SENATE OF BERMUDA Official Senate Minutes February 15, 2012 Electronic Version Senator the Hon. Carol A.M. Bassett, JP President Disclaimer: The electronic version of these Official Senate Minutes is for informational purposes only. Proceedings of The Senate 2011 - 2012 1 BERMUDA Senator the Hon. Ms. K.N. Wilson, Government Leader in the Senate, nominated PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE Senator Mrs. J.E. Dillas-Wright for the post of Vice- President. SESSION OF 2011 - 2012 No other Senators were nominated for the post. No. 8 Madam President asked Senator Dillas- Wright if she accepted the nomination as Vice- WEDNESDAY, 15th FEBRUARY, 2012 President. Senator Dillas-Wright answered in the affirmative. PRESENT: Madam President declared that Senator Mrs. Joan E. Dillas-Wright had been duly elected as Senator the Hon. Mrs. C.M. BASSETT, J.P., Vice-President of the Senate. Senator Dillas- PRESIDENT Wright thanked Senators for their support. Senator Mrs. J.E. DILLAS-WRIGHT, M.B.E., J.P. Senator J.S. JARDINE 10:04a.m. Senator the Hon. Ms. K.N. WILSON, J.P. Senator E.D.G. BURT, J.P. On the motion of Senator Mrs. J.E. Dillas- Senator J.D. SMITH, O.B.E., C.P.M., J.P. Wright, the minutes of the meetings of Monday, Senator A.L.V. INGHAM, J.P. 12th December, Wednesday, 14th December and Senator D.V.S. RABAIN Friday, 16th December, 2011 were taken as read Senator M.H. DUNKLEY, J.P. and confirmed. Senator Ms. A.J. DANIELS, J.P. Senator M.M. FAHY, J.P. Senator the Hon. the President announced that, in accordance with the provisions of Section ---------------------------------------- 13 of The Audit Act 1990, a copy of the ‘Special Report of the Auditor General on the Misuse of Public Funds’, dated December 2011, had been 10:01a.m. forwarded to the President; and that the said Report was hereby formally tabled in the Senate Following Prayers, Senator the Hon. the for the information of Senators. Copies of the President lead a Moment of Silence in memory of Special Report may also be obtained on the former President of the Senate, the Hon. Alfred T. Auditor General’s Website. Oughton, C.B.E., who had passed away earlier in the week. Senator the Hon. the President announced that, in accordance with the provisions of Sections Senator James Stanhope Jardine made 24(2)(a) and 24(3) of The Ombudsman Act 2004, and subscribed before Senate the Oath of a copy of the Special Report of the Ombudsman for Allegiance. Bermuda entitled “Today’s Choices Tomorrow’s Costs - The Ombudsman for Bermuda’s Systemic Investigation into the Process and Scope of Analysis for Special Development Following on the retirement of Senator Orders”, dated 10th February 2012, had been Dr. Idwal W. Hughes, C.B.E., J.P. as Vice President forwarded to the President, and that copies of the of Senate in December 2011, Senator the Hon. the said Special Report entitled “The Bermuda Airport President called on Senators to elect a new Vice (Duty Free Sales) Amendment Act 2011”, and “The President. Customs Tariff Amendment (No. 3) Act 2011” -- which was agreed to. 1 Proceedings of The Senate 2011 - 2012 2 were hereby tabled in the Senate for the and at Rehabilitation and Educational information of Senators. Programmes available for Inmates. 10:06a.m. Senator the Hon. Ms. K.N. Wilson, as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, made a Senator J.D. Smith presented for the Ministerial Statement on the Nightlight information of Senate the ‘Police Complaints Programme, which is a collaborative effort Authority of Bermuda Consolidated Annual Report between the Department of Court Services and the for the Years 2008, 2009 and 2010’. Bermuda Police Service. Senator E.D.G. Burt presented for the consideration of Senate the draft Order entitled 10:31a.m. “The Development and Planning (General Development) Amendment Order 2012”, Senator D.V.S. Rabain, as Junior Minister proposed to be made by the Minister responsible for Education, made a Ministerial Statement on for Planning under the provisions of section 15 of the Teacher Qualifications Exemption Order The Development and Planning Act 1974; and he issued by the Ministry of Education. gave notice that at the next day of meeting, he would move that the said draft Order be approved. Senator D.V.S. Rabain, as Junior Minister for Education, made a Ministerial Statement on Senator Mrs. J.E. Dillas-Wright presented Changes in the Ministry of Education’s Policies on the following petition for the information of the First Admission of Students to Primary Schools. Senate and referral to the Joint Select Committee on Private Bills:- Senator D.V.S. Rabain, as Junior Minister The petition of Kenneth L. Bartram Jr. for Community Development, made a Ministerial and Norman C. Pogson, on behalf of The Statement on the Youth Literacy Programme. Worldwide Church of God (Bermuda), requesting the enactment of amendments to its incorporating Act, as more particularly set out in the private Bill entitled “The Worldwide Church of God 10:43a.m. (Bermuda) Amendment Act 2011”, which accompanies the petition. Senator J.D. Smith, as Junior Minister for National Security, made a Ministerial Statement on Government initiatives for ‘Community Action 10:07a.m. in Gang Prevention’. Senator the Hon. Ms. K.N. Wilson, as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, made a Senator J.D. Smith, as Junior Minister for Ministerial Statement on Ministry of Justice Government Estates and Information Services, Initiatives to address the increase in Anti-Social made a Ministerial Statement providing an update Behaviour, Violent Crime and Gang-Related on the ‘Establishment of a Cisco Local Academy in Activity. Bermuda’. 10:50a.m. Senator the Hon. Ms. K.N. Wilson, as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, made a Senator E.D.G. Burt, as Junior Minister for Ministerial Statement on the Department of Economy, Trade and Industry, made a Ministerial Corrections, and its various initiatives aimed at Statement on the Range of Training Programmes developing and enhancing the Training offered by the Department of Labour and Training, Programmes available for Corrections Officers, and the Job Placement service provided by the Department. 2 Proceedings of The Senate 2011 - 2012 3 Senator E.D.G. Burt, as Junior Minister for Senator D.V.S. Rabain associated himself Economy, Trade and Industry, made a Ministerial with the congratulatory remarks for the Statement on the Small Business Construction Cablevision Community Service Awardees and Incubator and Hands Up Empowerment Bermuda Cablevision; and he paid tribute to the Programmes offered by the Bermuda Economic late Bishop Norris Dickenson, whom he noted had Development Corporation. recently passed after a very long and very distinguished life as an exemplary man and a truly outstanding Bermudian. He noted that Bishop 11:03a.m. Dickenson had the distinction of being the first Bermudian to be consecrated as a Bishop by his The following Public Bills were brought Church and that he was great family man. up from the Honourable House of Assembly, and given a First Reading in the Senate:- Senator Rabain congratulated the Bermuda Gymnastics Association and the Team “The Police and Criminal Evidence Amendment Coaches on the tremendous success and Act 2012”; accomplishments of the Bermuda Gymnastics “The Human Rights Amendment Act 2012”; Team at the recent Manhattan Classic Invitational and competition in New York. The Team won multiple “The Revenue Amendment Act 2012”. medals; and he particularly congratulated Tabytha Hofheins, Sadia Wilson, Sydney Mason, Danielle Wall and Anah Lightbourne on qualifying for competition in major International Gymnastics On the motion of Senator M.H. Dunkley, Championship events. item number 1 on the Order Paper was carried over to the next day of meeting. Senator Rabain also congratulated Ms. Teresa Perozzi on recently winning the WBA Women’s Middleweight Boxing Championship in a 11:04a.m. boxing match held in Trinidad. Senator the Hon. Ms. K.N. Wilson paid Senator A.L.V. Ingham associated himself tribute to the former President of the Senate, the with the congratulatory remarks for the Bermuda late Hon. Alfred T. Oughton, C.B.E.; and she spoke Gymnastics Association and the Gymnastics Team of his excellent leadership and example of public on their recent success, noting that his grand- service, his tremendous contributions to the daughter is active in gymnastics. advancement of Health Care services for Bermudians, and his wonderful devotion as a Senator Ingham associated himself with husband to his late wife Jean. the tributes for the late Hon. Alfred Oughton, noting that he knew Mr. Oughton as the General Senator Wilson also paid tribute to the Manager and CEO at BELCO. He remarked that late Mrs. Martha Idona Carter of Somerset, whom Mr. Oughton’s real impact at BELCO was in she noted was a trailblazer in the community as a developing people at the company, particularly business entrepreneur, a beloved family young Bermudians, and that he was very active matriarch, a remarkable woman in many and forward thinking in labour relations at the respects, and an outstanding member of the Allen company and in Bermuda. Temple A.M.E. Church Family over many years. 11:20a.m. Senator Wilson congratulated Bermuda Cablevision and the organizers of the Cablevision Senator J.D. Smith associated himself with Community Service Awards banquet held recently. the tributes for the late Hon. Alfred Oughton; and She noted that the event featured some with the congratulatory remarks for Ms. Teresa tremendously talented young entertainers and Perozzi and the Bermuda Gymnastics Association. artists. She also congratulated the Community Service Awardees, and thanked Bermuda Senator Smith paid tribute to the late Cablevision for their sponsorship of the Awards.