Live Blog: February 2013 Bermuda Throne Speech

February 8, 2013

[Updated] The Convening of Parliament Ceremony will take place at approximately 11am this morning [Feb 8] on the Cabinet Office grounds on Front Street.

Premier Craig Cannonnier and Members of Parliament will gather to hear the Governor George Fergusson deliver the Throne Speech, which outlines the Government’s Legislative Agenda for the year ahead.

The Ceremony will include a military aspect which will see the Bermuda’s Regiment’s newest recruits front and centre, and there are multiple traffic diversions and parking restrictions in place.

This will be the first ever Throne Speech from the One Bermuda Alliance, who took control of the Government following their victory at the polls in December 2012.

The new Speaker of the House will also be selected today, ending speculation that has been swirling over whether the speaker will be drawn from the Government MPs, or whether veteran PLP MP Randy Horton will accept the position.

There are 15 MPs who were newly elected to the House in the 2012 General Election: Kenneth Bascome, Nandi Davis, Suzann Roberts-Holshouser, Sylvan Richards, Michael Dunkley, Glen Smith, R Wayne Scott, Jeff Sousa, Leah Scott, Jeanne Atherden and Susan Jackson from the OBA; while the new PLP MPs are Walton Brown, David Burt, Rolfe Commissiong, and Lawrence Scott.

The proceedings will covered live on radio station ZBM FM89 beginning at 10.50am, and we will also bring live text updates through the day.

The weather looks as though it may not be poised to co-operate, with the Bermuda Weather Service issuing a Thunderstorm Advisory valid for this afternoon through tonight.

Live coverage has ended, scroll down to view the updates:

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Comments (42)

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  1. Will says:

    guarantee you there will be nothing on ending our failing drug war for the betterment of all people for this island, nothing on ending conscription, nothing on how they are really going to tackle unemployment..same ol Politrciks i guess…OBA you are losing my confidence especially after you showed your colours on how to tackle gang violence..NEXT GOV PLEASE!

    • Craig looby says:

      Your right will……and the politicians are deliberatly ignoring this solution….only gettin rid of political parties and getting rid of the westminster system will save bermuda…..the system has failed, and will continue to fail.

    • sonoso says:

      how about you actually wait and see what is contained in the speech before you go bashing the OBA and saying how they are losing your confidence, jeesh bie!

      • Will says:

        mate their best idea so far for putting a stop to gang violence is endorsing a national day of prayer..so yeh, excuse me whilst my confidences dwindles.

        • sonoso says:

          and you think the last 14 throne speeches by your illustrious gummint spoke to any better initiatives?

    • Zombie Apocalypse says:

      You’re not very good at predictions are you.

  2. M.P.Mountbatten JP says:

    Maybe the first for some under OBA , but not the UBP ..

  3. swing voter says:

    LOL just heard Walton Brown swear aligence to the Crown/Queen! What a bledy jok-er

    • Concerned Citizen says:

      Swing voter, it’s obvious that you don’t like MP Brown, since you are lying through your teeth. You obviously was not in the HOA as you would have realized that the MPs took their oaths in groups of 6 , and at the same time! Man, the OBA is full of demonic spirits!

  4. Yng Black Mind says:

    I am disappointed in MP Horton, but understand his choice. He knew that this was his last “go around” thus why not go out with a bang and the title of “Speaker of the House.”

    He should be removed from the PLP and stand as an independent – - but that won’t happen – - there is no integrity when it comes to politicians in this country – only the quest for power.

    Yng Black Mind

    • navin johnson says:

      don’t forget it pays an extra $15,000 per year as speaker…..

    • swing voter says:

      idiot, if Horton is expelled, so should Jennifer, LBE (RIP) and any other PLP member who has excepted an OBE, MBE, etc.and how does Walton Brown supress his ‘convictions’ whilst swearing aligence to the Queen? An obvious contradiction to his independance mindset

      • Yng Black Mind says:

        Again, his acceptance of the “Speaker” has nothing to do with the Mother Country!! Stop with the lame attempts to confuse the two. This has to do with the party position on not accepting positions within the Government while being opposition – -plain and simple. But OBA supporters can’t see that, can they>?

        Yng Black Mind

        • M.P.Mountbatten JP says:

          At least now the PLP have a better idea of who the mole was amongst them leaking info to the press !!

  5. Deliverance says:

    Wow Will… you gave the PLP Govt 14 years of Politrix to screw up Bermuda…. give the OBA at least the same to FIX the bleddy problems, man!

    • Crystal Lister says:

      The OBA is the problem- if they had original ideas maybe people would cease their criticism but since they are adamant about taking credit for the work the PLP has done and further proposing the same initiatives. This Quasi Government at its best, Knock-off Government is their new name

      • Rick Rock says:

        Don’t worry. No one will ‘take credit’ for the effing mess the PLP made of things. $2.4 billion in debt. The PLP are a bunch of lying self-serving idiots.

        Is Marc Bean going to be at the front of the queue for the voluntary drug test? No, I didn’t think so.

  6. Tired of Small Minds says:

    So Will do you give eberyone in your life one month to prove themselves then you move on? You are only expressing your preconceived assumptions. Give the OBA a chance. Parliament is just opening TODAY!!!!

    • Will says:

      parliament is just opening today..thats whats wrong with governments the world over..have to talk first before action..this entire time they could have been busting down doors arresting the KNOWN gang members..and yet they need their photo opportunity before all that..just in case it goes bad they have a good photo for stock files…

    • Will says:

      and speaking on the war on drugs and my stance to it…its a preconceived assumption for one good reason.. because i know they wont even mention it! if history has taught you anything is that it does repeat itself…and politics, well thats repeated itself for over thousands of years

  7. Fed Up says:

    Why can’t I rely on my Government’s technology to clearly broadcast the Throne Speech?? So frustrating!!! Bernews…..can you please stream it??? All I hear is static feedback on CITV. The radio too!

    • Autumn Fire says:

      Yeah, weird…We’re watching CITV while listening to 89.1FM, and reading BERNEWS! TGIF!!!

    • Craig looby says:

      Solar flaire

  8. tsol says:

    I’m off today and try to watch the Throne speech on CITV and the sound is so bad I can’t understand a word being said. Is this the best that can be done in 2013?

  9. bir says:

    any funny hats today??? to giggle at

    • fashion police ! says:

      speaking of funny hats,,i have not seen Coxy around must be in exile, also it does not surprise me about the retired foot ball player, they are all looking for hand outs, goota mantain that status quo,,plenty back door deals going on,,make me laugh,,just like Marley Says Dont Trust Pollticians,,

  10. Yng Black Mind says:

    I also note that there has not been any applause at all thus far in this speech – - normally, if people agree to the statements, they show their appreciation in applause – - interesting, isn’t it?

    Yng Black Mind

    • Zombie Apocalypse says:

      In the commentary aboce there are a few places where it says there was applause. That must mean people agreed to the statements. That’s interesting, isn’t it?

      • Yng Black Mind says:

        Sir/madame:

        If you were willing to be civil for one second, you would see that my post was listed before those two or three bouts of applause occured.

        But I’m not surprised that you didn’t see that – - not you.

        Yng Black Mind

        • Zombie Apocalypse says:

          I did see that. I guess that’s what you get when you make an observation and attempt to draw a conclusion when the speech is only half way through.

          Whereabouts, exactly, was I failing to “be civil”? I used very similar words to the ones you had used earlier. I don’t see how you can accuse me of not “being civil”. Are you mad because you were wrong?

  11. Will says:

    no OBA..continuing your fight against drugs is the wrong approach to take. You will only serve to disenfranchise further an entire segment of Bermudas population. Has recent happenings in the rest of the world not opened your eyes to different approaches to combat drugs. To continue the war on drugs and criminalise those who choose to use them is insane. Einsteins definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Well if im right in thinking that we have had 70 years of the same thing and it hasn’t worked..in fact its gotten worse.. FIX IT!

    • sonoso says:

      i concur mate. if the gummit was to decriminalize or legalize marijuana, just marijuana, then i guarantee you that an instant drop in small petty crimes will cease to exist and the courts will not be backlogged as they are now. majority of these young punks running around our streets are not hustling hard drugs, all they have are a couple quarters or 100 bags in their pockets looking for quick money. once they guys cant sell this weed anymore, i suspect they might have to actually get a real job- and be a productive member of society like i am, and purport that you are as well.

    • Crystal Lister says:

      I have to Agree with this most sensible comment, Right On!

    • Craig looby says:

      End prohibition

  12. Will says:

    why do we leave something like gay marriage up to politicians? why is it for politicians to decide who someone is legally allowed to love and spend the rest of their life with?????