Government

Today, the Ministry of Home Affairs announces the beginning of the Draft North East Hamilton Local Plan 2021 public consultation period which will run until the 8th of October 2021.

Members of the public will recall the July 5, 2021 announcement made by Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Walter Roban of the Draft North East Hamilton Local Plan 2021 created by the Department of Planning. Since that time, the document has been available to view in its entirety on the Department of Planning’s website. 

There were 8031 test results received by the Ministry of Health since the last update, and 15 were positive for COVID-19, giving a test positivity rate of 0.2%. 

These results are from testing done on:

•        Monday, July 26: 6 positive out of 2451 results (0.2% positivity)

•        Tuesday, July 27: 5 positive out of 2789 results (0.2% positivity)

•        Wednesday, July 28: 4 positive out of 2711 results (0.1% positivity)

Six (6) of the new cases are classified as imported with details as follows:

The Ministry of Public Works wishes to remind the public of ongoing road works across the island impacting traffic flow.

Examples of locations where traffic delays may pose a problem are Middle Road near Khyber Pass in Warwick, Georges Bay Road at the entrance to Morgan’s Point, and Store Hill in Smiths, which will remain closed.  

Road users are also urged to avoid travelling over the steel plates covering a road trench and surrounded by traffic cones on Mount Hill Road between Langton Hill and Hallet Crescent junctions in Pembroke.

The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Energy invites public middle school students to apply for this year’s Challenger Alaska to Bermuda Virtual Space Camp, offered free of charge.  

This camp is continued in partnership with the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska, with whom the Department partnered in 2019 to bring a week of free summer camp to 18 public middle school students. Last year’s pilot virtual summer camp earned Challenger an Arthur C. Clarke Innovation in Education award, and we look forward to continuing that excellence with this year’s camp.  

The Ministry of Home Affairs is pleased to advise the public that twenty Bermudians recently completed the Solar Photovoltaic or PV Certification Training Programme held in partnership with Connectech.

The student participants were selected from a pool of over 150 applicants. Priority was given to those who were currently unemployed or underemployed. Applicants varied widely in age and experience, from recent senior school graduates to individuals who had worked in associated fields but were now seeking a career boost.

Following the General Election in St Lucia on Monday, 26 July, the main opposition party, the St Lucia Labour Party (SLP), claimed victory.  

Acting Premier, the Hon Walter Roban JP, MP has extended congratulations to the new Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre, who will form the next Government of Saint Lucia.

Minister Roban said, “On behalf of the Government and people of Bermuda, I extend heartfelt congratulations on your victory. Your victory conveys the trust that St Lucians have for a stronger future. 

Good Afternoon Bermuda, thank you for joining us.

Good Afternoon Bermuda, thank you for joining us.

Good afternoon Bermuda,

I too wish to add my congratulations to Flora Duffy on her historic win in the Tokyo Olympics. I watched from start to finish and it was truly an emotional occasion when she passed the finish line. 

Flora Duffy is Bermuda’s first Olympic Gold Medalist. She has made history. And we are so incredibly proud of her accomplishment. Not just as a Bermudian, but also as a woman! 

Now as we prepare to celebrate our Emancipation, Mary Prince and Cup Match holiday, the Ministry of National Security is keeping a close eye on public safety matters. 

Thank you, Acting Premier. Like you and all of Bermuda, I am simply thrilled and overjoyed about Flora’s historic Olympic gold medal win for Bermuda.

I cannot offer enough congratulations to her as an extraordinary athlete and to her family. This incredible accomplishment has been hard-fought and thoroughly deserved. 

And Bermudians around the world are overjoyed that one of our own has brought us one of the proudest moments in our country’s history.

So Flora, we cannot wait to welcome you back home so we can celebrate your achievement.

………………………….

The Ministry of Labour advises the public of changes to the closed and restricted job categories, effective from August 1^st, 2021, for a 3-month period. 

The Ministry of Public Works takes this opportunity to advise on the procedures and staffing for the Department of Parks over the 2021 Cup Match Holiday Weekend.

Effectively immediately, campers and picnickers are allowed to erect camping and picnicking equipment and property. However, camping is ONLY permitted from Wednesday 28^th July until Monday 2^nd August as per the Public Health (Covid-19 Emergency Powers) Amendment Regulations 2021, the maximum of 50 people in a group.

“Flora did it!” ~ Premier David Burt expressed the elation of all Bermuda at the news of Flora Duffy’s gold medal performance in Tokyo.

The Premier said, “Words almost cannot do justice to such an incredible effort from an incredible athlete. This remarkable achievement is a true testament to Flora’s unwavering commitment and genuine perseverance in training and preparation. Bermuda is bursting with pride and admiration for this humble champion.”

Today, the Junior Minister of Home Affairs, Senator Lindsay Simmons, successfully led the passing of the Bill in the Senate, entitled ‘Development and Planning Amendment Act 2021’. 

The Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Walter Roban, JP, MP, said, “As stated by my colleague, Junior Minister Simmons, this Government remains committed to introducing sustainable planning legislation to further protect our delicate environment while introducing measures to stimulate our economy, particularly our construction industry, and encourage new investment.”

The Ministry of Public Works advises the public of ongoing delays in garbage collection due to industrial action by Collections Staff. The Bermuda Industrial Union and the Ministry’s management team continue to discuss the matter, which is now partially resolved.  Unfortunately, however, collections across the island have been impacted. 

As a result, Tuesday collection will likely be delayed. Residents whose normal garbage collection day is Wednesday are asked to hold on to their garbage and put it out for collection on Saturday. 

There were 6535 test results received by the Ministry of Health since the last update, and three (3) were positive for COVID-19, giving a test positivity rate of 0.05%.

These results are from testing done on:

•       Monday, July 19: 0 positive out of 2206 results (0.0% positivity)
•       Tuesday, July 20: 2 positive out of 2127 results (0.09% positivity)
•       Wednesday, July 21: 1 positive out of 2202 results (0.05% positivity)

2 of the new cases are classified as imported with details as follows:

The Ministry of Public Works is advising the public of delays in trash collection due to industrial action by Collections Staff. The matter, which is being addressed by the Bermuda Industrial Union and the Ministry’s management team, will affect areas in the East End. They include the Aquarium east to St. George’s and the Devil’s Hole Hill area east to St. David’s.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update this honorable House on the important project work that is being undertaken by the Ministry of Social Development and Seniors.

Mr. Speaker, I will provide updates on the extension of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with Disabilities to Bermuda, the Children’s Commission, Litigation Guardians, independent living, a Senior’s Strategy, assisting the homeless and our engagement with the Third sector.

Mr Speaker

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the indulgence of the House and your permission to make this Statement.

Honourable Members will, by now, be aware of the judgment of the Chief Justice handed down earlier today. The Court dismissed all claims by the Applicants and determined that the Government’s policy as set out in the Quarantine Order most recently made by the Honourable Member, the Minister of Health, is lawful and not a breach of Section 11 of the Bermuda Constitution.

The Government acknowledged the Chief Justice’s judgment, which was delivered earlier today regarding the Supervised Quarantine matter being heard in the Supreme Court.  

The Court dismissed all claims by the Applicants and determined that the Government’s policy as set out in the Quarantine Order is lawful and not a breach of the Section 11 of the Bermuda Constitution.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide this Honourable House with a report on the now critical status of the Tynes Bay Waste-to-Energy Facility, what it means to us as a community and what the government is currently doing about it.

The next Close to Home mobile vaccinations will be at Washington Mall this Saturday, July 24, in the space behind Gibbons Home Store and across from Gold Standard from 10 am – 2 pm.

Additionally, for Bermuda Government employees, first dose vaccinations are available tomorrow, July 23, at the Department of Communications, 1^st floor, Global House, next to the Wesley Methodist Church, from 11 am – 3 pm.

There will be doctors on-site to answer any questions you have, and you don’t need an appointment. You can just show up and roll up your sleeve.

~ Public encouraged to support local talent at safely distanced midday concert ~

The Department of Culture will host its final Creatives Live! open air musical concert this Saturday (July 24).

The featured performance will be the sounds of the multi-piece band, Coral Beats. 

The popular midday concert which takes place on the steps of City Hall, is aimed at showcasing and supporting Bermuda’s talented artists.

Good afternoon and welcome to Harmony Club.

The Ministry’s Short Term Economic Stimulus Programme was launched in December 2020. This Economic Stimulus initiative is aimed at providing employment and building opportunities for small to medium sized contractors.

The project’s selection principles are to maximize the employment of the private sector while providing much-needed refreshing of neglected infrastructure.

The Minister of Education the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP, will address the Bermuda public on Thursday, July 22^nd at 8pm, sharing the final decision for parish primary schools, it was announced today. 

The Little Blessings Nursery in Hamilton Parish has been closed temporarily pending the completion of investigations related to an incident that occurred earlier this week, and the implementation of additional measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.   

Officers of Department of Child and Family Services and the Child Care Regulation Programme commenced investigations yesterday.  The length of closure is dependent upon the implementation of the additional safety measures.  

The Department of Libraries and Archives would like to advise the public that their phone system will be temporarily unavailable on Thursday, July 22^nd, 2021.

The Department will still be operational and can be reached via email.

Please see below the email addresses for the respective sections:

·Adult Library: library@gov.bm

·Youth Library: youthlib@gov.bm

·Archives: archvies@gov.bm

The Hon.

HAMILTON, BERMUDA – The Financial Policy Council (FPC) will be holding its seventeenth meeting on July 23, 2021 via teleconference. Consistent with its mandate to provide advice on current and potential economic and financial developments and threats, items on the agenda will include discussions on international tax developments and a review of the key risks to Bermuda’s financial stability.