On Friday, September 12, your Progressive Labour Party government reported back on progress in areas that matter most to you: safety, financial security and opportunity for every Bermudian.

Safety first

After the recent tragedy, the Premier invoked the Governor’s constitutional responsibility for security and called for convening the Governor’s Council. The Governor answered the call and, working together, we will ensure that red tape is eliminated and that the Bermuda Police Service, Department of Corrections and courts have the tools they need to battle crime. Also, the National Violence Reduction Strategy is investing nearly $400,000 in community clubs, as well as restorative justice training for coaches, $135,000 towards crisis response for families, $60,000 towards youth mentorship and leadership development. Finally, $25,000 invested in Crime Stoppers is enabling increased rewards for tips that put violent offenders behind bars.

Securing public officers’ pensions

Public officers can now rest assured that their pensions will be there for them when they retire. New reforms will gradually move the retirement age to 70, update outdated approaches and secure the security of the pension fund for decades to come. All without reducing workers’ take-home pay.

Financial assistance reform

For seniors on financial assistance, the pension threshold will be raised to better reflect today’s realities and meet the needs of more of you. Also with financial assistance, mental health coverage will be expanding from six to 24 sessions a year, providing more of the support our people need.

Tourism investment

The Tourism Investment Act will be modernised to ensure that Bermuda remains attractive to foreign direct investment. Our existing attractiveness as a destination for tourism investment has been recognised with a new investment order set to be granted to restore the Elbow Beach Hotel property — creating jobs from demolition through opening day and into the future.

Support for families

Out-of-school programmes over the 2024-25 school year ran from 8am to 6pm during school breaks, giving parents peace of mind and children enrichment, and even camp opportunities. From 2026, youth entrepreneur expos will run three times a year to showcase budding talent.

Improving our roads

The Government has been consulting the public from September 22 on modernising outdated private-road laws, so the Minister of Public Works and Environment can step in with traffic calming, safety mirrors and other critical upgrades when safety is at risk.

Safer streets, protected pensions and stronger assistance for Bermudians in need — that’s what the PLP is working towards while ensuring that no one is left behind.

• Neville Tyrrell is the Government Whip and the MP for Warwick South Central (Constituency 26)