Local News From Every Source
Good morning members of the media,
There is a work stoppage at the Department of Public Transportation concerning the Bermuda Industrial Union’s Bus Division. We believe that the industrial action is unlawful and contrary to section 87(2)(ii) and/or (iii) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 2021.
A letter has been delivered to the BIU urging them to return to work by noon today.
The Ministry of Public Works provided an update on the continued works taking place in Paget to reinforce the wall between Lovers Lane and Highwood Lane.
First and foremost, the Ministry of Public Works wishes to thank the public for their patience as these ongoing Harbour Road works continue.
The Ministry is pleased to advise that two-lane traffic will be restored by the middle of January, following road reinforcements.
The focus of this project has been to make the road safe and secure for the public.
Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 4124 test results, and 31 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 0.8%.
These results are from testing done on:
• Sunday: 6 positive out of 923 results (0.7% positivity)
• Monday: 17 positive out of 1569 results (1.1% positivity)
• Tuesday: 8 positive out of 1632 results (0.5% positivity)
21 of the new cases are classified as imported with history of travel in the previous 14 days.
Good day to members of the media and the listening public. Thank you for your attendance and for watching this Press Conference.
Many will know that the Bermuda Government, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs, continues to encourage the adoption of solar technologies and energy efficiency.
The announcement today by Saturn Power Inc. that Bermuda’s first Utility-Scale Solar power facility has officially begun producing energy is exciting news.
HAMILTON, BERMUDA – The Financial Policy Council (FPC) will be holding its next meeting on 16 December 2021. Similar to the seventeenth meeting which was held on 22July 2021, where all members participated, it is expected that the upcoming meeting will run in a hybrid format.
Thus, some members will join via teleconference, and others will take part in person at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry of Health has made an important update to the Amendments to the Quarantine (COVID-19) (No. 3) Order 2020 that went into effect on December 13th, 2021.
Initially, the requirement was that visitors aged 12 years or older who are not ordinarily resident in Bermuda must be fully immunised to land in Bermuda, whether arriving by air or by sea.
The age has now been changed and all visitors aged18 years, and older who are not ordinarily resident in Bermuda must be fully immunised to land in Bermuda, whether by air or sea.
The Ministry of Health advises the public of a false email message regarding COVID-19 Vaccine appointments.
Please ignore and delete if you have received correspondence entitled New Vaccine Appointment signed by “The COVID-19 Vaccine team,” as shown in the image below. Any email with the simple title “New Vaccine Appointment” may be part of a phishing scam. Official vaccine appointments are sent from the Bermuda Government, via the email address BermudaCovidVaccine@resqwest.com.
The Ministry of Health is holding an additional Flu Express on Saturday, December 18th 2021, from 9am – 2 pm at the National Stadium Pavilion.
The Flu Express is $15.00 per shot (for both adults and children). Persons over the age of 65 will receive the seasonal flu vaccine free of charge.
Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP, said, “The flu vaccine is a safe and highly effective method of preventing most cases of flu. Side effects are rare and usually mild.
The Government is committed to shaping Bermuda as a centre for innovation. We have a reputation for innovation in the insurance sector, developing opportunities in Fintech, and we now want to be a centre for innovation in the Energy sector.
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 13th, 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,