Government

Mr Speaker and Honourable Members,

I rise today to announce the launch of a one-of-a-kind Public Health Information App by the Department of Health, called Healthy People Bda.

Mr. Speaker,

In our increasingly digitized world, we are ever more dependent on the Internet and Information Technology to process our sensitive information and support critical services. These technologies represent significant economic and social opportunities for Bermuda. However, they also represent increasing risks that we must address. The cyber threats we face continue to increase in frequency and sophistication, with potentially devasting effects.

Mr. Speaker,

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform this Honourable House of the steps required to obtain a death certificate.

I begin by acknowledging the fact that the loss of a life is never easy to accept. The Bermuda population is not immune to death, and as a small jurisdiction we experience our share of deaths, not just the deaths of local residents, but also the deaths of visitors to the island.

Good Day to members of the Media and the listening public

I am pleased to announce that the Ministry of Economy and Labour is releasing a national Economic Development Strategy for Bermuda. The Economic Development Strategy sets out a roadmap which provides a clear path to guide Bermuda to sustainable economic growth and development.

The Strategy seeks to build an economy that creates:

The public is advised that the King’s Birthday Parade will take place Saturday morning (June 17) along Front Street, Hamilton.

Events get underway at 10.30 a.m., and the public should note that there will be traffic restrictions in place starting early Saturday morning. All are welcome to attend the parade, which for the first time will mark the birthday of His Majesty King Charles III.

The Ministry of Health is pleased to provide an update on the development of an Adult Mental Health Integrated Care Pathway, one of the universal health coverage initiatives that is currently underway.

Integrated care pathways are multidisciplinary approaches that detail the essential care steps for people with specific needs, in this case, adults experiencing mental health challenges. They cover care provided from beginning to end and define what happens, when, and who is responsible at any stage of the care journey.

“The Bermuda Archives is delighted to share that we held a successful open house event on Friday, June 9^th celebrating International Archives Day. The event was met with great enthusiasm from the public who explored the invaluable historical treasures preserved within the Archives,” said Ms. Joanne Brangman, Director of the Bermuda National Library and Archives. 

“I commend the dedication and commitment shown by the participants in acquiring these valuable skills,” said Minister of Public Works, Lt. Col. the Hon. David A. Burch, OBE (Mil), ED, JP, MP, following last week’s arboriculture and horticulture training course at the Botanical Gardens. 

The Skills Development Programme (SDP) organised the week-long course and equipped participants with valuable knowledge and practical expertise. 

The Bermuda Police Service, Bermuda Bankers’ Association and Ageing and Disability Services continue to remind the public to be vigilant when receiving unsolicited telephone calls, text messages or emails, which may be used to commit fraud, particularly targeting seniors.

In recent weeks BPS investigating officers have received multiple reports of residents being contacted by persons with foreign accents, who inform victims that they represent a local bank and that the reason for contact is that fraudulent activity has been identified on their account.

David Thomas was all smiles as he collected a $500 gift voucher that his family won in the Basics Insights giveaway contest.

Basics Insights, a free text messaging service sponsored by the Department of Education, is a prime method of reminding parents about The Basics Principles. These principles are five fun, simple and powerful ways for parents and caregivers to connect with their children and help them reach their full potential.

“Our seniors came dressed to impress in their Tea Party attire! Hosted by Ageing and Disability Services, the ‘Elder Abuse Awareness Tea’ served as a platform to raise awareness about elder abuse, promote socialising among seniors, and encourage education on preventing such abuse,” said the Minister of Social Development and Seniors, the Hon.Tinee Furbert, JP, MP. 

“Seventeen (17) committed educators celebrated their successful completion of the Bermuda Teacher Induction Programme. These dedicated teachers were honoured for their growth and resilience throughout the programme, under the theme, “Coming in Hot: Pandemic or not!” said the Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP. 

Last week (June 9), Deputy Premier Walter Roban and the Head of the Public Service, Dr. Derrick Binns recognized the Department of Health’s Ms. Freddie Lambert as the recipient of the May Public Service Excellence Award (PSEA).

As the community is aware, the PSEA is a programme that recognizes Public Officers who are demonstrating admirable service delivery. Each month an individual or team is selected for their significant accomplishments in the last 60 days.

The Minister of Public Works, Lt. Col. the Hon. David A. Burch, OBE (Mil), ED, JP, MP, wishes to correct inaccurate information that was inadvertently shared during his response to Parliamentary questions in the House of Assembly on 2 June 2023, regarding the Bermudiana Beach Resort.

Minister Burch states: “I said then that Hilton Hotels were now a Co-Developer, but they are not a part of the Co-Developer Group that included the previous Company.

“The Co-Developers group were disbanded in September 2021 when the agreement with the former Co-Developer Group ended.

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to contribute to this important cause and applaud the Bermuda Blood Donor Centre for embracing inclusivity,” said Minister of Health Kim Wilson, JP, MP, after she visited the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to donate blood today (June 9, 2023).

The Minister took the initiative to demonstrate her support for the Bermuda Blood Donor Centre’s recent changes to blood donation rules, which marks an important milestone in ensuring Bermuda’s blood donation practices align with global benchmarks.

Today (8 June), the Ministry of Home Affairs is proud to celebrate World Oceans Day. This year’s theme, “Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing,” highlights that despite our reliance on the ocean as a vital resource, it receives little attention and help in return, and only a tiny portion of its waters have been explored; therefore, we must begin to put the oceans first.

“We firmly believe that continuous training and development are vital in fulfilling the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service’s mission,” said Minister of National Security Michael Weeks.

The Minister’s comments come as the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) holds its intensive two-week Incident Command Course, further reinforcing its unwavering dedication to maintaining the highest safety standards in order to serve Bermuda. 

The Bermuda Archives formally invites the public, other government departments, churches, researchers, and similarly-minded organizations to join them for their open house on June 9, 2023 in celebration of International Archives Day.

“Most Bermudians don’t know that we even have an Archives,” shares Joanne Brangman, Bermuda National Library Director . “Bermuda’s entire history is living on through the preservation efforts given by the team here. We invite anyone to join us and see what it is we do!”

“This is an important step in ensuring that the people of Bermuda stay informed and safe during times of national emergency,” said Minister of National Security Michael Weeks, JP, MP.

The Ministry of National Security is proud to announce that Bermuda’s emergency radio station 100.1fm is now available on the http://www.gov.bm website. 

This is the first time that the radio station has been available to the public via the Internet in addition to the primary terrestrial signal.

Today, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Sen. Owen K. Darrell, JP., provided an update on National Heroes Day, which will be observed on June 19, 2023

“Madam President, we have just concluded a Heritage Month full of activities, capped by the Bermuda Day Parade that was an incredible experience for spectators and participants alike despite the torrential rain. It was really an extraordinary event, and I praise those who “stayed the course” and braved the weather to participate in a special day full of national pride and community fellowship.

“We are fully aware of the impact that the recent heavy rainfall has had on our roadways, resulting in the emergence of numerous potholes,” said Minister of Public Works, Lt. Col. the Hon. David A. Burch, OBE (Mil), ED, JP, MP.

Minister Burch added: “The Ministry is actively addressing this issue, and our dedicated teams are working diligently to repair and restore the affected areas, ensuring safer and smoother driving conditions for the public.”