The budget for the Ministry of Public Works was approved during yesterday’s sitting of the Upper House, despite some senators claiming that they are confused by the numbers.

Leslie Robinson, the junior minister, delivered a breakdown of how the ministry’s allocated $77.34 million will be spent over the coming 12 months.

Ms Robinson took two hours and ten minutes poring over details of the four departments that make up the ministry — leaving 50 minutes for questions from Opposition and Independent senators.

In many instances, she was unable to provide the “clarity“ that some of her Senate colleagues repeatedly sought.

Opposition senator Dwayne Robinson began by asking if the Government was being realistic in its cost estimates.

He pointed to three heads in which actual spending in 2022-23 had exceeded original estimates significantly, but were not revised for the coming year.

He said: “I guess my general question here is whether or not we’re being a bit optimistic about being able to achieve these particular budgeted amounts when we see that the final cost did exceed the original budget in 2023-24?”

In response to that question, Ms Robinson replied: “I can provide some answers. The board is the monthly board meeting of the Bermuda Housing Corporation. Per the minister, at this time, the answer cannot be provided with respect to financing until the matter is reported in another place.”

Independent senator John Wight, who was chairing the debate, said: “Senator, sorry, that’s the response to which of the three questions so far?

After another lengthy pause, Ms Robinson said: “Sorry let me ... just hold on a minute ... you can continue, just continue for now with the questions.”

Mr Robinson made a similar point when looking at the staffing levels and salaries of the ministry’s headquarters.

He noted that 39 were expected to be employed in the department in 2024-25 — four more than in 2023. Yet the Government predicts that the wage bill for those employees — $3.35 million — will be significantly less than 2022-23, when it came in at $5.2 million.

Mr Robinson asked: “I just want to know why the disparity there despite the number of employees increasing. We probably should have seen an increase in wages and salaries, especially with the negotiated uplift that these employees have received.”

Mr Robinson also noted that only $204,000 of $255,000 allocated for the running of Government House was spent in 2023-24, despite the fact that the building was in such a state of disrepair that the Governor has had to move into alternative accommodation temporarily.

He said: “If the building was falling into disrepair, why wasn’t this particular budget maxed out to prepare this particular building.”

Mr Robinson also asked if the $293,000 allocated to the building over the next year included the cost of paying for the Governor’s temporary residence.

Ms Robinson replied that the relocation costs came under a different section of the Budget book — but was initially unable to say what the figure was.

She said: “This covers landscaping only. The building maintenance is under public lands and building maintenance and capital accounts.”

Opposition Senate Leader Robin Tucker asked for details of contractors that the ministry had hired. Ms Robinson said she would provide that information at a later date.

Opposition senator Douglas De Couto questioned why the ministry had budgeted for staff that it did not have.

He said: “There’s a massive gap between number of employees they have today and the number of employees budgeted, and it’s the same gap between what was budgeted last year and what they achieved.

“I have to be frank, I really don’t understand how are all these people going to be hired?

Dr De Couto pointed to the Parks Department as an example. It employs 93 staff but is budgeted to employ 133.

He said: “Any organisation that had to grow from 93 to 133 people in 12 months … I’ve done hiring, and it’s basically impossible. Nobody could realistically budget that, and I want to understand their thinking here.”

Ms Robinson replied that human resources was working to fill vacancies, but funding for those jobs had to be in place before new staff were hired.

Dr De Couto queried why estimated salary bills had not risen proportionally.

He noted that the Department of Works and Engineering planned on hiring 345 staff in the coming year — an increase of more than 30 per cent on this financial year — but the salary bill is predicted to rise by only 3.5 per cent.

He said: “There’s been some wage increases, so I really don’t understand how you can budget a 35 per cent headcount budget.

“I have to admit that I’m really confused, and perhaps it’s an education for us.”