Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch issued an apology to a farming leader yesterday as he conceded farming leases had been neglected.

The Minister of Public Works also told the House of Assembly all leases for arable lands would now be extended to 21 years less one day.

Colonel Burch had previously refuted a claim by the Bermuda Farmers Association that all leases for government-owned farmland had not been renewed for more than three years.

Colonel Burch revealed yesterday that he had not been given the full story by his ministry officials and delivered an “apology without reservation” to Carlos Amaral, chairman of the farmers group for his erroneous statement last week.

Colonel Burch said his rebuttal of their objections had been mistaken.

He said the statistics he had previously given to Parliament, that just 13 leases had expired and two had been in dispute, had been technically correct, but only since June.

He warned Cabinet colleagues: “Don’t assume you know or are being told everything in your ministry.”

Colonel Burch said that, other than vacant lots, all the land was being farmed and there was no intent to use the properties for anything other than farming.

He added that he had ordered the timeline to address outstanding leases as a matter of priority, and the longer leases would be implemented “unless there is a compelling reason not to”.

Opposition MP Cole Simons noted that the tenants of Westover Farm had been hit with an eviction order before the minister overturned the decision, and asked if others were in line to be served notice. Colonel Burch told the House that there were none.

• To read Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch’s statement in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”