The SpeakerThe SpeakerMembers, the Minutes from November the 10th have been received. Are there any objections or any amendments? No objections, no amendments. The Minutes are confirmed. [Minutes of 10 November 2017 confirmed] MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR [No Messages from the Governor] The Clerk: Announcements by the Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. The Clerk: Yes, there are.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSorry. I am looking at Messages from the Governor. We skipped one; you see? The Clerk: Oh, I am sorry.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNo problem, dear. [Inaudible interjections] ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER OR MEMBER PRESIDING APOLOGIES
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere is one announcement from my Chair. I have received notice from two Members that they will be absent today. The Honourable Member, Mr. Weeks, and the Honourable Member, Mr. Smith (Ben Smith) have both indicated that they will be absent today. MESSAGE S FROM THE SENATE
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. PAPERS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TO THE HOUSE
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, we have a paper this morning from the Minister of Education. And I believe the Mi nister of Works is going to do it in his stead? BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17
Lt. Col. Hon. David A. BurchYes, Mr. Speaker; good morning. On behalf of the Honourable D. V. S. Rabain, the Minister of Education and Workforce Develo pment, I have the honour to attach and submit for the information of the Honourable House of Assembly the Bermuda College Annual Report 2016/17.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. PETITIONS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS AND JUNIOR MINISTERS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI believe we have nine Statements t oday. Premier, would you like to lead off the Stat ements this morning? I believe you have one.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerJust h old on one second. Have [copies of] the Premier’s Statement been circulated?
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberNo, we do not.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerIt is being circulated now? [Inaudible interjections and pause] 570 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Ministers, just a reminder, part of why we are going through this little hiccup this morning is that if things do not arrive to this office on time …
It is being circulated now? [Inaudible interjections and pause]
570 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Ministers, just a reminder, part of why we are going through this little hiccup this morning is that if things do not arrive to this office on time it causes problems on this end of the exercise. We try to avoid that by having them on time. Give us a few minutes until those Statements have been circulated.
[Pause]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerDo all Members have the Premier’s Statement ? Premier , you can begin while the others are being circulated. BERMUDA INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Hon. E. David Burt: Good morning, Mr. Speaker, and thank you. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to advise Honour able Members of the establishment of the Bermuda Infrastructure …
Do all Members have the Premier’s Statement ? Premier , you can begin while the others are being circulated.
BERMUDA INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Hon. E. David Burt: Good morning, Mr. Speaker, and thank you. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to advise Honour able Members of the establishment of the Bermuda Infrastructure Fund . Honourable Members will recall that Government’s vision, expressed in our election platform entitled “Agenda for a Better and Fairer Bermuda, ” was to implement the National Infrastructure Strategy Plan. The purpose of this plan is to identify important improvements and repairs to Bermuda’s infrastructure that will not only enhance the overall quality of life, but will also create business opportun ities for construction companies and jobs for Bermudi-an construction workers. Mr. Speaker, Bermuda is a global leader in insurance. Bermuda- based insurance companies and reinsurance companies have significant assets. These assets are put aside to pay claims when they arise. The vast majority of these assets are invested outside of Bermuda. If only a small portion of these funds were invested domestically, in the Bermuda economy, that would result in significant investments. This would be a very significant inflow of capital into our economy, leading to investments that will create jobs and stimulate economic growth. Mr. Speaker, the Bermuda Infrastructure Fund concept was brought to the previous Government by a few key senior executives of Bermuda’s reinsurance industry. These companies have consistently been committed to Bermuda, and they wanted to help e nsure that Bermuda was able to return to a path of economic growth, creating prosperity for Bermudians. The recent statistics showing that 2016 was the se venth year of economic contraction in the last eight years shows the urgency that must be placed on ec onomic growth, as our future depends on being able to grow our economy and create jobs for Bermudians. The originators of the fund idea, realising that the y did not have the in- house expertise in infr astructure i nvestment necessary to manage the fund professiona lly, approached Fortress Investment Group, who agreed to act as manager. Fortress Investment Group LLC is a leading, diversified, global investment man-agement firm. Fortress applies its deep exp erience and speciali sed expertise across a r ange of inves tment strategies —private equity, credit, liquid markets , and traditional asset management —on behalf of over 1,600 institutional investors and private clients worl dwide. Mr. Speaker, the former Minis ter of Finance did not support this fund, as there was a disagreement on the management fee that was to be paid to the fund managers. This disagreement prevented the fund from becoming a reality. Upon taking office, this Go vernment was presented the concept. F ollowing a per iod of negotiation we were able to arrive at a suitable agreement to proceed , which granted the Government a seat on the board in exchange for a guarantee of the minimum management fee. The Government believes that is in the best interest of Bermuda, and Bermudians who are looking for jobs , to have international business [owners] invest their funds locally to help stimulate Bermuda’s economy. Given the conf idence we have in the future of Bermuda and our de-sire to support infrastructure development, t he Go vernment has agreed to support the establishment of the Bermuda Infrastructure Fund. Mr. Speaker , key features of the f und are as follows: The f und is being formed primarily to make investments in Bermuda- based infrastructure assets and opportunities . The general partner will be Fortress Bermuda Infrastructure Fund GP LLC , and the manager will be Fortress Bermuda Infrastructure Fund Advisors LLC . The Fund is seeking a minimum of $100 million in commitments from Bermuda- based insurance companies . Management fees are payable semi -annually in advance, in an amount equal to 0.75 per cent ( or 1.5 per cent annually) of capital i nvested. The minimum fee is $1 million per year . In the event that the m anagement fee is less than $500,000 in a semi -annual period, the gover nment must pay the difference. The amount paid by government will represent an interest in the f und. Government will be liable to pay the initial management fee of $500,000 and will be liable to pay some fees as long as the amount invested by the fund r emains below $66.7 million . The general partner will establish an advisory board composed of represent atives of certain limited partners and a g overnment representative. The f und may borrow funds to fac ilitate investments , or otherwise , in connection with the fund’s business . Mr. Speaker, there are many potential inves tment opportunities for the Bermuda Infrastructure Fund to consider. Some examples are as follows: • upgrades to Bermuda’s e nergy infrastructure; • sewage treatment ; • new port facilities at Marginal Wharf ; • redevelopment of the Hamilton Waterfront ; and • construction of mixed- use residential and commercial buildings in the City of Hamilton.
Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Speaker , Honourable Members are a dvised that there is no budget allocation for the m anagement fees that have to be funded by government for this proposal; therefore, unless savings can be found from current allocations, a supplementary est imate will be required. It is important to remember that government will receive an equity stake in the fund for any payments which will rank equally with other investors. Mr. Speaker, in closing, the offer to establish this fund is a vote of confidence in Bermuda and a vote of confidence in the cooperative approach to governance that this new Government has taken. In the words of the former Premier, the Honourable W. Alexan der Scott, “Bermuda works best when we work together .” This G overnment is committed to working together with all partners interested in genuine colla boration to grow Bermuda’s economy and create jobs in Bermuda that Bermudians can and will fill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
[Desk thumping]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Premier. The next Statement that will be read will be . . . I was going to go to Minister Wilson; I do not see Minister Wilson. I am going to go to—Minister De Silva, are you ready to read your Statement? We will take Mini ster …
Thank you, Mr. Premier. The next Statement that will be read will be . . . I was going to go to Minister Wilson; I do not see Minister Wilson. I am going to go to—Minister De Silva, are you ready to read your Statement? We will take Mini ster De Silva at this point. Minister De Silva, you have the floor.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REFORM GROUP Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to inform my honourable colleagues about the establishment of a Financial Assistance Reform Group to undertake a review of the Financial Assistance Programme. Mr. Speaker, the Financial Assistance Pr ogramme has been in existence for many years. The programme evolved from the old Parish Assistance Act of 1968 and was formerly administered under the Parish Vestry and Parish Council System. From its inception, the purpose of the Financial Assistance Programme was (and still is) to ensure that all Berm udians have the financial and social means to maxi mise their potential as viable members of our society. Mr. Speaker, the Financial Assistance Pr ogramme is currently underpinned by four key pieces of legislation, namely, the Financial Assistance Act 2001, the Financial Assistance Regulations 2004, the Child Day Care Allowance Act 2008 , and the Child Day Care Allowance Regulations 2008. This gives the F inancial Assista nce Programme a strong legislative framework, which enables the Department of Fina ncial Assistance to carry out its mandate of ensuring that all Bermudians have the financial and social means to gain, regain, and maintain a minimum standard of living. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Financial A ssistance is the public authority which is responsible for assessing the financial needs of Bermudians who ap-ply for financial assistance, and makes awards to el igible and qualified Bermudians, based on criteria as outlined in the financial assistance legislation. Mr. Speaker, in recent years, the department has seen a sharp increase in the number and complexity of client caseloads. For example, the most r ecent statistics on financial assistance show that the total n umber of persons in receipt of financial assi stance (excluding the Child Day Care Allowance Pr ogramme ) was 2,560 in May 2017. By comparison, Mr. Speaker, the total number of financial assistance cl ients was 1,332 in October 2011. The total number of persons receiving financial assistance has nearly doubled in the past six years , Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker, t he cost of administering the Financial Assistance Programme has also increased significantly over the years. The total monthly pay -out for financial assi stance (excluding child day care a llowance awards) rose from approximately $2.5 million in October 2011 to just over $4.0 million in October 2017. Mr. Speaker, t he trends of increasing numbers of clients and the high cost of financial assi stance are not sustainable and must be reduced. Mr. Speaker, i t was with this objective in mind that the Government committed, in the September 2017 Speech from the Throne, to review the Financial A ssistance Programme and to reform the programme to “reduce abuse, discour age dependency, and ensure that work pays.” Mr. Speaker, in order to achieve this Throne Speech objective, I am pleased to announce the establishment of a Financial Assistance Reform Group, consisting of the following persons: • Permanent Secretary Mr. Wayne Carey, who will be the Chairperson; • Senator Jason Hayward, JP ; • Tinee Furbert, MP ; • Michael Weeks, MP ; • Susan Jackson, MP ; • Wendall Brown ; • Wentworth Christopher ; • Tina Nash; • Lynn Gordon; • Dianna Taylor ; • Komlah Foggo- Wilson ; and • Judy Lowe- Teart . Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the Financial A ssistance Working Group is to review the Financial A ssistance Programme and make recommendations for financial assistance reform. In particular , Mr. Speaker, the Financial Assistance Reform Group will assess the effectiveness of the Financial Assistance Pr ogramme with particular emphasis on areas where le g572 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly islative and/or policy reform may be required to i mprove service delivery. Further , Mr. Speaker, t he Financial Assi stance Reform Group will examine options for reducing the number of persons who are dependent on fina ncial assistance and for reducing the overall cost of the Financial Assistance Programme. In doing so, the F inancial Assistance Reform Group will assess the level of abuse of the financial assistance system and recomm end ways to reduce such abuse. Mr. Speaker, Bermuda has an ageing popul ation. Therefore, the Financial Assistance Reform Group will also spend part of its time assessing the extent to which the ageing population may result in increasing numbers of seniors on financial assistance and make recommendations , going forward. This aspect will, of course, require consultation with the Mi nistry of Health, amongst others. Mr. Speaker, i t will be important for the Financial Assistance Reform Group to identify possib le areas for legislative reform as early as possible, and make recommendations to the Minister of Social D evelopment and Sport to enable appropriate time for the Cabinet to approve such legislative reforms and also allow sufficient time for legislative drafting. Mr. Speaker, t he Financial Assistance Reform Group will be required to prepare a summary report of its conclusions and recommendations for submission to the Minister of Social Development and Sport as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. I will now call on Minister Wilson. Minister Wi lson, you have the floor. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Inaudible interjections] Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Shall I proceed, Mr. Speaker?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerContinue on, Minister. RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES AND NURSING HOMES AMENDMENT BILL 2017 Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. I am very pleased that today I will be tabling the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes Amendment Bill 2017 . Mr. Speaker, this Government is keenly aware …
Continue on, Minister.
RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES AND NURSING HOMES AMENDMENT BILL 2017
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. I am very pleased that today I will be tabling the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes Amendment Bill 2017 . Mr. Speaker, this Government is keenly aware of the need to address challenges facing our longterm care system. Long- term care includes a range of services to meet the care needs of persons through-out their lifespan, due to reduced physical, cognitive, or functional capacity. Care homes, also known as rest hom es and nursing homes, are a central component of this sy stem. Mr. Speaker, the Ministry’s policy direction is to prioritis e people’s ability to age in their own home and age in place, by improving the quality and sustainabi lity of our health and long- term care systems. Howe ver, while ageing at home is often optimal, there is no doubt that care homes remain a necessary component of our long- term care system. Quality residential care is necessary for those unable to safely remain in their own home or when the costs of care are unsustainable in a home setting. The Ministry, through the Chief Medical O fficer and Ageing and Disability Services, has regulat ory responsibility for 22 care homes. Across these homes, there are 395 residents with a wide range of personal and medical care needs. Currently, the m ajority of residents are seniors; however, care homes also include adults under 65 years of age with intellectual or physical disabilities. Mr. Speaker, this Government does not take lightly the realities of an ageing population and the challenges facing our long- term care system. Currently, care homes are at capacity, with an ever -growing demand. Some struggle financially to meet the reality of the high cost of this type of care. It is because of these demanding challenges and our commitment to our elders and most vulnerable in society that we have ensured the continuation of strategic initiatives that address long- term care. The 2017 Long Term Care Action Plan [the Action Plan] is one such initiative. The plan targets some the most pressing issues facing the sector, f ocusing on solutions achievable in the short term. It identified actions that could be achieved within a year, or groundwork necessary to set the stage for longer term goals, such as financing refor m and development of a three- to-five-year long- term care strategy. A ccordingly, Goal 5 of the Action Plan is to moderni se the current regulation of care homes. Efforts to update this legislation have had many false starts over the years that fell victim to changing governments and priorities. Mr. Speaker, we will not repeat this pattern, as updating this legislation is an essential component of protecting persons in care. The purpose of the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes Act 1999, and the 2001 Re gulations, is to ensure residents’ overall health, safety , and well-being through setting minimum requirements. However, Mr. Speaker, since the introduction of this legislation almost 20 years ago, there have been substantial advancements in the expectations of care and service provision. The mechanisms available for co mpliance and enforcement, therefore, need to be en-hanced in order to continue to raise standards and to move towards international best practices. Mr. Speaker, today, best practices promote care homes to be person centred and focused on quality of life. This means ensuring that services and
Bermuda House of Assembly programmes revolve around the individual’s compr ehensive needs and preferences rather than an excl usive focus on medical needs and the institution’s daily routines. To promote this shift in service delivery r equires a regulatory framework that is responsive to a home’s model of car e and level of care, and to the specific needs of the residents. In addition, the compliance monitoring and enforcement methods must be adapted to this framework while establishing more effective regulatory mechanisms , in light of capacity and financing limitations. Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, the Amendment Bill to be laid in this House later on today is to address these fundamental issues —improving the minimum standards of care, and enforcement capacity. The Bill creates a more flexible and efficient regulatory fram ework to raise standards over time and to focus on quality. The amendments also aim to incentivi se compliance and address non- compliance , and ensure a transparent and fair process for care home operators. Significantly, Mr. Speaker, the Bill includes fundamental components of the Protection of Persons in Care Act , that I proposed earlier this year while in Opposition, to enhance reporting of abuse and powers to intervene. Enhancing the regulatory environment for care homes will be an ongoing process, Mr. Speaker, and these amendments set the stage for continued progress in improving standards and regulation. F uture phases of amendments will update the r egulations and continue to enhance the C ode of P ractice to better respond to broader long- term care initiatives. Mr. Speaker , consultation on these changes has been ongoing since December of last year, and was built upon many years of previous reviews and recommendations. Working groups were formed of key stakeholders from community -based and gover nment long- term care professionals, and providers and advocates , including care home administrators. We have been grateful for the time and effort put in by stakeholders and their ongoing commitment to this work. Mr. Speaker, I am most pleased to table this Bill later today and look forward to discussing it in detail during the second reading and debate in the coming weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. I understand you have a further Statement. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: That is correct.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou can continue with that one. CHILD CARE STANDARDS FOR BERMUDA Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speak er. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, today I stand before this Honourable House to provide an update on the development of Child Care Standards for Bermuda. Mr. Speaker, I know that …
You can continue with that one.
CHILD CARE STANDARDS FOR BERMUDA
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speak er. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, today I stand before this Honourable House to provide an update on the development of Child Care Standards
for Bermuda. Mr. Speaker, I know that I speak for everyone when I say that we love our children and we want the very best for them. The Government has an important ongoing role— not just to react in times of crises, but to continually assure quality in every child care setting. Since 1999, regulations have existed for day care centres, but Bermuda has not had formal stand-ards for day care providers (home day care settings) or the centres. This gap, Mr. Speaker, is significant and is now being addressed in a wholistic way, i ntended to benefit all providers, parents , and, of course, our children. Significantly, these standards will also help to harmoni se the various agencies in Government and non governmental organi sations that are dedicated to serving children. The s tandards are therefore an essential step towards placing our commitment to the future of our children front and centre. I thought it was important that this Honourable House and the listening audience are informed of the completion of these s tandards and the ongoing work to ensure the safe and healthy d evelopment of our infants and toddlers. Mr. Speaker, t he purpose of the s tandards is to provide support to parents, day care providers (which are persons caring for up to three children in their homes) , and day care centres in ensuring our children are given the best start to life. The years from zero to three are when a critical amount of brain development occurs , impacting the child’s future beha viours and learning abilities. During these critical years, both parents and child care providers play a vital role. Learning is happening everywhere. It can be said that the kind of society we ult imately have is a direct reflection of the quality of care received by its mem bers when they were babies, i nfants, and young children. By giving utmost i mportance to caring for infants and toddlers, we ensure a better Bermuda for future generations. Mr. Speaker, when a parent returns to work after the birth of their child, they place the care of that child, for up to eight hours a day, with day care pr oviders and day care centres. The importance is not just to watch the child, but to ensure that he or she continues to develop, learn, and grow. A child care provider’s relationship wi th the child and the family is key to ensuring the success of the child. These stand-ards, Mr. Speaker, will help guide and focus on the development milestones, safety and health, and pr ofessional approach needed to nurture and care for children. The Child Care Standards were developed through a committee of experts in child care from the Child Development Programme (CDP), Child and Family Services (CFS), SCARS (Saving Children and 574 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Revealing Secrets), and the Bermuda Private Nursery Association (BPNA). They were based on best practices from three jurisdictions, namely, CARICOM’s Regional Guidelines for Developing Policy, Regul ation, and Standards in Early Childhood Development Services; the National Association for the Education of Young Children [NAEYAC]; and Caring for Our Chi ldren: National Health and Safety Performance Stan dards. Mr. Speaker, our work is never done when it comes to the children of Bermuda. The standards will be reviewed periodically for further development and to ensure that they continu e to be a working document that maintains best practices in the field of early chil dhood care. The standards do not replace legislation that is already in place for day care centres and day care providers to be licensed. The Children’s Act 1998 outlines s ome of the requirements for day care provi ders—those persons who care for children in their home. And the Day Care Centre Regulations 1998 provide guidance to centres. I would like to take this moment to remind providers and centres that you must be licensed by the Ministry of Health in order to care for children in a home or in a centre, but the licensing process involves the work of multiple government departments, includ-ing Environmental Health, Child and Family Services, and the Child Development Progr amme. Together, these agencies are on the critical frontlines, protecting our children. The list of licensed centres and day care providers is available online at www.gov.bm/childcare- information- parents. Mr. Speaker, the goal of the standards is to comp lete and enhance what many are already doing. This document will also help parents with the care that they give their children and [help them] to know what they should expect from the persons caring for an i nfant or toddler during the day. Mr. Speaker, the standards focus on the key areas of child care. These include the provider’s skill sets, professional development, learning and development activities, community, child development ob-servation, supervision and discipline, prohibited behaviours (by the pr oviders), children of different needs or abilities, child protection, health and safety, policies and procedures, and community relationships. With one document, all partner agencies and stakeholders, from the government to parents and child care provi ders, will be clear on what should be expected from them and the best way forward. Mr. Speaker, I invite this Honourable House and the listening audience to view the standards on our website, and we look forward to their application. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. The next Statement that I am going to recognise is that from the Minister Caines. Minister Caines, you have the floor. REDUCING GANG VIOLENCE IN BERMUDA — AN UPDATE Hon. Wayne Caines: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this G overnment promised the people of Bermuda that …
Thank you, Minister. The next Statement that I am going to recognise is that from the Minister Caines. Minister Caines, you have the floor.
REDUCING GANG VIOLENCE IN BERMUDA — AN UPDATE Hon. Wayne Caines: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this G overnment promised the people of Bermuda that we would “give reducing gang violence the priority it deserves.” Since 2009, [a total of] 35 young black men have been shot and killed; 92 people have been injured by illegal fire arms; and over 400 of our y oung people are deemed “ at risk ” of falling prey to the gang lifestyle. Mr. Speaker , it is this G overnment’s hope to work in partnership with all aspects of the community , to address multi -generational unaddressed trauma, and to put long- term solutions in place. In July 2017, I formed the National Security Ministry’s Violence R eduction Team to engage all sectors of the community to address crime and violence. We are determined to change the narrative to reflect an approach that does not solely target the proven at-risk population , but d evelops a cultural shift that supports all young men and women in Bermuda. Mr. Speaker, as promised in our First 100 Days platform, Pastor Leroy Bean was hired as the Gang Violence Reduction Coordinator. Pastor Bean joined the Ministry’s Violence Reduction Team , which also includes the Policy and Project Coordinator and the Group V iolence Intervention Project Manager. Pastor Bean’s primary focus is on implementing pr ogrammes that reduce gang violence and anti social behaviour, in partnership with Bermuda’s clergy, employers , and schools. This partnership aims to offer options for those wishing to transition away from the gang lifestyle, with viable social and economic alternatives. Mr. Speaker , in the short time that he has been on our team , I have been impressed by the depth of Pastor Bean’s knowledge of the issues and his tremendous reach into the affected communities. Mr. Speaker , the Violence Reduction Team was built on the work that had been done before and, in some areas, the team sharpened its focus on strengthening existing programmes and securing the necessary resources to produce measurable outcomes. The team’s core goals and objectives are to: 1. change the pattern of behaviour of individuals involved in group and gang violence, and rei ntegrate them back into mainstream society; 2. prevent young people from joi ning gangs and engaging in anti social behaviour; 3. connect at -risk youth, men, and women with the necessary helping agencies that will aid in addressing mental and social health issues; and
Bermuda House of Assembly 4. create opportunities of employment for those who may have previously been deemed u nemployable because of their past. Mr. Speaker , Operation Ceasefire is an initi ative that began in 2010. Over the years, the foundation has been remodel led and extended to support the creation of unique internal and external working groups dedicated to re ducing violence in Bermuda. The Inter -Agency Gang Task Force [ IGTF ] and the Inter-Agency Gang Enforcement Team [ IGET ] were implemented under the direction of the then- Minister Lieutenant Colonel David Burch. Team Street Safe was championed by former PLP Minister Wayne Perinchief. And the former OBA Government introduced the Inter -Agency Community Response (ICR) and Gang Resistance Education and Training, called G.R.E.A.T. All of these partnerships have been reenergi sed over the last 100 days. The Violence R eduction Team and the c hairpersons of each agency now meet on a monthly basis to implement and evaluate strategies. Mr. Speaker , Honourable Members will recall the subsisting relationship with the National Network for Safe Communities [NNSC] at John Jay College. I can advise this most Honourable House that , as part of that arrangement, NNSC staff conducted a site visit to Bermuda over the 3rd and 4th of October to complete a two- part problem analysis with law enforc ement partners. The goal of this exercise was to ca pture frontline law enforcement intelligence, which is critical to understanding the violence dynamics on the Island. The visit included sessions with members of the Bermuda Police Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Pastor Leroy Bean, Mr. Vernon Wears and Mr. Chae Powell of our Ministry. The group reviewed all homicides and non- fatal shooting incidents from 2009 to 2017, as well as selected nonfatal stabbings between 2016 and September 2017. Mr. Speaker , the purpose of this retrospective review was to determine the appropriate baseline against which all future violent incident data can be compared. Mr. Speaker , we are using a multipronged , holistic approach to combatting the growth of antis ocial behaviour and gun and knife violence in Bermuda. Our efforts include prevention, suppression, and intervention at all levels. At the cornerstone of our ap-proach is the proper use of the Group Violence Intervention Strategy compris ing the IGTF, IGET, and our [ICR] working groups. These i nter-agency working groups’ core mission is to advance Bermuda’s public safety interests and empower the community , by leading and coordinating resources to reduce and prevent gang influence and gun violence. Our teams are interacting with a ll aspects of our community; in schools (with G.R.E.A.T and the school impact groups); on our streets before, during, and after violent events ; and by accessing and treating the root causes. The Inter -Agency Gang Taskforce is our prevention arm. This group provides the overall coordination of the execution of the strategy and is particularly focused on the education component. Since July, Mr. Speaker , the IGTF has raised the level of awareness around the importance of prevention and, in a targeted fashion, is bringing the message aimed at prevention to all young people. This week, the team attended CedarBridge Academy and addressed S1 and S2 st udents , and they talked to them around the pitfalls leading to violence [with the aim] to create a culture within the school to combat antisocial behaviour . Students heard from Pastor Bean, and the mother and brother of a stabbing victim. Focus groups will now be more organi sed, where real conversations with former inmates and those now out of the gang lifestyle will share stories of transition for the benefit of our at-risk young people. This will be done throughout all of our schools , taking a direct message of hope and life to our young people. The effort in schools includes structured contact with PTAs , using the assistanc e of a moderator from our team. The [PTA] will be challenged to determine how they will combat antisocial behaviour and create an accountability model , using their own existing structure and influence within the school a nd student body. Mr. Speaker , prevention will be the key to success in stemming violence in Bermuda. If we spend it now, we will reap the benefits in the future. On November 12th, our young people started to create their soundtrack for stop- the-gang violence message in Bermuda. The LIVE. LOVE. LIFE. Stop the Vi olence Competition, the yo uth edition, met its aim to engage our young people in a creative way to raise awareness about addressing violence and antisocial behaviour. Once again, I would like to thank the wi nners: The Dellwood Middle School T.E.A.M . [Takin g Edutainment Above Mediocrity] for a performance entitled “When Will Enough Be Enough?” —they won. Second [place] was the West End Warriors; Mr. Sim eon Pearman; and, with special mention, Northlands Primary School Choir. We would like to thank the judges, sponsors, schools, parents , and teachers for their support and contribution towards making this event a success. Mr. Speaker , the Team StreetSafe model r emains in operation and is led by Executive Director Kim Jackson of Mirrors [and Programme Manager ] Chae Powell of the Ministry also assists in leading this programme. Since Mr. Powell’s engagement , he has employed two part -time community outreach workers . They are the eyes and ears of the organi sation, keeping a firm handle on the pulse of the streets and wor king to provide a way out for those who are involved in the gang lifestyle or antisocial behaviour . These men are in the very heart of affected neighbourhoods , calming tensions and providing support and opportun ities to numerous young men. Their work will soon be 576 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly supported by the secondment of a case manager from within the public service. There is a clear need, and I will be looking for the support of my ministerial co lleagues and the leadership of the p ublic service to fulfil this need. Mr. Speaker , intervention is the responsibility of the Inter -Agency Community Response (ICR). This team is led by Pastor Leroy Bean and includes public and private sector partners representing different agencies. Their intervention to date has been gen uinely felt within the community. A Co -ordinated Crisis Response Team [CCR] operates under the ICR , and this team was onsite at a recent shooting. In tense and trying conditi ons, they provided crisis counselling to residents who witnessed the tragic events of that night. The very next day , they established a community hub at a local church, and a second team went door to door providing support and offering much- needed guidance on services to the residents. Mr. Speaker , I was impressed by their diligence, and this was appr eciated by the residents of that area, who opened up to them and availed themselves of the serv ices on offer. As part of the continuing intervention efforts, with my colleague , the Minister of Education, we are looking at refreshing the results of the Trauma Indic ator Checklist , which was used some time ago as a means of isolating at -risk students i n our schools. U ltimately, Mr. Speaker , the aim is to partner with t he Ministry of Education in developing pathways to success for our students , leading , most importantly , to a pathway to careers. Mr. Speaker , no strategy in this area can effectively wor k without strong law enforcement. The Inter-Agency Gang Enforcement Team ( or IGET) comprise s the Bermuda Police Service , Corrections, the Department of Immigration, the Department of Education, the Customs Department , Mirrors , and the Office of the D irecto r of P ublic Prosecutions, as well as the Gang Violence Intervention Proje ct Manager. This group meets to share intelligence and is focused on suppression of violence in the community. This joined- up up approach targets likely offenders and seeks to reduce their propensity to engage in antis ocial behaviour . Additionally , Mr. Speaker , with the D epartment of Court Services , the Bermuda Police Service has re-established Operation Nightlight , which provides an extra layer of oversight for parolees and probationers. Mr. Speaker , there are a number of prevention and intervention strategies that the Violence R eduction Team is currently readying to roll out for the public. These i nitiatives include, but are not limited to: • a job fair in part nership with the Department of Workforce Development ; • 21 2 2—a job placement plan for young men between the ages of 18 and 35; • Peacebuilders —Bermuda’s national helpers ; • MOM Bermuda; • The Power of the Call at 6:00 pm on November 30th, at St. Paul Centennial Hall. The event is designed to continue to support mothers affected by gun and gang violence; • more family support groups —a fathers ’ support group has been organi sed and has r ecently met; • developing community capacity for extended Co-ordinated Crisis Response teams (CCR); • a National Day of P rayer; • a remodel led Team Street Safe led by Chae Powell and Kim Jackson; and • the review and implementation of the John Jay College model of Group Violence Intervention , aka Operation Ceasefire. Mr. Speaker, this work is not easy. We are engaged in reversing trends that have been decades in the making. The systemic devaluation of black men in this country is so pervasive that we must start by shifting how we raise our sons in Bermuda. When we value them more and show it by ensuring that there is a place for them to execute their aims and aspirations for life, then they will value themselves. At the core of this societal phenomenon is the human value that we ascribe to each other and what we accept as normal in Bermuda. The change required will not come overnight , but starts with hearing and acknowledging the voices of today of the victims of a system designed to suppress and exclude them. This is the first step, followed closely by immedi ate action to create op portunities for them. Mr. Speaker , as a society , we have flirted with just what to call “the issue of violence. ” Once and for all, it is time to properly frame our approach to vi olence in this community: This is a public health crisis . This means that we can no longer focus solely on shooting, which is the m ost recognisable symptom of this crisis. A public health approach demands that we focus on root causes and elevate addressing them to the same level of importance as our usual reactions to the violence itself. There is some considerable pract ical and academic support for this approach. Former United States Surgeon General [Vivek ] Murphy r ecently lamented that governments do not treat gun crime as a public health threat. He said, and I concur , that “It should be no different than the approach we take to cancer, heart disease, or diabetes.” Mr. Speaker , just this week , I met with Dr. [Philip] Leaf at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Leaf is eminently qualified as Professor in the Department of Mental Healt h, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Education, and Arts and Sciences . He also is the Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Adolescent Health; the D irector, Johns Hopkins Center for t he Prevention of Youth Viole nce; and the Senior Associate Director, Urban Health Institute. He is an authority in this area , and I look forward to sharing with Honourable Members of this House in greater detail our discussions
Bermuda House of Assembly and how I think the approach he has pioneered can be adopted —and more—to the support of our efforts in Bermuda. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. The next Minister whom I will recognise for his Statement is the Honourable Minister Simmons. Minister Simmons, you have the floor. Hon. Ja mahl S. Simmons: Thank you, and good morning, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. CHICOS CONFERENCE 2017 Hon. Jamahl S. Simmons: Today, I rise before this Honourable House to report on the Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference and Operations Summit , better known as CHICOS, which was held here in Bermuda, on November 9th and 10th, at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. Mr. Speaker, …
Good morning.
CHICOS CONFERENCE 2017
Hon. Jamahl S. Simmons: Today, I rise before this Honourable House to report on the Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference and Operations Summit , better known as CHICOS, which was held here in Bermuda, on November 9th and 10th, at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. Mr. Speaker, I was honoured to welcome approximately 300 delegates to the seventh edition of this annual hospitality industry event to our Island shores. The primary goal of CHICOS 2017 was to provide a forum for international and regional indus try experts to discuss, confer, and create. It created the opportunity for attendees to learn about the strategies used to promote business investments in hotel, tourism, and real estate related industries. Mr. Speaker, CEOs of hotel companies and decisio n-makers, from bankers to lenders, networked and heard about investment opportunities and market trends throughout the Caribbean and Bermuda. Parris E. Jordan, the Managing Director of CHICOS, stated that CEOs and decision- makers attend CHICOS b ecause it i s also important to understand how things are done in the Caribbean and Bermuda in order to achieve success. Mr. Speaker, the scheduling of the summit in Bermuda was timely, as this Government only recent-ly passed the Tourism Investment Act, designed to make investment in our tourism infrastructure more attractive and user -friendly, also clarifying the incentives available to investors in Bermuda. New inves tment that grows our tourism product prudently is vital, as our destination is in the midst of an exc iting resurgence. Bermuda has seen seven consecutive quar-ters of vacation air travel growth, dating back to 2016, growth in hotel occupancy, and visitor spending. Mr. Speaker, Parris Jordan referred to Bermuda as “one of the few island destinations where there are a lot of investment opportunities” and “one of the few island destinations that has the ability to go after every luxury brand” —two additional reasons why Bermuda was selected to host CHICOS in 2017, alongside its natural beauty and its accessibi lity. Mr. Speaker, the summit featured the welcome by our Premier, the Honourable E. David Burt, JP, MP, and eight general sessions entitled Hospitality Leaders Outlook ; Financiers Outlook ; A Conversation with Airbnb and Expedia; C-Suite Leaders Discuss Hotel Brands Globally and in the Caribbean; Debt Panel —Lenders Still Only Dipping Their Toes or Fina lly Diving Into the Caribbean; Bermuda Investment Spotlight Panel ; the Luxury Resort in the Caribbean— 21 st Century Perspective; and Brokers Panel: The A bsenc e of the Classic Sale. Mr. Speaker, there were four separate breakout sessions including How to Attract Capital to Your Project/Deal in the Region; Regional Hotel D esign; Caribbean Hotel Investment Opportunities ; The Magic Formula for Getting Projects Completed on Time and on Budget in the Caribbean. And there was also a special session on Investment Opportunities in Bermuda. Mr. Speaker, CHICOS 2017 presented Bermuda with the opportunity to showcase our hotels and potential sites for additional ventures. At the concl usion of this two- day event, delegates were chaperoned on a tour of potential development sites including places where existing infrastructure can be co nverted or repurposed, such as Grand Atlantic in Warwick and 9 Beaches in Sandys. Attendees travelled by boat to the Morgan’s Point Resort, as well as to Doc kyard to view the Victualling Yard. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Berm uda Tourism Authority [BTA] for an outstanding job in working with the CHICOS team to bring this summit here. The feedback from the delegates was tremendous during my discussions over the two days with them. And I would particularly like to thank Mr. Andy Burrows of the BTA, as he was highly commended by those I spoke with for keeping Bermuda in the conversation i n the area of potential investment internationa lly. Mr. Speaker, I have no hesitation in concluding that CHICOS 2017 was a very successful event for the 300 delegates in attendance and new inves tment in Bermuda—the ultimate result. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. The next Minister we will recognise is the Honourable Minister for Education. Minister Rabain, you have the floor. BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17 Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good morning. Mr. Speaker, this morning I am pleased to lay before the House …
Thank you, Minister. The next Minister we will recognise is the Honourable Minister for Education. Minister Rabain, you have the floor.
BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17 Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good morning. Mr. Speaker, this morning I am pleased to lay before the House the 2016/17 Annual [Report] for the Bermuda College , as required by the Bermuda College Act 1974. While this is an important exercise in accountability, it is also an opportunity to share with 578 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Honourable Members the continued progress that Bermuda College is making. Mr. Speaker, under the B ermuda College Act, its Board of Governors provides general management and administrative leadership to the college. The pres-ident and staff of the college are responsible for bringing the goals, direction, and approved policies of the board into action. T hese undertakings are reflected in the annual report and will be supported by the 2016/17 audited financial statements, once [they are] completed by the Office of the Auditor General; and they will be tabled at a later date. The Office of the Auditor Gener al is currently working on the 2015/16 statements. Mr. Speaker, now let me share with my ho nourable colleagues some of the accomplishments of the Bermuda College during the previous academic year. One of the more significant events was the hi storic success in various programmes of study. Graduates of the Associate in Science (Nursing) programme reached another milestone by passing the nursing licensure examination and earning their internationally recognised RN designation. This achievement si gnalled inter national approval of the nursing curriculum at Bermuda College by the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools and New York State’s D epartment of Education. Mr. Speaker, in addition to this, for the first time in history, four public senior school students enrolled in the Bermuda College dual enrolment pr ogramme graduated with an associate’s degree and their high school diploma literally weeks apart. Also, more than 50 per cent of Bermuda College graduates were accepted with advanced standing at various universities and colleges throughout Canada, the Cari bbean, United Kingdom, and the United States. These successes must be celebrated in that our Bermuda College graduates are excelling and being equipped at a level to compete with their counter -peers in the larger countries. Mr. Speaker, in September 2016, Bermuda College welcomed its first cohort of approximately 25 dual enrolment public senior school upperclassmen into a newly established Applied Technology Certif icate programme. This two- year programme allows high school students, starting from S3, to explore var-ious technical disciplines while enhancing mathematics, science, communication, and computer skills. It is also anticipated that this programme will encourage more high school students to consider technical c areers. And, in a later Statement, I will highlight this dual enrolment programme, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in October 2016, Bermuda College partnered with the University of Wisconsin - Madison to host the Fifth International Colloquium on Black Males in Education, in fulfilment of one of its strategic goals. The Conference theme, Educational Transitions and Life Trajectories: Bridging Pathways to Success for Black Males , provided a forum for local and international educators, researc hers, and community activists to educate participants on global r esearch strategies that inform education policies and programmes. Mr. Speaker, the Bermuda College faculty and staff continue to represent the college and the com-munity well, both locally and internationally, in their varying areas of expertise. Of special note is the r esearch award received by Mr. Shawn Deshields, Se nior Computer Information Systems and Hospitality Lecturer, from the International Academy of Business and Public Administration Disciplines. Also, Ms. Tawana Flood, the Director of the Professional and Career Education Division (PACE), was invited to participate in a 10- day International Vi sitor Leadership programme entitled Workforce Devel-opment . This was facilitated by the div ision of the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cu ltural Affairs, in conjunction with the US Consulate in Bermuda. The group travelled to four states, visiting seven cities, and met with over 50 individuals to explore, compare, and contrast workforce development issues. Mr. Speaker, the areas of enrolment, retention, and graduation remain the key pillars contributing to student success for students at Bermuda College. Retention of students saw an appreciable increase, from 56 per cent to 71 per cent year over year, and there was also a 16 per cent increase in the number of graduates in May 2016. However, while student satisfaction rates remain high, at above 80 per cent, the college has been experiencing a decline in enrolment, for various re asons including the lingering effects of a sluggish economic recovery for many in the college’s target market, the declining birth rate, and the fact that many parents still opt to send their chi ldren overseas to school directly from high school. The development of key strategies has started to confront these challenges as the Bermuda College prepares to launch its 2018– 2023 Strategic Plan. R ecruitment efforts to increase enrolment continue in earnest. The Communications Team launched mont hly mobile recrui tment stations in the Washington Mall to carry the Bermuda College message to the c ommunity. In the eight months since its inception, approximately one in five persons was converted into a registered student at Bermuda College. Mr. Speaker, during summer 2016, four i nterns from the Computer Information Systems (CIS) programme represented Bermuda College at the Technology Leadership Forum (TLF). The TLF is a 12-week summer internship programme sponsored by the local IT industry and designed to prepare students for a career in the information technology industry. Mr. Speaker, in March 2017, twelve local emergency medical technicians (EMTs) were recognised at Camden House as the first graduating cohort of the pilot programme of a partnership between the Berm uda College, the Bermuda Hospitals Board, and
Bermuda House of Assembly the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service. The local pr ogramme was validated by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, and this was the first time that the national registry has been allowed to be used outside of the United States. Mr. Speaker, Bermuda College launched the promotional video on the Brian Burland Centre for R esearch in February 2017, in efforts to attract graduate students and researchers to the wealth of information on the works of the Bermudian author and playwright. Also, to increase student engagement and more effectively communicate with its students, Ber-muda College implemented and released the first phase of a student -centred Bermuda College mobile app for easy download to end users’ mobile devices. The college is expecting to have the app fully impl ement in f all 2017. I can report that I spoke with the president last night, and the app is fully functional. Mr. Speaker, other college activities of note during this reporting peri od include, but are not limited to: • establishment of the Bermuda College Testing and Assessment Centre; • completion of articulation agreements with the Savannah College of Art and Design, Framingham State University , and Newbury Co llege; • Bermuda College’s participation in community activities —i.e., the Relay for Life, Heroes Weekend, and End- to-End; • publication of Voices in Education Volume 2— Transforming Education for the 21 st Century: New Thinking, New Action; and • the completion of the Human Resource Opt imisation report by PwC. Mr. Speaker, I have only highlighted some of the achievements during the 2016/17 f iscal year, and I would encourage the general public to read through the annual report, which can be found on the Berm uda College website, to see how the Bermuda College is progressing forward in its mission of setting Berm uda’s students on their paths to success. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. I believe there is a second Statement? Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerContinue on, Minister. THE APPLIED TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE PROGRAMME AT THE BERMUDA COLLEGE Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to inform the Members of this Honourable House and the listening audience about the Applied Technology Certificate Programme that is currently being offered at the Bermuda College …
Continue on, Minister.
THE APPLIED TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE PROGRAMME AT THE BERMUDA COLLEGE Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to inform the Members of this Honourable House and the listening audience about the Applied Technology Certificate Programme that is currently being offered at the Bermuda College for our S3 and S4 high school students. Mr. Speaker, the Applied Technology Certif icate Programme is facilitated by both the Department of Education and the Bermuda College. It was first introduced i n the fall of 2016. The programme is designed to help prepare our public senior school st udents from the CedarBridge Academy and the Berk eley Institute to graduate, while simultaneously acqui ring key hands -on skills necessary to enter the job market. Mr. Speaker, the Applied Technology Certif icate Programme is a two -year learning experience that involves S3 students (in year one) and S4 st udents (in year two), who range from the ages of 16 to 18 years old. At the completion of the programme, it is expected that senior school students will not only graduate from high school, but also receive the A pplied Technology Certificate from the Bermuda Co llege. At graduation, students would have also completed a work experience, or internship, with an indus-try partner during the final semester of their pr ogramme studies. Mr. Speaker, senior school students have had to meet specific admission requirements to be accepted into the Applied Technology Certificate Pr ogramme. These requirements include : • completion of the S2 level of high school, which means they would have already sat the Cambridge IGCSE [International General Cer-tificate of Secondary Education]; • parent consent; and • an interview with a Bermuda College counse llor to determine student interest. Mr. Speaker, the Applied Technology Certif icate Programme includes introductory courses to technical careers such as carpentry, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, automotive mechanics , and information technology. Students enrolled in this programme must also take courses that i nclude Physics; Applied Mat hematics; English Language Arts; and a College Success course, which is an essential component of the programme. This College Success course teaches students proven study skills and also prepares them for the college coursework experience. Mr. Speaker, this is the second- year offering of the Applied Technology Certificate Programme. Currently, there are 45 students enrolled in the pr ogramme. The first cohort is comprised of 21 male st udents, 11 from CedarBridge Academy and 10 fro m the Berkeley Institute. The second cohort of students, who enrolled in the programme in September 2017, i ncluded female students. Of the 24 students enrolled in the Applied Technology Certificate Programme, 8 male students attend CedarBridge, while 13 male and 3 female students attend the Berkeley Institute. Mr. Speaker, let me share what a schedule would look like for our senior students enrolled in this programme. Students attend classes at the Bermuda 580 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly College three days a week —every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday , from 9:00 am until 4:30 pm. On Mondays and Fridays, students attend regular classes at their respective senior high schools. Those students who enrolled in the first cohort are now experiencing real college life commitment in that sometimes they remain on campus into early ev enings to complete work assignments. Mr. Speaker, our public school [ students ] are developing life- long skills of how to adapt to changing learning environments. When they are at the Bermuda College, they are viewed as c ollege freshman or sophomore students; versus when they return back to their respective high schools, [where] they revert to school uniforms and being in a more restrictive lear ning environment. Nonetheless, our students are doing extremely well in that 88 per cent, or 18 of the first cohort of 21 students who enrolled in the programme in September 2016, are still attending classes. They are on track to graduate in May 2018 from the Berm uda College with their Applied Technology Certificate and then graduate weeks later, in June 2018, from their high school with the Bermuda High School D iploma. Mr. Speaker, the instructors at the Applied Technology Certification Programme at the Bermuda College are doing an excellent job teaching and inspi ring our students in the field of technical education. I can personally attest to this, as I was a guest lecturer in the first year of the programme, teaching Intro to Computer Aided Drafting and 3D Modelling. The st udents were engaged and eager to learn, but at the end of the semester, we were able to produce basic 3D models of various objects, using the computer. The intent was to eventually obtain a 3D printer to allow the students to print the various objects they designed. I am happy to report that the Bermuda College has obtained a 3D printer, and I look forward to seeing it in action in the near future. Mr. Speaker, this semester, the instructors organised a pop- up programme entitled Walk -In Wednesday, where industry partners and guests are invited to attend a presentation session put on by the students at the Bermuda College to observe how the students are engaging in the practical application of the technical education, to obtain solutions. After going through a period of theoretical classroom study and learning, students must then choose how they would translate the theory into practice by building and designing presentations. This is what makes this programme so exciting. I attended a Walk -In Wednesday session on October 18 th, and I was abs olutely i mpressed. At this session, I witnessed four very practical and thoughtful presentations given by our students. Mr. Speaker, the first presentation was about virtual reality. The second involved the building of an automotive garage and home entertainment c ar audio centre. The third presentation focused on network s e-curity and energy conservation. The final presentation, which was absolutely brilliant, focused on public transportation and a parking [ tracker ] app. It demonstrated how the Department of Public Transportation can actually track and inform the public about buses that are either delayed or out of service. It was amazing to see how our public senior students have put theory into practice to build such solutions. Mr. Speaker, all presentations made by our young men were commendable. I strongly encourage my h onourable colleagues to attend a Walk -In Wednesday session. The date for the remaining session for this year is next Wednesday, November 29 th, 2017, from 9:00 am to 10:30 [am]. To attend a Walk -In Wednesday, anyone can call Dr. Trescot Wilson, the Dean of Technical Education, Business and Hospital ity, or Mr. Delroy Musson, Chairman of Technical Education, at the Bermuda College. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I extend sincere thanks to Dr. Rad ell Tankar d and Mr. Iman Gibbons for their support from the Department of Education. I would also like to thank the instructors at the Bermuda College in this programme who, under the leadership of the Dean, Dr. Trescot Wilson, have committed to the development of our senior school students e nrolled in the Applied Technology Certificate Pr ogramme. Their continued efforts challenging our st udents to perform at a higher level helps to ensure they graduate from the Bermuda Public School System having the requisite skill s to enter the job market. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. The final Statement we have this morning is the Statement from Minister Brown. Minister Brown, you have the floor. UPDATE ON THE WATERFRONT PROJECT Hon. Walton Brown: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good morning, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide this House with an update …
Thank you, Minister. The final Statement we have this morning is the Statement from Minister Brown. Minister Brown, you have the floor.
UPDATE ON THE WATERFRONT PROJECT
Hon. Walton Brown: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good morning, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide this House with an update on matters relating to the Hamilton Waterfront . By way of background, in 2013, the Corporation of Hamilton granted long- term leases to, and development rights for the Hamilton Waterfront to Allied Development Partners Limited and related companies owned or controlled by Mr. Michael MacLean. In 2014, the former Government passed legisl ation to cancel the leases. This triggered a right to compensation for the companies. The legislation that voided the leases provi ded for arbitration to determine the level of compens ation. An arbitration panel was duly established. Mr. MacLean’s initial claim was for $156 million. This was not accepted by the Government. Mr. Speaker, in 2015, the companies controlled by Mr. MacLean launched a constitutional cha llenge to the arbitration proceedings. They were u nsuccessful in this challenge and were directed back to
Bermuda House of Assembly arbitration by the courts. Since this time, Mr. MacLean has not participated in the arbitration process and has not responded to efforts by the Government to advance the matter. Mr. Speaker, related to this issue is the gran ting of development rights to companies owned or controlled by Mr. MacLean for the Par la Ville car park. Legislation was passed by the previous Government to allow the Corporation of Ha milton to grant such rights, concurrent with its voiding of the waterfront lease. The previous Government authori sed the Corporation of Hamilton to back an $18 million loan to a company controlled by Mr. MacLean. The court has since found that the corporation did not have the a uthority to grant the loan guarantee. We now know that a large portion of these funds guaranteed by the corporation were directed overseas and spent on luxury items having no relationship to the purpose for which they were intended. Mr. Speaker, this Government stands ready to bring the issues involving the voiding of the waterfront lease to an end and is fully mindful of the interests of those claiming redress for the cancellation of the leases, as well as that of the public purse. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. That brings to an end the Statements by Mi nisters and Junior Ministers. We now move on. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. QUESTION PERIOD
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMembers, we are now on the Question Period. As a reminder, we have an hour, 60 minutes, for this. It is now 11:12. The first Statement that Members have indicated that they would like to ask questions about is that of the Premier. The first Member we wil l reco …
Members, we are now on the Question Period. As a reminder, we have an hour, 60 minutes, for this. It is now 11:12. The first Statement that Members have indicated that they would like to ask questions about is that of the Premier. The first Member we wil l reco gnise for a question is the Member for constituency 19. The Honourable Member Atherden, you have the floor.
QUESTION 1: BERMUDA INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
Mrs. Jeanne J. AtherdenThank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Minister of F inance could indicate to us if he was aware that the previous disagreement was not related to the concept of insurance or reinsurance companies’ investing in Bermuda, but rather the size of the management fee that was …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank y ou, Member. Minister you have the floor. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I am going to just refer the Honourable Shadow Minister of Finance to my Statement, which reads as follows: “Mr. Speaker, the former Minister of Finance did not support this fund, as there was a …
Thank y ou, Member. Minister you have the floor. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I am going to just refer the Honourable Shadow Minister of Finance to my Statement, which reads as follows: “Mr. Speaker, the former Minister of Finance did not support this fund, as there was a disagreement on the management fee that was to be paid to the fund managers.”
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Supplementary?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerContinue, Member. SUPPLEMENTARIES
Mrs. Jeanne J. Atherd enI wonder if the Minister of Finance could indicate whether he was aware that the disagreement was not relative to the payment of the fund, but the fact that the amount of the management fee was not changed when the size of the fund did not come up to t …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Minister. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I cannot speak to events [that] happened inside of the One Bermuda Alliance Cabinet, Parliament or former items. What I can state is that the fund under the former Gover nment did not happen. We recognise that this is an …
Thank you, Member. Minister. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I cannot speak to events [that] happened inside of the One Bermuda Alliance Cabinet, Parliament or former items. What I can state is that the fund under the former Gover nment did not happen. We recognise that this is an i mportant step forward. We appreciate the international business community for being willing to support and inject some stimulus into this economy, and this Government has moved forward when the former Government was unable to do so.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Supplementary or a new question?
Mrs. Jeanne J. AtherdenThe Minister did not indicate that he had any consultation with the former Government or the [former] Minister of Finance, so, presumably . . . Was the Minister then not aware that the amount of the fee that was going to be paid as a minimum is the same amount …
The Minister did not indicate that he had any consultation with the former Government or the [former] Minister of Finance, so, presumably . . . Was the Minister then not aware that the amount of the fee that was going to be paid as a minimum is the same amount that would have been paid if the size of the fund was even higher?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Minister. 582 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. E. David Bur t: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do not consult with Members of the former Government. We believe that there was a permanent civil service when we came …
Thank you, Member. Minister.
582 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. E. David Bur t: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do not consult with Members of the former Government. We believe that there was a permanent civil service when we came inside. The permanent civil service advised us on what the cha llenges were previous ly. That is the reason why I can state inside of this Statement what the former Gov-ernment’s challenges were. Regardless of the size of the guarantee, as was stated, the fact is that the guarantee fee is 0.75 per cent. So, whether or not the size of the f und is $50 million or whether the size of the fund is $500 million or $1 billion, the management fee and the size will remain the same. We would like the fund to be bigger, but the baseline management fee is the same. What we recognise on this side is th at we have to have skin in the game. The Government will become an investor of this fund. It is important for this fund to be established. We have to get investment into our economy. And if this is a way to get the money from international companies to be put to work inside of our domestic economy, we believe that it is a win for Bermudians and it is something which we can do to create jobs, which are desperately needed in our economy, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Supplementary? No. You used your two su pplementaries. New question?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNew question. Yes, Member, continue. QUESTION 2 : BERMUDA INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
Mrs. Jeanne J. AtherdenThank you. Mr. Speaker, if the Finance Minister could clarify the fact that . . . everyone agrees that we want to have inward investment into Bermuda. Therefore, it is not a question of whether anyone supports this. It is a question of whether Bermuda is paying more than it …
Thank you. Mr. Speaker, if the Finance Minister could clarify the fact that . . . everyone agrees that we want to have inward investment into Bermuda. Therefore, it is not a question of whether anyone supports this. It is a question of whether Bermuda is paying more than it should to have someone invest the funds that are going to actually be given by the international companies. Because we have to be clear: The funds, the money is going to be given by the international companies. What we are paying for is the management, and whether the amount of management fee that we are paying perhaps is larger than it should be, recognising that it is going to be the same amount that they would have been paid if they were managing a larger fund.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Premier. Yes. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, it d oes not matter how many times the Honourable Shadow Minister of Finance repeats the question; I will try to make it clear for her again and for the listening public. The fact is, in case she missed …
Thank you, Member. Premier. Yes. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, it d oes not matter how many times the Honourable Shadow Minister of Finance repeats the question; I will try to make it clear for her again and for the listening public. The fact is, in case she missed it, that any amount of management fees which are guarantee d will represent an interest of the people of Bermuda inside of that fund. This is not money that we are spending. This is money that will represent an investment inside of that same fund. What should be understood, again, Mr. Speaker, is that we can argue over the size of the management fee if we like. The Government assessed what it was given. The Government negotiated additional conces-sions from Fortress. The Government and the Cabinet accepted this decision. We are announcing it here today, Mr. Speaker. The former Government can say what they were comfortable with or what is not. We are stating today what we were. We worked through the prob-lems. We solved the issue. And we are going to move this infrastructure fund forward in order to create i nvestment and create jobs in Bermuda for Bermudians,
Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThank you. Mr. Premier. Are there supplementaries? No supplementaries, no questions. There are other Members, Mr. Premier, who have questions on that Statement. The other Member whom I will recognise at this moment is the Honour able Member from constituency 8. Honourable Member Simons, Cole Simons, you have the floor. …
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsThank you, Mr. Speaker. Premier, you indicated in your speech that you would like to have some of the capital that exists in international markets here in Bermuda invested in this fund. Can you tell me whether you have had di scussions with ABIC [Association of Bermuda Intern ational Companies] …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Premier, you indicated in your speech that you would like to have some of the capital that exists in international markets here in Bermuda invested in this fund. Can you tell me whether you have had di scussions with ABIC [Association of Bermuda Intern ational Companies] and ABIR [Associ ation of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers] to, basically, solicit and can-vass their support for this idea?
Mr. Premier.
Hon. E. David BurtpremierThank you, Mr. Speaker. What I will tell you is that the idea came from the board member s of ABIR themselves. So that is where the origination of this idea came from. This has been solicited inside of the Government. The Cabinet has approved it. And now that it …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I will tell you is that the idea came from the board member s of ABIR themselves. So that is where the origination of this idea came from. This has been solicited inside of the Government. The Cabinet has approved it. And now that it is agreed, we will be moving forward and holding those persons who said that they will be able to get the commitment, to get the commitments for this fund to move forward.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary or new question? Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. N. H. Cole Simons: Supplementary.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerContinue on, Member. SUPPLEMENTARY
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsCan you list the names of those companies that agreed in principle to this initi ative?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Premier. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I will have to get back to the Minister about that particular Statement and the names of the companies —or that particular Member concerning the names of the companies.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary or new question?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSecond question. QUESTION 2 : BERMUDA INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsI note that you have a minimum target of $100 million. Have the managers given an indication on how long it will take to, basically, raise that $100 million? I know it is difficult, but did they give you some type of timeline in which we can expect to have …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Premier. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not have a specific timeline at this point in time. What I can state is that two weeks ago I had a discussion with the principal of this, the person who was …
Thank you, Member. Premier.
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not have a specific timeline at this point in time. What I can state is that two weeks ago I had a discussion with the principal of this, the person who was organising this particular effort, and confirmed, in that Cabinet had made its commitment to do so. And in that particular case, he is committed to get these funds raised as soon as possible.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Premier. Supplementary or new question?
Mr. Premier.
Hon. E. David BurtpremierMr. Speaker, no. The initiative will not collapse if the $100 million minimum is n ot met. But what we will state very clearly is that we expect it to be met, because we know that our intern ational partners will work with us. We are looking to develop Bermuda’s …
Mr. Speaker, no. The initiative will not collapse if the $100 million minimum is n ot met. But what we will state very clearly is that we expect it to be met, because we know that our intern ational partners will work with us. We are looking to develop Bermuda’s economy. And I would hope that Members opposite would do their part in supporting this initiative so that we can get additional investment into our country in order to create jobs for Bermudians.
[Desk thumping]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary from the Honourable Member from constituency 19. The Honourable Member Atherden, you have the floor. SUPPLEMENTARY
Mrs. Jeanne J. AtherdenSupplementary. Mr. Speaker, if the Minister could indicate, in response to the question from my colleague, that in terms of supporting, I think everybody agrees to the support. But if the Minister is aware, through his tec hnical officers, that the original concept was $250 mi llion and now the …
Supplementary. Mr. Speaker, if the Minister could indicate, in response to the question from my colleague, that in terms of supporting, I think everybody agrees to the support. But if the Minister is aware, through his tec hnical officers, that the original concept was $250 mi llion and now the minimum is down to $100 million, this then raises concerns about whether that amount of money can be raised and, therefore, whet her there will be sufficient funds to make the guarantee fund robust. Because the bottom line is not about whether there is a commitment or an interest on behalf of the international companies, but whether they are able to come up to that $100 million on w hich everything is predicated.
Mr. Premier.
Hon. E. David BurtpremierMr. Speaker, I do not want to sound like the former person who held this position of Minister of Finance. But I will take a little time to learnup the Members oppos ite. And the fact of the matter is that even if it is $20 million or $50 million …
Mr. Speaker, I do not want to sound like the former person who held this position of Minister of Finance. But I will take a little time to learnup the Members oppos ite. And the fact of the matter is that even if it is $20 million or $50 million it is more than nothing, Mr. Speaker. And what this country needs and requires is investment. So, what I would advise the Members opposite is to support it. Let us not look at the negative. Let us look at the positive. 584 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Let us see if we can take it from [$]100 [million] or more. Let us work together in all of the various committees of which we are setting up to advance to find out ways that we can grow this economy. And let us move forward. The fact is, Mr. Speaker, if the fund only rai ses $50 million, then that means that the Government will have to put inside a management guarantee. That management guarantee, Mr. Speaker, represents an investment in the fund. The fact is that we are not just giving money to a manager. That money represents an investment into the fund on behalf of the people of Bermuda. This is a good deal for the people of Bermuda. I do not understand why there is so much disagreement from the other side. I would hope that they would commit to support it. And we are going to move forward with this initiative, Mr. Speaker. Whether or not it is $50 million, $100 million, or $200 million, it repr esents money invested in our economy which would not otherwise be inv ested.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary? The Honourable Member from constituency 8, Honourable Member Simons, you have the floor.
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsIn regard to the appointment of the manager, did you put this appointment out to a tender process?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThat is not a supplementary to the question that was asked. Would you like to ask a new question? Because you still have one new question left.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThat is y our third question. Your third question, then. QUESTION 3 : BERMUDA INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsWhen we were soliciting managers for this fund, did the Government put this out to a tender process? And if they did, can they pr ovide more details on the applicants?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Mr. Premier? Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, to the best of my knowledge, I do not know if the persons who were originating the fund put it out to RFP [request for pr oposal]. It should be noted that this is not a government fund; it …
Thank you, Member. Mr. Premier? Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, to the best of my knowledge, I do not know if the persons who were originating the fund put it out to RFP [request for pr oposal]. It should be noted that this is not a government fund; it is a government -supported fund. So, it is not the Government that put it out to RFP. It is the Go v-ernment that is agreeing to terms of their support to make sure that this fund moves forward.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Premier, there are still other Members who have questions on this Statement. The other Member whom I recognise now is the Member from constit uency 22. Honourable Member Gibbons, you . . . okay. [Inaudible interjection]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNo problem. Madam Opposition Leader, you indicated that you had a question. Would you like to exercise your question? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes, thank you,
Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerGo right ahead. QUESTION 1 : BERMUDA INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Hon. Patricia J. Gord on-Pamplin: Mr. Speaker, the Premier in his Statement indicated that the fund is going to be an investment. I am just wondering whether the Premier can share whether there has been any determination as to the expected …
Go right ahead.
QUESTION 1 : BERMUDA INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
Hon. Patricia J. Gord on-Pamplin: Mr. Speaker, the Premier in his Statement indicated that the fund is going to be an investment. I am just wondering whether the Premier can share whether there has been any determination as to the expected return on investment by the companies who will be putting money into the fund.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Premier. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On the equity portion of the fund, I think the estimate that the fund will be looking to target on a return on equit y basis is 10 per cent.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary? No further questions? The next Statement that Members have ind icated that they have a question on is for the Honour able Minister of Health. Minister Wilson, you have a question in regard to your first Statement on residential care. And the Honourable Member from …
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary? No further questions? The next Statement that Members have ind icated that they have a question on is for the Honour able Minister of Health. Minister Wilson, you have a question in regard to your first Statement on residential care. And the Honourable Member from constituency 20, Honour able Member Jackson, would you like to ask your ques-tion now?
QUESTION 1: RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES AND NURSING HOMES AMENDMENT BILL 2017
Ms. Susan E. JacksonGood morning, Mr. Speaker. My question to the Minister of Health is, There is a reference to improving the quality of rest homes. Bermuda House of Assembly And I am just wondering whether accreditation, formal accreditation, is going to be introduced.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, Mr. Speaker. I do not want to anticipate debate; however, there is a licensing process. And as was indicated previously, this Bill that will be tabled shortly deals specifically with certain types of regulations and powers to ensure that the administrators …
Thank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, Mr. Speaker. I do not want to anticipate debate; however, there is a licensing process. And as was indicated previously, this Bill that will be tabled shortly deals specifically with certain types of regulations and powers to ensure that the administrators have certain types of criteria to admi nister a rest home.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: And it is anticipated that there will be a phase 2 and a phase 3. So, this is the begi nning of a series of amendments to this particular legi slation, to the regulations, as well as other things, to further augment the safety and …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. No further questions. The next Statement on which there is an indication of questions [for] the Mi nister, actually, is for your second Statement. And that is from the Honourable Member from constituency 8. Honourable Member Simons, do you still wish to ask your question? This is …
Thank you, Minister. No further questions. The next Statement on which there is an indication of questions [for] the Mi nister, actually, is for your second Statement. And that is from the Honourable Member from constituency 8. Honourable Member Simons, do you still wish to ask your question? This is on child care.
QUESTION 1: UPD ATE ON DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD CARE STANDARDS FOR BERMUDA
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsMinister, can you differentiate the difference between day care and preschool?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes. I think, if I understand the question right, this Statement deals specifically with child care standards for the home care providers, which are the ones under the legislation that allows for a person to have up to three children; and then …
Thank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes. I think, if I understand the question right, this Statement deals specifically with child care standards for the home care providers, which are the ones under the legislation that allows for a person to have up to three children; and then day care centres, which some people refer to as “ preschool, ” which normally are for the age of three up until the time that the child commences formal educ ation at age five.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Supplementary or new question?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you. It does apply to pr eschools. Day care centres, sometimes people refer to as “preschools. ” It is just a matter of semantics. But it is the age normally between three and five, before the child starts full- time formal education.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberNursery schools. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, nursery schools. Some people refer to it as day school. So this refer s to all institutions, anybody who is providing child care services from the age of zero to five, or until they start formal education. Because some children start it at …
Nursery schools.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, nursery schools. Some people refer to it as day school. So this refer s to all institutions, anybody who is providing child care services from the age of zero to five, or until they start formal education. Because some children start it at four and a half. But it refers to day cares, nurseries, preschools. These are terms that are used interchangeably. But the reality is that it applies to all of those service providers regardless of what they for-mally call themselves.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Supplementary or new question?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSecond supplementary; go ahead, Member.
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsHow do you address the day care centres for people, like a senior who has three or four young people who are babysitting services and not really providing stimulation for the youn g people? So, they are just —I am going to take care of your child while you are …
How do you address the day care centres for people, like a senior who has three or four young people who are babysitting services and not really providing stimulation for the youn g people? So, they are just —I am going to take care of your child while you are at work. And I am more or less a babysitting centre for three or four young people.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is a very good question. Well, first of a ll, the regulations that are a lready in existence require that a person has to regi ster with the Department of Health in order to have a licence to provide child care services in their home. The law requires only one —the ratio of one person to three. So, t hey should not be having four. So that is the first issue. The second issue is that these stan dards, as have been introduced, and as was indicated with the input from an association of child care provi ders, as well as child development services, and the other agencies that we spoke about, speak specifically of the minimal standards that are adopted universally for our day care centres, nursery home care persons, to apply. It deals with things like health and safety. It speaks about how much tummy time a chi ld should have. It speaks about the food. It speaks about 586 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly safety issues and the like. They are online, and I am sure my honourable colleagues will be able to dow nload them and see. But the standards themselves speak specifically about things like discipline, child safeguarding, and the like. So, these standards have been provided to the child care providers already. But the reality is that it does speak to a litany of things that one would expect a child care provider —standards, the internatio nal best prac tice—to be adhering to in order to ensure safety to our children.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. New question?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead, Member. QUESTION 2 : UPDATE ON DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD CARE STANDARDS FOR BERMUDA
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsMinister, can you confirm whether or not a curriculum for preschools will be i ncluded in these standards? And the curriculum would cover behavioural skills, developmental skills, ac ademic foundation skills, and social skills.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these particular child care standards again address, more importantly, the issues of health and safety as they relate to the standards that are internati onally adopted for ensuring that our children are protected and safe …
Thank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these particular child care standards again address, more importantly, the issues of health and safety as they relate to the standards that are internati onally adopted for ensuring that our children are protected and safe in a home care env ironment. It does not breach into the issue of curric ulum. This is all about health and safety issues as they relate to the children.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. No further questions? Good. The next Stat ement that we have Members indicating that they have questions [about] is the Statement from Minister De Silva in reference to Financial Assistance. The first question we have is from the Opposition Leader. Member, would you like to ask your …
Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerYou have the floor, Madam. QUESTION 1: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REFORM GROUP Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Mr. Speaker, the Minister, o n page 3 of his Statement, referred to the options of reducing the number of persons who are dependent on financial assistance. I just wondered whether there would be …
You have the floor, Madam.
QUESTION 1: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REFORM GROUP
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Mr. Speaker, the Minister, o n page 3 of his Statement, referred to the options of reducing the number of persons who are dependent on financial assistance. I just wondered whether there would be an active engagement invol ving the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, through thei r entrepreneurial programme that they offer a basis in order to assist people to work on creating entrepreneurial opportunities, as a means to r elieving them of the necessity for financial assistance?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, yes, they will. In fact, the last name on the list of people on the group, Judy Lowe- Teart, actually works for Workforce Development.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Supplementary or new question? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Just a supplementary.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerContinue on. SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes. The question was, the Bermuda Economic Development Corpor ation, not the Department of Workforce Development. So, I just want to make sure that we were not confusing the two. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Okay.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Minister. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Yes, they will.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Any further question, Member? No. Minister, there is an additional Member who has a question for you on that same topic, on that same Statement. The Honourable Member from constituency 21, does he still wish to ask his question? I do not see him in his seat. …
Thank you, Minister. Any further question, Member? No. Minister, there is an additional Member who has a question for you on that same topic, on that same Statement. The Honourable Member from constituency 21, does he still wish to ask his question? I do not see him in his seat. So, we are going to move on. The next Statement by Minister Cain es with questions indicated by Members . . . you have two Members who have indicated that they have questions. The first is from the Honourable Member from constituency 24. Honourable Member Scott, you have the floor.
QUESTION 1: REDUCING GANG VIOLENCE IN BERMUDA —AN UPDATE
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottThank you, Mr. Speaker. Bermuda House of Assembly Can the Minister inform the Members of this Honourable House, what has happened to those members who were appointed under the OBA?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Wayne C aines: I ask the Member to be clearer with that question, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMember, the Minister is asking for clar ification. Can you provide some clarification?
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottYes. I just noticed that . . . My understanding was that ther e was a Chae Powell who was brought on under the OBA. Am I correct in that understanding about Mr. Chae Powell?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Minister. Hon. Wayne Caines: Mr. Speaker, there was, under the OBA Government, a Mr. Chae Powell who was hired to work within that unit, the Gang Violence Unit. He is still employed. He is responsible for the Gang Violence Intervention and Team StreetSafe. He operates within the Mini …
Thank you. Minister. Hon. Wayne Caines: Mr. Speaker, there was, under the OBA Government, a Mr. Chae Powell who was hired to work within that unit, the Gang Violence Unit. He is still employed. He is responsible for the Gang Violence Intervention and Team StreetSafe. He operates within the Mini stry as the head of the Gang Vi olence Intervention Team and as the leader of Team StreetSafe.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Supplementary or a new question?
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottJust for clarification, are there any individuals, or two people, who are doing the same job within this programme?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Wayne Caines: Mr. Speaker, there are two people. Both have been appointed as consultants, and both have clear and distinct roles within the Mini stry. So, Pastor Bean is the Gang Violence Reduction Specialist. He is responsible for the Inter -Agency Gang Task Force, MOMs, the school’s intervention …
Minister. Hon. Wayne Caines: Mr. Speaker, there are two people. Both have been appointed as consultants, and both have clear and distinct roles within the Mini stry. So, Pastor Bean is the Gang Violence Reduction Specialist. He is responsible for the Inter -Agency Gang Task Force, MOMs, the school’s intervention team, and the Men’s Mentoring Group, and the el ement that deals with the churches and the affiliated and agencies of the churches in Bermuda, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. No further questions? No further questions? The other Member who has indicated that she has questions for you is actually the Opposition Lea der. Opposition Leader, would you like to put your question? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes, thank you,
Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerGo right ahead. QUESTION 1: REDUCING GANG VIOLENCE IN BERMUDA —AN UPDATE Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Mr. Speaker, on page 4 of the Minister’s Statement, in respect of the group, in their recent meeting reviewing all homicide and nonfatal shooting incidents, I wonder if the Mini ster could advise …
Go right ahead.
QUESTION 1: REDUCING GANG VIOLENCE IN BERMUDA —AN UPDATE
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Mr. Speaker, on page 4 of the Minister’s Statement, in respect of the group, in their recent meeting reviewing all homicide and nonfatal shooting incidents, I wonder if the Mini ster could advise what the thought process would have been in determining the period of time for the sa mpling that he has referred to in terms of nonfatal shooting between January 2009 and September 2017, and then selected nonfatal stabbings between January 16 th and September 2017. The question being that to select f rom a population to have a skewed sample is certainly not going to have the ability to establish an appropriate bas eline. So, I am just wondering if the Honourable Member could give us some indication as to the thought process of not choosing the entire po pulation of stati stics as opposed to just focusing on a short period for one type and a longer period on the other. Would it not be more consistent?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Minister. Hon. Wayne Caines: It is a very good question. They looked at specif ic instances along that line. So, you can have a stabbing and it not be gang related. So, what they did was they took all of the shootings from 2009 to 2017 which were …
Thank you. Minister. Hon. Wayne Caines: It is a very good question. They looked at specif ic instances along that line. So, you can have a stabbing and it not be gang related. So, what they did was they took all of the shootings from 2009 to 2017 which were involved with gangs. Then they went into a specific sample period of the period that you refer to, and they took only the stabbings that were related to gang- affiliated shootings. So, they had a methodology, and they had specific time frames that they were looking at, and looking at a specific demographic of crime.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mi nister. Supplementary? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes, a suppl ementary.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerContinue. SUPPLEMENTARY 588 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Just for clarify, are we suggesting that there were no gang- related sta bbings between January of 2009 and January of 2016? I am just trying to understand the thought process in …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Thank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Wayne Caines: Again, I cannot speak as to why the specialists of John Jay University used th is speci fic modality. But they assembled a team. They asked them over three days. They looked at all of the shootings. And for whatever reason …
Thank you. Thank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Wayne Caines: Again, I cannot speak as to why the specialists of John Jay University used th is speci fic modality. But they assembled a team. They asked them over three days. They looked at all of the shootings. And for whatever reason they thought it i mportant to look at the stabbings of a gang- related nature over that specific time frame. I can undertake to get any further clarification for my colleague and make it available at the next available time.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Any further question? No further question. The next Statement which Members have indicated that they have questions for is [that of] the Minister of Education. Minister, there are questions on your second Statement in reference to the Applied Technology Programme. And the question is from the Hon …
Thank you, Minister. Any further question? No further question. The next Statement which Members have indicated that they have questions for is [that of] the Minister of Education. Minister, there are questions on your second Statement in reference to the Applied Technology Programme. And the question is from the Hon ourable Member from constituency 8. The Honourable Member Simons, would you still like to put your question?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. QUESTION 1: THE APPLIED TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE PROGRAMME AT THE BERMUDA COLLEGE
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsIn the second paragraph, the Minister says, “The programme is designed to help prepare our public senior school students from the CedarBridge [Academy] and the Berkeley Institute . . .” Mr. Speaker, from my time as the Minister of E ducation, I became blatantly aware that the Department of Education …
In the second paragraph, the Minister says, “The programme is designed to help prepare our public senior school students from the CedarBridge [Academy] and the Berkeley Institute . . .” Mr. Speaker, from my time as the Minister of E ducation, I became blatantly aware that the Department of Education provides education services to all of Bermuda’s students. So, my question to the Minister is, are students from the private schools and home schools eligible for this programme?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to get back to the Shadow Minister on that point. I do not believe that private schools are eligible for these programmes. But I would have to check and see if home …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Supplementary or second question? Go ahead. QUESTION 2 : THE APPLIED TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE PROGRAMME AT THE BERMUDA COLLEGE
Mr. N. H. Cole SimonsSecond question. Upon completion of the programme, will the graduates have an international designation like City and Guilds that they can use should they decide to move and work overseas?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Diallo V . S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that the Applied Technology Certificate Programme is an institute of Bermuda College and Bermuda, as well. As the former Minister would know, the City and Guilds examination is an international examination. And that is why …
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Hon. Diallo V . S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that the Applied Technology Certificate Programme is an institute of Bermuda College and Bermuda, as well. As the former Minister would know, the City and Guilds examination is an international examination. And that is why they are considered an international qualification. But I will again endeavour to get back and find out some clarification on that. And just as a caveat from that, this particular certificate will allow our students to enter immediately into the second year of a degree programme. And the degree programmes at the Bermuda College are i nternationally recognised.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Thank you. No further questions. The last Statement for which there is indic ation from Members that they have questions on is the Statement of Minister Brown. Minister Brown, we have had three Members who have indicated that they have questions for you. [Crosstalk]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThe first is from the Honourable Member from constituency 24. Honourable Member Scott, you have the floor. QUESTION 1: UPDATE ON THE WATERFRONT PROJECT
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottThank you, Mr. Speaker. On page 3, the Honourable Minister said that there was “a large portion of these funds [that were] B ermuda House of Assembly . . . spent on luxury items . . .” Can he explain to us what he meant by “luxury items”?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the luxury items were two properties in the United Kingdom, an engagement ring, and an Aston Martin. They were expended from funds directed to the account of Mr. McKellar, who was the sole Director and sold shareholder …
Thank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the luxury items were two properties in the United Kingdom, an engagement ring, and an Aston Martin. They were expended from funds directed to the account of Mr. McKellar, who was the sole Director and sold shareholder of Argyle [UAE] Ltd., the company which the Government and the Corporation of Hamilton authorised that funds be transferred to.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary or further question?
Hon. Dr. E. Grant GibbonsI do not recall that the [former] Government allowed the funds to be trans-ferred. I think it was the Corporation of Hamilton, in the form of the mayor and the business manager, who allowed those funds to be transferred out of that par-ticular escrow account.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Hon. Walton Brown: Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: May I just respond to that, I guess it was a point of clarification the Honourable Member was intending to do. I am just going to read, with your indulgence, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo right ahead. Hon. Walton Brown: [I’m going to] read from a Statement in 2013 from Minister Fahy regarding the approval to allow the Corporation to use the car park in Par la Ville as collateral for private development. And I quote from the former Minister: “It is intended that …
Go right ahead. Hon. Walton Brown: [I’m going to] read from a Statement in 2013 from Minister Fahy regarding the approval to allow the Corporation to use the car park in Par la Ville as collateral for private development. And I quote from the former Minister: “It is intended that the guarantee is subject to very specific criteria and the Corporation of Hamilton will be required to conduct thorough due diligence, to the satisfaction of the Bermuda Government, before execution of what is essentially a collateralised mortgage.”
Hon. Dr. E. Grant GibbonsMr. Speaker, point of order. The Speaker: Point of order or . . . POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Hon. Dr. E. Grant GibbonsYes. It is a point of order, actually, yes. I think the Honourable Member is uni ntentionally misleading the House. Because the release of the funds from the escrow account, which was es-sentially required under the guarantee, had no per-mission from the Government to do so. That was the mayor …
Yes. It is a point of order, actually, yes. I think the Honourable Member is uni ntentionally misleading the House. Because the release of the funds from the escrow account, which was es-sentially required under the guarantee, had no per-mission from the Government to do so. That was the mayor and the business manager of the Corporation. That was well after 2013. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWell, I think his Statement gave the role that the then- Minister played in it, the piece that he just read out. It spoke to what the Minister’s role was at that time, that particular Minister. Okay?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary or question? Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Supplementary, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary. We recognise the Honourable Deputy Speaker. Deputy Speaker, you have the floor. SUPPLEMENTARY Ho n. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Yes, Mr. Speaker, to the Minister. Minister, on whose authority did the Mayor of Hamilton, Outerbridge, and the Secretary, Benevides, get permission to sign the $18 million loan?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: Thank you, Honourable Member. As I r elated i n my previous statement, i t was quite clearly the au thority of t he previous G overnment, the OBA Government, under the authority of Minister Fahy.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Supplementary? A supplementary from the Honourable Opposition Leader. SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes, I have a supplementary to that response. And that is, in signing the authority, as the Minister just read in the Stat ement that was released at the time, that ther e would …
Thank you. Supplementary? A supplementary from the Honourable Opposition Leader. SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes, I have a supplementary to that response. And that is, in signing the authority, as the Minister just read in the Stat ement that was released at the time, that ther e would be specific conditions to the release of the funds, not the signing of the agreement, the authority was there 590 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly for the signing, but there would be specifics relating to the release of the funds.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerCan you put that in a question now? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes. So now my question . . . I just needed to preface. My question to the Minister is, the release of the funds, would he not acknowledge that that was ultra vires the authority given that, …
Can you put that in a question now? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes. So now my question . . . I just needed to preface. My question to the Minister is, the release of the funds, would he not acknowledge that that was ultra vires the authority given that, subsequently, the courts had determ ined that the conditions had not been met?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: Mr. Speaker, just for the sake of clarity, prior to the former Government’s changing the legislation, the Corporation of Hamilton had no authority to borrow money to that extent. So the former Government provided the legal authority for the Corpor ation to borrow those …
Thank you, Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: Mr. Speaker, just for the sake of clarity, prior to the former Government’s changing the legislation, the Corporation of Hamilton had no authority to borrow money to that extent. So the former Government provided the legal authority for the Corpor ation to borrow those funds. Secondly, the Minister at the time, Minister Fahy . . . I do not like to repeat m yself, but sometimes I feel that I am required to.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberYou will get used to that. Hon. Walton Brown: This is Minister Fahy at the time speaking—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Continue on. Hon. Walton Brown: “It is intended that the guarantee is subject to very specific criteria and the Corpor ation of Hamilton will be required” —required by the Bermuda Government —“will be required to conduct thorough due diligence, to the satisfaction of the Ber-muda Government . . .” …
Yes. Continue on. Hon. Walton Brown: “It is intended that the guarantee is subject to very specific criteria and the Corpor ation of Hamilton will be required” —required by the Bermuda Government —“will be required to conduct thorough due diligence, to the satisfaction of the Ber-muda Government . . .”
[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Walton Brown: So, whatever they do, it has to be “to t he satisfaction of the Government, before ex ecution of what is essentially a collateralised mor tgage.” Now, I do not know what is ultra vires . I am not a lawyer; I do not pretend to be a lawyer. But what I do know, Mr. Speaker, is that the authorisation t hat the OBA Government gave to the Corporation of Hamilton was ruled by a court of law in this country to be outside the legal remit of the Corporation to be en-gaging in the first place. They had no authority to engage in the guarantee that they actually provided, and that was the basis for a recent court judgment.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Supplementary? Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Yes.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary from the Deputy. Deputy Speaker, continue on. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Mr. Speaker, was the contractor who signed the $18 million vetted by la wyers representing the Corporation before the Mayor Outerbridge and the Secretary Benevides, left Berm uda to go to the UK to sign?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Hon. Walton Br own: Thank you, Honourable Member. I am not in the position to answer that question about sequence. What I do know is that whatever was engaged in had to have had the authority and the ap-proval of the Bermuda Government.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Another supplementary.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYour second supplementary. Yes? Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Yes. Mr. Speaker — [Inaudible interjections]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAh, ah, ah, ah! Ministers! No, no, no, no. [Laughter]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Was there any legal advice present given to the Mayor Outer bridge and the Secr etary Benevides, at the signing of this agre ement in the UK?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Deputy. Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not in a position to answer that question. But I would certainly hope that it was signed with legal advice.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Hon. Trevor G. Moniz: Point of clarification.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary? Hon. Trevor G. M oniz: It is a point of clarification, Mr. Speaker. Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: We recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 9. Yes, Honourable Member, go ahead. POINT OF CLARIFICATION Hon. Trevor G. Moniz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think Members are getting c …
Supplementary? Hon. Trevor G. M oniz: It is a point of clarification, Mr. Speaker.
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: We recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 9. Yes, Honourable Member, go ahead.
POINT OF CLARIFICATION
Hon. Trevor G. Moniz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think Members are getting c onfused between the signing of the original agreement to enter into the lending, or the borrowing, and the later release of the funds. So, they were required to do due diligence be-fore they signed the agreement originally. The difficulty came when they re leased the funds. They did not require the permission of Gov-ernment to release the funds. And I do not want to go into what, you know, I think the process that the Corporation followed. But I think the behaviour they showed, in my view, was inappropriate w hen they r eleased the funds.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Hon. Trevor G. Moniz: So, we are getting mixed up between two different things. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Minister, there were other Members who have indicated that they had questions. Madam Opposition Leader, did you still wish to ask your question? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: I do, Mr. Speak er; thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerContinue on, then. QUESTION 1: UPDATE ON THE WATERFRONT PROJECT Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you. On page 2 of the Minister’s Statement, the Minister indicated that, since this time, Mr. MacLean has not participated in the arbitration process and has not responded to efforts by the Government to …
Continue on, then.
QUESTION 1: UPDATE ON THE WATERFRONT PROJECT Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you. On page 2 of the Minister’s Statement, the Minister indicated that, since this time, Mr. MacLean has not participated in the arbitration process and has not responded to efforts by the Government to advance the matter. Can the Minister advise what the present st atus is in respect of this arbitration process?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With regard to the arbitration, the matter was before the courts yesterday. And the courts have ruled that t he arbitration has now come to an end.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Supplementary. The Speaker: Supplementary? Continue. SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Is the Minister saying that the Government has no financial liability in respect of that arbitration agreement?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: Well, Mr. Speaker, if the arbitr ation matter has come to an end, then clearly . . . sorry. The courts have terminated the arbitration proc eedings (sorry), to be perfectly clear. The courts terminated the arbitration proceedings. So, they did not come to …
Thank you. Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: Well, Mr. Speaker, if the arbitr ation matter has come to an end, then clearly . . . sorry. The courts have terminated the arbitration proc eedings (sorry), to be perfectly clear. The courts terminated the arbitration proceedings. So, they did not come to a natural end. They were terminated by the courts based on an application made on behalf of the Be rmuda Government.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Supplementary? Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Question, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary or new question? Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: New question.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWell, I think . . . Did you have a supplementary? Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: I am sorry.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 19 for a supplementary. Honourable Member, yes. SUPPLEMENTARY
Mrs. Jeanne J. AtherdenA supplementary. Is the Minister at liberty to indicate what was the application that was made by the Bermuda Government that caused the arbitration to be ended?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Statement, there was no response for at least a seven-month period through the arbitration mat ter. And so, a court hearing was held yesterday to bring arb itration proceedings to an end precisely because of the nonparticipation …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Supplementary? 592 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 10. Honourable Member Dunkley, supplementary. SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in light of what was not said in the Statement, would n’t the Minister think it appropr iate to report on the court proceedings of …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Walton Brown: Well, Mr. Speaker, that is a rh etorical question.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. No supplementary? I move on to the . . .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThe Honourable Member from consti tuency 19, ask your supplementary. This is your second supplementary. SUPPLEMENTARY
Mrs. Jeanne J. AtherdenYes, right. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister able to indi cate what the Government’s course of action would be now that the arbitration has been terminated by the courts, in terms of their ability to try and reclaim some of this money which went missing?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of the funds that the Honourable Member has just spoken of having gone missing, that is a matter before the courts. And I am not going to speak to a matter that still has court proceedings pending.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. No supplementaries? New question. Deputy Speaker, you have the floor to ask your new question. QUESTION 1: UPDATE ON THE WATERFRONT PROJECT Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister make the contract available, outlining the terms on how the monies were …
Thank you. No supplementaries? New question. Deputy Speaker, you have the floor to ask your new question.
QUESTION 1: UPDATE ON THE WATERFRONT PROJECT
Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister make the contract available, outlining the terms on how the monies were to be disbursed?
Hon. Walton Brown: Which funds?
Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: The $18 million.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Walton Brown: I believe what the Honourable Member is asking is, the $18 million loan, how the $18 million was actually disbursed. Is that the question? Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: No. The question is, would the Minister make available the contract outli ning the terms of how …
Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: I believe what the Honourable Member is asking is, the $18 million loan, how the $18 million was actually disbursed. Is that the question?
Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: No. The question is, would the Minister make available the contract outli ning the terms of how the money was to be disbursed?
Hon. Walton Brown: Well, M r. Speaker, I am happy to give an undertaking that in the spirit of full transparency we should release all of the information that we are able to release. I can give that undertaking in the abstract. And then I will talk to my lawyers to make sure that I do not speak out of turn.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Supplementary? Deputy? No. Minister, one other Member indicated that he had a question for you, and that is . . . Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: I only asked one question.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou asked one question; yes, you did. Would you like to exercise your second question? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe recognise the Honourable Oppos ition Leader on her second question. QUESTION 2: UPDATE ON THE WATERFRONT PROJECT Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the final page of the Mini ster’s Statement, in the final paragraph, he indicated that the “Government stands ready to …
We recognise the Honourable Oppos ition Leader on her second question.
QUESTION 2: UPDATE ON THE WATERFRONT PROJECT
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the final page of the Mini ster’s Statement, in the final paragraph, he indicated that the “Government stands ready to bring the issues involving the voiding of the waterfront leas e to an end and is fully mindful of the interests of those claiming redress for the cancellation of the leases, as well as that of the public purse.” My question to the Minister is, in light of the ending of the arbitration process, what is the Gover nment ’s dispensation to the issues and how they would further protract the voiding of the Waterfront lease?
B ermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Thank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, we stand ready to try to find a sol ution. The arbitration process has come to an end, but the issues have not come to an end.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Supplementary? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Supplementary.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerContinue on, Member. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes. Mr. Speaker, in light of what has been publicly stated in terms, I guess, of interviews with Mr. Mac-Lean that have ended up in the public domain, which actually indicated that the Minister had arranged an intervention to try to …
Continue on, Member. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes. Mr. Speaker, in light of what has been publicly stated in terms, I guess, of interviews with Mr. Mac-Lean that have ended up in the public domain, which actually indicated that the Minister had arranged an intervention to try to make a settlement, my question is, Can the Minister give us some information as to what involvement he will have had and what agre ement was made for a fee with Mr. MacLean in order to settle this matter?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWell, actually, you made your reference to a social media story, in my words. And that social media comment was not contained within his Statement today. So, if you are addressing it around the social media comment, then it falls outside of his Statement. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Let …
Well, actually, you made your reference to a social media story, in my words. And that social media comment was not contained within his Statement today. So, if you are addressing it around the social media comment, then it falls outside of his Statement. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Let me take out social media and say that there are allegations with respect to the Minister’s involvement. And could the Minister give us any indication as to whether there was involvement by himself with Mr. MacLean in terms of providing a resolution for the matter in exchange for a fee? Hon. Walton Brown: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There was no involvement of this Minister in any discussions with Mr. MacLean over any kind of a settlement.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Supplementary.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary, second supplementary? Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes. Was there involvement with the Honourable Member prior to becoming a Minister in that same matter? The Speaker: Minister. Hon. Walton Brown: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was not involved in any dialogue or any sort of negotiation with Mr. MacLean …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Okay. Any further question? No third question. Okay. One other Member, Minister, indicated that he had a question for you. That was the Member from constituency 10. Do you will wish to put your question? No? Okay. Well, Members, that brings us to the concl usion of our …
Thank you. Okay. Any further question? No third question. Okay. One other Member, Minister, indicated that he had a question for you. That was the Member from constituency 10. Do you will wish to put your question? No? Okay. Well, Members, that brings us to the concl usion of our Question Period. Thank you for your parti cipation. We now move on. Madam Clerk. CONGRATULATORY AND/OR OBITUARY SPEECH ES
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 24. The Honourable Member Scott, you have the floor.
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottThank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise on this occasion to just celebrate what happens when the colours black and white come t ogether on a football field under the name of the PHC Zebras, who are the Dudley Eve Champions and the most decorated football club in Bermuda, Mr. Speak-er! …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThat is what made it lovely; it was in Somerset, see?
Mr. W. Lawrence Scott—where most of the winning takes place and most of the trophies stay, regardless of the sport. So, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to take my whole three minutes to thank every member of the PHC, Pembroke–Hamilton Zebras, for their patron-age, their patience, and their hard work to make …
—where most of the winning takes place and most of the trophies stay, regardless of the sport. So, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to take my whole three minutes to thank every member of the PHC, Pembroke–Hamilton Zebras, for their patron-age, their patience, and their hard work to make this championship and this Dudley Eve Final possible. A special thank you to Ms. Beverly Pitt who was there celebrating with us. I know most people know Ms. Beverly Pitt as a North Village fan, but she has recently converted to the Zebras, being as though . . . so, I just wanted to . . . and I would like to assoc iate my MP, MP Neville Tyrrell, to this as well, being as he is the MP of the area, that is the Dudley E ve Champions. So, Mr. Speaker, how much more time do I have to talk about the Zebras?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI could ring the bell now, i f you wish. [Laughter] 594 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. W. Lawrence Scott: But, no, in all seriousness, they have worked hard. We should have been champions last year. It was mainly goal difference, and one unfortunate …
I could ring the bell now, i f you wish. [Laughter] 594 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. W. Lawrence Scott: But, no, in all seriousness, they have worked hard. We should have been champions last year. It was mainly goal difference, and one unfortunate incident that stopped us from being champions last year. But we will be Premier League champions this year. We have won two out of the four cups available and we plan on maki ng it four for four. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker . And thank s again and congratulations to the PHC Zebras.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI now recogni se the Honourable Member from constituency 2. The Honourable Member Swan, you have the floor.
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanI would like for a letter of congratulations be sent to St. George’s Cricket Club celebrating 125 years as an establishment in this country. And I associate the Honourable Member from constituency 1, and the Honourable Member from constituency 3, and the Honourable Member from constituency 19— all St. George’s …
I would like for a letter of congratulations be sent to St. George’s Cricket Club celebrating 125 years as an establishment in this country. And I associate the Honourable Member from constituency 1, and the Honourable Member from constituency 3, and the Honourable Member from constituency 19— all St. George’s fans, I am sure. And the Honourable Member, Mr. Diallo Rabain. It was an outstanding gala event. President Neil Paynter and his team need to be congratulated for once again putting on a fine gala event. I guess the most heart -warming thing was to see the amount of young people. Anyone younger than me now is very young.
[Laugher]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanAnd the young people that were there, and well outfitted, and enjoying themselves and appreciating the celebration indeed. On a sombre note, I would like a letter of condolence sent to the family of the late Harreld Kirkpatrick. A very dear friend and mentor of mine, a dear friend to …
And the young people that were there, and well outfitted, and enjoying themselves and appreciating the celebration indeed. On a sombre note, I would like a letter of condolence sent to the family of the late Harreld Kirkpatrick. A very dear friend and mentor of mine, a dear friend to Bermuda from Boynton Beach, Florida, orig inally from Kentucky, Bowling Green Kentucky, to be exact. [He] was an outstanding golfer. Hall of Fame out of Kentucky. For many years, he used to visit Bermuda six times a year. He was a member of the Mid Ocean Club. He played in tournaments that I organised. And he was once the Bermuda Seniors Champion. He enjoyed that when his grandson won a Junior Tournament here at the same time. He was a decorated war veteran. And because of our Reme mbrance Day Ceremony in St. George’s, in which he would come and play in the tournament at Mid Ocean in November, he would make sure that on the Sunday he would go with me down to St. George’s. He was able to finally after many years share the stories of the war, which were very painful to him, in which he r eturned home without his younger brother. And it just goes to show you that although our Remembrance Day Ceremony in St. George’s is less attended than in Hamilton, it is no less significant as a war veteran was able to appreciate. The one thing he always said was, I appreciate in Bermuda that people came up to me and took the time to say ‘Thank you for your service, sir.’ Indeed, he was a great man. I miss him dearly and love him dearly. Thank you, Mr. S peaker. Was that my time or was that someone’s phone?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSomebody needs to turn their device off! [Inaudible interjections]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanBecause if . . . and while I am speaking about St. George’s Cricket Club, if I go back, Mr. Speaker, on these last few minutes I just want to—
The SpeakerThe Speaker[You have] a couple of seconds, you are running down.
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan—congratulate PHC along with the Honourable Member because St. George’s and PHC have a long relationship in which I was able to share very recently. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. [Timer beeps]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerDoes any other Member wish to speak? I recognise the Opposition Leader. Honour able Member, you have the floor. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on a sombre note I would ask that this Honourable House send condolences to the family of the late Winnie …
Does any other Member wish to speak? I recognise the Opposition Leader. Honour able Member, you have the floor.
Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on a sombre note I would ask that this Honourable House send condolences to the family of the late Winnie Outerbridge. Wi nnie, who was one of the Tucker sisters, was quite the lady of hospitality. She worked for a significant period of time at the Princess Hotel. She has been a long serving –– a family friend, Mr. Speaker, and I was quite sa ddened yesterday to have been apprised of her death. On a positive note, Mr. Speaker, I would ask this Honourable House to send congratulations to the New Testament Church of God who last night . . . sorry, on Wednesday night, at Southampton Princess had a celebration of their 70 th anniversary of their annual convention. And, Mr. Speaker, it was an incredibly touching and spiritual affair. The guest speaker, Cindy Trimm, gave a tremendous presentation. In attendance was a Mrs. . . . Reverend Dr. Dorothy T uzo, who apparently is now residing off -Island in Jamaica
Bermuda House of Assembly [and] returned home for the event and was able to boast that of the 70 years of celebration she has a ttended every single one. So that was quite interesting and quite exciting. I wish congratulations as they are . . . their theme, which was, “ We’ve Come This Far By Faith” with the idea that they are hoping to retire their mortgage indebtedness in order that the monies that they are now using to pay financing fees can go to more positive community dev elopment. And, finally, on a congratulatory message, Mr. Speaker, I would ask that this Honourable House rec-ognise the two candidates from Bermuda who this year became the IWF Fellows in the Leadership Foundation. Mr. Speaker, the IWF, the International Women’s Forum, is a local . . . well, there is a local branch of the organisation that was established when the Honourable Member, Paula Cox, was the Premier. We established a local chapter. This past year, under the presidency of Pamela Ferreria, and her team, was the first time we actually had applied for Fellows. And if I can read just very quickly, “The Leadership Foundation, IWF’s charitable and educational entity, launched the Fellows Program . . . in 1994 to train, mentor and connect women . . . Each year the Fellows Program “convenes approximately 35 global participants for a total of 20 days, comprised of three separate sessions. It is executed in partnership with Harvard [Business School] and INSEAD.” “In addition to leadership training, Fellows are matched with an IWF member who serves as a mentoring coach during the program year.” And this year we had two, Mr. Speaker, the first time we have ever had any. We had four appl icants and two were chosen from the more than 100 applicants from around the world. Those two—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: —were Maria Marsh and Michelle Seymour -Smith. [Timer beeps]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI now recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 26, the Honourable Member Tyrrell. You have the floor.
Mr. Neville S. TyrrellMr. Speaker, I would ask that a letter of congratulations be sent to Mr. James Wal-dron- Smith who was a part of the graduation exercise very recently at C.A.R.E. Learning Centre. Mr. Smith was also the valedictorian. To show you the grit of this young person, he had recently been …
Mr. Speaker, I would ask that a letter of congratulations be sent to Mr. James Wal-dron- Smith who was a part of the graduation exercise very recently at C.A.R.E. Learning Centre. Mr. Smith was also the valedictorian. To show you the grit of this young person, he had recently been released from Westgate in the last two years. And to show you the determination to change his life around, he was d etermined to obtain his GED and he actually did it in six months. He certainly is the sort of example that I would sho w to those other young persons who are trying to change their life around, that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Well, Mr. Speaker, while I am on my feet, I will also associate myself with the remarks by my fellow colleague in Warwick, giving congratulations to the PHC, who I do try and get out often to see, at the most. But also he seemed to be a bit shy in saying that he himself plays for the Corona team. I do not know how he gets selected, but anyway, he is a part of their team. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. I now recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 3. Honourable Minister, you have the floor. Hon. Lovitta F. Foggo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, again, I would like to be associated with the congratulatory remarks for St. George’s Cricket Club’s gala event. In fact, that …
Thank you, Member. I now recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 3. Honourable Minister, you have the floor. Hon. Lovitta F. Foggo: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, again, I would like to be associated with the congratulatory remarks for St. George’s Cricket Club’s gala event. In fact, that event, Mr. Speaker, has set the stage for young people to follow in that it is an event that celebrates the participation of club members and people associated with S t. George’s Cricket Club who gave much of their time in terms of commitment and community effort to ensure that sports help, if you will, to light the way. So, again, congratulations going out to the President, Mr. Neil Paynter; the Vice President, Mr. Mis hael Paynter; and all who were involved in that event. It is an event that will be continued because it is a way of celebrating and encouraging young people who are involved in sports to . . . definitely they have something to look forward to. Mr. Speaker , I would like condolences to be sent out to the Douglas family, Ms. Cherlyn Douglas , who has recently passed away, a constituent of mine in St. David’s. And Mrs. Rosalind Minors, a matriarch of constituency 3. Her family, Mrs. Minors’ family . . . [Timer beeps]
way back when there was very little support in St. D avid’s for the Progressive Labour Party, her family, and maybe one or two others, stood out in their support for the Progressive Labour Party, so it would be remiss of me to not recognise the los s of this matriarch and to send out condolences to her family. She will be a loss, Mr. Speaker.
596 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. I now recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 1. Honourable Member Ming, you have the floor.
Mrs. Renee MingGood morning, Mr. Speaker, and the listening audience. I rise today because I too would like to give an additional congratulatory note to the St. George’s Cricket Club for their 125 and not out gala — a Blue Tie Affair. I would like to associate my collea gue, Mr. Famous, …
Good morning, Mr. Speaker, and the listening audience. I rise today because I too would like to give an additional congratulatory note to the St. George’s Cricket Club for their 125 and not out gala — a Blue Tie Affair. I would like to associate my collea gue, Mr. Famous, with these comments as well. And I also wanted to just acknowledge the two persons that we honoured at the gala. That is, Gregory “Brutus” Foggo.
Mrs. Renee MingWell known to that person from constituency 3. Also, Calvin “Caledonia” Smith. They were honoured for the things that they brought either to the sport or to the club, and definitely in terms of youth development at the club. I also would like to send a congratulatory note, Mr. Speaker, …
Well known to that person from constituency 3. Also, Calvin “Caledonia” Smith. They were honoured for the things that they brought either to the sport or to the club, and definitely in terms of youth development at the club. I also would like to send a congratulatory note, Mr. Speaker, to the Corporation of St. George’s and that would be Mayor Quinell Francis and her team, because what she did when she became the mayor was to host quarterly updates in terms of what is happening in St. George’s. She had one last evening. It was to do with policing. We know w e need some updates on policing at this time. [Also] with transportation and a brief update the hotel. But just for her continued commitment to continue to have di alogue with the community. Also, the St. George’s Parish Council. They hosted their annual [ Senior’s] Tea, week before last, and it was attended by . . . I think they said they had 100 attendees. And it was very entertaining. I would like to associate Minister Lovitta Foggo with these comments as well. But it is just good to see these things that are happening in our community, especia lly my St. George’s community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. I now recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 19, the Honourable Member Atherden. You have the floor.
Mrs. Jeanne J. AtherdenThank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to be associated with the congratulations that are going to be sent to the two IWF Leader Fellows because it is very important for us to recognise . . . Maria Marsh was the human resource partner at …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to be associated with the congratulations that are going to be sent to the two IWF Leader Fellows because it is very important for us to recognise . . . Maria Marsh was the human resource partner at Nephila and Michelle Seymour -Smith is the chief financial officer at Arch Reinsurance. I think it is important because these l adies demonstrate high achievement that we should all strive for. On a sad note, I would like condolences s ent to the family of the late Margaret Vaucrosson. Marga-ret, as people will remember, was the wife of Charles Vaucrosson, but for me, Margaret was that nurse down at King Edward who used to make sure that lots of things were done, and when she stopped bein g at the hospital, she still carried out, if you will, a health role. I am sure that her family is going to miss her and we will miss what she has done. I would also like to have condolences sent to the family of the late Eleanor “Molly” Brown. The rea-son being, in addition to knowing that Molly was the person who ran Hubie’s Bar, Molly was also that person who was the sister of my caregiver when I was a child, Janet Moore Forge. So, I got to know Molly very well and I knew that she really believed in her Hubie’s Bar and so many people went there and enjoyed events. If you stop and think, Hubie’s Bar was the place that people went to before it was really fashio nable to talk about going out to Court Street. And even when people were nervous, Hubie’s Bar was the place you went to because you wanted to go out and enjoy yourself. And lastly, I would like to have condolences sent to the family of the late Olga “Freda” Furbert (nee Curtis) who is the mother of Peggy Ann Bean. Peggy was a secretary that I had at BHB and someone that I remained friends with for a long time, who is now a Customs officer. Her mother was a stalwart and brought up a large family, and I would like to think that we can send condolences to her family because she will be sorely missed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. I recognise the Honourable Minister Simmons. Honourable Minister from constituency 33. You have the floor. Hon. Jamahl S. Simmons: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a bittersw eet congratulatory message because I would like to extend congratulations to Mr. Charles Jeffers II on …
Thank you, Member. I recognise the Honourable Minister Simmons. Honourable Minister from constituency 33. You have the floor.
Hon. Jamahl S. Simmons: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a bittersw eet congratulatory message because I would like to extend congratulations to Mr. Charles Jeffers II on his successful appointment as the chief operating officer for “Visit Baltimore.” Mr. Speaker, I say “bittersweet” because this is a man of outstanding ta lent, a man of outstanding intellect, and great experience. And Bermuda’s loss in the tourism business is certainly Balt imore’s gain. I enjoy the opportunity to compete with this gentleman for our tourism dollars, as we try and view the world as our market . But I truly think that Bermuda’s loss is Baltimore’s gain. Mr. Speaker, while I am on my feet, I would like to take the opportunity to give thanks and con-gratulations to Mr. Andy Burrows, of the BTA. And while [he was mentioned] in the Ministerial Stat ement earlier, I think that his efforts in terms of bringing i nvestment into Bermuda in relation to the hospitality space, should be commended. He has done tireless
Bermuda House of Assembly work. He has been a champion for Bermuda in his sphere. And I think that his accomplishment s and his work should be acknowledged. While I am on my feet I would also like to send congratulations and thanks to the team at the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation. Ms. Erica Smith, Ray Jones, Jamillah Lodge, and Ms. Rochester who have put in a lot of work over the past week supporting Global Entrepreneurship Week. And I think that they are unsung heroes of the community because of the things they do to help get our entr epreneurs moving and pushing the concept of doing it themselves. And, finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to be associated with all the remarks of those who spoke before me, but in particular, to the work of Mayor Quinell Francis. And if I may declare my interest, Mr. Speaker, she is a cousin of mine. I claim her; I do not know if she will claim me based on my Cup Match affiliation, but that is okay.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWell, you know, some people see the light. [Laughter] Hon. Jamahl S. Simmons: Well, we . . . yes. But I think that, you know, she should be recognised f or her leadership as not just a woman, but a person who has continued to be tied to the community …
Well, you know, some people see the light.
[Laughter]
Hon. Jamahl S. Simmons: Well, we . . . yes. But I think that, you know, she should be recognised f or her leadership as not just a woman, but a person who has continued to be tied to the community and being r esponsive to the needs of the community and keeping people connected with what is going on. I think her work should be commended. I think that she does a great job and I look forward to working with her on many projects in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. I now recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 11. Honourable Member Famous, you have the floor.
Mr. Christopher FamousGood morning, Mr. Speaker. I want to associate myself with St. George’s Cricket Club because every year I lose money and take a lot of licks on social media. Every year lately. [Inaudible interjections]
Mr. Christopher FamousMr. Speaker, as there was a theme about women in politics, I just want to take some time to thank the women of the PLP. Although they are not reflected in numbers in the House, it is the women of the PLP why the House is how it is now. …
Mr. Christopher FamousWhether they be branch members, branch chairs, committee members, or just the people in the community, it is the women of the PLP why the PLP is the Government. I am quite sure, it may be similar in the OBA. I will defer that to [their] Honourable Leader. However, I …
Whether they be branch members, branch chairs, committee members, or just the people in the community, it is the women of the PLP why the PLP is the Government. I am quite sure, it may be similar in the OBA. I will defer that to [their] Honourable Leader. However, I just want to again thank the women of the PLP and Bermuda for nurturing us, whether it be in the PLP, in the unions, or the PTAs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member. I now recognise the Honourable Minister. M inister Roban, you have the floor. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to be associated with the congra tulatory remarks to Mr. Andy Burrows and the work he does with the BTA …
Thank you, Honourable Member. I now recognise the Honourable Minister. M inister Roban, you have the floor.
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to be associated with the congra tulatory remarks to Mr. Andy Burrows and the work he does with the BTA on the investment conference, CHICOS that was held as the Honourable Minister Simmons, just mentioned. It was a fantastic job. One thing that was clear from that conference as the Mini ster articulated, certainly my interactions with those who were attending, is that those who were here for the first t ime were excited and surprised at what they found. And those who are returning are committed disciples of the Bermuda experience and want to see it get even better. So we do hope that there will be a lot of opportunities that come out of the effort. And Mr . Burrows has certainly played a crucial role in that. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to ensure that we are associated with the condolences to [the family of] Molly Brown. It is sad to hear of her passing. And let’s just make it clear, she was a part of t he PLP fam ily. She was our neighbour on Court Street for gener ations. And so as far as I am concerned, with my exp erience with the PLP and everybody who sits in this House for the PLP, the late Molly Brown and her husband and the institution of the Fish Hut is synonymous with our experience as a party and over its history. So, we see this as us seeing a member of our family pass on. So, we all on this side certainly will want to be as-sociated with the condolences to the family of Molly Brown. I would also like to ensure a congratulatory note is given to the Grace Methodist Church for their annual Women in White Service this past weekend, Mr. Speaker. Former Premier, Dame Jennifer Smith was their guest speaker for the service and it was a very good speech s he gave, and a very good service 598 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly was held by that church, and they have had it annually for . . . I think, at least for over 10 years. I have done my best to be at every one and it is a great service celebrating women, as we have made comments in this Hous e about celebrating the women of our soci ety. I would also like to send a congratulatory message to the New Testament Church of God on their conference this past week. I am certainly happy to associate the Honourable Opposition Leader as well (if she did not give the remarks already) to be associated with those congratulations because we both were at their banquet a few nights ago, Wednesday night I believe. And it was a gala.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMm-hmm. Hon. Walter H. Roban: As simple as that! A gala. And also Bishop Duncan who is a leader of that church, he and the whole church family deserve congratulations for what they are doing in their almost 100 years of existence in Bermuda. [Timer beeps] Hon. Walter H. Roban: …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. I recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 36, the Honourable Member Scott. You have the floor. Hon. Michael J. Scott: Mr. Speaker, this afternoon we will attend the homegoing service for a young 34year-old of your constituen cy, I believe, Mr. Speaker. Young Mendell Eugene Outerbridge of …
Thank you, Minister. I recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 36, the Honourable Member Scott. You have the floor. Hon. Michael J. Scott: Mr. Speaker, this afternoon we will attend the homegoing service for a young 34year-old of your constituen cy, I believe, Mr. Speaker. Young Mendell Eugene Outerbridge of 29 Beacon Hill Road. Sylvan Richards, the Honourable Member, the Opposition Leader, and Mr. Richards would like—
[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Michael J. Scott: The whole House? Mendell l ost his life at the age of 34. What a sad event. His companion and the mother of his chi ldren, Leonae, I wish to just single out for offering my sincere condolences to, in addition to, obviously, Mr. Outerbridge’s mother, Mrs. Tracy Outerbridge, and his dad, Everette “Rusty” Simmons. So, I acknowledge the indication of support from the Opposition Leader and the Members of the Government for this young man. Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to do so. The mother of Leonae, Mrs. Judy Woods, has been so supportive in that she lives in my constituency. I know she has moved by this and I offer my condolences to her. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. I now recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 20. The Honourable Member Jackson, you have the floor.
Ms. Susan E. JacksonThank you, Mr. Speaker. It is very difficult to have to follow such sad remarks from the previous speaker, and I give my condolences. But I would like to congratulate the graduates of the CHIP programme. This is a health programme that has been managed and facilitated by nurse Beverley …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is very difficult to have to follow such sad remarks from the previous speaker, and I give my condolences. But I would like to congratulate the graduates of the CHIP programme. This is a health programme that has been managed and facilitated by nurse Beverley Howell. She was Nurse of the Year . . . and—
[Inaudible interjections]
Ms. Susan E. Jackson—the whole House is ass ociating with these congratulatory remarks. She has gone on, Nurse of the Year, has moved on to now create a programme which has been going on for 10 years now. It is all about healthy lifestyles, making healthy choices and she had almost . . …
—the whole House is ass ociating with these congratulatory remarks. She has gone on, Nurse of the Year, has moved on to now create a programme which has been going on for 10 years now. It is all about healthy lifestyles, making healthy choices and she had almost . . . she had 84 graduates, if I am correct, for this particular cohort. Again, this is her 10 th year with the CHIP programme, which is, Complete Health Improvement [Programme]. And people have invested in this programme and are doing all that they can to change their choices in food and exercise and live a healthy wealthy lifestyle. I would also like to take a moment to congratulate the Bermuda Economic Development Corpor ation. They have done a number of wonderful things in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week. And in particular today they had Women in Entrepreneur ship. There was a wonderful breakfast event with over 100 women in attendance and they debated and consi dered the option of “ Can you have it all?” They had a number of significant speakers on a panel and did a wonderful job, nothing but good feedback from the breakfast event which has just completed minutes ago, Mr. Speaker. So, I send all of my best to Joyce Hayward, Jamillah Lodge, Erica Smith, and the team at BEDC for all of their hard work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. No further . . . okay, I recognise the Honour able Member from constituency 10. Honourable Member Dunkley, you have the floor. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to support the congratulations and also to add in congratulations to …
Thank you, Member. No further . . . okay, I recognise the Honour able Member from constituency 10. Honourable Member Dunkley, you have the floor. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to support the congratulations and also to add in congratulations to the BTA and BDA for a tremendous couple of weeks for the conferences they had in Bermuda, from the CHICOS to the Energy Summit to the STEP co nference. There have been numerous conferences that have taken place and the publicity that has surrounded them certainly is going to reap great benefit and investment in Bermuda going forward. And I am
Bermuda House of Assembly pleased to see the Government has supported these initiatives fully and I am glad that some of the initi atives by the former Government have c ontinued on. These were very strong conferences, such as CH ICOS. We worked hard to get it here. And it is clear from some of the speakers from overseas who have spoken at the conference that Bermuda is definitely on its way back in tourism. Something that we have been saying for a couple of years. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I will finish my comments on a sadder note to send condolences to the family of the young man who tragically passed in a road accident. I think, to some extent, Mr. Speaker, we are all touched by this. We certainly grieve by it, but we need to remember and accept and understand that a family can never get over the pain of losing somebody, especially that young. While many people will attend the homegoing service today, we need to rememb er that they will have that scare for the rest of their lives and we need to support them and try to nurture them and strengthen them as they go through some very dark days which they will continue to face. The tragedy is real and, you know, we all can tal k about being unable to walk in another’s shoes, but in this case we have to try to help them walk in their own shoes. Mr. Speaker, I will conclude by asking this Honourable House to send condolences to the family of Roger Medeiros who lost his 22- year-old daughter due to cancer just a couple of days ago. Mr. Speaker, as a parent I cannot fathom the grief that these fam ilies are going through. So let us pray for them, let us give them strength, let us try to get them through these dark days ahead. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. I recognise the Honourable Minister. Honourable Minister from constituency 13. [Minister] Rabain, you have the floor. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like for this Honourable House to send the usual letter of congratulations to Youth Parliament that opened on Wednesday. …
Thank you. I recognise the Honourable Minister. Honourable Minister from constituency 13. [Minister] Rabain, you have the floor.
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like for this Honourable House to send the usual letter of congratulations to Youth Parliament that opened on Wednesday. Those of us who reside in this Honourable House, and just everyone—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: —to come from everyone, those of us who were here on Wednesday to witness the opening of Youth Parliament and the robust de-bate that took place. It was a very interesting topic that was talked about, and that was about the separ ation of …
Yes.
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: —to come from everyone, those of us who were here on Wednesday to witness the opening of Youth Parliament and the robust de-bate that took place. It was a very interesting topic that was talked about, and that was about the separ ation of church and state, and should we continue to have an ac tual prayer at the beginning of the session. So it was a very lively debate that took place. Unfort unately, I was unable to witness the conclusion of it, but from what I heard the young people acquitted themselves very well and came with some very thoughtf ul arguments —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, they did. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: —for and against. Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like for congratul ations to be sent to the Dellwood Middle School M3 Drama Class for their performance at the Stop the Violence Event on Sunday, and their performance of “When Will Enough Be …
Yes, they did.
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: —for and against. Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like for congratul ations to be sent to the Dellwood Middle School M3 Drama Class for their performance at the Stop the Violence Event on Sunday, and their performance of “When Will Enough Be Enough?” was also performed again today at their annual assembly, which I believe most Members were invited to but only a few of us were able to attend. I can attest to you, Mr. Speaker, having these young men and women get up and do this performance was absolutely awe- inspiring. I mean, there were very few dry eyes within the audit orium as they talked about this gun violence and how it affects them as such young people in this Island, and how they feel we all could come together and do our part to help with the situations that we find. If anyone did not get to see it, please, there are videos floating around social media, and the like. I am very happy to announce that the Minister announced that there will be another competition coming up in early next year in which others will be invited to participate in the same type, but it will be for adults. Eventually, there is a competition where we will pick all of them together and see who is the eventual winner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Deputy Premier. Deputy Premier? Would you like to be recognised at this moment? Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do move that we adjourn for lunch.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. The House now stands adjourned for lunch. We will resume at 2:00 pm. [Gavel] Proceedings suspended at 12:31 pm Proceedings resumed at 2:02 pm [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMembers, we are proceeding after lunch. I think we had just completed the Congratulat ory and/or Obituary Speeches. [Crosstalk] MATTERS OF PRIVILEGE 600 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: There are none. PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. NOTICE OF MOTIONS FOR THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE ON MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS GOVERNMENT BILLS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe have two Government Bills. I recognise the Minister of Health. In fact, both Bills are in your nam e, Minister. FIRST READINGS RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES AND NURSING HOMES AMENDMENT ACT 2017 HEALTH INSURANCE AMENDMENT ACT 2017 Hon. Kim N. Wilson: That is correct. Thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. …
We have two Government Bills. I recognise the Minister of Health. In fact, both Bills are in your nam e, Minister.
FIRST READINGS
RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES AND NURSING HOMES AMENDMENT ACT 2017
HEALTH INSURANCE AMENDMENT ACT 2017 Hon. Kim N. Wilson: That is correct. Thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , I am introducing the following Bill for its first reading so that it may be placed on the Order Paper for the next day of meeting: the Reside ntial Care Homes and Nursing Homes Amendment Act 2017. As well, Mr. Speaker , I am introducing the following Bill for its first reading so that it may be placed on t he Order Paper for the next day of meeting, namely, the Health Insurance Amendment Act 2017. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. NOTICES OF MOTIONS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe have two Motions that are being tabled today. We have the first one. We recognise the Honourable Member Swan from constituency 2. JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE, REPORT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE EVENTS OF 2 DECEMBER 2016
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanThank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , I give notice that I propose to move the following Motion at the next day of meeting: “WHEREAS at the gates of this House of A ssembly a show of democracy descended into a conflict between concerned citizens of Bermuda, and those …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , I give notice that I propose to move the following Motion at the next day of meeting: “WHEREAS at the gates of this House of A ssembly a show of democracy descended into a conflict between concerned citizens of Bermuda, and those charged with protecting the very rights they sought to exercise, on December 2 nd[, ] 2016; “AND WHEREAS the Government having d eclared its intention to establish a Parliamentary Com-mittee to look into the events generally, including the decision -making and any directives of the Executive and the then S peaker of the House given to the P olice, that led up to and precipitated the events on that day, including the deployment of the police in riot gear and the use by the Police of incapacitant pepper spray on the crowd of citizens assembled; “BE IT RESOLVED that this Motion for the appointment of a Joint Select Committee to carry out the said Inquiry into the said events of December 2 nd, 2016 be approved “AND Thereafter, pursuant to Part IV of the Parliament Act 1957, that a Parliamentary Joint Select Commi ttee be appointed (1) to inquire into the events as aforesaid as thoroughly as may be; (2) to bring cl osure to this event by the making of all proper and nec-essary findings, recommendations, and where r equired sanctions; and (3) to submit its report to the House of Assembly within three to six months.”
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. The next Motion is in the name of the Ho nourable Member Gibbons from constituency 22. I will just acknowledge that there has been discussion around the wording on this and the Ho nourable Member is going to amend or adjust the wor ding as read, rather …
Thank you, Member. The next Motion is in the name of the Ho nourable Member Gibbons from constituency 22. I will just acknowledge that there has been discussion around the wording on this and the Ho nourable Member is going to amend or adjust the wor ding as read, rather than what is printed here. Honourable Member .
MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF THE “ECONOMIC, ENVIRO NMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE 35 TH AMERICA’S CUP ON BERMUDA”
Hon. Dr. E. Grant GibbonsThank you , Mr. Speaker . I was going to make that explanation, but you have done it for me. So, I will simply proceed. Mr. Speaker , I give notice that at the next day of meeting I propose to move the following Motion: “That this Honourable House take …
Thank you , Mr. Speaker . I was going to make that explanation, but you have done it for me. So, I will simply proceed. Mr. Speaker , I give notice that at the next day of meeting I propose to move the following Motion: “That this Honourable House take note of the ‘Economic, Environmental and Social Impact of the 35 th America’s Cup on Bermuda’ and the foundation for further growth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. ORDERS OF THE DAY
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe will now move on to the Orders of the Day and the understanding is that we are going to Bermuda House of Assembly do Order No. 1 today, and only number 1. And that Order is in the name of the Minister of Social Deve lopment and Sport. Honourable …
We will now move on to the Orders of the Day and the understanding is that we are going to
Bermuda House of Assembly do Order No. 1 today, and only number 1. And that Order is in the name of the Minister of Social Deve lopment and Sport. Honourable Minister, you have the floor.
BILL
SECOND READING
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AMENDMENT ACT 2017
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , I move that the Bill entitled the Public Holidays Amendment Act 2017 be now read for the second time.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerContinue, Minister. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , I am pleased to lead the debate today on the Bill entitled the Public Holidays Amendment Act 2017. Some might say that this is the Michael Weeks’ Bill, Mr. Speaker , because, as you …
Continue, Minister.
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , I am pleased to lead the debate today on the Bill entitled the Public Holidays Amendment Act 2017. Some might say that this is the Michael Weeks’ Bill, Mr. Speaker , because, as you know, it was several years ago when MP Weeks was in Opposition he brought a very similar Bill to the House that did not pass at that time. So, certainly, I would like to give thanks to MP Weeks for all the ti me and effort that he put in in the past and, certainly, for encouraging us to bring this forward today. Mr. Speaker , the purpose of this Bill is to amend the Public Holidays Act 1947 to change when the Bermuda Day public holiday is observed. Currently, the Bermuda Day public holiday is recognised on the 24 th of May and this Bill proposes that the day of observance should be changed to the last Friday in May of each year. It is anticipated that this change will have effect from May 2018 onwards. Mr. Speak er, the importance of Bermuda Day hinges upon an understanding of its historical context. Thus, I would like to take this opportunity to provide the Honourable Member s of this Honourable House with a brief history of Bermuda Day, also known as the 24 th of May. Mr. Speaker , from May 1902 Bermuda cel ebrated Empire Day, which was held on the 24th of May, to observe Queen Victoria’s birthday and commemorating her death the year prior. In 1916, the 24th of May became an annual public holiday throughout the Brit ish Empire. Mr. Speaker , following the riots in 1977 the then Governor formed a bipartisan Royal Commission chaired by Lord Pitt of Hampstead, the only black Member of the British House of Lords at that time. The other appointed commissioners were Walter N. H. Robinson, Reginald C. Cooper, John I. Pearman, Wi lliam A. Scott, and Michael Banton. Mr. Speaker , the Royal Commission was tasked to inquire into the civil disorders that occurred between the 1 st and 3rd of December 1977, which led to a state of emergency. Also, inquire into the causes of the disorders and produce a report on the finding of such inquiries and make recommendations that dec isions will be reached and action taken within a period of time deem ed reasonable. During the inquiry pr ocess, Lord Pitt consulted with numerous Bermudians to get their perspective on issues leading up to and during the riots. On the 14 th of July 1978, the report of the Royal Commission into the 1977 disturbances (also known as the “Pitt Report”) was signed and pr esented to the Governor. Mr. Speaker , the Report points out that Bermudians were lacking a sense of national unity. The recommendations made by the commissioners, based on a consultation with Bermudians, strongly s upported the organisation of an event that would bring the peo-ple together regardless of race, economic status, or religion, but the main commonality would be that they are Bermudian. It was anticipated that the introduction of such an event would create harmony amongst Bermudians while instilling a sense of national pride. Mr. Speaker , the overall consensus for such an event was reached and it was decided that a pa-rade would provide Bermudians with the opportunity to celebrate with each other while strengt hening the mutual respect and appreciation for one another. The concept of a parade stemmed from the annual Ber-muda Floral Pageant (also known as the Easter P arade) which was held annually in late April from 1930 to 1968. The Easter Parade was a fusion of a Carn ival-type celebration of spring and a showcase of Bermuda’s vibrant agricultural industry. The artistically created floats that transformed bicycles, horses, a utomobiles, and trucks by simply using fresh flowers grown locally, especially Easter lilies, provided som ething unique. The Easter Parade also incorporated marching bands, majorettes, and equestrians. The uniqueness of the Easter Parade attracted locals and thousands of visitors alike to our shores. Mr. Speaker , eventually Bermuda Day r eplaced Empire Day to foment greater harmony and respect for each other. Mr. Speaker , one of the Pitt Report’s recommendations became a reality on May 24, 1979, when the first Bermuda Day Heritage Parade was held to unite our citizens and reinforce a sense of pri de to be Bermudian. Mr. Speaker , currently the Bermuda Day public holiday is observed on May 24 th, a date that can fall on any given day of a calendar week, which results in the holiday being observed on a different day annually. For example, if the 24 th of May falls on a weekend, the holiday is observed on the following Monday. Mr. Speaker , Bermuda Day is the most cel ebrated holiday other than Cup Match. It is a day in which Bermudians find various ways to showcase their pride in the beauty of our Island, whether they participate in the parade, the marathon, have picnics on the beach, go for their first swim, gather and parti c602 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly ipate in the first of the season’s dinghy boat races, or simply just soak in the sun of the beautiful waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Mr. Speaker , as we all know, this holiday r equires tremendous effort in planning and preparation for both the marathon derby and the parade. The participants of both events are more often than not overcome by both the excitement and physical energy r equired to perform at the highest level. Additionally, the spectators (who are also an important part of the day) go over and beyond to make this day a fun- filled and joyful one. Mr. Speaker , due to the inconsistency of the day on which Bermuda Day is observed public and private schools, businesses, and other organisations have experienced disruptions mainly due to absenteeism and reduced productivity the day following the Bermuda Day public holiday. Mr. Speaker , for example, a few years ago, based on the data from the Ministry of Education, it was estimated that over 700 children —some 15 per cent of the public school student population at the time—were absent the day following the holiday and over 200 students showed up to school extremely late. This would not be a typical attendance rate. Mr. Speaker , this proposed amendment is i mportant to a mother whose child has rehearsed and practiced for many late nights on end and then marched in the parade on a weekday, but then who has the task of preparing that same child for school the very next day. Mr. Speaker , we must recognise and cel ebrate our heritage on a day that best suits the community and, yes, further supports the spirit of the day. Mr. Speaker , representatives from the following organisations, namely: the Bermuda Industrial U nion, the Bermuda Public Services Union, Bermuda Union of Teachers, Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, Bermuda Tourism Authority, Bermuda Hotel Associ ation, Bermuda Business Development Agency, ABIC, and ABIR were consulted on this proposed change and no objections were expressed. But the Bermuda Employers’ Council did have a challenge with the change occurring in 2018. But I think, after today, they will have enough time to get themselves organised. The retail sector of the Chamber of Commer ce also had a bit of an issue and we had that debate and, of course, the decision was for us to move forward. Mr. Speaker , the proposed change in the day of observance of the Bermuda Day holiday could also have an impact on tourism if marketed correctly. W e see now the number of tourists which enjoy this day and it could see an even larger increase in tourist arr ivals if taken on [as] a serious tourism product. Mr. Speaker , the intent of this proposed Amendment to the Public Holidays Act 1947 is to ob-serve the Bermuda Day public holiday on the last Fr iday of May of each year commencing from 2018 o nwards. I wish to point out that once the Bill is passed by the Legislature, it is the intent of Government to republish Government Notices setting out the dates of public holidays so that the corrected dates for the Bermuda Day public holiday for the years 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 are established. Mr. Speaker , it is our hope that the amendments debated today will be approved in order to pr ovide consistency in the observance of this i mportant public holiday. And I would like to thank, once more, MP Michael Weeks for all of the effort that he put into this particular piece of legislation as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Does any other Member wish to speak? I recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 10. Honourable Member Dunkley, you have the floor. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker , and good afternoon. And I thank the Honourable Mi nister for the presentation on the Public …
Thank you, Minister. Does any other Member wish to speak? I recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 10. Honourable Member Dunkley, you have the floor. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker , and good afternoon. And I thank the Honourable Mi nister for the presentation on the Public Holidays Amendment Act 2017. And I hope MP Weeks is doing well. I notice he is not in the House today, but I hope he is doing well. And I would have liked to have heard what he had to say because, obviously, he has been a champion of this change for a number of years and he has not seen it to fruition. But the Minister will lead today. Obviously, Mr. Speaker , the Government has the votes and this will pass, but I think it is important for the Opposition to be heard as well. And I do a ppreciate the Honourable Minister’s comments because I think he gave a good overview and he gave some history that a lot of people cannot remember. In fact, in the very beginning of the Honourable Mini ster’s presentation he said “Bermuda Da y, also known as May 24 th.” And to me that is all he had to say, Mr. Speaker , because Bermuda Day is also known as May 24th and now, with the change that will be approved this afternoon (no matter the Opposition says) Bermuda Day is not May 24th. And I thi nk that is a key thing that is on my mind and many of my colleagues. Mr. Speaker , it is very clear that the Gover nment will have its way because of the votes they have. May 24th has also always been our traditional start of the summer season, when we see activities . . . a lot of Bermudians take their first dip in the ocean. So I am sure that will change for some, maybe some will still celebrate it on the 24th because they do not like to change. And while the PLP has signalled their intent to change this f or some time, in the research that I did prior to the debate today, it is hard to say how long this debate has gone on because I can remember at least four or five times when we had wanted to di scuss it in the House of Assembly. But I do note that it was not as far as I can see (and I stand to be cor rected by the Honourable Minister), in the platform of the
Bermuda House of Assembly PLP prior to the last election, it certainly was not in the Throne Speech as far as I could see. Now Mr. Speaker , I have sympathy for the reason behind absenteeism and disruption of work. I certainly do have some sympathy for that. I know the Government has made that case over the last couple of days and the Minister said it again, but I do not think that we should cater to people not being able to get into work or school the next day. And here is why I say that, Mr. Speaker : I love Bermuda Day, I love May 24 th. I have run in the race a few times, well, I ran in the marathon a few times (it was not a race for me), I was just trying to finish. I ran the m arathon a few times, I really enjoyed it. It was such a great atmosphere. I have been down at the parade for many, many years. I really enjoy the day and I think it has gone a long way to deal with some of the challenges that we have, and it has gone a long way to create a stronger sense of national unity and national pride in what we have to do. But one thing, Mr. Speaker , that I have seen in regard to the day is sometimes the day —and an ybody can stand up on a point of order and correct me—but sometimes t he events of the day drag on a lot longer than we expect them to do. And you know the Ministry has done a great job of organising the parade and trying to get more people involved in the parade, but as we sit . . . wherever you want to sit throughout the s treets of Hamilton, there have been tremendous gaps in the field. And I think to try to all eviate some of the pressures that our people are under who are in the parade— whether they are watching the parade, marching in the parade, participating in the parad e, building a float for the parade— if we made sure that it ran in a very efficient way, we could take two hours off of the course of the parade and, I think, help to alleviate some of the challenges that everyone who participates in the parade has. And yes, I can appreciate that they have got to be there early in the morning for the judging. They have got to be there at the start of the parade, and the parade takes a long time. So they are on their feet a long period of time. I accept and I appreciate that this is a challenge. But I do not think that is an overriding reason for us to change the date of the day, Mr. Speaker . I think what we are doing is catering to lowering our standards and our ability to get some things done. And the main reason why I say that is because, Mr. Speaker , I saw the Government . . . the Honour able Minister said they have consulted. And there, ob-viously, was some pushback in some areas from some of the groups that they consulted with. I have heard that as well. But one of the thi ngs that was not mentioned in the Honourable Minister’s comments was the fact that for a significant percentage of our community Saturday is a work day. And so I would like Honourable Member s from the Government benches to give us an understanding [of] what per-centage of the workforce actually still has to go to work on Saturday because, you know, the visitor i ndustry continues to [operate] seven days a week. So they will work on a Saturday. The streets of Hamilton, Somerset, and St. George’s are open for commerce on a Saturday. There are a lot of people that go to work on that day, and I think it is unfair to single them out to have a good time and get into work the next day when we are allow ing some people to have some more opportunity to catch their legs, Mr. Speaker . And I just think that the absentee part of school and business is not an overriding reason. I think we can do a better job with that as we move forward. Now, if you look at som e of the other holidays we have, the Honourable Minister said that May 24 th Bermuda Day, was one of the most popular holidays. And I am not going to argue with that. I think all of us have our favourite holidays, and Cup Match and May 24th would rank in the top of the holidays that we all have. But the fact of the matter is, Mr. Speaker , Bermudians tend to go all out and enjoy the holidays no matter what the holiday is. Cup Match, people have a great time over Cup Match and still on the Sunday ––they are not ready for work on the Monday. To celebrate New Year’s people have a good time, there are so many parties you can attend, and people look forward to the opportunity to recuperate. Why do we not consider making January 2 nd another holiday just so that we can chill and start the New Year off with some spring in our step? [Inaudible interjection] Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: And the Honourable Mini sters on that side —the Minister responsible for this Bill and the Junior Minister responsible for Finance, I believe—said they will bring that Bill next week. Well, let us not stop there. Let us continue it on.
[Inaudible interjection] Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Let us continue it on. And I hear the Honourable Member from constituency 5 say, Don’t be stupid. I am being real, Mr. Speaker . Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: No, you are not being real. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: I am being real, Mr. Speaker , for the simple fact is —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSpeak to the Chair. Speak to the Chair. Speak to the Chair. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: We can always justify changing dates for holidays, Mr. Speaker . [Inaudible interjection] 604 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Speak to the Chair. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMembers, Members! Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: The reasoning given to this one I do not believe is sufficient to change [it] because Bermuda Day is May 24th for a lot of people. Now, I know it has been talked about for some time and I have heard of surveys that …
Members, Members!
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: The reasoning given to this one I do not believe is sufficient to change [it] because Bermuda Day is May 24th for a lot of people. Now, I know it has been talked about for some time and I have heard of surveys that have been done that really do not support the change of the day, but this Government has enough votes and they can carry it and can do what they want to do. Interestingly enough, Mr. Speaker , if you look at other countries and their holidays, and especially in our neighbours close to us, like t he United States, they have holidays that fall on a certain day and they do not change them. July 4 th . . . that is their Ind ependence Day. Now I am sure Americans celebrate Independence Day just as fervently as we celebrate May 24th, but they still show u p and do what they have to do the next day. Look at the Americans also, Mr. Speaker , for Memorial Day, which is one of their big holidays where they celebrate people who have served in conflict. They set that day for a Monday, Mr. Speaker , to give people t he opportunity to have a true long weekend, to take into account that those people who work Saturday can have the Sunday and the Monday off. And I think that consideration is much more important because you can get your rest before the event and pace yours elf through the event to make it happen. Now, Mr. Speaker , a day to recover sounds good. We would all like days to recover. And I have great sympathy for our school children who have to participate in that, who enjoy participating in that, and exert boundl ess energy in everything they do and they are so cute in marching down the streets and dancing on the floats, smiling for all of that time. But, Mr. Speaker , I think we all understand that probably the majority of our school children have activities after school almost every single day of the week where they get home late. Whether it is from football practice, whether is from some type of drama or music practice that they have, Mr. Speaker , many of our children during the school term, the school year, are o ut until reasonable hours of the night — 6:00, 6:30 —they come home and they still have to do homework. So, changing the day because of absen-teeism, I think, is lowering the standards, it is lowering the bar on what we have to do. And so, Mr. Speaker , I suggest we take a look at making that day more efficient because two things that I hear about May 24 th . . . people love the day if the weather is good, they love the day, they love the parade, they love the pageantry, they love the intuition of Bermudians and what we do, put floats in the pa-rade. And I hope as the parade goes on the parade gets more floats involved in it because we see that dwindling. But one complaint we constantly hear —and this is with all due respect to the Ministry, who does a good job —is the parade just takes too long because there are too many gaps. And I think we can help ev eryone participate in the parade by shrinking it up. That would save them a lot of energy and it will make them feel fresher, not only later in the day, but certainly the next day. So, Mr. Speaker , I have sympathy for those who participate and I understand that it is difficult to get out of bed the next day, but such is life when you are committed and you live a busy schedule. I do not think it is a right move to c hange away from our traditional start of summer —Bermuda Day —which the Minister said, when he introduced the Bill, was May 24 th. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to speak? I recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 6. Honourable Member Furbert, you have the floor. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , the Honourable Member Michael Dunkley who just took his seat from constituency 11—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerTen. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: —[constituency] 10, mentioned that it was not in the platform or in the Throne Speech. Mr. Speaker , the Government will bring many initiatives that probably were not in the Throne Speech or in any platform. That is just naturally how governments operate. They made …
Ten.
Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: —[constituency] 10, mentioned that it was not in the platform or in the Throne Speech. Mr. Speaker , the Government will bring many initiatives that probably were not in the Throne Speech or in any platform. That is just naturally how governments operate. They made promises to take referendums and everything else and never fulfilled their obligations . . . even when it was in their platform and when it was in their Throne Speech. So at least the Government on this side is deciding that a few changes need to be done. Now, one could make an argument back and forth— yes, no, maybe so —whether it should be on May 24 th. But the Government itself —the former Government —was considering it. And why do I say that? Because they took a poll. If they were not considering it they would not have taken a poll or survey. If they recall it came back . . . the majority of people, at least the polling they did (I am not sure who they polled) I believe said “no.” So if they were not considering it, why did they actuall y take a survey, I believe it was, last year. It was not about — Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Point of order, Mr. Speaker .
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Point of order. Yield, Member. Opposition Leader, you have a point of order?
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Hon. P atricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Yes, thank you. The Honourable Member is misleading the House. The OBA Government ended up taking the poll, not because we were considering it, but because the Opposition at the time were considering it and we wanted to understand whether there was any support within the public for that change.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Mr. Speaker —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerContinue, Member. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Mr. Speaker , that is my point. They took a survey because at least the y wan ted to know what the public was thinking about, and the public, at least in their favour , what would you have said . . . what …
Continue, Member. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Mr. Speaker , that is my point. They took a survey because at least the y wan ted to know what the public was thinking about, and the public, at least in their favour , what would you have said . . . what would they have said? Would you argue the point that the Honourable Member just said about why change the 24 th of May? If the public would have said yes, you would have brought the Bill; you would have allowed the Opposition at the time to go ahead with the Bill. You would not have been fighting like you are doing right now . . . instead the argument you are saying right now does not make any sense, Mr. Speaker , because they were at least considering it.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMm-hmm. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Well, Mr. Speaker , the Go vernment of the day has looked at it. And I know the pressure from the retail stores were on their backs, who they represent in general, they were on their backs because some of them spoke to me about …
Mm-hmm.
Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Well, Mr. Speaker , the Go vernment of the day has looked at it. And I know the pressure from the retail stores were on their backs, who they represent in general, they were on their backs because some of them spoke to me about why are we changing the 24 th of May. That is where the largest flow of individuals . . . I mean the Honourable Member who just took his seat sells to retail. Maybe his largest deliveries are on Fridays, I do not know, for the weekend. And maybe that is why he is concerned about whether he will have a drop in sales from that Friday, I do not know. Maybe he should declare his interest. But my point is the pressure came from the retailers, the Chamber of Commerce. That is where the pressure came from for the Government at the time not to support the recommendation or the motion put down by our Honourable Member , Michael Weeks. If the Chamber would have said, Yes we agree, they would have run up here and put down two Bills to support it. So let us not play games on this idea of people not going to go swimming on the 24 th of May because there is no holiday. I do not go swi mming on the 24th of May whether i t was May 24th or May whatever it is.
Hon. Dr. E. Grant GibbonsDo you swim? Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: We just go swimming. The sun crosses the line and you jump overboard, at least in Hamilton Parish we do. All right? So it is not about . . . all of sudden it is the 24 th of May, let’s go swi …
Do you swim?
Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: We just go swimming. The sun crosses the line and you jump overboard, at least in Hamilton Parish we do. All right? So it is not about . . . all of sudden it is the 24 th of May, let’s go swi mming. [Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: That should not be the argument. You can still run the 24th of May . . . well, the Bermuda Day Parade. The whole focus is on Bermuda Day. Yes, it was the 24th of May because that was the day it fell on. But we can still have a Bermuda Day. And my honourable colleague laid out why that day came about, because of the riots and the concerns and tr ying to pull the country together. And even after we have the date set, there are individuals who still go sailing on their boats and individuals that are normally on Front Street and around Bermuda. We are not coming together because of that. People take hol idays, people fly out, people . . . no matter what day it is. I think that it is reasonable, from what the Honourable Member laid out, as far as our children i n school. Nobody is going to die because we have an-other day on a Friday, a long weekend. That is not going to happen that way. And, yes, there are people that do work on a Saturday. I can understand the argument of the Honourable Member because people ar e going to work on the day after the 24 th of May anyway. As a matter of fact, there are more people (if it was on a Monday) who go to work on Tuesday. I really do not understand that logic. But the majority of people . . . all the Go vernment, 5,000 persons will not go to work on that Saturday. Teachers are not going to work. So there are probably more people not working on that Saturday than are working. So I do not understand the ar-gument from the Honourable Member . I support my colleague. You know, I am not going to jump with joy whether it is done or not. But I am going to support it, because at the end of the day he still made some arguments about why he felt, and the party in general . . . and the Honourable Member Michael Weeks has been arguing this f or two years. He felt that we should move towards having [it on] Friday. And whether the United States has their Memorial Day on a certain day, or whether Putin has his day, or whether South Korea has their day, it is not about that. It is about what we as a country want. It is where we want to be going forward. We do not have to compare ourselves to everybody every five minutes because their day does not change. 606 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly We are making some changes for . . . and the Honourable Member is probably right as far as the numbers are concerned. But that is what governments do. We said we would come in and make some changes. We did not say we were going to come in and stay the same as if you were . . . they might as well have kept you guys in, but they did not. They said, Nope, out the door. And, hence, the changes are being made. The people spoke and now the Government of the day has to make some changes on what they think the people . . . and some of the people I have talked to support the Friday. And you have that ba lance. You have people say no, yes, no. But it is not going to break anybody; it is not going to cause an ybody to fall out . . . You know, it just does not make any sense. But the main pressure coming from the Opposition is the Chamber of Commerce.
An Hon. Mem ber: Ooh.
Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: That is where the pressure is coming from.
[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: I said it. No, I said it, he will not say it. That is where the pressure is coming from. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI will take your point of order. Do you yield, Member? POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: The Honourable Member is misleading the House. I would declare [that] I never spoke to the Chamber of Commerce. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: I did not say that he did. I …
I will take your point of order. Do you yield, Member?
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: The Honourable Member is misleading the House. I would declare [that] I never spoke to the Chamber of Commerce.
Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: I did not say that he did. I did. I spoke to them and the Chamber of Commerce did not want it on the Friday. You should have done your work . . . based on your surveys.
Hon. Dr. E. Grant GibbonsSo your argument is false. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: No, they said they do not want it because . . . and let me just talk about a certain affiliation with yourself Honourable Member [Dr.]. Gibbons. They do not want it, and you know who I am talking about.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGentlemen, gentlemen, the convers ation flows this way, not across the floor. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: So the Honourable Member has to be clear that there were pressures being put on them, whether it is the [Bermuda] Employers’ Council, whether it is the Ch amber of Commerce. The Chamber of …
Gentlemen, gentlemen, the convers ation flows this way, not across the floor. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: So the Honourable Member has to be clear that there were pressures being put on them, whether it is the [Bermuda] Employers’ Council, whether it is the Ch amber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce has been lobbying for years on certain issues and they have the right to do that. They really have the right to do that. But we have to also listen to individuals. And I believe we can find a way to move forward on Friday, which next year will be the first . . . and you will enjoy it. Come down to Front Street or come on . . . what is that street? Victoria . . . over there by Leopards Club and enjoy the day. You know, I hope to see you all there. It is not going to . . . you know, whether it rains or whether the sun shines, it is going to be a good day for Bermuda Day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to speak? I recognise the Honourable Opposition Leader. Madam Opposition Leader, you have the floor. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , I just had to chuckle when the Honourable Member who just took his seat …
Thank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to speak? I recognise the Honourable Opposition Leader. Madam Opposition Leader, you have the floor. Hon. Patricia J. Gordon -Pamplin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , I just had to chuckle when the Honourable Member who just took his seat spoke and said when the sun crosses the line . . . you know, the 24 th of May we want to go swimming. Some people do; some people do not. I know Hamilton Parish might be different, but in Devonshire the sun crosses the line in June. However, with that said, we look at the intent here. And I listened to the Minister’s present ation in terms of the level of consultation and there seems to be a little bit of a disagreement because the Minister indicated in his list of consultees that the Chamber of Commerce was consulted and had no problem. The Honourable Member who just took his seat indicated that he spoke to the Chamber of Commerce and they said that they did have a problem with the holiday b eing on a Friday. So the Honourable Minister said they consulted with the BIU, the BPSU, BUT, the Chamber of Commerce, the BTA, the BIBA, BDA, ABIC, and ABIR. What I find very interesting, Mr. Speaker , is that all of those organisations are perhaps widely rep-resenting the majority of businesses around the cou ntry and, obviously, would have their finger on the pulse of what their respective memberships might be interested in doing. However, there are some of us
Bermuda House of Assembly who actually have worked for corporations who are members of some of those organisations, and certai nly I can say that notwithstanding what level of consultation may have been had with the organisations, you can be assured that those organisations did not poll their membership to get any kind of feedback from them to determine whether there was acquiescence to this change or not. Had the companies involved been polled, certainly in my company’s case the question would have come to me because that would be my responsibility. It never did. And I have heard others indicating that they have had no representation from the bodies with which they would normally be affiliated to make the determ ination as to whether there was feedback co ming from that business community. But one of the things I did not hear when the Minister spoke was the consultation with the people. [They] consulted all of these organisations, yes. But they did not say the extent to which the people were polled. And it was interesting because the Honour able Member who just took his seat made comment and actually, you know, sort of vilified or castigated the fact that the former Government did a poll. Yes, we did a poll, Mr. Speaker . We did a poll because the Honourable Member Michael Weeks had chosen to bring this concept forward for consideration. And before changing and before moving forward on that we said, Let us do a poll and ask the people what they would like. Now, you know, Mr. Speaker , I actually work in an organisation in which I have got some very staunch supporters of the governing party and, no twithstanding, we are able to have reasonable and r espectful engagement and debate. And the one thing that came up [was] . . . one of my colleagues said, Why don’t they leave it alone and why don’t we en-hance what is there that is causing the problem? The problem that was identified by the Honourable Mem-ber Michael Weeks at the time was that our young children would be out late and, therefore, they would be tired and unable to be effective at school the next day. Now, the education of our children is critical. So we want to ensure that our children get the best opportunity. But the 24 th of May is not the only time that a child is likely to be away from or be out late. And I think it boils down to effective parenting as to how we manage our family situations to ensure that our children return home at an appropriate time, to ensure that they are properly fed and that they get to bed at a time at which they are able to have ample rest to be able to get up and face the vagaries of the following day. So that was an argument that I think we have to look at. Let us not continue to race to the bottom. Let us not continue to lower the bar, to lower the standards. Let us maintain a standard that allows us to recognise what we as a community and our chi l-dren have to aspire to as opposed to saying that every time there is a challenge in our way, let us move the challenge by, you know, lowering the bar. So instead of being able to jump over a three- foot pole, now you are jumping over a six -inch pole. And I think that we have to be very careful when it comes to the race to the bottom. The other thing that I question in the Gover nment’s determinat ion of this particular Bill is whether, in fact, Heroes Day is likely to be changed, because I believe that the Government . . . under the former administration, Heroes Day was designated to be the Monday, which is the second Monday in June, or the third M onday in June, whichever the date [is], I think it is the third Monday in June. And I am just wondering . . . I mean that is as big a parade as, perhaps, certainly the 24 th of May. And let me just, for the avoidance of any doubt, applaud the Department of Community and Culture for the work that they do in helping to engage the community for the 24th of May parade. I think they do yeoman service to that particular event and they need to be applauded. It is a lot of hard work. And notwithstanding we do get c riticisms in terms of the efficiency with which the parade is managed, but it is in no way detracting from the job that is done by the people who go out there. They create a theme, they engage the public, they try to get floats and do all those kinds of things. I am not casting any aspersions on them at all. Their efforts are most appreciated. But I think it is important to consider that when we are looking to make change, why are we not going to be consistent? Let us have the Santa Claus Parade on a Friday instead of having it on a Sunday because you have got majorettes and you have got people marching up and down the streets and children who are likely to be tired. Why do we not have, you know, as I said, Heroes Day . . . put that to a Friday? I mean, if the thought process is a consistent one and not just a knee- jerk one, then the entire structure would have been considered and recommendations come at the same time to make the determination, Let’s do this once and for all, one way or the other. So I just w anted to say that we understand that the Government has the numbers. The Gover nment can do whatever it chooses to do, and we rec-ognise that, irrespective of what the Opposition has to say. And, you know, that is just the reality of the polit ical process. B ut what we do not want to do is to find that “ just because,” and there has been no real reason for it, that it would stand up to effective scrutiny. There has been . . . you know, what I find very interesting? The Honourable Member Dunkley from my team wh o just took his seat from constituency 10 just shared with me a Facebook message which came from somebody who effectively said that they . . . this was perhaps the biggest protagonist of our party, who basically has come and said, I never thought that I would be able to agree with Michael Dunkley on any608 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly thing, but 24th of May is 24th of May. And that, I thought, was quite funny and it was worth a chuckle because there are people who you know to be adverse to whatever it is that we have tried to do as the One Bermuda Alliance who still think that they need to be heard and that their position needs to be respected and honoured. So, while I understand the organisations with whom consultation may have been had, I think that we need to perhaps pause for a second and go one step further and find out what the people want. Now, b ecause of the fact the Government will come back and say, Well, you know, they voted for us 24 to 12 . . . and that is the reality, but it does not say on this issue that the people who voted for them had been e ngaged. And those are some of the people from whom we have heard—this side of the aisle, Mr. Speaker — who have said that they did not appreciate the change, did not want the change, and would like the Government to reconsider. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Madam. Any other Member? I recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 32. Honourable Member Simmons, you have the floor.
Mr. Scott SimmonsGood afternoon, Mr. Speaker , and thank you. Mr. Speaker , this issue as it relates to Berm uda Day or the 24 th of May holiday is a very serious matter in my humble opinion. And if I was a casual observer, not having followed politics for as long …
Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker , and thank you. Mr. Speaker , this issue as it relates to Berm uda Day or the 24 th of May holiday is a very serious matter in my humble opinion. And if I was a casual observer, not having followed politics for as long as I have and just listening to this debate, it would almost make me feel as if we were trivialising this particular holiday and that for some strange reason we are on a magnificent track to nowhere. I want to be clear, and I think we should be clear on this holiday, for what it is worth. Yes, there is history. There is absolute his tory with this holiday. But, Mr. Speaker , we have highlighted, and the Minister . . . and I want to pause just for a moment and thank him for bringing this particular amendment, this particular movement with this Bill. I believe that it speaks to so many t hings as it relates to our holiday, the Bermuda Day holiday. Mr. Speaker , we on this side of the House b elieve that it is only right that when we identify cha llenges with holidays and with other things with our calendar that we address those issues appropriately. This particular piece speaks to that. I believe that the Honourable Opposition Leader has highlighted a few things, as the Honourable Member who sits behind me has highlighted a few things here . . . I think it has been trivialised. I recognise that in certain communities that is an issue. However, I believe the overshadowing point that needs to be stated here is that this particular hol i-day . . . and I take it personally, in that as I look at 24 th of May . . . I do not believe we are showing any disr espect to the holiday itself. I do not think that we are destroying the mere memory of this holiday. But for me personally I have to say the challenge was w hen it did fall on a day that we are working immediately afterwards. I have to confess . . . I always used to say, Well, why is it that this holiday doesn’t fall at a time and a position where it would not infringe on me having to go the next day into work or having to . . . you know, where I will be able to at least catch myself and the rest. And the numbers that the Minister has spoken of through the Ministry speaks to that. Now, I realise that you may say that I will triv ialise it as well, or they may sa y in that it is personal to me. I believe, and I will say this (I do not know about my other colleagues), but certainly when I knocked on doors I heard from my constituents when I brought that up because that was something that was a part of our party plat form . . . I mean when I say “platform” meaning it was a part of what we spoke about and what we would bring if we became the Government, because it had been a significant issue in our caucus, it had been a significant issue throughout our party, and it was an issue that I know I brought up on the doorstep. And I confess that there were individuals who made it clear that, yes, they saw the value in making the holiday where it would not necessarily be followed by a day of commitment or labour commitment or of school commitment and the rest. And anyone who travels around Bermuda during that day, because it is a significant day, is aware that all of us, after that day, are exhausted. After that day we are truly, truly, ex-hausted. I am not sure what the Honourable Opposition Leader does on her day off. Mr. Dunkley, I am sure, probably has deliveries to make the very next day. But I will say this to you: For those who do not necessarily have the benefit of that, I believe they appreciate that this holiday is abso lutely a holiday that they can benefit from, that if it is followed by a weekend, I believe, the majority . . . I believe our international business and all the rest of the community, notwithstanding the outstanding issues that the Honourable Opposition has highlighted, I think that they will confess and their workers will confess that after a holiday as significant as that, having a day off afterwards would absolutely be appreciated. Before I take my seat, Mr. Speaker , I would like to finish by saying that we on this side of the House are not trivialising this particular holiday. We are not trampling on tradition. We are not overlooking the importance of all of those things that we hold dear in the past. Sometimes some things make sense. This is one of them that make sense. And so I believe that if we move forward with this, as we will, we will hear in the times to come how fortunate it is for all of us to be able to have that extra . . . to have that day off afterBermuda House of Assembly wards and to be able to enjoy our holidays a nd make a long weekend of it on either side. So I feel that this is important. I certainly appreciate the comments that have been made by the Opposition, but I do believe that we on this side of the House and I believe a great group throughout Berm uda and a large segment of our community will appr eciate what we are doing here today, will accept the fact that it makes sense, and will ask us to continue on and enjoy the holiday in the fine tradition that it is, it falling on that absolute Friday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to speak to it? I recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 2. Honourable Member Swan, you have the floor.
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan“The 24 th May is the Queen’s birthday. If we don’t get a holiday we will all run away.” And I think it is important because children who were born in the late ’50s and ’60s remember those chants and remember them well. In the late ’70s and, indeed, the …
“The 24 th May is the Queen’s birthday. If we don’t get a holiday we will all run away.” And I think it is important because children who were born in the late ’50s and ’60s remember those chants and remember them well. In the late ’70s and, indeed, the late ’60s, w ith respect to racial di sturbances, the rioting that took place and the like, there were many commissions that persons can go back and read up on. And I appreciate the Minister responsible for bringing the Bill and providing a bit of historical context to where we are. I heard the argument made that other jurisdi ctions have dates fixed. Canada has Victoria Day to celebrate Queen Victoria, which is May 24th. It was actually Queen Victoria’s birthday, okay? Bermuda had May 24th for the same reason. And for reasons associated with serious racial problems that still exist today. And still the problem has not gone away from us. The problems that you talk about, if you read the Wooding Report, if you read the Pitt Report, if you read the Kenneth Clark Report, whic h was a report commissioned by a former Premier (the late Sir David Gibbons) where Kenneth Clark, a noted associate with Dr. Martin Luther King, came to Bermuda (he was friends with the late Dr. Stanley Ratteray), [he] commissioned a report on compiling some of these very things that were taking place, some of the same things that have not gone away. And the one thing that we hung onto because I guess there was some horse- trading, just like you have persons today that feel aggrieved because we may be moving away from May 24 th, I am sure there were some persons that were looking at how the Government of that day had to move away from the Floral Pageant, had to move away, and we were going to have a Bermuda Day. Bermuda has become very materialistic, to our detriment in many respects. I have spoken about that before. Some of the persons who have (I believe, the Honourable Member Mr. Weeks, I wish him well, I look forward to his return, who spoke very passionat ely about this) heard it directly from educators who felt the need would best serve our community. They are on the front line. Memorial Day and Bermuda Day used to be somewhat close, indeed. I would take the situation that is being presented here today, this Bill, and look at the opportunities that lie in i t for us as a country. America will have a long weekend with Mem orial Day. Yes? On a Monday in which, hopefully, our marketing efforts with the BTA will look at that week-end to get more people to come to our shores. The BTA will now have a long weekend in which to look at reasons to cause people to come to our shores. It could very well be a marketing opportunity. So, the same persons who the Honourable Member , Mr. Furbert, spoke about who may not have been excited about something lost on one hand will certainly turn their efforts into the opportunities that align with them in regard to this long weekend and how it could provide many business opportunities. And Mr. and Mrs. Bermuda and their children, who the Honourable Member , Mr. Weeks, would have been concerned about, and the teachers . . . the people who are going to do well irrespective of what is taking place are persons in the business community who will craft their mind around, Okay, it’s a long weekend, how best can we market this situation to . . . and right they should. And right they should. But let us not feel so wedded to May 24 th because it is the first day of jumping overboard, because I remember a little tradition had occurred in another life when I found myself jumping overboard on Good Friday. Remember? A nice little kite- flying thing taking place up at Horseshoe Bay . . . people went overboard on Good Friday a couple of weeks before May 24 th. But when it was convenient, people walked away from that day and that wonderful event that brought many tourists together. Thankfully for Chew stick . . . and I do not know if they are still able, but it has been passed on along the line down the line. So, let us not build these straw men for the sake of argument for argument’s sake. Let us take the counsel of educators who are on the front line and let us not trivialise by looking at it and saying, Hey, you know, toughen up or whatever. We have serious s ocial problems in our community. The same reason why there was the need for a Wooding Report, the same reason there was a need for a Pitt Report, the same reason there was a need for a Kenneth Clark Report, it is the same reason why those same reports are needed now. They are needed in Bermuda today when we talk about community and cultural, in this element. They are needed today as it relates to what took place with the recession [and] who were impac ted—the same children. The same children as it r elates to materialism. The same children. So a Minister who has heard the cries of a former Minister, and a Mem ber of this House whose 610 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly constituency has been beset by the worst of the worst of social disruption in this country —murders —felt it necessary, hearing from his community of which he is a part and represents well, that this would be a good measure. And instead . . . and look, the arguments were made as to people wedded to days. But Canada in observing Victoria Day moved away from May 24th and made it the first Monday before. So, Victoria Day could very well, in Canada, be five or six days before May 24th. So, you know, you can make an argument. There are enough arguments around the Commonwealth to go around for this. But I hang my hat on the advice of the Member who felt strongly, being connected closely with the community and his community, and through education, that it would serve us well to look at that. And I am prepared to go with him be-cause as I listen I have seen people have the opportunity to look back at the Wooding Report, look back at the Pitt Report, look back at the Kenneth Clark R eport and see for themselves the similarities to what they were saying in 1977 and 1968, to 2017 and 2015 and 2012 and . . . it not resonate. So, Mr. Speaker , it is a lot more than just the Government having the votes. It is more than that. The Member was bringing this forward and advocating for a Friday [ when] in Opposition. And so, from that point of view, I am prepared to hang my hat with that Member and this Minister on this measure. Because if we do not recognise that if New Year’s Eve, [the] New Year’s celebration, the holiday follows after New Year’s Eve, let us not make a mistake, the partying takes place on December 31 st, okay? So, if there is a person who comes here and says we need a holiday on the day after New Year’s Day . . . No! The New Year’s . . . and that is not really for the children, [but for] the adults out there. But May 24th, Bermuda Day, as we once knew it, May 30th, now it may be May 31st, as it will be known as Bermuda Day. And why was it necessary for the country to have to look at a Bermuda Day and move away from Victoria Day in t he first place, the Queen’s birthday, in the first place? And along the way get a little wedded to a date rather than . . . and keep the date but lose the name of the person whose birthday it was. So let us not really, really, truly, if we are being totall y honest, be distancing ourselves away from that simply because we want to make that argument. I am prepared, Mr. Speaker , to say that the Honourable Member from Pembroke, Mr. Weeks, who along with, I am sure, Minister Roban and Members who have constituenc ies in that area, are far more connected with some of the social problems in this country than other Members simply because that is their constituency . And when I say that, I do not say it disrespectfully because I am blessed to be connected with a consti tuency as well. But I have canvassed in others. I have visited parents and families in other constituenc ies because of circumstances in a former role. If Member Weeks was here right about now he would start chuckling because I would remind him that I went knocking on a few doors in his constituency one time and he said, I was mad because you guys walked away with 37 votes that time —may he rest in peace, Keith Young. So I am here to say, Mr. Speaker , the argument for this Day is one connected with children, the most vulnerable in our society today. Some may say seniors. I say, no. I say the children because the mind -set and the sea in which they have to swim is not of their making. The materialism that they have to guard against is not of their making. It is up to us to look to do things that are going to best help them. And I certainly want to be a part of that, and I know our Government will be a part of those solutions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member . Does any other Honourable Member wish to speak? I recognise the Honourable Member , Ms. Jackson. Honourable Member Jackson, you have the floor.
Ms. Susan E. JacksonThank you, Mr. Speaker . I just want to touch on the cultural aspect of the 24 th of May, which is now Bermuda Day. I have to be honest with you, Mr. Speaker , I do not have any particular connection to the historical background. And I believe that …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker . I just want to touch on the cultural aspect of the 24 th of May, which is now Bermuda Day. I have to be honest with you, Mr. Speaker , I do not have any particular connection to the historical background. And I believe that most people in Bermuda have their own definition for the 24th of May. But the point is that no matter what the definition is, based on your age, for what the 24 th of May, Bermuda Day, resembles, I want to know what the Government is going to do to define and identify what our new Bermuda Day is going to look like on a Friday. So all of the mes saging and hi storical background that is connected to the 24th of May—
Ms. Susan E. Jackson—is now being diluted, Mr. Speaker . It is all being diluted. So that history, that historical trail that . . . you know, the Member that just spoke got up loves to tell the story, give a sequential rendition of the historical path. Now there will not be anything …
—is now being diluted, Mr. Speaker . It is all being diluted. So that history, that historical trail that . . . you know, the Member that just spoke got up loves to tell the story, give a sequential rendition of the historical path. Now there will not be anything on the Friday at the end of the month of May. So now we are going to have to redefine that. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with that, Mr. Speaker . I am just saying, What are we going to tell our children that this new Day is going to be all about? What is its identity? Is it the identity of my mom and dad stay in bed all day Saturday because that is what this new day means? It does not . . . just let us get some definition there and
Bermuda House of Assembly let us make sure that if we are going to move the Day, that there is some sort of cultural richness around it, Mr. Speaker , and not let it be a day off. Now, the 24th of May to me was the first day you got in the water. Mr. Speaker , I did not get in the water on the 24th of May but once, to find out that it is too cold for me. But the point still sits with me that cu lturally I know that day as the 24th of May. And for me it is my first day of summer, whether I get in the water or not. That is the day I get to peel off some of the winter and begin to get ready for the summer. So, if that is what we want this last day of the month of May, the last Frid ay in the month of May to look like, then we are going to have to start to have some kind of conversation so that this story transitions to this new hol iday. And it is going to take some work. It is going to take a new conversation because we are up against some serious risks. And the risks are, Mr. Speaker , that there are people who are going to be out there partying and they are going to be getting hung- over and this holiday is going to be about a big party, which is fine. But let us make sure that we ar e responsible. And, at best, Mr. Speaker , we are finding some kind of cultural definition to go with that new day so that it means something to the next generation. Because I bet you . . . I bet you, Mr. Speaker , if we were to go out there right now there is a generation of young people out there that have a very different def inition of the history of Bermuda Day right now on the 24 th of May than some of our Members across the floor. So, all I am saying is that if we are going to move it, make sure that we move it with some definition and understanding. Now, I am very concerned and I would like to know what the Government is going to do to provide safety around a Friday holiday with the Saturday and Sunday off. Because we all know that the reality is that people are going to be consuming a lot of alcohol, people are going to be staying up late, out on the streets late at night. — [Inaudible interjections]
Ms. Susan E. Jackson—and we all know the parade goes into the early evening and after dark and people . . . I have been, I have been— [Inaudible interjections ]
Ms. Susan E. JacksonI know. I am just saying, Mr. Speaker , that if we end up with a Friday holiday and our incidence of road traffic accidents, driving while under the influence, and any other kind of social deprivation takes place on that Friday, I just want this new Government to be …
I know. I am just saying, Mr. Speaker , that if we end up with a Friday holiday and our incidence of road traffic accidents, driving while under the influence, and any other kind of social deprivation takes place on that Friday, I just want this new Government to be aware of the fact that they will have to take some responsibility to either find a way to keep ourselves safe during that Friday night holiday, or to get the message out there well in advance so that people understand that t his is not necessarily a freefor-all and that we can have a lawless evening —
[Inaudible interjections]
Ms. Susan E. Jackson—where we can do what we want, we can party, we can drink — [Inaudible interjections ]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMembers! Members! [Inaudible interjection s]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMembers. Members, you will have your turn to respond. Members. Continue on.
Ms. Susan E. JacksonWe will have people on their boats, they will be out on the water, and they are not going to have to go back into port early in the evening in order to prepare for the next day. There are going to be lots and lots of room for unsafe …
We will have people on their boats, they will be out on the water, and they are not going to have to go back into port early in the evening in order to prepare for the next day. There are going to be lots and lots of room for unsafe environments, Mr. Speaker , and I am just challenging the Gover nment to prepare themselves. So, the definition of the holiday to keep that cultural side and also for —
Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Point of order, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Yield for a point of order. Your point of order? POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Mr. Speaker , how can a Member of this Honourable House stand up and insinuate that because a holiday is going to be on Fr iday they will have more …
Yes. Yield for a point of order. Your point of order?
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Mr. Speaker , how can a Member of this Honourable House stand up and insinuate that because a holiday is going to be on Fr iday they will have more accidents, more lawlessness? I do not know anywhere in the records where [it shows] that we are going to have more accidents on a Friday or lawlessness on Friday. Do not mislead the 612 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly House like that because we may have some of our children listening to you—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: And you do not want our children to listen to that.
Ms. Susan E. JacksonMr. Speaker , I would also like to speak to the fact that because it becomes a long weekend there are a couple of things that may happen. One is that, again, culturally we may be diluting this holiday by more people taking the opportunity to travel. And so if …
Mr. Speaker , I would also like to speak to the fact that because it becomes a long weekend there are a couple of things that may happen. One is that, again, culturally we may be diluting this holiday by more people taking the opportunity to travel. And so if we find that more people are choosing to travel and have a long weekend overseas, there is a holiday in the United St ates that is probably that same weekend, [been] on enough years for it to make a difference for us in Bermuda, that they will travel overseas. Our cultural heritage and the ce lebration of our holiday will be further diluted because there will be a lack of interest in it because people will now take the opportunity to travel. And it is a very real and . . . real threat to the sustainability of our holiday moving forward. Now the other piece for me which is of concern . . . I work in Hamilton so, you know, I get the challenge of having to get up and go to work every day. But I also see that if we are going to have a hol iday at the end of the month, Mr. Speaker , there are a number of people that are not going to be paid when that holiday comes along.
[Inaudibl e interjection s]
Ms. Susan E. JacksonAnd that can cause a level of frustration where— [Inaudible interjections]
Ms. Susan E. Jackson—when it is a floating day there are other opportunities that can be made to afford the weekend. So not having acces s to your funds could become a challenge. And I am just raising it, Mr. Speaker . Aside from the fact that no matter what you retail —whether …
—when it is a floating day there are other opportunities that can be made to afford the weekend. So not having acces s to your funds could become a challenge. And I am just raising it, Mr. Speaker . Aside from the fact that no matter what you retail —whether you are a small entrepreneur or whether you are a large business here in Bermuda— having the Friday off is a signifi cant drop in retail volume, clearly. And the Saturday following will be a substantial drop because people will take advantage and stay home to rest. So having two days without the flow of the economy, especially at the end of the month, does put a strain o n our entrepreneurs just as much as it does for our big business. So in closing, Mr. Speaker , I am just reiterating my major concern, that we are able to hold onto the cultural aspect, no matter how we want to define this new Bermuda Day, that we make sure that there is some clear definition and that we communicate that with the public so that it is not diluted into something that is just social. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to speak? I recognise the Honourable Deputy Premier. Deputy Premier, you have the floor. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . I am going to choose to go down a different route than some of the previous contributors to this …
Thank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to speak? I recognise the Honourable Deputy Premier. Deputy Premier, you have the floor.
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . I am going to choose to go down a different route than some of the previous contributors to this debate today. Firstly, I applaud the Minister for brin ging this Bill. The Bill represents a clear aspiration of many of the people whom we have canvassed and [who] elected [us] to serve for a number of years. This is a measure that has been quite consistently a part of the PLP’s agenda for a number of years. [It was] pioneered by the Honourable Member who sits in constituency 16, the Honourable Member Mr. Weeks, for very constructive reasons. And I am not going to go back over that debate or seek to r ehash some of the pertinent points that have been made already. But what I would like to ask to be contemplated, Mr. Speaker , by this House and by the listening public and those who are thinking about this issue [is], Do we preserve tradition and custom to the detr iment of society or to the old value of t hose traditions? I think these are important questions, but they are not questions that Bermuda has not dealt with already in the past. We have heard a quite thorough coverage by the Honourable Minister who sits in constituency 29 about the history and ori gins of May 24 th and where that has gone and where it is now. And that now ex-emplifies what was changed post the recommendations of the Pitt Report in 1977 [sic]. What that exemplifies firstly, Mr. Speaker , is under certain circumstances change was seen as required and changes were made to ensure the enhancement and appreciation of a tradition. It repr esented something else prior to that point, and the change was made to reinvigorate the appreciation. Prior to then it was more seen as a colonial symbol, which did not necessarily connect with many in the community in its meaning, so change was prescribed and taken on to make it more meaningful, from Vict oria’s birthday to Empire Day to Bermuda Day. So there we see an effort, even in the circumstances of what we are discussing—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Walter H. Roban: —change was already pr escribed. Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Minister, Minister. Pay attention next time, see? Thank you. [Inaudible interjection]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerContinue, Deputy. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . You can have a comment with that Honourable Member later about his behaviour. We have seen this before, Mr. Speaker , so it is extraordinary [to] hear such histrionics from certain quarters about what is being prescribed here today. …
Continue, Deputy.
Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . You can have a comment with that Honourable Member later about his behaviour. We have seen this before, Mr. Speaker , so it is extraordinary [to] hear such histrionics from certain quarters about what is being prescribed here today. And some of the other changes we have seen happen in the past were even more severe. I was not around . . . in my 51 years, you know, I am a young fellow. But there are things that happened in the past that perhaps you and others who are maybe one or two years older than me, Mr. Speaker , remember. We had an Easter Parade which existed for many years which many people saw as an embedded tradition in the country. It is gone. I never had the benefit of experiencing that. I am sure that at the time when that was made people raised certain concerns as well. But here we are . . . here we are! Guy Fawkes Day, again, before my time. Perhaps a few up in this House that remember it. That was also an embedded tradition, centuries of celebration. And I am not going to back to what Guy Fawkes [Day] was about; it goes back centuries in celebration as a part of the British experience, right? [Inaudible interjections ] Hon. Walter H. Roban: Well, the celebration was celebrating a victory over a terrorist act actually, if you want to think about it like [that]. Perhaps, you know, the name attached is to a terrorist who tried to do something, and the celebration is celebrating the vi ctory over that act that was taken. But that was an em-bedded tradition here. I still hear peo ple talking about how they used to let off their fireworks here in Berm uda. It is gone. But the country survived and continued. Let us even talk about Cup Match. Cup Match was celebrated. Everybody knows what it is, it was whoever held the Cup kept the Cu p and the game was always played on their grounds until such time as the Cup was won [by another team]. That is how it was for most of its history. And then by mutual agreement —
[Laughter and inaudible interjections]
Hon. Walter H. Roban: I am not going to be swayed by St. George’s chirpers, Mr. Speaker . I am not going to be swayed.
[Laughter] Hon. Walter H. Roban: I am not going to be . . . I am not going to be unduly influenced by the voices of the East. I will continue —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerDo not worry, Deputy. The record is clear on who has won more times. The record is di stinctly clear. Hon. Walter H. Roban: I will stay very focused on you and—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerDistinctly clear. Hon. Walter H. Roban: —not be swayed by the East. Mr. Speaker , so the decision was made m utually to have it that the Cup went . . . it changed each . . ., no matter what happened. Cup Match is still here. Anybody complaining?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSomerset is still winning. Hon. Walter H. Roban: We are still celebrating t hose two days.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSomerset is still winning. Hon. Walter H. Roban: We have a good time too, whether it is St. George’s or Somerset.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Hon. Walter H. Roban: So, there are many examples where tradition and customs have been modi fied to the betterment of the celebration and to the people upon whom it is a part of. And this very holiday has been exemplified in its own existence by such changes. We …
Yes. Hon. Walter H. Roban: So, there are many examples where tradition and customs have been modi fied to the betterment of the celebration and to the people upon whom it is a part of. And this very holiday has been exemplified in its own existence by such changes. We have done other things. You know, the Queen’s birthday celebration has become Heroes Weekend. Now there may be other celebrations around which people are more engaged. It may not actually have to do with Bermuda Heroes, but that is beside the point. The point is that a change was made to that [holiday] which seemingly has been by and large embraced by the community. To some it has made it more meaningful, more relevant. So here we are, once again, presented with a modification, I might say. Not an elimination like we did to Guy Fawkes and we did to the Easter Parade, but a modification to enhance the appreciation, the celebration, and the function and relevance of the holiday, and some seem to have some trepidation with that. And I appreciate that because, certainly, in the past the PLP has sought itself in Government to make modifications , and the others responded and the PLP acted accordingly. But here we are, again, and I believe that the changes that are prescribed are meaningful. They do not change the relevance. They do not change the 614 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly meaning. They do not change the importance of the celebration. Some may argue that this . . . and this is just a very orthodox view to some. This was always a colonial holiday, and it remains one. It is not important to me. But even that has evolved into something more important to Bermuda and we understand that and the importance it has around it, the participation of young people and children. And if I can just perhaps make a jump to another jurisdiction, which is Trinidad . . . and the Ho nourable Member who sits in constituency 21 will a ppreciate, perhaps, some of what I am saying and ot hers who have an affinity for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the celebration of Carnival that they have. Now, one of the components that they have with that because, obviously, that tradition comes out of other things, but it has become something else. It comes out of an Orthodox Catholic celebration around the Lent, right? That is where it comes out of. It comes out of Europe. But guess what? Whether you go to Brazil, whether you go to New Orleans, whether you go to Trinidad, whether you go to many islands, Haiti or whatever, it has become something else and embedded in the culture. But there is one thing that I, myself, having been to the Trinidad Carnival, was impressed with. It was th e involvement of children. They have a Kiddies Carnival. And the Kiddies Carnival, anybody who has been, is in some cases bigger than the adult carnival. The involvement of children through the pr ocess of going into the carnival is almost like a national priority. And the colour and the enthusiasm around the children’s’ involvement is unbelievable. So, certainly, the formula that embraces the need to ensure that our children have a fulfilling exp erience around the holiday helps to ensure its perpetu ity, its continuance, its relevance, its future. And I think that is part of what has been prescribed here today as to how we make this holiday relevant, perpetual, and a part of the future beyond those of us who sit in this House. This is a prescription for modif ication, Mr. Speaker . No more than that. It does not change the meaning. It does not change the relevance or the pur-pose. But it will certainly enhance the experience of it for many people. There are other opportunities that might be carved from the holida y with this modific ation. And let us see where that goes. There will be others who will deal with that going forward. It is not for us in this House, other than let us continue to experience it and promote its relevance because there is so much more than j ust May 24 th. There is a whole month of May, which has also come out of the holiday, which did not exist at first. But is a heritage celebr ation, let us not forget that, Mr. Speaker , of which we try and embed a celebration of Bermudian identity and heritage. And that does not just happen on the one day. We have the race, of course, but from all those pieces have sprung up other opportunities and we must take them, as we have done in the past. We have a whole month to celebrate our heritage—fine — we should no t leave it to a month, but the month is the focus. So let us not get caught up in . . . my Honourable Member colleague who sits in constituency 1 talked about the straw man argument. Let us not get caught up in that. Let us deal with how we ensure that we respond in a way that ensures the preservation and relevance of our cultural experiences in this coun-try when, in some cases, people have felt in the r ecent past that they have been attacked and demeaned and undervalued. And still some people feel that way , that we still [need to] have a big convers ation about what is valued in Bermuda and what is not. That is still a conversation that this country has not yet truly had in its fullness, Mr. Speaker . So let us be here today. Let us understand that this is a step to ensure the continuance, the cu ltural relevance and preservation of an important exp erience of our community, not to the detriment of some component who we want to ensure is included and a part of it. So I stand here in support of the Bill, belie ving that it will bring about good opportunities and will ensure that our young people’s experiences with it in the future . . . because if you embed a positive exper ience with them now they will be the representatives and the champions long after we have go ne from this House for that same day because of their positive experience as youth. And I would just like to express my interest. I was actually a very young child (well, not that young) in 1980 or so when the very first parade was held. I was in that. I was a part of that contingent with Choy Aming that did something around the carnival, me and my sister. So I remember being a part of that, and it was really exciting to be a part of that. So there was change . . . the modifications were made and it brought in a new experience for a whole lot of people, including myself as a young person in 1980, or whatever that first year was. So let us ensure we do the same —
The SpeakerThe Speaker[It was] 1979. Hon. Walter H. Roban: —for the young people of this generation, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you very much.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member . Does any other Member wish to speak? ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER HOUSE VISITOR Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Before I recognise the Honourable Member , I am going to just acknowledge in the Ga llery that we have one of our former Members, former …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI would just like to acknowledge her presence. [Public Holidays Amendment Act 2017, second reading, debate continuing.]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerHonourable Member from constitue ncy 19. Honourable Member Atherden, you have the floor.
Mrs. Jeanne J. AtherdenThank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , I want to make it absolutely clear from the outset that I do not believe that anybody on this side wants to say anything with respect to the 24th May holiday in terms of not believing that it is i mportant that …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , I want to make it absolutely clear from the outset that I do not believe that anybody on this side wants to say anything with respect to the 24th May holiday in terms of not believing that it is i mportant that we have the culture, and not believing that we want to make sure that Bermudians have the opportunity to recognise that we are Bermudians and do things that are enjoyable. I think there are only two things, two observ ations, that I wanted to make. When we had the conversation with Minister Weeks way back and when he first brought his Bill (and at that stage he was the O pposition Member), we listened to what he said. I li stened to what he had to say because I was a little concerned that the focus seemed to be on the chi ldren in terms of the impact on the children. And when I heard the focus on the impact on the children, it was relating to them being tired the next day and not being able to perform in school. Therefore, the impetus of the Bill seemed to be changing so that in school the next day they would not have these issues. That caused me, at that point in time, to reflect on what children were doing in general as it relates to other activities that might impact on them in school on a regular basis. I had to stop and think that our children right now are involved in a lot of extracurricular activ ities that take place during the week that cause them to be up late, that cause them to have to have their parents turn and try and manage the time they get to bed, how much rest they get, what they have to do in the morning, the type of preparation so that they are at school and able to perform. So, Mr. Speaker , from my perspective it was not so much the fact that this particular event was causing children to not be able to perform in [school] the next day because, as I say, they, the kids, are do-ing all of these th ings already. Therefore, I could not think that this issue was so strong as to warrant us turning around and changing something that had [such] a history and had been there for a long time. So, from my perspective I still continue to look at what our parents do. And the other thing that I concluded was that perhaps it was not so much of the kids being able to get up and get organised, but the fact that . . . because I also looked at the number of children that are in the parade on a regular basis. And I looked at the number of events in June that you have . . . and if you look at the kids’ calendar in June, all the recitals and all of the various items that are happening, they are out there for four and five nights during the week, back to back. And at least two of those are school days where they have to go to school the next day and do what is important, but their parents manage to get them there. The parents make sure that they are organised. And these things that they are involved in go on into the evening. It is not like the Bermuda Day Parade. It does not go on into the evening. The events that many times their parents are involved in go on into the evening, and that is when I concluded that maybe it was not so much what the children were do-ing during the day in the Bermuda Parade, it was actually what their parents were doing as it relates to enjoying the holiday. So all I am just saying is that I think it is i mportant for us, when we decide why to move it, to make sure that we are looking at the real part of the problem as it relates to the kids not being able to perform. And the only other observation I wanted to make with respect to making a change, I suddenly remembered . . . I said, okay, when we came up with Heroes Day Weekend, I reminded myself that, at one stage, we used to have a holiday that would fall on a particular day in June. And when we changed that we had a lot of discussion about how we would change it, whether we would change it to the Friday or the Monday, because the belief was that we should have a long weekend. Now, for whatever reason we chose that the long weekend was going to be the Monday. Now my recollection was that back at that point in time there was a lot of discussion about the Monday and the fact that it would make the long weekend. Therefore, from a tourism point of view, people would be coming down from the US and [it] made it quite a good holiday for them to do things. I think also that my recollection was that it got around the other problem which we always have to worry about when you have a holiday on a Saturday, for those people who already do not work on a Saturday, then that means that they are having their holiday on the Monday. And then you ended up having this whole issue of which shops are open, which shops are not open, and who is in school and who is not. So I thought, if I think about those lines, then we have gone away from where it started, which was the children. Because remember, that is what it was all about; it was all about the children. It was not about 616 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly who is going to be working or whatever; it was the children. And I thought, okay, well, maybe we have to recognise that . . . why are we changing it? Is it i mportant enough, as it relates to the children, that we do change? And if the Government decides that it is going to do that, all I am saying is that I would like to think that as we go forward we will continue to look at what I call the culture, because I do believe that the children have enough other activities that they are involved in that we, as parents, should be able to manage that one day a year to be able to make sure that they get there. And the last point I want to make is the fact that I know back then there were some polls that were done of ordinary people. It was not a poll that was done of businesses, et cetera; it was a poll that was done of ordinary people about whether we should change the 24 th of May to some other day. And at that point in time the people were not in favour of it. But times change, people’s perception, why they want to do things change. That is what life is like. Life is fluid and you go with the flow. So, I just want to draw to the population’s attention that whatever we do there are going to be some knock -on consequences. We just have to make sure that the cultural aspect is maintained and that we recognise that Bermuda Day is a day for us to r emember that we are all Bermudians and that we are all here trying to enjoy the fact that we live on this small Island. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to speak? Go quick, quick, quickly . . . I recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 1. Honourable Member Ming, you have the floor.
Mrs. Renee MingThank you, Mr. Speaker , and good afternoon listening audience. I thought that I would take some time to add something to this debate, seeing as I am a mommy and I have a daughter who marches on 24th of May, and has for the last three years. I have …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker , and good afternoon listening audience. I thought that I would take some time to add something to this debate, seeing as I am a mommy and I have a daughter who marches on 24th of May, and has for the last three years. I have listened to the debate, but I actually find it quite interesting and I guess it is very telling sometimes of what is important to some people and what is not important to some people, and what some people have and can do. But what I wanted to bring to the debate t oday, Mr. Speaker , is the fact that we are not here tr ying to c hange what the holiday means. We are not. We are trying to, in some ways, provide some level of relief. Now, you may smirk at this a little, but outside of here I have dishes, clothes, hair, baths, homework, supper, buy this, do that, whatever else, all ri ght? That is what mommies do. And I am not saying that dad-dies do not. I am speaking [about] what I know, and that is being a mommy, okay? Those are the things that mommies do. And so, 24 th of May, 25th of May, 26th of May . . . it is no different.
Mrs. Renee MingBut on the 24 th, the Bermuda Day holiday that we celebrate, we happen to have a p arade to celebrate our uniqueness, our Bermudianism. And so what we are here today to put forth, Mr. Speaker , is relief. We have talked about it for many years. I know …
But on the 24 th, the Bermuda Day holiday that we celebrate, we happen to have a p arade to celebrate our uniqueness, our Bermudianism. And so what we are here today to put forth, Mr. Speaker , is relief. We have talked about it for many years. I know that my colleague, MP Weeks, has been up and down discussing what this holiday, this change, means, and definitely in terms of our school kids. I stand here today partly for our children because I am hopeful for their future. A nd being concerned about their future means that I am supportive of this be-cause their education is important to me because that is part of their future. Now, I am not going to get into the whole what a parent should do versus extracurricular, and we are not here to tell you how to parent either. We are here because we are giving you a little bit of relief. We identify that our children are important —each and every one of them —not just my children, to me, your children, your grandchildren, our children. And so what this will do is ensure that on Monday they are ready to go to school. They are res ted and they are ready to go to school. I am one who talks. And I talk to a lot of people. And I have even had some people who felt differently about this thing, but I can tell you that the impact . . . well, the data . . . well, there is not really any data because it is just people that talk to you, but they were supportive because they understand. And so when we sit here today and we talk about this, I just want to make sure that we stay f ocused on what it is. Like Martin Luther King Day is celebrated the third Monday in January . . . the third Monday in January. Do you think if it was celebrated on another day the cultural relevance of his accomplishments and his achievements would be gone? It is the day. You could probably give me a Bermuda Day in August. I do not like hot weather, but I would still be out there and I would still support it. We are not . . . do not lose the focus of what it is we are here to ta lk about, okay? That is just where I am going with this because, like I said, you hear so many things. But as a mom, I see it as a little bit of relief. I am not a lazy mom. I do the best I can, you know. I did not grocery shop in July —I tell you that. Bu t what I am just trying to say is do not get caught all up in, is it going to lead to more accidents and this and that. That could ha ppen any Friday. Do you want to know what happens? Look at police blogs and see what happens over the weekends. And as a Government we are not here to just
Bermuda House of Assembly make you safe on a particular day, our role is to make you safe [365] days a year. So that extra security and all of that, that is nonsense to me in a way, Mr. Speaker , because we are here to make you are safe all the time, okay? And other things that need to change—those are behavioural changes that we have to work on—and I do not mean that as a Government, I mean that as a people. So, Mr. Speaker , I am not even going to be long up here because I just wanted—
The Speake r: Thank you.
[Laughter]
Mrs. Renee Ming—to throw my something onto this table today. But I think you understand and I am hoping that my colleagues and the listeners understand exactly where I was going with this. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to speak? No one else from the other side? I recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 7. Honourable Member Richards, you have the floor. Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you once again, Premier, for enabling me …
Thank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to speak? No one else from the other side? I recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 7. Honourable Member Richards, you have the floor.
Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you once again, Premier, for enabling me to talk today. I seem to be a little slow getting on my feet. The Bermuda Day holiday is my favourite holiday. Out of all the holidays that we have— Cup Match, Christmas, Good Friday —I love Bermuda Day. It is a wonderful da y when we get to celebrate being Bermudian. I enjoy the parade; I enjoy the festivities before and after the parade. Those who go swimming on Bermuda Day, I enjoy that too. So, it is a wonderful holiday. And the debate today is an interesting one because it is a debate that I have been having with Minister Weeks probably over the last four years or so. And when he initially approached me with it he made complete sense . . . it made complete sense to me. You know, when Bermuda Day falls in the middle of the week and the kids are out there in the hot sun . . . my daughter did it one time, she never did it again. She said it was too hot and the parade was too long, so she was a one and done. But it makes sense to me to have it where it ties in with the weekend. So the options were have the holiday on a Friday or have the holiday on a Monday. Well, if you have the holiday on a Monday it is not really alleviating the challenges it is giving us now where the day after Bermuda Day the kids are tired and they are not showing up to school, and some parents are probably going into work a little hung- over and they are tired and they are sunburnt and all of that stuff. So, it made sense to me. The challenge I had is that when we were Government we polled this with the Bermuda public. We said okay, we can do a poll. It would not hurt. Let us see what the polling results say. And to my surprise, Mr. Speaker , when the polling results came back —if I can recall correctly —across every dem ographic, every age group, the majority of Bermudians wanted Bermuda Day to stay on May 24 th, which was shocking to me because I recall, even up until the last Bermuda Day, going to the parade on Cedar Avenue with my family and we were all camped out and ev eryone was having a good time. And people would come up to me and say, Man, you’ve got to change the day. You’ve got to change the day. How come you don’t change the day? And I would say, Well, you know, we polled it and the majority of people who r esponded to the poll —over 50 per cent —said no, keep it on the 24th of May. But I tell you what, Mr. Speaker , what that has told me is that I do not rely on polls anymore.
[Laughter] Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: For a lot of reasons. I am not relying on polls anymore. People either lie or the polls are just wrong.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPolls are a tricky thing . . . very tricky. Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: I do not rely on polls anymore.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou learned that on July 18th, right? Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: I learned a lot of things on July 18th, Mr. Speaker , and that was one of them. But in all seriousness, you know, I was not in the Chamber when the majority of the debate was going …
You learned that on July 18th, right?
Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: I learned a lot of things on July 18th, Mr. Speaker , and that was one of them. But in all seriousness, you know, I was not in the Chamber when the majority of the debate was going on, but I did listen on the radio and this is som ething I can support. Bermuda Day is Bermuda Day. Whether it is on a Sunday, a Tuesday, a Wednesday, a Monday — whatever —Bermudians are going to enjoy Bermuda Day.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: We are going to have the parade; we are going to have the Gombeys; [and] now the Soca, you know, it is evolving. The holiday is not what it was 20 years ago. So as the holiday evolves, I believe that we have to …
Yes.
Mr. Sylvan D. Richards, Jr.: We are going to have the parade; we are going to have the Gombeys; [and] now the Soca, you know, it is evolving. The holiday is not what it was 20 years ago. So as the holiday evolves, I believe that we have to evolve also. So it just makes sense to me to have it on a Friday, and I look forward to enjoying the next Bermuda Day on a Friday and I can sleep in on a Saturday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
618 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Thank you, Member. Does any other Member wish to speak? Mr. Premier, I believe you have the floor now.
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , I thank the Honourable Member who just took his seat for his support of the Gover nment’s policy because, of course, it would seem as though they are at sixes and sevens over there in the Opposition. And it remains to be seen, you know, where the leadership is going to come from when they have their leadership election tomorrow. But here is one thing that I would like to caution Members opposite, and I think that Members opposite should recall very clearly what took place on July 18 th. And when I say “what took place on J uly 18th”, I am not saying it because we had an election, Mr. Speaker , because we all remember we had an election and we all remember that the Government won by about 18 or 19 point s. What we must reme mber is that the former Government was relying on a polling firm that got the result 29 points wrong. So, Research Innovations [sic] said that the PLP will lose by 11 points [but] the PLP won by 18.5 points. [Inaudible interjection]
Hon. E. David Burt: Sorry, my apologies, let me correct the record. What is the name of the polling company? [Inaudible interjection]
Hon. E. David Burt: Global Research—my apologies. Global Research, the people who the former Gover nment used, the same people the Royal Gazette used, had a poll and their poll was widely off. So to rely on those numbers I do not believe is accurate. And I think the Honourable Member who took his seat should trust his instincts and should trust what his constituents are telling him and should trust what those persons who are participating in our cel ebration are saying and making sure that they want to make sure that they honour our heritage and cel ebrate our traditions because that is the most important point. Now, Mr. Speaker , the debate which we have had today has sometimes been disappointing and at other times has bordered on the absurd. And it makes us question whether or not some people inside of this Chamber are actually grounded to reality because it is a very simple fact, Mr. Speaker . And I do not say it to cast aspersions on anyone, I just state it in a very clear fashion. And I think the honourable lady from constituency 1, who spoke from her perspective as a mother . . . some people in this House think that ev eryone has it as nice as them. They think that everyone has someone to wash the dishes, to clean their house, to get themselves ready, to take care of their household chores, without recognising that many of the workers —or most of the workers in this country — do not have those privileges and benefits and have to balance those many different things given the limited time of day which many people have. And so I want Members of this House to understand, to recognise, that when we debate these issues that not everybody in this country may come from the same place, have the same privileges and have the same benefits that those do. And recognise that the workers in this country deserve just as much time or a time to relax, as those who get to relax on most days because they have workers doing their chores for them, Mr. Speaker . And I say that with the greatest amount of respect, but also reality. This Bill is very simple. It wil l not change the meaning of Bermuda Day. It will make sure that persons are able to celebrate it and engage more fully in it and not have the repercussions for our young pe ople on the next day and otherwise. It is a minor change and with this minor change there will be a benefit to some in our society. And lest I say, there is very little downside to this, because we will still cel ebrate Bermuda Day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Premier. Minister, would you like to wrap us up? Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: I sure would, Mr. Speaker , thank you very much. Mr. Speaker , why are we here? Three years ago when MP Weeks brought this proposed change it was shut down by …
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Minister, would you like to wrap us up?
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: I sure would, Mr. Speaker , thank you very much. Mr. Speaker , why are we here? Three years ago when MP Weeks brought this proposed change it was shut down by the then OBA Government. And if I remember correctly, the then Minister, Way ne Scott, I think, was almost in this very spot that I am standing in [and] said that a report had been commissioned, finished . . . and I remember us, when we were on that side, asking the Minister, Well, you don’t agree to it, you’re going to shut it dow n today (because they had the numbers at the time). We asked him if he was go-ing to bring it back. And he said he would. And, of course, it never happened. So, here we are, Mr. Speaker . But I think it is only right that I give a few comments about some of the things I heard today, too, Mr. Speaker . And Mr. Speaker , when I hear words like we’re catering to lowering our standards . . . what kind of comment is that? We are lowering our standards ? Mr. Speaker , we heard the Honourable Member Dunkley say that a significant amount of people work on Saturdays. Well, it does not take a rocket sc ientist to tell you what the real numbers are when most of the people work in this country, and it i s not on Saturdays. Some of the things we have heard today, Mr. Speaker ! One thing that is correct and factual, Mr. Speaker , is that the statistic that was given by MP
Bermuda House of Assembly Weeks three years ago was a fact that 15 per cent of our children were absent the next d ay from school. It was a fact. It is not a guess. We were not pulling numbers out of the sky. They were statistics that were given to us by the Department of Education. So that was a driving force behind it. Mr. Speaker , the Honourable Member MP Dunkley al so said that, you know, there are too many gaps in the floats and people that are participating in the parade. They had four and a half years to fix that. Now you are complaining that, you know, T here are too many gaps , why don’t you fix it? That is a quic k fix. I do not think that is not something that would have taken four and a half years to sort out. I mean, they brought Michael MacLean’s water front project back here in about four months. But they could not fix a gap in a parade? And you are going to c ome up here t onight and complain about the huge gaps between the participants? Really? And now, Mr. Speaker , when I hear the Honourable Member Dunkley talk about, This wasn’t in the Throne Speech, my gosh! Are you kidding me? If you remember, Mr. Speaker , the OBA had a Throne Speech and two weeks later —two weeks —they a nnounced an airport deal. That was not in their Throne Speech! The audacity sometimes . . . the statements that are made sometimes. Mr. Speaker , it is our hope and belief that this change wil l give our people more pride. Mr. Speaker , the Honourable Opposition Leader talked about consultation and she very quickly reminded us of all the people that I told you had been consulted. And in that group was ABIC and ABIR. And the Honourable Member said, Well, they didn’t consult me. Or they did not consult some of the people in ABIC and ABIR. Well, what did the Honourable Member want us to do? One minute you have a repr esentative of an organisation that you talk to, you would expect what? That this head of the organisation is going to talk to their people. An email takes two seconds to get out to 10,000 people —just hit the “send” button. Now, if the Honourable Member did not get that message from the people whom they have heading those organisations, that is a problem she needs to take up with them. And Mr. Speaker , by the way, when you talk about consulting, and the Honourable Member Pat Gordon- Pamplin said that she did not hear me say that people were polled. Hmm! Well, Mr. Speaker , let us talk about the people that we did poll. We have Central Committee meetings twice a month, and let me assure the people in Bermuda and the Mem bers of this House that no legislation comes to this place without discussing with our Central Committee people and our membership!
[Desk thumping] Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: So, when you say we do not consult the people or you did not hear me say it, you know what? That is where it germinated from — our people. And let me just mention something else. We have many of our members that are part and parcel of the community clubs in this country. We are very much in touch with the grassroots people of this country, whether it is through sporting clubs, community clubs, and/or canvassing. I think that is why you had the result in this House that you have today —a two to one margin. It is called staying in touch with your pe ople. We have to start lowering the bar, we were told. And we have to . . . you know, do not lower bars so that our children are not (my words) getting into bad habits or . . . what we are doing is . . . this is for our children. This is not about lowering the bar or lo wering standards. This is f or our children and some of our seniors, too. We still have a lot of our seniors that are working and participating in the parade and hel ping their children and grandchildren. That is why we are doing this. Now, Mr. Speaker —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, wrap it up. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: —we had another Honourable Member , MP Jackson, who really, I think, shocked everybody in this House. Probably shocked some of her own Members with her comments. And she was saying that this is going to make a big party, …
Yes, wrap it up.
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: —we had another Honourable Member , MP Jackson, who really, I think, shocked everybody in this House. Probably shocked some of her own Members with her comments. And she was saying that this is going to make a big party, as if we did not have a big party for the last 40 years on May 24 th. What about the America’s Cup party? They partied for about six weeks, did they not? Goslings [Rum] . . . Gosling must have made the most money he has ever made in his life —you talk about partying —$77 million worth of partying.
[Crosstalk] Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: And then the Honourable Member Jackson had the nerve to talk about safety and boats. Well, what about all those millionaires that were out there drinking for six weeks on the water? I did not hear the Honourable Member get up and talk about safety on the water then. No, sir! But we are worried about one night —
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberOne day. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: One day. And I am not even g oing to go down the street when she mentioned lawless evening. And with regard to her comment about people travelling, people are going to book trips, look at this example, Mr. Speaker . Suppose, …
One day. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: One day. And I am not even g oing to go down the street when she mentioned lawless evening. And with regard to her comment about people travelling, people are going to book trips, look at this example, Mr. Speaker . Suppose, all of a sudden now, families get to plan maybe a little weekend trip. So, if the Honourable Member is talking about, Oh, people 620 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly are going to be leaving the Island , I would like to think that some people might leave the Island [and] take advantage and take their children away, for those that do not stay on the Island, Mr. Speaker . So I think that that has a benefit. Mr. Speaker , there is nothing in the date. There is nothing in this date whatsoever. It is about the celebration. And I know that m y people in my Mi nistry and, of course, some people, some Members on the other side (because they had about three or four members of Social Development and Sport) they all know that the people in the Culture Department work hard. In fact, I think the Honourable Opposition Leader said how hard they work, and they do! I have seen that. I have witnessed that first -hand. But let me say that I think this change will bring about more cultural awareness. And what my people will do is try their best to bring out more culture with this change. Let us face it, this was Queen Victoria’s birt hday—even the UK has gotten over that, Mr. Speaker .
[Laughter] Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: You know, the UK has gotten over it. So we need to get over it. So with that, Mr. Speaker , I ask that the Bill be committed.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Deputy? Deputy? Deputy, the Bill is being committed. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Oh, yes! [Inaudible interjections and laughter] [Pause] House in Committee at 4:02 pm [Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr., Chairman ] COMMITTEE ON BILL PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AMENDMENT ACT 2017
The ChairmanChairmanWe are now in Committee of the whole House for further consideration of the Bill ent itled the Public Holidays Amendment Act 2017. Minister, you can take the floor. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that we move clauses . . . …
We are now in Committee of the whole House for further consideration of the Bill ent itled the Public Holidays Amendment Act 2017. Minister, you can take the floor. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that we move clauses . . . well, it is only two clauses. I move that we move both of them, with your indulgence.
The ChairmanChairmanCarry on. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Carry on? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Okay, Mr. Chairman, clause 1 is the citation. This Act, which amends the Public Holidays Act 1947, may be cited as the Public Holidays Amendment Act 2017. Clause 2 amends the Schedule. The Schedule to the …
Carry on. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Carry on? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Okay, Mr. Chairman, clause 1 is the citation. This Act, which amends the Public Holidays Act 1947, may be cited as the Public Holidays Amendment Act 2017. Clause 2 amends the Schedule. The Schedule to the Public Holidays Act 1947 is amended by deleting “24 th of May, as Bermuda Day, except that, where the 24th of May falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then the next following Monday shall be Bermuda Day” and inserting “Bermuda Day, the last Friday in May.”
The ChairmanChairmanAny further speakers? There appear to be none. Minister, will you now move? Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move the Preamble.
The ChairmanChairmanYes, go ahead. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: And I move that the Bill be reported to the House as printed.
The ChairmanChairmanBut you have got to move the clauses, 1 and 2. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: I move clauses 1 and 2.
The ChairmanChairmanAny objection to the clauses being approved? There appear to be no objections. [Motion carried: Clauses 1 and 2 passed.] Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: I move that the Bill be r eported to the House as printed.
The ChairmanChairmanThe Bill will be reported. Any objections? There appear to be none. [Motion carried: The Public Holidays Amendment Act 2017 was considered by a Committee of t he whole House and passed without amendments.] House resumed at 4:04 pm [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] REPORT OF …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMembers, are there any objections to the Bill being report ed to the House as printed? No objections. The Bill has been reported. Bermuda House of Assembly Members, that being the only item of the day that we were going to do today, I now recognise the Member — [Inaudible …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, the other orders are being carried over until a further sitting. And now we recognise the Minister. Do you want to do your third reading? SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21 Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , I move that Standing …
Yes, the other orders are being carried over until a further sitting. And now we recognise the Minister. Do you want to do your third reading?
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , I move that Standing Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move that the Bill ent itled Public Holidays Amendment Act 2017 be now read the third time by its title only.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAny objections? No objections. [Motion carried: Standing Order 21 suspended.] BILL THIRD READING PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AM ENDMENT ACT 2017 Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: I now move that the Bill do pass.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. [Motion carried: The Public Holidays Amendment Act 2017 was read a third time and passed.]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNow, all other items, as indicated, have been carried over. So, I recognise the Deputy Premier. Deputy Premier? ADJOURNMENT Hon. Walter H. Roban: Mr. Speaker , I move that we adjourn until next Friday.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerDoes any Member wish to speak to that? I recognise the Honourable Minister Caines, who is on the floor. I do believe that this is Minister Caines’ maiden speech because thus far I think you have just spoken to your Statements or reports on your Ministry. So this is your …
Does any Member wish to speak to that? I recognise the Honourable Minister Caines, who is on the floor. I do believe that this is Minister Caines’ maiden speech because thus far I think you have just spoken to your Statements or reports on your Ministry. So this is your first —maiden speech.
Hon. Wayne Caines: Yes. The Speaker: So we give you the due acknowledg ement of it being your maiden speech.
Hon. Wayne Caines: Mr. Speaker I seek your leave to refer to my notes.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, you can since it is your maiden speech. Turn your microphone on. We would like to hear what you have got to say. MAIDEN SPEECH Hon. Wayne Caines: Definitely for my maiden speech. Mr. Speaker , it is an honour to be here this afternoon, and I count it …
Yes, you can since it is your maiden speech. Turn your microphone on. We would like to hear what you have got to say.
MAIDEN SPEECH
Hon. Wayne Caines: Definitely for my maiden speech. Mr. Speaker , it is an honour to be here this afternoon, and I count it a distinct privilege to stand in this great building and speak to the people of Berm uda from a place where some of our greatest leaders and many of my heroes have spoken, leading luminaries such as Dame Lois Browne- Evans, L. Frederick Wade, Walter Roberts, Arnold Francis, Dame Jennifer Smith, Ottiwell Simmons , Julian Hall, and Reginald Burrows —just to name a few. Mr. Speaker , I am immediately reminded of the sacred trust that the people of Bermuda have be-stowed upon me, and I am very mindful of the legacy of leadership that I must, and I will, live up to. Mr. Speaker , from the very outset I must sa y thank you to the Premier, the Honourable E. David Burt, JP, MP, for the opportunity to serve in the Cabinet as the Minister of National Security. I must also say thank you to the party Chairman and the party Committee for believing in me. My campaign mana ger, Mr. Speaker , was my 20 -year-old daughter, Maxanne. She put together an innovative, engaging and professional campaign. She showed political wi sdom beyond her years and I would venture to say, Mr. Speaker , that she is destined for great things. Mr. S peaker , I would similarly like to thank the people who canvassed with me. In four weeks they helped me knock on just under 1,200 doors. Mr. Speaker , I must acknowledge Maxeta Paynter ; Jermaine Simons; Doreen Ming; MP Christ opher Famous; MP Rolfe Commissiong; MP Walter Roban; Glen Simmons; LaVerne Furbert; Tarek Bean; Ellen -Kate Horton; Vance Brown; Quinton Ming; J ason and J ermaine Green; the Wilson family from C edar Park; Stephen Ball; Ianthia Wade; Shereen Ferguson; Seth Ferguson; Shurnette Caines; Simeon Ferguson; Travis and Christine Caines; Dori, Dasha and Roshanda Caines; Lanel Cameron; Phil Per-inchief; Kim Wilkerson; Malcol m West; Deshay Caines; Mike Pearman; Barclay Simmons; Dwayne Caines ; Jonat han Smith; and Mason West —and an yone that I have forgotten, Mr. Speaker , blame that on my head and, indeed, not my heart. See, I cannot start thanking people for an election victory without thanking the people who made 622 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly things possible in my life. I would like to thank my P5 teacher, Ms. Furbert, my Prospect Primary P5 teac her. At a time when I had the lowest self -esteem and the worst handwriting she told me to press forward. She coupled that with the Bible text of Philippians 4:13, I can do all thi ngs through Christ that strengt hens me. You see, Mr. Speaker , whilst I would love to stand here and take credit for being a Member of Parliament, I owe my presence here today to so many, including those in this great community in which I grew up. You se e, Mr. Speaker , I remember being a member of the Mini Minors of the North Village Community Club. I would like to say thank you to “Doc” and the nights of training for my brother and me at the desert across from Victor Scott Primary School. Thank you to Miss Harvey from Warwick Secondary School, my English teacher, who saw something in me and who pushed me to be a better student. Thank you to Mr. Mark T ailford my Karate instructor at the Shotokan School who taught me self -discipline and self -control. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas “Blip M orris”, a white family, who allowed Dwayne and me to play basketball in their yard and showed Dwayne and me unconditional love. Thank you, Mr. Mandell Hill at the Bermuda Institute who taught me the love of hist ory and who mentored me. Thank you to Michael (and I do not know his last name). Michael taught me sailing lessons at White’s Island. He taught me patience and the ability to make decisions and how to trust my d ecision -making. Thank you to my church family —my Sevent hDay Adventist Church family —who are the bedrock of my life. My brothers and my sister —Sherine, Travis and Dwayne —my first playmates, my defenders, the quartet, my bankers, my posse. Thank you to my brothers and sister for their support. And, Mr. Speaker , thank you, last but by no means least, to my wife, Maxanne. Mr. Speaker , my wife is a magistrate and she was not able to canvass with me based on her occupation. She was not able to be, for obvious reasons, at many of the political events. So it was diff icult for her to see me go through the process and not to be able, based on her position, to be at any of those political events. Thank you to Maxanne, and Maxanne, Jr., for teaching me how to love. Why me? Why now? Mr. Speaker , [to] unde rstand why I am moved towards politics you would have to understand the home in which I was raised. My father was a career civil servant. He worked in the Tax Commissioner’s Office for over 40 years. My f ather is a quiet man. He is a student of politics and he is rabidly passionate about the Progressive Labour Party. His challenge? He was a civil servant. He could not openly or publicly declare his political views. But in our home, from a very young age, he would shape and mould our thoughts as it related to local politics . Now, my mother, God bless her, she had no such affliction. She is as bold as brass and never one to be muzzled. She has the heart of a lion and the mouth of a . . . well, I will leave it right there, Mr. Speaker .
[Laughter]
Hon. Wayne Caines: Our home was always full of debate, banter, and during Sabbath lunches you had to be able to speak, but hold your corner. My dad and my mother had tons of friends from every walk of life and from all around the Caribbean. They would come in my home and they would discuss Bird and Antigua; Manley and Jamaica; Fidel and Cuba; there was always a debate in my house. One thing that was clear [was] you had to have a position and you had to come correct. In all of this my father said to me, Wayne, I am a civil servant. I have to keep my head down and my mouth shut so you don’t have to. He said, I have to keep my head down and my mouth shut so you don’t have to.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, we heard that. We got that. Hon. Wayne Caines: My mother’s position was very different. Being from Jamaica she said, Me come fe drink milk, noh fe count cows. [Laughter] Hon. Wayne Caines: My parents, from a very young age, instilled in us that we would have to take …
Yes, we heard that. We got that.
Hon. Wayne Caines: My mother’s position was very different. Being from Jamaica she said, Me come fe drink milk, noh fe count cows.
[Laughter] Hon. Wayne Caines: My parents, from a very young age, instilled in us that we would have to take leadership roles in Bermuda. It w as clear in the events we participated in and in our extracurricular activities that my parents had a plan. I did not see it then, but I see it now. I could not hang with the boys. I could not go to certain places. I could not eat certain things and drink certain things. There were expectations when it came to grades. I would hate to give you, Mr. Speaker , the i mpression that I was a well -behaved child.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWell— Hon. Wayne Caines: Mr. Speaker , that would not be the truth.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWell, I read your book. I read your book. [Laughter] Hon. Wayne Caines: I was taught from a very young age that to whom much is given, much is required. Fast forwarding, when I returned from law school [there was] a former Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Da vid Allen …
Well, I read your book. I read your book. [Laughter] Hon. Wayne Caines: I was taught from a very young age that to whom much is given, much is required. Fast forwarding, when I returned from law school [there was] a former Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Da vid Allen died. During that time the late
Bermuda House of Assembly Nelson Bascome came to my house and he asked me if I would consider running in David Allen’s seat. I considered it. I discussed it with family. I discussed it with friends. I thought that the people in my community would be positive, they would laud my decision. But to the contrary I was told immediately, Don’t do it, you will be blackballed. You will be limited with economic opportunities. You will be limited in your legal career. I found it deeply concerning that people who wanted to be a part of the Progressive Labour Party as Members of Parliament in their consideration as young Berm udians had to be warned and warded off from politics because of the great economic financial toll.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSome of us still took a stance. Hon. Wayne Caines: So I decided that it was not the right time. In 2006, almost 10 years later, I was asked to serve as the Chief of Staff for the former Premier, the Honourable Dr. Ewart Brown. He also appointed me as …
Some of us still took a stance.
Hon. Wayne Caines: So I decided that it was not the right time. In 2006, almost 10 years later, I was asked to serve as the Chief of Staff for the former Premier, the Honourable Dr. Ewart Brown. He also appointed me as a Senator. I am grateful to Dr. Brown [because] that cut my political teeth. After two years I left political service for what I thought was forever and joined Digicel Bermuda as its CEO. Mr. Speaker , I enjoyed my time at Digicel. The professional and pers onal success was significant, but I still felt that calling of service to my country. People would stop me on an almost daily basis and ask me, When are you going to throw your hat into the ring? After 20 years of being home in Bermuda doing all the things that we are asked to do—I paid off the majority of my mortgage, I educated my daughter, I paid off my car loans, I got professional life experience, I worked in international finance, I sat on boards both publicly and in government —the opportunity was right. So when the now Premier Burt asked me to run in constituency 14, everything that I had prepared for my entire life —service to my community, hard work, education, learning —everything had come to fruition. The crazy part of running in constituency 14 is I did not think I could win. You see, they had Glen Smith, who was loved and admired in his constitue ncy. He was a hard worker. I heard from people in his constituency that they had seen him four and five times in the span of a month! He did yeoman servic e to that constituency , and I tip my hat to Glen Smith. Mr. Speaker , I learned invaluable lessons about listening to my constituents, discussing i mportant matters on the doorstep and around the kitc hen table. Mr. Speaker , Shirley Chisholm said, “ service is the rent we pay for . . . living on this earth. ” I believe that in order to have a balanced society we must have people who are willing to give back to our community. Oftentimes we have people in our community who are willing to offer issues of the day. You are familiar with them, Mr. Speaker , you have heard them on talk r adio. You have read their comments in the Royal G a-zette, on Facebook, on Bernews blogs, those hiding behind nom de plume. These individuals carelessly, willingly cast aspersions and voice vitriolic comments from behind their computer screens, but in many cas-es do nothing to make their country better. Mr. Speaker , I have coined a term for it, I call it “intellect ual twerking” . . . intellectual twerking. After watching the Decemb er 2 nd incident from the sidelines, I felt sick to my stomach. I was not just sick to my stomach because of what I saw, I was sick to my stomach of myself. How could I sit on the side and watch others stand up and fight? How could I sit on the side and wat ch my colleagues put everything on the line, when I was gifted with so much, blessed with so much? That was the turning point in my political existence. I knew that I had to step up to the plate. I could no longer find or use excuses for not serving the people of Bermuda in the House of Parliament. To be clear, I have always served the people of Bermuda, but things crystallised for me last year. I could no longer walk separated from the political leadership from within my country. You see, Mr. Speaker , service means finding an opportunity to give back, an opportunity to give of yourself without expecting anything in return. Those in positions of affluence and influence cannot continue to benefit from the gifts of our Island home and do not hing to help thos e who have nothing . . . who have not been as fortunate. The question becomes, what legacy are we leaving for the next generation? If you work in reinsurance, law, finance, or in government, you must find a way to help out. You must figure out a plan to gi ve back to your country, to our country. There are many organisations that need help, Mr. Speaker . They could use some guidance, some energy, and some support. There must be more to living in Bermuda than getting lit at the Dog House, Rangers or the Spani sh Point Boat Club on the weekends. We must understand that if our way of life is to get better, we must ensure that we balance society, ensure that the vulnerable, the downtrodden, the young, the old, that they are all cared for. So, Mr. Speaker , at this stage in my life I am proud and humbled to serve the people of Bermuda, the people of constituency 14. See, I know and I understand the challenges at Cedar Park. I know that we must support Prospect Primary and ensure that it grows from strength to strength. I want to work with Nadine “Pusher ” Evans and the Devonshire Colts to ensure that this legacy and this organisation go from strength to strength. Two way Deepdale, one way Deepdale, Roberts Avenue, I know that you are concerned with the escalating crime and the lack of jobs. Your Government knows the concerns and we will work tirelessly to find solutions.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister, just to give you an idea, there are four minutes left. 624 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Wayne Caines: Four minutes left? [Inaudible interjectio ns]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerFour minutes. It is a 20- minute time period. Hon. Wayne Caines: Mr. Speaker , I believe that Bermuda is at a crossroads. We can stay on this road that is divided by class, by colour, by private school, by public school, and by black or b y white, by …
Four minutes. It is a 20- minute time period.
Hon. Wayne Caines: Mr. Speaker , I believe that Bermuda is at a crossroads. We can stay on this road that is divided by class, by colour, by private school, by public school, and by black or b y white, by the haves or have nots, or we can choose to see the best of who we are by confronting the evils like race, acknowledging the pain, and working to heal what divides us. I believe that we can make Bermuda a better place for all. I believe that we are on the cusp of some transformational times. It is the responsibility of us to create a Bermuda where everyone can thrive. This Government accepts and understands that we must make moves quickly into cryptocurren-cies, creating new and legitimate oppor tunities for Bermudians. Our Premier is committed to driving our economy and ensuring that people benefit from all sorts of commerce. Mr. Speaker , in a quick edit, I close in summary.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerTwo minutes . . . you have got two minutes. Hon. Wayne Caines: I decided to dedicate my life as a public servant because I love my country, because I cherish the Bermuda of today, and I believe in the Bermuda of tomorrow. Mr. Speaker , I cherish the potential …
Two minutes . . . you have got two minutes.
Hon. Wayne Caines: I decided to dedicate my life as a public servant because I love my country, because I cherish the Bermuda of today, and I believe in the Bermuda of tomorrow. Mr. Speaker , I cherish the potential that I see in people today; however, I believe that if potential becomes action we will change the trajectory of our children tomorrow. Mr. Speaker , I cherish the solidarity we demonstrate in times of trial and tribulation in the Bermuda of today, but I believe we can make that solidarity the norm in the Bermuda of tomorrow. This will be the norm, not just in great storms [and] in crisis, but within our homes, within our schools, and within our communities. What we do today will be in our hearts and minds. Futures that were lost in heated moments and in absence of mind will be saved through the culture of peace and through uncommon respect for life. I cherish the diversity that defines us in the Bermuda of today, but I believe we are courageous enough to acknowledge the damage wrought by et hnic division and the use of our common aspiration for peace and unity in the Bermuda of tomorrow. Mr. Speaker , last paragraph. I cherish the opportunity each of us has had to lead. However, I b elieve that more important than the opportunity to lead is our opportunity to leave a legacy. I stand before you knowing that I will cherish each moment that we work together as caretakers of the Bermuda of today. My brothers, my sisters, my countrymen, I believe now more than ever, for the sake of our society and for the sake of our children, we can work together as one country, one people, to shape the Bermuda of tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker .
[Desk thumping]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Does any other Member wish to . . . I recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 10. Honourable Member Dunkley, you have the floor. SUPPORT FOR NIKKI BASCOME Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , first let me thank the Honourable Member for …
Thank you. Does any other Member wish to . . . I recognise the Honourable Member from constituency 10. Honourable Member Dunkley, you have the floor.
SUPPORT FOR NIKKI BASCOME Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker , first let me thank the Honourable Member for his maiden speech in the House and I look forward, and I am sure all colleagues look forward, to working with him. Minister Caines comes with a reputation in the community for being fair, being open, and being approachable, and I hope that does not change. One of the things, Mr. Speaker , that quite often happens in politics is you get so stuck in your par-ty and the ideologies of your party [that] you find it hard to reach across the aisle and make important decisions. And I believe Minister Caines brings a fresh, new approach to the House, even though he might be sitting on the wrong side of the House. I r espect him and I respect the approach that he has tak-en. And it takes a certain amount of character to a pplaud your opponent after a very tough election, so I thank him for those comments, Mr. Speaker . I want to piggyback on the Honourable Mini ster a bit because he referred to the community and to social media. And Mr. Speaker , I need [to get] som ething off my chest because I am sure I speak for a lot of people in the community, and that is last Saturday night the boxing extravaganza up at the Fairmont Southampton Princess and the disappointing and unfortunate loss of our champion, Nikki Bascome. Now, Mr. Speaker , I was away, so unfort unately I cou ld not be there, but I followed it as intently as I could. And, like many Bermudians, I was floored as well by the result because I have been very i mpressed with the young man. I have been very i mpressed with his commitment. I tried to go to as many of the matches as I could, as have many Members of this House, and so we were expecting the best result. But we know in boxing when you strip off your gear, when you are out there with your trunks, you are naked. It is just you and your opponent and some days t he result might not go your way. And unfort unately our champion was knocked down and knocked out that day, Mr. Speaker .
Bermuda House of Assembly I believe that the young man will get up and he will fight again and he will continue his journey to become a better boxer and a champi on, Mr. Speaker . But that is not the reason why I rose tonight to speak because I have full confidence in him. He has only had a few —two handfuls —of professional fights, and for all intents and purposes it looked like this young man who came out of class and was packing a very powerful punch. And sometimes on your curve u pwards you learn some very valuable and tough les-sons in a boxing career. But, Mr. Speaker , what really bothered me about the loss . . . because you can get over a loss if a team you support or somebody you really support respect and admire like Nikki Bascome gets knocked down . . . you can reason with it, you can try to get over it, you can support them, and you can try to move them forward and help them through it. What really bothered me were some of the comments by armchair quarterbacks in the community about the situation. Now, Mr. Speaker , I have never been in the ring with just my trunks on fighting it out with som ebody else. So I do not know the feeling of being on the canvas trying to get up, not being able to get up, and being called out for the count. I do not know that feeling. I also do not know the feeling of listening to pe ople throughout the community criticise you for what you did and did not do. Now, Mr. Speaker , quite si mply, if we want our young people, especially our young black males, to move forward in the community that we love, we have to stop that stuff. Social media this week was disgusting in comments . . . disgusting. Those people that hide behind that social tw erking, or whatever the Minister called it, they need to be called out, Mr. Speaker . Anybody can sit there at a keyboard and criticise somebody when those same people would never train, never put on the shorts and the gloves and get in the ring. The man is a champion. He got knocked down. He got up. He will come again to fight.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerHe will get up, that is right. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: But as a community, if we are going to move forward, let us use this lesson in life that Nikki Bascome learned—to rally and support him and to do better when we talk about a victory and a defeat. …
He will get up, that is right. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: But as a community, if we are going to move forward, let us use this lesson in life that Nikki Bascome learned—to rally and support him and to do better when we talk about a victory and a defeat. Yes, you do not have to praise everybody glowingly in a def eat, but at least you can be respec tful, tolerant, and understanding in that defeat. Here is a young man, we want to . . . you know, he is a leader in our community when many of our young people who follow him respect him. He was treated wrongly by many Be rmudians. And I am not saying don’t say anything about it , [but] use your wor ds in an appropr iate way.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerUplifting. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, uplifting, Mr. Speaker, and I hope every Member of this House and ev erybody who hears this conversation will reach out to the young man and say, My brother, you got up, you will fight again and you will win. We need to lift …
Uplifting. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, uplifting, Mr. Speaker, and I hope every Member of this House and ev erybody who hears this conversation will reach out to the young man and say, My brother, you got up, you will fight again and you will win. We need to lift our people up. Nobody rises to the top without falling down. Everyone has to get up. Many people do not want to get up, Mr. Speaker . That man got up last Saturday night, he stood tall this week, and we need to support people like Nikki Bascome. We cannot just talk the talk, we have got to walk the walk. Thank you , Mr. Speaker .
[Desk thumping]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAny other Member wish to speak? I see no other Member rising. The House stands adjourned until Friday next, at 10:00 am, on the 24 th of November. [Gavel] [At 4:31 pm, the House stood adjourned until 10:00 am, Friday, 24 November 2017.] 626 17 November 2017 Official Hansard Report …