Speeches by Dr. Douglas De Couto, JP, MP

5 Jul 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

984 words

So that is the roads, Madam President. Let me turn now to the economic development of this country and the Government’s recent Economic Development Strategy. And I know it was debated at length in some other venues, but I do have some comments that I think are important to share here, as that is my Shadow portfolio. Madam President, let …

5 Jul 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

13 words

Okay, Madam President. The President: So you need to make your final points.

5 Jul 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

1,173 words

I will end with an anecdote. Most of the plan is basically recycled stuff that the Government is asking for credit for. Early on in my ca-reer I had a convo with a boss, difficult situation. I said, Look, man! I’m trying to help out here. He was a little bit old school. I was sort of asking for credit …

5 Jul 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

8 words

Madam President, point of order. POINT OF ORDER

5 Jul 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

3,927 words

Can the Senator refer to Senator De Couto or Dr. De Couto, please? Sen. Leslie Robinson: Dr. Senator De Couto. The President: Point taken. Sen. Leslie Robinson: My apologies. What Senator De Couto did not state or did not put in context was the fact that we have had this very unprecedented heavy rainfall. And so, yes, the roads were …

5 Jul 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

19 words

Madam President, point of order. The President: Senator De Couto, what is your point of order? POINT OF ORDER

5 Jul 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

1,679 words

The Senator does not know where I go and do not go, Madam President . I suggest that he stays away from that topic. Thank you, Madam President . Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: Suggests . The President: Minister Darrell, continue. EDUCATION AND EDUCATION REFORM Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam President, thank you. 552 5 July 2023 Official Hansard …

7 Jun 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

397 words

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to the Senator for the Statement. On page 3, the Senator referred to a hybrid payment structure for employees who receive a large part of their compensation, their pay, via gratuities and service charges . And I understand and it makes sense that if that, plus this base pay, does not meet the …

7 Jun 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

1,008 words

It is supplementary. I just want to clarify. So there is nothing in the regulations to ensure that, should the tips plus the base rate exceed the minimum wage that the employee is guaranteed to receive those? I just want to clarify. There is nothing about that in the regulations at this time? Sen. Leslie Robinson: If there is an …

7 Jun 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

2,486 words

Thank you, Madam President. Bermuda Senate I was interested to see the pay for the executives at the Authority. I know that those who are listening in might be somewhat gobsmacked. Most people would; the numbers are quite high. I am going to get to my question, but I want to just provide an important context to the question so …

7 Jun 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

29 words

Apologies, Madam President. I did have a question on the NSC project State-ment. The President: You can ask the question now. QUESTION 1: BERMUDA NATIONAL SPORTS CENTRE ENERGY PROJECT

7 Jun 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

38 words

Could the Minister please tell us the total cost of financing, interest and any other charges, fees, et cetera, related to the loan to date? Thank you. Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: Can the Senator repeat the question?

7 Jun 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

698 words

Yes, thank you. Madam President, would the Minister please tell us the total costs of servicing the loan to date, in-cluding any service costs, interest costs, any other fees associated with it and so forth? Thank you. Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: Mada m President, that question was actually answered in the Statement. Thank you. The President: Thank you, Minister …

7 Jun 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

17 words

Yes. I have two if I might just ask them together? The President: Yes, you may. SUPPLEMENTARIES

7 Jun 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

147 words

They are a bit joined. Of course, I used the word “restructuring” because of course that is the word that the Government used to describe the work that he was doing. But apparently that was not an accurate description of the original information provided by the Government. So I hope you will give me a little leeway on this, Madam …

7 Jun 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

1,759 words

Madam President, I apologise. I do not mean to interrupt, I am not adding an additional question, but I wanted to go back to the an-swer that the Minister gave to my supplementary. I believe he inadvertently misspoke in his answer, because he said that he answered the question in his remarks, but I have refreshed my memory from my …

7 Jun 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

3,506 words

Thank you, Madam President. I do not think I need to provide much detail, as it has been done more eloquently than I could by those who spoke prior to me. But I just want to lend my support to this. It is important that we take care of th ose who need it most in our society, Madam President. …

7 Jun 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

171 words

Madam President, it is a bit of a clari fying question before I begin my remarks. Are you saying we will truncate them after 10 minutes, and then we would have to come back so that I may continue them? The President: Well, it is on the floor. Senators, we will break for lunch at 12:30. So my q uestion …

7 Jun 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

723 words

Madam President, I feel I would be at a great disadvantage if my comments were interrupted midway. Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam President, I think we can let him finish and then we can break. The Pre sident: Senators, there is another indication on the floor from the Senator John Wight, who would like to speak. Therefore, Senator Wight, …

7 Jun 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

2,743 words

Thank you, Madam Pres-ident. And thank you to those out there listening and good afternoon. I am actually going to kick this off with a little background for people listening because when we had this debate last year, people said, How come you did not vote against that Bill? A bit of history to provide explanation of what is going …