Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyThe Government which was elected on 17 December 2012 is committed to bringingabout safer neighbourhoods and streets and freedom from the violence that blightsmany of them. It is committed to a stronger, well-managed economy and reducedpublic debt.The Government aims to increase employment and to improve educationalopportunities for Bermuda's young people. It aims to provide better care for our seniorcitizens and more affordable healthcare.The Government will encourage respect in the daily discourse — respect for eachother and for our institutions and respect for the environment in which we live.The new Government believes it understands the hopes of the people of Bermuda andsets out on its journey toward a new day, firm in its intention to act for the realizationof those hopes. The laws and policies that the Government brings to Bermuda inthis new Legislative Year, and beyond, will be guided, simply and solely, by the bestinterests of the people of Bermuda.All those who will be involved, whether they be elected officials or civil servants, havebeen directed by the Premier to remember that in all their decision-making, it isrespect for that which we have in common — the human element — that must guidetheir actions.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyBermuda is experiencing one of the most challenging periods in its long and illustrioushistory.The new Government believes it will need to find ways of encouraging increased levelsof cooperation, trust and loyalty among all sectors of the community. Cooperation isgoing to be of paramount importance in the fight against violent crime, in the effortto create jobs and in the effort to manage our Island so that all of us, rich and poor,Bermudian and non-Bermudian, of all political stripes, have a stake in getting thejob done.Failure to join hands across racial, political, cultural, economic and business lineswill thwart efforts in this regard. Tough decisions will be required. Without them,there will be no resolution to the problems we face.The Government believes that the decisions it makes must be in the interest of thewhole, not that of any special interest group, and that our decisions must be centredon care for the well-being of people. The Government hopes all Parliamentarians willembrace that philosophy as it tries to restore Bermuda's quality of life.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyBermuda has the potential to soar in virtually every sphere. Bermuda can shore upits position as a world leader in insurance, reinsurance, international business andfinance. Bermuda can re-establish itself as a premier tourism destination. Bermudacan have a first-class public education system and shape pathways for its youngpeople to be on the world stage. Bermuda can produce the next Earl Cameron, inspirethe next Picasso, help cure disease and design cutting-edge computer software. Thereis no bar to our success.This Government will take every measure to ensure that we live up to our potentialand that no one is left behind as it strives to recover, rebuild and restore the promiseof Bermuda — to make it Number One again.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyGovernment begins its term in office with the country in poor economic condition.Bermuda is finishing its fourth consecutive year of economic contraction. By contrast,the economic contraction in the US lasted barely one year.The weak Bermuda economy has affected Bermudians from virtually all walks oflife: international companies have left or downsized, tourism remains weak, retailsales have levelled off after falling for 36 consecutive months, property values havedeclined, businesses have failed, unemployment is widespread and some people arein peril of losing the family home because they cannot make the mortgage payments.Government has shared in the distress. Falling tax revenues coupled with stubbornlyhigh costs have caused large operating deficits resulting in spiralling public debt.The Government's Jobs and Economic Turnaround Plan will put Bermuda on the roadto recovery by restoring much needed confidence, stimulating investment, creatingnew jobs and laying the foundation for future growth and shared prosperity. TheGovernment will simultaneously reform or abolish a number of policies, practices andsystems that have hampered economic growth.To promote job creation, the Government will introduce amendments to the PayrollTax Act 1995 and the Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995 whereby local employers will beprovided with a two-year payroll-tax exemption for new Bermudian hiring, from theactual day of hiring up to two years from the date of that day.To expedite job creation, Government has formed the Economic DevelopmentCommittee [EDC] whose mandate is to reduce the red tape and time it takes to getapprovals for large development projects from the planning stage to the job-creationstage. The committee is comprised of the Premier as Chairman and the Ministersof Economic Development, Finance, Home Affairs, Public Works and TourismDevelopment and Transport.Instead of applicants getting approvals from various Departments in series, that is,one at a time, the EDC will concentrate the process so that approvals can be securedin parallel or simultaneously. By accelerating the approvals process, the Governmentis aiming to accelerate job creation.The Jobs and Economic Turnaround Plan requires disciplined financial managementthat will eliminate wasteful Government spending and reduce the public debt.To assist with this initiative, the Government will table legislation to establish aSpending and Government Efficiency [SAGE] Commission. This Commission'sprimary objective will be to streamline Government processes, including Quangos,improve delivery of services and make Government more efficient, more cost-effective,more transparent and more user-friendly. The SAGE Commission will include a broadand diverse range of individuals and provide public independent guidance and adviceto the Government.The SAGE Commission will commence its work as soon as is practicable followingenactment of the required legislation and will submit its recommendations and finalreport not later than six months after it commences work. The Commission willterminate its work upon submission of its final report.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyBermuda has seen a sharp increase in its absolute level of debt. The Governmentconsiders this growth in public debt unacceptable. In order to achieve satisfactorymanagement of existing debt, the Government will create the Public Debt AdvisoryBoard whose members will be drawn from the private sector. This Board's purposewill be to provide the Minister of Finance with strategic, unbiased and sound adviceon the Government's existing and future borrowing requirements.Large sums of unpaid taxes are owed to Government. The Office of the TaxCommissioner will work with other Government Departments and agencies andintroduce amendments to tax-related legislation in order to strengthen and improvethe collection of Government taxes.Amendments to the Contributory Pensions Act 1970 will enhance the protectionof employee benefits by improving operational efficiencies within the Departmentof Social Insurance, particularly with respect to the receipt of social insurancecontributions, payment of benefits and the recovery of outstanding contributions.In accordance with provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1972, the Ministerof Finance will conduct a biennial review of the rates of pensions paid for retiredGovernment employees to ensure they keep up with the cost of living. The resultingOrder will be introduced into the Legislature during this Legislative Session.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyThe Ministry of Economic Development is committed to facilitating sustainablegrowth and job creation in Bermuda's international business sector, as well as a widerange of other sectors.This new Ministry will work with the private sector to create a more welcomingenvironment for both local and international business — currently the largest driverof jobs and economic growth in Bermuda. Sustaining the existing group of companiesthat already call Bermuda home is as important as attracting even more business toour shores. More than 60% of employees in international business are Bermudianand these jobs must be maintained in Bermuda.During his recent trip to Washington, DC for the Inauguration of President BarackObama, the Premier had the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with anumber of influential politicians and business people from the eastern seaboard ofthe United States. They expressed interest in fostering new business relationshipswith Bermuda and will soon visit our Island to extend those conversations. Withbusiness-friendly policies and practices in place, Bermuda will be well positioned toleverage new investment opportunities in the United States and around the world.The Ministry of Economic Development will work in close cooperation with otherMinistries to streamline Governmental approvals through the implementation of acoordinated and integrated team approach. As new business proposals are presented,the Ministry will be in a position to provide a much more disciplined approachto analyzing and assessing those proposals and coordinating the Government'sresponse. The objective is to provide job creators with a consistent point of contactand a seamless, timely, efficient and thorough response.To realize its goals for growth, the Ministry of Economic Development will work inpartnership with the private sector to establish and implement fully the BermudaBusiness Development Corporation. As a public-private partnership, this importantnew entity will function as the principal marketing and business development bodyfor international business.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblySmall business and entrepreneurs are also an important source of jobs and growth.Therefore, the operation of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation will bereviewed to ensure that it provides effective support and guidance to its clients andthat the Economic Development Zones are delivering value.Regular reviews and amendments to the Companies Act 1981 and other businessrelatedlegislation will be undertaken to increase Bermuda's competitiveness asa place to do business. Areas that will be addressed in this coming year includelegislative amendments that will encourage more private equity, asset managementand trust business and make the Island's partnership legislation more effective.The Telecommunications and Energy Sectors are critical in ensuring an optimalbusiness environment. The Ministry of Economic Development will work withboth industries to ensure that Bermuda's infrastructure meets high standards, issustainable and cost-effective and that it addresses the needs of Bermuda's businessesand households in 2013 and beyond.Progress in Telecommunications reform is a priority. The Ministry will oversee thelaunch of a Regulatory Authority by the end of the first quarter. The Authority willprovide independent and cost-effective regulation and thereby encourage fair andcompetitive business practices. It is anticipated that this will lead to investment,job growth and better products, bandwidth, speed and pricing for consumers. TheAuthority will initially focus on regulating the Telecommunications industry, but itwill be structured to allow for other sectors, such as Broadcasting and Energy, to fallultimately under its jurisdiction.In order to ensure that Bermuda meets international standards while protectingprivacy and intellectual property, the Department of E-Commerce will advance thedevelopment of contemporary privacy and data protection legislation.The Department of Civil Aviation will implement an aggressive growth plan coupledwith proposed legislative amendments to increase aircraft registrations and financing.Both the Maritime Registry and Civil Aviation are anticipated to be important areasof growth and jobs over the next few years.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyGovernment is committed to ensuring that Bermudian jobs are protected and barriersto job creation are removed.After consulting with the Work Permit Stakeholder group, which included unionrepresentation, the decision to abolish the term limit policy was taken to removewhat had become a barrier to job creation for Bermudians. Immigration policy willbe changed to ensure that in the process of issuing permits to guest workers, theirlimited residency rights are made clear to them.To reinforce the protection of the rights of Bermudians to work in their own country,legislation will be amended to increase penalties to employers who breach immigrationrules.The Government is keen to deal with longstanding appeals that have been submittedto the Immigration Appeals Tribunal for consideration. Therefore, the BermudaImmigration and Protection Appeals Rules 2013 will be amended to ensure thatindividuals are not penalized by decisions affecting their rights or legitimateexpectations unless they have been given prior notice of the case and fair opportunityto answer and present their own case.The name of the Department of Labour and Training will be changed to the Departmentof Workforce Development, incorporating the Bermuda Technical Education andWorkforce Development Agency.The new Bermuda Technical Education and Workforce Development Agency willinclude a National Training Centre in the former Magistrates' Court building at thecorner of Reid and Parliament Streets. Occupational Advisory Committees consistingof industry experts will be revived and National Certification and assessmentprogrammes will be linked to the Ministry of Education's Career Pathways Programmeto begin the development of a culture of lifelong learning in Bermuda.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyThe land licence requirement for the purchase of additional dwellings for marriedcouples that include a Bermudian and a non-Bermudian spouse will be set aside. Inremoving the licensing requirement, the Government will put in place measures toprevent any potential loss of land that would otherwise be eligible for Bermudianpurchase.The Charities Act 1978 will be amended to protect the public interest. The definitionof a charitable organization will be expanded to include entities that raise funds fromprivate sources such as trusts and foundations. Offences will be established for nondisclosureand non-distribution of public funds. The Charity Commissioners will begiven the required power to monitor and investigate complaints.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyThe Government is steadfast in its commitment to revitalize the tourism industry— to improve its infrastructure, increase the number of beds, lengthen the timeour visitors spend here and improve the range and quality of activities available tovisitors.As part of its commitment to create jobs and enhance Bermuda's standing as afirst-class destination, the Department of Tourism will prioritize the training ofBermudians for positions in the hospitality industry.To help it achieve these goals, the Department of Tourism intends to launch aProduct Development Bureau, a temporary body to seek out innovative, dynamic newexcursions, tours and other enhancements of Bermuda's tourism offering. The Bureauwill hold a Product Development Conference to solicit initiatives from the public.By reaching out to the community, the Ministry hopes to receive ideas that originatefrom Bermuda's best ambassadors, Bermudians themselves. Having identified the bestand most sustainable ideas, the Bureau, in partnership with the Bermuda EconomicDevelopment Corporation, local banks and others in the private sector, will seek tosupport successful entrepreneurs with commercial and promotional assistance.A Tourism Authority will be established within six months. Current research onthe subject of how such authorities are developed will be supplemented by visits tojurisdictions overseas that have successfully created such bodies.A key next step in this endeavour is to form a Transition Task Force to oversee asmooth transition from Tourism's current way of doing business to the new system.This group will comprise senior Ministry staff, a representative from the BermudaPublic Services Union, the chairman-designate and a representative from theDepartment of Human Resources.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyThe Ministry of Tourism Development and Transport is normally the Government'sfirst point of contact for those who are interested in hotel and resort developmentin Bermuda. These developments will now be handled through the EconomicDevelopment Committee. Additionally, it is hoped that a Tourism Priority Policy willemerge from a comprehensive consultative process addressing the recommendationsand initiatives set out in the National Tourism Plan.In its efforts to advance the local tourism industry, the Government will alter themandate of the Special Cabinet Committee on Hotel Development to address allhospitality investment and development.The Government intends to repeal the Park Hyatt Resort (St. George's) Act 2008 andtake every step it can to ensure the selection of a new developer for the former ClubMed site in St. George's. The prosperity of St. George's will be a top priority of theGovernment during the new Legislative term.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblySuccessful accommodation of Norwegian Cruise Lines' Breakaway, scheduled toarrive in Bermuda in May with up to 4,000 passengers, is an immediate priority.Breakaway will be the largest cruise ship ever to visit Bermuda. It will require acoordinated and efficient response from all of our transportation services, includingbuses, ferries, taxis and mini-buses. It is worth noting that 10 new public buses areon order for delivery this year and other options to increase ferry lift capacity areunder consideration.Overall dimensions of cruise ships continue to increase. In order to remain competitivein this ever-growing market, the Government intends to upgrade our ports of entryto ensure Bermuda remains an attractive destination for cruise lines. Work will becarried out at Heritage Wharf in Dockyard this year, with required additional workat the adjoining King's Wharf to be carried out next year.Taxis are a major part of the Island's transportation landscape. The Government willwork with taxi owners and operators to help them become a more effective and bettercoordinatedgroup. Legislation will be revised, making GPS in taxis optional.The Department of Marine and Ports Services is to adopt a new digital mappingsystem based upon GPS position fixing. The Government also hopes to find ways toensure less disruption of the ferry service because of inclement weather.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyThe strongest emphasis must be placed on a safe Bermuda. Bermuda cannot moveforward unless communities are secure, families are protected and children are safefrom harm. A safe environment is also essential to maintaining the Island's image asa jurisdiction of choice for business and as a place to live.The Government recognizes that the causes of crime are deep and wide-ranging andthat solutions lie beyond the reach of strict law enforcement. Bermuda cannot simplyarrest its way out of gang violence problems. Community-based problems requirecommunity-based solutions. The Government therefore will fulfil the potential ofthe Inter-Agency Gang Task Force to include greater community engagement ineliminating the gang lifestyle. The Ministry of Public Safety will host a RoundtableSeries of meetings with community partners to advance the Community/Preventionobjective of the Inter-Agency Task Force, whereby all relevant programmes are focusedon positively engaging young people to lessen the pull toward gang involvement.A Bermuda Operation Ceasefire programme will be crafted and implemented. Thisprogramme will incorporate comprehensive best practice gang mediation operationsfrom street worker engagement through to positive lifestyle change in Bermuda'syoung people.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblySports clubs and community organizations have tremendous potential to influencepositively the lives of Bermudians young and old. To strengthen their operations, theGovernment will foster private sector partnerships to make accounting, administrationand business planning skills freely available to them. Further support will be providedthrough implementation of the “Cash Back for Communities” programme wherebyconfiscated assets and cash will be directly allocated in support of sports clubs andcommunity organizations.When the National Drug Commission was disbanded in 2006, the National DrugCommission Act 1993 was repealed, leaving the current Department for NationalDrug Control without a documented mandate. The Government will table the NationalDrug Commission Act 2013 to ensure that the mandate, roles and responsibilitiesfor the Department for National Drug Control are clearly set out. Additionally, theGovernment will refine and implement the National Drug Control Master Plan.The use of illicit drugs in Bermuda is a problem that could benefit from leadership byexample. The Government will, therefore, implement a policy whereby all GovernmentMembers of the Legislature will be subject to random, mandatory drug testing. Apaper outlining the policy details will be released shortly. Members of the Oppositionwill be invited to participate.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyThe vibrant Neighbourhood Watch system must be supported as Bermuda's residentsbravely commit to taking back their communities. The Government will furtherenhance the system's effectiveness by providing residents with information on whatis happening within their neighbourhoods. “Neighbourhood Watch 2.0” will notifyresidents via voice call and text message with public safety alerts. Smart use oftechnology is a best practice tool in the fight for safer communities.The Government, in partnership with CrimeStoppers, will lead a Gun BountyProgramme to capitalize on the growing role played by citizens in bringing offendersto justice. This programme will provide cash incentives for information that leads tothe confiscation of weapons. The Government will deploy every available resource inthe fight to get guns off our streets.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblySince the rise in gun violence in 2009, the support provided to the Bermuda PoliceService has produced clear results with arrests and convictions up significantly.Government will do all it can to support robust Police enforcement. Legislation willbe tabled to make breaches of parole arrestable offences, further strengthening theenforcement regime needed to disrupt the rhythm of gang members.To support the Police in their efforts to maintain high visibility and focus on crimefighting priorities, the Government will fund a further Recruit Foundation Course in2013/14, contributing approximately 20 more Police Officers to the fight against guns,gangs, drugs and violence.Additionally, the Government will support a strong recruitment drive for the BermudaReserve Police who provide invaluable support to Police operations.The Government is determined to eliminate conscription and already the full timerole of the Bermuda Regiment is being enhanced to assume certain responsibilitiesnow borne by the Police. Prior to the legislative action required to effect this change,the National Security Review will be fully supported with a view to prescribing whatis best for Bermuda and the role of the security services in the future. Bermuda'sborders must be protected and there is strength in joint operations and an enhancedmaritime role uniting the uniformed services in interdiction and maritime safety.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyA natural evolution of the judiciary in progressive jurisdictions around the world is tocreate specialized Courts as needs arise. Bermuda has risen to the occasion with theestablishment of the Drug Treatment Court and the Family Court. Each is mandatedto steer away from the exclusively punitive approach that was formerly the hallmarkof the justice system.Bermuda can no longer ignore the significant challenge presented by those who commitcrimes, but who are mentally ill. The current pattern of mentally ill Bermudiansrepeatedly entering and exiting the criminal justice is damaging to them, posesunacceptable risks to society and cannot be allowed to continue. Such persons presentunique judicial challenges with profound human rights dimensions. It is incumbentupon the Government to put in place a legislative framework that ensures they aredealt with appropriately by the judicial system.During this Legislative Session, the Government will assess the feasibility of aspecialized Court to deal with the judicial challenges presented by the mentallyill. The Government will work closely with judiciaries in other countries that havebenefitted from the establishment of such Courts. Accordingly, the Legislature will beinvited to consider the following items:• Amendments to the Mental Health Act 1968 to facilitate assessment andtreatment of mentally ill offenders;• Amendments to the Magistrates Act 1948 and corresponding legislation tocreate a Mental Health Treatment Special Court; and• Amendments to the Criminal Code Act 1907 to allow for the appropriatedisposition of mentally ill offenders.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyThe Government will, during the next Legislative Session, prioritize containmentof the cost of Legal Aid. Bermuda, like other jurisdictions that offer Legal Aid totheir citizenry, is faced with the challenge of finding a sustainable balance betweenensuring that justice is not denied to those who need it and safeguarding the publicpurse from an unsustainably burdensome demand. The past three years have seenboth an increase in hourly rates applicable in accordance with provisions of theLegal Aid Act 1980 and a significant increase in the number of applicants for theservice, both phenomena leading to the inevitable increase in the Legal Aid budget.Consequently, the Legislature will be invited to consider amendments to the LegalAid Act that emphasize containment of costs.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyThe Government is fully committed to reforming the public education system toequip Bermuda's young people with the skills and training they need to secure goodpayingjobs and pursue fulfilling careers. The Government will follow through onrecommendations in the “Hopkins Report” and begin the necessary steps to introducean integrated technical curriculum starting at the middle school level.The Career Pathways Programme will be expanded to provide new ladders ofopportunity into the technical, culinary, hospitality and financial services sectors.The programme, which currently provides real life exposure to career options forSecondary 3 students, will be expanded to include Secondary 4 students.Consultation has begun on an extended school day designed to provide more time formusic, arts, sports and additional academic assistance for those students who needextra help.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyEffective early intervention is a key contributor to lifelong learning and success.Therefore, the Government will invest in the expansion of early childhood screeningsbeyond the age of two years in order to help parents identify problems as soon as theybecome apparent. These early childhood screenings will now be available for childrenup to the age of four years and throughout the full calendar year.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyGreat teachers make a significant difference in the educational lives of their students.To provide the best quality teachers, Government will improve teacher recruitmentby raising the bar on teaching qualifications for all subject areas. Government willalso work with teachers and principals to improve performance in the classroom.The Government will table a Green Paper on Special Education seeking input on thedevelopment of a policy to accommodate students with special needs.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyThe Government will reopen a Medical Clinic to provide primary care for Bermudianswho cannot afford health insurance. Ensuring their access to primary care physiciansand wellness programmes will lead to a reduction in the number of people seekingcare at the Emergency Department and requiring admission to the Hospital, the twoplaces where healthcare is the most expensive, leading to possible reductions in thetotal cost of healthcare.Since the inception of FutureCare, concerns have been expressed that the premiumscharged are unfair for policy holders who pay significantly more for the same benefits.The Government will take steps to ensure that seniors who purchase FutureCare paythe same premium. Any social health insurance product sold by the Government willbe affordable and offer competitive benefits. Bermuda's seniors will continue to beprotected, but costs will be fair for all.Bermuda's senior population will grow significantly over the next decade, increasingdemand for places in nursing and residential care homes. Government will makesure these homes meet the highest standards of care possible. To that end, theGovernment will introduce amendments to the Residential Care Homes and NursingHomes Act 1999 and the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes Regulations2001 in order to bring local regulatory requirements in line with international bestpractice standards.The cost of prescription drugs can be a burden on anyone, whether or not they havehealth insurance. Currently, the Island's medical practitioners are diligent in tryingto ensure that their patients have access to generic drugs where appropriate, but theprescribing system can be improved. The Government will introduce amendments tothe Pharmacy and Poisons Act 1979 which will mandate the prescribing of prescriptiongeneric drugs unless the physician specifically requires a trade name product.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyThere is no place for discrimination in Bermuda in any form. Government believes allpeople must be treated with fairness and dignity, regardless of race, religion, gender,age or sexual orientation. To expand the protection of human rights, amendmentsto the Human Rights Act 1981 will be introduced to ensure no one is discriminatedagainst on the basis of age or sexual orientation.Government will introduce amendments to the Children Act 1998 to include aprovision for Shared Parenting Orders.To manage the challenges associated with some financial assistance clients, theGovernment will introduce amendments to the Financial Assistance Act 2001 andthe Child Day Care Allowance Act 2008 requiring mandatory life skills programmes,such as money management and parenting skills courses. These programmes will berequired as a condition of award for clients deemed by the Department of FinancialAssistance to require such services.Since some applicants seeking financial assistance are either known or suspectedsubstance abusers, the Government will introduce amendments to the FinancialAssistance Act 2001 to provide for a mandatory referral through the BermudaAssessment and Referral Centre where it is determined by a Financial AssistanceSocial Worker that a client could benefit from an assessment and treatment services.Further amendments to the Financial Assistance Act 2001 will require unemployed,able-bodied persons, who would otherwise qualify for financial assistance, toparticipate in community service activities as a condition of continued eligibility.This condition would apply if they have not found employment three months afterreceiving their initial grant.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyTo facilitate job-creating activities, Government will determine changes needed toimprove the time taken to obtain a Planning decision and to ensure an efficient andcustomer-friendly Planning regime.The Government will build upon an earlier legislative amendment that ensuredthat Special Development Orders would be subject to Parliamentary scrutinyby implementing a protocol that is clearly articulated, transparent and fair. Thisprotocol will guide the request for, consideration of and grant of Special DevelopmentOrders, enabling the Minister responsible to be fully informed about all Planningpolicy, technical and national issues prior to making a decision.The Government will begin a process of public consultation that will culminate inthe creation of the Southlands National Park in Warwick. This initiative will see anarea of parkland, roughly the size of the Botanical Gardens, designed, protected andopened to the public.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyThe Government will effect a number of improvements in the Island's infrastructure.Beginning this year, the Government will resurface 10 kilometres of the approximately200 kilometres of public roads and do so annually to ensure they do not deterioratefurther and remain safe for all users.Over the next year, the Government will undertake an extensive review of theIsland's street lighting to ensure that the safety and security needs of the populaceare enhanced in an efficient, sustainable and cost-effective way. The Government willalso pursue new and innovative ways to reduce the impact of street lighting on theIsland's overall carbon footprint through the use of LED technology and advancedcontrol techniques.Whilst preliminary work on a new design for the Causeway Bridge was completedsome years ago, the Government has determined that immediate action is required,as with each intervening storm or hurricane the risk of a catastrophic failure at theCauseway increases. To this end, the Government will undertake a review of theexisting design with the aim of determining the best way forward to ensure that theIsland remains connected to the airport at all times.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyIn addition to those legislative initiatives already mentioned, the Legislature willbe invited during this Session to consider amendments to a number of Acts andRegulations, including:Stamp Duty Act 1976Payroll Tax Act 1995The Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995Taxes Management Act 1976Corporate Services Tax Act 1995Land Valuation and Tax Act 1967Foreign Currency Purchase Tax Act 1975Legal Aid (Scale of Fees) Regulations 1980Legal Aid (General) Regulations 1980Firearms Act 1973Pharmacy and Poisons Act 1979Companies Act 1981Supreme Court Act 1905Bermuda Educators Council Act 2002Education RulesChildren Act 1998Pensions Increase Order 2013Pensions (Public Service Superannuation Act 1981) (Increase) Order 2013Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyThe aforementioned laws and policies will have as their underpinning adherence to theprinciples of good governance, transparency, accountability, fairness and justice forall. With integrity and the human element as its hallmarks, Government is confidentthat with the support of the people of Bermuda, the challenges will be overcome andthat obstacles will be turned into stepping stones to a brighter, more prosperoustomorrow for all. The Government has embarked on a mission to restore the promiseof Bermuda and to make sure the Island passed on to younger generations is safe andjust, fair and free.A benign convention allows the Governor to add a few words to the Throne Speech.It is not long since most of us were gathered here for the same important ceremony,with a different Speech. I noted then that Bermuda had a proud tradition ofmanaging its regular democratic choice in a way that was efficient and fair. This wasdemonstrated again in December. That work is important, sometimes difficult andshould not be taken for granted; and it will always need effort to stay in the forefrontof best practice. I add my thanks to that of the wider community to those who madethe election work.I take this opportunity to thank former Premier Paula Cox, first for the welcomeand advice which she gave to a new Governor. And, second, for her work, with herMinisterial colleagues, on behalf of Bermuda.I wish the new Government, which has been formed following the election, well infacing the challenges of today's world. Many of the bigger challenges relate to theeconomy and the management of the public finances. But events in recent weeks haveunderlined the need for the whole community to work to address the causes as wellas the violent symptoms of the gang phenomenon. I will work with the Government,and with those beyond government who have a vital role to play, to play my part inending this corrosive source of so much pointless misery.Madame President and Members of the SenateMr. Speaker and Members of the House of AssemblyI declare this Session of the Legislature open; and may God guide you and grant youwisdom in your deliberations.George FergussonGovernor and Commander-in-ChiefBermuda8 February 2013