Speeches by Dr. Douglas De Couto, JP, MP

24 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

543 words

“We have heard from residents on the doorstep about their difficulties.” And I won’t continue, but that quote will outline the various difficulties which, as you know, Madam President, the One Bermuda Alliance has been highlighting on a reg-ular basis. So let me put that out there, Madam President. I do not think that is doom and gloom. And I …

24 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

34 words

That concludes that section of my remarks, Madam President. I was not even going to speak, to be honest, but let me add my voice to the chorus for Somerset. [Inaudible interjections and laughter]

24 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

1,780 words

Let me add my voice to the chorus for, please, enjoy yourself. Have a pop, have a party, get a fish sandwich, whatever it is that is your thing, enjoy, celebrate. But be mindful, be responsible. Please be safe. None of us want to come back and read about a tragedy. It is not worth it. And I also especially …

3 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

358 words

I object, Madam President. The President: Standing Order — [Crosstalk] The President: Senators, Standing Order 35 comes into play. And, therefore, when there are three objec-tions, — [Inaudible interjection] The President: —we need to carry it over. All right. We can carry it over to the next day of meeting. [Pause] The President: You are going to suspend? [Crosstalk ] …

3 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

916 words

Madam President, I object. The President: There are four objections. Sen. Kiernan Bell: I object. Sen. John Wight: I object. The Assistant Clerk: Okay, Senators. This is a motion to pass the Bill. If you are in favour of passing, you say Aye. If you are not, you say Nay. DIVISION [Third Reading and passage of the Bermuda Health Council …

3 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

535 words

Thank you, Madam President. If you will recall, the One Bermuda Alliance supported the original Act for all the reasons stated by the Junior Minister. And we support this Amendment. It is important to get some of these details right. We do have a little reservation on these sorts of what I will call administrative mistakes coming through. And while …

3 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

411 words

Thank you, Madam President. First of all, I would like to congratulate Jessica Lewis who will be attending the Paralympics in Paris. This would be her fourth time in a row as a Paralympian representing Bermuda. So, I want to send her congratulations and luck during her competition. I obviously also of course extend my congratulations and good luck in …

3 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

491 words

Thank you, Madam President. Some of us may recall last week, Madam President, there was some discussion of interests. That is a topic I would like to get into a bit today. And as a re-minder to those listening in, of course you can go to the parliamentary website, parliament.bm , and you can find the forms allowing you to …

3 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

57 words

Madam President, if I may quote the Premier? “What I have told the Minister of Transport is very simple. If the taxis won’t pick them up, then we need to make it available for others to do so.” Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam . . . Madam President, that is not what he just said, though.

3 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

32 words

It is a factual statement. The President: Senator, I would like for you to retract the statement with reference to the Premier. Your comment about what he actually said is — [Crosstalk]

3 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

236 words

I will retract the statement that the Premier has directed the Minister of Transport. But it is a question of fact what the Premier has said, and I would urge the listening public to make their own determination on how a Minister, when spoken to by the Premier, might interpret that. Now, I have my inter-pretation, Madam President. My view …

3 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

12 words

Thank you, Madam President. The President: Would you correct that particular statement?

3 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

24 words

Let me correct the statement from The project is still not complete to The project is not fully complete, Madam President. The President: Mm-hmm.

3 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

61 words

And I ask the public to consider, Have their interests been fully taken care of through those actions? So add that up. That is $9.3 million of direct spending by the Government. Now we have another $16 million that has been spent on the Gaming Commission with no gaming. Is that in the interests of the general public? The President: …

3 Jul 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

5,085 words

Recently, Madam President, the Government brought a Bill that was passed to allow the Government to borrow money, put it in the Sinking Fund and then spend it without any accountability to the Legislature or to the people or through the budgeting process. I ask you, Madam President, Is that in the best interests of the Bermudian people? All of …

26 Jun 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

5,313 words

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to the Minister for that Statement about the Summer Day Camps. Definitely we recognise the importance of this important care and assistance for families. I was particularly pleased to hear about White’s Island swimming camp. I know that that has been a valuable resource for a lot of people. And perhaps the Minister …

26 Jun 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

353 words

Thank you, Madam President. I echo my colleagues’ and the other Senators’ support for this Bill. I really will not get into any of the details about this Bill other than to say conceptually this Bill is an example of the kinds of things that the One Bermuda Alliance is always happy to support the Government on and which we …

26 Jun 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

8 words

My apologies, Madam President. The President: No problem.

26 Jun 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

59 words

I am having a moment. Maybe I need more coffee today. Bermuda Senate Madam President, earlier I spoke about targeted Bills that met the civic objective. I am going to continue on that theme a little bit. Madam President, we in the One Bermuda Alliance acknowledge and recognise the importance of improving health care on this Island. [Inaudible interjections]

26 Jun 2024 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

41 words

Like I said, Madam President, we acknowledge the importance of improving health care on this Island not just in terms of outcomes, Madam President, but in terms — The President: Senator De Couto. Would you repeat your comment? (I am sorry.)