Government

“Clearwater Middle School students produced a captivating film about the life and legacy of Mary Prince and the Ministry is delighted to recognize the extraordinary creativity of these young minds,” said the Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP. 

Under the guidance of their Social Studies Teacher, Ms. Shimane Furroze, several M1 – M3 students created an original piece called The Mary Prince Movie, a black and white film that was written, produced, directed and acted by the students.

The Department of Parks’ Lifeguard Service continues to observe Portuguese Man of War along South Shore Park beaches in recent days.  

The Department of Parks wishes to advise beachgoers and the swimming public to exercise caution in or near the ocean. 

Portuguese Man of War can be identified with their bluish/purplish gas-filled float on top of the water. 

Their in-water tentacles are often not seen, making them a deadly predator for small fish and extremely painful upon human contact. 

“Response times are still within optimal expectations, and the BFRS maintains very high standards of response as well as providing excellent triage attention to medical emergencies.” said Minister of National Security Michael Weeks, JP, MP.

We are ensuring that the BFRS has the necessary resources to carry out its duties effectively and efficiently. The Government recruited ten local firefighters earlier this year to bolster the BFRS ranks, and there are plans for additional recruitment.”

The Department of Health held its annual Healthy Schools Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, 14th June, at the Bermuda Society of Arts, City Hall. These awards are for schools that consistently promote healthy nutrition, eating and wellness among their students and staff. Fifteen public and private schools and eight government preschools were reviewed as part of the Healthy Schools programme.

“Chief Fire Officer Dana Lovell is at the forefront of this ceremony, who recently assumed his role as the leader of this department after years of dedicated service”, said Minister of National Security Michael Weeks, JP, MP, during a Pinning Ceremony for the Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service.

 The ceremony, at the Hamilton Fire Station on Friday, saw 12 recently-promoted officers, including Chief Fire Officer Dana Lovell, formally receive their pins or badges representing their new ranks.

The Department of Youth & Sport is encouraging all young people over the age of 18 to attend the next “Zone-In” community engagement event.

Zone-In 18+ will take place June 29, 6.00pm, at the Young Men’s Social Club’s Blue Diamond Lounge. This event promises to be a lively forum aimed at giving Bermuda’s young adults an opportunity to express their views, concerns and ideas as it relates to Bermuda.

“We have the pleasure of bringing our first international Signature Learning Partner into the Bermuda Public School System family – Koom Consulting, an international water treatment and management consultancy founded by one of Bermuda’s own, Tarik Smith. As part of this Signature Learning Partnership, Koom Consulting will support the STEM Signature at Cedarbridge Academy and the Health & Social Care Signature at the Berkeley Institute,” said the Minister of Education, the Hon Diallo Rabain, JP, MP. 

Earlier today, Premier David Burt signed the Book of Condolence in tribute to the late Ottiwell Simmons. 

As a reminder, the Condolence Book is available for signing tomorrow, Saturday June 24^th from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at Victor Scott Primary School.

Observed today (22 June), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) describes Ocean Science Day as “A traditional part of the Assemblies of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, Ocean Science Day brings together panels, lectures and discussions on emerging issues that require international collaboration in marine science and technology.

“I was delighted to celebrate this incredible initiative that has improved the lives of seven young people and positively impacted Bermuda’s Hospitality and Tourism industry”, said the Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, recognising the graduation of seven students from Bacardi’s Shake Your Future program.

The Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) is ready for this season, and the Government is prepared to face any potential challenges,” said Minister of National Security Michael Weeks, JP, MP.

The EMO recently convened an Executive Meeting to discuss the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane season.

The meeting served as a critical preparatory measure to ensure the safety and well-being of Bermuda’s residents during potentially severe weather events.

Chief Justice Narinder Hargun has advised Her Excellency the Governor of his intention to retire at the end of 2023, having been appointed in July 2018.

Her Excellency has instructed the Judicial and Legal Services Committee to begin the appointment process for the next Chief Justice. The appointment will be made by the Governor under Section 73(3) of the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968.

It is anticipated that the post will be advertised both locally and internationally.

Due to a water outage, the Department of Workforce Development will close its office at 23 Parliament Street, Hamilton, to walk-in customers at 12.15 pm today.

The issue is being addressed, and the Department of Workforce Development apologizes to its customers for any inconvenience caused.

Regular office hours will resume tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker,

The impact of the global pandemic means that like all other businesses, the cost of operating child day care services in Bermuda has increased, resulting in added financial pressures being placed on families.

The increasing cost of childcare has added to the economic stresses for parents. As a result, the Ministry will increase the Childcare allowance benefits and expand the pool of parents who can qualify. These amendments will provide many families the opportunity to afford suitable childcare for their children.

Mr Speaker and Honourable Members,

I rise today to provide COVID-19 Public Information and Guidance.

Unfortunately, there is evidence of increasing COVID-19 infections in the community. However, the good news is that we are better positioned to manage the outbreaks because of the high vaccination rates and a less deadly virus strain.

Mr. Speaker,

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.