Speeches by The Hon. Dennis Lister, JP,MP

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

55 words

Chairman

Okay. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chair man, line item 31020, Corporate Services, which can be found at page B -152 of the B udget Book. The estimated budget for Head 21, Corporate Services Unit is $621,000. This unit serves as the Ministry's strategic engine, housing the leadership and planning functions essential to our mission.

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

24 words

Chairman

I believe, excuse me, Minister, I believe that that's on . . . is that on [page] B-150? Hon. Kim N. Wilson: [Page] B-152.

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

911 words

Chairman

Okay. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chair man, central to this unit is the Policy Directorate, which manages the lifecycle of health legislation and policy from initial drafting to final evaluation. Corporate Services also provides my office with the direct administrative and advisory support necessary for stakeholder engagement and the clear communication of g overnment objectives. This unit is critical …

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

1,623 words

Chairman

I am sure we are going to have more insight into that as you proceed. Thank you, Minister. [Inaudible interjection] Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I went around the corner, and I was like, What exactly do you do? [Laughter] Hon. Kim N. Wilson: The ESU delivers public health surveillance, produces priority population health indicators to support evidence- based decision- making, …

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

42 words

Chairman

Thank you, Minister. Would you like to take questions on Head 21, or do you want to proceed? Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I'll continue with all four heads that were moved, Madam Chair man, and I will take questions following the presentation.

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

1,698 words

Chairman

Okay, thank you. HEAD 22 —DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chair man, I would like to turn now to Head 22, Department of Health, and that can be found at pages B -154 to B -157 of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure in the Budget Book. Madam Chairman, it gives me immense pleasure to present the …

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

131 words

Chairman

Thank you, Minister. Just a bit of a break here and a reminder to the listening public. We are in the Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates of R evenue and E xpenditure for the year 2026 /27. We are doing the Ministry of Health right now under Head 22, Department of Health. Minister, please proceed. Hon. …

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

1,596 words

Chairman

[Page] B -155? Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes. They have been allocated, Madam Chairman, the sum of $175,000. Healthy Schools promotes health in schools through the Department of Education, the National Drug Control and Mirrors, and t he Department of Child and Family Services as well as community health part-ners such as the Bermuda Diabetes Association, Bermuda Cancer and Health, …

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

86 words

Chairman

Minister, we are about 10 minutes away from the stopping mark for 12:30 pm. I don't know whether you feel comfortable doing both of those or just one of those, but I'll let you make that decision and just time it out. Thank you. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Okay. They are tied together, Madam Chairman, so the submissions are actually …

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

793 words

Chairman

[Business units] 32010 and 32060. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I know where I was. I was just trying to not repeat myself. Anyway, I'm going to have to. The 2026/ 27 budget estimates line item 32010, Community Health Administration, which receives $2,258,000 and line item 32060, Community Health, which receives $2,433,000, respectively. Community Health Administration’s budget will increase by $685,000 …

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

35 words

Chairman

Thank you, Minister. Yes, I would like to invite you to make a motion that we break for lunch. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Madam Chairman, I move that we break for lunch until 2:00 pm.

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

64 words

Chairman

A motion has been made that we break for lunch and return here at 2:00 pm. Are there any objections? If no— [Gavel] Proceedings in Committee suspended at 12:26 pm Proceedings in Committee resumed at 2:03 pm [Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo, Chairman] COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR 2026/27 MINISTRY OF HEALTH HEAD 22 —DEPARTMENT …

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

41 words

Chairman

Good afternoon, Member s. We are resuming in Committee of Supply on the Ministry of Health, and we are looking at Heads 21, 22, 24, and 91. So, let's resume, Member s. [Gavel] Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you, Madam Chairman.

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

111 words

Chairman

Yes, Minister. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, Madam Chairman. When we broke for lunch, I had an opportunity as I was walking back to the office to share briefly with the Honourable Member who sits next to me, opposite me, as well. He was accompanied by a former Member of the Opposition in the Senate who may, having been a …

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

288 words

Chairman

Please continue. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: So, in the Westminster parliamentary system, the Committee of Supply is a funda-mental annual process in which the House sits as a committee of the whole [House] to examine and approve the Government 's proposed expenditure for the upcoming financial year. Bermuda follows that same model through the House of Assembly, consistent with the …

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

92 words

Chairman

That is right. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Given the size, complexity, and public importance of the health portfolio, I would have expected that sufficient time would have been allocated to allow for full and thorough scrutiny, particularly as we frequently approach the time limit with limited opportunity remaining for questions. That was for the edification of the public, but in …

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

35 words

Chairman

Exactly. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: In that regard, and I am not trying to discourage any participation of other budget Heads, but for the Ministry of Health, which is one of the biggest budgets —

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

10 words

Chairman

Yes. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: —to have four hours —

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

60 words

Chairman

It is a short period of time. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: No disrespect to the Honourable Member that sits behind me. Sports has three? I mean, we are talking apples and oranges, but in any event, hopefully that . . . I mean, S ports is critically important, but we always run out of time. But in any event —

4 Mar 2026 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

11 words

Chairman

Thank you. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: —to set the Heads —