News

Mr. Speaker, today I laid, for information, the Annual Report of the Registry General for the year ended December 31st, 2021. The Registrar General recognizes the essential role that vital statistical information plays in planning for the provision of services in areas such as tourism, health, education and housing, to name a few, and has performed his duties to a high standard in the recording, collating and presenting of the data to be included in the Annual Report.

Mr. Speaker, as we look back at the third quarter of 2022, Bermuda has seen momentum build after two years of a decimated global tourism industry. By the end of August, Bermuda welcomed over 98,000 air visitors to the island. While we are seeing growth, year-over-year, we have not yet achieved the volumes of 2019. The Bermuda Tourism Authority projects Bermuda’s year-end visitor volume to be approximately 56% of 2019.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring extremely positive news in relation to an election pledge made by this Government in its 2020 Election Manifesto – to improve the quality of life for all Bermudians.

Mr. Speaker, honourable colleagues in the Chamber today and the listening public shall already be acutely aware: housing prices, mortgage interest rates and rental prices have been on a continuous rise worldwide.

In Bermuda, the monthly rental rates range as follows:

Good afternoon members of the media and colleagues; good afternoon to the people of Bermuda.

Last Friday, I provided an update in the House of Assembly on the latest estimates relating to the 2021/22 Budget as the Government prepares for the annual audit of the Consolidated Fund.