Funding to boost counselling services for adolescents
The Government will provide additional funding to assist young people struggling with substance abuse.
David Burt said in the 2026-27 Budget Statement that the Ministry of National Security was allocated $137 million this fiscal year, a 7 per cent increase from last year.
The Premier said some of this funding, which is $9 million more than the ministry received last year, will support the Bermuda National Drug Control’s adolescent substance abuse treatment programme.
The Premier and Minister of Finance explained: “This is to address the fact that, at present, there is no specific addiction treatment programme designed to provide services to adolescents between the ages of 10 and 18 years.”
He added: “This increase will provide funding to cover the salary increases that were awarded to all government employees, while enabling departments to continue their recruitment drives to fill vacant posts in critical areas of operations within the Bermuda Police Service, Customs Department and the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service.”
Mr Burt said: “The ministry headquarters, as part of the National Violence Reduction Strategy, has been allocated funding to continue its support of outreach and counselling services in the community.
“This funding will provide for education programmes and anti-violence campaigns, as well as individual and family counselling and support services, all of which are aimed at reducing violence in the community.”
The increase in budget came after five people were fatally shot in three separate incidents last year and after a series of town halls aimed at aimed at decreasing violence in Bermuda.
Police have received a 7 per cent increase in Budget to $74.4 million, and the staffing allocation has been raised by 40 people to 473 from the current level of 432.
Mr Burt said $9.3 million in capital funding for the ministry will fund renovations at the Prospect police headquarters in Devonshire, new vessels for the Coast Guard and the completion of the unit’s maintenance shed.
This allocation will also allow Customs to build a new scanner building in Hamilton and the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service to purchase a new vehicle.
Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, told MPs in December that the building of the new Customs facility was expected to be completed this month.
He said at the time: “Our core operational processes will remain the same, but the facility itself will provide a much safer, more efficient and more functional environment for our officers.
“It will better accommodate our equipment, streamline our workflow and enhance the overall effectiveness of our operations.”
To see the 2026-27 Budget Statement in full, see Related Media
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