Bermuda News Updates

This evening, the Ministry of National Security provided the following regarding Hurricane Earl.

As of the 6.00 p.m. update Hurricane Earl was located around 350 nm south of Bermuda, moving north at 7 knots.

It’s anticipated that Earl’s closest point of approach within the next 72 hours will be 12.00 am Friday morning, when it’s forecast to be some 99 nm ESE of Bermuda.

Earlier today, the Emergency Measures Organisation met to get the latest update on Hurricane Earl. I am pleased to note that all our EMO partner agencies are ready and prepared should the need arise.

As of the noon update from the Bermuda Weather Service, Hurricane Earl continues to be a threat to Bermuda. Currently Bermuda is under a Tropical Storm Warning. Based on the latest forecast from the BWS, Hurricane Earl will be a category 3 storm as it passes southeast of Bermuda late Thursday night into Friday morning.

Since the last update, the Ministry of Health received 4574 test results, and 106 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 2%.

These results are from testing done on:

1.       Tuesday: 13 positive out of 957 results (1.4% positivity)

2.       Wednesday:  24 positive out of  892 results (2.7% positivity)

3.       Thursday: 9 positive out of 574 results (1.6% positivity)

4.       Friday: 15 positive out of 561 results (2.7% positivity)

5.       Saturday: 12 positive out of 288 results (4.2% positivity)

The Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP, stated, “We would like to remind parents that the application for the $150 relief is now live. This is a one-time payment for each student enrolled in a government preschool, primary, middle or senior school.”

“Parents are advised that the application for this relief will be open for two months, from September 2nd until October 31st, so that all of our parents can access this financial support for families.”

“On behalf of the Government of Bermuda, I would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Fortitude Re for their generous donation to CedarBridge Academy,” said the Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP.

Fortitude Re donated $20,000 to CedarBridge Academy to fund a 6-week tutorial programme for over 150 students to receive support based on their needs and course requirements.

Upon completion of the programme, 60% of students had improved their grades in one or more subjects, with 7 students winning awards for improving their grades by 15% or more.

I previously announced that I had reserved the Cannabis Licensing Bill 2022 for the signification of Her Majesty’s pleasure under Section 35 (2) of The Bermuda Constitution.

I have now received an instruction, issued to me on Her Majesty’s behalf, not to Assent to the Bill as drafted.

The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs concluded that the Bill, as currently drafted, is not consistent with obligations held by the UK and Bermuda under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances.