Government passed a new law that sends health care workers to prison says Scott Pearman OBA

Recently, the Government of Bermuda, led by Premier David Burt, passed a new law that sends health care workers and health insurance workers to prison for failing to provide the Government with health information.

Along with eight PLP backbenchers, the following 10 members of the Cabinet voted for this draconian new PLP law:

Premier David Burt
Attorney General Kathy-Lynne Simmons
Minister Vance Campbell

Minister David Burch
Minister Tinee Furbert
Minister Wayne Furbert
Minister Jason Hayward
Minister Daillo Rabain
Minister Michael Weeks
Minister Kim Wilson
The One Bermuda Alliance believes that criminal sanctions, such as imprisonment, exist in order to punish criminal acts.  Everyday Bermudian citizens should not be jailed for failing to provide information to the Government.This is only the latest in a series of new laws passed by the PLP that seek to imprison people for things that are not remotely criminal.  Other recent examples of PLP legislation imprisoning people for non-criminal acts include the Invasive Alien Species Act 2021, which imposed up to two years in jail if you have the wrong kind of tree on your property.

The Financial Assistance (No. 2) Act 2023, which can send those seeking financial assistance to prison for up to 6 months for using “insulting language” when they apply for assistance.

Yes, our laws must be strictly enforced but they must also be fair to begin with.

It is wrong to incarcerate Bermudian workers for failing to provide information.

11 PLP MPs abstained from voting for Premier Burt’s unjust new law.  It is a shame those MPs did not join with the OBA to vote against it.

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