Government

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

The public will recall my recent announcement that in November, I will be attending the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow or COP26, held in Glasgow, Scotland. I now wish to share some information on our role in the event.

Today the Department of Culture announced details of the Flora Duffy mural, which is part of the recognition events to honour Bermuda’s first Olympic Gold Medalist.

Good afternoon.

Over the past few days, our COVID statistics have gotten better. We have seen fewer active cases and deaths. This is good news for Bermuda, and I am confident that if we all continue to do everything we can to avoid getting infected with COVID-19 and look out for each other, things will continue to get better.

We have completed week 40 of vaccinations. Since January 11, Bermuda has administered a total of 89,029 vaccinations.

Of the 89,029 vaccinations given as of October 16:

The Ministry of Labour advises the public of two fake emails in circulation. One claims to be an offer of assistance from the Department of Financial Assistance. The other is a COVID-19 status validation request from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with the Government.  

If you receive or have received either of the following correspondence (email sample attached), please ignore and immediately delete:

Please be advised of the following schools that opened successfully on Friday, October 15, 2021:

Friday, October 15, 2021

1. Elliot Primary

2. Northlands Primary

3. Lyceum Preschool

4. Prospect Preschool

Please be advised of the following schools that opened yesterday, Tuesday, October 19th, 2021:

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

1.   Warwick Preschool

2.   St. David’s Preschool

3.   St. George’s Prep

4.   Francis Patton

5.   Harrington Sound Primary

The Ministry of Home Affairs would like to remind the public that the deadline for submitting any comments on the Regulating Single-Use Plastics in Bermuda Policy Paper is October 31st. 

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 6137 test results, and 26 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 0.5%.

These results are from testing done on:

·         Thursday: 6 positive out of 1778 results (0.3% positivity)

·         Friday: 10 positive out of 1851 results (0.5% positivity)

·         Saturday: 2 positive out of 12513 results (0.2% positivity)

·         Sunday: 8 positive out of 1257 results (0.6% positivity)

Welcome and thank you so much for joining us this afternoon.

By way of background, Bermuda was one of the first jurisdictions in the world to introduce a uniform postage stamp and rates in 1842, only two years behind the United Kingdom ;and three years ahead of the United States.

The earliest Bermuda stamps, Perot stamps, were named after William Bennett Perot, who served as Bermuda’s first Postmaster General from 1818 to 1862.   Stamps are usually issued to commemorate special occasions, special events, objects of importance and Bermuda’s cultural history.

Good evening all!

As we close out today’s wonderful celebratory events recognising Flora Duffy, I just want to take a moment to thank each of you for coming here this evening to honour our Golden Girl!

This entire week, from the historic motorcade through to today has simply been a truly memorable one, and I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything quite like this in my entire lifetime.

Flora you trained during COVID, you competed during COVID, and you won during COVID; therefore it was important we found a way to celebrate during COVID.

Good afternoon Governor Lalgie  Premier David Burt, NSC Deputy Chair Katura Horton Perinchief, BOA Chair Judy Simons special invited guests, and viewers watching online.

It gives me great pleasure to join you all at the National Sports Centre to honour Ms Flora Duffy – the most accomplished Bermudian athlete of our time. It’s been said that sports are considered the essence of hard work and dedication. For an athlete to get to the pinnacle of their sport, even the most gifted athletes, they have to give it their all.

The Department of Transportation will resume the regular public bus schedule on Tuesday, 19 October.  A reduced bus schedule has been in place for the past two weeks due to COVID-19 related absences. This temporary schedule will end today, Sunday, 17 October. 

Tomorrow, Monday, 18 October, is the public holiday in honour of Olympic gold medalist Flora Duffy and, as usual, the Sunday/Holiday schedule will operate.

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 3564 test results, and 19 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 0.5.

These results are from testing done on:

·         Tuesday: 9 positive out of 1861 results (0.5% positivity)

·         Wednesday: 10 positive out of 1703 results (0.5% positivity)

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

The additional 18 new cases are classified as either local transmission or remain under investigation. 

Good day Everyone,

Thank you for your attendance today so that I can provide an update to the people of Bermuda on key developments that are relevant to the fiscal and economic situation in Bermuda.  I want to begin by extending my sympathies to all of those who have suffered loss because of COVID-19. I also wish to express my appreciation to those who have served, and continue to serve, on the front line and provide invaluable support and care during these difficult times.

The Ministry of Public Works advises that due to the Flora Duffy Day holiday on Monday, 18 October, garbage will not be collected on that day.

Garbage collection days for the 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 October will shift to the next day as follows:

Today, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Hon. Wayne Furbert, JP, MP, released the June 2021 Retail Sales report (attached).

In June, the overall volume of local retail sales increased by 5.9% year-over-year. In value terms, retail sales rose 8.1% to an estimated $105 million.

June’s retail sales increased compared to the previous year’s (2020) local retail sales, which reported a decrease of 3.2%. 

June’s retail sales growth represents the 12^th consecutive month of increase.