Good morning Bermuda.
I am joined by my colleague, the Minister of Labour, Jason Hayward, to highlight the initiatives for the Ministry of National Security as outlined in the 2021 Throne Speech.
But first let me provide you with a quick recap of the initiatives that we were working toward in last year’s Throne Speech.
The Ministry of National Security had committed to creating a Police Authority to facilitate an open and collaborative forum to support the Bermuda Police Service and the communities they serve.
I should note that a jurisdictional review has been completed to identify best practices and what will be ideal for a Bermuda model. The next steps for this is the creation of a draft policy for consultation with the Governor, the Bermuda Police Service, the Police Complaints Authority, the Attorney General and the Department of Public Prosecutions.
We had committed to introducing a National Crime Prevention plan that will focus on deterrence, rehabilitation and reintegration.
In terms of the progress for this initiative, a jurisdictional review has commenced to identify crime prevention programmes in areas experiencing similar crime activity to Bermuda.
Our next steps with this will be to complete the review and create a draft consultation document in conjunction with stakeholders including the BPS, Corrections, and the Gang Violence Reduction Team.
And we committed to introducing changes to the Fire Safety Act. This has been completed. The Fire Safety Amendment Act 2021 established the Chief Fire Officer as the Authority Having Jurisdiction over the application of the National Fire Protection Association Codes in Bermuda.
Turning to this year’s Throne Speech, you will note that Bermuda’s economic recovery and social renewal are the overarching themes of this year’s Throne Speech.
The Ministry of National Security will support Bermuda’s economic recovery by ensuring that the people in our neighbourhoods feel safe and that the local businesses in our communities are protected.
Initiatives, such as the National Crime Prevention plan, will continue to see the Ministry of National Security partner with key stakeholders to tackle gun violence and address the significant impact that violence has in our community.
As part of the focus on crime prevention and the concentrated efforts to reduce the number of road traffic offences, this Ministry will advance a new island-wide CCTV system.
The new CCTV system will include newer features to assist the police in tackling road traffic offences and violent crime. It’s anticipated that the project will be completed within the coming year.
An upgraded CCTV system will result in increased safety for our community, as a functional CCTV system will serve as a deterrent to potential criminals. The system will also aid in the identification of suspects in the event of criminal activity.
While the front facing crimes have been a key and central focus within this Ministry, we must not forget about the silent crimes that are more prevalent online.
At a click of a button, they can disrupt the day-to-day activities of an entire country.
We are committed to ensuring that Bermuda’s cybersecurity defences are adequate to protect our island from dangerous online actors.
During this legislative Session, the Government will introduce a Cybersecurity Act, which will establish minimum standards for cybersecurity for critical assets such as energy supply, telecommunications, water infrastructure and government data.
It’s anticipated that the legislation will be tabled within this coming session.
With the implementation of this policy, residents and businesses will be more aware of the importance of cybersecurity and will feel protected and secure.
Thank you.