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By Keith Archibald Forbes (see About Us).
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Bermuda's Royal Gazette newspaper is not published on Sundays or Public Holidays.
July 31. Bermuda’s current account surplus doubled in the first three months of this year to $328 million, compared to $161 million for the same period last year.
The increase was largely attributed to improvement in the surplus balance on the primary income account as a result of investment income. Imports of goods jumped to $250 million, an increase of $27 million on the same quarter last year. Bermuda Government statisticians said the change was down to an $11 million increase in imports from the US, the country’s main trading partner, and a $6 million increase in importation of Caribbean goods, while imports from countries competing in the summer’s America’s Cup also recorded “large increases”. But the value of imported goods from Canada dropped $2 million. In the commodity groups, the increase was reflected mostly in the imports of finished equipment and machinery, which rose by $13 million and $11 million respectively. Basic materials and semi-manufactured items, however, saw a decline of $4 million over the period. Revenue from exported goods went up by $1 million. The figures were contained in government’s balance of payments statistics, which reflect the island’s economic transactions with the rest of the world. The services account surplus increased by $3 million and stood at $282 million during the quarter. The provision of government services earned an extra $6 million from an increase in revenue from exempted companies tax. In addition, there was a $3 million increase in travel services revenue due to an increase in both air and cruise ship arrivals and a higher per visitor expenditure. Receipts from business services dropped $30 million to $186 million compared to the previous quarter’s $216 million and $3 million on the same quarter of 2016. In insurance services, receipts also fell, down $3 million to $20 million. Financial services receipts, however, rose by $1 million to $30 million compared to the same period last year, but showed a $24 million drop when compared to the previous quarter. The primary income account, which shows balances on compensation earned or paid to non-residents and income from investments and payroll tax paid by non-resident companies to Government, recorded a surplus increase of $189 million, up to $580 million for the quarter compared to $387 at the same point last year. The balance of payments report said: “This increase reflected primarily a $180 million rise in net investment income as a result of lower reinvested earnings. “The surplus on other income also grew by $12 million when compared to the same period in 2016.” The country’s international investment position — the overseas assets of Bermuda residents and companies less overseas liabilities — stood at more than $4.2 billion, up $481 million on the last quarter of 2016.
July 31. Walter Roban, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport, has issued a statement urging road users to look out for one another over Cup Match. Calling it one of the island’s most revered holidays, the minister said he hoped Cup Match 2017 could become the island’s best yet for celebrations, fun and road safety. “The long weekend begins with Thursday and Friday cricket, making for an extended period of celebration,” Mr Roban said, imploring residents to “take one for the team” during the holidays. We all have a ‘team’ — our family, friends and co-workers who look forward to seeing us during and after the cricket match. Your team is interested to share with you memories of yet another exciting holiday. To protect your team’s interest, take extra care and caution on the roads. This Cup Match holiday, assess your motoring behaviour and determine what you can do to exercise more caution on the roads. We already have far too many motoring mishaps and far too many serious accidents.” Mr Roban added: “Last week, I attended the funeral of another young Bermudian tragically lost to our roads. Any road fatality is one too many, and it always affects a wide group of people in our small community. We must commit ourselves to personal and community changes to stem the number of accidents and reduce the number of fatalities. We must make our roads safer. The Government is committed to improving road safety, improving public awareness of the need for more responsible behaviour on our roads and reducing traffic accidents and fatalities. To do that, we need the collective will to change motoring behaviour. Take one for the team! Put an end to impaired driving. Be more careful at intersections. Slow down.”
July 31. Beachgoers are asked to vacate Horseshoe Bay just before 7pm on Thursday, so that Department of Parks staff can clean up in preparation for the reopening of the beach the next day. The department issued an advisory on parking — reminding drivers that all vehicles must be parked in the appropriate designated parking spots. In addition, no parking will be permitted on the access road leading from South Road to the Horseshoe Bay parking lot. Once all designated parking spots have been filled, vehicles will not be allowed to park at the bottom of the hill. No other vehicles will be given access, except to drop off or pick up patrons. However, Chaplin Bay parking lot can be used for parking to reach Horseshoe Bay. When parking on the roadside verge, drivers are asked to make sure that their vehicles are completely off the main road. There will also be a one-way traffic system in place on Thursday, on the road leading down to Horseshoe Bay, between 8am and 5pm. Taxis, minibuses, emergency vehicles and Parks vehicles will be the only ones permitted to go up the hill to exit. Once taxi and minibus places are full, no other vehicles will be given access except to drop off or pick up guests. Private cars and bikes will exit Horseshoe Bay through the Fairmont Southampton gate. Parking is not permitted on the hotel grounds, and dropping off or picking up patrons will not be allowed on the Fairmont Southampton’s property. Once parking spaces are full, taxis and minibuses will be stationed near the entrance to Horseshoe Bay. Park rangers, along with the Bermuda Police Service and Transport Control Department traffic officers, will be in place throughout Thursday to manage traffic.
July 31. They’ll be doing battle on the cricket field later this week, but the St George’s and Somerset cricket teams came together for a ceremony with the Royal Bermuda Regiment Band. Somerset Cricket Club president Alfred Maybury and St George’s vice-president Mishael Paynter joined Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel David Curley as his guests at last week’s musical extravaganza and Beating the Retreat in Hamilton. Lieutenant-Colonel Curley said: “It’s that time of the year for the competitive spirit of Cup Match — I reached out to the clubs and said it would be great if we could host senior members.” The Colonel — a St George’s supporter — added: “They got along really well — with a bit of banter, of course, but I was sitting between them to make sure everything went smoothly. They were very keen to talk about the upcoming cricket match and I was able to tell them about the format and history of Beating the Retreat.” Mr Maybury said that the rivalry between the two teams is strictly on the cricket pitch, but off the field they are partners. Mr Paynter added: “It’s a very good ceremony — it’s a part of our culture and history and it’s important we continue our culture and traditions.” Before the traditional Beating the Retreat ceremony, the Royal Bermuda Regiment Band and Corp of Drums performed with the Bermuda Islands Pipe Band and Highland dancers before a large crowd on Front Street. The RBR Band and Corps of Drums will travel to Colorado in September to perform at the Estes Park music festival and tattoo.
July 31. Bermuda’s economy benefits to the tune of $79 million in a single year from direct expenditure by members of the Bermuda International Long Term Insurers and Reinsurers (BILTIR) organisation. That is one of the findings of a survey done by the group to assess the impact and make-up of the organisation. BILTIR members manage more than $156 billion in assets. The group was formed in 2011 to serve as a formal association to represent life insurers and reinsurers in Bermuda. The organisation’s primary focus is to advocate for the island’s life and annuity industry. Half of the workforce of the organisation’s member companies are based in Bermuda, and more than 70 per cent of those based locally are either Bermudian or a spouse of a Bermudian. In 2015, BILTIR members spent more than $77.5 million in direct expenditures on the island, including employee costs, payroll tax and rent. Additionally, a further $1.5 million has gone to charitable work and education-based initiatives on the island. BILTIR conducted its survey between November 2016 and March 2017, and it involved 30 of the organisation’s full-time members. “These survey results show that life reinsurance and insurance companies on the island are a strong contributor to Bermuda’s economy as well as the global economy,” said Sylvia Oliveira, director, BILTIR. “Through a collaborative effort, BILTIR acts as a consistent and coherent voice for our members and the industry in Bermuda, representing their varied interests and we look forward to increasing our awareness over the course of the coming year.” The organisation also helps through a math tutorial programme for high school students as they prepare for internationally recognized standardized tests and BILTIR awards an annual $30,000 scholarship to a Bermudian student pursuing a maths-related postsecondary degree. Some 83 per cent of respondents to the survey cover life risks, followed by deferred annuities at 57 per cent, immediate annuities and other longevity risks at 47 per cent, accident and health at 27 per cent and all others at 20 per cent. BILTIR members insure a wide range of risk types across a broad geographic range. Geographic origin of risks insured by member companies include the US at 37 per cent Caribbean and Bermuda at 14 per cent; the UK at 8 per cent, Canada and the EU both at 5 per cent, China at 4 per cent, and Japan at 3 per cent.
July 31. More flexible visiting hours at the island’s general hospital are designed to boost emotional support for patients, staff said yesterday. The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital has introduced a new welcoming policy, which allows for up to two support people to have access to patients around the clock or stay overnight if a patient requests it. In addition, normal visiting hours have been extended by an hour, from 11am to 8pm instead of noon to 8pm. A spokeswoman for KEMH said the reaction to the new rules from patients and visitors had been positive. The daughter of one patient, who flew home the day before her father had surgery, said: “It was so good to be able to come straight from the airport that evening and stay by his bedside until he settled around midnight. “He slept better that night and so did I. I am so grateful for this new programme.” And the sister of another patient wrote: “I wear my support badge with pride, and use it to take my elderly sister the paper on my way to work, just like I do when she is at home. It’s great.” Norma Smith, clinical director of medical and surgical services at the KEMH, said: “This project is very near and dear to my heart. It’s an important step in making people’s experience at KEMH truly patient-centred. The key is that patients are in control of who sees them and when, rather than the hospital. The selected support people are people who patients think will best support them. Support people may or may not be immediate family, and patients can elect to have no additional support people and just keep their visitors to general welcoming hours.” Ms Smith led a special patient-centred care committee which included clinical staff, the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda and security staff to draw up the new policy, while patients’ views were also canvassed. She said: “I equate this programme to the discovery of a new piece of equipment that will help patients find comfort and healing. It is heartwarming to know that during those lonely, scary or worrisome times during a hospital stay, patients can someone of their choosing at their bedside to see them through.” The new policy was introduced earlier this month and new patients are informed of the changes when they are admitted to the acute care ward and designated supporters are issued with a temporary ID card. Patients can also change their two supporters over their stay.
July 31. A 21-year-old man was stabbed to death at the wake of shooting victim Jahcari Francis on Saturday evening. Jahkoby Smith, from Sandys, and a second man were both stabbed during a disturbance at the West End Sailboat Club, Sandys, at about 7.15pm. They were taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where Mr Smith died from his injuries shortly afterwards. The second man received treatment and was released from hospital yesterday. The hospital was placed on lockdown on Saturday evening, with police officers at the site. A large police presence was also in place at the boat club late into the night. The killing came a few hours after a home-going service for Mr Francis at Christ Church, Devonshire. Mr Francis, 20, was shot dead on July 19, in the same house in Upland Street, Devonshire, where his close friend Isaiah Furbert, 19, was fatally shot nine months ago. Police have said their deaths were likely part of a continuing feud between two gangs. Wayne Caines, the new Minister of National Security who will be meeting with the Commissioner of Police today, said the incident was part of a “national crisis”. Mr Caines said in a statement: “Young lives are too precious to lose especially in such tragic circumstances. Another family now mourns a loss and we must comfort them with our thoughts and prayers. This new government has already sought to engage with those sectors of the community required to address the issue of violence and antisocial activity. Our response must be strategic as we set about developing solutions for the long term.” Mr Caines urged that the island remain calm as the Cup Match long weekend approaches. He said: “Cup Match is centred on the celebration of the emancipation from slavery and, as we reflect on the significance of these unique two days, I encourage everyone to remember the ties that bind us and to embrace a renewed spirit of community, each doing our part to ease tensions and dampen any talk of further violence.” A police spokeswoman said yesterday: “Mr Smith was fatally stabbed after he was involved in an altercation that took place at the West End Sailboat Club, Sandys. At that time, there was a wake being held for the late Jahcari Francis. Police and EMTs rendered assistance to Mr Smith at the scene. However, he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. A second man who was also stabbed during the same altercation was transported to KEMH via private car. That man has been treated and released from hospital care.” The spokeswoman was unable to provide a description of any suspect from Saturday night, or details on how they left the property. Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, the Leader of the Opposition, issued a statement of condolences. “It is with heavy hearts that we learn of the death of another young man to senseless violence. We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends as they grapple with this painful tragedy. We encourage the community to embrace this family as they mourn the death of their beloved son, and pray that we can come together as a people in trying to arrest this devastating trend.” Witnesses, or anyone who may know the movements of Mr Smith, are urged to call Acting Inspector Dean Martin of the Serious Crime Unit on 717-2074 or 247-1739, or the confidential Crime Stoppers Hotline on 800-8477.
July 31. An icon of Bermuda fashion is set to be adopted in Guernsey in an effort to raise cancer awareness. Starting next week, Male Uprising Guernsey is calling on men to don Bermuda shorts and long socks as part of their annual awareness campaign on the island, located in the English Channel. And according to the group’s website, organisers are getting some support from Butterfield Bank, who in addition to sponsoring the event will be providing the first 250 participants with a free pair of Bermuda-style socks. Richard Saunders, Butterfield Bank managing director, said: “As a Bermuda-based bank, this was a perfect fit for Butterfield to sponsor this Mug initiative. “We will encourage our staff to get fully behind the week, wearing their Bermuda shorts and long socks to work. It will be nice to ditch suit trousers, whilst at the same time raising money for a worthy cause.” Money raised from this year’s Bermuda Shorts Week will be spent on the purchase and installation of sun cream dispensers in schools. Michael Richards, Mug council member, said: “With skin cancer rates being higher in the Channel Islands compared to the UK, Mug is determined to increase sun cream protection around the island. Educating the next generation now will ensure a healthier future for the island.” According to the Mug Facebook page, staff at the Guernsey offices of Deloitte and Appleby were among those who wore their Bermuda best as part of last year’s fundraising event.
July 31. An attempt to cut the risk of sex abuse in a primary school has been launched by a child protection charity with backing from a risk management firm. Windows are to be installed in all doors at Pembroke’s Victor Scott Primary School so private meetings between pupils and staff can be seen at all times. The initiative is a collaboration between charity Saving Children and Revealing Secrets, risk management firm Artex Risk Solutions, the Department of Education and Treecon, supplier of windows and doors. Terry Cox, assistant director of educational standards and accountability with the Department of Education, told The Royal Gazette: “We have been working with Scars for the last few years to ensure teachers, volunteers and anyone with continuous access to children have their certification.” Ms Cox added that the school had been putting inserts in any doors that needed replacing, but a $5,000 donation from Artex “really helps us get the whole school completed”. The Department of Education will make up the rest of the estimated $10,642 cost to install windows in the school’s 34 doors. Scars’ founder and executive director Debi Ray-Rivers explained that the windows “allow interaction with children to be observable and interruptible and this reduces risk. What we are trying to do is avoid isolated one-on-ones and automatically putting a window in can make a child not feel isolated in a classroom setting with the door closed. She said this helps Scars accomplish its mission in the community of reducing the risk of child sexual abuse. Ms Ray-Rivers said Artex offered to help fund the work after she was invited to deliver the charity’s Prevent Now presentation. “Immediately they said they want to have some of their staff trained,” she said. After taking part in the Darkness to Light Stewards of Children training, which teaches participants to prevent, recognise, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse, they wanted to do more. “That’s when we started talking about schools and how not all of them have windows in doors,” Ms Ray-Rivers said. “Right away they opened their hearts.” In addition to donating the money, Artex also offered the use of their boardroom for training sessions and staff assembled 500 training kits for the charity. Robert Eastham, the managing director of Artex’s Bermuda office, said: “We design alternative risk insurance solutions for companies around the world. But first and foremost, we’re members of the local Bermuda community. We are committed to helping this community thrive and grow. We can’t think of anything more important than protecting our children and providing them with a safe environment to grow up in. This year we’ve assembled Scars training kits and had employees go through Scars training. Now we’re providing funding to ensure that the children in Victor Scott Primary School will have windows in each classroom, allowing them to be visible and therefore reducing the risk of anything inappropriate happening.” Mr Alexander and Ms Ray-Rivers both said they would like to see this initiative extended throughout Bermuda in any organisation entrusted with the care of children. The inserts will be installed by TreeCon at half the normal cost per door, co-owner Keith Rowntree said. “The fact that they are all wood makes it a lot faster,” he said, adding that there might be one steel door he will handle himself. “We do a lot of work for the local schools so it’s a blast.”
July 31. Johnny Barnes, the Bermuda-owned thoroughbred, ran an impressive race to finish fourth at the Gigaset International Heritage Handicap at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, England, on Saturday. The 25-1 outsider, ridden by William Buick, earned his handlers just over £6,000 for his efforts. In an e-mail to Simon Scupham, the Bermuda Thoroughbred Racing chairman, Harry Herbert, the manager of Highclere, the racing syndicate that oversees the BTR operation, said: “As per usual he broke slowly but William Buick was happy to let him roll along towards the rear of the stands side group. “With three furlongs or so to run JB was still well on the bridle, which was so exciting, and as William asked him for his effort he quickened all the way to the line just getting his head in front to finish fourth. “He really did make up a tremendous amount of ground doing this showing a brilliantly competitive attitude.” Herbert added: “The most exciting thing to me was seeing the horse looking so well, moving fluently and really enjoying himself again. On today’s performance there is surely another good race to be won with this charming horse before the end of the season and when conditions are in his favour.” Stamp Hill, a 50-1 outsider, turned the highly competitive Gigaset International Heritage Handicap into a procession. The Richard Fahey-trained four-year-old had been well beaten in all his four starts this season, but hit form to take the £93,000 first prize for connections. “We always thought he had the ability, but I think the combination of blinkers first time and the ground helped him so much,” Paul Hanagan, the horse’s jockey, said. "I think I’ve ridden bigger-priced winners, but not in a race as valuable as this.”
July 30. New home affairs minister Walton Brown has pledged a “truly inclusive” consultation period before introducing immigration reform. The Immigration Reform Working Group has been tasked with producing a report by the end of October, Mr Brown said, based on the principles that Bermudians come first while the business sector is treated in a friendly manner that encourages growth. That will be followed by a three-month consultation period involving the public, the Opposition and stakeholder groups, before policy and legislation changes are finally proposed, the minister said in a statement. “We want to give the public a fair amount of time to consider the principles put forward by the working group as well as other issues related to immigration reform inclusive of the work permit policy,” Mr Brown said. “The question of immigration reform has been a challenging one, with many distinct groups affected by it. Our intention is to create a truly inclusive and collaborative approach to get the best fit for Bermuda. I look forward to an engaged public on this matter.” In the statement, Mr Brown announced that he is no longer a member of the working group, and has called on the remaining members to take a “principles first” approach. “All laws should be developed or based on sound principles,” he said. “That is why the creation of such principles must come before any amendments to legislation are made or even put forward. “The principles I want to see embraced when it comes to immigration reform are ones rooted in a sense of justice for all parties within the context of ‘Bermudians coming first’ while also maintaining a framework that will foster continued growth in the business sector, using a friendly and accommodating approach.” The group, formed in April last year following public anger over the One Bermuda Alliance government’s pathways to status proposal, had been tasked with proposing amendments to the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 1956. In a letter to the group’s members this week, the Mr Brown stated the terms of reference for the group would be to continue work on their survey to obtain “sound statistics” on mixed race families. The members are also tasked with “recommending the principles” of new policies in relation to mixed status families along with, if applicable, additional categories of Permanent Resident certificates or Bermudian status. “I would like to publicly thank the Immigration Reform Working Group for their participation over the past year,” Mr Brown added. “The group has worked really well together. Their input has been and continues to be invaluable. The work to this point will certainly go a long way in accomplishing the reform of the Immigration Act.”
July 30. The Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre will be open over the Cup Match holiday weekend. The Bermuda Hospitals Board has announced that the St David’s facility will be open from 4pm until midnight on Thursday and Friday, and from noon to midnight over the Saturday and Sunday. However the BHB warns that serious injuries should be treated at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s emergency department. “There are very limited diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing capabilities at the UCC,” a spokeswoman said. “The UCC offers services to assess and treat minor illnesses or injuries that need immediate attention, but are in no way life threatening and are not likely to need surgery or sophisticated diagnostic equipment. This includes sprains, strains, scrapes, cuts, coughs, colds, earaches, bumps and bruises. The UCC is open every weekday from 4pm to midnight. Regular Saturday and Sunday hours are from noon to midnight.” The spokeswoman also reiterated that at KEMH, physicians see and treat patients based on the seriousness of their condition rather than their order of arrival. "While serious cases will be given immediate priority, patients with less severe ailments would wait longer. Emergency Department staff will tell you your level of severity and expected wait time when you arrive,” the spokeswoman said. If you need to contact the UCC, call 298-7700. To contact the KEMH Emergency Department, call 239-2009.
July 30. The trash collection schedule is set to be disrupted by the Cup Match holiday, according to the Department of Waste Management. According to a spokeswoman, garbage will be collected in the West End tomorrow, while both trash and recyclables will be collected on Wednesday. Meanwhile in the East End, trash is set to be collected on Tuesday, with garbage and recycling being picked up on Saturday. “As a public reminder, when enjoying Bermuda’s outdoor environment this holiday season please remember to practice pack-in-pack-out,” the spokeswoman added. “Bring your own waste and recycling bags and take home for disposal on your regular collection days instead of leaving at public docks, beaches and parks.".
July 29. An American lawyer visiting Bermuda yesterday held out hope for Bermudians on the US stop list because of criminal convictions. Donette Russell-Love, a Bahamian who works in Florida, said that American legislation designed to keep criminals out of the US contained some loopholes for applicants looking for a waiver in connection with a previous conviction. But she said people were often intimidated by the red tape of bureaucracy and unaware of the complexities of US immigration law and leeway in its regulations. Ms Russell-Love, who runs Immigration Care Service in the Sunshine State’s Cooper City, said: “Sometimes it’s not a permanent situation. I help those who don’t fall into that permanent situation, and sometimes those who do, and figure out how we can get them back in. A lot of individuals who may have had some contact with the law with regards to drugs — and I highlight that because immigration law is very harsh when it comes to drug laws — could still enter the US.” She added that non-American lawyers were often not familiar with complex US immigration laws. She said: “I am a US attorney and to get someone to deal with a problem at the US border, you need a US attorney.” Ms Russell-Love, who is visiting friends in Bermuda, said that convictions for possession of 30 grams of cannabis or less, for example, could get a waiver from US immigration authorities. She added: “I highlight the drugs because if it’s anything other than simple possession — under 30 grams of cannabis — people can be permanently banned from returning to the US and certainly banned from things like being a US resident or a US citizen.” Ms Russell-Love said that drug trafficking or delivery, whether in the US or elsewhere, counted as an “aggravated felony” in the US with an automatic ban on entry. But she added: “That being said, there is a provision of the immigration law that permits both the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State visa office to give a waiver of ineligibility. They have the discretion to decide if they are going to give that to you. The waiver is their option. Bermuda is a pre-clearance country and I do a lot of work in the Bahamas, which is also a pre-clearance country and in Turks and Caicos, which comes under the US Embassy in the Bahamas. All hope is not lost — and I see this in the Bahamas as well — there is a lot of interaction between America and these pre-clearance countries.” Ms Russell-Love said: “A big part of what my office does is give people a list of things, talks to them and finds out how long ago the crime happened, their circumstances and what they’ve done since the conviction. There are a number of factors the visa office will review to decide whether they will issue a visa. We review that to try and make it a little bit easier for people. The visa office wants to know things about people, to know they are rehabilitated — that is something they want to know.” And Ms Russell-Love added that even a conviction for possession of cannabis under the 30g threshold did not prevent Bermudians from acquiring permanent residency in the US. She said: “The standards today are a lot higher, but it’s still possible.” But she added: “In the era of President Trump they are a lot more harsh at the pre-clearance borders." Ms Russell-Love said, however: “Anything other than rape, murder or child molestation, people may qualify for eligibility. People can have a conviction that does not make them ineligible for a visa, but an immigration officer has the discretion to say ‘I’m not going to give you a visa because you’ve been arrested. A bar fight in the US doesn’t make you ineligible, but that can be used as a reason for refusal.” Ms Russell-Love said some people on the US stop list could not remember why they had been added. She added: “We help people retrieve these records, review them, discuss them, then provide them with a copy and make a sound decision on what to do going forward. Sometimes what people think is the issue isn’t. We can identify what it is and move forward. “My goal is to empower people — people don’t have to stay in the dark.”
July 29. Power to parts of Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club was lost this afternoon when a roadside transformer blew. First responders, including Belco, attended the scene on Pitts Bay Road but could offer little by way of explanation for the explosion. The hotel refused to reveal the extent of the disruption to its services, referring The Royal Gazette to its marketing team, which is not on duty until Monday. A statement from Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service is forthcoming.
July 29. Flora Duffy won her fourth ITU World Triathlon Series race in a row in Edmonton today - a victory that moves her to the top of the overall Series. Duffy broke away on the bike with 19-year-old American Taylor Knibb, and pushed away from the teenager on the bell lap. The Bermudian kept her composure in the 5km run to win her fourth straight, after previous successes in Yokohama, Leeds and Hamburg. “It was pretty spot on, so thank you, Edmonton”, Duffy told the WTS website after her victory. “Taylor is riding super strong at the moment, I have been in a breakaway with her before, in Montreal last year, We worked together really well, but she was so strong I thought she might be running really strong too, so I attacked her on the last hill to get a little buffer. I’ve tried to be consistent over the last year. I’ve tried to minimise getting injured and just stay consistent in my training. I have to give a lot to my coaches”, Duffy said. Knibb finished second for her first WTS podium with fellow American Katie Zaferes third with the fastest run of the day. “I just tried to follow Flora and it worked all right,” Knibb said. “On the run I just wanted to hold my own. To be on the podium on a race like this, on a WTS race, is simply amazing”. After her third place, Zaferes said: “I knew this was going to be tough, but it was even harder than what I expected. I was pretty close to Flora and Tayler on the first kilometers, but on the first hill I got trapped. When Flora is riding you need to be with her any second or you will loose her. And the bike had a hill, but the run had my own hill too, with the battle with Summer Cook. I just kept telling myself be strong, be strong… and I made it.” Duffy now leads the series with 3,200 points with Zaferes second with 3,192.
July 29. Albert “Shorty” Churm, a former St George’s fire chief and dedicated sportsman who excelled as a jockey in the days of the Shelly Bay racetrack, has died at the age of 84. Kenneth Bascome, former St George’s mayor and MP, recalled Mr Churm as “an upstanding figure in the community,” who served as a volunteer fire chief for nearly 20 years. He passed a few days after the death of his son, also called Albert and nicknamed Shorty, for whom a “celebration of life” service will be held at St George’s Dinghy and Sport Club this evening. Mr Bascome said Mr Churm Sr was an avid golfer, and a dedicated regular at the Belmont Hills Golf Club. He was also well known in the East End for his tenure as manager of the Gosling’s branch in St George’s. But it was his time as a jockey, when the races at Shelly Bay drew impressive crowds, that Mr Churm looked back upon with special pride, telling this newspaper in an interview last year: “No bragging — but I was one of Bermuda’s best.” The same stature that earned Mr Churm his nickname back in school suited him well as a jockey in the 1950s — the last hurrah for the Shelly Bay racetrack, where he met his wife, Fanny, in 1954. Horse racing began at the fields there in 1864, growing into a popular Christmas tradition for families. Mr Churm discovered it as a teenager, watching the horses train early in the mornings and eventually getting invited to help out. Although apprenticed as a mechanic, Mr Churm could earn a better wage racing, and enjoyed the thrill despite occasional mishaps such as a pile-up when he was 28 that left him with lifelong back problems. He raced locally and abroad until the Shelly Bay races closed in 1961. “He was probably one of the only jockeys from Bermuda who worked professionally at foreign racetracks, at least that I know of,” said friend and golfing partner James DeCouto. Mr Churm played for the tournament known as the Belmont Invitational for 49 consecutive years, Mr DeCouto added. “He was very good company to keep, always had a joke to tell, and I always enjoyed playing with him.” Fred Wheatley, a childhood friend, remembered Mr Churm as “a great guy — I grew up with him; he was always a jockey”. He had his own pony, Antigua Lady, which I used to ride. When it came to horses, he was an all-rounder, and Shorty was an all-round good guy.” Although he grew up in the neighborhood of Mount Hill, Pembroke, Mr Churm left his mark on St George’s, where he first volunteered as a fireman in 1962. He remained with the service for 27 years.
July 28. Government MP Wayne Furbert will bring his Bill to outlaw gay marriage back to Parliament in September — and he expects it to pass. Mr Furbert told The Royal Gazette that same-sex marriage was a key issue in the General Election, with the Progressive Labour Party’s clear opposition to it, as stated in its manifesto, a factor in its landslide win. He said he would not lobby his party members to support his private member’s Bill, as it would be a vote of conscience, but believed enough of them would be in favour to ensure its safe passage through the House of Assembly. The same Bill passed last year in the House but was blocked in the Senate. This time, if it passes in its current form, it will not need the approval of the Upper Chamber to become law. “I think it has a good chance,” Mr Furbert said. “If you consider who voted before, I kind of have a good feeling. In theory, I think it will go through.” The backbencher tabled his Human Rights Amendment bill in 2016, in an attempt to prevent same-sex couples who wanted to marry from taking advantage of a 2013 amendment to the Human Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation. His proposed change to the law was to insert a clause into the Human Rights Act to say nothing in it could override the provisions of section 15 (c) of the Matrimonial Causes Act, which deems a marriage void unless between members of the opposite sex. Mr Furbert had earlier tried — and failed — to have the Human Rights Act amendment of 2013 changed to exclude the Matrimonial Causes Act from the reach of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. On July 8 last year, he was successful in getting his Bill passed, with 20 MPs voting in favour: 12 PLP members and 8 OBA. A week later, senators, whose approval was needed, rejected the Bill by six votes to five. Since then, a Supreme Court judge has ruled that denying the service of marriage to same-sex couples is a breach of their human rights and at least one gay couple has tied the knot on the island. Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons said in her judgment that parliamentary transcripts from 2013 showed “it was always accepted by Parliament that the 2013 [HRA] Amendment Act might lead a court to conclude that same-sex marriage was permissible” and that “there were no clear explanations given by the promoters of the [2013 amendment] Bill that the purpose and aim of the amendment was to shut out the possibility of same-sex marriage”. The judge said it was appropriate for the court to declare section 15 (c) of the Matrimonial Causes Act inoperative. Mr Furbert said if his Bill passed for a second time it would send a clear message to the judiciary as to Parliament’s intentions. “Parliament has always been supreme,” he said. “The parliament represents the people, not the judges. They interpret the law.” He suggested his enhanced majority in Hamilton West after the July 18 General Election — he took 65 per cent of the vote, compared to 56 per cent in 2012 — was directly related to same-sex marriage, with the issue also playing a part in his party’s overall massive win. The PLP’s platform said: “We accept that same-sex couples should have similar legal benefits as heterosexual couples, save for marriage, and will introduce legislation to achieve this aim. ”Mr Furbert said: “A lot of people voted with the PLP based on their view. The OBA, under Michael Dunkley, failed [on the issue]. Michael Dunkley would not take a position. I believe there were a significant amount of people who voted on this issue and a lot of white Bermudians who voted for the PLP for the first time based on that.” He pointed out that less people voted for the OBA in the General Election (13,832), than voted against same-sex marriage in last year’s referendum (14,192). Lawyer Rod Attride-Stirling, who represented the Human Rights Commission in the case which resulted in Mrs Justice Simmons’s ruling, said Mr Furbert’s bill becoming law was by no means a “done deal” and, even if it did, it was still liable to attack. There are several problems with the Furbert Bill,” he said. “Putting aside the moral problem with it and looking at the legal problems, there are a number of reasons why the Governor may not be prepared to sign it [into law]. The bill is very arguably unconstitutional.” Mr Attride-Stirling said the biggest problem with the legislation was that it was religiously motivated. “With any legislation that’s religiously based, people who don’t subscribe to that religious view are discriminated against. It is bad for that reason.” The lawyer said a further argument could be made that restricting who a person could marry based on their gender was unconstitutional, as the constitution arguably outlaws unequal treatment on the basis of sex. Mr Furbert’s Bill was also problematic, he said, because it did not mention the fact that gay couples had now legally married here. "This is a very material change from the time when the Furbert Bill was first presented to Parliament. This change in circumstances must be addressed. If section 15 (c) is resuscitated, does that mean that those existing marriages that were lawful, are now going to be made unlawful overnight? The Bill is now wholly unclear and, therefore, now inadequate. Alternatively, if existing marriages will remain lawful, then you have to go back and make changes to deal with divorce. For these reasons, the Governor may require the bill to be amended to include a grandfathering clause. This would be normal given the change in position, ie that we now have existing lawful marriages in Bermuda and crystallized rights should not be taken away retroactively. The PLP should realize this and not allow the bill to proceed. The party could make a decision to vote against a private member’s Bill. It would be a shame if it was left to the Governor to force the issue of the need for a grandfather clause.” Mr Attride-Stirling said if the Bill was substantially changed it would need to go before the Senate, where anything might happen.
Down to the numbers
July 28. The One Bermuda Alliance’s failure to heed the island’s social issues has been criticised by election contender Rodney Smith, who accused the party of ducking cold truths on race, education and economic inequality. Calling for a brutally honest conversation within the OBA, Mr Smith told The Royal Gazette: “The OBA needs to have a serious conversation about leadership. They keep avoiding issues, and they have just had the most disastrous results in the history of Bermuda.” The Pembroke South East candidate, who on July 18 garnered 228 votes versus 538 for Progressive Labour Party incumbent Rolfe Commissiong, and 34 votes for independent challenger Elmore Warren, said that a faction within the party had dealt poor advice to Michael Dunkley — and warned that the PLP, which took seven seats off the OBA in the election, was out to take more. “Imagine the PLP calling the next snap election and removing another four OBA seats,” he said, pointing out that the former premier had run in Smith’s North against “a political novice”, Ernest Peets Jr, and won by 43 votes. “Dr Peets is out this week canvassing,” he said. “Sylvan Richards won by 21 votes and the PLP is out in that area [Hamilton South]. They have identified key constituencies that are held by the OBA, and they will be back out to annihilate us.” For Mr Smith, the breaking point was the publication on July 15 of a Global Research poll suggesting a swell of support for the then ruling party. Conceding that “sometimes polls are like that”, Mr Smith said he had telephoned Mr Dunkley to warn that “something was up. something was wrong” — and that he was assured that “everything was OK” — just ahead of the PLP’s landslide victory. In particular, Mr Smith faulted the OBA’s attitude to the role played by race in major social problems. “They just turned a blind eye to it. It’s not as if the problem wasn’t staring them in the face.” He said Dale Butler, a former PLP Cabinet Minister, had addressed the OBA’s own caucus on the urgency of tackling gun violence — but that it had been like “pouring water on to a duck’s back”. Mr Smith said: “Don’t wait until after the election to say that the problem is about race.” The late Shawn Crockwell, who left the OBA, was “not the first”, and Ras Mykkal, a one-time OBA candidate who quit the party, was “not the second”. He added: “There was a whole group of people raising issues, saying that as a government you have the power to address them.” Mr Smith also ran in Southampton West in the 2012 election, won by the OBA, in which the PLP’s Randy Horton won the constituency by 534 votes to his 330. He declined to state whether he would remain with the party, and said he preferred not to single out individuals when he claimed Mr Dunkley had been “influenced by people who are not in the room, who seem to have a greater voice than people who show up to every meeting”. Along with Mr Butler, he said gun violence could be traced to the root causes of “race, education and economic inequality”. Mr Smith said: “No one seems or wants to address those three issues. There’s a disconnect. The white community has not responded, and neither has the black community. Just last week a young black male [Jahcari Francis] got shot, and Bermuda goes on as per normal.” Mr Smith maintained that from immigration reform to the dispute over a work permit for the Reverend Nicholas Tweed, the OBA had “picked fights where we didn’t need to”. Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, who was sworn in on Wednesday, said the party took responsibility for those it had disappointed, and apologized to voters “who we hurt or who felt left out of our policies”. “Let’s just say they were being told that all along,” Mr Smith responded. Asked if he believed the OBA needed to rid itself of remnants from the United Bermuda Party, Mr Smith said: “A number of people have served well. We ought to applaud them and appreciate their work; congratulate them, thank them for their service, and invite them to move on. There’s a particular mindset that must be removed.” Lamenting the party’s lack of a populist touch, Mr Smith said: “The information we were generating was needed by the people of Bermuda. It means when a Budget was ready, meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and sharing it with them, and also meeting business leaders on Court Street. It means going to the clubs, from the Leopards Club to St George’s Cricket Club — as many venues as possible to see to it that the man in the street had access to the same knowledge. The Sherri J show has thousands of people tuning in every day. You should go on that show as frequently as possible to get the word out, as opposed to saying you’re not going to do it.” He added: “The party will at some point have to have an honest discussion. But they need to have the vision as to where they see the OBA going.”
July 28. PartnerRe Ltd has announced $191 million in profit for the second quarter of the year. The figure is $54 million up on the $137 million made by the reinsurer in the same quarter of 2016. Operating earnings hit $97 million for the quarter, compared to an operating loss of $66 million in the same period last year. Emmanuel Clarke, PartnerRe CEO, said: “We delivered good results in the second quarter with an annualized adjusted net income return on equity of 13 per cent driven by strong non-life underwriting results and investments contribution.” The company, which was the subject of a bruising takeover battle last year which saw Italian investment giant Exor take control, earlier this year bought US life reinsurer Aurigen in a $286 million deal. Mr Clarke said: “Having successfully completed the acquisition of Aurigen in the quarter, we will now work on leveraging this platform to expand our footprint in North America, consistent with our strategy to increase our revenues and profitability in the broader life and health segment.” Total investments held by the firm, including cash, cash equivalents and funds held and directly managed amounted to $16.9 billion at the end of June this year, up by 0.3 per cent compared to the end of 2016. PartnerRe’s total capital was listed at $8.3 billion at the end of June, up 3.1 per cent compared to the end of December 2016. The increase was attributed primarily to net income for the first six months of this year. The report for the quarter added that PartnerRe had paid a dividend of $25 million to Exor in the second quarter. Gross premiums written for the quarter totaled $1.4 billion, up $79 million on the second quarter of last year. Cash provided by operating activities in the second quarter was $129 million, $101 million more than the $28 million recorded in the same period in 2016. Exor won a battle with rival Axis Capital and last March bought out PartnerRe in a $6.9 billion deal. PartnerRe’s common shares were later delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and the Bermuda Stock Exchange. Exor is controlled by the billionaire Agnelli family, who are behind luxury sports car maker Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler. The company’s chairman John Elkann became board chairman at PartnerRe last year.
July 28. What does a university mascot bulldog called Trip, shelves of rare books, and a $2 million 100-year-old telescope have to do with Bermuda? The answer is they are all listed to be covered by a new captive insurance company based on the island. And that is only part of the story. Of greater significance is that the captive insurance company is thought to be the first in the world set up and run by students. It is a feather in the cap for Bermuda that the ground-breaking endeavor has landed on the island’s shores. And it was no accident. Bermuda’s responsiveness to an initial approach by the pioneering university students went a long way to securing the captive business. When the group at Butler University’s Lacy School of Business, in Indianapolis, got serious about forming a captive, they researched a number of possible markets where it could be based. Out of the ten investigated, only Bermuda and Vermont responded to the students’ enquiries, and both did so within a speedy four hours. Bermuda was ultimately chosen after other factors were weighed, such as the size and maturity of its insurance market, sophisticated infrastructure and the helpful nature of organisations including the Bermuda Monetary Authority and the Bermuda Business Development Agency. The BMA granted approval for the MJ Student-Run Insurance Company Ltd in April. This week, some of the students, along with facility members, visited the island to build relationships with service companies and organisations. There are also potential benefits for Bermuda and Bermudians, as Butler University would welcome students from the island who are pursuing studies in risk management, insurance and other business disciplines. “We want to get Bermudians to attend Butler University. We want to be a good partner,” said Zach Finn, clinical professor and director of the Davy Risk Management and Insurance Programme at the university. It is a sentiment shared by Stephen Standifird, dean of the university’s school of business. The university group was in Bermuda to bring together the captive’s directors, review the code of conduct and meet with partners, including Aon and auditors KPMG. They also met industry leaders and organisations, including Association of Bermuda International Companies, the Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies, and Bermuda College. Having an operating captive insurance company as part of the university’s curriculum is expected to better equip students with an understanding of different facets of the industry and give them a practical, hands-on experience beyond classroom theory. Being able to show they have played a role in running a captive insurance company is also expected to boost the students’ job prospects after graduation. A further beneficial spin-off for the students has been learning more about what is actually being insured through the captive. That has meant learning about, among other things, the rare books the university owns, its fine art collection, and the telescopes housed in the university’s Holcomb Observatory. The university’s bulldog mascot Butler Blue III, nicknamed Trip, is included in the insurance coverage of the captive. Trip is a real dog with an impressive 20,000 followers on Twitter. And if you’re going to insure one dog through your captive, why not make it two? The students have done that by also insuring Marcus, the university’s bomb-sniffing dog. For Butler University, having its own captive insurance company will provide greater loss controls. Since news of the pioneering student-run captive was announced earlier this year, it has featured in more than 330 media reports, according to Mr Standifird. “That’s without any media campaign. It’s been a significant experience,” he said. However, a bigger story in his eyes is the shortage of qualified professionals preparing for the anticipated 400,000 new employees the insurance industry will need by 2020. “The headlines in the Wall Street Journal should be about the crisis in the industry. People should be paying attention to this. It’s the opportunities in this industry that are immense.” And according to Mr Finn there are about 1,000 US universities with accounting programmes, 900 with finance programmes, but only 82 offering insurance and risk programmes. Butler University is underscoring its leading role in the field by giving students real-life experience operating a captive insurance company, together with opportunities to intern at partner companies. Anna Geist and Josh Toly, two of the students closely involved with the captive and among those visiting Bermuda this week, are currently interning with Aon. Mr Finn said companies know they can come to Butler and recruit people with hands-on knowledge. When asked if other universities are likely to follow Butler’s lead and create their own captives, Mr Standifird said: “There are going to be a lot who will try, but universities are risk adverse. You have to have the right people in place.” He added that it had worked at Butler because the university had the right people in place, and the right partnerships. Mr Finn believes others may follow. He added: “There are some universities looking at what Butler is doing — running an insurance captive as part of the curriculum. We are looking for partners in industry, and we would like to see others [form captives]. I’m happy that we are here and we are ahead of the game.” Regarding the future of the captive, Mr Finn outlined three phases. The first was setting up the captive and getting it running, while the second is to transition the captive from being “professor-run” to “more like a risk manager would run it”. As for the third stage, he said: “If we do it right, we will look at attracting third-party investors.”
July 28. Opinion, by Charles M. Bruce, an American attorney with Bonnard Lawson-Lausanne in Switzerland, chairman of the American Citizens Abroad Global Foundation and legal counsel of American Citizens Abroad, Inc. "Behind the scenes for years, there has been movement to change the rules for taxing Americans abroad, and now it appears that this may, let’s emphasise “may”, bear fruit. Since Bermuda is a zero-tax country, Americans residing in Bermuda, in particular, may “get lucky”. Barring a legislative meltdown or some calamity — think Russian-related scandal or “bombs away” on the Korean peninsula — odds favour Congress enacting tax legislation before year end or the first part of next year. Likely changes will include “territoriality” for corporations, meaning US corporations, which are taxed at present on their worldwide income regardless where the income is earned, will be taxable only on income earned in the United States. Americans living overseas are pushing hard to achieve the same treatment, and today it looks like Congress is more than just a little receptive. As Congress works on “territoriality” for corporations, the door has been opened for enactment of a change for individuals from citizenship-based taxation to residency-based taxation. For individuals, residency-based taxation equates to “territorial” treatment. Led by groups such as American Citizens Abroad, efforts to make this change have steadily progressed. Since the 2016 elections, these efforts have “gone public”, with grassroots lobbying and “crowdfunding” of the costs of revenue estimates. The US is wildly out of sync with the rest of the world in the way it taxes its citizens residing in a foreign country. If ever there was a time to fix this, now is the time. “Territoriality” is on the table and people’s minds are focused. This change can be made easily, without significant surgery on the tax code. It may be achieved without a loss of tax revenue. Loopholes can be guarded against with careful drafting. There are an estimated nine million Americans living overseas. According to State Department figures, up to 9,000 American citizens, either solely American or dual American and something else, live in Bermuda. Many of these have lived there for many years — some for all their lives. Remarkably, the US is the only country, other than war-torn and impoverished Eritrea, which taxes individuals based on their citizenship. As Americans in Bermuda are acutely aware, an American citizen is required to file returns and pay US taxes — regardless of the source of the income, time spent in the US, or other connections with the US. The tax rules and forms confronting American citizens living overseas are mind-boggling, and the penalties for incorrect reporting, often because of simply not understanding the rules, can be financially ruinous. Enactment of residency-based taxation would be straightforward. Citizens residing overseas would be removed from the category of taxpayers who are subject to US income tax and placed in the same category as foreign individuals. Like foreign individuals, they would pay US tax on most types of US-sourced income but not on the income they earn overseas. With thoughtful choices about the drafting of the new rules, the revenue cost can be reduced to nil or near nil. Loopholes and opportunities for abuse can be foreclosed. Plans being bandied about for reforming corporate taxes are all over the lot. House Republicans have developed a “blueprint” for tax reform that adopts a territorial approach for corporations, and it expressly raises the possibility of changes for individuals. On the Senate side, Finance Committee chairman Orrin Hatch’s proposal calls for reconsideration of the taxation of non-resident citizens. The Treasury Department and the White House, in the recently proposed budget, also expresses interest in transitioning to a territorial system. At a congressional hearing on July 18, doing away with citizenship-based taxation was said to be on some members’ wish list. Luckily, residency-based taxation fits comfortably alongside all the international tax reform proposals being developed. Moreover, it can attract bipartisan support. While differing on details, Democrats Abroad, Republicans Overseas, Americans for Tax Reform, the Heritage Foundation, American Citizens Abroad, a number of American chambers of commerce overseas, and other business groups, all support the approach. All this presents a great, maybe once-in-a-lifetime, opportunity to end the taxation of Americans residing abroad. This is not a silly dream. It is a very real possibility. Work on the legislation is under way. Revenue estimates, which it is to be hoped will show little or no revenue loss, are in the making."
July 28. OJ Pitcher has been ruled out of Cup Match for St George’s after collapsing during the Eastern Counties first-round match at Lord’s last weekend. St George’s were hoping for good news on Pitcher’s availability before selecting the teams on Wednesday for the final trial match at Wellington Oval on Saturday. The St David’s and Bermuda captain collapsed on the field against Bailey’s Bay with chest pains during the last over before lunch and was subsequently taken to hospital. “We wanted to hear from OJ before we finalized the teams,” Ryan Steede, the St George’s coach, said. “He has a lot to offer and we want to give him every opportunity. OJ’s very valuable, he’s got over 500 runs in Cup Match so he’s not somebody you can toss to the side and say, ‘Lets move on’.” Pitcher is the second highest aggregate scorer among the present St George’s batsmen, with 560 runs in 19 innings since making his debut in 1999. “The last time I spoke to him he was still waiting for some test results, so everything was still up in the air,” Steede said. “I just hope for a speedy recovery, not just for the sake of our team but more so for his personal health. OJ and I have been good friends for many, many years now. “His health is more important than anything.” Steede is encouraged by the emergence of a couple of talented left-arm seam bowlers, Cejay Outerbridge and Charles Trott, who will play in the President’s team tomorrow. “They’re two up and coming players, Cejay is known for taking wickets, he got four wickets in the Turkey Barnes Trophy [trial game] and then got four more the following day,” said Steede, a St George’s selector. “I’ve kept a close eye on Cejay the last two years and a left-armer is always nice to have in your team as it’s variety in your attack. He’s somebody we’ll be looking at closely, then we’ve also got Charles Trott. Not too many people know about young Charles but he’s got the perfect attitude and is definitely someone for the future, someone to keep your eye on. He’s a player with PHC and is an unknown. He’s going to be a good all-rounder and just needs time to grow. Clubs like PHC and Warwick have produced good cricketers over the years.” Steede acknowledges that Somerset have a more settled team, but admits the East Enders have to nurture their young players properly. “I don’t want to manage these players incorrectly and in another ten years we are struggling to figure out what we’re going to do,” he said. “What we do now is going to have a reflection on our future. Somerset are going to be a tough team to beat, but at the same time we have bowlers who are very capable. We know what we have to do — bowl them out twice.”
July 27. The Association of Bermuda International Companies (ABIC) has pledged its commitment to working with the new Bermuda Government to protect the island’s reputation as a highly-regarded, well-regulated leading international business jurisdiction. David Burt, the Premier, and Jamahl Simmons, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism met with ABIC representatives, including Patrick Tannock, the chairman. Afterwards, Mr Tannock said: “It was a very positive meeting. We congratulated Premier Burt and Minister Simmons on the PLP’s victory in the General Election. In addition, we let them know that we are thoroughly committed to working with them and all members of government, unions and other stakeholders to promote a sound business environment for international business and Bermuda in general to ensure that this island remains the business domicile of choice. These are tough times. Bermuda faces a number of external challenges in tax and regulation that require consistent collaboration between business and government. To remain attractive, relevant and respected as a leading business jurisdiction we must comply with international regulatory, financing and tax co-operation standards. ABIC is committed to working with government and supporting the efforts to address these threats.”
July 27. Concrete has been poured for the first new taxiway at LF Wade International Airport in 15 years. It comes after months of excavation to prepare the base of Bermuda’s new passenger terminal. “The concrete pour signifies the start of the next phase of the airport development,” Frank Ross, Aecon’s executive director for infrastructure, stated. "Our team has worked diligently over the past few months to prepare the surface for the concrete and are working through the night to create this new taxiway. We are excited to be on schedule and look forward to delivering a world-class airport for Bermuda.” The concrete for Taxiway W, which will replace the existing Taxiway S, was poured on Tuesday evening and construction crews will pour about 80 cubic metres per night until the project is completed. A statement added that the work will be done at night to minimise impact to aircraft arrivals and departures. Work began on the new taxiway on June 7 and is expected to be completed mid-September. The new taxiway must be ready for operation before Taxiway S can permanently close. The redevelopment of LF Wade International Airport is being implemented under a government-to-government framework agreement between the governments of Canada and Bermuda. The construction phase of the Airport Redevelopment Project is expected to take 40 months and to be completed in the summer of 2020.
July 27. The Bermuda Government stands to gain millions of dollars through the Lahey Clinic and Port Royal Golf Course lawsuits, according to Trevor Moniz, who urged the Progressive Labour Party to continue proceedings. In a statement yesterday, the former Attorney-General said he had moved forward with the cases on the basis of “compelling evidence and highly skilled attorneys”. “The Bermuda Government was the clear victim of past crimes and abuses, and it stands to gain millions of dollars in damages,” he said. “No sensible government committed to combating corruption would drop these lawsuits and other investigations. Given the new Premier’s stated desire for collaboration, I remain open to assisting the new government and Attorney-General on this and various other files.” Mr Moniz filed the lawsuits in his role as Attorney-General under the One Bermuda Alliance earlier this year, with the Progressive Labour Party responding at the time that the actions were “reminiscent of dictators who used political power and influence to victimize their enemies”. Yesterday, The Royal Gazette reported that the PLP is likely to drop both lawsuits, and taxpayers would be likely to pick up a tab of at least $200,000 for the Lahey action alone. In his statement yesterday afternoon, Mr Moniz said that Bermuda had committed itself to the “highest global standards” in the fight against corruption, noting criminal procedure reforms and the Bribery Act, which will come into force on September 1. “The former OBA government also started the process of signing up to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions,” he continued. “However, combating political corruption is not just a question of putting in place new structures and processes; we actually need to deal with political corruption in a firm and determined manner. As a jurisdiction, Bermuda is due to be assessed by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force on its adherence to global standards. Dropping corruption lawsuits in the face of compelling evidence would jeopardize Bermuda’s assessment thereby giving it a black eye in the international community. Therefore, I urge the Government to take advice from their lawyers at Cooley and to continue with the anti-corruption programme commenced during my tenure as AG.” The Lahey lawsuit, for unspecified damages, alleged that the teaching hospital had conspired with Ewart Brown, the former PLP premier, on a “corrupt” scheme carried out “at the expense of the Bermudian Government and people”. The unproven accusations included that Dr Brown used his position as a minister to promote Lahey’s interests in Bermuda and the hospital paid him “bribes disguised as consulting fees” to do so. It was claimed that Dr Brown’s clinics in Paget and Smith’s conducted “excessive, medically unnecessary and frankly dangerous scans” in order to increase payments received from health insurers, with Lahey overseeing the alleged over-testing but staying “silent” to keep its consulting relationship with Dr Brown intact. Lahey pledged to “vigorously defend” the proceedings and Dr Brown said the lawsuit contained “countless lies and ridiculous allegations”. David Burt, the Premier, supported a bid by Lahey this year to have the case dismissed, as did three other ministers in his new Cabinet: Zane DeSilva, Walter Roban and Kim Wilson. Mr Burt, while Opposition leader, also spoke out against the legal action in the House of Assembly, questioning how the information in the civil complaint was obtained by the Attorney-General’s Chambers and suggesting it could affect Bermuda’s relationship with the US. His public opposition to the case suggests it will be quickly discontinued under the new PLP government. The Port Royal Golf Course lawsuit was filed locally over a $10.9 million overspend on renovations at the golf course, under the last PLP government. The proceedings were brought against Mr DeSilva, along with his company Island Construction, fellow Port Royal trustees Wendall Brown and Delano Bulford, and SAL Ltd, in March this year, when he was a back bench Opposition MP. Mr DeSilva is now Minister of Social Development and Sport. He and his fellow defendants were accused of “self-dealing” in the lawsuit, which he pledged to fight “to the end”.
July 27. Taxpayers will pick up the tab for a lawsuit launched by the One Bermuda Alliance administration and likely to be dropped under the new Progressive Labour Party government. The civil suit, filed in Massachusetts against the Lahey Clinic, is expected to be swiftly ditched by Attorney-General Kathy Simmons, but the Government’s bill for its Boston legal team will already be substantial. In addition, Lahey is unlikely to walk away without either negotiating a settlement from the Government or pursuing costs against it before a judge. A legal source, who asked not to be named, told The Royal Gazette: “Lahey is likely to appeal to a judge for costs unless they have beforehand negotiated that they would not pursue costs. It would be a matter of negotiation.” The source said lawyers in Boston working on the case for both sides would probably be charging in the region of $800 an hour and a bill of between $200,000 and $250,000 for the Government would be a “safe minimum” estimate. David Burt, the Premier, supported a bid by Lahey earlier this year to have the case dismissed, as did three other ministers in his new Cabinet: Zane DeSilva, Walter Roban and Kim Wilson. Mr Burt, while Opposition leader, also spoke out against the legal action in the House of Assembly, questioning how the information in the civil complaint was obtained by the Attorney-General’s Chambers and suggesting it could affect Bermuda’s relationship with the United States. His public opposition to the case suggests it will be quickly discontinued under the new PLP government. A separate lawsuit, filed locally and concerning a $20 million overspend on renovations at Port Royal Golf Course under the last PLP government, is also expected to be withdrawn. The proceedings were brought against Mr DeSilva, along with his company Island Construction, fellow Port Royal trustees Wendall Brown and Delano Bulford, and SAL Ltd, in March this year, when he was a backbench Opposition MP. Mr DeSilva is now Minister of Social Development and Sport. He and his fellow defendants were accused of “self-dealing” in the lawsuit, which he pledged to fight “to the end”. The legal source said Mr DeSilva might be prepared to walk away without costs rather than putting himself in the “invidious position of going after costs from the same government he serves in”. Both lawsuits were filed by former Attorney-General Trevor Moniz in the space of three weeks in the spring, prompting the PLP to say in a statement: “The actions taken by Trevor Moniz and the One Bermuda Alliance are reminiscent of dictators who used political power and influence to victimize their enemies and are alien to a modern, sophisticated jurisdiction like Bermuda.” The Lahey lawsuit, for unspecified damages, alleged that the teaching hospital had conspired with Ewart Brown, the former PLP premier, on a “corrupt” scheme carried out “at the expense of the Bermudian Government and people”. The unproven accusations included that Dr Brown used his position as a minister to promote Lahey’s interests in Bermuda and the hospital paid him “bribes disguised as consulting fees” to do so. It was claimed that Dr Brown’s clinics in Paget and Smith’s conducted “excessive, medically unnecessary and frankly dangerous scans” in order to increase payments received from health insurers, with Lahey overseeing the alleged over-testing but staying “silent” to keep its consulting relationship with Dr Brown intact. Lahey pledged to “vigorously defend” the proceedings and Dr Brown said the lawsuit contained “countless lies and ridiculous allegations”. The Port Royal proceedings sought compensation for “breach of fiduciary duty,” compound interest and costs from Mr DeSilva and his co-defendants. The lawsuit concerning the publicly owned golf course alleged that Mr DeSilva, Mr Brown and Mr Bulford took part in “self-dealing” while serving on its board of trustees. It was claimed that companies linked to the trio provided goods and/or services to Port Royal but the men did not properly declare their interests or recuse themselves from decision-making. The Port Royal overspend was criticised by the Auditor-General in a special report released in 2014 and, more recently, by the Commission of Inquiry, as part of its investigation into the misuse of public funds. The CoI subpoenaed Mr DeSilva’s brother Allan to answer questions about Island Construction’s involvement with the project, but he exercised his right of privilege and did not appear because, his lawyer said, of “a parallel criminal investigation”. The commissioners concluded that ongoing police investigations into the Port Royal contract and other contracts entered into by the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, when Dr Brown was in charge, should continue, “including the involvement of the minister/former Premier”. The election result should have no bearing on any police investigations, as Bermuda’s Constitution ensures a separation of powers, with responsibility for the police lying with the Governor. A long-running police investigation into claims of corruption against Dr Brown began in June 2011, when the PLP was in power. The Royal Gazette asked Mr Burt and the Attorney-General’s chambers for comment, as well as Mr DeSilva and a Lahey spokesman, but none responded by press time.
July 27. A Cabinet team is to supervise the island’s efforts to combat money-laundering and terrorist financing, which are to be comprehensively evaluated in the spring of 2018, according to David Burt. While the island already had an effective regime in place, the Premier and Minister of Finance said the assessment by under the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force — subject to review and approval by the Financial Action Task Force — was critically important to the island’s economic future. The evaluation will involve more than a dozen government entities, along with the private sector. “I cannot emphasise too strongly to everyone on our island the necessity for Bermuda to pass this international examination,” Mr Burt said. The Premier said he now chairs a committee to lead the effort, which includes Kathy Lightbourne-Simmons, the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs; Walton Brown, the Minister of Home Affairs; Jamahl Simmons, the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, and Wayne Caines, the Minister of National Security. While the National Anti-Money Laundering Committee advises the Government, Mr Burt said its efforts required the direct involvement of Cabinet. “Although Bermuda already has a comprehensive legislative framework that has been developed and updated over many years, the complexity of the standards against which we are being evaluated mean that there are still some outstanding legislative initiatives that much be progressed,” Mr Burt said. “This is one of the very significant reasons we will be recalling Parliament in early September — to address these and other important matters.” The Premier stressed that “we will pass the muster”, adding: “When the assessors come, they will have nothing but good things to say about Bermuda.” The National Anti-Money Laundering Committee was established in 1997 under the Proceeds of Crime Act, but the island’s regime has been constantly updated over the 20 years since. Its chairwoman, Cheryl-Ann Lister, warned that while there was no “perfect save” for a jurisdiction to eliminate laundering entirely, “we do have stringent requirements in place to ensure it is kept to a minimum”. The assessment will focus on institutions such as banks and investment companies, as well as dealers in high value goods such as jewellery and real estate, in a “multi-industry, multi-sector” evaluation, she said.
July 27. Financial holding company Markel has bought out a US insurer in a $919 million deal. Markel, based in the US but with a Bermuda subsidiary, is expected to take over State National in the cash transaction by the end of the year. Richard Whitt, Markel’s co-chief executive, said: “We are excited to be joining forces with State National — an industry leader with a talented management team that has delivered exceptional long-term results. “In addition, we are impressed by the cultural fit between our two organisations. Strategically, State National will help us to leverage our Insurtech and digital distribution initiatives, diversify our underwriting and fee based portfolios and revenue streams, and add to Markel’s third party capital capabilities. Combining Markel’s financial strength with State National’s unique business model and proven record of success, we are confident that all stakeholders will be well served moving forward.” State National, based in Texas, will continue under the same leadership and will operate as a separate business unit. Terry Ledbetter, State National’s chairman, said: “After careful and thorough analysis of a range of opportunities, our board of directors determined this transaction with Markel to be in the best interest of State National and our shareholders. We believe the transaction appropriately recognizes the value of State National’s business model, recent growth and future market opportunities as a leading specialty provider of property and casualty insurance services operating in two niche markets throughout the United States, and provides our shareholders with an immediate and attractive cash premium for their investment in State National. We believe this transaction with Markel is good for our employees and clients, as well as our shareholders. Markel recognizes our shared commitment to offering unique, high-quality solutions that simplify the complexities of insurance for clients nationwide. We have long respected Markel and are proud to partner with this distinguished company that has a strong reputation and proven track record of success in acquiring and partnering with insurance companies. This transaction is all about growth, not cost-cutting, and we believe that State National employees will benefit from being part of a larger, stronger, growth-oriented company with a more diversified platform. Our success is driven by the ongoing efforts of our talented employees and I thank them for their continued hard work and dedication. We look forward to working with Markel to quickly complete the transaction and are committed to ensuring a smooth transition.” The transaction is subject to the approval of a majority of State National shareholders, approvals by relevant state insurance regulators and other customary closing conditions. Members of the Ledbetter family have entered into a voting agreement with Markel in support of the merger. CF SNC Investors has entered into a separate similar voting agreement with Markel. The agreements mean around 37 per cent of State National’s common stock is committed to vote in favour of the transaction.
July 27. Bermuda-registered Lancashire Holdings has posted after-tax profits of $38.2 million for the second quarter. The figure was up $6.7 million on the $31.5 million logged for the same quarter in 2016. The return on equity for the Bermudian-based insurer and reinsurer was unchanged at 3.2 per cent quarter on quarter. Alex Maloney, Lancashire Group CEO, said: “In the current continuing soft market I am very pleased with the return on equity for the second quarter of 3.2 per cent and 5.9 per cent for the half year. “Premium rating pressure continues in the market. There is evidence from the insurance industry that many insurance classes are operating at marginal levels of profitability at best. The dynamics of the loss environment cannot be accurately predicted in the short term, but it is evident that so far in 2017, there has been a lower level of catastrophe losses than occurred in the first half of 2016, while there has continued to be an active run of risk losses in the market.” Lancashire recorded $184.7 million in gross premiums written for the quarter, down $15.1 million on the second quarter of 2016. Mr Maloney said that the industry had gone through further rationalization through cost-cutting and a continued drive to mergers and acquisitions. He added: “Lancashire continues to respond to the pressure of the market by maintaining our underwriting excellence and discipline and keeping our overheads under control. Global headcount is around 200 and that gives us the size to retain some of the best underwriting talent while not having an infrastructure of such size and complexity as to require our business to ‘feed the beast’ through imprudent top line growth. I believe we are well positioned as we enter the wind season to provide solid risk-adjusted returns in what is a difficult market. Outwards reinsurance remains attractively priced and as a group we have purchased more reinsurance protection for hurricane risk than in previous years. We will review our capital needs following the wind season, whether that be to take advantage of underwriting opportunities or to return capital to our stakeholders.” The company recorded 19 cents in diluted earnings per share for the second quarter, three cents up on the 16 cents for the second quarter of 2016. Elaine Wheelan, group chief financial officer, added: “With our risk levels at historic lows, if there are no major events over the coming wind season and no change in market conditions, we anticipate returning earnings to our shareholders later in the year. As ever, the balance of capital we hold will match the underwriting opportunities we see.”
July 27. RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd notched up $171.1 million in profit for the second quarter of the year. The figure, equal to $4.24 per common share, is up $34.8 million on the $136.3 million and $3.22 per common share recorded for the same period last year. Operating income for the quarter amounted to $113 million, or $2.79 per common share, compared to $66.6 million, or $1.55 per common share, a year ago. Kevin O’Donnell, chief executive officer of RenRe, said: “We had a good quarter generating an annualized operating return on average common equity of ten per cent and growing tangible book value per common share plus accumulated dividends by 3.9 per cent. Recognizing challenging market conditions, we executed on our gross-to-net strategy to build and attractive portfolio of risk. We believe that we have the right strategy and necessary flexibility to navigate the market conditions ahead while continuing to maximize shareholder value over the long term.” Gross premiums written by the firm went up $68.3 million, or 9 per cent, to $827.4 million year on year. RenRe underwriting income totaled $109.7 million in the second quarter of 2017, which generated an annualized total investment return of 4.8 per cent. The company bought back 501,000 common shares over the period at an aggregate cost of $69.7 million, representing an average price of $139 per common share. The investment result for the quarter was $112.3 million, a drop of $11.25 million on the $123.8 million recorded in the second quarter of 2016. RenRe’s statement said: “Impacting the investment result were strong returns in the company’s equity investments trading and private equity portfolios combined with positive returns in its fixed maturity investments trading portfolio, principally driven by the tightening of credit spreads across a number of sectors in the portfolio and higher average invested assets.”
July 27. Dennis Lister doesn’t like the term dynasty. “It’s just a word that doesn’t suit me,” the veteran Sandys North Central MP said in an interview with The Royal Gazette. “I look at what I do purely as public service — this is about serving people. If you can’t see yourself serving people, this isn’t for you.” Since he was first elected as a Progressive Labour Party MP in 1989, there have been at least two Lister family members chosen to represent Sandys in every General Election. His brother Terry Lister began his House of Assembly career in 1998 and held a number of Cabinet positions, running twice for leadership of the party before leaving to sit as an independent MP in 2013. Walter Lister, his uncle, served as an MP from 1976 to 2012, and was a former Cabinet minister, party whip and Deputy Speaker. Last Tuesday, his eldest son — Dennis Lister III — defeated incumbent Jeff Sousa to take Warwick West, until last week a firm One Bermuda Alliance seat. Dennis Lister III said both his victory, and the margin of his party’s win, didn’t come as shocks. “It wasn’t surprising,” he told The Royal Gazette. “A lot of people said they wanted change. I can even say personally for myself, from day one of canvassing, I felt confident that I had a good chance of winning my seat.” Dennis Sr echoed the sentiment on his son’s win. “From those looking from outside and not understanding what was going on inside, they saw it as a shock and surprise. For those who were inside responding to what was happening on the doorstep ... it looked like a real possibility.” At 31, the younger Mr Lister enters politics at the same age as his father nearly three decades ago. “From very young, I always wanted to be a politician,” he said. He was 4 when his father was first elected and he has been an influential figure, but he said the choice to pursue public service was his own. “The choice to go into politics was purely his,” his father agreed. Politics, Dennis Sr said, was always part of home life. “We’ve had some very heated debates,” he said. His eldest son, along with his other sons, helped to keep him grounded politically. “They all readily hold me to task on an issue that I have taken or the party has taken if they felt that we were off base,” he said. Cannabis, or marijuana, was one issue where father and son held differing opinions. “What we found after discussion and going back and forth, the common ground for us was trying to make life a little easier for persons who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law with a small quantity of marijuana,” Dennis Sr said. Dennis Jr said that his energy and new ideas as a new MP would benefit from the guidance of experience to point him in the right direction. Young people always feel like they know it all, but we’re not the first here,” he said. “There’s always those that have come before us and it never hurts to have the experience of the older heads around us.” Asked if the issues of the island in 1989 were the same as today, Dennis Sr said “yes and no. As a local representative for that community, the issues that are always paramount are family issues. These issues included the desire of parents to see the betterment of their children, education and infrastructure. Future stability also remained a constant. Can I see employment still in my own country, can I see a future that says I can still keep a roof over my head, can I still keep food on the table, can I still keep clothing on the back of my family?” he said. Going forward, the party’s immediate focus must be on education, and specifically the safety of school facilities, Dennis Sr said. “We need to make people feel comfortable come the opening of the school year that the health environment is up to standard — that you can feel comfortable sending your children there,” he said. As a newcomer, Dennis Jr said his immediate focus would be on addressing constituency issues, and to assist ministers and other MPs where necessary on the national level. “I’m just here to watch and learn,” he said. Both father and son pointed to hobbies enjoyed by the other when asked to detail about something most did not know about their family member. “He likes to go swimming most every day,” Dennis Jr said of his father. “He finds that’s his time to relax, to catch himself — just to rejuvenate. He’s a water rat I guess I can say.” Dennis Sr said his son enjoyed researching and reading. “I see it as a quality that has value to it,” he said. “We’ve got to stay on top of what’s happening around us, and the history that got us to where we are.”
July 27. A government research conservation worker was left stranded near the airport roundabout last week after his boat went missing. The vessel, which had been donated to Conservation Services after being found adrift without registration details, was discovered in Mullet Bay the next day, having been reclaimed by the original owner. This has prompted a reminder from the Department of Marine and Ports Services about the importance of “always displaying a current Marine & Ports registration number in a visible location”. According to the incident report, police called Bermuda Radio at about 10.40pm on July 20, reporting that the worker, who had secured his boat to the floating dock, had become stranded. “After further investigation, it was discovered that the vessel was previously donated to Conservation Services after being found adrift without registration details, and unsuccessful attempts to locate owner,” the report added. “The boat was discovered in Mullet Bay the next day, July 21, with the original owner claiming that the boat was his and had paperwork to prove so. Marine & Ports’ records were checked and the boat matched [the] owner’s original registration, however, it was not displaying a current registration sticker. This incident highlights the importance of always displaying a current Marine & Ports registration number in a visible location, allowing quick identification by [the] vessel owner or other responders as need be.” In a separate incident shortly after 7pm on Monday, a local salvage company sent a vessel to assist the inbound S/V Aventura Azul, which had reported engine failure 20 nautical miles south of Bermuda and was requesting a tow into St George’s Harbour. Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre contacted Bermuda Yacht Services who tasked Line 2 to assist and the sailing vessel was berthed safely alongside in St George’s Harbour shortly after midnight. Meanwhile, police were sent to the John Smith’s Bay area on Sunday after Bermuda Radio received multiple calls from members of the public reporting a distress flare off South Shore. Bermuda Radio started Urgent Marine Information Broadcasts and dispatched a police land unit. But without further reports or sightings and no response to the broadcasts, no further action was taken.
July 27. More than 130,000 fatal doses of fentanyl could be on the streets of Bermuda, with Chief Medical Officer Cheryl Peek-Ball describing the amount of missing drugs as “exceptionally large and dangerous”. Canadian Jacqueline Robinson was jailed for seven years last Friday for smuggling 45 pellets of the drug into Bermuda — and the Supreme Court heard how all but one of them were never recovered. At Robinson’s hearing, prosecutor Cindy Clarke told the court that the total weight of 45 pills would be approximately 262 grams. The court heard how Robinson, 25, collapsed in a room at the Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club five days after arriving from Toronto on December 15 last year. While being medically assessed, she vomited a pellet, which was later found to be 5.83 grams of fentanyl. The drug — a synthetic opioid up to 100 times more powerful than morphine — is often used to cut heroin and can be fatal even in very small doses. According to Dr Peek-Ball, it also poses a serious risk to both the public and first responders, as well as those who work in labs and various healthcare capacities who may have professional exposure. She said: “Given that two milligrams of fentanyl is known to be lethal, the unaccounted for quantity equates to 131,000 lethal doses. Contact with fentanyl through inhalation or skin must be avoided at all cost. Even minuscule quantities — as small as a grain of salt — can cause immediate harmful health effects, including respiratory depression, unconsciousness and death.” Last month, Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Lamb, Commissioner of Corrections, confirmed that an internal investigation was continuing after suspected fentanyl-related overdoses at Westgate Correctional Facility. That followed a media report in April that multiple inmates at the prison had suffered overdoses thought to be connected with the drug. Also last month, a Ministry of Health and Seniors spokeswoman said that four samples had tested positive for the drug. The samples were collected between December 2016 and May 2017. No further information was provided. Police said their investigation into the un-recovered fentanyl remained active. “There is no connection with any other suspected fentanyl overdoses,” a Bermuda Police Service spokesman said. The agency reminded the public of the dangers of the drug. “Those that may come into contact with this illegal substance should exercise extreme caution, be aware of any signs of exposure, seek immediate medical attention if exposed to any amount, and provide as much detail as possible to medical personnel so appropriate treatment can be considered,” the spokesman said. There have been no deaths connected with the drug in Bermuda.
July 27. Each day brings plenty of variety for Bermuda’s skycaps, and that’s the way they like it. They help passengers unload and transport luggage through the terminal, and give guidance and assistance where needed. The skycaps are also among the first people that arriving passengers meet. They act as ambassadors for the island, spreading cheerfulness, lending a helping hand, explaining aspects of Bermuda and suggesting things to do and places to go. And once in a while they even spot a travelling celebrity or two at the airport. Three of seven skycaps who work for Skyport at LF Wade International Airport spoke with The Royal Gazette about the joys and challenges of doing a job that flies under many people’s radar. And it turns out that the joys of the job far outweigh any challenges. “We are the first smile that the passengers see when they come through arrivals,” said Robin Steede, who has been a skycap for six years. We try to facilitate their needs, telling them what is on the island.” In the departures area the skycaps help travellers with their luggage and give directions, and encouraging them to visit Bermuda again. They also stay alert to anything unusual in the terminal, such as unattended bags. Quincy Trott, 27, has been a skycap for 3½ years. He is following in the footsteps of his father, who spent most of his life as a skycap. He said: “No special training is needed to work with skycaps as long as you have knowledge about Bermuda and have a natural flare and charm. For a young Bermudian like myself it is very important to know about my country. The best part of the job is meeting new people from all over the world. Sometimes I meet movie stars and other celebrities”. Among those he has seen at the airport was a Juventus football team player. Wesley Trott, 57, another of the skycaps, encountered John Boehner, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, at the airport during the America’s Cup last month. But while seeing a famous face can be a pleasant surprise, it is the daily interactions helping many of the hundreds of passengers that give the skycaps pleasure and a sense of satisfaction. Mr Trott, who has been a skycap for “33 years and 10 days”, said the most frequent request from visitors arriving is for a vehicle that can accommodate a family group, has a good driver and has air conditioning. He became a skycap by chance after a driving ban in the early 1980s left him temporarily restricted to work opportunities in the east end. He hasn’t looked back since. “When I came here I learnt everything when I was put on the job. You just have to bring the smile,” he said. While Mr Steede, 56, started working at the airport after being made redundant at KeyTech. He is now a supervisor and said the biggest joy from being a skycap is the daily interactions with people. “We are ambassadors for Bermuda and we give the visitors knowledge about the island,” he said, mentioning that many returning visitors make a point of looking for the skycaps they have previously met. You build a relationship with them. We have some regulars.” When skycap veteran Mr Trott was asked what is his favourite part of the job, he said just being able to socialize and help people. He said: “I have been working here for 33 years and the reason I have been working here this long is because I enjoy my job. It lights me up. You want to show people a good welcome, so you elevate yourself.”
July 26. Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, sworn in yesterday as the Leader of the Opposition, also announced her Shadow Cabinet and a Senate team from which Michael Fahy was notably absent. Mr Fahy, whose immigration policies were widely perceived as a liability when the One Bermuda Alliance held the Government, will be “supportive going forward, but elected not to take any frontline positions”, Ms Gordon-Pamplin told The Royal Gazette, adding: “The party moves on.” In a candid and conciliatory speech after she was sworn in by John Rankin, the Governor, Ms Gordon-Pamplin vowed to lead a loyal Opposition. “Today we applaud the Government; we applaud them for their victory, and we assure them of our continued support for those policies and programmes they put forward that we deem to be done for the better good of all of Bermuda.” Acknowledging those who had felt neglected by the OBA during its tenure, Ms Gordon-Pamplin said: “It is apparent that as a party and an administration, we disappointed some people. For that disappointment, we take full responsibility. We apologise to those who we hurt or who felt left out of our policies. But it is important that you know that it was always our intent to give our very best effort. We can be proud as the outgoing administration that we have accomplished just that.” The Opposition leader recalled the opening stanza from a poem, author unknown, that had hung on her childhood living room wall, starting with the lines: “The test of a man is the fight that he makes, the grit that he daily shows; the way he stands upon his feet, and takes life’s numerous bumps and blows.” Ms Gordon-Pamplin briefly served as Opposition leader after the United Bermuda Party’s defeat in the 2007 election, in which Michael Dunkley lost his seat — but she said it had been only a few weeks before Kim Swan took over as the party’s leader. “Once we became the OBA, the focus was certainly different,” she told this newspaper. “Up until 2012, I had never served in a governing party. So this is different — we were in the Government and have now been trounced out and transitioned to the Opposition. We served the people of Bermuda in terms of keeping the ship afloat. We brought the country back from the brink of financial disaster, and are very proud of that. You can’t necessarily satisfy the demands people make when you have to put in place the things we were required to do to stop the bleeding. The OBA’s lesson going forward was obviously, listening more intently. It’s a lot easier to do as Opposition. We inherited an empty coffer. Now we believe we have left the Government in a far better financial position than they left us. It remains to be seen how we move forward.” Ms Gordon-Pamplin declared her shadow cabinet for the upcoming legislative session as follows:
Ms Gordon-Pamplin appointed Nandi Outerbridge, Nick Kempe and Andrew Simons to the Senate. Ms Outerbridge, former MP for St George’s West, is the new Opposition leader in the Senate, and will focus on social development, with Mr Kempe taking on labour and training and Mr Simons, technology.
July 26. Former premier Michael Dunkley said the One Bermuda Alliance could have done more to support black Bermudians, but were limited by economic constraints. Asked about criticism that the OBA did not do enough to help black Bermudians, he said it was a “fair assessment”, adding that he would have liked to have done more. “The challenge is that we were in a very difficult position. Pretty easily we could have made decisions to try to do some things to help people in certain areas, but against the backdrop our hands were tied with budget constraints, with the debt that we had. We didn’t want to encumber ourselves any more. The first priority we had was to get the economy on track. We had to bring confidence back into Bermuda. We had to right-size government. Once you have that, you have the foundation of social stability and progress, and I think that foundation has been set. Let’s face it, if we tried to please everyone every day we wouldn’t be here today, where Bermuda is in a better position, where now there are opportunities for Bermudians across the board. We would still be fighting those things, and we still would have lost the election.” Despite the OBA’s devastating loss at the polls last week, Mr Dunkley says he remains proud of the OBA’s record in office. “We spent 4½ years governing, and we spent no time in that 4½ years campaigning for the next election, and that’s a regret that we have, but we put the country on much firmer footing. During the OBA’s time in government, the Progressive Labour Party had made it difficult for us to move forward on initiatives, particularly with the OBA’s slim majority in the House, which only eroded over time. The Opposition were intent on getting re-elected. We were intent on improving our country,” he said. “With hindsight being 20/20, I have some regrets looking back, but I take satisfaction in the Bermuda that we live in today. We are much better off than we were a few years ago and it’s the responsibility of this government to move the country forward, to deliver on some of the things that have been put in place and deliver on some of the things that they believe can make our country an even better place. And now we have the job as the Opposition to hold them to account, to speak on behalf of people when we are concerned about things, but I think our approach will be slightly different. I think we will be there to support when required, but we will also be there to oppose as well.” He said that race played a big role in the election, with racial rifts forming around a number of big issues including same-sex marriage, Pathways to Status and the airport redevelopment project. While Mr Dunkley said more work must be done to break down those barriers, he said the OBA was hamstrung by the need to put the island on a better economic footing. “Many of the initiatives we undertook were trying to put Bermuda in a better position where everyone moves forward, and we had a real mess that we inherited,” he said. “I’m not making excuses, but the first thing we had to do was stabilize because unless you have stability there’s not much you can do. We worked hard and progress took longer than we wanted, I guess because some of the issues were deeper than we expected, and we had an Opposition that always pushed back. Now that Bermuda is in much better footing, there will be the opportunity to address some of those issues in a vigilant way. We are not out of the woods yet. We still don’t have a balanced budget and, whether you like it or not, those who lend us money and those who rate us really hold the stick on what we can do, and this means our vision had to be focused in a certain way.”
July 26. Royal Gazette Editorial/ "The One Bermuda Alliance was weighed in the balance on July 18 and found wanting, particularly by the broad centre of the electorate. In any parliamentary democracy, governments are formed from the centre, not the fringes. If an incumbent administration loses the centre ground, it loses the next election: it really is as simple as that. And through a combination of blunders, poor communications and wishful thinking the OBA effectively ceded the all-important centre ground, and the 2017 General Election, to a re-energized Progressive Labour Party. The OBA was elected to power in 2012 on a platform that emphasized renewed economic growth, greater opportunities for Bermudian workers and a return to fiscal responsibility after an extended period of unsustainable and unconscionable indiscipline. Few could argue — or at least argue sensibly — with the substance of the OBA’s economic initiatives. They essentially saved the island from sinking into fiscal oblivion without resorting to any of the painful austerity measures so many other post-recessionary economies have had to endure. But the routinely high-handed style of the OBA when it came to economic retrenchment? That was a different matter altogether. It’s likely the OBA began to lose the confidence of the people with an approach to fiscal restructuring that could sometimes be overly cerebral, sometimes overly aloof — and left the impression the party was tone-deaf to the public mood and perhaps somewhat more responsive to vested interests than the common interest. If it had difficulty effectively communicating its signature economic policies, the OBA often found itself completely tongue-tied when it strayed into highly charged sociocultural issues, most notably immigration reform and same-sex marriage. For purely pragmatic political reasons, the OBA would have been best advised to postpone any efforts to rationalise the status of long-term residents or attempt to settle the question of gay unions until a second term. Indeed, its clumsy, ultimately self-sabotaging approaches to both of these lightning-rod issues, polarizing, divisive and supremely distracting as they were, ultimately may have cost the OBA re-election. In both instances, political capital, moral authority and time were squandered; in both instances the courts would almost certainly have stepped into the political thicket to rescue parliamentarians from having to make decisions they were clearly uncomfortable making themselves; and in both instances the OBA’s claim on the political middle ground receded even farther. The party’s bull-in-search-of-a-china-shop approach to immigration in the form of the Pathways to Status legislation put it at odds with the views of many thousands of middle-class Bermudians. And the OBA’s fragmented position on gay marriage not only put it at odds with itself but pitted some of its MPs against voters who felt themselves demeaned and devalued simply for attempting to maintain basic religious and cultural values they were raised with. No good could come to the OBA from either of these political misadventures. And none did. In closing, it is perhaps worth recalling the OBA was also elected, in part, because the party claimed to represent a radical departure from “dirty politics as usual” in Bermuda. Formed only a year before the 2012 ballot by a merger of the Young Turks who had founded the Bermuda Democratic Alliance in 2009 and the old guard of a near-moribund United Bermuda Party, the OBA promised a fresh start — an opportunity to move beyond the largely racially stalemated voting patterns, which have defined Bermudian politics since the introduction of the two-party Westminster system in 1968. But, in the event, that progressive spirit was never really very much in evidence outside the OBA’s 2012 campaign literature. For the most part, it vanished with John Barritt. The inexplicable decision to banish Barritt, one of the party’s founding fathers and the closest thing the OBA ever had to a guiding philosophical light, remains one of the great unexplained mysteries of modern Bermuda politics. While a product of the UBP, he could certainly never be neatly pigeonholed as a reactionary or a tool of the old Bermuda business establishment. Quite the opposite holds true, in fact. A modernizer by instinct with a proven gift for tamping down internal party flare-ups as well as working across the political aisle, it was Barritt’s cast-iron conviction that Bermudian politics needed to evolve beyond the almost tribal stage it had been mired in since the 1960s. It was his desire to see the Bermudian political culture become more genuinely democratic, responsive, productive and accountable that largely informed the OBA’s reformist agenda in 2012. Having stepped down from his safe Devonshire seat in the House of Assembly to make way for the then unelected OBA leader Craig Cannonier, many observers fully expected him to be named as the party’s Senate leader after the December 17 election. In the event, he was offered nothing, presumably as a consequence of internal jealousies and the jockeying for power and position within the new government, which started as soon as the last ballots were tallied. More’s the pity for the OBA because the party could certainly have profited from his continuing presence over the past 4½ years. Barritt intuitively understood that a government could drive change without creating divisiveness. Frustrated by the sterility and futility of adversarial politics in Bermuda, he had hoped to move towards a new type of political engagement, one that emphasized mutual respect, consensus and compromise over mutual loathing, mudslinging and obstructionism. Unlike some of those who followed him, Barritt realized that building and maintaining trust, particularly with those who rarely agree with you, is what allows an administration to govern from — and continue to appeal to — the centre that elected it."
July 26. Walter Roban, the Deputy Premier, joined a happy congregation on Sunday at the St Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church to welcome the Reverend Nicholas Tweed back to work. “He was back in the pulpit and doing the job he was called to do,” Mr Roban said of the service, which followed last month’s victory in the courts against a decision by the Minister of Home Affairs to turn down a new work permit for the pastor. Those obstacles that were put in front of him to fulfil this role were clearly unjust,” Mr Roban added. “The people felt it, and the courts as well. The majority of Bermudians are happy that episode has closed, and Mr Tweed is back. What happened is reminiscent of what many people have forgotten about the AME Church, which has a history of standing up for social justice since its beginning.” The work permit standoff brought Mr Tweed’s congregation out for prayer vigils to show their support, and prompted demonstrations, also driven by his prominent role on the People’s Campaign political pressure group. While it had seemed Mr Tweed, a guest worker with strong family links to the island, might have to leave Bermuda last January, the matter was successfully challenged in the Supreme Court — with Ian Kawaley, the Chief Justice, requesting the minister to leave the Board of Immigration to proceed with its decision. “We were excited, and it was wonderful to have our pastor back,” another member of the congregation told The Royal Gazette. “He is back in the pulpit.”
July 26. Bermuda-based XL Group Ltd has reported a big jump in second-quarter profit to $301.6 million, or $1.14 per share, compared to $43.8 million in the same period of 2016. The net income boost was primarily driven by lower catastrophe losses and favorable results from its affiliates, including the sale of one of the investment manager affiliates. Catastrophe pre-tax losses net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums were $92.1 million, compared with $240.1 million same quarter in 2016, which included nearly $130 million of losses from the Fort McMurray wildfire in Canada. The company’s earnings when adjusted for non-recurring gains was $255.1 million, or 96 cents per share, easily beating analysts expectations of 89 cents per share. Mike McGavick, chief executive officer, said: “In the second quarter we remained focused on disciplined underwriting and are pleased with our overall results. Also in the quarter, we generated positive investment returns, continued to capture efficiencies as an organisation and actively managed our capital. We remain committed to fully delivering the value of the franchise we have built.” Integration costs related to XL’s acquisition of Catlin in 2015 were completed during the quarter and totaled $39.1 million, some $13 million lower year-on-year. The company reported P&C combined ratio — the portion of premium dollars spent on claims and expenses — of 92.3 per cent, an improvement on the 96 per cent in the same period in 2016. The loss ratio fell from 64.6 per cent to 60.8 per cent. Net income from affiliates was $73.5 million for the quarter, compared to $34.6 million in the prior year quarter. There was a fall in net investment income to $208.7 million, compared with $215.4 million in the same period last year. Gross premiums written were $3.54 billion, up $24 million year-on-year. The company, which brands itself XL Catlin, bought back six million shares, or $250.1 million, during the quarter. At June 30, $650 million of shares remained available for purchase under XL’s share buyback programme. Before the earnings report was released, XL’s shares closed at $45.98, down 38 cents, in New York.
July 26. A team of Bermudians attended an international conference on problem gaming as the island moves closer to its first casino. Along with the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission’s problem and responsible gaming director Roger Trott and commissioner Judith Hall Bean, representatives from four local treatment providers took part in the four-day conference in Portland, Oregon. Mr Trott said: “It was an amazing experience, one that has equipped us with knowledge and tools to better protect Bermuda from the risks associated with problem gambling. During the conference we were able to establish international connections and build a new network of support for the island going forward. People were more than willing to share their knowledge and expertise and one consistent comment we received from those we met was how wonderful it is for Bermuda to be safeguarding itself on the front end before the first casinos are even introduced.” While he said these efforts are often considered as a reactive measure, it is better for the community to establish a network to deal with issues before they can arise. In addition to taking part in numerous workshops, local clinicians were able to receive Continuing Education Certificates which can be applied towards their Level 1 International Certified Gaming Counsellor certification. According to Mr Trott the goal is to have at least one certified Level 1 Counsellor at each treatment facility on the island by the time the first casino opens its doors. Meanwhile, formal meetings were held with Keith Whyte of the National Conference on Problem Gaming, Deborah Haskins, director of counseling programmes at Trinity Washington University and Lori Rugle of the International Gambling Counsellor Certification Board to assist with planning Bermuda’s training programmes. “We are in the early stages of working towards a national strategic plan for responsible and problem gaming,” Mr Trott said. “Key international professionals are providing technical support in its development. We also look forward to getting feedback from the various Bermudian stakeholders in the near future through a series of town hall style meetings.” Meanwhile Ernest Peets, a clinician who attended the conference representing Pathways Bermuda, said the event was an “amazing opportunity” to expand his knowledge and obtain specific training on gambling addiction. “The training and information provided by the panel experts was first class,” said Dr Peets, a Progressive Labour Party candidate at this month’s General Election. “We are very fortunate that the BCGC has positioned itself at the forefront of the casino and gaming industry. The BCGC has carefully considered the relevant issues regarding regulation, prevention and treatment that are necessary for any jurisdiction considering entering the gaming arena; because of this, I believe the BCGC is a necessary entity to assist Bermuda’s interest in implementing the right framework for casino gaming in Bermuda.” A gaming commission spokeswoman said that the conference also assisted in the development of a framework for Bermuda’s problem and responsible gaming programmes. “The BCGC is currently looking at cutting edge casino software which has the ability to log players out of certain games once they reach their set limit and other geo-location software that presents non-intrusive responsible gaming ads when a person is in the vicinity of an integrated resort casino,” she said. “A self-exclusion list is also on the cards for those concerned with an active or potential problem gambling issue to voluntarily sign themselves up for.”
July 26. Dockyard has been named the region’s top cruise ship destination by the online review site Cruise Critic. Voted a top five destination last year, Dockyard has been declared the best for the Eastern Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda in the site’s cruisers’ choice destination awards, based on reviews and consumer feedback over the past year. “We all work hard to ensure standards are kept high, and credit must go to the entire team for achieving fantastic results,” said Andrew Dias, general manager of the West End Development Corporation. “So while receiving this award is great news, credit must go not just to the Wedco team but every person and business that provides goods and services at the port. I send thanks and praises to all who have made it possible. It is particularly pleasing to receive this award as it is voted for by the people who use the facilities which reflects positively on Dockyard and Bermuda as a whole.”
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July 26. Bermudian top tennis players Gavin Manders and Jovan Jordan-Whitter have struck up a winning doubles partnership at the Fairmont Southampton. Mr Manders, the island’s most successful active player and head tennis pro at the Rosewood Tucker’s Point hotel, and Davis Cup team member Mr Jordan-Whitter are part of Manders Tennis Management, which has won the concession rights at the hotel. The duo will partner with veteran hotel tennis pro Earl Leader to provide tennis tuition at the resort. Mr Manders, who founded the management company, said: “We’re hoping to expand, but the Fairmont Southampton is the first one.” He added: “MTM is excited to share our love and passion for the game with Fairmont Southampton. “It’s an honour to be part of a team that understands what it takes to help grow the sport of tennis in Bermuda and we look to make Fairmont a special place for both Bermudian and visiting tennis enthusiasts.” Mr Jordan-Whitter, MTM tennis director, added: “We strongly believe that there is no shortcut to success, instead hard work and determination pave the road to fulfilling your dreams. He has 13 years of coaching experience at local, regional and international levels. He added: “Our team highly appreciates the opportunity to give Fairmont Southampton’s discerning guests and locals alike a unique and inspirational tennis experience.” The pair previously worked together at Sportsmen’s Tennis and Enrichment Centre in Massachusetts. Mr Manders, who will continue at Tucker’s Point, said: “Fairmont approached me personally and Jevon and I have been talking about this since we were young. We always wanted to make a difference and Fairmont was the first resort to believe in us and the first resort we’ve taken over. Jevon is the man on the ground there and the face of MTM at Fairmont Southampton.” Mr Jordan-Whitter said: “This isn’t my first rodeo. But this will be my first time as a tennis director in Bermuda. I’m really excited and enthusiastic about the opportunity here — the sky’s the limit with what we can bring to the table here.” The new tennis team, which took over from Mark Cordeiro and his Whaler Inn Tennis Club, is also offering players the chance to score a few points in the launch period with a special $49 summer membership, which allows unlimited play until the end of August, plus complimentary court rental and night lights daily. MTM is also one of the few providers of a ball-hitting machine in Bermuda. Children aged 5 to 14 can join the youth summer camp, which runs until Friday, September 1. It offers training linked to age to produce better players and all-round athletes. The summer camp will be replaced on September 4 with an after-school programme with the opportunity to train up to four times a week. Fairmont Southampton has six hard-surface beachfront tennis courts, three of which have night lighting. There is also a tennis shop.
July 26. A total of 75 seniors took advantage of the second health clinic hosted by Age Concern this year. The event took place at the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre in the East End and included vitals, eye and dental screenings. According to Age Concern’s executive director Claudette Fleming, the event aimed to reach out to seniors in their own communities and make access more availably, particularly to those who cannot afford the services because of costly co-pays or because they have no insurance. Education co-ordinator Anita Furbert, a registered nurse, added: “Age Concern and its health partners are working very hard to meet the needs of seniors in the provision of our quarterly Health Check events in various areas of the island. We were pleased to see more men show up in the East End clinic and to have so many participants coming specifically to have access to the eye screening conducted by Dr Leonard Teye-Botchway and the Bermuda International Eye Institute team. The clinics are becoming the largest-attended Age Concern event outside of our annual MJM legal clinics.” Cathy Stovell thanked the charity and its partners for the event that helped her mother access dental and eye screenings. “My mom has never had an eye pressure test and she was very relieved that she had an opportunity to do so at the east-end Health Check event,” she said. “She was impressed with the care and attention each provider afforded her and quickly heeded the dental advice given.” The initiative to improve healthcare access for seniors was launched in March this year in partnership with the Department of Health, the Bermuda International Eye Institute and the Chubb Charitable Foundation. Allied World Bermuda also supported the health check event in the East End earlier this month. Mike McCrimmon, head of Allied World Bermuda, said: “It is our pleasure to join the Health Check initiative in partnership with other notable sponsors such as the Bank of Bermuda Foundation, the Chubb Foundation, and the Department of Health. Clearly, the issue of ageing is an issue for us all. Allied World’s Charitable Committee is committed to support initiatives that address the social fabric of Bermuda. We are pleased to support Age Concern in its effort to promote successful ageing throughout the island.” Dr Fleming also credited the Bermuda Hospitals Board and the staff of the UCC for the ability to host the event in the “state-of-the art” facility. BHB’s chief operating officer Scott Pearman said: “It was not a difficult decision for us to host the event. The clinical amenities of the venue lend themselves well for a clinic of this nature. We were pleased that the location of St David’s saw a good response from seniors taking advantage of the free services. We look forward to working with Age Concern and others to maximize the use of the facility in the best interest of meeting the needs of our community.” The next health check event is being planned for the West End in November.
July 25. The Progressive Labour Party government is meeting with union leaders and international business representatives as it unveils specifics of its 100-day plan in stages over the days and weeks ahead, David Burt announced yesterday afternoon. Speaking shortly after the new Government’s first Cabinet meeting, the Premier expressed confidence in growing international business at the same time as putting Bermudians first. “The two are not mutually exclusive, and this government will ensure that we do both,” Mr Burt said, flanked by colleagues in the Cabinet Office. “Together we will work collectively to advance our interests internationally, while creating more opportunities for Bermudians locally.” Meanwhile, the House of Assembly is to convene in September, two months earlier than usual, to advance the new administration’s legislative agenda. The Premier met yesterday with union leaders, accompanied by Walton Brown, the Minister of Home Affairs, and Lovitta Foggo, Minister for the Cabinet Office with Responsibility for Government Reform. “Through collaboration, this government will be able to create comprehensive plans to address any concerns,” Mr Burt said. “But the first step must be to open the floor for constructive dialogue.” The Premier, along with Jamahl Simmons, the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, is to meet today with the Association of Bermuda International Companies and, next week, with representatives from the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers. “The objectives are simple: to ensure that we work together to build Bermuda’s strength as a highly regarded, well regulated international financial centre,” Mr Burt said, calling the unions and international business bodies “important stakeholders as we work to create jobs in Bermuda”. Over the days since its July 18 victory at the polls, Mr Burt said the Government “has been busy getting to work and looking under the hood”. The Premier added that details on what had been found “under the hood” would be forthcoming later this week — reviving a term that had been used by the One Bermuda Alliance administration after it assumed power in December 2012. Noting the high priority of education, the Premier said that the Ministers of Education and of Public Works would be collaborating to ensure that all schools would be ready for students — and the Government intends “to keep our promise of increasing the financial support available to students wishing to attend Bermuda College in the autumn”. That support could come at least partially from elsewhere in the Government’s spending, he said. “As we look under the hood, there is a lot of spending we can find that we can stop, and places we can redirect priorities where they need to go.” While some of the 21 items on the 100-day agenda have already commenced implementation, particulars remain to be announced. Mr Burt revealed little of a major infrastructural project inherited by the new administration that has piqued widespread curiosity: how the PLP will handle the airport redevelopment, which the party so hotly opposed. The Premier said that issue would be discussed at a later press conference by Walter Roban, the Minister of Transport, in consultation with Kathy Simmons, the Attorney-General.
July 25. Patricia Gordon-Pamplin’s political experience, tempered by calm, is credited with securing her the support of the 12 remaining One Bermuda Alliance MPs as acting leader, while the new Opposition assesses its future. Ms Gordon-Pamplin was selected as interim leader in a secret ballot on Friday, with Sylvan Richards as interim deputy. While a source close to the party said some MPs had hoped for leadership untainted by past links to the United Bermuda Party, Ms Gordon-Pamplin still emerged top against contenders Jeanne Atherden, Jeff Baron, Susan Jackson and Leah Scott. Ms Gordon-Pamplin told The Royal Gazette she had been “probably the most experienced of the MPs who would have put their names forward”, and capable of balancing the role with her full-time job. Mr Baron had been suggested as a youthful candidate well suited to mending divisions and working with the governing Progressive Labour Party, but Ms Gordon-Pamplin pointed out: “This is Jeff’s first opportunity in Parliament, which is a different animal from being in the Senate. During the course of the parliamentary process, every member will have the opportunity to get a depth of experience and exposure that they will be able to bring to the position.” Calling Mr Baron “wonderful” and “a great individual”, she said the real question lay in who was elected by the full membership at the party conference in October. “Certainly if the party conference determines that he is the person for carrying the party forward, there will be that opportunity,” she said. “Sometimes you have to pause for a minute and make sure your ducks are in a row.” She said that race did not feature in the selection announced, adding: “That aspect of the process does not faze me.” A Shadow Cabinet remains to be announced. “It was important for us to be ready for Parliament — we don’t know when the Premier expects it to resume. What is important is that when issues arise that are not necessarily restricted to the time that Parliament is sitting, that we have a team ready. That’s the reason it was very important to have these positions in place, and filled quickly.” The next Opposition leader need not come from the House, she added, pointing out that when the UBP merged with the Bermuda Democratic Alliance to form the OBA, “the person at the forefront for leadership was not an MP. John Barritt stepped down to allow Craig Cannonier to be elected. Whether such a situation exists under the circumstances remains to be seen. Whether the person likely to be enamored by the leadership is one who already has a parliamentary seat, we don’t know. The party conference will make that decision. I’m not saying it won’t be me, but the membership will make that determination.” Saying she knew “most of the players on the Government side, certainly in Cabinet”, she added: “It’s also important to have someone knowledgeable of the disastrous state that we inherited in 2012.” The party source said the OBA’s remaining MPs had been quietly accepting of the landslide defeat delivered at the polls on July 18, and that Ms Gordon-Pamplin brought an air of neutrality to the leadership meeting, adding: “It was civilized and fair. Nobody was upset.” Of the General Election, the source said: “There are OBA supporters who aren’t happy but who recognise that the leadership wasn’t listening. This gives us an opportunity to regroup and look at who we want to be going forward.” Voters, the source said, had “exercised their constitutional rights to make a change”, and the mood during the meeting in the party headquarters had been “reflective, even optimistic — no doom and gloom; this is the hand that was dealt”. The message on the doorstep to the OBA had been one of “we don’t understand what you’re doing or why you’re doing it”, the source said, faulting the party’s communication. Mr Baron represented “the change that we thought the OBA was going to bring”, but would have faced a challenge of “whether people are going to be accepting of another white leader” after the resignation of Michael Dunkley. The internal election had picked Ms Gordon-Pamplin as “a voice of reason with a calm demeanor who can take the party through this transitional period. The important thing is being able to demonstrate that you heard what the people had to say. We’re working now to be a strong and effective Opposition.” Former minister Quinton Edness applauded Ms Gordon-Pamplin as “the best choice they have at present. She will be able to pull the party together. More than that, she will work very hard to put together a political force to make a difference.” Added Mr Edness: “The time had come for the Government to change. The OBA was not in touch with all of Bermuda ... It’s a question of what they are going to do now.”
July 25. Bermuda-incorporated Chubb Limited has posted a second quarter profit of more than $1.3 billion — up more than 79 per cent on the same period last year. The figure is equivalent to $2.77 per share, compared to the $1.54 per share on profit of $726 million in the second quarter of 2016. Investment income, excluding a purchase accounting adjustment of $85 million, was a record $855 million. Chubb Limited was created after Ace Limited acquired Chubb Corp. in January 2016, The insurer and reinsurer’s operating income totaled $1.18 billion, an increase of 11.4 per cent and equal to $2.50 per share. That compared to operating income of $1.05 billion and $2.25 per share in the same period in 2016. The firm also reported net premiums written of $7.58 billion and $7.05 billion for consolidated and property and casualty business respectively. Evan Greenberg, CEO of Chubb, formed from a takeover of Chubb by Ace last year, said: “Chubb’s strong earnings this quarter were driven by world-class underwriting results and record investment income. “After tax operating income per share increased 11 per cent with operating earnings up 13 per cent year to date. We had book and tangible book value per share growth in the quarter of 2.7 per cent and 4.3 per cent respectively and produced an operating return on equity of around 10 per cent.” Mr Greenberg added that the firm’s 88 per cent property and casualty combined ratio — more than two points up on the prior year — was “truly distinguishing” given continued soft market conditions. "We benefited from a substantial improvement in both our expense ratio and our loss ratio as a result of merger-related efficiencies and underwriting actions as well as lower catastrophe costs. Total property and casualty underwriting income was up 20 per cent. Although the commercial property and casualty market is soft around the globe, the trend for pricing improved for the business we wrote with rates flat or the rate of decline substantially slowing in most classes, while in some particularly stressed areas we achieved rate. Our premium revenue growth continued to trend better as we projected and was our best since the merger. We wrote less new business in line with our underwriting discipline while renewal retentions were steady. Overall, we are in excellent shape with our integration-related efficiency efforts and are now increasing the total annualized run-rate savings we will achieve by the end of 2018 to $875 million, up from $800 million.”
July 25. The Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority opens for business on Monday at its new offices on the fourth floor of Mintflower Place on Par-la-Ville Road. The quango was set up on October 1, 2016 to take over from the former Department of Maritime Administration — with its greater independence credited with boosting Bermuda’s shipping registry. The authority will move from Global House this Friday, and will be closed accordingly while the relocation takes place. A spokesman said that the BSMA’s existing main telephone number, 295-7251, will continue as usual, along with its fax number 295-3718 and cellular phone numbers.
July 25. Two friends were shot dead under identical circumstances within about nine months, police say. Both 20-year-old Jahcari Francis and Isaiah Furbert, 19, were fatally shot inside the same house on Upland Street, Jason Smith, detective sergeant with the Bermuda Police Service, confirmed yesterday. Mr Francis was shot and killed at the Devonshire residence last Wednesday night; Mr Furbert was killed on October 18, 2016. The two men were “very close friends”, Mr Smith told a press conference. “The circumstances [of Mr Furbert’s murder] and the MO of the murder of Jahcari Francis are identical.” Three other people were inside the residence at the time of the shooting on Wednesday night, Mr Smith said. Shots were fired into the residence from the exterior, striking the victim. The death of Mr Francis is the 34th gun murder in Bermuda since May 22, 2009, and the second gun murder of 2017. Jahni Outerbridge, 31, was fatally shot in the Mid-Atlantic Boat and Sports Club parking lot shortly before 11.30pm on January 29. Mr Smith said that the investigation so far “would suggest” that Mr Francis was killed amid a long-running feud between the 42 and Parkside gangs. Mr Francis was associated with the 42 gang, he said. Mr Smith said: “This was a senseless killing that could have resulted in more casualties. We can only imagine the anguish and pain the occupants of that residence must be going through.” Shortly after Mr Furbert’s death, police noted he had not been alone in the residence at the time of the shooting. Mr Smith said that the investigation into Mr Furbert’s death remained “very much open”. Several persons, Mr Smith said, were arrested following Mr Furbert’s murder in the fall. “Those persons have been put on bail,” he said. According to Mr Smith, one man has been arrested in connection with the investigation into Mr Francis’s murder. “This man has been bailed pending further inquiries,” he echoed. Several witnesses have come forward after the shooting. “We are getting some support from the community,” Sergeant Smith said. “We are also looking to hear from area residents and businesses in the area that have CCTV.” Investigators are trying to trace Mr Francis’s movements before Wednesday night, Mr Smith said. Asked if more violence was expected, Mr Smith said: “We hope not — but there is the feeling that there may be." Anyone with information is asked to call 247-1218 or 717-0864, or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 800-8477.
July 25. Bermuda Hospitals Board has appointed Michael Richmond as Chief of Staff after an “extensive local and international recruitment process”. Dr Richmond, an anaesthetist with 25 years’ experience, joins BHB on a three-year contract and will lead the team of medical and support personnel. “I know that developing a Strategic Plan for Clinic Services is currently under way and I am eager to get involved and share my expertise in this area,” Dr Richmond stated. “I am looking forward to moving to Bermuda and working with the team at BHB.” According to a BHB statement, Dr Richmond is originally from the UK and has performed 25,000 anaesthetic procedures. The statement added that he “has a strong background in healthcare and hospital management and has worked extensively on major change programmes both in the UK and internationally”. BHB CEO Venetta Symonds said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Dr Richmond to BHB as Chief of Staff. He has extensive experience in healthcare management, most recently in the dual role of Chief Medical Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Hamad Medical Corporation’s Women’s Hospital in Qatar. We look forward to learning from, and working with, Dr Richmond.” Board chairman Peter Everson added: “We look forward to Dr Richmond joining the BHB Executive Team. He brings a wealth of experience that will help the team continue to develop the healthcare needs of our community.” The statement added that Dr Richmond, who will take up the post in mid-August, will “be key in ensuring patient safety, sound clinical governance and building positive relations with the physician community”. Dr Richmond replaces Keith Chiappa, who was in the interim position after Michael Wietekamp left in 2016. The position is the most senior medical role at BHB and is responsible for the supervision of medical and dental care given to patients and residents. The Chief of Staff reports to the CEO and is accountable to the Board and Ministry of Health.
July 25. Robert A. Farmer, a former United States Consul General to Bermuda famed as a top fundraiser for the Democratic Party, has died at the age of 78. Described by President Bill Clinton as a man who could “talk an owl out of a tree”, Mr Farmer — known to locals as Bob — was hailed by US Consul General Mary Ellen Koenig as “enormously popular” in his post from 1994 to 1999. “I have met many Bermudians and others who speak of him with affection and admiration,” Ms Koenig said. “He clearly loved his tenure here and worked effectively to promote and protect the strong ties between the United States and Bermuda.” Mr Farmer earned a place in American political history, starting with his service as treasurer for four presidential campaigns: John Glenn in 1984, Michael Dukakis in 1988, Clinton in 1992 and John Kerry in 2004. Elected treasurer of the Democratic National Committee in 1989, he stepped down to mastermind the financing of the successful Clinton campaign, and was posted to the island — one of the few political diplomatic appointments in the US system — for three years in 1994. It ended up substantially longer than the usual term: “I love it here and I’m happy to stay as long as they need me,” Mr Farmer told The Royal Gazette in 1998. “No other Consul General — and certainly no other Bermudian public figure in recent times — has managed to make so many friends and such a wide range of contacts throughout Bermuda,” this newspaper wrote upon his departure from the island. Mr Farmer won friends here during the return of US Base lands, and his term was also marked by the sale of the 14-acre “Chelston” estate in Paget, previously the official residence of the US Consul General, as the State Department cut its costs. Mr Farmer was tipped as an early supporter of Mr Kerry’s presidential ambitions when he stepped down from the Bermuda post in 1999. He declined a prominent fundraising role in the presidential campaign of Al Gore. He was famed for tapping into little-regulated political donations from wealthy patrons, or “soft money” as it was known in the US press. In 2000, he came out as gay for The Advocate, and in 2013 Mr Farmer married Thomas Winston, his partner of 13 years. Mr Farmer died on Saturday in Miami, from pancreatic cancer.
July 25. Benefits for preventive care for mental health are expected to be added to the Standard Health Benefit by early next year, according to Tawanna Wedderburn. The CEO of the Bermuda Health Council made the announcement at the You Are Not Alone forum hosted by the Bermuda Mental Health Foundation yesterday evening. “The Bermuda Health Council is actually reviewing the Standard Health Benefit, which is the basic package that every person has to have by law if you have insurance coverage, and we are expecting by early next year to introduce benefits for preventive care for mental health,” Ms Wedderburn told the audience at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. Ms Wedderburn’s comments came after questions were raised about insurance coverage options on the island for individuals with mental health problems, as well as the high cost of health insurance. She said there were treatment options available that are covered by insurance, but added: “I can also say that we are working on a plan to ensure that everyone in Bermuda does have access to insurance coverage. That work has been going on since September of last year, so we hope to be able to release some information to the public soon.” Ms Wedderburn spoke after a presentation by keynote speaker Chanelle Lawson that highlighted the importance of family support when it comes to mental illness. “The purpose of family support is to educate, inform and involve family members in the care of their loved one,” Dr Lawson, who owns Offer A Hand Up Counseling in Greenwood, Indiana, said. “Family is usually the first line of support. Families are often the first to know if something has gone wrong in the life of a child or adult with mental health conditions. Families often take on the role of daily care giver with little or no support or training.” She added that learning about a family member’s mental illness leads to improved recognition of early symptoms and helps avoid crises. “Show interest in your family member’s treatment plan, encourage a family member to be active in their treatment plan, provide spoken encouragement, provide a safe environment and plan for a crises. Become familiar with the process to access treatment for your family members, know your insurance benefits coverage, know your Government’s policies regarding access to treatment and healthcare.” She said family members can also become involved and support their loved ones by using supportive language, identifying triggers to a crises and ways to avoid a relapse or crises. They can also identify ways to respond to a relapse or crises, as well as additional support or resources in the community, she said. “Be informed. Ask questions, listen to ideas — be responsive when the topic of mental health problems comes up. Educate other people so they’ll understand the facts about mental health problems and don’t discriminate. Treat people with mental health problems with respect, compassion and empathy. Learn and identify local resources, become knowledgeable about treatment options.” But she also emphasized that advocacy is key to enhancing and strengthening families in Bermuda, adding: “Advocate for your client, advocate for your family member, advocate for your loved one. Family members, law enforcement, Bermuda Government, policymakers, community leaders, clergy members, healthcare providers and other stakeholders can identify and promote collaborative initiatives. So it takes a community — it takes us all working together to advocate. Family members and mental health healthcare providers can work with law makers to change healthcare policies and insurance coverage.” Dr Lawson also outlined the role of support groups, adding “even the support needs support and that’s the whole premise of support groups — to know that you are not alone”. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session featuring Dr Lawson, Susan Thomas, who spoke about her own experience with mental health, Winston Rogers, the clinical manager of the rehab team at Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute. and Chris Gibbons, who formed the support group Losing Someone by Suicide after his 25-year-old daughter’s suicide.
July 25. A Southampton man accused of smuggling drugs into the country has been found not guilty by a unanimous verdict. Harry Lightbourne, 56, was formally acquitted yesterday afternoon after a weeklong trial in the Supreme Court. Prosecutors had alleged that Mr Lightbourne had brought in more than $320,000 worth of cannabis and cannabis resin in an incident last year — an offence which he steadfastly denied. However after a few hours of deliberation yesterday, the jury delivered a unanimous verdict in his favour on all four charges. Acting Puisne Judge Shade Subair-Williams subsequently told Mr Lightbourne that he was free to go. While he remained silent upon the reading of the verdict, sounds of celebration could be heard shortly after he stepped outside of the building.
July 25. A loggerhead turtle rescued by divers has been returned to the sea after nine months of care. The turtle, nicknamed “Chad” by his rescuers, had been found tangled in cargo netting in Ely’s Harbour last October by Blue Water Divers. While they were able to free the distressed animal, they became concerned when they noticed that he appeared unable to dive underwater and took the turtle to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo. A spokeswoman for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said that Ian Walker, a veterinarian and the principal curator at BAMZ, examined Chad and found “significant grooves” in the turtle’s top shell. The grooves suggested that Chad had been tangled in the netting for some time before being freed. “It took about ten days for Chad to start diving to the bottom of his enclosure,” the spokeswoman said. “One theory for the buoyancy problem is that turtles hyperinflate their lungs as a survival mechanism. Since they are air breathers, making themselves positively buoyant would assist them staying at the surface to breathe in spite of the weight of the net. “Another theory is that this is how their bodies respond to an infection. There were numerous locations where the shell was ulcerated and there was a concern the turtle was septic and therefore would not have a very good prognosis.” Over the next few months, Chad was kept at the aquarium where he could be given food, antibiotics and time to recover. “The healing process took quite a while,” the spokeswoman added. “Turtles can be quite resilient but they take their time getting better. Winter water temperatures slowed things down but as the water started to warm up, the healing moved along nicely.” Roma Hayward, animal care and quarantine officer, was tasked with debriding the wounds monthly to assist with the healing process. “Chad survived a terrible ordeal and has healed well,” she said. “He will have a microchip and flipper tags in the event he shows up somewhere else. He will be able to be identified and it signifies that he was captured before.” While green and hawksbill turtles are more commonly seen, loggerhead turtles are regular visitors to the island. Loggerheads found in Bermuda are usually post-hatchlings — turtles younger than a year — who are washed in with sargassum weed in the winter and spring, but Chad is older than most seen in Bermuda’s waters. Now back in the ocean, Chad is expected to settle in the Eastern Atlantic to start the next stage of his life — assuming he is a “he” at all. The spokeswoman explained that gender-signifying features only appear once loggerheads reach adulthood, a milestone Chad had not yet reached. “Chad may not be male,” the spokeswoman added. “His caregivers are unsure of the gender at this time.”
July 25. The Government Cashiers’ Office on the ground floor of the Government Administration Building has been closed because of flooding. According to spokesman, “work to restore the Cashiers’ office is under way and it is expected to be open tomorrow during normal hours”. The Royal Gazette has asked what caused the flooding and how extensive it is.
July 24. The Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club has made a play to become Bermuda’s first integrated casino resort. And the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission has announced that the hotel will make it’s presentation to the commission in a public meeting in September. Alan Dunch, chairman of the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission, confirmed yesterday that the hotel had submitted a “substantially completed” application for a casino facility. “The application provides the detailed plans to develop a casino within the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club,” a release issued from the BCGC said. Mr Dunch called the application a “landmark event. We feel that this is an important step towards realizing the public policy goals of the Casino Act, by increasing employment and investment in Bermuda, as well as enhancing the tourism product. I also want to thank the staff of the BCGC and the Princess for working the many long hours necessary to get us to this point.” The statement described the application as “fully funded”, noting that the project will be presented to the BCGC for approval at 2pm on September 22 at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, with the public able to attend. Further details about the casino presentation are expected to be released at a later date. The casino licencing application process was approved by legislators earlier this year, despite concerns that the price tag for a licence was too high, with the first “window” for applications opening in April. Under the Bermuda Casino Gaming Act 2014, the commission can approve up to three provisional casino licences, in addition to the provisional licence granted to the developer of the St Regis hotel project in St George’s. According to the application process, a $600,000 application fee must accompany all applications, while a $1.4 million provisional licence issue fee is payable by applicants awarded a provisional licence. Those making it through to the final stage will then be subjected to a further $1 million casino licence issue fee. The Hamilton Princess last year became one of the first resort properties to be named a “designated site”, making it eligible to apply for a casino licence. It was revealed earlier that this year both the Fairmont Southampton and the Morgan’s Point hotel had applied for site designation.
July 24. A refrigerant gas used to cool some of the island’s industrial spaces, commercial spaces and homes is being phased out. The move is in line with the Montreal Protocol of 1987, designed to reduce ozone depletion, and is likely to affect local supplies, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “Those with heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems which use R-22 may be best served by changing to a non-ozone-depleting gas in the near future,” a statement said. “Industry stakeholders and those with permits to handle refrigerant gases have been aware for some time that hydrochlorofluocarbons (HCFCs) would be phased out internationally, including a refrigerant gas commonly used in older HVAC systems in Bermuda, called R-22.” The statement added that manufacturing has also been affected, with a tightening of requirements necessary before the gases can be exported. “In addition, an amendment to the original protocol has not been extended from the UK to Bermuda and other Overseas Territories. The OTs are required to ratify the amendments before this extension from the UK can be provided. As a result, the original manufacturers of HCFCs cannot send gases to Bermuda until this extension process has been completed. While HCFCs can still be bought from other suppliers after approval by the Environmental Authority, this is expected to cost more. The department is currently working to complete this ratification of the amendment to the original protocol so it can be extended from the UK. In the interim, the department advises that consumers installing new HVAC systems ask for non-ozone-depleting refrigerant gases and encourage existing customers who have R-22 based systems to consider changing them to non-ozone-depleting refrigerant gases. It is also important to note that there are some compliant refrigerant gases that can be substituted in existing R-22 systems without the need to replace blowers, condensers and associated pipework. An HVAC supplier’s service personnel should be able to advise on any compatibility issues.”
July 24. Privilege, poverty, crime and leadership were among the topics discussed by summer students as part of the inaugural Future Leaders Programme. Students from grade 8 to 12 were given the opportunity to take part in the three-week programme, which invited members of the community to share their experience and expertise on social issues facing the island with the students. The course, which was facilitated and taught by Francis Patton teacher Alandra Swan and directed by Ryan Robinson-Perinchief, included presentations by senior magistrate judge Juan Wolffe, president of the race relations charity Lynne Winfield, community worker Gavin Smith and anti-violence activist Gina Spence. The 16 students who took part gave presentations at the closing ceremony held at the Berkeley Institute on Friday evening, which was attended by incoming Premier David Burt. One student, Dakota McDonald, was part of a group that talked about privilege and how the community needs to come together to understand each others’ circumstances. Race was one area of discrimination her presentation covered. She told The Royal Gazette: “Most whites have more privilege than blacks in Bermuda. I thought that this topic was important because this is happening in our country. More blacks are on financial assistance and are more at a disadvantage.” Dakota’s group produced a chart showing various forms of discrimination that are present in society including race, gender, class, ability and sexual orientation. They asked two volunteers from the audience to mark on the chart where they thought they stood as subjects of privilege or discrimination. A male and female took up the challenge. Dakota explained the results: “The woman felt that she was in a targeted group and the man was in the privileged group. It is more than race that separates you from getting privilege — things like socio-economic class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability — there are a lot. It doesn’t always depend on race. If people continue to just fight we are not going to get any better. If we want to see a better community and a better Bermuda then we need to help everybody — we can’t have one type of people struggling.” Another group was made up of Justin Bascome Dickinson, Nathaniel Binega Northcott and Seon Tatem who focused their talk on inequality and crime. Nathaniel told us: “In Bermudian society today we find that race and inequality is a rarely talked about subject. We went to watch a drug court session and saw someone convicted. Lynne Winfield came and gave a presentation. “There are institutions that reinforce the message of inequality. I don’t believe that everybody means to do this, maybe the society around them has moulded them — they do it whether they mean to or not. Nobody wants to hurt anyone without a legitimate reason. In the Future Leaders Programme we can talk about these issues and talk about solutions — this programme is part of the solution and advocating. It won’t be an overnight solution.” The Premier made a short address to the students following their presentations advising them to share the wisdom that they had learnt. “The most important thing that you can do is not to keep it to yourselves — share it with your friends, share it with your family, share it with the people you meet because the most important thing we can do to effect change is making sure that we educate others on the issues that we are facing in our society. There is no question that Bermuda needs young leaders. You have the power to effect change. Ensure that you are participating and continuing to grow because we need leaders of this country who will step up and are going to provide debate when I reach my old age. I look forward to seeing great things from all of you in the future.” Ms Swan added: “They have taken away an awareness that they can be a power to make change. One of the things that they have all been challenged on is whatever information they have learnt, whether it is about inequality, income gaps or race and poverty, is what are we going to do about it now? They are young but they still have a voice. Many of them didn’t realize the power that they had until they got to the end when they said wait, we can make a difference. The second thing they took away with them was their ability to be connected with their environment — some of them live in the areas that we talked about so for them it was important to do more than just talk about it — it was get out there and do something. There are organisations that they can take part in and so it is important for them to know that they have a voice and can do something even at a young age.” Ms Swan said there may be an opportunity to run a similar programme at Berkeley Institute throughout the year and it is hoped that the summer programme will continue next year.
July 24. UK news outlets have published footage of an altercation that caused a Virgin Atlantic flight to divert to Bermuda and cost a British man $2,000 in fines. The incident, which took place on May 16, involved a male passenger becoming “disruptive” on a flight from London to Jamaica. The footage, released by The Mirror and The Daily Mail yesterday shows a man angrily confronting a flight attendant. Other passengers then become involved, leading to the man and a woman in a separate aisle yelling at each other and throwing what appeared to be a red article of clothing. The flight reportedly diverted to Bermuda, and the passenger was taken off the plane by police. Mark Anthony Blake, 46, appeared in Magistrates’ Court later that week in connection to the incident and admitted a charge of disorderly behaviour. The court heard that five hours into the flight, Mark Anthony Blake got out of his seat and became disruptive after being denied service of double-strength drink. A restraint kit was brought out, but not used. Blake had also been involved in a dispute with a man seated behind him while on the aircraft, the court heard. The plane was diverted to Bermuda and landed shortly after 4pm. The court heard that, on arrival, Blake grappled with police officers, telling them: “F*** off — I’m not a terrorist.” Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo subsequently fined Blake $2,000.
July 24. Family are usually the first line of defence for those with mental illness, according to counselor Chanelle Lawson. But family members also need support, Dr Lawson, who will be the keynote speaker at tonight’s You Are Not Alone forum, told The Royal Gazette. “Family is usually the first line of defence, the first line of support, because they are there with their loved one,” Dr Lawson, who owns Offer A Hand Up Counseling in Greenwood, Indiana, said. "They’re untrained most of the time, they’re uneducated as far as their loved ones mental illness — they know something is going on with their family member but don’t know exactly what and usually they don’t find out until they reach out to a professional support or community support for assistance.” And while support starts in the home, Dr Lawson said it “builds into something bigger” and the “bottom line is to provide advocacy”. Today’s event hosted by the Bermuda Mental Health Foundation will focus on how the community can better support family members with mental illness. Topics will include available support and how this can be increased in Bermuda, as well as the importance of “supporting the supporters”. Dr Lawson, who works with those struggling with mental health and addiction, will also briefly highlight common mental illnesses, the treatment options available in the United States and Bermuda, and how family involvement can provide advocacy “for their loved ones to help change policy as it relates to insurance coverage and how the Government responds to mental health illnesses”. “I’m hoping they take away the importance of family support and recovery. I’m hoping they take away that family are the first line of support but they also need support and I’m hoping that individuals take away that there are other treatment options available.” She will also address stigma — one of the barriers that keeps individuals from getting the help they need, as well as family members supporting their loved ones at the most appropriate level. The best way to reduce stigma is to talk about it, have conversations about it, know that you are not alone, know that even though your loved one is experiencing crises or mental health symptoms, they are still your loved one and remember your love for them. It becomes taboo when you don’t speak about it.” According to Dr Lawson, mental health awareness has grown “tremendously in the past 20 years” in the United States. “The goal is to reduce hospitalization or institutionalization through the prison system or jail or law enforcement, so they try to provide as much through the community and home as possible to reduce that. I actually provide community and home-based treatment, which is provided in the client’s home, with their family with them, with any support that they identify.” Family support is key, she said, because “it ultimately ends in advocating for your loved one and advocating that their treatment is the most appropriate level of treatment. Who better to do that than, of course, the client, the individual themselves, but also the family, their support. And it doesn’t always involve going to the hospital or going to jail. And when it comes to supporting the family members, support groups are a big factor, even if it is in a more informal setting. The main thing is that family members know they are not alone and that there are others going through the same trials and tribulations and crises with their loved ones. Start support groups for family members whose loved ones have been diagnosed with schizophrenia. That’s the best way for family members to come together and really talk about it.” And if there are no support groups available, start one, she said, pointing to organisations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “A support group can start right in your home, right in your home over coffee. As long as you are talking about it.” The event will be held at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute from 6pm and is free and open to the public.
July 24. OJ Pitcher has returned home from hospital after collapsing during St David’s defeat by Bailey’s Bay in the Eastern Counties Cup first round at Lord’s on Saturday. Pitcher became unwell during Bay’s innings in the final over before lunch with chest pains and required medical attention on the pitch before being taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. The St David’s and Bermuda captain was not deemed well enough to return to the match and was not released by the hospital until 9pm on Saturday night. His father, Oliver Pitcher, said his son had a “peaceful night” and will have to return to hospital this week. “He’s back home but he has to go back [to hospital] for some additional tests. He’s doing much better and had a peaceful night. I guess he’s chilling at the moment.” Asked whether Pitcher would be able to return to playing cricket soon, his father said: “We’ll see what the results are after the additional tests. We’re taking things day by day.” Pitcher is one of the top batsman on the island and a former captain for St George’s in Cup Match.
July 24. A Bermudian radio personality passed away peacefully in Canada this past week after a battle with brain cancer. Gregory “Greg” Frederick Beach died on July 17 in Moncton, New Brunswick. He was 50 years old. Mr Beach was born on March 21, 1967, to parents Nancy Steeves, of Moncton, and the late Frederick Beach. His passion for music began at a young age. At age 5, he first picked up the guitar, teaching himself to play before beginning proper lessons at age 8. “My father was a baritone in the Salvation Army choir for years and the police choir after that,” he told the Mid-Ocean News during an interview in 1999. “We always had instruments around the house.” His love of music led him to pursue a degree in radio, broadcast sales and promotion at Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario. He would later return to Bermuda and work at ZBM, before starting as a disc jockey at Mix 106. Mike Bishop was station manager at VSB for 22 years, working alongside Mr Beach for roughly a dozen years between the early 90s and early 2000s. “He had just a natural flair for the business,” Mr Bishop said of his “very, very talented” colleague. “He was one of those people that could turn his hand to pretty much anything. He had the voice for the radio. He had an innate sense of what worked and what didn’t.” Both Mr Beach and the station as a whole, Mr Bishop said, prided themselves on playing more music by local artists than any other stations. “Local artists knew they could drop material off and get it played,” he said. “If something struck a chord with him — no pun intended — he was right in there and made sure we made the most of it.” Despite working in a deadline-driven business, pressure was not a big deal for Mr Beach, Mr Bishop added. “He was very easygoing. I found him a delight to work with. He had a great sense of humour.” Aside from music, Mr Beach cared deeply about his two daughters, Eryn and Kyra. “He always, always, always was talking about them,” Mr Bishop said. “That was his passion.” Wendell Simmons, a close friend, was asked by Mr Beach’s mother to write a tribute to her son to be read at the funeral which took place on Friday in Moncton. Mr Beach had moved back to Canada in 2009. “Anyone who met Greg and got to know him, liked him,” he said. “He had a way of relating to everybody from all walks of life, treating everyone with the same level of kindness, respect, politeness and empathy, putting them at ease with his easy laugh and sly sense of humour.” Mr Simmons met Mr Beach at VSB in the early 1990s. The pair — along with Donald Wellman — “over time became good friends, and eventually brothers”, Mr Simmons said. “One of our fondest memories of him will be us jamming as the ‘Brothers Trio’ with him stomping around the rehearsal room with a big smile on his face playing amazing, wailing guitar solos, lost in music. We will remember Greg as the coolest, kindest, funniest, most creative and most talented brother anyone could ask for. He was truly one of a kind.”
July 22. Patricia Gordon-Pamplin and Sylvan Richards have been announced as interim leader and interim deputy leader of the One Bermuda Alliance, after the party’s members convened last night. The announcement from Lynne Woolridge, chairwoman of the OBA, came on the heels of Tuesday’s sweeping loss at the polls, in which the Progressive Labour Party took seven seats off the former ruling party to secure a 24-12 win in the 2017 General Election. Michael Dunkley stepped down in the wake of the defeat — following Bob Richards, the deputy leader, who resigned after losing his seat in Devonshire East to Christopher Famous of the PLP. According to a party statement, Ms Gordon-Pamplin said: “I look forward to working with our MPs, party members and the Bermudian community to be a strong Opposition. Our team will hold the new Government to account and ensure they are working in the best interests of all Bermudians.” Senators as well as a shadow cabinet will be announced “in due course”, the statement added.
July 22. The Progressive Labour Party stormed to victory in the 2017 General Election with the most votes ever won under Bermuda’s parliamentary system. The new ruling party got 20,059 votes across the country on Tuesday: almost 59 per cent of the popular vote and 5,841 more votes than it received when it narrowly lost to the One Bermuda Alliance in 2012. The figure of 20,059 represents the highest number of votes obtained by a political party under the system of 36 single-seat constituencies, which has been in place since 2003. Previously, it was 16,800 votes, or 52.4 per cent of the popular vote, as won by the PLP in 2007. The scale of the win defied a Global Research poll from last week showing the OBA gaining half the popular vote, but Leslie Steede, director of Global Research, said the company had a proven track record, and stood behind its survey. “In politics, a lot can change in a short period of time, and our belief is that the campaign strategies employed by the PLP in last few days resonated with voters,” Dr Steede added. “Polls are never perfect, and we will be reviewing our modelling based on the result of the election.” Jonathan Smith, who was election day campaign manager for Christopher Famous, the PLP candidate who unseated Bob Richards in Devonshire East, told The Royal Gazette: “We have never had this seismic shift in terms of total vote count. The highest ever [previously] was 16,000. [For the PLP] to go from 14,000 [in 2012] to 20,000 — that’s pretty seismic in terms of ‘get out the vote’.” The term “get out the vote” describes efforts to increase voter turnout in elections and Mr Smith said a huge part of the PLP’s success this year was down to how it mobilized the electorate. The number of registered voters increased by nearly 3,000 to 46,669 between April last year and June this year and the total voter turnout for the 2017 General Election was 72.9 per cent, compared to 67.4 per cent in 2012. The relatively high turnout translated into more votes for the PLP, which did far better even than in 1998, when it first swept to power. Back then, the party won 54.5 per cent of the popular vote, increasing that this time by more than 4 percentage points to 58.8 per cent. Mr Smith said another “stunning” aspect of the PLP’s 2017 landslide victory was the way it managed to secure huge majorities in seats which were previously marginals, such as Pembroke Central and Sandys North. Mr Famous’s achievement in Devonshire East, meanwhile, went beyond just a political newcomer taking a seemingly safe OBA seat from a sitting MP, who also happened to be finance minister and deputy premier. “The PLP has never won this seat,” noted Mr Smith. “And nobody has ever secured 500 votes [in that seat]. Chris has got the highest number of votes of any candidate in this constituency, ever.” In Mr Famous’s case, his campaign manager described him as an “absolutely amazing person” who did “99 per cent of the work” in getting himself elected. A month before the election, he felt Mr Famous had a “real fighting chance” of winning but it became clear as the election drew near just how much he had connected with voters. “Chris just kept canvassing and canvassing and canvassing,” said Mr Smith. “It’s an amazing experience to watch people connect with Chris Famous. He’s got a humility that is striking.” Mr Smith said it was clear early on Tuesday that the PLP’s supporters — traditionally said to cast their ballots later in the day — were coming out in force in Devonshire East. “I knew at 9.30[am] that we had an incredibly realistic chance of winning in 11 and the reason why is because we tally the vote,” he said. “In each election headquarters, you are tracking during the day. You know who has voted and how many people have voted. We knew how many had already pledged their support to Chris because they had told him. So we saw numbers during the day that pushed us [ahead].” The former police commissioner said of the constituency 11 campaign team: “Our job was to get the voters out to vote. You have dedicated party workers who are on the phone all day. We did that all day Tuesday. That’s politics 101.” He added: “I set an aggressive target for our team. At 7am [on election day] I said ‘our job is twofold: to get Chris elected and to make sure he wins 500 to 510 votes’. You can only do that when a candidate canvasses thoroughly. You can’t just pull a figure out of the air. He actually got 513. It represents, at the end of the day, that the power is never at 105 Front Street [the Cabinet Office]. The power is with the people. Chris Famous, more than any other candidate, exemplified what the vote can do.”
The numbers
2017
2012
OBA: 15,949 (51.68 per cent)
PLP: 14,218 (46.07 per cent)
2007
2003
The figures in this article are taken from The Royal Gazette and other online archives, as the Parliamentary Registrar was unable to provide official data
Party exceeded its own expectations. The Progressive Labour Party was “very confident” of a comfortable win in Tuesday’s General Election but did not expect such a large parliamentary majority. The party won 24 seats in the House of Assembly, compared to 12 for the One Bermuda Alliance — creating a 12 seat advantage over the Opposition, which the PLP has not enjoyed since it first came to power in 1998. Party spokeswoman Liana Hall told The Royal Gazette: “We felt very confident. We knew that from the people we had met on the doorsteps and the amount of time we had spent speaking with people, getting our message out, that we had a lot of support. But, at the same time, we didn’t know we would have this many seats. There were a lot of upsets and surprises.” Ms Hall said there was no “party consensus” on how many seats it would win — and some individuals within the PLP actually did predict 24 seats — but the final total went beyond expectations, thanks to several candidates winning seats considered to be either marginal or safe OBA constituencies. One example was party organizer Christopher Famous, a union activist who unseated Bob Richards in Devonshire East. “We knew he had garnered a lot of support,” said Ms Hall. “There were some ... who believed, without a doubt, that he would take this seat and the rest of us were very unsure. As the results came in, it became clear that Chris was going to win that seat and that he was going to win that seat quite comfortably. That seat, in itself, indicated a mood change in the country as a whole, that the deputy leader of the OBA and Bermuda’s finance minister was going to be unseated by a first-time candidate. When that happened, we were elated and we were encouraged and we knew we had something special going on.” She pointed to Dennis Lister III’s “incredible result” in Warwick West as another example of a seat that was by no means thought to be in the bag. The 31-year-old beat OBA incumbent Jeff Sousa, the latter having said before the count that it would take a “miracle” to unseat him. Ms Hall said: “We knew he was working hard but that was a surprise because, as far as we felt, it was an OBA stronghold. There was a big turnout in that constituency. We were elated; we felt that that victory was really showing a special shift.” Even some of the PLP’s losses were encouraging, according to the party press officer, because candidates made significant inroads into OBA majorities. “Curtis Richardson, while not a win for us in Paget East, garnered nearly 400 votes. It showed a huge difference [to past elections]. We have never received that number of votes in that constituency.” She attributed her party’s landslide win to its clear message about “two Bermudas” — a reference not to race but to the “haves and have notes” in society — and that message being pushed to the electorate by a young campaign team, all under the age of 40. “We galvanised young people. We think the message resonated with a lot of people,” said Ms Hall, adding that whites were among those to whom it appealed. “We have white laborers and white workers and white business owners who are also struggling and suffering. Even if they are not, I think as a country we have come to a point where ideologically we feel we can do better by our fellow Bermudians.” The PLP’s large majority in the House means David Burt, the Premier, who announced his Cabinet yesterday, now has a sizeable back bench of 14 MPs.
July 22. A drugs mule who was caught after smuggling a stash of fentanyl into Bermuda believed to be worth nearly $800,000 has been jailed for seven years. Jacqueline Robinson swallowed 45 pellets of the lethal drug before travelling from Toronto to Bermuda on December 15 last year. The 25-year-old Canadian national made it through LF Wade International Airport, but collapsed five days later in a hotel room having excreted all bar one of the pellets. She admitted her involvement in the smuggling operation and was given a discounted sentence at Supreme Court this week for co-operating fully with the police. But in the first case of its kind involving fentanyl in Bermuda, Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe warned that those who tried to smuggle fentanyl on to the island could expect a prison sentence of between 18 and 21 years after trial. Mr Justice Wolffe noted the devastating effects of fentanyl and stated that the 18 to 21-year starting point was before any mitigating factors were taken into consideration. Prosecutor Cindy Clarke told the Supreme Court that it was likely that fentanyl was already prevalent on the streets of Bermuda, and that there had been reported overdoses at Westgate Correctional Facility. She said: “To a drug trafficker, fentanyl provides a greater profit margin. It is cheaper than heroin.” Ms Clarke added: “Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate painkiller. It can be mixed with heroin to increase its potency, but dealers and buyers may not know exactly what they are selling or ingesting. Fentanyl can be lethal and is deadly at very low doses. Fentanyl, carfentanyl and other fentanyl-related compounds have recently gained unprecedented notoriety in North America. In Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has declared a state of emergency for the province of British Columbia due to over 600 deaths in British Columbia alone in 2016. Fentanyl and carfentanyl are killing thousands across Canada and USA every year. Fentanyl is often pedaled as heroin. It can be lethal at the 2mg dosage range, depending on route of administration and other factors.” On December 20 last year, Robinson was rushed to hospital after being found unconscious on the balcony of her room at the Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club. While she was being medically assessed she vomited a pellet, which was later tested and found to be 5.83 grams of fentanyl. Ms Clarke told the court: “If the defendant did in fact swallow 45 pills the total weight would be approximately 262 grams; which would have had a street value in Bermuda of $768,520 if it was sold as heroin.” The 44 other pellets, which Robinson told officers she had already excreted, were never recovered by police. Robinson, who has no previous convictions, remained in hospital for nine days and was treated for severe kidney failure. She was rearrested for conspiracy to import a controlled drug and later told detectives she had been recruited in Canada to travel to Bermuda to take out $10,000. She said that on the night prior to her travel she was collected and told to swallow the drug pellets, which she did, before getting on board the Bermuda-bound flight.
July 22. Family, friends and colleagues of Sophie Fraser-Smith have paid tributes to her kindness, humility and beauty as both a model and a person. The 21-year-old’s life was claimed on July 18 in a collision on Middle Road in Southampton — making her the eighth road fatality of 2017. Christopher Vee, one of Bermuda’s top make-up artists who worked with Ms Fraser-Smith for five years, described the promising model as an “inspiration” and “a wonderful soul. From the moment I met her, you could just see that she was a genuine person: she was real and she was very kind and sweet and very, very professional — one of those people you just knew had a very good soul,” he said. Modelling coach Lamont Robinson knew her as a “bright-eyed girl” when she started working with him at age ten. He felt that Sophie’s attentiveness and amicability not only gave her the perfect personality for modelling, but made her a joy to be around. “You could pretty much ask anyone I’ve worked with: if you gave her a task she’d do it with energy; if it wasn’t easy enough she’d come back better prepared the next time,” Mr Robinson told The Royal Gazette. “She’s a loss not just to her family — she’s a loss to the world.” Academic and interested in art, Ms Fraser-Smith used her work to highlight conditions in sweatshops, and ranged from studio shoots to swimwear. She was discovered in 2011 by the UK agency Top Model, and took part in the Top Model Worldwide 2012 competition, winning a special beautiful skin award and coming runner-up in the commercial category. She became a Top Model runway coach, Top Model finalist mentor and London Fashion Week regular. In a statement, Top Model creative director Geoff Cox said the group was “devastated to announce the tragic passing of our dear friend and colleague. Our love and thoughts are with her Mum Lisa and all of her family at this impossibly difficult time.” The agency has since postponed selection interviews for the Top Model 2018 show which were scheduled for Saturday, July 29. Photographer Mike Jones, who worked with Ms Fraser-Smith since she was 15, said that, despite moving to the UK at 18 for a job with Leni’s Model Agency, she consistently kept in touch to set up photo shoots when she came back. “[She was] very punctual, hard-working and creative, suggesting additional ideas above the original concept and often coming up with the shoot concept on her own,” said Mr Jones. “She would do her own research and collect inspirational images from the web and then present her ideas to me to see if the concept was feasible.” Fellow model and close friend Katherine Arnfield had been with Ms Fraser-Smith since 14 after modelling and attending Bermuda High School together. Ms Arnfield saw her as honest, hard-working to fault, and “the sweetest person of the [friend] group. She was honestly the nicest, most bubbly person I’ve ever met,” she added. “It just feels so surreal.” Childhood friend Phoebe Barboza agreed, calling her a special person who was much more than just a model. “There are so many things I could say about that beautiful girl — her soul outshines anybody I have ever met. No words will ever be able to express how wonderful and strong she was. She was my best friend and we loved her every day and will never stop.” Ms Fraser-Smith was the youngest of an extensive family. Her father, Laidlaw Fraser-Smith, was a celebrated dentist and musician who passed away from cancer several years ago. She was enrolled at Queen Mary University of London for business management, and had just completed her second year. A truck driver involved in Tuesday’s crash, described by police as a 40-year-old Pembroke man, was arrested on suspicion of impaired driving. He passed breath tests, and has since been released on police bail.
July 22. The Times newspaper of London reported. In the United Kingdom (but not including Bermuda), new rules will ban all credit card fees next year. Times Money has long been campaigning for fairer credit card fees. Ricky Knox, the founder of Tandem, an online money management service, said that the change had been a long time coming. “Many of these cards offer rewards and cashback on purchases, but the fundamental barrier of charging for the method of payment is counterintuitive.” Previous action to protect consumers from excessive card surcharges has been difficult to enforce. The new rules, which stem from EU legislation, will outlaw “surcharging” in Britain. This is a common practice where consumers are charged extra for paying with a credit or debit card. An investigation by this newspaper last year found that charges of 3.5 per cent were widespread. The fee can be as high as 12 per cent and can be levied anywhere from a local newsagents to holiday booking websites and takeaway apps. It is also sometimes applied when customers pay online using systems such as PayPal. The Office of Fair Trading estimates that Britons spend £300 million on credit card surcharges in the airline industry alone. The new fees ban will be enforced from January 13 next year and will include online payments systems such as PayPal and Apple Pay. Many companies argue that the fees cover transaction costs. The transaction fee is made up of two parts: the interchange fee, levied by the card issuer such as MasterCard or Visa (capped by law at 0.3 per cent) and the merchant fee, charged by the bank for handling each payment. The merchant fee is not capped, although for large businesses it should not amount to more than 0.3 per cent. Businesses sometimes argue that transaction costs can also include staff time and IT processes. This was the explanation offered by the DVLA after it was found to have made more than £42 million from the fees since 2012. In April 2012 charging “excessive” fees was banned. Companies and shops are now supposed to pass on to the customer only charges they have incurred. Which?, the consumer group, has been campaigning for an end to the charges for years. Gareth Shaw of Which? says: “Previous action to protect consumers from excessive card surcharges has been difficult to enforce, leaving consumers paying over the odds just for paying by card. These new rules will finally put an end to this.” The Treasury said: “While many industries have acted to absorb the cost and not pass these on to consumers, these rules will bring an end to the practice entirely.” Some people are worried that the new rules could cause retailers to push up prices. Which? says that those companies that have already reduced fees have not increased prices. This includes Virgin, which scrapped a 1.5 per cent surcharge on flights, and British Airways, which replaced a £5 charge per flight with a 1 per cent fee.
See above article
July 21. Progressive Labour Party (PLP) Cabinet appointments announced.
July 21. Incoming education minister Diallo Rabain has said he is looking forward to turning his passion for education into making a real difference for the students of Bermuda. He was sworn in yesterday afternoon along with ten other ministers and five senators as the Progressive Labour Party unveiled the nation’s movers and shakers. The Royal Gazette spoke to some of those heading up significant ministries including former senator and ministerial newcomer Wayne Caines for national security, Walton Brown who has taken over the contentious portfolio of home affairs, and the Premier himself, David Burt, who has not only taken on the momentous responsibility of leading the country, but will also be in charge of the purse strings as Minister of Finance. Mr Rabain admitted he had a big task on his hands heading up education which has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons under both the PLP’s former administration and the outgoing One Bermuda Alliance. Furthermore, the ministry has been merged with Workforce Development adding more to the already stretched workload ,but he believes he is up to the task. Mr Rabain, who is an adjunct lecturer at Bermuda College and who has a daughter in the public education system, told us: “I am humbled to be invited into this post — it is something I feel passionate about. Workforce Development has been moved to Education and I feel there is a good synergy there because not only are we trying to educate our children, but we are trying to prepare them for jobs. We plan to hit the ground running. In the short term we want to get inspectors into the schools and produce reports so we know what we need to do to get them up to code in terms of health and safety. Secondly, we will do audits in the schools and see what type of technology base systems that we need to get in there. That initially is the huge priority — other things will come as I meet with the staff and talk about how we can do some things differently.” The former PTA president also stressed the importance of bringing technology in the public education system up to par. The PLP’s 2017 platform stated that Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math learning will be implemented from Primary level. When asked about the Government’s level of dedication to Steam learning, Mr Rabain said: “We will be pushing Steam at all levels. My daughter is in a Steam summer day camp — I am committed to it. I have a vested interest there and in three years she will be entering into middle school and my goal is to have things moving along within that time.” Speaking on the ongoing industrial unrest within the schools system in Bermuda, Mr Rabain added: “I just spoke to the Permanent Secretary and there is a negotiation that needs to be sorted out as well.” Mr Burt has taken on a heavy load as both Premier and Minister of Finance — the former OBA premier Michael Dunkley eventually gave up his ministry — National Security — relinquishing it to Jeff Baron while Paula Cox juggled her roles as PLP premier and finance minister for two years before leading the party to an election defeat in 2012. Asked whether he believed he was up to the job, Mr Burt said: “I believe I am up for the job — if I wasn’t up for the job I wouldn’t have done it. You will see the organizational structure of government — we have structured it correctly in a way that it will work.” As Premier, Mr Burt reduced the number of ministries from 12 [under the OBA] to 11 with the notable omission of seniors but he assured us that seniors would be even more significant under the PLP than under the previous administration. “We will be discussing seniors next week — precisely what we are going to do and what is going to come under the Cabinet Office — and it will actually get more attention than it did being lost under the Ministry of Health.” Environment was also missing from the portfolio line-up but Mr Burt told us that it would be merged with the Ministry of Public Works. Wayne Caines pledged that tackling gang violence was at the top of the pile of priorities and, especially in light of Wednesday night’s fatal shooting, the plan to do so would “intensify”. Speaking more generally, he said that he would “look under the hood” and meet with the relevant agencies to see what work needs to be done “We want to look at the police and discuss their strategy, we want to meet with everybody at the Prison Commission to see where they are — Collective Customs we want to see what their needs are ...We [the PLP] want to look at each ministry — it has been four years since we were last in government. We have a clear plan and I am meeting with the PS this afternoon.”
July 21. Massive changes in the energy industry could be good for Bermuda as the island looks to reduce its reliance on oil-fired electricity generation. And the growth of liquefied natural gas as a fuel, combined with huge reserves in North America, makes it the ideal fuel to replace old oil-burning technology, according to Mary Hemmingsen, global LNG leader at professional services firm KPMG. But Ms Hemmingsen said that efficient energy production depended on a variety of sources — including green generation like solar, wind and sea — being integrated into an overall policy not dependent on one source of power. Ms Hemmingsen, who is based in KPMG’s Calgary office in Canada, said: “There is so much cheap gas in North American reserves — in Canada, they have 350 years beyond their needs and the US has similar reserves, but they have more population, so the years are much less. The other factor is an overall movement to decarbonisation.” She explained that LNG was a cleaner fuel than the heavy oil at present used in Bermuda, while the cost of capital and fuel with LNG was “more evenly balanced — relatively, it’s a small footprint cost to put the capital in and pay for the fuel as you go.” Ms Hemmingsen was speaking on a visit to the firm’s offices in Bermuda as utility company Belco looks to replace ageing oil-burning plant with a new cleaner and cheaper source of power. She said: “In Bermuda, you obviously have wonderful sunshine but it doesn’t shine 24 hours a day. Batteries are still relatively expensive as a back-up for the renewable resource. Our future energy systems are going to need everything we’ve got. It’s going to need renewables, batteries and gas. Gas has a really significant role as an immediate resource and it’s available at an attractive price. This is an evolution — a perfect time for all these factors to come together.” Lori Rockhead, a senior manager in the Bermuda office specialising in public service operations, said there was “a tidal wave of adoption of electric cars around the world. It’s really happening very rapidly and that’s the challenge governments and regulators face in regulating this change — not impeding it, while also preserving their revenues from taxation. It’s really part of a bigger system everybody has to think about. More and more, it’s about partnerships to bring the right capabilities and synergies together in an ideal solution.” Ms Hemmingsen added that the LNG industry in the past was based on bulk, with large liquefaction plants and long-term large-volume contracts. But she said there had been a move away to “break bulk — the capability to offer up smaller volumes on shorter terms”, while the cost of LNG has been declining. “I do think it would work for Bermuda and I think with a partnership around the receiving infrastructure and what’s being offered by the LNG market, it’s evolved into suppliers’ trading portfolios. They can come to Bermuda with a fairly attractive price.” Ms Hemmingsen is a regular author on the LNG industry and speaker, moderator and chairwoman at LNG conferences around the world. She has more than 25 years of experience as an energy business leader, in asset management and related business development, which includes leadership in the development and delivery of policy and strategy, initiatives. In addition, Ms Hemmingsen advises a number of the largest LNG global players on their interests in development, contracting and portfolio management.
July 21. A shooting that left a 20-year-old man dead in Devonshire on Wednesday night has all the hallmarks of a gang-related murder, police said. Jahcari Francis was fatally shot at a residence in Upland Street at about 10.45pm. He was pronounced dead at the scene. “While detectives believe this has the hallmarks of a gang-related murder, they continue to pursue all lines of enquiry to determine the circumstances that led to this callous act,” police said in a release yesterday. The death is the second fatal shooting of 2017. Wayne Caines, named Minister of National Security yesterday afternoon, said that Mr Francis’s death had intensified the Progressive Labour Party’s plan to tackle gang and gun violence. “Right now, we want to look at accelerating our strategy,” Mr Caines said. “There was a lot of work that was done by the former minister — we want to look at that and see if we can make some significant headway with gang reduction and the gun violence reduction here in Bermuda.” Gina Spence, anti-violence activist, said she had been contacted by several of Mr Francis’s family members after the shooting. Both gun-violence victims and those pulling the trigger are getting younger, she said. “That is of major concern,” Ms Spence said. The focus of anti-violence efforts, she said, must be on prevention and education. Stemming gun violence should be the top priority for Mr Caines. “You’re talking about people’s lives — and young people at that,” Ms Spence said. “I do believe that we are at a place now where it’s definitely not going away any time soon.” Desmond Crockwell, chief editor of Visionz magazine, said that focus on at-risk individuals must start at the school age. Alternative educational methods must also be explored, he said. “Traditional education does not work for all.” David Burt, the Premier, addressed the incident in a statement released yesterday. “My thoughts, prayers and condolences are extended to the man’s family and friends at their tragic loss,” he said. Mr Burt encouraged anyone with any information on the “senseless act of violence” to help ensure those responsible could be “brought to justice”. In its platform, the PLP said it would work to “eradicate the gang culture, strengthening both legislation and enforcement. We must identify and address the root causes of crime and ongoing gang activity that are rooted in poor education outcomes and income inequality. The PLP will give reducing gang violence the priority it deserves.” The appointment of a gang violence reduction co-ordinator was one of several pledges made by the PLP to be completed within the party’s first 100 days in power. To be successful, Mr Crockwell stressed that gang members must be involved in the decision-making process. “They know what they are fighting for. Whoever is in charge must have the love for working with at-risk, violent and angry young people in order to build a relationship with the person they are trying to help.” Mr Crockwell said that Government played only a part of the process. “Truthfully, they can only do so much. My concern is also with the community at large — the parents, neighbours, sports coaches, volunteers, and other youth workers. Are we really doing enough to stem the flow of violence when we recognise the potential danger?” Ms Spence said she hoped the new Government would look to provide the “specific resources” around homicide and its effect on children and families. “It is deep — and it runs long,” she said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the lead investigator on 247-1218 or via e-mail. Confidential information can also be provided to Crime Stoppers on 800-8477.
July 21. “Big Daddy Gates”, a legend from the heydays of local entertainment, has died in Florida at the age of 77. Known universally by his stage name, Donald Galloway performed alongside world-famed bands and Motown luminaries as well as the island’s top musicians. Lucky enough to know Stevie Wonder as “a tremendous guy”, Mr Galloway could list a pantheon of names he had worked alongside: the Marvelettes, the Shangri-Las, the Temptations, Solomon Burke, Jackie Wilson, Joe Tex, Marvin Gaye, Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, the Supremes, Lou Rawls, and Martha and the Vandellas. He recalled taking the stage in Bermuda with Little Anthony and the Imperials, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, Sister Sledge, and the Isley Brothers — then featuring Jimi Hendrix on guitar and Buddy Miles on drums. Married for 53 years, Mr Galloway credited his wife Ursula for keeping him grounded. Mr Galloway’s first stage act was a duo called the Stepsters with his brother Kenneth, known as “Little Gates” — but his career as an MC was his instant, definitive success. “I started working with one of my mentors, Olive Trott, when I got started in the business,” he told the Mid-Ocean News in 1996. I MCd my first show when I was 17 years old, at the Clay House Inn. I wasn’t old enough to be in the club, but I was the MC anyway. If I’m not mistaken, it was the Supremes, on their first visit to Bermuda.” A charismatic performer, Mr Galloway effortlessly charmed crowds. Offering condolences to his family, former MP and music historian Dale Butler said he “mesmerised Bermuda with his ability to describe entertainers and bands performing at the Rosebank as though they were at Carnegie Hall. He was never lost for words and was always well dressed with a beaming smile and effervescent Bermuda personality. Producers knew that if they wanted a successful concert, they had to have Big Daddy Gates. May he rest in peace.” An actor as well as a promoter, Mr Galloway spent some of his career abroad, including at London’s famed Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, where he performed with other Bermudians in the Electric Soul People. Musician Lance Furbert remembered his first full-time job with the Arpeggios, the band that backed Mr Galloway. “I learnt so much from the guy. He was enthusiastic about everything; he had a ball. One time I made a mistake and he said, ‘Don’t worry about it. If you look happy, the people are happy; if you’re enthusiastic, they are too’ — which is true. He was certainly a great help to me, and a really dynamic entertainer.” A drummer, Mr Furbert was advised by an older musician: “Just watch his leg, and you’ll never be out of time. We went to Trinidad to work in 1966. On the way, the band leader and a few other guys said he never learnt the words to songs, just got up there and made it happen. In Trinidad, with calypso, people were used to the words, so the band asked him to please learn them. He got up on the stage and just talked nonsense — but the people loved him like he was James Brown; it was incredible.” For one of his signature songs, Give Me Money, crowds would oblige by tossing notes onto the stage. Mr Furbert recalled “Big Daddy” telling him that he bought his first car that way. “He went through different outfits. After each act he’d come out in a different suit — a green suit with a white cape, then a burnt orange suit. He’d come to work with four or five changes. Audiences would wonder what he’d come out with next.” Asked what he would say to a youngster set on becoming an MC, Mr Galloway said: “I’d advise him to be the best at his craft. Being an old hand, I’d give him as much pointers as possible. It may not be as lucrative here as in the US or the UK. I believe one has to market one’s self. I know that when people see Big Daddy Gates is MCing, people come to see the show and know it’ll be all right.”
July 21. The sale of the Harrington Sound Post Office has been completed. The post office was closed in November 2014 and the property was formally put up for sale in May 2015. It was sold for $700,000, according to the Ministry of Public Works.
July 20. New MP Wayne Caines and new Senator Kathy Simmons were handed frontline portfolios as the Progressive Labour Party swore in its Cabinet team yesterday. Mr Caines, one of the PLP’s big winners in Tuesday night’s General Election, gets the national security job, while Ms Simmons, who pushed Jeff Baron close in a seat considered One Bermuda Alliance territory, is the new Attorney-General, having been also appointed to the Senate. David Burt, the Premier, was one of five members appointed into Cabinet for the first time, along with Walton Brown, Diallo Rabain, Jamahl Simmons and Lovitta Foggo. There were returns to Cabinet for Walter Roban, Kim Wilson, David Burch and Zane DeSilva, all of whom served under the previous PLP administration. Meanwhile, Jason Hayward, the president of the Bermuda Public Services Union, is among the new appointments to the Senate. With 11 members, the Cabinet is one fewer than the last under the OBA, with Mr Burt explaining fiscal responsibility must “start at the top”. Mr Burt will take on the finance portfolio in addition to his responsibilities as premier. Mr Brown takes the home affairs job which proved a contentious position for the OBA, while Mr Burch returns to one of his former roles in public works. Mr Rabain becomes the thirteenth education minister in 19 years, while Ms Foggo, a long-serving whip for the PLP but never in Cabinet before, takes on government reform. Party deputy leader Mr Roban gets transport, Ms Wilson has health and Mr DeSilva has social development and sport. Ms Simmons and Mr Hayward are joined in the Senate by three candidates from Tuesday’s election: former accountant-general Anthony Richardson, party stalwart Vance Campbell and financial controller Crystal Caesar. Mr Burt said in his speech: “The new Cabinet comprises a fusion of youth and experience and we are ready to chart a new course for Bermuda. We have reduced the size of Cabinet to 11. I recognise that fiscal responsibility must start at the top. I recognise that we have a lot of challenges ahead as we begin governing our island. However, there are many opportunities where we can have a strong and positive influence impacting the lives of all Bermudians. Tomorrow, we will begin to address the priorities we outlined in our platform for a better and fairer Bermuda. In the coming days, you will hear from your new government ministers as we begin to make Bermuda better for Bermuda’s working families. Our pledge to the people of Bermuda is simple: we will be an open and transparent government, we will listen to all segments of society and we will communicate with you regularly. Bermuda works best when we work together and this Government will work together to build a Bermuda that will provide a better future for all Bermudians. Our work starts now.”
The appointments were:
Senate
July 20. David Burt pledged to work his hardest for “every single Bermudian in this country” as he was sworn in as Premier of Bermuda. During the ceremony at Government House yesterday afternoon, attended by a healthy crowd of family members and party colleagues, Mr Burt delivered a unifying message in his first speech to the island as premier. “Our aim is simple: to be a government for all of Bermuda, whether it be the haves or have-nots, whether it is Front Street or North Village,” he said. The new government will be sworn in today, the new Premier told the media, so that it can start its work immediately. On Tuesday evening, the Progressive Labour Party won a resounding General Election victory over the One Bermuda Alliance, by 24 seats to 12, with Mr Burt defeating Nick Kempe in Pembroke West Central by 639 votes to 326. His support was evident during the swearing-in ceremony as the media room was packed to capacity with standing room only. And after he delivered his brief but emotional speech he received a rousing applause and standing ovation. Mr Burt, a 38-year-old father of two, becomes Bermuda’s youngest premier. He thanked his family and became visibly emotional as he mentioned the recent death of his brother-in-law. “It is without question so gratifying to see so many of you here today to support me as I represent you on this occasion,” he said. "To the voters of this country, it is without question an awesome responsibility, one which we will not take lightly. Today, I take the oath of office as Premier of Bermuda. Tomorrow, we will swear in a government and get to work immediately. We will be a government that will put Bermudians first and make sure we work to advance the interests of every single Bermudian in this country. We will be a government that will govern with integrity and will work every day to improve the conditions for so many of us. Today the work begins. This is without question an honour but without question there is an incredible amount of work to be done. Know and understand that I will give everything I can, my team will give everything they can to live up to the trust that you have given us with the mandate that you delivered yesterday.” Party sources say Mr Burt is keeping his cards close to his chest as he selects his Cabinet although, with the PLP now boasting 24 MPs, they noted he faces a juggling act keeping everyone happy
July 20. As the counting of
votes neared an end in Pembroke West Central late on Tuesday evening, soon-to-be
premier David Burt could be heard making a request to his party’s press
officer. It was clear to all that the Progressive Labour Party was sweeping
to power in the General Election and that Mr Burt would soon be the island’s
new leader. “Tell my family I want them here,” he said over the phone, his
wife, Kristin, by his side. The couple, holding hands and looking happy, was
waiting for the final result in Mr Burt’s constituency, while PLP supporters
had already begun celebrating on Court Street. Minutes later, cars starting
pulling into the school grounds, and family members poured out. “We were at
Alaska Hall and we heard him say he wants his family,” said Mr Burt’s older
sister, Winsome Burt-Smith, who had been at Northlands Primary School to support
him during voting hours with their mother, Merlin Burt. “We all ran and jumped
in three cars, four cars. We all dashed out, we didn’t want to miss it.” Ms
Burt-Smith said that reaction was typical for a family which fiercely protects
its “baby” brother. Mr Burt, 38, is the youngest of six siblings and Ms
Burt-Smith told The Royal Gazette: “He was born when I was 15 years
old, so we raised him. You know, you nurture your little ones. He is the
baby.” Describing her brother as a “miracle baby” — born despite
complications during their mother’s pregnancy — she said it was clear from a
young age that he was exceptionally smart. He attended Saltus Academy but his
sister said he left at a young age to seek a fresh challenge, heading to Florida
Air Academy and qualifying as a pilot. He excelled there and, later, at George
Washington University, where he obtained a bachelor of business administration
in finance and information and a master of science in information systems
technology. He was awarded the university’s presidential administrative
fellowship. “Whatever David does, he does it well and along the way he always
lifts up others,” said his sister. “He has nurtured so many kids, he’s got
friends in every country, of every colour. We knew for a long time he would be
successful. People don’t really know him because he never really speaks about
himself [but] he’s a very kind person and, if you see his circle of friends,
you’ll be surprised. He’s got people from Norway, India, he’s got friends
from all over the world, he just embraces people. He’s very caring, very kind
and he listens to people. He doesn’t seem to judge you. He talks to everybody
and I like that about him.” She said their mother taught all the siblings to
be strong, kind, respectful and loving to one another. “We are very protective
of David,” said Ms Burt-Smith. “If someone tries to hurt him or do him
wrong, we become like wild beasts. And now we have to be even more [so]. We just
let stuff roll over us but if something really matters, if something’s
important, wait and see. But you can’t fight everybody. You pick your battles:
[you ask] is it worth fighting? Some things are not. They paint things bad about
him and he never wanted to state [otherwise]. He would say: ‘I know who I
am’.” Ms Burt-Smith said her brother would be a “great leader” who would
push his team to work hard “because he works hard. He expects a lot from his
people and that’s why he chooses them. They have to have that motivation and I
think a lot of them do have that. When you have a good leader, you become good
yourself.” When the PLP’s victory was assured on Tuesday night, Ms
Burt-Smith threw her arms into the arm, yelling “My brother is premier! Thank
you Jesus!” Mr Burt shouted “Hallelujah!” when the final count came in for
Pembroke West Central, before embracing his wife, his relatives and supporters.
The father of two-year-old daughter Nia and one-year-old son Ed insisted life at
home would continue as normal. First thing yesterday, he posted a picture on
social media of his youngest child. “First order of business today: changing
my son’s diaper,” wrote the man about to take charge of Bermuda. “Will be
going to Government House at 3pm to get sworn in as Premier.”
July 20. New MP Christopher Famous has vowed to build trust with the people after his shock General Election victory over Bob Richards. Mr Famous stressed the importance of listening to the needs of the community as he reflected on his 94-vote victory in Devonshire East, which had been considered a reasonably safe One Bermuda Alliance seat. He told The Royal Gazette yesterday: “We all have to consider the needs of the people. Everybody thinks that the black people will vote for the black party or white people for the white party, but we need to move beyond that.” Speaking of his canvassing efforts, Mr Famous said: “There’s no real rocket science to it — sometimes you just have to go back three or four times to the same house. It may seem simplistic, but it’s important to reach out to the community and build trust, and that’s for any party.” Mr Richards, an MP since 2007 was the high-profile deputy premier and finance minister throughout the OBA’s 4½-year term and a former United Bermuda Party senator, while Mr Famous was a first-time election candidate. Yet as the votes came in on Tuesday night it quickly became apparent a surprise was on the cards. Mr Famous recalled the moment he felt he had reached “a point of no return” after the third count — noting Mr Richards congratulated him on his seat before the count had even finished. As a new MP, he said he planned to connect more with his constituents, particularly those who did not vote for him in the hope of understanding what he can do for them. He said: “If the people hold the government accountable then they will be responsible with their actions.” He hopes to one day build a small community centre in the empty space left over from the old recycling plant, which he believes could help build bridges between different groups within the community.
July 20. The Mayor of St George’s has offered her congratulations to the Progressive Labour Party following its landslide win in yesterday’s General Election. In a statement, Quinell Francis and the Corporation of St George’s thanked outgoing One Bermuda Alliance MPs Kenneth Bascome and Nandi Outerbridge and said: “Special congratulatory wishes are also extended to Renee Ming and Kim Swan who will represent the constituencies of St George’s North and St George’s West.” Michael Fahy, former municipalities minister, was also praised for his “commitment and support” over the past 4½ years, which had “assisted with the revitalization of the Town of St George’s”. Ms Francis said: “We are looking to move our marina legislation forward and we look forward to working with the new Government to ensure the marina comes to fruition.”
July 20. Former premier Michael Dunkley said that Bermuda’s racial divide remained the “big issue in the room”. In a statement posted to his Facebook page, Mr Dunkley — who resigned as One Bermuda Alliance leader on Wednesday — said there is “much work to do and progress to be made” on how to close the divide in the country so that all may “live and work together. Are we going to continue to divide our country on race or work together for a better and stronger Bermuda?” he asked. The OBA lost by 24 seats to 12 at Tuesday’s General Election, losing seven seats including deputy leader Bob Richards. While proud of the progress made by the OBA since being elected in 2012, he said the result clearly showed the party’s efforts were not enough. “I am heartened that the people of Smith’s North expressed confidence in me by re-electing me as their Member of Parliament,” Mr Dunkley said. “I will continue to serve them with my heart and soul.” His decision to step down as leader of the party was to “clear the decks” to help the party assess what comes next, he said. “I remain totally committed to helping the party and whomever it chooses to be the next leader and deputy leader,” Mr Dunkley said. "Big challenges lie ahead for Bermuda. Despite our progress on the economy we are not out of the woods. Much remains to be done to stabilise government finances and continue job creation. We must also focus on and improve education, seniors, the cost of healthcare and other social issues. Thank you to everyone who reached out to me following the result, and to all those who in their own way help each day to move Bermuda forward. Blessings.”
July 20. The person tipped to lead the One Bermuda Alliance must bridge the disconnect between the party and the people, the former chairman said. Thad Hollis blamed Tuesday’s decisive General Election defeat on the party’s failure to connect with constituents. “I would say the mistake the OBA had made over the last two years was they focused on the economy, they focused on international business, they focused on building and creating confidence — but they hadn’t communicated (with) or won the hearts of the voters. Where the voters’ priority was and the OBA’s priority — I think they weren’t aligned. I think the OBA did what they set out to do in terms of the economy, but they didn’t capture the emotions of the people that would be voting for them.” While he had predicted a victory for the Progressive Labour Party, Mr Hollis said he did not expect the margin to be as great as the eventual score of 24-12. “I thought they may have won about 20 seats,” he said. Mr Hollis garnered 60 votes as an independent candidate in Hamilton West — more than any other independent including Paula Cox, the former premier, who scored 41 in Devonshire North West. His constituency was claimed by the PLP’s Wayne Furbert who took 635 votes. The OBA’s Simone Barton had 281. Reacting to yesterday’s resignation of Michael Dunkley as OBA leader, Mr Hollis said: “It seems to be tradition that leaders do stand down after they lose an election. It falls on his shoulders that he is responsible for everything that everyone does. That’s the point of being a leader — you get the glory, you also get the fall.” The OBA’s next leader, Mr Hollis said, must ensure that the party is relevant, with education the top issue for voters during this election cycle. The construction of a new airport and hotels, and the America’s Cup — which he described as a “fantastic international event” — were not enough when voters felt their main issue was being ignored. “That’s not going to make me feel good when my kids go to school,” he said of the other initiatives. Mr Hollis said the new leader must also speak from the heart. “It’s that simple. In 2012, when I was chairman of the party, we won because people didn’t have faith or trust in the PLP. I feel accountability is going to be key going forward.”
July 20. Professor and author Michael Jarvis is to give an update on the University of Rochester Archaeology Field School’s work on Smith’s Island where investigations continue into its early inhabitation in St George’s Harbour. Mr Jarvis, whose dig is sponsored by the Bermuda National Trust, will be speaking tonight at 7pm at the St George’s Heritage Centre on Penno’s Wharf. He is the author of Bermuda history book In the Eye of All Trade and a leading expert on Bermuda history and buildings, has been conducting archaeological field schools at Smith’s Island since 2010 — exploring remnants of settlements dating back to 1610 when survivors of the Sea Venture wreck were left in Bermuda. He will speak on the most recent digs on the island, including progress on the 2017 Field School. This work includes: Completing the excavation of the artifact-rich cistern and finding a hypothesized main house; greatly expanding the uncovering of the Smallpox Bay site to map what is believed to be Governor Richard Moore’s brief 1612 town; and making maps and preliminary assessments of two new promising sites at the West End. Tickets for the talk are $20 for BNT and St George’s Foundation members and $25 for non-members. Children and students may attend for $10. Those interested in the Smith’s Island dig will also get a chance to see the dig itself with a boat trip on Saturday, July 22. The boat will leave St George’s at 2pm. A maximum of 40 people will spend the afternoon exploring the island with Mr Jarvis. Tickets for the boat trip are $30 for BNT and SGF members and $35 for non-members. Children and students may attend for $10.
July 20. The Times, London. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) faces spending millions of pounds to boost female broadcasters’ salaries after stars threatened action over a gender pay divide. Salaries of on-screen and on-air presenters earning £150,000 or more were published yesterday, revealing the Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans, 51, as the BBC’s best-paid celebrity. He received up to £2.25 million in the last financial year. Gary Lineker, 56, the Match of the Day host, was paid up to £1.8 million. Claudia Winkleman, 45, who presents Strictly Come Dancing, was the top-earning woman, on up to £500,000. Two thirds of the corporation’s 96 highest earners are men and the top five collectively made three times the salaries of the five best-paid women. Some stars benefited from a loophole in pay disclosure rules.
July 19. Bob Richards, the former deputy premier, is retiring from politics after his defeat at the polls. He lost his Devonshire East seat to newcomer Christopher Famous, of the Progressive Labour Party, by 93 votes after a big turnout by voters in Constituency 11. Mr Richards, who was first elected as an MP in 2007 and has been finance minister since December 2012, said he had done his public service and his conscience was clear. “I’ve done my best. This has accelerated my retirement from politics,” he said. Mr Famous won the seat after receiving 513 votes compared to the 419 for Mr Richards. When asked what he will do next, Mr Richards said: “I don’t know. But I am certainly going to retire from politics. I’m more than old enough. This is the end of the line for me. My public service is done.” Supporters greeted Mr Famous as he stepped out of the Horticultural Hall in the Botanical Gardens where the votes had been counted. Mr Famous said: “I have an axiom — all politics is local, and if you keep in touch with your constituents they will keep in touch with you.” When asked what had made the difference between the candidates’ campaigns, he said: “Door-to-door contact, simple as that. Looking people in the eye, letting them feel your sincerity and you hear their concerns. Once they know that you are hearing their concerns, and you are going to act on their concerns, then they will support you.” To the voters, he said: “Thank you for putting your faith in me, and I’ll be knocking on your doors on Saturday.” Mr Famous said the three biggest concerns of constituents were education, employment, and the economy. And he paid tribute to Mr Richards. “I know politics is not easy, and makes enemies out of people. But some of his policies have helped the country. However, they may have been interpreted in a different light,” he said. “But as a country we have to continue some of those policies in order to address our deficit and our national debt.” While Mr Richards, who also served in the Senate in the late 1990s and mid 2000s, said: “I’m hopeful that the new Government will continue some of the fiscal policies that we have put in place — they are critical for us moving forward. We’ll see what they do.” He believed the big turnout of voters had made an impact on the result. There were 932 votes cast in the constituency, out of 1,234 registered voters. Mr Richards said: “I got close to the same amount of votes as last time. It is a huge turnout here, and that made a difference.” When asked if he thought the controversy surrounding the building of the new airport terminal had been a factor with voters, he said: “I don’t know. The airport will continue; it is a binding contract.” Mr Richards said he had congratulated Mr Famous during the counting of the votes. “I congratulated him before the vote was finished and it was clear that there was no way I would catch up.”
July 19. Michael Dunkley has resigned as leader of the One Bermuda Alliance. Mr Dunkley this afternoon declined to comment on the reports until he can confer with his colleagues within the party. He added that he is taking time to reflect on the “devastating loss”, and he would do everything he could to move the island forward and represent those who returned him to his seat in Smiths North. It comes hours after the OBA slumped to a crushing defeat in yesterday’s General Election, losing seven seats, including that held by deputy leader Bob Richards, who subsequently announced his retirement from politics. OBA MP Sylvan Richards, told The Royal Gazette of Mr Dunkley’s resignation this morning, with another party source confirming the news. Asked if Mr Dunkley’s leadership of the party was still tenable, Mr Richards replied: “Mr Dunkley has already resigned as leader of the OBA.” He added that there had not yet been any internal discussion about the future leadership of the party, but those talks would take place soon. Mr Richards congratulated the Progressive Labour Party on its victory yesterday, wishing success to David Burt, the Premier-elect, and expressing hope that he would continue the OBA’s work in addressing the country’s debt.
July 19. In the wake of its “trouncing” last night at the polls, the One Bermuda Alliance faces an “exorcism of the ghosts of the United Bermuda Party”, according to former attorney-general Phil Perinchief. Meanwhile, the victorious Progressive Labour Party should be vigilant with its “embarrassment of riches” in its sweeping win, the political veteran added. Mr Perinchief saw hope in the youthful side of both parties: David Burt, 38 and soon to be Premier — and Jeff Baron of the new opposition. “Where do they go from here after this kind of devastation?” Mr Perinchief last night told The Royal Gazette of the OBA. “Let’s face it. They can’t look back at the old guard. That’s why the Jeff Barons of Bermuda will be able to have a fresh start, if the party jettisons the Monizes, the Gibbonses, the Dunkleys — and, quite frankly, the Cannoniers. The majority of OBA members expected a change, and a movement towards a one Bermuda. And they felt let down that they got the same old, same old.” Mr Perinchief said that the OBA would need to have Mr Baron “at the forefront” and working with Mr Burt to reach across the island’s deep-seated divisions. “They could work collaboratively to identify these divisive elements — to heal some of the wounds and hurts of this contentious election. What we’ve seen in this election is the OBA supporters acting the same way in 2017 that the PLP supporters demonstrated in 2012. They’re saying that they want change; they don’t want to be ignored, and they want our leaders to act on the things that have been brought to their attention.” The likes of Mr Baron “will have to rebuild — but he should not put old wine into new wineskins”. Mr Dunkley, now a former premier, should “apologise to his supporters and members for not shepherding in the manner that he ought, and announce that the party has to rebuild around Jeff Baron”. In a verdict that would surprise few observers, Mr Perinchief also laid the OBA’s failure squarely on its inability to communicate. “The OBA had great ideas but did an extremely bad job of communicating those ideas to the people,” he said, describing the message as “paternalistic — it felt like it was being rammed down their throats. It started with the Pathways to Status debacle — the chill on the Hill,” he added. “And what was to have been the jewel in their crown, the great America’s Cup, was essentially muted at the eleventh hour by the announcement that largely Bermudian vendors would be confined to limited boundaries, which really meant that the America’s Cup truly was not for them.” Mr Perinchief noted a grave misstep in Mr Dunkley calling a snap election when faced with a motion of no confidence in the House of Assembly, leaving his party fatally unprepared. “The PLP, although also caught short, can scramble on its political feet, in a way that the OBA does not. They got to people through rallies, through social media and the like. With so much negativity in momentum against the OBA, the party did not have the time to neutralize it.” As well as mobilizing their base in a way that they failed to achieve in 2012, the PLP drummed up a hugely successful voter registration drive. Now, Mr Perinchief said, Mr Burt will have to “stay the course and make up his own mind about how to go forward, without any kind of legacy influences. This result has implications for both the OBA and the PLP. The PLP are left with their own specter, of an embarrassment of riches — to the extent that sometimes to succeed too much is to make one cautious about what could happen. Let’s face it. Power corrupts; absolute power could, if not managed properly, absolutely corrupt. When that happens, one must be more vigilant. The new Premier should avail himself of seasoned and sensitive people — who would guard against excesses of one kind or another”.
July 19. A despondent band of One Bermuda Alliance members and supporters assembled at the Vasco Da Gama Club last night in the wake of a crushing defeat at the polls. There was an air of dejection and disbelief at the Reid Street member’s club after the Progressive Labour Party emphatically secured a 24-12 majority. The mood was in stark contrast to the scenes of December 2012, when the OBA swept to power and an elated Craig Cannonier took to the stage saying his party had set a new standard in politics. Last night the governing party was ousted from power in a landslide victory that saw former deputy premier Bob Richards lose his Devonshire East seat to the PLP’s Christopher Famous. Mr Richards later confirmed that he would be retiring from politics. Nandi Outerbridge, the former Minister of Social Development and Sport, was another high-profile casualty during a night of high drama as she was soundly defeated in St George’s West by Kim Swan. Meanwhile, fellow OBA incumbents Glen Smith, Kenneth Bascome and Suzann Roberts-Holshouser also lost their seats in a tidal wave of support for the PLP. Last night, Mr Dunkley addressed the media at OBA headquarters saying it had been a privilege to serve as the country’s Premier. He acknowledged that his party had suffered some “crushing defeats” on a “tough day”. Mr Dunkley said: “Congratulations to Mr Burt and the PLP. My colleagues and I wish them all the best as they try to move Bermuda forward. We will take time to reflect on the defeat that we took. We will reflect on four and a half years when we made real progress. The country is in a better position now but the people of Bermuda want a change.” Mr Dunkley thanked his colleagues for their efforts and singled out Mr Richards for praise saying the former finance minister had brought the country “out of the economic abyss”. As thousands of PLP supporters celebrated in Court Street, Mr Dunkley and a small group of MPs and party supporters reflected on the night’s events at the Vasco Da Gama Club before making their way across the road to the party’s official headquarters. By 12.30am the room that had once been the scene of the OBA’s greatest triumph was empty and being cleaned; while outside just the security guards remained.
July 19. St George’s West saw a massive victory for the Progressive Labour Party’s Kim Swan in a seat that was only won by four votes by the party’s main rival in the last election. This time around, the PLP took 330 votes more than the One Bermuda Alliance, taking home 690 compared to 360 for the OBA’s Nandi Outerbridge. Six ballots were spoilt. Mr Swan was clearly overjoyed when the announcement was made just after 10pm gathering his family, colleagues and supporters around him for an all-smiles photograph for the press. Fog horns and screams of joy were heard near the polling station and surrounding areas at the delivery of the news. Mr Swan said he could not speak with the media until he had been briefed at the party headquarters in Hamilton but pressed for a brief statement, he said: “It was the people’s vote. I feel very happy but I’m humble.” Ms Outerbridge had left by the time the count was announced just after 10pm but speaking from her home she told The Royal Gazette: “I am at home relaxing with family and friends. I’m not really surprised, I had a feeling about it earlier but I am happy to have had the time to serve. Before tonight I had no idea, the amount of work the OBA has done in the constituency — we couldn’t have done more. It is not the end. As far as politics goes I would like to have a seat in the senate.” Last election, constituency 2 was a closely fought area with Ms Outerbridge winning by only four votes out of 928 running against Renée Ming (366) for the PLP and Kim Swan (214) who was then running as an independent. While canvassing both candidates mentioned similar issues that had been raised in the constituency including lack of local transportation, social issues and the need to make progress on building the marina. Ms Outerbridge may have suffered due to her lack of ministerial experience as one of the country’s youngest MPs in history. Having Mr Swan, now running as a part of a well established party, might have delivered a double blow to her this time around. Mr Swan has years of experience under his belt but following his vote of no confidence in the PLP back in 2009 when he was leader of the United Bermuda Party it will remain to be seen how he progresses through the party hierarchy from here on in.
July 19. The Bermuda Business Development Agency will work with the new Bermuda Government to further build the country’s economy. In a statement, the BDA congratulated the Progressive Labour Party on its 24-12 win in yesterday’s General Election. Ross Webber, CEO of the BDA, said: “We extend a warm welcome to Premier David Burt, his Cabinet and the new PLP administration, and look forward to working together to achieve national economic priorities for the benefit of all Bermuda residents. Following a commissioned review by PwC in 2012, the BDA was conceived by a PLP government and sensibly continued by the OBA. We have established a tremendous platform providing an effective conduit between government, regulators and the private sector.” Mr Webber said the agency had charted a “clear path of active, co-operative business development, strongly supporting our entire business community to help retain and create jobs. Our mission empowers our economy. Indeed, feedback from the private sector is that we’re providing Bermuda-based business with an essential jurisdictional partnership. We reaffirm that commitment to help established Bermuda companies draw investment here to flourish and grow. We are confident the incoming administration understands the value of the BDA’s work and will commit the necessary resources to build on its achievements. Bermuda's political history has proven we can navigate through changes of government without disruption to the exemplary service we provide to our business sector. Our country continues to offer an appropriate taxation system, stable government, a conducive legal and regulatory environment, and a top-tier global reputation. The BDA will work with the government, regulators and private-sector stakeholders to ensure our vibrant market remains competitive and attractive, fuelling not only the IB sector, but also financial intermediaries and other service providers and ancillary businesses on the island. Our message to overseas investors is that Bermuda provides a reliable, well-regulated, safe harbour for business amid global disruption and uncertainty, and we will continue to do so. Bermuda is a unique, elite jurisdiction. Bermuda is different, and we should all be very proud of that legacy, and its future.”
July 19. The island’s ‘trade union’ for business leaders said it looked forward to working with the new PLP Government. But John Wight, Chamber of Commerce president, warned that Bermuda faced a series of challenges — including an ageing population and need to increase the number of taxpayers. Mr Wight said: “One of the many challenges we face is an ageing and declining population and all sectors in Bermuda that offer local products and services need more consumers in Bermuda to survive. Without more taxpayers in Bermuda local businesses will continue to absorb too large a portion of the tax burden required to narrow the deficit. The Chamber meets regularly with the Government of the day, as well as with the Opposition. Bermuda-based businesses require economic, social and political stability to thrive and we look forward to working with the PLP, on behalf of our members, to that end. We applaud the PLP’s stand on collaboration and believe that the leaders of this country have the opportunity to try and bring this country together. In particular, we look to Government to provide clear, fair policies that create an environment conducive to keeping Bermuda working and our economy growing.” A Chamber statement added that — as “an important stakeholder representing all Bermuda’s businesses — the organisation looked forward to working with the new Government on these and other issues “that affect members and Bermuda as a whole.”
July 18, late. Court Street erupted with joy last night as thousands of PLP supporters celebrated an overwhelming victory. Decked in green T-shirts, many of the party’s faithful launched the festivities long before the official results were announced. All of the victorious candidates later appeared on stage outside the party’s headquarters, Alaska Hall, along with those who failed to earn a seat. The Progressive Labour Party secured 24 seats with the One Bermuda Alliance gathering only 12 — a much bigger majority than most predicted, even within the party. Ecstatic PLP supporter Elison Smith, who lives in Constituency 13, said: “I’m excited. I’m really excited about this. I’m looking for change. I’m happy with the PLP. Today’s a perfect day.” Deborah Smith, from Pembroke West constituency, said: “I feel emotional, elated, excited for the children and the future of Bermuda. I’m happy for the PLP win.” Oland Smith, who lives in Constituency 9, said: “I figured they would win, but I didn’t think they would win by that margin.” Muriel Wade-Smith, from the same constituency, added: “This is the third emancipation for me — 1998 was the second when the PLP won for the first time.” The 78-year-old added: “It’s a feeling like no other. No money could pay for this.” Premier-elect David Burt told the crowd: “The most important people to thank today is all of you. Family, as I said, this belongs to all of you because all of you saw through the negative attacks, all of you saw through what they tried to say about the PLP and you believed in your hearts that the 36 of us, together with all of you, could change the course of our country.” He added: “You decided that we will have a better future for our children, you decided that we have to have a government that will put Bermudians first. You decided that we have to have a government that wants to create jobs in Bermuda for Bermudians. You are the ones who decided that it is time for a government that builds an economy that works for everyone. We can no longer have our people working two and three jobs just to remain in poverty. That is what we are here to change. It is your stories, your struggle, your pain that we will take with us into government to ensure that not only you have a better future, but we will build a better future for our children.” Mr Burt continued: “Tonight is a night to celebrate — however, I want to make sure that each one of you holds us accountable. Government is not the 36 of us; government is all of you. Tonight we celebrate and, believe me ... this celebration will not stop. But tomorrow we go to work.” The merriment on Court Street stood in marked contrast to 2012, when a relative handful of shell-shocked PLP supporters came to terms with the OBA’s narrow victory. Returned Pembroke South East MP Rolfe Commissiong said: “I think it’s a major political wave that’s swamping the OBA. Clearly tonight it was a massive wave — people were tired of austerity, shared sacrifice which was not as it was advertised to be. It fell disproportionately on the poor, the middle class and black Bermudians.” First-time MP Wayne Caines, who convincingly defeated independent candidate and former premier Paula Cox in Devonshire North West, added: “This is an opportunity to unite this country and move forward together as one. We’ve seen principles over personality.” Belco employee Christopher Famous delivered one of the major shocks of the night when he toppled OBA finance minister Bob Richards in Devonshire East. He said: “I’m happy the work paid off and we are able to serve the people of Bermuda because that’s what the people want — us to serve them, not us serving ourselves.” Mr Famous added he wanted to see an expansion of technical education and electoral reform to deal with bedridden people who are unable to vote. Former premier Ewart Brown said the PLP had an opportunity to “change Bermuda forever. It’s all because of you — and I want to thank you for what you have done for your country, to save your country for your children and your grandchildren.”
July 19. The Progressive Labour Party last night soared to a stunning General Election victory, with David Burt set to become the island’s youngest premier and Bob Richards the greatest casualty for the One Bermuda Alliance. Union activist Christopher Famous defeated the former finance minister 513 to 419 in Devonshire East to record the biggest shock of the night. Immediately afterwards, Mr Richards announced his retirement from politics. It was one of seven seats the PLP took from the OBA throughout the evening, to complete a 24-12 win — enjoying almost 59 per cent of the vote — and sparking scenes of jubilation in and around Alaska Hall. Wayne Caines won back the Devonshire North West seat for the PLP, defeating incumbent Glen Smith and independent Paula Cox. The former premier, who many in the PLP had thought would take votes from her former party, ended up with just 41 votes against 568 for Mr Caines. Mr Smith scored 385. Kim Swan reclaimed St George’s West for the PLP, taking 65 per cent of the votes to easily see off Nandi Outerbridge. Renée Ming won comfortably against Kenneth Bascome in St George’s North and Tineé Furbert saw off Suzann Roberts-Holshouser in St George’s South. With Lovitta Foggo triumphant once again in St David’s, it was a green sweep in the East End battleground. Dennis Lister III defeated Jeff Sousa in what was considered a reasonably safe OBA seat in Warwick West. In Warwick North Central, a seat won narrowly by the OBA in 2012, David Burch defeated Sheila Gomez by 661 to 338. Mr Burt, 38, who defeated Nick Kempe in Pembroke West Central and will likely be sworn in today as premier, told joyous supporters outside Alaska Hall: “The most important people to thank today is all of you. Family, as I said, this belongs to all of you, because all of you saw through the negative attacks, all of you saw through what they tried to say about the PLP and you believed in your hearts that the 36 of us, together with all of you, could change the course of our country.” On a disastrous night for the OBA, defeated former premier Michael Dunkley acknowledged that his party had suffered some “crushing defeats” on a “tough day"." Congratulations to Mr Burt and the PLP,” he said. “My colleagues and I wish them all the best as they try and move Bermuda forward.” Speaking immediately after his defeat, Mr Richards said: “I am certainly going to retire from politics. This is the end of the line for me. My public service is done.” Before yesterday, the OBA, after four and a half years in power, had high hopes of holding on to most of their seats and even pinching one or two from the PLP. But Ray Charlton, who lost by just eight votes to Michael Scott in Sandys North in 2012, was defeated 577 to 297. Andrew Simons, who lost by just six votes to Walton Brown in Pembroke Central five years ago, lost by 540 votes to 283. Mr Sousa lost by 12 votes to Mr Lister, a shock defeat for a politician so certain of victory in Warwick West that he said before the count: “I am not going to lose; that would be a miracle. I know my people. I know my constituents.” The OBA had even harbored hopes of Mr Kempe causing a shock against Mr Burt but, in the end, the PLP leader won 639 to 326, increasing his majority almost fourfold.
July 18, late. The Progressive Labour Party has clinched a hugely convincing General Election victory, with Bob Richards the greatest casualty for the One Bermuda Alliance. Christopher Famous defeated the former finance minister 513 to 419 in Devonshire East to record the biggest shock of the night. Immediately afterwards, Mr Richards announced his retirement from politics. It is one of seven seats the PLP has taken from the OBA throughout the evening, to complete a 24-12 win. Wayne Caines won back the Devonshire North West seat for the PLP, defeating incumbent Glen Smith and independent Paula Cox. Kim Swan reclaimed St George’s West for the PLP, taking 65 per cent of the votes to easily see off Nandi Outerbridge. Dennis Lister III, David Burch, Renée Ming and Tineé Furbert all claimed victories in seats previously held by the OBA. At a press conference, defeated former premier Michael Dunkley acknowledged that his party had suffered some “crushing defeats” on a “tough day. Congratulations to Mr Burt and the PLP. My colleagues and I wish them all the best as they try and move Bermuda forward,” he said. “We will take time to reflect on the defeat that we took. We will reflect on 4½ years when we made real progress. The country is in a better position now but the people of Bermuda want a change.” Mr Dunkley thanked his colleagues for their efforts and singled out Bob Richards for praise saying the former finance minister had brought the country out of the economic abyss.
Seats won by the PLP
July 18, late. David Burch won his first seat in the House of Assembly, defeating OBA candidate Sheila Gomez by more than 300 votes in Warwick North Central. While the constituency had been labeled a marginal following Wayne Scott’s narrow ten-vote victory in 2012, the result this time was anything but marginal. By the end of the day, Mr Burch had won 661 votes, while Ms Gomez had secured 338. “I am extremely humbled and gratified for the confidence of the people of seat 27, and I will not let them down,” he said. Asked if he had his eye on any particular seat in the PLP Cabinet, he said that would be a decision of the party leader. The race had put Ms Gomez, a political newcomer, against Mr Burch, a former PLP senator and Cabinet member. Historically, the seat had been considered a PLP stronghold. However, a change in constituency boundaries in 2010 granted the OBA a chance to secure the seat. In the 2012 election, they did just that with Mr Scott edging past Mr Burch in the polls by ten votes. However, unlike this year, the 2012 election also featured an independent candidate Roderick Simons, who won 22 votes — enough to have potentially turned the tide in either direction. Voter turnout in the constituency was up this year, with 999 voters casting a ballot compared to 884 last time. Before the count began, Mr Burch said it had been a “great day for democracy”, adding “by our count we have had more voters than last election, and that’s a good thing. People are engaged in democracy, and that’s good for the country.” Meanwhile, Ms Gomez said: “I can say I’m cautiously optimistic. I have seen a lot of support, I have had a lot of nudges from people. I just have a feeling about today, but the numbers will tell.”
July 18. Police have arrested a man in connection with the reported willful damage of Dunkley’s Dairy premises and vehicles earlier this evening. “Initial information suggests that this is the act of a lone individual and the suspect remains in police custody,” said a police spokesman. A full investigation is being conducted and any witnesses are asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Department on 247-1744.
July 18. After 40 days of campaigning, Bermuda’s voters head to the polls today to decide between keeping a One Bermuda Alliance government or returning the Progressive Labour Party to power. Polling stations for the 2017 General Election are open from 8am to 8pm — with the last wave of wet weather forecast to move away from the island by midday. There are 46,669 registered voters — a rise of nearly 3,000 from April 2016. The season has been rocky for both parties since the election date was declared by Michael Dunkley, the Premier, on June 8, just ahead of a showdown in Parliament, in which Opposition leader David Burt would have challenged him with a motion of no confidence. In the time since, voters have been given a short span to assess their choices, with the OBA and PLP finishing candidate announcements on June 30 and June 27 respectively, and unveiling their platforms on July 3 and July 6. Tragedy overshadowed the outset of electioneering, with the death of independent MP Shawn Crockwell uniting both parties in a decision to suspend campaigning for 48 hours. Mr Crockwell’s departure from the OBA, followed by that of his colleague Mark Pettingill, shook the ruling party, and will bring some fresh faces to Parliament regardless of which side wins: in Warwick North East, where Mr Pettingill has declined to run, Senator Jeff Baron is running for the OBA, challenged by the Opposition’s Kathy Simmons, while voters in Mr Crockwell’s former seat of Southampton West Central will choose between the OBA’s Ben Smith and the PLP’s Crystal Caesar. A newcomer MP will also represent Warwick North Central: either former PLP senator and minister David Burch, or Sheila Gomez for the OBA. A wild card is in store for Devonshire North West, where Paula Cox, the former premier, has thrown her hat in the ring as a surprise addition to the five independent candidates for 2017. Counting will only start with the close of polls, which means a late night before the island learns which party will take the reins. It went well past midnight in 2012, with a late result for the OBA’s narrow win in St George’s North. Throughout the evening, The Royal Gazette will provide live election coverage from each of the 36 polling stations. As well as updating our online page, we will keep our readers informed via our Facebook page and Twitter — along with keeping track of the day’s action through Cover-it-Live on our website.
July 18. An investigation has been launched regarding unsolicited e-mails from the Progressive Labour Party to voters. In a letter sent to the One Bermuda Alliance, obtained by The Royal Gazette, Parliamentary Registrar Tenia Woolridge said she was investigating the issue which related to “complaints received by the OBA”. Lynne Woolridge, chairwoman of the OBA, said that a data breach within the Parliamentary Registrar’s system had “clearly” taken place. She said that an OBA staff member used the Parliamentary Registrar’s online platform to register a number of new voters. A single e-mail address was used for several people who did not have their own. “The e-mails from the Progressive Labour Party were sent to the e-mail address that was in no way connected to the voters,” she said. “We are aware of at least a hundred other instances of such occurrences and the actual number is likely to be in the thousands.” In her letter to the OBA, Tenia Woolridge said: “I can confirm that as Parliamentary Registrar I have given no authorization to anyone to share voter contact information. “Neither am I aware of how this information could have been obtained by persons outside of the Parliamentary Registrar’s Office. Accordingly, I have commenced an investigation into the matters set out in your correspondence and once concluded I will advise you of the outcome.” Asked for comment on the investigation at a press conference yesterday morning, David Burt, Leader of the Opposition, said that he had already addressed the matter. A party spokeswoman referred to a statement sent to ZBM last week, and provided to this paper yesterday afternoon. “The Progressive Labour Party communicates with voters from the information it receives from the Parliamentary Registrar,” the statement said. “Any communication from the PLP has an option to unsubscribe from receiving e-mails and voters who do not wish to hear from us are encouraged to use it.” Asked how the party came to possess e-mail information, Mr Burt said it came from the Parliamentary Registrar’s Office. “We contact voters on the doorstep, we contact them by e-mail, by phone — and that information is received from the Parliamentary Registrar’s Office.” Lynne Woolridge said the investigation was “absolutely” the right course of action. “The people of Bermuda deserve an explanation,” she said. “This is not acceptable in a modern democracy and in no way should be condoned.” Meanwhile, the OBA’s use of social media advertisements arose at an OBA press conference yesterday. Asked whether he had anything to say to frustrated members of the public, Michael Dunkley, the Premier, responded: “On July 19, they can go back to not being bombarded by social media and go back to what they were trying to look at.”
July 18. Both political parties failed to canvass half of registered voters in the past four months, according to a poll commissioned by The Royal Gazette last week. Asked how often their One Bermuda Alliance candidate had visited them since March, 58 per cent of people said never, 20 per cent said once and the remaining 22 per cent said twice or more. Asked how often their Progressive Labour Party candidate had visited in that time frame, 63 per cent said never, 25 per cent said once and 12 per cent said twice or more. It comes after political observers complained that residents were not being given much chance to assess their candidates or seriously discuss the issues ahead of what some have described as a snap General Election. Both sides only finished unveiling their slates of candidates in late June, less than three weeks before today’s election, with former PLP Cabinet minister Ashfield DeVent suggesting many newcomers would not even have time to visit all their constituents. Mr DeVent and former Attorney-General Phil Perinchief have said both parties appeared unprepared for this election, called by Michael Dunkley, the Premier, under the threat of a vote of no confidence pushed by David Burt, the Leader of the Opposition. They noted platforms were released only in the two weeks leading up to the big day. Earlier this month, Mr Perinchief said: “What campaign? Had there been any from either side, I don’t see it.” The Global Research telephone poll of 400 registered voters took place between Tuesday and Thursday and has a margin of error of +/- 5 per cent. A breakdown of results shows the parties were considerably more likely to canvass voters who do not belong to their traditional race base. Only 17 per cent of whites reported receiving a visit from their OBA candidate, compared with 55 per cent receiving a visit from their PLP candidate. Among blacks, 59 per cent were visited by their OBA candidate and 27 per cent by their PLP candidate. When voters did receive visits from candidates, the reaction was generally positive. Some 76 per cent of people said they were satisfied with the most recent visit from their OBA candidate, with 6 per cent saying they were dissatisfied; 71 per cent were satisfied with the most recent visit from their PLP candidate, with 11 per cent dissatisfied.
July 18. A visiting husband and wife have been fined $1,400 for bringing cocaine and cannabis into Bermuda. Appearing in Magistrates’ Court this morning, Kelly Ann Geyer and Joseph Geyer, both 56 and from Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to importing the drugs on July 11. Prosecutor Alan Richards told the court that customs officers did a “rummage search” on board the Grandeur of the Seas on July 11 and noticed that one of the defendants smelled of cannabis. They searched the couple’s cabin and found plastic bags containing plant material, white powder and pills. The plant material was found to be 7.49g of cannabis, while the white power was determined to be 0.48g of cocaine. Mr Richards added that the pills, which Kelly Ann Geyer claimed were vitamin B, could not be analyzed. In court today, both defendants apologized repeatedly. “I was on vacation — it was for personal use,” Kelly Ann Geyer said. “I am just extremely sorry that we disobeyed your laws.” Joseph Geyer added that they had left the drugs on the ship and did not know they were doing anything wrong. Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo took into account their guilty plea, the amount and that the drugs were found in their cabin. He handed each defendant a $500 fine for importing the cannabis and $200 for importing the cocaine, with the fines to be paid forthwith.
July 18. Yesterday’s downpour couldn’t dampen a special day for visitors Erikka Olson and James Nimz, whose nuptials at the Unfinished Church in St George’s went ahead without the weather’s blessing. The Colorado couple long had their hearts set on the picturesque open air chapel — and the unwelcome thunder and rain was not about to deter them from tying the knot. Plenty of umbrellas were on hand for guests, and the vows went ahead in a service conducted by the Reverend John Stow. Sunshine finally broke through in time for their celebratory reception at the Grotto Bay Beach Resort.
July 18. Bermuda has been highlighted in a film on the British Broadcasting Corporation as the birth place for new robotic technology that can kill invasive lionfish remotely. The team from Robots in Service of the Environment were in Bermuda back in April designing, testing and ultimately making the first attempts at remote fishing. They were joined by a team of scientists, conservationists and roboticists who gathered at Michael Douglas’s Ariel Sands hotel to dispatch the Guardian LF1, controlled by two men on a beach with an Xbox controller and computer screen. The robot identifies the fish and stuns it with an electrical charge before sucking it in to its chamber. Lionfish, originally from the Indo Pacific, are believed to pose a serious threat to Bermuda’s own fish populations as they have no natural predators in our waters and reproduce at an astonishing rate. Colin and Erika Angle, Founders of the non-profit RSE which uses technology to tackle environmental issues, were interviewed by the BBC for the short clip. They were here diving and the dive operator said “why not build a robot that can capture lionfish and help us with this problem?” Mr Angle, who is also the founder and CEO of iRobot, said: “The slogan here in Bermuda is you have to eat ‘em to beat ‘em. We think that RSE will serve at least as a proof point that if you combine a true, deep love of the world with an understanding of technology good things can happen.” Volunteers of RSE spent more than a year designing the robot which can operate some 400 feet below the surface of the water.
July 18. The Bermuda Historical Society will celebrate the 60th anniversary since its museum moved to Par-la-Ville in Hamilton later this month. A series of talks, tours and presentations will take place to mark the anniversary between 9am and 4pm on July 29. The museum had previously been based in a private residence on East Broadway before moving to the old Georgian property on Queen Street in 1957. Volunteer Lyn Vaughan, who has organised the event, told The Royal Gazette she hoped it would showcase the importance of the museum. “The move was extremely significant for us, as the collection was not only housed in a much more convenient location for everyone to visit, but it was also kept in a beautiful old property with so much history itself. It’s now very easy for Bermudians, visitors and residents to visit the museum and see the wonderful collection that we have added to over the years. The location of the museum also complements the library next door; making it extremely easy for people to find out about the island’s history. It’s also important to stress that the museum is run completely on voluntary help” The day of anniversary events will begin at 9am with an early bird tour of Queen Elizabeth Park by Steven DeSilva, the Corporation of Hamilton’s superintendent. At 10am the society’s president, Andrew Bermingham, will give a talk on the island’s prisoner-of-war history, which will be followed at 11am by an exhibition of traditional crafts by author Shirley Pearman. During the afternoon, history experts will provide insight into the Perot family history, the Tucker sisters and the Par-la-Ville building, before the event closes at 4pm. Mr Bermingham added: “The museum’s great value is its presence throughout the year for people, both residents and visitors, to get a snapshot of Bermuda’s history. It’s a treasure of a resource and at times seems to be somewhat undervalued.”
July 18. A 21-year-old woman was killed this afternoon in a two-vehicle collision on Middle Road in Southampton near Heron Bay Primary School. The woman was riding a motorcycle when she was involved in a collision with a Dunkley’s delivery truck. She was rushed by ambulance to hospital where she was pronounced dead. The accident happened just after 3pm, marking the eighth road fatality this year. No further information regarding the deceased will be provided, pending notification of her next of kin, said a police spokesman. Around 6pm, the scene was still being processed by police and traffic diversions in the area remained in place. However, after 8.30pm all restrictions were removed. Would-be voters in Constituency 30, Southampton East Central, who intended on driving to their polling station at the school this evening were advised to take South Road and either turn down Lighthouse Road or travel through the Fairmont Southampton Resort property to access Heron Bay Primary School via Middle Road. A full investigation into the is under way.
July 18. A flight bound for Miami was diverted to Bermuda this afternoon for a passenger medical emergency. The American Airlines flight, from Spain, arrived at LF Wade International Airport shortly after 2pm. The plane was carrying 288 passengers, including the woman who required emergency medical assistance. “The 67-year-old woman had a pre-existing medical condition and was treated on board the aircraft by a doctor before it landed in Bermuda,” Bermuda Skyport Corporation Limited said in a release this afternoon. The woman was rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital via ambulance for treatment with her husband and nephew.” The flight departed for Miami at 3pm.
July 17. If voters want a succinct definition of good governance, they can look no farther than the platforms of the One Bermuda Alliance and the Progressive Labour Party. The ruling party views it as a “system of governance that builds transparency and accountability” while the Opposition says its “key competences” are “accountability and fiscal responsibility”. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights says “there is no single and exhaustive definition of good governance” but explains that it covers a wide range of processes by which governments, and other public institutions, conduct their affairs, manage taxpayers’ money and ensure human rights, without abuse or corruption. At its simplest, perhaps, it refers to the regulation of public funds and both parties have been at pains in recent years to stress their commitment to introducing stringent measures in this area. That is little wonder considering the independent conclusions drawn, this decade alone, by the likes of the Auditor-General, the Sage Commission and the Commission of Inquiry, who found significant failings in and abuses of the financial controls in place within government and other publicly funded bodies. The four-panel Commission, which was tasked with investigating the misuse of public funds between 2009 and 2012, said in its report released earlier this year that “credible progress had been made since the start of the period under review”. It cited the Good Governance Act 2011 and 2012 amendments, public access to information legislation, the establishment of the Office of Project Management and Procurement and other initiatives as progress in this area. “But,” it added, “more can and should be done.” John Barritt, a member of the Commission of Inquiry and former OBA leader, was instrumental in crafting the good governance pledges made by the OBA in its last election platform, in 2012. He acknowledged his disappointment with the party’s achievements on those while in office. The former politician, who is no longer a member of the OBA, told The Royal Gazette: “A lot of people think this isn’t of any importance but I beg to differ. We have got to have the right foundation and the right framework. I think this is of fundamental importance to our success as a community.” The party leaders appear to agree with that stance. Michael Dunkley, the Premier, said this week that his government operated on “principles of good governance” but had not had any “real issues” warranting special scrutiny, such as cost overruns on projects, budget overspends or qualified audits. He told The Royal Gazette: “Extending good governance and locking it into place is part of our mission as a government. We want to build a system people can trust.” Mr Burt said earlier this year: “Throughout our history the PLP has always pushed for better governance and better government in Bermuda. Almost every progressive democratic reform that has taken place in Bermuda has been due to PLP pressure while in opposition or by PLP action while in government.
Party pledges. One Bermuda Alliance. The party pledges to “build on our record of freedom of information, best practices and codes of conduct” by introducing:
Party pledges. Progressive Labour Party. In the first 100 days of government, the party promises to:
Beyond the first 100 days, it is pledging to:
Good governance legislation. Former PLP premier Paula Cox introduced legislation designed to ensure that public cash was being spent appropriately, after repeated claims that it was not, particularly under her predecessor Dr Brown. She ushered in two good governance laws and set up the OPMP to ensure spending was properly managed. Announcing the second bill in Parliament in January 2012, Ms Cox said it would “further enhance good governance and transparency and … further underscore the message that this Government adheres to the high standards of ethical behaviour: transparency and accountability, fairness and equity, efficiency and effectiveness, respect for the rule of the law”. The Commission of Inquiry applauded those efforts in its report, released to the public in March, but said: “We express disappointment with the slow rate of progress that there has been in fully implementing these measures, particularly with regard to OPMP. It is yet to be fully established and delay may be due to lack of political will or to bureaucratic reluctance to embrace change.” One problem, according to critics, is that though the good governance laws were passed, accompanying regulations have yet to be. A legal source said: “The regulations actually spell out the scope of those powers and how those powers would be carried out. The legislation says ‘what’ and the regulations say ‘how’.” The COI recommended: “Strengthen the capacity and status of the OPMP. Finalise its code of practice (the Commission understands the draft code of practice has gone through at least 16 revisions) and ensure that the office is funded and has sufficient qualified personnel.” The PLP’s platform promises to implement a code of practice for project management and procurement in its first 100 days of government. Mr Dunkley admitted to this newspaper that one OBA pledge from 2012 which had not been acted on was the establishment of an independent Office of the Contractor-General to oversee government construction projects. He said: “This idea was put forward because of the huge scandals surrounding government capital projects that had become so common and that were costing Bermuda taxpayers, as it turned out, hundreds of millions of dollars. Since coming into office we have concluded that the Office of [Project] Management and Procurement in the finance ministry — set up in the final days of the previous government — has been operating well. A side benefit to sticking with the office is that we avoided the cost of setting up an Office of Contractor-General.”
Parliamentary reform. John Barritt said the notion of good governance for him meant putting in place “measures that will bring about better governance and, by better governance, I mean allow for greater participation. For views to be heard, for people to feel that their views are to be taken into account. This is entirely possible and feasible to do”. Mr Barritt believes that key to this is a reorganization of Parliament, introducing a “network of parliamentary committees” to scrutinize government. Such a system was one of the recommendations made by the Sage Commission and endorsed by the COI. “It positions our governments to be better able to tackle challenges, some of which will always be controversial,” he said. “I think it’s very important for whoever wins the election to put these new measures in place and move on these things right from the outset. It gives the right impression; it sends the right signal.” Under the last PLP government, in June 2010, the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, which scrutinizes government spending, began meeting publicly for the first time. And the Opposition says in its 2017 platform that it will establish three permanent parliamentary oversight committees, as recommended by Sage. Opposition leader David Burt asked Mr Dunkley about the Sage recommendation in the House of Assembly in March, stating: “In our view, increasing the oversight leads to better decision-making for the people of this country.” Mr Dunkley replied that joint select committees had been tasked with investigating important issues and were due to produce reports which would be tabled in the House. During the OBA’s term in office, temporary committees have produced reports on parliamentary reform, mandatory drug testing for parliamentarians and elections. The last PLP administration, meanwhile, had select committees look at crime and education, with meetings held in public.
Public access to information. Freedom of information is often described as one of the cornerstones of a modern democracy, as well as a fundamental human right. Bermuda’s residents obtained this important right to access records held by publicly-funded bodies in April 2015. As independent Information Commissioner Gita Gutierrez said in her first report last year, it placed the public “at the centre of decisions because the [Public Access to Information] Act provides a new mechanism for public scrutiny”. She added: “Not least, when the Pati Act went into force … those impacted by public authorities’ decisions gained an enforceable right to understand the rationale behind those decisions.” Both political parties like to claim credit for freedom of information because the 2010 Act was passed in Parliament by the PLP, under the leadership of Ewart Brown, but was enacted almost five years later by the OBA, under Mr Dunkley. The Premier said: “It was literally the first major change I implemented after becoming premier because I believe an open government makes for the best government.” Former PLP premier Alex Scott was arguably the man who introduced the idea of Pati to a wider audience in Bermuda and championed it for the longest. His government produced a consultation paper to set the ball rolling, though it would be several years before a bill went before MPs. Though Pati is now enacted, it is a work in progress, as requesters know all too well. Guidelines for the civil servants who process requests for information have yet to be introduced and appeals against refusals to disclose can be long and protracted. In her report, Ms Gutierrez recommended allowing universal access to records and anonymous requests but neither party touches on that in their manifestos.
Financial instructions. The Commission of Inquiry had much to say about financial instructions, the official rules for how public servants should handle taxpayer money, but the take-home message was clearly that they were not robust enough and were viewed by some merely as guidelines. Neither party mentions them in their 2017 platform. The FIs are updated regularly but the COI urged the government to “give financial instructions the force of law by making them regulation. This will provide clarity that financial instructions are not just general guidelines, but statutory protocols that must be followed.” While in Opposition, Mr Burt has pushed for giving FIs the force of law. Finance minister Bob Richards said this week the jury was still out on whether that was necessary. “It’s not part of our platform but we are looking at that. Financial instructions are a set of rules that ministries have to abide by. Whether or not financial instructions have the force of law, if they are being flouted, like they used to be, the force of law is not going to matter a whole lot if that law is not going to be enforced. What we need to have is a set of rules and, also, combine that with an updated code of conduct for ministers, to put in place a more rigorous environment. Alone, by saying financial instructions have the force of law, is not going to solve the problem.”
Campaign finance reform. The idea of transparency regarding political party financing — a facet of many other democracies — seems to be gaining traction in Bermuda, after once being seen as a measure unlikely to be introduced. Its purpose has been described by judges in the United States as to prevent corruption and the appearance of corruption and give important information to the electorate about the parties and candidates seeking their vote. Mr Dunkley noted in May that Bermuda has no rules on who can make donations and loans to political parties and there is no requirement to disclose amounts received or the identities of donors. The Premier said: “That’s something I would like to consult broadly with my colleagues on. I think there needs to be some kind of campaign overhaul because right now there is nothing on donations.” The OBA’s manifesto stops short of pledging such reform but promises to form a parliamentary committee to “address election campaign finance reform”. The PLP goes further, promising to introduce the reform to “bring transparency to political donations”. The party says it will set caps on individual donations and oversee political spending by political parties. Lovitta Foggo, the Opposition candidate for St David’s, said in June: “We believe that the best policy ideas should win — not the political party with the biggest war chest.” Openness regarding political donations helps to avoid conflicts of interest, as does the disclosure by parliamentarians of their financial interests. Although there is a Register of Interests for parliamentarians in Bermuda, and a committee which oversees it, disclosure is not mandatory. Many of the forms submitted by MPs and senators which are available to read at the Bermuda Parliament website are more than five years old. That may change after the election, with both parties pledging a code of conduct for all parliamentarians (the PLP’s to be implemented within its first 100 days in office), which could include required annual disclosure.
July 17. There was a sea of green at the Progressive Labour Party’s public rally at Prospect Primary School last night as energized supporters gathered in droves. Hundreds of people attended and with all parking spaces at the school and surrounding areas full, many were forced to park at Devonshire Recreation Club and walk. Candidates for several constituencies took to the stage to remind those gathered in the school field to get out and vote and put an end to what many of them described as the oppressive policies of the One Bermuda Alliance. Deputy leader Walter Roban delivered an impassioned speech in which he vowed his party would give “dignity to our seniors” in face of high healthcare costs and cost of living. He spoke about the mould, rats and mice that have infested our public schools and spoke on the PLP’s commitment to good governance, balancing the budget by 2019 and advancing ministerial conduct. “I am asking you to go to the polls at 7am pop your chair, get out your umbrellas and cast your vote at 8am for the PLP because we put Bermudians first.” Michael Weeks made his entrance on the stage to his musical choice of Hold On (Change is Coming) which encapsulated the message he delivered. He called on every person in the field to reach out to 10 or 20 people and get them to go out and vote. “Turn support into victory,” he said to much applause. Mr Weeks, shadow minister for health and community affairs, focused much of his speech on gangs and crime in Bermuda, saying that the worst failure by the OBA was not keeping its promise on putting an end to the violence. “The OBA failed to come up with a national plan to deal with this issue. If 30 young men being murdered is not a national state of emergency then what is?” He also reminded the public about the December 2 protests, where members of the Bermuda Police Service pepper-sprayed the crowd. He added: “The OBA has put us in a state of slavery.” Walton Brown spoke about the PLP’s “long history of improving the conditions of the average man and woman in this country”. He said that the party worked “alongside the trade union movement. For more than 50 years we have worked with the trade union movement. We have achieved a lot of good things in this country as opposition, as government and as opposition again and on July 19 we will start to do things again to improve the condition of the people. The PLP and the trade union movement have had shared leadership for a long time so we understand the struggle. We have a strong bond with the trade union movement, we will continue that bond in government. We will ensure that workers’ rights are protected and advanced. There are six words that trade unionists use all around the world that resonate with the PLP — especially today — and those six words are ‘united we stand, divided we fall’.” Reverend Nicholas Tweed was introduced to say a few words. He said a PLP win would put an end to “four years of racist policies. We have seen mould in our schools, we have seen boats valued more than our seniors, we have seen fuzzy numbers, we have been told that money doesn’t grow on trees. Well I got news for you — votes don’t grow on trees either." New PLP candidate Jason Hayward made a joke when speaking about the stress families go through when a family member goes missing. “If anyone could help me find [former immigration minister] Michael Fahy it would be greatly appreciated,” he said provoking laughter from the audience. Mr Hayward said he had been missing since stepping down as immigration minister after proposing the controversial Pathways to Status legislation which would allow long-term residents to apply for Bermudian status. Mr Hayward pledged that his party would not allow the controversial policy to “see the light of day. We want an immigration policy that is comprehensive and bipartisan."
July 17. The Progressive Labour Party reiterated its pledge that education remains its top priority one day ahead of the General Election. David Burt, Leader of the Opposition, was joined by Diallo Rabain, spokesman for education, and St David’s MP Lovitta Foggo to discuss the party’s plan for short and long-term education reform at a press conference this morning. According to Mr Burt, students had been forgotten under the One Bermuda Alliance, while frequent changes in education ministers had created inconsistencies and a lack of accountability. “It is a baffling exercise to imagine what the One Bermuda Alliance had been thinking when they had been willfully ignoring the needs of our children and our teachers,” he said. Pointing to Michael Dunkley, the Premier, Mr Burt said: “The disrespect that he showed to teachers who dared to stand up for their students, and their own health, is astonishing.” Mr Rabain said that teacher and student health and safety must be ensured. “To that end the PLP will, in its first 100 days of its administration, conduct a review of all school facilities to identify and correct any health and safety issues,” he said. Mr Rabain reiterated the party’s pledge to put Wi-Fi in all public schools within the same 100 days. “In the year 2017, it is unacceptable that we have schools that only have two working computers,” he said. The division of “two Bermudas” widened with funding cuts implemented under the current administration, Mr Rabain said. He pledged to increase scholarship funding, and implement a low-interest student rate programme to “further increase access to higher education. There is much work to be done, and we intend to hit the ground running." Ms Foggo said “concrete plans” on education were needed. Real-time date to measure academic performance was also an “absolute necessity. It is imperative that we prepare our children for opportunities in today’s world." Mr Burt also discussed plans to phase out middle schools, the creation of “signature schools”, and the removal of geographical restrictions currently in place to determine what school a child may attend as part of the party’s long-term plan for reforms. Standards for early education achievement would also be developed, Mr Burt said. The PLP’s education plan, he said would restore public confidence in the system and ensure accountability. “Everything that the PLP has said and will do after tomorrow will be to the goal of ensuring that we are putting Bermudian children first,” Mr Burt said.
July 17. The One Bermuda Alliance will give churches the legal right to refuse to conduct same-sex marriages if it is re-elected. The party’s platform states: “We will introduce legislation to protect churches from being forced to perform any services that are contrary to the central tenets of their faith.” Michael Dunkley, the Premier, told The Royal Gazette the promise was included as a “commitment to protect any church in this matter”. Gay marriage became legal in Bermuda following a landmark May 5 Supreme Court ruling. The civil case which resulted in the judgment was brought against the Government and it defended the action, ultimately losing. Home affairs minister Pat Gordon-Pamplin has said it will not appeal the ruling and Mr Dunkley said his party’s position was very clearly stated by the minister. She said at the time: “While we accept that widespread support of this very sensitive and emotive issue of marriage equality is difficult to achieve, we do, however, recognise that as a community we must be able to have open and honest conversations which help to encourage awareness, understanding, tolerance and respect for one another.” The Progressive Labour Party touches on same-sex marriage in its manifesto, though it does not explicitly state whether it will abide by the May 5 ruling or seek to reverse it. The Opposition platform says: “The issue of same sex marriage remains a matter of conscience for our members. We accept that same-sex couples should have similar legal benefits as heterosexual couples, save for marriage, and will introduce legislation to achieve this aim. The issue of same-sex marriages has been a divisive one due to the lack of leadership by the OBA. Their failure to lead is an example of why they are unfit to lead. Our position takes into account the divisive nature of the issue and strikes the right balance.” Party leader David Burt has stated publicly that he does not support same-sex marriage or civil unions. He said this week: “My position has not changed.” He referred a question on what exactly was being promised under the platform to a party spokesman, who said: “The PLP believes that all people deserve to be treated with respect and fairness. However, the vast majority of our members remain opposed to gay marriage and this issue remains a matter of conscience for our members.” No further comment from the PLP was given.
July 17. Michael Dunkley called on Bermudians to return the OBA to office tomorrow as the island goes to the polls. In the final party press conference before election day, the premier noted the OBA’s record on tourism and improving the economy. “We have made progress in restoring jobs, opportunity and hope, but we still have a ways to go. Our mission is to extend the recovery and renewal into every household. Now [PLP leader David] Burt and his colleagues have been trying to convince you that the choice in this election is between them and us, but the real choice is actually much simpler and much more important. Will Bermuda move forward or back?” He noted campaign promises to modernize the infrastructure of the island’s schools, explore the concept of an educational authority and the $2,500 Jump Start savings programme, saying the OBA have a “broad programme to progress Bermudian life”. Asked if the OBA had done enough to return Bermudians to the work force, he accepted that employment remains a key topic of conversation this election season. “From where we came from, that’s to be expected,” he said. “We were in a dire situation back in 2011, 2012, when jobs were being lost at a rapid pace. When you have to turn around the economy as we did, we knew it was not going to be straight up like an arrow to where we want to go. We balanced that with making sure we brought the investment into Bermuda, return confidence as we had to do, and against that backdrop we have a very tough immigration policy. We have professionals who sit on that board every week, read through those permits and scrutinize them up and down. We have worked with the Immigration Department, and Work Force Development to make sure those opportunities are there.” However he added that companies should work to not only hire Bermudians, but train them given the economic turn around. And challenged about the condition of the island’s schools, he noted that the OBA launched the SCORE Report and has since begun work to address the issues raised. “I don’t think the government that was around in 2012 wants to talk about the work that they did, but they will use it as a political football, hence why we want to investigate an Education Authority. You have got to take the politics out of education because the only way we will move forward is if we take the politics out of it and stop our children being used as pawns.” Nick Kempe, who is running in Pembroke West Central, said the OBA had brought the island “back from the brink” and the impact has been felt by many people. “The job is not done. There is still certainly more to do and coming in for another term will allow us to balance the budget, expand social programmes and be able to work on the things that an expansive revenue base allows us to. The prosperity that many have felt needs to be felt by all, and we appreciated the opportunity to continue our work for the next five years.” Meanwhile Nandi Outerbridge, who is defending the St George’s West seat, said she was thankful that the OBA gave her the opportunity to make a difference in the constituency. “St George’s had become a commercial ghost town, let down by false promises of a new hotel, misled on the disappearance of cruise ships, shocked by the bulldozing of a thriving community golf course and disappointed by the lack of support to keep the old town’s structure functioning. The change in the old town from then to now is simply amazing. People are positive, people are optimistic and things are finally happening.”
July 17. Washington Mall is to start a massive $8 million programme of improvements fuelled by Bermuda’s economic recovery. Some of the upgrades were put on hold after the worldwide recession in 2008 — but mall owners Washington Properties said economic recovery on the island and vacant space being filled had kick-started the improvement programme. The news was revealed in a memo to mall tenants that was obtained by The Royal Gazette. The memo said: “Some of these works have been on hold since the recession, with large areas of the office floors having been vacant since 2008. “Now that the economy is improving and long vacant spaces are being occupied, we feel it is the time to revive these projects.” Work has already begun to fit out office space on the fourth floor of the mall for a new tenant, who will take over 22,000 square feet of Washington House and 9 Reid Street. Washington Properties is constructing a new corridor to link the two buildings together. And the Reid Street entrance will be upgraded with a new entrance and shopfronts, while a new high efficiency air-conditioning system will be installed. In addition, solar panels will be installed on the roof to reduce reliance on fossil fuel-generated power. The mall’s elevators will also be refitted and new tiling to replace ceramic tiles in the older sections of the mall will be laid down. The memo to stores in the mall said the work would cause some disruption. But it added: “We trust you will appreciate that these works will greatly improve the facilities at Washington Properties and will ultimately benefit all tenants. We appreciate your patience and understanding.”
July 17. Police have identified the man who died after being pulled from the waters at Horseshoe Bay last week. Frank D’Angelo, 69, was apparently snorkeling in a cove at the beach when he lost consciousness on Thursday at around 2.15pm. Mr D’Angelo, from California, was brought to shore by members of the public who proceeded to provide CPR. Life-saving efforts continued as he was rushed to hospital, however he was later pronounced dead. “A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to support the deceased’s family and although foul play is not suspected, an autopsy is anticipated,” police said in a release.
July 17. The Cabinet Office will close tomorrow and reopen on Wednesday at 8.30am in the newly renovated Cabinet Building. The office was temporarily located at Innovations House on Reid Street while repairs were carried out on the Cabinet Building at 105 Front Street due to health and safety requirements.
July 16. The Parliamentary Registrar is reminding registered voters of the locations of all polling stations for Tuesday’s General Election. All polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm. Registered voters must bring accepted forms of identification: a driver’s license, a passport issued by a commonwealth country, a special person’s card, or a voter’s card. The constituencies and locations are as follows:
July 17. A typically imperious breakaway on the bike led to Flora Duffy winning her third straight World Triathlon Series event in Hamburg by a record margin on Saturday. The Bermudian was victorious in the sprint event in the German city in a time of 59 minutes exactly. Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle finished second in 59:31, with Duffy’s winning margin of 31 seconds the widest in a sprint race. Laura Lindemann, of Germany, completed the podium in 59:41. The victory is Duffy’s third in a row in the International Triathlon Union series, after winning in Leeds last month and Yokohama in May. The 29-year-old missed the first two WTS races of the season, in Abu Dhabi in March and Gold Coast in April, with a hip injury. Duffy’s triumph was her first sprint-distance victory. “I really actually can’t believe it,” Duffy told the WTS website. “Coming into the third race I felt a lot of pressure, especially it being a sprint and in Hamburg, I have not raced here in years. So, I just really had to go for it, I tried to race fast from start to finish and I had to make the most on the bike because I knew that my run pace speed was not at the same level as some of the top runners are, so I just took a chance and luckily it worked out.” Duffy finished the 750-metres swim 11 seconds behind leader Vittoria Lopes, of Brazil, but she had a good transition and quickly emerged among the leaders on the bike. She broke away with American Kirsten Kasper and Britain’s Jessica Learmonth on the first lap, before making a lone charge with five kilometers remaining of the cycle. Duffy led Kasper and Learmonth by 25 seconds entering the second transition, with the chasing pack a further 20 seconds behind. “I came out of the swim a little further back than I wanted to so I just really hammered the first part of the bike and I knew the chute was quite technical so I knew if I just hammered that into transition I would be OK,” Duffy added. “We were able to breakaway three of us, we were working OK, I was getting a little frustrated though so I thought I would attack and go solo and that ultimately made the race for me.” The work on the bike made the run relatively easy, with Duffy running solo the whole way as she stretched her lead even farther. Gentle took silver after a getting “squished” and “dunked” in the swim. “It was quite horrific, to be honest,” the Australian said of the swim. The most exciting race was for bronze, with the home crowd roaring Lindemann past overall leader Katie Zaferes, of the United States, by one second, with Jolanda Annen, of Switzerland, and New Zealander Andrea Hewitt, who won the first two WTS races of the series, close by. Duffy has moved up to fourth in the overall WTS rankings, despite the 29-year-old Bermudian missing those first two races of the season. She is on 2,400 points with Zaferes, on 2,507. Gentle is second overall on 2,486 points with Kasper third on 2,478 after a ninth-placed finish in Germany. Duffy will have the chance to take over the overall lead when the series resumes in Edmonton, Canada, in two weeks.
July 15. Winning the popular vote is one thing but, with at least four seats balanced on a knife-edge, victory in next week’s General Election is a whole different ball game. The One Bermuda Alliance is enjoying an advantage of 11 percentage points over the Progressive Labour Party — a lead, according to this week’s Global Research poll, that coincides with a resurgence of confidence in the economy which many are attributing to the performance of the ruling party. Yet it is widely accepted among both political parties that the result on Tuesday could come down to whoever does best in a small handful of constituencies. At the 2012 election, four seats were decided by a combined total of only 28 votes. In those crucial marginals next week, the outcome will be decided not so much by the national level of support but by local circumstances and the merits of the individual candidates. In St George’s West five years ago, Nandi Outerbridge of the OBA won by four votes against Renée Ming of the PLP. She is facing a stronger challenge this year from Kim Swan, who won more than 200 votes as an independent in 2012 and will be representing the PLP this time. In Pembroke Central, Walton Brown of the PLP will be taking on Andrew Simons of the OBA for the second time; five years ago, Mr Brown won by six votes. In Warwick North Central five years ago, Wayne Scott of the OBA defeated David Burch of the PLP by ten votes. Mr Scott has stepped aside and this time Mr Burch will be up against newcomer Sheila Gomez of the OBA. In Sandys North, Michael Scott will be defending against Ray Charlton for the second consecutive election; in 2012, Mr Scott won by eight votes. Shortly before the election five years ago, a poll by Mindmaps found the OBA had a 43-30 lead over the PLP, or 13 percentage points. The OBA ended up winning 52 per cent of the popular vote, with the PLP getting 46 per cent. This transpired to 19 seats for the OBA and 17 for the PLP. This week’s poll of 400 registered voters has a margin of error of +/- 4.9 per cent at the 95 per cent confidence level. According to Nosheen Syed, who co-owns Global Research with Leslie Steede, voters were selected at random to include sufficient representation of age, gender and race groups, and the results were generalized to the Bermuda population as a whole.
July 15. The One Bermuda Alliance has increased its public support to half of the popular vote, according to a poll commissioned this week by The Royal Gazette. Asked by Global Research who they would vote for in a General Election, 50 per cent of registered voters said the OBA, 39 per cent said the Progressive Labour Party and 2 per cent said independent candidates, with 6 per cent undecided and 3 per cent refusing to answer. With the poll also showing a clear rise in confidence in the economy, it means the OBA has a 50-39 lead over the PLP, stretching its advantage from six points in May to 11 points now. However, while the survey remains a guide to both parties’ popularity across the island, it should not be considered a simple predictor for Tuesday’s election. Most observers have long concluded that, under the first-past-the-post system, the result will be decided by the outcome of a handful of constituencies involving tight races between individual OBA and PLP candidates. But the poll does show that the ruling party is enjoying its highest share of public support since coming to power in 2012. The OBA’s previous best score was 44 per cent in May, and a study of its ratings over the past two years shows its popularity has tended to peak with America’s Cup activity on the island, including reaching 42 per cent in December 2015, shortly after the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Bermuda. The PLP, meanwhile, has remained in the 30s for the past two years. Its score of 39 is up one point on two months ago. Public faith in the economy, and in particular finance minister Bob Richards, has also shot up in the past two months. Some 44 per cent of voters told pollsters they were confident in the direction of Bermuda’s economy, up from 29 per cent in May, and higher than any point since the early days of the financial crisis in November 2007. Among whites, 72 per cent are confident in the economy, up from 60 per cent; among blacks, 27 per cent are confident, up from 10 per cent. The OBA also has a 44-22 lead in the performance approval ratings, up from 29-21 two months ago. A breakdown by race shows both parties are strong among their traditional racial bases, with the OBA also scoring well with those describing themselves as neither black nor white. Among whites, 94 per cent said they would vote OBA, up from 93 per cent; and 3 per cent would vote PLP, up from 1 per cent. Among blacks, 61 per cent would vote PLP, down from 63 per cent; and 26 per cent would vote OBA, up from 13 per cent. Among other races, 59 per cent would vote OBA, and 20 per cent PLP. The OBA comfortably has the male vote (57-36) with the female vote split (44 OBA, 42 PLP). A breakdown by age shows the OBA is winning every category, including the over 65 group, by 52-42. A breakdown by area — based on parish boundaries as opposed to constituency boundaries — shows the OBA has edged in front in the St George’s Parish election battleground, by 48-41; two months ago, the score was 42-42. In Pembroke, the PLP is leading 47-45. Michael Dunkley, the Premier, remains the most popular of the party leaders, with a 44 per cent approval rating, up from 37 per cent. Mr Dunkley is backed by 76 per cent of whites and 24 per cent of blacks, up five points and eight points respectively. He fares well among men and the over 65 age group, with 50 per cent and 57 per cent respectively. Opposition leader David Burt has an approval rating of 29 per cent, unchanged from May. He is backed by 44 per cent of blacks and 5 per cent of whites, down two points and up four points respectively. Mr Richards, the OBA deputy leader, has an approval rating of 40 per cent, up from 25 per cent. He scores 71 per cent among whites, up 19 points; and 20 per cent among blacks, up 13 points. Walter Roban, the deputy leader of the PLP, has an approval rating of 17 per cent, down four points. He is backed by 27 per cent of blacks, down five points; and 2 per cent of whites, down one point. General favourability ratings show Mr Dunkley on 47 per cent (up four points); ahead of Mr Richards on 38 per cent (up 12 points); Mr Burt 33 per cent (unchanged); and Mr Roban 22 per cent (down one point). Voters were also asked their reasons for voting OBA or PLP. Among those voting OBA, 41 per cent cited its efforts in revitalizing the economy or ability to manage the country’s finances. Among those voting PLP, 35 per cent said the party worked for the people’s best interests. The telephone poll of 400 registered voters took place between Tuesday and Thursday and has a margin of error of +/- 5 per cent.
July 15. The cahow breeding programme has set new records this year with 61 chicks successfully taking flight. Jeremy Madeiros, senior terrestrial conservation officer and Cahow Recovery Programme manager, said 117 established breeding pairs were recorded, including ten “newly establishing, prospecting pairs” who could produce their first eggs next year. And a partnership with Cornell Lab of Ornithology has meant that the popular CahowCam, offering researchers and members of the public around the world a live glimpse into a cahow burrow, was viewed more than half a million times. Cahows, also known as Bermuda petrels, spend most of their life in the open ocean but nest exclusively on six small islands that measure a total of only 20 acres. The endemic species were once abundant in Bermuda, but were quickly decimated after the colonization of Bermuda through both hunting and predation by pigs, dogs, cats and rats. The nocturnal sea birds were believed to be extinct as early as the 1620s, but in the 1950s a handful of the birds were discovered nesting on rocky islets in Castle Harbour. Since then, a dedicated conservation effort by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources has inspired a regrowth of the species from less than 20 breeding pairs to more than 100. As part of the Cahow Recovery Programme, conservationists have turned Nonsuch Island into a new nesting colony, moving chicks to artificial burrows on the island with the hope that they would imprint on the location and return in future years to nest. So far, the programme has been successful with almost half of the trans-located birds returning three to six years later to choose nest burrows and mates. The 2017 season began in late October 2016, and ended on the night of June 27 when the last cahow chick fledged out to the open ocean, not to return for several years. According to the Nonsuch Expeditions website, another 14 cahow chicks were trans- located to a second nesting site on Nonsuch Island this year, bringing the total number to 65. In addition, the first three cahows moved to the site in 2013 and 2014 have returned and began to occupy nest burrows with one new pair confirmed. Meanwhile, the CahowCam received a total of 600,000 views, and was watched for a combined total of eight million minutes, with Jean-Pierre Rouja, CahowCam designer and Nonsuch Expeditions Team leader, crediting the partnership with Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “We first started the CahowCam five years ago. We did it on our own, and it grew and grew year after year. In order to get further reach, we looked for who were the best cam people in the world to partner with, and that was Cornell. Cornell was really excited because unlike many of their other cameras, ours has Jeremy as a scientist front and centre and it’s important for people, especially students, to see a real world scientist doing something in their field.” He said the project was a perfect demonstration of using technology to aid research and educational outreach. “What started out as a media-driven educational outreach project has now evolved into an extremely effective conservation tool, contributing greatly to the protection and recovery of the species.” Charles Eldermire, the Bird Cams Project leader with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, said: “This season, working with Nonsuch Expeditions to showcase the cahow to a broader audience, was a great success, reaching hundreds of thousands of viewers and raising awareness about the ongoing need for investment in the cahow’s future. “The foundation we laid through our partnership this year will allow us to continue improving the quality of the online experience in future years, and to further highlight the efforts of the Bermuda Department of Environment and Natural Resources.” Meanwhile, Mr Madeiros said the recovery programme has proven to be one of the most successful programmes for the recovery of a critically endangered species. He added that the Government had endeavored to make use of new technology and management techniques as part of its long-term commitment to the effort. “Public outreach and education is one of the main objectives of the recovery programme, and the CahowCam project and partnership with Nonsuch Expeditions has contributed greatly to the achievement of this objective. In addition to bringing the story of the cahow’s survival and recovery to an international audience, it has enabled previously unknown aspects of the breeding biology and behaviour of the species to be observed.” Viewers this year were able to watch a cahow chick, named Shadow, hatch, grow and eventually depart his nest last month. Since then, the video has caught a Storm Petrel, now called Stormy, return to the nest for the second year, fending off native red land crabs and attempting to secure a mate. However, the efforts to save the cahows did run into a few challenges over the course of the year. The website states that an “invasion” of rats swimming to Nonsuch Island was reported. While the rats were successfully eradicated, the incident highlighted the need for constant monitoring and vigilance. Hurricane Nicole last October also presented a threat, with storm surge covering two smaller nesting islands but causing little lasting damage. And in June one of the trans-located chicks was killed by a swarm of honeybees that had occupied its burrow. That swarm was removed shortly after.
July 15. A visiting couple said they were almost hit by jet skis while they were snorkeling off Hog Bay Level in Sandys. They were swimming on the reefs in the early evening on Thursday when they saw the jet skis coming straight towards them. “They came up quick. When my wife first saw them, they were heading straight at us,” the husband, who asked not to be named, told The Royal Gazette. “If you are snorkeling, you can’t really hear them until they are right on top of you. It was close, fairly close to hitting us. Once they saw us, they stopped.” The husband said they were about “10 to 15 yards away” at this point and he said he heard one of them say: “Oh, that’s dangerous”. Earlier this month, a West End resident called for more to be done to stop jet skis and boaters from zooming across the reefs south of Daniel’s Head at high speed. This prompted a reminder from the Government that it is an offence to operate any vessel within 100m of shore at speeds of more than five knots and in a manner that creates a wake. According to the husband, the incident happened “a little further out — probably beyond the 100m mark” around 5pm or 6pm. But earlier in the day, some were definitely getting closer than the 100m mark,” he added. He said they also saw them cutting right across the reef, which he said would be dangerous at low tide because they would risk hitting the reef. But the couple, who are staying in the area, were not able to make out which company the black and white jet skis belonged to because their masks had fogged up. Ralph Richardson, chairman of the Bermuda Water Safety Council, said he was able to speak to two of the three jet ski companies in the area after hearing about the incident. And while he said that they had a “good attitude towards it”, he reiterated the need for all jet-ski operators to exercise caution in any area where there might be swimmers or snorkellers. Mr Richardson said he had received several calls in the past week from people reporting jet skis travelling fast within the 100m limit in the area west of St James Church. “I had seen it as well last week in the same area,” he added. He pointed out that the West Coast, with its many shallow areas, is very popular with snorkellers and swimmers. “Many of the snorkeling tours go there. There is a possibility of swimmers and snorkellers along the entire area. The message should be that they have to slow their speed all along the west coast.” Mr Richardson also pointed to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, which he said obliged any operator to be aware of their surroundings and assess the area for any signs of danger. He said this applied to tour operators as well as individual jet skiers, who might not be aware of the “rules of the road”.
July 15. Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art hosted a daylong open house yesterday complete with cupcakes to mark its 30th anniversary. As part of the celebrations, the museum’s summer camp students came along to help cut the cake and sing Happy Birthday. “Life here at Masterworks is not static and there is always something going on and visitors can feel that energy when they are here,” said founder and creative director Tom Butterfield. “We’d like to emphasise that people should come and see what we are doing here.” What started out as a nomadic collection has grown into a purpose-built museum, which opened in 2008. Curator and director of collections Elise Outerbridge added: “We have fulfilled everything we thought we would be and we know it will be so much more. I just see it getting bigger and bigger.” Mr Butterfield said: “We are proud of what we have accomplished in ten years as a museum. We are not just resting on our laurels — still being dynamic and relevant is of utmost importance to us.” He added that the museum’s summer camp and educational programmes were a testament to Masterworks being first and foremost about art for all. “Due to a benefactor a number of children have been able to access our educational programmes, who may not have been able to because of the cost,” said Mr Butterfield. “We want access to be for all. That is why we are open seven days a week so that people who can’t get to the museum in the week have the chance to come.”
July 14. The Progressive Labour Party has outlined what it plans to implement in the first 100 days of office should they come to power. An attempt to bring down the cost of living; an appointment of a Gang Violence Reduction Co-ordinator; a technology hub in Southside and the formation of a tax reform commission are all on the agenda. Opposition leader David Burt, who was accompanied by PLP candidates Anthony Richardson and Kathy Lynn Simmons, began his speech by talking about crippling house prices in Bermuda and pledged to grant additional powers to the Price Control Commission to look at ways to reduce the cost of living. Education was next on the list — Mr Burt said his party would conduct an “urgent review” of health and safety in all public schools in light of concerns stemming from the One Bermuda Alliance’s School Reorganization Report last February. Aside from crumbling school infrastructure, the PLP has said it will also ensure every public school has wi-fi access and it will increase accessibility to Bermuda College by providing funding and childcare for parents to be able to study. Asked about jobs and training, Mr Burt said: “We need to ensure we are doing everything in our power to train Bermudians, so that they can fill the jobs of today and the jobs of tomorrow. In our first 100 days the PLP will increase job training to fill jobs that are currently being held by guest workers,” he said. Speaking on gang violence, Mr Burt accused the OBA of “paying lip service” adding that his party would appoint a Gang Violence Reduction Co-ordinator, whose sole focus would be on implementing programmes to reduce gang violence and anti-social behaviour. Mr Burt said: “We will provide the action that the community has been asking for.” And despite what he described as a “toxic” political discourse in the run up to the election, Mr Burt said he will unite the island with the creation of the Bermuda First advisory group if elected. “Bermuda works best when we work together and ensure that all stakeholders are engaged in our country’s advancement. The PLP will form Bermuda First, an advisory group consisting of local, international and community leaders to develop a long-term economic and social plan for Bermuda. Bermuda needs an economic plan that has broad community support that will assist us in creating balanced, long-term economic growth.” Mr Richardson said the PLP would also appoint a director of co-operatives at the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation. “Under the PLP government we will double the guarantee capacity for the BEDC to give more access to capital for entrepreneurs.” Mr Richardson said a Tax Reform Commission would be formed to “make Bermuda’s tax system fair and increase Bermuda’s global competitiveness to stimulate economic activity and create jobs for Bermudians.” On the issue of public service unions, Mr Richardson said the party would “conclude negotiations” and bipartisan committee on the issue of immigration would be established. Ms Simmons approached the issue of a technology hub in Southside. She said: “This hub will allow start-ups in the technology field that require little more than a computer and an internet connection to use our regulatory environment, while developing new products and services.” Mr Richardson, who declared his position at the BLDC, which manages land on which the hub would be located, added: “It is exciting. The idea of having a business environment that is basically designed for younger people will create energy. At BLDC we have the entry points for internet service in Bermuda so we can get very high internet speed. Bermuda will be pleasantly surprised how quickly a new industry can develop.” Ms Simmons also outlined measures to make government more efficient and transparent. She said the PLP would establish three permanent parliamentary oversight committees in order to improve governance.
July 14. Driving tourism, balancing the budget books and boosting capital development were among a raft of plans the One Bermuda Alliance pledged in order to drive the economy forward. This is according to Bob Richards who reiterated the plans set out in the party’s platform at a press conference this morning. Mr Richards was joined by OBA candidates Nick Kempe and Andrea Moniz-DeSouza who delivered her short speech in both English and Portuguese. Mr Richards highlighted that the press conference was the third of its kind on the economy as “it is the most important issue for the people of Bermuda.” He outlined six areas of activity the party will pursue in 2017 should they remain in power. Capital attraction, he said, is the “lifeblood” of the economy. “So, in the event we are elected on Tuesday, the OBA government will make a concerted effort to attract capital, whether it is for government projects or to support efforts to grow sectors of the economy. The Bermuda Business Development Corporation is one government supported entity that was created to help us sell investors on Bermuda. The aim is to grow the level of economic activity. Why? Because it grows jobs, opens career opportunities and creates earnings that make it possible for the government to provide social services, build roads and educate our children.” Referencing the Progressive Labour Party’ promise to work with the Price Controls Committee to drive down cost of living, Mr Richards added: “There is a lot I could say about Price Controls and its history of failure wherever it’s been used but in terms of Bermuda and its need for capital, Price Controls would be a significant inhibitor.” The second area Mr Richards highlighted was driving the restoration of tourism. The revival of tourism, he said, was “arguably the greatest single accomplishment of the OBA.” Two pieces of legislation would help to keep the momentum going — the Tourism Investment Act which aims to attract investment to strengthen hotels, restaurants, small business properties and other tourism-related attractions — and the Vacations Rental Act designed to capitalize on Airbnb. Mr Richards assured the public that the OBA will not tax rental income or any passive income. He went on to speak on infrastructure building, saying that there will be a focus on the Causeway. A balanced budget was also key saying that while the OBA had made inroads to balancing the books, it needed time to finish the job. Mr Richards said: “The journey to a balanced budget is not yet finished. The government deficit is still with us and there is also a lot of work to do. The job, in short, is not yet done and the OBA needs voter support to finish it.” Tax reform was also on the agenda with Mr Richards saying it “will require more from those who earn more and less from those who earn less.” Finally, an issue close to Mr Richards’ heart — defending Bermuda against “the forces that threaten to dismantle the way we do business with the rest of the world.” He was referencing threats, including accusations that Bermuda is a tax haven, from the likes of European countries, the European Union and the British Parliament. “All it takes is one failure on our part for Bermuda to suffer serious damage to our reputation, our integrity and our ability to conduct business. The stakes for Bermuda could not be greater. The threats are existential, meaning that our very existence as a bustling economy supporting Bermudian life as we know it is endangered. We will fight these unjust attacks”. Asked whether the OBA would give any projections on how many jobs it would create in its next term should it be elected, Mr Richards replied: “We won’t have any numerical projections. What we are promising now is the continuation of the plan that is working. We know the elements that make the economy tick and we are making sure that we stimulate those elements.” Speaking on the economy under the OBA, Ms Moniz-DeSouza said: “As a Bermudian and as a lawyer, I have watched the OBA take a bad situation with the economy in 2012 and make it better and I believe they will continue their good work for you and your families.” Mr Kempe highlighted efforts made by the BEDC recently including micro loans and flexible cost structures for small businesses. Mr Kempe, who is chairman of the BEDC, said he disagreed with Opposition Leader David Burt on doubling the loan guarantee of the BEDC for small businesses, saying: “The BEDC has the capacity to give out loans guarantees to support loans and we are not at capacity presently so doubling the capacity might sound like you are going to help small business but it will really have zero support unless you are giving support in other directions.”
July 14. The political fighters for Devonshire North West.
July 14. Discontent with
partisan squabbling unites voters in Devonshire North West, where the wild card
candidacy of Paula Cox appears welcome to some, but was condemned by others.
Less than a week before the General Election, some told The Royal Gazette
that their decision would wait until July 18, as challengers to the One Bermuda
Alliance’s incumbent MP Glen Smith press on with last-minute canvassing. Wayne
Caines of the Progressive Labour Party faces an uphill battle, with Ms Cox’s
independent campaign “guaranteed” to split the vote, a Deepdale resident
said. “It’s very unpopular with PLP people,” the business owner said,
noting Ms Cox’s posters along the lane. “This is going to hamper the party
for sure.” But neither party seemed sure of itself, he noted, calling that
uncertainty “a good thing. They’re scrambling. That gives us an opportunity
to see what candidates are going out, regardless of how they feel their chances
are. That’s where Glen is winning. I’ll vote. I’m still undecided, and I
say that with a smile, I’ll wait until I get there and see the candidates. At
the end of the day, I vote business. The OBA has a chance here. People are not
resonating with colour; it’s about who has been attentive to the neighborhood.”
In 18 years, he said, “I haven’t been impressed by any party”. Mr Smith,
he said, had played “good cop to the Government’s bad cop”, with the OBA
administration flagging in popularity. Crime was an area issue, but he bemoaned
the decline in school day-release programmes that imbued students with work
experience and a sense of hope after graduation. Near by, a man refurbishing his
home voiced disgust with both parties, saying that “the people always
suffer”, and none earned his vote. “Get me a job,” he said. “People are
living paycheque to paycheque. If you have children, it’s worse. The
island’s too small for two parties. They should take the good people and make
one party. It doesn’t make sense to me.” A senior woman in Cedar Park
declared herself “PLP all the way”, adding: “That’s my colour; that’s
who I’m for.” But the party system got another fail: “They need to stop
bickering. It’s just so terrible, all this finger pointing at one another.”
The three-way race was “too complicated”, she said, preferring two. While Mr
Smith had enhanced the lighting in the neighborhood, the woman said he
couldn’t take credit for installing them: Glenn Blakeney, formerly of the PLP,
had taken care of that. The neighborhood's rusty water supply stood as a local
problem — enough for her to avoid washing her white clothing. Over on
Hesitation Lane, an OBA voter said the economy had slumped to “total
shambles” under the PLP. Crime was an area worry, while nationally the economy
dominated, but race relations also concerned him. Asked about Bermuda’s
political terrain, he responded: “Way too much bickering. This island could do
without party politics. There are good people in both parties.” On Happy
Valley Road, another undecided voter called himself “a little jaded”, but
said Mr Smith had “done a very competent job communicating — he’s very
personable; he reaches out”. “This is my third election. In my youth, I went
with family party affiliation. The past two, I went by conscience.”
Constituency 14 represents “an almost perfect dichotomy of Bermuda’s
population, and this area is right on the borderline — the proverbial railroad
tracks. It’s great to have a third option. When there’s little faith in
either party or the party system, Ms Cox is refreshing. That makes me more
inclined to actually vote.” Nationally and locally, the prevailing issue was
“morale”, he said, with much required to “improve and sustain the Bermuda
spirit”. Asked for her political leaning, a voter on Berry Hill Road replied:
“Liberal. Which, on this island, means you don’t have a party. There’s a
super-conservative party that’s white, and a black party that claims to be
socially liberal, but isn’t.” She had voted PLP in the party’s sweeping
1998 victory, but had grown disenchanted with both parties’ performance on
healthcare. “Public health — what’s happened? It’s falling apart
quietly, behind the scenes. That started with the PLP and just continued. Take
the Health Department’s dental service. Once it was the biggest provider of
dental care for children. Now it provides the bare minimum of emergency
service.” Mr Smith, she said, had visited, and had gone to the ministry to
bring back answers on healthcare — but while she definitely intended to vote,
“I still don’t definitely know who. I’ve had it up to here with party
politics,” she added. “I wish we could have candidates doing what they
wanted, rather than being told by their parties.” But spoiling ballots,
considering the long struggle behind securing the vote, was “a waste —
though it might demonstrate something to the Government”. Saying she was
“tempted” by Ms Cox’s independent candidacy, she said: “Independent is
the way we should be going. I think I’ll get in touch with the other two
before I vote.”
July 14. An event taking place this weekend will look to provide some serenity to Bermudians in the current political climate. The brainchild of Bishop Lloyd Duncan, the event will be held at the Greater Heritage Worship Centre on Sunday evening. The Right Reverend Nicholas Dill, Bishop of Bermuda; Bishop Vernon G. Lambe and Dr Stanley James will also be involved. Mr Duncan, who felt motivated a few weeks ago to put together the event, said: “I’ve never witnessed this level of polarization,” he said of the current political climate. “I just thought maybe as a church leader, the best thing I can offer the community is prayer.” Mr Duncan said he hoped the event would be a “trade-off” for participants. “If they come in discouraged or down, they would leave uplifted and upbeat,” he said of his aspiration. The event, which is open to all, begins at 6.30pm.
July 14. Police have provided details on their role during Tuesday’s General Election. In a release issued this afternoon, the Bermuda Police Service said the organisation had a role to play in ensuring that all persons who wish to vote are able to do so. “It is our duty on election day to maintain the peace and good order at all polling stations, as outlined in the Parliamentary Election Act,” police said. Officers would also assist with traffic management as required. To this end, police said that a plan to provide “unobstructed access” to the various stations had been established. “Officers will be stationed at every polling station to assist and provide reassurance to candidates and election officers. Police also outlined a number of offences that could be committed under the Parliamentary Election Act 1978. They said they expected the elections to be “peaceful and orderly”.
July 14. Stained glass windows honoring those who fell in the First World War have been removed from the Anglican Cathedral to be repaired. The Right Reverend Nicholas Dill, Bishop of Bermuda, said the windows, which date back to the 1920s, have been showing wear and tear in recent years. “The lead in the south-facing windows has become brittle and the windows now shake with the wind,” he said. “We had experts take a look, and the recommendation was that it needed to be taken out and shipped to the UK to be re-leaded and brought back, hopefully before November 2018, which is the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.” He said the repairs were important not just for the church, but for the island as a whole, explaining that the windows belonged to the people of Bermuda and were installed as a memorial for those lost during the First World War. “It’s an important window, and we would have hated to have lost it due to bad weather,” he said, noting that the project had found some support from the Government, the Corporation of Hamilton, the National Trust and the Royal Bermuda Regiment Charitable Trust. The work is expected to take around eight months, he added, and Plexiglas will be put in place to prevent the wind and rain from coming into the Cathedral until the windows return. The windows have a unique legacy, having been built and designed by Morris Meredith Williams and his wife, Alice Gertrude, who also designed the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh. The window depicts warrior saints of the church, including Joan of Arc and St Martin, along with a British soldier in First World War uniform and a British Naval rating.
July 14. Christmas-style spending came early in Bermuda as the America’s Cup boosted May retail sales by close to 10 per cent to $106.7 million. It is the biggest single increase in at least nine years — before the global financial crisis in 2008. The Retail Sales Index for the month showed a 9.8 per cent increase over the same month last year, or 8.4 per cent after inflation is factored in. The figure compared to a 2 per cent fall in the same month last year, while December 2016 logged a 3 per cent increase to $108.9 million. All sectors except motor vehicle sales showed an increase, with the “all other stores” category showing a 15.8 per cent increase in sales receipts. The America’s Cup started on May 27 and finished a month later, attracting thousands of visitors to the island. When overseas purchases by residents, which totaled $5 million, are included, the total spend for May was $111.7 million. Marine and boat supplies stores, part of the all other stores category, saw a massive leap in gross receipts for the month — up 64.8 per cent. Receipts for furniture, appliances and electronics went up by 22.6 per cent and other miscellaneous sales rose by 9.4 per cent. Pharmacies reported 6.5 per cent increase in sales revenue. After including inflation, the all other stores category went up 16.4 per cent. The clothing stores category saw a 14.8 per cent increase in sales, largely attributed to sales of America’s Cup merchandise. That compared to a fall of 7.5 per cent recorded for the same month in 2016. Receipts from the sale of building materials rose 12 per compared to May last year, the result of bigger demand due to building projects. After adjustment for inflation, the sales volume went up 12.1 per cent. Sales of liquor and food also rose, with liquor sales recording an 8.6 per cent rise, while food sales increased by 7.3 per cent. Those increases were attributed to an extra shopping day over the month and demand from visiting yachts and boats. By volume — after inflation — sales of liquor and food went up 2.6 per cent and 4.2 per cent respectively. Service stations also saw an increase in sales value by 15.2 per cent compared to May 2016. The increase was attributed partly to a 7.9 per increase in the price of fuel. After inflation adjustment, the sales volume in the service station sector rose by 6.8 per cent. Motor vehicle sellers, however, saw a 10.1 per cent decrease in sales receipts, put down to a 10.5 per cent fall in the volume of sales.
July 14. Bastille Day. France and Bermuda.
There is quite a sizable French population in Bermuda.. There is also an honorary French Consul and an active local French organization that meets regularly and arranges appropriate functions. L’Alliance Français des Bermudes celebrat
ed Bastille Day at Coco Reef today. Proceeds will go to their student programme, which saw five Bermudians awarded part of full scholarships to immersion programmes in the south of France this year. There was also an al fresco dinner, live French music, raffles and door prizes. Those attending were encouraged to wear white. The event started at 6.30pm with a cash bar and dinner was at 8pm. Tickets cost $85 for members and $95 for non-members.July 14. The official flagship of the Colombian Navy, the three-masted barque ARC Gloria, will visit Bermuda next week. Gloria is a training ship ordered by the Colombian Government in 1966. She is one of four similar barques built as sail training vessels for Latin American navies — her half-sisters are the Mexican Cuauhtémoc, the Venezuelan Simón Bolívar and the Ecuadoran Guayas. Their design is similar to the 1930 designs of the German firm Blohm & Voss, like Gorch Fock, USCGC Eagle and the NRP Sagres. The ship’s name is a reference to the national anthem, Oh Gloria inmarcesible (O Unfading Glory). ARC Gloria will arrive in Hamilton next Wednesday at 8.00am and will receive visitors that day and on Thursday and Friday from 9am to 12.00am and from 2pm to 5pm, and from 9am to noon on Saturday. The ship will depart on 4pm at that same day.
July 13. Republican lawmakers in the United States have called for an investigation into a Bermuda-based firm they accuse of using Russian money to disrupt the fracking industry. However, Wakefield Quin, who represent the company, called the allegations “completely false”, adding that the company has no Russian connection whatsoever. “Attorneys, law firms, financial institutions and all other companies based in Bermuda operate under a regulatory and anti-money laundering regime which applies standards which are among the highest in the world,” a spokesman said. “Illicit movement of funds falls well below such standards and any informed party would understand that. Not only is there no substance or truth to such allegations in this case, the allegations appear to be intended to damage the reputation of the Bermuda-based individuals and businesses named.” According to the Washington Times, House Science, Space and Technology Committee chairman Lamar Smith and energy sub-committee chairman Randy Weber have urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to investigate claims that Russia has been funding a “propaganda campaign” against fossil fuels. In a statement, Mr Smith said Russia had been using Bermudian-based shell companies to support US environmental groups targeting hydraulic fracking. “This scheme may violate federal law and certainly distorts the US energy market,” he said. “The American people deserve to know the truth and I am confident Secretary Mnuchin will investigate the allegations.” The Republicans noted claims that Russian entities may have used Bermuda-based Klein Ltd to fund the Sea Change Foundation in San Francisco, which in turn provided support for anti-fracking groups such as the Sierra Club. “Russian government and complicit parties have executed a political agenda with little or no paper trail,” the letter stated. “By incorporating in Bermuda, Klein is not required to disclose its donors’ identities or countries of origin.” Claims that Klein has been using Russian funds to support anti-fracking organisations arose in 2014 when a report by the US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee raised concerns. The committee’s report on Klein — which includes a reference to local law firm Wakefield Quin’s — said: “None of this foreign corporation’s funding is disclosed in any way. This is clearly a deceitful way to hide the source of millions of dollars that are active in our system, attempting to effect political change.” In a statement, Wakefield Quin fiercely denied the allegations, calling the claims “completely false and irresponsible”. A spokesman said: “Our firm has represented Klein since its inception, and we can state categorically that at no point did this philanthropic organisation receive or expend funds from Russian sources or Russian-connected sources and Klein has no Russian connection whatsoever.” The spokesman also noted that Bermuda and the US had an information exchange framework in place that allows the US Government, regulators and law enforcement agencies to have access concerning financial transactions in Bermuda and by Bermuda entities. “Through this framework, information is available to such proper authorities, enabling them to be satisfied as to the probity of any alleged payments,” he added. “Making false allegations about such payments is actionable and Wakefield Quin Limited will take such steps as it deems appropriate to prevent the distribution and dissemination of such falsehoods.” Klein Ltd was incorporated in Bermuda in 2011 “exclusively for philanthropic purposes” and a statement to the Registrar of Companies said that none of the earnings would go to private shareholders or individuals and that it did not propose to carry out business on the island.
July 13. Social commitments in the One Bermuda Alliance’s election platform were highlighted by Michael Dunkley this morning. The Premier, who was joined by St George’s West MP Nandi Outerbridge and Pembroke West Central candidate Nick Kempe at a press conference, outlined programmes “to progress Bermudian life. At the highest level, the OBA mission is to protect, support and progress the lives of Bermudians from one end of the island to the other,” Mr Dunkley said. "We are working to build a Bermuda that is all about equal opportunity and fair treatment because that is a foundation of a Bermuda that works for everyone.” He counted passing tax exemptions to encourage the hiring of Bermudians, negotiating food price discounts with grocers and expanding financial assistance as some of the OBA’s achievements." The overriding priority was to get the economy working again because it certainly had potential to help more people more quickly than anything else that we can do. But we know there are still many Bermudians struggling — many Bermudians have not yet been touched by the recovery and it is our mission with this election platform to finish the job. One of our most exciting programmes is this Jump Start Savings plan, setting up a savings account for every newborn Bermudian. This would be seeded with $2,500 dollars and invested to grow over time. The money would be available on their 18th birthday for continuing education, starting a business, making a down payment or for any venture that helps pursue their dreams.” He also reiterated that it is time to “take the politics out of education” and that the OBA believes an education authority could be a successful approach. This would involve broad consultation with all stakeholders, he said. Mr Dunkley also reiterated plans to tie increases in social insurance benefits to the cost of living, “so we can stop our seniors losing grounds. And licence renewals would be pushed back five years to 70, while caregivers would also receive more support through a caregiver resource centre. Helping those who help our seniors is going to be good for a lot of people and good for our community,” he said. He also pointed out that “road accidents and tragic deaths persist year in and year out at levels way too high” and that can only be limited through “stricter law enforcement and more community involvement”. Mr Dunkley said the OBA would “take steps to reduce alcohol and drug related crashes by providing police with roadside sobriety testing devices. We would also install speed cameras and red light cameras.” Ms Outerbridge, meanwhile, highlighted the success of the Cashback programme, saying: “Since its inception in 2014, Cashback has distributed more than $650,000 to communities across the island, and another $350,000 is ready for distribution. That is more than $1 million of seized criminal assets going back into communities to build a better Bermuda.” She also said the OBA would commit $2 million to support the Salvation Army’s transformation of the Bishop-Spencer building into an emergency and traditional housing facility. And a Let’s Fix It App would enable people to alert Public Works about problems such as illegal dumping and roadside growth, she said. "To eliminate unfairness in employee compensation, specifically unfairness as it relates to companies that offer housing benefits to their international employees but not to their Bermudian staff, the OBA would introduce an employer-based home loan that incentivises companies to offer interest free loans to their Bermudian staff for the purchase of a first home." And Mr Kempe said the OBA is working on “employer incentives so that apprenticeship programmes are not an economic burden on the employers. "They are also looking to expand the dual enrolment programme at Bermuda College to include technical education and the City and Guilds curriculum will start in the Middle School system in the autumn. This is the same certificate standard we require through workforce development and the immigration board when we are vetting foreign tradesmen coming in,” Mr Kempe said.
July 13. Seniors, schools, opportunities and neighborhood upkeep are among the issues facing the St David’s community, according to the incumbent MP and the woman looking to unseat her. Since 2007, Constituency 3 has been represented by the Progressive Labour Party’s Lovitta Foggo after she defeated Suzann Roberts-Holshouser by 90 votes. In 2012, she secured a second term defeating challenger Gaylenne Cannonier 511-384. An educator, Ms Foggo taught at institutions including St George’s Secondary, Whitney Institute, and CedarBridge Academy. She was a biology teacher at The Berkeley Institute when she was first elected as a Member of Parliament. This year, she will be challenged by One Bermuda Alliance candidate Andrea Moniz-DeSouza. Ms Moniz-DeSouza was among the final four candidates unveiled by the party at a press conference on June 30. The daughter of blue collar immigrant parents, Ms Moniz-DeSouza received much of her education in Bermuda from the public school system. She studied law abroad before returning to the island to practice as a member of the Bermuda Bar. Currently, she is the Honorary Consul of Portugal, as well as an executive committee member with the AG Show. According to Ms Foggo, the issues central to her constituents largely depend on their age. For younger families, Ms Foggo said education is the number one issue. She said she has worked very closely with the schools in the area, and promised along with her party “to ensure that we provide our children with the 21st-century education that they are most deserving of.” Families with older members, she said, are most concerned with healthcare. Ms Foggo said that constituents are worried about the inability of pensions to cover necessities, including medical matters. “They find that they are having to make a choice between ‘Do I buy these pills?’, ‘Do I get these types of groceries?’,” she said. “‘What is it I can afford to let leave by the wayside, for now, so that I can make sure that I manage?’” Ms Foggo said there had been an “outcry” over management of the topography and road works in Constituency 3. “People definitely feel that has been very much neglected,” she said. Ms Moniz-DeSouza echoed the concerns heard by Ms Foggo from constituents over community upkeep. The main concern of constituents, she said, related to maintenance of public areas — including tree trimming, lighting, and access to public transit — which they feel have been disregarded. “People generally feel as if they are ignored by their current representative,” Ms Moniz-DeSouza said. If elected, she said her prioritizes over the next five years would include providing assistance to seniors and vulnerable members of the community, addressing “much needed” facilities improvements for residents at Gulfstream, and investigating what can be done to increase adult education, job training and employment opportunities for area residents. “This is particularly important as it will help residents of Gulfstream transition into non-emergency housing,” she said. Ms Moniz-DeSouza said that the biggest challenge she would face in making her priorities realities would be getting all relevant government resources to “co-operate and co-ordinate”. Residents, she said, had been critical of the job done by their elected PLP representative. “According to the constituents I have spoken to, Ms Foggo has underrepresented her constituency and has not actively addressed their concerns,” she said. “Many residents feel as if the only time they see her is just before an election.” Ms Foggo said she prided herself on being an MP who is responsive to the voices and cries of her residents. “I have tried at every step of the way to definitely act on those issues they felt needed to be tended to,” she said. Pointing to concerns over the possible closure of St David’s Primary last year, Ms Foggo said she was there with the constituents to ensure that Government heard the position of community. “Many of my constituents have said — even on both sides of the fence — that they are very grateful to the fact that I am a very visible MP, that I come out to hear their concerns, and that I have, as best I can, responded to the requests that have been given to me.” According to Ms Moniz-DeSouza, a lifetime of community service has provided her with the tools to represent the people of St David’s “actively and faithfully. I don’t shy away from difficult tasks and pride myself on the ability to get things done. I’m not comfortable being passively involved in something — if I take on a task, I see it through until the job is done. After meeting with the residents of St David’s and hearing their concerns, I’m more determined than ever to get to work.” Ms Foggo pointed to her record working with the community as her best qualification for re-election. “I have been there every step of the way with them, for them. I have never seen myself as a separate entity — I have seen myself as a fellow community member and I understand that the job gets done best when we’re working together as a team.”
July 13. Marc Bean believes former premier Ewart Brown has “complete power and control” over the Progressive Labour Party. Mr Bean, Leader of the Opposition from 2012 until last November, spoke out after declaring his support for former premier Paula Cox’s bid as an independent candidate in Devonshire North West at Tuesday’s General Election. The former Warwick MP also claimed that the party did not appear to accept his principle of governing with “clean hands” and “pure hearts”. Ms Cox, whose maverick run in Constituency 14 is widely believed to damage Wayne Caines’s hopes of reclaiming the seat for the PLP, told the media that she shared Mr Bean’s vision for honesty amid a wider political backdrop of “lies and deception”. Mr Bean stepped down eight months after going on medical leave; he said that attempts to depose him were a significant factor behind his illness. Asked yesterday whether the PLP has faced a philosophical split over the legacy of Dr Brown, Mr Bean, who remains a member of the party, told The Royal Gazette: “There’s no longer a tussle within the PLP. You must know that Dr Brown exercises complete power and control over the PLP. But I have to give him full credit; you can hate the game, but don’t hate the player. I can’t hate the player in this sense. But he has managed to exercise a power that exceeds that of the PLP. I have seen that power extend across many segments of society. I have to give him credit. While everyone else was sleeping, he was not. Is that for the benefit of the people of this country? Only time will tell.” During his spell as leader, Mr Bean had decried a “politics of plunder” within both the PLP and the One Bermuda Alliance, claiming that a group within his own party had used the political process to enhance their personal positions. At the time he was heavily criticised by PLP MPs, and he was eventually replaced as leader by David Burt. In recent weeks, Mr Burt’s role has come under scrutiny from both Ms Cox and former PLP Cabinet minister Phil Perinchief. After her attempt to stand in Constituency 14 was rejected by the PLP last month — despite her being endorsed by the branch — Ms Cox sent a scathing e-mail to Mr Burt, saying senior party members had acted as if they had a “back room agenda” to tarnish her reputation. Last week, Mr Perinchief said he had heard suggestions that Mr Burt had faced pressures from outside his Parliamentary group into pushing for a General Election before the PLP was ready for one. Yesterday, Mr Bean said of his call for clean politics: “I took the position as leader that clean hands and pure hearts means standing on principle. That didn’t seem accepted within the PLP, or accepted within the OBA either. I’m not sure how the desire to govern on principle is something that could be ridiculed so easily. “I was interested in seeing more policy discussions, policy initiatives, from both parties. It’s disappointing, to say the least.” He described the OBA’s plan for a “jump-start savings account”, in which every newborn Bermudian child would receive an investment account seeded with $2,500, as “horrendous. A political party seeking to pander to the lowest common denominator. You would attack the PLP if they put out such a frivolous policy. What I would like to see is the recognition of the truth of this country. Not just the glitter of the America’s Cup and the manufactured confidence, but the reality that the people of this country face. The way to do it is to have the strategic policy of lowering the Government’s spending and, as a result, lowering tax rates and reducing the amount of regulation. The real challenge we face in this country is the economy. The culture and social make-up is merely a reflection of the economic conditions we face. I have yet to hear a growth policy expressed by either party. The approach that removes this idea that there are two Bermudas. We need more growth. Reducing regulation is to remove the oligarchic environment in this country that allows those with access to power first rights to everything — as opposed to those with the knowledge to do for themselves.” A PLP party spokesman said last night: “As Election Day comes near, there will be no shortage of innuendo, absurdity and just plain crazy talk. The PLP will remain focused on taking our message to the voters. We believe the voters are smart enough to cut through the nonsense and cast their ballot based on reality. That reality is that the PLP is the only party focused on building a better Bermuda for working families, the only party that will stop Michael Fahy’s Pathways to Status, and the only party that will put Bermudians first.” When asked for his response to Mr Bean’s remarks, Dr Brown declined to comment.
July 13. Bermuda Industrial Union has confirmed they are “100 per cent in support of the Progressive Labour Party” ahead of next Tuesday’s General Election. Claiming the OBA has again ignored labour, the Union believes that over the last five years Government shown “they have no respect for Bermudian workers.” “We all remember Minister Bob Richards’s letter of January 2015 to the Bermuda Trade Union Congress when he arrogantly dared to give the labour unions an ultimatum regarding furlough days,” said a BIU statement. “Although the unions had tried to assist the government in trying to cut expenses, the unions’ proposal was rejected. The OBA government wants to stand on their record and it is a record of broken promises at the expense of the Bermudian people. They brag about paying for a $77 million boat race while hotel workers in several hotels across Bermuda were on layoff including our members at the host hotel for Americas Cup, the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club. Now, according to the latest survey, it has been proven that it was not money well spent; it would have been better spent on improving our children’s schools. We look at the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on frivolous lawsuits with taxpayers’ money that could have been used to upgrade our seniors’ facilities rather than cutting their grants year after year. The OBA government totally ignored a survey that said 75 per cent of Bermudians were not in favour of giving away our airport and land for 35 years. The OBA government did not care as they were so adamant about getting the Airport Deal Bill passed that they crept into the House of Assembly in the wee hours of the morning, hiding from the very people they now want to vote for them. It did not matter to them that defenseless seniors and others were pepper-sprayed so they could get what they wanted. We could list the many broken promises from the OBA’s 2012 platform, but social media and the PLP have pointed that out to the public on numerous occasions over the last months and weeks. The Bermuda Industrial Union is urging the voting population to get out and vote on July 18 but most importantly vote PLP.”
July 13. A man has died after being pulled from the waters at Horseshoe Bay this afternoon. According to police, emergency crews were called to the beach for a report of an unconscious man at around 2.15pm. “Initial information suggests that the man involved, believed to be a 69-year-old American visitor, was unconscious when he was brought to shore by members of the public,” police said. CPR was performed at the beach, and continued during transport to hospital, police said. The man was later pronounced dead. Foul play is not suspected. “No further information regarding the deceased will be provided at this time, until his next of kin have been notified,” police said.
July 12. The One Bermuda Alliance has said it will continue to work to get Bermudians employed in the tourism industry. In a press conference this morning, Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, Minister of Home Affairs, noted the boosts in visitor arrivals, air lift and new hotel development as evidence of the OBA’s hard work with the Bermuda Tourism Authority. And she said the rise in visitors under the age of 45, saying it was a sign of good things to come. She said the decline of the industry had led to fewer jobs and opportunities for Bermudians, while damaging the island’s collective confidence. “The OBA thought that it was vital to pull out all the stops to bring new life to all those elements, because they are essential to the character, spirit and well-being of Bermuda,” she said. “Four years on, we have made vital strides for Bermuda tourism. The numbers support the progress. You don’t have to be an industry analyst to know a huge, positive change has taken place that is moving Bermuda tourism, and Bermuda itself, the right direction.” She said that the boost in the industry created new opportunities for Bermudians and their families to earn a living and build a career. Questioned about what the Ministry of Home Affairs is doing to support that effort, she said: “We have implemented a programme through which before someone can apply for a work permit, they first have to go to the Department of Workforce Development to ensure that there is not a suitably qualified Bermudian for that position. That is something that we have pushed, something about which I am particularly passionate because I believe that we have perhaps had a thought process that defers to foreigners first, and that is unfortunate. As a country, as Bermudians, I think we need to look for opportunities and make sure that people are aware how to access the opportunities that are available.” Asked about a recently reported decline in the number of Bermudians in the hotel industry and simultaneous increase in guest workers in the field, she said that the OBA had placed guarantees in hotel contracts requiring the hiring of Bermudian staff. “The contract with [The Loren] was that 50 per cent staff must be Bermudian on an ongoing basis,” she said. “In addition to that, what I have requested of this organisation is that internships are made available for positions that they deem to be unattainable at the moment for the class of service they want to offer. I have asked for internships so when the existing permits expire, there will be no need to renew them.” She also confirmed that similar employment requirements are also in place for both the Caroline Bay project on Morgan’s Point and the St Regis hotel development in St George’s. Ms Gordon-Pamplin was joined at the conference by Suzann Roberts-Holshouser, the OBA representative for St George’s South, and Ray Charlton, the OBA candidate for Sandys North. Mrs Holshouser said that St George’s had seen a major boost since 2012, saying that while the Corporation of St George’s had done an excellent job of maintaining the town, it remained largely empty of tourists. “What was missing was hope. What was missing was a cruise ship. What was missing was tenders to bring people to our beautiful, vibrant town,” she said. Now she said the town was bustling with tours, led by Bermudians, and the construction of a new hotel would mean new jobs for residents of the east end. Meanwhile, Mr Charlton said much had been done in the west end, adding that coverage of the island from both the America’s Cup and The Today Show will help continue the rise in tourism. “We have and OBA team who is ready and willing to work for everyone in Bermuda with a vision of restoring and revitalizing tourism,” he said.
July 12. Opposition Leader David Burt has remained tight-lipped over documents that provide details of a planned trip he was going to take with Zane DeSilva, Mark Pettingill and Shawn Crockwell to New York the day after Mr Crockwell was found dead. Documents purporting to show confirmation of the quartet’s booking at the Four Seasons Hotel on June 11 this year have been widely spread online and on social media. Asked on Tuesday afternoon why the four had booked into the same hotel on the same day, the Leader of the Opposition told The Royal Gazette: “Here’s the only thing I will state — people should be concerned, people should be very concerned, if items that are in police custody are given to the members of political campaigns.” This newspaper asked Mr Burt a series of questions about the purpose of the trip and whether he had any business arrangements with the other three politicians, involving offshore entities. He responded: “To address the questions about my business dealings and associates, I believe they can all be answered by a quick look at my [parliamentary] financial interests filings. This form was updated just last year and, as I attested when I signed it, it represents my financial interests in their entirety. There has been no change to the interests listed here.” He provided The Royal Gazette with a copy of his entry on the Register of Members’ Interests, dated January 13, 2016. Copies of e-mails being shared around the island via WhatsApp, Facebook and other forums include one that appears to show that the Opposition leader was due to stay at the Four Seasons on June 11. The e-mail, addressed to independent MP Mr Crockwell, appears to be confirmation from the hotel of room bookings for four people: Mr Crockwell, Mr Burt, PLP MP Mr DeSilva and independent MP Mr Pettingill. It lists “Mr Edward David Burt” as having a room reserved for one night, arriving on June 11, and the other three men as arriving the same day but being booked in for a two-night stay, until June 13. An excerpt from another e-mail has also been shared on social media. It appears to have been sent from Mr DeSilva to Mr Crockwell and Mr Pettingill on June 4, with the subject: “FW: Itinerary for Zane DeSilva, Sunday, 11 June 2017.” It said: “Guys, you OK with this or we stay and DB comes back?” The trip to New York would have taken place two days after a motion of no confidence in the Government, brought by Mr Burt, was set to take place in Parliament. Law firm partners Mr Crockwell and Mr Pettingill, both former One Bermuda Alliance Cabinet ministers who separately quit the party, were likely to be key to the outcome of the vote. Mr Crockwell had stated he would vote in favour of Mr Burt’s motion, while Mr Pettingill had not revealed how he would vote. The motion was pre-empted by Michael Dunkley, the Premier, who called a General Election before it could take place. Mr Crockwell was found in an unresponsive state at his Hamilton Parish home on June 10, before being declared dead. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and his family later revealed he left a note saying his death was for health reasons. The Royal Gazette asked Mr Pettingill and Mr DeSilva for comment but both declined. The Bermuda Police Service responded to inquiries about the origin of the online posts by saying that “there is no evidence to suggest that they are from Mr Crockwell’s phone at this time”. A spokesman said: “The Bermuda Police Service is aware of the images that are circulating on social media that are speculated to be pictures of messages on a phone owned by the late Shawn Crockwell MP. These images, which appear to be pictures of pictures, cannot be verified at this time. The origin of the images is currently being looked into by the BPS, but there is no evidence to suggest that they are actually from Mr Crockwell’s phone at this time. The public are encouraged to contact the Bermuda Police Service on 295-0011 or the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers hotline 800-8477 with any information they may have regarding this matter.” When contacted by The Royal Gazette, the OBA resisted any suggestion from Mr Burt that it played a role in the dissemination of content that has made the rounds. “This is clearly a matter for Opposition leader Burt and his colleagues to answer,” party chairwoman Lynne Woolridge said. “Our team is focused on talking with voters on the doorstep about our mission to move Bermuda forward together.”
July 12. Progressive Labour Party members touched upon a number of previously unveiled platform pledges at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. Topics including the development of a tech hub, education and seniors were discussed as part of the party’s promise to create more opportunities for all Bermudians. Kim Wilson reiterated the PLP’s promise of a Bermuda First advisory group, consisting of local and international business and community leaders. “Bermuda needs to draw on our intellectual capital and use our stakeholders to help us to facilitate this particular plan,” the Sandys South Central MP said. "We can no longer sit back and rely on international business and tourism as our only sources of economic activity and growth in Bermuda.” Under a PLP government, an economic diversification unit would be created, Ms Wilson said. The establishment of a technology hub at Southside, she said, would allow and encourage start-up firms to come to Bermuda. Funding would also be increased for jobs training and retraining, she said. Ms Wilson said job opportunities would help prioritize employment of qualified locals. “As a nation, we cannot expect to thrive when we continue to have an unequal system that incentivises employers from hiring foreigners over local Bermudians,” she said. She also reiterated the party’s pledge to create a Tax Reform Commission. To encourage entrepreneurship, Ms Wilson said that the party would double the lending capacity of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation. “These are the ones that have the ideas and the vision and the drive to create job opportunities and new industries on our island, which upon being successful, will also employ more Bermudians. We’ll assist entrepreneurs to turn their passions into profits. The expansion of foreign capital for first-time business owners would also be provided." Walter Roban said that opportunities provided to islanders through the education system had failed under the One Bermuda Alliance. To remedy the situation, he repeated PLP promises including the installation of wi-fi in all schools, the eventual phasing out of middle schools and introduction of signature schools, and increased accessibility to Bermuda College through financial support for in-need students. “Finances and families should not be a barrier to tertiary education,” the Pembroke East MP said. Jamahl Simmons said the lack of available opportunities extend to families and seniors, as well as students. He pointed to a lack of pension increases, a lack of opportunities pushing youth to gangs, and fewer opportunities for affordable housing. “These are trends that must be reversed immediately,” the Sandys South MP said. "The PLP is the party of all Bermudians, and we will ensure that everyone will have the opportunities they deserve for a better life.”
July 12. A handful of voters have the potential to turn the tide in Warwick North Central, with opinions divided in advance of the looming election. This year, the constituency will be the home of a new MP. With incumbent Wayne Scott not running, both Sheila Gomez and David Burch are left vying for a spot in the House of Assembly. A political veteran, Mr Burch spent years in the Cabinet and the Senate for the Progressive Labour Party and served as the public safety minister. Meanwhile, Ms Gomez, a former tennis player and coach, is a political newcomer and participating in her first election as a candidate. In 2007, the PLP claimed this constituency with Elvin James beating Mr Scott — then with the United Bermuda Party — by 117 votes. However, the constituency’s boundaries changed in 2010, absorbing voters from Warwick West and losing others to Warwick North East. Two years later, the seat was won by Mr Scott, representing the One Bermuda Alliance, who edged out Mr Burch by just ten votes. At that election, Roderick Simons, formerly of the UBP, had thrown his hat into the ring as an independent. Mr Scott tallied 436 votes, Mr Burch claimed 426 votes and Mr Simons 22 votes. The opinions of area residents are varied, with PLP and OBA signs posted feet away from each other in some areas. A Farmer’s Lane resident said that for him the economy is the core issue. “I think the America’s Cup did quite a bit to make some headway,” he said. “I mean, there has been a lot of rhetoric about it and how much it cost, but it was an investment. I agree that education and the cost of living are important. They are really, really important, but at the same time we can’t do much without spending money and to spend that money we need to have money. Otherwise we just go further into debt.” He said crime was not a major issue in the constituency, adding that he thought the OBA had done a “fairly good job” given the island’s economic issues. Several residents expressed serious concerns about unemployment. One woman, who described herself as a lifelong Warwick resident, said: “We need to find more work for the locals. I see them on the walls and they say ‘there’s no money, no jobs’. I guess they aren’t trying to hire anyone, but I think that’s a big issue.” Damien, 33, agreed, saying: “Right now, it’s jobs. People need jobs. Everybody’s looking around for jobs.” He said that the OBA have built momentum, but both parties have their own strengths and weaknesses. “If it’s PLP, I want them to come to the forefront and try to, in a sense, do what the OBA’s done in the marketing world and also focus on the people. If the OBA stays in, then I want them doing what they’re doing, continue to try to operate the island, but they need to focus on the community part as well. So, both have their ups and downs.” However, a 27-year-old from the St Mary’s Road area said she did not trust the OBA to do what is right for Bermudians. “They made a lot of promises,” she said. “They made a lot of promises about jobs. Two thousand jobs, but where are they? There are still lots of people who are unemployed.” She said the island’s schools remain a serious concern for her, saying students need to have a safe environment to learn. “Young people need to get a good education if they are going to make a name for themselves here or anywhere else, and the condition of the schools is just terrible. I don’t want to go in them. Not without a gas mask. How they think that can be acceptable for our children, I will never know.” Ron Lovell also voiced concerns about education, saying: “Everybody’s fighting a losing battle for school students. When I was coming along, schoolteachers were dedicated in making sure that you learnt, so in other words it was impossible for you not to have any knowledge once you left school.” He added that while the job market remains challenging, it is not something that can easily be turned around by any government. “People say a lot of stuff and promise a lot of things but they don’t always deliver,” he said. “I would just like to see whoever gets in, treat the country right. Like, you have this gang violence: they’ve got to try to stop that somehow.” Meanwhile a Tamarind Vale resident gave the OBA a mixed review, adding that she was concerned about a lack of progress on some issues. She expressed concerns about the lack of leadership on the issue of same-sex marriage and cannabis by the Government, along with slower-than-hoped movement in tourism. “A lot was promised, but we are still waiting for casinos and the hotels are not ready yet. They are coming, but the hotels we have are not filled. The America’s Cup did well, but I remember talk about them bringing in a cruise ship just to house visitors, and that didn’t happen, so I’m curious about what the figures are going to be when they come out.” She said she supported the decision to host the America’s Cup, expressing hope that the event would prove profitable for the island. Meanwhile, a Tribe Road man said that he would be supporting the PLP, describing himself as a longtime supporter of the party. “The PLP did a lot for the community, the Bermuda community,” he said. “They helped seniors, they gave students free education at Bermuda College, and the OBA hasn’t done anything for Bermudians. Other than bring down a boat race. They don’t care about Bermudians. We need to get them out.” Ethan, 19, said “There’s so much debt and there’s not really much of a plan to try and change that. I can see they’re attempting to do stuff with the America’s Cup and all types of stuff, but there’s not really any lasting impact. And I’m not saying that there’s a definite solution, but it seems like they’re putting their eggs in a short-term basket.” He added: “I just hope that Bermudians will become more aware of the political climate and be more independent when they think about things.”
July 12. The future of middle schools — introduced two decades ago under the United Bermuda Party — is a topic that continues to divide opinion. The Progressive Labour Party has pledged to phase them out, saying it would introduce signature schools at the secondary level focusing on “individual learning styles and interests”. Meanwhile, the One Bermuda Alliance’s election platform avoids the issue of middle schools altogether. The Hopkins Report, produced in 2007 under the PLP, found that there was “no doubt” that the move to middle schools was “a mistake” for numerous reasons including lack of continuity. However, the review team concluded that a structural response could also “cause more confusion and instability” and therefore stopped short of making a formal recommendation. It said such a move would not address what it called “the real issue — the low quality of teaching and learning”. Shadow education minister Diallo Rabain has argued the PLP met that goal in its last term in power. One Hopkins recommendation that has been met was the aligning of the curriculum, through the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum in 2010. In 2016, St George’s Prep and St David’s Primary School recorded the island’s best average Cambridge grade over the previous four years. St George’s Preparatory School principal Mary Lodge said that a fundamental reason for her students’ success was an emphasis on reading while she also cited the benefits, as an aided school, of having the autonomy to hire its own teaching staff. This was a potential benefit identified in the Hopkins Report, which said: “Schools have neither substantially delegated budgets nor much real autonomy. The governors of aided schools have greater freedoms than in other schools, for example — to identify the teachers they wish to appoint.” While Bermuda has struggled to keep up with international standards with Cambridge, there is good reason, according to Ms Lodge who spoke to The Royal Gazette on the issue last year. The relatively low Cambridge Primary Checkpoint results in English, Maths and Science in the public schools did not take into consideration the socio-economic factors that can affect performance, she said. “Bermuda is the only country or school district where everybody sits the checkpoint exam,” she told us at the time. “The reason this is important is that the other schools that are sitting this exam are international schools, charter schools, schools of diplomats’ children — therefore all standardized tests show a bias towards socio-economic standards.” When approached this week for comment, Ms Lodge was keen that the positive elements in the public education system be highlighted. She said: “Our primary school averages for English and Science meet international standards. The middle school reform is taking hold and students are taking O Levels early, in some cases. The dual enrolment with senior schools is the most exciting advance in a generation. Build on what is working. Stop the public dialogue that makes it sound like everything in public education is a failure. We have much to applaud.”
July 12. School infrastructures have crumbled, ministers have repeatedly been chopped and changed, and students’ ever-evolving technological needs, according to many, have been neglected. The past decade has not been particularly kind to Bermuda’s public education system, no matter whether the Progressive Labour Party or the One Bermuda Alliance has been in power. A growing feeling has emerged that education must become a top priority for whoever wins next week’s General Election — or even taken out of the hands of politicians altogether. The OBA has pledged to explore the concept of an education authority to “remove the politics and provide consistent professional and accountable leadership to our public education system”, while the PLP pledges to “minimise political interference, by empowering educational professionals”. Such an idea finds favour with Danielle Riviere, a former member of the School Re-organization Committee, and the PTA president at West Pembroke School, who believes that fat needs to be cut on a ministry level. “With every report that comes out, it has been said that we have a top-heavy ministry that is relatively ineffective,” Ms Riviere told The Royal Gazette. She suggested an education authority could produce results like many say the Bermuda Tourism Authority has done. Ms Riviere said: “I am all for an authority because if that comes into place what needs to happen at a ministry level will hopefully take place. If leadership can change, then hopefully the dissemination and the ability to listen to those who are delivering the services will change. But it is also important that the right people are doing the right job. Look at the BTA — when they transferred from the ministry they fired everyone and everyone had to reapply and be placed in a position that was adequate for what their capabilities are.” Last year, the spotlight was turned on the crumbling infrastructure across Bermuda’s 18 primary schools with the publication of the damning School Re-organization Report commissioned by Wayne Scott, the minister at the time. Both parties now say a priority is to deal with infrastructure. The lack of modern technology in public schools was also highlighted in the report, including the basics such as wi-fi. Both the OBA and PLP have pledged to ensure wi-fi is available across all public schools while Steam learning has been listed as priority areas. Ms Riviere said she agrees with the implementation of Steam-based learning but hopes that resources are properly considered. “There is a huge benefit of having Steam within our schools but that means having it properly resourced because you can’t introduce another programme and hand it to the teachers who are already stretched,” she said. The frequent changing of ministers has been a constant theme under both parties. The PLP saw three in its last term: Randy Horton (2006), Elvin James (2008), and Dame Jennifer Smith (2010), while the OBA racked up four during its term — Nalton Brangman (2012); Grant Gibbons (2013); Wayne Scott (2015) and Cole Simons (2017). The role of the education commissioner has also been fraught with difficulties. The PLP hired Wendy McDonnell in 2011 to “lead the transformation of the Bermuda public school system” and she retired in 2013. Education expert Paul Wagstaff turned down the position last February after a lengthy open vacancy. On the appointment of Mr Scott in January 2015, Michael Dunkley said an education commissioner would be hired “imminently”. However, the commissioner’s seat remained empty with Bermudian Freddie Evans sitting as acting commissioner up until last March when he was finally handed the reins. The previous commissioner, Edmond Heatley, had a short tenure lasting just seven months after his resignation in April 2014. Dissent from teachers has been clearly evident, with a row over contract negotiations culminating in a march on Cabinet from 600 Bermuda Union of Teachers members in May. Last month, the BUT released its “2017 Education Remit” in absence, it said, of a solid platform by either party. It reads: “We believe that the delivery and the management of education is of utmost importance and needs to be managed with meticulous attention to detail.” Going forward, those in the community — education stakeholders — have been enlisted to help find a way forward under the guidance of education czar Jeremiah Newell who has turned around failing schools in the United States. The PLP has said it was on board with reviewing and implementing the recommendations of the initiative.
July 12. Paula Cox has officially launched her campaign as an independent candidate for Devonshire North West, at a press conference introduced by former Opposition leader Marc Bean. The pair — both former Progressive Labour Party leaders — are united in their wish for “clean hands” and a “pure heart”, Ms Cox told the media. Ms Cox, the premier from 2010 to 2012 and a prominent PLP figure since the 1990s, made headlines last month when she quit to run as an independent, after party leaders chose Wayne Caines to run in Constituency 14 ahead of her. The OBA candidate for Devonshire North West is Glen Smith, who surprisingly defeated Ms Cox at the 2012 General Election. Emphasizing her commitment to working with the constituents, Ms Cox unveiled a “covenant with the people” that extolled her political background as “the embodiment of integrity, experience, knowledge, honesty, stability and commitment. I’m sure there are many that wonder why I have chosen the path of an independent. I’m sure there are many that wonder why I want to re-enter a political landscape that has become so toxic and polarized. But there are too few who are willing to stand up for principle and fight the injustices that continue to plague Bermuda, even now in 2017. I would like to see more women in politics — often women avoid the up and down, the adversarial climate.” Sitting next to her was area voter Naomi Daniel, who said she was appearing “on behalf of the hundreds of supporters who see you as our best representative”. Acknowledging the legislation that she steered through Parliament towards the end of her tenure as Premier, Ms Cox said: “We’ve seen the two pieces of good governance legislation and the Office of Project Management and Procurement — also, you will note not a whisper came out of the Commission of Inquiry to indicate that at any time I acted in any questionable manner. So when former PLP leader Marc Bean speaks of the importance of clean hands and a pure heart, I agree. Clean hands, a pure heart, a sharp mind and clear vision. I believe I represent that, and that is what the residents of Constituency 14 can expect from me; those who vote for me and even those who choose not to. If elected, I will serve all. I’ve personally had to endure an unrelenting barrage of lies and deception all with the view of misleading the voting public and getting them to question my integrity. This petty politics must give way to a grand mission of hope and inclusion, where all our children can discover their destiny and realize their calling to greatness. Petty politics has to go. We can rise.” Asked by The Royal Gazette if she was concerned at the possibility of splitting the vote for the PLP, from which she resigned last month after a rift over the party’s candidate selection, Ms Cox said: “What the people will decide is who is best qualified to represent their interests. If they do the analysis and look at the experience and track record, I think they will come inevitably to the conclusion that voting for Paula will be the best choice for them, in terms of having an advocate on the floor of the House.” Polls under the PLP and by Ms Cox’s campaign suggested that she would win the seat, she added. “What came through clearly was that people saw the OBA representative as missing in action,” she said. Ms Cox also said that she wished the PLP well in the campaign — and, when asked if she would consider rejoining, she said: “Let’s not pre-empt the process. Right now, let’s get through this election.” Mr Bean described Ms Cox as chastened by her defeat in 2012, telling this newspaper: “Sister Paula is a person that, after she lost the election, actually redoubled her efforts to commit to Constituency 14. Unlike many others who come and go in politics for their own narrow, selfish interests, she showed penance almost, and sought forgiveness.” He vouched for her adherence to the PLP, attending “just about every meeting” and supporting “the constitutional integrity of our party”. Mr Caines, he added, was “a fine gentleman” whom he would support fully — had he received the backing of the party’s branch. Mr Bean condemned the island’s level of political discourse, and criticised the media as falling short in bolstering the debate. “As a leader, my job is not to follow but to stand on principle — not this ‘let’s fix and deal with the problems later’,” he said. Expressing hope for either Ms Cox or Mr Caines to win next week, Mr Bean added: “Paula Cox has been an upholder of our constitution. She has not done anything wrong, but sought to uphold the constitution. I was the victim of the same environment, where expediency trumps principle. It was not to the detriment of me but it’s really to the detriment of our children, born and unborn.”
July 12. A new healthcare service aims to tackle dementia in Bermuda. Bermuda Alzheimer’s and Memory Services offers cognitive screening, in-home nursing and assessment services and education for patients and their families. Founders Jo-Ann Cousins-Simpson and Maxine Simmons are also planning to open a specialized nursing home in the next year for patients who can no longer live at home. “There is a need for it,” Dr Cousins-Simpson told The Royal Gazette. “It’s a tall order but we are going to be doing it.” According to the GP, there are about 2,000 people on the island with dementia. But estimates for Britain and the United States suggest only 40 per cent of people with the disease have had it diagnosed, and Dr Cousins-Simpson believes the same applies in Bermuda. “So it is a lot more,” she said, adding that in the past people often avoided going to their doctors because they believed nothing could be done. But new research has shown dementia can be delayed and reversed if caught early, she said. There have been repeated calls for a dementia care unit and Dr Cousins-Simpson founded Beams with Ms Simmons, clinical nurse co-ordinator at the hospital, “to tackle the problem of dementia in Bermuda”. “Right now, there are little pockets where they go to their GP and a lot of patients complain because they are just given a diagnosis and then they’re left,” Dr Cousins-Simpson said. “They need follow-up.” While there is no cure, she said patients “are going to have concerns and dementia brings along other stuff — there is the wandering, the sun-downing, the aggressiveness. It’s not the same as other types of illnesses and you cannot just treat it the same way. Early diagnosis also allows patients to plan ahead when it comes to finances or where they want to go once they can no longer stay at home. You can make so many other decisions. You take charge of your life, you take charge of your health.” Because a dementia diagnosis can be overwhelming for both patients and their families, education will be a big component. As a first step to educating the wider public, Dr Cousins-Simpson organised the first Beams Alzheimer’s and Dementia summit in April and they plan to make this an annual event. Resources will also be available at the new clinic, which opened in Maiden House at 131 Front Street this week, as well as online. “The other part is an in-home nursing and assessment service,” she said. “That’s already started, where we do assessments of patients in-home in terms of dementia. But this is a nursing service — if Maxine goes and she thinks they need a doctor, she could call me.” Ms Simmons will assesses what’s needed in the home and what level of care is required, and Dr Cousins-Simpson said: “The spin-off from that is that we will help to provide some of that care.” A priority will be making sure patients can stay in their homes for as long as possible. Ms Simmons said this is better for the patients, who tend to already be confused and a new environment and different people can make this worse. “They identify with the past and the past is home,” she said, adding that this is what the Government has been pushing for, “so we come in right in sync with the Government”. And Dr Cousins-Simpson added: “If patients can stay home, that alone will help their personalities, instead of putting them in a strange place with strange people who are rotating.” The new clinic is also offering cognitive screening for at-risk patients. “It’s actually a short version — it’s going to dictate whether you need longer tests,” Dr Cousins-Simpson explained. She added that at a cost of about $100 it is a cheaper alternative to the “whole barrage of tests normally ordered. In practicality, not all dementia diagnoses demand an MRI. Cognivue will save us — us meaning the health system — a lot of money.” The clinic will also have a doctor’s office, which will be up and running once her work permit has been approved, “to take on the whole diagnosis and management of dementia patients”. Both women, who have more than 35 years between them in the medical profession, eventually plan to transition to Beams full-time. Dr Cousins-Simpson said they will be looking to employ about 37 staff including nurses, nursing aides and office staff. It may be even more than that, as we get bigger and the need arises.”
July 11. Advanced polling for incapacitated voters and residents who will be travelling on the day of the General Election will open today, the Parliamentary Registrar confirmed. The polling station at the Seventh-day Adventist Church on King Street in Hamilton will be open today, tomorrow and Thursday between 8am and 8pm. Advanced polling certificates for travellers will be issued at the Parliamentary Registry until Thursday. The office will have extended hours today, tomorrow and Thursday from 8am to 8pm to issue certificates and voters cards. Travellers require E-ticket receipts or a confirmed airline ticket itinerary showing the dates of travel as well as identification to obtain a certificate. Accepted forms of ID include driver’s licence, a passport issued by a Commonwealth country, a special person’s card, or a voter’s card. Incapacitated voters need to present themselves to the Chief Medical Officer at the Hamilton Health Centre on Victoria Street, Hamilton. Voters should call ahead for an appointment on 278-6460 to reduce waiting times at the clinic. Any voter who is scheduled for a medical procedure that will prevent them from being able to travel to the polling station on election day may also apply to vote in advance. Certificates will be issued until Thursday between 9am and 12pm and again from 2pm to 4pm. Voters will require identification and if the voter has a scheduled medical procedure, a letter from his or her doctor stating that they are unable to travel to the polls on polling day.
July 11. Finance minister Bob Richards hit out at the Opposition’s economic track record at a press conference yesterday. He slammed the Progressive Labour Party for overspending its annual budget for five consecutive years, to the tune of $418 million, comparing it with how the One Bermuda Alliance under-spent by $89 million during its first four years in power. He blamed overruns on major capital projects — examples, he said, of the PLP “missing their targets” — for much of the overspending and said it was Bermudians who were ultimately “required to pay because the PLP did not properly manage” those projects. Mr Richards, OBA candidate for Devonshire East, also noted that the Auditor-General gave five consecutive qualified audits on the PLP Government’s financial statements, compared to four consecutive unqualified audits for the OBA. “Now a qualified audit is a bad thing,” he said. “An unqualified audit is a good thing. That’s five audits that the Auditor could not certify that the PLP Government’s financial statements presented a true and fair picture of their management of the people’s money. And, in contrast, that’s four straight audits for the OBA Government on our financial statements, which the Auditor gave her stamp of approval.” Mr Richards claimed the Opposition’s record was one of “skyrocketing deficits to unprecedented debt levels, versus the OBA’s work to narrow the deficit each year with the aim of balancing the budget in the end. Against this backdrop, there are some very questionable positions the PLP has taken in their platform, which do nothing to assure the bad practices of the past are not going to be repeated in the future if they were to become government. A case in point is the Bermuda Fund, which is to use pensioners’ money to fund new Bermuda business ventures which are, by definition, high-risk. We will not do that. [Opposition leader] Mr [David] Burt’s plan to broaden the tax base by taxing passive income of Bermudians — that would be things like income from investments, savings, and most crucially, rental income. Income that many Bermudians rely upon to pay down their mortgages. This plan amounts to essentially, income tax. We will not do that. It is not part of our Budget strategy, announced in the spring.” He claimed the PLP had failed to outline how it would balance the country’s books by 2019 and the only way would be to follow the OBA’s plan. “I would ask Bermuda, given the PLP’s track record and [the] big spending plans they have in their platform, can you believe them? Can you take this one sentence insertion in their platform and without any explanation [of] how they would do it ... actually believe them? Saying you will balance the budget and actually doing it are two very different things. We are not just saying we will do it in the OBA; we are in the process of doing it right now.” In a release issued on Tuesday night, the PLP dismissed Mr Richards’ comments as distraction attempts amid the OBA’s “losing campaign for re-election. It’s no wonder they keep resorting to lies and scare tactics instead of standing in front of the people and debating issues that matter. Issues like the loss of 2,000 jobs, pathways to status, and the increases in the cost of living that are plaguing our working families.” The PLP has said tax reform aimed at the privileged will be a key priority if it wins the election, along with a “job-creating” Bermuda Fund, an economic diversification unit and a payroll tax exemption for any Bermudian company that brings previously outsourced jobs back to the island.
July 11. The One Bermuda Alliance pledged to prioritize seniors as part of an election campaign that will work to drive down health costs while incentivising the creation of care facilities and home care provision. Health and seniors minister Jeanne Atherden was joined by OBA senator Andrew Simons and OBA candidate Simone Barton yesterday morning as they rolled out details of the plan. The issue of the pension fund caused some controversy with Ms Atherden taking a direct swipe at the Opposition Progressive Labour Party saying it was not the OBA’s intention to “invest in high risk ventures” using the government’s pension fund. Home affairs Minister Pat Gordon-Pamplin recently referred to PLP plans outlined in the PLP’s Reply to the Budget and its Vision 2025 — released prior to its 2017 platform — to create a Bermuda Fund. Ms Gordon-Pamplin said the plan would see the Opposition “invest more than $70 million of seniors’ pension money in high-risk start-up companies”. Opposition leader David Burt said in his most recent Budget Reply in reference to Vision 2025: “There is a high level of investment expertise in Bermuda and the next PLP government will take advantage of this expertise by creating a ‘Bermuda Fund’. This fund, which will be seeded with a small portion of the pension funds that are under the control of the government, will allow Bermuda to tap into the investment expertise on the island, while providing an additional outlet for our large pension funds to invest more of their monies in Bermuda-based equity investments.” However, the PLP issued a statement after today’s press conference saying the OBA’s claim was “based on lies”. Neville Tyrrell, PLP candidate for constituency 26, said: “The PLP will again say that there is no plan to invest pension money in start-ups. The pension funds are invested by the Public Funds Investment Committee which has strict regulations and does not invest in start-ups.” Mr Simons said that according to the advice of actuaries, the only way to protect the fund is to ensure that it has adequate money to grow and be able to make those payments when people reach retirement age. Ms Atherden added: “With respect to pension protection — we will not be investing in high-risk ventures as proposed by the PLP. We understand that the funds are there to be accumulated so that they can produce the benefit and be available to pay pension benefits out to seniors.” One major issue raised at the press conference on seniors was the creation of an advocacy office that would have the capacity to investigate and intervene on behalf of seniors. Ms Barton, who is chair of the Bermuda Health Council, said the office would “ensure that our seniors are taken care of and that their interests are protected, and help them to address the specific challenges that result in ageing, diminished capacity and from abuse. We also want to look at developing the capacity to investigate and intervene on their behalves. For us it is very vital for us to protect and help our seniors to move forward.” The OBA spoke on these measures back in 2015 when the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged was formally renamed Ageing and Disability Services. Care and home care facilities was presented as a major issue for the ruling party as the hospital buckles under the pressure due to long term patients who should be cared for in the home or at an alternative facility. Incentives were proposed for construction companies looking to build new care facilities, those looking to create homes in existing facilities, and for caregivers who are willing to care for seniors in their home. Ms Barton added: “We also are going to look and ensure that if hospice care is needed then it can be provided at home. One of the biggest challenges that we have is that the hospital is inundated with people needing hospice care. If that hospice care can be provided in a home setting it would be much better for not only the patient but the family. Most people do not want to go into a hospital and with the OBA we are making sure that [our seniors] are safe and protected and when the time calls for it that they can be loved and cared for at home.” Ms Atherden said a long term care group has been formed to assess the demand for care facilities in Bermuda outside of the general hospital. Ms Barton spoke on the creation of caregivers’ resource centre that would provide an allowance as well as practical help and advice for caregivers. Mr Simons highlighted members of the community who make “great personal sacrifice” to care for loved ones. Ms Atherden spoke of a crackdown on employers not paying social insurance which is required and pays towards the government pension fund. “We will put more resources into making sure that employers out there do what they are required to do by law.” She has also proposed to increase the age at which a senior is required to renew their drivers’ licence from 65 to 70 while tying social insurance pension benefits to the cost of living to ensure that they “don’t lose ground”. In terms of health are costs, Mr Simons outlined the implementation of the Relative Value Unit methodology. “As I discussed in the senate, the fees for Standard Health Benefit services particularly for diagnostic imaging services . . . are set by the Relative Value Unit methodology. The prices all move together and that is the crucial aspect of it. For the past four years I have been a member of the board of the Bermuda Health Council, chaired the Regulation Sub-Committee, chaired the Finance and Economics committee — the technical staff will always say the fees for some diagnostic imagine services are just out of whack. The RVU methodology allows those fees to move together in a way that is appropriate and it is a methodology that is less susceptible to lobbying for individual price tweaks to services. If someone came in and said I know the fees for X-rays are $100 but I think the fees for sonograms should be $600 when normally the ratio would suggest that they would only be $150m, it is not possible to give those tweaks because we have committed to setting prices in a more rigorous way. Reduction in imaging rates as a result of using the RVU methodology gave us $23 breathing room. We were able to expand coverage for at home care for seniors which has been life changing for so many people.”
July 11. Premier Michael Dunkley described delight with the turnout for a One Bermuda Alliance-organised youth forum held last night. The two-hour long forum took shape as a series of round table talks held at CedarBridge Academy, with participants able to table-hop to address the topics and converse with the relevant representatives as they saw fit. “We tried to create an atmosphere where the young people could be comfortable,” Mr Dunkley said of the format. The OBA was represented by senators, members of parliament, and candidates in the upcoming General Election taking place next week. Mr Dunkley characterized the conversations as “deep. At my table, there’s been every issue from the state of the economy, to education, to healthcare, to seniors, to cannabis reform, to road safety,” he said. Echoing the Premier, Nalton Brangman, candidate for Warwick South East, said he was pleased by the turnout. He said he was even more pleased by the questions raised and the subject matter they covered. “It is not only a breath of fresh air, but a sign of hope,” Mr Brangman said. “When the young people are engaged, their care for their future means they are paying greater attention to every detail that’s going on, regardless of the political parties,” he said. Bob Richards, Minister of Finance, said that “great discussions” had taken place at his table. “They’re invested in Bermuda,” he said of the youth. “It was very encouraging.” Trae Cannonier, of It’s That Type of Party, said: “This gives people our age — who especially feel that both political parties are hard to reach — it gives us the perfect opportunity to hear from One Bermuda Alliance the questions that we need answered.” Mr Cannonier said that he often heard from older residents that today’s youth are the most politically involved the island had ever seen. “I think it’s dawned on us that 20 years from now it’s going to be us in their positions — so we really need to start paying attention so that we can figure out what going on,” he said. Eron Hill, with Generation Next, said that he was disappointed that no member of the OBA had opted to participate in the community forum held by his organisation. He said the OBA event had been successful in allowing youth the opportunity to speak with their elected officials. “Young people have been able to engage with their leaders to ask them the tough questions,” Mr Hill said. “It remains to be seen whether those answers are sufficient. For me personally, they aren’t.” The youth presence at the event — as well as that held by the Progressive Labour Party and Generation Next — were indicative of the demographic being “alive to the issues”, Mr Hill said. “They are very much interested and passionate about the future of this country and the sustainability of this country, and they need answers — they don’t just want things to be said to be done, they want them to be seen to be done, and in fact done.” The youth, Mr Dunkley said, would be the people carrying the island forward in the future. “To see their keen interest in Bermuda and their ability to want to be involved in politics, I think is very gratifying and heartening for all of us here,” he said.
July 11. The Opposition went on the offensive against the ruling One Bermuda Alliance yesterday, with three candidates berating the governing party’s record on immigration, jobs and transparency. Walter Roban, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, accused the OBA of breaking promises on issues ranging from bolstering jobs for Bermudians, the infrastructure of schools, and the cancellation of the proposed gaming referendum in 2014. Saying the list of lost opportunities was “too long to count”, Mr Roban further accused the OBA of misleading Bermudians about the party’s plans. His attack on the OBA’s immigration record, which he said had reduced opportunities for locals, was taken up by Walton Brown, the opposition spokesman on home affairs, who criticised the OBA for scrapping term limits on work permits, which initially were to be suspended for two years while the policy was renewed. “Throughout their time in office, the OBA has bragged about the rising number of work permits to non-Bermudians,” Mr Brown added. “But they never really talk about the rising number of jobless Bermudians. Who is the OBA really working for? It doesn’t seem like us.” The Reverend Emilygail Dill, who is the opposition candidate for Paget West, assailed the OBA on transparency, one of its main pillars for the 2012 election, saying the party had sought to give “blanket status to non-Bermudians” with the proposed Pathways to Status legislation that was ultimately dropped after days of protests outside Parliament. Ms Dill criticised Bob Richards, the Minister of Finance, over the disclosure to MPs of information relating to the airport redevelopment — noting also the party’s pledge to establish “an independent contractor-general to make sure there was no political interference in government construction projects. It’s been nearly five years,” she added. “What are they waiting for?” She also denounced the OBA’s record on shrinking Cabinet and cutting the salaries for Members of Parliament, saying they had promised “a smaller, leaner, more transparent government”.
July 11. Tackling the thorny topics of gang violence and drink-driving remain at the top of both political parties’ national security agenda in the run-up to the General Election. Minister of National Security Senator Jeff Baron has said that positive steps have already been taken with the rolling out of Operation Ceasefire and a string of community engagement initiatives. Meanwhile, the Progressive Labour Party spokesman for Public Safety, Zane DeSilva, told The Royal Gazette that the issue of gangs in Bermuda needed to be tackled “boldly and head on”. The PLP has pledged to appoint a gang violence reduction co-ordinator to implement programmes to address violence and antisocial behaviour and also “provide financial support to Bermudians seeking a way out of gangs”. Mr Baron pointed to the success of Gang Resistance Education and Training graduation initiative in schools and the StreetSafe team in the community as evidence of progress. He said: “We have had three of the lowest annual crime levels since 2000 and, while achieving these numbers, the level of community engagement has never been as active.” Under the OBA we have seen a massive amount of successful engagement through the Great programme — which reaches about 600 to 700 students annually — and the StreetSafe team. There is also the work of the Inter-Agency Gang Taskforce, with trauma checklists that provides us with the ability to know where there are potential issues and deploy services immediately. Nearly $1 million has been passed on to charities as part of the Cash Back for Communities initiative and we will expand on that. The Royal Bermuda Regiment is another area where we have achieved success; many felt that getting rid of conscription would end the Regiment. This has proved not to be the case and in fact their role has been expanded during this term through the America’s Cup and into maritime operations. The work of the Emergency Measures Organisation is another area of achievement; we have reached out to more people through various social media channels to ensure the public have been kept informed on a raft of emergency situations.” The PLP’s election platform says the party will identify and address the root causes of crime and gang activity and develop the island’s first National Crime Reduction Plan focused on prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration. It will also decriminalize cannabis possession for amounts under 7g, so young people are not prevented from future opportunities due to non-violent drug possession. Mr DeSilva added: “There has to be early intervention and early education; people are not born gangsters. The appointment of a co-ordinator is key to establishing a programme to tackle the island’s gang problem. Drugs are also a big problem in Bermuda and we know that gang violence and drugs are interconnected. We have got to be a little bit bolder in stamping out this problem.” Mr Baron acknowledged that Government’s relationship with the Bermuda Police Service had been strained over its first term, but maintained that progress had been made in negotiations. He said: “While we can talk about successes looking back in the rear-view mirror, we must continue to look through the windscreen; we want to see crime rates continue to fall and community engagement continue to rise. Bringing people together has to be first and foremost in our minds moving forward; our vision is grounded in our positive record, hard facts and the amount of community members involved in making Bermuda safer. It is not a hollow slogan. We will be announcing the appointment of a Bermudian to the position of Group Violence Intervention Co-ordinator very shortly. This is something that has been in the pipeline for some time and this person has been receiving training both in Bermuda and abroad. One of the first things people would see should the OBA be re-elected is the implementation of sobriety checks; it’s not a question of ‘if’ anymore, we are just finalizing the kind of device that police will be armed with before it is rolled out.” In its election platform the PLP also promised to implement sobriety checkpoints to tackle drink-driving. Mr DeSilva said: “I would like to see this done yesterday. Sobriety checkpoints are crucial to tackling drink-driving. Establishing a sex offenders’ register is also something that I would support, although more work needs to be done to explore how it would work. In the field of public safety the PLP will be more in touch with the people and put a lot more effort in than the OBA.”
July 11. Sandys North may have
just played host to the biggest sporting event in Bermuda’s history, but
constituents still have mixed feelings about what the America’s Cup meant for
them. And there is no shortage of other issues affecting residents of
Constituency 36, which is being contested once more by the Progressive Labour
Party’s Michael Scott and the One Bermuda Alliance’s Ray Charlton. Mr Scott
won the seat at the last election by just eight votes and The Royal Gazette
spoke to area residents to find out where they stand and get their take on local
issues in the run-up to July 18. For George Hassell, who was still undecided as
to who he would vote for, better guidance programmes and more activities for the
youth are a priority. “They really need to focus on the community-based youth
who are growing up now,” the 28-year-old said. “Go to the schools and listen
to some of the ideas that the children have.” He also wants to see more job
opportunities and expressed concern about Bermudians going away to learn a trade
only to come back and find employers favoring foreign workers. Regarding the
America’s Cup, he said many people in the area felt like they had been
overlooked “for something that has no benefits at all”. But he also said Mr
Scott’s performance record was “very different from what he put out”,
adding that “a lot of stuff that was promised was never done. If we can’t
see some sort of improvement that relates to us, we will literally vote the
other way and on what we think is best based on what we have seen so far.”
Another constituent, who lives near Somerset MarketPlace but asked not to be
named, believes the “present Government deserves another chance”. She said
they “have a reasonable amount of irons in the fire” and should be allowed
to use these to “continue with whatever progress they seem to have made”.
But she also said she had never relied on the Government for anything and was
making no demands. Instead, she’d like to see people take more responsibility
and complain less. She added: “When I came here, there were 12 Bermudas: With
only two Bermudas, we’ve progressed.” Morgan Donawa, who helps run LTD’s
Sweets and Treats on Cambridge Road with her grandmother Monica Doers, would
like to see more entertainment for the area’s youth because “there is not
much to do out here”. And although both women live in Sandys South, the
15-year-old said another area of concern is debris on Somerset Long Bay. “We
had a tourist come. He really liked Long Bay a lot but there was a lot of debris
on the beach. It’s a shame because it’s a really nice beach.” Ms Doers
added that speed bumps on Cambridge Road could help slow down traffic and Ms
Donawa said a caution sign at the junction with Daniel’s Head Road would make
that corner safer. Public transportation, meanwhile, is still a big problem for
residents in the Watford Bridge and Boaz Island areas. One couple, who used to
own a business in Dockyard, said getting the bus to the Watford Bridge area from
Dockyard had always been an issue, especially in the evenings. They also had
strong views on the candidates, with the wife, who also asked not to be named,
saying she had not seen Mr Charlton since the last election day. “So he better
not cross our doorstep now. Mr Scott, we don’t have any argument with at all.
He’s a people’s person who gets involved.” The husband had not quite made
up his mind who to vote for but their son said he supported the OBA. He said
they had “tried their best in the past five years” and added that they also
did a good job with the America’s Cup. “If the PLP was in power, we would
not have gotten to host the America’s Cup.” But he also pointed to abandoned
buildings in the area that he would like to see fixed up and put to use. The
“really terrible” bus situation was also the main issue affecting one Boaz
Island resident, who said buses do not show up when they are supposed to, or
they leave from Somerset instead of Dockyard. She added that this has left
residents, including schoolchildren, stranded and raising the issue with both
candidates “hasn’t made a difference”. With a longstanding alliance to the
PLP, she had already made up her mind to vote for them although she said it
almost came down to “choosing the lesser evil”. But she described Mr Scott
as very approachable, and pointed to the events he hosts for families in the
area twice a year. As an educator in the public school system, she also said she
had no confidence in how the OBA administration had handled problems within the
education system. However, a fellow Boaz Island resident, who grew up as a
staunch PLP supporter, said he wouldn’t have a problem if the OBA got back in.
While still unsure who will get his vote, he said: “I’m for who makes the
island better and more relaxed.” Having helped build the Oracle Team USA camp,
he said: “The America’s Cup was great to have pulled off. Some people said
they got nothing from the trickledown effect, but I did. But don’t let it
stop. Bring something else here.” The resident known in the area by his
nickname “Yeehaa”, agreed the bus situation is a big problem in the West
End, adding he’d like to see one bus every hour during off peak times. He also
raised concerns about food prices and urged government to make education its
priority, along with finding a solution to the island’s gang problems.
July 11. Ray Charlton is determined to bring the same energy he has invested as chairman of Wedco to uplifting the West End. The One Bermuda Alliance candidate for Sandys North has a vision for turning Somerset into an area where people will want to come work, live and play. Mr Charlton spoke to The Royal Gazette as he prepared to go head to head once more with Progressive Labour Party MP Michael Scott, who declined to participate in any interviews. “I believe there’s a symbiotic relationship that could be achieved by being both the MP for the area and the chairman of Wedco,” Mr Charlton said. “And what I’d like to do is take the energy that I’ve spent here in the last 4½ years at Wedco and spread it through the entire constituency. My vision is to uplift Somerset so that it’s not some place where people give it a second thought. I want them to consider Somerset to be a place where they want to work, live and play.” Mr Charlton, who took up the post as Wedco chairman after losing against Mr Scott by eight votes during the 2012 General Election, announced in April that he would be retiring from the position and distancing himself from public life to focus on his health once Wedco had fulfilled its America’s Cup commitments, citing a growing tide of politically driven divisive rhetoric and constant negativity. But he changed his mind after receiving an “overwhelming” response from supporters and even opponents in the PLP. “That was special to me but what was most special is that many of the Wedco employees, the staff, asked me to reconsider,” he said. “I think they gave me the boost to continue on. I was becoming disillusioned with politics and I still am disillusioned with our adversarial system, but I realize that sometimes you’ve got to put that beside you and if you want to serve the community you just keep working, so here I am.” Having grown up in the West End and now with 4½ years in the position under his belt, he is a familiar face in the area. “The reception has been great — most people commend me on the work that has been done in the Dockyard,” he said. “I don’t want to predict the outcome, but I’m putting myself out there. The decision is in the hands of the voters of Sandys North. If they’ve felt that during these past 4½ years I’ve served them up here, getting things done in the Dockyard, then they will be the ones who decide whether or not they’ll elect me to serve in the House of Assembly.” According to Mr Charlton, the main concerns he’d heard from area residents were about the economy and employment. “People are saying that there are still many without jobs and they see the economy rebounding but it hasn’t reached all sectors yet. We believe that we have the right team to continue on with the work that we’ve done in improving the economy and with that the jobs will come.” On a more local scale, he said water supply was causing problems in Boaz Island, where Wedco owns 31 units. “In Boaz Island, with the Boaz Island Village Condominium Association, they’ve got issues where the infrastructure is now decades old and they have problems with the water supply, in particular where they are paying probably as much, or maybe more, for the water they are losing through leakage than the water they are consuming. This really came to a head sometime earlier in the year when major leaks were discovered. Right now maintenance fees are going towards purchasing water and that’s a major issue for them. That’s something I’m hoping I’ll get the opportunity to correct because I’d like to see all of those units uplifted there.” Mr Charlton also highlighted work done in Dockyard since he became chairman, including the refurbishment of buildings, an irrigation system and new clock faces on the Clocktower Mall. “For the past 4½ years, more has been accomplished in Dockyard and in the West End area than has been accomplished in the past 30,” he said. But he said there was still work to be done, with more vacant lots and buildings in the constituency needing attention. He also pointed out potential development opportunities at the old seaplane hangar on Boaz Island, the Parsonage, Maria Hill and Albert Row, along with buildings in Somerset Village. Recalling the latter as a thriving area when he was younger, Mr Charlton added: “I want to try to find a way that people want to do business here.” He also wants to diversify businesses in Dockyard and create nightlife to entice visitors off the cruise ships, which “have every amenity imaginable”, by repurposing some of the newly renovated buildings. The Royal Gazette also approached Mr Scott for an interview, but he responded that “after some reflection on the interview request for C36, I decline interview at this stage pre General Election. I’m happy to review the opportunities for any interview after I have contested and held my seat in Sandys.”
July 11. Free drinking water hydration stations at the America’s Cup Event Village "saved an estimated quarter-of-a-million throwaway plastic bottles ending up as trash." And that is only part of the success story for the company that was responsible for the eight free-standing hydration stations at the 39-acre site, because Bluewater also installed water purification equipment and piping at the Morgan’s Point base of Sweden’s Artemis Team Racing. The company has tallied up the numbers to see how much free still and sparkling water was consumed at the event village through the unmanned stations, and it said the programme had exceeded expectations on water production and usage. “After crunching the numbers, we are proud to announce the total number of plastic bottles, 500ml or 16.9 fl ozs, that were diverted from landfill and elevated from the event reached a total count of 249,018,” said Bengt Rittri, the environmental entrepreneur who founded Sweden’s Bluewater. Operations at the America’s Cup Event Village were designed to minimise ecological impact. Attention was given to the use of packaging and food containers that could be recycled or were easily compostable. Spectators were encouraged to bring refillable water containers, while one-use plastic bottles were banned from being brought onto the site. Figures collected by Bluewater reveal how successful that policy was — and how mindful the public was to bringing along reusable containers. During the five weeks of the competition at Dockyard, which ended on June 26, spectators were treated to sunny days and high temperatures. At times queues formed at the hydration stations as spectators lined up to refill their drinking bottles. In a statement, Bluewater said: “The organisers of the world’s premium sailing tournament had set their minds on banning single-use plastic from official venues and the America’s Cup Village — and Bluewater’s compact second-generation reverse osmosis water purifiers proved the ultimate go-to solution.” The company deployed its Spirit and Pro water purifiers, which use up to 82 per cent less water than traditional reverse osmosis water purifiers to flush out contaminants. Stockholm-based Bluewater was also responsible for a water collection and purification system at the Artemis Team Racing base in Bermuda. Rainwater was collected from the roof and stored in four 1,000-gallon tanks. The company installed three of its Pro water purifiers, which could generate more than 70 gallons of purified water every hour. This was used by the 100-strong team throughout the base, from the kitchen to the canteen, gym, boat shed and in water coolers, ice machines and coffee makers. Mr Rittri said the America’s Cup in Bermuda had demonstrated “that it is possible to harness technology and human ingenuity to battle contaminated water quality, reduce waste and boost recycling. " The need to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the environment has been highlighted by the United Nations, which estimates that eight million tonnes of plastic leaks into the oceans every year, the equivalent of a trash truck of plastic every minute. And renowned architect and leading voice on sustainability William McDonough, while visiting Bermuda last week, also warned about the amount of throwaway plastic detritus that ends up in the oceans, and spoke of the need for countries and communities to seek solutions. Meanwhile, Mr Rittri said human and business ingenuity must be leveraged to the full to stop the pollution. “Taking 250,000 disposable plastic bottles out of circulation is great news for all of us and our environment. It shows how even small actions can positively impact our war on the plastics that take hundreds of years to break down,” he said.
July 11. A Bermudian businessman has opened a barbecue restaurant with a blue-collar flavour — but gourmet ingredients and preparation. Dale Lee, who spent more than 25 years working at a four-star restaurant in the US state of Rhode Island, launched The Pit Stop two weeks ago. Mr Lee said: “The whole concept is simplicity — it’s a barbecue, not a fancy restaurant. The whole idea was to look like a horse barn. I like barbecue and that comes from my background in Rhode Island. Everything we sell, we make here — the sausages and the sauces don’t come from a jar. I even grow my own peppers.” The menu features fresh ingredients, including home-smoked bacon, organic eggs from the US, as well as gourmet touches like Himalayan pink salt and organic red wine vinegar. Mr Lee said: “We’re on South Shore on the busiest strip of road in Bermuda and our prices mean it gives more choice for the average working guy. Now we’re starting to see a lot of the working guys coming in. We’ve dispensed with the frills. I don’t care if someone isn’t wearing shoes or they’ve come in their bathing suit from the beach.” The Pit Stop features paneling and a bar made from recycled pallets and a minimalist decor featuring exposed wooden beams, but with new fans and an audio system installed. Mr Lee said he had the original idea for the restaurant, next to Sandpiper Guest Apartments in Warwick, more than a year ago — but it was put on hold as he took another job. After six months, however, he realized he wanted to return to the restaurant trade and restarted negotiations on the premises, at the side of Sandpiper guest apartments, in January. He explained: “I like the restaurant business — I’ve been doing it all my life and I graduated from hotel school. When you do something you really like, you’ll work a 14,15,16-hour day because you’re doing something you love. That’s the concept — we put a lot of pride and love in what we’re doing and that’s reflected in the our early Facebook ratings.” Mr Lee said that, in the start-up phase, the restaurant was offering a range of sandwiches, including an already popular brisket sandwich, to allow the five-strong staff to train and learn the ropes, but that the menu would expand with time. He added: “Starting from this week, we’re going to going to open for breakfast and basically do ‘build your own’.” The breakfast menu will feature traditional favorites like eggs, bacon and pancakes. Mr Lee said: “I want the customer to tell me what they want. If they want corned beef on the menu, they can have it.” He added he had just returned from an educational tour in Texas organised by the Texas Beef Council, which he had applied for five years ago. Mr Lee said: “They only give out 15-20 invitations a year.” The trip included seminars at Texas Tech University at the animal science division learning about animal nutrition and its effects on meat. Mr Lee said: “We were taught about flash freezing and frozen beef and we visited major farms and processing plants — and we ate in the best barbecue places around. Understanding the science behind it is what I learnt in Texas — there’s a huge difference between grass-fed beef and grain-fed beef, for example. Bermuda is a tough place to do business. It’s an island and word travels fast, good or bad, and Bermudians are very critical. They don’t mind spending money, but it’s got to be good and they know the difference between good quality and bad quality. I would rather cater to 50 people a day and make them all happy than to 75 to 100 and upset 20 of them — it’s not worth it for an extra few dollars.”
July 11. A Bermuda High School student has become one of the 0.3 per cent of students worldwide to earn top marks in their International Baccalaureate Diploma. Brianna Mendes scored 45 points out of 45 as BHS announced record results for its 2017 IB candidates. Head of school Linda Parker said: “We are thrilled to report outstanding results this year with Brianna Mendes scoring the maximum possible 45 points, placing her in the top 0.3 per cent of students worldwide.” As well as Mendes, five further students at the school scored 40 points or more. Forty-three of the 52 students in the graduating class were entered for the full IB Diploma, of which 38 were successful in obtaining it, while the remaining students successfully completed their IB courses. Twenty-eight IB Diploma awardees, or 74 per cent, achieved 30 points or higher. The 2017 BHS average score was 33 points for those achieving the full diploma, which surpasses the world average of 30 points. BHS student Megan Sutcliffe gained 44 points out of a possible 45 points and Georgia Bower scored 43 points. Other top scorers were Emma O’Donnell, 41 points and Shanyce Morris, 40 points. Ms Parker said: “Our high success-rate for the full IB Diploma is particularly noteworthy as unlike many IB schools worldwide, we do not pre-select students for entry into the IB Diploma but rather all students are given the opportunity to attempt this challenging programme and fulfil their potential. We thank our talented teachers for their unwavering commitment and subject expertise in helping these students achieve their highest potential. We are proud of all of our IB students for their strong work ethic, focus and determination to achieve their best against the challenging IB academic standard. We are confident that our graduates are well-prepared for their future endeavors, and we wish them continued success.” Head of IB and IB co-ordinator Kate Ross said: “This year, as in previous years, we are pleased that so many students who were given the opportunity to stretch towards attaining a full IB Diploma met their goal with the help and guidance of our teachers, the support of peers and parents and their own unfailing hard work and tenacity. A third of our IB students have been with us since Year 1, so it has been especially rewarding to witness them complete their BHS education and move on to further education with the security of an international qualification. For those other students who joined us at various stages, we are delighted to see that their BHS experience has paved the way for further success.” Students from the graduating class of 2017 have been offered places to pursue degree courses in Canada, the US and the UK. Top scorer Ms Mendes will pursue a Bachelor of Commerce in Mathematics at McGill University and Ms Sutcliffe will do a dual degree in European Social and Political Studies at University College London and Sciences Po, Paris.
July 11. Two Bermudian nationals living in Britain have been jailed after detectives uncovered a plot to smuggle more than $30,000 worth of cocaine into England. Drugs mule Sharnell Simmons arrived in Hull on a ferry from the Netherlands on August 28 last year, with two packages of cocaine glued to the insoles of her shoes, according to a report in the Hull Daily Mail. But Simmons, who worked as a cleaner at the ferry terminal, panicked while waiting in the arrivals lounge and tried to hide the drugs on a table, while her accomplice, Kyle Lightbourne, who travelled with her, tried to distract staff by talking to them. At Hull Crown Court, Lightbourne, 36, was jailed for six years, and Simmons, 41, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. The court heard that although both had family contacts in their native Bermuda, they met in England and Lightbourne had “pressured” Simmons, a former pub singer, into carrying the drugs with the promise of helping her nephew, who had become “embroiled in gang culture in Bermuda”. Lightbourne had moved to Britain three years earlier to look after his teenage son, a member of Stoke City’s football academy, because the boy’s mother had moved back to Bermuda after her brother’s murder. Prosecutor Richard Thompson said: “They arrived in the port of Hull from Rotterdam by ferry. Having proceeded to passport control, they were asked to wait while other passengers disembarked so that passport and nationality tests could be completed and their luggage searched. In the arrivals area, it was apparent, the Crown say, from that point they were likely to be searched, so Ms Simmons set about seeking to dispose of the drugs concealed by the insoles of the shoes she was wearing. Initially, she went to use the toilet, but she was followed by an alert member of Border Agency staff. Once back in the waiting area, CCTV footage shows her removing her shoes, leaning over a headrest to a table behind her, and clearly disposing of something on that table underneath tourist information leaflets.” Lightbourne also tried to cover the drugs with leaflets and then spoke to Border Agency staff as a distraction. Mr Thompson said: “Checks were carried out in relation to their identity, and they were about to be allowed to proceed when a member of staff cleaning the arrivals hall discovered two packages concealed under a pile of leaflets, so the two defendants were arrested.” The two packages had a combined weight of 307 grams, were of more than 50 per cent purity, and had an estimated street value of £24,500. Lightbourne, of Ascension Road, Romford, and Simmons, of Cawood Green, Sheffield, both admitted evading the prohibition on the importation of cocaine. Giles Grant, representing Simmons, said she had mental health problems, and “since her conviction she has been concerned and frightened about the consequences about those perhaps associated with the co-accused. She feels frightened and vulnerable and is concerned for others for the outcome of her being caught, the loss of the product, and the consequences.” She was being “supervised” on the journey by Lightbourne, Mr Grant said. Simmons had no previous convictions. Lightbourne had none in Britain, but had two convictions for possessing cannabis in Bermuda, and one for possessing cocaine with intent to supply. Helen Chapman, for Lightbourne said he got involved in the plot because he “found himself short of money. He fell in with individuals involved in the drugs world, and of course, he only has himself to blame”.
July 11. L’Alliance Français des Bermudes will be celebrating Bastille Day at Coco Reef on Friday. Proceeds will go to their student programme, which saw five Bermudians awarded part of full scholarships to immersion programmes in the south of France this year. There will be an al fresco dinner, live French music, raffles and door prizes. Those attending are encouraged to wear white. The event starts at 6.30pm with a cash bar and dinner is at 8pm. Tickets cost $85 for members and $95 for non-members, and are available at Pulp and Circumstance in Washington Lane. They must be purchased by the end of today.
July 10. Debates will not take place in the lead-up to next week’s General Election, with both parties pointing fingers at one another for where blame lies. Both the One Bermuda Alliance and the Progressive Labour Party released statements last night following negotiations undertaken to try to schedule debates ahead of the vote on July 18. In its party’s release, issued first, the PLP said that that the OBA had no interest in holding a leadership debate, instead favoring a series of ministerial and shadow ministerial debates. “There’s nine days left and there is no time to organise such an event,” the PLP said. Lynne Woolridge, chairwoman of the OBA, confirmed that the party had sought “multiple debates” involving the leaders and spokesmen on topics including finance, immigration and education. “The PLP only wanted a debate between the leaders,” she said. Both the PLP and Ms Woolridge said they were “disappointed. We are disappointed that Premier Dunkley declined to debate Leader Burt,” the PLP said. “It’s clear that Premier Dunkley is ducking the debate because he prefers not to talk about the OBA’s loss of 2,000 jobs, their mismanagement of a public education, and the skyrocketing cost of living under their watch.” Ms Woolridge said: “We are disappointed that the Progressive Labour Party would not allow their shadow ministers to debate the OBA team.” Addressing the PLP assertion that time did not allow for the multiple debate, Ms Woolridge said that the PLP “slowed up the process” by opting to respond to an OBA e-mail about the debates through conventional mail — a response that she said took five days to reach the OBA. “As a result, there will be no inter-party debates,” she said.
July 10. In 2012 the battle for Pembroke Central came down to just six votes, with Progressive Labour Party stalwart Walton Brown squeezing his way into Parliament ahead of One Bermuda Alliance newcomer Andrew Simons. This month Mr Simons and Mr Brown go head-to-head again and both are under no illusions that every vote matters. For Mr Simons, constituency 17 was almost his back yard as a child. He grew up in Spanish Point, where his great-grandfather ran a dry-cleaning business, and attended West Pembroke Primary School and The Berkeley Institute. Mr Brown was also born and raised in Pembroke and lives on the Pembroke Central boundary of Ferrar’s Lane — he travels through the constituency every day — and he told The Royal Gazette that he was “cautiously optimistic” about his chances of retaining the seat, and had learnt from 2012 that “truly every single vote matters. The area represents the wonderful diversity of Bermuda,” Brown added. “It is home to people who reflect both the successes and challenges of our island but they are all seeking a better Bermuda. I’ve been canvassing since February but have held a number of public meetings over the years for constituents. People want a government that listens to their concerns and responds accordingly. They do not want to be taken for granted or disrespected. Locally, there are areas which require a focused policing effort, better traffic flow and garbage disposal. Nationally, there are persistent themes: firstly unemployment, underemployment and quality jobs; secondly the urgent need for better care for our seniors and the related cost of healthcare; and thirdly the demand we fix public education — from infrastructure needs to student performance.” Mr Simons believes his experience from canvassing four years ago and his subsequent time on a string of boards and committees as well as in the Senate, make him a better candidate now than in 2012. “After 2012 I decided to channel my energy towards a number of boards like the Health Council, the CedarBridge Board, the Financial Assistance Board and the Pembroke Parish Council,” the former Regiment officer said. “Now, through the various boards and committees I have learnt about what works and what does not work; I have been able to improve some of these areas and fix some problems like helping to introduce a robust health insurance enforcement from the Health Council. I have a sense of how difficult it is to pass legislation. When I am at the doorstep now I am better able to answer questions and talk concretely about what we have done.” Mr Simons, a keen runner and self-confessed “policy nerd”, ran again for Parliament in 2016 against the PLP’s Diallo Rabain in the PLP stronghold of Devonshire North Central, but came off second best. He went on to take a seat in the Senate in the same year. He said: “I am taking the same approach that I did last time; work as hard as I can so I don’t have any regrets. The harder I work the happier I will feel about my chances. I am a better candidate now that I was in 2012. In 2012 I could draw on experience and leadership from the Regiment and work in international business and my experience at Stanford where I studied chemical engineering. I also have my work ethic and sincerity; I am humbled by the work and am genuinely trying to make Bermuda better.” Mr Brown is a respected political commentator; for 12 years he worked as a lecturer in politics and history at Bermuda College, and in 2007 he was appointed to the Senate. Before taking his place in the House of Assembly for the first time in 2012, he had run unsuccessfully in the 2007 election in Spanish Point. Outside of the political arena, and away from the marketing research firm he runs, the father-of-three loves to travel and read Dan Brown books. “The privilege of serving in the House of Assembly is the ability to raise critical issues for the public to get insight and reflect on,” Mr Brown said. “There are two components to this election; firstly the national sensitivity permeating the country of how people feel about the direction we are going in and secondly a critical component will be on the doorstep. The election is won on the doorstep; it’s vital to turn out and it’s vital to listen. Moving forward it is absolutely critical that we find ways of working together; many of the most fundamental issues are inherently divisive, so it does not make sense for one party to force their will on another. I sit on the Immigration Working Group — a bipartisan group — and this must be a template moving forward.” Mr Simons struck a similarly conciliatory tone; and admitted he rarely talked politics on the doorstep. “I don’t tend to see it as one against another,” he said. “What people want is someone who is honest, competent and who gives a damn. I feel I brought those qualities to the constituency in 2012, but I have learnt so much more in the last five years and am better able to draw on that experience. It would be premature to talk about confidence; I have more houses to visit and more conversations to have. The biggest challenge about canvassing is finding people and registering them; it’s not saying nasty things about people or parties. I genuinely believe that this government has done a tremendous amount despite governing with a slim majority I have spent a lot of time working with the audited financials; we inherited a large deficit and now four and a half years later we will shortly be in a position to have a balanced budget that will allow us to put down on that debt. That outcome was achieved while still keeping the wheels of government turning. Having said that people are still struggling; and there is no sense of denial about that.”
July 10. Healthcare costs will be the next government’s number-one challenge, according to economist Peter Everson. He warned that because of the island’s ageing population, costs will continue to rise if there is no policy intervention. “Demographic challenge makes healthcare costs the number one challenge for the Government on July 19, 2017,” Mr Everson, who is also chairman of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, told The Royal Gazette. “Without policy intervention, healthcare costs will rise quickly because of the imbalance between younger healthy Bermudians and the elderly, who have increasing healthcare challenges.” According to Mr Everson, care solutions for the elderly have been neglected for more than a generation. Although “great work has been done in the last 12 months mapping out the current needs”, the former president of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce added that “the political will to implement lasting and funded solutions is required within the coming 12 months. In the meantime, stopgaps and workarounds must be funded,” said Mr Everson, who was speaking ahead of the General Election, which has seen the One Bermuda Alliance pledge to push ahead with programmes that have resulted in the “first declines in Standard Health Premium charges in more than two decades”. The Progressive Labour Party, meanwhile, said it would manage “unsustainable” healthcare costs by implementing a national health plan, allowing small businesses to join others to obtain group insurance, increasing competition in the local insurance market and using technology to make healthcare delivery more efficient. But according to Mr Everson, the Standard Premium Rate — the actual cost of the minimum health benefits package that must be included in every health insurance policy sold in Bermuda — will only come down when appropriate controls are placed on the private sector providers. Bermuda should be able to achieve a 10 per cent reduction in premium rates within 18 months. The goal would then be to achieve a further 10 per cent reduction in the following three years,” he added. “This is a tough target to achieve but it is what Bermuda and all Bermudians need.” But Mr Everson said the Bermuda Health Council also needs “to be empowered to regulate the private sector”. The Bermuda Health Council Amendment Act 2016 “was a casualty of the early election”, he said, “and thus remains the first order of business for the new House and Senate”. The legislation, which was drawn up to monitor health providers and the importation of “high-risk” medical technology, was withdrawn last year after doctors claimed it targeted private physicians. Long-term care is another key issue, Mr Everson said, adding that “collectively, the total number of beds is less than Bermuda requires today and less than it will need in the future.” Noting the increased demand at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, he added that solutions that “provide all of the facilities that the community needs in the appropriate settings and at a cost which is affordable” are needed. The lack of adequate infrastructure to support various types of care in the community was also highlighted by John Wight, speaking in his capacity as CEO of BF&M. “We have been aware of our troubling population trajectory for many years and the continuation of social admissions at the KEMH yet have not planned and provided sufficiently for the required infrastructure within the community to support various types of medical and psychological care outside of the hospital,” he said. Mr Wight listed several of the “many achievements in the past five years in the medical and health sector”, including the licensure and registration of physicians, passing privacy legislation, the Premier’s Youth Fitness Programme, and the addition of oral chemotherapy within the Standard Health Benefits. But he added that he would have liked to have seen the Standard Health Benefit package modified and more transparency around Mutual Reinsurance Fund taxation and its uses and goals. Mr Wight said they would like to see the SHB modernized to create “a more holistic package of benefits” that also addresses inappropriate use of the emergency department. “We are also supportive of private provider fee regulation, the creation of a national drug formulary, and the implementation of a universal electronic health record,” he added, while also recommending an assessment of government health clinics to optimize access, accountability and quality. For Age Concern’s executive director Claudette Fleming, more emphasis is needed on disease prevention early in life and more resources for public health initiatives for young children. “I would also like to see more public health initiatives that help seniors and their families manage wellness; more creative and portable ways of making use of community nursing, supporting those with chronic illness in particular to make informed decisions about maintaining their health as best they can and/or to improve wherever possible.” And more taxpayer dollars should be considered to support those needing financial support for healthcare costs, especially prescription drugs and long-term care, she said. But Dr Fleming added that the Bermuda Health Strategy Action Plan, the Long-Term Care Plan, the further development of the Well Bermuda Plan “and some work around an eventual national ageing plan” stood out as achievements, along with the introduction of the home care benefit to FutureCare, which was “as ground-breaking as the introduction of FutureCare itself. This initiative represents an important paradigm shift towards community-based care and provides the critical financing piece to make it happen.” Reducing the cost of healthcare costs is also a priority for the Bermuda Healthcare Advocacy Group, who called for Government to continue reducing the SHB further “which will help reduce the skyrocketing costs”. Reducing high insurance premiums is another critical issue, a spokeswoman said. The Royal Gazette also approached the Bermuda Medical Doctors Association for comment on Friday, but was told that it would not be possible to receive a response that did the request justice in less than 36 hours. The Bermuda Health Council declined to comment. As part of its platform, the OBA has also pledged to continue the Enhanced Care Pilot Programme and evaluate its success. And the PLP has said it would conduct a comprehensive review of mental health services and “make progressive reforms to adequately address mental health challenges”, as well as creating a continuum of services “that will increase access to services and improve long-term outcomes for people suffering with addiction”. It would also increase community health education, require restaurants to publish nutritional information, implement a sugar tax and install fitness equipment in public parks to promote healthy living.
July 10. Rising healthcare costs have been highlighted repeatedly during the past five years, with the health and seniors minister warning last year that they had risen to “unsustainable levels”. During the Health Action Plan launch in January 2016, Jeanne Atherden reiterated that curbing healthcare costs was a priority along with reducing rates of chronic, non-communicable diseases. Earlier this year, she revealed that the latest National Health Accounts report, showed that health spending began to level off in 2011 and went down by 1.1 per cent in 2015 “for the first time on record”. She made the announcement as the Health (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2017 was debated in the House of Assembly. The bill, which was later passed by the Senate, lowered the Standard Premium Rate by $4.07 per month, while also increasing coverage for kidney transplants and decreasing the cost of dialysis. It also introduced a change requiring the Health Council to recommend fees to the minister for all standard health benefits. And the Bermuda Health Council’s new fee schedule, which saw cuts to diagnostic imaging service reimbursements, came into effect on June 1. These cuts were decried by private physicians, with Ewart Brown, the former premier, saying the move was politically motivated and aimed at crippling his clinics. And J.J. Soares, of Hamilton Medical Centre, revealed in an advertisement in this paper that open MRI and CT scanning at his planned walk-in centre would likely have to be scrapped because of the “unreasonable” cuts. Meanwhile, 2016 featured the Bermuda Health Council Amendment Act, which was met with concern by the Opposition as well as some local doctors, deferred for clarification. Doctors later branded the reworked legislative proposals aimed at regulating private healthcare providers as “heavy handed”, saying the reform measures unfairly targeted their profession. The year before, the Health Insurance Amendment Bill 2015, which provided for the naming of employers who had allowed their workers’ health insurance to lapse, was passed with support from both parties. And on July 31, 2015, new laws governing the sale and advertisement of tobacco products came into force despite pushback from retailers, who deemed them “draconian”. After repeated calls, ambulance services were also instated at both ends of the island in 2015. Government, however, was forced to do a U-turn on a proposal for more stringent coverage of mammography following a public outcry, which saw protesters hang bras outside Cabinet in June 2015. That same day saw Opposition MPs Kim Wilson, then the shadow health minister, and former PLP leader Marc Bean criticize the 12 per cent increase to the Standard Health Benefit, at a time when the cost of living was continually rising and healthcare costs were already “exorbitant”. In 2014, legislation allowing the use of cannabis-derived medicines won approval in the House although the Opposition criticizing the new law as not going far enough. Meanwhile, the proposed closure of the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre in 2013 was also met with protest, leading to the Government overruling the decision by hospital bosses. That year also featured the launch of the Steps to a Well Bermuda survey, which assessed more than 2,600 households to gauge health issues and help develop a chronic disease management strategy.
July 10. High grade technology is at the heart of new alarm systems for motorbikes and scooters. The alarms were created by Italian firm Gemini, which built the alarms for the McLaren F1 super-car, and are distributed by Bermuda’s Full Armour Security. A spokeswoman for the company said insurance companies had agreed to offer a 10 per cent discount up front and “a 30 per cent deductible at the back end” for riders who install the alarms and produce the installation certificate. She added that an instructor from the British arm of Gemini had visited Bermuda to train eight technicians to the high standards demanded by the manufacturer. Neil Hayes, of Gemini in the UK, said: “We try to train to a very high standard so it eliminates any issues with failure and product warranty.” Among the products available under the Full Armour Security brand are an entry-level system which has passed tough UK Thatcham tests set by the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, which includes a dual-point engine immobilize and a high-output alarm siren. The higher-grade system also features GPS tracking and GSM tracking, which sends reports of any suspicious activity by text to mobile devices. Owners can tell what has happened by the message and can remotely immobilize the bike if needed. In addition, it incorporates a feature where parents can set a speed limit of their children’s bikes and get an alert if that is exceeded — with an option to safely disable the bike remotely when it stops, for example, at a traffic light. And Google maps tracking can give a location for the bike, and even if it is in a garage or not visible an owner can trigger the alarm to track down the precise location. Full Armour Security also features the Gemini disc lock, which immobilizes front or rear disc brakes and sets off an alarm if the bike is moved. The company spokeswoman said that she had lost two bikes to thieves, which inspired her to set up the company after she could not find Gemini-standard alarms on the island, with help from the Bermuda Business Development Corporation. The SIM cards for the technology are supplied exclusively by Digicel Bermuda. The spokeswoman said: “There is a definite need for these kinds of alarms in Bermuda — we have a huge problem with motorcycle thefts on the island.” The alarms are at present available at Cycle Zone in Somerset, Added Speed in Pembroke, and Sparky’s Cycle Repair in Hamilton. But the company spokeswoman said that the dealer network will expand in the future to include more installers.
July 8. The Royal Gazette has taken the decision to close comment to political stories for the duration of this election cycle. Editor Dexter Smith said: "This covers the period from today through to July 19, and has been brought about by the often venomous and potentially litigious comment that has appeared on our website — predominantly from those hiding behind a pseudonym. While we appreciate that the chief offenders are in the minority in the online community, that number has swelled in recent years to become a large minority. This makes policing the website an overly and unnecessarily arduous task, prompting this decision. Those who wish to circumvent this temporary policy by posting anything to do with the election or the political parties on unrelated stories will be banned from using our site. We ask for the public’s patience and understanding during this time."
July 8. Before the 2012 General Election, the One Bermuda Alliance made a range of campaign promises on the subject of tourism. And while some proposals were quickly actioned, others were abandoned or have yet to come to fruition. A staple of the OBA campaign was the creation of a Tourism Authority, intended to revitalize the tourism industry by “putting professionals rather than politicians” in charge. The Bermuda Tourism Authority was created in 2013 and formally took over responsibility from the Department of Tourism in 2014. The OBA also pledged to increase air arrivals and, while the BTA came under fire for declining air arrivals in 2014 and 2015, arrivals rose sharply in 2016 and have continued to rise in the first five months of this year. Last year the island saw 245,000 visitors fly to the island, the highest since 2008. The OBA also promised a referendum on Casino Gaming before the election, but that vote never came about as the OBA delayed and then scrapped the proposed vote in December 2013, alleging the PLP would attempt to derail the referendum process — something the PLP staunchly denied. The party instead brought gaming legislation through the House and formed the Casino Gaming Commission. The OBA also pledged to make hotel developments in St George’s and Morgan’s Point a reality. Ground has since been broken on both the Caroline Bay development at the Southampton site and a St Regis development at the former Club Med site in the east. However, the PLP has criticised the OBA’s handling of both projects. The OBA platform also promised to reopen the St George’s golf course. While the course remains closed, renovations to the course are a part of the St Regis hotel project. And while some work was conducted on the St George’s waterfront — another OBA pledge — the Corporation of St George is still waiting for legislation to be approved to allow development of a long-planned marina project.
July 8. The One Bermuda Alliance and the Progressive Labour Party have recognized that promoting tourism will be key for whichever party wins the election. While the One Bermuda Alliance hopes to build on the legacy of the America’s Cup, the Progressive Labour Party has placed an emphasis on building a “fairer” tourism industry for Bermudians. Both parties have pledged to improve tourist numbers and work to develop the vacation rental market in their election platforms. But while the OBA has leant heavily on their record, noting the recent upswing in visitor numbers and hotel development projects, the PLP alleges the OBA has failed to create tourism jobs for Bermudians. Despite its conclusion, the America’s Cup continues to play a strong role in the OBA’s tourism plans — the party pledges to build on the island’s hosting of the event to grow a superyacht servicing and hospitality industry in the South Basin and West End, along with developing sports-based tourism in the slower shoulder seasons. The OBA also said it would move forward with a Tourism Investment Act to create opportunity in hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and tourist attractions while eliminating the “cumbersome and costly” administration under the Hotel Concessions Act. And the platform proposes changes to the taxi industry, including a rate increase and the creation of an independent taxi and minibus commission, which would govern any future rate changes. Michael Fahy, Minister of Tourism, yesterday focused on the OBA’s record and credited the Bermuda Tourist Authority with halting a decline in tourism figures and bringing 17 straight months of growth in air arrivals, cruise arrivals and visitor spending. Fahy said: “There is renewed enthusiasm from local and foreign investors and the growth in jobs and opportunity for Bermudians is the most promising it has been in a generation. The America’s Cup provided a boost that saw Bermuda showcased in dozens of countries and millions of viewers saw the island come together to host what has unanimously been hailed as the best America’s Cup ever. Bermuda is back. We have more visitors, younger visitors seeking new experiences and Bermudians are stepping up to cater to what these visitors want and expect in a vacation. The future for tourism in Bermuda has never looked brighter.” Meanwhile, the PLP has said it intends to reform the BTA in an effort to ensure a better return on investment and improve accountability. A PLP spokeswoman said: “We will work with the BTA to modernize the process surrounding their hiring and promotional practices as well as the awarding of BTA grants to ensure that they are fairer, more inclusive and better protects the legitimate aspirations of Bermudians in the industry.” The party also said that it would address immigration concerns to ensure Bermudians are given priority in the tourism industry, among other economic sectors, while investing in training opportunities and improving access to funding for businesses that enhance the island’s tourism product. The party’s election platform notes that they intend to promote medical tourism to “increase utilization of our new healthcare facilities” by offering American patients treatments approved in the UK but not available in the US. The PLP has also said it intends to reverse tax increases implemented by the OBA to reduce the cost for visitors to travel and stay in Bermuda and work to modernize Bermuda’s image internationally. “We recognise that the face of wealth is changing, becoming younger, more diverse and cosmopolitan,” the PLP spokeswoman said. “Therefore, we will break away from the OBA’s ‘country club’ tourism approach in favour of a product that is more diverse, more inclusive and more cosmopolitan.” On the subject of the America’s Cup, she said there were “positives” to the event, but added: “Clearly, the OBA should have included the wider community in the benefits of this event. Instead one Bermuda saw and reaped the benefits, while for the most part, the rest of us were left behind.” The America’s Cup and the BTA have been at the heart of the debate about tourism in the island since the OBA were elected. Led by CEO Bill Hanbury, the BTA — a non-governmental body created to restore the island’s tourism industry — came under repeated criticism for the declining air visitor arrivals in 2014 and 2015, with the PLP questioning if the island was getting value for money. The question of the overall economic impact of the America’s Cup is still in the air, with an independent assessment by PricewaterhouseCoopers expected to be completed in October, but the BTA has credited Bermuda’s hosting of the event as a factor in bringing other sporting events to the island. Another key issue has been hotel development. In recent years the OBA has celebrated the groundbreaking at both Caroline Bay at Morgan’s Point and the St Regis Development in St George’s, but the PLP has questioned government guarantees offered to “wealthy developers”. Meanwhile, the Pink Beach found new life as the Loren, work began to turn the former Surf Side into Azure and the Hamilton Princess received a $100 million overhaul. However, plans to redevelop Ariel Sands stalled and the Par-la-Ville hotel project imploded. Visitor arrivals in Bermuda over the past ten years peaked in 2011, under the PLP, with around 416,000 cruise ship passengers and 236,000 visitors arriving by air. However, both declined in 2012. The OBA took power at the end of 2012 and cruise arrivals began to build again in 2014, reaching 398,000 last year. Air arrivals fell to 220,000 in 2015 before rising to 245,000 — the strongest figure since 2008 — last year. So far this year visitor numbers continue to be on the rise. Air arrivals in the first quarter of the year were up by more than 19 per cent year-on-year, and more than 18 per cent in April and May. Statistics for June have yet to be released, but are expected to show an continued increase due to Bermuda’s hosting of the America’s Cup.
July 8. Spectacular new aerial shots of the island taken during the 35th America’s Cup by its official photography licensee, LookBermuda, give a new vantage on the races. The images, provided by photographer Jean-Pierre Rouja, show Bermuda at its glowing best, with catamarans plying the Great Sound and stunning views over the West End and East End. With drones banned during the races, and helicopters filming from low altitude, Mr Rouja took his photographs from a small Cessna at heights of 1,500 to 4,000 feet. “I’m always looking for alternate angles,” said Mr Rouja, who aimed to capture the scale of the course and the fleet of spectator boats for the 2015 and 2017 races with mural-sized aerial panoramas. The selection ranges from wide views to close-ups, and includes shots of the Superyacht Regatta and the J Class Regatta.
July 8. A physician has attacked drastic cuts to the fees charged for diagnostic imaging, maintaining that his business will be “significantly curtailed”. J.J. Soares of Hamilton Medical Centre had ambitious plans for a walk-in centre at a new location later this year — but said it would probably have to scrap its planned service of open MRI and CT scanning because of “unreasonable” cuts. Dr Soares, who has aired his grievances in an advertisement with this newspaper, also said there were suspicions that similar measures from the Government and the Bermuda Health Council would be brought to bear on ultrasound, X-rays and blood testing, making the service “untenable” for private clinics. The cuts to reimbursements for clinics are said to average 70 per cent, with some as high as 87 per cent. Introduced under the Health (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2017, the measures were defended by the Ministry of Health and Seniors as containing health spending and reducing premiums. They have already come under strident attack from Ewart Brown, the former premier, who decried the move as politically motivated and aimed at crippling his clinics. Fee changes provided by Dr Brown to The Royal Gazette depict the steep drop in fees charged for high-tech procedures, including:
Dr Brown said he had been left with no choice but to implement wide-ranging salary cuts at Bermuda Healthcare Services as a direct result of the drop in payments. According to Dr Soares, the imposition could result in MRI and CT scanning becoming the exclusive domain of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, since it would be “absolutely unfeasible for them to be provided by any facilities in the private sector”. Advertised as a “notice to all patients”, Hamilton Medical Centre’s paid message in expected to run several more times in this newspaper. Dr Soares had envisaged an urgent care centre that would be easily accessible to the public, while driving down costs through the use of measures such as videoconferencing. Meanwhile, describing the salary cuts as “a painful decision”, Dr Brown said: “Either we were going to lay off employees, send summer students home and keep fewer people working or we could make cuts across the board and keep everyone gainfully employed. We chose the latter.”
July 8. Opinion, by Dr. Edward Harris, Executive Director of the Bermuda Maritime Museum. "For almost 100 years, “Sphinx” presided undisturbed over the tranquil scene of a forest of cedars, a rolling lawn and grass tennis court and the Frith house, “Inverurie”, opposite on the north side of Harbour Road in the northwest corner of Paget. Made of semi-hard Bermuda limestone and appropriately painted with whitewash on a 5ft red plinth, the statue was Colonel Henry John Wilkinson’s commemorative statement for the ages of his beloved and “noble English mastiff”, an obviously superior female Great Dane. Rumours of the demise of Sphinx abounded and two local writers, Wendy Soares and William Zuill, gave weight to a couple of solutions: 1) the dog died rescuing someone from drowning at Salt Kettle and 2) more dramatically, Wilkinson’s jealous wife poisoned the brute. The truth may be more mundane, if romantic, as it does appear that the Quartermaster for the British Army at Bermuda in the later 1870s was just in love with his dog. How that reflects on the absence of such a memorial to his wife in Florence, Italy (where they had retired), may simply be because the Colonel died first. Delving into their lives with my colleagues, Linda Abend and John McQuaid, the Wilkinsons and three of their children took part in art exhibitions at Government House and in all aspects of putting on plays at the Prospect Garrison Theatre, while they lived at the rented Inverurie. Colonel Wilkinson, it transpires, was a considerable artist in watercolour and other media from an early age at Durham in the northeast provinces of England, at a noble pile called “Harperley Park”, now, its façade unchanged from the 1840s, a police training school. Over 100 of his paintings of the Crimean War have survived at the National Army Museum, Chelsea, but sadly none of his local images are known, including one that was at a Bermuda display in the British Empire Building of the 1876 World’s Fair at Philadelphia. The sculpting soldier and his cohort also left behind a great Medici Lion at Gun Hill in Barbados in the late 1860s (this editor's note: sculpted by then-Captain Henry John Wilkinson in 1868) which has become an icon of the Barbados National Trust and has been celebrated on several postage stamps. Sphinx has yet to make her mark with the GPO in our City of Hamilton. Fast forward to the 1950s and the site became the Inverurie Hotel (now condos). In a Royal Gazette photo of June 1960, the late, famous hotelier, Conrad “Connie” Engelhart, is seen with another man, sawing through the top of the plinth, thus separating Sphinx from her tomb, although the inscribing plaque was fortunately saved. Thus did Sphinx give way for a swimming pool and a building block that contained more hotel rooms, shops, and amenities, such as the hairdresser. Many with us today knew Sphinx, as they played on her while mum was having a perm. Fast forward again, and the hotel block on the corner of Cobbs Hill became condos, but the remains of Sphinx were then rescued by the Roy Thomases, who eventually donated her to the National Museum in 2014. By that year, developments were taking place on the surviving block of the old hotel, now appropriately renamed the Inverurie Executive Suites, completely renovated by its new owner, Philip Akeroyd. As a part of those renovations, Mr Akeroyd kindly agreed to take the remains of Sphinx home to Inverurie and today she sits on the seaside of the hotel, keeping watch over the comings and goings in Hamilton Harbour. Writing an e-mail of thanks to Roy and Maria Thomas in 2015, Mr Akeroyd noted: “After 137 years, Sphinx has finally made it back home to her kennel at the Inverurie, and has a wonderful view over the harbour towards Hamilton. She still misses her original owner, Colonel Wilkinson, and most particularly her recent guardians Roy and Maria, but she is well fed and glad to be home. She is a little slimmer now, as we had to remove quite a lot of white paint to get back to the original Bermuda stone, and then we found some erosion on her body which we repaired with a special mix of lime and sand and then painted all with lime wash, which will stop the water getting in and corroding her again. The lime stone expert, Larry Mills, showed us how to do that. Finally, we gave her two more coats of whitewash and basically she is as good as the day she was carved.” Then in early 2017, Linda Abend found descendants of James Ware Bryce (later a famous scientist at IBM) whose in-laws, the Koster Family, had rented Inverurie for some years early in the last century. James took photographs of Sphinx around 1910 and his grandson (of the same name) and his wife Kay Bryce, very generously donated his camera, tripod and 33 glass plate negatives to the National Museum. Jamie Bryce’s father, Henry, and his sister Delia, feature in some of the images. Upon meeting him at home in Cape Cod recently, he opined that: “My father spoke of the statue of Sphinx all his life, such was the impression it made on him as a young boy living at Inverurie: Kay and I are delighted that my grandfather’s collection is now at home in Bermuda.”
July 7. Imagine what the Bermuda Government could do with half a million dollars — every single day. It’s a relevant question as we approach the General Election as this is the amount the island spends to service its huge debt. The estimated $186 million in interest payments and money set aside to pay down principal later on, exceeds spending on the Bermuda Government’s largest ministry, Health and Seniors, by a full $23 million. And it amounts to about $75 a week for each registered voter. The impact the $2.4 billion net debt has in limiting what the Government can do should make it a major issue for voters. It restricts what the rival parties can promise in the ongoing campaign — or to be more accurate, it will put tight limits on what they would be able to do in reality, once in office. Voters would therefore be wise to eye with suspicion promised major capital projects or expensive new initiatives that come without price tags or specified means of funding. Bermuda’s net debt was just $277 million in March 2008. In the nine years since, it has grown almost nine fold. During the campaign, there will inevitably be much discussion of who is to blame for the island’s indebted plight, as voters consider who is best equipped to tame the debt beast. What is clear from the numbers is that debt growth has slowed in recent years. The March 2008 to March 2017 period included five Progressive Labour Party budgets, which resulted in net debt growth of an average $272 million per year, while the four OBA budgets have seen the debt grow by $230 million per year. In percentage terms, the PLP’s five budgets grew the net debt by an average 41 per cent per year, while the OBA’s four budgets grew the net debt by an average 13 per cent annually. There are multiple reasons why public debt might rise more steeply in a given period than another. Bermuda’s economy was in recession between 2009 and 2014, a situation that put government revenues under pressure as the tax base contracted, while increasing the need to spend on social programmes and economic stimulus. Then there is the effect that a growing debt itself has on year-to-year finances of a growing debt burden. Each year the government posts a deficit, the debt grows and so do debt-servicing costs for the following year, making it progressively more difficult to balance the budget. As an example of how fast this burden can snowball, in the fiscal year 2005-06 the Bermuda Government spent just $10.5 million on interest payments — just eight years later when the OBA announced its first Budget, the figure was ten times more than that. Further exacerbating the problem is that the government is obliged to pay 2.5 per cent of net debt into the Sinking Fund each year to help pay down debt. And the greater the debt is, the higher that amount will be too. The late Larry Burchall, in his repeated warnings on the island’s fiscal deterioration, called it Nanci the Spider — the voracious creature gobbling its way through public money as a direct consequence of government spending beyond its means for a prolonged period, leading to a spiraling debt problem getting out of control. And in order to fairly compare the different administrations’ fiscal performance, the debt-service headwind — or Nanci’s ever-growing appetite — should be factored in. In the 2008-09 Budget, the PLP had a fiscal headwind of $27.6 million — $18.2 million in interest, plus a $9.4 million payment into the Sinking Fund. From then until the last PLP Budget in 2012-13, the average impact of debt servicing on the deficit was $54.2 million per year, as the government forked out a total of $271 million over five years. This does not tell the full story however, as in 2009-10 and 2012-13, the PLP Government made interest payments out of the Sinking Fund, effectively deferring Nanci’s impact on the deficit. The OBA inherited net debt of about $1.47 billion and in its first Budget, debt-servicing costs were close to $147 million. In their five years, if projections for the current fiscal year are included, the OBA’s average yearly debt-service headwind has been $168 million, with the government paying out a staggering five-year total of $842 million in interest and Sinking Fund payments over five years. The statistics make clear that the OBA inherited an extremely challenging fiscal situation complete with ministry-sized debt-servicing costs. But the rate of increase of the debt has slowed significantly during their tenure. Whoever wins the election will have to wear the same debt-servicing straitjacket, as only when the Bermuda Government can stop posting budget deficits will Nanci’s appetite stop growing. And further discipline will be necessary for years to come to actually start paying off the huge debt. Both parties say they want to balance the budget within short order, with a mixture of spending cuts, revenue increases and economic growth. History has shown that taming Nanci will be easier said than done.
July 7. Michael Dunkley has described the preamble to the Progressive Labour Party’s platform as “divorced from reality”. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the Premier dismissed language contained within Opposition leader David Burt’s statement as flying in the face of what was happening in the country today. He referenced sentences describing the island as being in a state of peril, lacking in tolerance, and facing harder times under the current administration. Dunkley said: “It’s the kind of talk that wants people to forget that people voted the PLP out of office because they were heading Bermuda in the wrong direction,” he said. Joined by Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, Minister of Home Affairs, and Fabian Minors, candidate for Devonshire North, the trio highlighted their party’s record of fiscal responsibility, while scrutinizing that of the Opposition. Ms Gordon-Pamplin described the PLP’s record as one of “financial carelessness that brought the island to the brink of disaster. When voters ask what will the Burt PLP do to Bermuda, I would say look at what they did,” she said. Pointing to the plan described within the PLP platform to review the contract to build the new airport terminal, she addressed the possible implications of such a move — including lawsuits, loss of jobs, and damage to Bermuda’s reputation. She said: “This, to my mind, may be the single most irresponsible and reckless thing [Mr Burt] has said.” Statements previously made by Mr Burt on broadening the tax base also had wide-sweeping implications, Ms Gordon-Pamplin said. In the PLP’s reply to the Budget in March, Mr Burt said that tax reform and broadening the tax base “cannot be effective if they are unwilling to look at taxing the passive income of the privileged persons in society”. Ms Gordon-Pamplin said of such a tax: “It has implications for every Bermudian who earns income from savings, from investments and, most importantly, from rental income.” While the party’s platform does promise the creation of a Tax Reform Commission, there is no specific mention of passive incomes. Ms Gordon-Pamplin pledged that no such tax would be implemented by her party. “It’s important that people understand this because it is a critical difference between the OBA and the PLP,” she said. Mr Minors described rental incomes as vital dollars that the Opposition leader wanted to come after. He spoke of two retirees who relied on the income generated by renting their one-bedroom apartment to make ends meet. “The last thing my neighbours need is a tax on their rental income,” he said. He also touched on plans announced by the PLP to earmark pension monies to start-ups, which he described as a gamble. “Start-ups are very high-risk investments, with failure rates above 90 per cent,” Mr Minors said. Mr Dunkley also used the press conference to address what he described as “disgusting” social media posts that had appeared online in recent days. “I don’t care where they come from,” he said of the unspecified messages, which he said seemed to come from people supporting both parties. “That’s not the Bermuda we know, that’s not the Bermuda we love, and we don’t need it as we head to an election. Stop the rot.”
July 7. The Progressive Labour Party promised a “collaborative” approach to government as it elaborated on its election platform. Leader David Burt unveiled the party’s “Agenda for a Better and Fairer Bermuda” on Thursday evening at the Young Men’s Social Club, pledging to unite the island’s citizens, empower Bermudian entrepreneurs and make education the priority. Yesterday afternoon as he fielded questions from the media Mr Burt insisted that Bermuda could not withstand another five years of the One Bermuda Alliance. “We need to change course,” he said. “And we need people in charge that are going to look out for all Bermudians and not just the select few.” In response to questions, Mr Burt said he could not promise that the PLP would not have to borrow more money if it was elected to govern. He added: “I can say that we will balance our budget by 2019. The OBA are not pledging not to borrow, and we are not pledging not to borrow, that is completely unrealistic, right now we have a budget deficit.” Mr Burt also rejected claims by the OBA that his party was planning to introduce a new income tax on rent received by Bermudian homeowners. He maintained that the PLP was not coming after working families, adding: “We will create a Tax Reform Commission drawing participants from both political parties, international business, local business, trade unions, hoteliers, academia and the Bermuda Bar. Government under the next PLP is going to be a collaborative government, one that is going to invite the opinions of stakeholders inside to make sure we are working together addressing the challenges.” The PLP’s platform includes plans for a Bipartisan Committee on Immigration Reform as well as an urgent review of health and safety at public schools. Asked in what way the first proposal was different from the existing Immigration Working Group, which he chairs, PLP MP Walton Brown said: “The working group is not comprehensive; it’s a review on a mandate that had already been submitted. What we would do is look at the entirety of the set of issues related to immigration and come up with a comprehensive plan beyond the question of PRC and Bermuda status. We would look at totality rather than a limited framework.” Meanwhile PLP MP Tinee Furbert said the review of public schools would go beyond the Score report and require “even more in-depth checks”. Mr Burt also elaborated on his party’s plans to introduce a sex offender’s register for “certain offences” that would be made available to the public once offenders had been released back into the community. He said: “There is concern inside of our communities that when people are released they are not informed. It is important that their names are released so people can be informed and parents can be on guard.” Referring to the kind of offences that would be included on the register he said: “I would assume they would be the crimes regarding children. That is the area of the greatest and biggest concern. The aim is to provide comfort to our citizens.” Asked if a review of the airport deal — which is included in the PLP’s platform — was a redundant exercise given work had already begun, Bermudians had been employed and penalty clauses involved in withdrawing from the arrangement, he replied: “No, I would not consider it a redundant process We are going to look and see if we can get a better deal for Bermudians. When we get into office our lawyers will take a look at that.” During yesterday’s press conference Mr Burt also provided details of his party’s campaign funding in response to questions. He said: “We don’t get a whole lot of money. Our largest was $81,000 from an international company in Bermuda, the next biggest donation was $25,000 from another international company.” Mr Burt declined to name the firms but said they were both Front Street firms. He added: “I hope that the One Bermuda Alliance will say who their biggest donor is.”
July 7. The Progressive Labour Party pledged last night to unite the island’s citizens and put its children first as it unveiled its platform for the upcoming General Election. Party leader David Burt told supporters that the PLP would accomplish more in its first 100 days in office than the One Bermuda Alliance had done in five years. Mr Burt and his colleagues outlined a raft of proposals that they said would “put our people back to work, educate our children, empower Bermudian entrepreneurs and make Bermudians feel they have a future in their own country”. The 34-page election manifesto includes conducting an urgent review of health and safety in public schools, phasing out middle schools and implementing a living wage. MP Diallo Rabain said: “Public education is our top priority. To fix our education system will require hard work and dedication, and for that we need a government that is caring and puts our people first when it comes to education.” Mr Burt outlined plans to re-establish the Bermuda First advisory group, appoint a gang violence reduction co-ordinator and give extra power to the Price Control Commission to reduce the cost of living in Bermuda. He said that the party would double the guarantee capacity of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation to empower entrepreneurs and establish a Tax Reform Commission to make Bermuda’s tax system fairer. And he told supporters that a new PLP government would implement a code of conduct for MPs and a Code of Practice for Project Management and Procurement. MP Walton Brown told an audience of about 100 that gathered at Young Men’s Social Club in Hamilton that the PLP would complete comprehensive bipartisan immigration reform. He added: “We accept that same-sex couples should have similar legal benefits as heterosexual couples, save for marriage, and will introduce legislation to achieve this aim.” The platform, entitled An Agenda for a Better and Fairer Bermuda, includes provision for a review of the “privatisation contract” between Aecon and the Government “to see if Bermuda can get a better deal”. It also contains plans to create a National Development Plan to help prepare Bermudians for job opportunities, the introduction of a local lottery within two years to benefit sports development and the establishment of a technology hub in Southside. It also paves the way for new tax relief for first-time entrepreneurs and the creation of an Economic Diversification Unit to create new economic pillars. The PLP’s deputy leader, Walter Roban, condemned the OBA for “failing our seniors” and said the PLP would institute annual cost-of-living increases for social insurance pensions and enact a Charter of Rights and Responsibilities for seniors. Mr Burt told the audience: “The next PLP government will grow our economy by bringing jobs back to Bermuda by creating a payroll tax exemption for any Bermudian company that decide to repatriate previously outsourced jobs back to Bermuda.” He vowed that his party would balance Bermuda’s budget by 2019.
July 7. Pembroke West Central could be one of the seats that swings the election on July 18, with the incumbent MP David Burt having a majority of less than 100. The Progressive Labour Party leader is going head-to-head with the One Bermuda Alliance’s Nick Kempe, with both candidates citing the economy and education as the leading concerns of their constituents. The Royal Gazette found a mix of views when we took to the streets of Constituency 18 this week to speak to voters. The area, within a couple of miles of Hamilton, has several public schools within its boundaries and more than 500 homes. None of the residents we spoke to wanted to be named, but several were willing to share their thoughts on the issues that will determine how they mark their ballot papers. A 72-year-old business owner said she had been too busy in recent months, thanks in part to the America’s Cup, to really focus on what the two parties had to offer. But despite her thriving business, she said the OBA was not guaranteed to get her vote. “I voted for the OBA [in 2012] and I don’t even know who I’m voting for this time,” she said. “I have to check it out to see what they are saying.” The woman, who was a longtime PLP supporter before the last election, said she was motivated to change allegiance last time around by concerns about public money being misspent and those in charge reaping financial benefits, while ordinary citizens worked hard to survive. But a couple of things concerned her about supporting the ruling party again. The voter said she disliked the OBA’s election pledge to put $2,500 into a savings accounts for each newborn Bermudian. “Some of those young girls are going to have babies [because of this],” she suggested. “I don’t know if that’s a really good idea. They are going to think about the money, not realizing that it’s going to go for the baby.” The other issue that concerned her, she said, was same-sex marriage. “It’s going against the Bible,” the woman said. “My son and daughters are all big Christians, and they have a big influence on me. This is one of the things we had discussed. It [the recent court ruling on same-sex marriage] is like a slap in the face. I realize we have to work with these things ... I am just not ready for it, but I know it is something we maybe can’t do anything about.” A neighbors, aged 56, said Mr Kempe had her vote because “he listens; he listens with his heart”. The woman said the OBA candidate’s genuine concern for his neighbours and efforts to help them, even with small matters, convinced her to back him. One example was fixing a fence close to a dangerous drop on North Shore Road. “In this neighborhood, there aren’t too many concerns,” she said. “The nicest thing is that the OBA representative knows his people, looks out for his people. I had issues outside of this neighborhood and he pushed to get it fixed.” Another voter, a senior, said she had little to say about the party platforms or the candidates, before adding: “I just pray and hope the PLP win.” Not everyone we spoke to was as passionate about the outcome of the General Election. One man, aged 59, admitted he did not intend to vote, fatigued by petty, negative squabbles between the two parties. “I would like to see both political parties work together rather than fighting,” he said.
July 7. The introduction of liquefied natural gas to Bermuda could risk an accidental leak which might result in a catastrophic event — far more catastrophic than diesel, gasoline or heavy fuel leaks, according to Greenrock. As such the environmental group is urging residents to submit responses to the National Fuels Policy — which is before public consultation — before today’s deadline. Greenrock disputes the fact that LNG is as a low carbon fuel, as described by the Government. “This is not the case and highlights why we need to incorporate life-cycle analysis when looking at fuels,” said a Greenrock spokesman. “LNG is only a low carbon fuel at the point of consumption — it produces less greenhouse gases relative to alternative fuels when consumed to produce power. However, when one considers the greenhouse gas emissions related to the production and transportation of LNG, not only is it not a low-carbon fuel, it is a worse offender than our current fuel use. In the production of LNG, largely through fracking, large amounts of methane are released, which traps 86 times the amount of heat over a 20-year period than carbon dioxide — which is the main greenhouse gas resulting from our current fuel use. Add into this the greenhouse gas emissions produced to first liquefied natural gas for transportation as LNG, the construction of infrastructure — ports, regasification plants, etc — and it becomes clear that far from being a low carbon fuel, LNG will actually greatly increase Bermuda’s net greenhouse gas emissions. To describe LNG as a low carbon fuel is, ultimately, a misleading sleight of hand in carbon accounting. Any national fuel policy must factor in the life-cycle analysis of the fuel in question, rather than solely point of use — be it LNG, biofuel or other. Additionally, there are great concerns regarding the physical infrastructure required for LNG use in Bermuda. Whole new infrastructure for importing and regasification of LNG is required, along with transport to a power plant itself. Due to the highly compressed nature of LNG, there is the added risk of an accidental leak of LNG resulting in a catastrophic event — far more catastrophic than diesel, gasoline or heavy fuel leaks like we have had in Bermuda to date. Greenrock also notes that with LNG far from being a low carbon fuel in reality, that as more and more countries take action to address climate change, including commitments under the Paris Agreement, investing in LNG infrastructure would lock Bermuda into an energy dependence which is both counterproductive and of limited long-term viability. This is especially so as renewable energy technology is increasingly not only competitive with fossil fuel, but likely to become cheaper over time. Bermuda would do better to invest in energy efficiency, energy storage technologies and renewable energy sources. Inasmuch as there may be a need for a short-term bridge to support a transition to a zero carbon economy, more efficient generators relying on our current fuel base will have a lower carbon footprint than a transition to LNG based power — and without the risk of catastrophic accidents or being locked into an expensive and counterproductive energy pathway.”
July 7. Two of the island’s leading environmental advocates have touched upon a pair of unrealized promises made by the One Bermuda Alliance 4½ years ago, and offered their insight on the greatest issues facing the island that the next government must address. In its 2012 platform, the One Bermuda Alliance pledged to “protect Bermuda’s fragile environment for future generations and present-day enjoyment”. Among 25 stated priorities were to build on Bermuda’s white paper on energy, with the goal of generating at least 20 per cent of energy from renewable energy sources by 2026, reduce the cost of electricity by regulating the energy sector, and to incorporate environmental considerations into all government decision-making. Jonathan Starling, with Greenrock, said the Government had mustered a “mixed bag” when it came to delivering on its promises. While pleased with progress on initiatives such as the Electricity Act 2016, he said the organisation was dismayed and disappointed on other matters. “We’re particularly disappointed about the Blue Halo concept being dropped and no alternative idea for the area really proposed,” Mr Starling said. The project looked at turning a large portion of Bermuda’s Exclusive Economic Zone into a protected marine reserve. While consultation on the proposal did take place, Mr Starling said the idea was effectively killed in late 2014. “As far as we can tell [Government] has ceased to proceed with the continuing consultation and research that the Premier said was needed before making a decision on the issue,” he said. The promise of opening the Southlands National Park has also failed to come to fruition. Stuart Hayward, with the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce, said the group was “disappointed that the area had not been listed within the island’s national park system. That’s something we were anticipating, that’s something that was stated would occur, and it hasn’t so far,” he said. The property was obtained by the Progressive Labour Party Government of the day in 2011 as part of a land-swap agreement that saved it from being used as the site of a hotel. The move paved the way for the Morgan’s Point hotel project. This spring, a government spokesman confirmed that an amendment to the National Parks Act 2009 was to be tabled during the parliamentary session, which would make the area a park. The matter was effectively halted when Parliament was dissolved by the call for the election. Asked if the group would pursue the matter with the next government, Mr Hayward said that BEST represented “hundreds, if not thousands” of people who had signed petitions, took part in walks and held signs against development on the site. “It’s not fair for them to be left disappointed with a change in government when so many opportunities and assurances were given that Southlands was going to become part of the park system,” he said. With its new platform — unveiled this week — the OBA outlined its new plan to “protect, maintain and improve” the island’s environment. Natural resources, the party said, would be managed for “sustainable results”. Protecting marine resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, converting the Government’s small-vehicle fleet to electric within five years, extending public transportation hours, expanding community gardens, and examining a “Bottle Bill” and a charge for single-use plastic bags are among the outlined pledges. For its part, the PLP has also promised to convert government vehicles to hybrid and electric — although no timeframe is given — and more community gardens. It has also vowed to produce a green paper for consultation on establishing a mandatory recycling programme, outfit government buildings with renewable energy-generating technologies, and to lease government land to boost domestic food production. “The PLP will work to protect our environment, usher in a new era of renewable energy which will reduce our cost of living, and reduce waste and litter in Bermuda,” the party said in its platform release last night. The greatest challenge facing the island, Mr Starling said, is the same facing the rest of the world. “Climate change is going to impact all aspects of Bermuda,” he said. “From the economy, tourism, the natural environment, our built heritage, food security, agriculture, freshwater resources, and so on. A two-pronged approach is needed to tackle the problem — the reduction of greenhouse gases, and the climate-proofing of infrastructure. The next government, whoever it is, really needs to put addressing climate change at the forefront of its policy agenda. It affects all aspects of Bermuda and every single ministry and department.” For his part, Mr Hayward said exceeding the island’s carrying capacity — compounded by polarization and a lack of willingness for calm and rational discussion — was the biggest issue facing Bermuda. A real commitment, he said, was needed by both parties on their calls for transparency and co-operative efforts. “There doesn’t seem to be a lot of evidence from either of either,” he said.
July 7. A furious telecommunications chief has hit back at a “misleading” statement by the Regulatory Authority of Bermuda that branded his firm as “anti-consumer and anti-competitive”. Frank Amaral, CEO of One Communications, hit out after regulators knocked back an application to charge termination fees of between $200 and $500 for residential internet and broadband customers, as well as retail TV customers. But Mr Amaral said the charges were linked to a bid to introduce a promotion which offered three months’ free service on condition the consumer signed up for a 12-month contract — with any fees only applying to the special offer, which RAB failed to mention in their statement. Mr Amaral added: “The whole thing is very misleading — in this press release they have chosen to pick out, I guess, the worst parts of what we had applied for. What we applied for was to have the ability to match promotional offers from our competitors with regards to TV and internet and more specifically we wanted to offer customers up to three months free service in return for the customer committing to 12 months’ service. You will note the Regulatory Authority doesn’t bother to say we’re trying to offer that three-month promotion.” And Mr Amaral said that regular customers at One Communications retained the option to cancel service with 30 days’ notice and no penalties. He added: “This was only in relation to a promotional offer to match competitors’ offers. We don’t have any termination fees — we actually give people a chance to cancel subscriptions on 30 days’ notice. What they’re really misleading about is we’re only seeking to offer a promotion.” The telecommunications regulator yesterday branded the proposed termination fees for residential internet and broadband customers, as well as retail TV customers as “both anti-consumer and anti-competitive”. A spokesman for the regulator added it has also rejected “a proposal by One to exercise a method of determining its retail prices, that the Authority viewed as predatory pricing against market entrants and anti-competitive. The authority has a responsibility to safeguard the interests of consumers, as well as to promote and safeguard competition. The authority’s actions of today are consistent with these responsibilities and the Authority is ready to intervene further should it be necessary.” But Mr Amaral said: “What you see happening here is the Regulatory Authority is saying one thing to the public and ignoring a lot of the substance of what we were talking about to them. How does someone call matching a competitors’ offer ‘predatory’?” He added that One Communications fibre-optic product, now in the market, only had its tariffs approved in May after six months of negotiations with the regulator. Mr Amaral said: “It took six months getting these tariffs approved and these tariffs have benefited every consumer on the island.” The Regulatory Authority release came after One Communications launched a Supreme Court bid to get a ruling that the RAB had failed to fulfil its statutory duty to compete a market review by the end of April — so it should lose its rights to impose regulations on the industry. An affidavit by Mr Amaral submitted to the court said that market conditions and services had “changed dramatically” since the last market review four years ago — which was based on data collected even earlier. The separate application to the court said the rules and regulations imposed without up-to-date information on the sector was “the policy equivalent of regulating the sector blindfolded.” Mr Amaral declined to comment on whether he thought the tone of the RAB release had been influenced by the company’s legal action as the matter is still being considered by Supreme Court.
July 7. Brexit, Solvency II and Bermuda will be discussed during a Bermuda Executive Forum event in London in November. The event is hosted by the Bermuda Business Development Agency, and is aimed at those interest in learning about Bermuda’s sophisticated, multi-industry finance centre. The forum will feature experts from the island’s insurance and reinsurance, captive insurance, trust and captive client, asset management, and insurance-linked securities sectors. The free, daylong event features five information sessions on Bermuda business opportunities. Robert Childs, chairman of Hiscox, and deputy chairman for Lloyd’s of London, will be the keynote speaker. The event at ME London, on The Strand, will take place on November 28.
July 7. Bermuda Air Conditioning’s construction arm has temporarily laid off four Bermudian staff. The move is in addition to eight overseas employees made redundant over the past two months. But management at the firm said the Bermudian layoffs were temporary and that the staff would be rehired when more contracts were signed. Kim Parker, operations manager at BAC, said the construction industry employed staff to work on contracts and, when they were completed, jobs would go unless there was any further work. He added: “There are temporary layoffs — we have some work and as soon as we have signed contracts we will take them back, but we can’t employ people on a wing and a prayer. Over the last two months we have decreased enormously our expatriate workforce as well — eight to ten on the construction side.” The expatriate workers are now believed to have left the island. Mr Parker explained construction traditionally slowed in the summer as hotels were reluctant to start work at peak times. But he said: “There is a tremendous amount of opportunity on the books and very close to being concrete, signed documents, but we can’t really move forward until we have that.” The BAC Group employs about 180 people in seven divisions, with up to 50 working on the construction side.
July 7. An American tourist has been slapped with an $800 fine after he admitted refusing to give police a breath sample. Darren Hill, 42, from Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to the charge in Magistrates’ Court. The court heard that at around 5.15pm on July 5, police were travelling along Mangrove Bay Road in Sandys when they found an auxiliary cycle laying on its side and a group of three people standing nearby. The officers spoke with the group and were told that one of the three, Hill, had been driving the vehicle. Hill reportedly said with an audible slur that he had been driving to Dockyard when he lost control of his motorcycle. Asked if he had been drinking, Hill confirmed that he had two beers. When told he was going to be arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired, he accused one of the other men in the group of punching him in the face. That man responded that he had taken away Hill’s keys when he attempted to get back on the bike and admitted pushing him in the process. Hill was arrested and taken to Hamilton Police Station, where he failed to provide an adequate sample of breath for analysis. After pleading guilty, Hill apologized for his actions, saying he should not have got on his vehicle after drinking. “I have been coming to Bermuda for 13 years and never had type of incident whatsoever,” he said. Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo responded that if he returned to the island within the next 12 months, he will not be allowed to ride, issuing Hill a one-year ban from driving and a $800 fine.
July 6. An ambitious proposal to have a Bermuda team compete in the prestigious Volvo Ocean Race appears to have fallen through, The Royal Gazette can reveal. Kevin Dallas, the Bermuda Tourism Authority chief executive, has confirmed that there were discussions about Bermuda taking part in the annual event featuring some of the world’s top sailors — a proposal that he said is now off the table. “The Bermuda Tourism Authority was involved in a conversation regarding resources for a Bermuda team in the next Volvo Ocean Race,” Dallas said. “To the best of our knowledge, that conversation is not proceeding. There will be no Bermuda team in the next Volvo Ocean Race.” It had been hoped that a Bermuda team could be involved in the Volvo Ocean Race to build on Team BDA’s success at the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup last month, as well as the momentum generated by the 35th America’s Cup, which the island hosted. Team BDA, skippered by MacKenzie Cooper, finished eighth in the final of the Youth America’s Cup. Originally known as the Whitbread Round the World Race, the Volvo Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world and typically departs from Europe in October. Recent editions of the Volvo Ocean Race consisted of either nine or ten legs with in-port races being staged at stopover cities. Each of the entries has a sailing team consisting of nine professional crew who race day and night for more than 20 days at a time on some of the legs. The crew members are required to be more than sailors with some having been trained in medical response, sail-making, diesel-engine repair, electronics and hydraulics. Teams compete in the Volvo Ocean 65, a high-performance one-design racing yacht created by Farr Yacht Design and built by a consortium of four European boatyards. Led by skipper Ian Walker, one of Britain’s most successful sailors, United Arab Emirates entry Azzam won the previous Volvo Ocean Race held between 2014 and 15. During that cycle the team also won the in-port race series and set a 24-hour distance record of 550.82 nautical miles while approaching Cape Horn, a rocky headland on Hornos Island, in southern Chile’s Tierra del Fuego archipelago. The Netherlands holds the record for the wins (three), with Dutchman Conny van Rietschoten the only skipper to win the race twice. After the next edition, the Volvo Ocean Race will switch from a three-year to a two-year cycle, a change that will provide more continuity and more commercial value for professional sailing teams, sponsors and host cities. The next edition starts on October 22 from Alicante, Spain, and will finish at the end of June next year in The Hague, Netherlands.
July 6. While the residents of swing constituency St George’s West are basking in the glow of a new hotel development, a boost in tourism and a buoyed local economy, they say there is still some work to be done in the Olde Towne. The Royal Gazette spoke to residents and business owners in Constituency 2 — being contested by the Progressive Labour Party’s Kim Swan and the One Bermuda Alliance’s Nandi Outerbridge — to get an idea where people stand in the run-up to the election. On the day we visited St George’s, King’s Square and Water Street were full of tourists, providing a fitting background for what most constituents were discussing: a boost in tourism dollars. But among the outstanding issues seen as a disadvantage by some was the long-called-for improvement of transportation to St George’s during off-peak times, social programming and that hotly debated topic of jobs. Constituency 2 appears to be staying true to its reputation as a hotbed for the swing votes, with many still undecided on which candidate to choose. Kristin White is a St George’s West business owner and resident who sits on the parish council for St George’s. She is also a consultant for the Bermuda Tourism Authority and her passion and advocacy for the town is well documented. While she was vocal in her support for Mr Swan when he ran as an independent in 2012, she said she was still undecided on which candidate she will vote for now: “I see Kim all the time because he lives in the area, but I don’t know if either of them came to my house. I don’t know who I am supporting yet; I am hoping an independent might pop up. In my constituency, generally, a lot of the MPs for the area talk about issues that are more economic to do with the town because it’s so close, but I would love to get some information about social platforms for the community — we don’t have the high percentage of crime that other parishes have. St George’s is such a close-knit community, we could create change from within. If there are children in the neighborhood who need assistance with lunches, etc, we have enough of a network to help, but that could be led by an MP so that we are meeting the needs of students and seniors. We talk about it on the parish council as well: if there could be a formalized way of doing what maybe happens now only via word of mouth.” Ms White said she was encouraged by the increased tourism and economic activity in St George’s West, which she says is due in part to the work of the BTA created under the One Bermuda Alliance administration. “Economically, things have improved in St George’s for tourism; I don’t know how much of that is OBA and how much of it is BTA. I work with the BTA and I know that they do a great deal — there was some ministerial influence and leadership and strategy, but I know also that the BTA drove their own force.” Ms White lamented the lack of transportation to St George’s by road and by sea, called for better infrastructure and said she believed there was potential to improve social programming. “Transportation and infrastructure are the biggest issues that we face for tourism — there is no evening ferry, no east-west bus, there is no weekend ferry or ferries in the winter. That is the biggest hurdle that we face. The BTA has been trying to work with the Ministry of Transport to work on that. We have all talked about the police station and we don’t see it opening, but I love that there are police officers walking around the town; it makes a big difference. There needs to be more. There were the taxi burglaries and there are people openly selling drugs in the square — things like that can definitely be improved upon.” Unray Waldron, a senior citizen who works at Dowling’s Rubis Marine Service Station, said he had seen a positive upswing in the tourism economy in the area. “I have been seeing a flow of tourists coming up here going to Tobacco Bay and Fort St Catherine, and I have seen quite a few weddings up at the Unfinished Church. These are things I have seen grown in the last couple of years. I have seen St George’s change for the good, as far as all the tourists coming here and rebuilding and construction; the hotel and the dock, the wharf and the new area for the ferry terminal ...” As for who will get his vote, Mr Waldron was also undecided, but said he knew more about Mr Swan than Ms Outerbridge, a comparative newcomer to the political arena. “I don’t know too much about Nandi, but I know that Kim Swan was UBP — I talk to him quite often. He is very experienced and he has some good ideas as a politician. He is qualified to do it, but I don’t know too much about her; she is young. I am still undecided, but I will be keeping a close eye on it.” Speaking on the bigger picture, Mr Waldron said he was tired of the political unrest that has all but defined the atmosphere surrounding the past five years. “There is so much fighting going on. I have never seen so much fighting in my life in politics, and I have been here for a long time.” Sarah Trott, 36, has enjoyed a career in hospitality and hopes to see the vibrancy that the Olde Towne enjoyed in years gone by. Mr Swan is a close family friend and former employer of Ms Trott’s husband, whose family are predominantly aligned with the PLP, but she remains undecided on where to place her vote. She said: “I have not made a decision. I have met with Kim Swan, he has come to my apartment. I haven’t even met Nandi or seen her. I don’t know that much about her. I lived in St George’s about ten years ago and came back about four years ago. Ten years ago it was booming. I was earning $1,500 a week with two ships coming up here. When I came back, it had declined like the island as a whole. I am a hospitality person. It hurts for young people who want to come into my business. I hate to be discouraging because I love the field. We had the economic crisis and we are picking up from that. I did agree with the America’s Cup bringing that light towards Bermuda. We were open for the holiday and we made a lot of money because of the [Long Distance] Comet race. The marina would have made it better. As we see from this America’s Cup, marine tourism is where we are at now. That is easier for us as well because we don’t have a lot of land space left here. We need to encourage young people to work as crew members. I saw the Maltese Falcon here — big boats that you see on the Luxury Channel — and they are all here. My father always asked why they don’t encourage young people into seamanship. My husband was a Sea Cadet but he didn’t have anywhere to go after that. This summer has been the best summer. The OBA brought the America’s Cup. I can’t find a problem with that. As far as the issues internally, the PLP is more focused on that — for people who live here.” Ms Trott said one issue close to her heart was mental health, as she has bipolar, and said that Mr Swan had shown some interest in the subject. “He is saying that he is going to try to put that forward — it is the elephant in the room here. I was diagnosed in the States and having bipolar in the States it’s not seen as a death sentence like it is here. They raise families; they have everything they need.” On the issue of jobs, she said: “I can’t even get into that — its six of one, half a dozen of the other. I have a son and he is my biggest concern. I want Bermuda to be a good place for him to come back to. I always liked Kim’s approach even when he was with the UBP; he wanted business development. I used to work at The George and Dragon and he always came around and said he wanted to develop businesses.” One shop owner, who asked not to be named, is not a C2 resident but has a business based there. She said she had already made her mind up to vote OBA, adding: “Bermuda is back on the map and I want it to stay on the map — we have a new hotel coming and that means a heck of a lot to me having a business in St George’s. I was keeping my head above water and now this year I am up 50 per cent compared with this time last year. We have a lot of sales due to the America’s Cup being here and all the yachts. Tons of people have been coming here for a whole month.” Peter Harris, a busker playing pans on Water Street, said: “I will support OBA — I like their performance for the country. They are improving the economy and trying to get jobs for people because people are complaining about jobs. Even if the PLP get in, people will still be complaining about jobs — it is always a problem. The ruling party has done very well in getting the America’s Cup. That was such a nice thing that they have done. The OBA have been doing well. St George’s is doing well. I am doing well here busking.” Kelvin Paynter said that despite the development around him, he was not happy with the OBA’s general practices. “I don’t have too much time for Kim, but I am tired of the OBA,” he said. “Everything is transparent, so they say, and then we find out about it a couple of months down the road. I may have to go for PLP, even though I don’t like a lot of things they do. The hotel [St Regis], they are just piling up sand. Nobody is doing anything and I think we were sold down the road with the airport. Eventually, they will sell it to a few millionaires in Bermuda and they will run it.”
July 6. Bermuda is well positioned to host events associated with the next America’s Cup — and the island took high praise from ACBDA for its delivery of the races. Peter Durhager, chairman of ACBDA, along with chief executive Mike Winfield, commended the island for trumping naysayers, as the world’s sixth country to host the event, in “punching above its weight”. Mr Durhager also warned that Bermuda should “guard against small-town attitudes that hold us back” in the global economy. While an assessment of the benefits is set to come out in October, Mr Durhager said indicators were “overwhelming” as to the event’s success. “We also expect to deliver Bermuda’s commitments well within our overall budget, and that our governance, financial transparency and discipline will set the standard for other, similar organisations and entities,” he added. Reports should be ready by early October, Mr Winfield said, cautioning against rushing for an assessment. “Other regattas and events are in discussion — much of this results from Bermuda having established its credibility in being able to host international events,” he added. With Emirates Team New Zealand emerging victorious, Mr Winfield emphasized that there remained “a lot of wait-and-see” when it came to Bermuda’s role in the 36th America’s Cup. But he was heartened by remarks from Grant Dalton, the New Zealand CEO, that “New Zealand looks forward to discussing with us the future events”. Mr Winfield said: “That’s the first time any new defender has committed to a destination.” ACBDA has fulfilled its specific and is now winding down, and the potential value to the island of an organisation like it would be “up to the Government of the day”.
July 6. Shadow tourism minister Jamahl Simmons has blasted the One Bermuda Alliance for its failure to create more jobs for Bermudians. In a press conference yesterday, Mr Simmons noted that the Government in 2013 promised to create 2,000 jobs over the following five years. Instead, the jobless figure had risen 17 per cent. However, earlier finance minister Bob Richards told the media that 4,770 jobs were lost over the final four years of the Progressive Labour Party administration. “We’ve heard a lot about 2,000 jobs — Government does not have a statistical grip on these numbers at the moment, of employment numbers. The numbers that are being quoted and have been bandied about are almost a year old and they won’t get updated until October or September.” Mr Simmons complained that the OBA were “making a lot of promises about how they will fix our economy ... but how can we trust them?” Time and again they failed to deliver on their promises to create jobs in Bermuda. They have looked out for their friends and helped the elite continue to prosper, while the needs of the rest of Bermudians are ignored. They gave tax breaks and other deals to their rich friends to help them make more money. What did the average Bermudian get? There are fewer jobs in Bermuda today then there were five years ago. The true proof of the OBA’s failed leadership is in the data shows that when the PLP left office in 2012 there were just over 35,000 jobs in Bermuda; when the OBA left office, there are just over 32,000.”
July 6. Former litigants who campaigned for Bermuda’s Court of Appeal to release recordings of its hearings have welcomed a Privy Council ruling on the issue. The judgment, concerning a case from Mauritius, considered whether individuals convicted of crimes had the right to copies of the digital recordings of their trials when deciding whether to appeal. The five law lords in London concluded that digital recordings, not transcripts or judge’s notes, were the “primary record” of the court and should be made available, for a fee, to those involved in proceedings: a position at odds with that taken by various government officials and others in Bermuda. The Civil Justice Advocacy Group told The Royal Gazette it felt vindicated by the ruling but believed it raised serious questions about why litigants in Bermuda were “denied access to a court recording system paid for by the public purse”. It said in a statement: “Why were we given the runaround on such a basic issue? Why were we told that a system that was in use, and regularly transcribed for appeals, was not the official record?” Members of CJAG, including former civil servant LeYoni Junos and businessman Dilton Robinson, teamed up more than five years ago after struggling to obtain official recordings of civil cases they were involved in at the Court of Appeal. The group was told by various officials — including the Attorney-General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Registrar of the Supreme Court — that the judge’s notes were the official record of court proceedings. A civil rights organisation, the Centre for Justice, also held that view and the Deputy Governor of the day said it was “standard procedure not only in Bermuda but in courts in the UK” to deny access to court recordings. In 2014, CJAG lodged a criminal complaint alleging that Court of Appeal president Justice Edward Zacca and Charlene Scott, the court registrar, had committed offences by not making recordings available. The group compiled a list of cases in which it claimed litigants were given contradicting information from officials about the availability of recordings of hearings between February 2011 to November 2012 — when, after a public protest, Mr Justice Zacca finally agreed that all future hearings would be recorded and made available. Prosecutors declined to press charges, with police stating: “There is no legislation in Bermuda that requires the court to make an audio recording of its proceedings. The fact that the court has such a system does not mean it is required by law to do so.” The CJAG said the recent ruling, in the matter of Sumodhee (and others) versus the State of Mauritius, made clear that if a court recording system was in use, then the audio recording was the primary record of the proceedings. The law lords said: “For a Supreme Court trial, the modern transcript is prepared from the digital recording, not from a shorthand note. Moreover ... it is the digital recording which is the primary record ...” The CJAG said in its statement: “We feel vindicated by this recent ruling of the Privy Council and will continue to expose injustice, and to improve access to justice, in the Bermuda judiciary.”
July 6. A murderer who launched a savage and frenzied knife attack on a Royal Bermuda Regiment sergeant in his home has been jailed for life. Kenneth Leverock, who stands 6ft 5ins tall and weighs 280lbs, set upon Dejion Stange-Simmons with a blade shortly after arriving at his Southampton residence in November 2015. Yesterday, Leverock was told he would serve a minimum of 12 years behind bars before he could even be considered for release on parole by Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves. Leverock’s sentence came at the end of a long day of high drama in the Supreme Court during which gang member Romano Mills was jailed for life for the Belvin’s double murder and Kethyio Whitehurst was found guilty of the manslaughter of Travis Lowe, who died after a high-speed motorcycle chase. Prosecutor Cindy Clarke told the court that Leverock and Mr Stange-Simmons, who were 25 and 26 respectively at the time of the killing, had started talking on Facebook in January 2013. Ms Clarke said: “Forensic analysis of the victim’s and Leverock’s mobile phone have revealed that they both had each other in their contacts listing. The analysis also revealed that the two of them had been conversing with each other as far back as 2013. These conversations became more intimate and personal in 2015 when they spoke of having sexual encounters.” Ms Clarke read out two online conversations between the two men from October 2015. The exchange from October 31, 2015 showed that Mr Stange-Simmons wanted to meet Leverock, but he responded by saying “U like ya life” and “Ya goin to have problem”. The next day Mr Stange-Simmons sent a further message saying: “Unless you want me to share pics, video n convos with ppl my advice to you is to keep other ppl out of our business.” Leverock’s lawyer, Elizabeth Christopher, said that during their initial online exchanges, Mr Stange-Simmons presented himself as a woman, but by September 2015 her client knew he was a man. She said Leverock had remained in touch with Mr Stange-Simmons and had even visited his house on one previous occasion before the murder for “friendship, alcohol and cannabis”. On the evening of November 26, 2015 Leverock went to Mr Stange-Simmons Sentinel Drive home in Southampton and at some time between 9pm and 9.30pm killed him. Mystery surrounds exactly what transpired in the house during the meeting because Leverock never told police what happened, but officers discovered Mr Stange-Simmons’ lifeless body while executing an unrelated search warrant on the property at 9.30pm. The next morning Leverock, his mother and his lawyer attended Hamilton Police Station in relation to a “serious incident that happened last night”. Leverock was arrested on suspicion of murder, his mobile phone and his clothing were seized and he was medically examined. He was interviewed by police but remained mute throughout and was later released. Forensic tests later revealed Leverock’s DNA on swabs taken from Mr Stange-Simmons’ left and right hand fingers and nails. He was rearrested on February 24 but again refused to answer questions. Leverock pleaded guilty to murder on June 28, this year and yesterday when asked if there was anything he wanted to say before sentencing simply said: “No”. Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves said: “In this case, regardless of their relationship or how it began, it evolved to a point where this defendant, knowing that the victim was indeed a man who had made advances of a sexual nature to him previously, according to his counsel, left his own home on the day of the killing and very shortly after arriving at the victim’s home viciously murdered him. He delivered to him at least 20 stab wounds to his neck and upper body, some as deep as 10cm to 20cm hemorrhaging his hyoid, cutting his jugular vein and severing an artery in his arm, leaving him to die.” Ms Christopher described Leverock as “vulnerable” and maintained that he had mental health issues and learning difficulties. She said he was “desperate for friendship” and that on the previous occasion her client had visited Mr Stange-Simmons’s home he had made advances towards Leverock, which her client had rebutted.
July 6. A Southampton woman has appeared in Magistrates’ Court, charged with possessing more than $42,000 worth of cannabis with intent to supply. Rebecca Wallington, 41, of Welcome Place, entered a plea of not guilty to having 857.3g of the drug in Southampton on January 23. Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo granted Ms Wallington bail to the amount of $30,000, with a like surety, setting a mention date of July 26.
July 6. Insufficient management plans have contributed to mould and other infrastructure issues currently plaguing the public school system, the minister of education says. Cole Simons addressed the issue as part of a press conference held earlier today to discuss the educational components of the party’s platform, unveiled on Monday. “As long as I have been in politics, there has never been a facilities management team within the Department of Education to address our campuses,” the minister said. The comments come following issues surrounding mould and bird mites in at least three schools in recent months. Last month, the president of the Bermuda Union of Teachers Shannon James said that widespread mould was the main reason behind the closure of Dellwood Middle School. Previously, TN Tatem Middle School was forced to close in December and relocate to Clearwater Middle School because of mould, while Harrington Sound Primary School children were off for several days due to a bird mite infestation in May. Mr Simons said that there were operational and management issues that would be addressed if the party was given another mandate by the people. “I will take ownership of that process myself." Work, he said, would continue in implementing the recommendations contained within the School Re-organization Advisory Committee (SCORE) report completed in December 2015. Asked how much had been earmarked for infrastructure issues, Mr Simons said: “It is my endeavour to have a refurbishment plan for each school going forward.” A national plan would also be created, he said. Remediation work would be taking place this summer, Mr Simons said, as part of a joint effort involving Works and Engineering, health and safety officers, and the Department of Education. Additional specifics were not immediately provided. Discussing the mould issue, Lynne Woolridge, party chair, said that it was important to consider Bermuda’s climate. “We wouldn’t close up our homes and trap in the dampness — we’d air them out periodically. And this is what needs to happen in our schools. The problem didn’t begin when the OBA took power in 2012." Mr Simons described education as “one of the most important issues facing the country in the coming election. Everyone in Bermuda wants an education system that works. The system should provide students with the basic skills and knowledge to find their place in a challenging world. We want to produce good citizens and good people. I believe this plan encompasses and embraces all elements of Bermuda’s young people’s needs to move forward in life, and to develop their full potential.” The party’s plan is contained under three banners: supporting students from their first days through to graduation, expanding technical education, and “making the system work”. Mr Simons also discussed the party’s pledge to investigate the concept of an educational authority, similar to the Bermuda Tourism Authority. “I think we owe it to ourselves to explore any idea that could strengthen such a vital area of Bermuda life,” he said. Ms Woolridge said she believed that education must stop focusing solely on what happens in the classroom, and judging success based on money spent. “Teachers are fantastic resources, but they can’t be expected to work miracles. We can provide them with tools to help children learn, but the home environment also factors greatly in terms of the potential for success.” The creation of a stand-alone Centre of Teaching Excellence would help support teachers in this end, she said. Nick Kempe, candidate for Pembroke West Central, said he was excited by the party’s proposed “Reach out and Read” initiative. "Working with pediatricians and physicians, the programme would provide books for toddlers and reading coaches for new parents. This provides access to literacy for those children who might come from homes without a strong reading tradition,” he said. As part of the party’s promised expansion of technical education, Mr Kempe also outlined plans to implement the City and Guilds curriculum in middle schools starting this fall, and the expansion of apprenticeship opportunities for youths by offering tax incentives to employers.
July 6. A vacant lot of land opposite from the former St David’s post office building will remain undeveloped. Francis Mussenden, CEO of the Bermuda Land Development Company Limited (BLDC), said the organisation was thankful for insight provided by the community on the property. “We are pleased to have been able to engage with the community and gather their insights on how they would like to see Southside developed,” he said. A survey was distributed at a consultation meeting held in April, as well as posted online. Responses were accepted until May 12. Concepts for the parcel included creating a park, a commercial development, and leaving the land undeveloped. “We understand that the community would like to see tourism, transportation and retail facilities expanded within St David’s,” Mr Mussenden said. Building concepts presented for the lot were intended to complement the adjacent building and dock, he said. Based on feedback, the lot will be left undeveloped.
July 5. The findings of the Commission of Inquiry have prompted police to look into “new areas of inquiry” about how public money was handled under the last Progressive Labour Party government. A spokesman for the Bermuda Police Service told this newspaper that the fresh lines of inquiry were in addition to “some active police investigations” already under way before the panel made its referrals to the Commissioner of Police. No details were given about the nature of the new inquiries or when they might conclude. The spokesman, in response to questions, said: “The Bermuda Police Service is conducting inquiries into the areas that were highlighted by the Commission of Inquiry into the Report of the Auditor-General on the Consolidated Fund of the Government of Bermuda 2010 to 2012. The COI found evidence of ‘possible criminal activity’ in seven named historical government projects and referred the matters to the police for investigation. The COI report accurately stated some active police investigations were already under way. A number of new areas of inquiry were identified by the COI, all of which will be investigated. The timings and progress for all investigations will vary from case to case and it is not appropriate at this stage to comment on which cases will be first to conclude.” The four-person commission, chaired by British judge Sir Anthony Evans, was tasked with investigating the misuse of public funds from 2009 to 2012, under the PLP government. The panel also looked at the new airport deal, under the One Bermuda Alliance. The commission’s report, released in March, outlined “numerous violations” of official financial rules during the 2009 to 2012 timeframe, some of which were “serious and persistent”. It identified seven Bermuda Government business dealings where there was evidence of “possible criminal activity”. The COI’s terms of reference required it to refer any such evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the police. Five projects related to former premier and tourism minister Ewart Brown, three were connected to former works and engineering minister Derrick Burgess and one involved OBA senator Vic Ball, when the latter was a purchasing officer at Works and Engineering. The report revealed that existing police investigations were already under way into five tourism contracts, as well as the contract to build the Dame Lois Browne-Evans court and police building signed by Mr Burgess, while he was works minister. The commission suggested that those inquiries should continue and recommended that police and the DPP also look into the 2009 contract involving Mr Ball. The senator, who has now left the Civil Service, failed to disclose to works and engineering permanent secretary Robert Horton that he had a “serious conflict of interest” when a company co-owned by his father was bidding for, and later won, a contract to purchase sand and rock. “We consider that this matter should be investigated by the police and the DPP, but we do not make that finding as regards Mr Robert Horton,” said the commissioners. Mr Ball remained in the Upper Chamber after the COI’s report was released, with Michael Dunkley, the Premier, telling the media in May that the senator was “not under criminal investigation”. Mr Burgess, the PLP MP for Hamilton East, is running for re-election on July 18, against the OBA’s Peter Barrett. The commission found “no evidence of possible criminal activity” in relation to the airport project.
July 5. Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance Bob Richards has reassured the island’s seniors that their pensions will be protected under the One Bermuda Alliance. Speaking at a party press conference this morning, the Minister of Finance said they would ensure pensions would not be used in “venture capital type investments”. Mr Richards said opposition leader David Burt had announced that “he wants to take $70 million or more from government-controlled pension funds and shift them to fund start-up companies in Bermuda”. Mr Richards added: “Start-up companies are, by definition, very high-risk investments, essentially gambling with people’s retirement funds.” In delivering The People’s Budget, the Opposition’s reply to the Budget 2017-18, Mr Burt said the next PLP Government would create a “Bermuda Fund”, which would be “seeded with a small portion of the pension funds that are under the control of the government”. He said this would allow “Bermuda to tap into the investment expertise on the island, while providing an additional outlet for our large pension funds to invest more of their monies in Bermuda-based equity investments”. While he added that the fund would have strict governance controls, he suggested it could be used to invest in “industries identified by the Economic Development Unit to diversify the economy”. Meanwhile, an OBA spokesman pointed out that in his 2014 Reply to the Budget, Mr Burt had said the fund could be “seeded with 3 per cent of the pension funds that are under the control of the Government”. According to the spokesman, this would equal $70 million because the total public pension funds are at $2.3 billion. Mr Richards added: “I take this opportunity to say unequivocally to Bermuda’s seniors, of which I am one, we will protect your pensions. We will not allow them to be used in venture capital type investments as we see on a TV show called shark tank. We will make sure pensions are responsibly and safely managed, as they are right now, while we will be providing cost of adjustments to social insurance and also the civil service pension fund.” Speaking on Bermuda’s economy, Mr Richards also highlighted some of the OBA’s achievements during the past 4½ years, including the creation of jobs through the airport redevelopment and the St Regis development in the East End, and a “renaissance in tourism”. The Civil Service had been cut by 650 people “without laying off one civil servant”, he said, and reiterated that “we are on track to have a balanced budget by 2018, which will be the first time in about 20 years and that will enable us to start finally paying down this mountain of debt that we’ve accumulated”. Mr Richards also highlighted the two major capital projects mentioned in the platform — the rebuild of the Causeway and the rebuild of the Hamilton waterfront, adding: “We’re going to do this in a fiscally prudent and responsible manner. The bottom line is that the public purse today is in much better shape than it was 4½ years ago and we are moving in the right direction. And that’s important because we will be in a better position to serve the needs of Bermudians if Government finances are in good shape.” Meanwhile, Nalton Brangman, the OBA candidate for Warwick South East, said the remediation process at Morgan’s Point, which began in 2013, was complete. He said the Government’s infusion of cash there made “a major difference with many Bermudians getting work”, adding: “I can tell you that at some times there were well over 100 Bermudians working at any given time.” And Ray Charlton, OBA candidate for Sandys North, highlighted some of the work done in the West End. The chairman of Wedco said: “The team up there did a splendid job — we’ve spent close to $15 million in the past 2½ years on building renovations. And now, with the close of the America’s Cup, we have restored buildings that can be used for commerce, for creating additional jobs.” He added that the past 2½ years saw more than 200 contracting firms employed and “conservatively, without fear of being factually incorrect, I can tell you that we’ve employed more than 500 Bermudians. “We would like the opportunity of continuing this good news — we are investing in our future and our children’s future and we will continue to act prudently with the public funds and get the job done.”
July 5. Former Progressive Labour Party leader Paula Cox has followed through on her pledge to run as an independent after quitting the party last month. The former premier submitted nomination papers yesterday at the Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church on King Street two weeks ahead of the General Election on July 18.Ms Cox will run in Devonshire North West. She described her decision as a “point of principle”. Last month, Ms Cox quit the party she had been a member of for more than two decades after Wayne Caines was put forward as the PLP’s candidate in Constituency 14, despite Ms Cox being approved as the branch selection for the seat. “It’s a different space for me, and it’s an unusual space for me, and it’s not a comfortable space for me,” she said. “But it’s a space that right now is the right space for me to be in.” She said the issues constituents were most concerned about were jobs and opportunities. Second chances for those who have previously been incarcerated and education were also important issues, she added. Ms Cox and Mr Caines will face OBA incumbent Glen Smith, who captured the seat in 2012. Tenia Woolridge, parliamentary registrar, said that Ms Cox was one of five independent candidates to file papers on Tuesday. A notable absentee was former OBA MP Mark Pettingill, who had hinted that he might run as an independent. Thad Hollis said he decided to run as an independent because he felt that voters were often forgotten amid the legacy of history and competition involved with party politics. The former OBA chairman will run in Hamilton West — his home constituency. He said roads and their maintenance, as well as some “tender care and attention” for Shelly Bay Field and park, were issues wanting attention. Mr Hollis said his history in the parish made him the right candidate to represent it. “It is the deep connections to family, cousins and many friends that have compelled me to stand forward and be the voice of the constituents, and not a party,” he said. Mr Hollis will challenge PLP incumbent Wayne Furbert and OBA candidate Simone Barton. Independent candidate Elmore Warren said his motivation for running was the “lack of real representation in the House and the lack of real work in the constituencies”. The Fresh Creations CEO said the issues facing constituents in Pembroke South East were the same as other island residents, including family deprivation, lack of resources, and unity. “My goal is to bring together people at the doorstep, in the neighborhood, in their homes, and get them sitting around a table with real strategies to improve family life, to improve neighborhood life, to improve constituency life,” he said. The area is represented by the PLP’s Rolfe Commissiong. The OBA will be represented by Rodney Smith. Members of the OBA were the first party candidates to arrive to register yesterday morning. Michael Dunkley, the Premier, said he was honored to be joined by the party’s other representatives. “Our team represents the diversity of our Bermudian people, a balance of experience and new faces, and a proven track record of getting the job done,” he said. Mr Dunkley said the party was proud of its record, and had made “real and positive” change for Bermudians. Led by the Gombeys, drummers and young sign bearers, PLP candidates arrived at the church accompanied by a motorcade shortly before 11.30am. David Burt said the support they provided was great on such an important day. The Opposition Leader described the party’s candidates as a strong mix of youth and experience. “It’s our job to make sure that we put forward a positive vision for the future of this country,” he said. Mr Burt said that the party had done its best to run a “clean” and “issues-based campaign”. “We’re going to be continuing that over the next 14 days,” he said. The party’s platform, Mr Burt said, would be unveiled tomorrow. All candidates will be vying for the support of the now more than 46,000 registered Bermuda voters. Numbers provided to The Royal Gazette by Ms Woolridge showed that the number of registered voters had risen by nearly 3,000 people since last spring. There are currently 46,669 Bermudians registered to vote — a jump of 2,926 since April 2016, and 4,127 since November 2012, roughly a month before the last General Election.
July 5. Randall & Quilter has completed the acquisition of AstraZeneca Insurance Company Ltd, the captive insurer of biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca UK Ltd. The insurance company was formed in 1993 and stopped active underwriting in 2004. R&Q, a Bermuda-based insurance services and investment company, announced the acquisition in December, and has confirmed that all necessary approvals were received to allow the completion of the transaction on June 30. Ken Randall, chief executive officer of R&Q, said: “This is the second transaction that we have concluded with AstraZeneca to assist them exiting their captive insurance companies in run-off and further demonstrates the attractions of the group’s offerings to major corporations.” The company will be managed by R&Q with the intention of undertaking a Part VII transfer of the remaining insurance business to one of the group’s consolidation vehicles, subject to regulatory and court approvals. When it announced the acquisition in December, R&Q said it expected the price to be between £10.2 million ($13.1 million) and £34.6 million ($44.7 million), depending on the outcome of capital restructuring, with the anticipated post-capital restructuring net assets to be valued between £12.9 million and £37.9 million.
July 5. Nearly half of property purchases at a leading estate agents this year were funded with cash. And Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty said that the average price paid last year was more than $975,000 up on the 2008 market peak of nearly $950,000. Susan Thompson, agency manager at the real estate firm, said the number of cash buys was “encouraging.This number has been growing in strength for several years and presently we have recorded that 46 per cent of purchases in 2017 via Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty have been cash. For anyone that has been tracking the real estate market this is a sign of an improving market as it has been reported by several sources that prices dropped 35 per cent from the height of the market.” Brian Madeiros, company president, said: “Cash buyers, looking at our own in-house sales data, they’re buying at entry level all the way up to $2 million plus. They have been accumulating cash, maybe saving more than they ordinarily would and waiting for an appropriate time to purchase. They don’t require lending institutional support. They write a cheque.” Mr Madeiros added that the category included individual buyers as well as trusts. Ms Thompson said that due to delays in getting transaction details from the Bermuda Government the company released its findings in midyear and that it was expected that 2016 would see around 300 real estate sales, in line with the previous year. She said: “There are other indications that the market continues to improve, including homeowners investing in renovations/additions to current property or newly-acquired property with certainly assists with economic growth. We have seen an increase in interest in purchasing for investment either for long term tenancy or jumping on the Airbnb/short term bandwagon.” Mr Madeiros said: “Because of the current market and the nature of some of the rents we are getting, we’re seeing more individuals getting back into the residential real estate market as investors.” He added that the market for short-term tourist rental and online vacation service Airbnb had helped fuel demand in that area. “We are looking for inventory for short term rents in July and August — there seems to be an uptick in demand for short term tourism rentals “People are exploring the Airbnb opportunity and have been exploring that for about a year now.” He added that the America’s Cup may have fuelled demand for tourism rentals — especially first-time visitors determined to return .“It’s just intriguing that over the month of June we started to experience this massive influx of guests. I would think probably 60 per cent of the people I spoke to at these events had never been to Bermuda before, and most of them said they were coming back. When you hear that, it’s not surprising we start to see an uptick on the demand side for short term rental properties.” Ms Thompson added that sales of vacant land had also seen an increase in enquiries. She said: “Our agents report a renewed interest in purchasers looking for vacant land particularly in the central parishes with some lots selling in as little 34 days, while average days on the market is 241.” Mr Thompson said that real estate remained a good and flexible long term investment, with some control on the return on investment and use of the property. She added: “Owners have the option of renting the property out or living in it, depending on the stage and events in their life.” And she said that there were “plenty of opportunities in the marketplace for first-time buyers to multiple property owners, with a strong inventory available and banks willing to lend to qualified applicants. But beware, it is important that people have done their homework in advance and come armed with a pre-approval and readily available closing cost because there is competition.”
July 5. The Caroline Bay Marina has declared the America’s Cup a success after a busy five weeks. According to a spokeswoman, the marina team were able to cater to a range of visitors during the international event, including Artemis Racing. The Swedish team operated out of the property for the past two years, erecting their home base on the end of the peninsula. Craig Christensen, president and CEO of Caroline Bay, Bermuda, said: “We were most disappointed that Artemis Racing didn’t advance to the final races, but we are proud of the hard work and dedication that the entire organisation put forth, both on and off the water.” The marina also chartered the 157ft sailing yacht Arabella during the event, with more than 700 passengers getting an overview of the property. Construction is set to continue with the first set of 14 Ritz-Carlton-branded luxury homes to be completed in December. Those interested in the housing units or a berth at the marina should visit carolinebay.com or carolinebaymarina.com.
July 5. The first group of security guards — 21 in all — have been presented with their level two door supervisor certification. The presentation took place last week with Minister of Home Affairs Patricia Gordon-Pamplin and the Minister of National Security, Senator Jeff Baron, handing out the certificates. Ms Gordon-Pamplin said: “Previously the route to being licensed as a security guard and private investigator was to submit references and pay a fee to the Bermuda Police. This year, in accordance with the Private Investigators and Security Guard Act 1974, the gap has closed and it is now a mandatory requirement for security guards to obtain certification. As such, the Department of Workforce Development with the support of our community partners the Ministry of National Security and the Bermuda Police Service agreed on a minimum standard for training of persons working within the Security and Private Investigator industry. With Level 2 Door Supervisor training now established, we have set the stage for persons to enter the workforce with the required certification and acceptable professional standards for private investigator and security guards. Training was provided by a UK vendor who is licensed to provide training aligned with the minimum ISA standard. This vendor has also trained local companies to facilitate the courses and provide external verification support to make certain the standard of training is consistent and at a high level.” Mr Baron said: “We are pleased to have been part of the team that implement this training programme. Bermuda now has an internationally recognized training and certification in place for these men and women who provide a specialized service in our community. “We are proud of all of those who passed and we hope that in the coming days every one of the graduates will be working in the field.” Subjects covered in the standard training and certification: Common Security Industry Knowledge; Awareness of the Law in the Private Security Industry; Health and Safety for the Private Security Operative; Fire Safety Awareness; Emergency Procedures; the Private Security Industry; Communication Skills and Customer Care; Door Supervisor Specialist Module; Behavioural Standards; Civil and Criminal Law; Searching; Drugs Awareness; Recording Incidents and Crime Preservation; Licensing Law; Emergency Procedures; Dealing with Vulnerable Individuals and Dealing with Queues and Crowds and Conflict Management Module. Avoiding Conflict and Reducing Personal Risk; Defusing Conflict; Resolving and Learning from Conflict; Application of Communication Skills and Conflict Management for Door Supervisors; Physical Intervention Skills Module; Introduction to Physical Skills; Disengagement Techniques and Escorting Techniques. The 21 who passed the course: Jennifer Lambert, DeShun Richardson, Trenton Brangman, Myeesha Sabir, Cheyenne McCallan, Touriqco Hassell, William Basden, Pushkin Douglas, Tanya Bean, Carl Neblett, Kyle Clarke, Shane Simmons Sr, Madami Ebbin, Shannon Rayner, Sylvia Fox, Michael Hansey, Janine Richardson, William Simmons, Damon Watson, Marilyn Steede, Leyoni Junos.
July 5. Bermuda has failed its disabled, according to LaKiesha Wolffe, who aims to hold the island to account. “Our challenges might be different, but our struggles are the same,” is how Ms Wolffe puts it, after enduring her daily struggle with Hamilton’s punishing lack of bays for the disabled. Monday marked four years since the nearly fatal accident that deprived Ms Wolffe of her left leg. .Happy with her job in hospitality, she had just finished her shift serving breakfast when she got good news about getting a car — a step up from travelling on her rental bike. But within seconds of leaving work on a bright summer morning, “something got in my eyes, something burning”. Ms Wolffe hit the brakes, but her bike tumbled over the embankment and down a cliff. After that, she just remembers trying to climb back up — and blood. “I knew I was dying,” she recalled. “I felt everything in my body leaving me. I couldn’t call for help. There was a house just at the top, and all I had to do was make it, for someone to see me and get help. But I couldn’t do it. Last thing I remember was wishing for God to take care of my daughter.” Getting her life back proved a brutal struggle through multiple surgeries, rehabilitation, and the psychological torment of losing her limb, unable to provide her daughter with a normal childhood. Now Ms Wolffe is determined to fight for others who struggle. “It’s sad that a lot of physically disabled people are moving away,” she said. “They feel they’re going to get better treatment in another country. Why not their own? Parking, accessibility, and disabled people’s frustration of navigating insurance and financial assistance have convinced her that the wider community gets an easy pass. It’s unfair that the disabled have to live under the same system for help as the normal, average person,” she said. “This is why I’m not leaving until I change what needs to be done.” Working again and soon to open her own business, Ms Wolffe aims to network with others who struggle, whether they were born disabled or left as such by accidents. “I have never been a quiet girl. I have always been loud. This is my time to be loud and as spiteful as I have to be, because Bermuda doesn’t care about me. One way or another, I am going to make you care. ”She makes no secret of regularly falling afoul of parking regulations: being required to pay a fee to declare herself disabled, and then finding “barely enough” spaces to park. “Every two hours, I have to leave my office on crutches and go to move my car,” she said. “Up on Reid Street there are only a few bays. There are none outside the new court building. At the Financial Assistance building, where disabled people have to go, there’s not one handicapped bay.” Ms Wolffe parks wherever she has to: “I’ve got to get parking tickets — but I’m seen as the mean one.” There have been small victories: after she spoke with the manager at a Smith’s supermarket, she returned two weeks later to find a bay outside switched over to disabled. Other support systems fall short in accommodating the disabled, many of whom have regular prescriptions. Financial assistance helps, but those without transport rely on the bus to get prescriptions renewed, then wait 24 to 48 hours for approval before going to the pharmacy. “A disabled person on financial assistance is treated the same as someone normal and able-bodied,” she said. Even prosthesis comes with its indignities: upgrading her prosthetic leg is deemed a cosmetic procedure by her insurance company, while a breast cancer survivor does not face the same challenge. Ms Wolffe owns up readily to being noisy about her daily problems as a physically challenged person. She used to attend a support group for amputees, then quit. “Everyone feels like my voice is too aggressive, but you’re not going to get anywhere sitting on your tail." She is deeply thankful to her family, friends and employer for their support — but hopes that as her business resources grow, she can channel her frustrations into getting organised, seeking sponsorship, and getting the broader community to wake up." People all say to me “I understand, but ...’” Ms Wolffe said. “No, you don’t. Trust me. There’s no ‘but’ to anything.”
July 5. Ben Smith, the Bermuda swimming coach, has hailed the island’s triumphant team after they achieved “the best possible” performance at the Central American and Caribbean Championships in Trinidad & Tobago. Bermuda clinched a fourth-place finish in the medals table, capturing a total of 38 medals — 12 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze — as well as winning the under 11 and 12 girls category. “It was an amazing performance,” said Smith, whose squad returned to the island last night. “Obviously we hoped we would perform well and they did what we thought they could do. If you had written your best possible outcome before the event — well, that’s what they did. You can only hope that happens as it doesn’t normally work out that way did, but it did.” Smith described the competition, held at the brand-new National Aquatic Centre in Balmain, Trinidad, as a higher level than the Carifta Championships and said he could not have been prouder of the team’s display. “It was the first time we have been to Trinidad since the early Nineties,” Smith added. “The team came together really well and obviously going into a new environment you never know what to expect. There are a lot more countries and depth to this competition [compared to Carifta] and you can only hope you will perform at the level you want. Once they started to swim fast and see what they could do, it just steamrollered.” Elan Daley, Payton Zelkin and Sam Williamson emerged as the stars of the show, having amassed 26 individual medals between them. Daley, who broke the meet record in the 11-12 girls 100 metres freestyle final, with a time of 59.65 sec, had four golds as part of her ten-medal haul. Zelkin won nine medals, including two gold, and Williamson seven, with four gold. Additionally, Daley and Zelkin each came away with three relay medals, including gold in the 400 metres freestyle and medley relays, while Williamson was part of the team that captured silver in the mixed 200 metres freestyle relay. “Obviously you can highlight some of the individual performances but we were just happy with the amount of personal-best times,” Smith said. “We won the 11 and 12 girls category for the competition, which is a big feat coming from a small country like Bermuda. To see the quality in multiple events just tells us what we’re capable of.” Puerto Rico topped the medal table with 21 golds out of their overall total of 52 medals. Trinidad & Tobago were second with 16 golds and 50 medals, with Guatemala third on 11 golds and 21 medals. In the points table, the host nation emerged a narrow seven points ahead of Puerto Rico on 695, with Costa Rica third on 477. Bermuda were sixth with 284 points.
July 4. An independent assessment has been commissioned to explore the economic impact to the island in the wake of the 35th America’s Cup. PricewaterhouseCoopers has been hired by the ACBDA to conduct a study for completion by October, according to Grant Gibbons, the Minister of Economic Development. The island has “never hosted an event of this magnitude”, Dr Gibbons said, leaving Bermuda in an “excellent” position to host similar large international sports events. With the close of racing, Emirates Team New Zealand, Team France and Land Rover BAR will depart Bermuda by the end of July. The Government is to explore extending concessions provisions to give Oracle Team USA, Artemis and Softbank Team Japan the ability to maintain some presence, “even if it is substantially scaled down”, the minister said. The decommissioning of temporary structures in the Event Village and along Freeport Drive has begun, with Cross Island expected to be clear by the end of September. Meanwhile, the economic assessment of the event will also cover its social and environmental impact, which Dr Gibbons said was comparable to the studies completed by previous America’s Cup host venues, such as San Francisco and New Zealand. “Additionally, ACBDA will produce an event report by September that will detail their work and describe how AC35 was delivered,” Dr Gibbons said. “ACBDA currently plans to wind down by the end of the calendar year.” The island won “extraordinary visibility on the world stage” — and more details about Bermuda’s media exposure will be released as part of the final assessment report. According to the ministry, more than 100,000 people visited the Village over 22 days, with 62,315 booked tickets on the special AC ferries, and some 2,000 boats registered as spectators. “Bermuda hosted over 460 visiting boats, with over 80 of them being superyachts,” he added. Boat owners, some of whom had never seen the island, sent in “extremely positive feedback”, and a long-term superyacht policy and legislative framework is now under development. Small businesses were also beneficiaries, with more than 30 — some new — represented at the village. Food and beverage business was “huge”, the minister said, and the island stands to reap more regattas. The Endeavour Sailing Programme has been privately funded through 2018, and the future of the Red Bull AC Youth Team is now under discussion.
July 4. The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club announces that the second edition of the Antigua Bermuda Race will start on May 9, 2018. The 935-mile offshore race is organised in association with Antigua Sailing Week and is supported by the Bermuda Tourism Authority. Yachts of 40ft and over will be racing under the IRC Rating Rule, MOCRA and the CSA Racing Rule, with the latter amended to permit boats to use their engines, subject to a time penalty. The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club has many year’s experience hosting the Newport Bermuda Race. “We have had great feedback from the competitors who took part in the first race,” Les Crane, the race chairman, said. "The America’s Cup put Bermuda in the spotlight as a superb sailing destination and the Antigua Bermuda Race is designed to carry forward this legacy. The Antigua Bermuda Race gives sailors an opportunity to safely experience about a thousand miles of Atlantic Ocean racing in company, at a time of year when conditions should be ideal.”
July 4. Those interested in running in the General Election on July 18 will be submitting their applications today. Nominations for all constituencies will be accepted at the Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church, located on King Street, between 11am and 1pm. Candidates must be Bermudian and over the age of 21. They must be nominated for a constituency by two people registered in that constituency. A fee of $250 payable to the Accountant-General is also required. The deposit is returned to candidates who poll more than one-eighth of votes cast. Nomination papers can be obtained from the Parliamentary Registry website.
July 4. It feels more like a football match between small-town rivals than a General Election, as far as Denis Pitcher is concerned. But the real losers on July 18 will be neither the One Bermuda Alliance nor the Progressive Labour Party — it is the voters stranded on the sidelines he feels sorry for. Mr Pitcher, an independent political commentator, believes the heavy political rhetoric and party branding favored by both sides forces the public into blindly supporting a team and discourages them from examining the issues that matter. This, he says, gives the politicians a free rein to avoid making promises, which in turn absolves them of any accountability. “Each campaign has been heavy on rhetoric and slogans but short on substance,” Mr Pitcher told The Royal Gazette. The OBA issued its platform yesterday, on the eve of nomination day, while the Opposition promised to unveil theirs later this week. As the island faces the final stretch to the polls, Mr Pitcher said: “Neither has proposed tangible solutions to our predicament and are more focused on trying to discredit the other. The OBA is touting its slow and steady track record but it lacks discussion of new plans and new ideas. Its slogan of ‘Forward together, not back’ rings hollow as it has not lived up to being the inclusive party it campaigned it would be in the last election. The PLP is touting its Vision 2025 which is big on ideas but short on plans on how to actually achieve them. It claims they are ‘standing strong, putting Bermudians first’, but we have witnessed the PLP putting political expediency over what will truly put Bermudians first. Sadly, thus far, both campaigns have been wholly disappointing in their finger pointing and rhetoric compared to their lack of focus on solutions to the issues. You would think we are gearing up for a football match between small-town rivals rather than deciding our future.” On the shortage of concrete promises so far, Mr Pitcher, the author of the blog, 21Square.com, said: “Voters seem to be given as little information as possible to allow politicians to avoid accountability on complex issues. Politicians avoid admitting when they failed, they just spin it, making feel-good party statements, touting quick fixes and focusing attention on the failures of their opponent. We need real reform but the people don’t want to hear that. So the politicians tell us what we want to hear or avoid telling us as much as they can.” Party branding and loyalty emphasizes “the divide between supporters of each party”, he said. “It makes people take sides where they view it more important whether you’re with or against. If you try to stand in the middle and focus on the issues you’re the enemy because you are not with the party. It encourages blindness to the issues and no accountability. People focus more on voting against the other party than holding their own party accountable. That lack of accountability gives politicians a free mandate to do as they please knowing that next election they can just rinse and repeat with the same opponent. The trend of each election seems to progress more towards party identity and further from the issues. The internet has made governance hard and public opinion can be ruthless and unforgiving. Politicians are not allowed to be people and make mistakes. Thus politicians don’t want to admit they were wrong even if they were well meaning because it is often just a Google search away. It creates a fear of being held accountable for pledging something that seems like a good idea but turns out not to be but now are expected to see it through. Thus it is easier to make no pledges, no promises and instead focus on being cheerleaders.” Asked how he would like to see the final few weeks of the election campaigns unfold, Mr Pitcher said: “I would like to see a genuine admission of what failures each party has made, why things didn’t work, what could be done differently and how they will adjust in the future. Alongside that I would also like to see well thought out platforms outlining each party’s solutions for the issues. What would they do, how will they do it, why do they think it will work, what are the expected outcomes and how will they identify if it isn’t working and adjust?”
July 4. The Progressive Labour Party last night urged Bermudians to “take extreme caution” when looking at the Government’s newly released election platform. In a statement the Opposition pointed to “several broken promises” they said the One Bermuda Alliance had made since taking power in 2012. “In 2012, the OBA promised to create 2,000 new Bermudian jobs. They broke that promise. We lost 2,000 jobs. In 2012, the OBA promised to reduce the cost of electricity by properly regulating the energy sector. Electricity costs have risen for consumers. In 2012, the OBA promised to reduce the cost of healthcare through tighter controls of Government financed programmes. Healthcare today is more expensive than it was in 2012. The OBA promised to waive the stamp duty for homes valued under $1 million. This was not achieved.”
July 4. Two friends gave up their Saturday morning to remove a hazardous wreck from a popular beauty spot. Martijn Dijkstra and Chris Fortnum raised the wreck of the sailing boat Cloud using chain hoists from Paradise Lakes to prevent the chance of a maritime accident. The 28ft-long vessel was sunk during Hurricane Nicole in October 2016 and had been left with the mast sticking out above the surface of the sea. “It was a bit of a spur-of-the-moment decision,” said Mr Fortnum, who works as the golf course superintendent at Turtle Hill. “We were just having a coffee in the morning and we felt that by removing it we would be making that channel through Paradise Lakes a little bit safer. There seems to be far too many boats just abandoned in Bermuda and we wanted to do our bit.” Mr Dijkstra, who owns his own boat, spoke with the owner of the abandoned vessel and on Saturday morning he and Mr Fortnum set off for Paradise Lakes to remove the 12,500lbs wreck. Mr Fortnum added: “The straps were secured at the bow and stern, and we used chain hoists to gradually raise the wreck to the surface. Once the hatches were above sea level we used an electric pump powered by a portable generator to pump the rest of the water out of the hull. Once enough water was pumped out Martijn located the leaks and made temporary repairs. I was surprised at how easily we were able to raise her.” The owner of the boat has since collected some belongings from the vessel, but for now the wreck is secured alongside Mr Dijkstra’s boat. “We’re not sure what to do with it now to be honest, the most important thing is it is out of harms way,” Mr Fortnum said. “It could be a project for someone with an interest in boats, or maybe it will be taken out to sea and sunk.”
July 4. Pouring rain was welcomed with open arms yesterday morning, but soon became a nuisance as roads flooded. Marsh Folly Road, Perimeter Lane and BAA parking lot were all among the trouble spots because of the downpour as commuters got their week off to a wet start. “As is typical in the summer, there is plenty of tropical moisture that flows around the southern flank of the Bermuda-Azores High, which can result in very isolated and sometimes prolonged showers,” said Michelle Pitcher of the Bermuda Weather Service. Heavy clouds converged off South Shore Sunday evening, kicking off isolated thunderstorms and setting them on a path to hit the island around dawn. But the heavier showers largely skipped the East End, travelling along the western and central parishes — with only minimal rainfall reaching the airport as late as 8.30am. Despite the flooding along Marsh Folly Road, the weather service recorded just 0.1in of rain for the morning. The downpour is the first heavy shower received after a long absence of rain, with only 4.82in of rain water being recorded in the past 30 days. More showers, some potentially heavy, remain possible today.
July 4. Bermudian lawyer Victoria Pearman has been elected as the new president of the Caribbean Ombudsman Association. Ms Pearman, who became Bermuda’s second Ombudsman in 2014, assumed the new Caribbean role on Saturday as part of a new CAROA Council. She said she considered it an honour to have been chosen by her colleagues and looked forward to strengthening the CAROA and improving communication. A statement released by the CAROA added: “Ms Pearman will work to foster improved communication, co-operation and networking to strengthen the ombudsman institution in the region.” Ms Pearman was elected at the General Meeting of the CAROA on June 13 on the island of Bonaire and will serve in this capacity for two years. She said that co-operation and networking by members throughout the region would benefit communities with increased opportunities for offices to learn from each other as advocates for fairness in public administration, good governance and best practices.
July 4. Somers Ltd has announced the surprise sale of its entire investment in Britain’s Ascot Lloyd Holdings. The price of the transaction has not been disclosed, however Somers held a 51 per cent controlling stake in independent financial advisers Ascot Lloyd. The news comes only a week after Somers, the parent company of Bermuda Commercial Bank, released its earning report for the six months to the end of March, which showed a $6.6 million net loss. Ascot Lloyd yesterday said it had merged with Bellpenny, a fast-growing financial planning and consolidation company based in England. Somers sold its stake in Ascot Lloyd, comprising £8.75 million ($11.3 million) of convertible loan notes and £4.45 million ($5.76 million) of loans, to CPL Bidco, a company ultimately controlled by global investment management firm Oaktree Capital Management. Oaktree supports Bellpenny. The merger in Britain created Ascot Lloyd Bellpenny, which is said to have £6 billion assets under advice. Somers’ investment in Ascot Lloyd stretches back to 2012 and was linked to a private placement with Utilico Investments Ltd, the company’s largest shareholder, which saw Somers acquire Utilico’s interest in Ascot Lloyd. It increased its investment in Ascot Lloyd, particularly in 2014 and 2015, and invested a further £2.3 million in the company this year. Somers is a Bermuda Stock Exchange-listed financial services holding company. It holds a major stake in Bermudian property and investment company West Hamilton Holdings. It also has stakes in a number of businesses around the world, including Homeloans Ltd in Australia, and Waverton Investment Management Ltd in the UK. Somers has been hit by the weakness of the British currency during the past few years, most notably following the UK’s vote last year to leave the European Union. The company has said more than half of its gross assets are denominated in currencies other than the US dollar — chiefly sterling and the Australian dollar. Meanwhile, a capital-raising programme was launched by Somers on Friday when it listed a rights issue of bonus warrants to existing shareholders. The company has invited its shareholders to buy two bonus warrant shares at $13.50 for every five common shares they already own. The company is issuing up to 4,837,066 of the bonus warrant shares, representing a potential capital boost of $65 million if all are exercised. The offer expires on September 30. Announcing the bonus warrant shares on June 23, Warren McLeland, chairman of Somers, said: “The bonus warrant issue offers qualifying shareholders an opportunity to those shareholders who would like to participate in the growth of the company. It enables Somers to significantly reduce its debt burden, thereby freeing up cash flow to invest in new opportunities or to support existing investments.” Somers has a market capitalisation of $187.9 million. Its shares were yesterday trading at $13 on the BSX.
July 4. The island’s telecoms regulator is acting outside the law, a major player in the industry has claimed. Now One Communications has gone to Supreme Court to seek a ruling that the Regulatory Authority of Bermuda has failed to keep up with its responsibilities — and as a result, its has no powers to impose rules and regulations on the sector. Yesterday, an industry source said that other major telecoms providers were considering their position — and could pitch in with One in the judicial review, which has a hearing scheduled for tomorrow. The insider explained that the RAB had failed in its statutory duty to complete a market review by the end of April — so it should lose its right to impose regulations on the industry. The source said: “One of the two largest telecommunications companies in Bermuda is telling the Regulatory Authority you haven’t done your job and because you haven’t done your job, all the rules you have put in place go out the window. They haven’t even started it. One’s argument is, because the Regulatory Authority has not completed its market review, all the regulatory rules can’t be enforced. What One is saying is, because the Regulatory Authority has not done its job, the telecoms market is at a standstill. The man on the street wants to know why their prices haven’t changed, why they haven’t got that great a service, why there isn’t a lot of real cut-throat competition to their benefit. That’s because the regulator has failed to carry out it’s statutory obligations. That’s a big reason.” And he predicted that — since the power industry had been added to the RAB’s responsibilities — it would slow down even more. An affidavit by Frank Amaral, CEO of One Communications, submitted as part the firm’s argument, explained: “The markets and services within the electronic communications sectors in Bermuda have changed dramatically since the 2013 market review, which was itself based on data collected ... prior to the Regulatory Authority assuming regulatory responsibility for the sector.” Mr Amaral told the Supreme Court that continued enforcement of existing rules governing companies with a significant market share, without a fresh review, would cause “serious and irreparable harm to the communications providers on whom ex ante remedies have been imposed and their customers and shareholders, for the development of natural competition in the electronic communications sector in Bermuda and for the Bermuda public in general.” Mr Amaral said that the result of the RAB’s dead hand on the industry meant that companies could not offer new or enhanced services, product bundles or promotions “in a timely manner or at all”. He added telecoms firms could not benefit from technology investment by market participants “which discourages further investments”. And he said that, because firms could not reap full cost benefits of service processes and systems integration, any innovations were being stifled, while “unnecessary costs of compliance” had increased. One Communications’ application for a judicial review tomorrow, added the degree of change, including mergers, in the industry since the 2013 review highlighted the need for a new market review to determine whether existing regulations laid down by the RAB were needed. The application said that rules and regulations imposed without up-to-date information on the sector was “the policy equivalent of regulating the sector blindfolded”. The source added: “The sector has to get permission to raise rates or lower them. It has get approval to vary speeds, we have to get approval to bundle products. And we have to get that approval from the regulator. Everyone has been waiting for this market review to be done and to get the ball rolling. It hasn’t been done. The input from the telecoms perspective is they’re being held up. You can’t even scratch your nose until you get approval. And the thing they need to do to get the sector out of this space, they haven’t done.” The RAB declined to comment. A spokeswoman for Digicel, the other half of the telecoms big two in Bermuda, said: “We are aware of the action and we are considering our position but we have no comment at this time.”
July 4. USA Independence Day National Holiday. Celebrated in Bermuda among its 2400 or so Bermuda-resident American citizens. (About 80% of the total number of annual visitors are American). See Bermuda and the USA. US Consulate has a fireworks party. Until 1995 the USA had several significant military bases in Bermuda. Thousands of US military personnel were stationed here.
July 3. Neither party was prepared for a General Election campaign which so far has been dominated by slogans, finger-pointing and flag-planting, according to two former Cabinet ministers. Ashfield DeVent and Phil Perinchief bemoaned the lack of any serious discussion on social issues, the economy, crime or education with just over two weeks remaining before people go to the polls. Mr Perinchief concluded the One Bermuda Alliance and Progressive Labour Party had both been “caught with their political pants down” when Michael Dunkley called a “snap election” on June 8, a day before David Burt’s proposed vote of no confidence was due to take place. He said the Premier had been maneuvered into dropping the writ earlier than he wanted and, noting that the PLP did not appear ready either, questioned whether the Opposition leader had been pressured into his move from outside his parliamentary group. Mr DeVent, a former PLP MP, said both sides had been slow to unveil candidates, only completing their slates last week while, as of yesterday, neither had revealed its election platform. “I think the way in which this election was called, because it was forced by a vote of no confidence, I don’t think either side was prepared for the election,” he told The Royal Gazette .“When I saw the Opposition call for the General Election, I would have thought they would have all their ducks in a row, all their candidates picked and settled, but they have only just announced their full slate. With so little time left, it’s worrying. It should be worrying for Government supporters that they didn’t even have a full slate [until Friday], and neither do they have some form of manifesto. There are lots of new candidates on both sides with only a few weeks to get to know their new constituents. I honestly don’t believe they are going to get to see everyone in that constituency. Some would argue they are taking advantage of the voters. No one has said anything about how they are going to fix the education deficiencies. No one has said really clearly how they hope to provide more work for those unemployed people. We still have seniors complaining about their difficulties in meeting their healthcare costs. No one seems to have a handle or any real ideas regarding the gang problem.” Asked how he viewed the election campaign so far, former PLP attorney-general Mr Perinchief replied: “What campaign? Had there been any from either side, I don’t see it. I think the OBA allowed themselves to be maneuvered into the position whereby they faced a debilitating vote of no confidence. The Premier was really trying to get a total boost from the America’s Cup. In a way, he allowed the PLP to force upon him a call for a General Election. Against the background of what was becoming a diminishing boost from the America’s Cup, the Premier actually called the shortest possible time to hold an election. Both parties are surprised and neither side are prepared for this snap election. I think that what we are experiencing is the zero to lacklustre non-performance of the parties in terms of getting their message out. They have been caught with their political pants down. We are seeing political expediency as opposed to long-term planning.” Asked why Mr Burt would have pushed for an election if the PLP was not ready, Mr Perinchief said he had heard suggestions that he faced “pressures from outside that they wanted that to happen. The OBA has been repeating its catchphrase, “Forward together, not back”, while the PLP has done likewise with its “Two Bermudas” and “Putting Bermudians first” slogans; party flags have been planted in the ground on a daily basis and MPs have taken part in photograph opportunities waving at traffic. Each party has also frequently directed attacks on the other’s performance," Mr Perinchief said: “All that each party to date has had time to cobble together with this very short window are slogans, gimmicks and flag-waving.” Mr DeVent said: “None of that gives the guy who is out of work for the last 18 months any hope. None of that gives that senior who is struggling to pay his healthcare any new direction to move in. This election, some would argue, is one of the most important that we are going to have because of the economic situation we are in." I think a lot of people could be living in some place of fear because of what the future holds for us." I think voters do want information. The onus is on the voting public to demand that both sides provide some information and both sides to come and sit in their front room and have a discussion with them." There's a growing tide of distrust for normal politicians and a look for new and fresh ideas and attitudes towards dealing with the people. “I have heard quite a few people say they are not going to vote, they are fed up with all of them." A third former PLP minister, Renee Webb, argued the emphasis on slogans would not be entirely ineffective, saying: “As a consequence of social media I would say that the emphasis is more on slogans and gimmicks." It makes sense given the continuous development of these forms of media that the under 35s in particular use. Regarding the platforms, I am sure there will be more discussion on specifics once they are both made public." However, I believe that this will not be the deciding factor for most voters who have already made up their mind. Mr DeVent said that many people who historically voted for the PLP had switched to the OBA “looking for something different” in 2012.But he continued: “From the beginning with the OBA, there’s nothing very issue-orientated. It’s been one controversy after another. In the meantime, people are still out of work, their lives haven’t changed." Some will say ‘I’m not voting’. It’s sad really, it’s sad and I’m somewhat fearful of the future. If a group of independents were elected something will change because they would hold some balance of power. Part of me would like to see that." Explaining further his disillusionment with his own party, he pointed to the prominent role played by former United Bermuda Party MPs Wayne Furbert, Kim Swan and Jamahl Simmons, all former severe critics of the PLP who later switched allegiances." I find it very difficult to support a PLP that has two former UBP leaders and a former UBP minister, particularly because I sat across the floor and heard the venom that they spewed against us,” he said. “Now we have gone across the floor and picked them up. We couldn’t find anyone else?” Mr Perinchief said both parties have “image problems to fix”: the OBA has to show it can be more socially conscious, and the PLP needs to convince voters it can work the economy." The vacillation I’m hearing is one of uncertainty, confusion and apprehension, no matter how uncertain those voters are with the OBA. The voter is left with a quandary. I would like to see the OBA demonstrate in very, very clear ways how they are going to fundamentally address social and economic inequality in Bermuda, and the issue of racism. I would like the PLP to demonstrate that is has the capacity and the commitment to address the inequality in Bermuda and to also tackle head on the issue of race and class division in this country, within their own ranks and within the country. Both parties have a huge trust deficit from the electorate.”
July 3. Premier Michael Dunkley delivered the One Bermuda Alliance’s platform yesterday morning ahead of what he believes will be better days for Bermuda. Surrounded by a handful of party members, the Premier outlined what he described as an “ambitious plan” for “more opportunity, more jobs, economic stability, and shared prosperity” just over two weeks ahead of the General Election on July 18. “It is a plan that reflects the confidence and the promise of Bermuda,” Mr Dunkley said. The roughly 30-page document entitled Our Mission, Our Plans to Move Bermuda Forward Together breaks down priorities into supporting families, education, protecting Bermudians, environment, enriching community life, health and safety, public safety, good governance and the economy. It pledges to “leverage the recovery in our public finances to launch new infrastructure projects generating opportunity and jobs. We believe that better days are ahead,” Mr Dunkley’s letter in the opening pages of the document reads. The plan, the Premier said, “will deepen the principles of fairness in Bermuda”, and would include ending discrepancies between Bermudian and foreign workers in housing and compensation, passing hate crime and cannabis forgiveness legislation, lowering taxes for lower income workers, appointing a seniors’ advocate, and balancing the budget. “This is a plan to progress Bermudian life,” he said. Nandi Outerbridge described the day as a great one for the country. The St George’s West MP outlined the party’s plan for a Jump Start Savings account of $2,500 that will be given to each newborn Bermudian, and a $2 million grant for the Salvation Army’s transformation of the Bishop Spencer School into an emergency and transitional housing facility. She also outlined measures to ensure that children “get the attention they need”, including flexible working hours for parents, paternity leave entitlements, and the extension of after-school activities. Nick Kempe described rectifying the financial situation inherited by the OBA 4½ ago as a “monumental task”. “It’s very hard to set up a system that protects the most vulnerable in society when debt is crowding out your ability to fund those services,” the candidate for Pembroke West Central said. Senator Andrew Simons outlined some of the measures aimed at supporting seniors, including social insurance enforcement. “We will allocate far more resources to energetically enforce that legislation, just as we have done successfully with health insurance,” the Pembroke Central candidate said. Mr Simons also discussed the party’s commitment to protect pension funds, the creation of a caregiver resource centre and examination of caregiver allowances, and the expansion of home hospice care. “The OBA has made tremendous progress in reining in the costs of healthcare, but also in improving quality,” he said. Senator Lynne Woolridge likened the state of affairs when the party took power in 2012 to that of an injured patient. “We’ve spent the last four-plus years stopping the bleeding and getting this island back on a strong financial, economic footing,” the party’s chairwoman said. “This is the time when we will now touch the lives of each and every Bermudian — young and old and everyone in between, the middle class that contributes to this economy — and help move Bermuda forward.” Asked about the party’s promise from the last General Election to create 2,000 new jobs, Ms Woolridge said that the failure of the pledge to materialize was due to “pushback” from people who “didn’t want those jobs to be created”. Bob Richards, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, echoed Ms Woolridge’s comments on the difficulties in bringing promised jobs to fruition. “Every initiative that we have put forward for job creation has been opposed or criticised by the Opposition,” he said. Praised by the Premier as the man who saved the country from the “economic abyss”, Mr Richards said the Government spent its first two years “staunching the hemorrhaging” from the previous administration. The election, Mr Richards said, was about shoring up the support of Bermudians to “finish the job”.
July 3. The Voters Rights Association has written to all candidates in the upcoming General Election urging them to back a Voter’s Bill of Rights. The group said that good governance must be a “priority” as the island approaches July 18 and has asked all parliamentary hopefuls to specifically withdraw their support if they do not want to see a Voters’ Bill of Rights. The VRA, which was established in 2007, has campaigned for several measures to improve Parliamentary accountability in Bermuda including the right for all election candidates in a constituency to take part in open debate and the right to a fair absentee ballot voting system. “By identifying where your commitment lies in seeing Bermuda’s parliamentary process and governance become more transparent, fair and reasonable, you promote and enhance the ability of the voters to participate more actively in the governing of Bermuda,” the letter states. “This can only be a good thing because our whole community needs to be fully engaged in many of the important choices that lie ahead." Party politics has gone astray and this sentiment is being voiced consistently in the community; and the VRA feels that supporting the principles of a Voters’ Bill of Rights is a great opportunity for both political parties and individual candidates to stand for a respectful and participatory process that will move to deepen engagement in our democracy. “Both political parties profess their desire to make Bermuda better and the Voters’ Bill of Rights is an important and fundamental course of action to fulfil and honour that goal.” The VRA wants to see a raft of rights enshrined in the Voters’ Bill of Rights including the right to vote, the right to fixed-term elections; the right of constituents to recall parliamentarians they have elected and the right to voter referendums and citizen initiatives to determine public issues. A spokesperson for the VRA added that the Ombudsman and Auditor-General should be given the power to subpoena people, while the Human Rights Commission should be made a completely independent commission established under the Bermuda Constitution. “The Attorney-General should also not be affiliated to any political party and the post should be shielded against influence from the government of the day,” the spokesperson said. “To have the Attorney-General sitting in the Cabinet is not acceptable. “In a small community the legal system must be free from political influence." A lot of the things we believe are necessary already exist in other jurisdictions. “The UK has fixed-term elections and if a petition in the UK reaches 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in parliament." Bermuda is a relatively young democracy and these measures can help it mature to be more responsive and accountable to the electorate." We will be very interested to see which of the parliamentary candidates proactively opt out of supporting the measures we are proposing.”
July 3. Assured Guaranty is suing Puerto Rico’s federal oversight board over its decision to push the Caribbean island’s electric utility into bankruptcy. The Bermuda-based firm insures some of the bonds issued by Prepa, as the utility is known, and the bankruptcy comes after the rejection of a longstanding debt-restructuring agreement with creditors. It marks the end of nearly four years of negotiations between Prepa, hedge funds, mutual funds and bond-insurance companies including Assured to find an out-of-court solution to reduce the agency’s obligations and modernize its system. Dominic Frederico, chief executive officer of Assured, said the decision “makes clear that the oversight board is not seriously seeking the consensual resolutions with creditors that Promesa was intended to encourage. The rejection of this consensual agreement will force Prepa into years of litigation, costing millions of dollars and driving up costs for customers.". A statement from Assured Guaranty said the company would “vigorously exercise its rights and remedies as guarantor of Prepa Special Revenue bonds, which benefit from special protections under bankruptcy law. Payments to holders of Prepa bonds insured by Assured Guaranty will continue to be paid without interruption for the life of the bonds”. Last week, Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings affirmed Assured’s AA financial strength rating.
July 3. Cost-cutting measures in the reinsurance industry are being applied more aggressively in response to decreasing prices, according to an international broker and risk adviser. In its 1st View report on the state of the market at a crucial reinsurance contract renewal period, Willis Towers Watson said rates are continuing to fall as traditional reinsurers face strong competition from insurance-linked securities backed by alternative capital. Many carriers in Bermuda’s flagship insurance and reinsurance industry have streamlined their operations in recent years, in response to the soft market and investment returns pressured by a prolonged period of low interest rates. And some have joined forces with competitors in a spree of consolidation. John Cavanagh, Willis Re’s global chief executive officer, said the downward pricing trends shown at January 1 and April 1 renewals had continued at July 1, despite deterioration of reinsurers’ results in the first-quarter. “Yet again, we’re in a position where the weakening in the global reinsurance industry’s performance has not reached an unacceptable level,” Mr Cavanagh said. "Reinsurers across the board do not yet feel compelled to take a stronger stance over conceding further modest rate reductions and walking away from clients. Much now will depend on loss activity in the traditionally more active third and fourth quarters and on any instability in investment returns.” Mr Cavanagh added that continued softening had been driven by reinsurers’ realization that the June and July renewals represented the last realistic chance to meet their 2017 premium targets. He added: “This was clearly seen in the Florida renewals where, in the face of flat demand, a larger-than-anticipated influx of capacity, particularly from insurance-linked securities markets, led to not only a further drop in pricing from the 2016 renewals but at a greater pace, albeit slight, than the reductions seen on US property-catastrophe programmes earlier this year.” As results continued to deteriorate, Mr Cavanagh said there were “worrying trends” in performance measures, with combined ratios for many classes now looking unattractive. “In the face of stubbornly soft pricing, cost control measures are being applied widely and more aggressively across the entire global reinsurance chain, as managers of reinsurance companies seek to mitigate the effect through cost reduction,” Mr Cavanagh noted. “Market initiatives to contain and reduce costs such as the London market Placing Platform Limited initiative are seeing increased impetus and support as the critical importance of the promise of greater efficiency is recognized.” High stock valuations and pressure on profits had caused some reinsurers to slow the pace of share repurchases, he added, causing some to expect an increase in mergers and acquisitions activity. “While it is undoubtedly correct that scale gives organisations both the ability to be relevant to clients and the scope to more actively reduce cost, the challenge of execution remains,” Mr Cavanagh added. “With only a limited number of opportunities and significant operating and performance issues emerging in some of the oft-touted M&A candidates, undertaking new M&A is arguably more challenging than it has been for many years.”
July 3. A $350 million catastrophe bond that will boost underwriting capacity for Bermudian insurer and reinsurer Axis Capital Holdings has been admitted to listing on the Bermuda Stock Exchange. The BSX also announced on Friday that a €40 million cat bond, issued through Windmill I Re Ltd to cover European perils, was also listed. Growth in the booming $29 billion insurance-linked securities market is showing no signs of slowing and 2017 is on target to be a year of record issuance. Bermuda is at the epicentre of the global business and more than three-quarters of global issuance was listed on the BSX as of the end of the first quarter, according to a Bermuda Monetary Authority report. According to the Artemis.bm website, a keen ILS market observer, Axis was originally looking to sell $250 million of cat bonds through its Bermuda special purpose insurer Northshore Re II Ltd. But strong demand from investors led to the offering being upsized to $350 million. The Northshore Re bonds will pay investors a 7.5 per cent coupon, Artemis reported. The cat bonds will provide cover for Axis and its subsidiaries against industry losses from US named storms, US earthquakes and Canadian earthquakes, on a per-occurrence basis and across a three-year term. The Windmill I Re Ltd name first appeared in the cat bond market in January 2014. Sponsored by Dutch reinsurer Achmea Reinsurance, it was an indemnity catastrophe bond for European windstorm coverage, particularly related to the Netherlands.
July 3. Alice Palmer, a prominent hospital volunteer, keen socialite and award-winning dancer, has died at the age of 96. Mrs Palmer was a dedicated head of the pink ladies from the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda, and known to many for her long career at the clothing shop Cecile’s. Her son, Stuart Outerbridge, called Mrs Palmer’s passing “the end of an era”, while granddaughter Lisabet Outerbridge remembered her as “an amazingly strong woman, deeply involved in the community”. Originally from Philadelphia, where her father was the head of the Lukens Steel Company, she met her first husband, A. Stuart Outerbridge, when she travelled to the island for a wedding in the late 1930s. Mr Outerbridge owned the Swizzle Inn as well as a popular nightclub at Devil’s Hole, the Angel’s Grotto. The couple had four children: Calley Frith, and Alexis, Stuart and Wolcott Outerbridge. Athletic and nimble on her feet, Mrs Palmer was a gifted ballroom dancer with a gold medal from the famed dancer Arthur Murray, and she taught dance from her own studio in Hamilton. According to Wolcott “Cotty” Outerbridge, “virtually everyone our age who can keep a step going in formal dancing owes it to Alice”. Stuart Outerbridge recalled the family home at Callen Glen by Bailey’s Bay as a paradise for children, where their parents entertained keenly. “She loved the social aspect of life and was always beautifully dressed up to the nines,” he added. An avid tennis player at Coral Beach, Mrs Palmer was also an accomplished golfer who won tournaments, and a skilled bridge player and member of the Bridge Club. After separating from her husband, she married Jack Woodall, a former Director of Transportation, moving to the residence “Girven” on Harbour Road, Paget. She was later married a third time, to the lawyer Anthony Palmer and moved to the Warwick residence “Granaway Gate”, where she lived the rest of her life.
July 3. Canadians took to the beach in force this weekend to celebrate their nation’s 150th birthday on July 1. The annual Canada Day Beach Party, organised by the Association of Canadians in Bermuda, drew a sizeable crowd to Warwick Long Bay on Saturday. In addition to the dozens of Canadian flags and those dressed in the colours of red and white, partygoers enjoyed a taste of home in the form of Canadian beers and music, all while basking in the warm weather. Jennifer Campbell, president of the Association of Canadians in Bermuda, said the board were thrilled by the turnout. “By early afternoon, the beach was a sea of red and white,” she said. “The weather was beautiful, the Canadian content music by DJ D’Nice was perfect and the delicious food supplied by the Island Restaurant Group and the Canadian beer from Miles Market were sell-outs. We are very happy to report that our trash management efforts were wildly successful as a result of not only support from Keep Bermuda Beautiful but also the attendees of the event. Most people were very trash/recycling conscious and we left the beach quite possibly cleaner than how we found it.” The event is the first since the Association of Canadians in Bermuda gave up its charity status. While the move put the future of the event in jeopardy, organisers were given support in the form of sponsorship from a group of local businesses, including the Hamilton Princess, the Freisenbruch-Meyer Group, Surface Trends and Intelligent Automation Solutions.
See above story
July 2. The America’s Cup has left Bermuda in a strong position to bring future events to the island, according to the Bermuda Tourism Authority. While Bermuda has been ruled out as the host of the 36th America’s Cup, the BTA noted a series of events that have been added to the calendar in the wake of AC35. Among the upcoming events are the ITU World Triathlon series, coming to Bermuda in 2018, 2019 and 2020, the Oyster Regatta Bermuda next May, the Moth World Championship next June and the Atlantic Anniversary Regatta, also being held next June. Kevin Dallas, BTA CEO, said: “Using the momentum of the America’s Cup to set the stage for future tourism growth has always been a goal of the Bermuda Tourism Authority. Bermuda is well on her way to accomplishing that goal.” According to a spokesman, the BTA is now “actively vetting the feasibility” of hosting further sports-related events including future super yacht and J Class Regattas, similar to those that took place during AC35.“ The 2017 super yacht regatta attracted about twice the number of entrants that raced in San Francisco during the 34th America’s Cup, while the convergence of eight J Class boats in Bermuda was the largest gathering in history — even more than raced at any one time in the 1930s and 1940s when the majestic sailing vessels competed for the America’s Cup,” the spokesman noted. The BTA has also stated that it will recommend to Members of Parliament that they pass legislation to incentivise superyacht owners to come to Bermuda more often after the America’s Cup. While 68 super yachts visited Bermuda last year, more than 80 were expected during the America’s Cup alone this year. Mr Dallas said: “It’s very clear that the relaxed legislation put in place during the America’s Cup was a huge incentive for superyachts to visit Bermuda, stay longer and spend more into our local economy. We will encourage Parliamentarians to create a similar environment on a permanent basis, while also protecting local charter operators. This is an absolute necessity if Bermuda is going to seize super yacht tourism as an America’s Cup legacy benefit.”
July 2. Patients at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute are now providing fresh herbs for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital through a herb garden at the facility. According to a Bermuda Hospitals Board spokeswoman, the garden was launched in March with between six and eight individuals from geriatric services and learning disability sections tending to the herbs. The participants planted seedlings in a previously grassy area on the campus. Then they weeded and watered the plants, growing chives, plain Italian parsley, sage, lemon balm, curly parsley, Thai basil, mint and sweet marjoram. Donovan Williams, new dimensions recreational assistant, said: “Service users involved in this project have enjoyed watching the plants grow and taken pride in the results their efforts have made." The herbs were ready for harvest this month, and are already in use in the kitchen at KEMH. Thomas Frost, executive chef for the BHB, said: “Fresh herbs offer a bolder flavour than their dried alternative, and will enhance the flavour profile of many dishes. They also offer the benefit of being unprocessed. The chefs at KEMH are enjoying the new fresh herbs programme and are eagerly utilizing these fresh new ingredients in both patient and staff meals. This new MWI home-grown plants will further enhance our commitment to culinary excellence.” In addition to providing better food for patients and staff at KEMH, the spokeswoman added that the programme had resulted in $120 a week in savings for the food services department.
July 2. Police this afternoon confirmed the death of an inmate at Westgate Correctional Facility. According to a spokesman, at around 11.30pm yesterday emergency services were dispatched to the facility after a male inmate was found in an unresponsive state. “Despite life-saving efforts by a Corrections officer, the 59-year-old man was later pronounced dead,” the spokesman said.“ A police-led investigation is currently under way regarding the circumstances. Until his next of kin have been notified no further information regarding the deceased will be provided at this time.”
July 1. Bermuda bid farewell yesterday to celebrated soldier and political commentator Larry Burchall. Mr Burchall, a former Regimental Sergeant Major, was laid to rest following a ceremony at the Wesley Methodist Church with Michael Dunkley, the Premier, acting Opposition leader Walter Roban and former premier Sir John Swan joining his family in paying tribute. Mr Burchall’s brother, Roddy, said that Mr Burchall “spoke with military precision, with authority, his facts were correct and he wouldn’t be persuaded otherwise. To many people, Larry was many things. He was an author, he was a political spokesman perhaps, financial analyst, he was a soldier. But to me, he was Larry Burchall my brother. His life is over, his work is done. Rest in peace my brother, rest in peace.” Meanwhile, Arlene Kim, Mr Burchall’s daughter-in-law, delivered a message on behalf of wife Paddy, saying: “He was an active, hands-on, dedicated and loving father as we raised our two children and, of all his life accomplishments, he was most proud of his children.” Mr Burchall joined the Bermuda Militia Artillery in 1961 and became the first black Bermudian sergeant major. He later went on to become the training officer for the Regiment, and was credited with masterminding the Regimental Honours Parade for Her Majesty the Queen, for which he received the Royal Victorian Medal as a personal award from the Queen. After Mr Burchall retired from the Regiment he focused on his writing career, becoming a regular newspaper columnist for the Bermuda Times, Worker’s Voice, Bermuda Sun and Bernews.com, where he remained a contributor until his passing. He also served as a strategist and campaign co-chairman for the Progressive Labour Party during the party’s 1998 victory and wrote several books, including Behind the Shield, Rise of the Faceless and Fine as Wine. Lieutenant-Colonel Eugene Raynor, the honorary colonel of the RBR and a former commanding officer, told the congregation that he and Mr Burchall had been friends since their childhood growing up on North Shore. The pair later joined the Bermuda Cadet Corps at the Berkeley Institute and continued into the Bermuda Militia Artillery, which later combined with the Bermuda Rifles in the desegregated Bermuda Regiment. Colonel Raynor said Mr Burchall, who had passed an officers’ course, opted to remain in the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess because he “decided he wanted to be hands-on with the instruction,” although he later became a captain and training officer of the Regiment. “He always had an idea of doing something better or different,” Colonel Raynor said. “He always presented those and sometimes they were rejected. Then he found a way of dealing with situations — to go and implement things anyway making things different, making it more fun for the people.” Mr Dunkley, meanwhile, hailed Mr Burchall as a man of “high principle and good intention” and an “activist who knew when to act. Here was a man who had shed the grip of partisanship, who was standing for ‘Bermuda first’ — nothing more, nothing less — and it freed him to speak, freed him to say what he thought, freed him to call people out and to stare down those who opposed him. It was a form of courage for sure, but it was also an expression of freedom. And that is the way I came to see Larry Burchall — free to speak and write, free to encourage and implore; free to advise and direct — always for the sake of Bermuda, working hard to move it forward.” Mr Burchall’s coffin was taken to and from the church on a Royal Bermuda Regiment gun carriage, accompanied by the Regiment Band and Corps of Drums. The RBR carried the coffin to and from the service, draped in the Union Flag and bearing an officer’s sword, sash and headgear.
July 1. Aspen Bermuda Ltd has labeled online comments attributed to an employee as “abhorrent”. However, a spokesman refused to say if Marisa Baron, the sister of Minister of National Security Senator Jeff Baron, is still employed by the company. In a brief statement on the controversy, Steve Colton, group head of communications at Aspen, said: “Aspen takes matters of this nature extremely seriously. The comments made and sentiments contained in this Facebook post are abhorrent and are completely at odds with the culture and values of Aspen. However, we do not comment on individual staff matters.” As of yesterday, Ms Baron’s name had been removed from the Aspen Bermuda website and efforts to view her profile page resulted in an error message. Ms Baron came under fierce scrutiny over a Facebook post on her page, which stated: “I have never in my life wanted to just walk up and smack a stranger. It’s a shame that I am forced to keep my mouth shut, and smile at such ignorant, racist, fearmongering pieces of trash because of who I am. Well, not right now ... you black people may think you run this island. Trust me, your stupidity is laughable. Just because you went into the bushes and came out with your inbred children ‘to get the votes’ does not mean you ‘run this country’. To make the playing field even, I will now talk to and about black people as they do me, that white girl ... OK ... what year is it? Ignorant f**ks!” Ms Baron later deleted the post, writing that her account was hacked and apologizing for the post, which she described as “vile”. Her account on the social media website was subsequently deleted. Mr Baron issued a statement on Thursday morning saying he was “outraged” by the post on his sister’s page, adding: “I do not condone this type of divisive, hurtful language. I do not support discriminatory and/or racist comments. It has no place in our discourse, it’s not in my heart to feel this way.”
July 1. Opposition leader David Burt spent part of yesterday on Wall Street, discussing the Bermuda economy. In a picture posted on Facebook yesterday afternoon, the Progressive Labour Party leader can be seen seated at a table overlooking the floor of the New York Stock Exchange with Greg Greenberg of Small Cap Nation.
July 1. An island Masonic lodge donated a total of $15,000 to six charities to mark its 200th anniversary. Lodge of Loyalty, based in Freemasons’ Hall in Hamilton, handed out $2,500 cheques to six good causes. Worshipful Master Nicholas Lewis said: “Charity is hugely important — it’s a defining characteristic of Freemasons. It’s the lodge’s way to make good men better and charity is a very big part of that and always has been. Cheques were handed out to the Salvation Army, St John Ambulance, cancer care charity Pals, Meals on Wheels, drug counselling service Focus and the Bermuda Sloop Foundation.” Mr Lewis, 34, a probation officer, said there was a central charity fund all Masonic lodges on the island donated to — but Lodge of Loyalty wanted to mark its anniversary with an individual effort. He added: “We have a general purpose committee and through the committee we discussed which charities we would like to present to and the six we chose were a pretty unanimous choice.” Gareth Adderley, Commissioner of St John Ambulance, said the charity had lost its Government grant eight years ago and relied on donations to fund its service. He also said a total of 13 volunteers were stationed at the America’s Cup Village on race days, including foot patrols, two ambulances and a clinic attached to the nearby nerve centre .Mr Adderley added: “Without donations like this, we couldn’t provide the level of service we do. ”Colleen English DeGrilla, executive director of Pals, said: “Donations are how we survive — it also spreads the word and tells us people are remembering us and our patients.”
July 1. Bermuda won their first two gold medals at the NatWest Island Games yesterday. Chantae Wilson added to her medal haul by winning gold in the women’s FIG individual asymmetric bars while the women’s cycling team of Gabriella Arnold, Nicole Mitchell, Alyssa Rowse and Zoenique Williams won the town centre criterium. Wilson won gold with a score of 11.300, with Anna Francoeur claiming the bronze for Bermuda with 10.200. Isle of Man’s prolific medallist Tara Donnelly won silver. The same trio claimed the podium in the individual beam, with Donnelly winning gold, Wilson silver and Francouer another bronze. Wilson had won silver in the SET beam and as part of the team floor and vault. She also won bronze in the SET floor. It was a prolific day for the island’s cyclists in Gotland. The women’s quartet beat Isle of Man and Jersey for the town centre criterium title, while the men’s team of Kaden Hopkins, Dominique Mayho, Matthew Oliveira and Che’quan O’Del Richardson won silver in the men’s race. Saaremaa won gold with Isle of Man claiming bronze. Oliveira claimed a fine bronze in the men’s individual town centre criterium. Karl Patrick Lauk won gold for Saaremaa in 1:00:12.78, edging Torkil Eyofinsson Veyhe, of Faroe Islands, who had the same time. Oliveira finished with 1:00:56.04. Mayho finished fifth in the race, with Hopkins seventh for Bermuda. In tennis, Gavin Manders and David Thomas won silver in the men’s doubles, losing 6-3, 6-0 to Jersey’s Stuart Parker and Michael Watkins in the final. In golf, the men’s and women’s teams came agonizingly short of medals. The men’s team of James Campbell, Jarryd Dillas, Will Haddrell and Mark Phillips came fourth after shooting a combined 932 over the four rounds, missing bronze by six combined strokes. Isle of Man won gold, shooting 900; Jersey won silver with 916 and Gotland claimed third spot with 926. The women’s team of Katrin Burnie, Linda Down, Elizabeth Parsons and Tariqah Walikraam also missed out by six strokes, shooting 1033. Gotland won gold in 1009, Isle of Wight silver with 1019 and Jersey bronze with 1027. Dillas finished fifth in the men’s individual event — his 302 was only one shot off a medal and just three off gold medal-winner Alex McAuley, of Isle of Man. Parsons came fifth in the women’s individual, with 336. Emma Lindman won gold for Aland, going round in 317 to win by nine strokes.
July 1. Bermuda’s squash team will be keen to put an end to a four-year drought at this year’s Caribbean Junior Championships in Guyana. The last time Bermuda savored success at the championships was in 2012 in Jamaica, when Dylan Pratt and Noah Browne won boys age group honours to help the island capture the boys team title. Bermuda team members, who departed for Guyana yesterday, have pinned their hopes for success this year on a team boasting four players representing the island for first time in Andrew Cox, Daniel Ringer, Hailey Moss and Graham Moss. Anaya Smith, Charlie Riker, Madeleine Rose and Taylor Carrick are the remaining team members who have more experience at this level. Taylor and Charlie are seeded top four in their respective age groups and are bidding to improve on their third place showings at last year’s championships in the Cayman Islands. The team are being coached by three-times national champion and professional squash player Micah Franklin, who won the boys under-17 title at the 2009 Caribbean Junior Championships in Barbados. “They are a young team but they have been working hard, they have tons of talent and whatever happens the experience they will gain is going to be invaluable for the future,” Franklin, who is ranked 162 on the Professional Squash Association World Tour, said. “I’m looking for 100 per cent effort, a great attitude on court and big smiles from my team as we get the chance to travel and represent our country.” Patrick Foster, the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association director, added: “It’s great to have such strong new players coming in at the young end of team. They will be learning all the time from the more experienced older players, taking in their first taste of international competition. And of course they have Micah Franklin in their corner for every match too, which is not too bad. We are very lucky to have continued support from Bank of Bermuda Foundation enabling the kids to go on this trip. I’m sure they are going to make up proud and produce some great results.” The championships, involving boys and girls ages 11 through 19, features an individual and team competition. Bermuda have a proud track at this event having won overall honours in Bahamas in 1998, three boys team titles as well as a plethora of individual boys and girls age group titles.
July 1. Canada Day. A national holiday, Canada Day in 2017 150 years after that celebratory event, celebrates the anniversary of the July 1, 1867 enactment of the Constitution Act, which united the original three separate colonies of Canada. It was also the day the word Canada originated. Originally called Dominion Day, the holiday was renamed in 1982, the year the Canada Act was passed. Celebrations take place throughout Canada, and are also held throughout the world by Canadians living abroad.. Bermuda has many (about 5% of the total number of annual visitors) and a large number of residents from Canada. See Bermuda's Links with Canada and information about Canada's former military base in Bermuda.
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