Newly appointed Minister of Finance, Curtis Dickinson will deliver his first Ministerial Statement on the Report of the Tax Reform Commission in the House of Assembly this morning (Nov 16).

Mr Dickinson, has been charged with tackling Bermuda’s mounting multi-billion dollar deficit and is now in the process of producing his first national budget due to go before the House in February.

As stated in the Progressive Labour Party government’s second Throne Speech, tax reform and other financial initiatives top the list of priorities in this legislative session.

Other Ministers scheduled to give updates include Health Minister Kim Wilson, who will brief MPs on legislation for the Protection of Persons in Care. 

She is also scheduled to deliver an update on the Bermuda Sport Anti-Doping Authority Financial Statements and Annual Report 2018.

Minister of Labour, Community Affairs and Sports Lovitta Foggo will update the House on the latest Workforce Development Programmes, with an update on Succession Planning in the Public Service, by newly appointed Cabinet Minister Walton Brown.

Education Minister Diallo Rabain will update MPs on the Annual Report on the Bermuda College for 2017-2018.

Public Works Minister Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch will also brief the House on the Kings Wharf Rehabilitation plan.

Meanwhile, the first item listed on Orders of the Day is the Opposition’s Throne Speech Reply by One Bermuda Alliance Leader Craig Cannonier.

Other items listed include the Second Reading of the Investment Funds Amendment Act 2018, the Customs Tariff Amendment (No 3) Act 2018 and the Debt Collection Amendment Act 2018, in addition to the Bermuda Tourism Authority Amendment Act 2018.

Papers and other Communications to the House listed include:

  • Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Passengers by Sea) Order 2018, headed up by Minister of Tourism and Transport, Zane DeSilva
  • The Bermuda Sport Anti-Doping Authority Financial Statements for the year ending in March 31st, 2018 by Minister Foggo and
  • The Bermuda Sport Anti-Doping Authority Annual Report for the year ending March 31st, 2018
  • The Bermuda College Annual Report 2017-2918 by Minister Diallo Rabain and
  • The Bermuda Educators Council (Exemption) (2018 to 2019 School Year) Order 2018

Today’s parliamentary session gets underway at 10am.