaining Bermuda's bio security, public health resil-ience and international reputation as a safe and
healthy [destination]. The Port Health unit is actively
recruiting officers to ensure that they are able to deal
with emergencies and so forth and the unit has im-plemented an emergency roll call -out rota. Finally, the
Port Health Unit and its functions will move from 2203, Environmental Health Programme of Head 22 to the Department of Health, 2102 Office of the Chief Medical Officer, under Head 21 as the Ministry of Health
Headquarters to better align this unit with this man-date under the Quarantine Act and Regulations 2017
in line with their reporting to the Quarantine Authority.
Thus, this budget line is unfunded.
This ends on a presentation on business unit
[32285], Port Health as well as 2203, Environmental Health.

Central Government Laboratory, 32203

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The fifth [programme] is Head
22, Central Government Lab.
Mr. Chairman, the Central Government Lab
consists of business unit 32203 and that is the Forensic Analysis 2204, Central Laboratory and 32220, Water and Food Analysis. And I still am on page B -155.
And the estimates of this business unit represent
$1,066,000, and $598,000, respectively. And this represents an increase of 25 per cent and 3 per cent increase, respectively, from the 2024/25 budget. And
the drivers of these increases, Mr. Chairman, are uplifts in salaries, increased call -out remuneration for
fast-tracked cases, additional funds for laboratory
supplies and lab gases, import duty, preventative maintenance contracts for equipment and increased
electricity bills. The Central Government Laboratory programme consists of nine FTEs.

Forensic Analysis, 32200 Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, the forensic
analysis programme performed seized drug analysis and toxicology analysis. In this reporting year, the total
of 6,777 exhibits were produced and processed. The
laboratory continues to manage very large case sub-missions. The noteworthy ones are 32 kilogrammes of
cannabis resin and there was a submission that was
analysed resulted in 1,168 tablets found to contain
3,4-[Methylenedioxymethamphetamine] (MDMA) colloquially, known as ecstasy. The most labour -
intensive case received for the reporting year was a suitcase of various items of clothing and a travel pillow
and a garment bag which, when analysed was found
to contain 5 kilogrammes of cocaine. The cocaine had
been soaked into the items in an attempt to conceal it,
which required laboratory techniques to extract the
cocaine from the clothing. The process was very la-bour intensive and required a large volume of solvents.
Mr. Chairman, the laboratory continues to receive submissions of dangerous fentanyl and this reporting year, the fentanyl was presented in various
forms of coloured tablets and a variety of coloured
powders. The most concerning fentanyl submission
contained a cocktail of drugs which in addition to the
fentanyl, included cocaine, alprazolam (sold under the
brand name Xanax), acetomorphine, caffeine, codeine, and dextromethorphan. The laboratory is com-mitted to expanding its THC testing to include a variety of cannabinoids. There is a requirement to purchase a new high- performance liquid chromaphath to
achieve this, and quotes have been received, and the procurement process has started.
Mr. Chairman, also toxicology analyses are
performed on coroner's cases, cases of driving under
the influence and urine analysis for stakeholder agencies. The compounds that are routinely tested are for
the common drugs that are abused in Bermuda, which
include cannabis, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and fentanyl. These continue to be steady year on year increases in cases submitted to the laboratory, and this
year has been no different. The lab processed 157
cases, as noted in the performance measures. However, the total amount of toxicology cases submitted
to the lab was 367 and there is now a backlog of 210 cases. The backlog is being cleared, and these duties
are currently shared with the government analyst and
there is now a demand for a dedicated toxicologist to
maintain this service and support the current staff. The increase in cases is requiring a marked increase
in laboratory supplies and maintenance of analytical
equipment. To maintain continuity with casework during periods of recruitment and staff shortages, the lab
locum scientists are in route.
Mr. Chair man, this ends presentation of
32200, Forensics .

Water and Food Analysis, 32220



Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Turning now to 32220, Water
and Food Analysis. This programme performs analytical testing on potable drinking and non- potable water
samples, dairy products and food. It is primar ily a laboratory support service to Environmental Health with
the results used to identify bacteriological and chemical risk in both human and animal health. It is through
this collaboration that the Department of Health can
maintain a low incidence of water and food- borne diseases. There was a total of 4, 790 water samples tested during this reporting period, representing 17 per
cent increase from the previous year . It is noteworthy
that the water quality of our main bathing beaches
continues to meet the United States Environmental Protection Agenc y’s guideline value every week
through our routine seawater testing.
Mr. Chairman, since August of 20 24, there
has been unprecedented challenges in procuring water sampling supplies due to ongoing supply chain
issues. However, a workaround has been implemented. With respect to the performance measures , the
programme continues to excel with respect to a turna-round time of five to ten days for disseminating water,
dairy and food testing results and they were achieved
99 per cent of the time. And we are on target to accomplish the same for the next fiscal year.
Local milk samples are being analysed b imonthly to determine whether they meet the legislative limits, as set out in the P ublic Health (Milk and
Dairyfarm) Regulations 1952 . Milk samples that have
not met the legislative limits cannot be used for supply and are referred to the government veterinarian for
assistance and intervention. There were a smaller
number of dairy samples processed, and that shortfall
was due to a shortage of human resources. The number of food samples tested remains low as Bermuda continues to maintain low incidence of food- borne disease, albeit a figure worth celebrating. From January
to March each year , this programme maintains laboratory capacity with respect to food testing in collaboration with the Environmental Health Programme and 92 per cent of our proficiency test scores met international standards.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, t he WHO and
CARICOM have committed to the elimination of trans
fatty [acids] globally and in the region by December
2025. The Government of Bermuda has made a
commitment to enforce the ban on industrially produced trans fatty acids to promote healthier dietary
options and reduce health risks associated with trans fats consumption . The presence of trans fats in foods,
even in small amounts, poses a significant risk to our
health and well -being . And t o monitor compliance with
the upcoming ban on industrial produced trans fats,
the water and feed analysis programme is actively
building local laboratory capacity to conduct food testing for trans fats content in preparation for the ban.
We will also continue with public education,
which we feel is essential not only to help food pro-ducers, importers and retailers prepare for the ban,
but also to raise awareness among consumers about
the health risks associated with trans fats and the
benefits of healthier alternatives. This initiative is being supported by UK Health Security Agency .
This ends presentation for line item 3222 0, as
well as 2204.

Capital Development
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Real quickly, Mr. Chairman, the
capital development estimates for the Department of
Health are found at page C -5, total $3.124 million.
Allocations have been made for Sylvia Richardson
Care Facility in the amount of $300,000.

Yes.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The r efurbishment of the parish
clinics in the amount of $2.204 million and the Lefroy
[House Care] Community in the amount of $620,000.

Capital Acquisitions

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Capital acquisition estimates
can be found at page C -20 of the B udget Book and
amount to $107,000.
And that concludes the presentation for Head
22, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, M inister. If you want to
grab a sip of water , having finished Head 22. We are
currently about three quarters of the way through a
four-hour debate on the Ministry of Health.
We are hearing from the Minis ter of Health,
the Honourable Kim Wilson . The heads for the debate
that have been covered thus far are Heads 21 and 22.
We still have Heads 24 and 91 to go, although I note
that they are theoretically shorter heads than the others, but we will see.
Minister, if you have had a moment to catch
your breath and have some water —

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I have.

Thank you, Minister, the floor is
yours.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: All right. I will speed read.

HEAD 24 —HOSPITALS

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The Bermuda Hospital s Board
delivers emergency critical care, acute care, chronic
726 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly care, long- term care, learning disability, substance
abuse and mental health services. BHB is the only
provider of 24/7 health care services in Bermuda and
their services are delivered through King Edward Me-morial Hospital, Mid -Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) ,
and Lamb Fogg o Urgent Care Centre campuses . BHB
serves Bermuda's resident population and has the
second largest number of employees at 1, 600 full -time
and 200 on- call and local staff.
A total of $177.141 million operational grant
has been allocated under Head 24 —Hospitals, which
represents an increase of 14 per cent, or $21,743,000
over the budget of fiscal year 2024 /25. This constitutes 72 per cent of the total budget allocated to the
Ministry of Health for 20 25/26, compared to 77 per
cent of last year.

Grants and Contri butions
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The Head 24 budget also comprises hospital patient subsidy in the amount of
$112,498,000 for children, the aged and indigent. This
amount remains unchanged from the previous year
and a further $ 41,161,000 grant has also been allocated for services at M WI, whic h is relatively the same
as last year and an operational grant of $22,482,000
has also been allocated.

Heading 2401, General
King Edward Memorial Hospital, 34000

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, the total current
expenditure was $384 million and represents an increase of $3,000,000 or approximately 0.9 per cent
higher than the budget for that fiscal year.
From June 2019, the B HB's funding model
was changed from the government to a fixed grant,
and this includes all services under the s tandard
health benefit legislated from the Mutual Reinsurance Fund (MRF), a fixed grant to the Mid- Atlantic Wellness
Institute and a grant provided to cover youth, aged
and indigent patients . The MRF portion of BH B's revenue is a transfer of a portion of the funds from the Standard Health Benefit [SHB] premiums and as such
is not a budget ed line item in the Budget Book , but it
is a significant portion of the BH B's overall revenue.
The overall revenue cap for SHB, MRF and
MWI grant has been relatively flat for six consecutive
years, with an additional funding coming in the form of grants such as $1 7,000,000 operational grant and a
$7.2 million capital grant in the last fiscal year. This
revenue formed about 95 per cent of BHB's total revenue in the fiscal year. The BH B's management team
has achieved an average of 6.4 per cent annual interim savings over the past five years.
Mr. Chairman, there are four additional revenue streams not reflected in the budget for Head 24.
As mentioned, previously I spoke about the Mutual
Reinsurance Fund payment, which is —BHB is funded by a portion of the standard premium rate paid by
each person with insurance in Bermuda and this is
meant to cover Standard Health Benefit services for
the insured population. I n 2024 /25, the MRF payment
totalled $171 million. A gain, these are four additional
revenue streams that are not reflected in the B udget
Book.
So, the first one is the MRF transfer of
$171,000,000. A small portion of BH B's revenues paid
by individuals who do not have insurance and non-residents who need urgent or emergency care, and
that represents 5 per cent of their total revenue. This
revenue stream has been gradually increasing alongside the rise of tourism and is expected to grow further in the fiscal year following an increase in the hospital
fees from 200 per cent to 300 per cent —these are the
4B codes that we refer to. And then the third one is
BHB receives donations —in the fiscal year a donation
of $500,000 was recognised by two patients with the
cardiology unit . The Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda
also has donated $350,000 for the purchase of two
ambulances and other medical equipment.
Mr. Chairman, I certainly would like to pause
for a moment and thank the Bermuda Hospital s Charitable Foundation, the Bermuda Hospitals Auxiliary
Board for their generous donations and support for
their assistance to BH B.

The whole House. The whole House.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, due to pressures
of delivering health care within a capped revenue
funding, BHB has seen its cash reserves [and is] currently maximising utilisation of a $25 million overdraft
facility .
By the end of March, BHB had recorded a net
loss of $ 15.5 million after taking into consideration
savings, and this is $7.3 million better than the pro-jected loss previously.
Net revenue was slightly above budget by
$10,600,000 and expenses were $3,300,000, or
0.9 per cent above budget highlighting the efforts BH B
staff have undertaken to control costs.
Mr. Chairman, the Bermuda Industrial Union
staff had a cost -of-living adjustment, or COLA , of
4 per cent in October 20 24. However, BHB’s BPSU
members to date have not received a COLA increase
since 2018, although the negotiations for the 2022
period are ongoing.
Mr. Chairman, a s of February 2022, savings
totalled $23,000,000 with approximately $12 million


Bermuda House of Assembly year to date attributed to government concessions.
This is concessions such as tax concessions for payroll and the like. The remaining savings have been
achieved through a range of internal initiatives with a focus on disciplined financial management and keep-ing all expenditures below budget.
Mr. Chairman, you may recall that was announced [in] last year's budget. BHB is moving to implement part of the 2024 budget speech which was an
initiative to bill people injured in road traffic accidents .
And their work is ongoing to near completion for that .
And this practi ce when put in place in 2019, when
BHB was in —this practice will . . . Sorry, they are in
the final stages of this practi ce so that persons who
are injured—road traffic . . . basically subjugated
claims . BHB will be looking to do that. I know you
don’t understand what I am saying.
Mr. Chairman, regarding the auditing process,
BHB has had clean audited financial statements up to
2023 , and 2022 and 20 23 annual reports are completed or in their final process and the audited financial statements for 20 24 and 2025 fiscal years are
underway and is expected to be completed.
There have been numerous upgrades and
improvements by BHB , and they have made substantial investments in capital and infrastructure to ensure quality care is provided to patients.
Capital projects and operational projects are
being deterred or postponed due to financial pressures. They have made upgrades to the Sterile Processing Department , an upgrade at $4.5 million, and
that's a major renovation that started in November to
upgrade their Sterile Processing Department. Surgical tools are cleaned and packaged in this area, and it
supports over 9, 000 surgeries undertaken by KEMH
per annum .
The current equipment is over 14 years old
and this is with respect to the upgrade that I just
spoke about and in the older part of the general wing.
So the infrastructure is needed urgency. So many issues have affected the Sterile Processing Department, which, like I have said, they have just started
those upgrades.
Pyxis upgrade is a medication management
system used across BHB for clinical units, and they access this through an advanced medication cabinet
called the Me dStation that provides controlled access
to key medications by nursing staff.
The new Acute Care Wing (ACW) generator.
An additional generator was installed in the hospital in
2024, and this new generator provides additional added security to their electrical supply.
BHB replaced 129 older mattresses in the
Acute Care Wing at a cost of $80,000. Diagnostic imaging equipment. Some of their diagnostic imaging
equipment , I am sorry, in t he Acute Care Wing is at
least 10 years old, which is the expected end of life for
such technology. Some equipment —there have been
increasing number of times that the MRI and CT has been impacted and replacing the equipment means all
Bermudians can benefit from the latest technology. To
make the replacement programme more affordable,
BHB has structured payments to the vendor over time.
Over the course of the fiscal year, work began
on implementing a new human capital management
system and a payroll system, and these systems are a
major part of this project, expected to be completed
within the last quarter of this fiscal year.
Two new oncologists have been hired this
year and arrived in February, and two new oncology nurses have also been hired and brings the full complement of full -time oncologists to three and a full
complement of oncologist nurses. This means that all
new and current cancer cases can be cared for on
Island, supporting inpatient and outpatient needs. And
they are up to 300 oncology patients seen by the ser-vices each month. BHB remains grateful to the support of the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre and
P.A.L.S. to their support, while their recruitment process was being completed.
With respect to the oncologists and oncologist
nurses, of course they are specialist positions. So hiring in general oncologists for Island services has been
increasingly rare, and hiring time could take up to six
months.
The Digital Health Trainee Programme was
launched in November 2024 as a partnership with the Bermuda Government Workforce Development and
the first cohorts consist of four staff members enrolled
in two -year programmes, rotating every six months.
BHB signed a memorandum of understanding
with the Minister of Education in November 2024, and they are now . . . which means BHB is now a learning
partner for the new signature schools programme,
specifically the health and social care signature programme, which will take place at The Berkeley Institute.
BHB also has awarded—and continues to invest in their future talent by awarding $190,000 in
scholarships to 12 local students in this fiscal year.
One of the scholarship awardees received $20,000
and is funded by GlaxoSmithKline and administered
by the BHB.

Performance Measures

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: With respect to performance
measures, Mr. Chairman, if I can turn to that real
quickly.

Mm-hmmm.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Accreditation Canada is a nonprofit organisation that works to improve the quality of health care services and more than 1,100 health and
social service organisations in Canada and around the
world have been accredited. BHB received its formal
notice of achieving accreditation in fiscal year Novem728 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly ber 2023. They also received Accreditation Canada
for their pathology departments. Primary stroke unit —
this is more good news —achieved an inpatient
benchmark and a critical stroke performance indicator
in December 2024 and BHB received a faster average door to needle time for administering tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) and clot busting drug treatment to
stroke patients. Getting the treatment within the required four -hour window can be the difference between a complete recovery and ending up with lifetime disabilities or even death.
Another issue—

[Pause]
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, the BHB remains
focused on ensuring safe discharges and not discharging at any cost. However, data on inpatient bed
weights continues to be influenced by the number of
complex discharges, where external factors affect the
discharge process.
BHB publishes a monthly KEMH performance
report on its website, which highlights that wait times
and inpatient beds have generally trended upwards
throughout the year, with only brief periods of relief.
Data released in December of 2024 show that
nearly half of its acute care beds were filled with pa-tients who are medically fit for discharge. The average length of stay for these patients in the acute care wing
units was over two months or 70 days. Of course, the
knock -on impact, and we have talked about here in
this Honourable Chamber, has led to the hospital . . .
has been where they have at times had as many as 30 people waiting for beds in the emergency depart-ment due to bed unavailability throughout the rest of
the hospital.
Improving care— the integrated care pathways, as we have discussed in this Chamber with respect to structured and multidisciplinary approach has
been offered by BHB and that's with respect to the
development of pathways involved in the collaboration
with BHB staff, local urologists, the Daily Mail,
P.A.L.S., and the Bermuda Cancer and Health.
Ongoing efforts to integrate care pathways for
a more timely, efficient and high- quality patient experience have led to the release of new prostate cancer
integrated care pathway and [information] booklets
this month. An information booklet was also produced.
Optimising and upgrading the PEARL (Patient
Electronic & Administrative Records Log) system. We have spoken about —that was a major upgrade to
PEARL by the vendor. It was completed in 2024— that
is their electronic medical records system.
Okay —returning to staff matters. All 1,800
staff were offered PIPA training. And Food Service improvement continues with a new room service ex-perience for moms and kids in the Maternity and Gosling units. Following a three- month pilot, an a la carte
menu has been established with a restaurant style option for special kids’ options. MWI food service staff
achieved a 100 per cent pass rate on a comprehensive food handling and safety course.
Plans for the Upcoming Year

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, completing the
upgrade of the diagnostic imaging equipment in Acute
Care Wing by fall of 2025, completing the upgrade of
the Sterile Processing Department that I spoke about,
upgrading the Maternity unit to remedy issues relating to the age of the infrastructure, continue the strategic
planning process to prepare BHB’s strategic plan for
2026 to 2030. Continuing optimising PEARL with annual vendor upgrades.
That concludes the presentation of Head 24.

HEAD 91 —HEALTH INSURANCE

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Moving quickly to Head 91—
Health [Insurance].

Thank you. Please do.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: This can be found at pages B -
166 through B -170 of the Estimates of Revenue Book.
The mission of the Health Insurance Department is To provide equitable access to affordable
benefits and collaborative programmes leading to improved community health outcomes . The budget for
the Health Insurance Department is $15,901,000 and
this represents an increase of $12,459,000 over last
year. There are 18 full -time equivalents driving the
important work of this department, and this number
remains unchanged from the previous years.
If you turn to page C -19 of the Budget Book, it
will show that $13,250,000 represents an increase of $10,950,000 and this represents the Health Insurance
Fund. And this additional funding will enable the Government to meet its commitment to the rollout of
phase one of UHC, starting with expanded access to
essential health care services through the Health Insurance Plan and FutureCare. And this increase also
supports the Government's commitment to remove the
waiting period for the personal home care benefit.

General Administration
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Chairman, budget parity.
This budget funds the Health Insurance Department,
so it will be the Health Insurance Plan (or HIP), the
FutureCare, the Mutual Reinsurance, the Government
Subsidies Programme (which pays towards the hospitalisation cost of select populations) and the Health
System Strengthening Fund.
The Health Insurance Plan covers policyholders under 65 years old and FutureCare covers seniors
for hospital care and a variety of doctor visits, prescription drugs and outpatient services to ensure that


Bermuda House of Assembly the most vulnerable can access necessary health care
services.
The head also manages the Mutual Reinsurance Fund, which helps to stabilise the health insurance system by redistributing funds collected from the standard premium to subsidise the cost of the Standard Health Benefit.
In life's most critical and vulnerable moments,
whether facing a sudden stroke or requiring emergency air lifting for life -saving care, access to timely and
affordable health can be make all the difference. And,
Mr. Chairman, the Health Insurance Department continues to serve as a vital safety net for those who
need it most. Through the HIP and FutureCare, we
ensure that Bermuda’s most vulnerable have access
to essential medical treatment without the fear of financial ruin or exclusion due to pre- existing conditions, as is the case in private insurance companies.
Importantly, HIP and FutureCare are nondiscriminatory plans. There are no pre- existing condition exclusions. Coverage begins immediately, ensur-ing individuals are protected when they need care the
most. And this level of access/inclusivity is uncommon
and is a testament to our commitment of health
equality, ensuring that everyone has access.
There are, of course, financial realities that we
need to underpin, and we will continue to provide the provision of care. The cost of health care does contin-ue to rise and the medical trend rate for HID, which
reflects an annual health care inflation is approximately 8 per cent. And this is driven by multiple factors including increased utilisation of services, an ageing
population and a growing burden of chronic diseases
Since November 2021, HIP and FutureCare
policies have not experienced an increase in premium. The monthly premium for HIP has remained at
$459.24 and for FutureCare it is $530.14, and this reflected the Government's commitment to ensuring
that the premium rates remain stable. However, to
sustain the comprehensive and reliable nature of
these benefits, and to ensure continued financial viability of both plans, a modest increase in premiums
will be introduced this coming fiscal year and the next
step in that, Mr. Chairman, is necessary to keep pace with ongoing medical inflation and increased service
demands.
We are . . . I have spoken already about the
increase, but drug benefits that we will see as we phase out UHC phase one for HIP and FutureCare
patients.
Maternity benefits, Mr. Chairman, another
crucial programme with the HIP is the Maternity benefit programme which is designed to provide financial
support and essential health care services to expectant mothers during pregnancy, childhood and the
postpartum period. This programme ensures that all pregnant women regardless of their financial situation
can access the necessary medical care including prenatal visits, screening, [and] labour and delivery ser-vices. And this is a wonderful programme that was
designed for women who are under - and uninsured to
ensure that they and their babies get the best medical care, their children get the best intervention of early
life and at the beginning stages of life, and they get [the] comprehensive provisions of the maternity benefits programmes. So, this is almost 100 qualifying
women who were able to access this.
Personal home care benefit. I think we are all
familiar with that. And that is where qualifying individuals can receive up to $60,000 of personal home care to help to keep people to age in place. So, it is not
only for seniors but for persons who may have disabilities.
We will be looking to remove the 12- month
required waiting period for persons to be able to enrol
automatically in this coming legislative session.
Currently around 478 participants receive the
personal home care benefit. And almost $6.6 million
was paid out in claims for the personal home care
benefit averaging approximately $13,000 per participant compared to 2023/24, which represents a 3 per
cent increase.
And as I previously mentioned, Mr. Chairman,
the Government is committed to eliminating the 12-month waiting period for the personal home care benefit. So, the Health Insurance Department is now positioned to facilitate immediate access. And this means
seniors and people living with chronic conditions will
be able to access this which will, of course, help with
respect to provisions with . . . sorry. And this means
that seniors and people living with chronic conditions and others who are seeking hospital discharge can receive the support that they need as quickly as possible.
The Enhanced Care Programme is still very
successful. And we have seen 92 people actively par-ticipate, each of whom are eligible for four primary
care visits annually without a co- pay along with access to critical medications. The feedback from the
participants has been consistently positive, and clinical indications, which are more important, show that
this cohort continue to show encouraging trends in not
only the patient experience but their health outcomes.
Operating results. The HID fund— I will just
talk about that really quickly because this is on the
performance measures —has two products, like I said,
HIP and FutureCare. There are approximately 3,771
projected FutureCare headcounts and 5,250 on HIP. Did I say that right?

—Page B-170.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you. Thank you. Okay.
730 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Still on performance measures. Premiums
collected for FutureCare are projected to be $32.6
million which represents a 2 per cent increase. And
HID is expected to collect $32.1 million. The Mutual Reinsurance Fund premiums play a critical role with sustaining the operation of the health system. And the
fund in 2024/25, Mr. Chairman, collected $376.97 per
month. And the current rate of the MRF would collect
approximately $18,128,000. And if the headcount remains as is at 48.08 persons, 48,000, then it is anticipated that $217.5 million for fiscal year. And that headcount has increased by 1.1 per cent to 1.2 per
cent over the past three years. Should this be a
1.0 per cent increase, the MRF is expected to collect
a total of $219.8 million. [The] Health System Strengthening Fund, which has been allocated $1 million, is to support the implementation of UHC, Mr. Chairman.
I have spoken previously about the Project
Management Office, that they are advancing the fi-nancial analysis and the actuarial modelling of the core benefits. And then the subsidy operating results.
And that is under the performance measures as
well—$134 million or 65,490 encounters. So that is
with respect to the subsidy. And the Health Insurance
Department continues to monitor the subsidies.
And then performance measures, real quick,
part two, page B -70. The Health Insurance Department has reviewed and revised its performance
measures to better align with the strategic goals involving demand. The recalibration reflects the broader commitment to continuous improvement and accountability in the delivery of the public health insurance.
And HID is placing a renewed emphasis on emphasis-ing stakeholder engagement, recognising the collaboration with policyholders, health care providers, and community organisations is critical.
I certainly want to pause real quick to provide
my appreciation to the HID business partners includ-ing Sutherland Healthcare Solutions, Trellis Health,
Argus Insurance, Global Medical Management Inc.,
and ProServe for their steadfast support of the department and offer again my thanks to the Health Insurance Department and the Health Insurance Com-mittee who meet regularly to help to drive the agenda.
In closing, Mr. Chairman, the Ministry of
Health carries a vital mandate to implement the poli-cies, plans, and programmes necessary to build a
healthier Bermuda. This budget reflects our steadfast
commitment to this mission advancing a health care system that is more equitable, resilient, and sustainable through strategic reform and focused investment.
Despite the pressures of rising health care costs, the
Ministry continues to demonstrate sound financial
stewardship through careful planning, collaboration,
and so forth, Mr. Chairman . Across all business units,
the Ministry’s work is shaped by equity and access
and outcomes, fiscal responsibility and sustainability,
preventative care, early intervention support for the vulnerable populations, health system strengthening
and integration, and workforce development and
community engagement. As we advance towards
health reform goals, this budget is more than a financial plan; it is a catalyst for meaningful change.
Mr. Chairman, as I indicated, I will end where I
started thanking all the teams at the Health Department and the Ministry and the quangos for all their
support in helping us drive Bermuda and creating a
healthier Bermuda.
And I also do invite the Honourable Member
. . . if there are any questions that we were not able to
answer, I will submit to them in writing.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you very much, Honourable
Member s and members of the listening public.
We are in the Committee Supply for Estimates
of Revenue and Expenditure for budget year 2025/26. We are dealing with the Ministry of Health which was
scheduled for some four hours. To be fair to the Minister, she has struggled valiantly with a very large brief.
We have about 20 to 25 minutes left. The
Chair recognises the Honourable Member for constituency 7, the Shadow Minister of Health, MP Robin
Tucker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
First, I just want to start by thanking the Minister for two things. One is for a very, very comprehensive brief this evening, and as well, all of the health
care workers, health care providers, anyone at all who
is involved in health care because it is such an im-portant thing for us as a community no matter how
difficult it may be. So, I just want to start by saying
that.
Another thing that . . . I recognise I only have
a short time. But I wanted to just very quickly say
something. On Monday I had the unfortunate opportunity to be a patient at the hospital. Right?

And as I was waiting, when I was
in the ER, I had the opportunity to overhear people, I
mean, just looking around the room and seeing all the
people who were waiting like I was. I had the opportunity to overhear a conversation with one of the hospital staff about a little displeasure that their loved one was discharged from the hospital and they were back
because of continuing issues. So, what that did for me
was it reminded me that going into this budget debate,
this debate is not, for me, as much about dollars and
cents as it is about people. And so that is what that
experience reminded me of.
With the time that I have left, I just want to say
that my focus and a lot of the focus of my questions
that I had prepared are around quality, transparency,
and accountability. So, Mr. Chairman, if you do not


Bermuda House of Assembly mind, I would like to start with Head 24 . . . given, . . .
in the interest of time. If I could start with the hospital.

So, one of the things that is blatantly clear is that the hospital grant funding, the block
grant, is not working. One of the things I want to point
out is that between from 2019 to 2020, 2019 when the
block grant actually started, to 2024/25, Mr. Chairman,
$795 million was spent. If you look at the actuals in prior books, that is what it totals, $795 million. If we
include what has been budgeted for 2025/26, Mr.
Chairman, $177 million, that is a total of $972 million,
almost a billion dollars, almost a billion of taxpayers’
dollars that have been spent on the hospital and the
hospital funding.
So, I do ask about accountability because we
are heading in a direction of universal health care and,
you know, the hospital, and where we go with that.
We do not even know where we are going with this block grant funding.
So here are my questions:
• Would the Minister please confirm whether
the Government has fully repaid the balance
of the $31 million owed to BHB which was to
be repaid monthly and completed by the end
of fiscal 2024/ 25?
• When was the final monthly payment made,
and what was the amount of the final instalment?
• Can the Minister tell us how the $22 million
additional funding for the hospital was determined and how it is intended to be used to
address the current operational and staffing
needs especially given recent pay disputes
and inflationary pressures?
• What month does the Government pay the
block grant funds to the BHB, and what is the
full amount that the BHB can expect to re-ceive?
• Given past underfunding and delayed payments, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the BHB receives full and timely
payments this year?
• When will the block grant funding be revisited
to ensure that funding is adequate to keep
pace with medical inflation [and] that the
model aligns with actual cost and capital spending?
• When was the last block grant financing review for the Bermuda Hospitals Board conducted and by whom, and what were the fund-ing gaps identified?
• Can the Minister give assurance to the public
that the current operational grant and patient
subsidy allocation to the hospital are sufficient
to meet growing demands of an a geing population and a population with increasing chronic conditions and demands on health services
and rising health care costs?
• What reporting and oversight mechanisms are in place to monitor how the block grants are
spent and to ensure accountability for both the
Government and for the hospital?
• Will the Minister commit to publishing regular
updates on hospital funding, expenditure, and
outcomes to enhance transparency for the public?
• How is the hospital preparing for the transition
to universal health care in 2026, and what operational or financial challenges are anticipat-ed during this shift? And how is the BHB preparing to overcome them?
• Will the BHB receive targeted funding or resources to prepare for the transition to universal health care, and how will this affect its fi-nancial planning and service delivery?
The next question I have is on staffing. We
know that there have been significant challenges in
terms of recruitment and the like. There are a multitude of reasons why there is a challenge to recruit, but the question is: What are we doing to overcome it?
If I may, Mr. Chairman, may I quote the Minister from last year’s budget debate?

It was in the Hansard. So, the
Minister relayed a warning from a member of the World Health Organization who anticipated that in two
years’ time, we will have over 10 million shortages of
health care professionals throughout the world. So,
the internal recruitment issues mentioned already make challenging recruitment strategy much more
difficult because we are not just competing with our
neighbours next door, we are competing with the
world in terms of having available resources.
Part of the reason we cannot attract people is
our high cost of living. I mean, people hear about
funding challenges. People hear about no salary in-creases in seven years. People hear about all those
types of things, and then of course when you consider
that you do not have sufficient staffing numbers then it
immediately goes to, Is that going to lead to stress and burnout and extra overtime to cover vacant positions and the like?
So, I would like to know if the Minister can tell
us what proactive changes to recruitment strategies and practices and additional steps have been taken to
recruit to ensure that Bermuda’s residents have suffi-cient health care professionals on the Island given
that we are competing with the world for human resources. And I know that is a tall, tall, tall order, but I
must ask the question because we have a hard
enough time getting health professionals now. We
cannot afford not to have sufficient . . .
732 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly I have more questions, but I can sit and wait a
minute because if I can, I would like to have a few answers before we wrap up, if that is okay with you.

Thank you, Honourable Member .
Just to remind the Chamber for those who
may not have heard. The Minister did very kindly indicate that she would give written responses or responses to questions if they were provided.
Is there any other Member who would like to
contribute to the debate? If not, Minister would you like to bowl a few overs, or would you like to go back
to questions from the Honourable Member ?

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Okay. I do have the 14 questions, so let me
just answer the ones that I do have. But like I said, I will provide these —

Minister, you have the floor.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
And this may not necessarily be in the order in
which they were asked, but I have the order in which they were asked.
What month does the Government pay the
block grant to BHB, and what is the full amount? It is paid monthly on the fifteenth of each month.
What mechanisms are in place to ensure that
BHB receives full and timely payments this year ?
Payments occur i n a timely manner according with the
grant letters that are in place between the Government and BHB.
What proactive changes are being done with
respect to recruitment? I can speak to what the Ministry is doing, but insofar as what BHB is doing, no
doubt they have similar challenges with respect to the worldwide shortage of nurses. But BHB continues to
support talent development programmes.
I spoke about their scholarship programme,
which is similar to what we have at the Ministry with
respect to the Dr. Barbara Ball Scholarship so we are
trying to encourage participation through higher education in roles of health care through the offering of scholarships through the Bermuda Government
scholarships, the Dr. Barbara Ball scholarship.
And then BHB also has offered scholarships to individuals that would hopefully come back and work for
us. BHB is also, as I indicated, part of the education
. . . What is it called? They are one of the cohorts that
are providing at The Berkeley Institute the science/ (I
cannot remember the name of it.) medical . . . What is
it called? Signature school.
[Inaudible interjection]

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Right. Thank you. Thank you.
So that that can help to encourage individuals and promote the provision of health care services in Bermuda as a career opportunity. (Just a minute.)
When was the final payment made, and what
was the amount of the final payment? All payments
were made by the 2024/25 fiscal year. (I am still read-ing.)
I can also say while I am getting more answers, Mr. Chairman, that the Government recognises
that BHB is an important stakeholder within our health
care system and that we value the vital services that
they are providing to us, but we also remain commit-ted to working collaboratively with them to ensure that
the hospital has the necessary funding that they need
to sustain and provide essential services to the community whilst also recognising that transparency and
funding allocation are critically important. The issue as
the Honourable [Member] Ms. Tucker, who sits in
constituency . . . constituency . . .

Seven.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you—seven.
—mentioned the issue as it related to the
block grant. That was introduced —appreciating that
she was not here at the time when we introduced that—but it was a cost -saving measure. We were on
our way to a million- dollar -cliff health care spend. Half
of that was at BHB.
And we recognise that jurisdictions throughout
the world have moved away from fee- for-service towards a block grant because not only is it more sus-tainable, [but] it makes sure that it is not having cost
overruns. It is just a more efficient mechanism that hospitals are running throughout the world as a best
practice to move away from fee- for-service to something that is more of a block grant system. So that is
what we did.
We did a lot of work when we did health financing reform in 2017/18. And that was the decision of the trajectory that the Government chose to go on
for a number of reasons not the least of which is the
savings as it relates to controlling costs without sacrificing the provision of services.
[The] general vacancy rate is only 8 per cent
actually at BHB. And the registered nurse vacancy is
only 7 per cent. And again, as I indicated concerning
the issue— it is question number 14 with respect to
staffing —both BHB and the Ministry of Health are actively recruiting recognising that we are competing against other jurisdictions that are offering green
cards.
So, we are competing against a number of
other jurisdictions, but we are actively trying to recruit.
But the general vacancy at BHB and the registered
nurse vacancy is not as big as one might expect when
I say 8 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively.
We are also working, Mr. Chairman, with the
Health Council to review developing entry level pathways into new job categories such as the advance


Bermuda House of Assembly practice nurses that I spoke about and LPNs. I did
speak about the signature school that BHB is now
engaged with, with respect to The Berkeley Institute.
Workforce strategy work is underway as part
of UHC, one of the initiatives. And also, when we spoke about the Bermuda Health Strategy 2022–
2027, it was one of the eight pillars —workforce strategy and identifying what our workforce needs are in
Bermuda and making sure that we take steps to ensure that we have a Bermuda population that is within
our health care system. So, we will always need to rely on overseas talent, but we want to ensure that we
can have and develop homegrown talent as well.
Yes. The Government agreed to pay the remaining $16.3 . . . I am sorry. This is with respect to
. . . The question is: When was the final payment
made, and what was the amount of the final payment?
All the payments were made, Mr. Chairman, by 2024,
and the Government agreed to pay the remaining
[$]16.3 shortfall in October 2023 in six equal instalments. And that has been paid.

We only have about two or three
minutes left.

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, thank you.
Mr. Chairman, like I said, the Government’s
commitment when we did the health financing reform
several years ago was an introduction of a block grant. However, we maintained discussions and a
working group with the BHB so that we can look at
revenue generation ideas. The 4B codes, which is a
fee-for-service mechanism so to speak, have been
expanded. We have increased the amount. I think it went from $200 to $300. So, we are looking at perhaps some other services that can be going into the
fee-for-service.
We have spoken about the road traffic incidents that I spoke about. So those 4B codes are in essence separate and apart from the block grant. So,
there are considerations as to what else can be potentially inserted into the 4B codes. But we always have
to remember —whatever we are doing as it relates to
inclusions into 4Bs —what impact it may have on the
overall health system. So, all of this . . . You cannot
just . . . When you . . . It is like Whac -A-Mole. You
cannot just do one thing and then do not expect that
there is going to be any type of consequence. We
have to look at the overall health care system in totality.
We are looking at other mechanisms in these
discussions, in these working group meetings with the
BHB, to look at other mechanisms as it relates to how
to make sure the funding is sustainable. And we are
also looking at perhaps consideration of transferring
some services that are currently performed in BHB out
into the community, which may have cost -effective
economies of scale. So, that is all a part of the conversations.
Again, as I have indicated previously, Mr.
Chairman, as a Government we are committed to ensuring that the hospital has the financial resources
that they require to provide the services that each and
every one of us is expecting. However, we have to
look at it in totality. We need to make sure that accountability exists. I think the Honourable Member
spoke first about accountability. And that goes on both sides from BHB as well as the Government. We have
to continue in those dialogues, and those dialogues
are continuing regularly.
734 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly I just have to see if I have a couple more answers.

You have the floor, Minister.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes. In addition to this, what
other proactive steps are being taken for recruitment,
practice, et cetera.? The Department of Health is exploring options to provide housing for public health
professionals upon their arrival to the Island because
we recognise that the cost of living is one of the bigger barriers to recruitment. I have spoken about the bursaries and the trainee programmes.
With respect to the question . . . What information would the Minister commit to publishing [in]
regular updates on hospital spending annual reports?
This would obviously come from BHB not the Ministry.
Annual reports up to 2023 have been completed, Mr.
Chairman, which will speak to the updates with respect to the hospital funding because they produce their own reports. They have been produced up to 2023, and they are complete and close to being made
public. That is for 2023.
And there is a quality and safety data report
posted quarterly on the website of BHB and a monthly
report as well with respect to the emergency department and bed- waiting data and real -time waiting time
in the waiting room. And that is also produced monthly
by BHB. So, the annual report is about to be public for
2023, and then there is a monthly report that is on
their website. And again, that speaks to the question
as it relates to the publishing of regular updates of the
hospital spending that would come from them in their
annual reports.
I think that might be half of the questions at
least, but like I said, I did undertake to—

Yes, Honourable Member s, it has
been moved that Heads 21, 22, 24, 91 be approved.
Is there any objection to that motion?
There being none; agreed to.

[Motion carried: The Ministry of Health, Heads 21, 22, 24 and 91 were approved and stand part of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26.]

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I move that the Committee rise, report progress, and ask for leave to sit again.

Thank you, Honourable Member s.
It has been moved by the Honourable M inister
that the Committee rise and report progress and ask for leave to sit again.
Is there any objection to that motion?
There being none, the Committee shall rise,
report progress, and ask for leave to sit again.

[Motion carried: The Committee of Supply rose and reported progress and asked for leave to sit again.]

House resumed at 8:03 pm
[Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair]

REPORT OF COMMITTEE

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY

ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE
FOR THE YEAR 2025/26

It has been reported that the
Committee rise and report progress with leave to sit again. That was approved.
No objections to that?
There being none; accepted.
That takes us on to the next matter. I do understand that we have one matter to deal with today.
And that matter will be done under the Honourable
Minister of Economy and Labour, I believe it is.
Minister?

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam [Deputy] Speaker, I
move that the Bill entitled the Department of Labour Act 2025 be now read the second time.

Oh, Department of Labour.
Sorry.
Is that approved? Yes.
Minister, continue.

BILL

SECOND READING

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR ACT 2025

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Deputy Speaker, I am
pleased to introduce in the Honourable House today a
Bill entitled the Department of Labour Act 2025. [It]
provides for the continuation of the Department of Labour in legislation and appoints the Director of Labour
as the public officer responsible for the supervision of the Department of Labour subject to the general direc-tion and control of the Minister responsible for labour
relations.
The Department of Labour, previously known
as the Labour Relations Section, used to be a section
within the Department of Workforce Development. In
2017, the section was separated from the Department
of Workforce Development and placed within the Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters as a standalone
government section headed by the Manager of Labour Relations. All employment and labour -related legislation was amended to provide the manager with specif-ic legislative responsibilities that were previously held by the director of Workforce Development.
Madam Deputy Speaker, in March 2023, the
section was transitioned into the Department of Labour, and the Director of Labour post was created to
ensure the efficient operation and management of the
department. This meant, Madam Deputy Speaker,
that the legislation, regulations, and orders prescribed to the department as well as any consequential legislation required amendment to correctly reference the
department by name and appoint a Director of Labour as the public officer within the supervision of the department as legislation currently refers to the Manager
of Labour Relations.
Madam Deputy Speaker, it is essential to ensure that the legislative responsibility for the department is correctly assigned to the head of the department, and this Bill achieves that.
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Deputy
Speaker.
I just have a few questions for the Minister.
The first one is: Why was this not done ? I mean, this
is fairly straightforward. It is making consequential amendments to some Acts and obvious amendments
to principal Acts. Why was this not done in July 2017
when the Act was separated from the Workforce Development or when it actually transitioned from a unit
into a department in March of 2023?
I think from earlier today in our debate it was
mentioned that the staffing of this unit/department has
been through using employees from other departments. Is that correct? And since . . . I know the director was announced in October of last year. I am just wondering, since then, has the director been the only
full-time equivalent, and have they been working with
employees from other areas or temporary employees
from other areas?
So, the last question is: The net impact of this
department to the Government coffers is . . . As far as
expenditure, is that equal to the $1,199,000 as per
page B -199 in this year’s budget?
That is it, Madam Deputy Speaker.

Okay. Thank you.

[Laughter]

736 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Jason Hayward: Well, let me begin by thanking
the Opposition for their support of this particular Bill.
The Department of Labour is extremely fundamental in terms of maintaining labour standards in
Bermuda, in terms of ensuring that there are harmoni-ous labour relations. And so, I will walk through the
exercise of where we came from to where we are.
And so, in July 2017, when it was moved as a
unit head and transitioned from the Department of
Labour underneath the [Ministry of] Home Affairs, as I
believe I indicated at that point in time, the appropriate title for the person who actually managed the section—because it was not a department —would have
been the Labour Relations Manager. When the Labour Relations Section shifted ministries to the Ministry of Economy and Labour, the Ministry then thought
it best fit to create a Department of Labour with the necessary administrative support so it can carry out
the functions that are required to ensure we can
achieve the objectives that are set out from the department. That meant that we do a management ser-vice review and identify positions. Once the positions
were then identified, we were able to get Cabinet approval to approve the department.
When you create departments, you can create
two departments two ways in government. It can be
[an] administrative department, or it can be a statutory
department. When it was deemed to be an administra-tive department, it was still fine where we had reference to the manager responsible for labour relations,
but we thought it was a simple amendment to just change the Manager of Labour Relations to Director
of Labour Relations. Chambers had then advised us
that the process is not as simple as that. If you refer to a director, the director needs to be a director of a department, and the department has to be a statutory department in law. And as a result of that, we brought the legislation to first and foremost create a Department of Labour that will be a statutory Department of
Labour, and then at the end of that process, we then
were to transfer the responsibilities to the Director of
Labour.
The Director of Labour is not the only full -time
officer and has not been the only full -time officer within the Department of Labour. We are in a process
where we do ongoing recruitment, and that is primarily
for the positions such as labour inspectors and also
labour relations officers who may have transitioned
out of the department at that particular point in time.
But when it was a unit, it did have staff associated with the unit that transferred over into the de-partment. Where there was a shortfall in human resources, we then seconded individuals in the department because it is such a fundamental role that these
officers play that we thought it was important for us to
have the appropriate coverage.
I want to underscore what the fundamental
importance of this Bill [is] in the context of how it is
actually going to continue to allow us to assist persons in need within the world of work —that is increasing
labour standards, ensuring we have appropriate labour policy, ensuring that we advance labour rights,
ensuring that we have harmonious labour relations
and the approval of . . . (I wouldn’t use the word approval) or the facilitation of assuring that labour disputes actually get adjudicated in an efficient and effective manner.
I think that the statistics I mentioned earlier
when I was going through the brief of the department
in terms of the number of persons who had called in for consultations regarding provisions of law underneath the laws that govern the world of work in Bermuda is a testament to the fundamental importance of
assuring that we have an appropriate administrative
body within Government that actually can support
persons within the world of work.
The level of complaints and the nature of
complaints were also something that we should find
somewhat concerning as it pertains to persons who
are seeking justice through the Employment and Labour Relations Tribunal for not being paid, not being
paid redundancy, for not having the appropriate time
underneath the Act, and things of that nature.
So, this is fundamentally important. I believe it
is an important milestone in terms of us having a
properly constituted department with [a] full comple-ment of staff who have been identified in terms of
need and our ability to ensure that we improve the
workforce.
When we start to talk about human- centred
policies, the Department of Labour is on the forefront
of supporting workers in the world of work. Not just that, but [it is] also looking in the future and determining how the world of work will adapt and what policy
changes may be needed, ensuring that we stay up in
alignment with best practices from the ILO, and as a
means of social protection. You know, working in dignity is one of the goals, the sustainable development
goals, that the UN actually sets. And we should be
advancing to or trying to accomplish those goals as
best as we possibly can. And in this particular area we
find that jurisdictions that actually support their workers have more productive environments, better conditions. We have persons working in dignity and in de-cency.
This department is also responsible for ensuring that the minimum wage provisions, which are set out in law, are actually adhered to and there is com-pliance with the minimum wage. When I came to this
House some time ago and I got the full body of complaints from an immigration standpoint that pertain to
contracts that were not amended to reflect the minimum wage, I saw the gravity of having a department
that persons can rely on, that they can contact to get
the justice that they deserve. Sometimes we rely on
employers to simply do the right thing, and that is not
the case. We need to have a regulated environment
with consequences for those persons who do not folBermuda House of Assembly low our laws. The Department of Labour and the Director of Labour are at the forefront of that.
I think that the statutory responsibility shifting
from the Labour Relations Manager to the director is
appropriate. It makes perfect sense, but it had to be an organised transition that we can actually facilitate. I
would say until this law comes into force, the statutory
responsibilities today remain with the Labour Relations Manager and not the director. And so, you can
see how you have an officer within the department
that has greater statutory responsibility than the per-son responsible for the department, and that does not
make much sense and is the not the appropriate way
we should be governing ourselves.
With that said, Madam Deputy Speaker —

And you are correct. And you
can do that in Committee of Supply.
Hon. Jason Hayward: That was the first infraction.
The second infraction that I will caution about
is that we just did a full debate regarding the Ministry
of Economy of Labour and the departments that fall
under that, and we debated and approved the head
related to the Department of Labour. So, it is the most
absurd question when we are talking about the funding associated with the department that we just ap-proved earlier within debate.
Notwithstanding that, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to move that the Bill be committed.

It has moved that clauses 1 through 6
be approved.
Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection. Agreed to.

Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Chairman, this Bill makes
provision to amend the Employment Act 2000 and the
Trade Union Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 2021 with respect to the continuation of the Department of Labour under the supervision of the Director
of Labour as the public officer responsible for the department. Related matters are provided for in Schedules 1, 2, and 3.
Schedule 1 amends the Employment Act
2000, Schedule 2 amends the Trade Union and La-bour Relations (Consolidation) Act 2021 and Schedule
3 provides consequential amendments to various primary and secondary legislation; all amendments
738 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly change the officer responsible in legislation from the
Manager of Labour Relations to the Director of Labour.
Clause 1 provides a citation for the Bill.
Clause 2 amends the Employment Act 2000
to insert a new section 3AA that provides for the continuation of the Department of Labour, under the supervision of the Director of Labour, who is the public
officer responsible for the department.
Clause 3 provides for amendments to the
Employment Act 2000 as set out in Schedule 1.
Clause 4 provides for amends to the Trade
Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 2021
as set out in Schedule 2.
Clause 5 provides for consequential amendments as set out in Schedule 3.
Clause 6 provides for commencement.

It has been moved that Schedules 1
through 3 be approved.
Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection. Agreed to.
Anyone wish to speak to it?
[Motion carried: Schedules 1 through 3 passed.]

Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Chairman, I move that the
preamble be approved. The Chairman: It has been moved that the preamble
be approved.
Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection. Agreed to.

Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Chairman, I move that the
Bill be reported to the House as printed.

It has been reported that the
Bill be reported to the House as printed and that was
agreed to. So accepted.
So that moves us on. Today we have no further matters.
I do understand that the Junior Minister wishes to do something.
Junior Minister of Finance, you have the floor.

Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Madam [Deputy] Speaker, I
have the honour to attach and submit for consideration to the Honourable House of Assembly draft Regulations entitled the Government Fees Amendment
Regulations 2025 proposed to be made by the Minister of Finance—

It has been moved that Standing Order 14 be suspended.
Are there any objections to that? To enable
the Junior Minister to provide a communication to us.
No objections.
Continue.

[Motion carried: Standing Order 14 suspended. ]

PAPERS AND OTHER
COMMUNICATIONS TO THE HOUSE

DRAFT REGULATIONS: GOVERNMENT FEES
AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2025
Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Thank you, Madam Deputy
Speaker.
I have the honour to attach and submit for
consideration to the Honourable House of Assembly draft Regulations entitled the Government Fees
Amendment Regulations 2025 proposed to be made by the Minister of Finance under provisions of section
2(1) of the Government Fees Act 1965.
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

Thank you, Junior Minister.
So approved.
That takes us to . . . there being no other matters to deal with. The third reading of the Bill.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21

Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Deputy Speaker, I
move that Standing Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move the Bill entitled the Department of Labour
Act 2025 be now read a third time by its title only.

Thank you, Madam Deputy
Speaker.
You know, for the past couple of weeks we
have been talking a lot about not just how well as-pects of our economy are doing, but we have also talked about the people who have been left behind.
Recently I had somebody stop me. And they
said, Why are you spending all this money on these
people who do not want to pay their way ? You know,
do not want to work. They are lazy . And just the whole
nine. And it really struck to me how in the midst of all our wealth and prosperity there are still pockets devoid of compassion for each other.
We see too often in our community our neighbours struggling, and instead of offering compassion,
we offer judgment. We gossip about them. We laugh
about them. You know, we talk to everybody about them. Look at them. Look at them. So, we . . . The
struggles that people are facing are being compounded by the judgment of their peers, the judgment of
their communities, the degradation and the gossip,
and the whispers and the laughing.
740 19 May 2025 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly And we do not think sometimes, you know.
You walk up to somebody and say, My God. You
gained all this weight. But there are people who have
mental issues where the medication they are taking to
help them feel better made them gain weight.
You know, you will say to somebody, Oh, your
shoes are falling apart. And you do not realise that
they are paying all the money they have for their chil-dren to be educated, or even just to keep the lights
on.
And so, we know as we come towards Bermuda Day, which was created specifically to engender
unity in our community and engendered to help break
down barriers in divide, I am asking each of us to think
and see each other as human beings not sources of
entertainment, not sources of degradation. I want us
to see, and before we judge ask, you know. Before you look at somebody and you say [something], ask
them, Are you okay? Do you need help? That is a
change that needs to run through this community and
a spirit that needs to run through this community be-cause as we go to Bermuda Day and we talk about
unity, unity begins with us getting back to being who
we are as a people as we have been historically, people who look out for each other, people who care about each other.
We have always talked about each other, but
now if we want to progress, we have got to change. We have got to change. And so, I am asking everyone, the next time you see somebody struggling, be-fore you take a picture and pass it on, before you run to everybody and say, Look what happened to soand-so, reach out. Knock on their door. Go to your
neighbour and say, Look. Do you need some help?
How can I help you? You know? Let’s try and change
that mind- set.
And I will ask that each of us have a very
wonderful Bermuda Day even though we will be back
here on Wednesday. I do not know if I will be speaking on Wednesday. But I would like to extend on behalf of my family and the team at constituency 33 a
happy Bermuda Day to all Bermudians when it comes.
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.