Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

Since Bermuda's Legislature was last convened, every country in the world has been made to confront the challenges presented by the state of the global economy. Bermuda has been no exception. Although the economy and its various effects on our lives as an Island will dominate our discourse in this Session, it is incumbent on governments everywhere to remain steadfast and confident in the ability of its people and systems to weather the storm and in so doing to still pursue a vision for a country that sensibly delivers on the needs of the people and successfully discharges the responsibility of government.

In a commentary on the global economic crisis, the Booker Prize winning author Ben Okri recently observed: "What we need now more than ever is a vision beyond the event, a vision of renewal".

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

The vision of renewal must begin with the family and our youth. This Government believes that investment in youth today yields better citizenry tomorrow. The Government is satisfied that comprehensive financial support is in place and students have no bar to tertiary academic support and this will be maintained. However, our youth whose talents lay in other areas must also be encouraged and provided with similar opportunities.

The Government will establish Apprenticeship Regulations in support of the National Training Board Act 1997 to provide a legislative basis for the National Training Board to regulate formal apprenticeship contracts through guidelines for the management and operations of the National Apprenticeship System. This will ensure that Bermuda's youth have internationally recognised technical qualifications and a legislative framework that promotes training and produces a better trained trades-workforce.

Career guidance must be cogent, timely and real. Accordingly, the Government will work with our Guidance Counsellors and teachers to ensure that students within our public school system receive the best career advice possible, recognising their strengths and asserting the dignity of careers outside of academic pursuits. In this regard, the Government will create a One-Stop Career Centre to provide a single venue designed to assist young people in exploring and determining career options, assist with job placement and facilitate referrals for further training. We must prepare our young people to compete locally by achieving a global standard.

The Government's Jumpstart Programme has been well received and therefore, as an adjunct to that exposure of young people to public sector careers, the Government will expand the summer employment programme and increase the numbers of students employed in the public service during their summer breaks.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

Too often the image of Bermuda is cultivated by those who know us least. Communicative media skill must be strengthened in Bermuda and accordingly, the Government will offer mentoring and internship programmes within the Department of Communication and Information in the areas of CITV, public affairs and graphic design. We must grow trained, exposed Bermudian journalists and the Government intends to cultivate the latent interest in these careers through its own relationships with overseas news and broadcasting agencies.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

In successive years in this Government's tenure the seniors of this community have been well provided for through a variety of financial, social and cultural enhancements. The Government's vision for renewal can only be strengthened through the active participation of our seniors. As such, the Government will convene a summit of stakeholders, calling upon existing, successful community organisations to assist in determining policy priorities for seniors and then to monitor the success of those policies. In addition to the pending implementation of FutureCare, the Government will review the cost and availability of prescription drugs.

The Government will undertake work on the replacement facility for the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. The new facility will cost less than half of the original proposed price, include comprehensive health services in partnership with some of the most recognised healthcare institutions in North America and be constructed on the existing site and not infringe on the Botanical Gardens.

Chronic diseases continue to account for a disproportionate amount of health challenges in Bermuda. Through a full Government effort, wellness, fitness and aggressive programmes to curb lifestyles that lead to diabetes, hypertension and obesity will be a major focus of the Ministry of Health.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

The bold steps made by this Government in reversing the decline in our public education system will continue. Having addressed the structural and organisational issues the success of the reforms will begin to be made manifest in the results of this school year. In a partnership between the Ministries of Education and Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, the Government will concentrate on arresting the trend of anti-social behaviour in the school setting. Growing incidences of gang-style activity will not be tolerated and students and faculty will be provided with safe environments in which to learn and teach respectively.

Recognised, successful strategies will be developed to match the anti-social behaviour and will range from conversations with those responsible through to prosecution in the worst cases. Every effort must be made to save those young people who are caught in the cycle of destructive behaviour.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

The Ministry of Education will cause a greater emphasis on early childhood education and commits to working collaboratively with the educators in this field to do the best for young children. Further, to ensure the fair implementation of the accountability model in the public school system, school assistance teams for school improvement will be created. Schools in need of assistance will be provided with personnel whose role will be the implementation of strategies to improve student learning. This will include individuals with a demonstrated track record of success.

Work on a five-year strategic plan is underway and it is intended to focus on key actions required to consistently improve the quality of teaching in schools and to ensure that our students achieve the high standards that this global economy demands.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

The evidence of poor choices on our roads sadly confronts us. To reverse the trend of this destructive behaviour, the Government will introduce a system of graduated licensing for first-time driving licence holders. The issuance of a licence at each successive level will be contingent upon a defined period without road traffic offences and on qualifying through road tests. Amendments to the Auxiliary Bicycles Act 1954 will be made to give effect to this scheme. Additionally, the Government will introduce a Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan which will reflect a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism and Transport and the Bermuda Police Service.

Recognising the gaps in the transport system for disabled persons, in consultation with other stakeholders, the Government will develop a paratransit strategy which when implemented will meet the needs of the physically challenged community.

The success of the Hotel Concessions Acts in renewing Bermuda's tourism product can be replicated. To this end the Government will review the existing legislation with a view to extending its provisions to a wider spectrum of stakeholders, further encouraging the enhancement of this resurgent pillar of Bermuda's economy.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

Too little attention has been paid to the mental health of our people and as a result we have fostered an atmosphere of taboo in dealing with issues of this nature. To meet this need the Government will provide a comprehensive framework for the implementation of a Mental Health Treatment programme to better deal with the needs of offenders within our corrections system. This Government will decriminalise persons with mental health challenges and focus on targeted treatment responses which bear out their needs and those of the community for public safety.

In keeping with this approach, the Government will establish a Juvenile and Family Treatment System to provide for the therapeutic treatment of families whose dysfunction can be reversed to produce engaged, positive and productive youth.

Where these methods are rejected and participants demonstrate an unwillingness to assume their rightful responsibilities, the Government will enact parental responsibility legislation to make parents accountable for the delinquency of their children.

In this Session Honourable Members will be invited to take note of a report on the extent and effect of child and young person employment in Bermuda. This report will serve as a useful stimulus for debate on this issue and enhance the making of policies to address this issue.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

Ours is a community made strong by the rule of law. Appreciating the dynamic nature of law in society the Government proposes to establish a Law Reform Commission to ensure the constant review of legislation and to make the law responsive to the needs of society.

The protection of witnesses in cases of serious crime is one such area in need of direct practical and legislative intervention. To this end the Government will establish a Witness Care Unit to provide practical support and protection to witnesses through a police liaison assigned for this purpose. Additionally, the Government will enact a Justice Protection Bill to provide a legislative framework for the hopefully rare instance where a witness has to be relocated for their own safety. This Regional programme enjoys the support of other Overseas Territories and the CARICOM nations.

Technology will also be used in this fight against witness intimidation as the Government will introduce legislation that will permit evidence to be given by witnesses via video link in circumstances where certain criteria are met.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

The Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and eCommerce will lead in the reform of the Telecommunications industry in Bermuda. The Government will therefore develop the legislative framework to create a modern regulatory environment for the telecommunications and related industries. Crime is an increasingly sophisticated business and therefore consultation on draft data protection and privacy legislation will also commence during the Session.

During this Session Honourable Members will be invited to focus on a Green Paper on Energy and to support the Government's efforts at energy efficiency and environmental sensibility which is consistent with the commitment to sustainable development.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

This Government will continue its pursuit of the development of youth through sport. Following our commitment to football and cricket, the Ministry of the Environment and Sports will build a swimming complex and dive centre at the site of the National Sports Centre. As an Island nation we can be internationally competitive in swimming events and the investment in this facility will further enhance the work of others who have already demonstrated success in this sport.

During this Session the Legislature will consider amendments to the National Parks Act to designate Darrell's Island, White's Island and Ports Island as part of the National Parks System. This will preserve these islands for use by our families and tourists alike and ensure that they will be protected and improved for the enjoyment of all in Bermuda.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

The Ministry of Works and Engineering will continue to aggressively maintain our Island's infrastructure and the phased and managed repaving of roads will continue to enrich the communities outside the City of Hamilton. To better manage its portfolio of buildings the Ministry will develop a buildings management plan specifically designed to prevent instances of mould and other factors contributing to the existence of "sick buildings".

Additionally, the Ministry will progressively reduce the amount of rented space and invest in Government's purchase of buildings and where practical reduce costs through decentralisation of offices within the City of Hamilton.

The Government is committed towards ensuring the availability of sufficient amounts of drinking water and water for other household uses for the people of Bermuda. In this regard, the Government will introduce a comprehensive Water Conservation Campaign to heighten public awareness about the critical importance of water conservation. This campaign will involve public presentations, advertising via the print and electronic media and the production of brochures, banners, leaflets, posters and other campaign literature for Island-wide dissemination. The Water Conservation Campaign will complement the opening of the new 500,000 gallons per day Tynes Bay Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant on North Shore, with the capability to be upgraded to produce 1,000,000 gallons per day. The new plant will reduce Bermuda's dependency on rain water significantly.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

The Government will continue to bolster and enhance Bermuda's already credible regulatory framework for financial services by accelerating the pace of policy and legislative changes necessary to cope with the new challenges. These changes include the implementation of the Bermuda Solvency Capital Requirement, an enhanced risk-based capital model and disclosure requirements for Class 4 insurance companies. The Bermuda Monetary Authority issued a draft Order for industry comment in August of this year and anticipates the Order coming into effect on 31st December 2008.

The Legislature will be invited to consider a Bill to provide the Bermuda Monetary Authority with supervisory and enforcement powers with respect to anti-money laundering and combating terrorism regulations for financial institutions.

The BMA will pursue its vital work on the issue of mutual recognition and equivalency in relation to the EU's requirements of insurance regulation.

The Economic Empowerment Zone initiative now requires a dedicated agency to attend to the work of implementation and the creation of other such Zones in Bermuda. In this regard, the Government will introduce legislation to broaden the responsibility of the Bermuda Small Business Corporation thereby ensuring it is well equipped to oversee such an entity.

Amendments to the Companies Act and the Partnership Act will be introduced to continue the process of modernising the legal framework within which businesses operate in Bermuda.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

International experts have remarked upon our economic strength in these troubled times.

Out of an abundance of caution and prudence, the pace of capital projects and scope of operational spending must be reviewed and in some cases deferred. Government is leading by example in this time of economic uncertainty but the Ministry of Finance is keenly able to manage this economy with sound fiscal policies and sensible delivery of services.

As Martin Luther King Jr. said: "we must combine the toughness of the serpent and the softness of the dove, a tough mind and a tender heart…"

We must continue to govern and do all that that means for the people of this country. These times require us to do more and to do it more efficiently.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

During this Session, Bermuda will mark the 400th Anniversary of continuous human settlement in these Islands. In leading the community in this occasion, the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation will promote the legacy of culture and history of the Island and will do so in an inclusive, honest and vibrant fashion.

The establishment of a Cultural Legacy Fund and the provision of initial seed money by the Government will mark a tangible commitment to the development and promotion of culture in Bermuda.

Mr. President and Members of the Senate

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly

I'll now give a few words of my own, for which the Premier and Cabinet take absolutely no responsibility. My wife, Diana, and I have been in Bermuda for nearly a year. We were enchanted on our arrival by the island and by Bermuda's welcome, and we think that we're going to remain enthusiastic about living here for a long while yet. Our sons are equally Bermudophile.

In the role of Governor I am a conservative with a small 'c'. My intention is to leave education, health, transport and the other defined domestic issues which have taken up much of this Throne Speech firmly in the hands of those elected for that purpose by one of the most wealthy and mature countries in the world. My views on those issues could only be private views and I don't think Bermuda needs to hear a Governor's private views on them.

But I intend to be vigilant in my role of overseeing law and order and some of the accountability, the role prescribed by your Constitution for the Governor. And I intend to do this in tandem with the elected Government because they have the political responsibility for answering the electorate's expectations in these fields, as others. And, after all, the Bermuda Government pay all the bills.

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker you and Members of Parliament have seen two recent appointments of very senior policemen, one by me and one by the Police Commissioner and the Public Service Commission. Others will follow in due course. The initial term of the Chief Justice is up in March and I expect to make an announcement before too long, after consulting the Premier and Opposition Leader. With the advice of the Defence Board I shall also be looking to appoint a new Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment, who could if necessary lead them to repeat their invaluable clearing up on Grand Turk after a Caribbean hurricane this summer. The Auditor-General who has laboured energetically for many years will retire in the late summer of 2009, which is likely to fall in the course of this Parliament; so we shall need a new figure in that office in due course.

My sense is that Bermuda is still doing pretty well as the Island is poised to celebrate her illustrious 400th anniversary. You are certainly doing well in comparison with many of your competitors. Not for you 'The Famished Road', in the title of the most famous novel of the author Ben Okri who was quoted at the start of this speech. Your island remains a good domicile for financial services, and attractive to tourists. I shall do what I can in order to sustain the framework for that.