Speeches by Dr. Douglas De Couto, JP, MP

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

864 words

Thank you, Madam President. And thank you, Senator, for that presentation. Overall , we in the Opposition do support this. We know that one of the issues with the prior benefits provided was that we felt that the $750,000 was too low and would mean many first -time homeowners would not be able to receive the benefit. So we are …

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

13 words

Thank you, Madam President. The Opposition has no concerns about this Bill ,

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

220 words

Thank you, Madam President. We support this. It is really important that this sector is able to maintain its high international standards and operate efficiently. You know, our general position is that we welcome anything that brings efficiency, effectiveness and a modern approach to the government and its operations. I was really pleased to hear about these initiatives to simplify …

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

234 words

Thank you, Madam President. Of course, we all know that the OBA is in support of our developing this gaming industry to diversify and bring growth to the economy as it w as the OBA that brought this forward, and it was the OBA that organised and helped facilitate the St. Regis Hotel to arrive and be built on this …

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

24 words

Let me just pause, Madam President, to make sure everybody is okay. [Pause] The President: Yes. Plea se. She is all right. Thank you.

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

81 words

Thank you, Madam President. This Government has a track record of avoiding accountability, of trying to remove institutions or processes or bodies that are supposed to provide ultimate viewpoints and advice, or flat -out ignoring them, B ermuda Senate or in many cases, Madam President, just not following the processes and procedures that are laid out by law. So let …

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

41 words

Yes, ma’am. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT SENATE VISITOR The President: I would just like to acknowledge the presence of the Finance Secretary, Ms. Cheryl Lister. Welcome to you. Carry on, Senator De Couto. [Gaming Amendment Act 2023, second reading debate, continuing]

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

153 words

Thank you, Madam President. The reality is the Government has not interfered with the BMA in the way that it has with the Gaming Commission multiple times. The Government has not shopped and changed the BMA board like it has the Gaming Commission. The BMA has a long history of steady , reliable leadership. I note that Craig Swan was …

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

100 words

—not twice, Madam President, [but] three times. Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: Point of order. The President: Point of order, Senator. POINT OF ORDER Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam President, the Senator is speaking on matters that he does not even know are correct. You heard him start with, I think I have this correct. And, Madam President, respectfully, …

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

86 words

Madam President, I quote the Royal G azette articles from that t ime. Sen. th e Hon. O wen D arrell: Madam President, point of order. The P resident: M inister D arrell. POINT O F ORDER Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: He is coming with an opinion from his friends over at the daily, Madam President. And I do …

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

52 words

Madam President, I stand by the statements that Minister Simmons did try to seek the resignation of Gaming Commission Chairman Alan Dunch not once, not twice, but three times . And I state that as a fact. Sen. th e Hon. O wen D arrell: Mada m President, p oint of order.

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

108 words

A nd if t he Government thinks t hat it i s not a fact — Sen. the Hon. O wen Darrell: Point of order, Madam President . The P resident: M inister D arrell, w hat is it ? POINT O F ORDER Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: If the Senator can bring some facts —which I have not …

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

144 words

Madam President, I bring these facts, which anyone listening can then search in the newspaper. And of cours e I would have thought that if the Gov ernment thought that those facts were incorrect, they would have asked for the newspaper to correct them in writing, which has not happened. My point, Madam President, is to demonstrate—i s to demonstrate …

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

88 words

Yes, Madam President. Like I said, I have researched public s ources that are out there in the public but have not been corrected in writing by the Government. It is well known. Thes e are known fac ts. And it is my view that these are correct. So in the absenc e— Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: Again, Madam …

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

288 words

Yes. I will move on from that point, which is that the Government has a history of interfering with this commiss ion. Now in 2017, Madam President, as we recollect, they changed the Regulations or the laws to allow them to express ly direct the commission. Now I was comparing the commission to the BMA because that is in fact …

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

1,726 words

Thank you, Madam President. I think I have made my argument as to why the comparisons to the BMA are in fact not very useful in understanding how gaming is operating on this Island. So I think I will leave it at that, Madam President. The Opposition has great concerns about how the Government is operating this Gaming Commission. And …

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

138 words

Point of order, Madam President. We are not making excuses for anything. In fact, we are questioning the Government’s excuses. Thank you, Madam President. The President: That was not a point of order, Senator De Couto. Sen. the Hon. Owen Da rrell: Madam President, that is what I keep hearing. We also hear, I would call it a rant, dribble …

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

21 words

Point of order, Madam President. Is the Minister implying — The President: Senator De Couto, please wait until I acknowledge you.

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

14 words

My apologies. The President: What is you r point of order? POINT OF ORDER

27 Mar 2023 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

1,152 words

Is the Minister implying that those facts were incorrect? Does he deny those three facts? Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: Madam President, as I said before, first of all that is not a point of order. And second of all, he brought no facts. So I will continue, Madam President. The President: Carry on, Minister. Sen. the Hon. Owen Darrell: …