The Government is pressing ahead with plans to abolish outdated rules and regulations that stifle business development.

At a press conference yesterday, David Burt said that the Government had received 95 recommendations for streamlining procedures and breaking down barriers during a two-month consultation period.

The submissions from the public have been broken down by ministry, with the majority of the submissions falling under the ministries of Economy and Labour, Finance and Transport.

The Premier and Minister of Finance said that the recommendations will now be examined by relevant ministers to determine the next steps on how outdated processes, systems or legislation can be modernised, updated or removed.

He added that he will report to Parliament before the end of the session on the progress made on the submissions.

Mr Burt said: “We know the best ideas and outcomes come through stakeholder engagement, consultation and collaboration.

“Over the years, to support businesses and economic development, we have asked private sector organisations to submit suggestions regarding regulations that could be streamlined or reduced to boost economic activity.”

Mr Burt said that the exercise was another example of the Government listening to the people before developing policy.

He said: “As your Government, we believe in a Bermuda where everyone has a voice, and our strength lies in listening to those voices when they speak about what is needed.

“We believe that each of us can contribute to shaping our island’s future and that we can work together to craft people-driven, people-focused policies that improve the lives of every Bermudian.

“In our economic development strategy, we pledged to slash the red tape and bureaucracy that makes it harder for local and global businesses to operate in Bermuda and to modernise outdated regulations that make it harder for businesses in Bermuda to grow.

“Therefore, we determined that expanding consultation was necessary to ensure we fully understood which regulations were causing obstacles to business activity in Bermuda.

“We are truly grateful to everyone who submitted their ideas. Your voices matter; we are listening because you, the public, are our most valued stakeholders.

“The Government recognises there is more work to be done. So, just as we consulted and delivered on a minimum wage, legal reform, and economic recovery, we will deliver on reducing red tape and improving government services to support further economic growth.

“This is not just about removing barriers to business success. It is also about creating opportunities, fostering a more inclusive economy and progressing towards a better, fairer Bermuda.”