Government

“If we are to protect, preserve and promote broader awareness about our cultural legacy, it’s important for us all to learn as much as we can about our heritage,” said the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Dr. Ernest Peets recently, when he toured the Carter House Museum – one of Bermuda’s oldest cultural and historical attractions.

Located in St. David’s, Carter House is an Historic Protection Site and Listed Building.

The Hon. Kathy Lynn Simmons, JP, MP Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Reform, is pleased to announce that 47 families have received internet installation and one year of paid service.  

After COVID-19 forced schools online, Mirrors jumped in to support students in need with devices through an initiative entitled “Lighthouse Connect”. During the most recent remote learning period, the organization received requests from a host of families needing the internet for students to participate in online learning. 

On 26 November 2007, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared that 20 February would be celebrated annually as the World Day of Social Justice. 

Today, the 2022 theme of Achieving Social Justice through Formal Employment highlights that 2 billion workers, or over 60 per cent of the world’s employed population, earn their living in the informal economy. These workers are not regulated, registered or afforded the basic social and employment-related protections and benefits. 

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform this Honourable House and the general public that February is Teen Dating Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. I would also like to take this opportunity to share what the Ministry of Social Development and Seniors has done in support of this initiative. While the month is targeted towards teens, it is important that all adults in our community who have healthy interactions with teens not limited to parents and guardians, lead the charge of having conversations with them on dating abuse.

The Department of Health can confirm that on behalf of Abbott Nutrition, the Bermuda General Agency (BGA) Ltd. is initiating a proactive product recall of “Similac” Pro-Sensitive and Pro-Advance plastic container options manufactured in Sturgis, Michigan, one of the company’s manufacturing facilities. 

This recall is after four consumers launched complaints in the US relating to Cronobacter sakazakii or Salmonella Newport in infants who had consumed the powder formula manufactured specifically in their Sturgis, Michigan facility.

MR SPEAKER,

I want to take this time today to provide updates on some COVID Related School Matters as we prepare to return to school next week Monday. Some have questioned the policies currently in place. More specifically, there has been a growing misconception that there is some disparity between Public Schools and Private Schools guidelines. This cannot be further from the truth, as the policies in place for schools apply equally to both public and private schools. Today, I will provide the necessary information to clarify some of these misconceptions hopefully.

The Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Reform, the Hon. Kathy Lynn Simmons, JP, MP, today issued a public notice of the impending release, of sex offender TeWolde Mathin Selassie, who will be released from the Department of Corrections Farm Facility on 21 February 2022.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update this Honourable House on our strategy to improve the protection of our marine resources within our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Bermuda is privileged to have a very large Exclusive Economic Zone. Our EEZ is approximately four hundred and sixty four thousand (464,000) kilometre square.  To put this in context, this is larger than the combined EEZs of the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands, which have a combined total of four hundred and forty-five thousand, five hundred (445,500) kilometre square.

Mr. Speaker,

I rise today to provide an update on the Automation Project already underway in the Department of Immigration.  We are extremely excited about these advances which will benefit both the Department, businesses and the general public.

Mr. Speaker,

Automation of Immigration Forms

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members,

I rise today to share with Honourable Members the Bermuda Health Strategy 2022-2027.

Mr Speaker,

This House will recall the previous Health Strategy covered the years 2014 to 2019.

In 2019, the Ministry of Health began work to create a new strategy for the next five years (2020 to 2025) which could provide a framework for a redesign of the healthcare system – the Government’s intention to transition to universal health coverage being a clear and stated goal by that time.

Mr Speaker,

“Bermuda has recorded another coronavirus death,” announced Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP. “I extend sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, and I pray that they find comfort in the memories of their loved one.”

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 3465 test results, and 70 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 2.0%.

These results are from testing done on:

§  Sunday: 18 positive out of 914 results (2.0% positivity)

§  Monday: 27 positive out of 1359 results (2.0% positivity)

The Ministry of Transport, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Marine and Ports Services are advising the public that an additional 17 abandoned and derelict boats – owners unknown – will shortly be removed from the water and disposed of. This is in addition to the recent notice to remove 37 abandoned vessels. 

The Ministry of Health is pleased to announce the official release of the Bermuda Health Strategy 2022-2027, a five-year plan for strengthening Bermuda’s healthcare system.

Created in partnership with KPMG’s global health experts, the Strategy is a continuation of the Ministry of Health’s previous work (outlined in the 2014-2019 Strategy) and takes into account some of the strengths and weaknesses of Bermuda’s healthcare system, which have been brought to light throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Sunday evening (February 20), the Bermuda Arts Council (BAC) will host its Annual Awards Ceremony and celebrate six Bermudians who have made significant contributions to the island’s arts and cultural scene with their body of work. 

This hybrid in-person and virtual event will take place at the Earl Cameron Theatre, where the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Dr. Ernest Peets, will formally present awards in the categories of: 

Good Morning Minister, Director of the Department of Transportation, Officers from the Department of Transportation and members of the media here this morning.

Within the Government’s Economic Recovery plan we committed to ensuring a sustainable transportation infrastructure that is safe for the environment.

The Economic Development Department (EDD) is today launching the highly-anticipated and updated Cybertips Activity Book.

Says Ray Jones, Director of the EDD: “As education curricula are now delivered using a blended learning approach that heavily relies on the Internet, the Activity Book is now more relevant than it ever was. Each page is designed to be its own fun and self-paced lesson focusing on specific topics relevant to safely using the Internet as a valuable tool.” 

Yesterday the Acting Minister of Public Works, the Hon. Wayne Furbert, JP, MP, led meetings with the Town of St. George’s and City of Hamilton Municipalities to discuss Municipal Reform and the upcoming Municipal elections.

Minister Furbert advised the Corporation of St. George and Hamilton Mayors and Council members that elections would be deferred for one year to maintain the operational stability of both Corporations pending the determination of the matter now before the Court of Appeal.

~ Public encouraged to support local talent at safely distanced open air midday concert ~

This Friday (Feb. 18), the Department of Culture will once again host the open-air concert series, Creatives Live! – featuring musical duo Aimee and Davy.

Happening on the City Hall steps, Creatives Live! willbe safely distanced and take place from 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm.

Previous Creatives Live! events have provided an upbeat musical atmosphere in the City of Hamilton, and Friday’s performance promises to do the same.

I have today reluctantly accepted the resignation of the Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson, JP, MP, as Minister of Finance. Bermuda has been well served by Minister Dickinson’s steady and thoughtful hand at the helm of the Government’s finances and fiscal strategy. Minister Dickinson led the financial support response to the pandemic and invested tremendous personal energy and commitment to ensure that the needs of the Island’s workforce were met as people were impacted by the necessary strict public health measures.

Recently (Feb. 11), Premier David Burt and the Head of the Public Service, Dr. Derrick Binns recognized the January recipients of the Public Service Excellence Award (PSEA) – Mr. Thomas Sinclair and Mr. Maxwell Dill, members of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) section.

“Bermuda has recorded another coronavirus related death since our last update,” said Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP. “My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and loved ones of the deceased.”

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 3063 test results, and 88 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 2.9%.

These results are from testing done on:

§  Sunday: 6 positive out of 715 results (0.8% positivity)

§  Monday: 44 positive out of 1376 results (3.2% positivity)