Good afternoon and thank you for coming. Your Excellency, Cabinet and Parliamentary colleagues, Party Executive, family and friends.

In just over a week we will start a new legislative session with the presentation of this Government’s second Throne Speech. After almost 16 months in office, we have accomplished much of what we set out to do but there remains plenty of work to be done.

Let me first extend my sincere thanks to former Minister Michael Weeks who brought a valued empathy to the former Ministry of Social Development & Sports. His commitment will continue to serve the country and the Party well.

Today represents an opportunity to approach the tasks ahead with a team in whom the people of Bermuda can continue to have confidence. I am pleased to welcome Minister DeSilva back into the Cabinet and look forward to his characteristic hard work and commitment in any area he serves.

I wish to also thank the Financial Secretary, the Assistant Financial Secretaries and the entire Ministry of Finance team for their support, professionalism and expert advice during my tenure as Minister.

Special thanks go to Junior Minster Wayne Furbert, who has gone above and beyond in his role. I have asked him to remain in the Ministry of Finance for the time being, to assist in the transition of the new Minister and through the upcoming budget cycle.

I am confident that this same team will ably advise and support Minister Dickinson as he assumes responsibility for this most critical of ministries in Government. Curtis is strong addition to the front bench team and brings a wealth of experience to this portfolio.

Concurrently with these additions to the Cabinet, I have also taken the opportunity to realign some departments to better fit with the policy aims and objectives of the Government. These include:

• The Department of National Drug Control and the Department of Child & Family Services will move to the Ministry of Legal Affairs
• Minister Lovitta Foggo will now be responsible for Labour and Workforce Development in the Ministry of Labour, Community Affairs & Sports
• The Department of Energy joins the Ministry of Home Affairs under Minister Walter Roban; while
• The Department of Financial Assistance moves to the Ministry Health
• The Department of Immigration will now come under the Ministry of National Security while responsibility for ICT Policy & Innovation and Information and Digital Technologies moves to the office of the Premier within the Cabinet Office
• Minister Walton Brown now assumes responsibility as Minister for the Cabinet Office.
• To reflect the importance of communication, consultation and public engagement in governance in this modern era I have invited Minister Jamahl Simmons to focus on these matters as Minister Without Portfolio
• Minister Diallo Rabain will retain responsibility for Education as he focuses on the important task of Education Reform
• Minsiter David Burch will continue as Minster of Public Works and the Ministry will not change.

Prior to this change there were 11 Ministries in the Government and with this reconfiguration there will now be 10 Ministries.

One final change of note. As there is a constitutional limit on Minsters and Junior Ministers that can be appointed from the House of Assembly, Junior Minister Tinee Furbert will continue to advocate for the disabled, but will not have the title of Junior Minister. She has done excellent work in this role and I look forward to her continued advice. 

This Government set out a progressive agenda in its 2017 Election Platform and having won the mandate of the people, we continue on that path of change towards building a better and fairer Bermuda.