Recently (May 13), Premier David Burt and the Head of the Public Service, Dr. Derrick Binns recognized the Attorney-General’s (AG) Chambers’ Drafting Section Administration Team, as the April recipients of the Public Service Excellence Award (PSEA).
The PSEA is a programme that aims to encourage outstanding achievement and recognize Public Officers who are demonstrating admirable service delivery. Each month an individual or team is selected for their outstanding public service accomplished in the last 60 days.
The AG’s team is comprised of four dedicated administrative professionals, Shanell Vaughn, Alicia Simmons, Dorianne Hurdle, and Sonya Simons.
With over 60 years of combined experience in the Public Service, each team member carries a vital role in providing office support to the Attorney General's Chambers Legislative Drafting Section.
Their tasks include producing and editing draft legislation, publishing statutory instruments on the Official Gazette, consolidating Bermuda’s legislation on the website www.Bermudalaws.bm, responding to queries from the public, and keeping detailed lists of matters relating to legislation for cross-checking.
The AG’s Drafting Team recently were integral to meeting the April 1st, 2022 deadline to enact this year’s budget legislation which was required to be produced in a very short timeframe.
The Officers were called on to support the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and other drafters by editing, preparing Bills and Statutory Instruments for the Legislature, liaising with Cabinet Office, the Clerk to the House of Assembly and Government House to secure the Assent process, and publishing the necessary legislation within deadline.
This small team have been praised as the “unsung heroes” of the Attorney General’s Chambers.
In 2020 there were 53 Acts and 154 Statutory Instruments (total 207), in 2021 51 Acts and 179 Instruments (total 230), and so far in 2022 14 Acts and 42 instruments (total 56). Each team member has played a role in relation to every one of these pieces of legislation.
Today, Premier David Burt, said, “It is truly a significant achievement for a small jurisdiction like Bermuda to have a current and accurate legislative database that can be relied on by Public Officers, lawyers, judiciary, parliamentarians and members of the public both local and overseas. Thank you all for this monumental accomplishment and your continued dedication and service to our people.”
Dr. Binns, added, “We are beyond grateful for the immense support you have provided to the Attorney General's Chambers and for handling a very intense workload with grace, care, and focused attention. Thank you for your dedication to the Public Service, and congratulations on your well-earned award!”