This sitting focused primarily on government updates rather than debates. The Premier announced that the Historic Land Losses Commission report can finally be debated after years of being delayed by court cases. The National Security Minister reported that the island-wide CCTV upgrade is 90% complete with most cameras now online and speed cameras in testing phase. Health and social services ministers outlined various programs to help seniors, combat diseases, and support families struggling with dementia care costs.
Historic Land Losses Commission of Inquiry report brought back for debate after legal matters resolvedMajor CCTV network upgrade nearing completion with 219 cameras installed and speed cameras being testedNew measures to combat non-communicable diseases including trans fat bans and healthy eating programsDementia care pilot program serving 111 patients with promising results for caregivers and familiesCost of living summit planned to address rising prices affecting Bermudian families
Bills & Motions
Historic Land Losses Commission of Inquiry motion re-introduced for future debate
Financial Assistance Amendment Regulations 2024 tabled (already in effect since February 1, 2025)
Various annual reports tabled including Information Commissioner's 2024 report
Notable Moments
Former Attorney General Phil Perinchief was acknowledged as a visitor in the Gallery
The Historic Land Losses motion returns after being withdrawn due to ongoing legal proceedings
Financial assistance clients in care homes will now receive $100 monthly for personal care items starting in May
Debate Transcript
772 speeches from 28 speakers
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning, Members. The House is about to start for this day. The Clerk will now lead us in prayer. PRAYERS [Prayers read by Mr. Clark Somner , Clerk ]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning, Members. [Gavel]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThe House is now in session. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES [Minutes of 21 March 202 5]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMembers, the Minutes of the 2 1st of March’s sitting have been circulated. Are there any amendments required? There are none. The Minutes will be confirmed as printed. [Minutes of 21 March 2025 confirmed] MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER OR MEMBER PRESIDING PARLIAMENTARY STANDING AND SESSIONAL COMMITTEES
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI do have an announcement this morning. Honourable Members, I have appointed the Parliamentary Standing and Sessional Committees for this session of the House, which will be up on the SharePoint for you to be able to see; and on the parliamentary website for everyone to view. Members, to ensure …
I do have an announcement this morning. Honourable Members, I have appointed the Parliamentary Standing and Sessional Committees for this session of the House, which will be up on the SharePoint for you to be able to see; and on the parliamentary website for everyone to view. Members, to ensure that the parliamentary committees are vested with the full authority and pow-ers of the House of Assembly, and without objection, I want to certify that these committees will be able to conduct their proceedings pursuant of the provisions of Part IV of the Parliamentary Act 1957. Thank you, Members.
MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. PAPERS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TO THE HOUSE
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, we have papers this morning to be presented. The first is in the name of the Premier. Premier. Hon. E. David Burt: Good morning, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. INFORMATION COMMISSIONER’ S OFFICE — ANNUAL REPORT 2024 Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to attach and submit for the information of the Honourable House of Assembly the Information Commissioner ’s 2024 Annual Report , as required by section 58(1) of the Public Access …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Would you like to continue with the other two? OFFICE OF THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER —AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2023 AND MARCH 31, 2024 Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to attach and submit for the …
Thank you. Would you like to continue with the other two?
OFFICE OF THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER —AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2023 AND MARCH 31, 2024
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to attach and submit for the information of the Honourable House of Assembly the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023 ; and the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 for the Office of the Information Commissioner
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. The next [paper] is from the Minister for Youth, Social Development and Seniors. Is someone going to do it on [behalf of the Minister]? Okay. Premier. 148 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2024 Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, …
Thank you. The next [paper] is from the Minister for Youth, Social Development and Seniors. Is someone going to do it on [behalf of the Minister]? Okay. Premier. 148 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2024
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, I have the honour to attach and submit for the information of the Honourable House of Assembly the Financial Assistance Amendment Regulations 2024, which is made by the Minister responsible for Financial Assistance in exercise of the power conferred by section 21 of the Financial Assistance Act 2001.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS AND JUNIOR MINISTERS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe have nine Statements this morning. The first is in the name of the Premier and Minister of Finance. Premier. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Go ahead. COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO HISTORIC LAND LOSSES Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members will recall that on the 10 th of December 2021 a motion was introduced in this Honourable House by which Honourable Members were invited to consider the report of the Commission …
Thank you. Go ahead.
COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO HISTORIC LAND LOSSES
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members will recall that on the 10 th of December 2021 a motion was introduced in this Honourable House by which Honourable Members were invited to consider the report of the Commission of Inquiry into Historic Land Losses . Honourable Members will also recall that the motion remain ed on the Order Paper pending the disposition of various matters before the courts and was ultimately withdrawn, as matters remain sub judice over an extended period. I was advised by counsel that those matters have been substantially disposed of, and as such I am pleased today to renew this motion before this Honourable House. Honourable Members will recall that it was our late colleague, the Honourable Walton Brown, who led the effort to establish such a commission. And as such, in July 2014 this Honourable House approved a motion in his name calling for the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry. With the then Governor’s refusal to act on the expressed will of this Honourable House, it fell to this Government to do so. So, the Commission of Inquiry was established in 2019 pursuant to section 1A of the Commission of Inquiry Act 1935. Mr. Speaker, the work of the commission was extensive and included written submissions and oral evidence from affected persons, conducting 74 hearings across the Island. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members will recall that the report makes several recommendations , and the Government remains committed to examining them and determining what can be done to address the issues identified. Mr. Speaker, this effort has taken longer than expected. But our commitment remains unaltered. With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I will reiterate that which I shared with the Honourable House in 2019 and again in 2021. And I quote: “ Truth can be uncomfortable. Unearthing historic wrongs may be inconvenient for some. It may well be that some of those who were victims and those who committed wrongdoing have since passed on. But . . . it is never too late for justice. That justice can take many forms. For some it may simply be the opportunity to be heard and have their claims acknowledged, while for others it may confirm the legal standing they have long asserted. The process of providing justice starts with a step towards truth. ” Mr. Speaker, with this tabling of this motion afresh today, I look forward to leading this long-outstanding debate on the issues that are critical to the full understanding of our history and to providing an opportunity for often silent voices to be heard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Premier. The next Statement this morning is in the name of the Minister of National Security. Minister. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Good morning, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. Good morning. CCTV NETWORK UPGRADE PROGRESS UPDATE Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Good morning, colleagues and to the listening public. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update this Honourable House and the public on the progress of the Island’s closed -circuit television (or CCTV) network upgrade and implementation of …
Good morning. Good morning.
CCTV NETWORK UPGRADE PROGRESS UPDATE Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Good morning, colleagues and to the listening public. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update this Honourable House and the public on the progress of the Island’s closed -circuit television (or CCTV) network upgrade and implementation of the speed camera initiative. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members may recall that in 2023, Digicel Bermuda was awarded the contract to upgrade the CCTV network and provide a managed maintenance service plan. The total contract value is $4, 047,440, comprising an equipment and installation cost of $1,035,500 and a five- year managed maintenance services plan valued at $602,388 annually, totalling $3,011,940. One of the key enhancements to the CCTV network is deployment on a new fibre network. This modernisation required civil and road and electrical
Bermuda House of Assembly works that were not included in the original request for proposal since vendors could not accurately quantify these costs in advance. As a result, the current costs for all civil and electrical works associated with the project stand at $463,651. Mr. Speaker, the Ministry CCTV implementation team has made every effort to minimise costs by collaborating with the Corporation of Hamilton, the Ministry of Public Works and Engineering unit and BELCO to utilise existing power sources. While some cost-savings measures were successful, others proved unfeasible. Mr. Speaker, the upgraded system includes 258 cameras featuring four different types: 19 licence plate recognition [LPR] cameras ; 103 pan- tilt-zoom cameras; 74 multisensory cameras; and 62 varifocal cameras. Notably, a single multisensory camera integrates four fully functional cameras covering a wider area while maintaining clarity. Real -time monitoring has significantly enhanced the Bermuda Police Ser-vices’ ability to assess incidents as they unfold, ena-bling quicker deployment of resources during emergencies. This capability has already proven crucial in improving response times and overall public safety. Mr. Speaker, as of today, 219 cameras have been installed with 204 currently online across 129 site locations, providing 454 distinct camera views. The project commenced in September 2023 but en-countered unforeseen challenges that have affected the completion timeline. Despite these setbacks, the overall project is now 90 per cent complete, encompassing camera installation, software integration and training. Barring any major weather delays or unforeseen events, the project is expected to be completed by July of 2025. Mr. Speaker, an additional 34 camera site locations are being prepared for the final phase of civil and electrical work. This expansion will increase the total number of CCTV locations from 130 to 150 across the Island. We consider this to be an enormous achievement in terms of coverage across the Island. Mr. Speaker, beyond physical installation, this project involved critical components such as network infrastructure, power integration and seamless connectivity to the central command centre to ensure the system operates a t peak effectiveness. Moreover, multiple government departments and external agen-cies have p layed vital roles in this initiative, including the Ministry of National Security Headquarters, the Bermuda Police Service, the Ministry of Public Works , the Department of Estates and Highways, the Department of Planning and the Information Technology Department, along with external partners such as BELCO and the Corporations of St. George’s and Hamilton. Mr. Speaker, while progress has been made, delays have inevitably impacted the next phase of the CCTV upgrade —the introduction of speed cameras. However, initial testing of the licence plate recognition cameras has begun and will continue over the next few months. I recently ha d the opportunity to review preliminary findings and to see a demonstration of the LPR cameras . And I was very impressed with how the system has advanced. This is wonderful progress, and I look forward to further developments in this area over the next year. Based on initial research and testing, additional licence plate recognition cameras and site locations will be required to optimise the speed camera initiative. A comprehensive plan is currently being developed to expand this initiative. Mr. Speaker, in the coming months the Ministry of National Security and the Bermuda Police Service will work closely with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Justice on legislative amendments necessary for implementing the ticketing system for speed cameras. This will be the final step in implementation of a system that we are confident will improve the safety on our roads. Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that the upgraded CCTV system has been designed with privacy protection in mind. The system aligns with both current privacy regulations and future requirements, ensuring the privacy concerns are adequately addressed. The request for proposal specifically required vendors to incorporate privacy safeguards in both the camera features and the video management system (or VMS). Mr. Speaker, residents have expressed a greater sense of security knowing that CCTV coverage has been enhanced. This increased confidence has encouraged more community engagement, with citizens more willing to report suspicious activity to the Bermuda Police Service. We have even received requests from community clubs and neighbourhoods to further expand CCTV coverage. To further address privacy concerns, the Ministry and the Bermuda Police Service have engaged the PATI and PIPA unit s and the Privacy Commissioner’s Office in discussions on collaboration, transparency and public communication regarding CCTV privacy matters. Mr. Speaker, as we approach the completion of this initiative, the Ministry, in partnership with the Bermuda Police Service and the Privacy Commissioner’s Office, will host a town hall to educate the public on privacy considerations and best practices related to CCTV cameras. Also, this town hall will address any privacy concerns that the public may have. I am pleased to report that the Ministry of National Security and the Bermuda Police Service have worked diligently with internal and external stakeholders to implement this critical project. Mr. Speaker, I extend my gratitude to the multiple teams who have contributed to the successful execution of the CCTV initiative thus far. 150 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly We are delivering on our promise to upgrade the Island’s CCTV network and introduce a modern speed control regime on our roads. As I have stated before, this Government remains committed to en-hancing public safety, and this initiative is a testament to our mission at the Minist ry of National Security of working together to keep you safe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Members, the next Statement this morning is in the name of the Minister of Health, Minister Wilson. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Good morning.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN BERMUDA, ADDRESSING THE RISING BURDEN OF Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a critical issue that continues to impact the health and well -being of our people— namely, the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, …
Good morning.
NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN BERMUDA, ADDRESSING THE RISING BURDEN OF
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a critical issue that continues to impact the health and well -being of our people— namely, the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and respiratory illnesses. These diseases account for the majority of deaths and health care costs in Bermuda, yet many of them are preventable by addressing key risk fac-tors. Mr. Speaker, reducing the prevalence of NCDs requires a comprehensive and sustained approach focused on prevention, early intervention and policy measures that create an environment where healthy choices are the easiest choices. It is worth emphasi sing that our Government remains committed to tackling the key risk factors that contribute to these diseases, including unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and tobacco use.
Promoting Healthy Nutrition Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, unhealthy diets, particularly those high in sugar, salt and trans fats, contribute significantly to obesity, diabetes and cardi-ovascular diseases . As part of our ongoing efforts , the Government will introduce legislation during this session aimed at banning industrially produced trans fats in food products to promote healthier diets and reduce the risks associated with heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Trans fats, which are often found in processed and fried foods, pose significant health risks whilst offering no health benefits. High consumption of trans fats significantly increases health risks, raising the likelihood of death from any cause by 34 per cent , coronary heart disease deaths by 28 per cent and coronary heart disease overall by 21 per cent .
The Grow ! Eat! $ave! Programme Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, we continue to promote local and healthy food options through the Grow ! Eat! $ave! p rogramme, the Government initiative aimed at promoting food sustainability, healthier eating and community engagement in agriculture. This programme encourages residents to grow their own fruits and vegetables, reducing reliance on imported foods while fostering a greater appreciation for nutrition and self -sufficiency. The k ey goals, Mr. Speaker, of the Grow! Eat! $ave! programme include the following: 1. Empowering Residents —teaching Bermudians how to grow their own food through workshops and hands -on training. 2. Promoting Healthier Eating —encouraging the consumption of fresh, locally grown produce to combat diet -related NCDs like diabetes and obesity . 3. Reducing Food Costs —helping families to save more money by growing their own fruits and vegetables rather than relying on the expensive imported goods . 4. Strengthening Food Security —enhancing Bermuda’s ability to produce its own food and become less dependent on external food sources. Mr. Speaker , Bermuda imports the majority of its food, which can be expensive and subject to global supply chain disruptions. Encouraging home and community gardening through the Grow! Eat! $ave! programme helps reduce food costs, improves nutrition and strengthens local resilience against external economic pressures.
Bermuda Healthy School Lunch Competition Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, another exciting initiative I would like to highlight is the Bermuda Healthy School Lunch Competition, which is aimed at promoting healthy eating habits amongst our students whilst encouraging creativity in preparing nutritious meals. The competition, launched as part of the Government’s broader efforts to combat childhood obesity and NCDs, challenges students, parents and schools to develop balanced, delicious and affordable school lunches that meet national nutrition guidelines. Mr. Speaker, this initiative not only fosters better eating habits but also raises awareness about the link between nutrition, academic performance and long-term health. By making healthy eating fun and engaging, Bermuda is taking proactive steps to shape a healthier future for the next generation.
Encouraging Physical Activity Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, a sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for NCDs, and we must do more to integrate physical activity into daily life. To achieve this, the Government has implemented sevBermuda House of Assembly eral initiatives to promote physical activity and healthier lifestyles, recogni sing its crucial role in preventing NCDs such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. These efforts include investments in public fitness infrastructure, policy incentives, and community program mes. 1. Outdoor Gym Equipment in Parks • Mr. Speaker, t he Government has installed outdoor gym equipment in public parks and recreational areas to provide free and accessible exercise options for residents of all ages.
2. Tax Concessions for Gyms and Fitness Facilities • To support the fitness industry and encourage more people to join gyms, the Government has provided tax concessions to help reduce operational costs for gym owners and fitness centr es. This measure aims to make gym memberships more affordable and accessible to a broader segment of the population.
3. Community -Based Exercise and Wellness Programmes • Programmes like Move More Bermuda and workplace wellness initiatives encourage the community to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines, promoting healthier lifestyles and combating sedentary behavio ur. • A notable event under this initiative is the Move More Bermuda Senior Games, which is targeting individuals aged 50 and above. The 2024 Senior Games took place on May 19 at the Flora Duffy Stadium, offering participants a range of track and field events, including the 60-metre dash, 3,000- meter run, long jump, shot put and mixed 4- by-4 relay. This event emphasi sed friendly competition and community engagement, aligning with the broader goals of the Move More Bermuda campaign.
Addressing Tobacco and Vaping Use
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, smoking and vaping remain major contributors to respiratory diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular issues. To combat this : • The Government will advance restrictions on flavo ured vaping products to protect public health, especially among young people. • Flavo ured vaping products often come in sweet, candy -like or fruity flavo urs that appeal to younger demographics, making them more likely to experiment with vaping. This , of course, can lead to nicotine addiction at an early age, exposing them to long- term health risks and potentially acting as a gateway to traditional nicotine and tobacco products . • Mr. Speaker, by limiting access to such products, we aim to reduce the appeal of vaping for young people, curb the rising rates of nicotine dependence and prevent related health issues. Furthermore, these restrictions send a broader public health message emphasi sing the importance of safeguarding future genera-tions from the harmful effects of addictive substances. Mr. Speaker, prevention is undeniably the most cost -effective strategy to reduce the burden of NCDs and secure a healthier future for Bermuda. However, we cannot do this alone. It requires a whole - of-government and whole -of-society approach—one where individuals, businesses and community organi-sations work together to foster a culture of health and wellness. The Government remains firmly committed to implementing evidence- based policies and initiatives to combat noncommunicable diseases . By prioritising prevention, education and healthier environments, we will improve the quality of life for all Bermu-dians while also reducing the financial strain on our health care system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Members, the next Statement this morning is in the name of the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors. Minister. Hon. Tinee Furbert: Good morning, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. DEMENTIA CARE SERVICES PILOT PROGRAMME UPDATE Hon. Tinee Furbert: Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise to share with my honourable colleagues observations, findings and data stemming from the operation of the Dementia Care Services Pilot Programme, which was first launched by the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and …
Good morning.
DEMENTIA CARE SERVICES PILOT PROGRAMME UPDATE
Hon. Tinee Furbert: Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise to share with my honourable colleagues observations, findings and data stemming from the operation of the Dementia Care Services Pilot Programme, which was first launched by the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors in October 2023 through its Office of Ageing and Disability Services. The purpose of this programme is to ensure that those persons living with dementia who are uninsured or underinsured have access to dementia navigation and support services. Mr. Speaker, as a backdrop for my h onourable colleagues, some of whom are new to the House, “dementia” is an umbrella term for degenerative diseases that impact the brain. This results in memory loss and changes to one’s behaviour and one’s thinking, which impact s our ability to perform everyday activities. According to the World Health Organization, global numbers for dementia are expected to triple by 2050 due to ageing populations and chronic diseases that are risk factors for this disease. It is estimated that up to 45 per cent of dementia cases could be reduced through addressing modifiable risk factors for dementia. Prevention is always preferable; however, 152 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly for people who already live with the disease, we must support not only them but also their carers through its challenging progression. Mr. Speaker , in Bermuda, based on current processes, there are over 3,600 patients inputted into the Bermuda Hospital Board’s system as having dementia. Work continues to better define prevalence data and the potential future impact on the Bermuda system. However, to date, as dementia is a progressive disease, people’s needs for care and support increase, placing greater demand on our long- term care services and supports over time. A lack of knowledge of the disease and support for those caring for persons with dementia can result in unnecessary and costly hospital admissions or care home placement. It also increases the risk for abuse and neglect, as cognitive impairment is a significant risk factor for such. Mr. Speaker, i t is within this context that the Government is committed to addressing the social, clinical and economic challenges of dementia. As such, the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors has undertaken the following related initiatives: • In 2022, provided several education series on dementia. • In October 2023, introduced the Dementia Navigation and Care Pilot programme. • In June 2024, extended the pilot programme based on the data obtained . • In November 2024, developed a detailed project inception plan for the design of a seniors day care facility with a dementia care focus . • In December 2024, completed the first National Seniors Strategy for Bermuda, inclusive of a focus on dementia. • In January 2025, contracted the expertise of the Bermuda Health Council to commence developing an integrated care pathway for dementia. • In February 2025, engaged in meetings to start assessing the designated site for the dementia- focused senior day care facility. Mr. Speaker, of these initiatives, it is the pilot programme I wish to provide an update on today. In a previous Statement made on the floor of this Honourable House, I shared that in October 2023, NorthStar Dementia [Ltd.] was contracted to provide a six -month pilot programme for dementia navigation and support services for persons experiencing dementia who were either uninsured or underinsured. These services included comprehensive dementia assessments, personali sed care planning, cognitive compensatory strategies, case management, caregiver education and support, and crisis intervention and prevention. This program me was developed based on evidence- based research that recogni ses the vital importance and role of dementia care management not only to improve quality of life for persons with dementia, but also their carers, which in turn decreases more costly care caused by hospitali sation or crisis management. NorthStar Dementia was selected not only because they specialise in this area but also because their service model supplements the pilot programme to expand its reach and depth of support. Mr. Speaker, between October 2023 and December 2024, the Ministry provided a total of $96,000 to fund the pilot program me, which contributed to serving 111 persons with dementia , of whom • 58 per cent , or roughly 63 clients , were female; • 55 per cent , or 61 clients , were between the ages of 75 and 84 years of age; and • 67 per cent , or 74 clients , were Black Bermudian. For the caregivers who were clients and received services , • 56 per cent were the adult children of the client; and • 70 per cent were female caregiver s. There were a total of 260 client contacts during this period. The intensity and type of contact was tailored to the needs of the family and the stage of the dementia progression. Mr. Speaker, the question is, What have we learned to date about the need for a dementia care services programme, based on client feedback and data findings? The answer is in three key observations: 1. There is a funding gap for dementia navigation and support services. 2. Persons are not getting formally diagnosed. 3. Caregivers are stressed and not getting enough support. Mr. Speaker, let me briefly speak to each of these three observations: 1. There is a funding gap for dementia naviga-tion and support services. a. Nearly 95 per cent of the clients in the pilot programme were insured. b. However, 84 per cent of all referrals could not contribute to the full cost inclusive of co -pay of the services. 2. Persons are not getting formally diagnosed. a. At the start of the programme 46 per cent of clients stated they did not have a formal diagnosis. b. However, after participating in the pilot programme, 77 per cent had obtained a diagnosis. 3. Caregivers are stressed and not getting enough support. a. At the start of the pilot programme, 16 per cent of the caregivers rated their stress levels as severe, and 52 per cent said theirs were moderate. b. At the 12- month evaluation mark, for those clients evaluated,
Bermuda House of Assembly i. 46 per cent felt somewhat less stressed; ii. 27 per cent were significantly less stressed; iii. 62 per cent felt much more knowledgeable about dementia; iv. 77 per cent were more confident in implementing care strategies for their loved one; and v. 73 per cent were more aware of local resources available. Mr. Speaker, the pilot programme highlighted to its clients the importance of being diagnosed to determine if one is experiencing dementia or not. This allows persons to prepare ahead and put their affairs in order, determine what supports will be needed and get critical legal documents and financial resources in place. After starting the pilot, 65 per cent of the clients obtained a power of attorney, and 46 per cent obtained an advance directive. Mr. Speaker, the pilot programme outlined how persons can start interventions and find supports sooner rather than later. For example, there are avail-able medications or programmes that can help decrease the impact of the cognitive decline early in dementia progression. Additionally, there are non-medical interventions to help manage behaviours or concerns that can reduce the need for costly hospital admission. Roughly 81 per cent of the clients in the pilot programme had no hospital admission, and 46 per cent had an increase in social support for their loved one. Mr. Speaker, it is important that family carers have the support they need to continue the care of their loved ones. Access to support groups, respite, day care, activity programmes and care home placement are needed. The pilot programme demonstrated the critical role of system navigation and care management for family carers and persons living with dementia to provide support and guidance with direct care and available support services. This is evident by 100 per cent of clients evaluated stating the dementia care services pilot programme should continue. Mr. Speaker, the pilot findings are from only a small sample of persons diagnosed with dementia. This is why our systematic work in collaboration with the Ministry of Health is critical for long -term solutions. Under the framework of the National Seniors’ Strategy, the Ministry contracted the Bermuda Health Council to develop an integrated care pathway for dementia, in collaboration and alignment with the Health Ministry’s health system reform work and the Health Council’s Dementia Health Needs Assessment. This initiative underway is mapping current patient journeys and identifying system and service gaps and needs. A preferred care pathway will be established in consulta-tion with stakeholders, and an action plan will be de-veloped. This pathway will cover prevention to end of life as the entire spectrum must be addressed to not only reduce the prevalence of dementia in Bermuda but also its negative impact on those living with the disease, their support persons and the sustainability of our health and long- term care systems. Fundamental to this work is establishing a standardised formal diagnosis process to ensure we obtain the most accurate data as possible on dementia and its varying types. Mr. Speaker, in closing I acknowledge and thank all of those persons living with dementia, their carers and the service providers who have shared and continue to share their experiences, knowledge, expertise and very limited time as part of this pilot pro-gramme work for improving Bermuda’s dementia care system for current and future generations. We look forward to updating this Honourable House and the community on the continuing progress of these initiatives. During the interim, I encourage our community to increase their awareness of dementia prevention and how to lend support to persons and carers as well as the organisations in place that support persons living with dementia, and their families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Minister, would you like to proceed with your next Statement? Hon. Tinee Furbert: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo right ahead. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PERSONAL CARE ALLOWANCE Hon. Tinee Furbert: Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise before this Honourable House to lay for information the Financial Assistance Amendment Regulations 2024. The amendment to the Financial Assistance Regulations 2004 added an expenditure line item for a $100 Personal Care Allowance …
Go right ahead.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PERSONAL CARE ALLOWANCE Hon. Tinee Furbert: Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise before this Honourable House to lay for information the Financial Assistance Amendment Regulations 2024. The amendment to the Financial Assistance Regulations 2004 added an expenditure line item for a $100 Personal Care Allowance in the Table of Allowable Expenses. Mr. Speaker, I remind Members of this House of the significant investment that was made for the provision of expanded social services for the 2024/25 financial year as part of the Government’s mid- year review in September 2024. This included funding for a monthly personal care allowance for Financial Assistance clients in rest and nursing homes. Mr. Speaker, many Financial Assistance clients who reside in rest and nursing homes, including those without critical family support, already have the high expense of rest and nursing home fees ranging from $5,000 to $12,000 a month and cannot support their basic hygiene needs and purchase the personal 154 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly care products and services that you and I, and my honourable colleagues in this House, tend to take for granted. Several residents have expressed their concerns about this and having no money to purchase such items. Let me add, Mr. Speaker, administrators at the rest and nursing homes have shared that they do not have the funds to purchase personal care products and services for residents. Consequently, some families provide personal care products and services for their loved ones; some do not. And those residents with no family support tend to go without these basic personal care items. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Financial Assistance was given a supplementary of $911,000 that was approved by this House in October 2024 to provide a monthly Personal Care Allowance of $100 to all Financial Assistance clients who reside in rest homes and nursing homes. The monthly allowance will allow for the purchase of personal care and health care goods and services, such as toiletries and grooming services. Mr. Speaker, commencing in November 2024, the department worked [assiduously] with the Ministry of Justice, as an amendment was needed to that leg-islation —that is, the Financial Assistance Regulations 2004 —to add an expenditure line item for Personal Care Allowance in the Table of Allowable Expenses to legally facilitate the $100 Personal Care Allowance. The amendment to the legislation was completed and gazetted in December 2024 and became effective on 1 February 2025. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Financial Assistance has established a framework to ensure that all Financial Assistance [FA] clients in licensed rest and nursing homes receive a monthly personal care allowance of $100. This includes direct deposit into their bank accounts for access by the client or those deemed to be carers of their clients, or via their respective rest and nursing homes. Mr. Speaker, currently, 240 Financial Assistance clients will receive the $100 personal care allowance, of which 220 clients are pensioners and 20 clients are persons with a disability. In preparation to execute the payment to the 240 clients, the Financial Assistance Software System had to be adjusted to include a line item for the personal care allowance. Additionally, the Department of Financial Assistance had to make sure that every client had a valid bank account in the system. This has been a tedious exer-cise, as accuracy is important for ensuring that the right information is in the system, particularly in those instances where changes were needed to bank accounts, or new bank accounts were added. Mr. Speaker, for those clients who will be paid their $100 personal care allowance via the rest or nursing homes, the department has visited with all of the licensed facilities to discuss how this could be processed. An agreement was reached that a memo-randum of understanding would be established stating that the $100 will be used to purchase personal care items and other [sundry] items on behalf of the Financial Assistance clients. These logistics should be all finalised by the end of April. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the first payout of the $100 personal care allowance to Financial Assistance clients residing in licensed rest and nursing homes will occur in May 2025. With that, Mr. Speaker, I now table for the information of the House the Financial Assistance Amendment Regulations 2024. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER
HOUSE VISITOR
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Before I acknowledge the next Statement, I would just like to acknowledge in the Gallery we have the former Senator and former Attorney General Perinchief, Phil Perinchief. Welcome to the Chamber this morning. [Desk thumping] STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS AND JUNIOR MINISTERS [Continuation thereof]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThe next Statement this morning, Members, is in the name of the Minister of Home Af-fairs. Minister, would you like to present your Statement? Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. COST OF LIVING STRATEGY TO COMBAT IN BERMUDA Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share …
The next Statement this morning, Members, is in the name of the Minister of Home Af-fairs. Minister, would you like to present your Statement? Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
COST OF LIVING STRATEGY TO COMBAT IN BERMUDA
Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share some information with this House. I n our recent Throne Speech, the Bermuda Government firmly took another step forward in our mission to ease the burden of rising costs in Bermuda. For too long, Bermudians have shouldered the weight of increasing prices on food, housing, electricity and everyday essentials. These costs have made it harder for families to make ends meet, and harder still for seniors to live with dignity and security in their later years. In the 2025 Throne Speech, the Government reaffirmed its bold and people- centred vision —one that represents and responds to the everyday realities
Bermuda House of Assembly of our people and puts them first. Mr. Speaker, this vision includes • supporting Bermudians at every stage of life; • expanding access to affordable housing; • transforming health care to make it more accessible and affordable; and • lowering the cost of living by taking direct and coordinated action on the cost of food, energy and essential goods. Mr. Speaker, i n keeping with the commitments laid out in the 2025 T hrone Speech, I rise today to update this Honourable House on two critical initiatives aimed at addressing one of Bermuda’s most pressing challenges —the cost of living. Mr. Speaker, w e are all acutely aware that the rising cost of living continues to strain household budgets and impact the economic resilience of our families, our seniors and our businesses. This Government, through the newly re constituted Ministry of Home Affairs, has been tasked with the singular and focused mission to confront these challenges headon. Today , Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the Ministry will convene a Cost -of-Living Summit. This s ummit will bring together representatives from across Government, industry, labour and the community to examine the systemat ic drivers of Bermuda’s high costs and to chart a course toward measurable, sustainable relief for our people. Mr. Speaker, i n preparation for this s ummit, the Ministry is undertaking a two- fold national engagement exercise: a public survey and stakeholder consultations. These engagements , already underway, are designed to capture a wide range of insights: • From the public , real-world experiences of affordability pressures, perceptions of government relief efforts and public appetite for new measures . • From the private sector , detailed perspectives on supply chain constraints, cost pass - throughs, wage pressures and incentives that might support cost reduction. These data- driven consultations will not only inform the agenda for the s ummit but will also form the backbone of a comprehensive Cost of Living Report to be tabled following the event. This report will assess the effectiveness of current initiatives, identify gaps and provide concrete, actionable recommendations for Cabinet ’s consideration— including potential amendments to the Regulatory Authority Act to extend oversight powers across both regulated and unregulated markets. Mr. Speaker, l et me be clear: we do not underestimate the complexity of this task. But through rigorous analysis, broad engagement and decisive policy leadership, this Government is committed to delivering results. The upcoming s ummit will represent both a culmination and a beginning— a culmination of listening, analysis and preparation, and a beginning of targeted, evidence- based action. Mr. Speaker, t he people of Bermuda deserve to see progress on this issue, not just promises. They deserve transparency, urgency and real change. The Ministry of Home Affairs is determined to deliver on that promise. We look forward to working in partnership with all stakeholders to deliver a more affordable Bermuda for all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Members, the next Statement is also in the name of the Minister of Home Affairs. Minister. ENERGY POLICY STEERING COMMITTEE ESTABLISHMENT OF Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker, I rise today also to share that the Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Department of …
Thank you, Minister. Members, the next Statement is also in the name of the Minister of Home Affairs. Minister.
ENERGY POLICY STEERING COMMITTEE ESTABLISHMENT OF
Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker, I rise today also to share that the Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Department of Energy, plans to create an Energy Policy Steering Committee [ESPC ]. The ESPC will advise the Ministry of Home Affairs on the development, implementation and monitoring of Bermuda’s key energy policies: the National Electricity Sector Policy [NESP] and the National Fuels Policy [ NFP]. [The ESPC] will also provide recommendations to the Minister for issuing directives to the Regulatory Authority [ RA] to ensure the Integrated Resource Plan aligns with these policies and its implementation support s Bermuda’s energy goals. Additionally, the EPSC will propose strategies to re-duce Bermuda’s rising electricity costs and to de-crease the Island’s dependence on fossil fuels by promoting sustainable and cost -effective energy solutions. Mr. Speaker, as Honourable Members will be aware, the NESP and NFP were originally developed in 2015 and 2018, respectively. Since their development, there have been many changes in Bermuda’s energy landscape, most notably the establishment of Bermuda’s first IRP [Integrated Resource Plan] in 2019 and the significant rise in electricity prices of almost 40 per cent since 2021. It is therefore essential that we begin to strategi ze not only on how to update these policies, but how to better implement Bermuda’s energy goals of providing sustainable and cost -effective energy to Bermudians. However, we must also ensure, Mr. Speaker, that the Ministry has adequate know -how, expertise and resources to effectively update and implement these policies. As a result, the Department of Energy has requested the development of the ESPC , which will bring together stakeholders and experts in the industry to help inform the Ministry. Mr. Speaker, t he EPSC will be comprised of representatives from a range of backgrounds, ensuring that Bermuda benefits from the collective expertise 156 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly of policymakers, industry professionals and community representatives. Government representatives will include officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Energy and other key agencies responsible for land and resource management. Additionally, energy and environmental experts, including former members of the Regulatory Authority, BELCO and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, will contribute their insights. Mr. Speaker, t he committee will also incorporate economists, policy analysts and representatives from academia to provide critical assessments of the energy policy impacts. Private sector stakeholders, such as renewable energy firms and organi sations advocating for energy affordability, will have a seat at the table. Furthermore, members of the public, environmental advocacy groups, and both local and for-eign NGOs [non- government organisations] will be invited to participate, ensuring that diverse perspectives are considered in the policy -making process. When needed, the EPSC may also consult temporary subject matter experts for specific initiatives. The primary responsibilities of the EPSC will be to periodically review and update the NESP and NFP to ensure that these policies remain relevant and effective. The committee will identify policy gaps and propose new measures to support renewable energy integration, energy efficiency and sustainable fuels. Additionally, it will evaluate policy options to address the high cost of electricity, with a focus on increasing affordability, promoting competition and enhancing Bermuda’s energy independence. Mr. Speaker, a key function [of the EPSC ] will be also to align the IRP with Bermuda’s overarching energy policies. The committee will provide recommendations to both the Regulatory Authority and BELCO to guide future energy planning, ensuring that long-term sustainability, energy security and cost reduction remain at the forefront. The committee will also monitor the implementation of the IRP, ensuring the progress aligns with Bermuda’s energy policies. Should any deviations occur, the EPSC will recommend corrective actions to the Minister. Mr. Speaker, in terms of deliverables, the EPSC will oversee the development of updated ver-sions of the NESP and NFP, providing recommendations to the IRP process, including strategies for renewable energy integration and sustainable fuels. The committee will produce reports analysing electricity costs and affordability, offering potential cost - reduction measures. P eriodic progress reports will be submitted to the Minister and other relevant stakeholders, and public -facing documents will be published to maintain transparency and keep the public informed. The EPSC will operate, adapting to evolving energy challenges and opportunities , to secure Bermuda’s energy future. Term limits will be established to facilitate the rotation of members while allowing for reappointments where necessary. This election and onboarding of new members will be conducted in collaboration with the Home Affairs Ministry’s Department of Energy. The establishment of the EPSC underscores the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Bermuda’s energy policies are proactive, data- driven and aligned with long- term sustainability, affordability and resilience. By integrating expert policy oversight with real-world implementation strategies, the EPSC will play a pivotal role in shaping Bermuda’s clean energy future. Through this initiative, we reaffirm our commitment to reducing electricity costs, enhancing energy security and fostering a sustainable energy transition for the betterment of all Bermudians. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Members, the next Statement this morning is in the name of the Tourism and Transport. Minister. Hon. Owen Darrell: Good morning, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. MARINE AND PORTS SERVICES DEPARTMENT UPDATE Hon. Owen Darrell: Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I rise today to provide an update on the Dockyard Workshop Project, an initiative that is vital for the continued efficiency and advancement of Bermuda’s Department of Marine and Ports Services …
Good morning.
MARINE AND PORTS SERVICES DEPARTMENT UPDATE
Hon. Owen Darrell: Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I rise today to provide an update on the Dockyard Workshop Project, an initiative that is vital for the continued efficiency and advancement of Bermuda’s Department of Marine and Ports Services . This initiative is not just a matter of convenience, but a necessity for the operational integrity and future growth of the department’s marine fleet. Mr. Speaker, during my visit to the Marine and Ports workshop in Dockyard, I was pleasantly astonished by the scale and complexity of their operations. I had the pleasure of meeting a young Bermudian, Mr. Jamal Smith, the Acting Fleet Manager, during our visit, who served as our guide. I was impressed by his professionalism and deep knowledge of his field. The facility is far more extensive and intricate than I had anticipated, showcasing a highly coordinated system that ensures the smooth functioning of Bermuda’s maritime services. The level of organi sation, technical expertise and infrastructure in place truly reflects the dedication and efficiency required to maintain such a vital component of the I sland’s transportation network. Mr. Speaker, the current Marine and Ports workshop locations in Dockyard and East Broadway have long been plagued with inadequate resources and a lack of space, which has hindered efficiency. The ag eing infrastructures , which pose health risk s to staff, further underscor e the need for change. Importantly, the reorgani sation of the stores section in the Dockyard location will ensure that Marine and Ports has the necessary parts readily available to
Bermuda House of Assembly meet International Maritime Organization [ IMO] codes, a critical step in maintaining industry standards resulting in a safer and more reliable marine fleet. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the infrastructure development for this project is well un-derway. Three empty buildings are being refurbished and outfitted to serve as a state- of-the-art marine workshop, complete with a larger stores area, dedicated offices for marine staff, and essential furniture and fixtures. Additionally, we are equipping the facility with modern computers, work bays and other neces-sary tools to ensure optimal operational effectiveness. Also, the addition of a wharf adjacent to the workshop will facilitate the dismantling of engines and other vital vessel components, making maintenance operations more seamless and efficient. Mr. Speaker, the new location provides a moderni sed and spacious facility designed to enhance both functionality and efficiency. It includes designat-ed training areas that will allow us to improve the technical knowledge of our staff in- house and emphasise the development of Bermudians through apprenticeships in the various marine trades. By having a purpose- built facility designed to complement the employees ’ speciali sed overseas training, we expect to see significant cost savings while enhancing our workforce’s skill set. The integration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education within Marine and Ports will enable our staff to improve their technical proficiency in areas such as vessel mainte-nance, navigation, marine engineering and port management. As technology continues to revolutioni se the maritime industry, from carbon- neutral vessel propulsion to advanced vessel maintenance protocols, it is essential that our personnel remain at the forefront of these developments. Mr. Speaker, upon completion of the Dockyard workshop facility, the focus will be given to the long-overdue renovation of the East Broadway workshop and ferry depot. These facilities play a crucial role in the daily operations of the Marine and Ports Services, ensuring that Bermuda’s ferry system remains functional and efficient. The planned renova-tions for the East Broadway workshop will focus on creating a well -equipped environment for maintenance of the ferry fleet. A properly designed space will allow for routine servicing, repairs and emergency interventions, ensuring that the vessels remain in optimal condition. This will help to minimi se downtime and enhance the overall longevity of our marine assets. Mr. Speaker, in addition, the upgraded Hamilton ferry depot will include improved facilities for the crews that man our vessels. These hardworking individuals deserve a modern and comfortable working environment that supports their well -being and productivity. The facility will include dedicated staffing areas , ensuring that staff have secure and private spaces to prepare for their shifts. The redevelopment of the East B roadway workshop and ferry depot is a necessary investment in Bermuda’s maritime infrastructure. By moderni sing both the Dockyard and East Broadway facilities, we reaffirm our commitment to the continued advancement and sustainability of Bermu-da’s marine transportation sector. Mr. Speaker, it is important to note, as part of Government’s mission to provide enhanced learning opportunities, we will also explore integrating such facilities into the schools to afford hands -on learning experiences for students interested in marine engineering, mechanics and trades. Mr. Speaker, in addition to the workshop efforts, I am also pleased [to comment] on the ongoing progress regarding our marine fleet expansion. Currently, there are two new ferries being fabricated in Singapore. C ompletion is expected in October of this year. These 550- passenger ferries will significantly enhance Bermuda’s mar itime transportation network. With increased passenger capacity and improved operational efficiency, these ferries will support our goal of providing reliable, high- quality public transportation for residents and visitors alike on our orange, blue and green routes. The new vessels will ease congestion during peak travel times, bolster economic activity and ensure a more seamless commuting experience across the I sland. Mr. Speaker, the department remains committed to exploring innovative solutions for its fleet. As parts of the fleet continue to age, it is evident that replacement options are advancing. In response, a collaborative electrification initiative has been launched, bringing together internal, external and international stakeholders to assess the transition of a portion of the fleet to electric vessels. This initiative, along with the other ongoing efforts, not only highlights the increasing progress in fleet moderni sation , but also reinforces the strong dedication to improving Bermuda’s ferry service. We remain committed to building a transportation system that is safer, more sustainable, eco-friendly and dependable for the future. Thank you,
Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThank you, Minister. Members, the next Statement this morning is in the name of the Minister of Cabinet Office. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Minister. Good morning, Members.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) POLICY Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform this Honourable House of the Bermuda Gov-ernment’s work to create and adopt a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy . 158 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Speaker, …
Good morning.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) POLICY Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform this Honourable House of the Bermuda Gov-ernment’s work to create and adopt a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy . 158 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Speaker, as the Minister responsible for Digital Innovation, I am proud to lead a government initiative that is not only embracing the future but doing so with deliberate care and responsibility. Artificial intelligence is one of the most transformative technol-ogies of our time, and if harnessed ethically, it can significantly enhance the way we deliver public services, make decisions and engage with our community. Mr. Speaker, this policy was developed to ensure that the Government’s use of AI aligns with our core values, which are • ethics; • accountability; • transparency; and • equity. [The policy] also provides a structured framework to guide how AI is used within both internal op-erations and public -facing services. The policy will apply to all government employees and consultants using AI for official purposes. Whether we are using AI to streamline internal workflows or improve citizen-facing services, this policy ensures that we do so in a way that safeguards human rights, privacy and public trust. Mr. Speaker, key features of the AI Policy include • a human- in-the-loop approach, ensuring that AI decisions impacting people’s rights or government services are always reviewed by a person; • a strict compliance with Bermuda’s PIPA and PATI legislation, protecting the privacy and personal data of our residents; • a strong emphasis on transparency, requiring AI systems to be explainable and auditable; • regular risk assessments and audits to ensure fairness, accuracy and the mitigation of bias; and • the establishment of an AI Governance SubCommittee under the IT Governance Committee to oversee implementation and compliance. Mr. Speaker, this policy is the result of meaningful collaboration between the Digital Transformation Team, the Information and Digital Technologies unit, the PATI/PIPA unit, Crown Counsel, and the Chief Information Security Officer. Their work ensures that Bermuda is not only participating in the global AI conversation but leading with an approach that is uniquely thoughtful and community focused. Implementation is being rolled out through a phased approach, starting with pilot projects to evalu-ate how best to apply these standards across government. The policy will also be reviewed periodically to ensure that it keeps pace with evolving technologies and public expectations. Mr. Speaker, as we move forward, we do so with a clear sense of purpose. AI is not a trend; it is a tool. And with this policy, we are ensuring that that tool is used wisely, fairly and for the benefit of all Bermudians. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Members, that brings us to a close of the Statements by Ministers and Junior Ministers for this morning. We now move on to the next item. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. That now takes us to the next item. QUESTION PERIOD
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThis morning, Members, we have written questions as well as questions from the State-ments that have been presented today. We will start with the written questions. The first questions this morning are from the Opposition Whip to the Premier and the Minister of Finance. And they require an oral response. …
This morning, Members, we have written questions as well as questions from the State-ments that have been presented today. We will start with the written questions. The first questions this morning are from the Opposition Whip to the Premier and the Minister of Finance. And they require an oral response. Mr. Whip, would you like to put your questions?
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Thank you, and good morning, colleagues and Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo right ahead. QUESTION 1: SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY REMUNERATION Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Will the Honourable Premier and Minister of Finance please provide to this Honourable House a list of the Senators and Members of the House of Assembly who are currently receiving or have …
Go right ahead.
QUESTION 1: SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY REMUNERATION
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Will the Honourable Premier and Minister of Finance please provide to this Honourable House a list of the Senators and Members of the House of Assembly who are currently receiving or have received any form of remuneration separate from their parliamentary salary for any work or advisory services in the Ministry of Finance or for public service on s tatutory boards/ committees or quangos or other publicly funded entities coming under remit of the Ministry, over the period from the 1 st of September 2024 to the 15th of March 2025; and the amount of remuneration received?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPremier. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in answer to the question, as previously known, a Member of Parliament, now Minister Jache Adams, JP, MP, was engaged under the Premier, Ministers and Opposition Leader Personal Staffs Act 2019 for the period. The remuneration received was $46,110.52. …
Premier.
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in answer to the question, as previously known, a Member of Parliament, now Minister Jache Adams, JP, MP, was engaged under the Premier, Ministers and Opposition Leader Personal Staffs Act 2019 for the period. The remuneration received was $46,110.52.
Bermuda House of Assembly Member of Parliament Wayne Furbert is engaged under the Premier, Ministers and Opposition Leader Personal Staffs Act through the Ministry of Finance on similar terms as Minister Adams. He has yet to be remunerated. In regard to boards and committees, regarding under the Ministry of Finance, Member of Parliament Neville Tyrrell serves as Chairman of the Government Employee Health Insurance Management Committee for the period under question. No remuneration was paid to Mr. Tyrrell, and he is also a member of the Appeals Tribunal Contributory Pensions for the period mentioned in the question. Remuneration received was $2,000. Member of Parliament Curtis Dickinson serves as Chairman of the Pension Committee and for the period asked no remuneration was paid to Mr. Dickinson.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Premier. The next written question this morning on the Order Paper was actually from MP Fahy to the Deputy Premier. But that has been withdrawn now because the matter is going to be discussed later today. I understand you are satisfied with its being discussed later, right?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerCorrect. Okay. Thank you. So, we will pass that question. The next scheduled written questions this morning were from MP King to the Minister of National Security. But they did not require an oral response. They just required a written response. Have you received the response?
Mr. Robert KingGood morning, Mr. Speaker. I have not. QUESTIONS: BERMUDA POLICE SERVICE
Mr. Robert KingWill the Honourable Minister please inform this Honourable House as to whether the Bermuda Police Service has a full complement of officers in place to meet the policing needs of this community, and if not, then how many officers are currently in place?
Mr. Robert KingWill the Honourable Minister please explain to this Honourable House what the reason was for sending three (3) officers, including one Sergeant and two Constables, to Montserrat to help out with a St. Patrick’s Day celebration?
Mr. Robert KingWill the Honourable Minister please inform this Honourable House as to what recommendations were contained in the Report on the September 2023 Cyberattack, which was completed in November 2023?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister, is the written response available? Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Yes, Mr. Speaker. I thought they were sent to your offices yesterday. But I can follow up on that.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. That was part of the problem this morning. I should have mentioned it earlier. My apologies. Mr. Lamb is actually out ill this morning. You know, he is normally here feeding everything as it happens up to the SharePoint. So, there will be a delay in getting things on …
Okay. That was part of the problem this morning. I should have mentioned it earlier. My apologies. Mr. Lamb is actually out ill this morning. You know, he is normally here feeding everything as it happens up to the SharePoint. So, there will be a delay in getting things on the SharePoint, but we will make sure . . . the Deputy Speaker is passing you a hard copy now. Okay? So, Members, I should highlight that because we may have delays. Even the committees that were announced this morning, they did not go up as they would have been announced. But with Mr. Lamb’s being absent today, they will go up later on in the course of the day, but maybe over the weekend more likely, to be honest. Okay? All right. Thank you. That brings us to a close of the written questions for this morning. We now go to the questions that were generated from the Statements that were presented this morning. And the first Statement that has questions this morning is from the . . . in fact, yourself, Minister of National Security. The Opposition Leader and others would like to put questions to you. Opposition Leader. Hon. Jarion Richardson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning to you, sir.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. QUESTION 1: CCTV NETWORK UPGRADE PROGRESS UPDATE Hon. Jarion Richardson: Good morning to my colleagues and the listening audience. Would the Honourable Minister be able to speak to the civil and electrical work that added an unanticipated expense of $463,651? Specifically, why was that civil and electrical work …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I can start off reading directly from my Statement? Is that fine with you? 160 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Mm-hmm. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: “This modernization required civil (road) and electrical works …
Minister. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I can start off reading directly from my Statement? Is that fine with you? 160 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Mm-hmm.
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: “This modernization required civil (road) and electrical works that were not included in the original Request for Proposal (RFP) since vendors could not accurately quantify these costs in advance. As a result, the current cost for all civil and electrical works . . .” as has stood comes to that figure of $463,651.00.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary? SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes, thank you. Given that the vendors could not accurately quantify but still secured the funding for this project, has anything changed in the Ministry’s request for proposal process to ensure that better forecasting is available in the future?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Thank you for that, Mr. Speaker. It is not a matter of whether or not better forecasting is available. Because of the nature of the project and working with so many different entities, inter-nal and external, it was difficult for them to accurately forecast what …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Supplementary or new question? Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes. So, the going- forward strategy as it relates to the Ministry’s RFP process is that when it is difficult to accurately forecast, they will therefore allow the vendor to be granted a contract without any kind of control?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: No.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNew question? QUESTION 2: CCTV NETWORK UPGRADE PROGRESS UPDATE Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes, absolutely. What were the specific unforeseen challenges which caused the delays in roll -out? Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: The unforeseen challenges, Mr. Speaker, were things like trenching. It is like building anything, like building a house. There is always some unforeseen work that has to be done. The trenching and changing of poles and rewiring stuff and the like. It was nothing untoward.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Supplementary? SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes. Has the Government or any of the vendors incurred any penalties or additional costs due to the delays?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: No.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary? Hon. Jarion Richardson: No. Third question, please.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThird question, yes. QUESTION 3: CCTV NETWORK UPGRADE PROGRESS UPDATE Hon. Jarion Richardson: Has the Ministry been advised of any of the legislative changes needed for automated traffic enforcement?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Mr. Speaker, if I may I will read again straight from my Ministerial Statement.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. Go ahead. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: As I said, “ Mr. Speaker, in the coming months, the Ministry of National Security and the” (Bermuda Police Service) “ will work closely with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Justice on legislative amendments necessary for implementing the ticketing …
Go ahead. Go ahead. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: As I said, “ Mr. Speaker, in the coming months, the Ministry of National Security and the” (Bermuda Police Service) “ will work closely with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Justice on legislative amendments necessary for implementing the ticketing system for speed cameras. This will be the final step in the implementation of a system that we are confident will improve the safety on our roads. ”
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Supplementary? SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes, clarification, Mr. Speaker. The question was not whether legislative changes were going to be entertained. It was What, and specifically Has the Ministry received any legislative changes? Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Mr. Speaker, the legislative changes that are …
Thank you. Supplementary?
SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes, clarification, Mr. Speaker. The question was not whether legislative changes were going to be entertained. It was What, and specifically Has the Ministry received any legislative changes?
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Mr. Speaker, the legislative changes that are going to be involved are in getting a ticket from the speed camera to the person who is breaking the law. So, it is just a matter of updating legislation and taking it so that when somebody goes through the licence plate recognition cameras, that the ticketing process is still being analysed, and the legislation is being looked at and updated to make that a reality.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Supplementary? Or no more new questions, so your last supplementary. Hon. Jarion Richardson: Last supplementary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When does the Minister anticipate those legislative changes being brought to this Honourable House?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: As soon as they are complete, because we are very much down the road in trying to get not only the CCTV up and running, but the speed cameras hopefully up and running. And the legislative changes will be here soon after.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Thank you, Minister. Those are the last questions from the Opposition Leader. However, there are two other Members who have questions for you, I believe. MP Tucker, would you like to put your questions?
Ms. Robin TuckerThank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield my time because my questions were answered. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOh. Okay. MP King, would you like to put your questions?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo right ahead. QUESTION 1: CCTV NETWORK UPGRADE PROGRESS UPDATE
Mr. Robert KingI have a question for the Minister of National Security, is this —Oh, first of all, a comment. We definitely applaud the efforts to make our roads and community safer. Toward that end, understanding the amendments for the speed cameras, is there going to be consideration given to amendments to …
I have a question for the Minister of National Security, is this —Oh, first of all, a comment. We definitely applaud the efforts to make our roads and community safer. Toward that end, understanding the amendments for the speed cameras, is there going to be consideration given to amendments to the law regarding sobriety and sobriety checks not being gazetted to let people know who would consider drinking and driv-ing? As part of the overall package of amendments, is that being considered? [Inaudible interjections]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI just have to ask a question. Was reference to that made in the Statement at all?
Some Hon. Members Some Hon. MembersNo, no.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWell, the question has to be relative to the Statement. So, it is not required for the Minister to respond to that. Okay. Minister, also the Deputy Opposition Leader had questions for you as well.
Mr. Ben SmithThank you, Mr. Speaker, and good morning.
Mr. Ben SmithThank you to the Minister for his Statement this morning. Will the Minister or Ministry support requests for expansion of the coverage from community clubs and from neighbourhoods? Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Mr. Speaker, just give me a second. I will go right back to my Statement.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNo problem. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Oh, but before I do that, I would like to respond to MP King. I have no problem responding to you offline, so you can reach out to me. Mr. Speaker, in response to the Deputy Opposition Leader, straight from the Ministerial Statement, “ …
No problem.
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Oh, but before I do that, I would like to respond to MP King. I have no problem responding to you offline, so you can reach out to me. Mr. Speaker, in response to the Deputy Opposition Leader, straight from the Ministerial Statement, “ residents have expressed a greater sense of security knowing that CCTV coverage has been enhanced. This increased confidence has encouraged more community engagement, with citizens more willing to report suspicious activity to the BPS. Mr. Speaker, we have even received requests from community clubs and neighbourhoods to further expand CCTV coverage. ”
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary? SUPPLEMENTARIES
Mr. Ben SmithPlease. Thank you. Yes, a supplementary. Will they support that increase in expansion? I know there have been requests. But will the Ministry actually support an expansion based off of those requests? 162 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Minister. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Further supplementary or new question?
Mr. Ben SmithThe cost of that expansion, will that be borne solely by the Government or will this be in collaboration with those sports clubs?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Mr. Speaker, all options will be considered.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. That is the close of the questions for you this morning. We will now move on to the next Statement that has questions. And, Minister of Health, there are Members who wish to ask questions of you. And the first are from the Opposition Deputy Leader. QUESTION …
Thank you, Minister. That is the close of the questions for you this morning. We will now move on to the next Statement that has questions. And, Minister of Health, there are Members who wish to ask questions of you. And the first are from the Opposition Deputy Leader.
QUESTION 1: NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN BERMUDA , ADDRESSING THE RISING BURDEN OF
Mr. Ben SmithThank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Statement from the Minister, there was quite a bit about moving and getting our people to start to move more. I am wondering if the Minister will let us know whether there has been any communication, collaboration with the Ministry of Edu-cation …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the Honourable Member for that question. Mr. Speaker, as we have indicated in the Statement, it is important for us to encourage physical activity. And those discussions with respect to myself and the Minister of Education—previous Minister of …
Minister.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the Honourable Member for that question. Mr. Speaker, as we have indicated in the Statement, it is important for us to encourage physical activity. And those discussions with respect to myself and the Minister of Education—previous Minister of Education will continue with the newly appointed Minister of Education because we do appreciate the need for continued engagement and especially with respect to our young people for them to have engagement regularly in physical activity. So those conversations will continue with the newly appointed Minister of Education.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Supplementary or new question? SUPPLEMENTRY
Mr. Ben SmithSupplementary. So in the conversation that would have happened up until a point, are there any thoughts to in-crease the opportunity for physical education to increase movement of our young people? Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Again, Mr. Speaker, there is a newly appointed Minister of Education, so I will con-tinue …
Supplementary. So in the conversation that would have happened up until a point, are there any thoughts to in-crease the opportunity for physical education to increase movement of our young people?
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Again, Mr. Speaker, there is a newly appointed Minister of Education, so I will con-tinue that dialogue with that individual. And I would anticipate that we will be on alignment as it relates to ensuring that students have adequate physical activity within their daily regime.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. QUESTION 2: NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN BERMUDA , ADDRESSING THE RISING BURDEN OF
Mr. Ben SmithContinuing on with that, would the Minister be able to tell us whether there has been any communication or collaboration with the Minister of Sport to find out whether there has been interaction with national sport governing bodies to increase ac-cess for our young people to continue this movement? This …
Continuing on with that, would the Minister be able to tell us whether there has been any communication or collaboration with the Minister of Sport to find out whether there has been interaction with national sport governing bodies to increase ac-cess for our young people to continue this movement? This is all toward supporting getting our young people moving so that we have a healthy population.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Minister. Mr. Speaker, I think that would be a question that would be more appropriately addressed to the Minister of Sport. But members of the public and the Government would know that there is the Youth Sport . . . Is it the …
Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Minister. Mr. Speaker, I think that would be a question that would be more appropriately addressed to the Minister of Sport. But members of the public and the Government would know that there is the Youth Sport . . . Is it the Youth Sport Initiative Programme 2027? What is it?
[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: There is a National Sport Policy 2022 –2027. Obviously, the Minister responsible for Youth and Sport would know more than I would with respect to that. But it does speak to the National Youth Policy and the engagement of sporting facilities to ensure that there is more enhancement and availability through financial support so that the national sporting bodies do have the requisite funds so they can continue the engagement with the youth with respect to those particular bodies. But again, that would
Bermuda House of Assembly probably be more appropriately answered by the Minister responsible for Youth and Sport. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay, no further questions. No further questions from the Deputy Opposition Leader. Minister, the next question is from MP Tucker. MP Tucker, would you like to put your question? QUESTION 1: NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN BERMUDA , ADDRESSING THE RISING BURDEN OF
Ms. Robin TuckerYes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My first question relates to the ban on trans fats. So, I would like to know what plan is on place for the Government to begin broad public awareness campaigns to educate people on the health risks of trans fats. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I thank that Honourable Member for her question. And the communication strategy is just commencing. In fact, when we announced it last week at the Throne Speech and then again today, we reiterated it. But we are meeting with the requisite communications person so that …
Minister.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I thank that Honourable Member for her question. And the communication strategy is just commencing. In fact, when we announced it last week at the Throne Speech and then again today, we reiterated it. But we are meeting with the requisite communications person so that we can initiate those conversations. We will also be meeting with stakeholders, particularly restaurateurs so that they can appreciate and understand the direction of travel and the importance of why we are planning on legislating the removal of trans fat, as well as our Health Promotions Office will also be engaged in this regard so that we can continue to inform the members of the public of the importance of a healthy diet, which includes the reduction and the removal of trans fats, which as I have indicated in my Ministerial Statement, have absolutely no health benefits whatsoever.
Ms. Robin TuckerThe Minister mentioned that there will be some discussion with the restaurateurs and other food service providers. I am just wondering if the Minister can sort of give any insight into whether there will be any residual impacts for particularly fast food restaurants. Because trans fats are found in a …
The Minister mentioned that there will be some discussion with the restaurateurs and other food service providers. I am just wondering if the Minister can sort of give any insight into whether there will be any residual impacts for particularly fast food restaurants. Because trans fats are found in a lot of fast food. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you for that question from the Honourable Member. Again, Mr. Speaker, those engagements have just started. But fortunately, many of the restaurants have already taken the initiative to remove trans fats from their food supply simply because this is a world trend. And as I have indicated previously in this Hon-ourable House, over 87 million people are impacted by the 48 countries that have signed up for the WHO’s recommendation to remove trans fats by (I think) 2027. So, a number of restaurants are doing it on their own in any event. So, we are not anticipating that there will be a lot of resistance, because they recog-nise that they too want to contribute toward a health society.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Further supplementary or new question?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo right ahead. QUESTION 2: NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN BERMUDA , ADDRESSING THE RISING BURDEN OF
Ms. Robin TuckerThe question concerns tax concessions for gyms. I would like to know what will be done to ensure that the savings from the tax concessions for the gyms will be passed on to the clients. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: That is a very good question. As it relates to the tax concessions, regrettably there have only been a few gyms that have actually taken advantage of making application to the Minister of Finance to receive that tax concession. Insofar as ensuring that it is …
Minister.
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: That is a very good question. As it relates to the tax concessions, regrettably there have only been a few gyms that have actually taken advantage of making application to the Minister of Finance to receive that tax concession. Insofar as ensuring that it is passed on to the consumer, I am not quite sure how we would be able to monitor that. However, as I have indicated, and perhaps I can use this as a plug, the gyms do have that tax concession to bring in equipment and to further develop their gyms so that we can ensure people are utilising those gyms accordingly. But regrettably, there have only been less than a handful of gyms that have taken advantage of it. How we would ensure that that is passed on I think is probably a difficult question to monitor, and one would hope that these gyms would just ensure that they do the right thing. And if they are getting a tax concession for the provision of added gym equipment and the like, that that would be passed on insofar as not increasing their gym monthly membership fees. But I do not know that any government would be able to actually monitor that. We just hope that they would do the right thing. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary or third question? 164 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly SUPPLEMENTARY
Ms. Robin TuckerJust a supplementary I guess for my own sort of clarification. If the gyms are getting concessions on equipment and so on, and there is no sort of mechanism in place to ensure that those savings are passed on to the clients, I am not quite sure what the objective …
Just a supplementary I guess for my own sort of clarification. If the gyms are getting concessions on equipment and so on, and there is no sort of mechanism in place to ensure that those savings are passed on to the clients, I am not quite sure what the objective is of actually giving the gyms the concessions. If I could get some clarity around that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. E. David Burt: If I may, Mr. Speaker?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSure. Go right ahead. Hon. E. David Burt: This is a Finance question. This was something that was debated. This is along the line of capital investments to make sure that persons have modern equipment. It was not just for gyms. It was for beauty salons. It was for other …
Sure. Go right ahead. Hon. E. David Burt: This is a Finance question. This was something that was debated. This is along the line of capital investments to make sure that persons have modern equipment. It was not just for gyms. It was for beauty salons. It was for other things, person-al care services, across the board to make sure that persons are not penalised by duty, to continue to reinvest, to make sure that they have modern facilities such as spas, et cetera. So that was the purpose of it. It was not around the provision of services and the costs of those particular services. It was for persons who are either building a new gym or investing in equipment, because gym equipment will run out. Spa equipment will run out. Personal care equipment will run out. It was to reduce the cost of investment on the exact same terms of which we have done for restaurants and other items who do have to do regular types of capital investment. I hope that helps the new Honourable Member.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Third question or your second supplementary? QUESTION 3: NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN BERMUDA , ADDRESSING THE RISING BURDEN OF
Ms. Robin TuckerThank you, Mr. Speaker. That does help. It just was not clear in the Statement. So, I do appreciate that clarification from the Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My new question as it relates to vaping, I would like to know also what plans the Government has to have an …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That does help. It just was not clear in the Statement. So, I do appreciate that clarification from the Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My new question as it relates to vaping, I would like to know also what plans the Government has to have an education campaign to again educate the general public on the risks of vaping and tobacco use. Thank you. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you for that question from that Honourable Member. We will continue with . . . for the edification of the Honourable Member and other members who are listening, we do have a Health Promotion Office. And they are charged with ensuring that we get communications out as it relates to promoting public health initiatives such as this. We will be definitely working with the schools. There has already been an enhancement of a communications strategy that started a couple of months ago when we noticed, regrettably, an increase in utilisation of vaping within our communities. So, we have been engaged with a communications strategy for several months now. This legislative step obviously will assist in that regard, and we will continue to enhance communication because this is critically important. And we will do so in conjunction with the Health Promotion Office, as well as the Ministry of Education and Youth—all of the ministries that have an impact and a relationship with children, we will be utilising that. Because this is certainly some-thing extremely important, and all communication efforts will be maintained so that we can get the word out about the harmful effects of vaping, particularly for our young children.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo right ahead. SUPPLEMENTARIES
Ms. Robin TuckerI just wanted to get some clarity around whether the target for restricting vaping is for young people or is it for everyone? Because there are health risks involved for everyone. I understand particularly there is an impact for children. But as it relates to the actual restriction, I am …
I just wanted to get some clarity around whether the target for restricting vaping is for young people or is it for everyone? Because there are health risks involved for everyone. I understand particularly there is an impact for children. But as it relates to the actual restriction, I am just trying to understand who the target audience is. Is it the children . . . or I should say young people? Or is it all people? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the communications with respect to vaping and the utilisation of tobacco and nicotine products will be for all individuals because we recognise that, unfortunately, one of the leading causes of death in Bermuda is cancer, and some of …
Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the communications with respect to vaping and the utilisation of tobacco and nicotine products will be for all individuals because we recognise that, unfortunately, one of the leading causes of death in Bermuda is cancer, and some of these can-cers are largely preventable by virtue of smoking and the like. However, for this particular initiative, it will be largely targeted toward our young people because what we are seeing on the shelves are vaping products that are bubble- gum flavoured, chocolate— flavours that adults are not normally drawn to. So, the targeted campaign will be for our young individuals because we want to prevent them and stop them from
Bermuda House of Assembly utilising or exposing themselves to nicotine products before they get to an advanced age. But part of that communication strategy will of course emphasise the impact of vaping across the whole community. But this initiative, particularly as it relates to the legislation and the communication will largely be toward the adolescents because the tobacco industries —that is whom they are marketing, adolescents. I am not saying that adults do not vape using bubble gum. But the reality is that it is marketed specifically to entice young people to utilise vaping prod-ucts, and then hopefully will continue on and be addicted to nicotine. And that is the target group that we are trying to attract.
Ms. Robin TuckerI would just like to know whether there are any plans to introduce sort of stronger penalties for people who sell vaping products to minors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Absolutely! Absolutely. Part of the legislative remit will of course include legislation preventing this. But on the …
I would just like to know whether there are any plans to introduce sort of stronger penalties for people who sell vaping products to minors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Absolutely! Absolutely. Part of the legislative remit will of course include legislation preventing this. But on the flip side of this, if commercial products are still on the shelves notwithstanding the legislation, then we are looking for some serious penalties about this.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThat was your second supplementary and third question. So, you have had your series. Thank you. Minister, MP King . . . Would you still like to put questions to the Minister? Go right ahead. Turn your microphone on. QUESTION 1: NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN BERMUDA , ADDRESSING THE RISING …
Mr. Robert KingYes. Regarding the health initiative in the public school systems and the school systems in general, is there also consideration in part of the strategy to have children assessed to determine whether or not they are obese? And having a pro-gramme, a specific health and physical educational programme, tailored to …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, that was not actually forming part of my Ministerial Statement. That might be a question that may be better posed for the Ministry of Education.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAnd just a reminder for Members. The questions on Statements should be directed to the content of that Statement. Unless the Minister’s response opens up something else, [then] we [can] go down a different avenue. But the [question] itself should be directed to what is on paper. Would you like …
And just a reminder for Members. The questions on Statements should be directed to the content of that Statement. Unless the Minister’s response opens up something else, [then] we [can] go down a different avenue. But the [question] itself should be directed to what is on paper. Would you like to— Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I mean, Mr. Speaker . . . no. If I can help the Honourable Member, [Standing] Order 17(9)(a ). If I knew the answer I would provide it. But that is an answer that would be better suited to be addressed by the Minister of Education.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Thank you. Do you have a supplementary or additional question? Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Minister. That is the end of questions for you this morning on that Statement. The next Statement that has questions this morning was [by] the Minister of Youth, Social Devel-opment and Seniors, questions on …
Okay. Thank you. Do you have a supplementary or additional question? Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Minister. That is the end of questions for you this morning on that Statement. The next Statement that has questions this morning was [by] the Minister of Youth, Social Devel-opment and Seniors, questions on the first Statement. And those are from MP Robinson. MP Robinson, would you like to put your questions?
QUESTION 1: DEMENTIA CARE SERVICES PILOT PROGRAMME UPDATE
Mr. Dwayne RobinsonThank you, Mr. Speaker. And I would like to thank the Honourable Minister for her Statement and efforts on supporting the seniors and those with dementia. My question is, Has the Minister considered raising the personal home care benefit granted by FutureCare and HIP for a personal caregiver from $15.00 …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I would like to thank the Honourable Minister for her Statement and efforts on supporting the seniors and those with dementia. My question is, Has the Minister considered raising the personal home care benefit granted by FutureCare and HIP for a personal caregiver from $15.00 to the $16.40 minimum wage? And this is primarily for the unskilled carers, caregivers. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Tinee Furbert: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to reference [Standing] Order 17(9)(a). That is not a question for my Ministry, but more for the Ministry of Health. So, I encourage that Member to pose his question to the Minister of Health.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMember, do you have a supplementary or a second question you would like to put? That one, the response really falls under a different Ministry, is what they are basically saying. Okay? Thank you. No further questions for that Statement. The next Statement that has questions this morning is the …
Member, do you have a supplementary or a second question you would like to put? That one, the response really falls under a different Ministry, is what they are basically saying. Okay? Thank you. No further questions for that Statement. The next Statement that has questions this morning is the Statement from the Minister of Home Affairs. And, Minister, in reference to your first Statement, MP Fahy would like to put a question to you. 166 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly QUESTION 1: COST OF LIVING IN BERMUDA, STRATEGY TO COMBAT
Mr. Michael FahyThank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my first question, as you said, relates to the first Statement. And in that Statement, there is reference to stakeholder consultations being undertaken in preparation for the Cost of Living Summit. Could the Minister identify who those stakeholders are?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Good morning, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Yes. Our Ministry has engaged with stakeholders specifically starting with the grocers. We have also extended this first survey, so I spoke in my Statement to a two- part engagement strategy. And so, the businesses in our Bermuda ecosystem have been sent the survey via …
Good morning.
Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Yes. Our Ministry has engaged with stakeholders specifically starting with the grocers. We have also extended this first survey, so I spoke in my Statement to a two- part engagement strategy. And so, the businesses in our Bermuda ecosystem have been sent the survey via email as well as through partner organisations like the Chamber of Commerce, the Nonprofit Alliance [of Bermuda], as well as members of the reinsurance and insurance industry.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary? SUPPLEMENTARY
Mr. Michael FahyThank you, yes. Supplementary. When the Honourable Minister makes reference to the grocery stores, could she please be more specific as to which specific stores have been asked to participate in the stakeholder meetings?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: All grocers have received— all persons who sell goods —that will be first including the 33 essential goods per the 2020 Cost of Living Commission Amendment Act —have been engaged with. So, persons who sell, grocers, business entities who sell goods, essential 33 goods are part …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. QUESTION 2: COST OF LIVING IN BERMUDA, STRATEGY TO COMBAT
Mr. Michael FahyThe Honourable Minister has again made reference to the tabling of the Cost of Living Report. There are no specific timelines in her Statement, so could she please give some information as to the anticipated timeline to table a Cost of Living Report? Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Honourable Member and I also agree, it was best for the Ministry to have data to support its efforts and not bring anything prematurely to the House. So, the Ministry , also as included in my Statement, has referenced a …
Minister. Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Honourable Member and I also agree, it was best for the Ministry to have data to support its efforts and not bring anything prematurely to the House. So, the Ministry , also as included in my Statement, has referenced a data approach to first understand the various pillars that are impacting the cost of goods and costs in Bermuda. So that data will inform a timeline that we will then seek to have tabled in the House with the report following the summit. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary or new question?
Mr. Michael FahyThank you for that minor clarification. Given the anticipation of obtaining data, can the Honourable Minister please share timelines and deadlines that may have been set for receipt of the data that will help form the consultation process for the tabling of the Cost of Living Report?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Per my Statement, again, it is a two- part engagement effort. The first part we are seeking to conclude in the coming weeks, which will be then followed by a public engagement survey, which will then use this insight to inform focus …
Minister.
Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Per my Statement, again, it is a two- part engagement effort. The first part we are seeking to conclude in the coming weeks, which will be then followed by a public engagement survey, which will then use this insight to inform focus groups as well as craft a framework for which the summit will take place. It is intended that it will take place before the end of the year, hopefully before. So, using those data insights are not actually prematurely prescribing a specific time is what we believed to be a measured and informative approach. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. You have one more supplementary left or a third question.
Mr. Michael FahyOne supplementary, please. Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: One supplementary to your second question. Go ahead.
Mr. Michael FahyI am not sure what is so difficult in just getting dates.
Mr. Michael FahySo again, at the end of a consultative process in terms of obtaining data, there should be deadlines put in place. Are there deadlines put in place for receiving information to get to something at the end of the year? I think the people of Bermuda deserve to know. Thank …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Honourable Member would, I think, appreciate, for the benefit of all who live in Bermuda, that cost of living is something that has been a major concern. So, it will be important for us to have a measured approach in recognising …
Minister.
Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Honourable Member would, I think, appreciate, for the benefit of all who live in Bermuda, that cost of living is something that has been a major concern. So, it will be important for us to have a measured approach in recognising that previous ef-forts have not rendered the result as intended. So, the dates would be premature to share. We will submit those dates and provide an update to this Honourable House as appropriate. But with all surveys, as with all instruments that would seek to support data, there may be further clarification that is required before the Ministry is able to determine the summit and the necessary actions thereafter. So, we are taking a measured approach because we want to ensure that it is done, and it is done well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou used your two supplementaries on that. Would you like your third question? QUESTION 3: COST OF LIVING IN BERMUDA, STRATEGY TO COMBAT
Mr. Michael FahyThank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the clarification from the Honourable Minister. Final question, Mr. Speaker. The Honourable Minister has made reference to the fact that the Regulatory Authority may end up getting involved as a final step across regulated/unregulated markets. I think just for the purposes of the …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the clarification from the Honourable Minister. Final question, Mr. Speaker. The Honourable Minister has made reference to the fact that the Regulatory Authority may end up getting involved as a final step across regulated/unregulated markets. I think just for the purposes of the public, can the Minister advise what those unregulated markets may be? Thank you.
[Inaudible interjections] Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Good morning, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood morning. [Inaudible interjections]
Mr. Michael FahySome people may not know that. Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Sorry?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerJust address the answer. Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. The Honourable Member would be aware that the Regulatory Authority currently regulates telecommunications, broadcasting and energy. So, any unregulated entities would include any that are not included under the current remit. So, any that are not currently regulated.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Do you have a supplementary?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Thank you. Minister —Oh, Opposition Leader, you have a question for this Statement too, right? Is it for this one or the next one? This one? Hon. Jarion Richardson: It was in relation to dates. I think my honourable colleague has covered what the Government has available.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Thank you. All right. So, Minister, those are the only questions for that Statement. However, your next Statement, MP Fahy, would you like to put your questions for the next Statement as well?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. QUESTION 1: ENERGY POLICY STEERING COMMITTEE , ESTABLISHMENT OF
Mr. Michael FahyMr. Speaker, the EPSC as contained within the Honourable Minister’s Statement, it says that there is quite a cross section of individuals and stakeholders who would be part of that committee. Can the Minister advise the anticipated number of people on that committee? Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Minister. Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: At this time, we do not have a specific number, but the time in which we do [we will] endeavour to update this Honourable House. Thank you. 168 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Thank you. Supplementary or further …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. QUESTION 2: ENERGY POLICY STEERING COMMITTEE , ESTABLISHMENT OF
Mr. Michael FahyMr. Speaker, the Statement makes reference to periodical reviews to update the various policies that will help form strategy. What does it mean by “periodical reviews”? Is that again something that we will wait for? Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Honourable Member would note that the electricity and the various environments associated, to include also the fuel industry that also supports its advancement, has been advancing quite quickly. So, the technology, as well as advancements on the glob-al stage in other …
Minister.
Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Honourable Member would note that the electricity and the various environments associated, to include also the fuel industry that also supports its advancement, has been advancing quite quickly. So, the technology, as well as advancements on the glob-al stage in other industries and other locations that have been successfully advanced, we will inform the requirement for which we need to update and have a consistent approach. We would note that the IRP in 2017 then received a White Paper at the recent COP 28 Summit. So therefore, that in and of itself defines the timeline and how things might progress and have new findings to support new reports. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerA supplementary or third question?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. QUESTION 3: ENERGY POLICY STEERING COMMITTEE , ESTABLISHMENT OF
Mr. Michael FahyMr. Speaker, the Honourable Minister’s Statement made reference to the fact that one of the key functions of the EPSC is going to be to align the Integrated Resource Plan with Bermuda’s overarching energy principles. With that in mind, can the Minister state whether or not the IRP is currently …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Alexa Lightbourne: It is. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary? Mr. Michael Fahy: No. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister, that brings to a close your questions for your Statements. Thank you for your participation, Members. The next Statement that has questions this morning is the Statement by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, and the Opposition Leader would like to put a question to you. Minister. [sic] Hon. …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNo, no. Opposition Leader. Not the Minister, no. [Laughter] Hon. Jarion Richardson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister of the Cabinet? [Inaudible interjections] QUESTION 1: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) POLICY Hon. Jarion Richardson: I have a question for the Honourable Minister on his Statement regarding Artificial Intelligence Policy and Implementation. Would he be able to describe the needs assessed for artificial intelligence in the provision of government services?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Minister. Minister. Minister. It is your attention I have been trying to get. The question was for you. [Inaudible interjections] Hon. Jarion Richardson: I am happy to ask again. Yes. I thank the Minister for his Statement on Artificial Intelligence Policy and Implementation. Would the Honourable Minister be able …
Minister. Minister. Minister. Minister. It is your attention I have been trying to get. The question was for you. [Inaudible interjections] Hon. Jarion Richardson: I am happy to ask again. Yes. I thank the Minister for his Statement on Artificial Intelligence Policy and Implementation. Would the Honourable Minister be able to describe the needs assessed for artificial intelligence in the provision of government services?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you for that question. The simple answer is, as the needs arise. So, the purpose of the policy is to be as wide as possible and to cover as much as possible. But as I stated, there is a committee that is being …
Minister.
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you for that question. The simple answer is, as the needs arise. So, the purpose of the policy is to be as wide as possible and to cover as much as possible. But as I stated, there is a committee that is being put together to continuously review the policy and make the necessary adjustments. As we know, this is the type of technology that changes almost daily. So, there is always goBermuda House of Assembly ing to be the requirement to provide regular updates to this particular policy. But the initial policy is put in place. And as I stated, there are pilot programmes that they are going to be utilising to essentially at the moment vet the policy. And then we will just make updates based on what happens out of those pilots.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary or second question? Hon. Jarion Richardson: Supplementary, please, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. SUPPLEMENTARY Hon. Jarion Richardson: Would the policy outline whether these pilot programmes are going to be integrating with Government’s proprietary information or systems? Or will it be as -is? In other words, will it be stand- off and not have access to government systems?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: I would have to undertake to get an answer, a complete answer, to that pro-gramme. But I would assume that they would be inte-grating with government entities but done in such a way that there is no revealing of any information that should not …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSecond supplementary or second question? Hon. Jarion Richardson: Second question, please,
Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerGo ahead. QUESTION 2: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) POLICY Hon. Jarion Richardson: Given the phased implementation in the pilot projects or programmes that have already been mentioned, what are those pilot projects that are currently being used for artificial intelligence?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, I actually did not mention any programmes within the Statement. So, I would have to endeavour to take that forward. But we can speak to the land title registration that has implemented AI to speed up the processes, and so that is …
Minister.
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, I actually did not mention any programmes within the Statement. So, I would have to endeavour to take that forward. But we can speak to the land title registration that has implemented AI to speed up the processes, and so that is something that is still being worked on. I have asked about that programme, and it has added some efficiencies. But there is still some work that needs to be done before it is fully rolled out.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSupplementary to your second question or your third question? Hon. Jarion Richardson: Mr. Speaker, a point of clarification. Is it three supplementaries or two supplementaries?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerTwo supplementaries, three questions. Hon. Jarion Richardson: Thanks.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThis is a supplementary now or — Hon. Jarion Richardson: It is the second supplementary then.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Well, your first supplementary to this question. SUPPLEMENTARIES Hon. Jarion Richardson: Oh, first supplementary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What are the factors or characteristics that enable a government programme or department to get access to the AI? In other words, how do they prioritise who gets access to it …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, once again that is something I will have to endeavour to get an answer to. I know they have a list of programmes. As I understand, and as you can surely appreciate, for just over four weeks in the job, and I …
Minister.
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, once again that is something I will have to endeavour to get an answer to. I know they have a list of programmes. As I understand, and as you can surely appreciate, for just over four weeks in the job, and I have seen those hundreds of projects that they are working on. But that is a question that I did not ask: How does each one get prioritised on that list?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSecond supplementary? Hon. Jarion Richardson: Thank you. Second supplementary, please.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Hon. Jarion Richardson: Given the heavy research and clerical support needed for Members of Parlia-ment to conduct our duties and oversee large government and civil servants, will the Office of the Legislature be able to get access to the AI tools?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. 170 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: I think the short answer to that is, we want to look to roll this out as much as possible.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThose are your two supplementaries. Would you like to put a third question? Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes, please, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo right ahead. QUESTION 3: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) POLICY Hon. Jarion Richardson: Thank you. Given the legal, regulatory and ethical responsibilities associated with the provision of internal government services, public services, can the Minister describe the risk -management provisions that are outlined in the policy?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, as I did state, the Chamber is part of the group that helped put the policy together. And that would be on an ongoing consultation basis with them as they look to modify the policy as time goes on.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Supplementary? SUPPLEMENTRY Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Some of the risk -management tools that are in use are in excess of what attorneys are normally fa-miliar with and include prompting template management and things like that. Would the Honourable Minister be able to get back to me with …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Yes. Hon. Jarion Richardson: That is it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Members, that brings us to a close of questions for Ministers and Junior Ministers off of Statements, or questions that have been put today. We now move on to the next item on the Order Paper. CONGRATULATORY AND/OR OBITUARY SPEECHES
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWould any Member like to participate? Deputy Speaker, you jumped pretty quickly that time. I will recognise you.
Ms. Lovitta F. FoggoYes. Very briefly, I would like to congratulate East End Primary on their Sports Day event. I would like to associate the Honourable Member Kim Swan and Honourable Member Renee Ming and the Honourable Diallo Rabain, Minister, with these remarks. As you well know, Mr. Speaker, sports always has a …
Yes. Very briefly, I would like to congratulate East End Primary on their Sports Day event. I would like to associate the Honourable Member Kim Swan and Honourable Member Renee Ming and the Honourable Diallo Rabain, Minister, with these remarks. As you well know, Mr. Speaker, sports always has a way of bringing families together. And it makes for a very enjoyable and community event that helps to bring the community together. So, indeed the sporting event that took place down at the grounds of East End Primary did in fact have that impact. But what I would like to say, a big congratulatory remark to the young man who was overall top athlete and the young female who was overall top athlete. And while the young man’s name escapes me, and I do not want to say it incorrectly, I will say the young female was indeed Ms. Ax ys Osseyran . And she was the top athlete in her category.
[Inaudible interjections and laughter ]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThat is no different from remembering that name.
Ms. Lovitta F. FoggoNo, there is not. Honestly, when we get a chance to go to sporting events like this, it is a good thing because it does pull communities together. And that is all that I wanted to highlight today, Mr. Speaker, is the great event that took place at East End …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Thank you. Would any other Member like to— Opposition Leader, you have your three minutes. Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recently attended for the first time an event held by the Royal Bermuda Regiment Association [RBRA], which is their monthly coffee, which happens on …
Thank you. Thank you. Would any other Member like to— Opposition Leader, you have your three minutes.
Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recently attended for the first time an event held by the Royal Bermuda Regiment Association [RBRA], which is their monthly coffee, which happens on the last Thursday of every month at Keith’s Kitchen down at BAA [Car Park]. And I just wanted to congratulate the RBRA executive and membership who put on a very successful event every month and for their ongoing work to support those of us who serve in the Bermuda Regiment and Royal Bermuda Regiment. I encourage members of the public who have friends and family who either served, or who have served themselves, to get down there. There are lots of pictures kicking around, and there are a lot of familiar faces. There is a lot of legacy with that. The Royal Bermuda Regiment will be celebrating its 60 th anniversary this year. And I will not get
Bermuda House of Assembly ahead of myself by offering congratulations yet. But we definitely need to remember that they are a key part of our community, especially their predecessor units, the Bermuda Militia Artillery and the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps. So, congratulations to the ex-ecutive for another successful event. And also, just as an aside, I want to say thanks to the Parks Department. The work that they do at one of my favourite parks, the Arboretum, is hard to— I really appreciate what they are doing. So, I congratulate them on their ongoing work, most especially given that they have to recover the park a lot from its use. And I encourage people to go down and support them in their work, and it is a great community place. So congratulations to the Parks Department for their ongoing, committed work. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution? Minister Weeks, you have the floor. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take my time to congratulate and encourage the Western Stars Sports Club for launching a fundraising campaign to revitalise …
Thank you. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution? Minister Weeks, you have the floor.
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take my time to congratulate and encourage the Western Stars Sports Club for launching a fundraising campaign to revitalise its playing field. For those who do not know, a 200member team from Western Stars were running the Bermuda Day Half Marathon as part of the initiative.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberAre you running? Hon. Michael A. Weeks: And no, I will not be running, Mr. Speaker. [Laughter]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou have still got time to train. There is still time. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Yes. And the club is partnering with LiveNet, and the goal is to raise $100,000 toward $250,000 needed for field restoration. This highlights, Mr. Speaker, community spirit at its finest and dedication to supporting local …
You have still got time to train. There is still time.
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Yes. And the club is partnering with LiveNet, and the goal is to raise $100,000 toward $250,000 needed for field restoration. This highlights, Mr. Speaker, community spirit at its finest and dedication to supporting local sports. So, I congratulate the executive and all members and participants of the Western Stars Sports Club for their commitment to this important cause. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Minister Darrell. Yes. Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this morning I would like to congratulate all of the recipients of sports awards from the 43 rd Annual Sports Awards that were held this past Sunday evening. And I would like to associate the …
Thank you, Minister. Minister Darrell. Yes. Hon. Owen Darrell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this morning I would like to congratulate all of the recipients of sports awards from the 43 rd Annual Sports Awards that were held this past Sunday evening. And I would like to associate the Minister of Cabinet and Innovation who was there, as well as the Premier, who was also there. This awards ceremony was held under his patronage. Mr. Speaker, the overall award winner for the sports awards, as many may have known but I want to put on record on this place, is the Female Athlete of the Year, Ms. Yushae DeSilva- Andrade. You would recall that she went to the Paralympics last summer and finished fourth. And she was the highest -placing athlete of all athletes who went over to Paris last year. And the Male Athlete of the Year, Mr. Jack Harvey. You will know Mr. Jack Harvey is also an Olympian who competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Par is. So, congratulations to those overall winners. Also, the Male Junior Athlete of the Year, Mr. Elijah Daley. Many of you will know that he is a grandson of former Premier, the Honourable Dame Pamela Gordon- Banks. And MP Deputy Speaker would like to be associated with those congrats to Mr. Daley. And the Female Junior Athlete of the Year, Ms. Katherine Wheddon, who is a swimmer. In her acceptance speech [she] did give a lot of shout -outs, as well as Elijah Daley, to the Shadow Minister of Sport for all of the work that he does in his capacity as National Coach for Swimming. So, congratulations to him. Also, I would like to recognise a constituent of mine, who also got the Minister’s Award for his cricketing exploits. And that is Mr. Derrick Brangman. He got the award for cricket. Also, Mr. Domico Coddington got the Minister’s Award for football. For female, it was Ms. Taznae Fubler and Ms. Brianna Ray who actually got the cricket for female. And just to finish off, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to congratulate the participants of the Cultural Apprenticeship programme and also congratulate Ms. Kenni Thompson for winning the league title with Bournemouth and Mr. Nuri Latham, who is Bermuda’s under -14 goalkeeper who has just joined academy at Preston. And I think the Premier would like to be associated with those remarks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
[Timer chimes]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Thank you. Does any other Member? MP Swan, you jumped pretty quickly in the background there.
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanYes, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to send condolences to the Morton family.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerTurn it away from you a bit. It is very strong right now, the new mics. Yes. Just move it away from you like that. All right. 172 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Ber muda House of Assembly Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan: I would like for condolences to …
Turn it away from you a bit. It is very strong right now, the new mics. Yes. Just move it away from you like that. All right. 172 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Ber muda House of Assembly Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan: I would like for condolences to be sent to the Morton family on the passing of Ms. Marion Morton, my St. Kitts family. And I would like to associate MP Neville Tyrrell, a fellow Pond Dog, with those condolences, Mr. Speaker, particularly her sister —cousin Edith Rooks , who is a constituent of mine, and the entire Morton family on that loss. Also, it may have been mentioned before, but the passing of “Mr. C,” Leo Custodio, from Southampton, whom I have known all of my life, particularly all of my golfing life. A great man. I remember when he owned Custodio’s on Rei d Street, and I was in the retail business. And to keep costs down, I would always buy my men’s trousers from “Mr. C” up there. It meant that I did not have to worry about going down to Customs. He always kept a very great supply of clothing there, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on a happier note, I would like for recognition to be given to the Lamb family , Mr. Tom and Larry Lamb, and the Pompano family for staging yet again another great couple of events over the last couple of months—t he last couple of weeks really, the Pompano Ladies Pro-A m tournament and the Pompano Couples, which brought many visitors to the Island during thes e winter months. I am proud to lay a claim that those events got their home in St. George’s 40 years ago and stand the tes t of time. But it is very good to see people continue on with events that bring people to our Island. And I believe the model that the Lambs have used since 1957 when that property was developed up there on that beautiful Whale Bay coastline c ontinues to connect us with that great region up there in Southampton with the region in New England in particular, where they have very strong connections, Mr. Speaker. Just one moment. I think I have 19 more seconds.
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanSeventeen more seconds. Just following on from the c ongratulations, that we want to recognise Leshon Adams and Zaedyn Furbert Downes f or their sports achievements. [Timer chimes]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerTh ank you, Member. Thank you. Does any other Member? MP Smith, Linda Smith.
Ms. Linda SmithYes, Mr. Speaker. I would like to associate myself with the condolences for Leo Manuel Custodio and his family. He passed away on the 20th. His funeral will be tomorrow. He leaves behind his wife of 75 years, Katherine. They are from Jennings Bay Road. And in addition to his …
Yes, Mr. Speaker. I would like to associate myself with the condolences for Leo Manuel Custodio and his family. He passed away on the 20th. His funeral will be tomorrow. He leaves behind his wife of 75 years, Katherine. They are from Jennings Bay Road. And in addition to his shop, which I remember . . . But I was very young at the time and never bought anything there, and I believe it was just a men’s clothing store anyhow. Th e Speaker: Yes. Ms . Linda Smith: And I was trying to figure out when I was looking at this where it was actually located. So, thank you very much for that clarity. Mr. Custodio apparently also was the founder of the Bermuda Junior Golf Association. And he did receive a reward from Queen Elizabeth II for the contributions he made to the sport of golf. So, I would like to associate myself with those condolences. Thank you very much. Th e Speaker: Thank you. MP DeCouto, would you like to have your three minutes? Dr . Douglas DeCouto: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Th e Speaker: Go right ahead. Dr . Douglas DeCouto: I had the privilege of attending the Mount Zion Men’s Weekend. And I want to thank them for the invite and inviting me into their space. I enjoyed their fellowship, and I have to say I learned some interesting leadership lessons. Th e Speaker: Mm-hmm. Dr . Douglas DeCouto: And I just want to congratulate them on a successful weekend event. I believe the Premier also managed to attend for part of that, so I am sure he enjoyed it as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Inaudible interjections] Dr . Douglas DeCouto: No, I had a prior family engagement, Honourable Premier. Thank you. Th e Speaker: Thank you. Would any other MP like to make a contribution? MP Tucker, you have your three minutes. Ms . Robin Tucker: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to associate myself with the congratulations for the winners of the 43rd Annual Sports Awards. And in particular I would like to congratulate our very own [Opposition] Deputy Leader, MP Ben Smith, for the contribution that he has made in terms of helping to develop the swimmers who actually achieved their awards and goals. I would also like to congratulate Tariq LynchWade on his flying to Bermuda on BermudAir. So, congratulations to him.
Bermuda House of Assembly And as well, I would like to extend condolences to the family of Mrs. Joan Byron. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. One clarification for you. Custodio’s was actually on Church Street here, not Reid Street. But, Minister. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like for this House to send condolences to the family of Kenneth “Pork Chops” Mills. Mr. Mills stayed on …
Thank you. One clarification for you. Custodio’s was actually on Church Street here, not Reid Street. But, Minister.
Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like for this House to send condolences to the family of Kenneth “Pork Chops” Mills. Mr. Mills stayed on Chain Gate Hill. It was unfortunate when I was canvassing he was in the hospital, and he actually was transferred to Agape House prior to the election. I do remember having conversations with his wife, who wanted to make sure—his goal was to vote before anything else happened. And I was thankful to the Parliamentary Registrar who did arrange to attend Agape House and allow Mr. Mills to vote prior to his unfortunate passing last week. So, condolences to his wife, Marlene, and his children as well. Well, it is the Mills family that is far and wide throughout Bermuda. Mr. Speaker, I would also like a letter of congratulations sent to Dr. Rajeev Goonewardene, affectionately known as “Raj,” at the Department of Education and throughout education circles. Mr. Speaker, Raj was awarded the top performer in the UAE’s Digital Educator Global Academy, which had over 11,000 educators participating worldwide. This stands out to me because, Mr. Speaker, as colleagues would know, I was on extended medical leave for a procedure that I had on December 17. And it was on December 17, while I was being prepped, that I got the email from the UAE saying, Please nominate some educator. And I quickly sent the thing off before I went into the operating room to say, Please, Department of Education, Education Reform unit [ERU], get together and get some educators. Because at that point the programme had actually started on December 1. But they certainly sent this email to us late. So, I am happy to say that the Department of Education and the ERU managed to get not just the 50 spots filled, but they were allocated some additional spots. So, they had over 70 educators who did this. It was a complete shock when they found out that Raj had won a top award for getting this done. Even he was surprised when I ran into him on the street, Mr. Speaker. So definitely congratulations to Raj for this momentous occasion, Mr. Speaker. And I am being a bit pre- emptive, but I would like to send congratulations to Dr. Bert McPhee, who will celebrate 79 years as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity on Sunday, Mr. Speaker. Bert, as we affectionately know him, is 98 and he goes 99 in June this year. I know he is having some health challenges at the moment. But definitely that makes him one of the oldest members of this illustrious fraternity. So, Mr. Speaker, congratulations to him for making it to 79 years.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Does any other Member wish to— MP Dill, would you like your three minutes?
Rev. Dr. Emilygail A. DillThank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take the opportunity today to send congratulations to several individuals in constituency 36 who have celebrated milestones this week. Indeed it is a week of celebration. And we want to say a happy birthday to Mrs. Gloria Burch, who celebrated her 95 …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take the opportunity today to send congratulations to several individuals in constituency 36 who have celebrated milestones this week. Indeed it is a week of celebration. And we want to say a happy birthday to Mrs. Gloria Burch, who celebrated her 95 th birthday; Ms . Beleta Correa, who celebrated her 80th birthday; Mr. Jeffrey Pittman, who celebrated his 80th birthday this week; to Ms. Thalia Bromby, who celebrated her 70th birthday; to Jennifer Hall, John Barker, Michael Moorehand and to the former Attorney General, the Honourable Michael Scott, who all are celebrating diamond birthday celebrations of 75 years. On a more serious note, we would like this House to extend condolences to the family of Ms. Winifred Lynch, who recently passed at the age of 100 years. We had the opportunity to celebrate her centennial celebration in November of this past year, and we were deeply saddened to hear of her passing. So, we say if we could please send a letter of condolences to the Lynch family. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister Furbert. Hon. Tinee Furbert: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to take the opportunity to send condolences to [the families of] two constituents of mine. One, who I think was acknowledged last time we were sitting; however, I was unable to be in the House at that time. So, …
Minister Furbert.
Hon. Tinee Furbert: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to take the opportunity to send condolences to [the families of] two constituents of mine. One, who I think was acknowledged last time we were sitting; however, I was unable to be in the House at that time. So, I would like to associate myself with the loss and condolences of Mr. Claredon Burch. And just wanting to send condolences and sympathy to the Burch family. Also wanting to give condolences to the family of Mr. [Franklyn] “Frankie” Hollis, who recently passed. He was from the Harlem Heights area. The Hollis family is very well known. I would like to associate MP Swan with those condolences. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also want to associate myself with the National Sport Awards recipients, congratulating all of them and specifically Yushae DeSilva- Andrade on her performance in her sports area. A big congratulations to her. I believe the last time we sat as well, I would like to be associated with the Ministers’ Debate Com-petition winners. I had the opportunity to visit the debate pre- competitions. I did not get to see the finals. But it was amazing to watch our young people being involved in debate and come with their positions and 174 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly not be afraid and be courageous to share their points of view on various topics. And lastly, Mr. Speaker, I want to take the opportunity to just acknowledge the women who were part of the delegation to the Women’s International Conference. There was an open forum, an opportunity where they had the opportunity to speak amongst 610 persons. Bermuda had representation from two. And that would be Sherrie Lynn Lilley, as well as Dr. Crystal Clay. They only chose 10 persons to speak to this open forum, so I just want to congratulate those two ladies in their selection out of so many women, and that Bermuda was represented on- stage in the open forum. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution? MP Ming, you have your three minutes on the clock.
Mrs. Renee MingFirst I would like to be associated with comments last week for Sandra Smith. And I just wanted to add my own quick remarks to that. I have known the Smith family for many years. And they would definitely be a family that I would say was part of the …
First I would like to be associated with comments last week for Sandra Smith. And I just wanted to add my own quick remarks to that. I have known the Smith family for many years. And they would definitely be a family that I would say was part of the village for me in St. George’s. And I would just like them to know that, even up until today —we are beyond the funeral, but they are truly in our thoughts and our prayers. And that would be Mr. Smith, commonly known as S ubeza ; Michele and Nicole K ennita. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to be . . . I was already associated with the remarks for East End Primary School, and I just want to give the names of those champion boys and girls. Leshon Adams, Axys Osseyran Zaedyn Furbert Downs and Jays Anderson. And for those of you who may not have been aware, Gold House won third year in a row. So, great Gold House! There was no Gold House when I was there. Also, I would like to give congratulations to the Corporation of St. George’s for conducting their UNESCO World Poetry Day. I would like to associate MP Foggo, Deputy Speaker Foggo, and also MP Swan with those comments. Our children did a great job, Mr. Speaker. There were poetry and drama acts from East End Primary, St. George’s Preparatory School, St. David’s and Francis Patton. And there was also a wonderful lady, June Caisey, who delivered poetry as well. And UNESCO, or Heritage Day, is particularly celebrated in St. George’s as we are a UNESCO World Heritage designation. And the designation is celebrating 25 years this year as well.
Mrs. Renee MingAlso, a congratulatory remark to Imagine Bermuda, which is under Mr. Glenn Fubler. He had a presentation in St. George’s at Richard Allen AME Church this week, commemorating the 130 th birthday of Dr. E. F. Gordon. But he also commemorated that 53 years ago Dr. Gordon was re- elected …
Also, a congratulatory remark to Imagine Bermuda, which is under Mr. Glenn Fubler. He had a presentation in St. George’s at Richard Allen AME Church this week, commemorating the 130 th birthday of Dr. E. F. Gordon. But he also commemorated that 53 years ago Dr. Gordon was re- elected to his seat in the town of St. George’s. And he spoke about the assistance that he received at that time to be re- elected in a difficult time for Bermuda. So, St. George’s actually delivered on that particular day. Also, my work colleague, Rick Manuel, who may or may not know in this space, but today is his last day with us at Butterfield. He celebrates 33 years. He is going off to retirement. I associate Minister Adams, MP Fahy. We wish Rick all the best in his retire-ment.
[Timer chimes]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution at this time? MP Wilmot, you have your three minutes.
Mr. Paul WilmotI would like to, regrettably, give my condolences to Nina Ratteray and the Ratteray family on behalf of Cyrus Ratteray, who passed in the last few days. He happened to be a very, very good friend of mine. I associate the Honourable Member Mr. Tyrrell.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood. Thank you. Any other Member? MP Tyrrell.
Mr. Neville S. TyrrellThank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, Members. Mr. Speaker, sadly I wish to ask that condolences be sent to two constituents of mine. The first one is Mr. Joshua Knight, whom I had not known before I started to run as a candidate in constituency 26. And he was one …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, Members. Mr. Speaker, sadly I wish to ask that condolences be sent to two constituents of mine. The first one is Mr. Joshua Knight, whom I had not known before I started to run as a candidate in constituency 26. And he was one of the first houses that I went to. And Mr. Knight, if anyone knew him, was a physical giant. He was tall. He had to be at least 6’7” or something like that. Broad shoulders and everything. And he al-ways appeared to intimidate me at first until I got to know him. I found out that he was a very gentle giant. He had lots of friends, and I think he is certainly going to be missed amongst his peers and family as well. The other constituent of mine was Ms. Sandra Williams from Old Spice Close, just off of Spice Hill Road, who passed suddenly really. Because the last time I spoke with her was about a week or two before
Bermuda House of Assembly the last general election. And she had just come back from the gym, and we talked about the exercises that she had done at the gym. And she was encouraging me to get out and do some walking. So, I have to now do that as well. But she had a wide range of friends up at Vernon Temple. My mother actually attended there, and they were friends as well. So, I certainly ask for condolences to be sent to her family, particularly her daughter, Bernadette, whom I got to know laterally. And I wish them all the best, the family and friends. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP Tyrrell. Anyone else? MP Lister.
Mr. Dennis Lister IIIGood morning, Mr. Speaker. Good morning to the listening audience. I just want to rise, Mr. Speaker, to send condolences first to the family of Ms. Lillian Grant[ - Walters]. She also was a relative of ourselves. She was also known as the mother of Mr. Neville Grant, who is …
Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Good morning to the listening audience. I just want to rise, Mr. Speaker, to send condolences first to the family of Ms. Lillian Grant[ - Walters]. She also was a relative of ourselves. She was also known as the mother of Mr. Neville Grant, who is very well known. I would just like to send condolences to the family of Mrs. Grant. Mr. Speaker, last week in the House I did miss congrats and obits. So, I do just want to associate myself with a few of them that were given last week, Mr. Speaker. To Mr. Lionel Thomas, who had passed in the recent road traffic accident. He was actually —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou are associating yourself because it was done last week.
Mr. Dennis Lister IIIOkay, yes. I associate myself because he actually was a schoolmate of mine. And it is always sad. [Inaudible interjection]
Mr. Dennis Lister IIIHe was a constituent of MP Foggo. But it is always sad to see someone who is your age, someone whom you knew and grew up with for many years. And a very genuine, kind- hearted person, Mr. Speaker. So, it is sad that we lost a young person in …
He was a constituent of MP Foggo. But it is always sad to see someone who is your age, someone whom you knew and grew up with for many years. And a very genuine, kind- hearted person, Mr. Speaker. So, it is sad that we lost a young person in Bermuda. And to his family I would like to extend condolences. On a lighter note, Mr. Speaker, since we took a break in December —and as I said, I missed last week’s congrats and obits —I want to send birthday celebrations to two seniors in my constituency. They had birthdays back in January and February. Mrs. Ina Furbert of Spice Hill Road and Ms. Ellis Richardson of Warwick Lane. Ms. Richardson, I believe if I remember correctly, had her 95 th birthday, I believe, Mr. Speaker . And so it is great to see 95. I am 40. That is over double my lifetime, Mr. Speaker. So, I wish her continued birthday blessings and to see many more birthdays. Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to see congratulations —I declare my interest —to my young cousins, T’Syi and Tayon Showers, who last week T’Syi was the Champion Boy of the Over -10s at Port Royal. And his brother, Tayon, was the Champion Boy for the Under -9s at Port Royal. So, I would like to send congratulations to them and as they continue to do well in their academics and in sports. And I would also like to associate with the comments made earlier this morning, Mr. Speaker, to Ms. Kenni Thompson, representing Bermuda in the Woman’s National League and her team Bournemouth who won the Southwest Division.
Mr. Dennis Lister IIII associate MP Swan. And also, to the comments regarding Mr. Nuri Latham. Even though he is young, his father of the same name, I went to school with and also played football with. So, it is good to see that his son is following in his footsteps. And lastly, …
I associate MP Swan. And also, to the comments regarding Mr. Nuri Latham. Even though he is young, his father of the same name, I went to school with and also played football with. So, it is good to see that his son is following in his footsteps. And lastly, Ms. Riley Khan, a constituent of mine, also has been invited to the Benfica Academy for football. So, it is good to see both males and females being recognised and representing Bermuda. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
[Timer chimes ]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Thank you. Any other? Opposition Whip. Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And good morning, colleagues, once again.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: I would like to be associated with the remarks made by the Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Owen Darrell, on the sports awards. You know, Mr. Speaker, you have been around for quite some time, and we have even seen in this Honourable House …
Go ahead. Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: I would like to be associated with the remarks made by the Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Owen Darrell, on the sports awards. You know, Mr. Speaker, you have been around for quite some time, and we have even seen in this Honourable House Members who have shone, been lead-ers in the sports arena. So, to see our athletes continue to set goals in this area and to make their mark on the world is a phenomenal thing, with such a small population that we do have. And what I would like to say is to congratulate those who coach all of these people actually in this arena. It is a sacrifice, quite frankly, to take on other families’ kids to coach them and to steer them in the right direction. And in particular, I can recall back when swimming first started as a competition. It was in the 1970s, Mr. Speaker. And I was just getting ready to get out of primary school at that time down at St. George’s Prep. And we came in the first meet, and we beat up on all of the schools at that time. 176 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly [Inaudible interjections]
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: Especially . . . East End could not even be found, quite frankly. [Inaudible interjections and laughter]
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: But we won that first meet, Mr. Speaker. And I will say (I will take some acco-lades) I was a captain of that swimming team, the cricket team, the football team as well.
[Laughter and inaudible interjections ]
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: But what I would like to say is— [Inaudible interjections]
Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: They are taking up my time, Mr. Speaker! [Laughter]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerDo not let them distract you, you know. Do not let them distract you. Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: I would like to say there is another individual who is in this room, like the Horton, who has sacrificed time and coaching. And that is the Honourable Member, Shadow Minister Ben …
Do not let them distract you, you know. Do not let them distract you. Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: I would like to say there is another individual who is in this room, like the Horton, who has sacrificed time and coaching. And that is the Honourable Member, Shadow Minister Ben Smith, who not only sacrifices his time for this House, but also in swimming. And swimming has become a real thing in Bermuda, and we have been producing some serious, serious athletes in this arena. And I just want to point out that we have an Honourable Member here in the House who has done a fantastic job with folks in the swimming arena, and I would encourage more people to get involved in this particular sport. Congratulations to Coach Smith! [Desk thumping]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWould any other Member wish to make a contribution at this time? Premier. Hon. E. David Burt: I was looking to close. I did not think I was going to get there, Mr. Speaker. What a surprise. We were only out for a week.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou got there. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I would like to be associated with the condolences that were offered by the Honourable Member from constituency 2 to the family of Marion Elizabeth Morton. Of course, you know, I do have some Mortons inside of my constituency. The Speaker: …
You got there.
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I would like to be associated with the condolences that were offered by the Honourable Member from constituency 2 to the family of Marion Elizabeth Morton. Of course, you know, I do have some Mortons inside of my constituency. The Speaker: You have Mortons there.
Hon. E. David Burt: Absolutely, my constituency. And I want to be associated with those. I would also like to be associated with the condolences that were given by the Honourable Member from constituency 36, Rev. Dr. Emilygail Dill, to the family of the late Ms. Lynch. And I would also like to be associated with the congratulations which were given initially by the Deputy Speaker over there from constituency number [3], just to my great -nephew, Lashon Adams. I just want to throw that in there. Mr. Speaker, I would also ask that this Honourable House do send condolences to the family of the late Patricia Maude Edwards who recently passed in her 85 th year. Ms. Edwards was the beloved wife of the late Lennette Maurice Edwards, OBE, former Commissioner of Police. She was a devoted mother to Judith Anne Bascome and Robert Edwards, a cherished grandmother to Lonnelle, Lonnie, Jason, Imani and Robert. And I did happen on my way back last evening to see one of her grandsons, Lonnie, who is a constituent of mine and reminded me of her passing — notified me of her passing (not reminded me). And I did say that I would make sure that I would send condolences to him and his family.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerIt is on my list also. Hon. E. David Burt: Oh, it is on your list? I got you. Because I know that it is a Somerset family.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSomerset. Yes. Hon. E. David Burt: I understand, Mr. Speaker. Finally, with my last minute, I would like to now associate myself with the congratulations that have been given to Nuri Hunter Natham. Now, no one who knows Nuri calls him Nuri. Everyone who knows him and is close calls …
Somerset. Yes.
Hon. E. David Burt: I understand, Mr. Speaker. Finally, with my last minute, I would like to now associate myself with the congratulations that have been given to Nuri Hunter Natham. Now, no one who knows Nuri calls him Nuri. Everyone who knows him and is close calls him Hunty. But the thing is, Mr. Speaker, is that this young man has done incredible work. Just as a note, the reason why the Devonshire Colts were the champion of Kappas last year was an amazing goalkeeper, performance by my son. But it just so happened that he was coached by Hunty Latham in that performance. Hunty has gone above and beyond. He has demonstrated significant progression. But what is most important is his dedication, Mr. Speaker. We are talking about someone who will wake up in the morning when he was living in Bermuda, before going to school will go out, will go train, will go to school, will come back, will go train, continue to do the work. And it proves that hard work pays off. So, his family is elated. His village (as he calls them), all of his uncles, all of us, we are elated for his work, his progress.
[Timer chimes]
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. E. David Burt: And I want . . . we look forward to his future. And I would like the Honourable House to send a letter of congratulations to who I predict will be Bermuda’s next premiership footballer.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Premier. Does any other Member? No other Member. Before we move on, I would just like to add a couple of remarks. And, Premier, I will start where you were just now in reference to condolences being sent to the family of the late Ms. Edwards, Pat Edwards. …
Thank you, Premier. Does any other Member? No other Member. Before we move on, I would just like to add a couple of remarks. And, Premier, I will start where you were just now in reference to condolences being sent to the family of the late Ms. Edwards, Pat Edwards. But it takes me back to last Friday when we were in the House. We gave condolences to Joe Bailey on the passing of his wife [Margaret Ann Bailey]. And this is actually his sister. And this is the second sister whom he has lost in the recent time while this House was out. The first sister, who in fact I knew as Aunt Edna, who passed in January. And now in the short period they have lost a second sister. So, our condolences go out to the entire Bailey family on the loss of both sisters. I move on to the condolences that were expressed to Ms. Lynch. I have known the Lynch family and the sons for many, many years, my childhood years. And she celebrated, yes, her 100 th birthday. And I did get to see her during my own canvassing in this election. So, condolences go out to the family. I would like to recognise the passing also of Mr. Derek Albuoy. Mr. Albuoy was one of those I have known from the church community for many years, and he had always been a very dedicated man to his church, his family. He was very involved with the Pathfinders in the Adventist Church for many years. And his loss is truly a sad occasion for all who knew him, including his church and personal families. So, my condolences to his wife and both of his children. Also, condolences to Ms. Grace Christopher, a constituent of mine who passed during the absence of us being in this place. And I would like to send condolences to her family on their sad loss. And my final condolences go out to the family of Mr. Clarence Smith. Most of you who know the name of Clarence Smith know that he was heavily involved in sport in the White Hill area, being involved with the White Hill Club itself. But not only just the club from that area, but the running sporting community. And his loss will surely be felt in those different spaces where he had been a leading figure in the sporting world. Many would know his son, who was Kavin Smith, who was a marathon champion. But this was his father who, just as Kavin was a champion in his area, his father was a champion in making sure that sports were available for many of the young people in Somerset and the youths in the West End. And he used that sporting to be able to develop and keep our young people in some very positive atmospheres. So, his loss is not only just one to the family, but definitely to the community. And you all know that myself, Lister [Insurance] Agency, we sponsor the 24 th of May [Heritage] Junior Classic [Road] Race that takes place for the last two miles of the race. Well, Mr. Smith was the sporting side of the entity that runs that race. So along with myself and my family, Mr. Smith was that one who brought the children together to participate in that and reached out to all of the sporting clubs to make sure we annually had participants in that race. So, his loss w ill be a major effect to us this year as we host the sporting events and game at this year’s 24 th of May celebrations as well. So, with those remarks, thank you, Members, for your comments during this period. We will now move on.
MATTERS OF PRIVILEGE
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. NOTICE OF MOTIONS FOR THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE ON MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThere are none. NOTICE OF MOTIONS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe have a motion that is going to be introduced this morning —[three] motions, actually. And the first is in the name of the Premier. Premier, would you like to introduce your motion? MOTION TAKE NOTE OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO HISTORIC LAND LOSSES IN BERMUDA …
We have a motion that is going to be introduced this morning —[three] motions, actually. And the first is in the name of the Premier. Premier, would you like to introduce your motion?
MOTION
TAKE NOTE OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO HISTORIC LAND LOSSES IN BERMUDA
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I hereby do give notice that I propose to move the following motion at the next day of meeting: That this Honourable House take note of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Historic Land Losses in Bermuda laid for the information of the Honourable House of Assembly on the 10 th of December 2021. 178 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Thank you, Premier. The next motion is to be laid by MP Lawrence Scott —
Hon. E. David Burt: I have another motion, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOh, that is right. You have a second one. Go ahead. MOTION THAT MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE (SALARIES AND PENSIONS) ACT 1975 SCHEDULE 2 BE AMENDED Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I HEREBY do give notice that I propose to move the following …
Oh, that is right. You have a second one. Go ahead.
MOTION
THAT MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE (SALARIES AND PENSIONS) ACT 1975 SCHEDULE 2 BE AMENDED
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I HEREBY do give notice that I propose to move the following motion (which I will ask for a suspension of the [Standing Orders] later in the parliamentary session) at today’s sitting: WHEREAS it is provided by section 3 of the Ministers and Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975 (the principal Act) that Schedule 2 to the principal Act may be amended from time to time by resolution passed by both the Senate and the House of Assembly; AND WHEREAS it is expedient that Schedule 2 to the principal Act be now amended; BE IT RESOLVED that the Honourable House of Assembly and the Senate, pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of the Ministers and Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975, hereby amend Schedule 2 to the said Act by — i. inserting immediately below the office of “Premier,” the offices of “Deputy Premier” and “Attorney General”; and ii. deleting the office of “Parliamentary Secretaries” and substituting the office of “Junior Ministers.”
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. The final motion this morning to be introduced is that by the Honourable Member Lawrence Scott. I believe the Deputy Whip is going to present it for him. MOTION ESTABLISHMENT OF A PARLIAMENTARY JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE AND REVIEW MATTERS SURROUNDING THE CYBERATTACK ON GOVERNMENT IT SYSTEMS …
Mr. Neville S. TyrrellThat is correct, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of MP Lawrence Scott: I hereby give notice that at the next day of meeting I will move that the following Resolution be approved: WHEREAS the Government had previously established “a Joint Select Committee of both Houses to inquire into and …
That is correct, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of MP Lawrence Scott: I hereby give notice that at the next day of meeting I will move that the following Resolution be approved: WHEREAS the Government had previously established “a Joint Select Committee of both Houses to inquire into and make recommendations arising from September’s cyberattack,” prior to the dissolution of the Legislature in January; AND WHEREAS the Government now desires to establish a new Joint Select Committee to resume the inquiry into the September 2023 cyberattack: BE IT RESOLVED, pursuant to the provisions of Part IV of the Parliament Act 1957, that this Honourable House approves the establishment of a Par-liamentary Joint Select Committee to examine and review matters surrounding the cyberattack on Government IT systems in September 2023, and to report to this House its findings and recommendations in due course. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP Tyrrell. Members, I am looking at the time on the clock. Premier. Premier. Yes. We will end this morning on that note, and when we come back, we will be starting with the Orders of the Day. Premier. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. …
Thank you, MP Tyrrell. Members, I am looking at the time on the clock. Premier. Premier. Yes. We will end this morning on that note, and when we come back, we will be starting with the Orders of the Day. Premier.
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move that the Honourable House do now adjourn until 2:00 pm.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAny objection? There do not appear to be any objections. The House will now stand adjourned until 2:00 pm. [Gavel] Proceedings suspended at 12:30 pm Proceedings resumed at 2:00 pm [Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair]
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerMembers, the House is resuming . . . and we are following the Orders [of the Day] and indeed we are doing the motion to be moved by the Honourable E. David Burt, notice of which was given on 21 March 2025. Member. MOTION Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, …
Members, the House is resuming . . . and we are following the Orders [of the Day] and indeed we are doing the motion to be moved by the Honourable E. David Burt, notice of which was given on 21 March 2025. Member.
MOTION Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Deputy Speaker, I move that the House do now take under consideration the following
Bermuda House of Assembly Resolution, notice of which was given on the 21st of March 2025. Do you wish for me to read the whole thing or does . . . everyone has the Order Paper, so I do not have to read it and go straight to the brief.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYou may go to the brief because Members have been equipped with the Order Paper electronically and some with hard copies. THAT THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE HEREBY EMPOWERS THE MINISTER OF FINANCE TO AUTHORISE THE WITHDRAWAL OF MONIE S FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FUND Hon. E. David Burt: Okay, great. Thank you …
You may go to the brief because Members have been equipped with the Order Paper electronically and some with hard copies.
THAT THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE HEREBY EMPOWERS THE MINISTER OF FINANCE TO AUTHORISE THE WITHDRAWAL OF MONIE S FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FUND
Hon. E. David Burt: Okay, great. Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. A Resolution was tabled in this House on Friday, the 21st of March 2025, to authorise expenditure in advance of the 2025/26 budget year appropriation. It is provided by section 96 of the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968 that if the legislature is dissolved less than three months before the commencement of any financial year, the estimates for that year may be laid before the House as soon as practical after the commencement of that year. Mr. Speaker, sorry, Madam Deputy Speaker, following the dissolution of the legislature on the 8th of January 2025 and the subsequent general election on the 18th of February 2025, the scheduled date for the laying of the 2025/26 appropriations for the year has been set by the new Cabinet on the 2nd of May 2025, thereby requiring the application of section 96. Madam Deputy Speaker, section 97 of the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968 makes provision for the authorisation by Resolution of the House of Assembly for expenditures in advance of appropriation. Madam Deputy Speaker, the Resolution requests the authorisation of the withdrawals of money from the Consolidated Fund of the Government of Bermuda of an amount not exceeding 25 per cent of the total expenditure authorised by the Appropriation Act for fiscal year 2024/25 and subsequent supplementary appro-priations that were completed during the mid- year review. Madam Deputy Speaker, this withdrawal shall be for the purpose of meeting expenditure necessary to carry on the service of the government and shall be effective from the 1 st of April 2025 for a period not exceeding four months or until the coming into operation of the Appropriation Act 2025, whichever is the earlier. Madam Deputy Speaker, it is envisioned that the Appropriation Act will come into force on the 1st of July 2025. The 25 per cent provides sufficient headroom to allow for any additional seasonal expenditure which may be occurred in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025/26, and unexpected delays in the 2025/26 appropriation . Twenty -five per cent of the 2024 appropriation, including all matters that were done in the mid-year review , equates to $314 million, which represents $284 million in current expenditures and $30 million in capital expenditures. All ministries and departments will be instructed to operate within the financial parameters of 25 per cent of their 2024/25 appropriations for the period not exceeding the four months or until the coming into operation of the Appropriation Act 2025, whichever is the earlier . And as I indicated to my statements earlier, Madam Deputy Speaker, it is the full expectation that the Appropriation Act will be passed by the Hon-ourable House, also through the Senate in good and due time for that matter to be set to take effect from the 1 st of July 2025 —which is very appropriate as it is a three- month delay . . . makes things very easy , a quarter , and the adjustments can be made very simply. The 25 per cent will be sufficient to operate based upon ministries and department standard ex-penditure patterns during the first quarter of the fiscal year. Therefore, all government operations will be able to proceed as normal with the delivery of government services to the Bermuda public continuing uninterrupted. Madam Deputy Speaker, the approval Resolution will allow ministries and departments to meet expenditures necessary to execute the service of the government, including the payments of grants and other contractual commitments. Madam Deputy Speaker, in May we will have a full debate on the 2025/26 Budget, which will follow the 2024/25 Budget, which will be Bermuda's first balanced budget in 21 years. Therefore, it is my hope that this Resolution will pass through without objection, so that in May we will focus on the examination and scrutiny of this newly re- elected Government's first new budget. Thank you.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you. Members, as this is an Appropriation Bill, I believe that my question to you is whether or not we approve. I believe this m otion goes through without . . . and I will read the Standing Orders to you. “No debate shall take place on the mo-tions …
Thank you. Members, as this is an Appropriation Bill, I believe that my question to you is whether or not we approve. I believe this m otion goes through without . . . and I will read the Standing Orders to you. “No debate shall take place on the mo-tions for the second or third reading of the Appropriation Bill, and the Bill shall not be committed.” [Crosstalk]
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerClarification , Premier, is this a motion or a Bill? Hon. E. David Burt: This is a m otion.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerOkay. I — Hon. E. David Burt: My apologies. 180 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The Deputy Speaker: I do apologi se. I was reading it as a B ill. Does anyone else wish to speak to this motion? I do apologi se, Members.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoThank you , Madam Deputy Speaker. T hank you to the Honourable Premier for that presentation and thank you to all those who might be listening to us close to their lunchtime.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoFor those listening, it is a reminder that the A ppropriation Bill is in fact a law that we pass every year, fresh , anew to enable and authorise the spending of money by the G overnment, by the Legislature, which has the powers to provide that authori sation. It …
For those listening, it is a reminder that the A ppropriation Bill is in fact a law that we pass every year, fresh , anew to enable and authorise the spending of money by the G overnment, by the Legislature, which has the powers to provide that authori sation. It is a critical component for accountability and oversight of the spending of money by the G overnment, the oversight and accountability to be exercised by this legislature.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoThis motion is asking us as legislators to give the F inance Minister permission to continue to spend money in the absence of a budget having been prepared in time for up to four months and without presenting his plans for spending. Now the Honourable Premier has laid out how …
This motion is asking us as legislators to give the F inance Minister permission to continue to spend money in the absence of a budget having been prepared in time for up to four months and without presenting his plans for spending. Now the Honourable Premier has laid out how this was anticipated in the Constitution. So, I am not going to say this is not allowable. But I will tell you Madam Deputy Speaker, I have done a little research. Not once . . . not once in the modern political history of this country . . . in 55 years , not once has a government failed to pass a budget on time—including COVID -19, Madam Deputy Speaker. Including COVID -19. Now, since we are discussing the role of this legislature in waiving its oversight of the spending for the next few months, I want to give some— Hon. E. David Burt: Point of order.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYour point of order ? POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. E. David Burt: The Honourable Members is misleading the house. There is no waiving of the oversight of spending. As was stated the Appropriation Act that was done, the spending levels are the exact same as they were. And when …
Your point of order ?
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Hon. E. David Burt: The Honourable Members is misleading the house. There is no waiving of the oversight of spending. As was stated the Appropriation Act that was done, the spending levels are the exact same as they were. And when we debate the budget for the full year, full oversight will be able to [be] express ed by this House. We are not waiving the oversight provisions. The Honourable Member should withdraw as that is misleading the House and not factual.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, M ember. Member, do y ou accept the explanation ?
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoLet me restate, Madam Deputy Speaker, since this unprecedented delay in exercising of our oversight . . . unprecedented delay, not once in our modern political history . Other things that are unprecedented, this G overnment's failure to win the majority of the votes cast in this election because I …
Let me restate, Madam Deputy Speaker, since this unprecedented delay in exercising of our oversight . . . unprecedented delay, not once in our modern political history . Other things that are unprecedented, this G overnment's failure to win the majority of the votes cast in this election because I hear some words to that in the effect — [Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCouto—the fact . . . and because we are talking about oversight , these are the topics I am talking about , Madam Deputy Speaker . Since we are talking about oversight , the unprecedented move by this G overnment to amend laws last year to allow it to spend …
—the fact . . . and because we are talking about oversight , these are the topics I am talking about , Madam Deputy Speaker . Since we are talking about oversight , the unprecedented move by this G overnment to amend laws last year to allow it to spend money out of the sinking fund without any parliamentary oversight. The unprecedented verbiage used by this Government to boast of balanced budgets while racking up $105 million of spending from the sinking fund, which any reasonable person will tell you is $105 million of deficit spending. Decades , Madam Deputy Speaker, decades of unaudited accounts . It is very hard for me to feel comfortable. Madam Deputy Speaker , I believe this motion is in fact laid before this House to request the approval of this House to grant that permission. So, in fact, I have explicitly been asked . . . as are all of the Members of this House, Madam Deputy Speaker . And given that this G overnment's unprecedented laxness in managing the country's finances and preparing them in time, you might even ask, Should we question our confidence in this G overnment? No, that is a question for another day.
Hon. E. David Burt: Table the motion. Let’s go .
[Inaudible interjections]
Bermuda House of Assembly Dr. Douglas DeCouto: Now, I would point out a few other key facts that are pertinent , Madam Deputy Speaker . This topic actually came up prior to the election, which the G overnment likes to refer to, and which I remind you that they won less than a majority of the votes cast .
[Inaudible interjections and laughter ]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoWhen asked , Madam Deputy Speaker, Will a budget be prepared on time? Yes, they said, of course it will be. Of course it will be. [Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoThe delay in preparing this budget is solely due to the fact of the Premier's choice to hold this election at a time when a significant portion of our population would be disenfranchised by being away for their studies . And it was completely avoidable by him, and it is …
The delay in preparing this budget is solely due to the fact of the Premier's choice to hold this election at a time when a significant portion of our population would be disenfranchised by being away for their studies . And it was completely avoidable by him, and it is completely unprecedented in this country's modern political history. So that is what I am trying to get at. We are being asked to do something that has never been done before in our modern political history. [Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoSo I think it is worth a lot of careful consideration. [Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoI will tell you also, Madam Deputy Speaker, since we are delaying by quite a long period of time, our oversight of this country's fi-nances, it is our view, the One Bermuda Alliance, that part of the timing [of the ] election was driven by the fact that this Government …
I will tell you also, Madam Deputy Speaker, since we are delaying by quite a long period of time, our oversight of this country's fi-nances, it is our view, the One Bermuda Alliance, that part of the timing [of the ] election was driven by the fact that this Government did not want to present the budget and its accompanying information prior to the election. [Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoAs we know from the information, this G overnment racked up a $105 million deficit. It experienced a cash crunch. It ran out of cash, could not make payroll, and had to— Hon. E. David Burt: Point of order.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYour point of order? POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. E. David Burt: The Honourable M ember is clearly misleading the H ouse. So I am going to ask him a question : If he can state how and what financial years he is talking about a $105 million deficit , …
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Member , you are being asked to substantiate your point.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoThank you, Madam President. Based on the information from the Fiscal Responsibility Panel Report , years 2023/ 24 and 2024/ 25. Hon. E. David Burt: Ah, combining multiple —
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoWhich, I believe , is how I indicated. Now Madam President, I do not know about you. It is not just bad enough to run a deficit in one year, but to run them in two consecutive years while going around boasting about balanced budgets, that is not how I …
Which, I believe , is how I indicated. Now Madam President, I do not know about you. It is not just bad enough to run a deficit in one year, but to run them in two consecutive years while going around boasting about balanced budgets, that is not how I , or most successful people will carry out their finances.
[Inaudible interjections and laughter ]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoThe other things that we have learned, Madam [Deputy Speaker] by the— Hon. E. David Burt: Point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYour point of order? POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. E. David Burt: The Honourable Member is clearly misleading the House because if he is going to refer to 202 2/23, I can assure that there is no one who said that there was a balanced budget in 2022. So, he …
Your point of order?
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Hon. E. David Burt: The Honourable Member is clearly misleading the House because if he is going to refer to 202 2/23, I can assure that there is no one who said that there was a balanced budget in 2022. So, he has combined these figures together to paint a picture, which is completely false. So, the Honourable Member should stipulate precisely what he is referring to rather than trying to put former financial years applying to the budget that will come in this House, which will clearly show that the c onsolidated fund is in a 100 per cent surplus position. And I may add for the preview of Honourable Members, a higher surplus than was predicted when we tabled the budget in last year.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoMadam Deputy Speaker , I believe the P remier is mistaken and has misheard because I referred to the— 182 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly [Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoThe record will reflect . . . and if it did not, well what I would have meant was 2023/24 and 2024/ 25. And either way, I am referring to the total net debt, which is how any reasonable person would consider the finances of an ongoing thing , such …
The record will reflect . . . and if it did not, well what I would have meant was 2023/24 and 2024/ 25. And either way, I am referring to the total net debt, which is how any reasonable person would consider the finances of an ongoing thing , such as the G overnment. So, I have referred to, Madam [Deputy Speaker], the unprecedented use of this procedure in law that has never happened before. And this Government is the first ever to fail to prepare a budget in time. I have referred to this Government's massive deficit spending despite their words to the contrary . I have referred to the fact that they ran out of cash and had to pull cash from the sinking fund to make payroll.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberWhose fund is the sinking fund?
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoYou know, which we are glad that they have done. It is unfortunate they could not arrange the finances appropriately otherwise. Hon. E. David Burt: Point of order
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoOther information— Hon. E. David Burt: Point of order —points of order.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYour point of order ? POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. E. David Burt: The Honourable Member is misleading the House. I know it is hard for him to understand that law is written and this unprecedented thing he refers to took place in 2013, 20 14, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, …
Your point of order ?
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Hon. E. David Burt: The Honourable Member is misleading the House. I know it is hard for him to understand that law is written and this unprecedented thing he refers to took place in 2013, 20 14, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 20 20, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 20 24. So for him to get up here and say that with an excess borrowing fund, which is made to cover those shortfalls, the precise reason of what he is saying and when he is talking about previous fiscal years, this Government did not predict a balanced budget in the previous fiscal year. So the Honourable M ember is misleading the House. I know he is trying to make an impression on his first speech on a motion as the Shadow Minister of Finance, but he should constrain himself to the facts and not conjecture and speculation.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Member , you have the floor.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoYes. Madam Deputy Speaker, the fact is it is unprecedented for G overnment to fail to produce a budget by 1 April. Fact. It is a fact that in 2023/24 and 2024/25 this Government engaged in $105 million of deficit spending. Fact. Government's own reports. Now let me move on …
Yes. Madam Deputy Speaker, the fact is it is unprecedented for G overnment to fail to produce a budget by 1 April. Fact. It is a fact that in 2023/24 and 2024/25 this Government engaged in $105 million of deficit spending. Fact. Government's own reports. Now let me move on because I am sure we would all like to. It is very hard for us to sit here and give up some of our oversight functions given that pattern of fiscal —
Hon. E. David Burt: Point of order
Dr. Douglas DeCouto—misrepresentation and bad— Hon. E. David Burt: Point of order.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYour point of order? POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. E. David Burt: Madam Deputy Speaker, this point has alrea dy been made. The Honourable Member is misleading this House. When he says that the House is giving up its oversight provisions . . . that is not correct. The House …
Your point of order?
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Hon. E. David Burt: Madam Deputy Speaker, this point has alrea dy been made. The Honourable Member is misleading this House. When he says that the House is giving up its oversight provisions . . . that is not correct. The House will consider a budget for the full year and the full oversight provisions will be able to be exercised. Unless the Honourable Member happens to believe that the G overnment of Bermuda can run on a quarter of its total annual budget. The Honourable Member needs to withdraw that point because the House is not giving up its oversight responsibilities.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoDeputy [Speaker]. And I have to ask . . . I do not ask. I believe the public should think about it. What is the cause of this delay? Are there so many changes since the prebudget report that it is entitled this delay? I am sure we will learn …
Deputy [Speaker]. And I have to ask . . . I do not ask. I believe the public should think about it. What is the cause of this delay? Are there so many changes since the prebudget report that it is entitled this delay? I am sure we will learn all about it . But, if so, I am surprised that the Government would make such large changes to the budget given it had already issued a pre- budget report and has not exactly received a resounding mandate. Or if there are big changes or if there are not big changes , excuse me , What is the delay? My last question—rhetorical question, I do not actually require an answer, Madam Deputy Speaker —is, perhaps the public should also ask , Is the Premier so overburdened with his responsibilities that he is not able to pay the appropriate attention to getting this budget
Bermuda House of Assembly prepared, which is one of the key responsibilities as Minister of Finance? Now I will close with this because I know there is a great anticipation from people on the other side. A great anticipation as to what I will say next.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberNobody cares! [Laughter]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoWow. They wanted to know earlier , Madam Deputy Speaker. [Inaudible interjections]
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Are there any other members who wish to speak to the motion? I recogni se the member from constituency 17. Member . Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Deputy Speaker , thank you. I thank the P remier for bringing this motion forth. It is actually prudent, reasonable and …
Thank you, Member. Are there any other members who wish to speak to the motion? I recogni se the member from constituency 17. Member . Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Deputy Speaker , thank you. I thank the P remier for bringing this motion forth. It is actually prudent, reasonable and wise that we bring a motion forward for the carry over of funds so that we can continue the work of the G overnment . So we can continue to fund the vital services that the Government provides . So that we can continue to pay the staff who provide those vital services. I do not think anybody would be satisfied with the Government discontinuing critical service, whether they be in education, health care, or infrastructure, because this H ouse failed to accept a motion for a simple continuation of funding the G overnment , a provision which lies within our C onstitution. A provision which allows the Minister of Finance to exercise that provision when reasonable. We did have an election, a n election that was requested to be called by the O pposition. The P remier heed ed to tho se calls. The election was called, and we had a victor. [Laughter]
Hon. Jason Hayward: But since that election, we did have a reorgani sation of ministries and this allows for the ministries to be reorgani sed and for the proper budgeting to take place in those ministries so that the ministries can fund the priorities which are set out , number one, in the Speech from the Throne . But also from the party’s platform, promises that this G overnment has made to the people of Bermuda, and we intend to carry out in an efficient and effective [ manner]. I do not think we should be making a meal out of this. We will go through a full budget process starting next week. And we have already approved a calendar for the budget and the O pposition is well aware that we will be doing full budget debates in May. So, the financial oversight and the oversight of this particular body will take place. There will be an opportunity to debate each and every ministry, each and every line item and look at the budget from a very prescriptive standpoint . I think it is somewhat irresponsible to mislead the public to believe that if —
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoWe are not misleading anybody , Madam Deputy [Speaker]. We have stated facts. Thank you, Madam Deputy [Speaker] .
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerOkay, thank you . Minister. Hon. Jason Hayward: Additional to the oversight that this House will provide, there are also Financial Instructions which govern how funds are actually allocated to the payment of goods and services that are required for the G overnment to continue to function. 184 28 March …
Okay, thank you . Minister.
Hon. Jason Hayward: Additional to the oversight that this House will provide, there are also Financial Instructions which govern how funds are actually allocated to the payment of goods and services that are required for the G overnment to continue to function. 184 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly We have a number of charities that rely on government funding. We have a number of quangos which are funded by the government that need to ensure that they have finances in place so that they can continue their operations as well. And so, what we are doing is taking a common- sense approach to ensure that we can have the most effective debate on the budget that we possibly can instead of forcing through changes which may not reflect the current construct of the Government based off of what was done prior to the realignment of ministr ies. And so, what we are actually doing is reasonable. It is responsible. It is with no risk that we do this. There is no reduction of oversight. There is no reduction of the financial instructions. And I believe that when we do things such as this , we should share that the reason why we are doing it is to ensure that we continue with the vital services that the G overnment provides . And that should be the support that we receive coming from both aisles of the House— that we want to prioriti se, ensuring that we are a government that works for the people of Bermuda. Thank you, Madam [Deputy] Speaker.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Are there any other M embers who wish to speak to the motion ? There being none — Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It falls to me to respond, and I will take my lead from the Minister of Economy and L abour …
Thank you, Member. Are there any other M embers who wish to speak to the motion ? There being none — Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It falls to me to respond, and I will take my lead from the Minister of Economy and L abour who set out the facts. But let me try to go through the . . . I will call them unfortunate points that were laid by the Shadow Minister of Finance who has determined to try to state that he is going to try to have a spirit of collaboration—
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYour point of order? POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoThe Premier is misleading the House. He does not know what my intentions are, and he should not try to imagine them. Thank you.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerMember, you may continue. Hon. E. David Burt: Just so you are aware, I am sure that you well know , Madam Deputy Speaker , that is not a point of order. That is not a point of order whatsoever. But here we go. But here we go. See? And …
Member, you may continue. Hon. E. David Burt: Just so you are aware, I am sure that you well know , Madam Deputy Speaker , that is not a point of order. That is not a point of order whatsoever. But here we go. But here we go. See? And so, I am going to get myself ready because if they want to come and debate facts, then trust and believe I am ready to come and debate facts. Because where he ended, which I thought was rather amusing, where he said that, you know, I s the premier too busy? Is he wearing too many hats? Can he do this type of work, X, Y, and Z ? I find it remarkable because they did not complain when David Gibbons was wearing two hats.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberNo. Hon. E. David Burt: Yes— [Laughter] Hon. E. David Burt: They were not complaining about that. But of course, for this little guy over here—
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoMadam Deputy Speaker — Hon. E. David Burt: —from that part —
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYour point of order? POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoHe is misleading the House. None of us were around to complain at that time ,
Madam Deputy Speaker
The Deputy Speakerthe deputy speakerThank you, Member . Hon. E. David Burt: Again, t hat is not a point of order. But the Honourable Member has mistaken a point of order for the fact that he cannot . . . he can dish, but he clearly cannot take. But let me tell the Honourable …
Thank you, Member .
Hon. E. David Burt: Again, t hat is not a point of order. But the Honourable Member has mistaken a point of order for the fact that he cannot . . . he can dish, but he clearly cannot take. But let me tell the Honourable Member from constitu ency 25, you . . . welcome to the big house and we will have the debates up here because here is the reality . The reality is that I have been wearing this second hat for three years and one year before that.
[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. E. David Burt: And during that particular time — too long, they may say . They can say whatever they wish. But the facts are that we will deliver the first balanced budget in 21 years.
[Desk thumping]
Hon. E. David Burt: The facts are, when we came into office, we have lowered taxes for working people
Bermuda House of Assembly in this country to their lowest level in history when the party opposite had them at the highest level in history. The facts are that the remit of international business, of which we have —
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoThose topics are not relevant to this . . . to this motion.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerMember , that is not a point of order . . . but . . . thank you. Continue. Hon. E. David Burt: I am going to continue. I just really wish that the Honourable Member would sit down and listen. He might learn a few things up here in …
Member , that is not a point of order . . . but . . . thank you. Continue.
Hon. E. David Burt: I am going to continue. I just really wish that the Honourable Member would sit down and listen. He might learn a few things up here in this House because here is the challenge.
[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. E. David Burt: Oh, oh, they are getting excited over there. No, you canno t take it because you keep getting up with point s of o rder. Here is the challenge. They do not like the facts.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberNot at all. Hon. E. David Burt: They cannot understand how this particular Government, despite every single thing that they want to throw at us, manages to navigate crisis after crisis, continuing to deliver for the people of this country and delivering, I might add, the second highest economic growth …
Not at all. Hon. E. David Burt: They cannot understand how this particular Government, despite every single thing that they want to throw at us, manages to navigate crisis after crisis, continuing to deliver for the people of this country and delivering, I might add, the second highest economic growth in the entire Western hemi-sphere. [Laughter] Hon. E. David Burt: This is the record of this particular Government. They laugh. But note, there is no point of order. And so, when we talk about the fact of wearing two hats, let me learn up the Honourable Member again. Budgets are not prepared by the Minister of Finance. Budgets are prepared by the various M inisters in the G overnment. And so yes, we could have come up here and rushed through a budget and said, guess what? We are going to have a Throne Speech the following week and guess what? We are going to rush through a budget and let us go ahead and sit, sit, sit and push it through. Absolutely. Because the Honourable Member may not know that budget submissions were submitted by m inistries before the election. But it would be wise and prudent to give your M inisters, new Ministers , time to assess their priorities, to take into account the matters that were endorsed by the electorate during the election platform and to make sure that the budget priorities match what has been stated in this G overnment's Throne Speech. That is the reality. They may not like it, but that is where we are. And I note this whole thing about unprecedented. Here is the thing, yes, this is probably the first time, I do not know, I have not gone back to search records way back to 1968. Maybe the Honourable Member did. Even though he cannot find reports from a few years ago. But maybe the Honourable Member did go back and search records way back to 1968. I am not going to dispute that point . But her e is what I will tell you. There are a number of things that we have done that have been unprecedented. But here is the reality. They are allowed under law. We are lawmakers. We are bound by law. We must follow the law. And there is absolutely nothing unusual about using what is in the Constitution to ensure that this H ouse can actually have a proper debate on a properly formulated budget after a general election to ensure that the priorities that the people sent us back to this H ouse to execute will be done. So now let us go to some of those other points because it is remarkable that they continue to want to harp on the votes in the election. Here is the reality. We have 25 seats o n our electoral system. They have 11—1 3 per cent more votes that this party got than that party got. They want to harp on illegitimacy and all the rest. Here is the point that I made in the media, which I will make here because I know those Honourable Members are fans of the Conservative Party in United Kingdom. That is their sister party. That is the associ ation—
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoPoint of order, Madam President [sic]. [Inaudible interjections]
Some Hon. Members Some Hon. MembersCome on now. Come on now.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYour point of order? POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoI do r equest the Honourable Premier to retract that wholly incorrect statement. 186 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The Deputy Speaker: Do you think he is misleading the House?
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you. Member . Hon. E. David Burt: He could not state what was incorrect . But let us say the undisputable evidence that their party leaders attend the C onservative Party Conference because that is the party of whom they associate in the United Kingdom. That is —
Dr. Douglas DeCouto—does not associate with any particular overseas party. That would be like saying, Mada m Deputy Speaker , because he was off speaking with Republican government representatives that the Progressive Labor Party associates itself with Donald Trump.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberYes, yes.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoThat is clearly . . . I am sure that is not true. Thank you. Thank you , Madam Deputy Speaker. Hon. E. David Burt: He is trying hard. But I will continue on my — [Inaudible interjections] Hon. E. David Burt: I will continue, Madam Deputy Speaker because he …
That is clearly . . . I am sure that is not true. Thank you. Thank you , Madam Deputy Speaker.
Hon. E. David Burt: He is trying hard. But I will continue on my — [Inaudible interjections]
Hon. E. David Burt: I will continue, Madam Deputy Speaker because he might want to allow me to get to my points. So they associate themselves over there. [Inaudible interjections]
Hon. E. David Burt: Oh, I am going to go because that is what it is. You act as though your party leaders do not attend the C onservative Party Conference. They do! They do.
[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. E. David Burt: They do.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberYou do! It’s your party. Hon. E. David Burt: They do. That is just the reality. They do. Okay. They do. The last leader of the party who sat in that seat where Jaron did, attended the Conservative Par-ty Conference, that is what it is. That is the record. That …
You do! It’s your party. Hon. E. David Burt: They do. That is just the reality. They do. Okay. They do. The last leader of the party who sat in that seat where Jaron did, attended the Conservative Par-ty Conference, that is what it is. That is the record. That is the facts. [Inaudible interjections]
Hon. E. David Burt: That is the fact. But here we go. See they, they want to pick, but I mean . . . trying to develop my point. You do not have to worry about it. Here is the reality. Not once have I ever heard them say that the C onservative parties of the United Kingdom over any point in time or any other party was illegitimate. The reality is, Madam Deputy Speaker, there has not been a single government in the United King-dom that has been elected, that has received more than 50 per cent of the votes. But nobody complains. They make the laws ; they do the work. They are just trying to put a silver lining on their second worst electoral performance in history. That is what it is. That is what they are. So they can continue to repeat that point. And on this side, we will remind them that they are doing their best to put a silver lining on their second worst electoral performance in history. Second worst in history. So, the only points of which they want to get to is that, but that is fine. Be cause guess what? We have 25 seats —more than the majority , and landside majority, that we achieved in 2017. And we are going to continue to govern as that Government. And so, the final point of which I will hold on to is this matter that, as I address ed in a point of order speaking about, O h my goodness, we have an excess borrowing fund and how are we doing this ? And all the rest. That—
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoThere is no fund named “ excess borrowing fund” in any legislation. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Continue. [Laughter] Hon. E. David Burt: Let us go ahead and continue. Okay ? Because the particular excess borrowing fund—he wants to point of order again , he may do so, but I am going to continue down that line and length— was put in place by …
Thank you, Member. Continue.
[Laughter]
Hon. E. David Burt: Let us go ahead and continue. Okay ? Because the particular excess borrowing fund—he wants to point of order again , he may do so, but I am going to continue down that line and length— was put in place by the O ne Bermuda Alliance G overnment. The sinking fund is the regular sinking fund and the portions of which were borrowed in prior years to meet spending. That is the reality. So, for the Honourable Member to then come up here and talk about, Oh my goodness, they ha ve accumulated deficits in years that they said they are going to accumulate deficits is laughable. But here is the thing. We will be here on 2 May. We will put forward a budget to this country. We will provide revised estimates for 2024 /25. And as I stated in this House earlier, we will have a bigger budget surplus than we planned to have when we tabled the budget last February.
[Desk thumping]
Hon. E. David Burt: And here is the thing, it g alls them. It galls them that no matter the noise, the protestations, the sound, and the fury coming from that side, that we have been able to ably manage the country's finances. It galls them the fact that we can negotiate with public officers to make sure that the public ser-vices strengthen to retain workers inside the public service to invest in training, to invest —
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYour point of order . POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoHe is misleading the H ouse. He is implying that our party does not support those raises and that we are somehow against the public service by the use of his language. And it is not true. And I would ask him to retract it. [Inaudible interjections]
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerContinue . . . let me just say this. When you seek to sort of clarify what somebody is saying, it is called a point of clarification. And you can get up on a point of clarification, but the Member does not have to yield. Okay . Hon. E. David …
Continue . . . let me just say this. When you seek to sort of clarify what somebody is saying, it is called a point of clarification. And you can get up on a point of clarification, but the Member does not have to yield. Okay .
Hon. E. David Burt: I am going to repeat it for the benefit of everyone else because again, Madam Deputy Speaker, that was not a point of order. So let me help the Honourable Member . In here, w e debate. You say your part. If there is something that is non- factual, we will go ahead and refute. We will say our part. If there is something that is not factual, we will go ahead —you can go ahead and dispute. But the fact is, this is a debate. It galls them that this party, this Government, and yes, I will even go personal , this Minister of Finance has demonstrated that we can manage the public affairs of this country and the public purse in a way that benefits the citizens of this country. It is that party opposite who did not support our changes to payroll tax, which reduce d payroll tax to workers to the lowest level in history while raising on high earners, delivering ourselves record income to go ahead and to balance budgets. That was the items that they oppose. We supported it and that is the reason why we can come here and talk about the fact that our budget surpluses are going to be better than was expected. Now, back to the point of public officer s, because this is the reason why it is important. Despite the significant historic agreement that was achieved with the P ublic Sector Unions to make sure, to restore parity back for all of the years of which they had increases that were less than the rates of inflation and the amount of money of which it is going to cost the Government this year —which was not budgeted for, as they said. A s was discussed last week , we are still going to deliver a balanced budget that has a larger balanced budget than was predicted when we came to this House of Assembly last year in February. That, Madam Deputy Speaker , is a record of stewardship. That record of stewardship goes further to say that when we were in a better position, we cut taxes, gasoline . . . sorry, energy taxes in this country by 60 per cent . Something that they called for. You know what? It was one of their M embers who said, I 188 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly think it was the Honourable D eputy [Leader] —I remember that the D eputy Leader who said , Oh, they have mismanaged finances so much that there is not even enough money to cut taxes because if they had not mismanaged finances , they woul d have been able to cut the energy tax to provide relief . Well, guess what? Again, making things up in their head without understanding the fact . . . understanding the fact that we know what it is that we are doing. So what happened? After they go ahead and make that sound and fury and all that statement, we cut energy taxes that they doubled. Cut them by 60 per cent . Came out with a mid- year review ; invested more money in infrastructure, more money in public services, more money in security and will still deliver a bigger budget surplus than we predicted just 11 months ago. So here is the thing, Madam Deputy Speaker, we will pass this Resolution today and we will come back to this H ouse on 2 May to deliver that budget. Today, we are taking for ward the people's priorities, using the laws of this country as they are allowed in a Constitution that was written in 1968 to make allowances for circumstance and situations when the Legislature is diss olved in advance. The real challenge . . . is the real issue, Madam Deputy Speaker, why they keep going back to this point about the time of the election and a ll the rest : they were not ready. We [were] , we won 25 seats. They won 11, and today we will pass this Resolution so we can get on with the doing the country's work. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. [Desk thumping]
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member . Do we all approve? I will put it that way for the motion. And I do note that the O pposition person speaking to this motion did state upfront that you reluctantly approve this motion. Members , are we all approved? [Inaudible interjections]
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerExcuse me ? Hon. E. David Burt: Mada m Deputy, just a point of order [sic].
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerSure. Hon. E. David Burt: Of course. I would hate to, you know —
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberYou can’t point of order — [Inaudible interjections] Hon. E. David Burt: —because you certainly —
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberYou cannot point of order.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerPoint of information. Thank you. POINT OF INFORMATION Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you. I just, of course, we do need to make sure we ask for the vote.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYes. Hon. E. David Burt: Not a vote . . . all in favou r.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerWell, that is what I was getting on to do. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much. Thank you.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerSo moved. Thank you. [Motion carried: The House of Assembly empowered the Minister of Finance to authorise the withdrawal of monies from the consolidated fund.]
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerMembers, we will now move on to the next item for debate. And that is the second reading of the Corporate Income Tax [(Penalty Provisions)] Amendment Act 2025. Premier and Minister of Finance . . . Okay , I recogni se Junior Minister , Mr. F urbert, who will be …
Members, we will now move on to the next item for debate. And that is the second reading of the Corporate Income Tax [(Penalty Provisions)] Amendment Act 2025. Premier and Minister of Finance . . . Okay , I recogni se Junior Minister , Mr. F urbert, who will be doing this item.
Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker . Madam Deputy Speaker , I move that the B ill entitled Corporate Income Tax (Penalty Provisions ) Amendment Act 2025 be now read the second time.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerContinue, Member. BILL SECOND READING Bermuda House of Assembly CORPORATE INCOME TAX (PENALTY PROVISIONS) AMENDMENT ACT 202 5 Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Madam [Deputy] Speaker, it is my distinct honour and privilege on behalf of the Government to rise this afternoon in this Honourable House to debate the B ill …
Continue, Member.
BILL
SECOND READING
Bermuda House of Assembly CORPORATE INCOME TAX (PENALTY PROVISIONS) AMENDMENT ACT 202 5
Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Madam [Deputy] Speaker, it is my distinct honour and privilege on behalf of the Government to rise this afternoon in this Honourable House to debate the B ill entitled Corporate Income Tax (Penalty Provisions) Amendment Act 2025. Madam Deputy Speaker, this Bill seeks to amend the Corporate Income Tax Act 2023 (CIT Act ) to introduce civil and criminal penalties, enhance enforcement and compliance mechanisms, and clearly outline penalties for failing to meet registration and the filing deadlines. It also establishes penalties for nonpayment of taxes when due and for inaccuracies in tax return declarations. Madam Deputy Speaker, there it affirms Bermuda ’s long-standing commitment to be a cooperative, compliant and transparent jurisdiction with re-spect to international tax matters. The CIT Act or any other relevant legal provisions do not currently provide for penalty provisions. Madam Deputy Speaker, by way of background, I will note that in December 2023, the Bermu-da Government enacted the Corporate Income Tax Act 2023 which imposed a statutory rate of 15 per cent on the profits of Bermuda entities, which are part of multin ational enterprises and ( MNE groups) with more than €750 million in total global revenues. Madam Deputy Speaker, that is roughly $810 million. And Madam Deputy Speaker, it has to be global revenue in at least two of the previous four fiscal years . It is estimated that the introduction of the CIT would impact approximately 2, 000 companies in Bermuda. This was a response to the Organi sation for Economic Co- operation and Development ( OECD ) in collaboration with a group of 20 industrial ised countries (G20) working to address the issue of base erosion and profit [shifting] (BEPS) . BEPS refers to tax planning strategies used by multinational enterprises to exploit gaps and mis-matches in tax rules, allow them to artificially shift profits to a low or no tax jurisdiction where they have little or no economic activity. By implementing this tax, Bermuda avoids being labelled a non -cooperative jurisdiction or tax haven, which could lead to international sanctions or reputational harm. The Bermuda Government then enacted the Corporate Income Tax [Agency] Act 2024, that established a corporate body to be known as the C orporate I ncome Tax Agency to administer corporate income tax regime under the Corporate Income Tax [Act] 2023. Madam Deputy Speaker, following the decision to implement a corporate income tax, the Bermu-da Government moved quickly to progress necessary legislation . Due to the complexity and technical nature of international tax matters , it was expected that refinement and additional legislation will be required to develop comprehensive enforcement and a compliance mechanism aligned with international best practices. Madam Deputy Speaker, the Ministry of Finance held a public consultation on penalty provisions from January to February 2025, which included an illustrative Bill. The overall penalty framework is largely modelled after the US Internal Revenue Code system, as it is familiar to many taxpayers. Additionally, the framework is designed to align with procedures for default fines and civil penalties under Bermuda laws, while ensuring the right to a fair hearing as mandated by section 6(8) of the Bermuda Constituti on Order 1968. The feedback gathered during the consultation process was carefully considered and, as deemed appropriate, amendments were made to the legislation. Key changes involved provisions that enable written representations to be made by taxpayers before a final panel decision is made to enhance the adjudication process. Further, the criminal liability for individuals has a result of consultation, been narrowed so that the standard is now higher than negligence. An individual must be found to have practiced consent or [connivance] in order to face coex tensive criminal liability with the cor poration. These adjustments demonstrate the Government's commitment to engaging with stakeholders and ensuring that the legislation is clear, effective, and aligned with international best practices. While the core provisions of the Bill remain unchanged, these refinements address concerns raised during the consultation process, enhance clari-ty and improve their overall execution of the framework. The penalty levels have been reviewed by the Ministry tax advisor , and it has been determined that it would be prudent for Bermuda to maintain the levels proposed, given the size and significance of taxpayers involved as they allow the required level of flexibility to the Agency while ensuring that Bermuda can demonstrate that our regime can appropriately enforce com-pliance. The Government remains committed to its ongoing programs of consulting with all relevant stakeholders to ensure their framework supports both compliance and economic growth in the jurisdiction. Madam Deputy Speaker, the penalty provisions that are being proposed include both civil and criminal penalties . The following outlines the key civil penalties: • failure to register • failure to file return • failure to accurately state tax on a return; and • failure to pay tax when due. The following outlines criminal penalties: • personal liability • deliberate failure to file return, and • tax evasion. 190 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Madam Deputy Speaker, this Act also amends the Corporate Income Tax Agency Act 2024 to revise the definition of tax receipts to clarify that any penalt ies imposed by the Agency shall not become the property of the A gency . In addition to these penalty provisions, a separate and distinct interest regime for tax underpay-ments , will be established through future regulations in due course. These regulations will address: • registration and general administration • payment of taxes, including paying tax due • manner of the payment • instalment payments, underpayments and overpayments • returns and inquiries assessments • clearance and disputes. Madam Deputy Speaker, in closing, I will note that the Government firmly believes that the corporate income tax framework strengthens Bermuda's ongoing commitment to global compliance and transparency while upholding the Island's strong international reputation. The progress we have achieved today w ould not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of the I nternational Tax Working Group whose expertise and dedication continue to play a vital role in this important work. Madam Deputy Speaker, I am honour ed to serve the Ministry at this time. During this pivotal time I am privilege d to work alongside a team of dedicated public officers who consistently go [above and] beyond to ensure that Bermuda remains a model jurisdiction. I extend my heart ful gratitude to everyone in the Ministry of Finance, including our committed advisors who have devoted their time, energy, and expertise to this effort. Their work has been further supported by the drafting team at the Attorney General’s Chambers to whom I also expressed my sincere appreciation. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Are there any other Members who wish to speak to the Corporate Income Tax (Penalty Provi-sions) Amendment Act? I recognise Member DeCouto.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoThank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Because I know there is great anticipation on the other side as to what the Opposition thinks about this— [Inaudible interjections and laughter ] Dr. Douglas DeCouto: Let me just cut to the chase just to let them know that we, of course, we do …
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoThe Junior Minister referred in fact to all the great many people involved in this process—whether they be people who have been consulted, the various people in the industry, the stakeholders, the people working internally with the Gov-ernment. This is an example of the success story of Bermuda, Inc., Madam …
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoAnd yes, of course. We have been very good about this one. And part of that has been, in fact the fulsome consultation, the engaging with the experts, the way it aligns with the strengths of Bermuda as a jurisdiction. And I do want to commend the Government on this. …
And yes, of course. We have been very good about this one. And part of that has been, in fact the fulsome consultation, the engaging with the experts, the way it aligns with the strengths of Bermuda as a jurisdiction. And I do want to commend the Government on this. Some of the features of this are in fact, for example, the strong Corporate Income Tax Agency. And I am going to look around the room and I can see some individuals here that are going to be part of making that a successful, strong agency. I am not going to get into the names, but they are here. So I would thank them on a personal basis. Now, I mentioned the consultation. So, we have highlighted that the relevant consultation has occurred, and it has been throughout this whole pro-cess. And we do commend the Government for setting a high bar in this whole area of the corporate income tax. We do believe the Bill is quite reasonable. So, we want to highlight that, and it provides the flexibility to allow the Agency to apply some regional judgments in some areas. And we think that that is very important given that this new tax is just getting off the ground and it will be a new thing both for the Agency, the Government, and the taxpayers. So that is important. But we would encourage the Agency to ensure it is exercising its powers of discretion where required. We also note that some of the penalties may seem stiff as they are laid out in the Bill. But again, that is important, as the Junior Minister said, to reinforce what kind of jurisdiction we are and that we mean business. And that we want businesses to operate at the highest level of integrity and fiscal responsibility and paying their taxes on time. I do have a bit of a question, in general, because we can see that there is going to be a need for qualified staff to go through these tax returns to follow up on things that do not look quite right, to ensure that all the right things are being followed. And I would personally look for some reassurance as to how the hiring of the Agency is going and
Bermuda House of Assembly how the Government is supporting the Agency in bringing on that very unique professional talent, which, you know, frankly as a jurisdiction that has not previously had one of these taxes, we do not have a ton of that talent around. So those are things I would be interested in hearing about later from the Junior Minister, and a couple points for Committee. Thank you, [Mr. Acting Speaker].
[Mr. Christopher Famous , Acting Speaker, in the Chair]
The Acting SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Do any other Members wish to speak on this? [Pause] [Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair]
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerAre there any other Members who wish to speak to this Bill? There being none. Oh, okay. I recognise the Member from constituency 18. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much. I thank the Honourable Junior Minister for bringing this Bill. I would like to echo the sentiments which …
Are there any other Members who wish to speak to this Bill? There being none. Oh, okay. I recognise the Member from constituency 18.
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much. I thank the Honourable Junior Minister for bringing this Bill. I would like to echo the sentiments which have been expressed of the appreciation to the work, certainly of Ms. Cheryl -Ann Lister, who is an OBE. (Let me make sure I give her her full titles and flowers.) She has been working particularly hard. The drafting resource inside of the Attorney General Chambers. I see you over there, Ms. Johnson. It is a pleasure to see you— and our young lawyer from the west side of the Island, Ms. Genesis Iris, who has been working inside of the Ministry of Finance and becoming up to date and an expert on whole, particu-larly tax matters. The fact of the matter is that this is a new space that we are going to, but I just want to make sure that I share with the Honourable House that working with experts and consulting with our international business stakeholders is not just something that is done in corporate income tax. It is something that is done across the breadth of work of which we do in this Government. Yes, we may not always agree, but the fact is we always consult widely. This is going to be a significant and fundamental change for this country, and it is important that we get it right, and it is important that we do the particular work. And so I want to take this opportunity as I know that Ms. Cheryl Lister is wrapping up her time at the Ministry of Finance to ask the Honourable House to bang their desks and thank her for her many years of work in service for the Government of Bermuda.
[Desk thumping] Hon. E. David Burt: And she is going to be very upset that I got on my feet to acknowledge her presence. But I wish you all the best as you wrap up your time as the senior advisor to the Financial Secretary and the Minister of Finance within the Ministry of Finance. And I just want to thank her on a professional level, but also on a personal level for her friendship, her kindness, and her continued devotion to this country that we love. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Are there any other Members who wish to speak to this Bill? There being none, I call on the Junior Minister. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Madam Deputy Speaker, I would just say the Premier has said it all. In regard to the cooperation that we have got …
Thank you, Member. Are there any other Members who wish to speak to this Bill? There being none, I call on the Junior Minister. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Madam Deputy Speaker, I would just say the Premier has said it all. In regard to the cooperation that we have got so far. It has been very heartening working with these individuals in the short time I have been there and the talent that is up at the Ministry of Finance and other places. The question that you asked about the qualified staff. I am confident that at the end of the day with the Government departments and the agencies that we have in place they will ensure that they have the necessary qualified staff to work within the Agency going forward. That is basically what I am comfortable with. There is nothing more to say about that. So, in light of that, Madam Deputy Speaker, I move that the Bill could be Committed.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerIt has been moved that the Bill be committed. Any objections? I call on the Member from constituency 11 to take the [Chair of Committee]. House in Committee at 2 :59 pm [Mr. Christopher Famous, Chairman] COMMITTEE ON BILL CORPORATE INCOME TAX (PENALTY PROVISIONS) AMENDMENT ACT 202 5
The ChairmanChairmanGood afternoon, Members. Honourable Members, we are now in Committee of the whole [House] for further consideration of the Bill entitled Corporate Income Tax Amendment Act—sorry, Corporate Income Tax (Penalty Provisions), Amendment Act 2025.
The ChairmanChairmanI call on the Junior Minister in charge to proceed. Junior Minister, you have the floor. 192 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This Bill would enact the Corporate Income Tax (Penalty Provisions) Amendment Act [2025] to amend …
I call on the Junior Minister in charge to proceed. Junior Minister, you have the floor. 192 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This Bill would enact the Corporate Income Tax (Penalty Provisions) Amendment Act [2025] to amend the Corporate Income Tax Act 2023 (CIT Act) to introduce civil and criminal penalties to ensure the due observance of the corporate income tax regime set out under the Act; which further seeks to amend the Corporate Income Tax Agency [Act 2024] to revise the definition of “tax receipts.” Mr. Chairman, I would like to move clauses 1 through 3, or all of the clauses.
[No audible response]
Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Clause 1 provides a citation for the Bill. Clause 2 amends the Corporate Income Tax Act 2023: (a) in section 4(3), to clarify how liability for civil and criminal penalties is to be shared amongst corporate groups; (b) in section 48(1), to clarify that the acts of the Agency in imposing civil penalties are subject to the jurisdiction and oversight of the Supreme Court; and (c) to insert new Parts 8A and 8B to introduce new provisions relating to civil and criminal penalties. Part 8A contains provision for civil penalties in sections 46A to 46F and Part 8B contains provision for criminal penalties in sections 46G to 46J, as follows: • Section 46A provides for interest to be chargeable in respect of overdue amounts of tax and tax due, as set out in regulations. • Section 46B provides the Corporate Income Tax Agency with the power to impose civil penalties and prescribes the factors the Agency shall take into account in imposing such penalties, as well as prescribe a procedure for imposing such penalties. • Section 46C creates the offence of failing to register for tax and prescribes the civil penalty to apply to that offence. • Section 46D creates the offence of failing to file a tax return by the prescribed deadline and prescribes the civil penalty to apply to that offence. • Section 46E creates the offences relating to failures to accurately state the amount of tax on a tax return and prescribes the civil penalty to apply to those offences. • Section 46F creates a civil offence relating to a failure to pay the full amount of tax due by the required deadline and prescribes the civil penalty to apply to that offence. • Section 46G specifies when liability for a crim-inal offence committed by a [body] corporate or other legal person such as a partnership is shared by the individuals complicit in the commission of such criminal offence. • Section 46H creates the criminal offence of deliberately failing to file a tax return and prescribes the penalty to apply to that offence. • Section 46I creates the [criminal] offence of tax evasion in relation to corporate income tax and prescribes the penalty to apply to that offence. • Section 46J provides that where a person is found liable for a civil penalty under Part 8A, such person cannot also be charged with a criminal offence under Part 8B with respect to the same matter, and vice versa. Clause 3 amends the Corporate Income Tax Agency Act 2024 [in section 2, in the definition of “tax receipts”], to clarify that any penalties imposed [and collected] by the Agency shall not become the proper-ty of the Agency. Mr. Chairman, thank you.
The ChairmanChairmanDoes anyone wish to speak to these clauses? Member, you have the floor. I recognise the Member from constituency 25.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoYes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do have a question on clause 2, inserting Part 8A and the sections 46C, 46D and 46E , because [section] 46D, [subsection] (2), refers to a civil penalty that “may” be imposed, whereas otherwise throughout the clauses the words “shall be imposed” are used. …
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do have a question on clause 2, inserting Part 8A and the sections 46C, 46D and 46E , because [section] 46D, [subsection] (2), refers to a civil penalty that “may” be imposed, whereas otherwise throughout the clauses the words “shall be imposed” are used. I want to make sure that that is on purpose. And perhaps we could have it explained as to why that is a “may” versus a “shall.” Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The ChairmanChairmanThank you, Member. Minister. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Yes. Which section is that again? I . . .
Dr. Douglas DeCouto[Section] 46 . . . I am referring to [clause 2], the newly inserted section 46D, [subsection] (2), the civil penalty that may be imposed. [Pause] Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Mr. Chairman, I am just waiting for a response.
The ChairmanChairmanNo problem. As a reminder to the public, we are now in Committee of the whole [House] for a further consideration of the Bill entitled Corporate Income Tax (Penalty Provisions) Amendment Act 2025. The Honourable Junior Minister, Wayne Furbert, you now have the floor. Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Wayne …
No problem. As a reminder to the public, we are now in Committee of the whole [House] for a further consideration of the Bill entitled Corporate Income Tax (Penalty Provisions) Amendment Act 2025. The Honourable Junior Minister, Wayne Furbert, you now have the floor.
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: It is my understanding the reason why it is “may” [is] so [that] it will leave a discretion for those who are in authority to make a decision on that. So it is discretionary.
The ChairmanChairmanThank you, Honourable Junior Minister. Do we have anyone else who wants to speak on these clauses? No one else wishes to speak? It has been moved that clauses 1 through 3 be approved as printed. Any objections? No. Agreed to. [Motion carried: Clauses 1 through 3 passed.]
The ChairmanChairmanJunior Minister, I recognise you. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Mr. Chairman, I move that the preamble be approved.
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that the preamble be approved. Is there any objection to that motion? [Crosstalk] Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Mr. Chairman, I move that the Bill be reported to the House as printed.
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that the Bill be reported to the House as printed. Is there any objection to that motion? No objection. Agreed to. The Bill will be reported to the House as printed. [Motion carried: The Corporate Income Tax (Penalty Provisions) Amendment Act 2025 was considered by a …
The ChairmanChairmanI call upon the Deputy Speaker to resume the Chair. [Pause] House resumed at 3:08 pm [Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair] REPORT OF COMMITTEE CORPORATE INCOME TAX (PENALTY PROVISIONS) AMENDMENT ACT 2025
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerMembers, the Bill entitled the Corporate Income Tax (Penalty Provisions) Amend-ment Act 2025 has been reported to the House as printed. No objections? There being none, approved. I now call on the Minister, Deputy Premier, for the second reading of the Municipalities Amendment Act 2025. Hon. Zane J. S. De …
Members, the Bill entitled the Corporate Income Tax (Penalty Provisions) Amend-ment Act 2025 has been reported to the House as printed. No objections? There being none, approved. I now call on the Minister, Deputy Premier, for the second reading of the Municipalities Amendment Act 2025.
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I move that the Bill entitled the Municipalities Amendment Act 2025 be now read for the second time.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerIt has been moved that that Bill entitled the Municipalities Amendment Act 2025 be read a second time. Any objections? There being none, so moved. Minister. BILL SECOND READING MUNICIPALITIES AMENDMENT ACT 2025 Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to …
It has been moved that that Bill entitled the Municipalities Amendment Act 2025 be read a second time. Any objections? There being none, so moved. Minister. BILL
SECOND READING
MUNICIPALITIES AMENDMENT ACT 2025 Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to present to this Honourable House the Bill entitled the Municipalities Amendment Act 2025. This Bill seeks to amend the Municipalities Act 1923 to provide for the next ordinary municipal elections for the mayors and c ouncillors of the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George’s to be held in in 2026. Honourable Members will recall that the Corporation of Hamilton initiated constitutional proceedings in 2019 challenging the Government’s Municipalities Reform Bill. While the Supreme Court of Bermuda, and subsequently the Bermuda Court of Appeal, ruled in favour of the Government, the matter is currently before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council with a decision pending following a hearing [held] in December 2024. Madam Deputy Speaker, in light of this, the Government deems it both necessary and responsible to postpone the scheduled 2025 municipalities’ elections by one calendar year to May 2026. This will ensure that the final outcome of the appeal process can be fully considered prior to proceeding with any electoral or structural changes to Bermuda’s municipal governance. While the legal proceedings may not directly impact the mechanics of the municipal elections, the outcome could have significant implications for the governance and structure of the Corporations. Proceeding with elections at this time could result in unnecessary confusion, possible legal challenges or the need to dismantle newly elected administrations if 194 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly the Privy Council’s decision leads to changes in the existing municipal framework. Additionally, the timing of the Privy Council’s decision is entirely outside of the Government’s con-trol. Although the matter was heard in December 2024, the judicial process is independent. And the delivery of a ruling remains at the discretion of the court. As such, postponing the elections is a prudent safeguard in showing that any future municipal actions are made with full legal clarity. Madam Deputy Speaker, the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George’s were consulted in advance of the proposed legislative amendment. Both have acknowledged the Government’s position and neither has objected to this postponement. The mayor of Hamilton has publicly recognised the consultation as a foundational step toward fostering a collaborative and positive relationship. The Government has also taken steps to ensure that no additional operational cost will be incurred by deferring the election. After discussion with both Corpora-tions, it was confirmed that postponement will not result in any extra financial burdens for either the Government or the municipal bodies. Furthermore, the Parliamentary Registrar remains prepared to carry out elections if required. However, election preparations have been paused to avoid the inefficient use of public resources during this period of legal uncertainty. Madam Deputy Speaker, in the event that vacancies arise during the extended term, the Munici-palities Act 1923 provides for extraordinary municipal elections. This ensures that any individual posts that become vacant can be filled promptly and democrati-cally, preserving the continuity of governance and representation. The Government remains committed to maintaining the integrity of Bermuda’s democratic institutions, acting transparently, and prioritising long- term stability and good governance for the residents and businesses that fall under the remit of our municipalities. Thank you.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Minister. Are there any other Members who wish to speak to the Municipalities Amendment Act? I recognise the Member from constituency 20. Member, you have the floor.
Mr. Michael FahyThank you, Madam Deputy Speaker Thank you to the Minister for his brief. He has added some clarity, a little bit, in terms of the reasoning for the postponement. However, I think it is also important to remember this is not the first time that we have had this type …
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker Thank you to the Minister for his brief. He has added some clarity, a little bit, in terms of the reasoning for the postponement. However, I think it is also important to remember this is not the first time that we have had this type of Bill before this place. This is, I believe, the third time we have seen a postponement. In terms of that, there were elections held in 2015 for municipalities and elections were due in May 2018. They were postponed for one year by the [late] Walton Brown when he was Minister. And they were to be held in May 2019. Again, Madam Deputy Speaker, elections were to be held in May 2022, and they were postponed until May 2023 by the then Minister, the Honourable Wayne Furbert, who at that time had the municipalities portfolio. The substantive Minister today has raised the issue of the judicial committee, the Privy Council’s ruling, which we understand will happen this summer—
Hon. E. David Burt: Point of order.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYour point of order? POINT OF ORDER Hon. E. David Burt: I am not trying to interrupt the Member; I just want to make sure the record is clear. Minister Furbert never did hold the municipalities portfolio. He may have been doing it in an acting capacity. I just want …
Your point of order?
POINT OF ORDER Hon. E. David Burt: I am not trying to interrupt the Member; I just want to make sure the record is clear. Minister Furbert never did hold the municipalities portfolio. He may have been doing it in an acting capacity. I just want to make sure it is clear. Not trying to upset but . . .
Mr. Michael FahyNo. Thank you for the clarification. Certainly, no intent to mislead at all. But it was passed, I believe, in the House by Minister Furbert. And that is just what it is. As much as the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George’s may very well agree with this amendment, we …
No. Thank you for the clarification. Certainly, no intent to mislead at all. But it was passed, I believe, in the House by Minister Furbert. And that is just what it is. As much as the Corporations of Hamilton and St. George’s may very well agree with this amendment, we on this side of the House do not. And the simple reason is that of democracy. We talk about democracy. When people elect officials, they do so for a specific term. And when people stand for office, they do so for a specific term. And in this instance, yet again, individuals have put their names forward and for various reasons may have decided that it is for the term that is within the legislative provisions. In this instance, Madam Deputy Speaker, there is again uncertainty in that when people put their names forward it was for a term and when people voted for them it was for a term. And why do I say that? There may be instances of electors who said, You know what? I am okay with a particular slate. I am okay with these particular individuals because it is only for this specific time period. I don’t think people go to the polls on the basis that, I am going to vote for them and hopefully the Government will extend their term by another period of time. Given that we are waiting for this ruling—this much anticipated ruling— and the Minister has said, and what this Bill is about is to postpone elections to 2026. It is inherent then that there should be elections in 2026 and yet I think everyone in this place knows
B ermuda House of Assembly that that is not what the true and underlying intent will be. And why do I say that? That is not to say that any-one is doing anything dishonest. I understand the point that there is a Bill that was presented and reject-ed and may very well be brought back to this place in terms of how the Corporations move going forward. I would simply have suggested, and am suggesting, that elections be held. Because if the Gov-ernment is successful in the judicial committee of the Privy Council’s ruling and a Bill is brought here to this place to essentially end the makeup of the Corpora-tions as we currently know them, it is going to be done anyway. It is going to be done before the conclusion of 2027 or 2026. It seems to me that people should be able to stand for election and put their names forward and if they are aware, which they are, that perhaps their term is not going to be all the way through. Then that is unfortunately the kind of . . . these are the kind of circumstances that have been created by the Gov-ernment in terms of what they are trying to change. It seems to me, again, elections should have continued not coming to this place for a third time over the last 10 years to postpone elections for duly elected officials. We are aware that there are a number of members who very well may not be able to complete their term for various reasons, and we are still going to have to have municipal bye- elections and the like, quite possibly. I just think well enough should . . . it should be left alone. Let things go forward and move on. And perhaps over that two- year period there could be a further collaborative approach that Mayor Gossling has made reference to in the substantive Minister’s speech about a collaborative effort. No doubt in the event that things do change based on the Privy Council ruling, if it goes in the Government’s favour, what you will see is a requirement (I would imagine) for some form of transition. I can’t imagine that it will be done within a number of months, assuming we get a ruling maybe June, maybe July. Who knows? We can’t know for sure. But that then means up to 2026. Suppose we get nothing by May or March of next year, which is unlikely but possible. Will the Minister be coming back again looking for another post-ponement or will he be saying, We are going to move forward elections in 2026, because that is what we are here to debate. Thank you.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Are there any other Members who wish to speak to the Municipalities [Amendment] Act? I recognise the Member from constituency 1. Member, you have the floor. Mr s. Renee Ming: Good afternoon, Madam Deputy Speaker, and the listening audience. As a Member of this House who actually …
Thank you, Member. Are there any other Members who wish to speak to the Municipalities [Amendment] Act? I recognise the Member from constituency 1. Member, you have the floor. Mr s. Renee Ming: Good afternoon, Madam Deputy Speaker, and the listening audience. As a Member of this House who actually represents a municipality I thought it would be important to get on my feet today to express my thoughts with regard to the Act. Not only do I represent a municipality I have lived in one all my life. I have represented as a common Councillor and as Alderman, and I went through the c hanges in the Senate some time ago with my colleague who s poke before me. And we spoke ad nausea I believe at that time with regard to municipalities because we saw a reversal of a waterfront deal way back then, something that we had not actually seen before in our time.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberUnprec edented!
Mrs. Renee MingSo, there had been many unprecedented things, Madam Deputy Speaker, that happened. And I say all of that to say . . . because, don’t get me wrong. I truly do understand democ racy, especially as it relates to the municipalities . I live in a municipality. I know just …
So, there had been many unprecedented things, Madam Deputy Speaker, that happened. And I say all of that to say . . . because, don’t get me wrong. I truly do understand democ racy, especially as it relates to the municipalities . I live in a municipality. I know just about every single one of my St. George’s representatives extremely well, one in particular because one lives in my home. [Laughter]
Mrs. Renee MingYes. So I will dec lare my interest. My son is a Councillor. And definitely I had a touc h-base talk with some of my representatives to ask them how they felt about this. And of course, the fact that they represent St. George’s, they are completely proud to be …
Yes. So I will dec lare my interest. My son is a Councillor. And definitely I had a touc h-base talk with some of my representatives to ask them how they felt about this. And of course, the fact that they represent St. George’s, they are completely proud to be able to go on and do so. But I do unders tand the democratic process side of it because if there was someone else who wanted to do so they would now have to wait a year to be able to do it. So, that part of it we get. But we also understand that we are in a time where we have this court case which looms over us . I think all of us would like to see the back side of it s o that we can move on. Because I know that we have some good things that we would like to s ee in terms of reform as it relates to the municipalities. My very first one would be to separate Hamilton and St. George’s bec ause we have two fundamentally different municipalities. And if you actually go and you have a look at them, Hamilton is almost the complete opposite of St. George’s. Whereas in Hamilton you hav e roughly about 650 residential voters and they hav e over 1,000-p lus business voters. And so you c an imagine that the focus s ometimes can be very business related. And that is understandable because of its composition. In St. George’s you have 1,300 (roughly) residential voters and I believe we have slightly short of 50 busines s ratepay ers. And so, the composition in St. George’s is very different than that of Hamilton. And so, as we look at a 1923 Act, we are now into 2025 . . . I feel like we have been say ing this for so long that . . . it’s time. It’s time. We have evolved as a country. We have taken on things that are more dy196 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly namic and it is time for the municipalities to operate in the exact same fashion. There are versions of what I think we would even like to see, Madam Deputy Speaker, in how the Corporations are reformed. And I look forward to the time when we can put forth those ideas. I know my colleague, who sits here to my left, and I have openly talked about what does that hybrid model look like? And we understand why we say the hybrid model. It may not work so much for Hamilton but definitely what we envision for St. George’s. And that hybrid model is allowing us to have a certain level of expertise within the Municipality, and those may be appointed persons. And then also allowing the people . . . because we do not want them to lose their democratic right to vote to be able to select their members as well. And so, a hybrid model is . . . well, we believe that [it] still looks like it would be a good thing for St. George’s. And we also recognise that we would not want anyone to lose their democratic right to choose because unfortunately and as a proud St. Georgian and very close to my heart, I would not want to have a complete composition of the Corporation who actually do not live and kind of have investment within St. George’s. And so, Madam Deputy Speaker, my comments are brief. I understand it. And I look forward, like I said, to the fact that we can get to 2026. We can have a robust discussion hopefully on what reform looks like at that time while we hold the elections. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Are there any other Members who wish to speak to the Municipalities Act? I recognise the Member from constituency 2. Member, you have the floor.
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanYes, Madam Deputy Speaker. Thank you very much. As my colleague who just took her seat spoke, we both have had . . . and her son serves. And I do believe, Madam Deputy Speaker, your daughter is a member of the Council of St. George’s and my daughter was …
Yes, Madam Deputy Speaker. Thank you very much. As my colleague who just took her seat spoke, we both have had . . . and her son serves. And I do believe, Madam Deputy Speaker, your daughter is a member of the Council of St. George’s and my daughter was one of those persons elected in 2020. Unfortunately, due to illness she could not run again in 2023. However, I do recall the fact that the Act, as the Member said, is over 100 years old, when St. George’s emerged as a business . . . very much a tourism hub back in 1923. I believe the Act states, Madam—
[Inaudible interjections]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanYes. I think the St. George’s hotel was building a golf course in 1924 that opened in 1925, if my history serves me correctly. And at that time was a very booming tourism economy. My colleague also spoke to the many residential voters who exist, many of them whom we …
Yes. I think the St. George’s hotel was building a golf course in 1924 that opened in 1925, if my history serves me correctly. And at that time was a very booming tourism economy. My colleague also spoke to the many residential voters who exist, many of them whom we share, some coming from her constituency number 1 and some coming from my constituency number 2 that are part of the residential vote. And I believe that at some point in time there was an amendment to the Act that allowed for a business vote to be injected in there. So, when you have a residential Councillor, as my daughter was in 2019 to 2023, they represent those residents who would have representation on both the . . . from the Corporation and also they would have electoral representation from the Parliamentary Election Act. There was a time when the residents within the Municipality of St. George’s paid taxes. And I remember when that was very much a very sore issue for many persons. When you go back to the 1970s, 1980s and the 1990s, as to whether that was fair to them or not, it existed. And it was changed in favour of a different tax structure that allowed the Corporations to have some funding., I believe some more funding outside of double taxing those residents, because that came with some concerns to many people because there are boundaries. And if I stay [in] one house on the other side of that boundary, I am no less connected to that town than the person in Mullet Bay who might not be within or the person at Cut Road who is outside than the person who is just on the inside. So, removal, totally, at that time solved that particular problem, but [made] sure that the connections of St. George’s to the Municipality [were] very, very important going forward. And I am sure that those persons who sit there do so proudly, and they do so because they love their community, and they know things about their community that other persons do not appreciate immediately. There are some of us who have family members who dat e back centuries in St. George’s , but who were raised at the other end. But you soon come to appreciate that Riverside Drive and Back o’ Town and Slip Road byes and all that type of stuff means something different to different people, particularly if you don’t come [from] there. You wouldn’t know where Park Range is located, and you wouldn’t know where the North Shore area is, particularly until you get there. There is one thing when it comes to the municipalities that I have always been very aware of. And I would say canvassing, you know, back in the 1990s, I remember someone telling me that St. George’s for centuries was always a working town. It is important. And we have seen some investment in the infrastructure through Government to be able to tie into the rejuvenation of that. It was delayed when the recession came and Mr. Bazarian’s hopes of building a hotel on the hill. We now have a hotel down on the ocean. And whilst it came with great trepidation, as they say, it’s here. And it provides an opportunity for us to now
Bermuda House of Assembly have a rejuvenated golf course, which I came to St. George’s to open up as its general manager in 1985. But I tell people when they go into St. George’s Island over the bridge that recently got renovated, the gateway into St. George’s, Stokes Point leading into Mullet Bay, we had three golf courses in [the] 1920s, in 1928. Three! Three tourism products and a St. George’s [Club] Hotel and other little, small boutique hotels that catered. So we have been a working town in that respect, for that century that this municipality is at. So, going forward, I know I was unable to be there but I am very excited within the municipality to see the re- emergence of the Hillcrest Guest House, for instance. A beautiful boutique hotel [that has] been developed to add to the St. George’s Club Hotel, to add to the St. Regis. So, the opportunity for business-es coming to St. George’s to provide the opportunity for folks to actually live and work within that town is huge! It is a huge opportunity. So that you don’t have to travel a whole 45 minutes and deal with that Hamil-ton traffic to be able to earn a living. Get more quality time with your family in the home. So, as we look at the municipalities it is easy to say, Well, you know, we should have an election. The Minister in his wisdom has come here today and said we are going to postpone it for a year. We are waiting for this particular ruling to come from the courts. Sometimes it is just better to measure twice and cut once. You know? Rather than just having an election, get the uncertainty out of the way. I remember the previous Minister saying that he would have liked to have come with a separate Bill for St. George’s and let us go merrily along our way. We would have loved to have done it. But in his wisdom he said, Let us get past this. So I am asking the Opposition, it doesn’t always have to be, you know, opposing stuff. You know. Go with the Minister. Let us get the ruling. And then let us go forward. But I can tell you this much. The people of St. George’s want to have a say in what takes place in the town. And so from there you will hear those voices being expressed. But I will say this, as one who came to St. George’s to run a major tourism product for that 40 years right now (1985), I am here to say that it is important that we do have a successful working town. It is important that we do find ways to get more yachts to come to St. George’s. It is important that we do get more visitors staying in St. George’s. And let me tell you this, St. George’s can very easily be a self - contained destination. I looked at it as a destination when I marketed it 40 years ago for the product that I was responsible for, because I look at St. George’s starting in Tucker’s Town, believe it or not, because St. George’s Parish actually extends to Tucker’s Town. So, I said this, and I will say it again, when you start from The Loren and you come to St. George’s you have got about four really great hotels, maybe five. Two in the town of St. George’s, Grotto Bay, The Loren, and also—five, six —Mid Ocean [Club], and you also got Rosewood. And you have got three very beautiful golf courses. And we’ve got an airport and we have got two cruise ports over there at Marginal Wharf as well. We are a self -contained community, and I am here to say that in the wisdom of the Minister I look forward to when the day comes when we will have the election. A year is not that long away. No sense just rushing into that. Let’s see what the courts, the Privy Council, have for us. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Are there any other Members who wish to speak to the Municipalities Act? There being no other Members, Minister . . . Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I will just make a few comments before I ask for the Bill to …
Thank you, Member. Are there any other Members who wish to speak to the Municipalities Act? There being no other Members, Minister . . .
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I will just make a few comments before I ask for the Bill to be committed. I know that my Member opposite said that he seemed to have a bit of an issue with the delay the last couple of times. And I am sure he knows that the objections and the appeals and the appeals after the appeals are what have caused somewhat of the delay. And in between all that, we had something called COVID -19. So, here we are today. But hopefully we will get a ruling soon and then we can move forward. The Honourable Member Fahy also said that when members are elected they do so and stand for specific terms. Well, I am sure I do not have to tell anyone in this House that there are many members who have been elected and have been there for a long time. So, whilst they may know that they are committed to a two- year period or a three- year period, many members do tend to stay on thereafter if they are elected. With that being said, I think it is important that we don’t forget [who], because of these objections and delays and appeals is paying for it. It is the people of the city. It is our taxpayers. And whilst I do not have that figure, I would venture to think that it has caused several hundred thousand dollars, if it doesn’t hit a million or more. So, with that being said, hopefully this . . . well, we know this will be the end of it one way or the other. But here in this House sometimes we bring proposed Bills and finance Bills to this place and sometimes it is only a matter of a few dollars. It is amazing that we can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and on— Hon. E. David Burt: To sue the Government.
198 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report B ermuda House of Assembly Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: —and no one . . . to sue the Government. And no one opposite really seems to— Hon. E. David Burt: Never raised any concern about it. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: —never raised any concern about it. I have never heard in my times in this House, and I will go back to 2010 when I changed the law for the very first time. Right? The only time we hear from the Opposition on this is when they want to object to what we want to do. Hon. E. David Burt: Mm-hmm. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: As the world evolves and changes, these changes we feel are necessary and required and therefore we will push on to make those things come to fruition. I just wanted to mention to my colleagues, the Honourable Member Renee Ming and of course the Honourable Member Kim Swan . . . and they are both passionate. We know that. And you would know that, Madam Deputy Speaker, because you are from the east too. I just want to reassure them that there will be consultation. There will be robust consultation with, not only my fellow St. Georgian colleagues, but also with those who live in the City of Hamilton. So, with that said, Madam Deputy Speaker, I move that the Bill be committed.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerIt has been moved that the Bill be committed. Are there any objections? There being none, the Bill is . . . Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Madam [Deputy Speaker.]
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerWait. [ Pause] House in Committee at 2: 41 pm [Mr . Christopher Famous, Chairman] COMMITTEE ON BILL MUNICIPALITIES AMENDMENT ACT 2025
The ChairmanChairmanGood afternoon, again, Members. Honourable Members, we are now in Committee of the whole [House] for further consideration of the Bill entitled the Municipalities Amendment Act 2025 . I now call upon the Minister in charge, Hon-ourable Zane De Silva. Minister, you have the floor. Hon. Zane J. S. De …
Good afternoon, again, Members. Honourable Members, we are now in Committee of the whole [House] for further consideration of the Bill entitled the Municipalities Amendment Act 2025 . I now call upon the Minister in charge, Hon-ourable Zane De Silva. Minister, you have the floor. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I propose to move both clauses.
The ChairmanChairmanYou may proceed. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this Bill seeks to amend the Municipalities Act 1923 to allow the next ordinary municipal election to be held in 2026, not 2025. Clause 1 provides the title of the Bill. Clause 2 amends section …
You may proceed. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this Bill seeks to amend the Municipalities Act 1923 to allow the next ordinary municipal election to be held in 2026, not 2025. Clause 1 provides the title of the Bill. Clause 2 amends section 9 of the Municipalities Act 1923 to provide that the next ordinary municipal election shall be held in 2026. New subsection (1ZAA) states, for the avoidance of doubt, that an ordinary municipal election shall not be held in 2025.
The ChairmanChairmanThank you. Is there anyone else who wishes to speak to this? [ No audible response]
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that clauses 1 and 2 be approved. Move the clauses, please, Minister. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that clauses 1 and 2 be approved.
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that clauses 1 and 2 [be] approved. Is there any objection to that motion? No. Agreed to. [Motion c arried: Clauses 1 and 2 passed.] [Pause]
The ChairmanChairman[Do the] preamble. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: I move that preamble be approved, Mr. Chairman.
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that the preamble be approv ed. Is there any objection to that motion? No objection. Agreed to. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: I move that the Bill be reported to the House as printed.
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that the Bill be reported to the House as printed. Is there any objection to that motion? No objection. Bermuda House of Assembly Agreed to. The Bill will be reported to the House as printed. [Motion carried: The Municipalities Amendment Act 2025 was considered by a …
It has been moved that the Bill be reported to the House as printed. Is there any objection to that motion? No objection.
Bermuda House of Assembly Agreed to. The Bill will be reported to the House as printed.
[Motion carried: The Municipalities Amendment Act 2025 was considered by a Committee of the whole House and passed without amendment.]
[Pause]
House resumed at 3 :44 pm
[Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair]
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
MUNICIPALITIES AMENDMENT ACT 2025
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerMembers, t he Municipalities Amendment Act [ 2025] has been reported to the House as printed. Are there any objections? There being none, that moves us on to the next Order of the Day, being the Employment Amendment Act 2025 to be read a second time by the Minister of …
Members, t he Municipalities Amendment Act [ 2025] has been reported to the House as printed. Are there any objections? There being none, that moves us on to the next Order of the Day, being the Employment Amendment Act 2025 to be read a second time by the Minister of Economy and Labour. Minister, you have the floor. Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Deputy Speaker, I move that the Bill entitled the Employment Amendment Act 2025 be now read a second time.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerIt has been moved that the Employment [Amendment] Act 2025 be read a second time. Are there any objections? There being none, Minister, you have the floor. BILL SECOND READING EMPLOYMENT AMENDMENT ACT 2025 Hon. Jason Hayward: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Deputy Speaker, before I go into the …
It has been moved that the Employment [Amendment] Act 2025 be read a second time. Are there any objections? There being none, Minister, you have the floor.
BILL
SECOND READING
EMPLOYMENT AMENDMENT ACT 2025
Hon. Jason Hayward: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Deputy Speaker, before I go into the full context of the Bill I think it is important to discuss the journey we have been on, a journey which sought for fairness, justice and dignity in the workplace by progressing the wages of the everyday man and woman in our world of work. I think what we set out to do was noble. It was looking at where we were as it pertains to having no minimum standard. And not just being on par with the rest of the world but actually progressing past where the rest of the world had set their standard. This work emanated from a Throne Speech initiative. Under your leadership, Madam Deputy Speaker, we then moved to form a Wage Commission. We passed that Bill in this Honourable House. The Wage Commission had two primary functions. One was to set up a minimum wage. The second was to establish a living wage regime. We received an initial report from the Wage Commission as it pertains to the overall regime. We took the recommendations into consideration and we were able to progress a minimum wage. We did a full -scale consultation throughout the Island as it pertains to our intention for minimum wage and had full discussion as it pertained to the impact. This impact has had a positive outcome on thousands of persons who are benefitting from this minimum wage regime. Having discussion with the Wage Commission, work still needs to be done as it pertains to a living wage. What we are currently doing is awaiting the results from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey which will give us benchmark data that we can use to make data- driven decisions as it pertains to the implementation of a living wage. [In] addition to progressing the minimum wage, we also sought to do two other things. [The first] was to protect the tips and gratuities of low wage workers, to ensure that the tips and gratuities that are received for their services actually go to the worker who provides those services and not to employers or the management of those particular companies. The second thing we aimed to do, and it goes into the substance of our Bill, was to ensure for leave . . . that the minimum wage is applied for leave periods. However, making amendments to multiple Bills left us with a little bit of irregularity as it pertains to the way in which we read and interpret and so what we set out [to do] today is to provide that necessary clarity. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to introduce in the Honourable House today a Bill entitled the Employment Amendment Act 2025 which proposes to clarify under statute the calculation of paid leave for employees who receive gratuities and service charges (hereafter referred to as “other gratui-ties”), and, in particular, to clarify this for those employees who receive such as part of the minimum hourly wage rate. This Bill follows the Ministry’s commitment to foster meaningful relationships with industry and employers and maintain an equitable community. Madam Deputy Speaker, prior to 1 March [2024], there was no definition for “gratuity” or “service charge” in the Employment Act 2000, which is the principal Act. And both were considered in some industries to fall within the general term as “tip.” Madam Deputy Speaker, it was not intended for gratuities and service charges to be included in the definition of a week’s wage. Pursuant to the principal Act, even though the Employment (Minimum Hourly 200 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Wage) Order 2023 (the Order) permits the use of gratuities and service charges to supplement the minimum hourly wage rate, when the Order came into force, it was intended that all statutory leave be remunerated at the minimum hourly wage rate. However, Madam Deputy Speaker, the Employment (Protection of Employee’s Tips and Other Gratuities) Amendment Act 2023, which came into force on 1 March 2024, differentiates tips from other gratuities, effectively impacting the calculation of a week’s wage for an em-ployee whose wages vary from week to week. Madam Deputy Speaker, for clarity, prior to the enactment of the minimum hourly wage rate in June 2021, employees whose wages varied from week to week were entitled to receive paid leave on an average of the previous 12- weeks worked. For employees paid on a base rate of $6.00 per hour, this would be the hourly rate at which their leave would be calculated. Subsequent to the enactment of the Order, employees were entitled to leave at the minimum hourly wage rate of $16.40. And, Madam Deputy Speaker, that is a very important point. While we have $6.00 in here as an example, some employees have a base wage which is less than $6.00 an hour. And, as a result, those employees who took leave before we changed the law were actually receiving that base rate for vacations and sick leave. So, when we talk about dignity, justice and fairness, this is the practical implication of us progressing a minimum wage rate and a regime to accompany that. That now means that that employee who was only receiving $6.00 an hour for a vacation now receives $16.40 an hour. That’s Black, White, male, female, Bermudian, non- Bermudian. These statues do not discriminate in our community. Everybody in the world of work in Bermuda gets to benefit from what we put in place. There has been a lot of talk in terms of who are the ultimate beneficiaries. Well, we have thou-sands of Bermudians in our hotels and our restaurants who primarily receive gratuities and tips to supplement their base wages who benefit greatly from the provisions that we have put in place. However, I must note, Madam Deputy Speaker, that the effect of the 1 March 2024 amendment was that employees ’ leaves entitlement will be calculated to include all other gratuities earned during the previous 12 weeks ’ work. For employees who earned an average salary of, for example, $25.00 an hour over the previous 12 weeks, inclusive of other gratuities, their leave entitlement will be at least $25.00 per hour during the period where they were absent f rom the workplace, as opposed to the minimum hourly wage rate of $16.40, which was what was intended by the Order. And so the Order intended to put in place a minimum floor of $16.40. However, when we remove gratuities from tips and split that out in the provision for the tips and gratuities section of the Employment Act and in the Order what we inadvertently did was also remove it from the exclusion of the Employment Act. And as a result “tips” now stands alone as a separate legal term than “other gratuities.” Madam Deputy Speaker, interpreting [other] gratuities as wages impacts the calculation of a week’s wage for employees who receive other gratuities in a way that is extremely unpredictable and creates uncertainty and undue financial burden for businesses as it adversely affects the ability of businesses to calculate and budget for employees’ costs. Recognising this the Ministry held a meeting with the Ber-muda Hotel Association to assess the immediate impact on their membership and shortly thereafter convened a special meeting of the Labour Advisory Council [LAC] to discuss these concerns and reach a consensus for the most reasonable and just way forward. Madam Deputy Speaker, the members of the LAC expressed their discontent with how the 12 week calculation method would impact the hospitality industry and small properties. They agreed that paid leave entitlement for employees who receive other gratuities should be clarified, particularly where the other gratuities supplement an employee’s minimum wage rate. Madam Deputy Speaker, I just want to clarify that the LAC is a very comprehensive body. All of the unions are represented on the LAC as well as the Bermuda Hotel Association. The Chamber of Commerce, the Bermuda Employer’s Council and various other HR professionals sit on that board as well. And there was general consensus in that meeting that this was an item that needed to be clarified. I did send out a clarifying letter prior to the enactment of this law that made it abundantly clear that the intention of the original law was that $16.40 was to be paid for the leave. I am grateful that the majority of properties have actually honoured that, notwithstanding the law was interpreted differently. And so I would say that there is value in having collective social dialogue with all partners in coming to a position where everybody is in agreement and understands how we are moving forward. Madam Deputy Speaker, pursuant to the Bill “other gratuities” [are] excluded from the definition of a week’s wages for the purpose of calculating an em-ployee’s time off entitlement. This ensures that employers are not adversely affected by the unintended consequence of the 1 March 2024 amendment, while also safeguarding the leave entitlement of employees who receive the minimal hourly wage rate as part of their wages. Madam Deputy Speaker, not only will this Bill have retroactive effect to coincide with the 1 March 2024 amendment, but it provides that any payment of other gratuities which took place during the period shall not constitute as overpayment for which an employer is entitled to be reimbursed. And that is a very important point, Madam Deputy Speaker. What would have happened is that if employees and employers
Bermuda House of Assembly chose to follow the letter of the law, it would mean that employees would have received higher payments than would have been the intention of the legislation. We have had dialogue and discussion on that matter and in clarifying the law we want to make it abundantly clear that if anybody followed the letter of the law that would have been the correct reading of the legislation at that time. And so nobody should be adversely penalised if one chose to follow the letter of the law, notwithstanding the letter of intent and the proposal to change the legislation was made abun-dantly clear to all employers’ and workers’ representatives. Madam Deputy Speaker, it is envisioned that these amendments will assist with the maintenance of a stable workforce within Bermuda by reducing the likelihood of businesses’ operational challenges in this regard. And so, what I have heard from industry is that there should be some level of certainty as it per-tains to them budgeting for vacation leave and other leave for their staff. Failure to provide this clarification means that there is uncertainty. It would mean that it would have been very difficult to have rates payable for 12- week calculations because it is something that you would have had to factor in gratuities which were actually earned, and then also the payment of those gratuities during the leave period creates difficulties because then you simply cannot pull from the gratuities of the staff who are working during the period those individuals were on leave. And so this clarifies it for both the employer and the employee and seeks to ensure that we have a regime in place that makes sense and that ultimately benefits the workers. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerAre there any other Members who wish to speak to this Employment [Amendment] Act [2025]? I recognise the Member from constituency 9. Member, you have the floor.
Mr. Vance CampbellThank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Deputy Speaker, when one is the owner, an operator, of a business it is important to eliminate uncertainty as much as possible, particularly around matters that pertain to the cost of doing business. This allows a businessowner to prepare and plan how they will …
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Deputy Speaker, when one is the owner, an operator, of a business it is important to eliminate uncertainty as much as possible, particularly around matters that pertain to the cost of doing business. This allows a businessowner to prepare and plan how they will go about executing that business. It allows him to identify periods of challenge, whether it be from cash flow or some other high cost which may be seasonal or based on seasonality. And one of the largest expenses for many businesses is the cost of payroll. So I am really pleased that the Minister is bringing this amendment Bill here today. It does alle-viate some of the financial burden that would otherwise be imposed on businesses. Madam Deputy Speaker, it is also important for employees to know and be able to know within a reasonable range what they can expect to receive from one week to the next. And whilst they may not be running the business that they are working for, or be the owner of that business, they are running a household and they also would like to be able to prepare and better plan for the efficient running of that household. So, this Bill brings clarity around what the employer will be expected to pay and what the empl oyee will be expecting to receive during periods of leave. And in my final comment, Madam Deputy Speaker, sometimes when we draft a Bill it does not achieve what we hope, in practice. And when we come across a situation like that, there is nothing wrong with bringing amendments so that the Bill does achieve what the legislators expected it would. And so with that, the One Bermuda Alliance supports this Bill and thanks the Minister for bringing it. Thank you.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberOoh! Ah!
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Are there any other Members who wish to speak to the Employment [Amendment] Act [2025]? I recognise the Member from constituency 11. Member, you have the floor.
Mr. Christopher FamousGood afternoon, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not often that twice in one day we heard the OBA say they approve and they support PLP Bills. Because if you read comments online, one would think that — Hon. E. David Burt: Talk about it!
Mr. Christopher Famous—the PLP has no good ideas that the OBA ever supports. But to the point that the previous speaker spoke about is that, yes, when there are loopholes found we come back in humility and we sort it out. Now to the essence of the Bill, Madam Deputy Speaker, often …
—the PLP has no good ideas that the OBA ever supports. But to the point that the previous speaker spoke about is that, yes, when there are loopholes found we come back in humility and we sort it out. Now to the essence of the Bill, Madam Deputy Speaker, often when I save some money I take my family and I go down to St. George’s to Wahoo’s to get some good local food.
Mr. Christopher FamousMadam Deputy Speaker, as you know, at Wahoo’s the persons who serve you are 100 per cent Bermudian. The cooking staff, maybe, I don’t know, maybe 90 per cent not Bermudian. But the food is great and the service is always with a 202 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report …
Madam Deputy Speaker, as you know, at Wahoo’s the persons who serve you are 100 per cent Bermudian. The cooking staff, maybe, I don’t know, maybe 90 per cent not Bermudian. But the food is great and the service is always with a 202 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly smile. That is why they are always full. Sometimes when I don’t have as much money, I go to other places. And 100 per cent of the wait staff are not Bermudian. That is the reality in which we live; that is not the reality in which we grew up. My point, Madam Deputy Speaker, is that the essence is fairness that the employees at Wahoo’s, the wait staff, are 100 per cent Bermudian. The employees at other places too are guest workers. This law provides for them to be paid equally. It provides for their tips and gratuities to be shared equally, which is the foundation of what our labour party is about. So I say to the Minister and to the PS and their staff, thank you for closing the loophole. I asked the OBA [if] there [are] any other loopholes that need to be closed so they wouldn’t have anything to say next week. But more importantly I say to the young people of Bermuda that this Government, your Government, is doing what it can to ensure that if you go into the path of hospitality, or when you go into the path of hospitality . . . because we have a hotel that is being renovated up in Southampton where MP Swan’s family gave up some land and it is going to need hundreds of people to staff it. And one of the things why Bermudians have not readily flocked to hospitality over the last few generations is the pay. How many Bermudians are going to want to work somewhere making $5.75 an hour? Not many. If you go to other sister islands that have tourism, the Cayman Islands as an example, 99 per cent of their wait staff are non- Caymanian because of a pay issue. So, we as a Government are doing our part to balance pay for the workers and survivability, profitability of the restaurants. When we brought the minimum wage last year people said, Oh, now hamburgers are going to go up to $25.00. Oh, restaurants are going to go out of business. I could be wrong, Madam Deputy Speaker, but I haven’t seen any restaurants go out of busi-ness. So, the fearmongering from some has been unfounded. So I say to the Minister, and again to his PS and to all the drafters, thank you very much. [Thank you], Madam Deputy Speaker.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Are there any other Members who wish to speak to this Bill? I recognise the Member from constituency 2. Member, you have the floor.
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanYes, thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I guess the one thing that I would like to contribute to today’s debate is the element of consultation that has taken place in this respect. I have great re-spect and admiration for my ministerial colleagues . But this friend in particular , who …
Yes, thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I guess the one thing that I would like to contribute to today’s debate is the element of consultation that has taken place in this respect. I have great re-spect and admiration for my ministerial colleagues . But this friend in particular , who comes to this particular place talking about things relating to the Employ-ment Act and to labour and issues that would be very sensitive to labour, in this regard hotel workers, from a space in which he was a leader of many persons in this country in regard to how they are treated as labourers . . . I am pleased to see that this labour government bears the name of labour and can also be sensitive to the needs and concerns of the partnership that exists between labour owners and the workers of this country. And that is not lost on me, particularly as it comes to those of us who would have worked in the areas of gratuities. There is one thing that we never did as a rule. We very rarely took holiday at times when we knew good tips were going to be in the offering. Most persons working in the hospitality industry know the periods of time when gratuities are at their lowest. And usually it has been a rule of thumb where persons scheduled their time away from the business at a time when they would not be making much in gratuities in the first place because business might be a little bit slower. I am hoping that the mind- set will shift significantly enough amongst those of us who look for busi-ness to grow those particular periods, as I often mention, between November 1 and April 30, to get greater numbers of people in Bermuda who tend who have higher disposable income, who tend to tip extremely well and make it possible for persons to do far better during that time period and make it even more difficult for them to decide if they want to be away from work. Because to do so would mean making that sacrifice that was easier to make when business is slower. So, I am very grateful to the Minister for coming here today to recognise that an amendment [needs to be] made to make sure that businesses operating on a cutting edge can continue to operate in a way in which they can feel like they are being treated fairly but also where they can remain profitable, because you do need to be a profitable organisation to be able to venture into employing greater numbers of persons. And so, Madam Deputy Speaker, yes, as it was mentioned, we do have an opportunity coming very soon that is going to allow greater numbers of people to be working in hospitality. And it would be very good with places like the upcoming Southampton Princess and other properties who receive the investment taking place in these properties to be able to look [for] greater numbers of Bermudians to work there. And we do see outreach happening to better equip Bermudians in hospitality. And I applaud those efforts, like AnchorBDA and other apprenticeship programmes that companies are taking on board to make persons far more . . . make persons look at hospitality in a far more favourable way. I am here to say that when it comes to hospitality the opportunity to help persons get a significant amount of experience and people skills is an area in which hospitality served Bermudians well, notwithstanding the fact that because of necessity many of
Bermuda House of Assembly them worked two and three jobs. But the jobs that we chose to do we did enjoy. It was not uncommon in a bygone era for persons to work at the telcos or the BELCOs of Bermuda during the day and turn to the Belmont or the Castle Harbour or the Bermudiana in the night and then on their way home take the taxi that someone dropped off so that they can have it on the Friday night and then drive on the Saturday morning as well, and the Sunday morning as well as doing another shift at the hotel. But those particular experiences served them well because we had a system in place where persons worked in hospitality and were trained up by other persons. So, a young person like me in the early 1970s working in the dining room were taught by older persons. Those older persons were sometimes waiters, sometimes they were captains, sometimes they were a ma ître d’ and very proudly so. We learned people skills. As we got the shift toward getting more academic persons spent more time on computers. By vir-tue of the way society has shifted, people are less equipped with social skills. And so we need to sell the virtues of being out there in hospitality even if it is only for shorter periods of time. But the exposure to social interaction with other people will serve people far better than just looking at it from a practical point of view . . . not practical, but from a technical point of view or an academic point of view over a screen. You can put it more into practice by seeing what it is like to interact with someone whose personality may be [Type] A at one time and then it shifts all the way to [Type] C in another sentence and you learn how to navigate through that. So as the Minister comes here with regard to sensitive labour issues, it is not lost on me that he can do so from a space of understanding and appreciating just how important it is to have consultation with the right people and to make sure that there is sufficient by-in before he can come to this honourable place with a Bill that allows him to reposition our Govern-ment to deal with matters. So with that, Madam Deputy Speaker, I say thank you for allowing me to make a contribution.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Are there any other Members who wish to speak to the Employment Amendment Act 2025? There being none others, I call on the Minister. Hon. Jason Hayward: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Deputy Speaker, I thank the Opposition for their support of the Employment Amendment Act …
Thank you, Member. Are there any other Members who wish to speak to the Employment Amendment Act 2025? There being none others, I call on the Minister.
Hon. Jason Hayward: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Deputy Speaker, I thank the Opposition for their support of the Employment Amendment Act 2025. And just to give notification, we intend to make further changes to the Employment Act. As this is a labour government, that Act remains fluid. This Government put the Employment Act 2000 in place to create minimum standards for workers in this country. That was a monumental, positive step in the right direction. And the Act we have seen continued to evolve from that particular provision. And there is a lot more work that needs to be done in order to ensure that we advance labour protections in Bermuda. As it specifically relates to the minimum wage, Madam Deputy Speaker, the Ministry has put out a consultation document as it pertains to the proposal to advance the minimum wage. Once we get the December CPI we can finalise the calculations as it per-tains to what will be the future minimum wage that we seek to progress this year. We are taking fundamental steps in the right direction that are supporting the workers of this country. Bermuda is a country with one of the highest costs of living, and I am pleased that we have one of the highest minimum wage rates in the world. That is important because when we talk about strategies utilised to reduce poverty and inequality that is one of the hallmark features of that particular strategy, ensuring that persons are remunerated in a decent and dignified manner. I spoke some time ago when we were implementing a minimum wage, and I said that 400 years ago some of our ancestors had to work for free. To have progressed 400 years and persons are still receiving a base wage which is less than $6.00 an hour is actually atrocious. And so now we are in a space where everybody receives a dignified wage. We have a robust regime in place as to how that wage will be set and progressed. And I am glad that that will progress that wage forward, but also improve the living standards of the workers who actually benefit from that wage. And if we can put it into context, we have workers who would have made the decision to go to work sick in a service environment because their sick pay was simply not good enough. We had workers who chose not to take a vacation simply because what they received as a base wage during that particular time was simply not good enough. And even after we progressed the minimum wage regime, we still found employers who were reluctant to advance the wages of their workers. We looked and we determined that $16.40 should not be a wage that economically cripples a company. But there is a common saying in which any business model predicated on poverty wages should not be in business. If your business model relies on you paying $6.00 an hour to your workers, you actually should not be in business. Now, we recognise that we have this historic practice of tips and gratuities, and they are factored in. Some of those salaries are actually on par with the market and are actually reasonable. But there are gaps in the seasonality of receiving those particular wages. The seasonality creates gaps. And what does a mother do on the off season? Many of those workers, their wages are supplemented by financial assis204 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly tance and they are considered to be earners low. Some workers can get relief benefits from their union during that period of time as well. But the majority of workers, Madam Deputy Speaker, they simply had to suffer. I recall having dialogues with workers in terms of what we consider to be negative pay cheques where the statutory deductions still get taken out from their pay notwithstanding their wages did not cover those statutory deductions. So when they did get a healthy pay cheque, those statutory deductions come out from the cheque [from] the previous week which was a minus wage cheque. I was unaware that that was taking place but these are the stories we heard from workers. We always look at this from an economic sustainability standpoint and a business standpoint, but if you look at it from the worker’s perspective, you will find that workers are extremely grateful for the work that this Government has done to progress their standard of living. It also gives those workers more purchasing power to provide for themselves and their families, or engage in leisure activities or any entertainment activities in Bermuda. Currently, as a Member of Parliament, I assist some families within my constituency with sending their children to extracurricular activities because that comes at a cost. And it should not be the case, but that is the reality of indi-viduals within our economy. So the Government is doing what is in the Government’s control. And setting minimum standards in the workplace is within our control and we will continue to progress those minimum standards. Oftentimes we talk about the symptoms of one that doesn’t have the necessary social protections from a family unit or a community standpoint and the Government has to respond to those symptoms. We are always criticised because persons are in need of additional social assistance in Bermuda. They are saying that the Government is not doing enough. But here are the measures we put in place to ensure that there are increased social and labour protections in the economy. We also want to seek to, as best as we possibly can, reduce wage discrimination which prevents Bermudians from being active participants in certain occupational categories because we have expatriate labour prepared to work for wages lower than Bermudians would typically work for. And so when we progress this regime in terms of minimum wage and en-sure that this is paid for leave, it makes certain occupational categories more attractive to Bermudians. These occupations are typically stepping stones to other occupations in our community. Many persons who moved into management within the hotel sector spoke about how they began as busboys. And so now that busboy can rest assured that they will receive at least the minimum wage rate and can rest assured that when they want to take a vacation they have the necessary financial coverage to take that vacation with a sense of pride.
[Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair]
Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Speaker, what we are doing is ensuring that we promote economic stability. What we are doing is ensuring that we reduce inequalities. What we simply want to do is improve the quality of life for workers in Bermuda. We will do so while maintaining the proper balance so that we do not cripple business. But this Government is making it abundantly clear that workers’ welfare is our priority. I thank the employees within the Ministry of Economy and Labour for their work. The employees within the Department of Labour and the employees within Chambers who have to look at multiple pieces and fit the puzzle together to create a picture which is in the best interest of Bermuda and her people. Mr. Speaker, this Bill is an example of just another step that this Government is taking to progress the interests of workers. I am pleased that we have had bipartisan support on this. I hope in another place it receives the same level of support. We are in current discussions with the Labour Advisory Council, Mr. Speaker, as it pertains to other amendments to the Employment Act, specifically around provisions to pro-tect the awards that are provided to employees as a result of awards that they receive. Could you imagine the scenario, Mr. Speaker, which is a real -life case study. You have an employee who complains that they have not been paid a minimum wage. The Department of Labour goes in, they use the powers which are in law to investigate this particular matter, and they find that for six months an employee has been underpaid where they should have been receiving $16.40 they have been receiving $12.00. The employer does not readily admit to their breach of our laws. The Labour Department refers the matter to the Minister responsible for Labour. The Minister responsible for Labour then refers the matter to the Employment and Labour Relations Tribunal. Both sides present their arguments. The Employment and Labour Relations Tribunal panel adjudicates on that matter. The employee is then awarded the back pay and penalties as a result of what is outlined in law. And thereafter we find that the employer makes no effort to pay the award. Mr. Speaker, that is a shame. Some would say that that adds insult to injury. I don’t know what the term of further victimising a victim actually is. I don’t know what the strongest possible term is that we can use which would adequately describe that behaviour. I don’t know the term to use to describe such a despicable mentality. But we seek to bring amendments to the Employment Act to ensure that not just the employee can go after that employer but that the Government can also go after that employer and get justice on behalf of that employee. Because the next
Bermuda House of Assembly step after the tribunal’s ruling is to have that matter adjudicated in the courts. We specifically set up the tribunal to ensure that an employee can get the justice that they deserve without coming out of pocket. But then they find them-selves, after being re- victimised having to go and hire a lawyer to fight this matter in front of our courts to simply receive what is due to them. That is a shame. This Government will not tolerate it. And so, we will be seeking amendments to ensure that the penalties are greater and that there are more teeth to the judgments that are actually passed on by the Employment and Labour Relations Tribunal. With that said, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Bill now be committed.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. MP Famous, or the Deputy? [No audible response]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Deputy. Yes, either one. House in Committee at 4 :35 pm [Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo, Chairman] COMMITTEE ON BILL EMPLOYMENT AMENDMENT ACT 2025
The ChairmanChairmanMembers, it has been moved that the Employment [Amendment ] Act 2025 be committed. Approved? Yes. So, Minister, you have the floor. Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, I move clauses 1 through 3.
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that clauses 1 through 3 be considered. Approved? Yes. Continue, Minister. Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, t his Bill addresses doubts that have arisen as to the interpre-tation of “a week’s wages” in the Employment Act 2000 (“the principal Act”) when calculating an employee’s time- off …
It has been moved that clauses 1 through 3 be considered. Approved? Yes. Continue, Minister.
Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, t his Bill addresses doubts that have arisen as to the interpre-tation of “a week’s wages” in the Employment Act 2000 (“the principal Act”) when calculating an employee’s time- off entitlement under that Act. Accordingly, the Bill seeks to amend the definition in section 3 of the principal Act with retrospective effect to clarify certain expressions. Clause 1 is self -explanatory. Clause 2 amends section 3 of the principal Act to expressly provide that other gratuities are excluded from the definition of “a week’s wages” for the purposes of calculating an employee’s time- off entitlement. Clause 3 enables the Bill to apply retrospectively and provides that any payment of other gratuities which took place during the period commencing 1 March 2024 (when the principal Act was amended to provide for the protection of other gratuities) until this Bill receives assent shall not constitute an overpayment of wages to which an employer is entitled to be reimbursed and no employee shall be required to return any other gratuities so received.
The ChairmanChairmanThank you, Minister. Are there any other persons who wish to speak to clauses 1 through 3. I recognise the Member from constituency 22. Member, you have the floor.
Mr. Scott PearmanThank you, Madam Chairman. And thank you [to] the Minister for his detailed presentation in relation to this Bill. Minister, I just wanted to clarify two points in relation to clause 2. I think I have understood them from your helpful presentation to this Honourable House. The reason for the …
Thank you, Madam Chairman. And thank you [to] the Minister for his detailed presentation in relation to this Bill. Minister, I just wanted to clarify two points in relation to clause 2. I think I have understood them from your helpful presentation to this Honourable House. The reason for the clarification is in the Explanatory Memorandum where it talks about what is happening for clause 2. It says that “Clause 2 amends section 3 of the principal Act to expressly provide that other gratuities ” (Pausing there. “Other gratuities” is now a defined term.) “ are excluded from the definition of “a week’s wages” for the purposes of calculating an employee’s time- off entitlement. ” And my first question of two questions is, just in relation to the word “entitlement.” Because entitlement could mean amounts in pay or entitlement could mean time. And I think what is going on here from what you have explained is entitlement there is his pay entitlement. And in very simple terms if someone is absent and is being paid there will no deduction of other gratuities from his or her pay cheque. And they will get paid full minimum wage for the absent period. Is that right? Have I understood that correctly, Minister? Thank you.
The ChairmanChairmanAre there any other Members who wish to speak to clauses 1 through 3? Minister. Hon. Jason Hayward: I thank the Honourable and Learned Member for his questions. And he is correct in both interpretations of what he has explained. I will leave it there.
The ChairmanChairmanAre there any other Members who wish to speak to clauses 1 through 3? I recognise the Member from constituency 22.
The ChairmanChairmanMember, you have the floor. 206 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Scott Pearman: Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. Thank you, Honourable Minister, for that clarification. That is very helpful given the word “entitlement.” And then the second and final question is just in …
Member, you have the floor. 206 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Scott Pearman: Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. Thank you, Honourable Minister, for that clarification. That is very helpful given the word “entitlement.” And then the second and final question is just in relation again to clause . . . in fact, this is clause 3, and it is the deeming provision, where we are going to apply this retrospectively to the 1 st of March, going backwards. Again, just for the benefit of the listening public and those who actually have to deal with this, that means in effect, if he or she, that same employee has been off on leave and has not received the full minimum wage for that period, there is now going to be an obligation on employers to make that good. That is now going to become the law. Back to the 1st of March 2024. Correct?
The ChairmanChairmanI ask if any other Members wish to speak to clauses 1 through 3. There being none, Minister, you may reply. Hon. Jason Hayward: That would not be the correct interpretation of clause 3. It is a very fine point. The point is not prior to . . . so …
I ask if any other Members wish to speak to clauses 1 through 3. There being none, Minister, you may reply.
Hon. Jason Hayward: That would not be the correct interpretation of clause 3. It is a very fine point. The point is not prior to . . . so to clarify and just to put it into a practical example. Where one employee would have received according to law $25.00 an hour, as it pertains to the benefit received . . . because it would have included gratuities because gratuities were not excluded. We are now excluding “other gratuities,” so $25.00 an hour will now be reverted back to $16.40 an hour as it pertains to the minimum wage. What we are saying is that the employee is not entitled to provide the difference between the two back to the employer.
[Inaudible interjection] Hon. Jason Hayward: Correct. You would not have had a case and it has not come to our attention where the employer was allowed to pay less than the $16.40 because that would have been contrary to the law and not consistent with the law and how it was written at that particular time.
The ChairmanChairmanDo any other Members wish to speak to clauses 1 through 3? I recognise the Member from constituency 22.
Mr. Scott PearmanThank you, Madam Chairman. And thank you to the Minister for that helpful clarification. Thank you.
The ChairmanChairmanAre there any other Members who wish to speak to clauses 1 through 3? Minister. Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, I move that clauses 1 through 3 be approved.
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that clauses 1 through 3 be approved. No objections? So moved. [Motion carried: Clauses 1 through 3 passed.] Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, I move that the preamble be approved.
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that the preamble be approved. Any objections? There being none; so moved. Hon. Jason Hayward: Madam Chairman, I move that the Bill be reported to the House as printed.
The ChairmanChairmanIt has been moved that the Bill be reported to the House as printed. No objections? So moved. [Motion carried: The Employment Amendment Act 2025 was considered by a Committee of the whole House and passed without amendment.]
The ChairmanChairmanSergeant. [Pause] House resumed at 4 :43 pm [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] REPORT OF COMMITTEE EMPLOYMENT AMENDMENT ACT 2025
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMembers, are there any objections to the Bill being reported to the House as printed? There are none. Thank you, Members. [Pause]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead, Premier. [Pause] Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Bermuda House of Assembly [Crosstalk] SUSPENSION OF ORDER 23(3) Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I move that Standing Order 23(3) be suspended to enable the House to proceed with consideration of the resolution tabled this morning. Mr. Speaker, the resolution …
Yes.
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bermuda House of Assembly [Crosstalk]
SUSPENSION OF ORDER 23(3)
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I move that Standing Order 23(3) be suspended to enable the House to proceed with consideration of the resolution tabled this morning. Mr. Speaker, the resolution tabled this morning said that I move that the House do now take under consideration the . . . and, Mr. Speaker, with that I am asking that this resolution be combined with the Salaries Resolution so we can consider it at the same time. And so therefore, Mr. Speaker, I have moved that the Standing Order be suspended.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerFirst of all, Members, are there any objections to the Standing Order being suspended? There are none. [Motion carried: Standing Order 23(3) suspended.]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerProceed. MOTIONS THAT MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE (SALARIES AND PENSIONS) ACT 1975 SCHEDULE 2 BE AMENDED Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now take under consideration the following resolution en bloc, notice of which was given (to the previous Motion) …
Proceed.
MOTIONS
THAT MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE (SALARIES AND PENSIONS) ACT 1975 SCHEDULE 2 BE AMENDED
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now take under consideration the following resolution en bloc, notice of which was given (to the previous Motion) on the 21st of March. WHEREAS it is provided by section 3 of the Ministers and Members of the Legislation (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975 (the principal Act) that Schedule 2 to the principal Act may be amended from time to time by resolution passed by both the Senate and the House of Assembly; AND WHEREAS it is expedient that Schedule 2 to the principal Act be now amended; BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Assembly and the Senate, pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of the Ministers and Members of the Legislation (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975, hereby amend Schedule 2 to the said Act by — (i) inserting immediately below the office of “Premier ,” the offices of “Deputy Premier” and “Attorney General”; and (ii) deleting the office of “Parliamentary Secretaries” and substituting the office of “Junior Ministers”.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, certainly there is the main Motion which is considered with this as well. THAT MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE (SALARIES AND PENSIONS) ACT 1975 BE REVOKED Hon. E. David Burt: That the House do now take under consideration the …
Thank you.
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, certainly there is the main Motion which is considered with this as well.
THAT MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE (SALARIES AND PENSIONS) ACT 1975 BE REVOKED
Hon. E. David Burt: That the House do now take under consideration the following resolution notice of which was given on the 21 st of March 2025. Mr. Speaker, do you want me to read the whole Motion or just refer to it as on the Order Paper?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou can read it and then— Hon. E. David Burt: Okay. WHEREAS that previous resolutions of this House made pursuant to section 2 and 15A of the Ministers and Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975 be revoked; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to section 2 …
You can read it and then—
Hon. E. David Burt: Okay. WHEREAS that previous resolutions of this House made pursuant to section 2 and 15A of the Ministers and Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975 be revoked; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to section 2 of the Ministers and Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975 the annual salaries payable to Members of the Legislature listed in Part A and Officers of the Legislature listed in Part B of the table below shall be as set out in the table below with effect from 1 January 2025.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAre there any objections to any of that? No. Premier, proceed. [Pause] Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that my technology does not fail me. This will be one of the first times ever that I am reading a brief from my computer, which would be surprising, …
Are there any objections to any of that? No. Premier, proceed.
[Pause]
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that my technology does not fail me. This will be one of the first times ever that I am reading a brief from my computer, which would be surprising, as many people know I have degrees in IT and used to run . . . but I
208 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly like hard copy reliability. Nonetheless, Mr. Speaker, I shall proceed.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerUh-huh. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, last week in a Ministerial Statement I spoke on the resolution before the House today introducing it and setting out chapter and verse how we arrived at that. This, without question, Mr. Speaker, is a matter that requires careful consideration, balancing fairness with …
Uh-huh.
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, last week in a Ministerial Statement I spoke on the resolution before the House today introducing it and setting out chapter and verse how we arrived at that. This, without question, Mr. Speaker, is a matter that requires careful consideration, balancing fairness with fiscal responsibility while ensuring that those who serve the people of Bermuda are compensated appropriately for the responsibilities that they shoulder. The law, Mr. Speaker, requires for a Salaries Review Board to be named following consultations with the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House and the Leader of the Opposition. The Members of this board were (as I named last week) the Honourable Maxwell Burgess (Chair); Edward Ball Jr., JP; Donnie Francis; Steven Holdipp; Carl Neblett; N. H. Cole Simons, JP; and Jocene Wade, JP. Honourable Members will recall that in November the Ministers and Members of the Legislature Salaries Review Board final report which was com-pleted in August 2024 was tabled in this Honourable House. Honourable Members would know of course, Mr. Speaker, that once appointed the Review Board operate autonomously and reach their conclusions and recommendations which are sent without any di-rection from the Government. Now, of course, for Honourable Members and also for the listening public I would like to cover the five recommendations that were contained in that report, Mr. Speaker. It said that the board recommends that Members of Parliament and Senators be granted an 18.8 per cent increase owing to the changes in the cost of living up to 2024. It said that Members of Par-liament be granted an additional $7,000 per year as an additional incentive to motivate those members of the community who may be interested in serving as an MP and to encourage MPs to continue to serve. A Member of Parliament’s base salary would increase from $56,023 to $73,555 and Senator’s base salary would increase from $30,367 to $36,076. The board recommends the voluntary cut of 10 per cent to Minister’s salary be reversed and restored by Parliament as a means of improving the attractiveness of the job. This will mitigate in part the challenge of moti-vating residents to step up to into this realm of public service. And finally, it said that it is recommended that these revised salary levels be effective 1 April 2025. Now, Mr. Speaker, those are the five recommendations that were certainly contained at the end of their report. We do know that there were other rec-ommendations specifically dealing with the role of the Speaker and the remuneration of the Speaker which I will cover in my particular remarks. Now, Mr. Speaker, having covered these recommendations, let’s get into the meat of this eagerly anticipated debate. To start, Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I would like to quote section 2 of the Ministers and Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo right ahead. Hon. E. David Burt: Where it says, “Salary of members” [section] 2(1) “A member shall be paid a salary at a rate fixed by resolution passed by the House of Assembly. ” That is what we are doing today. [Section] 2(2) says, “ Officers shall be paid …
Go right ahead. Hon. E. David Burt: Where it says, “Salary of members” [section] 2(1) “A member shall be paid a salary at a rate fixed by resolution passed by the House of Assembly. ” That is what we are doing today. [Section] 2(2) says, “ Officers shall be paid salaries in respect of their offices in addition to their salaries as members at rates to be fixed by resolution passed by the House of Assembly. ” [Section] 2(2A) says, “ For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), ” (which I have just read) “ the House of Assembly shall consider and take into ac-count every report of the Board which is delivered to the Speaker pursuant to section 1B. ” And that is referring to the Salaries Review Board report. It then goes on to say [at section] 2(3), “ Resolutions passed under subsections (1) and (2) of this section and under section 3 shall state the date from which the salaries shall be paid and amendments to Schedule 2 shall take effect, which dates may be prior to the passing of the resolutions. ” Now that gives power, Mr. Speaker, for salaries to take effect at a time in the past, which we know has been done previously. Mr. Speaker, the recommendations were received and these matters were considered by the Standing Orders Committee of the last Parliament. The Standing Orders Committee, as we do know, Mr. Speaker, consists of yourself as the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, the Premier, the Opposition Leader, the Government Whip and the Opposition Whip. And with your permission, Mr. Speaker, I wish to quote from that report which was signed and agreed to all of the recommendations from the board and also the Standing Orders Committee. “December 6, Standing Orders and Privileges Committee Review: The Standing Orders Committee met on the 25 th and 29th of November 2024 in part to consider and discuss the 2024 report of Ministers and Members of the Legislature Salaries Review Board at the request of the Premier. The Committee discussed the seven recommendations of the board which proved positive and productive. There was support from all committee members on the intent and reasoning of the board’s recommendation. However, there was concern from a committee member about the timing of the implementation of the recommendations. The Committee also discussed the salaries of the fol-lowing officers of Legislature and agreed that the officer’s salaries should be considered for adjustment: President of the Senate, Deputy Speaker of the
Bermuda House of Assembly House, Opposition Leader, Government Whip, Opposition Whip. The Committee also discussed and agreed that the Opposition Leader should be provided with an official vehicle. In conclusion, the Committee recommends that the 2024 Report of the Ministers and Members of the Legislature Salary Review Board be presented to Cabinet for drafting the appropriate salary resolution to be tabled in the House forthwith.” And this was signed by his Honour the Speaker, the former Deputy Speaker, myself, as the Premier, the Opposition Leader, the Government Whip and the Opposition Whip who all indicated their agreement with the board’s recommendations and also the Committee recommendations. The requests, Mr. Speaker, as I just read, ask for the Cabinet to consider the report to ensure that a resolution was drafted. The Cabinet considered the report and that is the reason why that resolution was tabled last week. And so now, in accordance with [section] 2(2A), the House will now take under consideration this particular report and the resolution of which was tabled. Now, Mr. Speaker, this was supported by the Cabinet, but ultimately the Premier and Minister of Finance has an outsized role in this particular process and, of course, any changes in recommendations need to be paid for from the Consolidated Fund. Mr. Speaker, the record would reflect that in my public statements after the report’s publication, I expressed some concerns [about] aspects of the board’s report. One concern I raised was that recommended increases disproportionately favour the Premier and yourself as Speaker of the House. I did not at that point in time, and I do not support at this point in time an outsized increase in the Premier’s salary and it is my view that any adjustments should be applied across the board to all officers of the Legislature. Mr. Speaker, it is a matter of public record that there has been no adjustment for the remuneration paid to Members of the Legislature in over 15 years. It is important to note, Mr. Speaker, that the salaries which came into effect in 1 April 2009 were done in a review that took place in 2007. And so, the ones that took place, these were actually set two years prior. Additionally, as is well known, Minister’s salaries were reduced by 10 per cent in 2013 and those reductions have remained in place. Now, Mr. Speaker, you remember that in 2011 all Members and officers of the Legislature were reduced by 5 per cent. In that particular motion that was passed in 2011, that motion did state that at the conclusion of Parliament the rates would reset to make sure that persons who may have been retiring, and all the rest, would not be negatively impacted by those reductions. Following the 2012 General Election, the then One Bermuda Alliance Government elected to do a 10 per cent reduction, but that 10 per cent reduction was not applied to all officers. If I am correct, it was only applied to Cabinet Ministers. So, all other officers remained the same and Members remained the same as well. But I think all officers . . . I’m sorry, Ministers did take reductions but other officers, such as the Speaker of the House, Whips, Opposition Leader, et cetera, did not have that particular reduction. That is the best of my recollection, Mr. Speaker. It is important that the public . . . and I state that because those things were reduced in 2013. In 2017, it is important to note that as in the public, in the media there has been commentary and there has been some confusion around this, because those 10 per cent reductions did not have to carry over automatically in 2017. But this Government decided to and brought resolutions to the House to sign which did reduce those particular rates for Ministers. And all Ministers of the Cabinet did have those rates. So, it is correct that from 2013 until now Ministers were being paid less than the rates that were decided in 2007 which came into effect in 2009. Now, Mr. Speaker, you know that the demands and complexity of public service have increased significantly. Officers of the Legislature now operate in an era of heightened public scrutiny, faster decision -making cycles —which seem like they never end. And of course [we are] attached to our phones all the time, even when on vacation , and have increased responsibility in a rapidly evolving governance landscape. We also recognise the scope of work required to manage critical national issues, engaging with the public and navigating modern governance, these challenges have grown substantially. The proposed ad-justments recognise these realities and ensure that remunerations fairly reflect the workload and expectations that have been placed on those who serve as officers of the Legislature. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that reasonable increases of compensation also serve as an incentive to encourage those in the community who may be interested in serving as a Member of this Honourable House. Now I am sure, Mr. Speaker, that the Honourable Opposition Leader knows, as much as I do, how difficult it is to get people to sign up to run for the House of Assembly.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberThey sure don’t. [Laughter] Hon. E. David Burt: In a place where social media lies travel around the country faster than you can imagine, in a space where families are unfairly scrutinised and targeted, there is no surprise that people tell—whether it is the Leader of the OBA or the …
They sure don’t.
[Laughter]
Hon. E. David Burt: In a place where social media lies travel around the country faster than you can imagine, in a space where families are unfairly scrutinised and targeted, there is no surprise that people tell—whether it is the Leader of the OBA or the Leader of the PLP —no thanks ! My friends, when asked about me taking this role, you know what they say? They say, You can have it. But someone must serve, Mr. Speaker, and what I want to say is that all persons 210 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly who sit in this Honourable House must be commended for stepping up to serve because service is not easy. Now, Mr. Speaker, the board took this concern under advisement, and they did add an additional $7,000 to Members of the House of Assembly in addition to the recommendation for an 18.8 per cent cost of living adjustment which they took from inflation over the last 10 years at the time of the report which would be from 2014 up until 2024. As mentioned, the Government has accepted the board’s recommendations for base salary increases for Members of the House of Assembly and Senators. The board did recommend an additional $7,000 increase for Members of the House in addition to that 18.8 per cent increase for all Members. Now, Mr. Speaker, for full transparency, as I have stated, this additional increase was not initially supported by myself. However, in the interest of respecting the bipartisan consensus, following the report’s discussion in the Standing Orders Committee of the previous Legislature, this recommendation is being advanced today. In democracy, Mr. Speaker, it is not always just about what you want but it is at what consensus can be arrived at. Moving on, Mr. Speaker, to officers of the Legislature, which is Part B of the [Table of Salaries] that is being advanced today. Mr. Speaker, Cabinet has reviewed the recommendations of the board and approved a final set of recommendations for adjustments to salaries for members and officers of the Leg-islature which are included in the motion that Members will be discussing. Now, as a note, Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, Members opposite of my Members, I will be moving an amendment to this table shortly but I will get to that later. Mr. Speaker, the Government has accepted the board’s recommendation for the increase of the Speaker of the House, recognising the role’s importance for the operation and function of the House of Assembly as a bedrock of the Island’s democracy. The bipartisan Standing Orders Committee also supported this adjustment. It is in line with many other Westminster -style jurisdictions where Speakers remunerated close to that of Ministers of the Government. And you will know, Mr. Speaker, we are engaged in a parliamentary reform effort and we will continue to examine these matters. And I will speak more to that later in my remarks. Mr. Speaker, similarly, just like Members of the Legislature have not been adjusted since 2009, the same is [true] for the officers of the Legislature. Cabinet took under consideration the recommendation of the Standing Orders Committee which recommended increases for other officers. And the Cabinet supports the formula that was arrived at from the Min-istry of Finance to apply for what would be considered a fair cost -of-living adjustment for all officers, mindful, of course, that base salaries were also adjusted and would also apply to all officers, especially officers of the House. To arrive at this, Mr. Speaker, there were a number of options that were considered. We could have gone from CPI since 2014 which was what the Salary Review Board did, which should have been 18.0 per cent. We could have gone back to CPI for 2009 which would have undoubtedly been hirer. Or we could have gone with the same increases that were given to public officers from 2009 which amounts to 21.1 per cent. But the Cabinet agreed with my position that that would have been too high and we decided to arrive at a reasonable position. The formula used to arrive at these adjustments was the approved increases for public officers’ salaries for 2022, which was 2.25 per cent, 2023, which was 2.25 per cent, and 2024, which was 4.80 per cent, which once compounded equals 9.60 per cent. Now, just as a note, Mr. Speaker, the agreement with public officers for 2024 is actually 4.81 per cent but we just use 4.80 per cent to be simple. Just want to make sure because someone may say, Well, it was 4.81 [per cent]. It was actually 4.80 per cent. As I stated last week, Mr. Speaker, the Government did not take into account the increases that were awarded to public officers in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2017 and 2018 when calculating the percentage ad-justment that would apply to officers of the Legislature. And I will get into the impacts that that will have later in my address.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMm-hmm. Hon. E. David Burt: The percentage used for the adjustment of remuneration of officers in the Legislature will be increased by 9.6 per cent from 2009 levels, which amounts to less than half the 21.0 per cent that has been awarded to public officers over the same period equating …
Mm-hmm.
Hon. E. David Burt: The percentage used for the adjustment of remuneration of officers in the Legislature will be increased by 9.6 per cent from 2009 levels, which amounts to less than half the 21.0 per cent that has been awarded to public officers over the same period equating to just 0.64 per cent per year. The Gov felt this was reasonable considering the base rate adjustments recommended by the board. And as I mentioned earlier, Mr. Speaker, accepted by the Government. This 9.6 per cent increase for officers will apply to the President of the Senate, the Vice President of the Senate, the Deputy Speaker, the Premier, the Deputy Premier, Attorney General, Ministers, Junior Ministers, Opposition Leader and Opposition Whip. It should be noted that the board did recommend in their recommendations an 18.8 cost-of-living adjustment to be applied to the office of the Premier so the motion contains a salary that is less than what was recommended because we did not apply an 18.8 per cent increase to the office of the Premier. We applied the same 9.6 per cent which is applied across the board to other officers, save and except for others of which I will go into. Mr. Speaker, the Government has made two additional adjustments to two other officers of the LegBermuda House of Assembly islature, the Minister of Finance and the Government Whip. First, I will speak to the matter of the Minister of Finance, a role that I currently hold as we discussed earlier in the debate. But I just want to make sure that it is clear, at the bottom of the resolution it is crystal in black and white that I do not take home three salaries. Because people love to say that David Burt takes home a salary of an MP, a salary as the Premier and a salary as the Minister of Finance. It is not true. It is in black and white and so I hope that we can put that to rest today, although I am certain that we will not put it to rest.
[Inaudible interjections] Hon. E. David Burt: I have never accused you of making that accusation.
[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. E. David Burt: I have not. That comes from the public . That is not you. I have never . . . you aren’t that bad are you, Craig?
[Laughter]
Hon. E. David Burt: Well, mercy. I’m sorry. Honourable Member.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSpeak this way. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you. So, Mr. Speaker, it could be argued that my wearing the hat of the Minister of Finance actually saves the taxpayer money. But I digress. The Minister of Finance has an important constitutional role in our Island. And given the complexity …
Speak this way.
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you. So, Mr. Speaker, it could be argued that my wearing the hat of the Minister of Finance actually saves the taxpayer money. But I digress. The Minister of Finance has an important constitutional role in our Island. And given the complexity of that role it was felt that remuneration for that position should be increased. The resolution increas-es the remuneration for the Minister of Finance by an additional $10,923 above the 9.6 [per cent] increase from the 2009 remuneration applied to other officers of the Legislature. And this means that the combined remuneration for the Minister of Finance, who (by of course [in] our Constitution) must be a Member of the House of Assembly is $231,800. Now, Mr. Speaker, some may think that this is high, especially —
[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. E. David Burt: I’m saying some may think this high. But here is the thing, Mr. Speaker. It is important that we take these things into context. Bermuda is a very reputable, international financial services sector. It is important that persons can be attracted to these particular roles. I mean, he is not here today but I remember the difficulty of attracting former Minister, the Member from constituency 21, in recognising the significant reduction of which that role would have played for someone who is working inside of a professional space. Now, here is the thing, Mr. Speaker. Because a lot of times we like to talk about the Cayman Islands. People in this country will say that it is too much to be paying a Minister of Finance. Some people will. I do not agree. But other people will. Here is what is interesting. All Ministers in the Cayman Islands, their remuneration package is $366,000 a year in USD.
[Inaudible interjections] Hon. E. David Burt: You heard that right — USD$366,000. That means that the Minister of Finance of the Cayman Islands is paid 57 per cent more than the Minister of Finance in Bermuda. Now here is the thing. We have a larger financial services sector. We have a larger GDP. These are things which are important for us to make sure that we keep in context. And that is probably the reason why the Cayman Islands, even though they have a Minister of Finance and a Minister of Financial Services, this is probably the reason why they can attract persons who are doing high- level work inside of the private sector of the Cayman Islands to leave the private sector to come into government for a stint. And then they go back to the private sector because it is, you know, not made materially [effective]; they may be making more, I don’t know. But it is important to note that the calibre of person often has something to do with remuneration. And so I disagree with what the board said where it says that, you know, you cannot compare these types of things and, no, persons do not need professional qualifications to be elected, et cetera. That may be correct. But the thing is we should not be talking about what we have. We should also be talking about where we want to go to. Because governance will not get less complex, Mr. Speaker. Governance will get more complex. But I will touch more on reform and other items later in my presentation. Now, yes, Mr. Speaker, the [Parliament of the] Cayman Islands has less members. Understood. And that may be something to consider for future reform, especially for the need to have high- quality people in this position. But it is important that we keep these salaries in context. There is another argument, Mr. Speaker, which is important. And that argument is that Ministers should not be remunerated less than their permanent secretaries. And in the Cayman Islands, remuneration is largely tied to their public sector scale as well. The Premier is at the highest level on the public sector scale, the Ministers, et cetera, and certain other levels to make sure that is there. Now, this is a fair com212 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly ment, and I clearly understand that perspective. Because as you would know, Mr. Speaker, when the salaries were done and reviewed back in 2007 with those massive adjustments and changes at the time, which were significant, total pay packages for Minis-ters were set to be equivalent to that of their permanent secretaries. And the reason why the Minister of Finance was remunerated at a higher level than Ministers generally, was because the Financial Secretary is remunerated at a higher level than regular permanent secretaries. And so these things were set in that way. So, I am trying to provide the historical context for Members to consider. Now, it should be noted that even with these particular changes Ministers, including the Minister of Finance, will still be making less than their permanent secretaries or the financial secretary. And that is something that the House may want to consider in the future. That is something that the Salaries Review Board may want to consider in the future because that was something that was the basis of where things were set back at that time. Now, Mr. Speaker, we could have recommended that change. But it was a pretty big step, so at this point in time that recommendation is not com-ing forward. But I think it is a fair and reasonable argument to make. Schedule 2 of the Ministers and Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act, prior to the amendment of which we are making today, does allow for different rates to be paid to the Government Whip and the Opposition Whip. Though this has not been custom and practice in Bermuda the Cabinet retains the view that the Government Whip should be remunerated more than the Opposition Whip. The resolution as tabled set the remuneration for the Government Whip to that of a Junior Minister which was $4,177 more than the 9.6 per cent increase from the 2009 remuneration applied to other officers of the Legislature. Mr. Speaker, following discussions with Members of the House on both sides, I will be moving an amendment to change the remuneration of the Government Whip to be 10 per cent more than that of the Opposition Whip and set that salary to $9,152 per year. Now, Mr. Speaker, complex for some but you take on feedback discussions . . . You are laughing, Opposition Whip? [Laughter]
Hon. E. David Burt: But these are the types of things that you have to take under consideration. And, Mr. Speaker, this is not an easy exercise. Even though there was a Review Board that does these things, it is not an easy exercise. And some of things which I will get to, the things of which you find out when you try to get into this situation, you learn a lot more. That much being said, Mr. Speaker, it is important for context if salaries for officers of the Legislature had been increased in direct alignment with wage adjustments received by public officers, as some have suggested, the levels on the scale of these increases would have been more significant. Instead I think what we have is a balanced resolution that has effected debate, discussion and recommendations of the Standing Orders Committee, recommendations from the Review Board and conversations, discussions which have been held with Members. One thing that is important for me [to do is] to correct the record, Mr. Speaker. 1Last week I said that the financial impact of these adjustments is $283,343 per annum above the board’s recommendation. That figure is incorrect, and I wish to correct that for the record. Sometimes when you are up late dealing with spreadsheets you miscarry and few numbers and get some things off. The thing is, Mr. Speaker, as I covered the five recommendations of the board today, the table at the back of the Salaries Review Report does not reflect the cost of the recommendations of which they have. It is important to note. So, it is independent. It is something they did. It is not something that gets reviewed by myself or anyone else. That is what it is. So the table at the back does not reflect the recommendations because in the recommendations they said Minister’s salaries should be restored but they did not put the restored Minister’s salary inside the table. It is important to note that. So, Mr. Speaker, the full cost of the board’s recommendation was, and that would be the total re-muneration of the Legislature as currently constituted, with 12 Ministers and no separate Minister of Finance would be $4,775,399 which represents an increase of the cost from the 2009 salaries of $798,219, or 20 per cent more. Mr. Speaker, the full cost of recommendation following the amendment that will be before the House is $4,899,276 which is just $123,877 more than the cost of the Board’s recommendation. I just wanted to make sure that that is clear, Mr. Speaker. Last week I said $283,000; that figure is incorrect. It is $123,877 more than the board’s recommendation. More, but not significantly more. There is also one further change from the recommendations which had come from Salary Re-view Board. The Salary Review Board had recommended that the salaries that were past come into effect on Tuesday, 1 April 2025, four days from now. Mr. Speaker, the resolution proposes that changes will take effect [from] the 1 January 2025. Now I will explain the reason for this. It is not without precedent.
Bermuda House of Assembly In previous times when there have been salary reductions which have been passed, resolutions have included that on the dissolution of the Legislature those salaries were reset to ensure that pension calculations which were set under the Ministers and Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act which was set at the time that someone is eligible to receive a pension is not impacted and affected. And therefore, as we know, long- serving Members, such as the former Deputy Premier, the former Minister of Public Works, the former Deputy Speaker and the we must remember as well, Ms. Susan Jackson on the Opposition side, who elected to not to return to the Legislature and run for their seats will not be impacted in their particular pension calculations due to that 15 - year freeze. So, Mr. Speaker, that’s the main bit of my remarks. But I think it is also important that I go onto the second point which is as we are considering two particular motions, is the reason why there is the second aspect. Now, let me try to speak to that. As I said, Mr. Speaker, in going back and all this research and different things that I have done in my research Schedule 2 of the Act has not been updated. And so as far back as I can remember from being in the House of Assembly, salary resolutions have always included Deputy Premier, always included the Attorney General, always included the Minister of Finance, always included Junior Ministers. But Schedule 2 of the Act does not have them. It still refers in Schedule 2 of the Act to “parliamentary secre-taries,” which were written out of the Constitution in 2003, which is weird because the notation of the law says that that particular Schedule was changed in 2005. Nonetheless, we are fixing that today so that it actually contains the right names of the particular po-sitions that should be remunerated. So that is the second part. It is a housekeeping matter but it is done at the same point in time be-cause we want to make sure we pass a resolution that is in line with the items in the offices which are set out there. Now, Mr. Speaker, as I said last week I understand that discussions around salary adjustments for elected officials are often met with scepticism. I think that everyone here who is a public servant, we all know that serving in public office is not easy. We all know the personal sacrifice that it puts upon us. The sacrifice of which it puts upon our families. The price of which we are paid to, you know, give up peaceful trips to the beach or out on the weekend or somewhere else and, you know, sometimes, unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, I have to kind of get very aggressive in public and tell people that I am with my children, please, and let me get back to them because, you know, Nia and Ed have been sharing their daddy with the country for basically their entire life. And the fact is that it is also important, as I have shared examples in other international financial centres (such as ours), that fair compensation helps to attract and retain individuals with the expertise, dedication and commitment required to govern effectively and efficiently. And so these adjustments are not about financial gain for Members. They are about fairness and recognition of the evolving role and increased demands that are placed on those who serve the people of Bermuda. But, Mr. Speaker, as I close my remarks and yield to the Leader of the Opposition, I certainly think that there is more to be done. And I think, Mr. Speak-er, that I would implore us as a House to become more involved in the reform of the Legislature because I think it is important with these increases that are being given across the board to Members of the House of Assembly I think that it is vital that Members of the House of Assembly who do not serve as offic-ers in Cabinet or in other offices do our job as legislators. That means that we actually have to prepare. That means that we have to attend. That means that we have to do our job not just in the main House, Mr. Speaker, but also in committees as well. The job of the Legislature is to scrutinise the Executive. That work cannot just be in the House. It cannot just be in committee of the whole at budget time. It needs to be throughout the entire year through the committees which are established. It is an important function of our democracy. And what I will say, Mr. Speaker, as it may be a while for us before we move next door, I want to make sure that I give this commitment to Members of the Legislature, that I, as Minister of Finance, will provide the resources for support which are necessary. Because as things get more complex, we need to make sure that the Legislature does a better job of the scrutinisation of the work of the Executive. It cannot just be left to media soundbites, to press releases. We go back and forth; we discuss this. But there is real work that is to be achieved. And if we are going to increase the salaries in line with these particular recommendations, then it is also incumbent upon us to do that work. But I think I want to go a step further, Mr. Speaker. And I think that it is important that at some point in time following discussions with the Standing Orders Committee, I think it is important that we get all Members involved in the reform effort of which you are undertaking because it has been a long time. And there are a lot of new Members in this House who were not here when the original reforms were done for a parliamentary committee. I think that we need to look at those reforms. Make sure that those reforms are appropriate and look at things which apply in other places and jurisdictions such as our sister island to the south, the Cayman Islands, who does, with that total pay packet, give allowances to Members for constituency items. [It] does give allowances to Members for other things, enabling us to serve each other better. Yes, there may be a conversation, discussion which is being led 214 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly which some Members support, some Members oppose, about possible changes since the number of MPs and other types of items when we talk about the overall cost of the Legislature. But I think we need to not focus on the costs. I think we need to focus on the value of which we provide and the work of which we provide to our citizens, Mr. Speaker. I am not trying to disparage any Honourable Member because I know how difficult it is to be an MP. And I certainly know how difficult it is to be a Member of the House when you are being paid less than the median wage of the country. You know, giving up 12.5 per cent of your salary toward pension, et cetera, and different things. And many people are shocked to know that Members of the House of Assembly basically take home $3,000 a year [sic]. That is now going to change.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerA month. Hon. E. David Burt: A month. Sorry, a month. Yes, certainly not a year; but $3,000 a month. That is certainly going to change. It is not going to change, you know, to a level where it would be . . . well, some people are. But it …
A month.
Hon. E. David Burt: A month. Sorry, a month. Yes, certainly not a year; but $3,000 a month. That is certainly going to change. It is not going to change, you know, to a level where it would be . . . well, some people are. But it will be above the median income of the country and in that case and instance, Mr. Speaker, I think that it is important that we provide value. That we work harder. That we represent our constituents and that this House take under consideration further reforms that will work on the reforms that we intend to bring this year that can help to make sure that we increase the level of representation that is given here and do the work of scrutinising the Government. And so, Mr. Speaker, as I close with this resolution, if this does pass this Honourable House today it is incumbent not just on the Cabinet to keep up its game, but it is important that all of us collectively as Members of the Legislature raise and increase our level of performance. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I do ask that I officially move the amendment to the [Salaries] Resolution—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. AMENDMENT TO SALARIES RESOLUTION [Schedule 2 Part B] Hon. E. David Burt: —which says, Mr. Speaker, . . . I move that the Ministers and Members Salaries Resolution now under consideration be amended in Part B of the Table of Salaries as follows: by deleting the salary of $12,518 …
Yes.
AMENDMENT TO SALARIES RESOLUTION [Schedule 2 Part B] Hon. E. David Burt: —which says, Mr. Speaker, . . . I move that the Ministers and Members Salaries Resolution now under consideration be amended in Part B of the Table of Salaries as follows: by deleting the salary of $12,518 shown opposite [the] Officers of the Legislature post of Government Whip and substituting therefor the salary of $9,152.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Premier. Are there any . . . first, to speak to the amendment. Are there any? Hon. E. David Burt: If I may, Mr. Speaker, I did cover the amendment inside of my remarks, so I am just putting it forward now.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood. Okay. Is there any objection to the amendment? There are none. No objections to the amendment. [Motion carried: The Amendment to Salaries Resolution (Schedule 2, Part B, of the Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975, salary of Government Whip, passed.]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerNow, will you move the other one? Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my introduction remarks I did move the main motion so the main motion is under consideration now at this time. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. So we broke it out into two. We addressed the amendment and we were all in favour of the amendment. Now it is the main motion itself. Members, where do you stand on the main motion? Or does anyone wish to speak to the main motion? Sorry. You are …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerSee? I was ready to close. [Laughter and crosstalk ] Hon. Jarion Richardson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the Honourable Premier for bringing his lengthy explanation for this motion before us this evening. Mr. Speaker, I agree with the Premier that context is key. And so I will …
See? I was ready to close.
[Laughter and crosstalk ]
Hon. Jarion Richardson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the Honourable Premier for bringing his lengthy explanation for this motion before us this evening. Mr. Speaker, I agree with the Premier that context is key. And so I will follow him in providing some additional context as it relates to this motion for salary increases for Members of the Legislature. Although we are here fundamentally to debate one an-other, there are other parties to this debate. That is, first of all, members of the public who are listening in right now and who vote us into this place. But the other party to this is history. The Hansard, as I tell new Members of Parliament and anyone who is interested in politics, is our effort to carve into history, unshakably, our commitment, our thoughts, our ideas and what we are doing to work on this country. To that end I commit to history these comments on this motion.
Bermuda House of Assembly There comes a time every now and again when the House of Assembly must not look inwards at one another but in fact outwards into the wider community outside of these very windows. We have to look out into the homes where parents are right now stretching every dollar that they have. We have to look outside to the houses where seniors are rationing their pills. We have to look outside to the shops where the dollar does not go as far and you bring home fewer groceries. And if we do that, Mr. Speaker, then the question that follows is, Is this the time to take a pay raise? Mr. Speaker, I see this motion as a question of leadership in our community at the moment. We are here to lead, but our leadership includes service. Our leadership is not by title. It is not by salary band. It is not by appointment or even by promotion. It is about a trust which is born out of necessity and forged in hardship. It is a sacrifice that the Honourable Premier spoke to at length. I echo his comments that oftentimes spending time with my family can be quite diffi-cult. I do have to remind the people who approach me that I actually am here with my family. It is about putting others before ourselves on a day -to-day basis. Mr. Speaker, I was very lucky to go to a small military school when I was a boy. Although the Honourable Premier and I went to the same school later on, this was just before that one. A school called Mas-sanutten Military Academy. When you get promoted, you start noticing that you start eating later and later and you eat less and less because there is less food to go around. The cost of leadership in those promotions is that we eat last and that we put others before ourselves. Again, that is a sacrifice. It is solidarity. It is sharing the burden. Now, even though the Review Board, which was made up of some very respected individuals, some of whom have served long in this place, acknowledged that it is never a good time to raise politician’s salaries, I bring up timing again, Mr. Speaker, because trust in our leadership is significantly less than that of our predecessors. Bermuda is flooded by cynicism at the moment, to the point where half of the registered voters in Bermuda, a little less than half of the registered voters in Bermuda, refused to even participate in the election. That is the selecting of leaders and policies and legislation for the next five years. Mr. Speaker, whatever happens here this evening we will have to justify, every one of us, on every doorstep to every family member to every friend; for those of us who go to church, in our churches, for those of us in our lodges, for those of us who came from uniformed services to the colleagues that we left back in those places, and to every single media personality because I have no doubt that we are going to get absolutely bombarded with media requests. [Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes. So let us speak plainly about these circumstances that we find ourselves in right now. There are thousands of suffering Bermudians, made up of those who cannot pay the BELCO bill and buy dinner in the same week. There are those who have returned to work not for purpose but for survival. And there are people who are going hungry. And this is not a metaphor, and it is not rhetoric. It is the lived- in daily experience of a number of people outside of our Chamber. In the midst of that struggle, we are asked to vote ourselves more. And, by the way, that brings up some questions about just how these processes take place. So, like I said, we are going to have to do some work here, Mr. Speaker, to explain this. To that end, we are told that this is necessary and that this is about fairness. But what we are going to ask, or what people are going to ask us about this is to whom or for whom is it fair? Is it fair for the people outside of these walls waiting for retroactive pay? Is it fair to the teachers forced to buy their own supplies? Is it fair for the public officer waiting for that backpay?
[Crosstalk]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMembers, let him speak to the Chair. Speak to the Chair. Hon. Jarion Richardson: Our economy we have been told is in recovery. But here is what the Chamber of Commerce has had to say about our economy. They said that our GDP growth is driven by exports and not …
Members, let him speak to the Chair. Speak to the Chair. Hon. Jarion Richardson: Our economy we have been told is in recovery. But here is what the Chamber of Commerce has had to say about our economy. They said that our GDP growth is driven by exports and not domestic spending. In other words, it is not all the stuff happening within our local economy that is making our GDP growth. The Chamber said that our household spending is flat and that retail volume was lower than 2013. They said construction investment is down by 19 per cent. The Chamber said our working population is shrinking down 10 per cent since 2016. They said inflation since 2019, food is up 24 per cent and electricity is up over 40 per cent. So the question is: Is this the time to get a pay raise? And what I am trying to point out, Mr. Speaker, is that we are going to have to answer that question everywhere we go now. I want to speak a little bit about good faith, bipartisanship and collaboration because one of the Honourable Members from the other side had shouted out earlier, Why did you sign it? And I would like to point out what it is that person is speaking to. The Honourable Minister had actually mentioned it, which was a resolution coming out of the Standing Orders and Privileges Committee from December 2024. Hon. E. David Burt: A report.
216 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Jarion Richardson: A report. Thank you, Honourable Premier. And in it says . . . the Honourable Premier did read it out, and so for the sake of brevity I will simply refer to it. It contains the signatures and commitments to give salary increases to a number of officers of the Legislature including the President of the Senate, the Deputy Speaker of the House, the Opposition Leader, the Government Whip and the Opposition Whip. Mr. Speaker, as you are well aware, the Salaries Board wrote their report in August 2024. Before then the Honourable Premier, pursuant to legislation, invited me to make the recommendation for two members of that board. The Honourable Premier pointed out that that was the Honourable Cole Simons, former Opposition Leader, and Mr. Carl Neblett, former police officer and head of the union, the former head of the Bermuda Police Service Union. And so based on some time working on that and then August 2024 they sent the report. Now, in November 2024 I was asked to speak to a member of the media about the increases that they are recommending. I believe the Honourable Premier must have tabled not only that report but a resolution of some sort at that point.
[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes, Mr. Speaker, you tabled the report. And to that end I said that I did not support an increase save that for the Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my reason still holds true. At that time the Government held a supermajority, and the Opposition held some six seats, I want to say, at the time. In such a diminished capacity, it was . . . I imagine it would have been harder to hold the Government to account to ensure balance and fairness in the House. I have never been the Speaker of a House, but there are a lot more voices shouting, heckling, a lot more voices to go into committees, a lot fewer voices to oppose, evaluate, scrutinise and propose. So, to that end I thought, Well, that looks hard. It looks like it has been hard and I think that the Speaker of the House has done an admiral job of balancing the supermajority. So, I entered. When I was invited to the Standing Orders Committee meeting that was my position. Now during that process, it was quite an interesting set of meetings because there was a lot of vo-cal support being put forward by a number of Members for the salary increases. In fact, it was at one point I remember that it was getting heated enough that I thought we needed air conditioning in this place. One of our honourable colleagues actually said to me, You are making this political. It was a political point. And I said in reply, If I was making this political, I would be on the news every day about it. This point was a question of performance. This point was a question of: Is this what we are going to go tell the public? And how are we going to tell the public this? So I was against all of it except for the Speaker of the House, well knowing, though, that in circumstances like that that the way to move forward is through good faith, bipartisanship and collaboration. Now, my honourable colleague, the Opposition Whip, when he was Premier pointed out, or point-ed out from his experience of being Premier, that this process actually involves the Cabinet, not the Standing Orders Committee. In fact, it was the Cabinet who reviewed that report in the past. It was the Cabinet that decided. It was the Cabinet that drafted the resolution. It was the Cabinet that tabled the resolution and then the debate took place on the floor of the House, and that the Standing Orders Committee was not involved in any way whatsoever. And I had a bit of . . . and I thought fair enough, but nonetheless here we are in Standing Orders Committee, and we have been asked to—
Hon. E. David Burt: Point of information, if I may. If he doesn’t yield, that’s fine. I’ll deal with it. But I just think it might be something helpful for the Opposition Leader.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMm-hmm. Hon. E. David Burt: Does he yield?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, he did yield. POINT OF CLARIFICATION Hon. E. David Burt: Just as a note, Mr. Speaker, the Cabinet does decide . . . resolutions. If there is ever a change . . . of the resolutions, but it should be important to note that the law calls for the …
Yes, he did yield.
POINT OF CLARIFICATION
Hon. E. David Burt: Just as a note, Mr. Speaker, the Cabinet does decide . . . resolutions. If there is ever a change . . . of the resolutions, but it should be important to note that the law calls for the House of As-sembly to take on reviews of the board. And I do not believe there were any board reviews that took place at the point in time when the Honourable Opposition Whip nor during the time the One Bermuda Alliance was in Government so there were no actual reports from the board itself as per the law. That goes to the Speaker of the House. I just wanted to make that clarification. Sorry. Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes, I thank the Honourable Premier for his clarification. I was . . . in addition to the report I was speaking to the mechanism by which salary increases are entertained. And that being primarily a Cabinet mechanism. So, I was a little confused about that but nonetheless there we were. And again, good faith, bipartisanship and collaboration is something that I believe everyone wants from us and so I undertook to
Bermuda House of Assembly provide that. So, being armed with that one point, that is that the salary of the Speaker of the House should proceed and no one else’s, I engaged in that good faith conversation. It was incredibly heated. But I thought we had made some progress on that. I signed that report given that it was . . . the matter was before the Standing Orders Committee. My understanding was that was the . . . that report was a step toward a Cabinet resolution that was going to come back to the Standing Orders Committee. So, it is the give and take. So, I thought, Well, we give a little and then we will come back and we will talk a little bit more about it. But instead, what happened was . . . and Mr. Speaker, as you can recall, the signing was a bit awkward because I had come by myself back to your office, and all the signatures were already there. It was apparent that an agreement had been reached and that my signature was the last one outstanding. We spoke for . . . it must have been an hour trying to sort of wrap my head around how to navigate this particular challenge. Because even though . . . even though . . . I was trying to wrap my head around how do I do bipartisanship? How do I ensure that the people who I believe need that salary increase (that being the Speaker) get it? And what am I willing to concede for that? And so, I said, Well, this looks like the step to do it. I now look back at that with regret. It is clear that that Standing Order, in my opinion, was confusing the issue, if not providing cover for the resolution to-day. What have we told anyone who wants to serve, Mr. Speaker? To my mind what we have told them is that when they become involved in politics that they have to constantly look out for subterfuge. That good faith can actually be quite opportunistic and that bipartisanship can be used to favour one side over the other. Mr. Speaker, no amount of money or eloquence can confuse, can assist , can bring people into an environment where they believe it to be toxic. And that is our biggest problem in politics right now. I would concur with the Honourable Premier in that it is sometimes hard to ask people to participate in politics. I hope that we are all able to carry the message into the community that this endeavour is still a noble one, that there is still a role for politics and politicians and that there is incredibly too much work to do to ignore politics. Mr. Speaker, I hear the arguments that have been made for the salary increase. I note that salaries have not changed and not kept pace with the cost of living. I note that the job is incredibly demanding. Incredibly demanding. And further, that we must attract high-quality candidates for the benefit of our country. And yet we are here. The Honourable Premier finished his primary contribution to explain the salary increase saying that we have to raise the value of our service. I could not agree any more with him. The only raise that matters now is that we offer hope, trust and the standard of leadership. We now have to, and I agree, raise our level of performance and I look forward to hearing the contributions for the rest of the night. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Does any other Member wish to make a contribution this evening? Any other Member? Okay. MP DeCouto, you have the floor.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoThank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a very important topic. I have been in here, this is my second full working day, perhaps. So I have tried to bring a measure of professionalism and respect — [Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCouto—unfortunately I have been a little disappointed. This topic in particular I think all the Members of the Legislature should treat with particular, particular sensitivity, Mr. Speaker. And I am sure that I do not need to spell it out. One piece of factual information that my Leader did not …
Dr. Douglas DeCouto—I have been in some Chambers where I have been asked to use my voice more by Members of the Government. So, in fact, here I am. [Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoHere I am, Mr. Speaker, using my voice as I have been asked to by a large number of voters of constituency 25. [Inaudible interjections]
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberHear, hear!
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoA piece of information— 218 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly The Speaker: Take your time.
Dr. Douglas DeCouto—that the general public should know is that, you know, we can in good faith say this is a complicated topic with a lot of arguments on both sides of it, and a lot of subtleties. And my Leader did touch on some and I will touch on some. Because …
—that the general public should know is that, you know, we can in good faith say this is a complicated topic with a lot of arguments on both sides of it, and a lot of subtleties. And my Leader did touch on some and I will touch on some. Because of that and because of the varying positions —financial positions, job positions, and so forth, of the members of my party, not just those who are appointed or elected, but also those who are candidates, approved candidates, adopted candidates and so forth—our caucus took the position that this would be a conscience vote. So, I want to make it clear, Mr. Speaker, that my words here are for me, myself as MP for constituency 25. Now what others may say or not say is, as we used to say in my family, a matter for them. Now, we may or may not agree. In fact, I happen to agree with almost all of what my Leader said but it is not because of . . . it is because of the content of the speech. I think he spoke well when he talked about context. So, if you read these reports, if you read this resolution you can’t take them in isolation. And I will only touch on a few specifics because in general the details are beside the point. Many good points have been raised. There are definitely some rules that do need some support. We have talked about your role.
[Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoPerhaps not all of the MP’s roles. In fact, if we are going to constituency by con-stituency, I could probably identify a few, what I would call discount, discount factors. But I don’t know, Mr. Speaker, perhaps volume — [Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCouto—are people being paid by the decibel, Mr. Speaker? [Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoSo, we have talked about your position — [Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCouto—and we can have legitimate conversations about some of the ministries. For ex-ample, Mr. Speaker, why does the Minister of Fi-nance—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI would hope that some of the senior Members would set the example and allow the Mem-ber to speak.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoWhy, Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of Finance get paid less the Attorney General? Now, of course, I have an interest in that, as you know, by my Shadow position. In fact, I think the Premier (inadvertently perhaps) spoke eloquently about why the position of Minister of Finance should in …
Why, Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of Finance get paid less the Attorney General? Now, of course, I have an interest in that, as you know, by my Shadow position. In fact, I think the Premier (inadvertently perhaps) spoke eloquently about why the position of Minister of Finance should in fact be its own position and not be done by the Premier at the same time. And while the Government likes to reach back into history, in fact he talked exactly about how today is very different than history in the complexity of the law, the global financial landscape, and what is required from Bermuda to operate correctly in that landscape. There was also the argument that if we paid more perhaps more people would put their hands up for this job. I think that has been pretty adequately disproved by the fact that we have just had an election with the highest number of candidates —
[Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCouto—in history, Mr. Speaker. [Inaudible interjections and laughter ]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMembers! Members! Members, if you are having trouble holding your tongue, maybe it is time to take a walk and get some fresh air.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoOr wait for their turn, Mr. Speaker. Now, I know, some might say, Well, DeCouto, you work in insurance. Don’t tell me about money. Fair enough. That would perhaps be one contribution as to why my party is having a conscience vote. So the individual voter can assess my comments …
Or wait for their turn, Mr. Speaker. Now, I know, some might say, Well, DeCouto, you work in insurance. Don’t tell me about money. Fair enough. That would perhaps be one contribution as to why my party is having a conscience vote. So the individual voter can assess my comments and they can decide for themselves. Now, I would say, in case you haven’t figured this out, Mr. Speaker, but I am sure you have, I cannot in conscience vote for or support this motion. Now I consider that report an interesting intellectual exercise. And as we have talked about, its conclusions can only be evaluated in the full context of what is happening today. Fundamentally, I think it is problematic that legislators are being asked to approve their pay. And we heard about fairness in prior Statements. And I wonder how those words ring for those in our local economy who are barely keeping their heads above water over the past several years. Many in fact who perhaps did not get paid in COVID - 19. What do they feel about fairness on this topic? And we heard from my Leader about the protocol in the military, NCOs [ non-commissioned officers] and officers eat after their units. That is an aspect
Bermuda House of Assembly of leadership. I would also, Mr. Speaker, differentiate between the MPs and the full -time positions. And to be frank, we come to work maybe 30 days a year.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoIn this House. And some will say, Well, I am out there cutting grass, painting bus stops, making donations. I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that those functions are better handled by the Government instead of MPs having to pick up the slack where the Government is not doing the job …
In this House. And some will say, Well, I am out there cutting grass, painting bus stops, making donations. I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that those functions are better handled by the Government instead of MPs having to pick up the slack where the Government is not doing the job it should. And perhaps if we wanted to talk about real reform around this topic, Mr. Speaker, perhaps we could provide an allowance to MPs, specifically to fund those kinds of activities, if we thought that was indeed the proper role of the Member of Parliament. So I can’t support this motion, Mr. Speaker. I could have supported a better, more thoughtful ap-proach. I know the Government talks about that some things take time to sort out. We have heard about that in some prior legislation today. And so they did have time to sort this out. And we have heard things like , we could link in the legislation the legislator s’ pay to the public servant s’ pay scales. We could build cost - of-living adjustments into the legislation. We could connect full -time Ministers’ salaries to things like public . . . to benchmark against private sector salaries. We could find ways to make it easier for people to serve in this capacity —
POINT OF CLARIFICATION
Hon. E. David Burt: Just a quick point of clarification, information so I can respond if the Honourable Member will yield. I just . . . sorry. Can the Honourable Member yield? I just want to find out if he just said he believes that we should benchmark Minister’s salaries, the private sector. He said that we shouldn’t. I just didn’t get it so I am just asking if he can repeat his part.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. He just wants a clarification.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoYes, Mr. Speaker, I am using the word could. This is the sort of thing one might have a reasonable conversation about if they wanted to really reform this issue, which this motion does not do. And I believe I did . . . I will also say that we …
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am using the word could. This is the sort of thing one might have a reasonable conversation about if they wanted to really reform this issue, which this motion does not do. And I believe I did . . . I will also say that we could perhaps find ways to make it easier for people to work in this capacity where they have issues with their employers. Because I know that when you look for candidates that is a serious issue and sometimes people are just told, You are not allowed to do that. I would then say, Mr. Speaker, What’s the rush? And I have talked about some of the more indepth reform that I would like to see and I think that this Government has time. It could take the time to do that reform. Because I sort of consider this our first real working day after the election, after going through— [Inaudible interjections and general uproar ]
Dr. Douglas DeCouto—what I would call the set pieces — [Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoYou know, I will make an observation for the listening public. I would talk about professionalism. As you know, people come in and out of the Chamber. Sometimes they go do some other business. I am looking around. I do see relatively full benches on the Government side for this …
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoSo I think the public would like to know that, Mr. Speaker. And I know Government can expedite legislation when it wants. I am thinking about some various examples. So I feel like if they really took reform seriously they could expedite that and bring back something more fully baked. …
So I think the public would like to know that, Mr. Speaker. And I know Government can expedite legislation when it wants. I am thinking about some various examples. So I feel like if they really took reform seriously they could expedite that and bring back something more fully baked. Also, I have a real problem with the retroactivity of this. And I have heard it said to me by members of the public, This looks like a parting gift for retiring Government Members. [Inaudible interjections]
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberHas it ever been done before?
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoI don’t know. If it had been done before, I would not have supported it. [Inaudible interjections]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoBut let me close— [Inaudible interjections] 220 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Dr. Douglas DeCouto: —let me close with this. Let me close with this, Mr. Speaker.
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoI know the Premier has talked a lot about the formalities and the procedures and perhaps to those listening you might think, Oh, maybe the Premier didn’t bring it. Maybe this just magically happened. But note, this was approved by Cabinet. And you know, listening public, if the Government did …
I know the Premier has talked a lot about the formalities and the procedures and perhaps to those listening you might think, Oh, maybe the Premier didn’t bring it. Maybe this just magically happened. But note, this was approved by Cabinet. And you know, listening public, if the Government did not want this to happen, this would not have happened. With that I close my remarks. I do not support this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. Does any other . . . MP Lawrence Scott.
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottGood evening, Mr. Speaker. I want to start my remarks by sort of bringing to the forefront the American employment psycholo-gist, Frederick Herzberg, who was the one who made an observation that salary is a motivator and not a satisfier. And that in a capitalistic economy (which is what we …
Good evening, Mr. Speaker. I want to start my remarks by sort of bringing to the forefront the American employment psycholo-gist, Frederick Herzberg, who was the one who made an observation that salary is a motivator and not a satisfier. And that in a capitalistic economy (which is what we are in right now) salaries are normally based on the level of responsibility that the role entails. And so what that means is that the more responsibilities, the higher importance to that company, to that organisation, that that individual or group take on, the higher their salaries should be. And so why would we be sit-ting here and accepting that philosophy for the private sector but then saying it is not acceptable for the public sector? I think that if you want to get an answer for that question, you go back to 1620 when this Parlia-ment was first established. And from 1620, if you could tell me when the first official salary for parliamentarians happened, I am pretty sure you would be surprised that it did not happen until 1975. Which then begs the question, what was their compensation? What did they get out of it? Those persons who sat there for 350- odd years . What they got was the society in which we live in today, the foundation of that —and the generational wealth that has been attached to that success. And so, then what happened in 1975 ? Did they really w ant to give that up? No, they did not. So the salary ha s purposely . . . the salary has purposely been depressed.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberExactly.
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottThe first salary in 1975 was £1,800, the equivalent of $15,000 per year. And that was, in their words , not mine, to ensure the undesirables did not make it or did not participate in these hallowed chambers. And the undesirables that they we re talking about was anybody who …
The first salary in 1975 was £1,800, the equivalent of $15,000 per year. And that was, in their words , not mine, to ensure the undesirables did not make it or did not participate in these hallowed chambers. And the undesirables that they we re talking about was anybody who was not a merchant elite. If you did not own a business, if you did not already have generational wealth, if you were on — [Inaudible interjections]
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottYes, if you did not have a business on Front Street, you were not desired . . . to have you in these hallow ed Chambers. And so therefore, what that says is that the salaries we talk about today are not talking about market rate. And so what happens, …
Yes, if you did not have a business on Front Street, you were not desired . . . to have you in these hallow ed Chambers. And so therefore, what that says is that the salaries we talk about today are not talking about market rate. And so what happens, Mr. Speaker, is that we sit there and talk about motivation, we talk about sus-tainability, having persons being motivated to come in. And there are several persons that are out there in the public domain or in the general public part of the private sector that are interested, intrigued even, about getting into politics, becoming a representative. But they are going to sit there and say, Hmm, my $100,000 a year salary in the private sector could be put at risk for a position that takes ho me $3,500 a month.
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottMr. Speaker, this is not theoretical, it is factual. A nd I am speaking from personal experience. Mr. Speaker, I could table a document today where a former employer of mine sent communication saying that Lawrence Scott, his political affiliation, no longer aligns with their business interests. And six months …
Mr. Speaker, this is not theoretical, it is factual. A nd I am speaking from personal experience. Mr. Speaker, I could table a document today where a former employer of mine sent communication saying that Lawrence Scott, his political affiliation, no longer aligns with their business interests. And six months later, I was separated from that company. If it was not for this parliamentary salary, because I was taking it on out of the personal love or taking it on out of duty. If it was not for this, I could have been destitute, Mr. Speaker. But then when we talk about wanting to motivate the best and the brightest, and then as Members on that side have said, not provide the compensation —and because going back to Frederick Herzberg, job security is something that provides satisfaction. There is no job security in poli-tics. And so without that satisfaction, you need better motivation. And so, Mr. Speaker, what we are talking abou t . . . I am not a mathematician. I am not an economist. I do not pretend to be one. But the math that I have done for your average MP, we are talking about an increase of a thousand dollars a month, Mr. Speaker. But yet, let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, as of right now, before this motion is passed or debated, I am looking in today's The Royal Gazette under the employment section. A nd, Mr. Speaker, can I . . . have permission to read this? An assistant cook, Mr. Speaker , for the G overnment has a starting salary of $62,000 a year. And
Bermuda House of Assembly as the Premier has said, our recommendation is $72,000.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberSeventy -three.
Mr. W. Lawrence ScottOh, sorry, $ 73,000. But yet a senior administrative officer for the police service starts at $ 74,000. That is out of the employment. And so when M embers on the other side want to make you think or believe that we are taking home millions and billions of dollars …
Oh, sorry, $ 73,000. But yet a senior administrative officer for the police service starts at $ 74,000. That is out of the employment. And so when M embers on the other side want to make you think or believe that we are taking home millions and billions of dollars a year, I can guarantee you, Mr. Speaker, when you look at this , and I am holding up today's paper, yet, there is the Deputy Parliamentary Council which gets paid . . . which would take home $187,000 a year. So just to put that in perspective. And so whether you are voting via your conscience or via the people in your constituency, when you know the history, you know that this is not anything untoward . And I understand that Members on the other side ask, is this a good time? The Premier has said no less than three to five times the fact that the Opposition does not want to admit that this is the strongest economy we have seen in the last 21 years. We have a budget surplus. And so therefore, if . . . when you have a budget surplus and meaning that the government is generating , taking in more money than it spends to operate, if this is not the best time, when is ? And then if the Opposition cannot recogni se that this is the best time, then maybe we should question his decision- making skills. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP Scott . No other Minister? Member —Premier, no other. Premier . Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the job falls on me to close out the particular debate on this resolution today. And of course, Mr. Speaker, I must respond to …
Thank you, MP Scott . No other Minister? Member —Premier, no other. Premier .
Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the job falls on me to close out the particular debate on this resolution today. And of course, Mr. Speaker, I must respond to the resolution. But prior to the response to the resolution, as I had indicated to you, Mr. Speaker, we have identified one additional challenge, which I sent to the C lerk and have spoken to the Assistant Clerk. And pursuant to S tanding Order 34, I do understand that I may be able to make a verbal amend-ment to this one, particularly , Mr. Speaker .
AMENDMENT TO SCHEDULE 2 AMENDMENT
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, we are now talking about the m otion that was tabled today, the Amendment to Schedule 2. The amendment of which I seek to make to that, Mr. Speaker , is after the word “ Attorney General ” to insert “ and Minister of Finance. ” I am sure that will be without objection, but I will ask if you can ask for that to be [amended] .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerBasically , for clarity, when you listed out particular positions earlier, there was one position that was left out that you would like to have included in. Members , do you understand? That is what this additional m otion does . Are any objections to that motion? There are none. …
Basically , for clarity, when you listed out particular positions earlier, there was one position that was left out that you would like to have included in. Members , do you understand? That is what this additional m otion does . Are any objections to that motion? There are none. Premier. [Motion carried: Amendment to the Schedule 2 amendment of the Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975, passed.] Hon. E. David Burt: Great, t hank you, Mr. Speaker. With that piece of housekeeping done, I will now turn to closing out the debate on this particular motion itself. I certainly take the comments from the Honourable Member on this side who spoke because there is a history to this. There is a history to this . There is a history to this, and I think it is important that we recogni se that we are evolving. A nd I think that is what reform and other things have to be. This House of Assembly was a place for mainly . . . mainly —not talking on this side, but mainly —entitled persons who did do this on a part -time basis. Who made all the decisions in the boardroom —whether it be Bank of Butterfield or the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club to divvy up who would be able to get the health insurance, who would be able to get the car contracts, who would be able to get all of those things. Let us be clear : we have evolved. We have evolved through those times. I will just say , Mr. Speaker, that everyone will know I am someone who, for better or for worse, has relatively decent political skill. So I know that it is always a particular popular position to argue against increases for persons . That is particular ly popular, that is particularly politically expedient. It is not what is right for our democracy. What is important, Mr. Speaker, is that we go through a reform process and that we are in a place and a space where we can attract good people into these roles and continue to do so, because a lot of the Members here who have done this out of heart and love, et cetera, Mr. Speaker, are not going to be around in five and ten years. You understand what I am saying? We all know that persons who are, you know, have these understandings and artificial intelligence and all these other things, things that are going to be necessary for as we continue to govern in the future. Perfect example, Mr. Speaker. This Honourable Chamber used to be filled with Learned Members. Used to be. H ow many Learned M embers do we have now? 222 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Because as the Honourable Member said, law firms and others will tell their people, No, do not go there. No, do not do that . That is the reality. And we cannot choose when we want to be like our sister islands when it is convenient for us. This is not about me. This is not about the Opposition Leader. This is about the reform which is necessary to ensure that our democracy can survive, and we can have the place and the space in the future to make better decisions , Mr. Speaker . So now allow me to say this. Yes, it is never a good time, Opposition Leader . And yes, O pposition Leader , I am not, you know, I guess I would say surprised at the stance of which you took . But a comment that the O pposition Leader made it is surprising . Because he said in signing the R esolution from the report from the Standing Orders Committee, he said, it was [his] understanding that it [would] go to C abinet and come back to the Standing Orders Committee. But I am going to read that R esolution again because I know the Honourable Opposition Leader knows how to read. It says, In conclusion, the Committee recommends that the 2024 Report of the Ministers and Members of the Legislature Salary Review Board be presented to Cabinet for drafting the appro-priate Salaries Resolution to be tabled into the House forthwith —signed by the O pposition Leader. Now I understand. I have got it. The next election has started already —
[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. E. David Burt: —and it will stake out a political position and say, I was against this . And it is easy to say it , Mr. Speaker .
Mr. Scott PearmanPoint of order. Mr. Speaker. POINT OF ORDER [Imputing improper motives]
Mr. Scott PearmanThe Hono urable Premier is imputing improper motive, s uggesting that the O pposition Leader . . . indeed anyone's decision to vote against this m otion is based upon the next election. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, we are politicians . The Opposition Leader . . . his …
The Hono urable Premier is imputing improper motive, s uggesting that the O pposition Leader . . . indeed anyone's decision to vote against this m otion is based upon the next election.
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, we are politicians . The Opposition Leader . . . his job is to get his party ready for the next election. And it is my job to make sure I leave my party in a space so they can win the next election. That is the reality. That is the reality. But here is the thing, Mr. Speaker , and the Honourable Member who just took his seat, made the point well. Leadership is about making the difficult decisions when they are not popular as well. That is the reality. I have had to make decisions in this job that I have had to anguish over. The C abinet has had to make those decisions of which they have had to anguish over. The Hono urable Minister of Health sitting behind me five years ago had to do that on a daily basis and reminds me that the decisions that she makes determine whether or not —oftentimes —people live or die. So let us be serious about the matters of which we are discussing right now . To go forward, M r. Speaker, it is important . . . Opposition Leader , you might want to listen to this because you might learn. Be cause you are going to be here a little longer than me. So you are over there talking, but y ou might want to listen to the debate. [Inaudible interjections and laughter]
Hon. E. David Burt: It is important that in leadership you recogni se it is oftentimes not just your voice that matters. In this presentation, Mr. Speaker, I said of the many things that I did not agree with in this r eport —
Hon. Jarion Richardson: Point of order.
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. Jarion Richardson: I think I was actually quite clear that my contribution was in relation to both the listening public and history. So that was misleading. I am well aware of the extent of the leadership role, especially given my previous leadership position. Thank you.
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I will continue . In leadership, as Opposition Leader , you want to sit over here in this seat and what I am saying is you have to remember that it is not just your voice that matters. We went through a process, Mr. Speaker, with a body that had members who were appointed by the Opposition Leader and a r eport produced under law that says the House of Assembly shall take full consideration of those recommendations. The H onourable Opposition Leader sign ed a report after examining those matters.
Hon. Jarion Richardson: Point of order, Mr. Speaker.
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Hon. Jarion Richardson: I think the Honou rable Premier is misleading the H ouse. He is well aware that the point has been made in multiple conversations about the method of ap-pointment and the expectation for the performance of the people who you appoint to those boards. And that is why I want to make it clear that there is a difference between the appointing of a person to a role and the manner in which they undertake that role.
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I heard nothing to contradict the point that I made. The law states that the Opposition Leader gets to put two people on the board. The two people that the Opposition Leader put on the board supported this recommendation.
Ms. Lovitta F. FoggoExactly. Hon. E. David Burt: Signed it. All seven people. They only need a majority , for the record . The law only requires the majority to sign the report. [Inaudible interjection] Hon. E. David Burt: All seven persons signed the report from the board. They forwarded it to you …
Exactly. Hon. E. David Burt: Signed it. All seven people. They only need a majority , for the record . The law only requires the majority to sign the report. [Inaudible interjection] Hon. E. David Burt: All seven persons signed the report from the board. They forwarded it to you under law, Mr. Speaker . You tabled it here, Mr. Speaker. The matter was discussed —
[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Jarion Richardson: Point of clarification. I mean, we have had a couple of point s of clarifications I gave before. Hon. E. David Burt: I will yield. Yes.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead, Member. POINT OF CLARIFICATION Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes, t hank you. Well, I am always nice , Mr. Deputy Premier. The point of clarification is that as I made this point before publicly, the appointment of those persons to the board, and I had this correspondence with the …
Go ahead, Member.
POINT OF CLARIFICATION
Hon. Jarion Richardson: Yes, t hank you. Well, I am always nice , Mr. Deputy Premier. The point of clarification is that as I made this point before publicly, the appointment of those persons to the board, and I had this correspondence with the Premier before, is there is a difference between the role of the board and the role of us as leadership. And I just wanted to go on and to that point, given that he was currently lecturing on how leader-ship works, I take the point that what our job to do is — Hon. E. David Burt: I would like to resume my conversation, Mr. Speaker .
Hon. E. David Burt: He wanted to clarify. He clarified his point. I will get back to it.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. Hon. E. David Burt: The law allows for the O pposition Leader to appoint two persons to the board. He did. I consulted with you, Mr. S peaker. I consulted with the President of the Senate and appointed a board. Just to be clear, this is not the …
Go ahead.
Hon. E. David Burt: The law allows for the O pposition Leader to appoint two persons to the board. He did. I consulted with you, Mr. S peaker. I consulted with the President of the Senate and appointed a board. Just to be clear, this is not the first time we have done this, and this will go to the H onou rable Member from constitu ency 25 who, though speaking about the fact that Members are in their seats , has now left after he contributed to what he believes is a very important debate.
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Ooh! Hon. E. David Burt: Because he said and wanted to pretend that this is all about the C abinet.
[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. E. David Burt: Let us remember the last time we went through this process, consulting with the Leader of the O pposition, c onsult ing with the P resident of the Senate, c onsulting with the Speaker of the House. The Salaries Review Board produced a r eport. And what did that r eport say? That r eport said, We do not believe that this is the right time for increases. Now, Mr. Speaker , under law, if we follow the argument of the Honou rable Member from c onstituency 25, the C abinet could have just said, Well, we do not care what you say . We are go ing to go ahead and do it anyways . But we did not.
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: No, we did not.
Hon. E. David Burt: So now when the same body comes back five years later, appointed under the laws of the country and makes a recommendation, the Honourable Member for constituency 25 wants us not to take it into account. Now he has a right not to vote for it, but the argument to say that this is Cabinet deciding and this and all the rest, we have a process under law that has been set out. And I think that it would reflect that that process has been followed well
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoPoint of order. Hon. E. David Burt: What is the point of order?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerPoint of o rder? POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoMr. Speaker, the Premier is misleading the house by implying that in fact it was not a Cabinet decision, and it is not a Cabinet collective responsibility to bring this motion to the House and these proposed pay rises . When in fact he stated that it is. Thank you. …
Mr. Speaker, the Premier is misleading the house by implying that in fact it was not a Cabinet decision, and it is not a Cabinet collective responsibility to bring this motion to the House and these proposed pay rises . When in fact he stated that it is. Thank you.
224 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker. I am going to let you rule because—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI was just . . . I was trying to follow you in your response on that part. How it gets to the House is cleared up. It is clearly laid out and I think the process that got it here, it has followed the process . Meaning it gets …
I was just . . . I was trying to follow you in your response on that part. How it gets to the House is cleared up. It is clearly laid out and I think the process that got it here, it has followed the process . Meaning it gets presented, tabled by . . . it gets presented to the S peaker. It gets tabled and then it comes to this C hamber for what is taking place today.
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Honourable Member is not learned, but I do know that he is a doctor . And so I know that he understands what I have said. His argument reflecting on his argument was that it was the choice of the C abinet to do as they wish. I am making sure that he is clear that the law states that a body is put together, that body reports to this House. The law has been followed. The body reported to this H ouse. That is the truth . I spoke about in an intervention when the O pposition Leader was speaking . . . or when that H onou rable Member was speaking about the reality that no boards were ap-pointed at the time that One Bermuda Alliance was in the office. So yes, an annual resolution does come. It typically comes through budget session. Yes, those are decided by the C abinet as most financial matters are. There are some that fall squarely in the hands of the Minister of Finance. So he is not speaking something that no one in this country does not know . But the view and the thought for him to say that this is what the C abinet wanted without understanding that we have followed the law and gone through the pro-cess I do not believe is helpful on this particular mat-ter. Now I want to go back to the O pposition Leader because, you know, he makes a point . He makes a point of, you know , he says unfair , and I know what he is trying to do, so, you know, we got it. We all know . He is trying to go fair, fair, you know, and you said fairness. All the . . . I have got where he is trying to go. But he talks about persons waiting for retroactive pay and teachers buying their own supplies and back pay all the rest .
Hon. Jarion Richardson: Point of order.
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Hon. Jarion Richardson : I think he is misleading the House. I believe that I was posing that as a question of, Is it fair when —
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker can we—can the Opposition let us debate? Because they point -of-order things and they never actually say what the point of order is, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Jarion Richardson: Oh geez. Point of order.
POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Hon. Jarion Richardson: The Premier's misleading the House. [Inaudible interjections]
Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, no matter how the Honourable Member wanted to put it across, we un-derstand the point of which he was getting at. Now let me go on those points, Mr. Speaker. Let alone the fact of a record pay deal retroactive, just so you can be clear to the 1 April 2024, not the first of January 2025. K ey points on that one. And in numerous times and instances where we have done that, and yes, everyone is going to get the ir retroactive pay . And do I know when we may get in that line here at the House of Assembly? No, I do not. Because all those things have to be calculated by your office. But I would strongly push back against the view and the thought that it is not fair that long- serving Members of this L egislature, many of them who worked as hard- working Ministers for many different years through very difficult circumstances, should not have the benefit of their pensions which were put in place for that particular purpose, to be remunerated at the proper level. I think that is unfair . In my opinion, Mr. Speaker, cold and callous . And we are going to do the right thing. We are going to do the right thing for the people who gave their time and like that , Mr. Speaker, just like we are doing the right thing for our public officers in this country to make sure that we deliver them items, to bring them up to the cost of living that has fallen afoul. And here is the thing, Mr. Speaker . We did not do that for us. What we are doing in this House today is less than what has been awarded to public officers. And that is okay because that is service. That is service. But that is what we have to stand up for , Mr. Speaker. Now the final thing that I want to touch on is a suggestion from the Honourable M ember from constituency 25. Because earlier today he gave me a letter and told me he sent me something. A nd I have told him, Honourable Member , that is for the House. That is not for the C abinet . Today again, in his presentation, he says, if the Cabinet took reform seriously . Mr. Speaker, I implore you to educate the Honourable Members opposite on matters which fall within the purview of the Legislature and the purview of the Executive because it becomes very dangerous when persons are saying
Bermuda House of Assembly that the E xecutive should dictate to L egislature how they should function. What we have said, and we have set out on particular matters of which we have brought in resolutions on matters related to Standing Orders for things around taking reform serious ly and all these other items of which I put forward, I would hope, Mr. Speaker, that those are things which are discussed in his Honourable House. And so, the next time that this committee, which under the law is appointed for a four-year period and under law will have to write another report in 2026, can take into account the views and thoughts of M embers around these matters of reform. But if the Honourable Member is that serious about it, he should put pen to paper and submit items to you, Mr. Speaker, or put together the resolutions or other things to form the committees to do that work. That i s what is important, Mr. Speaker. That is what is important. So I understand. The other side has had a conscience vote. I understand that this has been a long process, and I understand, Mr. Speaker , that this is unpopular. But, Mr. Speaker, it is important that we not just recogni se the process in law which sets out for an independent committee to make recommendations and to give due consideration to them. It is important that the C abinet give regard to the report that was signed by all members of the Standing Orders Committee asking for additional considerations to be taken and given and to bring a Salaries Resolution forthwith. We have done that today , Mr. Speaker , and I commend these motions to the H ouse for a vote.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Mr. Premier . Members , the Premier has now commended the report to the H ouse for us to take a vote on that. Those who are in favou r of the m otion, will say A ye; those who opposed will say N ay. Those in favour?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerIt sounds from here like the Ayes have it. Members, w e thank you for your participation in this matter this afternoon. [Motion carried: The House approved the Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975 as amended.] Hon. E. David Burt: Just a point of order, Mr. Speaker. …
It sounds from here like the Ayes have it. Members, w e thank you for your participation in this matter this afternoon.
[Motion carried: The House approved the Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975 as amended.] Hon. E. David Burt: Just a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Do we need to do the two amendments separately or does that cover b oth? I just want to make sure for good order. The Speaker: Say that again. Hon. E. David Burt: Do we need to do the two m otions separately or is it just . . . they can be called as one? Just want to make sure we get that part right.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYour earlier motion was done before this. [Inaudible interjections]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, yes, yes. T hey are fine. They are fine. It was done. [Inaudible interjections]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes, we moved the first one before we started the matter. We had to approve the amendment first and then we went on to the m otion itself. So it has been done. Okay. Now that brings us now to the third readings of the day and . . . …
Yes, we moved the first one before we started the matter. We had to approve the amendment first and then we went on to the m otion itself. So it has been done. Okay. Now that brings us now to the third readings of the day and . . . who do we have first on there? Junior Minister, would you like to do your third reading?
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21
Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Yes. Mr. Speaker, I move that Standing Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move the Bill entitled Corporate Income Tax ( Penalty Provisions ) Amendment Act 2025 be now read the third time by its title only.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAre there any objections? None. Continue Junior M inister . [Motion carried: Standing Order 21 suspended.] BILL THIRD READING CORPORATE INCOME TAX (PENALTY PROVISIONS) AMENDMENT ACT 2025 Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: I move that the Bill be now read a third time by it s title only and pass ed.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThe Bill is read a third time by title only and is now passed. Thank you. [Motion carried: The Corporate Income Tax (Penalty Provisions) Amendment Act 2025 was read a third time and passed.]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThe second item—y es, Deputy Premier. 226 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21 Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move that Standing Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move the B ill …
The second item—y es, Deputy Premier.
226 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21
Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move that Standing Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move the B ill entitled Municipalit ies Amendment Act 2025 be now read the third time by its title only.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAre there any objections? There are none. Continue. [Motion carried: Standing Order 21 suspended.] BILL THIRD READING MUNICIPALITIES AMENDMENT ACT 2025 Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: I move that the B ill be now read a third time by it s title only and pass ed.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThe Bill has been read a third time by title only and is now passed. [Motion carried: The Municipalities Amendment Act 2025 was read a third time and passed.]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMinister — SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21 Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Speaker, I move that Standing Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move the B ill entitled the Employment Amendment Act 2025 be now read the third time by its title only.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAre there any objections? There are none. Continue, Minister . [Motion carried: Standing Order 21 suspended.] BILL THIRD READING EMPLOYMENT AMENDMENT ACT 2025 Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Speaker, I move that the Bill be now read a third time by its title only and pass ed.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThe Bill is read a third time by title only and is now passed. [Motion carried: The Employment Amendment Act 2025 was read a third time and passed.]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Members. Those are the only matters that required a third reading today. Premier. ADJOURNMENT Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . With this brief Throne Speech session done, I move that the Honourable House do now adjourn until Friday, 2 May 2025—which is Budget Day. And …
Thank you, Members. Those are the only matters that required a third reading today. Premier.
ADJOURNMENT Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker . With this brief Throne Speech session done, I move that the Honourable House do now adjourn until Friday, 2 May 2025—which is Budget Day. And I am informed that there are Members who wish to speak on the motion to adjourn on my side, Mr. Speaker . But Friday, 2 May 2025 at 10:00 am for the presentation of the budget.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerDoes any Member wish to . . . oh, okay. The first Member who has risen today to speak on the . . . [Crosstalk]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOne second — The first M ember who has risen today to speak on the motion to adjourn is MP Tucker , who is a new Member to this Chamber. So , this is her maiden speech. MP Tucker , you have your 20 minutes. MAIDEN SPEECH
Ms. Robin TuckerThank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with a deep sense of pride and honour and responsibility that I rise today to address this Honourable House giving my maiden speech. I am very grateful to the Hamilton South constituency 7 constituents whose voices I am privileged to represent. Thank you to …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with a deep sense of pride and honour and responsibility that I rise today to address this Honourable House giving my maiden speech. I am very grateful to the Hamilton South constituency 7 constituents whose voices I am privileged to represent. Thank you to all those who have opened their doors to me, who have invited me into their homes and both challenged me and encouraged me. Constituency 7 is a very special constituency. It is rich with history and vibrant character. It is renowned for the beautiful John Smith's Bay with its picturesque pink sand, and of course, the best potato seashells on the I sland made by no other than the man himself , EB. I could not possibly talk about constituency 7 without at least a mention of Crystal Caves , Harrington Sound with its stunning views and Devil’s Hole. Some of us are old enough to remember turtle fishing with a rope and a little bait when it was a natural aquarium. And of course, with E astern Counties around the corner, I would be remiss if I do not mention Cleveland County . Mr. Speaker , constituency 7 is also home to a diverse community that exemplifies the best of what
Bermuda House of Assembly many of us hold dear —hard- working families, a sense of community and countless people with determination to progress together. Standing here, I am acutely aware of the challenges that Bermudians face. My constituency sent me here with a directive, and that is to do the work that brings about positive change for them and for Bermuda. T his means advocating for issues like affordable health care and education reform, infrastructure upgrades, paying down the debt and ensuring that taxpayers ’ dollars are spent wisely . Supporting adults and families, seniors and children. Holding the Government to account on matters such as why we continue to spend taxpaying dol-lars on a gaming commission when we have no gaming commission. P rogress on the establishment of the Office of the Public Guardian. Progress on addressing the issues of dog attacks, progress on the national health accounts reports so we can get insight of how health dollars are spent. It is listening to the voices of the people, those who are struggling to see the ends, let alone make them meet. It is considering the needs of those who are thinking about leaving our shores because they feel hopeless and no longer see a future here. It is about the others who are doing all they can to follow the rules but are still unable to land opportunities to improve their lives. These are the kinds of issues that will guide my contributions that I will make in this Chamber. Thank you, constituency 7. Mr. Speaker, in addition to the constituents, I cannot go further without saying thank you to my en-tire family, especially my husband of almost 37 years , Dorian. Over the years, he has never failed to support me in all of my endeavours. Without a doubt, he is my biggest cheerleader and chief encourager. I would also like to say thank you to the many volunteers who assisted in any way with the cam-paign, people who canvas sed with me, who stood with me on polling day and gave of their time—many tak-ing a day off so that they could assist. I am very appreciative. Mr. Speaker, prior to 2020, I had little interest in politics. I came from a family of blue- collar workers, taxi drivers, salespeople, waitresses, and hotel workers. From an early age, I lived in Hamilton, actually, where Masters [Home Centre] currently is on D undonald Street. I went to Dellwood and caught tadpoles in the creek bordering Bernards Park . At Dellwood, Dale Butler was one of my teachers, and the Honourable Randolph Horton was my Headmaster at the awesome Warwick Secondary School.
[Desk thumping]
Ms. Robin TuckerAs a teenager, I lived on the same Alexandra Road that has recently become a topic of discussion and where I have had some of the best times of my life and met lifelong friends . In one of my favourite poems, “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes , the …
As a teenager, I lived on the same Alexandra Road that has recently become a topic of discussion and where I have had some of the best times of my life and met lifelong friends . In one of my favourite poems, “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes , the opening line is : Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. The poem is about a mother who uses a staircase as a metaphor to share the difficulties of her life experiences. I can relate to the poem since my life has not been a crystal st air and neither has it been for the women who raised me. Mr. Speaker, my mother was 17 when she had me. Her mother, my grandmother , had six children and she worked hard. She struggled as a single parent and sacrificed so that life could be a little better for the family that she led. Both my mother and grandmother suffered injustices of the past, particularly racism and classism from strangers and what is worse from people who looked just like her. But she endured many of those experiences so that the generation she raised could take the baton she passed to us and run with it. We did not have to carry her burden because she expected us to do bet-ter. Mr. Speaker, my grandmother suffered not so that I or my family could sit in the residue of the injustices that she endured, but so that we could live out a line spoken in a speech given by Marcus Garvey in 1937 and made more well -known by the late great Robert Nesta Marley in “Redemption Song, ” which lyrics say to , Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds. The song emphasi ses the importance of freeing one's mind to achieve true freedom from things of the past. And it stands as a timeless anthem of resilience and hope. Mr. Speaker, it is that mental freedom that enables us to stand in this Honourable Chamber today—as a proud Black Bermudian female who stands on the shoulders of women who lived through injus-tice, who cleaned houses and waited tables, and who taught me that the only person that can hold me back is me. They taught me that if I allow myself to be mentally incarcerated and in the chains that sought to keep them bound, that I too would be caught in the web and neither me nor my children or future genera-tions would be free. It is in that mental freedom, Mr. Speaker, that I stand here today never forgetting where I come from but view my life through a lens where all people, re-gardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic background are created equal. And while some may have greater struggle than other, there is no person, place, or thing that prevents us from going forward. Mr. Speaker, each of us in this Chamber has a story. We are here today because someone entrusted us to make decisions on their behalf and do the work to help make their lives and the lives of those coming behind better. 228 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Speaker, notwithstanding systems that encourage certain unfavourable behaviours, each of us in this Chamber and in other places have within our grasp the ability to engage in politics differently. As we kick off this legislative session, we work to leave fu-ture generations a legacy that is not weighed down by the generational wounds of the past, but one that gives them the knowledge and the freedom to progress but is not encumbered, so that they cannot take the baton from us and run their own race to make Bermuda better for the generations to come. I am blessed to have had many of my first lessons in public service taught by strong, bold, confident women. It is on the strength of these giants and others that I stand here today. Mr. Speaker, in the summer of 2020, I put my hands up for public service with a pledge to be the type of leader who listens, takes action, and one who always remembers that the decision taken by and in this Chamber and in the other place must be thoughtful and in the best interest of Bermuda. Many Bermudian challenges are great. Many of Bermuda's challenges are great, but they are not insurmountable. T o overcome them, h owever, we must put the country first and do what we can to give Bermudians the tool s that will enable them to prosper in all aspects. Mr. Speaker, it is not lost on me that the ability to address this H ouse is a privilege and that being a Member of this House comes with profound responsibility. Looking forward as I contribute to the debates that will shape our laws , I will support matters that are beneficial to Bermuda and her people. I will challenge things that I believe require it. I will also be unapologetic in the defence of doing what is right for the peo-ple that I am blessed to represent and for the people of Bermuda being mindful of my contribution during the tone of our discourse. I firmly believe that everything rises and falls on leadership. And as leaders in this country, we are duty-bound to live the example. Organi sational psychologist, Adam Grant once said, the honour of leadership should be given to people who crave authority and should not . . . I beg your pardon. “The honor of leadership should not be given to people who crave authority or seek attention . . . Power [should be reserved] for individuals who are daunted by the weight of the role, but guided by a sense of responsibility to serve . Heavy should be the head that wears the crown. ” Mr. Speaker, I look forward to doing the people's business with integrity and pride in this country , respect for my colleagues and for the people of constituency 7 that I am honour ed to represent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
[Desk thumping]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member . Thank you, Members , for allowing her to present her Maiden Speech. MP Smith, would you like to do your Maiden Speech now as well?
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberMaiden speeches. Oh, two of them.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou have your 20 minutes. MAIDEN SPEECH
Ms. Linda SmithThank you, Mr. Speaker. Good evening, Mr. Speaker, M embers of the Honourable House of Assembly , my colleagues and the listen ing radio audience . I would like to be in begin by acknowledging what an absolute privilege it is to be a Member of the House of Assembly. …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good evening, Mr. Speaker, M embers of the Honourable House of Assembly , my colleagues and the listen ing radio audience . I would like to be in begin by acknowledging what an absolute privilege it is to be a Member of the House of Assembly. I am very grateful to the constituents in [constituency] 31 South ampton West Central, who voted for me and those who gave of their time to speak with me on the ir doorstep and share their thoughts, their concerns, and their aspirations for the Bermuda they want to see. I also want to thank my team, team constituency 31, a group of people who helped me campaign and do so many other things, including canvassing with me on even some of the hottest days of last summer, way before the election was called, and who continued to walk the roads with me when the days got shorter, colder, wetter, and windier. Thank you very much. We have all heard the saying you get the government you deserve. Well, that is a bit of a self - fulfilling prophecy that can go either way . And it is heavily influenced by community engagement and citizens ’ expectations with respect to the level of behaviour and services they are willing to accept from those whom they pay to protect the public purse and lead their community. Taxpayers have the right to expect excellent government services, world- class education, appropriate health care and social services and fairness. We all know that you rarely get what you ask for or demand. So in order to get better, we all need to set our standards higher because that is what the taxpayers deserve and Bermuda so desperately needs . As taxpaying citizens , we should expect that those representing us lead by good example. We
Bermuda House of Assembly should feel comfortable that the government of the day has the will and the acumen to prudently manage the economy, adhering to built -in checks and balances, and providing timely reports that demonstrate pub-lic accountability and stewardship of taxpayers’ dol-lars. Enduring success is a long game that goes well beyond a few election cycles, and it affects the lives and well -being of generations of Bermudians. Government seems to have a lot of strategies, but few strategic plans developing those will require good in-formation, open communications, a willingness to listen, understanding, empathy, compromise, and courage. To solve our challenges , we need plans with targets, timelines, performance metrics and public reporting requirements. Without these, strategies are wishful thinking . There will always be daily cris es and fires that need to be extinguished, but the building blocks for success rest with the policies and the programs adopted today that will bear fruit well into the future. A future that will no doubt bring with it its own unique and evolving challenges. Information is power. It informs knowledgeable decisions. This was a clear point driven home by the Chamber of Commerce in its recently released 2025 Economic Report. The C hamber highlighted increasing lag times between the completion of eco-nomic data reports and the release of those reports into the public domain. It specifically mentioned the late release of the consumer price index, retail sales data, annual and quarterly gross domestic product reports and other economic indicators. The C hamber called for a fixed schedule for the release of economic reports and that the release of reports should be managed by the de-partments that produce them rather than the Government Ministers associated with those departments. They also suggest that that would remove the ap-pearance of any political interference and put Bermuda in line with best practice. The last census in Bermuda was in 2016. At that point, the population was over 63,000. Today, it is estimated in the region of about 55,000. As is well known, many of our challenges are a direct result of the effect of our reduced numbers and age ing population. It affects our economy, the upkeep of our physical environment and our overall social well - being. Less people in Bermuda means that we are all paying more for the same minimum basket of goods and services needed to keep our community ticking over. But not only that, there are fewer people now to donate to our charities and volunteer their time to youth and sports program mes, the creative arts and all the extras that have strengthened and enriched our community in the past. Immigration is a touchy subject, but it is a critical one. We need to develop sound policies that will stable and strengthen our population and economy in the near term. Simultaneously , we also need to agree on programmes and policies that will continue to grow our population at desirable and sustainable levels well into the future. Running as a candidate in the general election was an eye- opening experience that left me feeling like so many others : that we can do just so much better. It also drove home the importance of data and accurate information. Voter turnout was about 55 per cent with 24,779 Bermudians casting their vote out of a pool of 45,064 registered voters. While we can all surmise that there is always a level of apathy and discontent, what is hard to rec-oncile is to what extent did voters decide not to partic-ipate, and out of the total who did not turn out, how many of them are no longer living here? I can speak from my own personal experience. The high level of inaccuracy of the electoral register was astounding and embarrassing. Many people who are registered to vote are clearly no longer here. As a matter of fact, some moved away decades ago. I did shock a few homeowners when I asked them about other registered voters at their location, only to hear that the present owner purchased the property from that registered voter 25 years ago. Clearly, it is more than high time to update the Parliamentary Register. Certainly, in the interest of clean and fair elections, it should be done before the next election. I know that 2025 was a unique election with more candidates than ever before. In Southampton, West Central, there were four of us. I can only imagine the challenges and the complications of accommodating over a hundred candidates on election day. With that said, all candidates should have been treated the same. Isn't that what a fair er Bermuda is all about? While in the past with only two candidates, each pitched their tent on either side of the entranceway leading up to the polling station door, but with four candidates, there was not enough room. So, a few days before the election, we received a notice and the site plan from the Parliamentary Regist ry's Office advising that tents would have to be located near the exit of the polling station at the bottom of the hill. This obviously was not ideal for anyone, but what we did not know at the time is that it would not affect everyone. On the morning of the election, draped in branding and signage that read A Fairer Bermuda for Us was the PLP tent. Clearly there was nothing fair about that, but it did demonstrate that the PLP ’s election campaign was a great example of an oxymoron. Repeated objections and complaints from the team and one of the other candidates to the parliamentary election officials on site had little to no effect. 230 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly But after several hours, we were told that the issue had been bumped up to the head office. By about 2:30 in the afternoon after six -and-a-half hours of greeting voters at the entrance in the hot sun with no available shade, the Independent candidate and I were advised that if we were prepared to share a tent and we could relocate it to the top of the garden, that we would be able to do that. We did that, which made the remainder of the day bearable, but certainly not fairer. If fair is fair, then why did not all of the candidates be treated the same way? You cannot help but wonder A Fairer Bermuda for Us —who is us ? When I was in my twenties, I spent many long hours reporting from the H ouse of Assembly up on the Hill. Looking back, it probably planted the seed for me being here today . I feel like I probably got here the long way around as it comes after many years of a varied career that kept me on the periphery of government -related activities, business, community, and the charitable sector. So given my journey, I am very pleased to have been appointed the Shadow Minister for Youth, Social Development and Seniors. Social development in any community involves improving and protecting the well -being of individuals at all stages of life so that each of us has the opportunity to reach our full potential and be our best at whatever age —a process that starts at early childhood and lasts a lifetime. Young people often mimic what they see, copying behaviours of those they find interesting and/or respect, and that can be a good thing or a bad thing. And as adults, we rarely recogni se who it is that they are keeping their eye on. I believe that facts, truth and the power of the individual are important. I bring up the story about the polling station because while words matter, actions often speak louder than words. If an organi sation's motto is fairness, then their leaders should lead by example. If not, there is a question of credibility. Too often we overlook what seems to be the small things, because like in this instance, no real harm was done. But when we turned a blind eye to things that are blatantly unfair and wrong, we become part of the problem. We lower the expectation, we lower our standards, and in turn, this breeds a continuation of slipping standards. We need to protect the future of our youth, particularly the environment which is threatened by longer and stronger hurricane seasons, rising sea lev-els and droughts. We are in the firing line of the worst impacts of climate crisis and we need to prepare so that we can adapt to changes in our environment and plan a resilience strategy. Our responsibility is to not only set the good example, but ensure that every young child, adolescent and young adult has access to solid education that incorporates core academics, life skill, career - based training, social safety nets . Community -based sports and cultural activities are central to this and that was a message that I did hear on the doorstep. So many of our challenges are a direct result of the effect of less people in Bermuda and our ageing population. As a former director and chairman of Age Concern, I know it has been long forecast by A ge Concern and others that Bermuda's senior population would hit 25 per cent by 2025, and we are here now. Not only that, but it was also well known that we needed to and still need to provide adequate services for our seniors who just by the nature of ageing , are putting a strain on our social infrastructure, including the hospital, long- term care facilities and Financial Assistance. Just last week, 34 patients, many in the halls of the emergency room were waiting for beds on acute care wards that were occupied by people who were medically fit to leave the hospital but had not been discharged. It can often be the case that circumstances change quickly when seniors who have been living independently suffer illness or accident that render them temporarily or permanently disabled. A number of those due for discharge would have been seniors whose families did not collect them because they could not physically, emotionally and/ or financially cope with providing the caregiving services that their relatives now need. In the most recent Throne Speech, it was mentioned the need to transition patients out of hospi-tal into other facilities . This should have been anticipated much earlier. The T hrone Speech does go on to say that there are currently four care homes that are in various phases of development. And we do look forward to hearing more about that . Given Government's commitment to expanding the interest free loan scheme for home modifica-tions for seniors and disabled, w e also look forward to seeing the information campaign that may be in the works to advise those who may anticipate an upcoming change in circumstance, so they know what services are available to them ahead of time. On a personal note, I sometimes get asked what Smith I am related to . And for those who might be wondering, I am actually not related to any Smith ’s. My Bermudian family is of Portuguese descent from Spanish Point, the Soar es family. My great -grandfather was Manuel Soares De Figueiredo , who founded Soar es Grocery. Unfortunately, I do not speak Portuguese because the younger generation was discouraged from speaking anything but English. My last name “ Smith” was passed on from my grandfather who was in the Royal Navy. He was stationed at Admiralty House and after he was dis-charged, he married my grandmother, Jessie. Jessie Smith had a great influence on my life and the life of my sisters. She encouraged me to believe in myself and to work hard to be whatever I
Bermuda House of Assembly wanted to be. I am forever grateful to her. My husband and I named our daughter Jessie, in honour of her. Young Jessie and her father continue as a great inspiration and support to me. In closing, my journalistic background inspired my interest in the relationship between politics, community and civil discourse. I was a journalist before the Internet, before the proliferation of the citizen journalists and social media. And it was not that long ago. There were written and unwritten rules guiding how people communicated. The truth was important, and facts were facts. There were no such thing as alternative facts —and there are not now. And it was okay to agree to disagree. As a matter of fact, people could vehemently disagree with one another but still be civil and even be friends because they respected each other's right to have an opposing opinion. It made the world stronger. And somehow if you value facts and civility, most things can seem well, pretty straightforward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Desk thumping]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Member. And again, thank you to your colleagues for allowing you to have a n undisturbed maiden speech. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER HOUSE VISITORS
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI believe there are other speakers, but before I call on the next speaker, I would just like to acknowledge that in the Gallery we have visitors from the St. Philip AME Church's YPD group. I believe that is the Y oung People's [Division] . [Desk thumping]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWe welcome you to the C hamber and I trust that you will enjoy your time here with the debates that are left this evening. We are on the . . . you have missed the main business of the day. This here is the motion to adjourn where Members …
We welcome you to the C hamber and I trust that you will enjoy your time here with the debates that are left this evening. We are on the . . . you have missed the main business of the day. This here is the motion to adjourn where Members can get up and speak on any matter that they may choose to. What you just witnessed was that the two M embers who just spoke, those were their first speeches here. So, they had a maiden speech, which means those speeches go uninterrupted. I do not think we will have any more of those this evening. So, you may hear some heck ling when the remaining Members who choose to speak, get up and speak
[Motion to adjourn, continuing]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerBut who . . . which Member would like to speak? MP Lister , you have your 20 minutes.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGood evening. BIRTHDAY GREETINGS
Mr. Dennis Lister IIIGood evening to my honourable colleagues and to our listening audience. Mr. Speaker, before I get into my substantive comments tonight, I did overlook in my comments on congrats and obits this morning. I did overlook someone, Mr. Speaker, and I would be remiss—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou better fix that, I think.
Mr. Dennis Lister IIII would be remiss if I did not make that up. Mr. Speaker , I would like to send birthday congratulations to your mother, my grandmother, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAh! Okay. [Inaudible interjections and laughter ]
Mr. Dennis Lister IIIBut, Mr. Speaker, she finds herself in a very unique situation. Back in those days, Mr. Speaker, you were born at home, but there was a time gap between [when] you actually got registered. So, my grandmother actually has two birthdays. She was born yesterday on 27 March, but she …
But, Mr. Speaker, she finds herself in a very unique situation. Back in those days, Mr. Speaker, you were born at home, but there was a time gap between [when] you actually got registered. So, my grandmother actually has two birthdays. She was born yesterday on 27 March, but she was not registered until 29 March, tomorrow. So, I want to send birthday congratulations on both days to my grandmother, Ms. —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOne in advance of the other, right.
Mr. Dennis Lister IIIOne in advance and . . . late for yesterday and early for tomorrow.
Mr. Dennis Lister IIISo happy birthday to my grandmother, Ms. Mari on Lister. THANKFUL TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF CONSTITUENCY 28 AND FOR A NEW LEASE ON LIFE
Mr. Dennis Lister IIIMr. Speaker , I say that, but just over three months ago, I might not have been here to even wish this birthday congratulations to my grandmother. On the night of 12 December 2024 at 11: 30 that night . . . and I am a Christian man. I believe …
Mr. Speaker , I say that, but just over three months ago, I might not have been here to even wish this birthday congratulations to my grandmother. On the night of 12 December 2024 at 11: 30 that night . . . and I am a Christian man. I believe in 232 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly God. And I was asleep, and I felt just a nudge on my shoulder , Mr. Speaker . And normally , at times you get a nudge you might consciously wake up but not physically wake up. But this particular night I felt a nudge on my shoulder , and I woke up. And in my bedroom, well, in the bedroom where my wife and I were sleeping, I could hear on the other side of the house, glass cracking. I said, Hmm . I got up. A nd in my mind I thought, Do not tell me someone's trying to break into my house. As I got to the bedroom door, which was closed, Mr. Speaker and I opened it . . . I could see nothing . All black, the whole hallway smoke. To our surprise, our house was on fire. So, I quickly closed the door, w oke my wife up and told her, Babe, the house is on fire, and we have to climb out the window . So, we did that. She was closer to the window. So, she threw up the window, kicked open the blinds, and yes , she went f irst. Ladies befor e gentlemen. In that , Mr. Speaker , you would know because while I told my wife, call the 911, the fire services, I called you , Mr. Speaker . Because the house that we live in is the homestead that my grandfather, my grandmother, and you as a young boy helped build. So, I called you to let you know the house was on fire. My wife and I got out. F ortunately , the fire was at the other end. So, as we climbed out, you know, I forgot, Oh, my wallet. So, a couple things. We climbed back in, got some important things — [Inaudible interjections]
Mr. Dennis Lister IIINo, I canno t forg et my wallet and things like that ! [Laughter]
Mr. Dennis Lister IIISo, Mr. Speaker, we got out and we waited for the F ire [and Rescue] S ervice to come. Mr. Speaker, we were asleep. So, we had on limited clothes —house co at and that was about it. So, Mr. Speaker, you know, we look back and I can look …
So, Mr. Speaker, we got out and we waited for the F ire [and Rescue] S ervice to come. Mr. Speaker, we were asleep. So, we had on limited clothes —house co at and that was about it. So, Mr. Speaker, you know, we look back and I can look back . It is a story now . You know, we can joke and laugh about it, but we . . . as the firemen said , if we would have been asleep for two minutes longer, my wife and I would not have been here today . We would have died from smoke inhalation. So, Mr. Speaker, you know, it is . . . I can talk differently about it now, but at that time it was very traumatic. And it makes you put life into perspective , that in the blink of an eye, life can be gone and everything will be changed. So, Mr. Speaker, life did change for us. We lost 90 per cent of our possessions, clothes, you know, furniture, appliances. You know, my wife, she was, she is an entrepreneur, so she had her office at home. A lot of her stuff was gone. In our spare bedroom, I had my desk when I work from home. Y ou know, not much damage to stuff, but still papers, parliament papers and other things, that got so ot damaged, Mr. Speaker. But we look back and the one thing that matters most is that my wife and I, our lives were saved. Whatever we los t, whatever possessions, they can be replaced. T hey can be bought again. But our life, we cannot replace life. And, Mr. Speaker, it has been life changing. You know, even at present, we are still not living in the house. The house will not be, you know, we have to — first we had to clean it. Now we have to get some structural work done. So , it will be months before we are back in the house. So, we are for lack of a better word, we are displaced. We are not living at home. We ha d to change our life and alter things, Mr. Speaker. But each day we got up, did what we had to do. T hose first few weeks, it was reliving a trauma over again. We had to go to the house; we had to do initial assessments and see what we could salvage and things like that. And that was a time period, Mr. Speaker, those initial weeks . But each day, as I said, we got up, we trudged forward, did what we had to do. And, Mr. Speaker, I can look back and say it is still a process, still a journey that we are going through. But we are going through it one step at a time. Then, Mr. Speaker, our Premier decided to call an election which on top of everything with the fir e . . . now, I had to sort of change focus to . . . whatever happened in my personal life, Mr. Speaker , I could not let that hold me back from getting out and canvassing and meeting with my constituents . And I can say that maybe 90 per cent of the constituents that I canvassed and saw, and even up until election day, most did not know what had happened to me. All they knew wa s that I showed up at their door, I knocked, w e spoke, they passed on their concerns. And then we had a chat, our goodbyes, and I was gone. But they did not know that for a time period my wife and I rotated t hrough three or four different sets of clothes because that is what we had at that time. But I got out and I said, I have to get out to canvass, meet and do my duty as an MP in my constituency . So, Mr. Speaker, I persevered. My wife too. She still had her life to go on. And so, we did not let anything stop us . And I want to give on behalf of my wife and I to everyone who reached out to us , that did hear about the fire, those that offered what can we do to help? And at times, Mr . Speaker, I can say that it was overwhelming because two weeks, three weeks after the fire, you are meeting people or someone hears about it, and then they are messaging you. And you sort of get to a point where, okay, I am cool and then someone [says], I heard what happened. I am sorry .
Bermuda House of Assembly And it is overwhelming. That is all I can say. They mean it in a good intent, but it was overwhelming. But I want to thank everyone for their words of encouragement, their assistance. When we did have our cleanup, we had to empty out our entire house so that we could have the cleaning company come in and clean the house. You know, we put out a call and we got about 10, 15 friends, family, people come out and help pack and store our stuff that was able to be salvaged. So again, I want to thank those people and to people that donated. We asked for containers to store stuff here . People that donated, and even those that financially, monetarily donated. Again, thank you to them because even the smallest thing made a big difference for us , Mr. Speaker. I say all that again to say to the constituents of Warwick West , firstly, I want to thank you because even without knowing what was going on in my personal life, and I still showed up, you guys showed up for me on election day . For those who voted for me, for those who voted for my opposition, and for those that even stayed at home and did not vote. Now we start forward. This is a new day and let us work together . Put aside our differences. Put aside who you voted for . Or if you did not vote, let us come together for constituency 28. Mr. Speaker , as I said, life can be gone in the blink of an eye. And it has made me . . . I can say I have a second chance at life, Mr. Speaker . A second chance, on e, to be a better person. And I thank God, as I said, for waking me up and, and nudging me to say, Get up. It is a fire. And I thank him for that. But also, to the constituents of constituency 28. Mr. Speaker, I did . . . in my canvassing and on election day, there was criticism given to me. There were people that said, Y ou know, I have n't seen you in a while, or I do not like what the Government's . . . you know , different things. But Mr. Speaker, I say to those people again, let us start fresh. Let us start over. I listen to what you say and let us come together. Let us reenergi se, reengage. And it is a relationship you have with your constituents, Mr. Speaker. So, it is a relationship that I want to rebuild, reconnect, and let us move work to move constituency 28 forward and make constituency 28 the best that it can be. My team and I in my constituency, we are working on things that we will soon be presenting to the constituency because we want constituency 28 to be a shining light for all of Bermuda. I see what MP Famous does in Devonshire—Parish Pride. Well, Mr. Speaker, we are going to, we are going to give him a run for his money in constituency 28. You know, with a new lease on life we want to, as I said, be the best constituency —a shining light. And so, I am coming for your P arish Pride, MP Famous. [Inaudible interjections and laughter ]
Mr. Dennis Lister IIII will take the Cup Match Cup. It is coming anyway . [Laughter]
Mr. Dennis Lister IIIBut, Mr. Speaker, I am not going to be long, but those are my comments tonight . That again, I thank firstly God, and I thank the constituents of constituency 28 for giving me another chance to represent them, represent them to do better, and to rebuild our relationship so …
But, Mr. Speaker, I am not going to be long, but those are my comments tonight . That again, I thank firstly God, and I thank the constituents of constituency 28 for giving me another chance to represent them, represent them to do better, and to rebuild our relationship so that we can be . . . constituency 28 can be the shining light that all the other constituencies will want to emulate and imitate and copy. But no, we, we will be that shining light. So, Mr. Speaker, again, to my grandmother, happy birthday for both days . And , yes, I will be at church on Sunday to celebrate your birthday and see you go 88 years old. An d I only wish that I can live to be that age, Mr. Speaker. And in those 88 years, I know my grandmother has seen a lot, done a lot. She has raised you, helped raise me and I can only thank her for those contributions to my life that helped make me the man who I am today. So, with that thank you, Mr. Speaker , for allowing me this time and to everyone listening, here and on the radio, I wish you all a safe weekend. And always , as the Road Safety Chairman, as I always say, if you plan to go out to consume any alcohol over the weekend, plan —plan how you get ho me safely. And always remember that what each one of us does on the road impacts others. And so, make wise decisions . Hold yourself accountable. And if we are all holding ourselves accountable and responsible, we can help to make our roads safer for those on our roads. And not just the vehicles. You have pedestrians, you know, you have cyclists, runners. We all have to be looking out for each other. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP . Does any other Member —Minister R abain. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou have your 20 minutes. GET INVOLVED WITH OUR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to join you in welcoming the St. Philip AME YPD [Young People’s Division] group that has joined us tonight. Thank you for appearing today.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMm-hmm. 234 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker , it is interesting—my comments today again coming on from the debate that we had last week and sticking with an education theme. Last night, Mr. Speaker , as a parent …
Mm-hmm. 234 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker , it is interesting—my comments today again coming on from the debate that we had last week and sticking with an education theme. Last night, Mr. Speaker , as a parent I attended a teacher , parent and student exam prep at CedarBridge , as I have a daughter in S 2. And S2s are now preparing to sit their exams which will start that runway to graduation. I am fortunate that I do have a student at CedarBridge that is i n the right direction with those particular exams. But what stood out for me last night, Mr. Speaker, and this is what I say when I say the com-ments that we make in these C hambers count, was one . . . I was approached by both a parent and a teacher, ironically, that had taken exception to comments made in the other place on Wednesday when it came to talking about education. And one of the questions that they did ask me was, Who tells the OBA what is going on with education? Because they were a bit upset about some of the things that were said. Of course, I did my usual and responded and said, We invite them. We have told them, Let us go. Come on . Come on and talk to us. We will explain everything, so you are not speaking incorrectly . Mr. Speaker , I reiterate that because . . . and then ironically, the Member from [constituency] 31 got up and spoke about the core resources in education , core things that need to be taught in education, which mirrored w hat it is that these parents and these teachers were actually talking about. And when I went back and looked to see what exactly it was, and I want to quote, Mr. Speaker , from the Member that sat in another place, and that Member said, and she said while signature schools hold “potential, it is essential [to] ensure all students receive a solid foundation in core subjects before specialisation . . .”. Support for signature schools should not overshadow the prioritisation of fundamental skills like reading, writing, and arithmetic. And I am going to explain why they took exception to those, Mr. Speaker, because it is publicly available—t he Bermuda Signature High School Diploma standards, Mr. Speaker, and these standards simply state that you require 24 credits to graduate from the Bermuda Public School System in the new signature program. And out of those 24 credits, 15 are core subjects , Mr. Speaker . And core subjects are four credits in English, four credits in math, two credits in Bermuda studies, two credits in science and one credit in modern language. And there is a requirement for you to pass a minimum of three internationally ac-credited exams prior to graduation. Mr. Speaker, you must pass a math exam. You must pass an English exam, and you must pass a science exam, Mr. Speaker. Those exams are either administered by Cambridge through the IGCSE, or you can take City & Guilds track if you want. And some of those are also managed through A QA exams, Mr. Speaker. So, they are not marked by Bermudians . They are not administered by Bermudians . These are international exams that every student in the world takes the exact same exam. So, Mr. Speaker, again, I reiterate: stop politicising education. Pick up the phone, answer us, and come and ask any question you want from this G overnment and you will get the answers. I do not object to someone having a difference of opinion. I object to persons inventing what they consider facts without actually coming and talking about it. You are doing a disservice for our children. You are doing a disservice for our country. Now, Mr. Speaker, last week when we were having this debate the Opposition Deputy Leader stated, and I want to . . . I quote from the Hansard, Mr. Speaker, and he said, “I have listened to this several times.” And he was responding to the Premier's response of saying, We have invited you; you just do not come. And he said, “ I have listened to this several times. A WhatsApp exchange is not an invitation . . . This Minister has said it multiple times, and now I am having to hear it again. This cannot continue. The Minister needs to provide the details of the invitations that we denied.” Mr. Speaker, those were the words of the Member that sits o pposite from me. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table for this House and the Hans ard records, a copy of the last email sent to that Member in which he did reply, and I quote, Mr. Speaker, “Good day ”—and this is the message from Lisa [DeSilva] , Head of the Education Reform Unit. “Good day. Thank you much” —It says, “Good day, MP Smith. Apologies for the delay of making contact with you as requested by the Minister of Education. We appreciate your patience. We would welcome the opportunity to brief you and your colleagues on the expansive reform agenda underway in Bermuda’s Public Schools. We recommend an initial 90- minute session at a location convenient to you and propose that we provide an overview of the case for change and vision for learning, the 17 work streams of education reform, how reform has progressed, and the approach taken, and the engagement of the Bermudians doing the work and take questions from your team. We would of course be happy to alter the agenda to suit your needs to receive questions in advance of the session to ensure we address them. We are available at 8:45 on Monday, May 13, 10:00 Wednesday, May 15, 11:00 on Thursday, May 16. Should none of these times work for you, please do suggest alternatives and we will best accommodate.” The reply from MP Smith is, “Good day. Thank you much for the invitation to be briefed on Education Reform. I am waiting for responses from my team on potential dates, and it may be best to do the meeting online if that is possible. Regards, Ben Smith, JP MP, Opposition Leader.”
Bermuda House of Assembly That email was replied to on May 2. The irony of this , Mr. Speaker, is the MP had an op-ed in the newspaper or a response in the newspaper about education, complaining about what is going wrong with education. But he could not reply and say, Yes, here are the days that we can sit down. So, to that M ember, this is what he has asked for. I would appreciate it if he would reply to this email , to our team , so he can be skilled up, knowledged up, and he can tell the rest of his team what it is that is going on in Education Reform. So, the next time we come here and talk, we can talk about facts and not what he heard or what someone told him, or what he thinks is going on, Mr. Speaker . Now, Mr. Speaker, back to my original conversation, and that is we need to support our children. There are some of us out there, I do not know why , that seem to think parental support is not important. Last night, Mr. Speaker, as I said, we had the initial conversations with parents , well the school had the initial conversation with parents about what is going to be necessary for them to pass these exams. And giving the listening audience and members within what happens with these exams. As I stated, students are required to pass these exams, these international exams. If they can do them in Year 2 , that leads to better outcomes as they move on. And why does that lead to better outcomes? Because contrary to what was said in the other place, the bulk of your signature courses must be taken in S3 and S 4. So, we concentrate on the core subjects in S 1 and S2 and you are supposed to have finish ed those, moved on, and then you move on to your signature courses. So again, once they come and sit down, they will be able to ask that question, and they would know that. But Mr. Speaker, last night, I was completely disappointed to be one of 24 parents in a room when there are 106 children in S 2 at CedarBridge . That is a poor showing for our parents. That is an absolute dismal performance. These are the exams our children need to graduate from our system. They need to be support-ed, Mr. Speaker . There is all data— all data supports that for a child to be successful in school, the two main factors are who is in the front of the classroom and who is giving them reinforcement at home, Mr . Speaker. And we need, as a country, we need to figure this out. Do we want . . . do we want our children to be the strong proponents of education as we want them to be? Do we want them to take their rightful place in our society as we want them to be? If we do, we as a collective need to support them, Mr. Speaker . I had a long conversation with one of the teachers and, and they did say, We do not see this in our private schools, unfortunately . Perhaps it is because I am actually paying for it out of my pocket. I actually see the money going, so I want to see what is happening with my money. You are still paying for public education. Come and support your children. Mr. Speaker , I was taught a long time ago that children attend school to learn, but children learn how to love learning at home. And I implore our parents, I implore our public to stand up and fight for our children. Show up to these meetings, take an hour out of your week to show up to these types of meetings, support our children so they can be —show that they are supported. Persons used to ask me when I sat in another ministry, What is your plan for children? What is it that you think children want? Mr. S peaker, children only want you as a parent to be there. They want you to be there when they want to talk to you. That transcends all the PlayStations , all the shoes , all the clothes , all the trips, all of that , Mr. Speaker . You have to be there when your children put their hand up and say, I just want to talk to you. I want you to help me with something. Mr. Speaker, far too often our parents are busy doing other things. Now we can argue of the socioeconomic issues that do plague Bermuda at this moment and things . . . or persons working two and three jobs. But I also implore we find time for the things that are important to us. Our children have to be one of those high priorities no matter what. And if you cannot do it, get your children involved in activities like YPD , as we see these young people at the back of the room, where they can get some of that. I know it is difficult out there as parents, Mr. Speaker . I know how difficult it is. I spent the last, the previous seven and a half years talking to parents up and down this country. I absolutely know how difficult it is, but my cry is that we do need to do better. And I implore all M embers within these C hambers when you are talking to parents, encourage the and find ways to assist them. We had a long conversation about the sacrifices that we give . Our children are our future, Mr. Speaker. And we as a community need to back them, Mr. Speaker, as we, as we want them to grow, and we want them to be positive members of our society. Mr. Speaker, this will be the last time we sit until May, and there are a couple of holidays coming up. It feels a little bit different coming back in May, doing budget time, as we talked about earlier . The budget is normally done in this particular month. But , Mr. Speaker, at this time, I just want to make sure that from constituency 13 to all of my constituents as wel l as all of Bermuda that I wish them a safe and prosperous Easter and Good Friday, Mr. Speaker. I know this is a time and there are activities going all over the place. I know up in Somerset, we have the thing at the Royal Naval Field. I know in my constituency we always have something at Devil's Hole. We always have something at, Loyal Hill field. We have the annual Good Friday run, first thing in the morning and then something at the park afterwards. 236 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report B ermuda House of Assembly Of course, I will be splitting my time between there and Devil's H ole for the things that we are going to be doing down there, Mr. Speaker. And occasionally I do try to make it down to St. David's for their functions as well, Mr. Speaker. But I, and I heard the D eputy Speaker saying, we absolutely cannot wait till you come down to St. David’s . So, thank you for that invitation, Deputy Speaker. [Inaudible i nterjections] Hon. Diallo V . S. Rabain: So , I can see the go- cart races and all of t hat, Mr . Speaker. But I just want to thank you for this opportunity. I want to wish all members a safe Easter, a safe Good Friday, and I look forward to seeing you all back here in May. And Bermuda, please take heed. L ook out for our children. They need us. Thank you, Mr . Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerT hank y ou, M inister. Does any ot her M ember —Deputy O pposition Leader?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou have your 20 minutes o n the clock. SCARS T RAINING CO URSE
Mr. B en S mithThank y ou, Mr . Speaker. Mr. Speaker , the subject that I would like to talk about is a subject that is very uncomfortable for most people to discuss . And it is sexual abuse of children. Mr. Speaker, I bring this up because on Monday I did my …
Mr. Ben SmithAnd I know that within education it is been mandated that people are involved with being around children, that they take the SCARS course. Within multiple sports I know that National Sports Governing Bodies have mandated that. I think it is important that we understand what it is that SCARS …
And I know that within education it is been mandated that people are involved with being around children, that they take the SCARS course. Within multiple sports I know that National Sports Governing Bodies have mandated that. I think it is important that we understand what it is that SCARS does. So first I woul d like to thank Debi Ray -Rivers for the work t hat s he has continued to do. In th at cours e tha t you have to take, it is about thr ee hours. They now do it on line. B ut they go through step- bystep and there i s sharing of a really difficult s ubject matter t o hear . But it is important t hat y ou hear i t so that you understand that we have to protect our children.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMm-h mm. Mr. Ben Smith: S CARS Bermuda, which is S aving Children and Revealing Secrets —and that is such an important message because so many times these abuses have gone without being . . . authorities being notified and without giving the ability for that protection to happen. Mr. …
Mm-h mm. Mr. Ben Smith: S CARS Bermuda, which is S aving Children and Revealing Secrets —and that is such an important message because so many times these abuses have gone without being . . . authorities being notified and without giving the ability for that protection to happen. Mr. Speaker, the statistics show that there are lots of people within our community that have been impacted by sexual abuse. The numbers are actually quite staggering. Because of that, we need to do eve-rything that we can as a community to protect while also encouraging people who have been impacted to speak up so that the people who have done these things can be brought to justice. As you are going through the three- hour course, you will understand that Debi Ray -Rivers — she actually reveals some of her personal experience in this. And, hearing that connection from the first time that I took the course to this time and knowing how many people have been touched by this particular charity that is doing its best. But Mr. Speaker, we have reached a point where it is about 25 per cent of the adults in the I sland that have gone through the course, and many have been re- certified but I think it is time that Bermuda takes a step to mandate it for all adults . Because we mandate for licensing for vehicles , but to me, the importance of protecting our children, protecting their innocence, we as legislators can take this opportunity to make sure that we are telling the world that our children are that important . And that we will do everything we can to protect them, to teach them that they should be protecting themselves. But as adults, it is our responsibility to make sure that the people who are in charge of them, to make sure that the people who we leave our children in t heir care are doing everything they possibly can to protect our children's innocence. To Mr. Speaker, I implore us as legislators to t hink about moving towards making it a mandate that we protect our children. E ducate all of the adults of what potentially can happen to our young people so that they have the tools and that the adults will do everything they can to protect. So, I, I thank SCARS for what they have been doing up until this point and what they continue to do. And I just wanted to highlight that . I think it is an important issue that at a time that we are talking about what is happening with our young people, this is another opportunity for us to say that they are a priority and we will protect them. Mr. Speaker , I would also like to take the opportunity, as the Minister has just said that this being our last session until May, to wish everybody a H appy Easter. I know that this is a time for families to get together and in this time, I am hoping that everybody is wished health and happiness in this time, and that you get an opportunity to rest and be around your family.
Bermuda House of Assembly And we are looking forward to coming back in May and continuing to do the people's work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Deputy Opposition Leader . MP Famous , would you like your 20 minutes at this time?
Mr. Christopher FamousMr. Speaker , I did not use my 20 minutes last time, so can you roll it over for me?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerI do not think we can do that one. [Laughter]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou better take the most, make the most of this 20 minutes. LEGITIMACY OF AN ELECTION
Mr. Christopher Famous—parliamentary colleagues on both sides, listening audience and a special good evening to the YPD. I am proud , AME strong. [Desk thumping]
Mr. Christopher FamousThank you. Mr. Speaker , let me start off responding to a learned, w ell, a honourable colleague from consistency 31 boa tarde e obrigado. T hat is Portuguese for “Goodnight and thank you.” Welcome to the H ouse. Mr. Speaker , that Honourable Member .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerIs that some of your heritage you were speaking? [Laughter]
Mr. Christopher FamousThat is how I found out I am related to the Honourable Member from constituency . . . what i s that one? [Inaudible interjection]
Mr. Christopher Famous[Constituency] 12? Y es, that is it. Cousin . [Inaudible interjections and laughter ]
Mr. Christopher Famous[Constituency] 12. Yes. Cannonier’s are from the same villages as the Famous ’s. Mr. Speaker —
Mr. Christopher FamousI was . . . I knocked off this morning, so I was too tired to make the morning session. So, my apologies. So , I missed saying the condolences. I want to give condo lences to [our] (some of us) friend, Mr. Cyrus Ratteray of Warwick . So, I …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerHe was done, but you can associate.
Mr. Christopher FamousYes. I went to see his wife and his daughter earlier and I told her that — [Inaudible interjections]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou can speak to the C hair, you know.
Mr. Christopher FamousMr. Speaker , all I would say is Bermuda lost a great man. He was an ambassador in the minibu ses. He was everybody's friend. There was nobody he would have anything bad to say about —maybe PHC football rivalry, but . . . 238 28 March 2025 Official Hansard …
Mr. Speaker , all I would say is Bermuda lost a great man. He was an ambassador in the minibu ses. He was everybody's friend. There was nobody he would have anything bad to say about —maybe PHC football rivalry, but . . . 238 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Speaker, in accordance with the timing, I would like to invite everybody to come to Hermitage Road, Devonshire, constituency 11 next Saturday where we have our community , our second annual Easter Eggstravaganza. We will have plenty of free food, plenty of face painting, cotton candy and fun castle. So, MP Lister, try as he will, but we will still keep that C up.
Mr. Christopher Famous—part. Someone asked me earlier, Hey, what do MPs in other countries make? And I said, Hmm. Then I r emember I did a graph. Cayman Islands, $150,000. Virgin Islands, $100,000. Turks and Caicos, $ 75,000. I am just leaving it at that , Mr. Speaker because there is another …
—part. Someone asked me earlier, Hey, what do MPs in other countries make? And I said, Hmm. Then I r emember I did a graph. Cayman Islands, $150,000. Virgin Islands, $100,000. Turks and Caicos, $ 75,000. I am just leaving it at that , Mr. Speaker because there is another issue that I would like to address that the Honourable Member from constituency 25 has been continuously bringing up on his two days of sitting in Parliament. Something about, O h, the y only got 49.9 per cent, so they do not have a mandate. Mr. Speaker, you ever heard of a gentleman named John F. Kennedy? JFK ?
Mr. Christopher FamousYou know what he got? How much percentage of the vote that he got ? [He got] 49.7 per cent of the popular vote. [Inaudible interjections]
Mr. Christopher FamousNo one ever said he did not have a mandate to be president. Anybody ever heard of America's first B lack president? What was his name?
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberBill Clinton.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerClinton. [Laughter] [Inaudible interjections]
Mr. Christopher FamousBill Clinton was first elected in 1992, for my YPDers , t hat was way before your time. And Bill Clinton got 43 per cent . George Bush got 37 per cent , and a guy named Ross Perot got 19 per cent . The point being no one ever …
Bill Clinton was first elected in 1992, for my YPDers , t hat was way before your time. And Bill Clinton got 43 per cent . George Bush got 37 per cent , and a guy named Ross Perot got 19 per cent . The point being no one ever questioned his legitimacy . Mr. Speaker, late last year in our —
Mr. Michael FahyThe Honourable Member. Thank you, Minister. Honourable Minister . To say no one complained. That is just blatantly not the case. [Inaudible interjections]
Mr. Michael FahyThroughout history, there has been lots of complaints about how some of those elections work, so let us just be a little careful on how we are couching that, Mr. Speaker .
Mr. Christopher FamousSomebody needs to listen. If the fish didn't open his mouth, he wouldn't get caught. But anyway, I said no one questioned their legitima cy. Mr. Speaker, that is a distinct difference. Mr. Speaker , in the country that is our administrative power, which is called the United Kingdom , …
Somebody needs to listen. If the fish didn't open his mouth, he wouldn't get caught. But anyway, I said no one questioned their legitima cy. Mr. Speaker, that is a distinct difference. Mr. Speaker , in the country that is our administrative power, which is called the United Kingdom , they had an election last year. Can anyone guess what the sitting government got? The percentage of the vote t hey got ? [It was] 34 per cent .
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberOh my God.
Mr. Christopher FamousCan we sit there and say, Well, you only got one- third of the votes, so you're not a legitimate government .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerWorse than that, look at that percentage of turnout historically for their elections.
Mr. Christopher FamousMr. Speaker , the point being that when you have more than one or two . . . more than two persons running a race, the pie gets split.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberExactly.
Mr. Christopher FamousThe pie g ets split. Now I am going to follow the leader of my AME preacher , wife of the presiding elder, and I am going to school 'em today.
Mr. Christopher FamousMr. Speaker, I sat down today, and I said, let me run through some numbers to just see, you know, if the yard stick that we got less than 50 per cent means that we are not legitimate. Does that same yard stick apply to others? So, I did some …
Mr. Speaker, I sat down today, and I said, let me run through some numbers to just see, you know, if the yard stick that we got less than 50 per cent means that we are not legitimate. Does that same yard stick apply to others? So, I did some research and in the January election of 2025, here are some of the results : Constituency 7, the MP got 50 per cent of the vote—50. Not 51, not 55 —50. Constituency 9, the MP got 50 per cent of the vote. Not 51, not 55 —50.
[Inaudible interjections]
Mr. Christopher FamousYou want to look it up? I said 50 per cent of the vote. Look it up, Ben. Constituency 10, the MP got 39 per cent of the vote.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberA win is a win. [General uproar] Some Hon. Members: Congratulations. Congratulations . [Laughter]
Mr. Christopher FamousMr. Speaker, let me save this last statistic — [Inaudible interjections]
Mr. Christopher Famous—for somebody who shares some . . . I sure some h eritage with. The MP who sits in consistency 31, got 40 per cent of the vote. No one is saying that they are not legitimate because more people voted against them. [Inaudible interjections]
Mr. Christopher FamousA win is a win. Mr. Speaker , one of the things that we have to accept as a reality —we are a British colony. You know what that means? We have to follow whatever Britain tells us to do. If we pass laws today and the G overnor says, …
A win is a win. Mr. Speaker , one of the things that we have to accept as a reality —we are a British colony. You know what that means? We have to follow whatever Britain tells us to do. If we pass laws today and the G overnor says, Nah, nah br ah, I ain't giving consent to this. It is not happening. That is how it goes. Because we are a British colony, we follow the Westminster system. For those who need to be schoole d up, that means first pass the post . That means whoever guess the most [votes], a win is a win. In this election, as i n the former election, as in the other election —we won.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberCongratulations.
Mr. Christopher FamousAll right. So while we are on statistics, Mr. Speaker, let me look this up. AME people take note.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberOkay.
Mr. Christopher FamousIn 2012, the OBA got 52 per cent . In 2017, they got 40 per cent. In 2020, they got 32 per cent. In 2025, they got 37 per cent. They cannot —that is the max that they are getting right now. They are trending down. Mr. Speaker , so …
Mr. Christopher FamousThose who, Mr. Speaker,—excuse me, Minister . . . you are messing my punchline. [Laughter]
Mr. Christopher FamousSomeone wrote on Facebook one day. Oh, it should have been a higher turnout. Right? That someone needs to reali se that if 240 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly there was a higher turnout in constituency 10, the PLP would have taken that seat. If …
Someone wrote on Facebook one day. Oh, it should have been a higher turnout. Right? That someone needs to reali se that if 240 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly there was a higher turnout in constituency 10, the PLP would have taken that seat. If there was a higher turnout in constituency 31, the PLP would have taken that seat. If there was a higher turnout in constituency 7, the PLP would have taken that seat.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYes. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
Ms. Robin TuckerThe Member is misleading the house. When we are looking at — [Inaudible interjections]
Ms. Robin TuckerYes, exactly. I mean he mentioned in 2020 that the P LP got 20 per cent of the vote in constituency 7. I got 50 per cent of the vote in 2025. So, what is the point?
Mr. Christopher FamousHow did I mislead you? You need to look up your statistics. This ain't the Senate. Look up your statistics. [Laughter]
Mr. Christopher FamousMy point, Mr. Speaker, if you get higher turnout, the PLP would have 28 seats right now. So be careful what you ask for it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Honourable Member. Does any other Honourable Member wish to make a contribution? MP Ming, would you like to participate in this debate at this time?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo right ahead. PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS FOR THE P UBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
Mrs. Renee MingThank you very much. Members are probably looking back because I have not done motion to adjourn for quite some time.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberThat is okay. Another Hon. Member: Maiden speech! [Laughter]
Mrs. Renee MingQuite some time . And I am not going to talk to you about St. George's today . [Inaudible interjections]
Mrs. Renee MingWell, I am, I am going to give you that right now. We will talk Cup Match in a few more months. I, first of all though, would like to congratulate the two women who gave their maiden speeches today. [Desk thumping]
Mrs. Renee MingFrom one woman to another woman. And I would also like to recogni se the young people from the YPD at St. Philip who are here today with us as well. Who actually . . . all women? [Inaudible interjections]
Mrs. Renee MingYes? Okay , thank you. But what I wanted to speak about today is . . . obviously in my role as a Member of Parliament, I believe that there are lots of responsibilities that I have. And one of them is to keep the people, not just in my …
Yes? Okay , thank you. But what I wanted to speak about today is . . . obviously in my role as a Member of Parliament, I believe that there are lots of responsibilities that I have. And one of them is to keep the people, not just in my area, but in Bermuda educated on what the parliamentary process is. And so those of you who have either worked with me or been on committees with me, you know, I am big on every single rule. Want to read the law. Love the Erskine May: Parliamentary Practice book, and revel in reading a lot of tho se things. But there is an article in the daily from 5 March that kind of got my attention and I wanted to make sure that I spoke to it in this H ouse. And it is twofold because I would like to educate the Members of this House and I would like to educate the members of the public. This morning, the S peaker of the House named our Standing Committees and he actually told us that we should go online and have a look at them. I sit on the P ublic Accounts Committee, as I have in the past, and I enjoy sitting on that committee. I know now and understand the operations of how that committee works. I also understand the composition of that committee as well. But it disturb ed me when I read an article in our daily and , Mr. Speaker, if you just allow me to just refer to it, I am not . . . but it is —
Mrs. Renee Ming—the 5 March, The Royal Gazette, where the Leader of the O pposition, and I quote, “ The Bermuda House of Assembly parliamentary Public Accounts Committee will investigate the $800,000 government loan given to Savvy Entertainment, Opposition leader Jarion Richardson pledged yesterday. ” I find that to be very interesting …
—the 5 March, The Royal Gazette, where the Leader of the O pposition, and I quote, “ The
Bermuda House of Assembly parliamentary Public Accounts Committee will investigate the $800,000 government loan given to Savvy Entertainment, Opposition leader Jarion Richardson pledged yesterday. ” I find that to be very interesting and I wanted the Standing C ommittees to be named so that we could have a discussion about it in this space. Because for those of you that do not know, the Public Accounts Committee is comprised of seven members from the G overnment, I am sorry, seven members in total, four from the G overnment, and three from the Opposition. Those Members were named today, and the Opposition Leader actually does not sit on Public Accounts. So, I do not believe that this committee will take any direction through The Royal Gazette or the Opposition Leader. Those members who have served with me on this committee, and I know I see my colleague, MP Smith looking at me knows that one of the first things I say is park your politics at the door . Because that is very important when you come into these meetings for P ublic Accounts. And we cannot be dictated to from outside of the committee on what it is that we will review and we will look at. The committee has a mandate to discuss, to collaborate, and to decide what it is going to look at. So, to read this in The Royal Gazette kind of frustrated me as a member who sits there. And for those of you that may not know and understand in our Standing Orders , it actually says, “ The Public Accounts Committee shall have the duty of examining, considering and reporting on: [i] the accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by the Legislature to meet the public expenditure of Bermuda; [ii] such accounts as may be referred to the Committee by the House; [iii] and the report of the Auditor for any such accounts. ” It also—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMember, let me just pause you one minute. Deputy, could you come to the Chair for a moment? Thank you. You can go ahead, you can continue. [Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair]
Mrs. Renee MingSo, when we start getting into , going into a daily and in a public space to say what this committee will look at, I just want to correct everyone to say that that is not how it works. And that is not how it should work. And we have …
So, when we start getting into , going into a daily and in a public space to say what this committee will look at, I just want to correct everyone to say that that is not how it works. And that is not how it should work. And we have not had any issues in terms of how we are structured and what it is we look at up until today . And in that room like I sa id park your politics at the door because each of us know that when we come into that space, o ur role is to review and to make the best decisions in terms of our review for Bermuda and her people. So, we do not need to be pushed along in our decision because what I would hope is that the integrity of the Public Accounts Committee remains intact. In September, the Speaker sent me overseas on a course, and it was actually the Sixth UK Overseas Territories Forum on Oversight of Public Finances and Good Governance. And part of that was . . . we spoke about P ublic Accounts Committees and how they should function. One of the speakers that came in to speak to us was the former P ublic Accounts Chair, MP Meg H illier. She is former now because the L abor Government is now in place. But if anybody ever followed her during her time as the C hair of Public Accounts, she was amazing. She looked at just about anything that was presented to the committee. She did it with integrity . She did it with poise and she did what was in the best interest of the people of the UK. And I can only hope that as we move along as a Public Accounts Committee, we maintain the same integrity of that process. I know that it can be difficult because we are politicians, but in that room, like I said, we park our politics at the door, and we decide collectively because we do not represent our political parties when we are in that space. There are so many things that were said in here that said that our priority —in this article —and I do not need to read it to you because you can all go and read it. It was from 5 March and some of the things are actually in inaccurate and not factual. And what I do not want is to . . . because I had someone, a few people say, O h, when are you guys are going to look at something? We have not met yet as a committee, so we do not even know what path we are going to take. We did not even know on 5 March what the composition of that committee would actually look like. And I know in the article, the O pposition Leader says, Well, it is probably going to be the Chair will be the Shadow for Finance because that is who it normally is . Well, I sat on the last Public Accounts Committee and the person who was the C hair was former MP Susan Jackson, who was not the Shadow for Finance. The actual rules say that is just to be a Member of the Opposition. It does not define the r ole as being attached to finance. So, I just say all of that to say though that we just have to be very mindful when we are in this space. And we also need to know what the rules are that actually govern us as we sit here and we deliberate. Because at the end of the day, what we are doing is in the best interest of Bermuda and her people. And when it comes to the Public Accounts Committee, I would hate to see anything being muddied at this time. I would hate to see anything that shows that we do not have integrity. Because when we walk into that room, each and every one of us —and they know that I 242 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly start the meetings by saying that : park your politics at the door . Because I mean that . And I try . . . I know myself, I try to do the best job that I can when I am in that space. I spend a lot of time doing research on things that I think that the public want to hear about or want to know about . But we will not be dictated to by someone who, one, does not sit on the committee and outside of the committee. And I would hope that all of the Members who are in this space who have been given the privilege of sitting on Public Accounts, remember that . Because it is an awesome responsibility what it is that we will do. And I am going to close it out with comments by one of my colleagues in here today that spoke. She said, words matter, MP Linda Smith. So, I just want to thank you for giving me that time to speak. I hope that I have educated the public and those persons who are in this space who have been privileged to sit on the Public Accounts Committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP Ming. MP DeCouto, you have risen for your 20 minutes ?
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo right ahead. PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS FOR THE P UBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
Dr. Douglas DeCoutoAnd I would like to thank MP Ming for those comments . Very timely and I very much look forward to working together with her on the Public Accounts Committee. I have not talked about it much because it has not existed until today. So, I know that I can …
And I would like to thank MP Ming for those comments . Very timely and I very much look forward to working together with her on the Public Accounts Committee. I have not talked about it much because it has not existed until today. So, I know that I can look forward to working with her and the other Members and scheduling the meetings. I people often ask me, What is going on with that? And I say, W ell, you know, we have to wait for these things to happen. And now they are. Just as a piece of information for those listening in, I would imagine that what the Opposition Lead-er went was sort of, you know, by convention. Obviously , some things happen by convention and some things happen because they are written down. By convention, typically your finance person would prob-ably chair that committee. F or those who are listening , I was prior to this, in another place, I was the Shadow Finance Minister. That would be spokesperson for finance. And so obviously, Mr. Speaker, and for those listening, I would not have been eligible to serve, to have the honou r of serving on that committee. But I certainly want to thank MP Ming for those educational and strong statements. But I certainly really do look forward to getting to work with her and learning from her and all the other M embers on that committee as we do the important work. And let me just close by saying to all the listening audience looking ahead to a very happy Good Friday and a very good Easter holiday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you very much. Does any other Member —Minister Darrell . Would you like your 20 minutes on the clock? Hon. Owen Darrell: Yes. Thank you —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo right ahead MORE THAN NEIGHBO URS, THE ESSENCE OF COMMUNITY Hon. Owen Darrell: —Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker, as we come to the final sitting of this particular session before we break, I felt it best that I speak on a topic this evening on more than neighbou rs, …
Go right ahead
MORE THAN NEIGHBO URS, THE ESSENCE OF COMMUNITY Hon. Owen Darrell: —Mr. Speaker . Mr. Speaker, as we come to the final sitting of this particular session before we break, I felt it best that I speak on a topic this evening on more than neighbou rs, the essence of community . More than neighbours, the essence of community . And , Mr. Speaker, you may say, W ell, why have you chosen this? And kind of following on to where— oh, she has gone. My MP, from who sits on the other side, where she started talking about the community that she represents, which is also the community which I grew up in. It had me thinking as to the work that all of us do on a weekly basis. I t had me thinking to the work that comes under my portfolio, which in another time used to carry the title Community and Cultural Affairs. And then , Mr. Speaker, as I look behind me and I see the members of the YPD, the Y oung People's Division of the AME Church, I am reminded, Mr. Speaker that the church that I grew up in just right next door, St. Paul AME church, was the essence of community when it comes to my upbringing. And it was in this Young People's Division, as many of their directors would be able to share with the young people sitting in the Gallery, is that many of the parliamentary procedures that I first was introduced to came from going to YPD institutes up in . . . whether it be Dover, Delaware or up in Philadelphia or Connecticut or Boston or New York , the first Episcopal district of the AME church , Mr. Speaker. And that was the first foray, I guess they will call it, into my introduction of the essence of community. So , with the Young People's Division of the AME church visiting here tonight, I want to say thank you to all those who would have been mentors or directors or volunteers who would have shown us the way of what
Bermuda House of Assembly it means to serve and what it means to learn even parliamentary procedures. And I see the MP from constituency 36, Reverend Emily gail Dill. We were at a meeting I think a couple of weeks ago, and the way that this particular organi sation did their voting was a little different than we know from the AME Church. So, we had a chuckle at that. But however it is done, it definitely does bring you back to how people start and get into the essence of community. This morning, Mr. Speaker, before I came to this place, I happened to drop off some family members at L. F. Wade International Airport . And I was reminded when I rolled up of what time of year this is . This is vacation time for many families. It is . . . school is out for some, and school is going to be out next week for others. And just to see families coming together and we reali se that not everyone is in the space where they are able to get off the Island, but to see families coming together and the excitement on the faces of young people as they are embarking on family vacations had me thinking about the time of year it is. And you look outside, and the days are getting longer , and the sun is bright. And as we move into a time where we will be getting into Good Friday events, Mr. Speaker, we will be getting into . . . well, the whole Easter weekend. And whatever it is that we all will do, or many of us will do, some bigger than others and their constituents . . . it is that everyone around us is more than just neigh-bours, Mr. Speaker. It is the essence of community. And I heard my colleague give his sobering story earlier about a personal situation that he had, and he also spoke of community members that rallied behind him and community members that came to-gether to assist him in his time and his family's time of need. And it is this time of year that I think it is incumbent on us to remember what community is all about and what makes us as Bermudians special individuals. I was reminded last weekend, Mr. Speaker, in my duties as the Minister responsible for Culture, Sport, that Saturday was a very interesting day. I woke up and the first event was a cultural apprenticeship breakfast. And I did mention this earlier, but I want to go a little bit deeper into it, Mr. Speaker. And I was reminded at this cultural apprenticeship breakfast where you recogni se tradition bearers that basically have these Bermudian traditions , and the Department of Culture has made it possible to pass these traditions down to other individuals coming along, m ost times it is younger individuals . And the word “apprentice” is one that we are familiar with in this country. But I think over the years we hear it less and less because a lot of times, and because of the situations that the world is in, individuals will put aside and they will overlook the importance of learning a trade, maybe for lesser pay because they actually cannot make ends meet. But I was reminded at this cultural apprenticeship breakfast that without traditions being passed down, that they will be lost. And just to see they did videos, and I am trying to get the department to send it out even more, Mr. Speaker. But to see the look on individual's faces and to see the tradition bearer alongside the apprentice, both of them with equal excitement as to, I am doing something very important for my community , shows that we are more than just neighbou rs as I started , Mr. Speaker . That is the essence of the community. And they were there with their family members and just see . . . there were smiles, there were cheers and there were even tears because you had some mothers that said, Wow, I am really happy to see that my son has found a purpose in being able to grab these traditions and pass them down. And it was not just this year the department has done (and I give them credit ), they have done this for the last couple of years. But you are reminded at that point, the essence of community . And I had to get out of there, Mr. Speaker and drive down to Shelly Bay, where the Bermuda Football Association had an Under-9 tournament. And once you get across the initial frustration that you cannot find parking and the traffic that is go-ing across North Shore Road or come to kind of a snail’s pace, you stand back . . . and I had to park at a different location where I was able to look down on Shelly Bay f ield. And you look and they had multiple . . . you know how these tournaments work . You have multiple different fields . Right? And you look down and there are different colours. There is North Village over there, and Devonshire Colts and Boulevard and St. George's and Somerset. And it is at that point that you reali se, Wow, we have this many people coming to support all of these young people in one place , and that is the essence of our community. And then you say, Well, I gotta go to another event up at Bermuda College. And you see the same thing there. And you say, Well, what is this? Well, this is another tournament. And you hear the air horns and people are screaming and you hear the oohs and ahs. And once again. The essence of our community. And finally, you leave there, and it is not just young men who are playing football. You go down to Bernard Park and, and you see, if I may, my colleague who is the MP for the area that told me off a little bit, but you see him sitting on the bench and watching part of the . . . what was called the Delta NetFest and watching their family members cheering and getting involved . And, you know, netball was not a sport that I grew up on . So, I actually . . . every time I go down there now I look around and I say, Wow, I did not know that this many people were this passionate 244 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly about this particular sport. And once again, just like football, Mr. Speaker, you see different colo urs and the different bibs , and the skirts and it is the same thing. Cheers and oohs and ahs and excitement and disappointment based on what the result is. But, Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we are as Bermudians. And I was happy, and this is the last story I am going to tell when it comes to the essence of the community. When I became the, I guess, cho-sen candidate for constituency 15, one of the first things that the area residents told me that was important to them was an area of land known as Sandy's Dock. And they say, If you can get Sandy's D ock back to the way it used to be, we will be impressed. And I said, Well, that seems simple enough. It is a dock and people go swimming. How could that be so difficult? But then when I took a visit down there, Mr. Speaker, you had seen that because of weather, be-cause of other factors, it had gotten to a point of kind of disrepair and kind of . . . it was . . . kind of looked like it had been cast aside for a bit. And I just want to take the opportunity to thank the then Minister of Public Works and the cur-rent Minister of Public Works, who is continuing this initiative to go around to the different community docks and renovate them and revitali se them and bring them back to their years of past glory . So that individuals who remember what these docks used to be, places where community can gather, people can jump off the docks or get thrown off the dock and learn to swim. Right? MP Alexa Light bourne who gave her story about growing up on Dock Hill. We can get our community back to those simple things, Mr. Speaker. And that is the essence of community. So, I am happy to report that this week the residents of constituency 15 in Pe mbroke East will see some major movement in that area to revitali se it. The dock has been done, thank you to the Ministry of Public Works. But once the dock is done, how do you bring the area back to be a neighbou rhood of what people remember and are proud and comfortable to be a part of? So there is going be some movement this week that is going to show the essence of community and what it means to those individuals who can just go down to Sandy's Dock and even if they do not wish to go swimming, can comfortably pull up on a bench, look off into the North Shore and say, this is my neighbou rhood. Th is is my community. This is what it is all about. So, Mr. Speaker, as we move through the coming weeks and the coming days as we go up to Easter, I want to encourage all Bermudians, i f it has been some time before you have been to a community club, do not look at it as just a watering hole. Look at it as a place where you can actually go on a Thurs-day evening and get involved in being part of a kitemaking workshop. I challenge you: reach out to the community club in your area without waiting for them to reach out to the same donors every single time. How about you reach out and say, Hey, I see that you have a community day every G ood Friday. How can I assist? And as we say in the Department of Sport and Recreation support does not always come in the form of signing a check. It could be, D o you need m arshals for your road race? Do you need me to make some hot cross buns? Do you need me to bring some fish cakes? But whatever it is . . . Do you need me to marshal to make sure all of the ki ddies that come to be part of the Easter egg hunt are safe from traffic or other individuals? That, Mr. Speaker , is when you become more than a neighbo ur. And that , Mr. Speaker is the essence of community.
[Laughter]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerIt looks like you are getting some assistance. Hon. Owen Darrell: I see, I see, I see. I feel like his feeling spirit. [Laughter and inaudible interjections ] Hon. Owen Darrell: So, Mr. Speaker, in the few moments that I have left, I do . . . in the first …
It looks like you are getting some assistance.
Hon. Owen Darrell: I see, I see, I see. I feel like his feeling spirit. [Laughter and inaudible interjections ]
Hon. Owen Darrell: So, Mr. Speaker, in the few moments that I have left, I do . . . in the first three sessions that I have been here and moving from one place to the other, I want to say thank you to all of the colleagues in here who have assisted me in getting my bearings in this location, yourself as well , Mr. Speaker, [and] D eputy Speaker . I want to say thank you to those individuals who will send me a text message the moment I walked out of here. We have criticisms, we have suggestions with. . . well wishes, whatever it is .
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAll part of the process . Hon. Owen Darrell: But it is all part of the essence of community. So, Mr. Speaker, with that said, I will close by simply saying to all my colleagues who may be taking a vacation, to all my colleagues that celebrate Easter, to the …
All part of the process . Hon. Owen Darrell: But it is all part of the essence of community. So, Mr. Speaker, with that said, I will close by simply saying to all my colleagues who may be taking a vacation, to all my colleagues that celebrate Easter, to the Y PDers who are going on school vacation next week. And to everyone else, keep in mind that in everything you do remember that you are more than just a neighbou r. And that , Mr. Speaker , is the essence of community. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMP Tyrrell , I see you are rising back there. Would you like your 20 minutes? Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Neville S. Tyrrell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I can assure you it probably will not be 20 minutes.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerGo ahead. PERSEVERE DESPITE COMPLAINTS
Mr. Neville S. TyrrellBut I thank you anyway for the opportunity to make some brief comments on how I see things. A boy from Back o’ Town, Angle Street — we have a vision as well . Mr. Speaker , I do not have the strong passion, that my colleague from constituency 2 …
But I thank you anyway for the opportunity to make some brief comments on how I see things. A boy from Back o’ Town, Angle Street — we have a vision as well . Mr. Speaker , I do not have the strong passion, that my colleague from constituency 2 brings when he is on his feet, but I do bring with me the desire for a fairer and more stable and affordable Bermuda. As I said, I do not have that passion, but I certainly have that desire. Mr. Speaker, I am a glass half -full sort of person. I always believe that something is better than nothing at all. And I do try and see the positive in most situations. I had never really intended having to lead from the front in politics. I had always worked in the background, and I have always preferred the r ole, as they describe, as a kingmaker . So that was usually my role. And it was not until my neighbour , now deceased, Walter Byron, pulled me aside one evening and said I should consider coming from behind the curtain. And I understand what he meant. And that was in 2003, when I first became a candidate to seek a position in this H ouse. I am a PLP diehard. I will say it twice. I am a PLP diehard. H aving come from a family steeped in labour and having much experience in seeing other people suffer from being disadvantaged just for . . . just being Black sometimes and coming from the wrong side of town. P lus having the lack of upward mobility opportunities compared to our lighter -hued compatriots. But we persevered. A nd that is a word that I really believe in: persevering. Mr. Speaker , we on this side of the aisle, stand on the shoulders of many giants —
Mr. Neville S. Tyrrell—in various fields . Real, what I would call role models . Now everyone who knows us or have studied the history of the PLP would know that we were formed by these giants I refer to— having secret meetings in a garage, not around the tables of the yacht …
—in various fields . Real, what I would call role models . Now everyone who knows us or have studied the history of the PLP would know that we were formed by these giants I refer to— having secret meetings in a garage, not around the tables of the yacht club. Not at all . And not wanting to reflect on any previous debate that we have had, one cannot miss how we in the PLP are being blamed for most things that happen in Bermuda. For instance, I wrote some notes , and I am going to refer to my notes here. I said, for instance, it ra ined yesterday . Blame the PLP . Not reali sing that that rain helped the crops to grow. People deciding to leave Bermuda —blame the PLP. Can't people make decisions to broaden their horizons? Children fighting in schools in the bus terminal —blame the PLP . Should not the parents fit in this equation? Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Member across from me may be thinking I have a complex, but no, I do not . I do not have a complex , but I do have an attitude when they put a negative spin on our accomplishments . We believe in our accomplishments. We on the side know we are not perfect. And we know we have much to do. And I could assure my colleagues on the other side that our work will have a people- first origin. Our proposals tend to come from the ground up. Let me say that we look after our people first because that is what we do. I only wish sometimes that people could sit in our central committee and caucus sometimes to hear the proposals coming from our grassroots members. We listen and we action on their wishes. Mr. Speaker, by now you would have recognised that the thrust of my brief comments can easily be summed up in these words : We, the PLP , will persevere despite the complaints. We will persevere as a party and as a G overnment. This is what we do. We will look after the people first. This G overnment can be trusted to do the right thing, c ontrary to the picture presented by the combined o pposition. Mr. Speaker , as an example, I refer to the vast differences in the emphasis in the recent G overnment Speech from the T hrone . . . then the O pposition's Response and the interpretation of it. To weather the storm . The Opposition always seem to see gloom. That is their response to our T hrone Speech. Mr. Speaker, again, not wanting to reflect on a previous debate, but having to sit and listen to the Opposition trash all that this G overnment has done, and then further insult and accuse us of not knowing how to be in O pposition. Can you believe that ? It was just short of the most ridiculous things coming from the O pposition. In fact, it was a close second to the revisionist speech I heard last week, given by another Honourable Opposition Member. Did the new and young Honourable Opposition Member not do his homework and not know we have spent 30plus years in O pposition? And while there, fought for many of the changes we enjoy today. Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of the listening audience, let me just briefly remind us of some of our accomplishments that we are very proud of.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberThank you. 246 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Neville S. Tyrrell: We have increased benefits for FutureC are.
Mr. Neville S. TyrrellAnd proposing to continue with more increases . Introducing into law the first minimum wage and now educating as you heard this morning from the M inister, both employees and employers on its intent. We have delivered over 70 affordable homes and we are continuing. We have expa nded and …
And proposing to continue with more increases . Introducing into law the first minimum wage and now educating as you heard this morning from the M inister, both employees and employers on its intent. We have delivered over 70 affordable homes and we are continuing. We have expa nded and increased childcare support for working parents , and we will continue to improve that as well. Now let me just give a few things that are still in the pipeline. So listen up, Opposition. [Inaudible interjection]
Mr. Neville S. TyrrellAdditional options to fund higher education. Thank you, Ben. Relief for families caring for a geing parents. A full review of the Children Act 1998. Amendments to the Landlord and Tenant Act [1974] . Private Roads (Improvement ) Act [1969]. C utting red tape by streamlining business set up— a …
Additional options to fund higher education. Thank you, Ben. Relief for families caring for a geing parents. A full review of the Children Act 1998. Amendments to the Landlord and Tenant Act [1974] . Private Roads (Improvement ) Act [1969]. C utting red tape by streamlining business set up— a one- stop shop. So, these are just some of the things . I could go on with a lot of the other things that we have in the pipeline. But as I said, I do not want the Government to think I am chest thumping, as they called it. But those who would listen and feel it, they will know it.
Mr. Neville S. TyrrellThey kn ow it. Mr. Speaker, I will again go back to where I started. I see the glass as half full, and I hope that the Opposition get to see and accept the good and what is yet to come from this Government. All for the good, not just …
They kn ow it. Mr. Speaker, I will again go back to where I started. I see the glass as half full, and I hope that the Opposition get to see and accept the good and what is yet to come from this Government. All for the good, not just for the few, but for all the people on this tiny Island called Bermuda. The people of Bermuda ha ve shown the ir trust in us, despite what the percentages are saying. We can be trusted to do even more good. There are no simple answers to many complex situations that governments in general have the responsibility for. So, we are going to work . Mr. Speaker, and as I said I intended to be brief, but before I take my seat, I wish to thank the many constituents of constituency 26, Warwick South Central , for putting the trust in me by returning me to this Honourable House. And I make a promise to them to continue serving them and others to the best of my God- given abilities . I wish them well. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, thank you for your indulgence. I will take my seat now. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you. Deputy Speaker , I see you rose up. Would you like your 20 minutes on the clock?
Ms. Lovitta F. FoggoYou could put 20 minutes . I do not think I will be that long, Mr. Speaker.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerOkay. Go ahead. OUR ROLE AS PARLIAMENTARIANS
Ms. Lovitta F. FoggoMr. Speaker, we are approaching Easter. You know, some can look at this Easter period as a time of new beginnings. If you want to look at it from the biblical sense. We recently won an election, so while we may have some Members from the former Government sitting in …
Mr. Speaker, we are approaching Easter. You know, some can look at this Easter period as a time of new beginnings. If you want to look at it from the biblical sense. We recently won an election, so while we may have some Members from the former Government sitting in this House, we also have new Members. It is a time for new beginnings. I would hope that many of those new Members, especially those who sit on the other side, will use this opportunity not just to be overseers , as backbenchers are, and to hold the E xecutive to account as back benchers are supposed to do, and provide the proper oversight as we would expect them to do. B ut more so to be the change that they purport them-selves to be. It is very easy to critici se and tell people how to behave and what they should do and what they should not do, et cetera. But when you stand to your feet, stand and be that person who you are saying that others should be. I thought it important to point that out because it is easy to critici se. It is easy to point fingers. It is easy to get pulled into, I guess if you will, some sort of negative spiral to try and get your point across or to try and bring down your opponent so perhaps others will see you as a viable solution. But there is a much better way of doing things. You can do it in a more collaborative manner. You can use the template that has been put in place that the people voted for to try and be a part of making certain that those decisions are reali sed. Add a positive voice. See what you can do as representatives for your constituents to ensure that you are the voice of those constituents . To ensure that you are meeting the needs of your community . To ensure that you are making Bermuda a fairer and better Bermuda for all Bermudians . That is what we are all sitting up here in this House to do. I am sure of it. I know that even if one is sitting on the opposite side, they want a b etter Bermuda for all Bermudians. They want a fairer Bermuda for all Bermudians. So when we stand here and represent our people, let us do it with that end in sight. I know that being here that I indeed am here to represent the people, the good people of St. David's that put me back here once again to be their voice and to raise their concerns so that the Government will ensure that their community needs are met.
Bermuda House of Assembly And I can dare say that it was suggested through comment or the way in which the comments were made, that the only work that MP s do is when they are standing in this House and speaking. That is an absolute fallacy ! I am out on the street almost every day, some portion of my day , I am there representing a constituent or constituents and trying to ensure that . . . if I am pointing them in the right direction so that they can get their needs met, that I am doing that . Or that I am there with them trying to help them through an issue so that their needs and concerns are met. Indeed, the Minister of Public Works and his [permanent secretary] . . . I ask ed them to come to St. David's and see first hand. I do not want to just be here parroting what my constituents are saying are things that must be addressed in the constituency. I said, I would much rather you see them first hand yourself so that you can understand first hand through their lens why this is a concern and why this is an issue. And they obliged me, as often most of my Ministers do. I can tell you when I speak to the Minister of Social [Development] , whenever I have a concern with respect to constituents and I relay that concern to her, she immediately responds . If that is pointing me in the right direction or to the right person so that I can en-sure that my constituent . . . it is that. Or providing answers. I can say the same thing for the M inister of Labor and Economy. When I send out issues or questions to him, he will say, You know, tell the constituent, go here and do this , or what have you. We are here not only to make legislation and to create policy, to try and create the infrastructure so that Bermuda will be a thriving community for its peo-ple. We are here to also address the needs of the communities that is Bermuda. And so, we understand that our role is one of collective responsibility and it is all of us that sit in this House that have this collective responsibility. And so I will say as I began, it is incumbent upon us if we want things to move in a certain direction and if we want things to change in a manner that is going to best meet the needs of our people and in a manner that is going to create that fairer and better Bermuda, it has to start with us. We need to be the change that we seek. And so those are the words that I want to impart to all Members in this House so that they do understand what their role is as parliamentarians besides just helping to make laws and modify laws so that they are congruent with the current society within which we operate.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberWhat is congruent? [Inaudible interjections and laughter ]
Ms. Lovitta F. FoggoThey are aligned. How about they are aligned? [Inaudible interjection and l aughter]
Ms. Lovitta F. FoggoOkay . So, Mr. Speaker, on that note, let me say this : I want to wish all of my St. David's constituents a happy Easter. I want to wish all of Bermuda a happy Easter. And I want to remind my public Bermudians that the work that we do …
Okay . So, Mr. Speaker, on that note, let me say this : I want to wish all of my St. David's constituents a happy Easter. I want to wish all of Bermuda a happy Easter. And I want to remind my public Bermudians that the work that we do we will get done even quicker if they too join hands with us in trying to ensure that we create the Bermuda we deserve and we want to operate in. There is no better government than the government of the people, and we have to do this together. On that note once again, Mr. Speaker, Happy Easter to all.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Deputy [Speaker]. MP King, —
The SpeakerThe Speaker—it looks like you would like your 20 minutes on the clock? Go right ahead.
Mr. Robert KingGood evening, Mr. Speaker and listening audience. I am not going to take up all that time. Much was discussed today, and I think in the spirit of Easter — [Inaudible interjections]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerLet me just point out one second. As the young people are leaving tonight, we thank you for coming to visit us — [Desk thumping]
The SpeakerThe Speaker—and trust that you will continue to enjoy your YPD programmes. Best to you. Go ahead, Mr. King. WORKING COLLABORATIVELY AND IN COORDINATION WITH EACH OTHER
Mr. Robert KingThank you, Mr. Speaker. Much was discussed today, and we did some good work as relates to pay increase and the corporate income tax. Definitely, we were all in alignment with that. [Inaudible interjection]
Mr. Robert KingAbsolutely. I mean, we can agree on the things we should agree on, so definitely. You know, when we are talking about the glass being half full and half empty . . . I mean, using analogies is one thing. My concern though is some248 28 March 2025 Official Hansard …
Absolutely. I mean, we can agree on the things we should agree on, so definitely. You know, when we are talking about the glass being half full and half empty . . . I mean, using analogies is one thing. My concern though is some248 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly times the true meaning and impact of some of the issues in this country is actually lost when we use analogies and labels. It does not really speak to the seriousness of it. I do believe that in this House we have the ability to make the necessary changes by working collaboratively and in coordination with each other amending legislation and drafting new legislation that is required to ensure that Bermuda is both safer and fairer. Towards that end, we recognise the issues of violence in this community, and the persons who are committing acts of violence are much younger. It means that our approach needs to address the fact that the nature of the offences and the persons committing them are changing, so our practices, our laws, our approaches need to change in accordance with that. Regarding road safety, everybody will admit that the conditions of the road and people’s driving habits are atrocious. We have mechanisms in place, and we can see that some efforts have been made towards addressing that through infrastructure upgrades. And also, we need to consider how we treat reckless driving behaviour in terms of speeding, in terms of dangerous driving, and drink driving. As was mentioned in the last sitting, there have been no Opposition Bills. Well, this House can rest assured that as it relates to community safety for serious crimes, for road traffic accidents, et cetera, I will be putting forth some amendments to address that very issue. So, I look forward to working with the current Administration and the Ministers and all departments in collaboration towards making Bermuda a safer place for all of us. Thank you.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, MP. Minister Weeks. SAFETY OF BERMUDA Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did not intend to rise to my feet today during the motion to adjourn, but I have a few words that I must say to the listening public and to those who are …
Thank you, MP. Minister Weeks.
SAFETY OF BERMUDA
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did not intend to rise to my feet today during the motion to adjourn, but I have a few words that I must say to the listening public and to those who are sitting here. We have to be careful when we are talking about the state of our country when it comes to safety and making Bermuda safe for all. When we are talking, and it seems like it is political posturing, we are giving the wrong message to our people out there, the everyday Mr. and Mrs. Bermuda. When we are talking about the crime and what not, the National Violence Reduction Strategy is addressing all manner and all stages of crime—not only crime (the catching and convicting by the police), but we are talking about crime prevention. So, we are in the primary schools. We are in the high schools. We are in the middle schools. And we are out there in the community clubs and sporting clubs. So, when comments are made like in the opinion piece that was published . . . Well, I heard somebody talking about facts. Mr. Speaker, if I may, let me give some facts. We talk about the police being undermanned and underfund-ed. We have 23 police officers starting in May. We have 12 new police officers that we have just signed contracts for, so we have got 12 more starting after [the] 23. Those are the facts.
[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Hang on. When you were talking . . . Mr. Speaker, can I get some water in here, please?
[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Yes, right? So, when the prior Member was talking, he had the floor all by him-self. I am not giving an opinion. As the Minister of National Security, I am giving facts.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberYes, that’s right! Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Right? Okay, there are 23 new police officers that are starting on in May.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberThat’s starting in May. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Hang on. They are in training. Right —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou can direct it this way, so you do not get caught up in the exchange going their way. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Yes, but I do not mind engaging them—
The SpeakerThe SpeakerAll right. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: —because what I have [risen] to my feet for is to ensure the public that this Gov-ernment is making Bermuda safer. And every time that Member opposite rises to his feet, he talks about doom and gloom. So, while I am on my feet, …
All right.
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: —because what I have [risen] to my feet for is to ensure the public that this Gov-ernment is making Bermuda safer. And every time that Member opposite rises to his feet, he talks about doom and gloom. So, while I am on my feet, I must speak. Okay. And here is another fact. Here is another fact, Mr. Speaker —
[Inaudible interjections] Hon. Michael A. Weeks: —that as the Minister of National Security, I reside on a daily basis in Global House on the third floor. So, I invite that Member [at] any time to come and sit with me and find out for himself some facts —
Bermuda House of Assembly [Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: —some facts. You have not . . . Come on. Come on, now — [Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: —you have not tried.
Mr. Robert KingI have. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: You have not tried. You have not tried. So, and if you have tried and you have failed, if you are so concerned about the true safety of Bermuda, if you have tried, try again. So, I am here saying right now, not only …
I have.
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: You have not tried. You have not tried. So, and if you have tried and you have failed, if you are so concerned about the true safety of Bermuda, if you have tried, try again. So, I am here saying right now, not only to that Member from constituency 10, but any other Member opposite who really wants to know what is happening out there on our streets, I am available at any time. I will clear my calendar just to make sure that I can supply Members opposite with facts when they get up on their feet and they are talking about the state of Bermuda.
Mr. Robert KingWhat’s your schedule on Monday? Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Oh my God.
Ms. Lovitta F. FoggoDon’t answer — [Inaudible interjections] Hon. Michael A. Weeks: I do not mind answering, colleague. I really do not mind answering. I really do not mind answering.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberDisingenuous. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Yes, you know, if ever you want to find out some facts . . . The fact remains that [if] you come to the third floor of Global House, I will make myself available so that I can arm not only him but anyone else …
Disingenuous. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Yes, you know, if ever you want to find out some facts . . . The fact remains that [if] you come to the third floor of Global House, I will make myself available so that I can arm not only him but anyone else with facts because when we are up in this House here, Mr. Speaker, and we are political posturing, we are giving the public the wrong impres-sion that our country is on the way to hell, so to speak, and is nothing but doom and gloom. Not only are our police doing a good job in catching and convicting, this Government has provided resources for . . . not only the police to up their game but we are more in-volved with our youth on so many different levels. So, when we keep saying, Oh, what is happening? and What is not happening . . . While I am on my feet, Mr. Speaker, let’s also talk about another fact about the comments of 35 unsolved murders. We have to be careful of this, you know. But these are people, you know. These are families.
[Inaudible interjection] Hon. Michael A. Weeks: If I use the words that I want to use, Mr. Speaker, I will be excused from here. Can I please— [Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: —please get some water, Mr. Speaker, because I have no problem. —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerJust talk to me. Just talk to me. Talk to me. Talk to me. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Right. Yes. So, Mr. Speaker— [Crosstalk]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerTalk to me. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: So, Mr. Speaker — [Crosstalk] Hon. Michael A. Weeks: —when it comes to those unsolved murders, these murders did not happen overnight. These murders have happened over the last 25 years. And over the last 20, 25 years, we have had almost 100 …
Talk to me.
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: So, Mr. Speaker — [Crosstalk]
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: —when it comes to those unsolved murders, these murders did not happen overnight. These murders have happened over the last 25 years. And over the last 20, 25 years, we have had almost 100 murders in this country most of which have been solved, and there are some that are yet to be solved but are being solved. So, when we keep speaking about what we are not doing, put your hand up, come up with some solutions, and stop all the chirping on the other side where you are trying to get political points. We are dealing with our country . . . with . . . If that is your job, you got to look at your job description. Because if we are going to work to try to solve the ills of this country, we must do it together. And if every chance we get, especially with the emotions of our people out there . . . because when we talk about violence and murders and the crime and what is going on, just for polit-ical posturing—
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberIt’s a shame but it is not true. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: It is true!
The SpeakerThe SpeakerTalk to me. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Mr. Speaker —
The SpeakerThe SpeakerTalk to me. Talk to me. Do not get sidetracked. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: I do not mind speaking to you, Mr. Speaker, to the public, or to the Members opposite because I stand on my feet on principle.
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberYes! 250 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Right? And we have to come together to deal with the issues at hand—be it the murders, be it the roadside sobriety. We as a country . . . the police force has increased …
Yes! 250 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Right? And we have to come together to deal with the issues at hand—be it the murders, be it the roadside sobriety. We as a country . . . the police force has increased roadside sobriety checkpoints. We know this because we see the numbers.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMm-hmm. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: I am talking about CCTV to help keep our country safe and make our country safer. We have now implemented and tested speed cameras to help make our country safer. But some of that responsibility is on the road user; the Government can only do …
Mm-hmm. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: I am talking about CCTV to help keep our country safe and make our country safer. We have now implemented and tested speed cameras to help make our country safer. But some of that responsibility is on the road user; the Government can only do so much. And when it comes to the violence in our community and our children in our community . . . a part of that equation, Mr. Speaker, is the family, is the parents, is Members opposite. You know, I mean, they try to get a few brownie points around there, trying to say what the Government is not doing. But what are you doing? Before I take my seat, Mr. Speaker, the invitation is open, and it remains, for the Member opposite, him or his colleagues, or whoever else want to really get the facts of what is happening and to offer some kind of solution, if they have any.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerMm-hmm. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Put aside the political posturing, right, and come to the third floor of Global House.
The SpeakerThe SpeakerYou are writing a lot of speeches tonight, you know. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: At any time! And ask to speak to the Minister responsible for National Securi-ty, and I would happily make my time, make myself available. [Inaudible interjections] Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Yes. And here is where the …
You are writing a lot of speeches tonight, you know. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: At any time! And ask to speak to the Minister responsible for National Securi-ty, and I would happily make my time, make myself available.
[Inaudible interjections]
Hon. Michael A. Weeks: Yes. And here is where the jokes start. If he is not there, if you are serious, come back —
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberBang on the door. Hon. Michael A. Weeks: —come back. Bang on the door, email, whatever you want to do, but if you really want the facts of the state of our country, come and see me. Come see me any time so [that] you get some facts. Thank you, …
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister. [Desk thumping]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerDoes any other Member wish to . . . We have a few more Members. I saw a couple jump. MP Robinson. One second. Deputy [Speaker]? MP Robinson, you have 20 minutes on the clock. [Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo, Deputy Speaker, in the Chair] HOSPITALITY INITIATIVES
Mr. Dwayne RobinsonThank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for . . . I just wanted to rise today because I know that the next session that we have is going to be, you know, the budget debate, and usually that is . . . I would not say adversarial, but there is a …
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for . . . I just wanted to rise today because I know that the next session that we have is going to be, you know, the budget debate, and usually that is . . . I would not say adversarial, but there is a certain posturing in that debate. And I wanted to take the time to balance that today by commending an initiative that I saw from Government that I was really happy to see, which was the Learn Through Experience Hospitality Programme. [Inaudible interjections and laughter]
Mr. Dwayne RobinsonI think that this is a very, very good initiative. To me hospitality is something that unilaterally, you know, both political entities support. I know that I used it to get myself through some tough times, and I like to see that we are preparing our people to go and …
I think that this is a very, very good initiative. To me hospitality is something that unilaterally, you know, both political entities support. I know that I used it to get myself through some tough times, and I like to see that we are preparing our people to go and re- enter that industry. And I know it is not easy. I know it is not easy because there are wage issues. There are income issues. There is cost of living. But seven Bermudians graduated from that programme and are moving into hospitality. And I wanted to say to the Minister of Economy and Labour and Department of Workforce Development, Well done on that initiative. We did see that the restaurants have come out . . . Some of the restaurant community have come out and said how they are having issues with staffing and various things, and this is actually a key example of a response to industry needs that we on this side of the aisle want to see more of from the Government [where the Government] is responding to those needs that are being stated by industry. So, I wanted to counterbalance what is probably going to be a more critical session when we return with giving those kudos to Government where it deserves it because I can tell you that trying to convince young people to go into hospitality and tourism at this stage is extremely difficult. I tried to talk my little brother into getting a job waiting tables, and he looked at me and said, No way. I want to play basketball. So, there are a lot of things that I know Government cannot control, but I was very happy to see that initiative. I just wanted to get to my feet to comBermuda House of Assembly mend that because that is something that is going to work in the favour of all of us. And on that note, I wanted to just wish a Happy Easter to my colleagues in the House on both sides. Hopefully I continue to improve as time goes on. I am a new Member, and I am hoping to, you know, glean that knowledge from not just my own colleagues but those on the other side who wish to engage. And I am looking to not only move in a way that represents my constituents well but also to make sure that we put Bermuda first in this place, in this Honourable House. And I understand you will hear criticism from me, [Madam] Deputy Speaker, but I wanted to clarify that the place that that criticism comes from is love for my country and my Island. And—
Mr. Dwayne RobinsonYes, I guess we could. We could debate about who is informed and who is not, but– [Inaudible interjections and laughter]
Mr. Dwayne Robinson—but before we get into that because you know . . . But you know I wanted to . . . I am going to stay on this wicket because we have— [Inaudible interjections]
Mr. Dwayne Robinson—a lot of time to get into that sort of discourse, but I wanted to just end it and say Happy Easter to my colleagues, to my constituents, and to the Island. I look forward to returning and doing the people’s business. And I appreciate the opportunity to be amongst …
—a lot of time to get into that sort of discourse, but I wanted to just end it and say Happy Easter to my colleagues, to my constituents, and to the Island. I look forward to returning and doing the people’s business. And I appreciate the opportunity to be amongst everyone in this Chamber and every Honourable Member in this Chamber. And I am sure we will do what is right for Bermuda. Thank you so much.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. Are there any other Members who wish to speak?
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYou may start. COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION BENCHMARKS
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanThank you, Madam [Deputy Speaker]. I want to thank the Honourable Member who just took his seat for the tone, and I will start off by wishing everyone out there a blessed Easter. It is cer-tainly a season that I, as a Christian, embrace with the meaning of it. I …
Thank you, Madam [Deputy Speaker]. I want to thank the Honourable Member who just took his seat for the tone, and I will start off by wishing everyone out there a blessed Easter. It is cer-tainly a season that I, as a Christian, embrace with the meaning of it. I want to invite everyone to come to St. George’s if they can. And if they cannot, then partake through YouTube and the videos that will be streamed of the Walk to Calvary, which has turned out [to be] a celebration of the passion of Christ into —even in Bermuda —a great tourism cultural event that I hope that in years to come will grow from strength to strength. And indeed, as we come up on this Bermuda Day when persons take their traditional first dip—some have taken it a lot sooner —I hope that all of our holidays will be received in the spirit that they are meant to and that we will go through them without incident. That is certainly worth praying for. Madam [Deputy] Speaker, I would like to share in this House as I come here at this time reflect-ing—next only to the Speaker of the House himself who was elected in 1989. I ran in 1983 as a 25- yearold, and it took me 25 years before I actually found myself in this Honourable House. But [I] never stopped trying. And [I] appreciate those who are coming here for the first time. I remember, Madam [Deputy] Speaker, when I first sat in the Legislature in another place. That first month we had a post -election seminar. And it was very, very important. And I know jurisdictions still have them. And I know funds are tight, and I am sure that there have been briefing sessions. But we interacted with other Members who were here prior. And to interact with some legends of that time when you have come into the Legislature is something that I hope that . . . And I will put it out there. I am putting [it] out there because sometimes it is important to share those good experiences. I remember, Madam, in 1999 going to my first CPA [Commonwealth Parliamentary Association] conference with the honourable, the late, Mr. Arthur Hodgson and Brother Derrick Burgess —me as an Opposition Senator —and Ms. Roach, the former Clerk of the Legislature. When we three Bermudians from different political persuasions captured the news arti252 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly cles of all of Trinidad because Derrick had on his Bermuda shorts and had on that straw hat, we all went out and got straw hats together. You know, by the time we left this Island . . . I, having represented Bermuda on numerous occasions in sport, knew that when you left this country you were one. It helped when we walked through the airport and the honourable Arthur Robinson’s picture was on the . . . in there the, . . . I believe he was the president of Trinidad. He might have been the Governor General or the like. He looked just like my father. Mr. Hodgson, I said, look at that. That was his brother -in-law. And he prayed over every meal we had. We bonded. We became very close to Tanzania at that time because we came together and lobbied on behalf of Pius Msekwa. Madam Deputy [Speaker], when you and I went to Tanzania, you know how Tanzania embraced us, and I do not have the time to get into that. But whenever we went overseas, even the time going overseas when I spoke on behalf of the CPA bench-marks to all of the African [nations] and the Commonwealth, we went with . . . one of the most robust, and she was once my colleague on Opposition, Madam Patricia Gordon- Pamplin. And we were in Uganda together with the Honourable Speaker, Honourable Lister. We worked together because when you left this country, you represented Bermuda as a team. We represent . . . I say that deliberately because it is important that every Member of this House equip themselves and learn something about these recommended CPA benchmarks. They are important. And I was proud to be able to present them. But I had to be honest and say there are some benchmarks that we do not measure up to yet. And I am not going here to reflect on a debate, but it bothered me today to listen to the Opposition Leader as he would not embrace the benchmarks of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. You know. He was way off the mark, and he led his party way off the mark. And as he has led his party way off the mark on benchmarks before. They went out there on a wicket with regard to the election saying, Call it. And you were not ready. You were not ready for this speech today either. [Laughter]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanAnd I am sure he will pay the price for that. I, you know, on my maiden speech . . . I have heard Members, and I have listened to them. And I applaud them. Someone asked me—one of the newer Members who came in in the bye- election. It …
And I am sure he will pay the price for that. I, you know, on my maiden speech . . . I have heard Members, and I have listened to them. And I applaud them. Someone asked me—one of the newer Members who came in in the bye- election. It was not Member King. It was my cousin from constituency 36 whom I canvased a lot on the West End for. And I told her. I said, Well one of the models that I followed was what Dame Lois Browne- Evans always shared when she took us down memory lane. That she got elected and ousted Sir Bayard Dill in Devonshire in 1963. And she did not rise to her feet immediately. She waited a long time before she got up. And I believe she was far more qualified than I ever will be to be able to speak in this Honourable House, far more learned. Notwithstanding, I am grateful to have learned coming to this House. I challenged people last week who want to serve. You know, you have to come up here. I mean, you know. I know people from all walks of life. I have heard persons celebrate their cultural heritage. And persons from the Portuguese community, I am very glad to see them here proudly embracing their cultural Portuguese heritage. You know, I come from Southampton. I cannot help but have Portuguese heritage. I grew up around DeMoura’ s and Medeiros and the like. And I was brought into politics not only by Walter King but [by] the first serving Portuguese Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, the Honourable Member Ralph Marshall. I spent many a Christmas in his house. Uncle Ralph. And I brought a lot of people into politics. [Inaudible interjections]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanAnd yes, and that is why I have a very varied and very diverse appreciation of other persons, because I make no apologies by telling people that I am appreciative of my diversity. I use it as my strength. I do not shy away from the fact that I come …
And yes, and that is why I have a very varied and very diverse appreciation of other persons, because I make no apologies by telling people that I am appreciative of my diversity. I use it as my strength. I do not shy away from the fact that I come from Southampton. I do not shy away from the fact that my family was down there in St. George’s long before most families were down there as well. But I am here to tell you that I have learned about it along the way. And I do not talk in code. I tell people that institutional racism exists in this country. And I am prepared to tell them how to tackle it because I have walked in spaces in the Deep South. I have been put in police stations around the world because of being profiled when I was in my 20s in Europe. I understand what it feels like. I can smell it. I can taste it. I can feel it. But I am committed to doing better, leaving this world better than I found it. I want to direct Members —all Members, but particularly new Members. You know, sometimes you can be easily misled because persons will look and listen to what people are saying. And I felt it my duty today to share with you from the Commonwealth Par-liamentary Association benchmarks. There are benchmarks —
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerYes. Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan: Oh, thank you. [Laughter]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanThe press is covered. When I came into the Legislature, the press sat there. They came up here. They listened. They took notes. They interviewed you. They asked you a question. They are not here. They have a responsibility. They make up some things of how they personally feel. They …
The press is covered. When I came into the Legislature, the press sat there. They came up here. They listened. They took notes. They interviewed you. They asked you a question. They are not here. They have a responsibility. They make up some things of how they personally feel. They should read these things so that when they make comments, when they go out there in the public and stick a microphone in somebody’s face [and] somebody says this, that, and the other, they are being responsible. And I have seen from [the time I was] a young man responsible journalists become very good politi-cians. I am going to name just one or two of them that I know. [One is] one of the most respected politicians in my lifetime, John Barritt, across the board. Dame Lois said, You know, I do not know why you are over in that crowd. I really like you and Barritt and Cole, and of course, Maxwell . She would say that. John Barritt was a journalist. Dame Jennifer Smith was a journalist. Alexander Scott was a journalist. David Allen was a journalist. [They] gave yeoman service to their country through journalism. There are benchmarks that deal with how we as a Legislature should treat the journalists, should give them space. There are benchmarks on how, you know . . . When I got into politics . . . and I got into politics when I was 14 or 15 years old. I told you that before. I shared that with you. But you know, my daughter got involved in Youth Parliament and represented Bermuda at the UN. And she has also been to Commonwealth Day and all the like. [She] grew up around politics. But the benchmarks say that ([for] some of you younger Members who have children) there should be facilities here for both the staff and the Members to care for [our] children so that they do not have to be separated. We have two young Members here and a young Premier. And well, you know, young Member here, you are not as young anymore. But they have young children—
[Laughter]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanI just made a little joke, but I am telling you. And they are giving valuable time away from their families. You have to think like that. You have to look at the benchmarks. The benchmark says something very, very significant, that the irresponsible behaviour today that I witnessed . …
I just made a little joke, but I am telling you. And they are giving valuable time away from their families. You have to think like that. You have to look at the benchmarks. The benchmark says something very, very significant, that the irresponsible behaviour today that I witnessed . . . And I am not going to reflect that. But it says: “In order to maintain a [decent ] standard of living and to upkeep his/her family, a Member shall not be placed in the position of having to sacrifice parliamentary responsibilities in order to pursue a competing career.” That is in the benchmarks that the CPA has. There are many of them that govern us . And if we really want to be responsible . . . I, as a one of the older Members, have a responsibility to protect the field. My sport . . . People say, Why do you talk about golf? Golf taught me how to be one thing— honest! It is the only sport where if you go in the bushes and the ball rolls, you have a fiduciary responsibility to penalise yourself. No other sport! Every other sport . . . You take a catch behind the stumps. Dennis Wainwright —may he rest in peace— he [would] catch you. He would cast somebody out. He knew you missed it. You were walking back. He took the cup and celebrated. [In] golf, you would say, No . And that is important. These benchmarks protect not only us but the staff in this Legislature as well. I have been here long enough to remember a very long- serving clerk. I mentioned Ms. Roach. I watched Ms. Wolffe come here. I remember being a young man, coming here, and watching a tennis pro be the Clerk to the Legislature, Mr. Smith. He taught up at Warwick Academy. He taught tennis at Belmont in the 1970s. I am old enough to remember when he was the Clerk to the Legislature. I believe Mr. Gilbert was the Clerk to the Legislature. I remember a lot of those things, but I am here to tell you that Members, and those aspiring to move on to be Members, can look it up. Google “CPA Benchmarks” and you can look at all these things that deal with a number of things. And there are things that we must do. And I will tell you this. In the five years . . . in the five years, well, I have been up here now eight years since 2017. . . I have not seen an Opposition motion.
[Inaudible interjection]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanI have not. I remember probably one of the last Opposition motions that probably— [Inaudible interjection]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanWell, I brought one on Commonwealth Parliamentary Benchmarks — [Inaudible interjections ]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanAnd I am going back . . . and that is how long . . . In the five years that we were Opposition, when I joined the PLP in 2014, you had an Opposition that was cracking. I used to be on the radio and listening to my radio. …
And I am going back . . . and that is how long . . . In the five years that we were Opposition, when I joined the PLP in 2014, you had an Opposition that was cracking. I used to be on the radio and listening to my radio. I am saying, These byes are hopping. Man! I am telling you—
[Inaudible interjections ] 254 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan: And as an Opposition Leader, yes. I could tell you this much as an Opposition Leader, I won three votes up in this House. I remember a Member telling me it never happened before, but that is a story for another day. I am here to say it is available. It is important. And I would encourage . . . because you know . . . Madam [Deputy] Speaker, you know being one of the older ones, I have a responsibility to share. I said it before. I never give anybody bad advice. It is up to them to figure out whether or not they are going to take it because it is me giving it. And I have been around long enough to have enough people calling me enough names (right?) to tell me I am up here for all the wrong reasons. Otherwise than what I have said in this House many [times is] there is not a person in this House that does not love this country. I would never say that about anybody. Everybody here loves this country. And I have not found a person that comes to this country that has not fallen in love with it either. But we have a self -hate for ourselves and those of us whom we have a difference with. And that is a problem that I have. And we are going to rectify that. And I am here to tell you that if I think you are missing the mark . . . Look, it pained me to listen to the Opposition Leader today. He came from Southampton Glebe. I know he did not go to Southampton Glebe when Dalton Tucker went there because if he would have been thinking like that, she would have given him some cracks with the cane like she gave me, like I know she gave the Honourable Member sitting across there from me even though she is a girl. If she had to give the girl a cane, she would give them it harder than she gave the boys because they would scream and they would not want to go down there for them no more. I am here to say — [Inaudible interjections and laughter ]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanWell, but today he was irresponsible to the nth degree because I am no longer speaking for me, although I know this: There are people coming behind me from all walks of life. A document like this, what it entails, and what has been written protects the field. I told …
Well, but today he was irresponsible to the nth degree because I am no longer speaking for me, although I know this: There are people coming behind me from all walks of life. A document like this, what it entails, and what has been written protects the field. I told you my trade is that of fairness. I do not want to beat you because you know I have got an edge. I want to beat you because I am the best. I have always been that way. The best at what I am. When I was in Alabama and I was the only Black person playing, and those boys used to say, Well, Swan, you are going to be low Black this week. And that was every week they would say that. When I used to win, I used to say I was low.
[Inaudible interjection]
Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. SwanTroy. Palm Beach. Charleston. You name it —wherever I went. But the point is this, is that you have to embrace fairness. And you cannot come here and not recognise that in this country there is still a strong es-sence of institutional racism that exists in this country. And it …
Troy. Palm Beach. Charleston. You name it —wherever I went. But the point is this, is that you have to embrace fairness. And you cannot come here and not recognise that in this country there is still a strong es-sence of institutional racism that exists in this country. And it comes from the origins that allow one person and a group of people to benefit more than another. And it exists. I am not shying away from it, but I am here to roll up my sleeves with others to figure out how we make it better. And so, because you figure, Well, I saw on the news last night, and it is good. I better go and tickle them out. You know, someone told me you know one thing about an Opposition: You do not have to be responsible. You can be as irresponsible as you want. But, you know, that works for getting some headlines. It certainly will work for getting some headlines in Bermuda. But the one thing [about] people [who] go to the polls that I have learned in the long time since I have been around [is] that you have to get their trust. They have to trust in the safe and sacred repository and know that they can tell you things that you will not go out there and repeat, that you can look out for the greater interest. And you can do that when you can speak honestly. The rules of this House should benefit someone who comes from the lowliest or the wealthiest. It should not be just for those who have it all. It is for everyone because we all equally love Bermuda. God’s greatest gift is love. The greatest gift he gave to everybody is the capacity to love. Have a great Easter.
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerThank you, Member. You finished just on time. Are there any other Members who wish to speak? I recognise the Premier. Premier, you have the floor. Hon. E. David Burt: Madam Deputy Speaker, I thought you would smile when you saw me get on my feet because that means we …
Thank you, Member. You finished just on time. Are there any other Members who wish to speak? I recognise the Premier. Premier, you have the floor.
Hon. E. David Burt: Madam Deputy Speaker, I thought you would smile when you saw me get on my feet because that means we are about to be done. [Inaudible interjection]
Hon. E. David Burt: No?
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerI am waiting for your speech. [Laughter] DIGITAL ASSET REGULATION—BERMUDA IS THE BELLE OF THE BALL GLOBALLY Hon. E. David Burt: All right, Madam Deputy Speaker. I have not been able to listen to all of the motion to adjourn because I did have to go back to the Bermuda …
I am waiting for your speech.
[Laughter]
DIGITAL ASSET REGULATION—BERMUDA IS THE BELLE OF THE BALL GLOBALLY
Hon. E. David Burt: All right, Madam Deputy Speaker. I have not been able to listen to all of the motion to adjourn because I did have to go back to the
Bermuda House of Assembly Cabinet Office to try to get some things done in advance of Cabinet next week, but I want to thank the Members that I listened to for their particular contributions, certainly to congratulate the two new Members who gave their maiden speeches this evening, both of whom are Somerset fans, which of course, you know . . . Make sure the balance is maintained inside—
[Desk thumping] Hon. E. David Burt: —this Honourable House—
The Deputy SpeakerDeputy SpeakerPoor them. Poor them. Let’s hear it for St. George’s. [Laughter] Hon. E. David Burt: Your numbers seem to be diminishing. [Laughter] Hon. E. David Burt: And I am certainly grateful to the Honourable Member from constituency 11, MP Famous for, you know, setting the record straight — almost mirroring …
Poor them. Poor them. Let’s hear it for St. George’s.
[Laughter]
Hon. E. David Burt: Your numbers seem to be diminishing. [Laughter]
Hon. E. David Burt: And I am certainly grateful to the Honourable Member from constituency 11, MP Famous for, you know, setting the record straight — almost mirroring what I said earlier —that when you do not like the results you try to redefine the rules. But the end of the fact is the result is —
[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. E. David Burt: —the second worst defeat in the One Bermuda Alliance ’s history and the second largest victory for the Progressive Labour Party . But we go on. I was grateful for the Minister of the Cabinet Office, you know, digging into his archives and shar-ing the information because when—
An Hon. Member An Hon. MemberCorrespondence. Hon. E. David Burt: —correspondence because when you were not here last week, Minister, and I had raised this particular issue, the Honourable Member from constituency 8 called you unparliamentary names. But the fact is that that has been produced, and I would encourage the Honourable Shadow Minister of …
Correspondence. Hon. E. David Burt: —correspondence because when you were not here last week, Minister, and I had raised this particular issue, the Honourable Member from constituency 8 called you unparliamentary names. But the fact is that that has been produced, and I would encourage the Honourable Shadow Minister of Education to reach out to the Minister of Education and hopefully set up that meeting so you all can actually understand because a theme that has been going on that we have heard from some Members is that we have to work together. And the Honourable Member from constituency 30, the new Member who has spoken two weeks in a row —
[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. E. David Burt: —I am not going to get the wrong numbers. I can count. Trust me, eh? [Laughter]
Hon. E. David Burt: The Member from constituency 30 says, you know, we have to work together and complimented initiatives of the Government. There are a lot of initiatives that go on for the Government, but if you take what you hear and your intelligence from what you hear on the blogs or everything else — whatever you read —without understanding the facts, it will do the people of this country a disservice. And that is not to say that we believe that everything is perfect. We know full well that it is not. [There are] frustrations that Ministers have on a daily basis on things that we want to be operating better, but the fact is that there is good that is going on. And there is more good that we can do together. And it was great to hear the contributions from the Member for St. George’s, constituency 1, speaking about the importance of the Public Accounts Committee and the importance of removing the political agendas from the work that is done here in this Legislature. I will not reflect, but that is something that I had said earlier inside of debate —that the work of the Legislature is particularly important.
[Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair]
Hon. E. David Burt: But none of that stuff is what I got up to talk about today, Mr. Speaker . I would be remiss. [There was] an excellent contribution from the Government Whip because some of the sentiments of which she expressed are the exact same sentiments that I expressed. You know, my family and I joke, you know, if it rains, that it is like, Oh my goodness . It is the PLP's fault. Not enough rain? It is the PLP's fault. And that is the reality, but it is important for us to all be a part of the solution and work together. That is what we need to do here. That is the promise. That is the outreach. Reach out to the parties. Unfortunately, I said that I was going to reach out to the Independents. We have a meeting that is scheduled for next Monday. Unfortunately, it is going to have to be postponed because I have some important work that I have to make sure that I complete in front of Cabinet on Tuesday.
[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. E. David Burt: It is a bunch because you know there is the Independent Party and then there are In-dependents, and you do not know which ones are which ones and all the rest.
[Laughter and Inaudible interjection] Hon. E. David Burt: But that much being said . . . Yes, they are all gone. He said they were coming, and 256 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly I think they came anyhow. You all are trying to distract me. Craig, be nice. So, it is important that we work together. It is important that we try to check our biases. Now I heard the Honourable Member from constituency 10 say that he is going to bring a private Bill on roadside sobriety or something. I would just sincerely hope that he takes advantage of Honourable and Learned Member s who sit on his side to get the particular advice around the constitutional matters and natures of this. And we have to recognise that this is something that had been promised for a very long time and is something that we delivered, but there were constitutional matters that we needed to get past. And so, I know that it is a catchy phrase, Oh let’s do this , but we have to make sure that we are working together understanding. So, I hope that the Honourable Member will take up the invitation of the Minister of National Security to get educated about these matters so that we can raise the level of debate here on actual issues, on actual facts, and not matters that are just purely conjecture. Now, what I will say is that these jobs are not easy, Mr. Speaker. You know that. And I joke with my friends how much I used to love traveling before I got this job. And whenever there was a trip to be organised, whether it was to go, you know, watch football or go to some big event, the first person they called was Burt. They are like: Do not worry. We will call Burt. He will organise the trip and get it all done. But now, you know, in this job it is kind of like when a trip comes up, I begin to get a little bit anxious. I get anxious only because my office does a great job of scheduling me from morning until night. And then when I get back, you know, the emails do not stop, and the work still needs to continue. But I am not complaining, Mr. Speaker, because I said at the very start it is an honour to do these jobs. I wanted to speak about my trip to Washington DC if I could briefly. And I will, you know, apologise to the House that I was not able to put together a Ministerial Statement to cover all these particular matters, and we are not coming back until May. So, that is important. But my heart is full, Mr. Speaker. And here is why.
[Inaudible interjections ]
Hon. E. David Burt: Hey, listen up. You might learn something about what is in your Throne Speech [Reply].
[Inaudible interjections ]
Hon. E. David Burt: Listen up. You might learn something about what is in your Throne Speech Reply. [Inaudible interjections and laughter ] Hon. E. David Burt: So here is what happened, Mr. Speaker. You know, I went to Cabinet on Tuesday — reviewed the budget in Cabinet on Tuesday —got in a and plane to go to DC, joined by the Honourable Minister for Economy and Labour who has responsibility for economic development. And we were going to attend and accept an invitation to the DC Blockchain [Summit]. Now, as you would know, Mr. Speaker, the attitude around digital assets in the United States has changed due to the new administration. And our Washin gton DC team scheduled a full day of meetings for the Minister and me on Wednesday and also on Thursday morning before getting on a plane to come back home. The time was extraordinarily busy. I cannot remember how many members of Congress we met with both officially and not, but, I mean, it was a significant amount. But any particular trip when you get to have a conversation with the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, who I have met previously, who actually came to Bermuda for a vacation, made it a point to stop by my office, and also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking[, Housing, and Urban Affairs,] who I had the opportunity to meet before as well . . . But to renew those acquaintances . . . Those are important of course because they are both the committees that oversee insurance, and insurance of course being our primary industry. They are both well familiar with it. But they also are the committees that are going to have a part of the oversight of digital assets. Now, why is this important, Mr. Speaker? Why is the Premier getting up and talking about digital as-sets again—FinTech, blockchain, digital finance, whatever new thing we want to call it?
[Inaudible interjection]
Hon. E. David Burt: I will tell you. Do not worry. Do not worry, Honourable Member Fahy. You will get it.
[Inaudible interjection and laughter ]
Hon. E. David Burt: I am talking about it because, Mr. Speaker, my heart is full. I do not often get as good and positive feelings as I did. Sometimes a trip to DC is a slog. Sometimes, you know, you are meeting with people. Sometimes your meetings get blown off. Other times, you know, they got a staff, or there is a vote. There is something else that has to happen. But [at] this meeting, people wanted to talk to Bermuda. And why did they want to talk to Bermuda? Because we are the belle of the ball right now when it comes to digital asset regulation globally. And, Mr. Speaker, my heart is full because I remember the ridicule that this Government received—former Honourable Member , my cousin Wayne Caines, and me—for pressing ahead so hard on digital assets, [for] saying that we believed in the long-term vision. [I remember] being criticised for all
Bermuda House of Assembly the travel, being criticised for going and telling Bermuda’s story, being criticised for all those things without recognising, understanding, that those types of things, that outreach, that stress, that time away from family, those long trips where you have to double up and do work over there and work back here is all worth it. Because, Mr. Speaker, over the last six years since we have started this, the Digital Asset Business Act 2018 — [Inaudible interjection]
Hon. E. David Burt: Oh, seven years. The Digital Asset Business Act 2018 was passed in May of 2018. We are going on seven years now, Mr. Speaker. Over that time there have been many pretenders —I will call them —in this House. I am referring to other jurisdictions, not people, other jurisdictions that have risen up, fallen back, and failed. Others have tried to, you know, say, Oh, we are the next Bermuda. Oh, we are this and all the rest, and have failed. But Bermuda continues to stand tall in this industry. And it is an understatement to say that people, Mr. Speaker , are taking notice. When you are meeting in rooms with congresspersons with their staff, the people who are chairing subcommittees specifically responsible for digital assets, and they are asking you for your advice on how they should handle the particular challenges of which they have, then you know they are on the right track. When you are in meetings and the staff are referencing the fact that when they are putting stuff together, they are referring to what we have done here in Bermuda to make sure they get it right in the United States, that is how you know it is on the right track. When founders are saying, This is incredible what you are doing there in Bermuda. We are moving our company there. We have heard a lot of good things. We understand what it is you are doing. You know that you are on the right track. And here is the thing, Mr. Speaker. The old cricket analogy is, you know, stick to the wicket and the runs will come. Here is the fact. You cannot worry about the little mistakes and errors that may happen along the way because we all make them. As we head up to Easter, it is often said none of us are Jesus, so we will all make mistakes. None of us . . . But the fact is that this work that is happening, the progress that Bermuda is making, the attention that is being brought, the investment in jobs that are coming to this country, is because—
[Crosstalk]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerHey, hey. [Gavel] Hon. E. David Burt: The jobs and investment that are coming to this country are because we have stuck to the wicket despite the attacks from the Opposition, despite the attacks from the media. And you know the greatest part about this all, Mr. Speaker, is I …
Hey, hey.
[Gavel] Hon. E. David Burt: The jobs and investment that are coming to this country are because we have stuck to the wicket despite the attacks from the Opposition, despite the attacks from the media. And you know the greatest part about this all, Mr. Speaker, is I remember last week that I got to read a speech from the Opposition Leader of Bermu-da saying that we should embrace this industry and press it forward —a massive turnaround from where we are. Now that is a good thing because the fact is, Mr. Speaker, as we know when we come back here, we are going to be talking about the budget. There is also something else that is going to be happening at the beginning of May, and that is that Bermuda is going to be hosting a Digital Finance Forum. And this Digital Finance Forum is going to be hosted by the company Salt, who puts on puts on major conferences around the world, the Decentralized AI Society (as we press forward into matters related to artificial intelligence), and also Penrose Partners, who have done events here and are doing a coordinated event. But here is what is important to note, Mr. Speaker. What is important to note is that some of the biggest names in the global digital assets digital fi-nance industry are coming to Bermuda. You do not just pick jurisdictions like this where the Government is not coming out of pocket and paying you to host something if you are not on the right track. Our bodies here, our companies here, are stepping up to sponsor this, and it is going to be an incredible event. And what I want to encourage is Members opposite but also Members on our side to make sure that you take the time to attend and learn about what it is that we are building here in Bermuda because we are leading the world in many aspects. Here is the thing that warms my heart the most about what is going to happen in May. Though we can boast about the fact that we have attracted some of the largest companies in the space, that we can boast about the fact that these companies are doing billions of dollars, though we can be happy about the fact that some of these companies are actually going to be paying corporate income tax here in Bermuda (not just insurance companies), the one thing that we have not gotten right is digital asset adoption. Did I get that right? The one thing that we have not gotten right in Bermuda is digital asset adoption. But here is the thing, Mr. Speaker . At this conference that is being put on in May, every single at-tendee—I think may have mentioned it last week, but I have to mention it again— every single attendee from our local high school students to all the rest who are going to be able to attend the community today that is going to take place on the Wednesday, everyone, will get a digital wallet that will be loaded with $100 of digital currency that they are going to be able to use. We are trying to now speed adoption. We are at the place, Mr. Speaker, where we are going to be 258 28 March 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda House of Assembly able to be at that reality where the young kid who is, you know, the young Bermudian who is at that checkout line in MarketPlace or Lindo’s or wherever else, will be able to put a QR code around their neck. And they can scan that and give them the tip. This is where we are actually going on a regulated environment with people who are building that free of charge. It is no longer the Government doing it, Mr. Speaker. It is industry that is working together to put this on. And so that, Mr. Speaker, is why my heart is warm because despite the challenges, despite the obstacles that we face, we are pressing ahead with this industry and people around the world are taking notice. So, with the new spirit of recognition of the importance of this industry from the Opposition, I look forward to whole- hearted support of this endeavour, which is going to take place in Bermuda from May 6 to 9 here in the City of Hamilton. And I am really looking forward to seeing what we can push because in digital finance, what we are doing in the Ministry of Finance, it is not just the tradi-tional FinTech. We are talking about changing the way that people interact, and it is going to be possible for that young boy or girl who is collecting that digital currency to immediately go into their wallet, and they will be able to earn interest as soon as they get that money. This is the future. We are beginning to get to the space where you no longer are going to need to rely on the banks —no longer need to rely on this. This is what we are building and pioneering here in Bermuda, Mr. Speaker. And it is going to be incredibly exciting. So [regarding] that trip Minister Hayward and I were on, he can attest to the fact that people are excited to know what it is they are doing. They are coming here looking to build and are thrilled with what ecosystem we have to deliver. Now, as I say, Mr. Speaker, when we come back, there will be a budget. But before the budget, of course, there is a holiday. And I would like to close out my remarks just like the rest of my honourable colleagues and wish the entire country a safe and a happy Good Friday and a blessed Easter Sunday. Now I will get back to Easter, but I also want to recognise that, of course, on Monday it will be the end of Ramadan. Our Muslim brothers and sisters have been celebrating Ramadan, so in advance, I would like to wish all of our Muslim brothers and sisters who are celebrating a blessed eve when it comes on Monday for the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the time of fasting. Easter is a part of our culture, Mr. Speaker . It is something that we all enjoy —the festivities. I sincerely hope that all of us will support the security ser-vices as they aim to keep us safe. There have been a few incidents recently, and the Minister of National Security asserts that they are going to be dealing with that. But I sincerely hope that we are there. And as the Honourable Minister who is responsible for culture has said, we have to celebrate and be proud of our culture. And so, I hope that this Easter holiday, Mr. Speaker, we will understand the meaning of culture, understand the meaning of that holiday, and look to come back on May 2 nd refreshed after getting a blessing on Easter Sunday for those of us that are part of the Christian faith. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Inaudible interjections ]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThank you, Minister Premier. Thank you, Members, for your participation in the debate today. And as we close for this session where we will have a break before we come back in May, it has been a short session, but let me say that I have enjoyed this session because …
Thank you, Minister Premier. Thank you, Members, for your participation in the debate today. And as we close for this session where we will have a break before we come back in May, it has been a short session, but let me say that I have enjoyed this session because we started the session coming from an election. The election ended where there was much conversation about the negativity that had taken place and that we do not want to see that growing. We should see it being diminished. And what we have seen in the last three sittings here, these three sittings, is some of that flowing over, that we have been a lot more cordial towards each other in this Chamber, and I welcome that and trust that that will be the tone that is set for when we come back in May. Members, enjoy this time away from here. This season of the year is always one of those times when we try to spend more time with our families and friends, and particularly now, particularly now, take advantage of it and appreciate those that you have, that you love, who are close to you. And just value the fact that they are here to celebrate with you still. With that, we close this House. Be safe, and we will see you on the 2 nd of May. And there was one housekeeping piece. There is one that I forgot to announce, that MP Dickinson had informed us he would not be here as well. Be safe, Members.
[Gavel]
The SpeakerThe SpeakerThe House stands adjourned. [At 9:30 pm, the House stood adjourned until 10:00 am, Friday, 2 May 2025.]