Bermuda News Updates

Good Afternoon Members of the Media and the people of Bermuda,

Today I am joined by the Minister of Health, the Hon. Kim Wilson and the Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, as we elaborate on the statements made in the House of Assembly today regarding the updates to COVID-19 public health regulations, schools moving to Phase 2, and items pertaining to our borders and tourism.

We will soon hear from the Minister of Health on the updates to the public health regulations, followed by the Minister of Education regarding schools.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to provide an update on work of the Ministry of National Security in addressing gang violence. Specifically I will address some of the root causes, our existing gang violence reduction programmes, proposed programmes and our multi Ministry approach.

Mr Speaker,

This morning I rise before this Honourable House to lay the Bermuda College 2020-2021 Annual Report and its 2021 Audited Financial Statements, as required under Section 8 (2) of the Bermuda College Act 1974. I will also report on the Government’s $300,000 annual grant and the College Promise Merit Award programme, both of which are provided as financial support for students to attend Bermuda College.

Mr Speaker,

Mr Speaker,

I rise this morning in this Honourable House to provide an update on the on-going impact of COVID-19 in our schools and the preventative measures that have been put in place in both our public and our private schools to keep our children safe.

Mr Speaker,

Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Transport, acknowledges the sobering fact that 16 lives have been lost to road traffic accidents in 2021 – I extend my condolences to the families and friends that are grieving the untimely loss of a loved one.

Mr. Speaker, with only a few weeks to go until Christmas, holiday parties will be taking place, which is why the Bermuda Road Safety Council’s (RSC) slogan for December is – Designate YOUR Driver!

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members,

This time last year, I provided this House with an update on COVID-19 public health guidance. At the time, we had about 270 confirmed positive cases and one or two people in hospital. That was the beginning of our second wave.

As I speak to you today, with our fourth wave dwindling, we have had 5730 confirmed cases of COVID-19, more than 300 hospitalisations and, sadly, 106 COVID-10 related deaths in the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to provide the House with an update on the present critical status of the Tynes Bay facility.

Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago on November 10^th, in a press conference, I spoke of the critical state of Tynes Bay and our need to invest heavily for it not to fail. This morning, I will give an update of the ongoing battle the engineers and technicians at Tynes Bay are waging to get the plant back up and running – and the serious challenges we are all facing in terms of the island’s ability to dispose of its waste.