OBA MP Robin Tucker says Bermuda is in the middle of a food‑security crisis and urges structural change

OpEd written by OBA MP Robin Tucker:

Bermuda is in the middle of a food‑security crisis, and the latest figures published by The Royal Gazette should alarm every resident.

According to data released by the Non‑Profit Alliance of Bermuda, the cost of feeding one person has risen from $177 in 2023 to $191 in 2025, even as the number of people receiving help has dropped by 16 per cent.

Due to rapidly increasing costs, fresh meals distributed fell by 36 per cent, food vouchers by 46 per cent, and grocery bags by 14 per cent.  This is not a system under pressure — it is a system buckling.

When fully employed Bermudians are waiting in line for food assistance, we are far past the point of incremental fixes.

We need structural change — and we need it now.  Charities are spending more and serving fewer people. Families are waiting for access to food.

Fully employed Bermudians — people doing everything “right” — are still unable to keep up with the cost of living. When more than 100 residents are waiting just to access a food pantry, the system is more than strained.

It is breaking.  

And yet, even as charities stretch every dollar and volunteers work seven days a week, Bermuda continues to sideline community‑driven solutions that could ease pressure on the system.

The recent controversy over the inhumane treatment of feral chickens is an example. It is not just about animal welfare — it is about a Government that refuses to engage and entertain practical, sustainable ideas that could reduce waste and strengthen food security. 

About a year ago, members of a community group I belong to presented an alternative to addressing the feral chicken problem to the Government.

I have been told that we weren’t the only group that presented ideas.  Our proposal was simple: redirect feral chickens into a regulated local egg and food source, creating the foundation for a small Bermudian‑owned business.

This would have reduced waste, supported food security, and turned a nuisance into a resource.  The idea was dismissed outright. No consultation. No pilot. No willingness to further explore the concept with us.  Meanwhile, reports continue to surface of sedated chickens being left behind —scavenged or simply wasted.

At a time when charities are rationing services and families are rationing meals, Bermuda cannot afford to keep rejecting solutions to secure a potential food source simply because they fall outside the Government’s comfort zone.  We need a different approach — one that treats food security as a national priority, not an afterthought.

Two potential but practical solutions I think we could consider implementing now.  

We could launch a regulated “Food Recovery Pilot” using existing waste streams.  This would allow vetted community partners to safely redirect edible surplus – including culled chickens, excess produce, and unused prepared foods – into the food-aid system.  Many countries already do this including the US, France, Spain and the UK.  

These countries have established systems, legal frameworks, or government‑supported programmes that make surplus‑food redistribution a normal part of their food‑security strategy.  If Bermuda was to do this it could reduce waste, lower costs for food‑aid providers, create micro‑enterprise opportunities and strengthen food resilience. It is low‑cost, high‑impact, and entirely achievable.

Another idea is to establish a joint Government-community food security task force – not another committee that rarely meets but an actual working group with authority to coordinate food‑aid schedules, streamline procurement, negotiate bulk purchasing, identify new local food sources, support small‑scale agricultural and livestock initiatives.  Some charities are already coordinating among themselves. They could benefit from a Government partnership with real decision‑making power. 

Bermuda is full of people offering solutions. Charities are innovating. Volunteers are stepping up. Community groups are proposing ideas that reduce suffering and create opportunity.  Food security is not a luxury. It is not optional. It is the foundation of a stable, humane society. Ignoring viable proposals — whether they come from charities, entrepreneurs, or community groups — does nothing to move Bermuda forward.  

We have an emerging crisis on our hands.  Solutions exist but the question is whether the government  will listen and act with urgency?

Minister of Housing and Municipalities pledges action on housing challenges

Press Statement by Zane Desilva, Deputy Premier and Minister of Housing and Municipalities

Housing remains one of the most serious challenges facing Bermuda today. For many Bermudians, this is not about politics, it is about whether they can find a safe and stable place to live. 

This Government has taken a clear and deliberate approach: to increase housing supply, restore existing units, and move long-delayed developments forward, while introducing practical solutions that respond to the urgency of the situation. 

That work is not theoretical. It is being executed. 

Across the island, progress is being made. At Southside, long-delayed development is moving forward with new residential units advancing toward delivery. At Harmony Terrace, redevelopment is progressing in a high-demand area where additional housing is urgently needed. At Battery Road and Chelsea Apartments, units are being repaired and brought back into use, creating immediate opportunities for families in need of stable housing. At Middle Town, plans are advancing to further expand available housing. 

At the same time, Bermuda Housing Corporation properties across the island are being upgraded and restored, returning units to safe, liveable condition and increasing the availability of housing stock. 

These are not proposals or promises. They are active projects delivering real results for Bermudians. 

Bermuda’s housing challenges will not be solved overnight. The island faces real constraints, including limited land, high construction costs, and global pressures that continue to affect supply. Despite these realities, the need for housing is immediate and requires action. 

That is why the Government is advancing innovative solutions, including modular housing. 

Modular construction is a practical tool that allows for faster delivery while longer-term developments are progressed. It enables the Government to respond to urgent need, reduce waiting times, and ensure that more Bermudians have access to housing when they need it, not years from now, but now. 

As part of this approach, the Bermuda Housing Corporation will be appealing the Development Applications Board’s refusal of a recent application. This reflects the Government’s responsibility to consider all viable options to increase housing supply, particularly those that can deliver homes in the near term. 

The benefits of modular housing are significant and cannot be overlooked, particularly given the current demand. At the same time, all developments must be carefully assessed to ensure they are appropriate for their location and aligned with planning and environmental standards. 

Addressing Bermuda’s housing challenge requires urgency, but also responsibility. It requires innovation, but also careful planning. Above all, it requires a continued focus on delivery. 

This Government remains focused on increasing housing supply, accelerating progress, and ensuring that more Bermudians have access to safe, stable homes. 

Work will continue across the island to build, restore, and deliver housing solutions that meet both immediate and long-term needs. 

Because at its core, this is not simply a policy issue. It is about people, families, and the security that comes with having a place to call home.