Hashtag: #BermudaLaws
Pettingill: Clause 6 Withdrawn From Amendment
Attorney General Mark Pettingill today [June 9] said that having considered submissions from various groups and following extensive consultation on amendments to the Human Rights Act, he has decided to withdraw clause 6 from the Human Rights Amendment Bill that was tabled in the House of Assembly on May 17th. The Centre for Justice previously said they... Read more of this article
No-Go Maritime Area By Westgate Proposed
Cabinet will shortly be invited to approve a new no-go zone for maritime traffic within a prescribed distance from the north-west shores of the Westgate prison, Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley said this morning [June 7] in the House of Assembly. Minister Dunkley also said that additional internal screening is being installed on cell windows,... Read more of this article
CURB Encourages Public To Sign Petition
CURB said they have “serious concerns” about a clause of the Human Rights Act amendment, which the group says “clearly appears to exempt the Police Service from being held responsible for harassing people by discriminatory behavior or racial profiling”. A spokesperson said, “Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda [CURB] strongly... Read more of this article
Centre: “Amendment Would Allow Harassment”
While the Centre for Justice “emphatically welcomes” the Government’s proposal to amend the Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, they have “grave concerns” about a clause that they said would, in effect, “allow the police to harass people.” “Given that the legislation is... Read more of this article
Ombudsman Tables Environment Charter Report
The Ombudsman has issued a third report imploring the Government to honour the legal commitments of the UK Environment Charter that it signed in 2001 saying that one critical commitment is that Environmental Impact Assessments [EIA] – including adequate public consultation – must be done before approval of major developments. Ms. Brock delivered... Read more of this article
AME Church Oppose Human Rights Amendment
The AME Church said they oppose the Human Rights Act amendment to include protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation as “legislation that endorses homosexuality violates God’s Word.” The statement from the Church comes as the Bermuda Government prepares to table the amendment today [May 17], on a day which also happens... Read more of this article
Age Concern “Disappointed” Over Non-Inclusion
The Board of Directors of Age Concern said they are “deeply disappointed and curious about the non-inclusion of age discrimination in the workplace” in the proposed amendments mentioned by Minister of Community and Cultural Development Wayne Scott. A statement from the Board said, “Although Minister Scott stated that he will also be... Read more of this article
Attorney General: We Will Amend The DUI Law
[Updated with video] Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Mark Pettingill today [Apr 24] said he concurred with the Magistrate who stated that a “blunder” resulted in driving disqualifications no longer being mandatory for drunk driving convictions, and said they plan to amend the law. Yesterday Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said... Read more of this article
“Blunder” Allows Man To Keep Driving Privileges
A 24-year-old Paget resident received a $1,500 fine but was allowed to keep his driving licence after he was allowed to re-plead to charges of driving whilst impaired and refusing to take the alco-analyser test. Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said there had been a legal blunder and that disqualifications were no longer mandatory for convictions for driving... Read more of this article
Chief Justice Enacts Criminal Procedure Rules
The Chief Justice has enacted new Criminal Procedure Rules which came in effect on the 4th April 2013, having been laid before the House of Assembly by the Attorney-General on March 18, 2013 and officially Gazetted on April 4, 2013. A Government spokesperson said, “These Rules provide for a streamlined process for the preparation and conduct of... Read more of this article
Hanson Optimistic On Advancing Human Rights
The current Government has committed to including sexual orientation in the Human Rights Act as a matter of priority and we hope this is implemented in the next few months, the new Human Rights Commission Chairperson Michael Hanson said. “I and the other Commissioners are honoured to be appointed and we are eager to get to work. We are optimistic... Read more of this article
10% Duty Increase For Cigarettes & Alcohol
Effective 1st April 2013, the Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2013 will usher in an across the board 10% increase in the import duty rate for cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. In the 2013 -14 Budget in February, Government said, “The duty on cigarettes and tobacco and beer, wines and other spirits will be raised in April 2013 to achieve additional... Read more of this article
