Speeches by Dr. Douglas De Couto, JP, MP

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

36 words

Thank you, Madam President. This Statement made reference to the Fiscal Responsibility Panel Report. So, would it be appropr iate for me to ask a question about statements within parts of that report? [No audible response]

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

161 words

Thank you. I believe that the report stated the single most —perhaps I am misquoting here. But basically, the single most important problem facing Bermuda is the size and composition of the population. I know the Governm ent has stated that we need to grow that population, the working population, and I think som ewhere on the order of 4,000 …

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

12 words

Oh, okay. The President: Do you have a second or third question?

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

28 words

Yes, I do. I apologise for my confusi on, Madam President. The President: Not a problem. You can ask your second question. QUESTION 2: ECONOMIC AND FISCAL UPDATE

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

61 words

My second question is, given that the Fiscal Responsibility Panel Report has a very strong recommendati on against any gover nment guarantees, and that there are currently over $1 billion of government guarantees outstanding, what is the Government’s position on issuing any further guarantees going forward? That would be my second question. The President: Mm-mm. QUESTION 3: ECONOMIC AND FISCAL …

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

35 words

And then my third question would be, What was the feedback from stak eholders on the proposed payroll tax increases, most especially from the organisations representing international business? Those are my three questions. Thank you,

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

27 words

I believe I generally did hear it if that would be the response for my first question, Madam President. I would have a supplementary. Bermuda Senate SUPPLEMENTARY

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

103 words

Would it be correct to say that Government has no specific plan to increase the working population to the amount that it had indicated would be required? Thank you. Sen. Arianna Hodgson: That would, of course, not be the answer, Senator De Couto. [Laughter] Sen. Arianna Hodgson: In this instance you would actually know that, I guess, the particular answer …

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

46 words

I do not have any supplementaries further with respect to my first question, Madam President. I am not sure I heard any answers on the other questions. The President: Well, not yet. Senator De Couto, Senator Arianna Hodgson has indicated she will try to obtain it.

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

80 words

Thank you. The President: And, Senator Hodgson, if you need more time, would you care to do it at the end, you know, later then? Sen. Arianna Hodgson: Yes. I think that would be in the best interest of time, if you will oblige. The President: So, Senator De Couto, if you have any further questions, you have asked two …

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

689 words

No, I do not have any further supplementaries. Thank you, Madam Pres ident. The President: Fine. Does any other Senator have questions? I know Senator John Wight did. Hearing [none], then the decision is that Sena tor Hodgson will provide responses maybe at the end of this session today. With that said, we will move on with our agenda then. …

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

798 words

Thank you, Madam President. We in the Opposition have no objection to this Bill. And we are led to understand that in fact most or a large fraction of the bread imported into Bermuda is in fact frozen. So, we are glad for this oversight in the Act to be corrected. And I would just take this opportunity of course …

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

411 words

Thank you, Madam President. Well, I of course am grateful to Senator Bell for identifying the issue that has led to this amendment. We in the Opposition in general are concerned about the nature and the process by which this Bill was brought forward and it has caused us to now be revisiting it the second time. And our understanding …

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

54 words

I guess if I had to boil it down to a question, if they could provide a summary of the industry cons ultation and feedback on this Bill. The President: Yes. Senator De Couto, when Senator Hodgson assumes her seat, we would like for you to place the question directly to her, please. [Pause]

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

204 words

Yes. So my question to Senator Hodgson would be, How would the Government summarise the results of the consultation with industry on this Bill and the scope of that consultation? Thank you. The President: Thank you. Would any other Senator care to ask questions on this Bill, or comment? Senator Hodgson is conferring, and she will respond in due course. …

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

3,086 words

Thank you. I appreciate the answer. The President: Thank you, Senator Hodgson. And you can move the Bill t hen or at least proceed. Sen. Arianna Hodgson: Thank you, Madam Pres ident. I just want to for the record also state that every station owner was invited to [be a part of the] consultation. So if there is one thing …

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

2,786 words

Thank you, Madam President. I will probably be echoing a lot of my colleague’s comments. I wanted to give some context because I have seen Members of the Government out in the public saying things like, The One Bermuda Alliance does not support a minimum wage. I am going to make it super clear that this is a Member of …

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

3,401 words

Thank you, Madam President. I will acknowledge this is a relatively technical Bill and, of cours e, would in general defer to the expertise of the BMA [Bermuda Monetary Authority] and their goals in carrying out their mission and so forth. But I do have a couple of specific questions that I hope could just be explained a little bit …

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

2,053 words

Thank you, Madam President. This must truly be our Christmas session, B ermuda Senate given the large number of highly exotic Bills from the BMA. So, thank you for that. We clearly want to encourage the right kinds of businesses to come to Bermuda, and I will not use the words “take advantage of,” because I do not think that …

14 Dec 2022 Senate

Official Hansard Report - Senate

401 words

Thank you, Madam President. I think conceptually we can all agree that we need to find a way forward on this project. And we would welcome that. What would be interesting to know . . . I guess we may have to wait, based on the Senator’s stat ement as to what is envisioned up there, how it will work …