Government

On Thursday, 22 March, the Ministry of Economy and Labour released the December 2021 Retail Sales Index. 

December’s retail sales fell 8.8% compared to last year.  In value terms, retail sales decreased to an estimated $113.3 million, falling 5.4% compared to the previous year (December 2020).

However, compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019, volume sales were 3.8% higher.

Service Stations’ sales also grew 2.8% due to increased vehicular traffic compared to the previous year.  The sales volume for this sector remained 1.3% below the 2019 sales level.

Seven community organisations were awarded monetary grants from the Bermuda Government’s Confiscated Assets and Capital Development Grant Programme.

Premier and Minister of Finance, the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, presented cheques to sports and community clubs, totalling $175,000 to assist with essential upgrades to their facilities, purchase new equipment and support youth programmes.

The initiative is in keeping with the Government’s commitment to supporting community organisations and projects which get Bermudians back to work.

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 4929 test results, and 102 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 2.0%.

These results are from testing done on:

·Wednesday:  35 positive out of  1602 results (1.9% positivity)

·Thursday: 26 positive out of 1543 results (2.5% positivity)

·Friday: 17 positive out of 906 results (3.5% positivity)

·Saturday: 24 positive out of 878 results (3.7% positivity)

On Thursday, the Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, released the December 2021 Consumer Price Index (attached) publication from the Department of Statistics.

The Minister explained, “In December 2021, consumers paid 2.7 per cent more than they did in December 2020 for the basket of goods and services.” 

On Tuesday, March 29th, the Island’s seniors will once again be provided with an opportunity to learn important skills like posting, liking, tweeting, and commenting during our annual Safer Internet Day. This event is free and will take place at St. Paul’s Centennial Hall from 10 am to 2 pm.

Mr. Speaker, in a Statement to this Honourable House on 4^th February, I began this Session setting out for Honourable Members that this year of 2022 is a critical year for tourism recovery. Mr. Speaker in that Statement I referred to the development of the Fairmont Southampton hotel in these terms:

“As a Government we are keenly aware of what such a project represents to the economy in the short and long term and how it presents a singular opportunity to make a strong statement about Bermuda’s tourism fortunes.”

In early 2020, the full impact of COVID on our country could not have been foretold. The global pandemic brought on by the COVID-19 virus forced us to shelter in place while learning and schooling as we knew it would not be the same. In short order, our island home went from moving along with everyday life to one where the effects of a global pandemic disrupted our lives in ways never previously imagined.

MR SPEAKER,

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update this Honourable House on the Government’s strategy to improve the protection of sharks.

“Sadly, Bermuda has had another coronavirus related death,” said Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP. “My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased.”

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 3674 test results, and 123 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 3.3%.

These results are from testing done on:

·Sunday: 10 positive out of 619 results (1.6% positivity)

·Monday: 67 positive out of 1329 results (5.0% positivity)

The Ministry of Health announces that the Bermuda Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (BACIP) has approved the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine for those who had their third dose more than five months ago.

The target groups for the fourth dose booster vaccines are persons who have immunosuppressing conditions, persons older than 65 and residents of residential care homes.

The Department of Education wishes to advise the public that there has been a delay in issuing acceptance / non-acceptance letters for Pre and Primary schools for the September 2022-2023 school year.

Acceptance/Non-Acceptance letters will be sent out to all applicants during the week of April 11^th, 2022.

The Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Kalmar Richards, apologises for the delay and any inconvenience caused to parents and guardians.

The Department of Workforce Development invites applications for the Summer Internship Programme from high school students between 15 and 18 years old. 

Students must be 15 and no older than 18 years of age by 1st July 2022.

Applications are available on www.bermudajobboard.bm until the 4th April 2022. 

Hardcopyt applications will not be accepted, and students must be able to commit for the entire month of July. 

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 5140 test results, and 137 were positive for the coronavirus. 

These results are from testing done on:

•        Wednesday:  35 positive out of  1873 results (1.9% positivity)

•        Thursday: 36 positive out of 1413 results (2.5% positivity)

•        Friday: 38 positive out of 1089 results (3.5% positivity)

•        Saturday: 28 positive out of 765 results (3.7% positivity)

8 of the new cases is classified as imported with a history of travel in the previous 14 days.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to provide the House with a report on the state of the island’s roads and the various trenching projects ongoing and projected for the upcoming year.

The Ministry of Social Development and Seniors would like to advise the public that the K Margaret Carter Centre (KMCC) is closed and will reopen on Monday, March 28th.

There are several staff and clients currently in quarantine and subsequently, there are absences. As a result, the client-to-staff levels are presently unsustainable.

Parents/Guardians have been notified. The Department of Health will guide on the recommended closure period and testing to safely return to the facility.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to lay before this Honourable House the Bill entitled “Children Amendment Act 2022”. This Bill amends the Children Act 1998, to reform the current legal structure and broaden the responsibilities of the Child Care Placement Board.

Mr. Speaker, among the most expensive items we must buy in our everyday lives is gas or diesel for cars and bikes. We make time to work, we take our children to school, we take an elderly relative for a drive or we use a vehicle to ply our trade. Every Bermudian makes use of fuel and is impacted by an increase in its cost.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members and the public may have noted that in January there was an increase of 1.7% for gasoline and an increase of 3.2% for diesel. In February the increases were 4.9% for gasoline and 4.7% for diesel.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform this Honourable House of the results of the public consultation on single-use plastics that was conducted during the autumn of 2021.  Honourable members will be aware that a policy was launched in August entitled: “Regulating Single-use plastics in Bermuda:  Policy paper for public consultation”. I would also like to inform Honourable Members of the next steps that we intend to take to ensure the realization of this Throne Speech initiative.

MR SPEAKER,

An African Proverb says this “…If we stand tall, it is because we stand on the shoulders of our ancestors…”

MR. SPEAKER,

Often I hear in the community that Bermuda history is not captured sufficiently, that members of the public do not have a firm grasp of the Bermuda story, compared to other countries worldwide. This lack of understanding of our story can make people not appreciate or feel as attached to or proud of their island home.

MR. SPEAKER,