2018/2020 SESSION of the BERMUDA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT 4 March 2020 Sitting number 39 of the 2018/2020 Session (pages 3309–3392) 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 4 March 2020 3309 BERMUDA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT 4 MARCH 2020 10:02 AM Sitting Number 39 of the 2018/2020 Session [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS AND JUNIOR MINISTERS PRAYERS The Speaker: There are none. [Prayers read by Mr. Clark Somner, Deputy Clerk] REPORTS OF COMMITTEES The Speaker: Good morning, Members. The Speaker: There are none. [Gavel] QUESTION PERIOD CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES [Minutes of 28 February 2020] The Speaker: They are carried. Members, the Minutes of the 28th of The Speaker: The Deputy Clerk: Carried over? February have been circulated. Are there any objec- tions, omissions or corrections? The Speaker: Yes. There are none. The Minutes will be con- firmed as printed. CONGRATULATORY AND/OR [Minutes of 28 February 2020 confirmed.] OBITUARY SPEECHES The Speaker: The Minutes of the 2nd of March have The Speaker: Does any Member wish to rise this been deferred. morning to give congrats or condolences? We recognise the Deputy Speaker. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR Deputy Speaker, you have the floor. The Speaker: There are none. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER Mr. Speaker, this morning I would like for this House to send condolences to the family of Glenn OR MEMBER PRESIDING (known to a lot of people as “Dingback”) Simmons. Glenn Simmons was a trade unionist later in his life The Speaker: There are none. and a very dedicated one at that, Mr. Speaker. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE The Speaker: Yes. The Speaker: There are none. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: I would describe Glenn Simmons as a freedom fighter. If there was an PAPERS AND OTHER injustice and there had to be a demonstration on that COMMUNICATIONS TO THE HOUSE injustice, regardless of the union, Glenn Simmons would be amongst that crowd in his colourful attire, Mr. Speaker. He was one of those trade unionists who The Speaker: There are none. would go to the end at any length just to represent his PETITIONS people, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Yes. The Speaker: There are none this morning. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: He was a bus opera- tor. And, Mr. Speaker, those who travel on the bus Bermuda House of Assembly 3310 4 March 2020 Official Hansard Report that Glenn Simmons drove, they could be assured The Speaker: Before you saw him, yes. that if assistance was needed, he would do just that, whether it be the tourist who wanted to know where a Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Mr. Speaker, we went certain place is, Glenn would be there. He also oper- to the same high school, and he was from the west. ated a taxi. And, Mr. Speaker, he was a soccer player. But, Mr. Speaker, even though I think his entire life, In fact, Glenn used to get on my nerves when he even if you disagreed on a subject or a matter and played against my team— had a fulsome discussion, he never carried that away with him anywhere. The next time he saw you he was The Speaker: He played for the team from the West always the same, talking his same smack, generally, End. Mr. Speaker. I think I would definitely like to extend condolences to his family and to his Bermuda Indus- Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: —because he would trial Union family. He will be sorely missed as a figure run the whole 90 minutes. He played for a team up the in this community, not just from that perspective, but West End. as an ambassador for this country as well. A spirit bigger than life, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Yes. The mighty Trojans, yes. You can I was recording last night about him. I said, get it out, the mighty Trojans. Yeah, he was bigger than life. He was louder than life too. Because you could always . there was— Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: The Trojans, as the Speaker has said. The Speaker: You knew when he was around. The Speaker: Yes. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: You knew when he was around. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: But he just ran the whole 90 minutes. And he would be a nuisance to de- The Speaker: Yes. fenders, Mr. Speaker. Glenn Simmons was one of the best golfers in this country and represented Bermuda Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: I think it is a sad day overseas. I think it was in the Eisenhower [Trophy]. I for the whole country, Mr. Speaker, his passing. And I think it was captained by Brendan Bees Ingham. look forward to being able to pay the proper respects Glenn was a colourful gentleman. You know when there is a celebration of his life. Thank you. when, whether it be Labour Day March or any other march, you do not have to look far to see Glenn Sim- The Speaker: Member Simons, you have the floor. mons, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, we want to send condolences also to his wife, his daughters and son, Mr. N. H. Cole Simons: Yes. I would like to associate and the entire family. Glenn will certainly be sorely myself with the comments made in regard to Mr. missed by not only the trade union movement, but Simmons. As the Minister of Works and Engineering anyone who knew him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. said, we went to Sandys together. He was a character there; he was a character in life and in public life. As The Speaker: Mr. Deputy, I am sure the House will the Minister said, you always heard him before you want to be associated with that as well. saw him. But he was a giving person, and he cared about people. Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Yes, yes, Mr. Speaker. And I will give you an example, Mr. Speaker. I would like to associate the House with those re- We were not on the same team politically. But we al- marks. Thank you. ways had each other’s back. And I remember when we had the uprising on December 2nd. I was left, The Speaker: Thank you. parked my bike and I was going to do to come up into I recognise the Minister of Works. the Parliamentary Chamber when people were cir- Minister. cumventing the Parliament. He said, Cole! Don’t go up there. I’m looking out for you. I’m looking out for you, Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Mr. Speaker, good Cole. Do not go out there. I will cover your back. Lis- morning. ten to me, listen to me. And that is the type of guy he was. We were on different sides of the spectrum. But The Speaker: Good morning. if you were his friend, he would look out for you no matter what. And that is what I appreciated about him. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: I would like to be as- The last time I saw him I was on the tracks sociated with those condolences as well. I used to down at Bailey’s Bay. I was on my horse, and he was always say about Glenn Simmons that you would hear coming on his pushbike, pedalling. And I said, Man, him before you saw him. what you doing on a bike? I had never seen him bik- ing. Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 4 March 2020 3311 I asked, What are you doing down this way? cation. You cannot give enough congrats to that kind He said, I’m picking up my bike and I’m riding of dedication. All you can do is sit back in awe at the it. somewhere, he said. He said, Hang on a second. person and say, Well done. Well done! Thank you for I want to talk to you. your dedication to Bermuda, and thank you to his fam- I said, Well, sure. What do you want to talk to ily for allowing him to sacrifice himself for what he truly me about it? believed in, a better Bermuda. He said, You know, I’m disappointed in some of the things that my political colleagues are doing. The Speaker: Thank you. I said, Who? Glenn, you put them in and you have to deal with it. So you go and give them the ad- Hon. L. Craig Cannonier: I would also like to give vice that you need. If you are disappointed, go talk to congratulations to . I had the opportunity to go to them. You need not talk to me. He laughed, and we the Motown show up at Southampton Princess. I am laughed and laughed and laughed. not sure how many Members of Parliament have had But that is the way he was, and that is the the opportunity. But my goodness! The talent in Ber- relationship that we had. A political boundary does not muda! We have always talked about the musical tal- provide any barrier in regard to our friendship and re- ent in Bermuda. To see that Motown show being put lationship. And if that is the case for me, I am certain it on, and I cannot remember all of the names. I know applies to other people throughout the country.