2020/2021 SESSION of the

BERMUDA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT

21 MAY 2021 Virtual Sitting Sitting number 18 of the 2020/2021 Session (pages 1417–1478)

Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., JP, MP Speaker

Disclaimer: The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for informational purposes only. The printed version remains the official record. Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1417

BERMUDA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT VIRTUAL SITTING 21 MAY 2021 10:00 AM Sitting Number 18 of the 2020/2021 Session

[Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Speaker, in the Chair] PAPERS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TO THE HOUSE The Speaker: Members, we are now calling the House to session. The Speaker: There are a host of them, about 12 this Ms. Beale, would you like to do the prayers at morning. The first is in the name of the Deputy Prem- this time for us? Thank you. ier. Deputy Premier.

PRAYERS Hon. Walter H. Roban: Good morning, Mr. Speaker.

[Prayers read by Ms. Kara Beale, Assistant Clerk] The Speaker: Good morning.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES THE BERMUDA PLAN 2018 [Minutes of 7 May 2021] Hon. Walter H. Roban: Good morning to Members of The Speaker: Thank you. the House and the listening public. Members, the House is now in session. Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to attach and The Minutes of the 7th of May have been cir- submit for the consideration of the Honourable House culated. Members, are there any amendments, ad- of Assembly the Bermuda Plan 2018, the Tribunal justments, corrections that are required? Report Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 and zoning maps. There are none. The Minutes are confirmed Note that the zoning maps can be found on our par- as printed. liamentary website at an appropriate link: https://planning.gov.bm/index.php/bermuda-plan-2018/. [Minutes of 7 May 2021 confirmed] Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR The Speaker: Thank you, Deputy Premier. The next Minister I am going to call on is Min- The Speaker: There are none. ister Wilson. Minister Wilson, I believe you have most of ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER the remaining [papers]. So, Minister, would you like to OR MEMBER PRESIDING present all of yours at this time?

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Yes, thank you. Good morning. APOLOGY The Speaker: Good morning. The Speaker: There is one announcement this morn- ing. PUBLIC HEALTH (COVID-19) EMERGENCY We have been duly informed by the Minister EXTENSION ORDER 2021 of Transport, Minister Scott, that he will be absent to- day. And we are just having it duly noted. PUBLIC HEALTH (COVID-19 EMERGENCY Thank you. POWERS) AMENDMENT (NO. 4) REGULATIONS 2021 MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE PUBLIC HEALTH (COVID-19 EMERGENCY The Speaker: There are none. POWERS) AMENDMENT (NO. 5) REGULATIONS 2021

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PUBLIC HEALTH (COVID-19 EMERGENCY The Speaker: We hear you; we do not see you. Now POWERS) AMENDMENT (NO. 6) your camera is on, yes. Go ahead. REGULATIONS 2021 THE WAGE COMMISSION REPORT 2021: PUBLIC HEALTH (COVID-19 EMERGENCY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A MINIMUM WAGE POWERS) (STAY AT HOME) IN BERMUDA REGULATIONS 2021 Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Speaker, I have the hon- PUBLIC HEALTH (COVID-19) EMERGENCY our to attach and submit for the information of this EXTENSION (NO. 2) ORDER 2021 Honourable House of Assembly the Recommenda- tions for a Minimum Wage in Bermuda report. PUBLIC HEALTH (COVID-19 EMERGENCY POWERS) (STAY AT HOME) AMENDMENT PETITIONS REGULATIONS 2021 The Speaker: There are no petitions. PUBLIC HEALTH (COVID-19 EMERGENCY POWERS) (STAY AT HOME) AMENDMENT STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS AND (NO. 2) REGULATIONS 2021 JUNIOR MINISTERS

QUARANTINE (COVID-19) (NO. 3) AMENDMENT ORDER 2021 The Speaker: We have six Statements this morning. The first Statement this morning, Members, is in the PUBLIC HEALTH (COVID-19 EMERGENCY name of the Premier. POWERS) (PHASED RE-OPENING) Premier, would you like to put your State- REGULATIONS 2021 ment?

Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour Hon. E. David Burt: If I may, please, Mr. Speaker. to attach and submit for the information of the Hon- ourable House of Assembly the following: The Speaker: You may. Go right ahead.

• Public Health (COVID-19) Emergency Exten- sion Order 2021; IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFEKEY

• Public Health (COVID-19 Emergency Powers) Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Amendment (No. 4) Regulations 2021; Speaker. Good morning to you, Mr. Speaker, and • Public Health (COVID-19 Emergency Powers) good morning to colleagues and the listening audi- Amendment (No. 5) Regulations 2021; ence. • Public Health (COVID-19 Emergency Powers) Mr. Speaker, this morning I am pleased to Amendment (No. 6) Regulations 2021; provide this Honourable House and members of the • Public Health (COVID-19 Emergency Powers) public with additional details regarding the SafeKey (Stay at Home) Regulations 2021; programme announced on Tuesday. This initiative is • Public Health (COVID-19) Emergency Exten- part of the Government’s effort to allow for more ac- sion (No. 2) Order 2021; tivities and businesses to open safely with reduced • Public Health (COVID-19 Emergency Powers) risk of coronavirus exposure as we continue our work (Stay at Home) Amendment Regulations to eliminate local transmission. It is also in keeping 2021; with our efforts to upgrade our coronavirus test and • Public Health (COVID-19 Emergency Powers) COVID-19 vaccination certificates to ensure that they (Stay at Home) Amendment (No. 2) Regula- cannot be forged. With this technology, residents and tions 2021; visitors can begin to enjoy activities and events again • Quarantine (COVID-19) (No. 3) Amendment that are so important to the cultural fabric of our Island Order 2021; and finally, while minimising the risk of any gathering becoming a • Public Health (COVID-19 Emergency Powers) super-spreader event. (Phased Re-opening) Regulations 2021. Mr. Speaker, SafeKey is a QR code that will Thank you, Mr. Speaker. be issued to persons with a negative coronavirus test result or to persons who are fully immunised against The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. COVID-19 through vaccination, which is two weeks The next paper this morning is in the name of after an approved course of a vaccine is completed. the Minister of Labour, Minister Hayward. SafeKey was designed with privacy in mind and will contain only the information necessary to ensure that Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Speaker— it is being used by the person to whom it was issued.

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This limited information includes the user’s initials, activities. The initial use for SafeKey will be to allow month and day of birth, and the expiry date of the indoor dining to safely begin again and for churches to SafeKey. A SafeKey QR code is valid for three days increase in-person attendance for corporate worship. for a negative test result, and until June the 15th for The public health regulations are currently being fully immunised persons during the initial rollout amended to change the existing restrictions for indoor phase. As this is a new programme these expiry peri- dining and churches. Next week we will look to make ods may be adjusted while we learn how best to apply further amendments to expand the use of SafeKey to them. gyms and other higher-risk activities. Mr. Speaker, when a SafeKey is presented by Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that the user to a business or establishment, the business though indoor dining is limited to persons with Safe- can check to ensure it is authentic by going to veri- Key at this time, this will not be the case forever. If fy.gov.bm on the web browser of a phone, and scan Bermuda successfully meets the targets for our move the QR Code using the camera. This means no spe- to Phase 3 of our reopening, all restaurants will be cial equipment is needed in order to validate that the able to be open for indoor dining for all persons. How- SafeKey is authentic and not a forgery. Once the ever, Mr. Speaker, using SafeKey for indoor dining SafeKey is confirmed as valid, identification such as a now will allow many businesses to rehire more staff passport or driver’s licence must also be checked to who have been laid off due to the existing restrictions ensure the SafeKey is being used by the person to while we continue our collective work as a country to whom it was issued. This ensures that if you lose your eliminate local transmission. As a country we have SafeKey, it cannot be used by someone else. To fur- sacrificed, and this Government wants to get as many ther preserve your individual privacy, the SafeKey persons back to work as quickly as possible. does not contain information about whether the holder Mr. Speaker, a successful initial pilot event tested negative or if the holder has been immunised. was carried out last weekend for an exempted gather- Mr. Speaker, the QR codes that will now ap- ing of people. Immunised attendees and persons who pear on Bermuda’s vaccination certificates, test re- were not immunised but tested beforehand were pro- sults and SafeKey are developed according to the MIT vided a SafeKey QR code. The technology was suc- PathCheck Foundation’s Paper Verifiable Credential cessfully tested, and SafeKey will be used next week Standard. Initially they will be verifiable by scanning for participants and attendees at the Bermuda Day them via verify.gov.bm on any mobile phone. This event at the National Sports Centre, as well as for par- programme is built on open-source technology, and ticipants in the Bermuda Day Half Marathon. this means that any local company or local application With this new technology we can move boldly developer can write programmes to leverage the towards the future and plan for events like the Annual SafeKey. I can confirm that the Government engaged Cup Match Classic, knowing that there is a method to a young Bermudian, Mr. Dejae Trott, who participated minimise the risk for fans, staff and players. SafeKey in the Bermuda Government’s coding bootcamp in is flexible, and due to the fact that it can be read by 2019, to build a mobile application to store SafeKey any mobile phone, it allows individuals to use SafeKey QR codes on mobile phones. Additionally, Mr. Speak- for personal events such as a private party at their er, there is strong interest from other local technology home where guests can be asked to share their Safe- and event companies who have contacted my office to Key. This can help to minimise the risk of coronavirus learn how they can leverage the technology. exposure and can provide added comfort for important Mr. Speaker, negative test results sent by family gatherings. email were upgraded as of yesterday, May the 20th, to Mr. Speaker, before I close I must thank the include QR codes on the test certificate, and persons teams who worked behind the scenes to get us to were also sent a separate SafeKey. The SafeKey QR where we are today. I would like to thank the public codes for immunised persons will be gradually rolled officers in the Information and Digital Technology De- out over the coming weeks with emails containing a partment led by the Chief Information Officer, Mr. Da- link that persons can click to verify their vaccination ron Raynor. I would like to thank the team at the De- record details and be issued an upgraded vaccination partment of Communications, led by the Director, certificate as well as a SafeKey. Aderonke Bademosi Wilson, for their work to support Mr. Speaker, as we look forward to the open- the public rollout of this initiative. ing of a new luxury hotel this weekend, it is important And finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank that we do not forget our tourists who will be visiting Mr. Denis Pitcher, who has given extensive time and Bermuda. Travellers who are not required to quaran- effort, and adapted the core technology behind this tine will receive their SafeKey QR codes with their initiative at no additional cost to the Bermuda Gov- negative tests results. This will ensure that our visitors ernment. While jurisdictions like the State of New York to the Island can also utilise this technology without have implemented similar programmes for $2.5 mil- needing to do anything extra. Mr. Speaker, SafeKey is lion, we have implemented best-in-class technology in not a vaccine passport, as you do not need to get a Bermuda at minimal cost to the taxpayer. vaccine in order to be issued the QR code to enjoy Bermuda House of Assembly 1420 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report

This technology and the applications that will able House and the public to access the Plan on the support it will be built in Bermuda, [will be] supported Planning Department’s website or more specifically by by Bermudians and will yield many benefits for our entering the URL https://planning.gov.bm/index.php/bermuda- summer tourism season. Any resident, visitor or app plan-2018/. (Obviously this will be available to the public developer, or any Member, Mr. Speaker, who wants to to see, and they will be able to click quite easily on the learn more about SafeKey can visit the website: website and not be guided by my either misstatement www.gov.bm/safekey to learn more. Again, Mr. of this URL code . . .) Speaker, that is the Government of Bermuda website, Mr. Speaker, the Plan 2018 is the product of www.gov.bm/safekey. consultation with the public, key stakeholders, statuto- Mr. Speaker, as we utilise this newest tool in ry bodies and extensive research. The overarching our arsenal, we can take confidence from how well aim of the Plan is “to effectively manage Bermuda’s Bermuda has applied cutting-edge technology natural and built environment, resources and devel- throughout the pandemic. The WeHealth app has opment, and to help build healthy, sustainable com- helped to notify persons of potential exposure and has munities.” In support of this aim, the Plan is based on helped to manage outbreaks. Our travel authorisation three strategies—a development strategy, a conserva- and testing systems have earned praise from resi- tion strategy and a community strategy. Mr. Speaker, dents and visitors alike. And now we will use technol- within the framework of these strategies, the Bermuda ogy again through the SafeKey programme to stay Plan 2018 sets out the following five key goals: one step ahead of the coronavirus, to support busi- 1. conserve open space and protect the Island’s nesses and to continue our drive to get Bermudians natural and built heritage; back to work. SafeKey has the potential to be a useful 2. provide sufficient development potential to tool to help continue our positive trend towards elimi- meet the community’s needs; nating local transmission while reopening our econo- 3. facilitate community improvements in neigh- my as this Government moves Bermuda beyond the bourhoods to create better, healthier and saf- pandemic. er places to live and visit; Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 4. encourage a more efficient and sustainable use and development of land and buildings; The Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Premier. and The next Statement this morning is in the 5. to ensure a high quality of design and acces- name of the Deputy Premier. sibility in all new developments. Deputy Premier, would you like to present Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members may recall your Statement at this time? that the Bermuda Plan 2018 was first released as a draft Plan and was the subject of a three-and-a-half- Hon. Walter H. Roban: Yes. Good morning, Mr. month public consultation period from the 3rd of De- Speaker. cember 2018 to the 15th of March 2019. During this consultation period, a total of 457 objections and The Speaker: Good morning. Go right ahead. counter-objections were received. Mr. Speaker, of the objections, 282 (or 62 per THE FINAL BERMUDA PLAN 2018 cent) were objections, 161 (35 per cent) were counter- objections and 14 (3 per cent) were representations in Hon. Walter H. Roban: Again, good morning, Mr. support of zonings or policies in the draft Plan. A total Speaker. Today I lay for the consideration and ap- of 50 objections were ultimately withdrawn or deemed proval the Final Bermuda Plan 2018. The Bermuda invalid. Of the remaining 232 objections, 147 (63 per Plan [2018] (the Plan) is a development plan prepared cent) were zoning related. The most common zoning by the Department of Planning to guide development objections involved landowners wanting to remove for the Island for many years to come. The Plan, Agricultural Reserve and Woodland Reserve Conser- which covers the entire Island with the exception of vation Areas from their property. This has been a the City of Hamilton, comprises a policy document common theme with objections to previous draft Ber- and zoning maps, and the Tribunal report. Once ap- muda Plans and reflects landowners wanting greater proved by both Houses, notice of the approval of the development potential for their properties. Bermuda Plan 2018 will be published in the official Mr. Speaker, on the 10th of January 2020, I Gazette. appointed the Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 Tribunal [the Mr. Speaker, it must be noted that due to the Tribunal] to hold public inquiries for objections and size of the documents, the Plan can only be accessed representations to the Bermuda Plan 2018. Members electronically. The Planning statement and the Tribu- of the Tribunal were Mr. John Payne (the Chair), Ms. nal reports are 200 and 700 pages, respectively. The Jennifer Haworth and Mr. Carlos Amaral. Additionally, zoning maps are multi-layered, which can be more Mr. Jonathan Starling, Ms. Vanessa Turner and Ms. instructional to Honourable Members as the layers Quinell Francis were appointed as alternate members. can be manipulated. I invite members of this Honour- Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1421

Mr. Speaker, in the department’s processing REGULATORY AUTHORITY ANNOUNCEMENT of the 232 valid objections it was pleasing to note that REGARDING ELECTRICITY RATES 52 per cent of them were resolved between the Plan- ning Department’s technical officers and the objector. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Mr. Speaker, I rise to take this This left the remaining 48 per cent of objections in an opportunity to address the Honourable House in order unresolved status to be heard by the Tribunal. to clarify some elements of the recent reduction in Mr. Speaker, the Tribunal commenced in- electricity rates by the Regulatory Authority (the RA). person public inquiries on 27th of February 2020; how- The RA has published their report on the decision and ever, the inquiries were halted shortly thereafter in order resulting from their 2021 Electricity Retail Tariff response to the health restrictions imposed by the Review, dated 13 May 2021. The new rates, effective COVID-19 pandemic. The department acted as swiftly on the 1st of June, are lower than those set last year, as possible to amend the Tribunal procedures, which which are in turn lower than those in 2019. The most involved holding the hearings virtually and live stream- dynamic difference is in the lowest tier of use, which ing them from the department’s website. A total of 16 started at 15.75 cents per kilowatt-hour, decreased to Tribunal meetings were held in this manner with the 12.81 cents in 2020 and has now been set at last hearing concluding on the 10th of December 2020. 12.53 cents. The rate applies to the first 250 kilowatt- Mr. Speaker, the Draft Bermuda Plan 2018 hours of use. The second tier, for electricity use of Tribunal Report, which included the Tribunal’s rec- more than 251 kilowatt-hours and up to 700 kilowatt- ommendations for each objection along with general hours, started at 24 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2019, remarks, was submitted to me for review and a resolu- dropped to 21.72 cents in 2020 and reduced again to tion. Following the completion of my review, this report 21.24 cents in the new revised tariff. was finalised to reflect the resolutions of each objec- These are not the only reductions made, Mr. tion and representation. Speaker. The facilities charges (the tariff charged for Mr. Speaker, the Bermuda Plan 2018 Plan- the fixed costs of bringing electricity to customers) ning Statement and digital zoning maps reflect the have also decreased by [about] 3.6 per cent from that final resolutions for amendments to the draft Bermuda which was set last year. A customer using 600 kilo- Plan 2018. We will discuss further the resolutions in a watt-hours per month should expect to pay $143.72 more fulsome debate on the 4th of June. I look forward for energy (that is, the kilowatt-hours used) in the to receiving the input and questions of Honourable months to come, whereas in 2019 they would have Members at that time. paid $166.33, and up until now $147.51. I will provide Mr. Speaker, the importance of the Bermuda Honourable Members with copies of some tables pre- Plan 2018 cannot be understated. There is a recog- pared by the RA to illustrate what the real impact is to nised need to provide flexibility within the policy to an average customer. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, provide the necessary mechanisms to support devel- businesses will see a reduction in rates varying be- opment and new investment. This, of course, should tween 1.4 [per cent] and 1.8 per cent. This is mean- not be to the detriment of our natural environment. ingful in these challenging economic times. The work of the department involves assessing the Mr. Speaker, I remind the Honourable House competing interests and is becoming increasingly that electricity tariffs can only be changed by the Reg- challenging in today’s dynamic environment. ulatory Authority regardless of any representations or Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this oppor- assertions made by any other party in any other fo- tunity at this time to thank the members of the Tribu- rum. The responsibility of the Minister as defined by nal for their hard work and contributions to the Ber- the Electricity Act [2016] (the Act) is to provide policy muda Plan 2018. In addition, I would like to recognise direction when necessary. And I will repeat that sen- the efforts of the Director, Ms. Victoria Pereira, of the tence so that it is clear the role that the Minister and Department of Planning and all of her team. the Government play. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The responsibility of the Minister as defined by the Electricity Act 2016 is to provide policy direction The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. when necessary. It is worth noting that existing policy, The next Statement this morning is also in particularly as expressed in section 6 of the Act, spe- your name, Minister. Would you like to continue with cifically states that the RA’s duty is in part (and I that Statement? quote) “to protect the interests of end-users with re- spect to prices and affordability, and the adequacy, Hon. Walter H. Roban: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely. reliability and quality of electricity service . . . .” These Thank you very much for allowing me to continue with new rates, resulting from this year’s rate review, re- my next Statement. flect the purpose and in fact reflect the commitment of the 2020 Speech [from] the Throne. The RA is inde- The Speaker: Go right ahead. pendent in respect of its processes and its decisions, but like all regulators is bound by the covenant of poli- cy as defined by the Act. Bermuda House of Assembly 1422 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report

Mr. Speaker, while these reductions are wel- 6. using cohorts, or bubbles; come news on the backdrop of an increasingly expen- 7. wearing personal protection equipment (PPE) sive cost of living, it is vital to recognise the role that when necessary; fuel costs play in our electricity bills. The RA strives to 8. ensuring good ventilation in rooms; ensure that those costs are allocated fairly to all cus- 9. cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting rooms tomers and that those costs reflect the true costs of and frequently touched surfaces throughout fuel. For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Speaker, the the school day using EPA-approved products; utility makes no profit on the importation of fuel. and Therefore, Mr. Speaker, with this step in the 10. posting safety and health signs to promote right direction for energy costs, it is perhaps more im- safety and protective measures. portant now than ever to increase our uptake of re- We recognise that the implementation of one newable energy so that fuel costs can be reduced or safety measure will not work on its own. Therefore, a eliminated. With more renewable energy comes less combined approach of all of these aforementioned [use of] fossil fuel, which accounts for a good portion prevention strategies will reduce the transmission of of every electricity bill. Finally, Mr. Speaker, we must COVID-19 and help keep our school environments simultaneously focus on encouraging energy efficien- safe. cy, which will help control all energy costs. Mr. Speaker, in addition to the Entry to Exit Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Safety and Health Protocols created for each school level, the Department of Health has used current re- The Speaker: Thank you, Deputy Premier. search and best practice to develop another layer of The next Statement this morning is in the safety-specific protocols to reduce the transmission of name of the Minister of Education. the COVID-19 virus. These include specific protocols Minister, would you like to present your for the following: Statement at this time? • minibuses when transporting students to and from school; SALIVA SCREENING PROGRAMME • sitting exams in large rooms; • field trips; and Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. • the use of the computer labs. Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise before you These protocols drill down and outline explicit and my honourable colleagues to share the plans that practices that staff and students must follow to reduce have been put in place to implement a Saliva Screen- the transmission of COVID-19 when engaging in ing Regime Programme in our public schools, com- th these types of activities. As schools make every effort mencing Monday, May 24 . to implement these protocols, the Department of Mr. Speaker, having students in school for in- Health has made it very clear that the protocols must person learning is a priority. Additionally, ensuring that be strictly adhered to 100 per cent of the time to re- our schools and school environments are safe for staff duce the spread of COVID-19. and students is equally important. In light of this, the Mr. Speaker, the EEMC (Education Emergen- school staff are working diligently to keep COVID-19 cy Measures Committee) met on May the 3rd to dis- from spreading in school buildings. Our schools are cuss the implementation of yet another safety meas- making tremendous efforts to keep students, staff and ure—the introduction of a saliva screening strategy for by extension our families safe and healthy by imple- public and private schools. The saliva screening strat- menting safety and health protocols aligned with the egy provides a means for identifying and mitigating Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the risks for exposure of COVID-19 in school build- and other international health organisations. These ings. The goal is to use the saliva test as a screen to safety and health protocols provide schools with a help break the chains of transmission quickly. The daily structure for applying the Government’s compre- screening strategy will identify persons in our schools hensive prevention and control measures aimed at who may be COVID-19 positive and asymptomatic. protecting staff and students and mitigating and re- Health officials will then determine the exposure risk ducing the risk of transmitting COVID-19. and put in place the proper requirements to isolate Mr. Speaker, the Entry to Exit Safety and individuals who have tested positive. The EEMC sup- Health Protocols for our schools are comprehensive ported the introduction of the saliva screening pro- documents and include universal prevention strate- gramme in schools. gies such as the following: Mr. Speaker, the ability to offer COVID-19 1. morning screenings that include temperature- testing at both public and private schools at every lev- taking; el, from preschool to senior school, and at Success 2. students and staff wearing face masks; Academy and Dame [Marjorie Bean] Hope Academy, 3. handwashing and sanitising; is one more tool to help ensure our students can con- 4. respiratory etiquette; tinue in-person learning safely. Bermuda’s public and 5. physical distancing; private schools will join other schools around the Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1423

world that have implemented saliva screening pro- Mr. Speaker, once MDL secures the saliva grammes and have demonstrated that saliva testing in samples, the results are available within 24 hours. schools is feasible, acceptable and effective. These The results of the saliva tests are sent to parents and include some schools in Canada, the United States, guardians, not to the school principal or the Depart- France, England and Germany. ment of Education. If a positive test is detected, then Mr. Speaker, our research revealed that for the result is sent to the individual’s physician or GP schools to sustain saliva screening programmes, and must be followed up with a nasal pharyngeal test. partnerships are required with organisations that can Mr. Speaker, a series of town hall meetings support, oversee and coordinate the programme. The were held with the Department of Education staff, Department of Education has been very fortunate to school staff, and parents and guardians the week of establish a partnership with the Government’s Mo- May 10. We were also fortunate to have Dr. Carika lecular Diagnostic Lab (MDL). Schools are responsi- Weldon and Mr. Tarik Bean-Darrell, MDL’s School ble for ensuring the organisation of staff, students and Saliva Testing Coordinator, on hand to present infor- the facility for testing. At the same time, MDL provides mation about the saliva testing programme and re- all of the equipment, resources, saliva kits, the sched- spond to questions. Videos of the sessions have been ule and their staff to oversee the testing. This pro- posted on the Education Department’s YouTube gramme would not be possible without the partnership Channel. with MDL, and we are indebted to them for their sup- Mr. Speaker, as previously mentioned, the port. Ministry also sent letters to parents and guardians Mr. Speaker, only students who have parental about the saliva testing programme via their respec- consent will participate. Each school will know in ad- tive schools. These efforts were undertaken to ensure vance when testing will occur at the school so that that parents had various opportunities to receive ade- parents and students are aware. We are also appre- quate information to make an informed decision. Mr. ciative of MDL for making special testing provisions Speaker, parents have been sent a link to an electron- for students who are in our ASD and Functional Skills ic consent form which must be completed and re- programmes and who also attend Dame Hope Acad- turned to the department. As of Wednesday, May 19, emy. Mr. Speaker, the saliva screening programme a total of 1,863 parents and/or guardians have given involves each school organising students into groups, consent for their children to participate in the saliva as detailed by the MDL Team, with one group of stu- testing programme. We appreciate their support of our dents from across classes to be tested each week. efforts to make our schools safer. Testing groups of students each week will provide the Mr. Speaker, the Ministry recognises that Molecular Diagnostic Lab with samples across class- when children are not in school full-time and engaged rooms, and it will help determine any COVID-19 risks in face-to-face learning, this is directly associated with in the school on an ongoing basis. Repeated testing a decline in health, well-being and educational increases the chances of detecting the virus at a mo- achievement. We intend to do all that we can to keep ment when new infections are occurring or have just our students in school with continuous learning until occurred. Dr. Carika Weldon, the Director of the Gov- the end of the school term. ernment’s MDL, has also advised us that the saliva The saliva screening programme will enable tests are as accurate as the nasal pharyngeal tests. us to do this by being proactive with the asymptomatic Mr. Speaker, staff who consent to participate saliva screening, which will add another layer of pro- in the programme will be scheduled for testing based tection against COVID-19. Mr. Speaker, our school on the frequency of their interactions with others. For staff are doing an excellent job conducting in-person example, a member of staff who interacts with many classes while simultaneously implementing various different students or other staff would be tested each layers of safety measures in classrooms and schools, week. Staff members who have contact with only which now include the saliva screening programme. some students and some staff would be tested every This regime will be implemented during the remainder two weeks. Lastly, those staff with fewer interactions of this school year. such as [with only] one class, would be tested once Mr. Speaker, in closing I must emphasise that per month. we need families and the community at large to do Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Education sent their part to keep our children and schools safe for out information letters to parents and principals that learning. Therefore, it is critically important that we explained the process that must be followed when follow public health guidelines, wear a mask, practice participating in the programme. On the day students good hand hygiene, maintain physical distance and and staff are scheduled for the saliva test, they must download the WeHealth Bermuda app. Lastly, I en- not eat, drink or chew gum at least 30 minutes prior to courage everyone to do the research, talk with their the test. This involves depositing a saliva sample in doctor and make an informed decision about getting containers as provided by the MDL with oversight by the COVID-19 vaccine. Let us all work together to MDL staff. keep our students, staff and school environments safe

Bermuda House of Assembly 1424 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report so schools remain open and in-person learning can statutory remuneration regime has concluded. With continue for the remainder of the school year. the passage of the Employment (Wage Commission) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Act 2019, this debate has been settled and the ques- tions now become How and when do we implement The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. this regime? I tabled this report today as part of the The next Statement this morning is in the Ministry’s efforts to transparently share with the public name of the Minister of Labour. Mr. Hayward, would at the soonest possible opportunity all of the infor- you like to present your Statement? mation that has been provided to us. We encourage discussion amongst all of Bermuda on the setting of THE WAGE COMMISSION REPORT 2021: appropriate rates. Mr. Speaker, the Commission sub- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A MINIMUM WAGE mitted three options for a minimum wage, depending IN BERMUDA on what is expected to be achieved, as follows: • Option 1: A minimum wage of $13.19, which Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Speaker, today I laid be- is 42 per cent of the median hourly wage in fore this Honourable House the report entitled Rec- 2019. ommendations for a Minimum Wage in Bermuda. • Option 2: A minimum wage of $15.71, which Mr. Speaker, the Wage Commission [the is 50 per cent of the median hourly wage. This Commission] was established by the Employment option is at the threshold of the poverty level, (Wage Commission) Act 2019 (the Act) based on a thus setting a wage level that is not below the recommendation from a Parliamentary Joint Select poverty level. Committee on the establishment of a living and mini- • Option 3: A minimum wage of $17.28, which mum wage regime. Its function is to “conduct such is 55 per cent of the median hourly wage. At studies, reviews and analyses as are necessary . . . this level, the wage is set at the lower bounds and . . . to make recommendations on the minimum of a liveable wage. A minimum wage at this hourly wage and the living wage rate to be prescribed level would pave the way for transition to a by the Minister [of Labour].” The Commission func- liveable wage. tions as an independent authority. It is chaired by Mr. Mr. Speaker, while some have expressed Cordell Riley and consists of eight members. The concerns about the production of the Wage Commis- Commission is charged with consulting extensively sion’s Report and the publishing of the report in this with relevant stakeholders, including representatives format, we believed it important for all stakeholders to of employers and employees, to help determine the digest the unabridged report. Businesses can be as- effect of a minimum wage on businesses. The Com- sured that the Government will take a measured ap- mission will also work with businesses to minimise the proach as it considers the way forward. Mr. Speaker, shock on any establishment. any business currently operating with a business Mr. Speaker, according to some reports, stud- model that is predicated on poverty wages should ying the impact of a minimum wage on the economy is seek to change its business model. the most researched topic in all of economics. No In closing, the Ministry extends sincere thanks matter what side of the debate you are on, you will to the Commission for its work on this matter and find many studies to support your viewpoint. The awaits receipt of its second report on a living wage. Commission remained focused on its task of recom- Following this, the Government will review the rec- mending a minimum wage for Bermuda with the ommendations and considerations contained in the knowledge that a minimum wage will assist in the fol- reports with the aim to table a Wage Bill in Parliament lowing: that will establish a statutory minimum wage in align- 1. promoting fair compensation for employees; ment with a living wage regime. 2. improving an individual’s quality of life; Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 3. preventing exploitation of workers; and 4. preventing working families that are below the The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. poverty line from receiving what many would The final Statement this morning is in the consider to be unliveable wages. name of the Minister of National Security. Minister Mr. Speaker, most modern developed coun- Ming, would you like to present your Statement at this tries have a minimum wage regime. More than 90 per time? cent of the countries designated as International La- bour Organization (ILO) member states currently have Hon. Renee Ming: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. a statutory wage scheme of some sort. Considerable I just want to beg your indulgence because evidence-based studies have outlined the many bene- there have been developments since my Statement fits realised by both the employers and employees in was written. And I would just like to add those last two countries where a minimum wage has been instituted. paragraphs at the end if you do not mind. Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate that the debate surrounding the introduction of a mandatory The Speaker: For clarity? Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1425

Hon. Renee Ming: Yes. Mr. Speaker, each year the Government be- gins its preparations for hurricane season in advance The Speaker: There are matters of importance that of the start of the season. In preparation for the 2021 you would like to highlight at this time that just devel- season, the Emergency Broadcast Facility 100.1 FM oped? has now been fully relocated to the new government tower at Prospect and is broadcasting every day at Hon. Renee Ming: Yes, please, Mr. Speaker. reduced power. Power will be increased if needed. Honourable Members may recall that the station was The Speaker: So, Members, we are going to seek used last December during the Island-wide power your permission, because normally, what is printed is outage. The public is encouraged to familiarise them- what has to be read. And we are pretty stringent that selves with the station by tuning in from time to time. that is stuck to in normal cases. Mr. Speaker, Hurricane Preparedness Week Minister, I am looking at the title, which is Hur- is traditionally held during the first week in June and ricane Preparedness, and I have been following the will run this year from Monday, May 31st until Friday, news and the weather today in reference to what po- June the 4th. During Hurricane Preparedness Week, tentially is out there. So I am going to take it that your the Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Team, additional comments will be in reference to the current commonly known as DRRM, will coordinate a number status that has just come up? of exercises to familiarise staff and train new staff with the Emergency Measures Organisation Operations Hon. Renee Ming: That is correct, Mr. Speaker. Centre located at the Hamilton Fire Station. This week will also be used to test equipment and conduct staff The Speaker: With that clarity, I will allow the addi- training for the Emergency Broadcast Facility (the tional. But under normal circumstances, it is not done. EBF). So, Minister, continue. The Emergency Broadcast Facility will test its connections with the Bermuda Weather Service and HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS the Government Facebook Live link. Additionally, Mr. Speaker, the Emergency Broadcast channel will go Hon. Renee Ming: Thank you very much, Mr. Speak- live each day during lunchtime for 30 minutes with er. guest speakers for the daily preparedness teams, Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to remind this which are as follows: Honourable House that we are about to enter hurri- • Monday, Personal Safety; st cane season, which runs from June 1 until Novem- • Tuesday, Family Safety; th ber 30 . Mr. Speaker, based on records of the last 30 • Wednesday, Financial Security; years the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- • Thursday, Strengthen Your Home; and istration (NOAA) National Hurricane Center (NHC) has • Friday, Community and Neighbours. raised the number from what is considered an aver- Mr. Speaker, during this week the EMO will age season. The numbers have risen from a yearly meet on Wednesday, June the 2nd, to ensure planning average of 12 main storms to 14 main storms, and from each organisation is underway for the 2021 sea- from six hurricanes to seven hurricanes. The average son. for major hurricanes classified as a Category 3 or Mr. Speaker, we all understand that it only above remains the same, at three. takes one hurricane to make 2021 an active season Mr. Speaker, the 2020 season saw a record- for Bermuda. And I urge all residents to be prepared. breaking season with 30 named tropical storms, 13 • Now is the time to prepare and repair your hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes. Bermuda saw Hur- th th house for hurricane season. ricane Paulette strike overnight on the 13 and 14 of • Now is the time to look at your family plans September, and Hurricane Teddy strike overnight one th st and update them with any changes to phone week later on the 20 and the 21 of September. numbers and other important information. Mr. Speaker, with this said, the early [predic- • Now is the time to stock all of your medical tions] for the 2021 are that the season will be even prescriptions that your family and pets require more active than the newer, higher averages. Colora- and ensure that you have at least two weeks’ do State University, which is recognised as the world’s supply on hand. leader in predictions, have predicted that the early • Now is the time to check your hurricane kit to season forecast is 17 main storms, 8 hurricanes, [and] make sure you have working flashlights, a 4 major hurricanes. NOAA, NHC issued their predic- portable radio with spare batteries and a stock tions for the 2021 season. The first tropical storm of th of non-perishable food to last your family for the 2021 season was announced on May the 10 for seven days. the Pacific Coast. Due to climate change, the NHC • started its forecast two weeks earlier this year, on May Now is the time to ensure your house insur- the 15th. ance policy is up to date. Bermuda House of Assembly 1426 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report

• Now is the time to visit your vulnerable neigh- QUESTION PERIOD bours and ask them if they need any help with their preparations—keeping COVID-19 safety The Speaker: Members, we have a series of ques- precautions in mind, of course. tions today, both written questions and questions from Mr. Speaker, several years ago the Depart- Members regarding Statements that were given this ment of Communications released their smartphone morning. Before I acknowledge the first set of ques- application called Treefrog. This app will alert all users tions, let me just make reference to the last sitting. to news and alerts posted by the Bermuda Govern- During Question Period, the Minister of ment and includes any alerts posted by the Emergen- Works, Minister Burch, made an indication that he cy Measures Organisation that the public needs to be would supply additional information in reference to a urgently aware of. I urge all of this Honourable House question that was put. The Minister has supplied that and all of Bermuda’s residents to sign up for this app, information and it is has been put up on the Share- which is free, to ensure that you receive all emergen- Point for Members. And that was in reference to the cy alerts. Stimulus Programme contracts. Mr. Speaker, the DRRM team will hold a fur- Thank you, Minister, for following up with that. ther EMO meeting for all Emergency Measures Or- Now begins our question time, and you know ganisation agencies in late August to update the coun- there are 60 minutes for that. It is now 10:54. We will try on the last hurricane season forecast for 2021, turn to the written questions. The first written question which will be published at the beginning of August. this morning is in the name of the Opposition Leader Each year during the hurricane season, Bermuda has and it is to the Minister of Works, Minister Burch. an opportunity to demonstrate its strength and resili- Opposition Leader, would you like to put your ence. I am confident that with proper preparation this written question? You have three questions, and each year will be no different, and we will safely weather of them is indicated for an oral response. Opposition any storms that may test our shores. The DRRM team Leader. and the Ministry of National Security will continue to work to ensure that we are well prepared. QUESTION 1: CORRECTIVE MEASURES TAKEN Mr. Speaker, as we speak, the Bermuda AT NOTORIOUS ACCIDENT BLACKSPOT Weather Service is in constant communication with the National Hurricane Center in Miami, as there is a Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. non-tropical low-pressure area located about 500 Will the Honourable Minister please inform miles east/northeast of Bermuda which is producing this Honourable House what remedial action and what winds to storm force and disorganised showers and additional corrective measures the Government in- thunderstorms. We are expecting this storm to pass, tends to take to ensure that the frequent accident spot to move towards Bermuda over the weekend and on the corner of Zuill’s Park Road and South Road is bring adverse weather conditions. And it will likely be- safer for all road users? come a subtropical cyclone later today or on Saturday near to the northeast of Bermuda. The Speaker: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Minister, would you like to respond? Mitigation Team are in constant communication with the Bermuda Weather Service and will be over the Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Good morning, Mr. weekend in case this storm intensifies, and the Emer- Speaker. Yes. gency Measures Organisation has to be convened. Mr. Speaker, my response is [that] this matter This is not expected to occur, but Bermuda residents was first brought to my attention in June 2020 when I should check the Bermuda Weather Service website received a petition from the residents of Zuill’s Park during the weekend for the latest updates. calling for the removal of a new hedge and fence. The Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ministry of Public Works to this point had already ap- plied a number of traffic-calming measures to the The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Much appreciated. junction of Zuill’s Park Road and South Road to im- Members, that brings us to a close of the prove road safety. The key issues are [that] visibility Statements for today. We are moving on [with] the for drivers (on the South Road and those exiting on Order Paper. Zuill’s Park Road) is severely limited to the west by a wall and to the east by a fence, a hedge and a REPORTS OF COMMITTEES BELCO column. The main problem with this location is that the The Speaker: There are none. vehicles on South Road traveling from the west speed up as they travel downhill in an easterly direction, and due to the limited visibility emerging traffic from Zuill’s Park will on occasion not see these rather fast-moving vehicles. The circumstances of the accidents provided Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1427

by BPS [Bermuda Police Service] indicate this to be (8) Unfortunately, the supplier of the curved the main cause of accidents at this location. mirrors has not supplied the proper fixings, and W&E In order to compensate, vehicles turning right [Works & Engineering] staff have been making wood- to exit Zuill’s Park Road watch for both westbound en formwork to install these mirrors. That formwork vehicles and then turn very quickly once there is a gap imposes unusual strain upon the glass, causing the in the eastbound traffic. But because the visibility is mirror to crack. This has been attributed to vandalism severely limited, on occasion the gap they can see is in the past, but proper consideration of the pattern of inadequate to allow them to cross the eastbound lane. cracks indicates otherwise. New mirrors have been The accident record also bears this out. Such driving ordered which are more expensive but have the cor- behaviour remains risky and could not be encouraged. rect fixings. And the additional cost is much less than Zuill’s Park Road is a private street, and the cost of labour for making the formwork and replac- maintenance of safety on the highway for users of this ing broken mirrors. road is the responsibility of the owners of this street. (9) The landowner of the farmland to the east The Minister also has a statutory duty to address road has given an undertaking to regularly prune his safety issues irrespective of the status of the road. hedge. Several residents contact the Ministry every The statutory duty, however, is not a strict duty. time the landowner is neglectful of trimming his hedge Work carried out so far is as follows: back; it is not clear if they contact the landowner be- (1) Sets of rumble strips have been installed forehand. on South Road on both approaches to the junction. Further work planned to be carried out: Some residents are reporting that they have been ef- 1. To replace the thermoplastic rumble strips fective, whilst others feel that they have had no im- with anti-skid resin to reduce the prospect of bicycles pact. However, observations indicate that these have losing grip on South Road. This requires the resin ket- had a calming effect on traffic, particularly motorcycles tle to be repaired in order for the work to be carried on South Road. One resident has also complained out. about the increase in road noise, which is a known 2. Replace the broken mirrors. There have effect of rumble strips. been some delays in procurement of the mirrors be- (2) The rumble strips, however, have been cause of the new supplier that is being used and also formed with thermoplastics, and under certain adverse due to the disruption due to COVID-19 restrictions. weather conditions this material can cause a loss of grip. The plan is to replace the thermoplastic with anti- [Pause] skid resin when the resources are available. Never- theless, a judgment was made that on balance the The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. rumble strips improved safety at this junction despite the possible loss of grip. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: No, I am not finished (3) A pedestrian crossing was installed at the yet, Mr. Speaker. top of the bank near St. Mark’s Church not only to provide a safer crossing point, but also to create [Laughter] awareness of the road environment for eastbound drivers on South Road. The Speaker: I was about to call on the Opposition (4) A number of road signs warning of the Leader to put a further supplementary. hidden junction on the new crossing were erected again to improve awareness of drivers. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: I am trying to turn the (5) The stop line on Zuill’s Park Road has phone off. I am trying to get as fulsome an answer as been moved forward to improve visibility of drivers possible over what has taken place over the years. waiting to emerge. (6) Action markings have been introduced on The Speaker: Continue. the west side of Zuill’s Park Road to indicate the saf- est waiting area for vehicles waiting to join South Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Much appreciated. Road. (7) Three mirrors were installed, one curved Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Options to resolve the and one flat mirror to improve sight of vehicles ap- issues for the longer term: proaching from the left, and one curved mirror to im- Option 1: Move the wall to the west back by prove sight of vehicles approaching from the east. around five feet. This would resolve visibility problems Some residents dislike the curved mirrors, as it dis- for the eastbound vehicles. However, the cost of this torts the reflection of the approaching vehicles. How- option is likely to be around $200,000, plus land pur- ever, the curved mirror provides a wider viewing angle chase costs. As the work will be on a private street, and thus improves the distance of the visibility of ap- the liability for the cost lies with the owners. However, proaching vehicles. the Minister is able to contribute to some or all of the costs under certain conditions, at his discretion. Nego- Bermuda House of Assembly 1428 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report tiations need to be had with the owner of the property Considerations: Options 1 and 2 combined on the western side of the junction, as there will be a would provide the best technical solution overall, but loss of a sizable portion of his property. would be very costly at $250,000 to $300,000. Op- Option 2: To create a new five-foot footpath tion 2 alone solves most of the technical issues and along the northern side of South Road for the length also improves bus passenger facilities and addresses of the farmland property including underground the visibility problem for the access to the east. Alt- BELCO cables and removing the column. This would hough we could try to persuade the landowner, we also improve the visibility for the private access onto can use compulsory purchase powers if necessary, South Road further to the east of Zuill’s Park Road and that cost would be $50,000. and enable moving the existing bus stop to a more Option 3 is the cheapest solution that has commodious and safer location, enabling passengers technical merit. Residents may still complain about the to emerge onto a footpath. The budget estimate for hedge regardless, however, for biased reasons— the work will be around $50,000, plus land purchase $3,000 for pole relocation or $20,000 for underground cost. Preliminary discussions were held with the land- cables. owner, and he initially indicated a willingness to nego- Option 4 is aspirational, as the residents have tiate the sale of land required for this footpath. How- been very antagonistic to one another thus far. It ever, some altercation with his neighbours appears to would take much effort, and residents still may be un- have caused him to change his mind, and he is re- happy in the future—zero cost, but huge headache. portedly no longer willing to sell a strip of his land. Options 5 and 3 combined would be the Nevertheless, there is provision in legislation for com- cheapest option. This would leave the landowner un- pulsory purchase of land in such situations should the happy, but solve the technical issues for the cheapest Minister consider it appropriate to do so. Advice is cost and appease the majority of the residents— being sought from the Attorney General’s Chambers. $3,000. Based upon the disposition of the neighbour- Option 3: In order to improve visibility to the hood, it is unlikely that any option other than 5 will sat- east, the BELCO column could be moved or the ca- isfy them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. bles installed underground. The cost for moving a col- umn at another location has been quoted as being The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. $3,000. But the problem remains as to where it could Opposition Leader, do you have any supple- be moved so that it would not interfere with visibility. A mentary questions for this? I cannot hear you. preferred option would be to underground the cables, and this could cost in the region of $20,000. An Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes, I do, sir. easement will need to be negotiated with the land- owner of the farm for this action. The Speaker: Okay. Put your supplementary. Option 4: Negotiated contract between the neighbours to agree a process of trimming back the Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: First of all, I would like to hedge before requesting the Ministry to intervene in thank the Minister for such a thorough response. It is this neighbour dispute. much, much appreciated. Option 5: The Minister would be able to in- struct the defined visibility splay to the east is main- The Speaker: It was thorough, yes. tained clear of obstruction at all times, necessitating the removal of the hedge in the visibility splay area. A SUPPLEMENTARY normal Bermuda highway standard for visibility splays for development purposes is 8 feet by 120 feet. The Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: He has identified the five landowner has already moved his hedge back to this options. And I am delighted that some of the thoughts standard after a request. However, given the higher that I had in my mind as to a solution were included in vehicle speed for this location and the unusual driving the options. So my question is, When will the Minister behaviour of users of Zuill’s Park Road, it may be ap- be in a position to select the final option, and when will propriate to impose a higher standard for this splay. A the final option be implemented? splay of 15 feet by 150 feet may be more appropriate where actual speeds are up to 40 miles per hour. The Speaker: Minister. To impose this higher standard, it is prudent for the Minister to make a formal decision detailing the Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: I have not had a final reason for this imposition. Also, this option does not recommendation from the technical officers. Once I do address the obstruction caused by the BELCO col- that, I will consider the options and then make a deci- umn, and it is advised that this option should be taken sion. I expect that this will happen within the next in conjunction with aforementioned option 3, as the month. argument for keeping the visibility splay clear would apply equally to BELCO. The Speaker: Thank you, Minister.

Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1429

Supplementary or do you want to move on to course of a remedy in the answer to the first parlia- your next question? mentary question. It remains for us to put the options I cannot hear you. and costs to the residents of Zuill’s Park to see if they can agree a way forward before a recommendation is [Pause] put to me to make the decision. Despite all of our efforts, I am mindful that we The Speaker: You are still muted. will never satisfy all of the residents no matter what scheme is decided upon. But I can assure that the Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: My next question. Thank decision will be made after considering all options. you, Minister. Thank you, Minister. And as I indicated in the previous question, all of this should occur within the next month. The Speaker: Next question. Thank you. If you would, read the second question so that the Minister and the The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. public can hear it. Supplementary?

QUESTION 2: CORRECTIVE MEASURES TAKEN Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: No. I have no further ques- AT NOTORIOUS ACCIDENT BLACKSPOT tions. Thank you.

Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes. The Speaker: Thank you. Will the Honourable Minister please provide We will now move on to the next written ques- an update to this Honourable House as to when the tion. And that is in the name of MP Cannonier. entire remediation plan for this intersection will be And, Minister Burch, this is for you as well. made public? MP Cannonier, you have your three ques- tions. Would you like to read your first question? And The Speaker: Minister. again, it is indicated for oral response.

Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Mr. Speaker, I just Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. provided an update on the background and the con- MP Cannonier is outside of the House of Assembly siderations I must make before we move forward. So today. And so I have been asked to please read these it has just been made public. on his behalf.

The Speaker: As thorough as it was, I agree that it is The Speaker: Yes, the rules do allow for another now public, as well. Member if the House has been informed that the cur- rent Member is absent. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: I agree. I accept that. [Inaudible interjections] The Speaker: Okay. Would you like to move on to your third question, Opposition Leader? Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: I have no objection, Mr. Speaker. QUESTION 3: CORRECTIVE MEASURES TAKEN AT NOTORIOUS ACCIDENT BLACKSPOT The Speaker: Okay. Just to verify for myself. MP Jackson, will you read the question? Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes, please. Will the Honourable Minister please inform QUESTION 1: BERMUDIANA BEACH RESORT— this Honourable House when will the Minister meet PROGRESS UPDATE with the residents of the Zuill’s Park area to share all of the remedial options and invite their input? Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good morning. The Speaker: Minister. Will the Honourable Minister (and this is the Honourable Colonel Burch) please provide this Hon- Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Mr. Speaker, I would ourable House with an update on the progress of the not be meeting with the residents. Ministry technical Bermudiana Beach Resort redevelopment, including officers have already met and then communicated the Hilton Franchise Agreement and local/overseas with residents on multiple occasions, and since which buyers/investors of the units? the Ministry has received copious amounts of feed- back from them. Many disagree with the options of- The Speaker: Minister. fered. This feedback has been compiled to give me a full understanding of the issues. And together with the Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Mr. Speaker, the plan advice of my technical officers, I have outlined the involves converting the existing property into a mid- Bermuda House of Assembly 1430 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report market condo hotel with additional leisure facilities finance partially from condo sales, which would accel- which will be operated as a resort under a Hilton fran- erate significantly with the phase 1A, hotel opening. chise. The phase 1B works is 19 condos equivalent The condo hotel model is well proven in most to 21 hotel units for rent and can commence from the islands, but was not feasible in Bermuda until the lat- 1st of November 2021 for completion in June 2022 in est hotel development Act removed earlier real estate time for that year’s high season. Phase 1B construc- ownership restrictions. Condo buyers have only 90 tion works comprise conversion of two further blocks, days annual personal occupancy, and the condos are B and C; further site works and landscaping; installa- in a hotel rental programme the balance of the year. tion of two additional elevators, one on each of Blocks The nine buildings containing 78 apartments will be B and C; conversion of ground floor units in Block C converted into 97 units for sale, which with lock-off for the spa; and an expansion of back-of-house areas; subdivisions provide 111 hotel keys for rentals. construction of the second pool adjacent to the spa in All of the condos are being refitted with new Block C; and installation of the second tram on the improved kitchen and bathroom fixtures as befitting a funicular down to the beach; completion of further car boutique hotel. Additional kitchenettes and bathrooms park areas. The intention is for phase 2 conversion are being added to facilitate the 111 hotel keys format, works to be financed totally from condo sales, which and the patios are being added or extended. External should accelerate again with the phase 1 being larger elevators are being added to the building exteriors as hotel operations. The phase 2 works adds 36 condos part of hotel upgrade requirements. Buildings have equivalent to 42 hotel units for rent and is likely to been painted an attractive range of Bermuda pastel commence on the 1st of November 2022 for comple- colours. All of the cold- and hot-water supplies have tion on the 1st of April 2023 in time for that year’s high been redesigned on a centralised basis to meet hotel season. specifications. Electrical and IT systems are being Phase 2 construction works comprise the similarly upgraded. conversion of three further blocks, E, H and J; further Seven of the existing condo units are to be site works and landscaping; installation of three addi- converted to communal facilities to include a reception tional elevators, one on each of Blocks E, H and J; the area, restaurant, bars, meeting room, spa, gym and completion of further car park areas; and the supply of back-of-house support areas. Outdoor amenities in- the remaining condo furniture. clude two recreational pools, one with an infinity pool The project team are the Bermudiana Beach design, walking patio areas and dual funicular lifts to Resort. Redevelopment is in the process of complet- the beach below. ing the final negotiation for financing the next phase of Phasing and development schedule: The first the redevelopment. The Hilton franchise agreement is phase of redevelopment has commenced, including a completed, and the team is in the process of revamp- full survey of all buildings to identify all infrastructure ing the sales and marketing programme for the units and building services routing; sidewalks and land- to take advantage of the extensive Hilton network. scaping on the west end of the site; construction of The current sales pipeline consists of approximately two elevator towers, one on each of Blocks A and B; 200 potential buyers. COVID-19 is delaying site visits fit-out of four model types as show units—a studio, a to the Island, Americans and Canadians who say they one-bedroom, a two-bedroom and three-bedroom want to view the four show units. Local potential buy- condos; fit-out of the sales office suite; equipping of ers are deterred by perceived delays in the project four office areas for project management, hotel man- and the current lack of construction progress onsite. agement and contractors. Furniture for 60 per cent of There is currently one potential purchaser the condos has been manufactured, paid for and is in who has placed a deposit for a unit. We believe the the process of shipping. All condo designs have been current arrangement to secure $10 million will address approved by Hilton. Construction can commence im- the reservation being shown by both the local and minently for completion, and an initial hotel opening in overseas investors. 2021/22 subject to debt funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Construction works comprise the conversion of four blocks, A, D, F and G; further site works and The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. landscaping; the installation of two additional eleva- Is there a supplementary question? tors, one on each of Blocks F and G; conversion and expansion of ground floor units in Block F for the re- Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Nothing from me, Mr. ception area, the restaurant and bar; conversion of Speaker. units in Block C for back-of-house facilities; construc- tion of the clifftop infinity-edge pool in front of Block F; Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: I have a supplemental, Mr. installation of the first tram on the funicular down to Speaker. the beach; and completion of initial car park. The in- tention is for phase 1B conversion works to gain the The Speaker: Supplementary?

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Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes. the question to put the question, and it is allowed un- der Standing Order 17(4). The Speaker: Put your supplementary, Opposition MP Jackson, would you like to put the second Leader. question?

SUPPLEMENTARIES QUESTION 2: DANIEL’S HEAD, SITE UPDATE

Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you. Thank you, Min- Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. ister. Will the Honourable Minister please provide You indicated that most of the financing for this Honourable House an update on Daniel’s Head? phases 1 and 2 will be derived from condo sales. Can This is concerning the leasing of government land to the Minister confirm what type of commitment has the Westover Farm, the marketing of Nine Beaches Re- Government made from a financing point of view? sort to both local and foreign developers, or any Ber- How much will this total development cost the gov- muda Land Development Corporation redevelopment ernment and people of Bermuda, given that the prop- of the property. erty is owned by the government and people of Ber- muda? The Speaker: Minister.

The Speaker: Thank you. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Mr. Speaker, in a Min- Minister. isterial Statement to this House on the 13th of July 2018, I stated that I had recently met with the Bas- Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Mr. Speaker, $7 mil- come brothers to discuss their continued occupation lion has been spent already. We expect that phase 1A of Westover Farm. I later announced that their lease and B will be completed with the proceeds of the $10 would be renewed for 21 years less a day from the 1st million loan, which is nine-tenths of the way there. We of May 2019. have about 55 items that need to be completed in or- The marketing of Nine Beaches Resort ended der for Clarien [Bank] to finally approve the loan. We in December 2019 when the Bermuda Government are halfway there, with the remainder expected to be instructed BLDC [Bermuda Land Development Com- completed in various stages before the end of the pany] to end its agreement with KPMG for advisory month. services as related to positioning and marketing of Daniel’s Head to an international market. The Gov- The Speaker: Thank you. ernment decided that Nine Beaches would be re- Supplementary? moved from consideration for development and the focus would be on promoting vacant tourism proper- Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes. And so the $10 mil- ties. We would explore a technological solution to the lion— smells emanating from Westover Farm first before looking to restart marketing efforts at Nine Beaches. The Speaker: The second sup? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes. The Speaker: Supplementary? So the $10 million guarantee that was ap- No supplementaries? proved by the House is used to support the Clarien MP Jackson, would you like to put the third loan? question?

Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: No. The $10 million is QUESTION 3: DANIEL’S HEAD, SITE UPDATE the Clarien loan. Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Thank you. You used your two sup- Will the Honourable Minister please provide plementaries. this Honourable House the expenditure from January Does anyone else have a supplementary on 2018 to present spent on advisory services to market that question? the Daniel’s Head site to potential developers? (But There are none. that has been answered.) MP Jackson, before you put the second ques- tion, to clarify for Members, Standing Order 17(4) The Speaker: Have you been able to achieve your speaks to the ability for another Member to put the answer from the earlier response from the Minister? questions of the Member who had a written question but was not present in the House at the time. So MP Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Yes, I did. Jackson has been asked by the Member who wrote

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The Speaker: Minister, the question was answered school students P4, P5 and P6 with the goal of having from your earlier response. a device in every student’s hands.

Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: I did not actually give The Speaker: Any supplementary? that answer, Mr. Speaker. Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Yes. I have a supplementary. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: I did not think so either. The Speaker: Put your supplementary. Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Oh, I am sorry. SUPPLEMENTARY [Laughter and crosstalk] Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Yes. I am wondering if the The Speaker: Why don’t you go ahead and provide Minister would share to the Honourable House the your answer, Minister? Go ahead. final amount of the cost for the Chromebooks.

Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: How much has been Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, that amount paid to KPMG? And the answer to that is $25,000 for was given in previous Statements on several occa- these services. sions. I want to say . . . I cannot remember, but I can get an exact figure, but I want to say it was around The Speaker: Thank you. $580,000, or between $560,000 and $580,000. Supplementary? No supplementary. The Speaker: Thank you. And you can always indi- Thank you, Member; thank you, Minister. cate that the information is already in the public do- main from the previous Statement. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Yes.

The Speaker: The next written question this morning The Speaker: MP, I would refer you to the previous is a question put in the name of MP Jackson to the Statements that were given. Minister of Education. Any further supplementary? Member, would you like to put your first ques- tion to the Minister? Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Yes. I have a supplementary to that. QUESTION 1: DELIVERY OF CHROMEBOOKS, PROGRESS UPDATE The Speaker: Yes.

Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Yes, please. Thank you, Mr. SUPPLEMENTARY Speaker. Will the Honourable Minister please provide Ms. Susan E. Jackson: So yes. Given the reference this Honourable House an update on the progress and to the previous Statement in the public domain, did I delivery of 1,600 high-tech Chromebooks to support understand that this $580,000-odd was a donation teachers, and primary and middle school students? from a foundation in Germany? I am just wondering, what was the procedure for accepting the cash dona- The Speaker: Minister. tion into education for the purpose of these Chrome- books? Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Mr. Speaker, a total of 1,601 Chromebooks were purchased and delivered The Speaker: Minister. the week of April 26 through the IT Section of the De- partment of Education. I am pleased to say that our IT Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Again, Mr. Speaker, that technicians have now completed the configuration of information was revealed last year when we received all 1,601 Chromebooks. the donation. And it is in the public domain. These Chromebooks are designated for stu- dents at the primary school levels. The department is The Speaker: Thank you. in the midst of organising summer programmes for Again, MP, I provide the same response. The students which will integrate the use of the Chrome- Minister has already provided the information in the books. earlier Statement. And that earlier Statement can be In September 2021, we will commence with referenced for the correct answer. the rollout of the devices proper to the offer of primary

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Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: I have a supplemental on teachers have been given access to teach from their that topic, Mr. Speaker. respective classroom.

The Speaker: Supplementary? The Speaker: Thank you. Supplementary? Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes. Ms. Susan E. Jackson: No. I do not have any further The Speaker: Opposition Leader, yes, put your sup- questions. plementary. The Speaker: Thank you. SUPPLEMENTARY Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Thank you. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: If we have a benefactor in Bermuda who would like to make a donation, cash Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. donation and not an in-kind donation, a cash donation Thank you, MP Jackson. to support our students in the IT sections and any other section, what is the procedure in place that do- The Speaker: We will move on to the next series of nors can follow to make a cash donation to support questions this morning that are written. And those are education in Bermuda in the public sector? to the Minister Wayne Furbert from the Opposition Whip, Mr. Richardson. The Speaker: Thank you. Opposition Whip, would you like to put your Minister. questions?

Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Jarion Richardson: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speak- Anyone who wishes to make a donation to the er. Good morning to you and to the listening audience. Bermuda Public School System is free to contact the Ministry. And, depending on the type of donation, we The Speaker: Good morning. will sit down and discuss what is the best possible way for that to happen. QUESTION 1: SHORESIDE FISH PROCESSING PLANT AT MARGINAL WHARF— The Speaker: Thank you. PROGRESS UPDATE No further supplementaries? No. Mr. Jarion Richardson: And thank you, Honourable MP Jackson, would you like to put your sec- Minister Furbert. ond question? Will the Honourable Minister please update this Honourable House on the progress of the shore- QUESTION 2: REIMBURSEMENT OR STIPEND side fish processing plant at Marginal Wharf? FOR TEACHERS The Speaker: Thank you. Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Will the Honourable Minister Minister. please inform this Honourable House if the Ministry of Education will provide a stipend or other reimburse- Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. ment for teachers who use their personal resources to Good morning, Mr. Richardson. deliver online classes and keep contact with students? BEDC [Bermuda Economic Development Corporation] has formed a steering committee made The Speaker: Minister. up of representatives from the Department of Envi- ronment and Natural Resources and the Fishermen’s Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Association of Bermuda. This steering committee has Mr. Speaker, in order for us to navigate updated a previous business plan and design plan for through this pandemic, all of us in Bermuda had to the project based on current economic conditions, as give of ourselves to help our fellow citizens. So with well as taking into account short- to long-term fisher- that said, there will be no stipend or other reimburse- ies department or development sectors. ment given. But I will also preface that with, most The steering committee has been meeting as teachers have been supplied laptops from the De- a collaborative on this project since March 2021, and partment of Education. And all teachers have been it is anticipated that the planning phase of the work given full Zoom licences to conduct their classes. In will be completed by July 2021. addition to that, during the remote learning phase, The committee will subsequently progress the whenever we have been on remote learning, all construction phase of the plan in conjunction with im- plementing a phased approach, the cooperative busi- Bermuda House of Assembly 1434 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report ness model, inclusive of all aspects of facility and SUPPLEMENTARY membership governance. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Thank you. Supplementary? Can the Honourable Minister please inform this Honourable House if he is aware of any other fish Mr. Jarion Richardson: Yes. What are the—I am processing plants currently in operation in Bermuda? sorry, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I have a supplementary. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: No, I am not. The Speaker: Yes. Put your supplementary. The Speaker: Second supplementary? None? Okay. SUPPLEMENTARY Opposition Whip, go ahead and put your sec- ond question. Mr. Jarion Richardson: What are those phases with- in the phased approach starting July 2021? QUESTION 2: SHORESIDE FISH PROCESSING PLANT AT MARGINAL WHARF—CONSTRUCTION Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Well, as I mentioned, the CONTRACT first phase is to review and have discussions, and dis- cussions with the Fishermen’s Association. And the Mr. Jarion Richardson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. next phase will be deciding on the construction, which Will the Honourable Minister please inform is being worked on right now, the construction of the this Honourable House which construction company actual joints being taking place. And the next phase, (or construction companies) was contracted to build as we mentioned, will be putting the shovels in the the shoreside fishing plant at Marginal Wharf? ground if everything goes according to plan. [Inaudible interjection] Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Supplemental. Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Mr. Speaker, no construction The Speaker: Supplementary? Yes, Opposition companies have been contracted to date. Leader. The Speaker: Thank you. SUPPLEMENTARY Supplementary? None. Opposition Whip, you can put your third ques- Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you, Minister. So can tion. you give us an estimated date that you plan to have the shovels in the ground? QUESTION 3: SHORESIDE FISH PROCESSING PLANT AT MARGINAL WHARF—DoE POLICY Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: What I will say, Opposition IMPLEMENTATION Leader, is that we would like to have it in before this financial year is finishing up, the Government’s finan- Mr. Jarion Richardson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. cial year. Will the Honourable Minister please inform this Honourable House how the preliminary steps re- Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Right. quired in the Environmental Protection Department’s report “A Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Bermu- The Speaker: Thank you. da’s Living Marine Resources” [page 21] have been No more supplementaries to that? satisfied, and whichever specific White Paper they are Okay. using to guide their decision-making and policy im- Mr. Richardson, MP Richardson, would you plementation? like to put your second question? Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: Mr. Speaker, the [report] “A Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker, I have a Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Bermuda’s Living supplementary, sir. Marine Resources” continues to provide guidance to the Department of Environment and Natural Re- The Speaker: Hold on one second. sources. However, it must be acknowledged the You have a supplementary to the first ques- schedule was written in 2010. And at that time the tion? Department of Environmental Protection was charged with developing a business plan for shoreside facili- Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker. ties’ protocols contained in the 2005 White Paper on The Marine Environment and Fishing Industry in Ber- The Speaker: MP Dunkley, put your question. muda.

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This revised project is now being led by the Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, no one controls the BEDC (the Bermuda Economic Development Corpo- information and the data. A SafeKey is simply a QR ration), and they are working closely with the Depart- code that reflects the negative test result or an im- ment of Environment and Natural Resources and the munisation status of an individual. And so the im- Fishermen’s Association on a new business plan that portant thing to note, Mr. Speaker, is that right now meets the current and future needs of the fishing in- vaccination certificates are issued. Negative test re- dustry based on today’s context. sults are issued. Those matters do not contain QR codes. Someone can take a Photoshop of them and, The Speaker: Supplementary? you know, create a forgery. With the addition of the QR codes, the vaccination certificates and also to the Mr. Jarion Richardson: Yes, Mr. Speaker. negative test results, these things can no longer be forged. The Speaker: Put your supplementary. But the QR code only contains the information which is on the certificate itself—the negative test re- SUPPLEMENTARY sult or the vaccination certificate. That information is part of the Government’s database. Once this infor- Mr. Jarion Richardson: Given that some of those mation is issued, it is put and encoded in an encrypted required steps outlined in the 2010 report are under QR code which can be read or verified at gov.bm. So consideration, when would we find out what the new there is no information that is stored anywhere at all. considerations are? Or what are the new steps that would be required to be taken after you conduct your The Speaker: Thank you, Premier. consideration/review of the old report? Supplementary?

Hon. Wayne L. Furbert: The department, as I said, Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes, thank you. Mr. Speaker, the EDD [Economic Development De- partment] is looking at what was in the report. And as The Speaker: Put your supplementary. to the Member, we can update them as time goes on. But right now it is just reviewing everything, making SUPPLEMENTARIES sure. But we are working with the Department of Ma- rine Environment and the fishing industry. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Who owns the technology and application? The Speaker: Supplementary? Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, there is no technol- Mr. Jarion Richardson: None, Mr. Speaker, from me. ogy or application. As I indicated, this is open-source. For the Opposition Leader again: SafeKey is a QR The Speaker: Thank you, Members. Thank you, Min- code, that’s all, encoding the information which is held isters. on either a vaccination certificate or a negative test Members, Ministers, that brings us to a close result. of the written questions. We have just under 19 The SafeKey that is issued in addition to the minutes left to deal with the questions from State- vaccination certificate and a negative test result con- ments that were given today. And each Minister has tains the initials of the individual, the month and day of questions that have been indicated for every Minister birth of the individual and expiration date of the QR who put Statements this morning. code itself. And that information is all of the infor- So let us start at the top. Mr. Premier, you mation that is there. It is not stored anywhere. It is have questions this morning from two Members. The sent out to individuals. And individuals can keep it on Opposition Leader would like to put a question to you their phone, they can print it out, they can use it, they this morning referencing your Statement on the Im- can carry it. plementation of SafeKey. And as I indicated in my Statement, we have Opposition Leader, you can put your question. a young Bermudian who was part of the bootcamp who is developing a Government of Bermuda app to QUESTION 1: IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFEKEY store these matters. But these things are for individu- als to control, and it is not centrally controlled. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My first question is, Who controls the infor- The Speaker: Thank you. mation and the data stored in this application and the Further supplementary? technology used? Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes, my last supplemen- The Speaker: Premier. tary.

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The Speaker: Go ahead. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Honourable Member for his question. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: The Minister said that the One of the most important things to recognise costs to Bermuda will be minimal to the taxpayer. Can is that, though we are using SafeKey in the early im- the Premier quantify the cost to the taxpayer in total? plementation for items such as indoor dining, the long- term view was to have a simple way to verify that indi- Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I cannot quantify viduals would minimise coronavirus risk in the large the costs to the taxpayer in total at this present mo- group settings. So we have a view to look to the fu- ment. What I can say is that the technological imple- ture, as was said inside of my Ministerial Statement. mentation of the SafeKey itself is . . . as I said, there is We are going to be using this for the Bermuda Day a project to upgrade our vaccination certificates so our Half Marathon. We are also going to use [this going] vaccination certificates cannot be fraudulent. into the Bermuda Day events at the National Sports In regard to the SafeKey, which will be an ad- Centre. And it is our intention to use it to support Cup ditional thing issued in addition to the vaccination cer- Match this year and to make sure that the annual Cup tificates, this work, as I indicated in my Statement, Match Classic can happen. was provided by Denis Pitcher at no additional charge The Government of Bermuda continues to to the Government of Bermuda. I know that there are work with the clubs, and we are going to make sure lots of people who would like to say that Denis Pitcher that they have clear and early indication that we have is a FinTech consultant to the Government of Bermu- the technology in place and we are ready and able to da. Mr. Pitcher has been on an unpaid contract, as he make sure that this event happens and other events [has been] busy with other matters for about the last happen. two to three months. So it was basically provided, the We have done an excellent job in this country. technology, free of charge to enable SafeKey. Mr. Speaker, 50 per cent of the people in this country However, there are some other supplemen- have been vaccinated. Eligible populations being vac- tary expenses such as the marketing information, the cinated is a lot higher. We are continuing the work and videos that DCI prepared and which were internal, the progress. So I think that we are in good stead to and also the contract for the young Bermudian who make sure that we can claim our summer, and we was part of the bootcamp to develop our mobile app. have technology at our hands to be able to do this. So And I think I will get the information on the dollar value in short answer, Mr. Speaker, I expect to see the of his hourly contract, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Member at the St. George’s Cricket Club on the last Thursday and Friday before the first Mon- The Speaker: Thank you. day in August. You used up all of your supplementaries. Would you like to put your second question? The Speaker: Thank you. Supplementary? No supplementary? Thank Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: No. That is it for me, Mr. you. Speaker, on this topic. SUPPLEMENTARY

The Speaker: Thank you. Mr. Christopher Famous: Yes . . . no! Whoa! Hello, Mr. Premier, the next Member who has indi- Mr. Speaker. Sorry I did not press the button. cated that they have a question for you is MP Fa- Yes. Thank you, Mr. Premier. So for clarity, mous. the SafeKey will allow safe entry into large events. So MP Famous, would you like to put your ques- on the note of Cup Match, no one is going to tweet tion? this where we get more people from the West coming in than East, would it? Mr. Christopher Famous: Yes, sir. And good morning, Mr. Premier. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, SafeKey is equal opportunity, and all persons, whether they have or Hon. E. David Burt: Good morning. [have] not been immunised, are able to participate to make sure that we minimise the risk of any large QUESTION 1: IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFEKEY gathering.

Mr. Christopher Famous: Mr. Premier, may you The Speaker: Mr. Premier, I thank you for your com- clarify for me and thousands of other Bermudians? I ment. And I will assist you by saying whether it is one heard you earlier mention about SafeKey and Cup person, or a whole host of people, the Cup will still Match. Will SafeKey allow for domestic cricket to re- come down and go back after the game. sume safely (no pun intended)? [Laughter] The Speaker: Premier. Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1437

The Speaker: Thank you for your question, MP. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you, Member. The next Minister who has questions this Mr. Speaker, just a slight correction. The morning is the Deputy Premier. number that we see now in the Statement of 1,863 Deputy Premier, you have a question from the actually represents around 42 per cent. The plea was Opposition Leader in reference to your Statement on made on Monday, the date that the Member refer- the Bermuda Plan. ences. And at that point it was 31 per cent. So we Opposition Leader, would you like to put your have had more persons sign up since then. question? But to answer the Member’s question, saliva testing is not mandatory; it is optional. And so we are QUESTION 1: THE FINAL BERMUDA PLAN 2018 planning to move ahead with the saliva screening programme with the persons who have indicated that Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. they have given parental consent. We will continue to Can the Minister provide details on the mitiga- encourage parental consent, and that option is still tion strategies that had been included in the Bermuda open. We are sending home paper consent forms to Plan 2018 that address climate change risk and its parents as well. And so if they do consent, then those impacts on Bermuda, its coasts, its property develop- children will be added to the process. ment and easements, et cetera? I would also like to clarify that this is in addi- tion to what has already been in place. What has al- The Speaker: Minister. ready been in place has been very effective in keep- ing our schools open, as we reopened our schools in Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. September. And we have been out for a few weeks Certainly we can address those matters in per term since we have instituted that. This is just an great detail when the debate comes on this particular additional layer, and so it is just helping us to go even motion. But as a preliminary answer for the Honoura- further. ble Member, we are actually working on plans to have And so we encourage our parents to volunteer a coastal study done that will look at some of the is- their children. But if they do not, the programme will sues related to coastal erosion, and perhaps I am still move forward. straddling into another Ministry, because that is more of an environmental issue, but it also has relevance to The Speaker: Supplementary? planning. But the mitigation strategies to address cli- Ms. Susan E. Jackson: No supplementary for me. mate and coastal reserve zoning are an entire section of the policies [which restrict] development. And as we The Speaker: Second question? None? present the plan at the next possible sitting of the House, those details can be discussed in fullness. Ms. Susan E. Jackson: None.

The Speaker: Supplementary? The Speaker: Okay. MP Pearman, would you like to put your ques- Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: No, thank you. That is it. tion to the Minister?

The Speaker: Thank you. QUESTION 1: SALIVA SCREENING PROGRAMME The next Statement this morning that requires questions is to the Minister of Education. Mr. Scott Pearman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank Minister, you have two Members who would you, Minister, for your Statement. like to put questions to you. The first is MP Jackson. At page 4 of 6 of your Statement, you indicate MP, would you like to put your question? that Dr. Weldon has advised the Ministry that the sali- va tests are as accurate as the nasal pharyngeal QUESTION 1: SALIVA SCREENING PROGRAMME tests. Do you have percentage accuracy numbers for those two categories of tests? Ms. Susan E. Jackson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And good morning again, Minister. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: No, I do not. My question is from page 5. There is a refer- ence that “a total of 1,834” students’ parents have Mr. Scott Pearman: And, Mr. Speaker. given consent. And May 20 in the Bernews it says that that was 31 per cent of the public school students. The Speaker: Would you like a supplementary or a And just wondering what is going to happen to the second question? children or the students who do not have to consent for saliva testing? Mr. Scott Pearman: Yes, a supplementary.

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The Speaker: Put your supplementary. Supplementary?

SUPPLEMENTARY Mr. Scott Pearman: Supplementary.

Mr. Scott Pearman: Thank you. The Speaker: Yes. Put your supplementary. Minister, if they are the same calibre of accu- racy, why at page 5 of your Statement do you indicate SUPPLEMENTARIES that the follow-up test will be the nasal pharyngeal test? Why do you have to switch test types if the accu- Mr. Scott Pearman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. racy is the same? Minister, are we to understand from that an- swer that these numbers have been established with- Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Thank you for that ques- out first considering even if they are gross or net of tion. You are taking me way beyond my knowledge of tax? how these particular tests do work. But it was always established that when a saliva test triggered a posi- The Speaker: Minister. tive, it will be followed up with a nasal pharyngeal test. I can endeavour to get more information on why that Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Speaker, in the report we is so. But I am assuming that it is a policy of the De- will share the methodology that was used and the partment of Health. considerations that were given. Those are options. There were recommendations that followed those op- Mr. Scott Pearman: Thank you, Minister. No supple- tions that are in the report. And so I cannot speak to mentaries. the full deliberations of the Wage Commission, as they are an independent body. But certainly when I The Speaker: Supplementary? None? from a Ministry standpoint have to move forward with determining or deciding on a wage rate, certainly I will Mr. Scott Pearman: No supplementary, Mr. Speaker, have that dialogue with the Wage Commission. no further question. The Speaker: Supplementary? The Speaker: Thank you. Minister of Labour, the next questions are for Mr. Scott Pearman: Yes, second supplementary. you this morning. And there are two Members who Thank you, Mr. Speaker. have indicated they would like to put questions. The first is from MP Pearman. The Speaker: Yes. MP Pearman, would you like to put your ques- tion? Mr. Scott Pearman: So, Minister, I understand your answer is that at the moment we do not know whether QUESTION 1: THE WAGE COMMISSION REPORT the numbers selected would be a take-home number 2021 in someone’s pocket or not?

Mr. Scott Pearman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Speaker, the Wage Com- you, Minister. mission presented options and recommendations My first question is, in your Statement to the within a report. It is now the Minister’s responsibility to House you have given three numbers, $13.19 up to review those recommendations in alignment with the $17.28. No matter which of those three numbers is second report, which is the Living Wage Report, and ultimately selected, or indeed another number ulti- come to the appropriate rate. Once that appropriate mately selected, can you assist the House as to rate is decided, all of the specifics, whether or not it whether this is going to be a gross wage or a net will be net or gross, will be stipulated at that particular wage in respect of payroll tax and social insurance? time. I think what is important today is that this is simply the Government accepting a report that was The Speaker: Minister. produced by the Wage Commission. And no final de- termination on wage rates or how they will be applied Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Speaker, I cannot make has been made. any assurance to the House what will be the wage rate, whether it will be gross or net. Those will come The Speaker: Thank you. out when the Ministry of Labour does its deliberations and decides on a methodology, a rate and decides on Mr. Scott Pearman: Second question. whether it will be gross or net. The Speaker: You used both of your supplemen- The Speaker: Thank you. taries. Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1439

Do you have a second question? The Speaker: Yes. Can you put that in a question form, in a question form— QUESTION 2: THE WAGE COMMISSION REPORT 2021 Mr. Scott Pearman: I certainly can. Minister, will we have a minimum wage before Mr. Scott Pearman: I do, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. we have the report on a living wage? Still on the same theme. So will the Minister then be recommending one of these three numbers to Hon. Jason Hayward: Mr. Speaker, as indicated in Cabinet? Is that what happens next? my Statement, no.

Hon. Jason Hayward: The Minister in the Statement Mr. Scott Pearman: I thank the Minister for his an- says that it would wait for the report on the living swers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. wage, take into consideration the two wage rates and prescribe a statutory minimum remuneration rate that The Speaker: Thank you. is in line with the living wage regime. Minister of Labour, the next question for you this morning is from the Opposition Whip. Mr. Scott Pearman: Supplementary. Opposition Whip, would you like to put your question? The Speaker: Yes. Put your supplementary. Mr. Jarion Richardson: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. SUPPLEMENTARIES [Timer chimes] Mr. Scott Pearman: Can the Minister share with this House when that recommendation will come from the The Speaker: Oh, I think you all hear a bell. And that Ministry to Cabinet? is our 60 minutes for Question Period come to an end, which brings us to a close of Question Period this Hon. Jason Hayward: That is dependent on the morning which started at 10:54. It is now 11:54. Wage Commission providing the Ministry with the Thank you, Members, for your contributions. second report, which is the Living Wage Report. The And we will now move on. way in which the Wage Commission Act was actually set out, it sets out in Part 3 that the commission CONGRATULATORY AND/OR should provide a recommendation on a minimum OBITUARY SPEECHES wage, and in Part 4 should provide a second report on a living wage. We think it is best if we review both re- The Speaker: Would any Member like to make a con- ports together to ensure that there is some sort of tribution at this time? alignment between statutory minimum remuneration rates and a living wage regime. An Hon. Member: Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Speaker? Mr. Scott Pearman: Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, second supplemen- The Speaker: The Speaker: Yes. It sounds like the Deputy Speaker. tary.

Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Scott Pearman: Second and final supplementary. Speaker.

Go ahead. The Speaker: The Speaker: Deputy Speaker, you have your three minutes. Mr. Scott Pearman: Do I understand that answer, Minister, to mean that we will not have a minimum Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Yes, good morning, wage until we have a report on a living wage? everyone. Mr. Speaker, I would like this House to send Hon. Jason Hayward: I cannot speak to the Mem- out condolences to the family of 27-year-old Kemba ber’s understanding, Mr. Speaker. Anika Outerbridge. Gone too soon, but she will cer- tainly be missed by her mother, Clarene Butterfield; Mr. Scott Pearman: Well, could— her father, Blake Outerbridge; her two sisters, Shama- ri Asher and Shamari Anika; and numerous other rela- Hon. Jason Hayward: He is asking about his under- tives and friends. standing. I simply cannot provide clarity on his under- Mr. Speaker, I would like to also send out standing. condolences to the family of Ms. Delesa Elaine Gal- Bermuda House of Assembly 1440 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report lion Smith. She is the mother of Kevin Smith from George’s I saw my opening bat partner. And he G.E.T., and his two siblings Roslyn and Junior Clem- reached out and says, That’s my opening bat partner ent. I am sure she will be sorely missed by her family. from St. George’s! And we sang St. George’s boys And also, Mr. Speaker, to the family of Shir- forever. And five holes later he collapsed, and later melle Gomes, the daughter of famous gospel singer, that day he died. Larry “Cocky” Steede, the grandson Bermuda gospel singer Gary Bean, and Jennifer Bul- of the great Alec “Cocky” Steede. And he died in ford. Spring Benny community. But he was a St. George’s These folks will certainly be missed by their boy forever. And to all of his family and all of his families and certainly their neighbourhoods. friends I offer my deepest condolences. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And finally, Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Hu- bert Hughes from Anguilla, my friend, the most fear- The Speaker: Thank you, Deputy. I will associate my- less Chief Minister and former Opposition Leader of self if you do not mind to the condolences to the Anguilla, whom I knew personally has recently passed Outerbridge family. I do not know her mother; I know away. His advocacy for independence is mirrored only her father, Blake. So my condolences be added to by his namesake in Bermuda, which I certainly told yours. him about, his cousin David, through our St. Does any other Member wish to make a con- Kitts/Anguilla/Nevis connections. And I just want the tribution at this time? people of Anguilla to know how much I admired and respected and cherished having known the Honoura- Some Hon. Members: Yes. Mr. Speaker. ble Hubert Hughes. May he rest in peace. And finally, a letter of thank-you to the fire- The Speaker: I heard, I think it was the Attorney fighters in Bermuda, all of the emergency medical General’s voice? people who provide great service even on their days off playing around the golf. We appreciate what they Hon. Kathy Lynn Simmons: Yes, it is. Thank you. do, and we appreciate that they do it when called up- on, which in many cases is not even when they are on The Speaker: Madam Attorney General, you have duty. May God continue to bless their ministry through your three minutes. service in life. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. Kathy Lynn Simmons: I will not need three The Speaker: Thank you, MP Swan. minutes, Mr. Speaker. Good morning to you and eve- ryone. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to associate myself with the re- marks with respect to Mr. Smith, as well as the Bulford The Speaker: Is that MP Campbell? family. We have them in the constituency in our thoughts and prayers. And to Kevin and Terry and all Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: De Silva. of the family, we have you close to our hearts and in our prayers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: De Silva, I am sorry. MP De Silva.

The Speaker: Thank you. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Well, we do look alike, Mr. Any other Member? Speaker. We have been mistaken for being brothers in the past. Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan: Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Well, I hear you, but I do not see you. It The Speaker: Mr. Swan, MP Swan, you have your would be good if we could see you this morning. I saw three minutes. MP Campbell; that is why I was calling out to MP Campbell. Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Okay. I am clicking—there bring condolences on the loss of some dear friends. it is. Mr. Lloyd Van Putten, a former member of the Corpo- ration of St. George’s and a closely connected family The Speaker: Okay. Yes, we see you now. You have friend of mine from both Whale Bay and St. George’s, your three minutes. that strong connection who has recently passed away. I will miss our communications immensely, and our Mr. Vance Campbell: And, Mr. Speaker, you can see friendship, which blossomed when I moved to St. we do look almost identical. George’s. This week, Mr. Speaker, the fragility of life [Laughter] was brought to home because on the fifth hole of St. Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1441

The Speaker: Let me get glasses or I will get con- give all of my sympathy to not only family, but the en- fused, right? tire Sunnyside family and Southampton family, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much. [Laughter] [Timer chimes] Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Let me help you out. The Speaker: Thank you. You just made it under the The Speaker: Okay. bell. Does any other Member wish to make a con- Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Mr. Speaker, I would like to tribution at this time? be associated with the condolences for Ms. Delesa Smith, Kevin Smith’s mother and Terry Ann’s mother- Mr. Vance Campbell: Yes, Mr. Speaker. in-law. You will know that she spent much of her time in Jamaica, and it was her wish to get back home to Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo: Yes, Mr. Speaker. see her family. She must have had some divine inter- vention, Mr. Speaker, because she was determined to The President: MP Campbell. get back here and she did. And of course, she passed within a couple of days of getting back on Island. And Mr. Vance Campbell: Yes. Mr. Speaker, I would like I know that her grandchildren and her family will miss to send congratulations to the 79 Bermuda College her dearly. So I certainly send out my condolences to graduates who received their associate’s degrees, the family. diplomas or certificates yesterday in a virtual com- I would like to associate with the condolences mencement ceremony. I believe 52 per cent of the to [the family of] Larry Steede, Mr. Speaker. I think MP Class of 2021 graduated with honours, which meant Swan gave a very nice send-off in his remarks. And of their GPA was between 3.0 and 3.49, or with distinc- course he gave the story about his being at Port Royal tion with a GPA of 3.5 to 4.0. So congratulations and earlier this week. And I missed him as well. I had the well done! And that includes a number of students at good fortune of working with him a very long time ago the CedarBridge Academy and Berkeley Institute who at American International, Mr. Speaker. And he was were enrolled in the dual enrolment programme. certainly a character indeed and one whom I will nev- Switching to condolences, I would like to as- er forget. And my condolences go out to his family. sociate myself with the condolences sent out to the Mr. Speaker, I would like to finish my condo- family of Mr. Van Putten. lences today by giving condolences to the [family of] Now switching to sports, I would like to con- the late, great Walter J. Seymour from Sunnyside gratulate Jah-Nhai Perinchief at the University of Ten- Park, Mr. Speaker. nessee who recently won the triple jump in the SEC Outdoor Championships. He is the first Volunteer to The Speaker: You can associate yourself; it was do so since 1987, Mr. Speaker. So congratulations to done last time. But go ahead. him! He won by 48 centimetres with a leap of 16.89 metres. Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Speaker, I would now like congratulations Speaker. I will associate myself with that. And of to go out to the recently announced BFA Legends, Mr. course he will be funeralised tomorrow, Mr. Speaker. Larry “Cracks” Darrell, who played for Young Men’s And of course I had the honour to— Social Club, Vasco [Da Gama] and Bermuda. And he is currently on the management team at Young Men’s The Speaker: I believe it is Sunday, Sunday. Social Club. Mr. Darrell scored the winning goal in the game in which Bermuda defeated Canada 1–nil at the Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: I mean Sunday, Mr. BAA Stadium. I remember that game quite well. Speaker. Ms. Shawnette Perott, who has committed And I will not be on Island for that, so I am over 30 years to the Western Stars Sports Club, as a going to miss it. But I am sending a tribute to my good player, as a member of the executive and a player in friend, Walter Seymour, Mr. Speaker, who as you multiple sports—I would add that, not just soccer. And know was in his—I think you may have attended, I as a player as far as soccer, she was a player, a cap- cannot remember if you attended his 100th birthday. tain and a coach, winning many individual awards. But he was still quite lively when he turned 100, Mr. And as I said, she is involved in the youth programme Speaker. But of course Walter will live with me forev- at Western Stars. er. He endorsed me when I first ran in 2007, Mr. Mr. Quinton Rudolf “Rudy” Minors, a Somer- Speaker. And of course I am not going to give any- set boy who played in left back in a highly successful thing away to my tribute for the funeral. I will save it Somerset Trojans team that helped establish them— for then. But I will miss Walter dearly. He was a good friend, and many of his family members are, too. So I The Speaker: Yes. Silver City. Bermuda House of Assembly 1442 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report

Mr. Vance Campbell: —with the nickname of Silver The Speaker: Deputy Premier. City. Hon. Walter H. Roban: Yes, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Well-earned name. The Speaker: Okay. Deputy Premier, you have your Mr. Vance Campbell: He also played for the national three minutes. team. And many would have feared his long throw-in and would have preferred to give a corner kick than to Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you very much, Mr. have him throw the ball in from deep in their half. Speaker. I would like to be associated with the condo- [Timer chimes] lences to the family of Mr. Lloyd Van Putten. I would also like to offer a condolence mes- The Speaker: Member, that bell is tolling for you. sage for the family of Ms. Norma T. A. Raynor, a con- Your three minutes have expired. You ended on a stituent of mine who passed a couple––a number of good note by talking about that strong Somerset fel- weeks ago. She is the mother-in-law of a very noted low. So that is a good note to end on. member, Mr. Roderick Burchall. And she was an ac- tive member of the Heard Chapel AME Church on the [Crosstalk] Glebe Road. [Also she] was an outstanding senior member of the Pembroke East community, whom I The Speaker: Would any other Member like to make interacted with quite a bit in my journey thus far as a a contribution? representative of that area. I would also like to echo the tribute to all of the Some Hon. Members: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Bermuda College grads, but also to all of the gradu- ates of all of the schools in Bermuda for this 2020/21 The Speaker: MP Foggo? Is that your voice? season who have had to navigate and accomplish their academic and non-academic goals through a Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo: Yes, Mr. Speaker. It certainly very trying COVID-19 period. I think they all as stu- is. dents have perhaps had to deal with an environment like no other (than any of us when we were in their The Speaker: Go right ahead, MP. You have your place have had to deal with) to still reach their goals. three minutes. So tribute should be given to those who have been successful. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would definitely like to be as- The Speaker: Thank you, Deputy Premier. sociated with the condolences given for Mr. Lloyd Van Would any other Member like to make a con- Putten, [and] Mr. Larry Steede. tribution at this time? I would also ask that this House recognise condolences for Ms. Madree Nearon, formerly Madree Some Hon. Members: Yes. MP Speaker. Bean, a well-known St. Georgian who spent the later years of her life in St. David’s, was my constituent and The Speaker: MP Tyrrell. also a relative of mine. She passed, I would say, a while back when we were not in the House. But I Mr. Neville S. Tyrrell: Ah! Thank you, Mr. Speaker. know that her family is listening, and I want them to And good morning, colleagues. know that we have recognised her loss today. Mr. Speaker, I would like to give congratulato- The Speaker: You came loud and clear that time. ry remarks to the Bermuda College graduates. They performed during a time when it has been most diffi- Mr. Neville S. Tyrrell: Thank you. cult for any student. And so to be able to get through it Mr. Speaker, in the vein of congratulating and successfully matriculate out of the school to me graduates this year, I would like to send out congratu- speaks volumes. And I wish them all much success in lations to two of my young constituents who have re- their future endeavours as it relates to either educa- cently graduated. The first one was Zuay Smith. She tion or careers. is actually the daughter of Alaire and Andre Godfrey of And on that note, Mr. Speaker, I thank you. Warwick Lane. She graduated from the University of Tampa with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a The Speaker: Thank you, MP Foggo. minor in Chemistry. And I think she has a bright future Would any other Member like to make a con- ahead of her. tribution at this time? The other young constituent is Hidea Scott Riley, daughter of Shirell Riley of Spice Hill Road. And Some Hon. Members: Yes, Mr. Speaker. she graduated magna cum laude from Howard Uni- Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1443

versity with a Bachelor of Art and Science, majoring in [Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr., Deputy Speaker, in the English and minoring in Photography. So she is an- Chair] other young Bermudian who I think has a good future ahead of her. The Deputy Speaker: Mr. Pearman, go right ahead. While I also have the floor, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say congratulations and happy belated Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. [Deputy] Speaker. birthday to a very supportive constituent of mine, Ms. Mabel Albouy, who turned 91 recently. And I would be The Deputy Speaker: Oh, is that Mr. Dunkley? Go remiss if I did not say Ms. Albouy and her daughter, right ahead. I am sorry for that. Deborah, are two of my biggest supporters in repre- senting the constituency, C-26. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes. Thank you, sir. Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to join in the congratulations sent to all of the graduates— The Speaker: Thank you, MP Tyrrell. Does any other Member wish to make a con- [Crosstalk] tribution at this time? Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Deputy Speaker, you are Hon. Renee Ming: Yes, Mr. Speaker. not talking to me, are you?

The Speaker: Is that MP Ming? Okay. I was trying to [Crosstalk and laughter] catch your voice. MP Ming, you have your three minutes. Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo: MP Burgess, we can hear you.

Hon. Renee Ming: Surely. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Deputy Speaker, your First of all, I would like to be associated with other microphone is on. Hello? the comments for Lloyd Van Putten. Mr. Van Putten, commonly known as “Nip,” was my constituent and The Deputy Speaker: Yes. Go ahead. one who was definitely a supporter of the Progressive Labour Party. He will truly be missed. He,1768, driving Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Sorry. I could hear another around St. George’s picking up anybody who needed microphone being on. a ride. I would like his family to know that they are in Mr. Deputy Speaker, I would like to be asso- our thoughts and our prayers at this time. ciated with congratulations to all of the graduates cer- Mr. Speaker, I would also like to be associat- tainly of the Bermuda College and high schools, public ed with the condolence comments for Mr. Larry and private in Bermuda. Certainly during COVID-19, it Steede. These are all St. George’s people, Mr. has been difficult through the educational process. But Speaker, so you can imagine that our community at I think most graduates look forward to the opportunity this time is reeling from [the loss of] these two well- to have their traditional ceremony. So it is pleasing, I known persons. But we are resilient, and I am sure am sure, for them for Members of Parliament to rec- that we will gather together and support each other ognise them with their tremendous accomplishment during this time. during this difficult period. So I would like to be asso- Mr. Speaker, while we are here in the House ciated with those congratulations. this morning, I was unable to attend a virtual promo- Also, Mr. Deputy Speaker, associated with tion ceremony at the Bermuda Police Service. But I congratulations to Triple Jump Champion for the SEC, would like to send congratulations to the following four Mr. Perinchief, on a fabulous jump. I know the SEC is officers who have been promoted to the rank of Chief a great conference in itself. So it is a worthy achieve- Inspector. They would be Chief Inspector Dennis ment, and certainly we are excited as Bermudians to Astwood, Chief Inspector Peter Stableford, Chief In- recognise that. spector Sherwin Joseph and Chief Inspector Alex I would like to be associated with the congrat- Rowling. We wish them all the best in the next steps ulations just given by the Honourable Minister for Na- of their career with the Bermuda Police Service. tional Security for the four newly promoted Chief In- Mr. Speaker, I would also like to be associat- spectors within the Bermuda Police Service and wish ed with the condolence comments as well for Madree them all the best. And thank you for stepping up to a Nearon. I know her daughter and her family well, and higher position of leadership, which is well needed they are in our thoughts and prayers at this time as within that service, as more and more senior people well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. retire through the years. And on a sadder note, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Mr. Speaker. condolences to the Smith family on the passing of Deletha Smith recently. I know Kevin quite well, and I [Pause] know some of the other members of the family. And I Bermuda House of Assembly 1444 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report am sure they were pleased to have their mother come him continued success in his endeavours in his back to the Island, as she wanted to have her final equestrian field, and I am sure that he will be a star moments on the Island. I know they went through going forward. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. quite an ordeal to get her back on the Island. But I am sure she rested in peace, and I wish the family all the [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] comfort and strength that are required during this diffi- cult period. The Speaker: Thank you, MP, Opposition Leader. And, Mr. Deputy Speaker, my final condo- Would any other Member like to make a con- lence is to the family of Mr. Larry Dennis, former Audi- tribution at this time? tor General of the Government of Bermuda. He served for many, many years. And, Mr. Deputy Hon. Tinee Furbert: Mr. Speaker. Speaker, I think Members of the House on both sides had their run-ins at times with this Auditor General, The Speaker: Yes, MP Furbert. but I believe he served our community very well. And I would like to pass on condolences to his wife and Hon. Tinee Furbert: MP Furbert, yes. family on his passing just recently. Thank you, sir. The Speaker: Minister Furbert, you have your three The Deputy Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Dunkley. minutes. Any further speakers? Hon. Tinee Furbert: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes, Mr. [Deputy] Speaker. I just want to take this opportunity to congratu- late two constituents of mine, both graduates. Jair The Deputy Speaker: The Honourable Opposition Duke, who is the son of Tina and Michael Duke. Can Leader Hedley Cole Simons, continue. you hear me, Mr. Speaker?

Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: I would like to start where The Speaker: Yes, I hear you. Honourable Member Dunkley finished. I would like to associate myself with the comments made in regard Hon. Tinee Furbert: Okay. Jair Duke graduated from to the former Auditor General, Larry Dennis. As was Bermuda College, and so we would just like to send said, he was a very tenacious Auditor General. He did congratulations out to Jair Duke, as well as Jada not care who it was, he stuck to his principles and he Samuels, who is the daughter of Jah and Devonna stuck to professionalism. He had many bumpy roads, Samuels, who graduated from Thomas College with a but that did not deter him. And those are the types of Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and people that we need to provide oversight when it Entrepreneurship. Also wanting to send my congratu- comes to government finances. So I send my condo- lations out to all of the graduates of Bermuda College lences to his wife, Nancy, and the rest of his children. as well. Just wanting to say Well done! to all of the I would like to also associate myself with the graduates of Bermuda College. comments made in regard to the graduates of Bermu- Thank you, Mr. Speaker. da College and all of the other schools. I mean, as was said earlier, it has been a difficult year academi- The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. cally for all of our students and teachers. And so I Does any other Member wish to make a con- would like to send congratulations to all of those stu- tribution at this time? dents who graduated, be it from primary schools, mid- dle schools or secondary schools and the Bermuda Mr. Christopher Famous: Yes, Mr. Speaker. College. I would like to also associate myself with the The Speaker: MP Famous? comments made regarding Larry “Cocky” Steede. We worked together in international business for many, Mr. Christopher Famous: Yes, Mr. Speaker. many years. He was a wise person. He was a very, very good friend. He left international business and The Speaker: You have your three minutes. started his own business doing maintenance and oth- er things. And he loved golf. So again, my condolenc- Mr. Christopher Famous: I would like to associate es to his family. And he is a personal miss to myself. I myself with the remarks for the late Mr. Larry Dennis, was so shocked to see it in today’s paper; it just threw who was actually one of my constituents from A. P. me back. Owen Road. And also another constituent who I would like to send congratulatory remarks to passed was Mr. John Moniz of Cloverdale Close, who a junior equestrian. His name is Cody Rego. He won passed about a month ago. the championship honours in show jumping in the Also, congratulations to Bermuda College 2021 Tryon Spring Series in [North Carolina]. I wish graduates, specifically one of my constituents, Ms. Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1445

Serena Simmons of Chaingate Hill; Mr. Ryan Tyrrell, I would like to be associated with the congrat- who graduated from Bermuda College as well. ulations to Jah-Nhai Perinchief who is a young man at And I also would like to just thank the people university in the US and doing very well in triple-jump, of Devonshire for coming together the last few weeks also a constituent of mine. I would also like to be as- since we have been out of lockdown who helped sociated with the condolences to Lloyd Van Putten, clean up the area. whom I knew very well, and for a number of years, as Thank you, Mr. Speaker. a strong PLP supporter. I would also like to be associ- ated with the condolences to [the family of] Larry The Speaker: Thank you, MP. Steede, a very good friend of mine––but [it was] Does any other Member wish to make a con- shocking news that came about just earlier this week. tribution at this time? We used to work together years ago in reinsurance and stayed in touch over these many years. But a Mrs. Ianthia Simmons-Wade: Yes, Mr. Speaker. very shocking change. And then finally, I would like to be associated The Speaker: MP Simmons-Wade? with the condolences to [the family of] Ms. Deletha Smith, mother of Kevin and mother-in-law of Terry Mrs. Ianthia Simmons-Wade: Yes. Ann Smith. I think many people know she was a good friend of mine. I have known Ms. Smith for about 30 The Speaker: We hear you, but we do not see you. If years. And it was always an interesting and enjoyable you can get your video on, it would be great. engagement with her. She was a straight shooter. You never had to guess where she stood on any issue. Mrs. Ianthia Simmons-Wade: Is it on? She was not reluctant to let her views be known. I saw her I guess about a year ago in Jamaica on one of my The Speaker: No. trips there. And I was so pleased that they were able to arrange her final wish to come home to pass. And [Pause] so I offer my condolences to the entire family at this most difficult time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Okay. There you go. You have your three minutes. The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Does any other Member wish to make a con- Mrs. Ianthia Simmons-Wade: Thank you. tribution at this time? I would like to associate myself with the re- marks to the graduates of Bermuda College. This has Hon. E. David Burt: Yes, Mr. Speaker. certainly been a very challenging time doing the re- mote learning, et cetera. And I think they are prepared The Speaker: Mr. Premier, you have your three to move forward in the future to contribute to our minutes. country. I would also like to congratulate Ariana Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Caines, the daughter of Tina Evans and Glenn Mr. Speaker, I wish to be associated certainly Caines, who will be called to the bar—and also I must with the condolences out to the family of the late Ms. say the granddaughter of the great Dame Lois Deletha Smith, affectionately known as “Ma,” who re- Browne-Evans, who will be called to the Bermuda Bar cently passed away. Ms. Smith moved from Jamaica next month. Congratulations! Thank you. to Bermuda in her early 20s. She worked many differ- ent jobs—cook, cleaner and as a nanny. She also re- Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: I would like to be associat- sided in Sunset Pass, Pembroke, on the border of ed with that as well, please, Mr. Speaker. the—it is my constituency and the constituency of the Honourable Member from constituency 19. Certainly The Speaker: Yes. We will associate the House. my thoughts and prayers are with her son, Mr. Kevin Okay. Does any other Member wish to make Smith, whom I have worked with closely in my branch, a contribution at this time? and also her daughter-in-law, Kevin’s wife, Terry Smith. As well as the remainder of her family, Ms. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Mr. Speaker. Smith’s grandkids and others. She will certainly be missed by the family. And I know that it was certainly The Speaker: Minister Burch, you have your three incredibly difficult. But as you have heard from the minutes. many tributes which were given today, the affection in which “Ma” was held into and certainly addition to her Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Thank you, Mr. family. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on a matter for congratulations, I would certainly like to congratulate our Bermuda Col- Bermuda House of Assembly 1446 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report lege collegian athlete, Mr. Jah-Nhai Perinchief, for And on a sad note, as I looked in the paper being crowned the Men’s Triple Jump Champion of this morning I saw the passing of a constituent of the South Eastern Conference Championships last mine, Ms. Coralie Fox, nee Cross. And I want to give week and associate myself with the congratulations condolences to her family, to her husband Charlie, her which have already been given. This was the first—it son Charles and to her sisters, whose names you will is an incredible, incredible achievement. When speak- know around certain Chambers here, Ms. Lilymay Bul- ing about the fact that he won in a major conference ford, Ms. Rhonda Maskal and Roseanne Paul. I would like that, the SEC, I was pleased to wish him well with like to express condolences to you on your loss. I did an email directly to him. But I just want to say, Mr. not realise that she had passed, and I will have my Speaker, it is an incredible achievement. And he and words with the family later on today. his family should be incredibly proud. With that said, we are on that 12:30 mark. But Mr. Speaker, we have had many congratula- before it comes to 12:30, I would just like to go tions certainly that have been extended to a number through the other Orders that are here so we get to of graduates from the Bermuda College. So I just want the Orders of the Day. to be associated with those particular ones, Mr. Speaker. I certainly would like to be associated with MATTERS OF PRIVILEGE the remarks for the CedarBridge students who gradu- ated with dual enrolment honours. That would be Su- The Speaker: There are none. sanna Guerreiro, Shamori Fox, Bryan Hayward-Smith and Richard Mitchell-Minors. And they graduated from PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS Bermuda College Dual Enrolment Programme yester- day at the CedarBridge Academy. So that means The Speaker: There are none. when they graduated from CedarBridge, they would have had their associate’s degree earned at the same NOTICE OF MOTIONS FOR THE time. And it is a very incredible achievement for them, Mr. Speaker. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE So I wish to be associated with the congratu- ON MATTERS OF URGENT lations already issued to all Bermuda College stu- PUBLIC IMPORTANCE dents. And it is good to know, Mr. Speaker, that en- rolment is up because this Government has made The Speaker: There are none. finances not a barrier for going to Bermuda College. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

The Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Premier. The Speaker: There are none. Does any other Member wish to make a con- Members, it is 12:30 now. tribution? Any other Member? Premier, if you would adjourn us now, when No other Member. we come back we will start on the Orders of the Day, Before I close, just let me add a couple of which the first item will be the Fire Safety Amendment comments to some of the remarks that have been [Act 2021]. given already. MP Swan gave condolences to our sis- Mr. Premier. ter island of Anguilla on the passing of one of their most outstanding MPs. And I would like to join in with Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. those remarks of the MP for that Member of Parlia- Mr. Speaker, I move that this Honourable ment, Mr. Hughes. If anyone knew him, they knew him House do now adjourn for lunch. for his stance on independence. It was a mark in his feather that he never put down. He stood up strong The Speaker: Does any Member object to that? and stands in regard to that, and he will always be There are no objections. remembered for that. The House now stands adjourned until I would also like to, on a lighter note, give 2:00 pm. birthday wishes to a constituent of mine, Ms. Mae

Smith. And for those who know Mae Smith in Somer- Proceedings suspended at 12:30 pm set, you would know that she enjoyed her birthday yesterday, and celebrations came from all over. But I Proceedings resumed at 2:00 pm single her out today only because last week when we were here, or two weeks ago, we gave condolences [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] [concerning] her husband who had passed. And it is fitting now to give our warm regards and warm re- The Speaker: Good afternoon, Members. It is now marks to her, having given the sombre remarks last 2:00 pm and the House is back in session to resume week when we were here. the business for today’s sitting. Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1447

We broke earlier for the lunch period. At that BILL point we were about to start the Orders of the Day with the first item. However, Members, I am going to SECOND READING seek your indulgence to allow the Deputy Premier to address a matter. FIRE SAFETY AMENDMENT ACT 2021 In the earlier session this morning reference was made to the opportunity to debate the Bermuda Hon. Renee Ming: I move that the Bill entitled the Fire Plan at the next sitting. However, the item was not Safety Amendment Act 2021 be now read the second tabled to enable us to put that to debate, so, we are time. going to allow him to put that on the Orders for debate for the next sitting. The Speaker: Are there any objections? With that said, Deputy Premier? There are none. Continue, Minister. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 14

Hon. Renee Ming: Mr. Speaker, the Bill before this Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I Honourable House is the Fire Safety Amendment Act appreciate the indulgence of the House on this matter. 2021. Mr. Speaker, I ask that Standing Order 14 be Mr. Speaker, the Bill seeks to amend the Fire suspended to enable me to give notice of a Motion. Safety Act 2014 (the principal Act) to establish the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) as the Authority Having Ju- The Speaker: Are there any objections to that? risdiction (AHJ) in relation to the interpretation, appli- No objections, continue, Minister. cation, modification and enforcement of the National Fire Protection Association Codes under the Act. [Motion carried: Standing Order 14 suspended.] Mr. Speaker, this Honourable House will be aware that the principal Act provides for the adoption NOTICES OF MOTIONS of the NFPA Codes as the standard for fire safety and protection of all buildings and premises in Bermuda. BERMUDA PLAN 2018 Although it has been commonly accepted that the CFO is the authority on decisions regarding the appli- Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cation of the NFPA Codes, this is not enshrined in the give notice that at the next day of meeting I propose to legislation. move the following motion: Mr. Speaker, as a result of the proposed That this Honourable House, in accordance amendments, the CFO may issue written directions as with sections 10 and 11 of the Development and to compliance and written guidance regarding the in- Planning Act 1974, approve the Bermuda Plan 2018. terpretation, application or modification of the NFPA Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Codes and revise any guidance so issued. Additional- House. ly, as the AHJ, the CFO shall carry out such consulta- tion as he considers appropriate before issuing or re- The Speaker: Thank you, Deputy. It will appear on vising any guidance or directions. the Order Paper at the next sitting where it can be Mr. Speaker, the proposed amendments will dealt with as an item on that particular day if you ensure that the CFO is empowered to give direction choose to pick it up then. on the application and interpretation of the NFPA Thank you, Members. Codes where discrepancies or misunderstanding may arise, thereby ensuring that fire safety and protection in Bermuda is consistent and proficient. ORDERS OF THE DAY Mr. Speaker, with these introductory remarks I am pleased to commend the Bill entitled the Fire Safe- The Speaker: We are now moving on and the first ty Amendment Act 2021 to this Honourable House for item on the Paper today is the second reading of the Honourable Members to discuss. Fire Safety Amendment Act 2021 in the name of the Minister of National Security. The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Minister, would you like to present your item Does any other Member wish to make a con- at this time? tribution at this time?

Hon. Renee Ming: Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Good afternoon. The Speaker: MP Dunkley, you have the floor.

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Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, one of the things I was always and good afternoon to colleagues. concerned about as the Minister was that, while I ap- I thank the Honourable Minister for her brief preciated that we needed safety and protection, I also and the amendment to the Fire Safety Act 2021 . . . always wanted to make sure that we did not become sorry, amends the Fire Safety Act 2014 in this overly bureaucratic in doing it. We wanted to make amendment we are dealing with today. sure that, as I alluded to earlier in my comments, it did Mr. Speaker, [by] way of a background, the not become too much of a burden on businesses and original Fire Safety Act 2014 came under my jurisdic- individuals in conforming to it and so, there were [time tion when I was the Minister of National Security, and allowances] for people to get up to code. it actually had started to be put together under the Having said that, Mr. Speaker, we still have former PLP Government before the change of gov- quite a bit of work to do. I look forward to updates ernance in the election in 2012. I remember remarking from the Minister on where we stand in this regard as at one time when I brought a Cabinet Paper on the far as fire safety concerns. It would probably be help- Fire Safety Act 2014 to Cabinet, that, although I had ful for Members of the House as we consider this not been around long sitting in Cabinet (it was only amendment here today for the Minister to provide about nine months at the time when these papers first some background on just who is in the department, in started circulating) it appeared that this piece of legis- the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, who deal with lation—the original Act of 2014—was one that had fire safety and protection, How big is the department? come to Cabinet more than I could ever imagine any How many officers are in there and what type of work- other piece of legislation had come in front of Cabinet. load they face at the present time, Mr. Speaker. And I guess there are many reasons for that. Obvious- Having said that, let me take this opportunity ly, we needed to bring our fire safety codes up to a to thank members of the Bermuda Fire and Rescue modern standard. Service for their work, not only through this period of Obviously, Mr. Speaker, I think we all agree COVID-19, but through the years in their professional- that prevention is just as good as a cure, as they say ism and in their ability to deal with emergency ser- in health care, but certainly in dealing with emergen- vices. I was immensely proud to be the Minister of cies, safety and protection is much better than being National Security and, certainly, as a former volunteer, able to deal with an emergency when it comes up, I have the deepest respect for [the] Bermuda Fire and because you obviously would like to put that to the Rescue Service and the work they do. side and not have to deal with it. So, Mr. Speaker, with those comments we But the challenge that we faced with the Fire support this small piece of legislation today. We hope Safety Amendment Act was that we knew there was a it gives the clarity that the Government believes it will need, we knew that we had to balance between give. And I look forward to the Minister providing some providing the emergency service and we knew that more background on just how big that department is that balance was important when it came to safety and how big the Minister expects it to be in the near and protection. But when you look throughout the Is- term as they assume more of the responsibility, Mr. land at the buildings we have—some very old, some Speaker. relatively modern, and then modern buildings—there And the last question I have for the Honoura- was a real balance when we enacted legislation to ble Minister is: In light of this amendment and the Fire make sure that: (1) it was effective; (2) it was fair; and Safety Act now being part of law since a number of (3) I guess, that it was not overly costly or burden- years ago, does the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Ser- some to businesses to meet the requirements. And vice believe that they have the budget to deal with the that is why the original legislation of 2014 took so long safety and protection under this law that they have to to actually get to the floor of the House and be oversee and enforce within our community? passed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for those comments And now, here we are today in 2021 and the and I look forward to the Minister’s answers and any Honourable Minister of the day is bringing an amend- comments in Committee. ment which the Opposition (OBA) has no issue with. We accept that this amendment could be needed for The Speaker: Thank you. clarification where the Chief Fire Officer will be con- Does any other Honourable Member wish to sidered the officer of the . . . having the authority and make a contribution at this time? jurisdiction to deal with matters in regard to the inter- pretation, application, modification and enforcement. Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I will speak. And this just deals with a small part of the 53-page Bill that is the original Bill of 2014. It deals with section 7 The Speaker: MP Foggo, you have the floor. of the original Bill. So, we accept that this clarity is not in any way going against the grain of what we are try- Ms. Lovitta F. Foggo: Ever so briefly. You know, we ing to do. It should allow the enforcement of the Fire live in an ever-changing world. Technology changes. Safety Amendment Act to be done in a proper way. When we are speaking about buildings, spacing, and Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1449

the type of infrastructure that you have, [it] requires House in Committee at 2:16 pm one to revisit the regulations and codes that are in place. And we know that building codes do change [Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr., Chairman] from time to time. And so, it seems very fitting that, under this COMMITTEE ON BILL legislation, the Fire Chief would be made the point person who has the experience, has the knowledge, FIRE SAFETY AMENDMENT ACT 2021 to be able to just go ahead and change regulations as it is deemed necessary. And so, it demonstrates that, The Chairman: Honourable Members, we are now in you know, we are ever trying to be responsive to the Committee of the whole [House] for further considera- current demands that confront those who operate tion of the Bill entitled the Fire Safety Amendment Act within the Fire Department and it allows, in a very ex- 2021. pedient way, the Chief to be able to go out when they Minister Ming, you have the floor. do their inspections and the likes to be able to, after seeing first-hand the structure of buildings, keeping in Hon. Renee Ming: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman. mind various codes that change, then he/she is readi- There are actually three clauses here, can I ly able to then make the requisite changes that will move them all at the same time? ensure people’s safety comes first and foremost. Mr. Speaker, a few years back I served on the The Chairman: Yes. Yes, you may. Fire and Safety Committee within the House of As- sembly. And it was a very good experience. I would Hon. Renee Ming: Okay. definitely say when we were in the field, I guess, par- Mr. Chairman, the Bill amends the Fire Safety ticipating in certain behaviours that we were sort of, Act 2014 (the Act) to establish an Authority Having should have been able to engage in, I would definitely Jurisdiction (AHJ) in relation to the interpretation, ap- say, Mr. Speaker, I had everybody running out of the plication, modification, and enforcement of the NFPA yard. Because while I was supposed to be putting the Codes under the Act, and to make related amend- fire out I was actually putting the fire extinguisher ments. fumes on everyone else. So I guess I became the Clause 1 is the citation. This Act may be cited laughingstock that day. I laughed myself. But I say all as the Fire Safety and Protection Amendment Act of that to really speak to the fact that the security and 2021. safety of individuals in a building is first and fore- Clause 2 inserts new sections 7A and 7B into most—should be first and foremost—and should al- the Act. New section 7A establishes, in accordance ways rest in the hands of those who have the skill and with the NFPA 1—Fire Code, an AHJ who shall be the expertise to deliver at the most important hour, responsible, for the purposes of the Act, for the en- should something arise. forcement of the NFPA Codes under the Act, and es- And so, with those brief comments, Mr. tablishes the Chief Fire Officer as the AHJ. New sec- Speaker, this is a good thing that the Minister has tion 7B enables the AHJ to establish written guidance done and I have no doubt she will continue to review in relation to the interpretation, application or modifica- the legislation and make the requisite amendments to tion of the NFPA Codes and to issue written directions make certain that the legislation is current, is respon- for compliance with the NFPA Codes. sive, and aligned with the codes of the day. Clause 3 provides that the Bill shall be Thank you, Mr. Speaker. deemed to have come into operation on 1 January 2018, the same date that the Act came into operation. The Speaker: Thank you, Member. This clause also provides, for the avoidance of doubt, Does any other Member wish to make a con- the exercise or performance of any functions by the tribution at this time? Chief Fire Officer as AHJ for the purposes of the Act No other? and in accordance with the NFPA Codes, prior to this Minister, would you like to wrap up and move Bill coming into operation, shall be deemed to have us to Committee? been validly exercised or performed.

Hon. Renee Ming: Mr. Speaker, good afternoon. The Chairman: Thank you, Minister. I move that the Bill be committed. Are there any further speakers?

The Speaker: Thank you. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Chairman. Deputy Speaker? The Chairman: Honourable Member Dunkley, you Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Yes, thank you, Mr. have the floor. Speaker.

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Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you. I thank the change—to meld with what is already in the Fire Safe- Honourable Minister for the explanation of the three ty Act? Because, from what the Minister has said to- clauses. day the Chief Fire Officer can “issue written guidance The third clause, this is self-explanatory, be- regarding the interpretation”—that is section cause obviously the Minister would like that clause to 7B[(1)](a)—provide “application or modification of the start from the time the Bill actually starts, which is crit- NFPA Codes, and revise any guidance so issued.” ical to make sure that there is no ambiguity in this But the Minister, in the original Act in section whole operation. 8, also has the ability to issue supplemental fire Going back to the first, the second clause— codes. So, how can we ensure that they are going to the first clause is self-explanatory as well. I just have a work together for seamless enforcement and over- couple of observations and a question to the Honour- sight of this Fire Safety Amendment Act? That is the able Minister. So, clause 2 of the amendment we are only question I have, and I think it is important based dealing with today inserts the clause “Authority Having on how the amendment is written and how the original Jurisdiction” after [section] 7 of the original 2014 Act. Act remains written in Part 2, section 8. Mr. Chairman, I just want to provide some Thank you, Mr. Chairman. background. The original Act of 2014 says in [section] 6 that [the] Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service is re- The Chairman: Thank you, Honourable Member. sponsible for fire and safety protection. So, [section] Are there any further speakers? 6(1) says “The Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service Minister? shall have overall authority and responsibility with re- spect to fire safety and protection, and the promotion Hon. Renee Ming: Mr. Chairman, I believe there was thereof. . . .” only one question from my colleague— Mr. Chairman, what that means, because the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service has overall re- The Chairman: Yes. sponsibility, it also means that the Chief Fire Officer, as the leader of that organisation, is the one who pro- Hon. Renee Ming: —and that spoke to how will sec- vides the direction, the guidance, and the input. tion 7B work with section 8 of the Fire Safety Act So, what we are doing today—inserting this 2014. clause with the AHJ—is just providing any clarity that And what I would like to do is . . . the amend- is necessary. Because, as the Minister said in her ment is clear in terms of the role of the Fire Chief— brief . . . someone has got their microphone on, Mr. Chief Fire Officer—and the AHJ (which is the authority Chairman, and there is a lot of noise. within the jurisdiction), but in section 8 it says, as well, that “In preparing” (this is section 8(2) of the Fire Safe- The Chairman: Yes. I really do not know who it is ty Act 2014) “In preparing and issuing any fire safety from my end. codes under this section, the Minister shall act on the advice of the Chief Fire Officer who shall consult as Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: It seems to be cleared up he considers appropriate” and it goes on to explain it. now, Mr. Chairman. So, I think that the question that the Member asked has been answered in the actual section 8 of The Chairman: Okay, thank you. the Act.

Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: So, Mr. Chairman, what The Chairman: Okay. Mr. Dunkley, are you satisfied the Minister did say in the brief [is] that it is commonly with that? accepted that the CFO is the officer having jurisdic- tion. So, section 6 (originally covered in the Act) and Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: I appreciate the explana- this [new] section 7A provides more clarity, if the clari- tion, Mr. Chairman, but I understand that in preparing ty is required. And that is just a background for Mem- and issuing any fire safety codes under section 8 the bers of Parliament and for people listening. Minister shall act on the advice of the Chief Fire Of- The question I have to the Honourable Minis- ficer. ter is on clause 2, [new] section 7B, which says the Now, going back to the amendment we are “AHJ may issue directions or guidance in relation to making today, section 7B[(1)](a), is that “advice”—that the NFPA Codes.” So, the question to the Honourable section 8, the Chief Fire Officer “issuing written guid- Minister is, going back to the principal Act, the Fire ance regarding the interpretation, application or modi- Safety Act 2014, section 8[(1)] says the “Minister may fication” of these codes? Because the Minister, in the issue supplemental fire safety codes. . . .” original Act, has to act on the advice, but in this So, the question to the Honourable Minister is, amendment we are allowing the Chief Fire Officer as how will this new section 7B that we are putting into the AHJ to actually issue the guidance. So, is the abil- this Act work in tandem with the section 8 in the origi- ity to do that taken out of the Minister’s hands com- nal Act? How does the Minister expect those two—the Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1451

pletely and now all [decisions are] with the Chief Fire speaks to [matters] that are not specifically provided Officer? That is, I guess, the crux of the question. for. Because it appears that is so because the So, I see where you are . . . I can see your original Act—repeating myself for clarity—says— confusion in it, but I think the Act actually clearly ex- plains it there. The Chairman: Yes. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: I accept where you are Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: —that the Minister must coming from, but I still have some difference because act on the advice of the Chief Fire Officer; but now we in section 8(2) it says, “In preparing and issuing any are giving the Chief Fire Officer the ability to actually fire safety codes under this section, the Minister shall revise the codes. It does not mention the Minister in . . .”—so it refers to the codes right there. this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I do not need to belabour the point. I am just making sure that we have clarity be- The Chairman: Hmm. cause this— Minister, do you have that? The Chairman: Yes. Hon. Renee Ming: Yes. Mr. Chairman, I believe that was the intention Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: —the Fire Safety Amend- that the Chief Fire Officer becomes the AHJ, which is ment Act 2021 is bringing clarity to these codes, which the [Authority Having] Jurisdiction. So, whilst the Min- are important. And so, I just want to question that to ister still has the . . . “may issue supplementary fire make sure that if the Chief Fire Officer is the AHJ, that safety codes,” the Chief Fire Officer now is the Author- this is clear, and the Minister’s responsibilities are ity Having Jurisdiction within the amendment and that very well defined and we do not have to come back will be added into the Act as part of the Act. and make further amendments. So, the point has been made. And I do not The Chairman: Okay. think there is any need to belabour it anymore. I ap- preciate the Minister’s explanations. Hon. Renee Ming: If that is . . . I am not sure if that is what you are referring to because that is actually The Chairman: Any further questions? where . . . the Authority Having Jurisdiction. So, that is Any further speakers? the AHJ and that role is now affixed to the Chief Fire There appear to be none. Officer. Minister, do you want to move these clauses?

Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: That is what I was assum- Hon. Renee Ming: Surely, Mr. Chairman. ing. That is why I have questioned section 8. I move that clauses 1, 2 and 3 be approved. So, if that is the case, why is section 8 not amended to make it clear that the Minister has no real The Chairman: It has been moved that clauses 1, 2 authority in this matter? Because if it falls with the and 3 be approved. Chief Fire Officer as the AHJ, the Minister has no au- Are there any objections to that? thority. There appear to be none. Approved. Hon. Renee Ming: Well, I would not say that . . . sor- ry, Mr. Chairman. [Motion carried: Clauses 1 through 3 passed.]

The Chairman: Yes, go right ahead. The Chairman: We will do the preamble now.

Hon. Renee Ming: Okay. Hon. Renee Ming: I move that the preamble be ap- The Act is clear in that it still says that in sec- proved. tion 8(1)—and you are referring to the Fire Safety Act 2014—that “The Minister may issue supplementary The Chairman: It has been moved that the preamble fire safety codes that are essential to take account of be approved. the operational requirements of the Bermuda Fire and Are there any objections to that? Rescue Services and which relate to matters which There appear to be none. are not specifically provided for by the NFPA Codes.” The preamble is approved. So, when you look at this amendment here in front of us, it speaks specifically to the NFPA Codes Hon. Renee Ming: I move that the Bill be reported to and the section 8 . . . I think you are looking at it as the House as presented or amended. . . . in the inference of the NFPA Codes, but section 8

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The Chairman: It has been moved that the Bill be sideration to the Bill entitled the Public Service Super- reported to the House as printed and amended. annuation Temporary Amendment Act 2021. Any objections to that? Mr. Speaker, 2020 was a very challenging There appear to be none. year for countries around the world. The unexpected The Bill will be reported to the House. onset of the pandemic and the fallout from that has had a devastating impact on people and on econo- [Motion carried: The Fire Safety Amendment Act 2021 mies. Bermuda, like other countries globally, has had was considered by a Committee of the whole House to deal with serious health and economic challenges. and passed without amendment.] A number of critical actions were taken to protect and preserve life and then to provide economic support for The Chairman: Thank you Honourable Minister. the people of Bermuda. Government revenues Mr. Speaker. dropped significantly and the unexpected expenditure [INAUDIBLE] reached . . . Government therefore House resumed at 2:29 pm stepped up and took prudent and considered action to address the expected significant deficit. [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] Mr. Speaker, we were fortunate that in this crisis Bermudians and residents of Bermuda came REPORT OF COMMITTEE together and worked together for the common good. Thus, Government was able to negotiate with some of FIRE SAFETY AMENDMENT ACT 2021 its union partners in the public sector and reach an agreement on a package of austerity measures aimed The Speaker: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. at reducing expenditure in the short term, while at the Members, are there any objections to the Bill same time ensuring that public service employees entitled Fire Safety Amendment Act 2021 being re- were not negatively impacted from a financial point of ported to the House as printed? view. There are none. The Bill has been reported as Mr. Speaker, the Bermuda Public Services printed and received. Union, the Bermuda Industrial Union, and the Bermu- That now brings us on to the next item on the da Union of Teachers all agreed to a list of measures Order Paper for today, [Order] No. 2, which is the which included: a reduction of 10 per cent of all sala- second reading of the Public Service Superannuation ries and wages for one year, or until the 31 July 2021, Temporary Amendment Act 2021 in the name of the and [until] the 31 August [2021] for teachers and prin- Minister of Finance. cipals; a suspension of Public Service Superannuation Minister, are you ready to present your mat- Fund contributions by the employee and the Govern- ter? ment for one year or until 31 July 2021. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, on 17 July 2020, the Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: If it pleases you, Mr. Legislature passed the Public Service Superannuation Speaker. Temporary Amendment Act 2020. The purpose of the Temporary PSSA [Public Service Superannuation Act] The Speaker: Continue on. was to provide for a one-year temporary suspension of the Government’s contributions to the Public Ser- BILL vice Superannuation Fund [PSSF] and an optional one-year temporary suspension of a contributor’s con- SECOND READING tributions to the PSSF. Mr. Speaker, the Temporary PSSA has a pre- defined suspension period with a suspension period PUBLIC SERVICE SUPERANNUATION defining specific dates of when contributions can be TEMPORARY AMENDMENT ACT 2021 suspended from the PSSF. The PSSA defined the suspension period as 1 August 2020 to 31 July 2021. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, I move that And for persons that fall within the category of teach- the Bill entitled the Public Service Superannuation er, from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021. Temporary Amendment [Act] 2021 be now read the Mr. Speaker, the suspension period was ini- second time. tially instituted with the expectation that all govern- ment unions would reach agreement on the suspend- The Speaker: Are there any objections? ing of PSSF contributions at the same time. However, There are none. the negotiation process has been more extended with Minister. some of the unions. As a result, the government em- ployees in those unions—this includes the police of- Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, the Govern- ficers of all ranks, superintendent and above, the ment wishes this Honourable House to now give con- Deputy Commissioner of Police, and the Commis- Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1453

sioner of Police and Magistrates—will complete their Mr. Speaker, I would like to first state that we 12-month suspension period after the pre-defined end support this endeavour and, in essence, with the sus- date of the suspension period of the Act. The group of pension of the contributions—be they voluntarily or employees that have not started as yet are still a work not—we are funding today by borrowing from our fu- in progress, but the date on which an agreement is ture. We are using our own money that we had put made is still to be determined. aside for a rainy day to cover our living expenses for Mr. Speaker, to avoid having to make multiple today in some cases. And I know it is difficult and I amendments of the Temporary PSSA to allow for dif- also know that a number of people would prefer not to ferent suspension periods each time the Government borrow from their pensions, but had no choice to do negotiates with the remainder of its union partners, otherwise. the Act will be amended to allow for modification of Not only that, Mr. Speaker, when we borrow suspension periods by order subject to the negative from our pensions, we are not just taking out capital, resolution procedure, and that such order may be we are also taking out potential earnings that enure to made with retrospective effect. our benefit over a life of our contributions to our pen- Mr. Speaker, I want to make it clear that the sions. And at the end of the day, when it comes to our decision to suspend contributions to the PSSF was pensions, what you put in is what you get out. So, if not taken lightly and, as noted previously, came on you reduce your contributions, if you make withdraw- the back of a pandemic that had a negative impact on als from your contributions, your benefits when you the global economy with the Government experienc- are ready to retire are diminished accordingly. And so, ing a major decline in tax revenue and, at the same at the end of the day, this challenges us in the imme- time, needing to increase its expenditure in order to diate term and also in the long term. We not only lose safeguard the health of Bermuda and its residents. our contributions, but we lose the earning power of The agreement to suspend contributions helped the our contributions, and I think this needs to be made Government to avoid mass lay-offs, or forced early clear as well. retirement within the public service, and helped to Mr. Speaker, the other issue is when we put save the taxpayers millions of dollars. through the legislation last year, the Minister of Fi- Mr. Speaker, in closing, I wish to take this op- nance had indicated that he was doing an actuarial portunity, once again, to thank our union partners and, review on the pension plans—the government pen- by extension, our dedicated public service officers for sion plans—and he gave an indication that the actuar- their active engagement and willingness to work with ial review would be completed by the end of July us in the best interests of Bermuda. 2020. I would invite the Minister to give an update on Thank you, Mr. Speaker. where things stand on the actuarial studies and their findings in regard to the liquidity and sustainability of The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. our pension plans. Does any other Member wish to make a con- I think one of the pension plans that I read in- tribution at this time? dicated that, if we did not make a contribution, the plan would last for another 10 years. Given where we Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. are this year it would be interesting to see what as- sessment the actuaries will make given that we have The Speaker: Opposition Leader, you have the floor. withdrawn funds from our pensions, and because we withdrew funds with the $12,000 which is not a gov- Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: I would like to begin by stat- ernment pension, but the principle is the same, if we ing that the Opposition realises that this is something are not making contributions then it just compromises that has to be done and not something that we would the income and it compromises the ability of the fund like to have done. to meet its liquidity requirements. As we all know, and as the Minister of Fi- As I said, Bermuda was [having] challenging nance has indicated, we faced a challenge economi- economic times before. We were on a glide path of cally prior to the pandemic and the pandemic has ex- reduced tourism. People were leaving Bermuda be- acerbated the economic challenge that we all face, cause they were facing challenges. And so, we should whether we are an individual employee, whether we have had a recovery plan then, but that is history and are a business, or whether in fact we are a govern- it is easy to say. And I see that the Minister has a re- ment. The truth of the matter that is everybody in the covery plan which will be debated sometime in the economy has suffered. We have seen our salaries future. reduced, we have seen our incomes reduced, we The other reason that I think we had to do it have seen people laid off, and we have seen some was to basically address money in circulation. If we really, really tough times with our brothers and sisters. are to grow our economy, if we are to get people back So, I understand that we have to make some tough to work, the incentive for Government was to release decisions to get through this situation which we find some of the pension money to its participants so that ourselves in. they can spend money in the community and, as a Bermuda House of Assembly 1454 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report result, bring some liquidity and growth to our econo- Mr. Speaker, it is for reasons such as those my. So, it is an interesting dilemma in regard to sus- that this Government’s agenda is now to put policies pension of contributions because it touches the entire in place that will have us move past the pandemic. fabric of Bermuda’s economy. Mr. Speaker, I will finish by simply saying that As I said, I do not have a lot to say. We sup- the sacrifices of our union partners and public officers, port it and on that . . . oh, I know. The Minister indicat- once again, demonstrate their commitment to each ed that on occasion—and the legislation states “on other and our country and they have not gone unno- occasion”—the Minister will have the discretion to add ticed. members or certain classes of members to the sus- Thank you. pension of contributions. When he does his summary, I would like for him to repeat what he said because I The Speaker: Thank you, Honourable Member. did not have a clear sense. Does any other Honourable Member wish to I was trying to determine whether he meant make a contribution at this time? where they have employees in government who have not agreed to the suspension of their contributions or Mr. Scott Pearman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, MP have not agreed to the collective bargaining agree- Pearman. ment that is crafted by the unions, that their suspen- sion has been tabled for now and will be presented The Speaker: Yes, MP Pearman— [again] in regard to this legislation when agreement is reached. So, can the Minister just clarify this because Mr. Scott Pearman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not very clear as to how one qualifies to have a suspension within the government sector as well as The Speaker: —you have the floor. the contributory pension sector in the next legislation? So, with those few comments, that is all I have Mr. Scott Pearman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like to say at this point in time, Mr. Speaker. the last speaker, I will be very brief. As the Opposition Leader has already in- The Speaker: Thank you, Honourable Member. formed this Honourable House, we do not oppose this Does any other Honourable Member wish to Act or this Bill. Nonetheless, we recognise that it is make a contribution at this time? regrettable, because what we are doing in practice and in practicality is suspending payments into pen- Mr. Jache Adams: Mr. Speaker. sion money and pension money is that pot for rainy days. We all recognise right now that it is raining and, The Speaker: Yes, MP Adams, you have the floor. therefore, there has been legitimate consideration and focus as to whether or not pension money should be Mr. Jache Adams: Mr. Speaker, I will be very brief. released or releasable or suspended, et cetera, to As the Minister articulated, this is simply a measure to allow for the trouble that is being faced on a global avoid making multiple amendments to the Temporary basis in respect of COVID-19. But nonetheless, that PSSA. The Government recognises that the negotia- which is spent today is unlikely to be there tomorrow. tions to suspend contributions to the PSSF with some It is always helpful when these sorts of Bills union partners took longer than originally anticipated come through just to remind ourselves what the Bill is and that some are, in fact, still ongoing. As a result, actually doing. This Bill, as the Honourable Minister of the beginning and ending dates are different. So, Mr. Finance explained, is really very, very narrow. The Speaker, I am naturally supportive of the amendment. previous Bill dealt with various periods of suspension, Mr. Speaker, if I may, I, too, would like to take and it had two periods of suspension. This Bill is intro- this opportunity to thank our union partners and public ducing a third period, which period is at the discretion officers for their sacrifice. It goes without saying of the Minister. And it, therefore, allows for suspen- COVID-19 has resulted in a loss of government reve- sions now that did not happen before. nue, increasing expenditure, and ultimately, an in- The questions I have, therefore, are two. The crease in our national debt. And it was their sacrifice Minister of Finance explained how the previous peri- that assisted in providing the Government additional ods were general in the first instance and specific to capacity to work through the economic challenges teachers in the second, so my first question is this to brought on by the pandemic. the Honourable Minister of Finance: What are the cat- Mr. Speaker, it is not lost on us that our public egories that this new discretionary flexible period will officers provide critical services on a daily basis to allow for suspensions? Is it police and fire only, as he enhance the lives of everyday Bermudians, that many described? Or does it apply to anyone else? So, we have gone above and beyond having been asked to know it applies to the police and fire because he said do more with less and that the added pressure has so. Does it apply to anyone else? had an impact to their everyday lives. My second and final question for the Honour- able Minister of Finance is this: This Bill allows the Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1455

setting of a period on a retrospective basis. It goes plates that inasmuch as they do agree we can provide back in time if the Minister wishes. He has the power for their suspensions without having to come back and to go back in time and suspend for a period in the amend the legislation. past. And my second and final question, Mr. Speaker, I think that there might have been some con- is to the extent to which he will exercise that retro- fusion, especially for the general public, with respect spective power, will he be going back or not? I think to some of the comments made by the Honourable he was commenting on that when he addressed the Opposition Leader. This amendment relates only to Bill in the beginning, but I am afraid I just missed that the Public Service Superannuation Fund, the defined point. Will he be applying this retrospectively against benefit plan for public service officers. It does not re- the police, the fire, or indeed, any other category that late to private sector plans or defined contribution he identifies in respect of my first question? plans. And so, there have been no monies taken out Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me that of this plan. There has been in effect a suspension of brief moment. the contributions. With that, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Bill be The Speaker: Thank you. committed. Does any other Member wish to make a con- tribution at this time? The Speaker: Any objections? Any other Member? None? No other Member? Deputy Speaker. Minister. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Thank you, Mr. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, I would like Speaker. to thank Honourable Members for their contributions and for the opportunity to provide some clarifying House in Committee at 2:53 pm comments on areas that may be a bit confusing. By way of background, the Government en- [Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr., Chairman] tered into discussions and negotiations with all the public service unions and associations. They would COMMITTEE ON BILL include the BPSU, the BIU, the BUT, the Bermuda Police Association, the Fire [Service] Association, as PUBLIC SERVICE SUPERANNUATION well as the Prison Officers Association. While we TEMPORARY AMENDMENT ACT 2021 would have liked for those negotiations all to have concluded with all parties agreeing to participate in The Chairman: Honourable Members, we are now in this programme, it did not end that way. And two un- Committee of the whole [House] for further considera- ions, in particular, did not—the Prison Officers Asso- tion of the Bill entitled the Public Service Superannua- ciation and the Fire Service Association. tion Temporary Amendment Act 2021. Discussions with the police organisation took Minister Dickinson, you have the floor. a bit longer, so their commencement date, because this programme was intended to be for 12 months in Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I move duration . . . so the concern expressed around the clauses 1 through 3. dates and the retrospective nature of this amendment, let me allay those concerns by saying this. Inasmuch The Chairman: Continue. as a union commenced the austerity programme after st st July 1 , let us say it is August 1 , their end date would Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Clause 1 is self- be 12 months from commencement. explanatory. The retrospective nature of the Bill is intended Clause 2 amends the definition of “suspension to capture the start date, which may not have been period” in section 2 of the principal Act, to allow for when the legislation was originally contemplated. And different suspension periods of 12 months to be speci- so, you will see in experience that actual start dates fied by order made by the Minister of Finance in rela- will be varied for each particular union and this legisla- tion to specified categories of contributors, and such tion is intended to allow for the suspensions to occur orders shall be made subject to the negative resolu- for that period of time for which the 12 months is run- tion procedure and may be made with retrospective ning. effect. We have not had agreements with the Prison Clause 3 provides for retrospective com- Officers Association or the Fire Services Association. mencement of this Act on July 27, 2020, the date on This legislation, in some ways, is a bit optimistic and is which the Temporary PSSA came into effect. hopeful that, like their other colleagues in the public Thank you, Mr. Chairman. service who participated in the austerity measures, that they will see fit to do so as well. So it contem- The Chairman: Thank you. Bermuda House of Assembly 1456 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report

Any further speakers? question is this, as I understood what you were say- ing, the suspension periods for the various job catego- Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes, just one question. ries will not necessarily align by their dates, but the suspension periods will be the same length of 12 The Chairman: Yes. months. Is that correct or have I misunderstood?

Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: And I would like to speak to The Chairman: Minister. [new section] 2(1)(c) based on comments the Minister made during his presentation. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, the sus- pension periods will be for 12 months in duration, so— The Chairman: Continue, Honourable Leader of the Opposition Cole Hedley Simons. Mr. Scott Pearman: Across the board.

Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Across the board. My question is this: He indicated that he has not reached an agreement with the Bermuda Police Mr. Scott Pearman: Thank you. Union. If the Bermuda Police Union— The Chairman: Any further questions or comments? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, the Police Union . . . Mr. Chairman? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I am not sure . . . I am hopeful that that response answered the The Chairman: Yes, continue. question put forth by the Opposition Leader, but if it is not, then I— Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: The Police Union are among the parties who have agreed. It is the prison Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Just a question. And so, I officers and the fire officers who have not. heard what you said and, as you can see, our man- agement of COVID-19 is becoming more positive and Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Okay, so, if the Prison Of- the economy is beginning to open. And it may not be ficers and the Fire Officers agree today, then you necessary to suspend the contributions for the mem- have the discretion to give them a suspension as of bers in question for 12 months because we may have May 21, 2021 to December 31, 2021? So that could a more robust economy by December. So, the ques- be effective today given the changing circumstances tion becomes, why hamstring yourself to a year if you of our economy in regard to the impact of COVID-19. can only be required to do it, given our economic im- And that is the question I have. provement, for six months? That is my question. So, our economy is evolving continuously and the longer we go down the road economically we may Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I will re- strengthen and you may find yourself in a position that spond to that by saying that the answer is rooted in a these two entities—the Prison Officers and the Fire concept of equity. And so, the other public officers— Officers—are not required to make their contribution those from the BPSU, the BIU, the BUT and the Po- because of the strengthening of our economy. But if it lice Association—have all agreed to suspend their is required, you do not have to give them a year’s contributions for a period of 12 months. And in the suspension, you can give them whatever you deem fit spirit of them taking a reduction in their benefits, it is given the evolution of our economy. my view that they would probably ask for the same Thank you. kind of sacrifice from their colleagues in the Prison Service and in the Fire Service. The Chairman: Any further speakers? Minister? Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Okay, I accept that.

Mr. Scott Pearman: Yes, Mr. Chairman, MP Pear- The Chairman: Any further comments? man. There appear to be none. Minister? The Chairman: MP Pearman, continue, I am sorry. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I move that Mr. Scott Pearman: Thank you. the preamble be approved. Honourable Minister, just to follow up on something from the debate, but in respect of the [new The Chairman: Do the clauses first. section] 2(1)(c) that is being inserted into the Bill, my question is this: It says, “such other periods of twelve Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: I am sorry. months as may be so specified.” And so, I guess, my Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1457

Mr. Chairman, I move that clauses 1 through BILL 3 be approved. SECOND READING The Chairman: It has been moved that clauses 1 through 3 be approved. CONTRIBUTORY PENSIONS TEMPORARY Are there any objections to that? AMENDMENT ACT 2021 There appear to be none. Approved. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, I move that the Bill entitled the Contributory Pensions Temporary [Motion carried: Clauses 1 through 3 passed.] Amendment Act 2021 be now read the second time.

Now you can do the preamble. The Chairman: The Speaker: Are there any objections? There are none. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I move that Continue, Minister. the preamble be approved.

Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, the Govern- The Chairman: It has been moved that the preamble ment wishes this Honourable House to now give con- be approved. sideration to the Bill entitled the Contributory Pensions Are there any objections to that? Temporary Amendment Act 2021. There appear to be none. Mr. Speaker, as previously noted, the COVID- Approved. 19 pandemic had a major impact on countries and their residents around the globe. Bermuda, like other Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I move that countries globally, has had to deal with the serious the Bill be reported to the House as printed. health and economic challenges. The Bermuda Gov- ernment, therefore, had to take prompt and decisive The Chairman: It has been moved that the Bill be action to protect the health of its residents and to pro- reported to the House as printed. vide support to navigate significant challenges. Are there any objections to that? The Government also developed and imple- There appear to be none. The Bill will be re- mented an unemployment benefit allowing for persons ported to the House as printed. to withdraw funds from their pensions and progressed other initiatives to provide residents with additional [Motion carried: The Public Service Superannuation income. Businesses were also given consideration Temporary Amendment Act 2021 was considered by and actions were also taken to help them navigate the a Committee of the whole House and passed without challenging waters. amendment.] One key initiative, which was progressed to provide benefits to both businesses and individuals, The Chairman: Mr. Speaker. related to social insurance payments. Thus, on the 19th of June 2020 the Legislature passed the Contribu- House resumed at 3:00 pm tory Pensions Temporary Amendment Act 2020 (or the Temporary CPA). [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] The purpose of the Temporary CPA was to provide for a one-year temporary suspension of con- REPORT OF COMMITTEE tributions to the Contributory Pension Fund with the aim of providing assistance to businesses, employees PUBLIC SERVICE SUPERANNUATION and the Government due to the negative economic TEMPORARY AMENDMENT ACT 2021 impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Bermuda’s economy. The Speaker: Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the back of the passing of the Members, are there any objections to the Temporary CPA the Government negotiated with Public Service Superannuation Temporary Amend- some of its union partners and reached an agreement ment Act 2021 being reported to the House as print- on a package of measures aimed at reducing ex- ed? penditures in the short term. Bermuda Public Services There are none. It has been reported as print- Union, the Bermuda Industrial Union, and the Bermu- ed and received. da Union of Teachers agreed to a list of measures We now move on to the next item on the Or- which included a suspension of Contributory Pension der Paper, which is the second reading of the Con- Fund contributions by the employee and the Govern- tributory Pensions Temporary Amendment Act 2021, ment in respect of a defined suspension period. again, in the name of the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, the Temporary CPA has a sus- Minister. pension period with the suspension period defining Bermuda House of Assembly 1458 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report specific dates when contributions can be suspended As I said, we support the legislation because it from the CPF [Contributory Pension Fund]. In particu- has to be done because of the challenges faced in lar, the Temporary CPA defines the suspension period Bermuda, because we need to support the people of as July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. Bermuda, we need to support our businesses, we Mr. Speaker, it was originally anticipated that need to support our economy, and the only way to all government unions would come to an agreement support all of them is to have more money in circula- on the suspending of CPF contributions at the same tion, which will be the foundation for the growth of our time. However, the negotiations were concluded at economy. different time periods and for some groups of employ- The only thing that I would like for the Minister ees—police officers of the rank of Superintendent and of Finance to address is the issue of the actuarial re- above, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, the Com- view. When we did the original temporary suspension missioner of Police and Magistrates—negotiations are back in July or June of last year, he made a commit- still ongoing. As a result, the government employees ment to have the actuarial review completed by July of in some unions will complete their 12-month suspen- last year. And I am not aware that it has been com- sion period after the predefined end date of the sus- pleted and I just ask the Minister for an update on pension period of the Temporary CPA. when that actuarial report will be made public. Mr. Speaker, to avoid having to make multiple And those are my comments. As I said, I am amendments to the Temporary CPA to be able to ap- not going to be long on this one because we dis- propriately reflect these extended time periods, the cussed the principle in the previous legislation. Temporary CPA will be amended to allow for modifi- Thank you. cation of the suspension periods by order subject to the negative resolution procedure and that such or- The Speaker: Thank you, Opposition Leader. ders may be made with retrospective effect. Does any other Member wish to make a con- Mr. Speaker, the Contributory Pension Fund tribution at this time? has served the citizens of Bermuda well during the 50 There appear to be none. years that it has been in existence by providing an Minister. important base retirement income. Government has been consistent in taking steps to encourage contribu- Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. tions to maximise future income streams. However, With respect to the actuarial review, I think it given the unprecedented tragedy of the COVID-19 has been a tradition of myself and my predecessors to pandemic, as noted earlier, Government has re- table before this Honourable House the actuarial re- sponded with creativity and decisiveness to offer relief views once they have been completed. I can advise to those negatively impacted by this global disaster. the Honourable House that I have not yet received the The deferment in CPF contributions has helped keep latest update. people employed, businesses afloat, and helped the When I do so I will be first sure to share that Government to prudently control expenditure. update with Cabinet, at which point they will approve Mr. Speaker, in closing, I wish to, again, take for me to table such report for the consideration of the this opportunity to thank our union partners, our busi- Honourable House. But as at this point, no report has ness partners, our health workers, our essential work- been submitted to my office and, therefore, I am still ers, and all the public for their support during this waiting for the update. pandemic period. It is with their strength and backing I am pleased to advise honourable colleagues that the Government will help Bermuda come out of that work is ongoing with respect to both the PSSF the pandemic stronger than before it went in. and the CPF as we develop strategies around ensur- Thank you, Mr. Speaker. ing that their solvency is extended beyond their exist- ing lifecycle. The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. With that, Mr. Speaker, I move that the Bill be Does any other Member wish to make a con- committed. tribution at this time? The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you, I will be very Deputy Speaker. brief because— Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Thank you, Mr. The Speaker: Yes, Opposition Leader, you have the Speaker. floor. House in Committee at 3:08 pm Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you. I will be brief because the principles discussed in the opening re- [Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr., Chairman] marks in the previous legislation apply to this as well.

Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1459

COMMITTEE ON BILL Thank you, Honourable Minister and thank you, Mr. Chairman. CONTRIBUTORY PENSIONS TEMPORARY AMENDMENT ACT 2021 The Chairman: Thank you, Mr. Pearman. Minister. The Chairman: Honourable Members, we are now in Committee of the whole [House] for further considera- Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I can con- tion of the Bill entitled the Contributory Pensions firm both points. Temporary Amendment Act 2021. Minister, you have the floor. The Chairman: Okay. Any further speakers? Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I move Minister, do you want to move? clauses 1 through 3. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I move that The Chairman: Continue, Minister. clauses 1 through 3 be approved. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Clause 1 is self- explanatory. The Chairman: It has been moved that clauses 1 Clause 2 amends the definition of “suspension through 3 be approved. period” in section 2 of the Temporary CPA, to allow for Are there any objections to that? different suspension periods of 12 months to be speci- There appear to be none. Approved. fied by order made by the Minister of Finance in rela- tion to specified categories of contributors, and such [Motion carried: Clauses 1 through 3 passed.] orders shall be made subject to the negative resolu- tion procedure and may be made with retrospective Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I move that effect. the preamble be approved. Clause 3 provides for retrospective effect of this Act on 29 June 2020, the day on which the Tem- The Chairman: It has been moved that the preamble porary CPA came into effect. be approved. Are there any objections to that? The Chairman: Thank you, Minister. There appear to be none. Approved. Any further speakers? There appear to be none. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Chairman, I move that the Bill be reported to the House as printed. Mr. Scott Pearman: Mr. Chairman, MP Pearman. The Chairman: It has been moved that the Bill be The Chairman: Mr. Pearman, I am sorry Honourable reported to the House as printed. Member, continue. Are there any objections to that? There appear to be none. The Bill will be re- Mr. Scott Pearman: Thank you so much, Mr. Chair- ported to the House as printed. man. Honourable Minister of Finance, I have effec- [Motion carried: The Contributory Pensions Tempo- tively the same two questions, but in respect of this rary Amendment Act 2021 was considered by a Contributory Pensions Bill. In respect of clause 2 in- Committee of the whole House and passed without serting the new [section 2(1)(a) and (b), and specifi- amendment.] cally, in respect of the new (b), “in relation to such category or categories of persons,” can the Honoura- The Chairman: Thank you, Honourable Minister Dick- ble Minister just confirm that the categories of persons inson. that this is considering are the same as the previous Mr. Speaker. Bill, namely, the police, who we now resolved matters with, and the fire and prison officers? Is it the same House resumed at 3:11 pm categories as the last Bill? And my second and final question is the same [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] question put previously, which is that we understand that the suspensions will be for the same length of REPORT OF COMMITTEE time no matter what category of employment it deals with, even if the periods themselves are different. Can CONTRIBUTORY PENSIONS TEMPORARY the Minister simply confirm that this is also the posi- AMENDMENT ACT 2021 tion under this Bill? The Speaker: Thank you, Deputy. Bermuda House of Assembly 1460 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report

Members, are there any objections to the The Speaker: Members, are there any objections to Contributory Pensions Temporary Amendment Act that? 2021 being reported to the House as printed? There are none, continue Minister. There appear to be none. The Bill has been reported as printed and received. [Motion carried: Standing Order 21 suspended.] Members, that now brings us to a close of the Orders for today and we will do our third readings BILL starting with the Minister of National Security. Minister, would you like to do your third read- THIRD READING ing? Minister? Minister Dickinson, will you do your third read- CONTRIBUTORY PENSIONS TEMPORARY ings for your two items in the meantime? AMENDMENT ACT 2021

Sure. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, I move that the Bill be now read the third time by its title only and The Speaker: And can we have Minister Ming be on passed. standby for her readings after you complete your two?

The Speaker: Members, the Bill has been read a third SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21 time by its title only and it is now passed.

Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, I move that [Motion carried: The Contributory Pensions Tempo- Standing Order 21 be suspended to enable me to rary Amendment Act 2021 was read a third time and move the Bill entitled Public Service Superannuation passed.] Temporary Amendment Act 2021 be now read the third time by its title only. The Speaker: Minister Ming.

Are there any objections to that? The Speaker: Hon. Renee Ming: Mr. Speaker, I apologise. There are none. I move that Standing Order 21— Minister, continue.

The Speaker: You almost got caught in your slips [Motion carried: Standing Order 21 suspended.] there, but I know you are a St. George’s person so that is not a surprise. BILL [Laughter] THIRD READING The Speaker: Go ahead, Minister. PUBLIC SERVICE SUPERANNUATION TEMPORARY AMENDMENT ACT 2021 Hon. Renee Ming: The resilience of St. George’s.

Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, I move that SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21 the Bill be now read the third time by its title only and passed. Hon. Renee Ming: Mr. Speaker, I move that Standing Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move the Bill The Speaker: Members, the Bill has been read a third entitled the Fire Safety Amendment Act 2021 be now time by its title only and passed. read the third time by its title only.

[Motion carried: The Public Service Superannuation The Speaker: Members, are there any objections to Temporary Amendment Act 2021 was read a third that? time and passed.] There are none, continue.

The Speaker: Minister, will you do the next one? [Motion carried: Standing Order 21 suspended.]

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 21 BILL

Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, I move that THIRD READING Standing Order 21 be suspended to enable me to move the Bill entitled Contributory Pensions Tempo- FIRE SAFETY AMENDMENT ACT 2021 rary Amendment Act 2021 be now read the third time by its title only. Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1461

Hon. Renee Ming: I move that the Bill be now read a Mr. Christopher Famous: You are from that spaghet- third time by its title only and passed. ti western era.

The Speaker: Members, the Bill has been read a third The Speaker: Yes. time by its title only and passed. Mr. Christopher Famous: He also used to do this [Motion carried: The Fire Safety Amendment Act 2021 PSA [public service announcement] called RIF. Do was read a third time and passed.] you know what RIF means, Mr. Speaker?

The Speaker: Members, that brings us to a close of The Speaker: Go ahead, sir. today. Mr. Premier. Mr. Christopher Famous: Reading is Fundamental, RIF. ADJOURNMENT So, back in the 1970s he used to encourage young children to always read, take up a book. You Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker. know, we did not have Internet back then and all that type of stuff, so how we learned was by reading. And The Speaker: Yes, Mr. Premier. by reading you were able to comprehend, by reading you were able to sift, you know, in a biblical sense, the Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, before I move the wheat from the chaff, what is fiction from non-fiction. motion to adjourn, I am informed that one or two of my Mr. Speaker, recently I was reading some- Honourable Members would like to speak to this mo- thing (because reading is fundamental), and I read tion, so I would hate for you to throw down a gavel at something that was most likely written by an OBA 3:15 pm on a wonderful Friday. consultant, but put out in the name of someone else, who . . . I will not call their name, but they know who The Speaker: Well, Mr. Premier, you know how the they are. process goes. If my gavel goes down before they This OBA consultant, fronted by someone stand, then we all go home. else, put out some ludicrous claims about the current state of our country. The first claim: We have an Hon. E. David Burt: I can see MP Christopher Fa- economy in the toilet. So, I said, let me do my re- mous is ready to go, so I will say, Mr. Speaker, I move search on this because reading is fundamental. And then I read something that was put out by our Hon- that this Honourable House do now adjourn until Fri- 1 day, June 4th at 10:00 am. ourable Minister of Finance. Let me read that, Mr. Speaker, if possible: The Speaker: Would any Member care to speak to “After the evaluation of the information re- that? ceived through their discussion and research, S&P [Standard & Poor’s] has affirmed Bermuda’s A+ long- Mr. Christopher Famous: Mr. Speaker. term sovereign credit and senior unsecured debt rat- ings as well as its A-1 short-term rating and its AA+ The Speaker: It sounds like a friend of mine from transfer and convertibility assessment with the outlook down in Devonshire. assessed as Stable.” Now, I never studied finance, but I know what Mr. Christopher Famous: Well, I am actually on the the word “stable” means. It means the exact opposite west side of your right today, Mr. Speaker. of the claim of that the OBA consultant, fronted by someone else, wrote. The Speaker: Well, being you [do not have] anything They went on: An unstable education system. to do in the west today I know you will get your 20 Unstable education system . . . so, here we have, minutes in easily. Give us your 20 minutes, then. again, the OBA attacking the public education system. Now, it does not take a genius to recognise what they BERMUDA’S ECONOMY are really saying, Mr. Speaker, because they never attack the private education system, but they are al- Mr. Christopher Famous: Mr. Speaker, there was an ways attacking the public education system. actor years ago, you may know him, he was named Let us look at the demographics, one set of Ed Asner. Do you remember him? demographics in the private education, another set of demographics in public education. But the OBA is The Speaker: He was a westerner, liked to play in freely attacking the public education system. So, we westerns. No, he was a . . . yes, yes. have to ask ourselves, are they attacking the teach-

1 Ministerial Statement 7 May 2021 Bermuda House of Assembly 1462 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report ers? No. Are they attacking the principals? Are they The Speaker: Go ahead, go ahead. attacking the parents of the children that go to public education? Are they attacking the children them- Mr. Christopher Famous: I was up there visiting my selves? Or are they attacking the BUT—Bermuda’s Aunt Mae Smith on East Shore Road because it was Union of Teachers? Maybe they are just attacking her birthday. everybody because, you know, for some people, es- pecially OBA consultants, they see us all as one and The Speaker: Mm-hmm they just attack us unrelentingly. Moving on, Mr. Speaker, the next claim: Un- Mr. Christopher Famous: And I saw people on Sun- employment benefits not being paid. day putting their trash out religiously. So, I said, Aunt- Mr. Speaker, again, let me say something that ie, why is this trash like out ahead? I read. The Honourable Finance Minister read out that And she said, Oh, well, you know, Christo- over $5 million had been paid out recently in unem- pher, they put it out on Sundays because every Mon- ployment benefits to over 4,000 persons. There were day the trash truck comes bright and early and picks it about 600 persons where there were some glitches up. due to incomplete or incorrect forms. But for the most Now, anyone who knows my Aunt Mae knows part, 85 per cent (according to my Berkeley math) of that if the trash did not come get picked up, I would the people have been paid. Now, if you are a person not hear the end of it, and you would not hear the end [who is] waiting on unemployment benefits, yes, of of it. So, these claims about trash overflowing in cer- course, you are going to be a bit angry. But to say tain areas . . . who are they attacking? Are they at- unemployment benefits have not been paid, is a total tacking the Works & Engineering sanitation workers lie . . . sorry, misrepresentation of the truth. who are out there every day picking up trash? I put my They go on to make some more claims. Citi- trash out every Thursday. Town people put their trash zens unable to pay mortgage and rent. People unable out on Thursday. Every Thursday night my trash is to feed themselves. Growing numbers of people out of empty. So, who are they attacking? work. Businesses that have closed or are on the brink Moving on, Mr. Speaker, unkempt land- of closing. scapes. Is the OBA attacking the Works & Engineer- Mr. Speaker, I could be wrong, but the Gov- ing and Parks Department staff? I do not know, but ernment of Bermuda did not invent COVID-19. We did they keep attacking. not put out a big sign and say, Hey, COVID-19, come They go on again: Unreliable public transpor- to Bermuda and cause us gross economic pandemic. tation. Let us see. The gentlemen and ladies in blue It definitely did not say put people’s lives in danger. It driving the pink and blue buses doing their utmost to did not say that gatherings of more than 10 could re- move people around this country. Mr. Speaker, of all sult in becoming a super-spreader event. No, we did the Caribbean islands, Bermuda has one of the most not do that, Mr. Speaker. Circumstances beyond our . . . most Caribbean islands do not even have a public control happened and we—the Government of Ber- transportation system. The Cayman Islands wants to muda, led by the Honourable Premier David Burt and get what we have, the BVI wants to get what we have. the Honourable Health Minister Kim Wilson and all And in all of this, our transportation workers are out other supporting Ministers—had to put things in place there risking their lives every day because they are to stop a health threat in this country, Mr. Speaker. being exposed to people getting on the bus. But they Mr. Speaker, my wife runs a salon. She had to do it. And if they have to shut down for a day to get close it for three weeks. It hurt financially, but she is tested, that is what we do, because we do not want a alive. Her staff are alive. Her customers are alive. This bus driver (bus operator, I should say) who is sick who is the price we all have to pay for something that is may pass it to others. But no, the OBA, instead of say- beyond our control. ing let us help the bus drivers, they say unreliable Mr. Speaker, they go on to say, Roads in de- public transportation. plorable states. Roads in deplorable states, the same Mr. Speaker, reading is fundamental; com- roads that the OBA had, that they did not pave—those prehension is key. The narrative which the OBA is roads. Is the OBA attacking the people driving on the trying to paint is to try and attack the PLP. But in reali- roads? Maybe not. Are they attacking the workers ty, they are really attacking the workers of this Island. who toil on the highways section at Works & Engi- They are attacking the unions of this Island. They neering? Or are they attacking the BIU? No one simply cannot have it both ways, Mr. Speaker. They knows. But they just make these blatant statements. cannot on one hand say, Oh, we need to trim down They go on again: Trash overflowing in certain the deficit. Oh, we need to trim down the budget. And areas. Mr. Speaker, I do not drive from west to central then, on the other hand, complain that we do not have as you do every day, but I was up in Somerset on enough staff to fulfil all that we need to do as a gov- Sunday. I was actually on East Shore Road. Mr. ernment. Do they want us to hire more people? And Speaker, you know that road. then they say, Oh look, you’ve bloated the civil ser- vice. They cut . . . they . . . they are . . . what is the Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1463

saying the Indians used to say? They speak with going to come to us with a 5 per cent raise when the forked tongues. cost of living has gone up by 20 per cent. You are not You see, Mr. Speaker, a couple of months going to do it. It is not going to happen. ago the OBA had an advert We need a public rela- Mr. Speaker— tions consultant. It seems to me they must have hired him, because over the last few months they have Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Mr. Speaker, I would like to been churning out a lot—a lot—of stuff. intervene. Point of order. Well, here is the thing, Mr. Speaker. This par- ty will not have the OBA or their consultants attacking The Speaker: Member, will you yield? the workers of this island. This party will not have the We have a point of order. State your point of OBA or its consultants attacking the unions of this order. country. Mr. Christopher Famous: No, I do not . . . no, I do Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Mr. Speaker, point of order. not yield. I have sat here and listened to this— Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: He is misleading the The Speaker: Point of order. Point of order. House, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Opposition Leader? Mr. Christopher Famous: I do not yield. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] The Speaker: Ah—

Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: The gentleman, the Mem- [Crosstalk] ber, is misleading the House. We are not criticising the unions. We are not criticising the people of this The Speaker: Members, Members. A point of order country. We are not criticising civil servants. What we has to be accepted. A point of clarity you do not have are doing is, we are making recommendations on how to accept; but a point of order . . . we will take the we can improve the services provided in this country. point of order. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. POINT OF ORDER The Speaker: Point of order noted. [Misleading]

Mr. Christopher Famous: Mr. Speaker— Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Mr. Speaker, I know that no one in our team is insulting any member of our com- The Speaker: MP, be mindful of the Member’s com- munity. But as I said, making contributions and ways ments. to improve the Island is not insulting or disrespectful to the community. Mr. Christopher Famous: Mr. Speaker, I am mindful about the people’s comments. Attacking and saying Mr. Christopher Famous: Mr. Speaker, reading is the roads are in a deplorable state, saying that it is an fundamental. unstable education system . . . that is no recommen- Words such as “unstable education system,” dation, Mr. Speaker. That is an attack on the workers words such as “deplorable roads,” words such as . . . of this Island. negative words. You cannot use negative words to So, let me move on, Mr. Speaker. This party encourage people. will not have it. I will not have it. This party is a labour Mr. Speaker, moving on. The OBA consult- party, as you know, born out of the struggles of the ants seem to think we have forgotten 1981. No, we 1940s, the 1950’s and the 1960s. Persons like Joe have not. We are Government because labour stood Mills, Robert Johnson, Cal Smith, Dorothy Thompson, by us. We are Government because the workers of Dr. Barbara Ball, Mr. Socky Wade. All of these people Bermuda believe in us. knew that to further the aims of the labour of this Is everything perfect, Mr. Speaker? No. country—Black, white, Portuguese, whatever—we Do we agree on everything? No. No family needed a political entity. And in 1963 this labour party does. was born. And since then we have effected political However, let it be clear that this administration change in one way or the other. under the Honourable E. David Burt has made tre- Forty years ago, Mr. Speaker, this month, the mendous strides in making things better for the work- workers of Bermuda banded together and had to ers of this country—the Employment Act Amendment show the forefathers of the party that Honourable Cole 2020, increasing employee benefits; the Trade Union Simons, Opposition Leader (who was part of the UBP) and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act [2020], that we are not going to take their insults. You are not which, I may add, put in place that all workers in any Bermuda House of Assembly 1464 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report union shop pay union dues because they all get union Mr. Speaker, when I first got involved in poli- representation. We closed 42 additional job catego- tics, initially in the late 1990s, and elected in 2002, I ries; we provided training and development for 176 was not quite 30 years old. And at the time I was pas- workers since September 2020; we successfully im- sionate, and I remained passionate about Bermudian- plemented a graduate training programme; we imple- isation. I remained passionate about not having a mented unemployment benefits and supplementary Bermuda where my children, your children, other peo- unemployment benefits with $65 million spent—all for ple’s children will not have the same opportunities, not the workers of this Island. have the same chances, not have the same treatment Mr. Speaker, in closing, the unions assisted that their countrymen of a different colour or a differ- us, our political party, in our times of need. And I chal- ent name or a different background would have. lenge each one of my MPs—yourself included, Mr. Mr. Speaker, when I came back to Bermuda, I Speaker—to do your part to assist the unions, en- saw Bermudians my age who had done what they courage every worker on this Island to get unionised were supposed to do—go to college, work hard, study because, if you do not, you are going to be subject to hard—and still [were] subjected to things like teaching attacks from people. a non-Bermudian how to be their boss, subjected to Mr. Speaker, I have two words, two terms, things like being told, You’re just a little boy or a little and then I close here: Onward and upward together girl to me, so just . . . you have nothing to contribute. and United we stand. Mr. Speaker, while the years have passed Thank you, Mr. Speaker. and I no longer fit into that category, I have never for- gotten the feeling of not being wanted in my own The Speaker: Thank you, Honourable Member. country, not being heard, not being listened to, not Does any other Honourable Member wish to seeing a place for myself. make a contribution at this time? And so, Mr. Speaker, when I went into my constituency initially in 2014, I was the then Shadow Mr. Jamahl S. Simmons: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Minister of Tourism. And during my time as Shadow Minister of Tourism and even as Minister of Tourism, I The Speaker: MP Simmons? spent a lot of time encouraging. I was very passionate about getting a Bermudian industry growing within Mr. Jamahl S. Simmons: Yes, sir. tourism, whether it was within the workforce, whether it was in entrepreneurship, whether it was within sup- The Speaker: You have your 20 minutes. porting services—Bermudian led, Bermudian- dominated, Bermudian to the core. Mr. Jamahl S. Simmons: I will not take that much, I would talk to a lot of young men and some sir. young women and I would try to encourage them, par- ticularly some who had parents who had served in the The Speaker: Okay. hospitality industry. And they told the same story. My mother worked her fingers to the bone and never was A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE—RESTORING HOPE paid a decent wage. My mother worked her fingers to IN OUR YOUTH the bone and never got a promotion. My mother worked her fingers to the bone and never was able to Mr. Jamahl S. Simmons: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to fully make ends meet. And they would ask me, Why speak on behalf of a group that for many, many years should I follow in that path? Why should I follow in has felt unvalued, unwanted, unheard in their own those footsteps? And I struggled to answer it and I country. It is a group that has seen economic condi- struggle with the answer. tions like none of us have seen in our lifetime. They And while I continue to encourage and contin- have seen periods of almost non-stop war and con- ue to fight for improved conditions and things like the flict. They are a group that saw our Island ravaged by living wage, we have to deal with, within some of our gang violence and gun violence in a way that we nev- young people, a crisis of confidence. As a generation er experienced growing up. this is not just unique to Bermuda, this is a global Mr. Speaker, I am talking about our youth, condition. There are those of our young people who specifically our people under 30, who are a unique are losing faith with the institutions that we held dear, group shaped by their experiences. And you know, we institutions that got us through slavery, institutions that can always feature the outliers and the people who got us through segregation. Everything is being ques- are doing well and people who do not share these tioned and found wanting, whether it is political par- attitudes and beliefs, but we must also look towards ties, whether it is politicians, whether it is church. those who feel that they are being left behind, that There is a crisis of confidence that is the elephant in they are not being heard, and that there is no place for the room that we do not speak of. them in their own country. Mr. Speaker, the economic conditions that they have seen are so different. And it is easy to point Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1465 the finger of blame, but we have been through some this weekend, to get in the spaces of our young peo- global economic times that I think even our grandpar- ple, meet them where they are, where they are com- ents did not experience, and a global pandemic. And fortable, and listen and see the Bermuda that they what I am hearing more and more is that there is no see, see the Bermuda that they want to see for them- desire to return to the world that was, there is no de- selves and for their children and all of us do our part sire to achieve the Bermuda that they have never to help build it. seen and that we talk about so fondly. They believe They are in the what-have-you-done-for-me- we are capable of better. They expect better and they lately business. While our history is important, while want better and they are demanding better. our achievements are important, if they are not feeling Mr. Speaker, when you talk to a group who them, if they are not touching them, it is not what they believes it is likely that they will never own a home in want to hear. their own country, a group that is perhaps the most So, Mr. Speaker, as I close my remarks, I gifted and talented that our people have produced, the would just encourage every Member to reflect: Are we loss of faith in institutions, the loss of faith in process- doing enough for our young people? Are we connect- es, represents a dangerous, dangerous catalyst for ing enough with our young people? Are we listening to the years ahead. And this is something that is not the them? Are we being an example to them? Are we job of one politician, or the blame of one politician, or guiding them? And, where appropriate, are we provid- the job of one party, or the blame of one party. This is ing a vision that excites them and drives them for- something that each of us should be concerned about ward? and each of us should be doing our part to address. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Where their perceptions are wrong, we should be engaging with them where they are—not through The Speaker: Thank you, MP Simmons. Ministerial Statements and press releases and Would any other Member wish to make a con- speeches in Parliament, but where they are. We want tribution at this time? them to be––not where we hope they will be, not what we think they should be––where they are, in their Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes, Mr. Speaker. spaces, in their places, in their environment, listening without judgment, accepting their world view and find- The Speaker: MP Opposition Leader. ing ways to incorporate ideas that can help, whether it is necessary to improve their world view or improve Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you. the world that they see and they want to see changed. Mr. Speaker, it would be easy now, because The Speaker: Opposition Leader, you have your 20 that is the pattern of this political system that we have minutes. inherited from white supremacy and colonialism, to use this platform as an opportunity to [take] pot-shots A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE—RESTORING HOPE at each other, shoot shots at each other, and it is a IN OUR YOUTH great deal of fun, you know, when you really get into it. But at the end of the day, it does not matter be- Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: Thank you very much. cause these young people are not impressed and they I would like to start off where the Honourable are not even listening. Jamahl Simmons just left. I think he raises very good So, Mr. Speaker, I would encourage Mem- points about our young people. In fact, I share his bers, instead of firing shots at each other on this is- sentiment. I have interacted with a number of young sue, to actually begin speaking as passionately with, people on a daily basis in my job at the bank and to and about our young people as we do for our sen- through my children and their friends. And I have to iors. I am proud of my Members, like the Honourable commend Jamahl for his contributions, because he is Derrick Burgess and the Honourable Zane DeSilva saying what these young people are saying to us. who will say proudly I love my seniors. And I love And, as a consequence, I am making it my them too. But I love our youth. I love their potential, I personal business to address and support our young love their idealism, I love their passion for change. people wherever I can and try to regain some of the And that is something that we have a part in making respect that they had for their seniors and adults that sure never gets extinguished, never gets dulled, and, we had when we were coming along. more importantly never, ever is led to antisocial be- MP Simmons is right. If you talk to many of haviour or to another country. them, they feel that they cannot buy a home like their We have a role to play to restore hope; we parents have and that they, in some cases, have giv- have a role to play by pushing idealism over pragma- en up hope and are just living day-to-day and whatev- tism. We have a role to play, Mr. Speaker. And if you er will be, whatever will be because they feel that we are playing it already as a Member of this Chamber or are not supporting them and that their voices are not in the other place, then you need to continue. And if being heard. you are not, I really encourage you now, beginning Bermuda House of Assembly 1466 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report

So, again, I am prepared to work with Mr. today are committed to improving this country. We Simmons if he has got a group that he is working with, continue to strive to promote its success, to protect it, and I am on the same band wagon as he is in that and maintain our Island home. space. In closing, this Bermuda Day, let us extend The reason I . . . I just had to speak on that our thoughts and prayers to the families and friends because he moved me and I thought that he was who have been affected by COVID-19. We must con- spot-on in regard to a number of young people in this tinue to assist where we can, no matter what the chal- country. lenge because we are our brothers’ keepers, we are Bermudian. BERMUDA DAY So, with all this in mind, with this great pride, I wish the Members of the House and the people of Hon. N. H. Cole Simons: I would like to take this op- Bermuda—Happy Bermuda Day! portunity to offer my warmest regards to the people of Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Bermuda as we celebrate Bermuda Day next week. We will not be in the House of Assembly and so, I The Speaker: Thank you, Opposition Leader. thought it was appropriate that I do it today. Does any other Member wish to make a con- As you all know, we are in unprecedented tribution at this time? times because of the pandemic, and next week’s Bermuda Day will not be like the Bermuda Days of the Mr. Michael A. Weeks: Yes, Mr. Speaker. past where we had celebrations and we had the Gombeys, we had the carnival trucks, we had the ma- The Speaker: MP Weeks, you have the floor. jorettes, we had the dancers, and [this year] all that has to be curtailed. We still have the sailing and we Mr. Michael A. Weeks: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and still have beaching, but Bermuda Day, this coming good afternoon to you. year, again, will be different. And be that as it may, we, as a community, will relax. We as a community, The Speaker: Good afternoon. we will have fun. We will spend time with our families and we will spend time talking to our elders, talking BERMUDA DAY about our rich culture and our rich character. The other interesting thing that we need to Mr. Michael A. Weeks: Mr. Speaker, I want to take also address in this country is the faces of Bermudi- this opportunity, like the Member before me, as this is ans are changing. We are diverse Bermudians. We our last sitting prior to Bermuda Day, I would like to have seen mixtures and Bermudians of different eth- take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Ber- nic backgrounds, different country origins, and the muda Day! tapestry of Bermudians is becoming more cosmopoli- And Mr. Speaker, in the midst of this pandem- tan. But at the end of the day, despite the diversity, we ic, this Bermuda Day is going to be one like none oth- are one people and we are all Bermudians. And Ber- er. Not just a lack of the celebration, but it is going to muda Day will give our diverse Bermudian population be a testament to who we are as Bermudians and it is the opportunity to reflect on who we are and what we going to test our mettle. have in common. Now is the time, while we celebrate Bermuda You know, we are proud to be Bermudian. Day, Mr. Speaker, to look out for those who need When you went away travelling with your family—your looking out for. I have heard Members before me talk mother, your father—or you were going to university, about the seniors. We need to look out for our seniors, people asked you, Where are you from? And you we need to look out for our youth, and make sure that proudly stuck out your chest and said, I am Bermudi- this Bermuda Day can still be enjoyable. an. The fact is, despite all the challenges that we face But Mr. Speaker, I take the opportunity every today, we still have that sense of pride in who we are chance I get to talk about how this holiday has actual- and the role that we have to play in Bermuda and in ly evolved. From changing it from a May 24th celebra- the world. As you all know, are a small country—21 tion from the colonial era, over the years it has square miles. And I hate to say this, we are always evolved from celebrating on May 24th to celebrating punching above our weight. We have world-acclaimed the last Friday of May, to now we have evolved to cel- scholars, world-acclaimed athletes, musicians, artists, ebrating the Friday before the last Monday. This is designers, educators, any profession, medicine—we really a testament, Mr. Speaker, to our Government. are world-class people, world-class people because The “progressive” in the Progressive Labour Party we have founded our base through Bermudian family where we have moved 50 times as we celebrate and traditions, through the strength of our families, and the acknowledge Bermuda Day and what that means, strength of our communities. what that means to our seniors, what that means to So, I would like to close by saying, Bermuda our children, what that means to our economy, be- is our home, it is a beautiful place, and we all here Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1467

cause this is an opportunity for us to come together, good health to all those who will be running in the race Mr. Speaker, and grow together. next week. But you know a lot of . . . there is a segment Thank you, Mr. Speaker. of us that are averse to or slow in changing, I should say, Mr. Speaker. Because I have had some calls, I The Speaker: Thank you, MP Weeks. have had some WhatsApps from people saying that Does any other Member wish to make a con- they prefer for us to celebrate Bermuda Day on the tribution at this time? 24th of May. That is a bygone era, Mr. Speaker, and I think change . . . change takes time to adjust to. You Mrs. Ianthia Simmons-Wade: Yes, I do, Mr. Speak- know it has always been traditional, but that, too, we er. It is Ianthia Simmons-Wade. will get used to, Mr. Speaker. Just yesterday, which made me want to speak The Speaker: MP Simmons-Wade, you have the to it, I was talking to an old friend of mine. He popped floor. by to visit. And he said that a friend of his had talked to him and was telling him that he misses the time REMEMBERING AND CARING FOR OUR SENIORS th when Bermuda Day was celebrated on the 24 of May and he really wished we could go back to it. And it Mrs. Ianthia Simmons-Wade: Mr. Speaker, I take turned into a spirited conversation as to the history of this opportunity as well to wish a Happy Bermuda Day it, why we sought to do it from a cultural perspective, to my colleagues and to all of Bermuda. I also take from an economic perspective, and just moving away this opportunity to shout out to my constituency— from our colonial mind-set step by step. So, each constituency 25. thing that we do to rid ourselves of the colonial mind- But I am aware, I am sure, most of us are set is, in my humble opinion, a step closer to inde- aware that the majority of the people who listen to the pendence, which should be and is—for most of us— House are seniors. We have more people who are our ultimate goal. But I ended that conversation, Mr. home, but seniors tend to listen to the House and lis- Speaker, saying that we will be all right, you know, ten to the Senate. So, my message, as the Chair of that we will grow together, we will understand what it the Ageing Well Committee, is to give some messag- means to really celebrate Bermuda Day. es to our seniors and just a few tips. But Mr. Speaker, I do not have much else to I am sure all of you are aware that seniors are say other than, that as we stand on the . . . my re- the fastest growing segment of our population. This minder now to the participants of Bermuda Day next year . . . well, in 2019, the senior population was ap- week, mainly the fans, as we line the streets to cheer proximately 18 per cent. By 2026, the senior popula- on our residents who run the race in this gruelling heat tion is going to be 25 per cent, which means that for sometimes, but heat or not, 13.1 miles to a lot of us is every 100 people, [25] of them will be seniors. Many gruelling, Mr. Speaker. I am one of those that always of our seniors are living at home and what is very im- say I am going to run next year. I have not gotten to portant is that we ensure that these seniors [may con- that yet, but, again, I am saying hopefully I will be tinue to] stay at home. So, the increase of the popula- ready for next year. tion for our seniors is going to impact every segment But Mr. Speaker, during the cheering, I im- of our community—health care, pensions, insurance, plore our residents, our spectators, to be mindful that housing—every single segment is going to be impact- we are still in the midst of a pandemic. As much as ed. our Premier and our Government want us to get back So, for our seniors I am just going to give a to normal as quick as possible, we have to be mindful few tips today. First of all, decide if you want to get the that while we are on the side of the street we have to vaccine by checking the facts, speaking to your doc- remember that physical distancing and other safety tor, and making a decision if you get your vaccine. measures must still be in effect. So, let us . . . let us Secondly, which I think is very important, that be sensible in our celebration next week, Mr. Speaker. vaccine is not going to give you superpowers. So, it And lastly, as we celebrate, let us be mindful means that suddenly having the vaccine does not that those field marshals, those marshals that are go- mean that you can get out and do whatever you want ing to be along the route, they are part of us too, so let to do. us give them an easy time and obey their urgings and Thirdly, it is important that as a senior you whatnot so that we all could have an enjoyable Ber- must realise that you are extremely vulnerable in muda Day, Mr. Speaker, and still come out of it with terms of being affected significantly with your health in our cases of COVID-19 on the decrease rather than terms of the COVID-19, so it is very important that you on the rise. avoid large gatherings, do not go out in crowds, and So, Mr. Speaker, as I close, Happy Bermuda sort of segregate yourself. Day to you! Happy Bermuda Day to my colleagues! Also, it is important as a senior to ensure that Happy Bermuda Day to Bermuda! And Godspeed and you do go outside, that you exercise, that you get fresh air. Also, you need to, in terms of taking care of Bermuda House of Assembly 1468 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report yourself as a senior, it is also important that you do The Speaker: Brief quotes, yes. not delay getting any medical care or any emergency treatment. Also, if you are a senior and you are going Mr. Vance Campbell: Mr. Speaker, Sir John is quot- out to work, it is also important that you ensure that ed in this article as saying, “It is time for us to find the you protect yourself. collective will as a country, as a people to work to- Now, one of the things that we do not like to gether and work together in collaboration in moving think about is whether we end up getting COVID-19— Bermuda forward.” and I say this to everyone—you need to be sure that And the Honourable Alex Scott is quoted as you are prepared in the event that you get COVID-19 saying “It is our responsibility to bring everybody to- or anyone in your house gets COVID-19. So, it is im- gether with the object of solving problems. . . . If col- portant to ensure that you have everything in place to lectively we now focus on finding those solutions to treat yourself, whether it is Tylenol or whatever your the challenges we have today, we are not going to do doctor recommends, that you also do that. too badly.” One of the things that happens with many of Mr. Speaker, Bermuda has a long history of our seniors is that during the quarantine they have coming together to overcome challenges, whether been extremely isolated. So, I encourage everyone these challenges are internal or external. Our interna- who is listening to check on your neighbours, to check tional business community continues to innovate and on your senior family members, and stay connected evolve to meet the challenges from competitive juris- with those individuals. And as Minister Ming had said, dictions thereby Bermuda remains as a premier juris- with the hurricane coming, it is also important that you diction for doing business. reach out to your neighbours and your senior family Mr. Speaker, earlier today we heard the Hon- members to ensure that they are looked after or the ourable Renee Ming, Minister of National Security en- communication is there. courage us to be ready for the upcoming hurricane, And most important for our seniors, many of get our supplies together, get our batteries, our flash- them who are out there and who are still capable, it is lights, our medications. Again, history demonstrates important to reach out and to help other people, that we readily come together when facing a hurri- whether it is financially, whether it is physically, or cane. We assist our neighbours. Once our prepara- whether it is during a hurricane. tions are finished, we assist our neighbours in their So, my message to everyone today, as a child preparations ahead of the storm. In the aftermath, if or even as a senior, is not to forget our seniors and there is a tree down, we ban together, Black, white, realise they have laid the foundation for this country, Portuguese, it does not make a difference, to get that they deserve the respect and they would deserve the tree out of the way. If our neighbour’s roof is off, we honour as seniors. help them cover it up to protect their assets and their So, Happy Bermuda Day! And thank you very possessions. If they need food because the electricity much. is out, we help them in that area. How we can help seems to be fairly clear. And we just jump to it and get The Speaker: Thank you, MP Simmons-Wade. it done. Does any other Member wish to make a con- Mr. Speaker, today, as has been the case for tribution at this time? the last 15 months, Bermuda is engaged in a battle against the coronavirus, COVID-19. Mr. Speaker, in Mr. Vance Campbell: Yes, Mr. Speaker. the initial stages of this fight, in true Bermuda spirit, we came together as a community as a whole and The Speaker: Is that MP Campbell? supported sheltering in place, lockdowns, wearing of masks, social distancing, curfews, et cetera. But, Mr. Mr. Vance Campbell: That is correct, sir. Speaker, as we have seen over the last several months, there has been opposition to some of the The Speaker: MP Campbell, you have your 20 measures implemented and proposed by the Gov- minutes. ernment, particularly around continued restrictions and different options for vaccinated and non- UNITING BERMUDA—NO ONE IS SAFE UNTIL WE vaccinated individuals. I have had conversations with ALL ARE SAFE many of my constituents around these topics. No doubt, Mr. Speaker, we have neighbours, work col- Mr. Vance Campbell: Mr. Speaker, on May 11th an leagues, friends and family divided by their beliefs on article came out that contained a call for unity from and around the vaccine. And I will declare that I am two of the former Premiers of the country, Sir John fully vaccinated. I did so to protect a young one at Swan and the Honourable Alex Scott. They both were home. And as a country, we are blessed to have dos- quoted . . . and Mr. Speaker, do I have your permis- es of the vaccine in our possession. That has caused sion to read some brief quotes? some disagreement.

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Mr. Glenn Fubler, one of my constituents, re- Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I— cently released an op-ed entitled “No one is safe until we are all safe.” And I want to thank him for reminding The Speaker: You have your 20 minutes. Go right us that this phrase is the slogan of a six-month cam- ahead. paign initiated by India and South Africa. And the ob- ject of this campaign was to expedite the distribution, REMEMBERING AND CARING FOR OUR SENIORS the delivery of the vaccine to the many nations that either do not have any of the vaccine at all or who Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Thank you, Mr. have insufficient vaccine. How is this relevant to Ber- Speaker. muda, Mr. Speaker? I am not safe, Mr. Speaker, until Speaking in terms of the remarks by Honour- you are safe. My children are not safe until I am safe. able Member Famous, Honourable Member Jamahl My neighbours’ children are not safe until their parents Simmons, Honourable Member Weeks, and the Hon- are safe, and so on. Mr. Speaker, it is also relevant to ourable Member Ianthia [Simmons-] Wade, let me first Bermuda in that whilst other nations have no vaccine, address the remarks by Honourable Member Weeks or insufficient vaccine, we have vaccine but insuffi- concerning running in the 24th of May Marathon. Well, cient people, insufficient individuals seeking to receive he has had his name down for the last 20 years, and it. is running next year. So I just want to warn people, Now, Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to add to don’t look to seeing him run next year or any years in any division that may already exist, but rather, like my the future. He will not run because he cannot run. So I colleague, the Honourable Michael Weeks said in a want to put that to bed. recent op-ed, I would like to encourage us to move Mr. Speaker, I think what I would ask every- forward together. We can still be unified in the fight body to do is to be kind, to continue to be kind and and have our differences about the vaccine. No matter considerate to our seniors. Our seniors have played a what your decision is as it relates to the vaccine, I re- major part in where we sit, stand and live today. They spect your personal choice. To those who are fully have carried all the heavy weight in the struggle to be vaccinated, please be reminded that you can still get where we are today. The battle is not lost. We will the virus, although your chances are reduced. You have some in the community, some in this world that can still infect others with the virus, although the will want you to erase the history. But let me say, his- chances of that are reduced. tory cannot be erased. And I would implore all—all— To those who are on the fence about getting to read the books on our history. We have a very—I the vaccine, if you have not already done so, consult would not say rich history in terms of struggle. It is . . . your physician. If you do not have a doctor, take ad- it is . . . we have history that is . . . a lot of us would vantage of one of the doctors who are at the “Close to like to forget but we cannot forget. Some of the scars Home” [Mobile Vaccination Programme] locations. are still there. Ask them questions. To those who are never going to get the vaccine no matter what, please do all that you BERMUDA DAY can to remain safe and protect your family and friends. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Mr. Speaker, I think it To everyone: No matter what your status is as was the Honourable Member Michael Weeks who, I it relates to the vaccine, please, please follow the would say, championed the Bill to change the 24th of health care protocols so that we can open up the May holiday to fall in conjunction with the American economy, that we can return to some semblance of holiday. I mean, he was right (in my opinion) because, normalcy. If we could identify those ahead of time, Mr. Speaker, he did that so the American holiday and who would not obey the rules, left to their own devices our holiday can be together. We normally benefit from to quarantine, et cetera, then I am sure we would do much travel from the States during their holiday peri- so. But we cannot. ods. And one of his main objectives was for our So as we attempt to open our economy and guests, our tourists, to enjoy the festivities of our Ber- return to some semblance of normalcy, and as we will muda Days. So I would certainly support him. I sup- soon celebrate Bermuda Day and start to enjoy some ported him then. I support him now in championing of the activities that the warmer weather brings, or that Bill to change the holiday to what it is now, Mr. attempt to enjoy those activities, remember that no Speaker. one is safe until we all are safe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. ST. REGIS HOTEL OPENING

Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Mr. Speaker. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is the opening of the St. Regis Hotel. I travel that way The Speaker: Yes, thank you, MP Campbell. practically every day. And I want to congratulate them Sounds like, Deputy Speaker. Deputy Speak- on the product they have around there. Now, Mr. er, would you like to make a contribution at this time? Speaker, some may want to blame Minister Hayward Bermuda House of Assembly 1470 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report for the number of staff that we have, in terms of work Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: All have a great holi- permits. That is something that we inherited. I know day. Minister Hayward has worked hard to try to adjust those numbers. But when you inherit something . . . The Speaker: Likewise. Thank you, Deputy Speaker. you know, that is what it is in politics. You have to Does any other Member wish to make a con- work with it. So, please, do not blame Minister Hay- tribution at this time? ward, do not blame this Government, this was what was given . . . and I am not even going to blame the Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan: Yes, Mr. Speaker. other party. They did what they thought was neces- sary to get this hotel to be built in Bermuda. The Speaker: MP Swan. Let me say that this hotel brings commerce to St. George’s, something that is desperately needed. Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Something that they have not had since . . . I think it was 1988, or 1987 that the last hotel operated there in The Speaker: You have your 20 minutes. St. George’s. So that is over 30 years. It is a welcome addition to St. George’s to have the St. Regis hotel. MAKING GOLF INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSE IN So I want to commend everybody—all the workers, BERMUDA the foreign workers and the Bermudian workers that worked to make that a six-star hotel. And let me say, Mr. Hubert (Kim) E. Swan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. we have always had six-star service. Many, many I want to thank the Honourable Deputy years ago, we had civil service in the hotel, and par- Speaker for his remarks, and I will follow on from ticularly the small properties that civil service . . . we where he left off by giving thanks to our seniors as we had service second to none, particularly the cottage celebrate this Bermuda Day, and recognising those colonies like the Pink Beach, the Coral Beach, and shoulders that they stand on. places . . . and Cambridge Beaches, and Castle Har- And, yes, there is a new golf course coming to bour Hotels. We had “six-star plus” service. St. George’s. I believe I have written about the im- This is what St. Regis is embarking upon. This portance of golf. I think sometimes it is good to take is what . . . Tucker’s Point is a six-star hotel. And people down memory lane. Because in 1921, which Bermuda is a very expensive location, and people . . . was 100 years ago, a young man named Louis Rafael we do have clientele in the market that will pay the big “Kid” Corbin learned to play at the St. George’s Hotel bucks for six-star properties, but you have to give which was located in St. George’s for tourists and the them the service. So this is the endeavour of Tucker’s garrison course long before the Mid Ocean and the Point, the endeavour of St. Regis, it is the endeavour Castle Harbour were even built. Louis Corbin left of the Hamilton Princess, and I think it is the endeav- Bermuda in 1923, and in 1933 he was up at the Dev- our of all of the hotels in Bermuda. It is to give that six- onshire golf links, and you do not hear about him, but star service that Bermuda is so famous for, Mr. he is the standard bearer for desegregation of golf in Speaker. North America, which includes Canada and the United So, Mr. Speaker, again, I wish all the success States, and in Bermuda. He is a celebrated person to the hotel in St. George’s, the St. Regis, all the suc- who learned how to play golf on that very restored cess in their golf course and the running of their hotel course that the Bermuda Government rebuilt in 1985 and to the people of St. George’s, Mr. Speaker. that I had the great pleasure of opening. And so, Mr. Speaker, with that I wish all, all in And, Mr. Speaker, it would be remiss of me, Bermuda, particularly our seniors—particularly our whilst I am very . . . I grew up in the hotel industry, as seniors—let’s never, ever forget them. Let’s continue did the immediate past speaker, and am very appre- to thank them for the position we are in today. I am ciative of what the hotel industry [did] and what it will forever eternally grateful to them and indebted to them do for St. George’s, let me not overlook how many because I, like others—we, I should be saying—stand people are feeling in Bermuda. In my trade of golf on the shoulders of our seniors. Never, ever forget where we had trailblazers in Bermuda in the 1930s, that, Mr. Speaker, and Bermuda. 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, and even 50 years ago as They are the champions. We are not the we speak, we had people like Ralphie Fray pass away champions. They are the champions for us. We tragically and die and Frankie Rabain qualified for the should always treasure and honour them. It is what I British Open in 1971. And Walter King won the Ber- will continue to do. And I implore all my fellow Bermu- muda Open in 1970 having learnt his trade. dians to do likewise. But, you know, my experiences in golf, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker, have been very varied and celebratory in some respects. But I have experienced the wrath of The Speaker: Thank you, Deputy. those who prefer to treat people indignantly. I have seen that happen more recently in 2020, which rivals the time when I was escorted out of Faro Airport at Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1471 gunpoint, Mr. Speaker, on my way to the Tours sons going to celebrate things and your folk and your School to have to go back to London. I have experi- people that you represent are not in that number yet, enced showing up at the Country Club of Charleston somebody has got to speak up and let them know that in 1978 with the most celebrated amateur field gath- all is not well . . . and all is not well with our soul in ered in the United States the week before the Mas- that regard. ters, one year after Lee Elder was the first Black to I just want to say, Mr. Speaker, as we look to play out, the first Black, unbeknownst to the tourna- make golf inclusive and diverse in Bermuda, as the ment organisers, to play in that tournament. United States and all places are trying to make the I know what it feels like to be treated unfairly. I game of golf more inclusive and more diverse and know what it feels like, Mr. Speaker, to represent an more affordable, I just want to say that in this, the 50th all-white university in an all-white field and come first anniversary of Port Royal Golf Course, when Walter in Monroe, Louisiana, and walk through there and rep- King came up from Tucker’s Town to lead Port Royal, resent us. I know what it feels like when people are he did just that! And that practice made it possible for going out of their way to treat you unfairly. I saw it the Dwayne Pearmans and the Cornell Beans and happen in Bermuda in 2020, Mr. Speaker, and I am Glen Simmons and the Darron Woods and the Kim very close . . . it is wrong! Swans and the Blake Marshalls and the Rickie Mr. Speaker, as we look at my profession of Demores, and the Hav Trotts and the Craig Chris- golf, I saw an ad that called for a golf expert. And then tensens to come together 50 years ago! No one has someone called me just today and refers to them as got to come out there and write a paragraph on how to . . . it is basically a groundsman’s job. And when you do it. You have got to practice it. We lived it! And we have job categories that are out there that can be am- can do those types of things again with the will! With biguous, Mr. Speaker, it can defeat the very purpose. the will to do it! We as politicians are getting the calls, and all of us Mr. Speaker, in October of 1971 a young, very are getting the calls, about people wanting to work in talented 23-year-old met his death on the road. His our country and it is difficult, Mr. Speaker. It is very name was Wilfred “Ralph” Fray. And we will be cele- difficult to navigate through, as the Deputy Speaker brating him this year in his 50th anniversary. And that rightly pointed out, an agreement that was put in place young man was an inspiration to me. I remember long before the Progressive Labour Party was Gov- leaving Berkeley and going to his funeral up there with ernment that gave the right of the current operator to Damon and Cousin Whoopie and all that lot when he bring in a certain number of non-Bermudians to work tragically died. We loved to idolise him. He could hit in the field. And I applaud the Minister of Immigration the ball far. He could make a lot of birdies. But he for his efforts, the Honourable Jason Hayward, to loved to ride his bike fast, like a lot of other young work through this with his expertise in that very field. people, and we idolised him. And he met his death, But my profession, my trade, is what allowed and that was 50 years ago, Mr. Speaker. the White Hill boy from Troy. You know, John Lewis is [It was] 51 years ago, on October 29th, 1970, the country boy from Troy. I am the White Hill boy that when Walter Eugene King became the first Bermudian went to Troy. And I kind of know some things about to become a golf professional in a management posi- how people craft things to make things suit what they tion, I might add. You look at ads and you see that want to do. And I am seeing some of that taking place they will advertise golf and try to suggest that we are in this country in these spaces and in other spaces, not management people. [He was in] a management Mr. Speaker, that I am prepared now in my life to get position and made it possible for me to follow his foot- more specific with because, you know, I would know steps. And he also sat in this very Honourable Cham- this week on the very golf course one of my dear ber in the House of Assembly in the 1976 election. So, friends was singing St. George’s boys forever, and an yes, role models matter! And, yes, it matters to have hour later he was at the checkout counter of life. So I people who look like you in places of position because am not going to go down without fighting for what is young people like me look up to them and young peo- right and pushing people to do likewise, and stand for ple today will do likewise. And if we are excluded it likewise. means that it is a ripple-down effect of exclusion. So all is not well in Gideon, Mr. Speaker. All is Yes, Mr. Speaker, there is never a wrong time not well in some regards as it relates to Bermudians. to do the right thing. And there are some things that Many Bermudians are feeling very . . . life is difficult. have been going on and aided, and that . . . that I am and I have to let them know that we care in the Pro- trying, Mr. Speaker, to make right. That is all I am gressive Labour Party as your Government. Call us. prepared to say at this particular time, but you know, I We are working hard behind the scenes on your be- am serving notice. Some of us are getting tired, Mr. half, the Cabinet Ministers and backbenchers alike, Speaker. Some of us have also been out there in the we are working. trenches fighting for what is right. [We] have travelled But I just got to say, Mr. Speaker, when it this world all by ourselves to carry others on our backs comes to your profession and when it comes to that of as we moved up the ladder. And I will do that until the which your trade and when you see, you know, per- Bermuda House of Assembly 1472 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report

day I sing St. George’s boys forever, and the Lord BERMUDA’S ECONOMY says Okay, I need your choir up in somewhere else. As Cocky Steede said, he was looking for- Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. ward to playing St. George’s golf course. He and Ap- Mr. Speaker, I have enjoyed listening to the ples were playing golf at Port Royal and said, Well, if comments in the motion to adjourn tonight. I want to you go, we would rather go on the football field or the make my comments in the general vein of the sub- golf course. And he went on the golf course. So he will jects that have been on the table in the motion to ad- not get a chance to fulfil that. But I am sure at the journ. Pearly Gates there will be plenty of lovely, all-inclusive First up, the Honourable Member from con- golf holes up there that he will be able to traverse, Mr. stituency 11 talked about the economy. And I have to Speaker. So in the memory of people like Louis take strong difference to his view. He said . . . he tried Corbin, in the memory of people like Johnny Smith for to state that the economy was in good condition and St. George’s, in the memory of Bosun Swainson, and nothing could be further from the truth. I think, in my Herman Santucci Bascome, I just want you to know, view, those comments are weak and they are off- Mr. Speaker, that if there is fair justice that needs to base. The economy is in a very difficult position. And take place in our Island home, you can count on me to through my time here I will put some more meat on do my part. I know I can count on my colleagues like- the bone to give some context, because I do not wise. But I just have a heavy heart in this regard to- speak today to be critical of the Government. I speak day, Mr. Speaker, and I had to say that any of you today because if we are to move forward we need to who are out there that have a heavy heart, who are appreciate and understand the situation we are in, if not employed, who are finding it difficult, know that we are going to find some solutions to move forward. you have people out here in the legislature who repre- But our economy is certainly in a very difficult position. sent you, notwithstanding of where you may have And for anyone to argue otherwise shows that they stood when you went to [vote]. You can call us and we (1) perhaps do not have their foot on the ground to will hear your cries and try our best to advance your what is actually happening in Bermuda, and (2) they cause as we are trying our best to do. have very little knowledge of economics. And I just want to give a word of encourage- Mr. Speaker, it is very clear, as I set the table ment to the Premier and his team for the work that to give an understanding of where we are, that they do. It is a most difficult time to be a leader in this COVID-19 has devastated Bermuda. There is no country. I have been around; I ran in the election of doubt about that. But it is also evident that before 1983, Mr. Speaker (that wasn’t yesterday), as a 25- COVID-19 the economy was fairly weak. But here we year-old. And I cannot think of any extended period of are now in May of 2021 [and] hospitality is almost time, stretching 15 months that any group of leaders non-existent because of COVID-19. The taxi industry would have to traverse through such difficult periods is on life support. Obviously with the closures we have without there being a war. And we were not around at had and the shelters-in-place, the taxi industry has not that time when the world was at war. But the world is been able to be out and about, taking care of not only at war with a virus. our visitors but Bermudians. And I just want to say, Mr. Speaker, that I am Mr. Speaker, here we are today in May of proud to be one of those who have erred on side of 2021 and many people are of work. As I mentioned science and appreciate that being in leadership is not during the Budget Debate, Mr. Speaker, I think we easy. It is not easy. And there will be detractors, but need to understand and appreciate that the largest we are prepared to listen to all sides and represent all employer in Bermuda is the public administration. And people while we provide leadership in the best interest this is not in the context of being critical of the public led by science, Mr. Speaker. administration. But when you have large employers Thank you, Mr. Speaker. like those in hospitality and those in international business, where previously they were number one The Speaker: Thank you, Honourable Member. and number two in the employment categories and Does any other Honourable Member wish to they have now slipped out of that top spot, and public make a contribution at this time? administration is there [in the top spot], it shows you the critical position that we are in, because jobs have Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker. been lost. Jobs have been lost in all areas, as I went The Speaker: MP Dunkley? through in the Budget Debate (and I won’t repeat my- self), in hospitality jobs have been lost; critical jobs Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Yes, Mr. Speaker. have been lost, Mr. Speaker. And so our economy is very weak. It was weak before COVID-19 and it is The Speaker: You have your 20 minutes. weaker now, and it is on life support. And to Govern- ment’s credit, they have given a lot of support to the

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people of Bermuda through COVID-19. But we cannot there, such as the SafeKey app. [They] are starting to continue with that. talk about the next phase and stuff, but we need more So it is not my intent this afternoon to lam- people to get vaccinated, Mr. Speaker. I have been baste the Government any way. I have never been vaccinated, as I said. My family has been vaccinated. one of those types of people to practice slash-and- I listened to the science. I have talked to my doctors. burn politics. I will always be critical and critique the And what I have done, Mr. Speaker (and I will Government where it is appropriate, but I will also talk about this for just a very brief moment because I provide support and [alternate] views where it is nec- do not want to give it a lot of time and a lot of credibil- essary. So the MP from constituency 11 should, Mr. ity), . . . while I support those who are against vaccina- Speaker, in my words, not try to put lipstick on a pig. tion, I respect their opinion, I listen to reasoned de- The reality is that our economy is in very bad shape. bate. But Mr. Speaker, what I will never do is buy-in to some of the misleading stuff that is going out on social COVID-19 VACCINE media. And one of the most recent ones is about magnets on people’s arms. I have never heard of Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: And the first step, Mr. something so absurd in my life. Speaker, for our economy to be put back on a path to I urge Bermudians to get away from social getting in a better position where our people are em- media unless it is a source for good, reliable infor- ployed, is that we need to be able to open up. We mation. These misleading posts and comments do need to rebuild. And I was very interested in, and I nothing but set us back and make the hard reality that supported a lot of the comments that MP Campbell we face today last longer than it needs to last. We from constituency 9 (I believe) said about the vaccine, need to open up. We need to open up! We need to Mr. Speaker. The first step for us to get back on the open up, Mr. Speaker, as colleagues have talked path to recovery is for us to build up that community about for our seniors. Our seniors have been really immunity. And now while I am disappointed that the struggling. It is conversation that a number of col- Government has missed their target deadline of leagues have had today about our seniors. And, yes, 70 per cent by May 28th, I believe the date was, we they have played an important role in our society and are about 50 per cent right now, I urge people to get still play an important role. But just think, Mr. Speaker, vaccinated. about our seniors. They have been shut in for the bet- Vaccination is our way forward. It is the hope ter part of a year because of their concern over that it provides. I support the Government in this re- COVID-19 and their critical ability to be impacted in a gard. I would urge people to take a look at the sci- negative way if they manage to catch COVID-19, ence, like colleagues have talked about today, and through no fault of their own, Mr. Speaker. then make the decision for themselves. If we do not We need to open up for our seniors because build up that community immunity, it will be more and they have been locked up in their houses for too long, more difficult for us to open up, and we could come to living a sheltered life, not being able to get out and the point where we could fall back again, Mr. Speaker. about. Not being able to enjoy the golden years. Not If you look across the world at how COVID-19 being able to travel. We need to open up for our sen- has ebbed and flowed in countries all over the world, iors. And so those people who are impeding the open- Mr. Speaker, we have seen that some of those that ing, need to think about it, Mr. Speaker. previously were successful in what they have done to We need to open up for the hospitality indus- combat COVID-19, have had in recent days disturbing try. Our community, as colleagues have talked about, trends of upward numbers of COVID-19 cases, such is built on the back of our hospitality industry. Before as Taiwan, which was one of the countries at the we had international business, it was hospitality. In the [forefront] of it. Being a very close neighbour of China, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s it was hospitality they closed off their borders early and now they are that drove jobs. It drove Bermudian lives. It made facing a very critical period with numbers on the rise. many Bermudians successful. They worked two jobs Singapore is in the same position, Mr. Speak- through eight, nine months a year and took three, four er. So we know that in spite of the best endeavours by months off, Mr. Speaker, and travelled the world. We leaders in these countries, in spite of the best en- need to open up for the hospitality industry to get deavours of communities trying to work together, that those jobs back again, Mr. Speaker. COVID-19 can get out of that bag again pretty quickly People do not want to be home. It is not like in and hurt communities. And we cannot afford that in the States. They cannot get people to go back to work Bermuda. And that is why the vaccine is so important, because they are making so much money staying because it offers us a level of protection. home. Bermudians want to work. Bermudians are Mr. Speaker, very little is possible without that proud of who we are, proud of what we are as Bermu- level of protection. And very little will be possible in dians. They want to get back to work. We need to opening up our economy without that level of protec- open up for the hospitality industry, for the empty ho- tion, and we are not there yet. We are close. Govern- tels that we have. ment is starting to put things in place to allow us to get Bermuda House of Assembly 1474 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report

We need to open up for St. Regis, Mr. Speak- have had, and the third spike, Mr. Speaker, which er. And I am pleased to see the opening of St. Regis started in mid-March and has waned off now. We tomorrow—four years after the ground was broken in could slip again because we do not have enough pro- May of 2017, Mr. Speaker. And I am pleased to see tection. And the only way we are going to open up is if that this Government and the previous Government we have protection, Mr. Speaker. have supported St. Regis to allow this first-class hotel Now, Mr. Speaker, one area that I have not to be able to receive their first guests tomorrow. And agreed with Government is this quarantine issue. And the golf course, the Five Forts golf course is going to I fully appreciate the need to quarantine people for open up, Mr. Speaker. various reasons, Mr. Speaker. But in light of the fact This is exciting, not only for St. George’s to that we live in a very small remote Island and Bermu- provide opportunity and commerce, but it is exciting dians have to travel, whether it be for education, for Bermuda because along with the first-class proper- whether it be for their job (there are many reasons), ties we have in the Loren and the Princess Hotel and whether it be for health care, Mr. Speaker, when Ber- others (at the risk of missing some names out, Mr. mudians come back, it is an onerous expense for Speaker), it attracts people to Bermuda. We need to many Bermudians to have to quarantine at their own open up, Mr. Speaker, because other countries are expense. opening up. Other countries are opening up and peo- And while I fully understand and appreciate ple are travelling there. And if we have roadblocks in the Government’s reasons why they have done this, our way for visitors to come here, they will not come, because there have been those amongst us who have Mr. Speaker. We need to open up. People need to not followed the proper restrictions and regulations take the vaccine. and caused a serious problem, there has to be a way, Mr. Speaker, we need to open up for the un- Mr. Speaker, in the world that we live in, in 2021, employed. There have been many [unemployed] for where we can track people at all times. And we know so long, Mr. Speaker, that now people are really frus- this Government, and certainly the Premier is very trated. We need to open up for retail, Mr. Speaker. keen on technology. There has to be a way that we Retail has been making it by on a thread for so long, can allow people to quarantine at home and be sub- Mr. Speaker, that we need to open up so that we can ject to the letter of the law, Mr. Speaker, because have retail vibrant again to support our economy. And some people will not be able to pay that expense. And while retail numbers over the past couple of months they will have to travel, whether it is for educational have been pushed up, to me, those are some eco- purposes or whether it is for medical purposes. nomic numbers that to some extent, Mr. Speaker, So, while I fully support the need to quaran- provide a false narrative. tine, it is something we have to do to protect our- Why do I say that, Mr. Speaker? Because selves, people need to be responsible. And those when you have a captive audience of Bermudians amongst us who are not responsible should face the who are here (as some would say, stuck on the rock), full impact of the regulations and the laws that we they have to purchase everything at the local grocery have put in place. stores. They have to buy the gas. They have to buy Now, Mr. Speaker, one of the real concerns the building supplies. And so some of those areas are that people have had through COVID-19 is that up drastically; but many of those areas, Mr. Speaker, through all these restrictions and regulations, that are down. And there are thousands of people em- small majority of people . . . small minority of people ployed in retail. And many of those people, Mr. (sorry, Mr. Speaker) amongst us who have not fol- Speaker, are out of jobs or working [fewer] hours than lowed the restrictions or regulations have not been they would like to work to be sustainable. So we need dealt with. And it is not good enough to blame the po- to open up. lice or to blame Government House. And I supported the Government in many I know accountability is tough in a small com- things that they have done through COVID-19. I have munity because it could be your family, it could be not supported it all, Mr. Speaker. I have had some your friend, it could be your next-door neighbour. But disagreements with them, but I support the Govern- we are still in the throes of COVID-19 because too ment in this vaccine drive. And I urge Bermudians to many of us have not held other people accountable get on with it. If you cannot trust a politician, go talk to when we have known that they have violated the your doctor. Listen to the experts, what they have proper protocols. We need to do better than that or said. One after another doctors have come out, from else we will continue to slip back and we will continue the hospital doctors to Dr. Arscott, who is an expert in to have the challenges that we have. We need to this field [and is] talking about it, Mr. Speaker. And the open up, Mr. Speaker, and we are going to do it doctors all across the Island have talked about it. through the vaccine. And so I urge everyone to get on We need to listen to the experts and get vac- board, listen to the science, and then make their ap- cinated because just as quickly as we have moved propriate decision. forward over the past couple of days, and it has been a long haul to get through this second spike that we Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1475

BERMUDA DAY posite line in the public sphere, from what he has giv- en. Hon. Michael H. Dunkley: Now, Mr. Speaker, in the I say this, Mr. Speaker, because we all know couple of minutes that I have left (because I see you that there are various disagreements that we all have. looking at your clock), I too want to wish everybody a Some of us support, others do not. But I think what is happy Bermuda Day. I was one of those who did not important is from a perspective of Government and support the change of date, but that debate is done, Opposition, if we are going to be united in this, then Mr. Speaker. And I am pleased that the traditional, we should make sure that we hold all of our members May 24th race (and I still call it that) is going to run to account across the board. And I know that in our through the great constituency of Smith’s North num- party we have made sure that we have taken account ber 10. And I think, perhaps, the most telling part of of the opinions of all of our members in the construc- the race will be Flatts Hill, as we have heard some of tion of our policy. So I would urge the Honourable the great runners who have talked about the race this Member who just spoke and also the Honourable Op- year talk about the key parts of the race being Flatts position Leader, of whom I spoke to myself on this Hill. very issue, that it is merely hollow in my view to say So I look forward for that day to enjoy the that you support. I think that you should be very force- race, to watch the competition, and to be out and ful especially [in regard to] those persons who purport about a bit. It will be strange, Mr. Speaker. It will cer- to represent your party that they are also on board in tainly be strange to be out and about a bit, but to be not trying to be purposely divisive for the purpose of out and about being safe, following proper protocols, politics, because you cannot speak with a forked Mr. Speaker. And I want to wish all Bermudians a very tongue, Mr. Speaker. happy holiday. I will still call it May 24th. And so on the issue of where we stand, we Remember, let’s not get carried away. Let’s continue to make excellent progress, Mr. Speaker. not get carried away in too much of a good time and More than 50 per cent of the population of Bermuda let our guard down because as the former Premier have received two doses of the vaccine. This now Craig Cannonier said once in a debate a couple of puts us in a very rare space inside of the world. And months ago, COVID-19 does not discriminate. But we are the 7th most vaccinated country on the planet. Bermudians, enjoy the holiday. Stay safe. Stay And that is something that we can be proud of. Mr. healthy and look out for your brothers and sisters. Speaker, 68 per cent of the eligible population in this Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Have a pleasant country have at least had their first dose of the vac- weekend. cine. We are seeing that people are going door-to- door around the country making sure. The Speaker: Thank you. What is important to note, Mr. Speaker, is that Does any other Member wish to make a con- in Bermuda we are fortunate. We are fortunate that tribution at this time? we have enough vaccines inside of this country to vaccinate all of the persons who want a vaccination. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, if no one else is This cannot be said for many other countries, Mr. ready to speak I will close. But I will defer— Speaker. And it is important to recognise that time, yes, is running out. The Minister of Health has been The Speaker: Premier, I won’t stop you. Go right very clear. After June 8th we are going to have to limit ahead. You have your 20 minutes. first doses. So it is a rush for us against the clock. So I am appreciative of the support of Hon- Hon. E. David Burt: Can you see me, Mr. Speaker? ourable Members, but I also want the people of this country who are listening to know that we are in a The Speaker: Yes, I do. unique circumstance. There are many people who do not have what it is that we have. There are many peo- COVID-19 VACCINE ple who wish they could have the choice that we have in this country. So I urge persons who may be delay- Hon. E. David Burt: I just want to make sure. ing—not persons who have made their minds, but Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank honourable persons who may be delaying—to recognise that the colleagues for contributing to the motion to adjourn. I delay can only go on for two and a half weeks. At that recognise the last Member who spoke, and I appreci- point in time we will exhaust our supply and we will be ate his words of support for the Government in regard in the space where other countries are—waiting to vaccination. And I would hope that he also chan- sometimes months waiting for their next supply. nels that internally amongst his own members of the In Bermuda we took out an insurance policy. party of which he belongs to, especially one of the So, we were made aware that we were getting sup- members who he elevated to the Senate, another plies from United Kingdom, but we want to make sure place, a little while ago, who has given the exact op- that we took out an insurance policy, so we also got supplies from the COVAX Facility [COVID-19 Vaccine Bermuda House of Assembly 1476 21 May 2021 Official Hansard Report

Global Access Facility]. The COVAX Facility certainly and understand that the decisions that this Govern- did deliver their initial set of vaccines to Bermuda. And ment has made and has to make are difficult, but we because we have an overabundance of those vac- are not making these decisions because we want to cines, we are going to be donating our excess vaccine penalise, because we want to punish, because we that we have to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. want to disenfranchise anyone. We are making these And I received the call from the Prime Minister of Trin- decisions because we know that this country requires idad and Tobago who thanked us for our generous transformation. And we cannot transform this country donation. if all of our energies are spent battling a pandemic But I think what is important, Mr. Speaker, is which requires economic challenges in order to make to recognise why they need these donations. Because sure that we preserve life. they are a country that has been ravaged, just like we In this latest outbreak, Mr. Speaker, we have have seen in our recent history, by the importation of lost 20 of our fellow Bermudians. Twenty, Mr. Speak- a new variant, in their case the Brazilian P.1 variant, er! Almost double the amount that we lost in the en- which has caused their health care system to be near tirety of the pandemic beforehand, Mr. Speaker. We capacity, which has caused countless deaths, and do not want to have to go through that again. And that which has caused their economy to have to shut is the reason why we have taken the steps which are down. We know what that feels like and we do not necessary. But when we look at that, Mr. Speaker, we want to go back there again. look at What does life look like when a country is suc- So I say this before I move on to happier parts cessful in moving beyond the pandemic? of my motion to adjourn. There is one place where the Government is singularly committed. And there is one BERMUDA DAY place where this governing party is singularly commit- ted, and that is that we know that persons who voted Hon. E. David Burt: And lots of Members have for us in October want us to execute on the agenda spoken about Bermuda Day. Next week, Friday, a that we laid out in front of the people. And the realities large group exemption has been issued and [print- are, Mr. Speaker, that it is impossible for a govern- ed] in the official Gazette which will show a glimpse of ment to execute an agenda if all of our time is spent the future, where persons will be gathered inside of a battling a once-in-a-century pandemic. stadium—the largest gathering of people since the Those are the facts. So if we want to move pandemic began in Bermuda (save and except from on, if we want to deal with the matters that are im- the Black Lives Matter marches), Mr. Speaker. And portant to the everyday citizens, if we want to deal we will be there to celebrate Bermuda Day. It is a with the matters of enfranchising Bermuda, if we want glimpse of the future and what is necessary and re- to deal with the matters of addressing social equity, if quired to move beyond the pandemic, Mr. Speaker. we want to deal with the matters of increasing access And so as we look toward having our traditions return to capital, if we want to deal with the matters of educa- this year, whether it is the Bermuda Day Half Mara- tional reform, dealing with the cost of living, dealing thon Derby, the bicycle race, or the Bermuda Day Pa- with the health care reform, those things cannot be rade, which will be different, but we will still have an done at pace if we are occupying our time in battling a event this year, it is important to recognise, Mr. pandemic. Speaker, that through our collective work, due to the We have seen the danger with the introduc- fact that our citizens have stepped up to the plate to tion of a new variant into our country. And I think that make us 7th in the world, due to the fact that our infec- whatever side of the debate you are on, whether you tions are falling and dropping and have continued to are pro vaccine, antivaccine, whether you believe that fall and our active cases are now below 100 (I think 86 this is really a pandemic or as some people call it, a at last count), and hopefully continue to drop more plandemic, what we all know is that people are dying, today and over the weekend, we have turned the cor- health care systems are being overrun and none of us ner. wants to find ourselves at the end of this year or next We cannot forget that we can regress very year doing this all over again. We are committed to quickly. But what we also have to remember is that we moving beyond the pandemic. can move forward with confidence. Bermuda Day is And as a country we have to look at our- just the start. I am committed to working with the selves, look at the lessons we have seen of what oth- cricket clubs of this country. And the Minister of Youth, er countries have done, how they have been success- Culture and Sport has confirmed that cricket will re- ful, and apply those here. As an island we have a start. Cricket restart is a prerequisite to having our unique ability to protect our borders and make sure annual Cup Match Classic, celebration of Emancipa- that we remain insulated. And we can do it in a fash- tion Day, and celebration of Mary Prince Day, Mr. ion using technology and using the resources that we Speaker. We are confident that we will be able to do have to be a success. that. So as we move forward, Mr. Speaker, I think We are confident that we will be able to restart that it is critically important for all persons to recognise our tourism season and we are confident, although Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 21 May 2021 1477

there was a minor setback with Royal Caribbean, and the headlines say that homeporting is done, that is not true because the Viking ship will arrive. And they will still be homeporting from here. We are making ad- vances and we are doing what is necessary to show this country that we can be innovative and survive beyond the pandemic, Mr. Speaker. And so Honourable Members, the next time we will see each other will be on June 4th. Hopefully, we might be able to use technology to meet all in per- son, again, and move past virtual gatherings. But if we are not, Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that Honourable Members in between that time will enjoy this Bermuda Day, will ensure that they take in the sights and the sounds, and continue to remind their constituents that we are not beyond this pandemic yet. There is work to do. But it is a demonstration that if we all unite and do what is necessary, Bermuda can still be a shining example on how you face down variants, on how you act collectively and decisively in order to defeat those variants, and how you make sure you change your behaviour following to make sure that you do not repeat the same mistake again, Mr. Speaker. I wish all Members a happy Bermuda Day. I wish all the participants of the Bermuda Day festivities the best. I thank them for stepping forward. I thank the organisers for working with the Government to make sure that we can make these events safe and to re- duce the risk. I thank all the people who work behind the scenes to get the technology ready so that we can do these events and have hope for the future. This Government wants to move beyond the pandemic so that we can do what is necessary to deliver on what the voters sent us to do on October 1st. I look forward to our next debate where we can talk about our economic recovery plan and share with this country what we are going to do to ensure that this economy is rebuilt with Bermudians at heart and we take advantage of this unique opportunity to redress significant historical challenges of which we had. That is what we were elected to do, Mr. Speaker, and that is what this Government will deliver on. So, Mr. Speaker, I wish everyone a very hap- py Bermuda Day and have a wonderful, wonderful weekend.

The Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Premier. Thank you, Members, for your contributions today, and thank you for allowing us to bring this de- bate to a conclusion today at a very reasonable hour. I trust that you all will have a very safe week- end and a safe holiday next week. Best wishes to you and your family during that holiday period. With that, the House now stands adjourned.

[At 5:01 pm, the House stood adjourned until 10:00 am, Friday, 4 June 2021.]

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