House hears of upcoming 400th anniversary events

With the celebration of Bermuda's 400th anniversary in full swing, Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation Neletha Butterfield discussed a number of upcoming events in a statement to the House of Assembly.

Along with the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society produced show 'Wrecked on the Rock', being performed this week at Fort St. Catherine's, and the exhibit 'The House and its People' at the Verdmont Museum, numerous activities tied in with the celebration are planned.

Several events are scheduled for Somers Day, the anniversary of the wreck of the Sea Venture, including a Time Capsule ceremony in St. George's, the official opening of the World Heritage Centre at 5 p.m., and a re-enactment of the landing of the Sea Venture's crew Gate's Bay. Following the landing, there will be a parade into downtown St. George's with performances by the Bermuda Regiment Band, as well as dancers representing Bermuda's various cultures.

On August 1, a number of activities will be held in Botanical Gardens to celebrate Emancipation Day, including music, lectures, films, crafts, and the play 'Emancipation: A Love Story', which revolves the relationship between a black man and a white woman over 400 years of history.

House passes Dental Practitioners bill

Amendments to the Dental Practitioners Bill will help keep health care professionals in line with best practice.

Minister of Health Nelson Bascome said the Bermuda Dental Board, Bermuda Dental Association and the Bermuda Dental Hygienists Association helped propose a number of amendments to the legislation.

And he added that the amendments, which passed Friday, will improve the registration of dental practitioners and provide for more effective regulatory procedures. The amendments will also:

• Change the membership of the Bermuda Dental Board;

• Provide for a defined registration period and the renewal of registrations;

• Provide for different categories of registration;

• Change the requirements for authorisation of 'locum tenens';

• Authorise the Bermuda Dental Board to require continuing education for all registered dental practitioners;

• Provide for mandatory reporting of impaired practitioners;

• Establish a professional conduct committee and streamline disciplinary procedures; and

• Establish requirements for annual reporting on actions taken by the board.

The Minister will appoint the board members, which will now include a senior dental officer and a dental hygienist.

Dental practitioners will also now be required to update their registration and ensure they are keeping up with new dental practices and procedures. Dental assistants will also now have to be registered.

Minister praises Residential Services

Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation Neletha Butterfield has praised the work of Residential Treatment Services after attending an open house.

Mrs. Butterfield spoke to the House of Assembly on Friday, praising the programme, a section of the Department of Child and Family Services, to the House of Assembly. "All staff at Residential Treatment Services are to be commended for their commitment to a quality service designed to respond to the individual needs of children and their families," said Mrs. Butterfield.

The programme, according to Mrs. Butterfield, focuses on locating the underlying feelings behind troublesome behaviour to improve coping and life skills.