Minister Gordon-Pamplin Ministerial Statement: 

A year ago, in May 2015, the former Minister of Home Affairs advised the general public of changes to the processing of British overseas

The Hon. Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, JP, MP, Minister of Home Affairs wishes to formally advise the general public that on June 29, 2016, British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC) passports will be printed in the UK. The Bermuda Passport Office, the Department of Immigration will continue to receive applications for BOTC passports.

Minister Gordon-Pamplin wishes the general public to take note of the following key dates:

Madame President and Members of the Senate, in the midst of the celebrations of Bermuda Day and the remainder of this Heritage Month, a harsh reality has intruded on the lives of two families in our community. 

The past weekend's incidents were tragic and as I indicated immediately following, our first responsibility as citizens is to remember those families in our thoughts and prayers as they deal with such terrible loss. 

Madam President, I would like to take a few minutes this morning to remind all employers, work permit holders and Bermuda at large, that civil penalties are in effect and have been in effect since April 1, 2014.

Madam President, pursuant to the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Amendment (No. 2) Act 2013, civil penalties are levied by the Chief Immigration Officer for the following violations against the Amendment Act:

The Bermuda Government is cognizant of the judgment of the Chief Justice in the case of Bermuda Bred Ltd vs the Minister of Home Affairs and the Attorney General which came into effect today. In order to give effect to the judgment, the Minister shall this week be issuing instructions that non-Bermudians in a permanent same sex relationship with a Bermudian must follow in order to demonstrate permanency of the same-sex relationship and obtain an entry/re-entry letter from the Department of Immigration.