Premier the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, is pleased to announce the appointment of members of the Commission of Inquiry into historic losses in Bermuda of citizens’ property.
Speaking in the House of Assembly on November 1, 2019, the Premier said, “Honourable Members will recall that I advised this Honourable House on 31st May of my intention to establish a Commission of Inquiry to fulfil the mandate of this House as expressed in its Resolution of 4th July 2014.”
“Honourable Members will similarly recall that this now forms part of the legacy of the late Honourable Member, Walton Brown who was its champion. It is in our late colleague’s honour that I am pleased today to advise this Honourable House of the members appointed to this important Commission.”
The seven newly appointed commissioners are: Chair, Justice Norma Wade-Miller, JP, OBE, Lynda Milligan-Whyte, B.A., B.Ed., M.P.A., J.D, Ms. Frederica Forth, Mr. Wayne Perinchief, Ms. Maxine Binns, Mr. Jonathan Starling and Mr. Quinton Stovell.
Ministerial Statement: By The Hon. E. David Burt, JP, MP, Premier of Bermuda
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members will recall that I advised this Honourable House on 31st May of my intention to establish a Commission of Inquiry to fulfill the mandate of this House as expressed in its Resolution of 4th July 2014.
Honourable Members will similarly recall that this now forms part of the legacy of the late Honourable Member, Walton Brown who was its champion.
Mr. Speaker, it is in our late colleague’s honour that I am pleased today to advise this Honourable House of the members appointed to this important Commission.
Mr. Speaker, Bermuda is privileged to have lured out of retirement Mrs. Justice Norma Wade-Miller who has agreed to serve as the Commission’s Chairman. Members appointed are as follows:
- The Hon. Wayne Perinchief, a former Member of this House, Minister of National Security and Assistant Commissioner of Police;
- Ms. Lynda Milligan-Whyte, senior counsel practicing at the Bermuda Bar;
- Mr. Quinton Stovell, a prominent quantity surveyor;
- Ms. Frederica Forth, a former banking executive and an experienced realtor; and
- Mrs. Maxine Binns, consultant legal counsel with the Business Development Unit; and
- Mr. Jonathan Starling, Economic & Cooperative Development Officer with the BEDC
Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to advise the House that senior civil servant Ms. Marva-Jean O’Brien, most recently Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, has been seconded as Secretary to the Commission.
Mr. Speaker, now that the Commission has been appointed, Honourable Members and the public will be advised of the location of the Commission’s offices, their contact details and the Commission’s procedure next week.
On behalf of the Government and the people of Bermuda I am extremely grateful to the Chairman and members for agreeing to serve and conduct this important work.
Mr. Speaker, my comments in May bear repeating:
“.. truth can be uncomfortable. Unearthing historic wrongs may be inconvenient for some … (but) it is never too late for justice.”
Thank you, Mr. Speaker