Government

Recently, the Department of Parks carried out tree trimming and maintenance on Berry Hill Road in Paget as part of the Government’s hurricane preparedness efforts, which include cutting back overhanging vegetation and shrubbery around the Island. 

High winds from storms have the potential to knock over trees and create additional difficulties during clean-up efforts following a storm’s passage.

“I am extremely honoured and excited to become the first-ever chair of this Leaders Forum,” said the Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Walter Roban, JP, MP, following his appointment as the 2022-2023 Chair of the Blue Prosperity Leaders Forum.

The first Blue Prosperity Leaders Forum Roundtable was in June at the 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. It brought together committed national leaders and supporting partners of the Blue Prosperity Coalition (BPC) to discuss current and future ocean stewardship goals.

With the news earlier today of the results of the UK Conservative Party leadership election, Premier David Burt said, “The Government of Bermuda looks forward to working with the new Prime Minister and the new Foreign Secretary. 

“There are issues on which we must work together to the benefit of Bermuda. From financial services to mitigating the impact of climate change, UK Overseas Territories will be looking for action during this period of global economic uncertainty.

With the news earlier today of the results of the UK Conservative Party leadership election, Premier David Burt said, “The Government of Bermuda looks forward to working with the new Prime Minister and the new Foreign Secretary. 

“There are issues on which we must work together to the benefit of Bermuda. From financial services to mitigating the impact of climate change, UK Overseas Territories will be looking for action during this period of global economic uncertainty.

Good afternoon Acting Chief Fire Officer and members of the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, special guests, family and friends.

I am pleased to be here to participate in this year’s BFRS Employee Awards Ceremony where we will recognise the contributions of the men and women within the BFRS. Their dedication is matched by their humility, and it is my privilege to highlight their excellent work.

“The labo(u)r movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress”. These words come from a 1965 speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and perfectly frame the historical significance of labour movements the world over and especially in Bermuda. Beyond the workers’ daily labour, the Movement galvanized women and men into a united body, determined to secure basic rights and freedoms for all people.

Good Afternoon – Minister Lawrence Scott, Acting Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Acting Director of Youth, Recreation and Sport, our guest of honour Mr Jah- nhai Perinchief:

We are here today at the Cabinet Office to welcome Jah-nhai home and congratulate him on his historic bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, last month.

Good afternoon:

I am pleased to join the Hon Premier to welcome home Jah-Nhai Perinchief, one of our elite athletes and celebrate his achievement in winning the bronze medal in the triple jump at the recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. 

Good morning members of the media,

As we learn to Live with Covid, the Department of Public Transportation (DPT) will transition back to the 2019 level of student transportation services. This means that students using public buses will see changes as they go to and from school.

Over the last two years, under an established COVID protocol, the DPT provided minibuses to transport students directly to and from school. Students were collected and dropped off at the nearest bus stop to their homes or destination.

Good Morning and Welcome,

I am joined by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. Lawrence Scott, to update parents, guardians, students, and the general public on the planning and preparations underway for the start of the 2022/23 school year. Today we will share information on the following:

“As we move beyond the pandemic, it was refreshing to connect with our seniors in person at our first Talk and Tea event on Friday, 26 August.” said the Hon. Tinee S. Furbert, JP, MP, Minister of Social Development and Seniors.

“The event was well attended, and our seniors provided invaluable feedback.”

Minister Furbert added, “Our seniors had many questions and concerns that we were able to acknowledge and provide feedback and workable solutions.”

Good day to members of the media and the listening public. 

Economies with ageing populations around the world have been presented with numerous challenges, including increased healthcare and long-term care spending, labour-force shortages, declining economic activity and old age income security. 

Bermuda is no different. We have a rapidly ageing population, which will present a common set of challenges to those experienced worldwide. Current statistics show that demographics are working against Bermuda in terms of our total population and demographic profile.  

Her Excellency the Governor, Ms Rena Lalgie, today invited expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced persons to join the Defence Board or the Promotions Board of the Royal Bermuda Regiment.

On Thursday, August 25th, 2022, the Lorraine Rest Home celebrated its 60th anniversary and was officially renamed Lorraine Nursing Home. 

The Minister of Social Development and Seniors, the Hon. Tinee Furbert, JP, MP, shared, “In 2018, The Government granted licensure to Lorraine Rest Home to provide nursing care services.” 

“It is only right that we take the time to formally acknowledge Lorraine Rest Home as a Nursing Home formally.” 

“Watching our students engage in sports education and STEM projects with such joy was heartwarming to see,” said the Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP.

“This is the third year the Ministry of Education has sponsored 20 public school students to attend the DREAM SPARK Summer Camp.”

Between August 1-5, 2022, 42 students between the ages of 5 and 16 participated in:

●        Innovative and intense basketball drills 

●        Engaging STEM projects 

●        Designing, building, and testing STEM projects 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) wishes to remind the public that marine turtles are among many species afforded protection under the Protected Species Act 2003. Under the act, it is an offence to “disturb or harass” any protected species. Any person found to have done so commits an offence and may be liable on summary conviction to a fine of $25,000 or two years imprisonment.

Remarks by the Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, at the recent Bermuda Economic Development Corporation’s Annual Summer Student Entrepreneur Programme Graduation:

Good evening,

Thank you, Chairman for the introduction.

It is a pleasure to be here.

As the Minister responsible for the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, I am pleased to be here with you to celebrate the successful completion of the 5th cohort of the Summer Student Entrepreneurship Programme.

The public will recall the efforts of the Department of Energy that led to the Government’s adoption of Bermuda’s National Fuels Policy in 2018. Since then, further findings have provided valuable insight into the island’s fuel sector. With this information, the Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Department of Energy, is pleased to introduce the Draft Consultation Fuels Bill (Draft Fuels Bill). 

“The Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation (DRRM) Team are carefully watching the weather systems that are currently in the Atlantic region. The Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) and the Government are prepared for a disaster, should one occur,” said Minister of National Security, the Hon. Michael Weeks, JP, MP.

Minister Weeks is today encouraging residents to maintain a level of preparedness in the face of increased tropical activity in the Atlantic basin.

As the Government continues its goal of developing the next leaders in the public sector, the Head of the Public Service, Dr. Derrick Binns recently recognized 16 officers who are currently participating in and two officers who have completed the Bermuda Government’s Leadership Development Programme.

Graduates of the programme are Pandora Wright, Director of Financial Assistance and Gladwina O’Mara, Assistant Official Receiver, Registrar of Companies.

Government House today announced that Mrs Michelle Simmons will step down as an Independent Senator effective as of 31 August 2022.    

The Governor, Ms Rena Lalgie, said:

Recently, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Dr. Ernest Peets, recognized 16 Bermudian artists who are currently featuring their works in Government buildings as part of the “Public Art Project in Government Buildings”.

The public will recall that the initiative was announced in the 2018 Throne Speech. The Department of Culture facilitated the project and last week, several creative pieces were installed in the Dame Lois Brown Evans, the General Post Office, and Government Administration buildings, all located in Hamilton.

Recently, a delegation from Bermuda consisting of Members of Parliament, Ms. Susan Jackson and Mr. Jamahl Simmons, and Clerk to the Legislature, Mrs. Shernette Wolffe recently attended the 65th CPC Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia from August 21 – 26. 

This year’s theme was “Inclusive, Accessible, Accountable and Strong Parliaments: The Cornerstone of Democracy and Essential for Development”. 

The Minister of Health is encouraging parents to register their children who have asthma, on the 2022/23 Bermuda Student Asthma Registry. 

Good day to all members of the media and the listening public. 

Joining me here today from the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme or BOPP, is MS. Cheryl Mapp, Blue Economy Specialist, Sarah Brooks, Marine Spatial Planning Specialist, Ali Hochberg, Outreach Specialist, and Noelle Young, Administrative Assistant. And from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Director Andrew Pettit, and his team.  

The Ministry of Education is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 Bermuda Government Scholarships and Awards. 

Each year the Ministry of Education provides scholarships and awards to Bermudian students to pursue higher education.

The Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP, said, “Education is and will continue to be a top priority for this Government, and it is also an undeniable part of the continued development of Bermuda.”