Government

 Last evening (June 28), The Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain JP, MP, alongside the Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Kalmar Richards, Dr. Llewellyn Simmons, Director of Academics, and Learning First Team Members, Ms. Laurel Burns and Ms. Lisa Smith, hosted a town hall meeting to discuss education reform. 

 The meeting was an opportunity for the public to gather more information and ask questions about how education reform is progressing and share excitement about the launch of CedarBridge Academy and The Berkeley Institute as Signature Schools in September 2022.

“I am sad to report that we had two coronavirus-related deaths since our last update,” said Minister of Health, Kim Wilson. “I am sorry for these losses and extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the family and loved ones of the deceased.”

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 5768 test results, and 205 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 4%.

These results are from testing done on:

·Tuesday: 50 positive out of 1436 results (3.5% positivity)

Congratulations to Dr. Dorothy Matthews-Paynter, who recently celebrated and is still celebrating her 100th birthday. Dr Matthew Paynter is a highly respected Bermudian trailblazer, professional hairdresser and beautician, businesswoman, entrepreneur, and community leader.

Last week, Premier David Burt, Minister David Burch and Senator Lindsay Simmons honoured the centenarian with her family and students at Victor Scott Primary School.

The Minister of National Security, the Hon. Michael Weeks, JP, MP, visited the Clarence W. Davis Training Centre at Ferry Reach last week to thank eight recruits who are training to become full-time prison officers.

The officers, consisting of seven men and one woman, are currently in the ninth week of a 12-week training course that includes instruction in every component they will need to become successful and proficient officers.

Minister Weeks said: “I visited the CW Training Centre at Ferry Reach to observe the new recruits for the Department of Corrections.

“This coming July will make it three months since my appointment as Minister of Tourism, and these critical tourism stakeholder meetings are vital to enhancing our working relationships and obtaining valuable insight into Bermuda’s tourism product,” said the Minister of Tourism, the Hon Vance Campbell, JP, MP, as he continued visiting and meeting with senior management at tourist accommodations across the island.

The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is pleased to advise that there are more opportunities to join the 2022 Summer Employment Programme and invites college and university students to apply.

Internship applicants must hold Bermudian status and be enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Registration will be at the Department of Workforce Development located at the old Magistrates Court, 23 Parliament Street, Hamilton, from today (June 27^th) to June 30^th, 9:30 am to 11:30 am.

Personnel from several local organisations commenced horticulture and arboriculture training today at the Botanical Gardens.

Trainers Joanna Jeffery, Steph Addison and Nigel Hewish from Kingston Maurward College in Dorset, England, are visiting the Island from 21 June to 1 July to carry out the instruction as part of an effort to bolster opportunities for hands-on training and technical certification for local horticultural workers.

“The Bermuda National Museum offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration, and deepens our understanding of our past and Bermuda’s place in a wider world,” said the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Dr. Ernest Peets as he continued his visits to the island’s cultural institutions.

His most recent stop was the National Museum of Bermuda in Dockyard.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is pleased to advise that the Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs, the Honourable Walter Roban, JP, MP, will be representing Bermuda at the United Nations Ocean Conference held in Lisbon, Portugal, from June 26th to July 1st, 2022 

Good Evening Ministers of the Cabinet, Sir John Swan, a national hero and family members of some of our other heroes, Ms Gordon-Pamplin, Mr Dan Tucker, and Ms Thalia Bromby, members of the media and ladies and gentlemen in the audience.

I am honoured to welcome you to this year’s Premier’s Concert: Celebrating Our National Heroes. The Premier’s Concert was first introduced in December of 1985 by then Cultural Affairs Officer Miss

To the Premier, the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP; to our distinguished and special invited guests; to our artists:

On behalf of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport, it’s so wonderful to be here in person to celebrate the talent of our Bermudian artists.

We haven’t been able to gather like this for two years, so it really is a pleasure to engage with all of you for the annual Premier’s Concert.

This year is particularly special, as the Premier’s Concert has served as the occasion for us to celebrate our National Heroes.

The Minister of Social Development and Seniors, the Hon.

The Ministry of Public Works is responding to a recent report of palm trees being removed from the Ocean View Golf Course and later relocated to a private residence in Smiths Parish.

The Ministry can report that 12 Canary Island Date Palms were relocated as part of an exchange authorised by the Golf Course Board of Trustees in 2019 in consultation with the Minister.

An impressive line-up of local artists including Brixx, Jesse Seymour, Arijahknow Live Wires will be headlining the Premier’s Concert, which takes place tomorrow (June 24) at the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium. 

The Premier’s Concert gets underway at 6.00 p.m.and will be an in-person event.

Today, the Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, released the March 2022 Consumer Price Index publication from the Department of Statistics.

The Economic Development Department is pleased to announce that 12 Bermudians have been selected to participate in a global FinTech education programme resulting from a partnership between the Government of Bermuda, ViableEdu and NEXT, the island’s first digital asset industry association. 

Premier David Burt extended condolences to the family of the late Olga M. Scott OBE, wife of former Premier the Hon. W. Alexander Scott CBE, JP and mother to Mrs. Robyn Eve and Minister of Transport the Hon. Lawrence Scott.

The Minister of National Security, the Hon. Michael Weeks, JP, MP, strongly condemned the violence that took place early this morning (June 18th) in the Arboretum.

Minister Weeks stated: “After receiving the news that a man was seriously injured during this incident, I want to send my sincerest well wishes to the victim as he recovers.

Mr. Speaker, on 18 February 2022, I advised the Honourable House that 30 new buses had arrived and would be operational after decommissioning and the Department of Public Transport’s bus operators and garage staff had received training on the buses.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to confirm that the buses were operational during the first week of April.

Mr Speaker, I rise today to report to this Honourable House that the Cost of Living Commission Amendment Act 2020 is being brought into force as of today, June 17, 2022.

Mr Speaker, this Act passed the Legislature in June of 2020, but when I resumed duties as Minister of Finance it came to my attention that this bill was never brought into force. As a reminder for members of this Honorable House and the listening public, the Cost of Living Commission Amendment Act 2020 provided for the following:

Mr. Speaker, today I am tabling the Bill entitled the Domestic Partnership Act 2022, to amend the transitional period of the Domestic Partnership Act 2018 (‘the principal Act”) in light of the Privy Council judgment in Attorney General for Bermuda v Ferguson and others.

Mr. Speaker, section 53 of the principal Act, provides that a marriage is void unless the parties are respectively male and female.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce to this Honourable House the Bill entitled “Criminal Code Amendment Act 2022”. This Bill seeks to amend temporary, or ‘sunset clause’ provisions in the Criminal Code Amendment Act 2012, which inserted the criminal offence of ‘instructing a person to participate in unlawful gang activity’ and instituted increased sentences for offences where unlawful gang activity is a feature of the criminal activity into the Criminal Code 1907.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform this Honorable House that the Royal Bermuda Regiment conducted their first overseas camp since 2019. In total over 140 soldiers and police officers deployed to US Marine Corps Camp Lejeune, North Carolina over the 2 weeks from 8 to 22 May 2022.

Mr Speaker,

This morning I would like to share with the Senate information about the recent graduation event at the Bermuda College and provide details of this incredible Class of 2022.

Mr Speaker,

Mr. Speaker,

It is my pleasure today to rise before this Honorable House to provide an overview of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the methodology behind its calculation, and to talk generally about Bermuda’s rate of inflation.

Mr. Speaker,

The Ministry of Public Works advises that an acute shortage of the number of operational garbage collection trucks for the Island has been improved thanks to valiant efforts by the Public Works team.

The Minister of Public Works the Hon. Lt. Col. David Burch said: “Today we are pleased to report that we now have ten trucks in service, which amounts to 67 per cent of our fleet, up from four trucks a few weeks ago.

“This is a marked improvement. I am extremely proud of the work that has been done to get the trucks back in service. 

The Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Reform, the Hon. Kathy Lynn Simmons is pleased to announce that 23 young people successfully completed Mirrors flagship Community Programme at Southlands Park on Saturday, 11 June 2022, and eight students officially opened the Field of Learning Garden Club.