December 8, 2023

Thank you. The second? You are doing
them both. Okay.

FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE
YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2021, 2022, 2023
Hon. Kathy Lynn Simmons: Yes.
I also have the honour to attach and submit for
the information of the House of Assembly Audited Financial Statements for the Bermuda Financial Intelligence Agency for the years ended the 31
st of March
2021 ; the 31st of March 2022; and the 31st of March
2023 . Thank you, Mr. Speaker .

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to attach and
submit for the consideration of the Honourable House
of Assembly the Tourism Investment (Ariel Sands) Or-der 2023, proposed to be made by the Minister responsible for Tourism under section 3 of the Tourism Inves tment Act 2017, with written agreement of the Minister
of Finance in exercise of the power conferred by section 5 of the Tourism Investment Act 2017.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to attach and
submit for the consideration of the Honourable House of Assembly the Tourism Investment (Bermudiana
Beach Resort) Order 2023 , proposed to be made by
the Minister responsible for Tourism under section 3 of the Tourism Investment Act 2017, as applied by section
13[(2)]B of the Bermuda Housing Act 1980, with written
agreement of the Minister of Finance in exercise of the
power conferred by section 5 of the Tourism Invest-ment Act 2017.

We have six Statements this morning.
The first Statement is in the name of the Premier.
Premier, would you like to present your Statement? The first is the UA E [United Arab Emirates] visit.

Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr.
Speaker. And good morning, Mr. Speaker. It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair this morning.

Good morning. Pleasure to be here.
UAE VISIT TO ABU DHABI
FINANCE WEEK AND COP28

Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide this Honourable House with an overview of my recent visit to the United Arab Emirates for Abu Dhabi Finance Week and the 28th session of the Conference of
the Parties, more widely known as COP28, in Dubai.
COP28 is the largest and most important environmental event of the year and also a diplomatic event
where government leaders, business leaders, innovators, scientists and more gather in one location. This
provides the opportunity for valuable meetings, bot h
scheduled and unscheduled, that are of great benefit to
the governments or organisations represented and
which emphasises the need for the Government to ensure that Bermuda is well represented throughout the
duration of the annual meeting.
Abu Dhabi Finance Week is a gathering of
global financial leaders featuring the leaders of the
most significant hedge funds, family offices, financial
services firms, regional regulators and high- level representatives from the United Arab Emirates Government.
Mr. Speaker, one of my first engagements was
with officials from the Mubadala Investment Company at their headquarters in Abu Dhabi. This formal meeting
was a follow -up to informal discussions the Chairman
of the Bermuda Public Funds Investment Committee,
Mr. Barclay Simmons, and I held with the Chairman and
Managing Director of Mubadala in March. At this meeting representatives from Masdar were also present, [and] we outlined opportunities for renewable energy
investment in Bermuda and infrastructure investment opportunities that were of interest to Mubadala.
Following that productive meeting, I met with
His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, the Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs responsible for Competitiveness
and Knowledge Exchange, to discuss the Government
Experience Exchange Programme currently offered by
the United Arab Emirates. This meeting was a follow -
up to meetings that I held with UAE Government minis-ters in Abu Dhabi in March where this programme was
initially discussed. The UAE has extended this programme to over 30 countries including CARCICOM countries with close relations with the UAE, such as
Barbados and Guyana. The programme includes extended ministerial visits and technical officer training in
the United Arab Emirates.
In addition to enhancing human resources, this
programme assists governments in setting up one- stop
shop customer service centres and establishing government accelerators with the ultimate objective of embedding a culture of continued enhancement of government processes. According to the International Institute
for Management Development, the UAE currently
ranks number one in the world in the ability of government policy to adapt to change, while the World Economic Forum ranks the UAE third globally for its reBermuda House of Assembly sponsiveness to change. Participation in this programme can only benefit Bermuda, and I am pleased
that this has advanced from informal discussions in
March to concrete next steps for Bermuda’s involvement.
Mr. Speaker, during Abu Dhabi Finance Week
a significant milestone was achieved with the signing of
a memorandum of understanding [MOU] with the Emirates Family Office Association [EFOA], which I signed
on behalf of the Honourable Member, the Minister of
Economy and Labour. This MOU advances Bermuda's initiative to attract additional high- net-worth family offices in line with the Government’s economic development strategy .
Mr. Speaker, under the terms of the MOU, the
Emirates Family Office Association will establish a physical branch in Bermuda within the next 12 months. This commitment signifies the strengthening ties between Bermuda and the Middle East both in the public
and private sectors. Furthermore, we anticipate family
office delegations from the Emirate Family Office Asso-ciation to visit Bermuda next year. Mr. Speaker, I commend the Honourable Member, the Minister of Economy of Labour , and his team, supported by our Middle
East representative, Ms . Alexia Hefti, for securing this
agreement.
Following the signing of the MOU, I was invited
by the Commonwealth Secretary -General, Baroness
Patricia Scotland, to attend a reception with His Majesty the King, highlighting Women Climate Leaders
and Small Island Developing States organised by the
Commonwealth Secretariat and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office [FCDO ]. At this event
global insurance leaders were also assembled, as one
of the themes for COP28 was climate finance, a space
where Bermuda has expended significant effort. At the
event I was pleased to share with His Majesty and Baroness Scotland the work that Bermuda has done to promote our Island as a hub for climate finance. The reception also allowed me to meet and have an extended
discussion with Lord Cameron, the United Kingdom
Foreign Secretary.
Mr. Speaker, it is also vital that every opportunity is taken to engage with key stakeholders with a significant presence in Bermuda who were present in
the UAE for COP28 . Following our meeting at the Commonwealth reception, and at their request , I met with
Eric Anderson, President of Aon Global, and Bridget Gainer, [Aon] Global Head of Public Affairs and Policy,
to have a frank exchange on matters related to Bermuda’s insurance industry and how to advance the climate risk finance goals of Bermuda.
Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, December 3, I had
the honour of meeting with Deputy Director General
Khalifa Abdulla Al Qubaisi and Investment Department
Director Rashed Al Kaabi , [both] of the Abu Dhabi Fund
for Development [ADFD ]. Our discussions centred
around several renewable energy projects in Bermuda
as highlighted in our new investment brochure that was prepared for this trip that I will table for the information
of Honourable Members, and potential support from the
Abu Dhabi Fund for Development , particul arly through
the IRENA -ADFD Energy Transition Accelerat or Financ ing Platform, for which Mr . Al Qubaisi signalled his
support.
Mr. Speaker, the same day , I had the pleasure
to tour Dubai's Sustainable City hosted by Chairman Fares Abu Baker of the SEE Institute. The Sustainable
City is a pioneering community of 500 villas that spans
113 acres and is the Middle East’s first fully operational sustainable com munity. Further sustainable cities are
planned or under construction by this organisation in
the Middle East, Africa and North America. The SEE
Institute also hosted the entire Bermuda delegation, including Bermuda’s youth delegation to COP28, for
what was designated Bermuda Day. About 100 attendees joined us as Bermuda showcased our I sland’s
commitment to sustainability and contributions to the
fight against global climate change.
The highlight of the event was a keynote address from the Honourable Member, the Deputy Premier. In addition, there was a youth panel featuring Bermuda’s Youth Delegate, Ms. Noelle Young, a showing
of a video highlighting Bermuda’s coral reefs, and a
“dune- side chat ” where I highlighted Bermuda's vision
for a robust partnership with the UAE grounded in
shared values and collaboration.
Mr. Speaker, my engagements continued on
Monday, December 4, with an interview on Dubai TV where I discussed our COP28 objectives, Bermuda ’s
commitment to decarbonising Bermuda through the electrification of our I sland’s vehicles and aiming for net
zero by 2050 in alignment with the Paris Agreement.
Later that day at COP28 I met with Peter Abraam, Chief
Strategy and Growth Officer of International Holding Company (IHC), the largest public company in the
United Arab Emirates . IHC subsidiaries hosted a
presentation for Bermuda showcasing their technology solutions for governments in digital health and digital
tax collection, which were appropriate given the recent
announcements by the Honourable Member, the Minister of Health, and the forthcoming global minimum
tax.
Mr. Speaker, as part of our COP28 participation, on Tuesday, December 5, I delivered the keynote
address on the Island of Hope ’s stage at the Island
Voices at COP28, a gathering of small island states hosted by Island Innovation. This was an occasion where we celebrated the unique identities, cultures and
traditions of small island states while recognising our
pivotal roles in the pr essing need for global action on
climate change and environmental conservation. I shared the rich history of our sustainabili ty and conservation initiatives, which date back centuries to the pass-ing of legislation to protect sea turtles in 1620.
At the same time I highlighted Bermuda's role
in the global insurance and reinsurance sector, which
is crucial to managing climate risks. Our experience in
184 8 December 2023 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly underwriting catastrophe reinsurance positions us as
leaders in climate risk finance, aiming to close the
global protection gap. This effort is part of our broader
commitment to combating climate change, demonstrating the impact that small island states can have. We are not just participants but active contributors sharing our
expertise and plans for a sustainable future. I called for
all small island states to continue punching above our
weight in protecting the environment as we have done
in other sectors .
Later that day Bermuda sponsored a lunch at
the DMCC [Dubai Multi Commodities Centr e] in Dubai,
where I delivered an address to Mr. Massamba Thioye,
head of the UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub,
and assembled delegates. Following this address I was
invited to an impromptu meeting with the Executive
Chairman of the DMCC, Mr. Ahmed Bin Sulayem, who
is one of the largest real estate developers in Dubai ,
responsible for the construction of Jumeirah Lakes
Towers development, which consists of 87 high- rise
towers that make up the DMCC. That afternoon, to
close out a hectic day, at the invitation of HSBC [the
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited] ,
I opened a session at COP28 which was attended by
finance officials from Saudi Arabia, Germany and Singapore to discuss ESG [environmental, social and governance) financing and investment strategies for countries.
Mr. Speaker, on December 6, the final engagement of my visit to the UAE was a meeting with His Ex-cellency Dr . Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE’s
Minister of State for Foreign Trade, where we advanced the development of economic cooperation between the U nited Arab Emirates and Bermuda, focusing on hospitality and infrastructure opportunities. It
was my second meeting with Dr. Thani this year, and it
was an excellent close to a productive trip where we were able to review the entirety of our visit to the UAE,
advance the renewal of agreements signed in 2015 between the United Arab Emirates and Bermuda, and discuss the next steps for further agreements to increase
investment flows from the U nited Arab Emirates to Bermuda.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, on December 6, due to
the work of the team s in the Ministry of Economy and
Labour and the Bermuda Business Development
Agency, there was a Bermuda insert in Gulf News , the
most circulated English- language news paper in the region, which highlighted Bermuda and the investment
opportunities that we have been promoting in the re-gion. This well -timed insert resulted from months of
planning and punctuated Bermuda’s re- introduction to
the region.
Mr. Speaker, it should also be noted that during
this time I still participated in remote meetings in Ber-muda, including this week’s Cabinet meeting, the As-sociation of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers’ quarterly board meeting and the December meeting of Ber-muda’s Financial Policy Council. In addition, I held me-dia engagements with local and international news, including interviews with Bermuda Broadcasting, Dubai
TV and The Insurer TV.
Mr. Speaker, Bermuda’s visit to the United
Arab Emirates surrounding COP28 was a success,
marking significant advancements in Bermuda's global
partnerships and our ongoing leadership in environmental initiatives. We forged new partnerships,
strengthened ex isting relationships and showcased
Bermuda's dedication to sustainable development and
climate action on the global stage. The Honourable
Minister, the Deputy Premier, is still in the UAE participating in negotiations. I look forward to hi s updating this
Honourable House on his engagements in the U nited
Arab Emirates when he returns next week.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier.
Mr. Premier, would you like to do your second
Statement at this time? (Have a little water to freshen
your throat .) Go right ahead.

TABLING OF THE
CORPORATE INCOME TAX ACT 2023

Hon. E. David Burt: Good morning again, Mr.
Speaker.
Mr. Speaker , I rise to give notice to this Honourable House that later today I will be tabling the Cor-porate Income Tax Act 2023 on behalf of the Government. This landmark legislation represents a major
milestone in the most fundamental tax reform in Ber-muda’s modern history. The tabling of this Bill presents
an opportunity for Bermuda to charter a path toward
meaningful tax reform that will significantly reduce the
cost of living and the cost of doing business in this
country, leading to further economic prosperity and economic stability.
Mr. Speaker , since 2015 the Organisation for
Economic Co- operation and Development (known as
the OECD), in collaboration with the Group of 20 industrialised countries (G20), have worked to address the
issue of base erosion and profit shifting. In October
2021 a global agreement was reached to make mate-rial changes to the global tax system that would impose
a minimum tax rate of 15 per cent on the corporate profits of large multinational enterprise groups to be applied
in every jurisdiction in which they had a corporate footprint, commonly referred to as the global minimum tax
[or GMT] .
Mr. Speaker , in response and in keeping consistent with our approach to matters affecting our international business sector, the Government determined it would be prudent to receive input from tax experts
from industry and other sources. Thus, in January 2023 the Government empanelled an international tax working group consisting of lawyers, accountants and other
corporate tax experts to review the global minimum tax


Bermuda House of Assembly in detail and recommend an efficient framework to uphold Bermuda’s value proposition and continued compliance with existing commitments to the OECD and
European Union [EU]. The working group considered
several options to address the challenges surrounding
the global minimum tax, and after much consultation
the Government, based off of the recommendation of
the working group, decided to introduce a corporate income tax regime, as it provides the most flexibility and
allows for the introduction of policy -driven design features, which are common in many other countries, that will benefit Bermuda.
Mr. Speaker , it is worth noting that such a substantial tax rule change to the global tax system initially
placed Bermuda in a challenging position, but the tabling of this Bill gives me tremendous pride because in
true Bermuda fashion we adapted to these significant
changes and identified ways to maximise the benefit.
Mr. Speaker , with the Bill that will be tabled
later today, the Government plans to introduce a 15 per
cent corporate income statutory tax that will be applicable to Bermuda businesses that are part of a multinational group with annual revenue of [€]750 million or
more. The corporate income tax will also fulfil Bermuda's commitment to participate in the global minimum
tax initiative being implemented around the world.
Mr. Speaker , the Bill states the corporate income tax will be a covered tax under the OECD’s global
minimum tax eligibility rules, namely , one that is recognised within the OECD tax framework. This approach
aims to minimis e top-up taxes levied on Bermuda multinational enterprises in other jurisdictions where they
operate. The corporate income tax legislation also contains highly technical tax terminology , which is mostly
taken directly from the OECD’s GloBE [Global Anti -
Base Erosion] (Pillar Two) rules, which describes the
process for calculating the tax and other administrative
matters.
Mr. Speaker , it is important for the public to
note that the corporate income tax legislation will come
into force in its entirety in January 2025, which would
provide multinational enterprises time to transition and
make the necessary adjustments.
Mr. Speaker , finally, as part of the new corporate income tax regime, the Government of Bermuda is
developing a robust package of qualified refundable tax
credits [ QRTCs ] aimed to support Bermuda's economic
goals and maintain our global attractiveness as a jurisdiction. Investments by corporations that meet the qualified refundable tax credit requirements will benefit Bermuda in key areas including infrastructure, education,
health care, innovation and housing. In parallel, the Tax
Reform Commission will analyse Bermuda's existing
tax regimes and consider potential restructuring alternatives with the goal of reducing the cost of living and
the cost of doing business on the Island. Thus, it is expected that there will be more legislation related to this
important work presented to this Legislature in the upcoming year. Mr. Speaker , before I close it must also be emphasised that the Government actively collaborated
with stakeholders to ensure policy recommendations
were appropriate for Bermuda’s industry sectors and
then conducted three public consultations to advance
this initiative. The feedback received was detailed,
thoughtful and overwhelmingly supportive of the initiative. And I would like to take this opportunity to publicly
thank all of those who made submissions.
Mr. Speaker , I must also thank all of those persons who worked tirelessly to make today a reality. I
must express my heartfelt thanks to the members of the
International Tax Working Group, whose significant expertise, dedication, professionalism and positive approach allowed us to have a product Bermuda can be
proud of. Mr. Speaker , I also want to commend those
persons on the Finance Ministry team who worked
countless hours on this project and ensured that Bermuda’s goals in this regard were achieved within the
deadlines. I am also grateful , Mr. Speaker, for the support and significant work of the drafting team in the Attorney General’s Chambers led by the Honourable
Member, the Attorney General , as well as to other public officers and our team of consultants who helped with
this important initiative.
Mr. Speaker , in closing I would note that this
Government has continually demonstrated its commitment to prudent fiscal management, sound economic
policies, compliance with international standards, effective cooperation with international partners and taking
the necessary steps to ensure that our reputation for
quality is upheld in a way that maintains our competitive
position. This legislation is a primary example of this commitment , and its tabling in this Honourable House
today is yet another step to c ontinuing to build a
stronger future for Bermuda that is fairer and more equitable for all.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Good morning.

UPDATE ON THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN

Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Speaker, you will recall that
the Economic Recovery Plan [ERP] combines fiscal responsibility with a clear path to growth, employment
and more significant economic development under
seven themes.
Mr. Speaker, across the themes there are 30
commitments and several stakeholders inside and outside the Government are involved in the planning and
186 8 December 2023 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly executing of the various initiatives. Of the 30 commitments, just over two- thirds, or about 20 initiatives, have
been successfully implemented with measurable out-comes, and over 80 per cent of the initiatives are on
track. The ongoing implementation of these initiatives
has contributed to greater levels of economic activity
and the expansion of Bermuda’s economy. Some of
these include the following initiatives in particular:
a. Economic Investment Residential Certificates;
b. Extension of the Temporary Residency Certificate [one year];
c. Online SME [Small and Medium- sized Enterprises] marketplace;
d. Establish a subsea communications sector;
e. Implement minimum wages;
f. Lower interest rates to reduce mortgage costs;
g. BEDC’s [Bermuda Economic Development Corporation’s] COVID -19 support to small and
medium- sized businesses;
h. Increased affordable housing;
i. Uptown Development Authority in North East Hamilton;
j. Youth Employment Strategy;
k. Reduce medicine costs;
l. Energy Regulatory Sandbox; and
m. Economic Empowerment Zone (EEZ) in South
East Hamilton.
Mr. Speaker, some of these initiatives remain
a work in progress due to the enormity of the projects.
One such example is the Tynes Bay Waste- to-Energy
project, a massive infrastructure project of national significance. This project involves a partnership with
KPMG, working with the Ministry of Public Works tech-nical officers to bring this plan forward. The anticipated outcome is a refurbished Tynes Bay that burns trash
more efficiently, reuses wastewater, produces energy to power the plant and enables the government to sell
surplus energy to BELCO. This initiative also allows
young Bermudian engineers to gain valuable project
management and development skills as they work to
complete the planning and delivery of this state- of-theart facility.
Mr. Speaker, a key stakeholder in the execution of the Economic Recovery Plan initiatives is the
Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, tasked
with leading the development and implementation of
several projects within the ERP. The BEDC leads the
establ ishment of an online marketplace for small and
medium- sized local businesses. I am happy to share
that, following the completion of the IT platform and the enabling mechanisms, BEDC launched the initiative
last month during Global Entrepreneurship Week. This
platform is an excellent opportunity for Bermuda’s entrepreneurs to grow their brands locally and internationally, and I encourage and welcome BEDC’s 300 registered businesses to participate.
Mr. Speaker, the BEDC has also experienced
success with establishing residential developments in the east, west and central parish economic empowerment zones. While initiatives of this type take time to
gain the desired traction, significant steps have been
made, particularly with properties in the Pembroke
EEZ. Overseas investors have expressed inter est and
made material commitments to redeveloping an existing property in the south north[east] of the City of Hamilton. This success will be a catalyst for additional investments.
Mr. Speaker, Bermuda has been learning to
live with the long- term impacts of the pandemic and
COVID -19. While navigating the pandemic’s uncertainty, the Government ensured that small businesses
received the support they needed to survive. Through
the highly efficient BEDC, the Government provided
millions of dollars in financial relief so that small and
medium- sized businesses and their staff could remain
afloat during that difficult time.
Mr. Speaker, the Government has established
the required regulatory framework to create the foun-dation for specific economic investment. The Government has done its due diligence to ensure that ERP initiatives are enabled or enshrined in law to help provi de
investment and economic opportunities that support the creation of jobs, increase the population, and offer
investment opportunities. Recently, for example, establishing the subsea communications sector resulted in Google’s taking advantage of the oppor tunity provided
through the new legislation to invest in Bermuda.
Mr. Speaker, another completed and ongoing
ERP initiative is the excellent work done to reduce the
cost of many on Island medicines. It was instrumental
that the Bermuda Health Council created a National Drug Formulary to improve decision making. This formulary will continue to review and determine with
stakeholders what will be considered critical medicines.
Obtaining essential data on the use and pricing of medications from pharmacies and wholesalers will help improve access, set maximum pricing and reduce consumer costs of such medicines.
Mr. Speaker, another success story emerging
from the ERP is the recent announcement of the [completion] of additional affordable housing units under the
leadership of the Bermuda Housing Corporation. It was
in the works for a short while, and the Government was pleased to add this economic activity to the market.
More importantly, adding affordable homes for Bermudians is an ongoing objective. Through continued infrastructure investment, the Ministry of Public Works will increase affordable housing stock t hroughout the country. Mr. Speaker, another major success of the
Economic Recovery Plan has been the international re-sponse to the Economic Investment Residential Certificate [EIRC]. This initiative, which has proven very attractive, is now in its third year and has seen severa l
individuals and their families take advantage of it. The measurable economic benefit of this initiative is currently standing at just over $450 million, with over 111


Bermuda House of Assembly persons holding an Economic Investment Residential
Certificate.
Mr. Speaker, the Government’s introduction of
a minimum wage of $16.40 per hour earlier this year
was a major success story because the volume of low -
paying jobs is critical to our service -based economy.
Our economy thrives off of a wide range of low -skilled
services, and when set against the cost of living, intro-ducing a minimum wage was a reasonable conclusion.
Although the feedback from stakeholders is good, it
may be too soon to fully assess the extent to which the forecasted impact is appropriately appreciated.
Mr. Speaker, regarding the Economic Recovery Plan’s employment -related actions, the success,
especially that experienced by Bermuda’s young people, has been impressive. The Department of Workforce Development has created several training oppor-tunities for Bermuda’s young people. This year young
Bermudians have taken advantage of asphalt training,
solar panel construction and installation, and several
international business and local company employee in-ternship programmes. These training opportunities directly lead to employment opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, if one wonders how successful
the Economic Recovery Plan has been, plenty of stakeholders from various interests and work areas can attest to its impact on themselves and our economy:
• Ask one of our digital nomads who has relocated to Bermuda within the last two or three
years.
• Ask a small business owner who made it
through the uncertainty of the COVID -19 pandemic.
• Ask one of our overseas investors who holds an Economic Investment Residential Certificate.
• Ask the small and medium- sized businesses
that can trade online with little to no overhead costs.
• Ask the young Bermudians who have recently completed professional technical training
through the Department of Workforce Development and have an entry -level job to wake up to
each morning.
• Ask the service staff on minimum wages who
work diligently to keep our hotels and restaurants thriving.
• Ask the families who have recently signed off
on the occupancy of an affordable home for the
first time, thanks to the Bermuda Housing Cor-poration.
• Ask a young Bermudian who now owns their
own home for the first time in their life.
Mr. Speaker, the Economic Recovery Plan is
paying and will continue to pay dividends to Bermuda.
Almost two- thirds of the [30] initiatives are actively engaged in the desired level of economic activity. Many of
the initiatives will remain ongoing, while s ome, like the COVID -19 relief programme, will fall away. The plan focuses on creating a thriving environment for the creation of jobs. These jobs will directly impact population
numbers, and this population will generate the economic activity that our econ omy needs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister.
Members, the next Statement this morning is in
the name of the Minister of Transport.
Minister Furbert.

UPDATE ON THE CRUISE SHIP SEASON

Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Good morning, Mr. Speaker,
and good morning to the public, and good morning to colleagues in the Honourable House.
Mr. Speaker, I rise before the Honourable
House today to share with everyone an update on the
cruise ship season for 2023.
Mr. Speaker, in 2022, I shared with you that the
2023 outlook for Bermuda’s cruise ship season appeared promising. It is noteworthy that extra calls were
redirected away from the Baltic region, and Norwegian
Cruise Line went beyond their anticipated calls by introducing additional calls in which they also explored
opportunities during winter and shoulder months. How-ever, projections were subject to change.
We indicated then a total of 223 scheduled
cruise ship calls. We originally estimated that approxi-mately 559,000 cruise ship passengers would visit with
an associated revenue forecast of $146[.3] million in
passenger and crew spending. This included an est imated $23.6 million in passenger taxes, $10.2 million
in transport infrastructure taxes, $6.6 million in visitor
fees and $12.4 million in cruise ship port expenses. The
cumulative economic impact was estimated at $200
million for 2023, reflecting a subst antial 28 per cent increase over the 2022 economic impact projection.
Mr. Speaker, subsequent to the initial projection, the Ministry had received highly favourable up-dates from our contracted partners indicating that their
bookings were consistently approaching full capacity,
reaching approximately 100 per cent. Consequent ly,
the Ministry raised the passenger load projection from
80 per cent to 92 per cent. This forecast increased projections to 622,000 passengers with an associated revenue forecast of $174[.3] million in passenger and crew
spending. This included an estima ted $27.3 million in
passenger taxes, $11.8 million in transport infrastructure taxes, $7.7 million in visitor fees and $12.4 million
in cruise ship port expenses. The cumulative economic
impact was estimated at $233.5 million for 2023.
Mr. Speaker, our [two] contracted partners
were set to contribute a combined total of 171 scheduled cruise ship calls. Norwegian Cruise Line [NCL]
was responsible for 100 of these calls, with a breakdown of 84 calls attributed to their large ships and 16
calls designated for their small luxury brands. On the
188 8 December 2023 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly other hand, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line [RCL] had 71
scheduled calls consisting of 50 calls under their Royal
brand and 21 calls under the Celebrity brand. As per
our customary expectations, NCL and RCL were
poised to continue serving as the primary drivers of cruise visits to our destination. During the intervals between the visits of our two primary partners, a multitude
of other cruise brands were also scheduled to make
port calls in Bermuda such as Carnival Cruise Lines,
Disney Cruise Lines, Scenic Luxury Cruises, Silver Sea
Cruises, Saga Cruises, Star Cruises and Azamara Cruises.
Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that the cruise ship
visits to our region were impacted by an unprecedented hurricane season. The frequency and close proximity
of hurricanes to our area directly affected the planned
cruise itineraries, causing disruption to t he anticipated
schedule of cruise ships. It is worth noting that while
this hurricane season was exceptionally active, we do
recognise that annual hurricane seasons tend to have
some impact on the cruise season, though not to the extent experienced this ye ar.
Mr. Speaker, before delving into the impact of
the hurricane season on the cruise ship 2023 season, I would like to provide a historical perspective on the pro-gress we have made over the years by starting with the
2017 calendar year.
Mr. Speaker, in 2017 Bermuda witnessed a total of 161 cruise ship calls, welcoming 418,049 passengers to our shores, resulting in an economic infusion of
$81 million into our local economy. However, it was in 2018 that we experienced a pivotal transformat ion. Bermuda’s concerted efforts to position itself as a year -
round cruise destination brought about a significant shift in our cruise landscape. During that year, we saw
180 calls, with 484,339 passengers, and generating an economic impact of $148.4 milli on—an 85 per cent increase over 2017. This upswing in both the number of
occasional callers and passenger spending underscores the success of our initiatives to promote Bermuda as a premier cruise destination throughout the
year.
In 2019, the cabin tax was phased out. In its
place a visitor fee of $16 per person was introduced and designated to the Bermuda Tourism Authority. Additionally, the transport infrastructure tax at a rate of
$25 was introduced. Furthermore, the passenger t ax
for ships berthing at Dockyard was elevated to $25 per
person. During the year Bermuda welcomed 184 cruise
ships, and the cumulative economic impact surged to a remarkable $169.9 million, a 109 per cent increase
over 2017, speaking to the success of these taxation
adjustments and our continued appeal as a premier
cruise destination.
Mr. Speaker, the year 2020 held great promise
for Bermuda with a total of 193 scheduled cruise ship calls on the agenda. However, as we know, this was
altered as the COVID -19 pandemic swept across the globe, virtually grinding the cruise ship industry to a standstill, and 2021 also had similar impacts to 2020.
However, Mr. Speaker, 2022 marked a significant rebound from the pandemic setback. During this
year Bermuda experienced a recovery in its cruise sec-tor, hosting a total of 164 cruise ship calls. This brought
in approximately 403,000 passengers who contributed
approximately $20 million in passenger tax, $9 million
in transport infrastructure tax and $6 million in visitor
fees. Moreover, passengers’ spending amounted to an
estimated $110 million, while the cruise ship port ex-penses added another $9 million to the overall economic impact. This robust recovery strengthened Bermuda’s position as a prominent cruise destination.
Mr. Speaker, as mentioned earlier, the hurricane season has interrupted the 2023 cruise ship season; however, it is still looking promising. The following are the recent projections as of November 29 for the
2023 cruise ship season which ends December 2023.
To date, there have been 37 cruise ship cancellations.
The majority of cancellations have been due to weather
events, with a few [due] to scheduled changes. However, our economic forecast for 2023 remains strong
compared to previous seasons.
Mr. Speaker, currently we anticipate welcoming approximately 539[,127] passengers —136,000
more passengers than 2022—with an associated revenue forecast of $168[.7] million in passenger and crew
spending. This also includes an estimated $24.7 million
in pas senger taxes, $10.7 million in transport infrastructure taxes, $6.9 million in visitor fees and $10.4 million
in cruise ship port expenses. The cumulative economic
impact is estimated at $221[.5] million for 2023, a de-crease of approximately $12 million in economic activity compared to the budgeted projections, but $21.5
million over 2022. Most cancelled calls fell outside of
the tax and fee period, which spans from April 1 to October 31. Moreover, the ships consistently achieved
maximum occupancy levels, often surpassing 100 per
cent, during the period from June to November.
Mr. Speaker, despite the numerous challenges
posed by hurricanes, the cruise ship season in Bermuda has proven to be remarkably resilient and continues to thrive. Bermuda, renowned for its stunning
beauty and warm hospitality, has managed to adapt and recover, showcasing its commitment to providing
an exceptional cruise experience for visitors. Through
dedicated efforts, Bermuda has not only weathered the
storms but also emerged stronger, reaffirming its status as a premier cruise destination. As we move forward it
is imperative to remain vigilant, ensuring the safety and
satisfaction of all cruise passengers while further enhancing Bermuda’s reputation as a remarkable and enduring cruise destination.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister.


Bermuda House of Assembly Members, the next Statement this morning is in
the name of Minister T. Furbert, Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors.
Minister, you have the floor.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES
Hon. Tinee Furbert: Good morning and thank you, Mr.
Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise as Minister with
responsibility for persons with disabilities to
acknowledge the recognition of the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which was
proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992 and has been
observed around the globe each year on the 3
rd day of
December.
Mr. Speaker, this day of acknowledgement
aims to raise awareness and promote understanding about the challenges faced by persons with disabilities,
while also advocating support for their dignity, their rights, inclusivity and their overall well -being. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities provides an
opportunity for the government, the corporate sector,
private organisations, communities, all of us to join together and demonstrate collaborative action for the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life within the
Bermuda community. Mr. Speaker, I believe that this is
possible with sustained purpose and intention.
On Sunday, December 3, 2023, I delivered a
public message recognising the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities to engage the
residents of Bermuda and bring them into awareness of this very important day. My message highlighted the
theme for 2023: “U nited in action to rescue and achieve
the SDG s [sustainable development goals] for, with
and by persons with disabilities .”
Mr. Speaker, let me take a moment to share
with my honourable colleagues the sustainable goals
that pertain to disabilities. Sustainable Goal 10 states,
“Reduce inequity within and among countries” by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities. And, Mr. Speaker, Sustainable Goal 11 [is], “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe and sustainable.” The Government cannot achieve these goals
alone. As a community, it is critical th at we are more
progressive in our awareness, that we are less judg-mental and more accepting, and that we are fully re-spectful toward persons with disabilities.
Mr. Speaker, it would be most pleasing if this
Honourable House ensured that all persons with disa-bilities have full access to this Chamber, not just physical access but also virtual access for those who perhaps are hard of hearing and who would like to j oin in
the business of the House when it sits.
Mr. Speaker, you may be aware that by profession I am an occupational therapist. And having worked with persons with disabilities, I am keenly aware that often when we live with a disability, an impairment, or
even a health condition, we like to keep it private and
do not disclose to avoid experiencing any potential ste-reotyping, most specifically in a small island like Bermuda. Therefore, I challenge everyone to partner together and share a vision for Bermuda that is inclusive for all. In doing this, we c an collectively progress toward
not only achieving the sustainable development goals,
but we can break down barriers, we can challenge stereotypes and we can create a Bermuda where persons with disabilities can fully participate and thrive.
Mr. Speaker, as part of Bermuda’s commemorating the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities, this week Wednesday, December 6,
the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors held a panel discussion that focused on Understanding Disability in the Workplace. The panellist of five included
• Lisa Reed, Executive Officer of the Human
Rights Commission;
• Sacha Richardson, Chairwoman of the Disability Advisory Council, Disability Advocate and
Charity Consultant;
• Malika Cartwright, Director of the Department
of Workforce Development;
• Sherrie Lynn Lilley, Mental Health Counsellor and Executive Director of Inspire Bermuda;
and
• Keith Simmons, Disability Advocate.
Mr. Speaker, one of the highest reporting complaints noted in the Human Rights Commission Annual Report of 2022/23 was discrimination due to disability.
We know that the Human Rights Act provides an avenue for individuals to challenge discrimination in employment on the grounds of disability. Therefore, the
panel discussion targeted what tools employers can
use and what measures employers can implement to support qualified persons with disabilities in accessing employment opportunities. The panel members emphasised that employers should not be afraid to hire
persons with disabilities but to reach out to their human
resource professionals, review their hiring practices
and ensure that there is access to reasonable accommodation.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that the hesitancy
and fears to hire persons with disabilities are alleviated
and employers are equipped to know how to integrate
disability into the workplace. The five panel members
shared a wealth of knowledge, information, experience
and key tools for employers to be supportive in the
workplace. The panel discussion was enhanced as two
of the panel members with disabilities shared experiences of how they had to advocate for [themselves] in the workplace.
Mr. Speaker, the panel discussion was
streamed and can still be viewed on the Government’s Facebook page and its CITV Bermuda YouTube channel by those who want to know more about the various
190 8 December 2023 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly pathways to creating a workplace culture that celebrates diversity.
Mr. Speaker, let me shift to state that Bermuda
requires a centralised repository for the collection of accurate and current data on persons with disabilities. A centralised repository will provide key information
about the types of disabilities persons are challenged
with, which will in turn identify gaps in the areas of programmes, services and special equipment needs for
persons with disabilities. The Ministry of Youth, Social
Development and Seniors is currently progressing the development of a National Disability Register, which
will be a first for Bermuda. Such a register will include
information and data collection using digital technology
and will ultimately facilitate informed policies and decisions in key areas such as health care, education, employment, and accessibility to advance inclusivity in
Bermuda.
Mr. Speaker, to ensure a quality disability register aligned with international best practices and standards, the Ministry sought technical support from the United Nations Development Programme [UNDP]
country office in Jamaica. In October this year we met
with representatives of UNDP and discussed introducing a national disability register and undertaking a needs assessment for the development of an app to be
used by persons with disabilities. The UNDP subsequently established a meeting for Ministry techni cal officers to meet with the members of the Jamaica Council
for Persons with Disabilities as Jamaica had already
developed, launched and maintained a national disabil-ity register. The meeting was valuable and insightful in
providing a path for the establi shment of a disability
register for Bermuda. The UNDP office also extended
financial support for developing the Bermuda project.
Mr. Speaker, this is good essential work. The
establishment of a disability register for Bermuda will certainly support our disabled population, and the ultimate development of a disability app provides an opportunity for the government to collect, manage and utilise data related to persons with disabilities so that they can access information and services. Empowering persons with disabilities through accurate data representation is crucial for promoting and encouraging their ac-tive participation in societ y. This initiative further aligns
with the Government’s five- year National Plan for
Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Families which was launched in May this year.
Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors is committed to this inaugural work and will provide this Honourable House and the
general public with updates as we progress in the building of our first -ever National Disability Register for Bermuda.
In closing, I once again challenge Bermuda to
partner together and share a vision for Bermuda that is
inclusive for all. In doing this, we can collectively create
a Bermuda where persons with disabilities can feel
safe, fully participate and thrive in our community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Good morning.

STRENGTHENING BERMUDA’S HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM: NATIONAL DIGITAL HEALTH
STRATEGY 2023
Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share
with this House and the public Bermuda’s National Digital Health Strategy 2023 [the Strategy]. This North Star
document shows us the path to embrace integrating
technology, people and systems. It is a piece of work
that is foundational to the Government’s commitment to
strengthening Bermuda’s health system and implementing universal health coverage. As I recently stated
in this House, Bermuda must build a stronger health
system to ensure that all residents can access affordable essential health care services delivered effectively and efficiently. The aim is to improve patient experiences and health outcomes and ultimately reduce the
economic burden to our health system. To do so, we
need a digitally inte grated and sustainable health care
ecosystem.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members will recall
the Bermuda Health Strategy 2022 –2027, published
last year, which outlines actions to support the core vision of “healthy people in healthy communities.” It sets
out eight strategic principles that are intended t o set us
on a new path toward an equitable, accessible and sustainable health system for the Island. The principles,
Mr. Speaker, are as follows:
1) promoting healthy living and preventative care;
2) focusing on person- centred care;
3) understanding our population’s health needs;
4) providing access to health care coverage;
5) strengthening our health care workforce;
6) harnessing health care technology;
7) partnership and collaborative working; and
8) preventing wasteful care and promoting efficiency.
Mr. Speaker, Strategic Principle 06, Harnessing healthcare technology, is key to improving access to and delivery of health care services. Indeed, the development of the National Digital Health Strategy was
identified as a Throne Speech initiative in 2021, and I
am pleased to outline its findings for the House today.
Mr. Speaker, for this exercise of developing a National
Digital Health Strategy, the Ministry of Health set up an
interdisciplinary working group of health and technology professionals from the public and private sectors.


Bermuda House of Assembly The National Digital Health Strategy Working Group
(and hereinafter, Mr. Speaker, I will refer to that as the
Working Group) initially posed several exploratory
questions to itself, such as the following:
• What digital health goals will support the overarching goals of the broader health care system?
• What components need to be in place to
achieve these goals?
• What are the needs of the diverse group of
health system stakeholders related to digital
health?
• What are the current enablers and barriers to
implementing digital health in Bermuda?
These proved to be a good starting point for the work to come.
Mr. Speaker, in developing the Digital Health
Strategy, the Working Group set out as its vision, “A sustainable and digitally integrated healthcare ecosystem designed to meet the diverse and often divergent
needs of the community and health professionals, improve quality and safety, and drive better health for all.”
The Strategy’s design principles centred on a culture of
safety and quality. A culture of safety and quality is, in
fact, the core principle. As such, the Strategy seeks to entrench quality and safety in the design, development,
implementation and use of digital solutions and ser-vices. The Government’s recent experience with re-spect to the cyberattacks demonstrates that this core
principle is spot on.
Mr. Speaker, the Digital Health Strategy defines “digital health” as embracing “the integration of
technology, people, and systems to organise and deliver healthcare services and data effectively.” Digital health is more than just technology. The goal is to bring
efficiency to care delivery while at the same time im-proving access to affordable quality care. People are at
the centre of our planning. In October 2022, the Working Group began with bi -weekly meetings to develop a
common understanding of digital health concepts. This
was followed by an information- gathering phase when
workshops and surveys were conducted. The purpose was to assess the current state of digital health in Bermuda.
Mr. Speaker, as part of information- gathering
about our digital health needs, a three- part consultation
took place. KPMG engaged community members and
health sector stakeholders in two workshops of 22 participants and an online survey of more than 400 respondents. The result of the engagement was the report Community Engagement for the National Digital
Health Strategy. The University of Edinburgh conducted a literature review to assess Bermuda’s current
digital health maturity level. The overall assessment included interviews with more than 40 health stakeholders (primarily physicians) to capture perspectives and
needs surrounding the current state of digital health. A
web- based survey was also conducted and focused on
the uses and needs of our existing health information infrastructure. The findings were reported in Digital
Health Maturity in Bermuda Current State Assessment .
In addition to the work of KPMG and the University of Edinburgh, the Bermuda Omnibus Survey in
April 2023 surveyed a representative sample of Ber-muda residents. They were asked about digital tools
and services that could be used to improve health care
services to residents. Efforts were augmented by a review of our provision of care, regulation and oversight, health system financing, population health profile, and
technology already in the health space. Overall, Mr. Speaker, the Working Group gained a valua ble understanding and picture of digital health services and uses
in Bermuda now.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to note there are
benefits for Bermuda with respect to going on this journey of innovation and transformation within our health system. The benefits of embracing the integration of
technology, people and systems include improv ed
health care delivery. With technology we can, for example, improve information- sharing among health care
providers with electronic health records and enable re-mote monitoring of a patient’s health status. These can
lead to better health outcomes, increased patient satisfaction and more efficient health care services.
Mr. Speaker, patient empowerment and engagement are benefits, too. Patient portals, mobile health applications and other digital tools can provide
patients with easier access to their health information,
enable self -monitoring of health conditions and aid
communication with health care providers. This can
lead to more patient engagement and more consistent
treatment plan adherence. Digital health solutions can also help enhance public health management as governments more effectively manage public health i nitiatives such as disease surveillance, outbreak management and vaccination programmes. By leveraging data
analytics and digital tools, governments can collect, analyse and share population health data in real time, enabling early detection and response t o public health
threats. This can lead to more efficient and effective public health interventions, better resource allocation
and improved health outcomes for our population.
It is also possible to increase health care efficiency and cost savings, which is another benefit. Over time, digital health solutions can optimise processes,
reduce administrative burdens and lower health care
costs. For example, electronic health records can
streamline documentation, reduce duplicate tests and
improve coordination among health care providers.
This can lead to cost savings. Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring can reduce the need for in- person visits, saving time and resources. Acces s to timely,
accurate and complete data helps governments and
health care providers identify cost -effective interventions and allocate resources effectively.
Mr. Speaker, it ought not be forgotten that digital health strategies can foster innovation and eco192 8 December 2023 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly nomic growth by promoting the development of a vibrant health technology ecosystem. Through research
and development, innovation hubs and start -ups in the
digital health space can drive technological advance-ments, create new jobs and stimulate economic growth. It can also attract investment from domestic
and international sources, possibly positioning Bermuda as a leader in digital health and driving its competitiveness in the global health care market.
Mr. Speaker, to put Bermuda on the road to realising the integration of technology, people and sys-tems to organise and deliver health care services and
data efficiently —that is, digital health —the National
Digital Health Strategy sets out four main components
for the digital health ecosystem:
i. infrastructure;
ii. sources of data;
iii. applications and tools; and
iv. strategic foundations.
Mr. Speaker, with respect to infrastructure, this
comprises the critical elements necessary to receive, store and manage health technologies. These include
the following:
• a health data repository to receive health data
electronically from across the health system;
• data security to protect patients’ health infor-mation from unauthorised access, use or disclosure;
• an enterprise master patient index to manage
and maintain unique identifiers;
• access controls to authenticate who connects
to the system; and
• a reporting environment which includes a data
warehouse to audit data quality and organise
data so that it can be used to generate reports
and facilitate data- driven decisions.
Mr. Speaker, as noted in Digital Health Strategy, the sources of data are numerous. They include
prescription information from pharmacies, lab and imaging results from diagnostic facilities, hospital and pri-mary care records, disease registers and health insurance coverage information. Integrating data from the
many sources on and off Island is one of the key benefits of digital health. The applications and tools of most national digital health systems incorporate national patient records, patient portals, service provider portals
and national health reporting dashboards. Patient portals allow residents to access their personal health information and set their privacy preferences. Provider
portals allow health and care providers to access their
patients’ he alth information to help them make informed decisions.
Mr. Speaker, in terms of the strategic foundations for successfully implementing a national digital health system, this encompasses governance structures, planning and investment, legislation and regulations, standards to ensure interoperability, workfor ce
skills and training, and monitoring and evaluation. It is important to remember that interoperability is key. It refers to the ability of different technology systems, applications, software and devices to communicate and
share data seamlessly. Indeed, all of these digital
health ecosystem components must work together for
Bermuda to achieve the potential benefits of digital
health.
Mr. Speaker, as mentioned earlier, the Working Group assessed the current state of digital health in
Bermuda. The current state assessment revealed an
openness to change and an enthusiasm for digitalisa-tion by health stakeholders. However, concerns about
the fragmentation of the Island’s health system and
clinical care also surfaced, as well as the impact on
costs, efficiency, safety and quality of care. The potential lack of digital access by and for vulnerable populations rightly raised concerns about health equity.
Concerning governance, regulation and legislation, the current state of digital health unfortunately is
one of gaps, conflicting policies and a lack of clarity
around roles, alongside concerns about privacy and security. With respect to planning, financing and investment, the current state comprises numerous organisational -level investments. These range from the Bermuda Hospital Board’s major investment in Cerner Millennium to the electronic medical record systems of
community service providers and the Department of
Health, as well as claims processing systems of the insurers.
There is currently no system- wide national digital health financial plan or investment strategy. There are also limited national digital health infrastructure and
interoperability, and there are no national data stand-ards. As a result, health information c annot follow patients as they move between care providers. This leads
to waste, duplication and an increased risk of harm. Applications and tools are also unconnected and disparate. Health service providers in Bermuda are currently
using at least 27 differ ent systems. Finally, the current
state assessment highlighted a shortage of people in
the local workforce with the digital skills needed to integrate digital health solutions into clinical workflows,
skills such as data management, coding and health informatics. Linked to this is a lack of mechanisms and
processes to monitor and evaluate digital health activity, progress or efficacy within the health system generally.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to assessing the current state of digital health in Bermuda, the Working
Group also considered our future digital health needs
and determined they fall into two categories: community needs and health system stakeholder needs. The
community needs focus on the following:
a. community engagement (to ensure a clear understanding of the Digital Health Strategy and opportunities to remove waste from the system
to improve affordability);
b. digital health technology (to achieve tools such
as patient portals and remote monitoring);


Bermuda House of Assembly c. privacy and security (to ensure data safety and
control when it comes to the sharing of per-sonal information);
d. accessibility and [equity] (to access health in-formation on a smartphone and/or to assist vul-nerable groups); and
e. digital and health literacy (to access medical in-formation in an easy -to-understand format and,
with health care insights, to better understand conditions).
Mr. Speaker, with respect to health system
stakeholder needs, the health care workforce includes
many care providers and associated services. As such,
the Working Group developed a list of health system stakeholder needs which is not complete at this point but which focuses on the following:
a. clinical health and care information (to access the whole of the patient health record and to
enter information accurately);
b. hospital information (to access results from external labs and entire medication lists from pharmacies);
c. public health information (to support public
health surveillance and accurate public reporting);
d. system -level information (to support national
patient and provider identifiers for interopera-bility and sharing of data, and to measure the impact of health care interventions);
e. insurance and eligibility information (to access clean and accurate claims data to understand actual costs); and
f. workforce training and development (to in-crease the capacity of technology, business in-telligence and health informatics specialists).
Mr. Speaker, in reviewing the state of digital
health now and for the future, the Working Group sought strategies that would both address concerns and challenges with the current state, and position Ber-muda for a future state that is digitally integrated and
sustainable. Therefore, National Digital Health Strategy
outlines a best practice approach to ensure digital
health can become a reality. It concludes with 15 pri-mary recommendations and 31 secondary recommen-dations covering governance, national data standards, infrastructure, applications and tools, workforce development, community literacy and awareness, monitoring
and evaluation, and planning and investment.
Mr. Speaker, for governance, for example, the
Digital Health Strategy recommends establishing an in-terdisciplinary independent body with authority to over-see the national digital health budget, execution, implementation, digital health policy, and ongoing monitoring
and evaluation. For national data standards to provide
a foundation for system- wide interoperability and improved data quality, one recommendation is that Ber-muda establish and implement national health data standards supported by international bodies and account for the different types of health data, including genomic data.
For infrastructure, the Strategy’s primary recommendation is to build a national digital health plat-form to collect data from all health system stakeholders
that allows for specific and secure access levels according to need and role. To progress national digital
health, there are four primary recommendations for planning and investment. These are as follows: (1) defining the budget for the lifetime of the National Digital Health Strategy; (2) establishing multiple financing options to avoid dependence on one financing source; (3) developing a change management -based implementation plan to assist with execution and multi- stakeholder engagement and communication; and (4) promoting digital health innovation and research in Ber-muda by developing a well -regulate d interoperable national system. Bermuda as a regional innovation sand-box for digital health is a long- term aspirational goal
once we have the foundations in place.
Mr. Speaker, a national approach to digital
health can
• leverage technology to enhance health care
delivery;
• empower people to actively participate in their health care and improve their health outcomes;
• help to effectively manage public health initia-tives;
• enable the optimisation of processes and the
reduction in administrative burden; and
• foster innovation and economic growth through
a vibrant health technology environment.
This comprehensive National Digital Health
Strategy seeks to integrate efficiencies and cost -effectiveness into the health care system while addressing
the current expense of our health system and the siloed nature of health care delivery in Bermuda. It is fundamental both to building a stronger health system and to delivering universal health coverage. This will be a multi -phase plan and a multi -year effort.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the National Digital Health Strategy Working Group, chaired by Kirsten Beasley, for their diligence, hard work, unswerving focus and commit-ment to producing a document that will serve as an ex-cellent guide for Bermuda’s digital health future. Already an interim governance committee is working on the next steps to define the technical requirements for a digital health platform infrastructure and develop a national digital health implementation plan (including
governance structure, workforce planning, budget and
timeline).
Mr. Speaker, the National Digital Health Strategy provides Bermuda with a comprehensive roadmap
for the transformation of our digital health system. It is available from today at www.healthstrategy.bm
and I
invite everyone to take advantage of the chance to
194 8 December 2023 Official Hansard Report

Bermuda House of Assembly glimpse Bermuda’s digital health prospects. The National Digital Health Strategy is progressive and points
to a future where we will have an equitable, affordable
and sustainable health system for all Bermuda residents. We should seize these opportunities.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We do have questions this morning for
Ministers in regard to Statements that were given this
morning. The Premier just stepped out. The first one
would have started with the Premier. I am going to ask
your indulgence, and we will move on to the next one.
We will come back . . .
Oh, Mr. Premier. The first question this morning, Mr. Premier, is to yourself regarding the corporate
tax Statement. And it is from MP Pearman.
MP Pearman, would you like to put your question?

And thanks to the Honourable
Premier, Minister of Finance, for his Statement to the
House this morning.
Honourable Minister and Premier, as Minister
of Finance you previously provided to Parliament an
estimate of the approximately 2,000 entities that may
be in scope for this new corporate tax. Does the Gov-ernment have an estimate for how many entities might
also leave Bermuda as a result of this tax?