Speeches by Dr. Douglas De Couto, JP, MP

21 Mar 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

56 words

So I think it is important to acknowledge history. I think it is important for Bermuda. It is important for me. And it is probably important for many people in Bermuda. Speaking of Portugues e Bermudians, I would be remiss not to mention my cousin, the Honourable Trevor Moniz, former MP and Attorney General— [Desk thumping]

21 Mar 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

24 words

I would suggest that my cousin Trevor’s political career provides some very good examples of upholding principles and doing the right thing. [Inaudible interjection]

21 Mar 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

12 words

Perhaps not everybody would agree with what he wanted to do— [Laughter]

21 Mar 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

36 words

But he was certainly known, for example, helping to obtain residency, long-t erm residency permits for Portuguese Bermudians at a time when they perhaps fell through the crac ks of the various immigration systems. [Inaudible interjections]

21 Mar 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

1,961 words

And as I was saying, Mr. Speaker, I would like to continue, and I would like to acknowledge perhaps the most important examples that were set for me in my parents . They set a s trong sense of right and wrong and being guided by principles—e ven when it was not easy or when it was inconvenient. Let me …

21 Mar 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

19 words

Mr. S peaker, I have cautioned you that, b ut I c ertainly ap preciate the reminder. [Inaudible interjections]

21 Mar 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

20 words

Point of order. Hon. E. David Burt: Bu t the reality is that this is what this Government is delivering—

21 Mar 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

38 words

Yes. Madam Deputy Speak er, we do not protest about FinTech. We protest about FinTech with . . . call it sketchy counter parties. So, the Premier is misleading the House. Let me put it together for you.

14 Mar 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

4 words

Congratulations again, Mr. Speaker.

14 Mar 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

1 words

Affirmation.

14 Mar 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

67 words

I, being a Member of this present Assembly, do solemnly and sincerely affirm that I will use and employ my best endeavour therein for the general good without respect to private interest, gain 10 14 March 2025 Official Hansard Report B ermuda House of Assembly or advantage, and will strive to discharge a good conscience in all equity and integrity …

14 Mar 2025 House of Assembly

Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly

30 words

I do solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors according to law.

18 Dec 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

3,924 words

Thank you, Madam President. I would like to acknowledge that, yes, as the Government says, this Bill will make some things better, but I have to agree with my OBA colleague, Senator Tucker, as well as with the concerns from the Independents that I think a lot was left on the table in how we got here in terms of …

18 Dec 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

87 words

Thank you, Madam President. We are supportive of the tidying- up that is in this Bill and correcting the oversights. As you know from our previous debates on things around the Registrar of Companies, we are also supportive of the work that it is doing and the changes in the legislation and the fees to enable it to carry out …

11 Dec 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

3,642 words

Thank you, Madam President. I just wanted to commend the Government on bringing this study forward. It is obviously of very high importance for us on our little Island. And I would urge as many of those as possible to whom it pertains to study it and read it. And I am sure all of th e relevant professionals will …

11 Dec 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

1,210 words

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to Senator Fubler for that presentation. In thinking about this Bill, this amendment, I tried to think about it in a couple of different ways. So the first thing is, you know, we have heard in the [brief], What does Government say the problem is? The sec-ond thing is, What do their actions …

11 Dec 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

313 words

I quote: “The current amendments lack important safeguards for the provi-sions to be administered fairly and effectively.” (And I quote a second sentence:) “These amendments are not accompanied by robust commitment by the Bermuda Senate Government to ensure appropriate training and resources are available to the public officers who must process PATI requests.” (And the third one I will quote:) …

11 Dec 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

4,635 words

Yes. I am concerned, Madam President, What provisions will there be for people in financial hardship who cannot pay the PATI fees? So that is one question. I am concerned, Madam President, that the way I read the Bill, it does seem to just be a hard cut - off at 16 hours. And I am not a lawyer, so …

11 Dec 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

13 words

Point of order, Madam President. POINT OF ORDER [Imputing improper motive and Misleading]

11 Dec 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

2,331 words

The Senator is imputing motive and also misleading the Senate. So thank you, Madam President. The President: Carry on. 88 11 December 202 4 Official Hansard Report Bermuda Senate Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam President, thank you. The “they” —I will repeat —strikes me as odd. And I can only imagine the technical officers who are listening to this …