Photos: Cabinet Ministers Swearing-In Ceremony
New Cabinet Ministers were sworn in on Tuesday, February 25, as Premier David Burt announced a reconfigured government team, including new appointments and portfolio changes.
Premier Burt said, “The Government will establish a new Cabinet team designed to deliver results more effectively and cohesively. Through a reconfiguration, each ministry now has a clearer mandate, ensuring fewer overlaps and faster action. First, let me announce the Ministers who will continue to serve in Cabinet to maintain continuity in areas that are foundational to Bermuda’s stability and progress: I will continue to serve as Minister of Finance, and the responsibilities of this ministry will remain essentially unchanged, with the exception of taking on responsibilities for Land Valuation, which previously came under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“Minister Kim Wilson, JP, MP, will continue to serve in Cabinet as Minister of Health. Her Ministry will retain its structure, driving universal healthcare initiatives and ensuring that neither an illness nor an injury leads to financial hardship for Bermudians. Minister Tinee Furbert JP, MP, will continue serving in Cabinet as the Minister of Youth, Social Development, and Seniors and will continue the vital work of protecting our most vulnerable, championing inclusivity, and driving initiatives that benefit the next generation. Minister Michael Weeks JP, MP, will continue to serve in Cabinet as Minister of National Security as we continue to implement and execute the National Violence Reduction Strategy and strengthen our uniformed services.
“Minister Jason Hayward JP, MP, will continue to serve as Minister of Economy & Labour, fostering continued economic growth and strengthening protections for workers. The Ministry of Economy & Labour will also take on responsibilities for the Registry General and Intellectual Property, previously under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Minister Owen Darrell JP, MP, newly elected to the House of Assembly as the representative for Constituency 15, will continue to serve in Cabinet as Minister of Tourism & Transport, Culture and Sport.
“Minister Diallo Rabain JP, MP will continue to serve in Cabinet but will now take on the responsibilities of the Cabinet Office & Digital Innovation. Minister Crystal Caesar will continue to serve in Cabinet as a member of the Senate and will be the new Minister of Education, continuing our work on education reform. Minister and Attorney General Kim Wilkerson JP will continue to serve in Cabinet as the Leader of the Government’s Senate team and progress the Ministry of Justice’s crucial mission of legal reform, rehabilitation in our prison system and robust justice for all.
“I thank these Ministers for their continued service and look forward to working with them again as we begin our new term in office. Before I announce the new ministers, I would also like to thank members of the House of Assembly who will no longer serve in Cabinet.
“MP Wayne Furbert has devotedly served, most recently as Minister of Transport, where he oversaw the implementation of digital fare media through the Shorelink app, helping to modernise public transport and returning year-round service from United Airlines for the first time since 2016. I am grateful that MP Furbert has agreed to continue serving by returning to the Ministry of Finance, where he will serve as Junior Minister and support the Government as we transition to a new financial structure that includes Corporate Income Tax.
“Now to our new ministers. Housing is one of the most vital issues our island faces today. Given its importance, this Government will dedicate a full ministry to housing, emphasising how critical affordable housing solutions are to Bermuda’s future. This Ministry will be responsible for housing policy and oversight, the Bermuda Housing Corporation, and Bermuda Land Management Corporation. In addition, it will also hold responsibilities for municipalities and empower local governance to work hand in hand with housing policy to develop livable, thriving communities.
“I have asked MP Zane DeSilva to return to Cabinet and serve as the Minister of Housing and Municipalities. To effectively address the cost of living, the Government must have clear oversight of the financial and regulatory issues that impact the prices that Bermudians pay. To that end, we have decided to consolidate Energy, Telecommunications, Regulatory Authority, and Consumer Affairs into a single ministry with a cost‐of‐living focus. This ministry, the Ministry of Home Affairs, is now directly responsible for addressing the high cost of essential utilities, ensuring that energy providers cannot indiscriminately pass along fees, and guaranteeing that any duty reductions on essentials actually benefit the consumer.
“I have asked MP Alexa Lightbourne to join Cabinet and serve as the Minister of Home Affairs. To ensure a more sustainable and well-maintained Bermuda, we have restructured the Ministry of Public Works to include a greater focus on climate resilience, creating the newly styled Ministry of Public Works & Environment. This newly aligned ministry will lead infrastructure development, waste management, and environmental transition — recognising that a modern, efficient Bermuda must also be a greener, more climate-resilient one.
“I have asked MP Jache Adams to join the Cabinet as the Minister of Public Works & Environment. Congratulations to the new Ministers… Alongside this strong cabinet team, the government will need a strong Senate team to deliver on our promises to the people of Bermuda. Under the leadership of the Attorney General Kim Wilkerson, I have asked the following persons to continue to serve in the Senate and serve as Junior Ministers:
“Ms Lindsay Simmons, Senator & Junior Minister for Youth, Social Development and Seniors, Home Affairs, and National Security. Mr Mischa Fubler, Senator & Junior Minister for the Cabinet Office & Digital Innovation, and Public Works and Environment. As mentioned earlier, Minister Crystal Caesar will join them. In addition, the newest member of the Senate team will be Mrs Lauren Bell, Senator & Junior Minister for Health, Economy & Labour, and Housing & Municipalities. The Constitution allows for two appointments from the House of Assembly for Junior Ministers. As mentioned earlier, MP Wayne Furbert will serve as Junior Minister of Finance.
“I have also asked MP Dennis Lister III to serve as Junior Minister for Justice in the House of Assembly. MP Lister won, for a third time, a seat held by the UBP and then the OBA for many years. MP Lister’s re-election as MP for Constituency 28, in difficult circumstances, underscores his hard work and dedicated service to the people of Warwick West and the people of Bermuda.”
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