2017/18 SESSION of the BERMUDA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT 6 October 2017 Sitting number 5 of the 2017/18 Session (pages 265–360) 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 6 October 2017 265 BERMUDA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT 6 OCTOBER 2017 10:02 AM Sitting Number 5 of the 2017/18 Session [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE PRAYERS The Speaker: There are none. [Prayers read by Mr. Clark Somner, Deputy Clerk] PAPERS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TO THE HOUSE CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES [Minutes of 29 September 2017] The Speaker: Yes, we do have those. And I would like to recognise the Premier. The Speaker: Good morning, Members. Premier, you have the floor. I received the Minutes from the meeting of the th 29 of September. Are there any objections or any REFORMING THE TAX SYSTEM AND ITS amendments? ADMINISTRATION FOR FISCAL CONSOLIDATION No objections; no amendments. The Minutes are confirmed. Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good morning to you. [Minutes of 29 September 2017 confirmed] Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to attach and submit for the information of the Honourable House of MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR Assembly a report entitled “Reforming the Tax System and Its Administration for Fiscal Consolidation,” pro- The Speaker: There are none. duced by the Caribbean Regional Technical Assis- tance Centre (CARTAC) for the Ministry of Finance. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER OR MEMBER PRESIDING The Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Premier We have a further paper and communication, this one from the Honourable Minister of Health. APOLOGIES The Honourable Member, Ms. Wilson, you have the floor. The Speaker: Yes. I have received communication from Members who are absent today, and I would just like to acknowledge those Members. We have re- BERMUDA HOSPITALS BOARD (HOSPITAL FEES) ceived communication from MP Cannonier, MP Tinee AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2017 Furbert, MP Dunkley, and MP Baron. All have indicat- ed they will be absent today. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to attach and submit for the information of the Honourable House of APPOINTMENTS TO JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE Assembly the Regulations entitled Bermuda Hospitals ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LIVING WAGE Board (Hospital Fees) Amendment Regulations 2017, as made by myself as the Minister of Health. The Speaker: Further, I would like to announce that, for the committee that has been named the Living Wage Committee, the members from this House are The Speaker: Thank you. MP Commissiong, MP W. L. Scott, and MP L. K. I believe we have further papers and commu- Scott. nications, this time from the Minister of Education. Also, for the Chairmen of the respective Minister Rabain, you have the floor. House Committees, Standing and Sessional Commit- tees, you will find a package on your desks today that NATIONAL TRAINING BOARD outlines the guidelines for [your] committee, infor- ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2016/17 mation through recent meetings, and any other mate- rial that will be helpful to you. Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Good morning, Mr. Speak- er. Bermuda House of Assembly 266 6 October 2017 Official Hansard Report I have the honour to attach and submit for the community can be made aware of the recommenda- information of the Honourable House of Assembly the tions. Annual Report for the National Training Board for the Year 2016/17. [Desk thumping] The Speaker: Thank you. Hon. E. David Burt: Mr. Speaker, the report indicates Do you wish to do a further one? that the main objective of the tax review was to in- crease tax revenues. The former Government’s pref- YOUNG GEOGRAPHERS erence was to increase the revenue provided by exist- ing taxes, though they were open to proposals that Hon. Diallo V. S. Rabain: Yes. would expand the tax base and provide equity. Anoth- Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to attach and er objective was not to increase the size of the tax submit for the information of the Honourable House of administration, but rather to improve its efficiency and Assembly a textbook entitled Young Geographers, simplify compliance. Therefore, the introduction of a published by Panatel VDS Ltd., in conjunction with the full-fledged income tax, or a value-added tax, was Ministry of Education and Workforce Development. ruled out. Given this guidance, the CARTAC mission Thank you, Mr. Speaker. concentrated its effort on analysing taxation of labour, remuneration of goods and services, and of property, The Speaker: Thank you. and on reorganisation of the tax administration. Mr. Somner. Based upon the [aforementioned] guidance, reform options were to satisfy the following tax policy PETITIONS principles: increasing revenues at about 0.5 per cent of GDP annually for three consecutive years, with The Speaker: There are none. measures broadly based on changes in existing taxes and fees; simplification of the tax system—in particu- STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS lar, the rationalisation of the number of taxes/fees and AND JUNIOR MINISTERS broadening the tax base; and improving equity of the tax system by keeping the tax burden on the poor broadly unchanged relative to the current situation. The Speaker: Yes. Today we have, I believe, 10 Mr. Speaker, the review covered the main Statements. And we are going to recognise Mr. Prem- taxes, including the following: payroll tax, custom du- ier first. ties, stamp duties, all taxes and fees similar to an ex- Mr. Premier, you have the floor. cise tax on goods and services, and land tax. An in-depth review of the tax administration REFORMING THE TAX SYSTEM AND ITS and its procedures was also undertaken to identify ADMINISTRATION FOR FISCAL CONSOLIDATION how the tax administration could cope with proposed policy changes, and what were the reforms that could Hon. E. David Burt: Good morning, Mr. Speaker, and improve its operations—even if policy changes were thank you. not introduced. Mr. Speaker, in accordance with the Govern- The recommendations of the mission are in- ment’s commitment made in the 2017 Speech from cluded on pages 10 to 13 of the report, and I would the Throne, I am pleased to table the Caribbean Re- encourage Honourable Members and the general gional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC) Report public to review the report and recommendations, as [for Bermuda] entitled “Reforming the Tax System and this Government prepares to establish the Tax Reform Its Administration for Fiscal Consolidation.” The report Commission, who will also conduct a review of our tax was tabled in this Honourable House earlier today. system, but with a much wider mandate. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members are aware Honourable Members are advised that, in ac- that in 2015, CARTAC completed a review of Bermu- cordance with the CARTAC Operational Guidelines da’s tax system and its administration. The CARTAC for the Dissemination of Technical Assistance Infor- mission team visited Bermuda from September 29th, th mation, the Ministry of Finance has obtained the con- 2015, to October 12 , 2015, and met with various sent of CARTAC to publish this report. public sector officials and key stakeholders in the pri- Thank you, Mr. Speaker. vate sector. Many of these stakeholders requested access to the document which was prepared, but the The Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Premier. former Government refused to share its contents. In We believe there are further Statements. keeping with its pledges of transparency, this Gov- At this time, I would like to recognise the Dep- ernment has now tabled the CARTAC review in Par- uty Premier. liament so that parliamentarians and members of the Deputy Premier, you have the floor. Bermuda House of Assembly Official Hansard Report 6 October 2017 267 LONDON INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING WEEK Bermuda’s shipping registry is a category 1 AND THE CAPITAL LINK SHIPPING, MARINE member of the British Red Ensign Group of shipping SERVICES & OFFSHORE FORUM— registries—reflecting, in a way, our maritime heritage BERMUDA AND THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY that stretches back 400 years. In addition to maintaining the Island’s ship Hon. Walter H. Roban: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. registry, which has existed in its current form as a Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I recently successful international registry since the 1980s, the attended the London International Shipping Week Authority provides other related services such as ship 2017 Conference [Shipping Week], as well as the 10th surveying and certification, safety management, and Annual Capital Link Shipping, Marine Services & Off- maritime security audits. The Authority also issues shore Forum, which took place from the 11th to the seafarers’ documents. 14th of September 2017. The London conferences gave us an oppor- London International Shipping Week featured tunity to highlight our ship registry, which is the third industry functions and unique networking opportuni- largest of the Red Ensign Group, with 163 large ships ties for leaders across the spectrum of international totalling over 12 million gross tons. Bermuda has a shipping—regulators, ship owners, ship managers, strong registration in cruise ship registration, with the lawyers, insurers, and many more. Held every other flagging-in of the Princess cruise line passenger ships year, the Shipping Week is a highlight on the calendar fleet and its sister company, P&O Cruise line. It is fur- of the shipping sector, attracting, as it does, more than ther strengthened by the three Queens of the Cunard 15,000 industry leaders. lines. This is a unique sector of the market, which re- Marking its 10th anniversary, Capital Link’s quires our Authority to have specially qualified and Shipping, Marine Services & Offshore Forum, held in trained technical and operational staff to deliver regis- cooperation with the London Stock Exchange on the tration and support services.