Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members will recall that on November 12th, I gave a Ministerial Statement on the 2021/22 Half-Year Performance. I also committed to report to this Honourable House on the updated 2021/22 Revised Estimates of revenues and expenditure, resulting from a detailed 2021/22 Mid-Year performance assessment. Further, I undertook to provide an update on the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Government’s revenues and expenditures for fiscal 2021/22.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to provide the House with an update on the present critical status of the Tynes Bay facility.

Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago on November 10th, in a press conference, I spoke of the critical state of Tynes Bay and our need to invest heavily for it not to fail. This morning, I will give an update of the ongoing battle the engineers and technicians at Tynes Bay are waging to get the plant back up and running – and the serious challenges we are all facing in terms of the island’s ability to dispose of its waste.

The Ministry of Finance acknowledges the Auditor General’s assessment of the unemployment benefit programme.

Mr Speaker and Honourable Members, in this year’s Throne Speech, the Government of Bermuda has reaffirmed its intention to implement universal health coverage for all residents.

Our vision for healthcare seeks to ensure that - “all people have equitable access to needed informative, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative essential health services, of sufficient quality to be effective, while also ensuring that people do not suffer financial hardship when paying for these services and critical medicines.”

Good Morning Mr Speaker,

I rise today to inform this Honourable House of the progress made towards the implementation of Bermuda’s Economic Recovery Plan (ERP).

Mr Speaker, Members of this Honourable House will recall the tabling of Bermuda’s Economic Recovery Plan by the Minister of Finance in March of this year and the subsequent debate on its contents. As a reminder, the Government undertook a three-phased approach to the development of the ERP.

Good afternoon.

[Thank you Minister Furbert].  As I begin my remarks today, I once again wish to acknowledge the continued contribution of our front line workers, to the protection and support of our community in the face of this unrelenting pandemic.

My remarks today are to provide some brief context on certain initiatives highlighted in last week’s Throne Speech that directly involve the Ministry of Finance.

Pension Fees

Good afternoon everyone,

Good day Everyone,

Thank you for your attendance today so that I can provide an update to the people of Bermuda on key developments that are relevant to the fiscal and economic situation in Bermuda.  I want to begin by extending my sympathies to all of those who have suffered loss because of COVID-19. I also wish to express my appreciation to those who have served, and continue to serve, on the front line and provide invaluable support and care during these difficult times.

Good afternoon.

I will start my remarks by thanking healthcare workers for all that they have done and continue to do in the midst of a global pandemic. Thank you for your courage, dedication and persistence.

Congratulations to Somerset Cricket Club for winning Cup March 2021! Congratulations to both clubs as well as the organisers for your performance and for your dedication to the sport.

I thank the Minister of Labour for inviting me to join him here today.

Good afternoon and welcome to Harmony Club.

The Ministry's Short Term Economic Stimulus Programme was launched in December 2020. This Economic Stimulus initiative is aimed at providing employment and building opportunities for small to medium sized contractors.

The project’s selection principles are to maximize the employment of the private sector while providing much-needed refreshing of neglected infrastructure.