Government

Today the Cabinet Office released the Quarter 2, 2021 Quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Expenditure publication. 

After adjusting for inflation, the GDP in constant prices increased 13.6% in the second quarter of 2021. 

There were increases in several sectors during the second quarter, as growth reflected a rebound in economic activity compared to 2020. 

Some key highlights of the 2021 2nd quarter are as follows: 

Ø  Household Final Consumption increased 12.3% year-over-year to $737.3 million.

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 6762 test results, and 20 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 0.3%.

These results are from testing done on:

·Wednesday: 4 positive out of 1563 results (0.3% positivity)

·Thursday: 6 positive out of 2053 results (0.3% positivity)

·Friday: 2 positive out of 1794 results (0.1% positivity)

·Saturday: 8 positive out of 1352 results (0.6% positivity)

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

Amendments to the Quarantine (COVID-19) (No. 3) Order 2020 go into effect on December 13^th, 2021. These changes seek to streamline border protocols to balance easing travel to the island with safety at the border. The three changes apply to all immunised travellers to Bermuda. There are no changes to travel requirements for unvaccinated travellers.

Veteran Educator Kenneth Caesar has been appointed Principal of CedarBridge Academy, Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Kalmar Richards announced today.

A former principal of Sandys Secondary Middle School, Mr. Caesar has been acting principal of the senior school for the past four years.

He served in leadership positions at schools and educational institutions in Washington, DC, before returning to the Island.

Mr. Caesar is also a key leader in school transformation for the ongoing education reform program.

The Department of Workforce Development is pleased to announce the start of the 2022 Graduate Trainee Programme, which commenced on Monday 6 December. The Minister of Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, joined the Graduate Trainee Programme participants in a virtual event marking the start of the Programme. 

Public Servant, Ms. Ashjuana Thomas has been recognized for her outstanding work as Talent Management Partner for the Department of Employee and Organizational Development. She is the month of November’s Public Service Excellence Award (PSEA) recipient.

The public will note that the PSEA’s is a programme that aims to encourage outstanding achievement and recognize Public Officers who are demonstrating admirable service delivery. Each month one individual or team within Government will be selected for their exemplary public service accomplished in the last 60 days.

Mr Speaker,

This morning I rise to share with my Honourable colleagues and the community at large the work that will be undertaken for the establishment of a History & Legacy Committee.

Mr Speaker,

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members will recall that on November 12^th, I gave a Ministerial Statement on the 2021/22 Half-Year Performance. I also committed to report to this Honourable House on the updated 2021/22 Revised Estimates of revenues and expenditure, resulting from a detailed 2021/22 Mid-Year performance assessment. Further, I undertook to provide an update on the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Government’s revenues and expenditures for fiscal 2021/22.

Mr Speaker, I rise today to inform this Honourable House of recent travels to London and Brussels, along with the Acting Financial Secretary, as part of the Ministry of Finance’s ongoing program of engagement and advocacy with key stakeholders and trading partners. I will also provide an update on my work last week in New York, as I again provided support to the Bermuda Business Development Agency, in their promotion of Bermuda as a centre of excellence in climate risk finance.

Mr. Speaker, progress in any society can be achieved in several ways. The history of many nations and peoples has shown that the past, no matter how painful or controversial, must be openly and fearlessly addressed. There is no requirement for people to agree a common history as shared experiences are often differently perceived and recalled. However, too much of history has been whispered or unrecorded.

Mr. Speaker,

Introduction

I rise before this Honourable House to provide you with an update on the Process Improvements made within the Department of Immigration under Immigration Reform.  I will speak on:

1. The Process Improvements made;
2. The Automation Project already underway; and
3. The vital policy role of the Board of Immigration moving forward.

Mr. Speaker,

Process Improvements

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 3529 test results, and four were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 0.1%.

These results are from testing done on:

•        Sunday: 0 positive out of 1020 results (0.0% positivity)

•        Monday: 2 positive out of 1303 results (0.2% positivity)

•        Tuesday: 2 positive out of 1206 results (0.2% positivity)

All four new cases are classified as imported with a history of travel in the previous 14 days.

Recently, the Minister of Labour, the Hon Jason Hayward, JP, MP, and his team attended the Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) joint hotelier stakeholder meeting hosted at The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.

The group held roundtable discussions about employment opportunities in the hotels and attracting Bermudians to the industry. They also reviewed the findings from the Hospitality Needs assessment conducted by PwC and will continue holding regular meetings to keep the effort on track.

The Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP was pleased to announce yesterday to school Principals and Administrators that schools have now been shifted into Phase 3 of the COVID-19 Phases for School Protocols, effective Wednesday, December 8^th, 2021.

The Minister said, “We are pleased to see that the work undertaken to get our students back to a normal learning environment is progressing. School staff, principals, parents and students must be commended for their efforts in creating a safe learning community.”

The Flora Duffy Hill sign has been officially installed, the Ministry of Public Works confirmed today.

The public will be aware that the renaming of Corkscrew Hill was part of a series of recognition events to honour Ms. Duffy following her historic Gold Medal achievement at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

It should be noted that the name change is in accordance with the Road Renaming Notice under Sections 15 & 16 of the Public Lands Act 1984.

The notice was Officially Gazetted in October.

Yesterday, the Minister of National Security, the Hon. Renee Ming recognized the incredible bravery of two very special children during the inaugural Fire Service Community Heroism Awards ceremony.

The event, which took place at the Hamilton Fire Station, was organised by the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service. And it was an opportunity to honour the Oduntan family who averted a tragedy when Mrs. Yemi Oduntan and children Zoe and Eli Oduntan (ages 9 and 6 respectively) jumped into action to save the life of their father during a near drowning incident earlier this year.

Today the Head of the Public Service, Dr Derrick Binns, announced the appointment of Malika D. Cartwright MSc, BSc, as the Director for the Department of Workforce Development.

 Mrs Cartwright assumed the post-effective Monday, November 1, 2021.

 Mrs Cartwright will report to the Ministry of Labour, Permanent Secretary, Mr Collin Anderson. 

The Ministry of Public works is pleased to advise that work will resume tomorrow to complete the structural repairs to the section of Harbour Road, between Lover’s Lane and Highwood Lane. Agreements have been finalised with the area resident this week, allowing for the work to get underway.

Acting Minister for Public Works Wayne Furbert added, “I really want to thank the motoring public for their patience and understanding while the necessary talks with an area resident were completed.

Good afternoon members of the media, 

In March of this year, during the Budget debate, I announced that as part of the Government’s commitment to protecting the island’s environment, the Ministry of Transport is starting by purchasing 30 electric buses.  

We purchased the new buses from Golden Dragon Bus Company Ltd in China during the summer. The Company recently completed the pre-delivery inspections and is currently preparing the buses to be shipped from Shanghai to Bermuda. 

With only a few weeks to go until Christmas, holiday parties will be taking place all over the island, which is why the Bermuda Road Safety Council’s slogan for December is – 

Designated Driver/Designate your Driver. 

A designated driver is crucial for everyone to have a safe holiday now more than any other time of the year. Designated drivers are an integral part of keeping roads safe, and by educating friends and family, we can work together to lower the number of accidents and even deaths.