The Progressive Labour Party government is meeting with union leaders and international business representatives as it unveils specifics of its 100-day plan in stages over the days and weeks ahead, David Burt announced yesterday afternoon.

Speaking shortly after the new Government’s first Cabinet meeting, the Premier expressed confidence in growing international business at the same time as putting Bermudians first.

“The two are not mutually exclusive, and this government will ensure that we do both,” Mr Burt said, flanked by colleagues in the Cabinet Office.

“Together we will work collectively to advance our interests internationally, while creating more opportunities for Bermudians locally.”

Meanwhile, the House of Assembly is to convene in September, two months earlier than usual, to advance the new administration’s legislative agenda.

The Premier met yesterday with union leaders, accompanied by Walton Brown, the Minister of Home Affairs, and Lovitta Foggo, Minister for the Cabinet Office with Responsibility for Government Reform.

“Through collaboration, this government will be able to create comprehensive plans to address any concerns,” Mr Burt said.

“But the first step must be to open the floor for constructive dialogue.”

The Premier, along with Jamahl Simmons, the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, is to meet today with the Association of Bermuda International Companies and, next week, with representatives from the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers.

“The objectives are simple: to ensure that we work together to build Bermuda’s strength as a highly regarded, well regulated international financial centre,” Mr Burt said, calling the unions and international business bodies “important stakeholders as we work to create jobs in Bermuda”.

Over the days since its July 18 victory at the polls, Mr Burt said the Government “has been busy getting to work and looking under the hood”.

The Premier added that details on what had been found “under the hood” would be forthcoming later this week — reviving a term that had been used by the One Bermuda Alliance administration after it assumed power in December 2012.

Noting the high priority of education, the Premier said that the Ministers of Education and of Public Works would be collaborating to ensure that all schools would be ready for students — and the Government intends “to keep our promise of increasing the financial support available to students wishing to attend Bermuda College in the autumn”.

That support could come at least partially from elsewhere in the Government’s spending, he said.

“As we look under the hood, there is a lot of spending we can find that we can stop, and places we can redirect priorities where they need to go.”

While some of the 21 items on the 100-day agenda have already commenced implementation, particulars remain to be announced. Mr Burt revealed little of a major infrastructural project inherited by the new administration that has piqued widespread curiosity: how the PLP will handle the airport redevelopment, which the party so hotly opposed.

The Premier said that issue would be discussed at a later press conference by Walter Roban, the Minister of Transport, in consultation with Kathy Simmons, the Attorney-General.

• To read Mr Burt’s remarks in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”.