Nandi Outerbridge

So I commend the Finance Minister for the work that he put into this Budget, Madam Deputy Speaker, and the progress that he has made against this big problem. And we do not need the Opposition to stand up all night and tell us that we are on the right track. We kno w we are on the right track, …

When Labour stats suggest that international business has resumed growth, and we are heading in the right direction when the Finance Minister has provided a clear path to eliminate the deficit in three years. [Inaudible interjections]

And guess what? Without cutting or affecting Financial Assistance. C ould it be a Government that cares? [Gavel]

So, well done, to the Mini ster of Finance on another well -put-together Budget. Now, Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to talk about the debt service. Debt service costs are pr ojected to be at $187 million. We have heard this all night from persons on our side, Members on our side, making it the second- largest expenditure of this …

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Madam Deputy Speaker, this is simply not a problem we can choose to ignore now. Because someone will have to pay for it. And those someone’s are going to be the people in my generation and our children. The burden will fall on us. So I hear snicker-ing on the other side. But do they …

Ask yourself that. Reducing government debt has to be priority. And I really do not know how the Opposition can make statements that they agree that reducing the government debt has to be a priority, while calling for more spending in their Reply. It does not make sense to me.

Madam Deputy Speaker, they threw a bunch of feel -good stuff out in their R eply, and that is easy to do when you are the Oppos ition, because you do not have to deliver on anything. Bermuda House of Assembly So, sure, they can say, Let’s get rid of middle schools, and that sounds good, Madam Deputy Speaker. But …

And you know , Madam Deputy Speaker, I was not critical of everything in the Opposition’s Budget. You know, we are not critical of the diversification, the concept of diversification. But this is the focus. The focus that this Government has had on this Budget is the economic stimulation strategy as it is here and now. And that is creating …

Mr. Speaker, I am introducing the following Bill for its first reading so that it may be placed on the Order Paper for the next day of meeting: the Hamilton Sewage Amendment Act 2016.

Thank you. Good morning,

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask this Honourable House if they can join me in send ing congratulations to Mr. Aaron Burgess, who has recently signed a contract, a professional football contract, with Huddersfield Town football club. I am going to associate the entire House with these r emarks. Mr. Burgess will be joining Nahki Wells, who currently plays …

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I decided to get up because I really do take offence to the term that this Gover nment is doing nothing about crime. Mr. Speaker, the Premier spoke earlier today about initiatives that are being put in place to deal with the crime, and . . . children have a G.R.E.A.T programme, Mr. Speaker, …