The Premier of Bermuda | Government of Bermuda (original) (raw)

Premier the Hon. E. David Burt, JP, MP, is Bermuda’s youngest Premier. He is a graduate of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a double major in Finance and Information Systems.

He was awarded The George Washington University Presidential Administrative Fellowship and received his Master of Science degree in Information Systems Development in 2003. Mr. Burt attained a Project Management Professional certification in 2009. He is also a licensed private pilot.

An entrepreneur, Premier Burt started GMD Consulting Limited, an IT consulting company focusing on project management. He served as President since its inception until 2016 when he stepped down upon being appointed Leader of the Opposition. Premier Burt co-founded HITCH Limited and was the lead developer for the award winning HITCH Mobile App enabling Bermuda Residents to hail taxis.

In the past, Premier Burt has served on the Tourism Board, National Training Board, as a Director of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, and has been a Director of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation.

Mr. Burt is also active in local and international public service and community organizations. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, the Western Stars Sports Club, and the Devonshire Recreation Club.

Premier Burt and his wife Kristin have two children, Nia and Edward.

View all recent Ministerial Press Releases, Statements, and Speeches

The Office of the Premier

The Premier is the head of government, and there is a multi-party system.

Bermuda is the oldest self-governing British Overseas Territory and has a great degree of internal autonomy. Its parliament held its first session in 1620, making it the third-oldest continuous parliament in the World.

The original system of government was created under the Virginia Company, which colonised Bermuda, accidentally in 1609, and deliberately from 1612. The Virginia Company lost its Royal Charter for North America ("Virginia") in 1622, and the Crown assumed responsibility for the administration of the continental colony. Bermuda, however, passed in 1615 to a new company, The Somers Isles Company (The Somers Isles being the other official name of the colony), formed by the same shareholders. The House of Assembly was created under that company, which continued to appoint Governors until it was dissolved in 1684, with the Crown assuming responsibility for the Colony's administration.

The Crown left in place the political system created under the Company. The Colonial Parliament originally consisted only of the lower house. The Privy Council, an appointed body, served in the roles of an upper house and a cabinet. The President of The Council could find himself temporarily acting as Governor when no Governor was present.

History of the Premier

| | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Political Party | | | ----------- | --------------------- | ---------------- | ------------------- | ------------------------ | | 1 | Sir Edward Richards | 18 April 1973 | 29 December 1975 | United Bermuda Party | | 2 | Sir John Sharpe | 29 December 1975 | 30 August 1977 | United Bermuda Party | | 3 | Sir David Gibbons | 30 August 1977 | 15 January 1982 | United Bermuda Party | | 4 | Sir John Swan | 15 January 1982 | 25 August 1995 | United Bermuda Party | | 5 | Dr. David Saul | 25 August 1995 | 27 March 1997 | United Bermuda Party | | 6 | Dame Pamela F. Gordon | 27 March 1997 | 10 November 1998 | United Bermuda Party | | 7 | Dame Jennifer Smith | 10 November 1998 | 29 July 2003 | Progressive Labour Party | | 8 | Hon. Alex Scott | 29 July 2003 | 30 October 2006 | Progressive Labour Party | | 9 | Dr. Ewart Brown | 30 October 2006 | 29 October 2010 | Progressive Labour Party | | 10 | Hon. Paula Cox | 29 October 2010 | 18 December 2012 | Progressive Labour Party | | 11 | Hon. Craig Cannonier | 18 December 2012 | 19 May 2014 | One Bermuda Alliance | | 12 | Hon. Michael Dunkley | 20 May 2014 | 18 July 2017 | One Bermuda Alliance | | 13 | Hon. E. David Burt | 19 July 2017 | present | Progressive Labour Party |

Government Leaders (1968–1973)