Furbert gets third term... no Labour Relations debate

Chris Furbert was returned unopposed for a third term at the helm of the Bermuda Industrial Union.

Other Executive Officers who were returned unopposed were: Glenn Simmons, first vice-president; Molly Burgess, general secretary; George Scott, chief organizer; Graham Nesbitt, assistant general secretary and Ronaldine Burgess, recording secretary.

Louis Somner was elected as second vice-president; Arnold Smith was elected as research officer; Collin Simmons as education officer; and Renee Jones as treasurer.

The six special delegates voted in were Tanya Darrell, Tomeiko Simons, Chris Belboda, Patrick Hayward, Raymond Tucker and Kedoe Arorash.

The special delegates will form part of the BIU’s General Council.

Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy said the Labour Relations Amendment Act 2014 will not be debated in the House of Assembly on Friday.

Minister Fahy said: “We believe that it is in the best interest of good industrial relations that we defer tomorrow’s debate of this Bill.

“It is Government’s intent, however, to keep this on the Order Paper and debate the legislation in the weeks to come.” The Minister added: “Discussions between our union partners continue and as I said a few weeks ago, the Government remains committed to finding a mutually agreed way forward in how we address our labour matters.”

The Bermuda Monetary Authority said property, home, automobile and motorcycle insurance policies are being sold by a friendly society in Bermuda to persons who are, or become, members of the society.

The Authority said the offer of such policies is not regulated. As such it does not have to comply with solvency or liquidity requirements that apply to domestic insurers under the Insurance Act.

Craig Swan, managing director, Supervision, at the Authority said: “This means that no regulatory body can offer assurances about capital adequacy or the ability to pay policyholder claims if and when they become due.

The Authority’s view is that no financial services product should be sold to the community without appropriate regulatory oversight.

Accordingly, we will undertake a review of the matter and anticipate advising the Government in the near future on this issue.”