Throne Speech To Be Read On Friday, Nov 6th
In order to adhere to physical distancing requirements, the general public is urged not to attend the Convening of the Legislature and Throne Speech this Friday [Nov 6], the Government said today.
A Government spokesperson said, “On Friday 6 November 2020, His Excellency the Governor will read the Speech from the Throne setting out the Government’s legislative agenda.
“In recognition of the 400th anniversary of the first General Assembly being established in Bermuda in 1620, the Convening of the Legislature will take place in Town Square, St. George.
“In order to adhere to physical distancing requirements, the general public is urged not to attend. Instead the proceedings, with commentary, will be carried live on CITV, Government’s Facebook page and local media. Coverage will begin at 10am.”
At yesterday’s press conference, Premier David Burt said, “The Legislature will be reconvened in St. George’s in recognition of a General Assembly being established in Bermuda in 1620. This is the 400th anniversary. To give you a history refresher, one of the first laws passed in Bermuda was a conservation law protecting turtles in 1623.
“For those who may not be aware, ours is one of the oldest Legislatures in the Commonwealth, and in the Western Hemisphere second only to the Palace of Westminster in London, home to Big Ben. In Bermuda, Members of the Colonial Parliament as it was called then, were holding meeting 150 years before the American war of Independence in 1776.
“Imagine there were arguments and debates in Bermuda’s Assembly, 150 years before the United States was even born; and for that we Bermudians should be especially proud.
“Throughout Bermuda’s long history of oligarchies, suppression of voting rights for women and for Black Bermudians, there have been necessary occasions where the Power of the People overturned Parliament’s authority; and Bermuda is all the better for it.
“This pandemic has certainly impacted our economy and changed how we live and work. However, the Government was elected to ensure that we continue the work of rebuilding Bermuda with Bermudians at heart.
“Unfortunately this year due to the pandemic there will be restrictions on the attendees in St. George. I hope that you will tune in to hear the legislative plan that the government has in store for this year.
“This Throne Speech will be shorter than in years past. That is because the government is going to lay out what we can deliver in the legislative year,” the Premier added.
Bernews will be covering the event live on Friday, with live video, updates and photos.
