2018/19 SESSION of the BERMUDA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT. 9 November Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr.

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1 2018/19 SESSION of the BERMUDA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT 9 November 2018 Sitting number 1 of the 2018/19 Session (pages 1 6) 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.

2 Official Hansard Report 9 November BERMUDA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL HANSARD REPORT 9 NOVEMBER :00 AM Sitting Number 1 of the 2018/19 Session [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] PRAYERS [Prayers read by Mrs. Shernette Wolffe, Clerk] The Speaker: Good morning, Members. Welcome back after your summer recess. [Gavel] ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER The Speaker: Members, you know that we have a brief waiting period as we go through the formalities, [before we] go down below for the formalities. As you know, the Senate is now officially in this building in their Chambers. So, the Senate is doing their process of swearing in their new Members. And then, they will proceed down. And once they have proceeded down, we will send for the Black Rod. There will be two Members from this House who will take the message down to the Governor. They will go out and deliver that message and come back with the Black Rod. And then, we will orderly file out from here for the convening of Parliament on the Cabinet lawns. You can be relaxed at this moment. HOUSE VISITORS The Speaker: Members, you will note that we have Youth Parliament Members with us this morning. I see Ms. Lightbourne, the Youth Deputy Premier. And the Youth Speaker is supposed to be joining [us]. I am looking; I do not see him at the moment. I am sure he will be with us as we prepare to go down. The Speaker: Members, we will take order again. We have just received the signal that the Senate is on its way. So, we can start our proceedings. We will start with the Deputy Speaker, who is going to make his motion. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS 14 AND 21 Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move that Standing Orders 14 and 21 be suspended to enable me to move that a message be sent to His Excellency the Governor, Sir John Rankin. The Speaker: [Are there] any objections to the Deputy s asking for suspension of the [Standing Orders]? No objections. [Motion carried: Standing Orders 14 and 21 suspended.] The Speaker: Proceed, Deputy. DEPUTY SPEAKER'S MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR Hon. Derrick V. Burgess, Sr.: May it please Your Excellency. We are directed by the House of Assembly to inform Your Excellency that the House has met. The Speaker: Thank you, Deputy. The two Members who have been selected to take the message to the Governor can now proceed down to the Cabinet grounds. It is Minister Dickinson and MP Pearman. You can proceed down now. [Inaudible interjection] The Speaker: You have the message. [Inaudible interjections and laughter] The Speaker: Proceed... hold on one second, gentlemen. The Speaker: Members, again, as we are waiting, just a bit of housekeeping. You will note that the air quality in the building seems much better than what it used to be. We now have screens in the windows on the porch, and the air circulates regularly, which means, Members, when you are out on the porch, be

3 2 9 November 2018 Official Hansard Report mindful that your conversation will flow into the building. So, just be cautious [with your] conversation and keep your tone... [Inaudible interjection] The Speaker: Yes, yes. And keep your tone and content of your conversation at the right measure. We have now received the letter from... I am sorry. No, no. [Inaudible interjections and laughter] MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR The Speaker: Members, as we wait for the next portion, I will read out the letter that has come from the Governor. The letter indicates: I have the honour to inform the House of Assembly that I will deliver the speech on the occasion of the Convening of Parliament at 11:00 am today, Friday, the 9 th of November 2018, on the Cabinet Lawn. That is signed by Governor John Rankin. Black Rod (Superintendent Inspector Troy Glasgow): Good morning. Mr. Speaker, I have been commanded by His Excellency the Governor to request the attendance of your Honourable House on the Cabinet lawns forthwith. Members, we will now proceed down to the Cabinet lawns. I believe you have been given an order we are to follow. And we will follow that order. Proceedings suspended at 10:41 am Proceedings resumed at 12:15 pm [Hon. Dennis P. Lister, Jr., Speaker, in the Chair] The Speaker: Members, [as] per normal, the first Order will be that we will take the official photo. And then we will proceed with the business of the day. So, Mr. Photographer, once the Sergeant-at- Arms and Ms. Place finish distributing the Throne Speech, we are in your hands as to how you want us to organise ourselves for the photograph. Okay? The Speaker: Members, the photographer is going to provide instruction as to how he wants us positioned for this photograph. So The Photographer: So, well, first, hopefully, we can clear off the desks so we can get a great photo. Just declutter the desks. The Speaker: Yes. Clear your desks off so the photo looks nice and clean. [Group photo by DCI and LookBermuda] The Speaker: Members, we are just waiting for the Sergeant to secure the House and the photographer to clear out his items, and we will be ready to start today s proceedings. The Speaker: Mr. Premier, would you like to move your motion? SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS 14 AND 21 Hon. E. David Burt: Good morning, Mr. Speaker... Or, sorry. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I move that Standing Orders 14 and 21 be suspended to enable me to move a motion related to the Governor s Speech from the Throne. The Speaker: Continue. [Motion carried: Standing Orders 14 and 21 suspended.] MOTION THAT THE GOVERNOR S SPEECH BE TAKEN AS READ AND SET DOWN FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE NEXT DAY OF MEETING Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move that the Speech with which His Excellency the Governor was pleased to present to open the present session of Parliament be taken as read, and that the said speech be set down for consideration as the first Order of the Day for the next day of meeting. The Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Premier. Any objections to that? No such objections. It will be tabled for the first Order of Business at the next sitting.

4 Official Hansard Report 9 November [Motion carried: Speech from the Throne taken as read and set down for consideration at the next meeting.] CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES [Minutes of 10 August 2018] The Speaker: The Minutes of the 10 th of August 2018 to be confirmed. [Minutes of 10 August 2018 confirmed] [Crosstalk] MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER OR MEMBER PRESIDING 50 TH PARLIAMENTARY PRAYER BREAKFAST The Speaker: There are two announcements this morning. Just a reminder to all Members: Next Friday, November the 16 th, is actually the 50 th Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast. So, Members if you have it in your calendar, it is just a reminder for you to be present for next week s prayer breakfast. APOLOGY The Speaker: The other announcement is that we have received notice from the Honourable Michael Dunkley that he will be absent today. He is the only Member who has given any indication. MUTUAL RE-INSURANCE FUND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2016 Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: I have the honour to attach and submit for the information of the Honourable House of Assembly the Mutual Re-Insurance Fund Audited Financial Statements for the fiscal year ending 31 March Minister Wilson, I believe you have the next [paper]. Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Thank you. Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Good afternoon. HEALTH INSURANCE FUND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 31 ST OF MARCH 2016 FUTURECARE FUND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 31 ST OF MARCH 2016 BERMUDA HOSPITALS BOARD (HOSPITAL FEES) REGULATIONS 2018 Hon. Kim N. Wilson: I have the honour to attach and submit for the information of the Honourable House of Assembly the following: Health Insurance Fund Audited Financial Statements for the fiscal year ending 31 st of March 2016; FutureCare Fund Audited Financial Statements for the fiscal year ending 31 st of March 2016; and the Bermuda Hospitals Board (Hospital Fees) Regulations An Hon. Member: He is going to pay for it, too. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE PAPERS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS TO THE HOUSE The Speaker: We do have papers to be communicated to the House today. I believe there are some five papers on the Order [Paper]. I will call on the Honourable Minister of Finance as the first Minister to table his matters at this point. Minister. Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Yes. Minister of Works. Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Yes. LAND TITLE (STAMP DUTIES ACT) AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2018 Lt. Col. Hon. David A. Burch: I have the honour to attach and submit for the information of the Honourable House of Assembly the Land Title (Stamp Duties Act) Amendment Regulations The Clerk: As a note for Members of Parliament, the Bermuda Hospital Regs and the Bermuda Land Title Regs will be circulated electronically to Members.

5 4 9 November 2018 Official Hansard Report PETITIONS STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS AND JUNIOR MINISTERS REPORTS OF COMMITTEES QUESTION PERIOD The Speaker: No. There are none. CONGRATULATORY AND/OR OBITUARY SPEECHES The Speaker: There are none this morning. We are carrying that over until next week. MATTERS OF PRIVILEGE PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS NOTICE OF MOTIONS FOR THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE ON MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE INTRODUCTION OF BILLS GOVERNMENT BILLS The Speaker: Yes. I believe we have five Government Bills to be introduced this morning. Again, we call on the Minister of Finance first. Minister Dickinson, you have the floor. FIRST READINGS INVESTMENT FUNDS AMENDMENT ACT 2018 day of meeting: the Investment Funds Amendment Act 2018; and the Customs Tariff Amendment (No. 3) Act Deputy Premier, you can do yours next. DEBT COLLECTION AMENDMENT ACT 2018 Hon. Walter H. Roban: Mr. Speaker, thank you. I am introducing the following Bill for its first reading so that it may be placed on the Order Paper for the next day of meeting: Debt Collection Amendment Act Minister Wilson. NURSING AMENDMENT ACT 2018 Hon. Kim N. Wilson: Mr. Speaker, I am introducing the following Bill for its first reading so that it may be placed on the Order Paper for the next day of meeting, namely, the Nursing Amendment Act Minister De Silva. BERMUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY AMENDMENT ACT 2018 Hon. Zane J. S. De Silva: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing the following Bill for its first reading so that it may be placed on the Order Paper for the next day of meeting: the Bermuda Tourism Authority Amendment Act OPPOSITION BILLS PRIVATE MEMBERS BILLS NOTICES OF MOTIONS ORDERS OF THE DAY CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT (NO. 3) ACT 2018 Hon. Curtis L. Dickinson: Mr. Speaker, I am introducing the following Bills for their first readings so that they may be placed on the Order Paper for the next The Speaker: Orders of the Day. I think we have gone through the cycle of the Orders for today. Mr. Premier, would you like to move another motion for us?

6 Official Hansard Report 9 November ADJOURNMENT Hon. E. David Burt: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It would be my pleasure, Mr. Speaker. I move that this Honourable House do now adjourn until Friday, November 16 th. The Speaker: Any objections? No objections to that. The House will now stand adjourned until Friday next at 10:00 am. As I close, I would like to just thank the Members of the Youth Parliament again, the Youth Deputy Premier, Ms. Lightbourne; and the Youth Speaker, Mr. Thomas for their assistance today. [Desk thumping] The Speaker: Members, remember, this is the veterans memorial weekend, [Remembrance Day]. And there are many activities that we have been asked to participate in, and it would be nice for our presence to be felt. Thank you. Enjoy your weekend and your holiday. [Gavel] [At 12:20 pm, the House stood adjourned until 10:00 am, Friday, 16 November 2018.]

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