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Dr. Douglas De Couto, JP, MP

Dr. Douglas De Couto, JP, MP

1768
Speeches
616,883
Words Spoken
69
Sittings Active
30 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
5 words
Point of order, Mr. Speaker.
30 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
54 words
I do believe the Honourable Minister may be a little confused, because my understanding is this Bill impacts the base rate, and that base rate applies to all land taxpayers. So, in fact, even at the higher bands, the discount in this Bill would be re-ceive d, is my understanding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
30 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
34 words
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm almost afraid to stand up and voice my opinion that some people in the Government seem to think we're not allowed to express opinions up here. [Inaudible interjections]
30 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
5 words
We definitely support this Bill.
30 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
13 words
Mr. Speaker, we definitely support this Bill and— Several Hon. Member s: Ooh!
30 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
24 words
—and we would like to congratulate the Government on bringing such a well -targeted piece of legislation. Several Hon. Member s: Ooh! [Desk thumping]
30 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
8 words
You like that? [Inaudible interjections and laughter ]
30 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
82 words
And while they are looking at payroll tax legislation, Mr. Speaker, I would make a gentle suggestion. Perhaps they could look at how things like health insurance impact people's . . . rises in health insurance are impacting people's payroll tax amounts paid or the setting of the payroll tax bands in relation to inflation and how salaries in some …
30 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
5 words
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
30 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
46 words
I think the MP De Silva made a very good point. And I know that my colleagues, I am Bermuda House of Assembly sure, would like to join me in expressing our sincere thanks to the public officers who participated in this budget process. [Desk thumping]
30 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
226 words
Who prepared the budget. Mr. Speaker, you probably no doubt consider that I am quite a student of the numbers since I spent a lot of time with the details of the Budget Book and the underlying materials. I have developed a great respect for those. I know the Premier has called the various names of the public officers involved …
30 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
17 words
Point of order. Hon. E. David Burt: —coming in to give us advice. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading]
30 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
104 words
The Premier is misleading the House because he is implying something about our view [of] the Fiscal Responsibility Panel. But of course, this venue is not a place for us to come and present that view. This is where we come to present our view on the Gover nment’s plans and policies. So, the Premier is implying our view of …
28 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
10 words
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Okay. Turning to page B -41.
28 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
83 words
Under Revenue, the PATI fees was for last year budgeted at $50,000. Revised is at $50,000 and estimated to come in at $5,000. Can we understand if that revised estimate of $50,000 is simply a carryover of the budget or have there been substantial fees actually paid? And then what is the difference between the . . . if substantial …
28 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
64 words
Yes, thank you. Regarding the PIPA/PATI unit on page B -40, [business unit] 19085, the budget does seem relatively flat. And I'm referring also to the Government initiatives, as mentioned in the Throne Speech, on making more information publicly available to the public. Wi ll the PATI/PIPA unit be involved in advising on that? Will that be a sort of …
28 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
33 words
I turn now to page B -42, employee numbers, and I see the addition of two people in the London Office. And if that was already addressed in the brief, I do apologise.
28 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
7 words
Thank you. I will skip that question.
28 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
73 words
And the All Party Parliamentary Group. From the Premier's comments, I take it to . . . I'm understood to believe that actually probably applied to the London Office. Could we get some description of who's in that group? And if it's a long list of people, maybe a general description of the sorts of members who are in it. …
28 May 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
91 words
Yes, page B -43. The up- todate database of Bermudian— in the same business unit, the 19045 DC Office —the database of Bermudian college students residing in the US. Could we be in-formed as to how that database is compiled and how that 50 per cent revised es timate for 2024/25 is arrived at? I believe you'd probably have to …