Full Text & Highlights: 2014 Throne Speech
[Updated] The Governor delivered the Throne Speech this morning [Nov 7], which lays out the Government’s plans for the upcoming year.
Some of the highlights include plans to bring forward legal amendments to permit the use of specific forms of cannabis products for medical purposes, legislation to establish an America’s Cup Act, and Lindo’s, Supermart and The Marketplace continuing the 10 percent discount on Wednesdays until February 15, 2015.
It also included plans eliminate conscription and have the Bermuda Regiment to assume responsibility for inshore maritime patrols, expansion of ambulance service to improve emergency response in the eastern and western ends, amendments to allow roadside breath testing, and plans to solicit Request for Proposals to use the ‘finger’ peninsula at the airport for a large-scale solar photovoltaic facility.
The Throne Speech also contained plans for legislative amendments to give the Bermuda Health Council authority to name and shame employers who don’t provide health insurance for employees, an examination of Fixed Penalties Notices allowing Police to issue on-the-spot fines to persons committing minor offences, giving them the opportunity to pay a fine out of court and easing pressure on the court system.
Highlights, as provided by the Govt, of this year’s Throne Speech
- Development of continuous community-youth communications and support to counter the influence of gang culture
- Activation of Part 2 of National Training Plan to support the training and entry of workers into the workforce
- Expansion of Career Pathways programme to introduce M3 students to career employment experiences, helping them to focus on post-secondary education and career opportunities
- Development of a National Youth policy to give young Bermudians greater voice in decisions affecting their lives and the life of the country
- A new Energy Act to increase competition between power producers, in keeping with Government strategy to reduce energy costs
- Amendments to the Defence Act to eliminate conscription and provide for an all-volunteer regiment
- Bermuda Regiment to assume responsibility for inshore maritime patrols
- Amendments to Pharmacy and Poison Act to allow medical use of specific forms of cannabis-containing products
- New Police caution policy granting officers greater discretion in dealing with first-time offenders who might otherwise have been charged with cannabis possession
- Expansion of ambulance service to improve emergency response in the Easter and Western ends of the Island
- PATI to be operational on April 1st, 2015
- Grocers to extend 10% discount Wednesday through the holiday season, to February 15, 2015
- Amendments to Motor Car Act to allow roadside breath testing for safer roads
- A Children Amendment Act requiring courts to offer separating parents mediation for agreement on child custody and access matters prior to the issuance of co-parenting orders
- Merging of the Orange Valley Centre and the Opportunity Workshop to provide full range of programmes to its cognitively and physically disabled clients
- New Bermuda Health Plan to guide its mission for “Healthy People in Healthy Communities”
- Legislative amendments to give the Bermuda Health Council authority to name and shame employers who don’t provide health insurance for employees
- Request for Proposals to use the ‘finger’ peninsula at the airport for a large-scale solar photovoltaic facility
- Examination of Fixed Penalties Notices allowing Police to issue on-the-spot fines to persons committing minor offences, giving them the opportunity to pay a fine out of court and easing pressure on the court system
- Devolve responsibility of police to attend and investigate minor road traffic accidents to qualified individuals, supporting Bermuda Police Service strategic focus on combating guns, gangs, drugs and violence
- Opening Government Boards to broader public participation
- Amend Criminal Code to outlaw possession of child pornography
- Consultations underway to ease pressures on seniors through a reverse mortgage programme
- Formation of committee to examine domestic violence with a view to strengthening education, protections, support and powers of intervention for victims and perpetrators
- Commitment for a permanent location for Sports Hall of Fame.
The full 2014 Throne Speech is below [PDF here]
You can view our live blog covering the Throne Speech here, and all our coverage of the 2014 Throne Speech here.
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Articles that link to this one:
- Premier Dunkley's Post-Throne Speech Remarks - Bernews.com : Bernews.com | November 10, 2014
Is this a transcript that was written by a high school student and then presented by an adult who claims to be a politician, in all seriousness I expected a more in depth,hard core vision moving forward, instead it looks like a darn ox kissing program to give certain people a ear full of nothing.
We obviously read very different speeches!! Ox kissing….that’s a new one
Is this the part you didn’t like?
“There is much more sense of purpose and unity than any observer would guess from the politics as reflected in our media, our radio phone-ins…”
And your ideas Mr S? Pray to your magic man in the sky perhaps?
bermuda is not a democratic island
Now we’re giving solar power the finger?
good one sage! Ha
Headline worthy is Ariel Sands $85 million redevelopment which is about to break ground next week! Great news! A very strong sign of a full blown Tourism revival.