Ministry To Spearhead Social Programmes

Government will attempt to rewrite the social contract with Bermudians during the ongoing economic downturn in a bid to soften the recession’s impact, Cabinet Minister Glenn Blakeney said yesterday [Nov.10].

At a Cabinet Office briefing, the Minister of Youth, Families & Sport said Government initiatives announced in the recent Throne Speech would be carried out under his portfolio.

The Minister announced details of a Youth Empowerment Scheme [YES] intended to teach unemployed young people trade skills, new legislation to bolster the Bermuda Family Council, to enshrine shared parenting responsibilities in Bermuda law and to outlaw discrimination based on age.

He also said eligibility for Government financial assistance may be extended to include seniors who own property — currently excluded from the programme.

“And the Department of Financial Assistance will review the eligibility criteria for financial assistance so that persons aged 65 and older are not automatically excluded from access to financial assistance due to property ownership,” he announced.

“This review has been prompted by some anomalies in a strict application of the eligibility criteria which are seen as unduly punitive. The Government recognises that this is a time when there is a need to ensure the appropriate safety nets are in place for those who are unable to work and to provide for themselves.”

He also said the Department of Human Affairs will examine the feasibility of introducing an Equality Act in Bermuda as a means of “comprehensively addressing all anti-discrimination matters including sexual orientation.”

The Minister’s Remarks Appear In Full Below:

Good Afternoon,

It gives me great pleasure to highlight several of the initiatives arising out of the recent Speech from the Throne that the Ministry of Youth, Families and Sports has been charged with carrying out. Our Ministry has often been referred to as the social services engine of Government. We take our role very seriously, and in these difficult economic times, our function has never been more important. We provide financial assistance to those who qualify for benefits, and we strive to protect children and resolve family dysfunction. In addition, our Ministry plays a pivotal role in continually seeking to advance the human rights of all persons in our community.

I will now discuss each initiative in the order in which they appear in the Speech from the Throne.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SCHEME

I am pleased to announce that the Ministry will shortly launch a Youth Empowerment Scheme (acronym – YES!) which is intended to help young unemployed persons aged 17–25 acquire onsite training and development in various trades.

This initiative is intended to provide an opportunity for youth, under the mentorship and guidance of skilled tradesmen and women from the public and private sector, to assist with the renovation and repair of historic properties and amenities across Bermuda and gain experience in trades such as woodwork, painting, masonry, plumbing, electrical, horticultural and other trades.

It is intended to use the “Springfield” Bermuda National Trust property in Sandys as a pilot project under the Youth Empowerment Scheme. The goal would be to repair, refresh and re-vitalize the interior and exterior building and surrounding grounds and gardens.

The Department of Youth, Sports and Recreation, which is spearheading this initiative, has been working hard to put all the pieces together to ensure the project is a success. Government has assessed the “Springfield” property and has decided to concentrate on repairing the large front verandah in the first instance. Plans will soon be submitted for planning approval; interviews with interested youth are in progress, and preliminary discussions have already been held with prospective skilled tradesmen.

This initiative would not only enhance the property itself, but would also provide an opportunity to improve programming at Government’s west end Community Centre, which is located at “Springfield”. The pilot project will be evaluated to measure achievement against objectives. Expected outcomes of this initiative could include 1) the productive engagement and on-the-job training of youth to enable them to earn a modest income whilst learning basic technical skills used in building trades 2) the acquisition of experience that can encourage youth to undertake further training and perhaps seek to establish careers in selected fields c) the ongoing repair and renovation of historic properties and amenities that will ensure aspects of Bermuda’s heritage are maintained and preserved, and 4) the transfer of skills and knowledge from one generation to another. Accordingly, we look forward to implementation of this initiative and the pilot project in particular.

MAKE THE BERMUDA FAMILY COUNCIL STATUTORY

The Bermuda Family Council is currently a non-statutory body which serves in an advisory capacity to the Minister of Youth, Families and Sports. The Council is charged with investigating and promoting initiatives that will support and strengthen all areas of the family life, and recommending solutions for specific areas of concern with the objective of strengthening the family.

In order to increase Government’s focus on family cohesion, the Ministry will bring forward legislation to give the Bermuda Family Council a statutory footing. In addition to conducting research and providing advice on family dysfunction, the Council will be responsible for promoting inter-agency collaboration on matters dealing with families.

It widely held that healthy families reflect healthy communities, and that good parenting skills are a cornerstone to family stability. In this regard, the Council recently coordinated a Symposium on Parenting Skills. Going forward, one of the key priorities of the Council will be to develop and promote effective parenting skills as a means to help strengthen the Bermudian family.

SHARED PARENTING LEGISLATION

I have just mentioned the expanded role of the Bermuda Family Council. Accordingly, the Council will be asked to examine and recommend a way forward regarding shared parenting. Shared parenting refers to a collaborative arrangement in child custody or divorce determinations in which the care of the children is equal or substantially shared between the parents.

The Ministry is aware that shared parenting legislation has been introduced or is being considered in many jurisdictions around the world. The Department of Child and Family Services, in conjunction with the Bermuda Family Council and other agencies, will consider whether amendments to the Children Act 1998 would be required to establish shared parenting, or whether standalone legislation would be more appropriate and effective.

It is important to provide parents with mechanisms to improve their ability to enhance the welfare of their children, and the Ministry intends to implement shared parenting legislation as one means to help accomplish this objective.

LEGISLATION TO ELIMINATE AGE DISCRIMINATION

This Government has recognized for some time that age discrimination, whether purposeful or unintended, exists in Bermuda. The number of persons aged 65 and older in our community is projected to increase significantly in the next 10 – 20 years, and therefore the potential will increase for older people to face discrimination and unfair treatment in many aspects of life.

The Department of Human Affairs has initiated a review of how age discrimination can manifest itself in our community, and is conducting research into how age discrimination is handled under human rights legislation in other jurisdictions. Many jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada and Australia have enacted legislation which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of age.

As Government moves to establish a national strategy on ageing, part of that strategy must entail enacting legislation to eliminate discrimination on the basis of age. This will be accomplished by amending the Human Rights Act 1981.

REVIEW OF ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Home owners are currently not eligible to receive financial assistance awards under the Financial Assistance Regulations 2004. This includes seniors, some of whom now find themselves in financial hardship.

The Department of Financial Assistance will review the eligibility criteria for financial assistance so that persons aged 65 and older are not automatically excluded from access to financial assistance due to property ownership.

This review has been prompted by some anomalies in a strict application of the eligibility criteria which are seen as unduly punitive. The Government recognises that this is a time when there is a need to ensure the appropriate safety nets are in place for those who are unable to work and to provide for themselves.

Accordingly, appropriate changes to the Financial Assistance Regulations will be sought in order to address cases where seniors are rendered ineligible for financial assistance based circumstances where they own their own home, but would otherwise qualify for assistance.

ASSESSMENT OF FEASIBILITY OF AN EQUALITY ACT

In keeping with its track record of dealing with sometimes controversial social issues, Government will continue to tackle the issue of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. While the Government is aware of the sensitivities in the community surrounding sexual orientation, it does not condone discrimination in employment and accommodation based on a person’s sexual orientation.

Accordingly, the Department of Human Affairs will examine the feasibility of introducing an Equality Act in Bermuda as a means of comprehensively addressing all anti-discrimination matters including sexual orientation.

Thank You.

#2011ThroneSpeech #BermudaGovernment

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