David Burt insisted that Zane DeSilva is the right man to be the new housing minister but acknowledged he could understand why some might believe the appointment of a construction boss has created a conflict of interest.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette on his recent Cabinet selections, the Premier said that his decision to move Diallo Rabain from the education portfolio was not a demotion and it was just time to allow him to “shift focus”.

Mr Burt said he had decided to retain the Ministry of Finance for himself for the benefit of continuity, and added that Curtis Dickinson had declined interest in a Cabinet position.

The Ministerial Code of Conduct stipulates “ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or appears to arise, between their duties and their private interests”.

Mr DeSilva is the president and chief executive of Island Construction Services, which is involved with development, demolition, selling building materials and construction equipment hire, among other services.

The new Ministry of Housing and Municipalities, which includes as departments the Bermuda Housing Corporation and the Bermuda Land Development Company, is charged with providing “critical” affordable housing to Bermudians as part of its remit.

Asked whether he believed Mr DeSilva’s appointment presented a conflict of interest, Mr Burt said: “I do not. I can understand why people believe that it does. However, Bermuda is a very well-functioning democracy with strict measures related to accountability and conflict, which are enforced through the various codes, rules and laws that we have.

“Island Construction Services has billed a grand total of $66,000 over the last eight years to the BHC.

“When it comes to Zane himself, he has been someone who has been successful in business. What we need is not just the public sector but also the private sector to make sure that they are engaged in providing additional housing.

“With his energy and his track record, he will be successful in this role.

“It is important to remember that we have an independent Bermuda Police Service, an independent Auditor-General in this country — we have a Parliament that is able to check and exercise oversights.

“I believe that in the actions of which we have taken over time in history, we have been able to manage our affairs without the conflicts getting in the way.”

Asked whether there was a line to be drawn with regard to potential ministerial conflicts of interest, Mr Burt added: “The fact is that ministers need to come from the legislature, you must make your choice among those persons.”

Mr Burt said that moving Mr Rabain to the Ministry of the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation neither reflected a lack of confidence in his efforts leading education reform nor the public’s reaction to how it had been implemented.

“I refuse to call it a demotion,” he said.

While under Mr Rabain’s lead, the public school system is undergoing a major shake-up. The reforms have been met with pushback in response to issues including teacher sick-outs, delayed school openings, lack of teaching staff and U-turns over school closures.

“I want to pay homage to the incredible work that Diallo has done over 7½ years in a portfolio as difficult as education,” Mr Burt said. “It is an achievement in and of itself.

“He has worked incredibly hard, but I also thought it is time for him to shift focus because he has been there for so long. Education is an all-encompassing ministry. It has been difficult but I am proud of the work he has done.

“I am not going to say everything has been perfect. I have children in the public education system, so I see it first-hand. It does not diminish the drive and effort to ensure that we get it right.

“The Public Service has already brought in a team of persons for the handling of education recruitment this year to ensure that we are not faced with the same problems again. We can learn from our mistakes and challenges.”

After a brief spell as acting education minister during Mr Rabain’s recent extended sick leave, Crystal Caesar, the newly appointed Minister of Education, brought relevant experience to the role, Mr Burt said.

“She has served in a lot of various bases including on the Board of Education, chairwoman of the Government Scholarship Committee, the Board of Governors for Bermuda College and the Education Review Working Team.

“She took on the [ministerial] role while the minister was on sick leave and I thought it would be a good time for a transition.”

Mr Burt said delaying the education reform process was an option but insisted that it would be completed.

“The policy of education reform is espoused inside of the manifesto and has not changed — those matters will continue. This government is firmly committed to ensuring that we finalise it.

“If there is a space where we need to say we need to push things back a year or so, that is fine, that is what we will do.

“We will make decisions that are in the best interest of the children who are the beneficiaries of the system.”

While a new minister was selected for the education portfolio, Mr Burt said his own brief — the Ministry of Finance — would benefit from continuity. Mr Burt first took over the ministry after the Progressive Labour Party’s election victory in July 2017. Curtis Dickinson then became finance minister from November 2018 until his resignation in February 2022. Mr Burt has retained the portfolio since.

Mr Burt said he “had a conversation” with Mr Dickinson after the most recent election, as he did with all of his candidates, about their future roles.

“He said he is not available for the Cabinet at this time as he has other professional pursuits that he is engaged in,” Mr Burt explained.

“He has agreed to chair the Pension Commission, as he has a particular interest there.

“What I have heard from the business community is that they value continuity inside the finance portfolio. I think I will provide that continuity there.

“Finance is half domestic and half international, and the international relations I have, whether with the EU, the US or the UK, are helpful in making sure that, during this period of transition and moving towards the corporate income tax, we maintain those relationships as well.”