SENATE OF BERMUDA Official Senate Minutes February 08, 2013 Electronic Version Senator the Hon. Carol A.M. Bassett, JP President Disclaimer: The electronic version of this Official Senate Minutes is for informational purposes only. Proceedings of The Senate 2012 - 2013 1 BERMUDA 11:00a.m. today, Friday, the 8th February, 2013 on the Cabinet Office Lawn. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE I further have the honour to request SESSION OF 2013 that at this time the Senate will be pleased to present to me its President. No. 1 Government House, 8th February, 2013. FRIDAY, 8th FEBRUARY, 2013 Senate met at 10:00a.m. in 10:04a.m. accordance with the Proclamation published by His Excellency the Governor and The Clerk called upon Members of the Commander-in-Chief in the Official Gazette on Senate to elect a President under the Monday, 4th February, 2013. provisions of Rule 4 of the Rules of Senate. Senator the Hon. M.M. Fahy PRESENT: nominated Senator Mrs. C.M. Bassett for the office of President of Senate. Senator the Hon. Mrs. C.M. BASSETT, J.P. Senator Mrs. J.E. DILLAS-WRIGHT, Senator the Hon. N.S. Brangman and M.B.E., J.P. Senator D.V.S. Rabain seconded the Senator J.S. JARDINE, J.P. nomination of Senator Bassett for the office of Senator the Hon. M.M. FAHY, J.P. President. Senator the Hon. N.S. BRANGMAN, J.P. Senator Mrs. L.A. WOOLRIDGE, J.P. There being no other nominations Senator Ms. A.L. SWAN, J.P. and no objections, the Clerk declared that Senator J.C. BARON, J.P. Senator Carolanne Marie Bassett had been Senator D.V.S. RABAIN, J.P. accordingly and duly elected as President of Senator Ms. R.D.L. MING, J.P. Senate. Senator M.G. DANIELS, J.P. Senator the Honourable the President ---------------------------------------- thanked Senators for their support. Prayers were recited by the Clerk. Senator the Honourable the President then made and subscribed before Senate the 10:02a.m. Oath of Allegiance, before taking the Chair. The following Message was received from His Excellency the Governor and 10:06a.m. Commander-in-Chief:- Senator Joan Elizabeth Dillas-Wright, (No. 1) followed by Senator James Stanhope Jardine, Senator the Honourable Michael Martin Fahy, Mr. George Fergusson Senator the Honourable Nalton Sinclair Governor and Commander-in-Chief Brangman, Senator Lynne Antoinette Woolridge, Senator Alexis LeShan Swan, Senator Jeffrey Caine Baron, Senator Diallo I have the honour to inform the Vincent Sekou Rabain, Senator Renee Denise Senate that I will deliver the Speech on the Lavern Ming and Senator Marc Geoffrey occasion of the Convening of Parliament at Daniels made and subscribed before Senate the Oath of Allegiance. 1 Proceedings of The Senate 2012 - 2013 2 Senator the Hon. the President then “Madam President, I most heartily called on Members of the Senate to elect a approve of your election.” Vice President. Senator the Honourable the President Senator the Hon. M.M. Fahy responded: nominated Senator Mrs. J.E. Dillas-Wright for the office of Vice President of Senate. “Your Excellency, I thank you for your gracious approbation.” Senator D.V.S. Rabain seconded the nomination of Senator Dillas-Wright for the office of Vice President of Senate. His Excellency was then pleased to There being no other nominations open the Session with the following Speech:- and no objections, Senator the Hon. the President declared that Senator Mrs. Joan SPEECH FROM THE THRONE Elizabeth Dillas-Wright had been duly elected as Vice President of Senate. Madame President and Members of the Senate, Mr. Speaker and Members of Senator Dillas-Wright thanked the House of Assembly, Senators for their support. The Government which was elected on 17 December 2012 is committed to bringing about safer neighbourhoods and streets and 10:11a.m. freedom from the violence that blights many of them. It is committed to a stronger, well- Senator the Hon. M.M. Fahy moved managed economy and reduced public debt. that the Senate do now adjourn to 10:55a.m. and re-assemble on the Cabinet Office Lawn The Government aims to increase for the reading of the Throne Speech - which employment and to improve educational was agreed to. opportunities for Bermuda’s young people. It aims to provide better care for our senior citizens and more affordable healthcare. At 11:00a.m. His Excellency the Governor arrived at the Cabinet Office Lawn, The Government will encourage respect in the and Members of the Honourable House of daily discourse — respect for each other and Assembly having been summoned by Black for our institutions and respect for the Rod and being therefore in attendance, His environment in which we live. Excellency then asked : The new Government believes it understands “Honourable Members of the Senate, the hopes of the people of Bermuda and sets have you elected your President?” out on its journey toward a new day, firm in its intention to act for the realization of those Senator the Honourable the President hopes. The laws and policies that the replied: Government brings to Bermuda in this new Legislative Year, and beyond, will be guided, “Your Excellency, I am honoured to simply and solely, by the best interests of the inform Your Excellency that I have been people of Bermuda. elected to that position and I now submit myself with all humility to Your Excellency’s All those who will be involved, whether they approbation.” be elected officials or civil servants, have been directed by the Premier to remember that in all their decision-making, it is respect for that His Excellency said: which we have in common — the human element — that must guide their actions. 2 Proceedings of The Senate 2012 - 2013 3 Madame President and Members of the recover, rebuild and restore the promise of Senate, Mr. Speaker and Members of the Bermuda — to make it Number One again. House of Assembly, Madame President and Members of the Bermuda is experiencing one of the most Senate, Mr. Speaker and Members of the challenging periods in its long and illustrious House of Assembly, history. Government begins its term in office with the The new Government believes it will need to country in poor economic condition. Bermuda find ways of encouraging increased levels of is finishing its fourth consecutive year of cooperation, trust and loyalty among all economic contraction. By contrast, the sectors of the community. Cooperation is economic contraction in the US lasted barely going to be of paramount importance in the one year. fight against violent crime, in the effort to create jobs and in the effort to manage our The weak Bermuda economy has affected Island so that all of us, rich and poor, Bermudians from virtually all walks of life: Bermudian and non-Bermudian, of all political international companies have left or stripes, have a stake in getting the job done. downsized, tourism remains weak, retail sales have leveled off after falling for 36 Failure to join hands across racial, political, consecutive months, property values have cultural, economic and business lines will declined, businesses have failed, thwart efforts in this regard. Tough decisions unemployment is widespread and some will be required. Without them, there will be people are in peril of losing the family home no resolution to the problems we face. because they cannot make the mortgage payments. Government has shared in the The Government believes that the decisions it distress. Falling tax revenues coupled with makes must be in the interest of the whole, stubbornly high costs have caused large not that of any special interest group and that operating deficits resulting in spiraling public our decisions must be centred on care for the debt. well-being of people. The Government hopes all Parliamentarians will embrace that The Government’s Jobs and Economic philosophy as it tries to restore Bermuda’s Turnaround Plan will put Bermuda on the quality of life. road to recovery by restoring much needed confidence, stimulating investment, creating Madame President and Members of the new jobs and laying the foundation for future Senate, Mr. Speaker and Members of the growth and shared prosperity. The House of Assembly, Government will simultaneously reform or abolish a number of policies, practices and Bermuda has the potential to soar in virtually systems that have hampered economic every sphere. Bermuda can shore up its growth. position as a world leader in insurance, reinsurance, international business and To promote job creation, the Government will finance. Bermuda can re-establish itself as a introduce amendments to the Payroll Tax Act premier tourism destination. Bermuda can 1995 and the Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995 have a first-class public education system and whereby local employers will be provided shape pathways for its young people to be on with a two-year payroll-tax exemption for the world stage. Bermuda can produce the new Bermudian hiring, from the actual day of next Earl Cameron, inspire the next Picasso, hiring up to two years from the date of that help cure disease and design cutting-edge day. computer software. There is no bar to our success. To expedite job creation, Government has formed the Economic Development This Government will take every measure to Committee [EDC] whose mandate is to reduce ensure that we live up to our potential and the red tape and time it takes to get approvals that no one is left behind as it strives to for large development projects from the 3 Proceedings of The Senate 2012 - 2013 4 planning stage to the job-creation stage. The unbiased and sound advice on the committee is comprised of the Premier as Government’s existing and future borrowing Chairman and the Ministers of Economic requirements.