2017/18 SESSION of the BERMUDA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT 28 February 2018 Sitting number 17 of the 2017/18 Session (pages 1211–1284) 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 28 February 2018 1211 BERMUDA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT 28 FEBRUARY 2018 10:02 AM Sitting Number 17 of the 2017/18 Session [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Yes, Mr. Speaker. PRAYERS The Speaker: Oh. Continue on, then. [Prayers read by Mrs. Shernette Wolffe, Clerk] Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: I read your Minutes, you know, actually. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES [Minutes of 23 and 26 February 2018] The Speaker: Go ahead. Continue on, continue on. Just let me be clear that the corrections The Speaker: Good morning, Members. The Clerk: Members, circulated at your desk are the are for the Minutes, and not the Hansard; am I cor- Minutes for the 23rd and 26th of February. We will ask rect? that if there are any corrections to be made . bring it to our attention now. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Yes, you are correct. I believe [I see], the Minister of Public Works. The Speaker: Yes, for the Minutes, for the Minutes. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Mr. Speaker, firstly, on the 23rd of February Minutes, the items number 5 and The Clerk: Okay. Okay. number 6, the dates are wrong. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: What I am saying is that the Hansard is correct. But the Minutes are not. The Speaker: Okay. th And so, this would be for the 26 of Febru- ary’s Minutes. And I will give you the time: 6:51 pm. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Actually, what I really want to correct is in relation to the Papers and Com- The motion that the Committee rise and report pro- munications to the House, mine. In fact, could I just gress is attributed to the Honourable Premier at the refer to the fact that the Hansard is correct in relation end of the Public Works debate; in fact, that would to Sandys 360, and the “form” of lease that was ta- have been me. bled, key word, because it was not a lease; it has a number of gaps in it. The Clerk: Okay. Okay. The Speaker: Okay. The Speaker: Thank you. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Yes? Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Thank you. The Speaker: So we will make the correction per the The Speaker: Hansard. Any other Members . corrections or omis- sions? No. With the indicated corrections that have Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: And the amount, yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. been made, can we have the Minutes . [Inaudible interjection] The Speaker: Thank you. Thank you for bringing that to our attention, Minister. Does any other Member have any corrections The Speaker: The electronic [version] will be sent out, or omissions? yes. We move that, with the necessary corrections, the Minutes of both sittings, the 23rd and the 26th of Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: I have one more on the next . February, be approved and accepted. As amended. The Speaker: Oh, you have a further one? The Clerk: Bermuda House of Assembly 1212 28 February 2018 Official Hansard Report The Speaker: As amended, thank you. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Minutes of 23 and 26 February confirmed, as amend- On behalf of the Minister of Transport and ed] Regulatory Affairs, with the Governor’s recommenda- tion and in accordance with section 36(3) of the Ber- MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR muda Constitution, I have the honour to attach and submit for the consideration of the Honourable House The Speaker: There are none. of Assembly the Marine Board (Seaborne Services) Amendment Regulations 2018, proposed to be made ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER by the Minister of Transport and Regulatory Affairs OR MEMBER PRESIDING under the provision of section 97 of the Marine Board Act 1962. APOLOGIES The Speaker: Thank you. Continue on to the next one. The Speaker: Yes. As indicated on the Order Paper, we have been notified by the Honourable Member, MARINE BOARD (PILOTAGE DUES) AMENDMENT Ms. Leah Scott, that she will be absent today. REGULATIONS 2018 And I would also like to add on there that the Honourable Member Kim Swan will be absent today. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Thank you, Mr. As you all know, his brother passed recently and will Speaker. be funeralised today. So I would just like to have that With the Governor’s recommendation and in acknowledged and have the House note that the ap- accordance with section 36(3) of the Bermuda Consti- propriate condolences be sent to his family. tution, I have the honour to attach and submit for the consideration of the Honourable House of Assembly MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE the Marine Board (Pilotage Dues) Amendment Regu- lations 2018, proposed to be made by the Minister of The Speaker: There are none. Transport and Regulatory Affairs under the provisions of section 103 of the Marine Board Act 1962. PAPERS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TO THE HOUSE The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. Continue with the third one. The Speaker: We have four papers or communica- tions to be tabled in the House today. I would like to MARINE AND PORTS AUTHORITY (PORT DUES) first recognise the Honourable Premier. AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2018 Mr. Premier, you have the floor. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Thank you, Mr. Hon. E. David Burt: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Speaker. With the Governor’s recommendation and in The Speaker: Good morning. accordance with section 36(3) of the Bermuda Consti- tution, I have the honour to attach and submit for the BERMUDA FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY PANEL consideration of the Honourable House of Assembly ANNUAL ASSESSMENT 2017 the Marine and Ports Authority (Port Dues) Amend- ment Regulations 2018, proposed to be made by the Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour Minister of Transport and Regulatory Affairs under the to attach and submit for the information of the Hon- provision of section 76 of the Marine Board Act 1962. ourable House of Assembly the Bermuda Fiscal Re- Thank you, Mr. Speaker. sponsibility Panel Annual Assessment 2017. The Speaker: Thank you, Minister. The Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Premier. The second . actually, the next three are in PETITIONS the name of the Minister of Transport. And I under- stand that the Minister of Works is going to present The Speaker: There are none. the three on his behalf. Minister, you have the floor. STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS MARINE BOARD (SEABORNE SERVICES) AND JUNIOR MINISTERS AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2018 Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 28 February 2018 1213 The Speaker: We are going to have those State- But she celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday. As- ments deferred until the next sitting, so we can move sociate MP Scott with those comments, please. She is right on. extremely feisty. I visited her yesterday with the Prem- ier, and she actually alluded to me that she was the REPORTS OF COMMITTEES baby in the group, because St. George’s actually has a 100, a 101, and a 102. And as a joke, she said, But The Speaker: There are none. I’m not going to have black rum and ginger beer, like my grandmother, who is 102 and still resorts to her QUESTION PERIOD medicine. But I just want to let her know that we pray for her. I actually know she enjoyed her birthday, be- cause she let us know exactly what she did. The Speaker: There are no questions written, and no Also, Mr. Speaker, Ms. Mary Basden, she Statements that were given today. So the Question th Period will pass on. celebrated her 80 birthday on Friday. And those of you who know Ms. Basden, she has had several CONGRATULATORY AND/OR write-ups in the Royal Gazette. But she used to be the matron of the physical abuse centre, for years, in St. OBITUARY SPEECHES George’s. And so, she has helped many families. And she continues to assist within the St. George’s com- The Speaker: Would any Member like to speak to munity wherever she can. that? Mr. Speaker, I would also like to give a happy I recognise the Honourable Member Commis- birthday note to my colleague who sits across the siong. Honourable Member Commissiong, you have way, MP Neville Tyrrell, on his celebration of 70 years the floor. of life. Mr. Rolfe Commissiong: Good morning, Mr. Speak- [Desk thumping] er, and thank you for acknowledging me. Mr. Speaker, as alluded to by you, one of our Mrs. Renee Ming: Wow, what can I say, Mr. Tyrrell? I Members has experienced the tragic loss of his broth- conveyed my birthday wishes to you already, but I just er, that being the Honourable Member Kim Swan, wanted it to be noted in this House that you are 70 from constituency 2. I knew his brother, whose name years old. And we wish you all the best. So, thank was Eldon Eric Swan, although he was affectionately you, Mr. Speaker. known by many of us as “Smutley.” The Speaker: Thank you, Madam, Honourable Mem- The Speaker: Yes. ber. Does any other Honourable Member wish to Mr. Rolfe Commissiong: And he represents a great speak? I recognise the Honourable Minister, Minister loss for our Bermuda family.