Good morning everyone,

It is a pleasure to be here today at #7 Middle Town, Pembroke, as we continue to deliver on our promise to provide Bermudians with quality, affordable housing. 

Let me begin by acknowledging the Area Member of Parliament, MP Curtis Dickinson, Shadow Minister Michael Faye, Senator Lauren Bell, and the Chairman of the Bermuda Housing Corporation, MP Chris Famous, together with the hardworking BHC Board. 

Also, the dedicated team led by Mr. Paul Martin and our esteemed project manager, Mr Blake Lambert. Your leadership and commitment ensure that each of these projects makes a tangible difference in people’s lives.

We stand before Browne House, one of two properties on this site named in honour of Dame Lois Browne-Evans. Together with its sister property, Evans Cottage at #9 Middle Town, these buildings form an important part of the Bermuda Housing Corporation’s Residential Building Programme.

Browne House comprises a four-room rooming house, which remains fully occupied, and four two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments. The current phase of work is limited to the four residential units only. These renovations are transforming outdated spaces into modern, efficient, and comfortable homes, designed for today's families and individuals.

We are proud to be partnering with Vision Construction and Moongate Consulting on this work. Construction began on September 11th, 2025, with a budget of $775,000, and completion expected by January 2026. 

The work being done is not just a coat of paint, and the progress already visible on site is remarkable. Renovations consist of comprehensive internal upgrades to bring the units up to current building codes, including electrical and plumbing systems, millwork, and the installation of a suspended concrete floor slab. Each two-bedroom unit provides approximately 588 sq ft of livable space. 

The rooming house component is not included in this phase but scheduled for refurbishment under a subsequent phase of the overall development plan for Browne House. 

The renovation here at Middle Town is one of several key projects advancing under the Residential Building Programme, which together are adding more than 60 new affordable units across the island.

Among these:

• Harmony Terrace, East and West, Paget, where new units are already complete and occupied, and work is commencing on the next phase, Harmony Terrace North.

• Battery Road, St. David’s, is now entering its final phase to deliver 12 additional homes.

• Chelsea Apartments, St. George’s, is nearing completion with new residents expected early next year; and

• Middle Town, where we stand today, is restoring housing in the heart of Pembroke.

Furthermore, the BHC’s modular housing pilot is progressing rapidly, with 11 modular and expandable container homes scheduled for installation within the next few months, providing immediate relief to families on the waitlist while allowing us to test new, cost-effective construction methods. 

These modular units will complement long-term developments being prepared for 2026–27. Target sites include Albert Row in Sandys, Dr. Cann Park in Southampton, 13 Ewing Street in Hamilton, and Harbour View Village in St. David’s, which together will deliver a potential 225 additional affordable homes. I look forward to updating the public on this pilot project in due course.

As of this month, the BHC waitlist includes over 300 households, the majority seeking one- and two-bedroom units.  This demand reflects the growing needs of seniors, single-parent families, and individuals living alone, and underscores why smaller, affordable units like those here in Middle Town are so essential. 

We also continue to support the Private Sector Refurbishment Programme, which helps private owners bring vacant or underused properties back onto the rental market—another key step toward increasing supply more quickly.

Our Affordable Housing Strategy (2025–2035), currently under development, will outline a long-term vision for housing delivery, the rehabilitation of derelict properties, and new public-private partnerships. Together with our Emergency Housing Plan and modular pilot, this strategy forms the blueprint for sustainable, inclusive, and adaptable housing for Bermuda’s future. 

Our goal is urgent yet straightforward: to ensure every Bermudian has a safe, adequate, and affordable place to call home.

To that end, Middle Town’s renewal represents more than bricks and mortar. It is about restoring dignity, strengthening communities, and ensuring that opportunity begins at home.

Each renovation, each unit, and each key handed to a new tenant - these are tangible outcomes that demonstrate the Government’s commitment to practical, people-first solutions.

I also want to reiterate the dedication of the Bermuda Housing Corporation team, the skilled tradespeople, engineers, and contractors who are delivering this transformation, as well as the residents who have supported this process with patience and optimism.

The Government remains steadfast in its mission to make housing accessible for every Bermudian, not as an aspiration, but as a reality.

Together, we are creating a housing system that works - one that is fair, forward-looking, and built to last.

Thank you.