Government

The Department of Public Transportation (DPT) advised that starting tomorrow morning (Friday 9 July), bus routes 1 and 3 in both directions will be detoured due to road works in the Shark Hole Hill, Hamilton Parish area. 

Through Monday, the route 1 bus will travel up Collector’s Hill onto Verdmont Road, turning right onto Middle Road to Flatt’s Inlet then on North Shore Road to connect back onto Route 1 at the roundabout at Wilkinson Avenue. The route 3 bus will continue on to Flatt’s Inlet and North Shore Road to Wilkinson Avenue in Hamilton Parish.

The Department of Information and Digital Technologies (IDT) is advising that late tomorrow (July 9), there will be a scheduled interruption of online Government services for close to a five hour period.

From 11.55 p.m. Friday, July 9 to 4.30 a.m. Saturday July 10, IDT will be conducting extensive maintenance and upgrades to the current government online platforms.

It’s important to note that the Department of IDT is making every effort to conduct these necessary upgrades during a timeframe that will cause as minimal a disruption as possible.

Premier of Bermuda, the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, said, “On behalf of the Government of Bermuda, I extend sincerest condolences to the people of Haiti and to the family of President Jovenel Moise who was killed in the early hours of this morning. We also pray for the recovery of the First Lady, Martine Moise, who was injured during the attack which claimed the life of President Moise.

“We continue to hope for peace and stability in Haiti. We also pray for the safety of our brothers and sisters throughout the country during this difficult time.

The Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP, has released a statement to celebrate the 2021 graduating classes of the Bermuda Public School System (BPSS).

Minister Rabain expressed, “To all of our 2021 graduating classes, we praise your achievements. Undoubtedly, no other graduating year group has been through as much as you have.”

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

The Ministry of Health received 7,346 test results since the last update and five (5) were positive for COVID-19. This gives a test positivity rate of 0.1%.

These results are from testing done on Thursday (1 positive out of 2,198 results (0.05% positivity)); Friday (3 positive out of 1,808 results (0.2% positivity)); Saturday (0 positive out of 1,953 results (0.0% positivity)); and Sunday (1 positive out of 1,387 results (0.1% positivity))

All five of the new cases are classified as imported.

Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Reform, Hon. Kathy Lynn Simmons, JP, MP today issued AML-ATF Advisory 2/2021 about the risks in a number of jurisdictions arising from inadequate systems and controls to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

The Proceeds of Crime (Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing) Regulations 2008 (POCA Regulations) require the Bermuda regulated sector and relevant persons to apply enhanced customer due diligence to high-risk countries.

Premier, the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, today announced the assignment of Senator Arianna Hodgson, JP as the Junior Minister for Health, taking over the role from Senator Curtis Richardson, JP. Senator Hodgson will keep her responsibilities in the Senate for Finance and Labour; while Senator Richardson will continue to speak for Transport and National Security in the Senate.

Yesterday (July 5), the Minister of National Security, the Hon. Renee Ming visited this year’s newest Royal Bermuda Regiment (RBR) recruits who are participating in the Regiment’s summer training camp, which began on Sunday. 

Twenty-two (22) trainees have enrolled in this year’s recruitment camp. 

During the visit, Minister Ming said she was impressed with this year’s intake of new soldiers and is “appreciative of their willingness to serve the people of Bermuda.” 

The Ministry of Youth, Culture & Sport is aware of the comments raised in some quarters regarding the project to install an energy-saving micro-grid system at the National Sports Centre (NSC). It should be noted that following a tender process where Atlantic Energy Solutions Group (AESG) Limited was selected as the preferred bidder in September 2018, it took 33 months for a contract to be executed and for work to commence in May 2021. 

“This is perhaps the most debated policy in many years and to suggest that after three months of public discussion on this issue the Government would shy away from any debate led by the Opposition is nonsense,” said Premier David Burt after a statement from the Leader of the Opposition. 

Good Afternoon,

I am pleased to be joined this afternoon by the Junior Minister of Public Works, Senator Owen Darrell, the Chairman of the Bermuda Housing Corporation, MP Vance Campbell, the General Manager of BHC – Major Barrett St. Vincent Dill and the General Manager Designate Mr. Paul Martin.

This occasion is coming a year later than originally planned as Major Dill gave us plenty of notice that he would retire in July 2020. In light of Covid and our request that he stay on for another year – he agreed with the understanding that there would be no further delay.

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

I am pleased to be here today at Dr E.F. Gordon Square to announce the creation of the Draft North East Hamilton Local Plan 2021 by the Department of Planning. I am joined here today by Senators Lindsay Simmons and also by the Director of the Department of Planning, Ms. Victoria Pereira and her team; Mr. Larry Williams, Mr. Paul Mcdonald and Mr. Kenny Campbell. 

The Department of Workforce Development advises the public that our offices will be relocating back to 23 Parliament Street (Old Magistrate Court Building). As a result, we will have minimal services from July 5th – 8th but expect to be fully operational starting Friday, July 9th.  

The Ministry of Health received 5967 test results since the last update, and two (2) were positive for COVID-19, giving a test positivity rate of 0.1%. 

These results are from testing done on Monday, June 28, 0 positive out of 1767 results (0.0% positivity). Tuesday, June 29, 2 positive out of 2027 results (0.1% positivity). Wednesday, June 30, 0 positive out of 2173 results (0.0% positivity).

Both of the new cases are classified as imported by two residents who arrived on British Airways BA 159 from London on June 29 2021, and tested positive on their arrival test

The Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport clarified that SafeKey remains in effect for League and County cricket games, however under revised parameters. 

Late this week, Minister Ernest Peets attended a meeting concerning local cricket. The Minister listened to the concerns and feedback shared regarding the resumption of League and County cricket games. 

Mr. Speaker,

This morning I rise to share with my honourable colleagues and the community at large the summer professional learning activities that the Department of Education has planned for Educators during the months of July and August.

Mr. Speaker,

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform this Honourable House of the Government’s plans for immigration reform which seeks to modernize the Country’s Immigration laws and supporting policies, and create operational efficiencies through process improvement.

Immigration reform initiatives consist of the following strategic priorities:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to advise Honourable Members of the tabling today of the Public Treasury (Administration and Payments) Amendment and Validation Act 2021 (the Act). The amendments provide the Government with the legislative mechanism to set-off funds owed arising from benefit payments against future payments to  be made to individuals. The Act will also validate certain matters related to unemployment benefit payments effected during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Mr. Speaker, if we were ever in any doubt as to the importance of tourism to this economy, the pandemic has shown just how critical tourism jobs are and the importance of economic activity created by tourism to Bermuda.

In the National Economic Report tabled in this Honourable House as part of this year’s debate on the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, the Honourable Member, the Minister of Finance, set out a stark review of 2020’s economy generally and of the tourism economy in particular.

Mr. Speaker, later today, I will table the Bill entitled: the “Development and Planning Amendment Act 2021” [the Amendment Act], which seeks to amend the Development and Planning Act 1974 to (1) increase the protections to the environment while (2)streamlining the planning process. 

Mr. Speaker, I must reiterate the Government’s commitment to introduce sustainable planning legislation which will protect our delicate environment while streamlining measures tostimulate our economy, particularly our construction industry. 

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on the state of Government water supply and distribution as we enter a period of high demand this summer.

The Bermuda Weather Service indicates that rainfall in Bermuda for the last couple of months is below usual levels. The combined precipitation for May 2021 and June 2021 was 6.66 inches, with 3.76 inches falling in one day. Based on the normal average rainfall per month of 5 inches, the total for the last two months is 34% below average. Simply put, the island is currently in a dry spell.