Two independent senators gave cautious reviews of this year’s Throne Speech during a lengthy debate in the Upper House yesterday.

John Wight and Kiernan Bell found positive aspects to the speech outlining the Government’s agenda for the coming year.

Mr Wight raised concerns that the Government had failed to prioritise key issues that required “a higher level of urgency”, while Ms Bell described the speech as “ambitious”.

Mr Wight applauded the Government for putting forward legislation to support the most vulnerable, such as seniors and those on financial assistance, while striving to boost the housing inventory.

He highlighted omissions on education reform, healthcare and the new corporate income tax regime, adding: “Throne speeches are like company strategic plans. A good plan only works if it is executed effectively and appropriately.

“There are many issues that I was pleased to see in the Throne Speech and some that I thought were not appropriately addressed. But in the end it is the execution that I will be following closely in this next session.”

Ms Bell said that the Throne Speech promised much, including “wholesale” changes to the constitution, the tax system, healthcare, banking and dealing with domestic violence.

She added: “These are all very significant legislative agendas. Any one of those would be significant in any parliamentary session and that is why I feel ‘ambitious’ is a good word.”

Ms Bell called on the Government to improve consultation and transparency before drafting legislation.

She said: “I look forward to seeing the legislation come through, but I always look forward to being able to review legislation well in advance through the consultation process.”

Earlier in the debate, Opposition Senate Leader Robin Tucker questioned whether the Government would be able to push through all that it had pledged for the coming year.

She applauded many plans laid out in the document, particularly for the disabled and seniors.

However, she said some issues went unaddressed, including explaining how to increase Bermuda’s declining population.

She added that some items in this year’s speech had featured in previous Throne Speeches dating back to 2017.

“Once again, it’s promises made, promises not kept,” she said.

“An election is obviously coming because it’s good things for everybody, and this Throne Speech certainly seems to be an attempt to distract us from our day-to-day difficulties.”

Government senator Arianna Hodgson said the Progressive Labour Party remained committed to ensuring Bermudians had “opportunity to thrive”.

Ms Hodgson said it was important for the Government to expand social services, such as mental health and substance abuse programmes for youth.

She gave support to the proposed establishment of a domestic abuse court.

She added: “Abuse is impacting our communities in more ways that we can imagine.

“We must address the prevalence of abuse.”

She urged residents to read the speech, highlight and track the progress made over the next year, and to seek out MPs to offer perspectives and thoughts.

Opposition senator Douglas De Couto said he supported plans to reduce gang violence and domestic violence.

Dr De Couto said the One Bermuda Alliance backed housing proposals such as tenant-landlord reform.

He congratulated the charity Home for its work, adding that he admired its approach to the social issue.

He said he was “unsure” of a few Throne Speech items, including proposed changes to public access to information requests, which he said was not consistent with best practices in other countries.

Dr De Couto said there had been no mention of pension reform and added: “Failure to address the pension issue is unfair to the current, future and working generations who rely on these funds.”

Kim Wilkerson, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, said that while more work had to be done, the island had come far.

The government senator added: “Progress takes a moment.

“There is a lot more to do but we are pushing towards progress.”

Owen Darrell, the Government Leader in the Senate, closed the debate by saying governments typically adjusted their plans as the circumstances of the country changed.

He said more work lay ahead but dismissed claims from the Opposition that the island’s prospects were bleak.