Hashtag: #BermudaLaws
Covid-19: Bill To Allow Power To Close Locations
A Bill to provide power for the Minister of Health to prevent the threatened spread of a communicable disease by “closing schools, cinemas, churches, hotels or other places of public resort” was tabled in the House Of Assembly today. The Bill’s Explanatory Memorandum states, “This Bill seeks to amend the Public Health Act 1949... Read more of this article
Travel Ban: China, Iran, Italy, Republic of Korea
The Minister of Health has instated a “travel ban disallowing entry to visitors travelling from the four countries where there is sustained community spread of COVID-19: China, Iran, Italy, Republic of Korea: Daegu or Cheongdo.” A Government spokesperson said, “Last night the Minister of Health used powers under Section 9 of the Quarantine... Read more of this article
Video: Ceremonial Opening Of 2020 Legal Year
A special Court sitting was held today [Feb 14] to mark the Ceremonial Opening of Bermuda’s 2020 Legal Year, and you can watch the 45-minute video below. Related Stories 2 Hour Video: Legal Year Ceremonial Opening Photos: Special Sitting Of The Supreme Court Photos: Ceremonial Opening Of 2017 Legal Year September Is National Recovery Month Governor... Read more of this article
New Maternity & Paternity Leave Laws In Effect
The new law which allows for 13 weeks of paid maternity leave and 5 days of paid paternity leave is now in effect. The Government posted the image below, which states: “All businesses should note that the Employment [Maternity Leave Extension and Paternity Leave] Amendment Act takes effect on Wednesday, January 1, 2020. “The amendments extends... Read more of this article
Column: Maternity & Paternity Leave Reform
[Opinion column written by MP Tinee Furbert] In the Progressive Labour Party’s 2017 Election Platform, our party promised to extend paid maternity leave and introduce paid paternity leave. Recently, in the House of Assembly, I was proud to see that promised fulfilled with the passage of the Government’s Employment [Maternity Leave Extension... Read more of this article
Extend Maternity Leave, Provide Paternity Leave
A Bill that will provide for vacation leave after the first six months of continuous employment, extend the maternity leave time, and provide for paternity leave recently passed in the House of Assembly. The Bill’s explanatory memorandum said it “provides that an employee who has completed the first six months of continuous employment shall... Read more of this article
September Is National Recovery Month
September is National Recovery Month and the Department for National Drug Control [DNDC], the Ministry of Legal Affairs and treatment agencies across the island will hold several events to educate Bermuda about substance use, treatment and mental health services. “There are hundreds of Bermudians whose lives have been transformed through recovery.... Read more of this article
Registry General On Intellectual Property Rights
The Department of the Registry General and the Office of Intellectual Property are reminding the public to “take the necessary steps to protect their intellectual property rights.” “Intellectual property [IP] qualifies as something novel or the intangible creation of the human intellect. An idea alone is not intellectual property.... Read more of this article
Law Reform Commission Members Appointed
Delroy Duncan has been appointed the Chairperson of the Law Reform Commission, Attorney-General Kathy Lynn Simmons said today, with Senator Simmons also noting that five Commissioners have been appointed; Michael Scott, Mark Pettingill, Rod Attride-Stirling, Kim Wilkerson and Jacqueline Maclellan. Speaking in the Senate today, Senator Simmons said,... Read more of this article
Increase Maternity Leave, Provide Paternity Leave
This Bill increases maternity leave and provides for paternity leave for the first time in the Legislation, Minister of Labour, Community Affairs and Sports Lovitta Foggo said in the House of Assembly on Friday. “The tabling today of the Employment [Maternity Leave Extension and Paternity Leave] Amendment Act 2019 is the first of a number of proposed... Read more of this article
Minister: ‘Modernisation Of Labour Legislation’
It is the Government’s intent to bring forward changes to labour legislation before the end of this year, Minister of Labour, Community Affairs and Sports Lovitta Foggo said, with the changes including provision for increased maternity leave from 8 weeks to 13 weeks, and provision for 5 days paternity leave. Speaking in the House of Assembly today... Read more of this article
Rangers Sports Club Liquor Licence Renewed
The Liquor Licencing Authority has granted the licence renewal for Southampton Rangers Sports Club but with several conditions. Superintendent James Howard said, “A Liquor Licencing Authority hearing was held on Thursday 30th May 2019 regarding Southampton Rangers Sports Club’s request to renew their liquor licence. “Representatives for... Read more of this article
Liquor Licence Amendment Act Tabled
The Liquor Licence Amendment Bill 2019 was tabled in the Legislature “to introduce much needed reforms to our liquor licensing laws,” Attorney-General Kathy Simmons said. Attorney-General Simmons said, “The Bill marks the first comprehensive reform of the Liquor Licence Act, which came into operation 45 years ago in 1974. This reform is a... Read more of this article
‘Two Major Weaknesses Of The Legal System’
“Bermuda has a robust court system that upholds and enforces fundamental rights” however “there are two major weaknesses of the legal system in Bermuda [and, presumably, other overseas territories]: access to justice and protection of fundamental rights, particularly for the most vulnerable.” This is according to local lawyers... Read more of this article
2 Hour Video: Legal Year Ceremonial Opening
[Updated] A special Court sitting is being held this afternoon [Jan 26] to mark the Ceremonial Opening of Bermuda’s 2018 Legal Year, with today’s sitting marking the final Ceremonial Opening at which Chief Justice Ian Kawaley will preside. You can tune in and watch live below, and we will try and update with additional information and photos... Read more of this article
AG: ‘Reduce Our Dependency On Outsourcing’
“Since 2013 Government has retained approximately 65 outside legal service providers to pursue various matters at a total cost to date of approximately 24.5 million dollars,” Attorney-General Kathy Lynn Simmons said, adding that “measures are warranted to increase our capacity to internally meet Government’s legal services needs... Read more of this article
