Insurance executive named Attorney General

AXA XL Bermuda senior vice president and head of claims Kim Wilkerson has been appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice in the Bermuda Government. 

Wilkerson will return to the Senate for the second time, representing the Progressive Labour Party government. 

Her appointment follows the resignation from the Cabinet and the House of Assembly of Kathy-Lynn Simmons. 

PLP MPs Crystal Caesar and Jache Adams were also appointed as Minister for the Cabinet Office and Junior Minister of Finance, respectively.

Premier David Burt said of Wilkerson: “Her career in the insurance industry spanning over 30 years and her deep legal expertise make her uniquely qualified for her new role.”

He said Wilkerson, who was previously a PLP Senator from 2016-2017, had expressed a clear vision for her tenure as Attorney-General, adding: "She is committed to ensuring that our justice system becomes less punitive, more restorative and more accessible.

“This approach will be crucial as the Government continues its work to a more just and equitable society for all Bermudians.”

Wilkerson said she was honoured to take on her new role, The Royal Gazette reported. 

She told the gathering: “I am grateful for the trust that the Premier and Deputy Premier have put in me for carrying out this portfolio.

“I am very interested in seeing reform to our justice system.”

Adams, the MP for Pembroke West who has served as an adviser to Mr Burt in his role as the Minister of Finance, had advanced important government initiatives, the Premier said, 

They included the mortgage guarantee programme, which, he said, helped dozens of Bermudians start on the path to home ownership, as well as pension reform.

“Having served under two ministers of finance and advancing numerous policies that have benefited Bermudians, MP Adams has earned this promotion,” Burt said. 

He added: “I speak for the Cabinet when I say that we are excited to work with AG Wilkerson, minister Caesar and junior minister Adams in their new roles as the Government continues to deliver on the progressive agenda that we were elected to advance.”

Burt said of Caesar, who has served as the Government’s MP for Southampton West Central since 2020: “The Cabinet will benefit from her overarching commitment to ensuring that Bermudians benefit from changes to legislation and that government services are more accessible for Bermuda’s residents.”

The Government is due to give final approval to the mid-year budget review, which would deliver investment in additional resources for critical social services, education, mental health, public safety and community infrastructure.

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