Bermuda’s Parliament has moved forward with debate on the long-delayed Commission of Inquiry into Historical Land Losses, bringing a major issue concerning property ownership and past land dispossession back into the national political spotlight.

The report was tabled in the House of Assembly in December 2021, but parliamentary consideration was delayed while related matters were before the courts. Premier David Burt encouraged Bermudians to follow the September 25 debate as elected representatives considered the commission’s findings and recommendations.

The Commission of Inquiry was established in 2019 following a resolution approved by the House of Assembly in 2014. The inquiry examined historical land-loss concerns and heard testimony from Bermudians and families affected by the issue.

The parliamentary debate places historical land ownership, compensation and government policy among the issues receiving renewed attention in Bermuda’s political discussion.