Government

The Government remains committed to engaging and connecting with the community on a number of important policies, programmes and initiatives that affect the people.

And in the upcoming weeks, there will be town hall meetings taking place to provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about two Throne Speech pledges: Signature Learning Schools and Bermuda’s Youth Employment Strategy.

The Minister of Transport, the Hon. Lawrence Scott, JP, MP, has issued the following update regarding the school minibus service. 

The Department of Health is inviting the public to sign up for its mold remediation training that will take place on June 10^th and 13^th 2022.

The courses will be available for $400 per person and will provide a comprehensive approach to the potential hazards of mold, exposure, methods to protect workers, as well as cleaning and remediation.

Participants can expect to be immersed in the following training subjects:

The Premier and Minister of Finance, the Hon. David Burt JP, MP, will lead the Bermuda delegation at Consensus 2022 hosted by CoinDesk in Austin, Texas from June 9 – June 12.

The Premier will be headlining CoinDesk’s Money Reimagine Summit, in a session entitled ‘BUIDL Island: Bermuda’s Digital Asset Strategy’ moderated by Sandro Ro, CEO of the Global Blockchain Business Council. The Premier will also join a live broadcast of CoinDesk TV’s Community Crypto. 

Today as part of the continuing recognition of HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Bermuda Post Office (BPO) issued a commemorative stamp series highlighting the milestone occasion.

As the public is aware, last week, celebrations for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee took place in the UK and throughout the Commonwealth and Overseas Territories.

Locally the Government engaged in a number of events to mark the occasion.

Good morning.

Today, I am happy to provide an update on the Travel Authorisation process and some of the most recent changes that we have made.

You will recall the Premier stated in January of this year that Bermuda’s Travel Authorisation (TA), which has served us well since commercial flights resumed in July 2020, will be in place until March 2023. I can confirm the Government’s position in this regard is unchanged.

However, we continue to work with our stakeholders to improve the process.

The Department of Marine & Ports Services advises that due to unforeseen internal technical issues caused by the Government-wide IT outage last month, there’s currently a delay in the processing of registration payments for all boats, moorings, pylons, and floating docks. 

Consequently, the Department has extended the registration expiration date to Friday, 1st July 2022. 

Good afternoon Bermuda,

I’m pleased to note that Tropical Storm Alex has passed.

Following updates from all agencies, I can confirm that one person attended the hospital emergency room with a non-life-threatening storm- related injury incurred during the clean-up period.

Our essential services and emergency crews from the Parks Department and Public Works were out early this morning, clearing our roads to ensure that we were up and running as quickly as possible.

And as of this afternoon, I can confirm the following as it relates to Government’s services:

Earlier this afternoon, (June 5) the Minister of National Security, Michael Weeks convened an Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) to get the latest update on Tropical Storm Alex. 

Minister Weeks said, “With the formation of Tropical Storm Alex, hurricane season has begun in earnest. During the meeting all relevant EMO agencies confirmed that they were mobilised, ready and prepared.”

The Minister of Social Development and Seniors, the Hon. Tinee Furbert, JP MP joined the Department of Child Development in celebrating Bermuda’s Foster Parents.

The appreciation tea, held on Sunday, May 22^th at the Royal Dingy Club, saw over 40 foster parents recognized for their role in supporting a child in Bermuda’s foster care system.

Earlier today (June 3), as part of the ongoing Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Her Excellency the Governor, Rena Lalgie, and the Premier, the Hon. David Burt, planted two Bermuda Cedar trees to mark Her Majesty’s significant milestone of service. 

As the public is aware, celebrations for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee are currently underway. In the UK, The Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend takes place from June 2 – 5.

On June 2, Governor Rena Lalgie, hosted a Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Reception at Government House. 

The event took on special significance as it marked Her Majesty’s milestone ocassion with a performance by the Gombeys, the Coral Beats and the Royal Bermuda Regiment Band. 

Last evening Bermuda also joined other Commonwealth and Overseas Territories in the Lighting of the Queen’s Jubilee Beacon.

Celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee are currently underway. 

Mr. Speaker:

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to advise this Honourable House that we have just entered Hurricane Season which runs from June 1st until November 30th.

Mr. Speaker, based on records of the last 30 years the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Centre issues an annual hurricane activity prediction. They have predicted that this year will be above average.

Mr. Speaker, the forecast for this year is 14 to 21 named storms, 6 to 10 hurricanes and 3 to 6 major hurricanes which is a category 3 and above.

Mr. Speaker, you will recall from the 2021 Speech from the Throne that data is the new oil, and Bermuda must ensure that our cybersecurity defenses are adequate to defend our island from dangerous online actors. We committed to introduce a CyberSecurity Act which will establish minimum standards for cybersecurity for critical assets such as energy supply, telecommunications, water infrastructure and government data.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform this Honorable House that work is underway on the Legislation which I intend to table this calendar year.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, during the 2022/23 budget debate, I advised this Honourable House that one of the initiatives under the Ministry of Transport is to focus on modernizing the local public service vehicle industry.

Mr. Speaker, this initiative aims to update the regulatory framework for public service vehicles. The project is a deliverable of the 2019 Transport GreenPaper (“the Green Paper”) and will include the modernization and harmonization of public service vehicles through a phased approach over five years.

Celebrations for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee are currently underway.

In the UK, The Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend takes place from June 2 – 5.

Throughout the Commonwealth and the Overseas Territories there are number of events planned, and here at home, the Cabinet Office reminded of some of the activities taking place to mark this significant occasion.

Events are as follows:

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 9,343 test results, and 330 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 3.5%.

These results are from testing done on:

Her Majesty The Queen has recognised the following people in her annual Birthday Honours Iist:

OBE:

• The Hon. K. H. Randolph Horton JP – for his services to sport and public service in Bermuda.

Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour:

• Mrs Ercinda Swan – for services to seniors and the physically challenged

• Mrs Cecille Snaith-Simmons – for services to culture