Video: Ministers Tinee Furbert & Jache Adams
Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors Tinee Furbert and Minister of Public Works and Environment Jache Adams held a joint media conference to outline key Throne Speech initiatives from their respective Ministries, discussing topics including the roads, marine conservation, the planned senior daycare facility and more.
Minister Jache Adams said, “Today, I am here to expand on the initiatives within the Ministry of Public Works and Environment’s remit and reinforce our responsibility to ensure that Bermuda’s infrastructure, public lands, and environment are properly maintained, protected, and managed for the benefit of all.
“Undoubtedly, the state of our roads, housing infrastructure, and environmental policies have been the subject of much public discussion. Whether it is road conditions, access to affordable housing, marine conservation, or air quality, these issues affect people’s everyday lives. The Ministry of Public Works and Environment’s focus is to ensure that Bermuda’s built and natural environments function properly, serve the public effectively, and are responsive to the people’s needs.
“One of the most immediate concerns facing the island is the condition of our roads. The wear and tear caused by extensive underground works, the ongoing need for resurfacing, and the backlog of maintenance issues have left many of our roads in an undesirable state. The Government is aware and is committed to taking action.
“This year, roadworks will be accelerated with an expanded paving schedule to ensure progress as swiftly as possible. Public roads will be prioritised, but the Government will also address the condition of private roads through legislative amendments allowing for greater intervention.
“Amendments to the Private Roads [Improvement] Act 1969 and the Private Roads [Lighting] Act 1984 will expand the Minister’s authority to install traffic-calming measures, safety mirrors, and lighting in areas where road safety has been a growing concern.
“The goal is to improve road conditions for all residents and ensure that public and private roads are maintained to a proper standard.
“A recent example of this commitment is the completion of the Scaur Hill safety enhancement project. This major infrastructure initiative involved reconstructing a 230-foot retaining wall along Somerset Road, which our dedicated engineering teams delivered on time and on budget.
“Alternative traffic routes were seamlessly established during construction to minimise disruption and removed upon completion. This reflects the ministry’s ability to execute complex projects without compromising public convenience.
“I would like to sincerely thank the area residents for their patience and generosity, including those who allowed the use of their properties for temporary detours.
“I would also like to acknowledge and pay tribute to my predecessor, Lieutenant Colonel David Burch. It was under his leadership that this project was initiated, and his commitment to improving bermuda’s infrastructure continues to be felt in the work we do today.
“Public infrastructure extends beyond our roads. While the Ministry of Housing is leading the charge to expand affordable housing, my Ministry will play a supporting role in ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place to facilitate this effort.
“Another area of significant public interest is marine conservation. In recent years, the Government committed to expanding marine protected areas as part of its ocean conservation strategy. However, the voices of local fishermen must be heard in these discussions.
“Their livelihoods depend on the ocean, and any policies governing its use must be both fair and enforceable. That is why the Government will pause the implementation of new marine protected areas while further discussions take place.
“This pause allows us to reflect on the balance between environmental stewardship and economic sustainability. Stakeholder engagement has already led to revisions of the marine protected area network under the Blue Ocean Prosperity Plan, including adjustments to site locations, protection levels, and access needs to accommodate shipping, infrastructure maintenance, and tourism.
“This work is not just about protecting fish stocks—though that is crucial. It is also about strengthening our resilience to climate change, maintaining biodiversity, and securing the long-term health of our ocean-based industries.
“The Ministry of Public Works and Environment will continue to be actively engaged in these discussions, working closely with the fishing community, environmental scientists, and industry representatives to develop a plan that reflects both science and local experience. Final proposals will be guided by the input of our people and will undergo additional public consultation before submission to the Cabinet.
“Each of these initiatives reflects the Government’s broader goal of ensuring that Bermuda remains a fair, stable, and affordable place to live. The work of the Ministry of Public Works and Environment is central to that vision. My Ministry is taking deliberate steps to improve the quality of life for all Bermudians. Thank you.”
Minister Tinée Furbert said, “The Government’s 2025 Throne Speech reiterated its vision for Bermuda which is “Building a fairer, more stable and affordable Bermuda, for the people of Bermuda.
“This afternoon I will share the 2025 Throne Speech initiatives and the ongoing 2024 Throne Speech initiatives that the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors will deliver in alignment with the overall vision – to build a fairer and more stable Bermuda.
“The Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors has adopted an unwavering focus on improving the quality of life for Bermuda’s most vulnerable population groups – our children and youth, persons with disabilities, and our seniors, ensuring that we create inclusive and supportive communities for all.
“The Ministry endeavours:
“1. To elevate the provision of social services by strengthening child protection laws;
“2. To introduce new legislation to support our population with disabilities;
“3. To ensure the setup of a senior daycare facility;
“4. Steer initiatives to ensure that every person who finds themselves homeless is supported;
“5. Amend legislation to provide seniors and persons with disabilities a personal care allowance; and,
“6. Commence the work outlined in Bermuda’s first National Seniors Strategy.
“We are committed to improving the quality of life and upholding the dignity of every person in our community.
“I will highlight how we will forge ahead to achieve these initiatives:
“The Ministry will conduct a full review of the Children Act 1998 to assess and strengthen the protection and welfare of Bermuda’s children. Under this Act, there is the requirement to provide care and supervision services for children in need, to safeguard and protect children from harm and to promote the integrity of the family. The Act also covers foster care, adoption, parental responsibility, daycare, and residential homes to ensure the overall welfare of children.
“The Department of Child and Family Services plays a crucial role in enforcing these legislative requirements. Therefore, the team will thoroughly review each section in the Act to determine the effectiveness of existing measures. Research will also be undertaken to ensure that best practices are in place, particularly regarding the mental health challenges faced by our young people.
“Where gaps are identified, legislative amendments will be proposed to enhance the safeguarding of our children. This review of the Children Act 1998 will align with the action items stipulated in the Child Safeguarding Committee’s National Policy which is “Working Together to Safeguard Children”.
“The Ministry is also taking significant steps to support and provide greater access to all persons with disabilities. Continuing with the 2024 Throne Speech initiative, the Ministry is actively developing Bermuda’s first Disabilities Act.
“Becoming the first Overseas Territory to have the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities extended to Bermuda was a momentous achievement, and we remain committed to building upon this progress.
“The Office of Ageing and Disability Services is leading the development of this landmark legislation, and significant progress has already been made. A comprehensive review of disability rights in legislation from multiple jurisdictions, including The Bahamas, Jamaica, the United Kingdom, and the United States, has been conducted to understand various approaches to protecting and enforcing disability rights.
“Examining legislative frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and policy implementations in these jurisdictions provides valuable insights into best practices.
“The team has held meetings with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities who provided key guidance on strengthening Bermuda’s disability rights framework. We intend to draw lessons from the development of Jamaica’s Disabilities Act 2014 and their organisational structure.
“Other consultation included discussions with the Human Rights Commission which focused on identifying gaps in Bermuda’s legal framework, influenced by the pending Disability Inclusion Survey report. Further stakeholder consultations will be undertaken with the Ministry of Education, agencies that serve persons with disabilities, and individuals with disabilities to ensure the legislation is comprehensive and effective.
“Recognising the need to enhance care for our seniors, the Ministry remains committed to improving senior services, including the construction of a new senior daycare facility.
“The site for the new senior daycare facility has been confirmed as the Gilbert Institute School building in Paget. This facility will offer subsidised services to improve the quality of life for seniors, decrease social isolation, reduce caregiver stress, and provide essential daytime support for families with work obligations. The Ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Public Works Estates Department on the renovations for this site.
“In February 2025, an architect was hired to create ‘as built’ designs of the existing buildings, and discussions have already started with the assigned project manager, Saltus & Associates.
“The development of the senior daycare facility is in response to a call from families and the community. It also builds on the four pillars that frame Bermuda’s first National Seniors Strategy that the Ministry released in December 2024. These four strategic pillars are:
1. Health Ageing
2. Empowered Citizens
3. Age-Friendly Environments, and
4. Community
“Ageing and Disability Services are actively recruiting a project manager to oversee and steer the execution of the action items associated with each of these Pillars in the National Seniors Strategy.
“The Ministry continues to work collaboratively with the charitable organisation HOME on the Strategic Plan to End Homelessness in Bermuda.
“Homelessness affects everyone. The Ministry will be steadfast to help implement initiatives that provide holistic support to all individuals experiencing homelessness.
“A key component of ensuring this is gathering housing data from both private and public sector agencies to establish a unified measure of homelessness for Bermuda.
“To facilitate data collection, the Ministry has co-funded software licences for the case management system In-Form, which will be instrumental in tracking not just the homeless population but also the types of housing that are needed.
“The Ministry has facilitated meetings with key charitable organisations, government ministries and government departments to emphasize the need for collaboration in implementing the strategic plan and specifically gathering the data on housing. These agencies will use the In-Form database system to provide critical data that will inform policy decisions to support housing for the homeless.
“The Ministry’s 2024 Throne Speech initiative introducting a Personal Care Allowance for clients of the Department of Financial Assistance who reside in nursing and rest homes is near completion.
“This initiative saw legislative amendments made in December 2024 to update the Financial Assistance Regulations and the Table of Allowable Expenses.
“As a result, Financial Assistance clients in licensed nursing and rest homes will receive a Personal Care Allowance of $100 per month. Changes to the Department of Financial Assistance’s software system have been made to accommodate this new benefit with the first payments scheduled before the end of this month, March 2025.
“As a Government, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting and uplifting all Bermudians, ensuring that they receive the necessary support at every stage of life.
“Through legislative reviews, new initiatives, and strengthened partnerships, we continue to work towards a Bermuda where every individual, regardless of age or ability, is valued, protected, and empowered. Thank you.”
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