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COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY ACT 1935

SECTION 1A

ISSUE OF COMMISSION APPOINTING THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION TO INQUIRE INTO HISTORIC LOSSES OF LAND IN BERMUDA

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred on me by section 1A of the Commission of Inquiry Act 1935, I, E. DAVID G. BURT, Premier of Bermuda, do hereby appoint

THE HON. JUSTICE (RET) NORMA M. WADE-MILLER, OBE, JP (Chairman)THE HON WAYNE N. M. PERINCHIEF, CPM, JP

QUINTON STOVELL

LYNDA M. MILLIGAN-WHYTE

FREDRICA FORTH

MAXINE BINNS

JONATHAN STARLING

(hereinafter, "the Commission ")

to inquire into the following matters, which are, in my opinion, for the public welfare:

Having regard to the Motion of the Honourable House of Assembly of 4^th July 2014 whereby the House of Assembly approved a Motion in these terms:

“THAT this Honourable House take note of historic losses in Bermuda of citizens’ property through theft of property, dispossession of property and adverse possession claims; AND BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House calls on His Excellency the Governor to establish a Commission of Inquiry into all such known claims and to determine, where possible, the viability of any such claims and make recommendations for any victims of wrongful action to receive compensation and justice”, to:

Scope of Inquiry

1.      Inquire into historic losses of citizens’ property in Bermuda through theft of property, dispossession of property, adverse possession claims, and/or such other unlawful or irregular means by which land was lost in Bermuda;

2.     Collect and collate any and all evidence and information available relating to the nature and extent of such historic losses of citizens’ property;

3.     Prepare a list of all land to which such historic losses relate;

4.     Identify any persons, whether individuals or bodies corporate, responsible for such historic losses of citizens’ property;

References to other agencies

1. Refer, as appropriate, matters to the Director of Public Prosecutions for such further action as may be determined necessary by that Office.

AND I DIRECT that the inquiry shall commence as soon as is practicable from the date of this appointment and shall be conducted in Hamilton, Bermuda or any other locations(s) which the Commission may consider necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the inquiry, and at such times as they may deem appropriate.

AND I FURTHER DIRECT that the Commission shall submit findings and recommendations to the Premier within forty weeks of the date of appointment or such longer period as the Premier may from time to time direct.

AND I FURTHER DIRECT that, without prejudice to the powers granted to the Commission under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1935, the Commission shall conduct such parts of the inquiry that it may deem appropriate in camera.

AND I FURTHER DIRECT that the Commission shall exercise all such powers as may be necessary for the purposes of this inquiry and as may lawfully be exercised by the said Commission.

GIVEN under my hand this 31st day of October 2019.

HON E. DAVID G. BURT, JP, MP PREMIER