The protection of children, seniors and the sick were all prominent features of a Throne Speech that promised to look after Bermuda’s most vulnerable people yesterday.

Penalties for predatory sexual crimes against children will be toughened up, legislation will be strengthened to protect seniors and people with disabilities against abuse, while access to affordable chronic disease medication will be improved.

Better mental healthcare also emerged as a common theme, with the Bermuda Government vowing to add mental disabilities to the grounds protected by the Human Rights Act, identify a forensic psychiatric unit and push towards establishing a mental health court.

In a wide-ranging speech read by Governor George Fergusson at the Cabinet Office grounds for the last time, the One Bermuda Alliance also pledged to find a path to end conscription, give students the ability to vote overseas and ban dark-tinted visors on helmets. The speech emphasised continued efforts for economic growth and reining in government spending — while also pointing to “multiple signs” that the economy is moving in the right direction.

The agenda for the 2015-16 legislative year, the OBA’s fourth Throne Speech, told Bermudians to expect “social support programmes to continue, expansion of human rights protection, reforms to strengthen government accountability and performance, protection and care for the most vulnerable and steps to expand democratic participation”.

Mr Fergusson said: “During this legislative session, the Ministry of Legal Affairs will bring forward reforms to eliminate inconsistencies in law pertaining to perpetrators of sexual crimes and their young victims.

“This overdue updating of the law will ensure that penalties for predatory sexual crimes against the most vulnerable segment of society are appropriate for sufficient redress and deterrence.”

Regarding seniors, he said: “The Government will take steps to amend legislation to strengthen protection for seniors and persons with disabilities.

“The Senior Abuse Register Act, for example, lacks the authority to remove seniors from abusive situations or cases of neglect. There is also an absence of legislation that protects persons with disabilities as well as other vulnerable persons.”

On the issue of medication, he said: “When people cannot afford to buy the medications required to treat their chronic conditions, their ability to manage diseases is compromised.

“To address the situation, Government will pilot a programme to increase access to key medications.”

As well as adding mental health to the Human Rights Act, discrimination based on the written word will encompass online conversations and comments.

Laws against the publication of racist material will be expanded to include telephone discussions, the internet and broadcast, and the definition of a public place will be expanded to include indoor and outdoor spaces, when it comes to hostile words aimed at ethnicity or national origin.

The Human Rights Commission will gain greater independence, moving from the purview of the Department of Human Affairs to become a non-ministry entity.

People with diminished capacity due to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, and who have no next of kin, could be protected by the Government in a capacity similar to an “Office of the Public Guardian”, while the law for care and nursing homes will be tightened when it comes to staff qualifications.

With the prison population at “record lows”, the Government will look into the best means of closing “one of the minimum security facilities”.

Noting with concern that Bermuda lacks a secure forensic psychiatric unit, the Government has committed to finding a solution appropriate for the Island’s size and means.

The Throne Speech also committed to funding the expansion of police security cameras into Dockyard and St George’s.

A Census will be called for next year, and an independent body to administer the affairs of the legislature will go under consideration.

The speech also pointed to future public debate on immigration, stating: “Government will continue to work no fixing inequities in the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act, with public consultation preceding announcements.”

On basic government housekeeping, a new website is scheduled for next year, and legislation will be tabled for the gazetting of government notices to go online.

Government boards will also be appraised for efficiency.

• For the full text of the Throne Speech and a full outline of planned government initiatives, click on the PDF links under “Related Media”.