Live Blogging Parliament’s Debate

Below we are live blogging today’s [May 14] sitting of the House of Assembly for any political junkies. So far the Premier has spoken on his trip to Russia, Minister Neletha Butterfield has spoken on the May24th parade and the PACE Act amending Police powers has been spoken on.

To refresh your screen press the ‘F5′ key:

10am: Acting Speaker of the House Dame Jennifer Smith [PLP] begins. Speaker Stanley Lowe [PLP]  is not present as he is attending a funeral in Dominica. MP’s Michael Scott [PLP] and John Barritt [UBP] are also not in attendance due to travel and illness, respectively. Dame Jennifer asks for any Ministerial Statements.

10:05am: Minister of Works and Engineering Derrick Burgess [PLP] speaks on water issues; production, shortages, trucking logistics etc. Minister Burgess said they are working to reduce water shortages, and a new outlet for the East End is planned, Government having approved a 125,000 gallon tank in Southside, which is expected to be in use later this year.

10:17am: Health Minister Walter Roban [PLP] speaks on the Government’s work to improve services for disabled persons. He said they have worked with private sector entities, improvements to Government logistics in the area, plans to improve accessibility, a “relationship has been established with the Hustle truck initiative” etc.

10:27am: Culture and Social Rehabilitation Neletha Butterfield spoke on the May 24 Parade. It will begin at 1:30pm, and follow the same route as previous years [Front, Court, Church, Cedar Avenue, Dutton Avenue, Bernards Park]. There are 10 floats, and 49 entries to date. She thanks all participants and organizers, and mentions other May heritage month events. No mention of the Filipino withdrawal from the Parade is made.

10:34am: Premier Dr Brown speaks on his recent visit to Russia. He calls the UK’s concerns “unfounded”, says he met with Bureau Veritas, and a number of other Russian aviation officials. He said he was “struck by the consistent praise” for Bermuda’s registry, and they were pleased by Bermuda’s plan to open a satellite office in London. He says the UBP has tried to make the issue a “political football”, and the “issue is too serious to play politics”.  He goes on to list 11 points about the Registry. You can read his full statement here.

10:41am: Premier makes second statement about the movie to be filmed by an Indian production house, saying the movie will be filmed in the first week in September, the film will be released January 14, 2011, and said it will provide a short term boost to tourism.  He prefaced his comments by saying his trip to India was widely criticized, and says “in keeping with the usual placement of positive news for Bermuda as achieved by this Government, the Royal Gazette’s coverage of this announcement featured in the middle of page 7.”. You can read his full statement here.

10:45am: Ministerial statements ends, question period starts. Charles Swan [UBP]  and Patricia Gordon-Pamplin [UBP] question Derrick Burgess [PLP] on the water issues.

10:50 am: Opposition Leader Kim Swan [UBP] also questions about the water issues.

10:52am: Dr Grant Gibbons [UBP] questions Premier Brown about his Russia trip, asking why resources were allowed to be stretched which could cause “potential embarrassment to Bermuda”. Premier responds saying the findings came from results of an audit, and said they responded by contracting additional staff. Dr Gibbons asks when the Premier will table the letter from the UK, as he promised last week. Premier responds by saying the letter came from the Governor, and that he will share the letter.

10:57am: Congratulations and condolences begin.

• Zane DeSilva [PLP] congratulates Minister Paula Cox on the TIEA with Portugal
• Kim Swan [UBP] asks a letter be sent to new British Prime Minister David Cameron
• Wayne Perincheif [PLP] congratulates Nurse of the Year Lynn Jackson
• Neletha Butterfield [PLP] congratulates the Bermuda Equestrian Federation on their second place at the CEA
• Cole Simons [UBP] congratulated Nicholas Chilvers on his win in the Robotics field.
• Paula Cox [PLP] congratulates the Devonshire Church, saying their Mothers Day service was very enjoyable
• Jennifer Smith [PLP] congratulates young writer Corey Outerbridge
• Jennifer Smith [PLP] congratulates Nicholas Lusher

Various MPs send condolences to family of Brenda Fray, family of murder victim George Lynch, family of Doris Peets and family of Sarah Young.

11:12am: Cole Simons [UBP] is stopped by Acting Speaker Dame Jennifer from discussing the “famed Uighur situation”, with Dame Jennifer saying it is congratulations and condolences time.

11:17am: Minister Walter Roban [PLP] presents a bill on the Bermuda Housing Act, it is not read in full

11:19am: Minister Zane DeSilva spoke on The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 2010. It was further debated by various MPs and passed at abiyt 12:30pm, see here for full coverage.

—-Adjourned for lunch—–

2:00pm: The Liquor Licence Act is being debated, see coverage here.

3:29pm: Dr Grant Gibbons speaks to the Coco Reef Hotel lease situation, and asks for a copy of the lease to be tabled in the House. Speaks extensively to his concerns over Coco Reef and the lease situation. Says leases over 21 yrs needs approval from the House, which was not gained.

3:48pm: Louise Jackson [UBP] speaks to Government handling of mentally challenged individuals, says management of Fairview Court was unacceptable, speaks to rising costs of healthcare, FutureCare

4:05pm: Wayne Furbert [PLP] speaks to FutureCare, says the complaints over the Aircraft Registry is unfounded. Says Mrs Jackson’s constant refrain is “boring”.

4:18pm: Bob Richards [UBP] speaks to Aircraft Registry, saying he can understand the UK concern, as they have “ultimate underwriting responsibility for what we do”. Mentions the crash of the Bermuda registered plane, where 88 people died.

4:23pm: Patricia Gordon-Pamplin [UBP] also speaks to Aircraft Registry, says UK has “every right” to be concerned as they hold contingent liability.

4:42pm: Paula Cox [PLP] makes an apology for having facts wrong previously, in reference to her being Minister of Education.

4:45pm: House adjourns

—-finished—-

[Disclaimer: this does not represent every single statement made, and is not fully inclusive. All coverage is unofficial, and does not reflect official statements issued by the MPs. You can view live blogging from last week’s general debate here, and gaming debate here.]

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