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By Keith Archibald Forbes (see About Us).
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See at bottom of this page a listing of our many History files |
The
Government has been told to further a search for documents related to the
National Anti-Money Laundering Committee after a Pati appeal. The move came
after The Royal Gazette asked for records of the group’s meetings after Jamahl
Simmons, the tourism minister at the time, said the Bermuda Gaming Commission
had not taken part in the committee’s work as requested. Mr Simmons told the
House of Assembly in November 2017 that the Gaming Commission’s attitude
towards the Government could be seen in “the recent non-participation in the
NAMLC’s national risk analysis, failure to provide the requested presentation
for the related workshops and failure to provide the analysis and conclusions of
the working group that it was chairing”. The Government released a single,
redacted attendance sheet for a meeting held after the Pati request was made in
response to the original request. The ministry claimed that the Gaming
Commission was not required to attend NAMLC meetings before 2017, so information
from before that period would be “misleading”. However, Gitanjali Gutierrez,
the Information Commissioner, ruled that was not an excuse to limit the search.
Ms Gutierrez said: “The ministry justified its response on the basis of the
ministry’s understanding of the applicant’s purpose for making the Pati
request, ie the 2017 National Risk Assessment. The applicant, however, expressly
states that they wanted records going back to NAMLC’s inception, if possible,
and if this was not possible, then going back to the date the Gaming Commission
was established. Despite the applicant’s reference to specific dates, the
ministry used 2017 and the date the Gaming Commission became a statutory member
of NAMLC as the relevant date.” She added that the ministry had not shown that
there were no other records that would fall under the Pati request. Ms Gutierrez
said: “Although the ministry indicated in its internal review decision that it
did not have earlier attendance records because of staffing changes and two
office relocations, the ministry also stated that it did not attempt to actually
locate the records prior to 2017 as a result of its analysis of the request.”
The Government had also denied requests for “completed assignment sheets” by
agencies related to the NAMLC and associated requests for the information by the
Government on the basis that such records did not exist. But Ms Gutierrez said
the ministry had improperly limited its search to documents related to the
National Risk Assessment. She said the applicant had framed the questions around
Mr Simmons’s comments in the House of Assembly as the NAMLC had not released
much of its internal workings. “The Gaming Commission’s involvement in
anti-money laundering/counter-terrorist financing initiatives led by NAMLC was
not limited to the national risk assessment, but also to the Gaming
Commission’s responsibilities for all AML/CTF matters. The applicant was
seeking records related to the Gaming Commission’s participation in NAMLC
generally. The ministry was not justified in narrowing the scope of the request
based on its assumption about the purpose of the request.” She ordered that
the ministry should explain what involvement the Gaming Commission had with the
NAMLC and give the applicant a reasonable opportunity to specify the records
asked for.
The
island’s child protection department has been ordered to review a request for
records about a controversial US reform school where boys were sent for more
than three decades. Gitanjali Gutierrez, the Information Commissioner ruled
that the Department of Child and Family Services had failed to comply with part
of the Public Access to Information Act. She said an internal review must be
carried out into a request from The Royal Gazette in June for information
about Glen Mills Schools in Pennsylvania, with a decision to be provided by
January 16. The decision notice revealed that the DCFS told the Information
Commissioner’s Office the request was “extensive” and meant people had to
work beyond regular hours. Ms Gutierrez wrote: “This decision finds that the
department failed to decide the applicant’s request for an internal review
within the statutory time frame set forth by the Public Access to Information
Act 2010.” She said that the decision was made in the context of a “failure
to decide” case. Ms Gutierrez’s notice explained: “This decision does not
address whether a public authority has properly denied access to a record.
Rather, it addresses the basic obligation upon a public authority to respond to
a requester within the statutory time frames.” It showed that an initial
decision was not given inside six weeks of receipt of the Pati request — a
deadline of August 6. The DCFS extended the time frame to respond until
September 17 on August 9, but no decision was issued by then. The Gazette
asked for an internal review to be carried out by the head of the public
authority a week later. No decision was provided within six weeks of the
internal review request’s receipt and an independent review by the Information
Commissioner was sought on November 7. The DCFS was asked by the ICO to make
submissions. Ms Gutierrez wrote: “In its submissions, the department accepted
that it had not issued an internal review decision within the statutory time
frame as a matter of oversight. The department explained that it has been
working on the Pati request utilizing the resources available and noted that the
request was ‘quite extensive’, which has required extensive research and has
impacted it financially due to labour resources being extended beyond regular
working hours. The Information Commissioner appreciates the department’s
continued effort to respond to the applicant’s Pati request. It is a matter of
fact, however, that the department did not provide the applicant with an
internal review decision within the statutory time frame. The Information
Commissioner is satisfied that the department failed to comply with section
43(2) of the Pati Act.” Ms Gutierrez said that her decision, dated December
19, was filed with the Supreme Court. She added: “If the department fails to
comply with this decision, the Information Commissioner has the authority to
pursue enforcement in the same manner as an Order of the Supreme Court.” Glen
Mills Schools was among the places used by the DCFS as part of its
psychoeducational programme. The last time a child was sent there was in 2017.
The schools’ operating licences were revoked in April as investigations were
launched into allegations of serious mistreatment of children. A spokeswoman for
the Ministry of Legal Affairs, which includes the DCFS, said: “The Information
Commissioner’s decision has been received and once the department has reviewed
it, appropriate actions will be taken in accordance with the Pati Act.”
The
under-fire chairman of the Progressive Labour Party has hit back at the
party’s leadership before an emergency central committee meeting next week.
Damon Wade had a unanimous vote of no confidence passed against him and his
resignation was demanded by the party executive after he claimed he was owed a
place in a PLP “friends and family policy” at a PLP central committee
meeting earlier this month. The meeting was recorded and posted on social media.
He appeared to refer to a proposal masterminded by himself in the recording,
understood to involve an energy project at the National Sports Centre in
Devonshire, that he claimed could generate jobs and raise funds for investment
in black-owned businesses. Mr Wade said in an e-mail to PLP members seen by The
Royal Gazette that he had been given different reasons for the calling of
the emergency central committee meeting. Walter Roban, the PLP deputy leader,
had at first called for the meeting to be held last night, but it was later
rescheduled for next Monday. Mr Wade said that Mr Roban was “fully aware of my
responsibilities as it relates to central committee meetings”. Mr Wade added:
“As such, he reached out to me for me to agree to calling an emergency central
committee meeting.” He said that Mr Roban identified a “breach of
confidentiality within central committee, including the release of an unofficial
recording of the chair’s report to the media and the wider public” as the
reason for the emergency meeting. Mr Wade added that Mr Roban had said that
“members of central committee and branch executives are justifiably demanding
that the executive provide clarity on these matters”. Mr Wade said:
“However, having already sent out his notice, he is telling me that ‘the
purpose of the meeting will be for the executive to provide central committee
with a report on the special executive meeting held on Thursday, December 19.
Members should know that this should have been done before they sent the unauthorized
response to The Royal Gazette earlier this week and represents yet
another example of how he is acting out of order.” Mr Wade claimed that Mr
Roban had “sidestepped the spirit” of the PLP constitution “to peddle the
will of the executive and the Premier to further undermine” him. He added in
the e-mail: “Given the holidays are upon us — and many of us are overseas
— it makes more sense to me to have the special central committee meeting the
same night as the reconvening of the delegates.” Mr Wade said last night: “I
have no comments for the press. I have no intention of commenting on our
internal matters. My position will always be that internal matters are internal
matters. They are not for public discussion.” A PLP spokeswoman said the party
had nothing to add to its statement after the row became public. The statement
said: “The PLP has a zero-tolerance policy regarding the exploitation of party
office for personal gain. In the PLP, we proudly stand on our legacy of vowing
that Bermuda’s opportunities and ingenuity must always be utilized in the
public interest and for the greatest good. Regrettably, the individual failed to
live up to the high moral standard that the officers and members have set for
the party and themselves.” But Mr Wade said the party statement was
“misleading and malicious” and that he had been the victim of
“incompetence, arrogance and vindictiveness” on the part of Cabinet members.
If
you’re looking for a little excitement this New Year’s Eve the Corporation
of Hamilton has you covered. A hurricane, an historic building fire and the
Bermuda Triangle will all play heavily in a special light show organised for
City Hall tonight. The man behind it all is actor and animator Philippe Bergeron
of LA-based 3D mapping company PaintScaping. “Normally, when you do a new
year’s project it is festive and there is fireworks,” Mr Bergeron said.
“To do a hurricane and a fire is quite unique.” The light show will
highlight historic events in the city’s history including the burning down of
the Hamilton Hotel on Church Street on December 23, 1955. The building burnt so
brightly, the fire could be seen from miles around. City Hall officially opened
its doors on the site, five years after the fire. Now Mr Bergeron plans to bring
the Hamilton Hotel back to life, at least virtually. “We will not only
transform the hotel, we will deck it with Christmas lights,” Mr Bergeron said.
“We will create a party inside the windows. Then we will burn it to the
ground.” He and his team will accomplish this with the help of four or five
actors, and several 160lb projectors. The light show was created specially for
the specifications of City Hall, but no measuring was required. “We do it by
taking hundreds of photographs of the building,” Mr Bergeron explained. Those
photographs are then fed into a computer to create a 3D map of the building.
“3D mapping is the merging of real and virtual worlds,” he said. “We
project images in the real world, onto landscapes, rocks, mountains, even
people. These images are lined up with the features of the building. It is not
just generic images we project. They are images that I have produced
specifically and only for that specific building. It becomes a very powerful
sensorial experience, because you are able to create 3D effects.” Mr
Bergeron’s customers include the likes of Pepsi, Gucci and Rodeo Drive.
Earlier this month, Mr Bergeron turned the San Diego Zoo into an Arctic
wonderland and the Park MGM in Las Vegas into a record breaker. “In October
2018, we installed the world’s largest 3D mapping currently on display,” Mr
Bergeron said. “It ran for a week in Las Vegas, to promote Britney Spears’s
residency at the Park MGM.” The projection was 550ft wide, by 26-stories high
with more than 3.2 acres of light. In the 1980s, Mr Bergeron, originally from
Quebec, gained notoriety as a CGI animator. “In 1985, I co-created the first
CGI human with emotion,” he said. “The character was called Tony de
Peltrie.” Later, he moved to the United States and worked as an actor. His
chief claim to fame is a role on The Sopranos . “I had a whole
scene,” he said. “I was supposed be the Tony Soprano of Quebec. Twelve years
after the series ended, if I am at a party and say I guest starred on the Sopranos
everyone stops talking and wants to hear everything.” He said PaintScaping
helped to bring his passion for animation and acting together. It started ten
years ago when he was trying to project an image over a backyard pond using a
really cheap projector. “The image was not lined up with the pond,” he said.
“It was just projecting. Then I touched my mouse by mistake and painted a rock
with light. “That changed my life. I knew at that moment, instantaneously, I
would be spending the rest of my life doing 3D mapping.” What he loved was the
sense that he was Photoshopping the world. “At that time, I didn’t know what
I was doing was called 3D mapping,” he laughed. “I thought I’d invented
something new.” In fact, 3D mapping was popular in Europe at that time, but
not so much in the United States. “The following day we were painting the
landscape with light and PaintScaping was born,” he said. Mr Bergeron said his
company doesn’t do lasers, or fog; they just do 3D projection mapping, but
they do what they do “extremely well. A lot of people do mapping just
for the ‘wow!’ factor. But we do mapping to touch people and to create
emotion in people.” He thought PaintScaping was one of the top three companies
of its kind in the world. “I’d like to say we’re number one, but that
sounds too cocky,” he said. He does about 25 projects a year that range from
$30,000 in price to $300,000 depending on the duration and complexity of the
project. Given that the City Hall projection is just for an hour or two, the
price tag is on the lower end of the spectrum. “There are many challenges
doing something like this,” he said. “For a start, just getting the
projectors to Bermuda was quite an ordeal. The projectors are huge. We are
talking about 100 to 160lbs per projector. You obviously can’t rent those
projectors in Bermuda. We have a one shot.” They’ve even brought a back-up
in case the ones they have fail. He remembers in one project involving a large,
well-known Las Vegas Hotel, the projectors were placed near a lake. The hotel
owner, without warning them first, created a mist effect across the lake, and
shut down the projectors. “We have back-ups always,” he said. “So we used
the back-up and slightly changed the configuration. We always find solutions. We
have incredible teams all over the place who are problem-solvers. We spent a
couple of days on that and then the third day we did power point to the team
including to the Mayor of Hamilton. They were blown away. They said we have to
have this and we will tell our story. That is how it all started.” Looking at
PaintScaping, he was most proud of his team’s commitment to give high-end
shows. “I’m proud of the quality of our work,” he said. “All the
animators we use come from Hollywood studios. Their work ethic is phenomenal,
but also their talent is unbelievable. These guys and gals are extremely
talented.” Event MC’s Qian Dickinson and Ed Christopher will open the
festivities at 8pm with the first of five screenings of the projection show
taking place shortly thereafter. The remaining screenings will take place every
hour on the hour with a special extended show for the 2020 countdown.
Entertainment throughout the night includes dance troupes, Cirqle Circus and
their fire performance, DJ Chubb, stilt walkers, LED glow bots and bubble
performers and music sets with DIA. A jumbo screen will check in on other New
Year’s Eve celebrations from around the world and a Twitter resolution feed
will encourage the audience to post their promises for the new decade. A food
court will feature Herbie Bascome’s legendary fish chowder, along with Johnny
Bread, complimentary for the night. Ashley’s Lemonade will have their famous
lemonade for purchase and will also provide free hot chocolate and the Bermuda
Cup Cake Factory will be there with glow in the dark cotton candy. There will
also be a free s’mores station as well as a cash bar for champagne, mulled
wine and craft beers provided by Take Five Catering. A Decade of Dance video
will inspire the crowd to get its groove on and special prizes will be awarded
to some of those caught on the Dance Cam.
Bermuda
is set to ring in the new year with a series of celebrations around the island
tonight. A Midnight at the Crossroads candlelight vigil will be held
in Hamilton as part of an effort to promote peace and unity. A spokeswoman for
the event said the vigil will be held after midnight at the junction of Court
Street and Dundonald Street. She added: “The candlelight vigil will be a time
for quiet relaxation, reflection and reconnection among all participants.
Everyone is also invited to bring their chosen token of peace for the
commencement of the new year.” She added that the event was inspired by Bishop
Wes Spiewak, the spiritual leader of the island’s Catholics, and Emir Saleem
Talbot, Imam of the Bermuda Islamic Cultural Centre at Harrington Sound, who
signed a pledge earlier this month designed to promote peace between the two
religions. The vigil was backed by RoseAnn Edwards, a Hamilton city councillor,
and Court Street-based TV producer Elmore Warren of Fresh Creations. The
spokeswoman said people who attended the Hamilton City Hall festivities should
bring a candle and join the vigil after the Corporation of Hamilton event ended
at midnight. The Corporation of St George will hold its traditional new year
party in Kings Square with musical performances and the dropping of the onion on
the stroke of midnight. Candy-Lee Foggo, the town manager for the corporation,
said: “Typically, we get thousands of people that attend our event each year.
It’s a pretty safe environment, so it’s somewhere that families can come to
and enjoy good entertainment and the safety of Kings Square. We’ve been
recognised internationally as one of the top ten destinations for New Year’s
Eve.” Ms Foggo explained that the celebration will be a fitting end to the
holiday season that started with the corporation’s annual community
Thanksgiving meal in November. “From a staff point of view, it has been
quite busy and we’re not winding down. But we’re looking forward to doing
what we do annually.” The New Year’s Eve celebration will feature
performances by the Wall Street Band and DJ Regis of Black Lion Sound. Comedian
Nadanja Bailey will MC the event. Restaurants will be open and street food
vendors will provide snacks and drinks. A “Kiddie Land” will also be set up
for children with a fun castle, games and a photo booth. A spectacular fire
dancing show will be held at 8.30pm. Ms Foggo said: “People who come in will
be welcomed by festive lights on the street and Ordnance Island decorated in
colourful lights. This is an opportunity for the community to come out, to be
together in a safe environment and just show camaraderie and fellowship.” The
festivities will run from 8pm to 12.30am. Hamilton will end the year with a
light show, the first of its kind in Bermuda, in front of City Hall. The show,
created by PaintScaping, a California-based 3D projection mapping company, will
feature Bermuda-inspired graphics and “eye-popping” illuminations. The light
show will run every hour from 8pm until midnight, with an extended version for
the final screening.
A
Bermuda rum has been named Rum of the Year at the 2019 Rum Awards in Miami.
Gosling’s Papa Seal eclipsed rums from across the Caribbean to claim the top
prize at awards organised by Rum Journal, part of Caribbean Journal, a
website that covers the region with a focus on travel and tourism. A story on
the Rum Journal portion of the website said: “Every year, it gets more
difficult to choose our favourite molasses-based rum of the year. But this year,
we came full circle, returning to the brand that first took home the crown in
the inaugural Rum Awards back in 2012: Bermuda’s Goslings. “The company’s
newest ultra-premium expression is exquisite, a luxurious, hand-bottled
expression that is the best rum Gosling’s has ever made. A mix of pot and
column-still rums brought to the Atlantic region and aged in Bermuda for more
than 15 years in ex-bourbon barrels, it’s simply a world-class rum, and a new
triumph for one of the hemisphere’s most venerable rum brands.” In second
through fifth places, were Ron Barcelo Imperial 30 Aniversario, Dominican
Republic; Zafra 30-Year Rum, Panama; Samaroli Caribbean Rum; and Chairman’s
Reserve 1931, Saint Lucia. Papa Seal rum was launched by Gosling’s late last
year in a limited release of just 12 barrels, with just one barrel reserved for
Bermuda customers. The company described the rum as: “Startlingly mellow with
an elegant finish carrying notes of spice, leather, banana, caramel and
molasses. So refined is this rum that Goslings urges owners to savor it neat or
over a single cube of ice.” Malcolm Gosling, president and chief executive
officer of Gosling’s International Limited, said at launch: “Our obsession
has always been on crafting the finest rums possible, not the most rums. With
that mantra in mind, we proudly created Papa Seal, ‘the father of all rums’.
My only regret is that we are forced to limit the number of people who can
experience it.”
The
high cost of food has overtaken electricity bills as the biggest expense for the
island’s vulnerable, charities said yesterday. Age Concern said power firm
Belco’s slight cut in its rates for next year would help the disadvantaged.
Claudette Fleming, the executive director of the charity, said “any type of
savings anywhere in this climate is welcome”. But she added: “I am sure
people would like to see similar savings when it comes to food — food is
overtaking electricity.” She was backed by Sandy De Silva, the director of
services at Family Centre. Both charities praised the drop in electricity
prices, announced earlier this month, which will come into effect tomorrow. The
average consumer will pay 2.31 per cent less on monthly electricity bills, where
power consumption stands at 600 kWh — a cut of just over $5 a month. But Dr
Fleming said: “We’ve found food increasing more and more as an expense.
Generally speaking, seniors are maintaining modest electricity bills. Where they
tend to run into trouble is when they face a crisis situation, such as medical
costs, where they may also be in difficulty maintaining their rent, and their
electricity goes into arrears.” She said that Age Concern used a social worker
to assess seniors in hardship situations — particularly where electricity is
necessary for medical reasons. Dr Fleming added: “For the most part, people
are able to pay their electricity bills. It’s only when they end up in a major
financial hardship situation that they fall off on their payments.” Dr De
Silva said Family Centre had “100 per cent” seen food costs overtake
electric bills. She added: “The three main bills are rent, Belco and food. But
rent and food are the top two. When families come in to Family Centre for help,
the first thing they ask for is food.” Food is a more variable cost. It’s
not going to be the exact amount each week, whereas rent is fixed.” Dr De
Silva said: “If you use the same amount of electricity each month, people can
have pretty predictable costs. Food bills are more challenging. It could be $200
one week and $250 another.
Bermuda
will be represented in the United Soccer League for the first time in nearly a
decade during the upcoming season. Sources have confirmed that Bascome FC
have joined the USL League Two and will compete in the Mid-Atlantic Division,
which includes seven teams. The local franchise is headed up by Andrew Bascome,
the former Bermuda coach, who was unavailable for comment yesterday. Bascome FC
are among a group of league expansion teams listed that also includes AFC Ann
Arbor, Asheville City SC, Philadelphia Lone Star FC and Southern Soccer Academy.
Evergreen FC, Lehigh Valley United, Ocean City Nor’easters, Philadelphia Lone
Stars FC, Reading United AC and West Chester United SC are the remaining teams
in the USL League Two Mid-Atlantic Division. The USL League Two, formerly the
Premier Development League, provides a pathway for players to progress to the
professional ranks and boasts member clubs that are owned and operated by a
professional club or in partnership with a professional club. The league has
proven to be a vital stepping stone for top professionals now playing throughout
the world, with more than 70 per cent of all selections in the MLS SuperDraft
since 2010 having PDL experience, including 66 selections in the 2018 MLS
SuperDraft. The league enables elite collegiate players with the opportunity to
compete at a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility.
The regular season takes place during the summer from early May to mid-July with
each team playing a 14-match schedule against their respective divisional
opponents on a home and away basis. In conferences with three divisions, each
division winner, plus the highest-finishing second-place team in the conference,
advances to the play-offs in the conference semi-finals. In conferences with two
divisions, the top two teams from each division advance to the conference
semi-finals. The play-offs are held in late July, with each conference champion
advancing to the national semi-finals and the winners of those matches advancing
to the USL League Two Championship in early August. In addition to league play,
League Two teams compete in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup as well as various
exhibitions. This year, 72 teams divided into 11 regional divisions, within four
conferences competed in the league, which is regarded as the fourth tier of the
United States football pyramid behind Major League Soccer, USL Championship and
USL League One. Flint City Bucks are the reigning champions. The Bermuda Hogges
were the last local team to compete in the USL. The Hogges pulled out of the PDL
a week before the start of the 2013 season due to financial difficulties,
bringing the shutters down on their six years as a USL franchise. The Hogges
were owned by local businessman Paul Scope who formed the franchise with the
help of former professional players Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne in 2006.
A
dietitian who helped found a charity dedicated to helping others comes to terms
with their own mortality has died after a long battle with cancer. Jasen
Moniz was 65. Ms Moniz, a former government nutritionist, was the driving force
behind the charity Final Steps, set up to assist people to make sensible
end-of-life preparations and reduce stress on their families. Jeanie Flath, who
succeeded Ms Moniz as chairwoman of the group, said it had evolved in 2016 after
their book club read Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, which focused on hospice care
and the personal stories of people dealing with ageing, illness and death. Ms
Flath said Ms Moniz was “already steps ahead of the rest of us”. She added:
“I think her first encounter with cancer nine-and-a-half years ago made her
much more aware of our primary mission to encourage people to make meaningful
choices now for the end of life by educating the community to choose,
communicate, and document what they want. The dedication and focus that she gave
to this project became a driving force that made her and all of us truly step
outside our individual comfort zones and grow.” Ms Flath said Ms Moniz was a
“natural leader who literally walked the talk. Little did we know at the
beginning that we were joining the first wave of change that brings death and
end-of-life issues out of the medical world and back to being part of the human
experience. Jasen had great respect for medical technology, but it was always
balanced with the reality that we all have a departure time. Her work on the
Final Steps initiative in Bermuda over the last four years was extensive and has
been key in helping our community begin the process of having difficult
conversations on death and end-of-life issues before we are in crisis. Jasen
died shortly before Christmas. She prepared us well, but still our committee has
lost an amazing life coach and friend. She has left a lasting legacy and we are
committed to making sure these important discussions continue.” Tyler Moniz,
Ms Moniz’s husband and a former assistant financial secretary for the
Government, said the couple met in her native Toronto. He said: “I was
studying for a Master of Business Administration at the University of Toronto
and Jasen had come to Toronto looking for a job. We dated for six years. We
didn’t rush in. We were married in 1982.” Ms Moniz, while still a teenager,
was one of only a few women to qualify as a softball umpire and taught cooking
to supplement her income while at Kansas State and Iowa State universities. She
qualified as a registered dietitian in 1976, and also studied hotel and
restaurant management. Ms Moniz’s first job when she came to Bermuda, Creative
Cuisines, focused on helping businesses to redo their menus. She worked as a
government nutritionist from 1987 to 1991 and lectured at Bermuda College on the
subject. Her government role included oversight of all food service in
government-funded residential homes and non-government services such as Meals on
Wheels. She helped redesign the kitchens at the former Casemates prison in 1988.
Ms Moniz was a member of the Bermuda Diabetes Association, worked in private
practice as a diet counsellor, and was a clinical dietitian for the Bermuda
Hospitals Board, including a stint running the hospital’s kitchen, from 1994
to 2006. Mr Moniz said his wife was a talented electrician, painter and handyman
who designed the kitchen of their Smith’s home when it was built in 1993.
Beginning
in January 2020, 95% of Bermudian families will see a reduction in their energy
bills. This has been welcomed by the Progressive Labour Party.
“This holiday season, we are committed to focusing on the sure and steady
progress we’re making for Bermudian policies,” said Acting Leader Walter
Roban. “Over the last few years, we’ve been working to bring down
electricity prices and I’m happy that as of January 2020, those reductions
will be realized. We expect reductions of at least 5% on energy over 2020 and we
expect the vast majority of Bermudians to receive reductions. Across the region,
electricity rates are going up, but, we are fortunate to be able to see them
come down here in Bermuda. Bermudian families will see decreases in their bills.
The reduction will reflect on your January 2020 BELCO bill. In the new year, we
will continue to focus on reducing the cost of living for Bermudians,” Roban
concluded.
Bermuda
is too small to accommodate businesses like Airbnb because of the impact they
have on the property rental market for residents, according to an expert who
works in the real estate business. Ambika Scott, chief executive
officer/broker of Moongate Realty, said: “I believe that Airbnb and other
companies offering vacation rental services have had a significant negative
impact on the current residential rental property market. In my professional
opinion, Bermuda is not large enough to offer these services due to the
available amount of rental inventory. Bermuda has to be mindful of the business
models they adopt/mimic from other countries as some of them are not designed as
a one-size-fits-all plan.” Ms Scott’s reservations are similar to concerns
about the number of properties available for short-term tourist rentals, and the
impact that has had on full-time residents of a locale, that have been expressed
in numerous other places, including Barcelona, Toronto, and Reykjavik. Ms Scott
was among four agents who were asked what impact, if any, short duration
residential rental property operations such as Airbnb and other similar
companies have had on the residential rental property market in Bermuda. Susan
Thompson, agency manager for Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty; agent Jasmine Smith
of realtors Kitson & Company; and Allison Settle, assistant rental manager
at Rego Sotheby’s International Realty, also addressed the issue. There was
general agreement that there are fewer properties on the market for rent by
long-term residents, while two experts said that some landlords are tiring of
the considerable workload involved in managing short-term tourist rentals. Ms
Thompson said discussions with the company’s rental agents indicate there has
been a shortage of studio and one bedroom apartments since Airbnb, and similar
operations, were introduced on-island. “I’ve heard that 150-plus one beds
are off the market because of this,” she said, adding that she has no hard
data to support that observation. Ms Thompson’s statistical research shows
that prices for long-term one-bedroom units have increased slightly on average,
while the days they stay on the market have decreased. She said: “When we do
get one bedroom properties in central locations, they do go very quickly. We
have a lot of people looking.” Ms Thompson said landlords are turning garages
and houses into Airbnb rentals, or specifically designing their homes for that
purpose, and are “making twice as much” as they would with long-term
rentals. However, she said that running an Airbnb operation is labour intensive,
and some properties are being returned to the long-term market. Ms Thompson
said: “People are making good money, but it’s a huge amount of work and some
people are saying ‘I don’t want to do it any more’.” Ms Smith said there
was a “swift uptick” in short-term rentals during the 2017 America’s Cup,
including properties managed by agents as well as those offered on sites such as
Airbnb or Homeaway. During this time, most locals found their rental units were
fully booked, making twice as much as they would make for a long-term rental.”
While some long-term properties have been taken off the market to be rented for
shorter periods, Ms Smith said some properties were never earmarked for the
long-term rental pool. She said: “Many properties, if not more than 50 per
cent, were created for short-term rentals. Property owners who had units on
their property that may have been sitting empty — used for overseas guests,
their children back from university, etc — took advantage of the high demand
for short-term rentals. There were also many units started by owners converting
areas of their house into short-term rentals. Some of these units could not be
rented long-term because they don’t have kitchens beyond a mini-fridge and a
coffee pot.” Ms Smith echoed Ms Thompson’s observation regarding the demands
placed upon landlords by short-term rentals. “Many property owners found that,
while it appeared like easy money, running a short-term rental requires a lot of
work. Most owners cannot take the time to clean, check-in, review, etc,
especially with high turnover. The only real solution to this problem is to pay
15 per cent to a property manager, which some owners cannot justify.” She said
a sharp downturn in bookings in the fall will result in more properties being
transitioned back into the long-term market. “While this hopefully results in
more properties, and importantly more affordable properties, we still have to
consider the many properties that continue to sit empty affect the market, and
we cannot expect landlords to turn away potentially higher profits.” Ms Settle
said “there is no doubt that the increase of vacation rental businesses in
residential properties has affected the supply/demand economics of the long term
residential market. The most notable impact is the decreased supply in one
bedroom long-term rentals. As the supply has decreased, the market price of a
one-bedroom apartment has stayed stable, or increased. The condominium market
has not been impacted to the same extent as the one bedroom residential market,
partly because most condo board rules and regulations do not permit owners to
sublet on a short-term basis.” Ms Scott said restrictions should have been
placed on the number of properties available in the short-term tourist rental
pool. She said: “Prior to the decision being made to allow these services to
be offered by homeowners/companies outside of the hotels/guesthouses, Government
should have stepped in to determine how much of the available inventory can be
used for this purpose, eg, if there are a certain number of rental units
available island-wide a set amount should be allocated to these operations with
the remaining units left for permanent residents. Although said operations may
be profitable for many at this point in time, I believe it to be another
short-term/band-aid approach that will fizzle out due to it not being
sustainable from a long-term standpoint. I’ve also given much thought to the
hoteliers and guesthouses that have been working hard and weathering the storms
of this industry during the off-seasons for years and have day-to-day high
operating expenses only to be impacted by this new platform with no restrictions
on the number of homes that can offer this service. It reminds me of the taxi
industry whereby locals/guest workers complain during the summer months about
being unable to get a taxi and when the off-season arrives, the taxi drivers are
able and willing. You have to ensure that your own are covered first and then
make room for other possibilities as housing has been a crisis in Bermuda for a
number of decades. As there are no present plans in effect for additional, and
affordable, rental housing to be built for the island’s residents, there must
be measures in place to ensure that housing is available primarily to those
living in Bermuda on a permanent basis.” Year-end figures for 2018 showed that
23,700 people booked vacation rentals in Bermuda through Airbnb, staying
on-island for an average of 4.7 days. Airbnb said more than 400 registered hosts
listed more than 600 properties on the site. Hosts made an average of $18,800
annually, the organisation said.
Opinion. By Stephen Corbishley,
Commissioner of Police. "As the year closes, I reflect on 12 months of hard work and
success achieved by the officers and staff of the Bermuda Police Service. I am
also pleased that there are fewer times I am referred to as the “new
commissioner”, not least as I have made Bermuda my home as much as my
workplace. I am so proud of what the BPS have delivered, not least as much is unknown to
the public. Indeed that should be the case, as I am a believer in preventing
crime rather than sorting things when they have gone wrong. Prevention means fewer victims, greater public safety, as well as increased
community confidence — and that is our primary business. Top of that list is protecting life, and this year has seen the absence of
homicide, particularly involving firearms and a continuing fall in road-related
deaths, while the thoughts and prayers of the BPS remain with those families who
have lost loved ones. To achieve the above we work in partnership, with Government, local agencies
and, above all, the public. The founder of the first police service, Robert Peel, remarked that the
public are the police and the police are the public. That statement remains true
— without public engagement and support, our job cannot be done. This year we have seen the expansion of our community policing model, with
the allocation of parish constables across the island and two new community
constables, soon to be added to look after our marine community. We have invested in our Vulnerable Persons Unit, to be better placed to find
and address what is often referred to as hidden harm, such as domestic abuse and
exploitation, particularly those that target children and including on the
internet. We have maintained our financial investigation capabilities to support our
national mandate of investigating money laundering and other financial crime,
not least in partnership with other government services and the financial
sector. We have also changed our shift patterns, which means greater uniform
visibility on our streets and a focus on being in the right place at the right
time. We have also seized firearms and drugs before they could get into the hands
of those who would cause damage to others, thereby protecting the safety and
health of many. Finally, we have invested in our ability to ensure professional standards and
integrity across the BPS so the community has confidence in us, and that we also
have the ability to investigate aspects of corruption elsewhere. What gives me great pleasure is the feedback I get from the public about our
work. Yes, there are times we get it wrong, and we will accept that, make amends
and learn from it. However, I receive on a daily basis letters and e-mails from
the public, thanking officers and staff for not just the work they do, but the
extra miles they have taken in looking after victims and members of the public. As commissioner, I am proud but not complacent, as we have much work to do in
2020 to ensure everyone continues to be safe and we build even more community
relationships. But my favourite moment of this year remains from a couple of months ago when
I was coming to work and a guy shouted across the road to me in full-on
Bermudian: “Hey, Commish, you guys are doing a good job.” That is what we continually want to achieve for everyone.
From everyone in the BPS, we wish all our communities peace, safety,
happiness and to know our services are never more than a phone call away."
A
former ice cream factory could get a new lease of life as a brewery. Ace
Brewing Company has applied to change part of the Bermuda Creamery site in
Devonshire from a warehouse to a brew house. The applicants said their plans
included cold storage, a brewery, a small bar and a retail section. The Bermuda
Creamery, a part of the Gibbons Group, produced Freeza Fresh and Bermuda
Creamery ice creams, as well as Simmons sherbets, for more than 20 years before
it closed its doors in 2008. The site, near the junction of Hermitage Road and
Middle Road, was later used as a warehouse for frozen goods.
A
move to create more spaces for disabled drivers in Hamilton will worsen existing
parking problems, retailers have warned. Many shop owners and managers
around the city added that the Corporation of Hamilton plan to create more
disabled parking spaces would be useless if drivers who abused the spaces were
not penalised. Todd Martin, the general manager at electronics store P-Tech on
Reid Street, said that the seating area installed near the store had eaten up
space once used for parking. He added: “Now they’ve got a temporary handicap
parking spot so that’s another parking spot that’s gone. It’s frustrating
not only for customers but also for deliveries — it’s very hard to get
delivery trucks down here.” So it’s very inconvenient and I just feel that
the corporation is not considerate when it comes to that type of thing.” Mr
Martin was speaking after the Corporation of Hamilton announced a plan to
increase the number of disabled parking bays in Hamilton from 45 to 73. The move
came after more than 1,000 people applied for disabled parking permits. Dwayne
Caines, the chief operating officer for the city, said: “There has been some
pushback from retailers and, while we don’t take this lightly, it is important
to understand that the disabled shopper can contribute greatly to the retail
bottom line if they have access to parking. It’s no secret that the disabled
bays are already grossly abused by able-bodied motorists due to a lack of
compassion, enforcement and any penalty. We’re hoping to rectify that in the
new year.” But Mr Martin said that, while disabled parking was needed, a lack
of parking spaces could make able-bodied motorists more likely to abuse disabled
parking bays. He explained: “I do believe that we need disabled parking bays,
but they get abused and there’s no penalty for that. I see the police would
put a ticket on a car that’s parked outside the library, but not a car
that’s parked in a handicapped space. They’d just drive right by it.” Mr
Martin added that fewer spaces could also lead to other traffic offences such as
double parking. He said: “They say that there’s Bull’s Head, but on a busy
day like today, nobody’s going to want to come into town to park at Bull’s
Head to get a Bluetooth speaker.”
A
schoolboy brought festive cheer to long-term hospital patients with home-made
cards on Christmas Day. Mason DiVuolo, 7, went to visit seniors in the
Cooper Ward at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital before he opened his
presents. Mason, from Paget, said: “Some people don’t get Christmas because
they have to stay in the hospital. They don’t always get presents or people
who visit them, so we do it so that we could make their Christmas special.”
Mason’s mother, Kelly, explained that the family had delivered Christmas cards
to hospital patients every year since Mason was about 2. She added that Mason,
as he got older, took control of the tradition and she had helped him ever
since. Ms DiVuolo said: “We wandered around the new hospital until we got to
the fourth floor. Normally they let us just drop them off at reception, but this
year they let us actually go into one of the wards and meet all of the
patients.” Mason said that he made about 20 Christmas cards with his
mother’s help and decorated them with pictures of reindeer and Christmas
trees. He added that each card wished the reader a merry Christmas and a quick
recovery. Mason said that the patients told him they were grateful to see him
and that he had made their day. He added: “It felt nice to be there and give
people cards, talk to them for a few minutes and wish them to get better soon.
When I’m sick, my mom takes care of me, so we have to do the same for people
at the hospital.” His mother said: “It actually brought me to tears to see a
few people that were very emotional when Mason handed them the card. It just
makes my heart really warm.” The youngster said that next year he planned to
make up 100 Christmas cards and get football team-mates from North Village
Community Club to join in. He also hopes to bring his little sister along, even
though she was “still in my mom’s tummy”. Ms DiVuolo said: “The baby
girl is due on January 17. She won’t be quite a year old yet in Christmas, but
he still wants to bring her, so we’ll see.”
An island environmental
charity will mark its golden anniversary with a New Year’s Day tree planting.
The Bermuda National Trust will plant 50 trees on Wednesday to mark 50 years.
The event was backed by the newly formed Bermuda Climate Action Network. A
spokesman for Bermuda CAN said that the group’s Vision 2020 campaign aimed to
plant 2,020 trees across the island by the end of next year. He said that the
campaign was a way for Bermudians to help tackle the effects of global warming.
The spokesman added: “This family-friendly initiative is geared to expand
awareness of the crisis and offer a practical means for participating in
solutions.” He said that a calendar of monthly tree plantings would be
unveiled by the group soon. The CAN spokesman said that climate change was the
biggest problem to be dealt with over the next decade. He added: “It is
crucial that we gain an understanding and awareness about Bermuda’s risks,
mitigation and adaptation to the changing climate and that urgent and mindful
action is needed by all. While some may argue that Bermuda’s contribution to
climate change is a mere drop in the bucket, we should be doing everything we
can at home before looking to others to save the planet. That is why a diverse
group of community representatives have recently formed a new emerging network
of activists and those who are already engaged in environmental conservation —
Bermuda CAN.” He said that group members included people from the Bermuda
National Trust, Keep Bermuda Beautiful and environmental charity Greenrock. The
spokesman said the group’s aim was “to facilitate the coming together of our
island community to identify and mitigate climate risks specific to Bermuda, and
advance a deeper appreciation of our responsibility as global citizens in
keeping average temperature rises below 1.5C”. The New Year’s Day tree
planting events will start at St George’s Military Cemetery on Grenadier Lane
at 9am. The event will move to the Paget Marsh Nature Reserve from 11.30am to
1.30pm. It will be at the Rebecca Middleton Nature Reserve, on the Railway Trail
in Paget, from 1.50pm to 3.15pm. The final stop will be at Scaur Lodge, on Scaur
Lane, Sandys, from 4pm to 5.30pm.
Five Bermudians were given
awards in the Queen’s 2020 New Year’s Honours List. Dennis Tucker, a
career hotelier, was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the
British Empire for services to the community. The Queen’s Certificate and
Badge of Honour was awarded to Edward Ball, Shawn Caisey, Gladstone Thompson and
Christine “Chrissy” Wetherhill. Mr Tucker was employed by Bercot Company Ltd
between 1964 and 1976 and rose to comptroller. From 1976, Mr Tucker worked for
27 years at the former Sonesta Beach Resort, where he became vice-president and
managing director. He has been chief executive of the Hotel Pension Trust Fund
since 2005. Mr Tucker was appointed to the Senate in 1985 and has served on
several professional and government boards. He was a member of the Bermuda
Employers Council from 1990 to 2003, the Bermuda Hotel Association from 1996 to
2003, Sandys Rotary Club from 1982 to the present, and a member of the tourism
body, the Skal Club of Bermuda, from 1988 to 2003. He has also served on the
Labour Advisory Committee’s apprenticeship and training council, the Price
Commission and is at present on the Bermuda Gaming Commission. Mr Tucker was a
Corporation of Hamilton councillor and alderman from 2009 to 2012 and regained
his seat in 2015. He has served since 1995 as the chairman of the Bank of
Bermuda Foundation scholarship committee, which awarded scholarships to hundreds
of Bermudians during his tenure. Mr Tucker was also a director of the Bank of
Bermuda from 1995 to 2012.
Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour awardees were:
Firefighters
are to be kitted out with new breathing sets. The Government asked companies to
submit bids for the devices and associated parts in a request for proposal.
An RFP published online said: “The Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service invites
interested and qualified parties to submit a request for proposal for 76 open
circuit, self-contained breathing apparatus and related components. The new SCBA
system will replace the fire and rescue service’s existing Avon SCBA’s and
encompass a turnkey solution by providing the BFRS with a new SCBA system that
meets current and future equipment needs, both reliably and functionally.
Turnkey is defined as a system that can be easily implemented into our current
processes while meeting all the necessary BFRS requirements and performance
standards for one price.” It added that a specific brand was not required, but
that a list of minimum requirements should be met. The appliances were expected
to include indicators that showed when they neared the end of their service time
as well as a system that allowed firefighters to communicate with each other
while wearing the sets. They should also offer “harness and back-frame
assembly for supporting the equipment on the body of the wearer” and
incorporate a “remote gauge indicating cylinder pressure” mounted on the
shoulder strap. The RFP said that the BFRS needed 70 air cylinders that lasted
for 45 minutes, and six that would last for an hour. It added that “each
cylinder shall be of a lightweight, composite type consisting of an aluminum
alloy inner shell”, as well as other specifications. The tender document said
that an instructor should also be provided to show firefighters how to operate
the new kit. It explained: “This programme shall be a minimum of eight hours
of hands-on training delivered by a factory-trained instructor, followed by a
competency exam and each user to be issued with a certificate of competency.”
Further instruction was expected to be provided to trainers and service
technicians on the island. The RFP was issued earlier this month. The original
submission deadline was extended by two weeks to January 24. The 2019-20 Budget
book showed that an estimated $669,000 was earmarked for new breathing sets.
Allan Wilkinson, the Fire Service Association president, explained last summer
that the kit had a “life expectancy and after that the recommendation is to
have them replaced”. He said equipment used by Bermuda’s firefighters would
start to expire next year.
A
renowned environmentalist has called for a proposed quarry in a protected area
to be scrapped. David Wingate said the quarry, which would be sited on a
woodland-zoned area on Judkin Lane, Hamilton Parish, was against planning
policy. He said: “We can’t afford to simply compromise away until Bermuda is
completely urban. This is why we have planning. This is why we try to plan out
how to use the land most efficiently. Planning has just broken all the rules by
ignoring all that went into this zoning.” Dr Wingate said the project could
also create a safety risk for residents as the only access to the area was along
a narrow, winding road. He added: “You are going to have heavy industrial
trucks, which are a real hazard on a narrow lane where people might be walking,
and the noise and dust pollution from the quarry; all degrading this large plot
of open space because it’s smack in the middle. The access road is one of the
really critical issues that the planning department can’t have thought about.
You can’t use something as long and narrow as Judkin Lane as access to a
quarry site.” Dr Wingate said quarrying was in principle allowed on areas
zoned as woodland zones because of some planning exceptions. He explained that
when the conservation zones were established to protect woodlands and other
important environmental resources, some people found all of their property was
protected, which meant they were unable to build. He said: “This was grossly
unfair, so there had to be something done and in subsequent plans they allowed
for some development in places where a person’s private property was totally
zoned for woodlands or nature reserve. That is the reason this particular
development was allowed — because it was a case of a person having all their
land zoned arable or woodland.” Dr Wingate said a section of the hillside at
the proposed quarry had once been developed and ruins were still visible. He
said: “Had he applied for a house of 2,000 square feet, probably nobody would
have objected. If he hadn’t stripped the entire property of its woodland and
only cleared the area for the house, probably no one would have objected and it
would be legal. What makes this so ridiculously illegal and outrageous is after
Hurricane Humberto and there was a shortage of slate, this was used as an excuse
to launch a quarry in this area. They proposed to quarry the entire piece of
land. There would be a stepped face cliff all the way around and in the corner
there would be a 90ft cliff face. This essentially will become a 100 per cent
quarry operation with no respect for the original zoning of woodland reserve at
all. It breaks all the planning laws.” Dr Wingate added that larger blocks of
open space were better than small ones, even if they amounted to the same area
when combined. He said that the Bermuda National Trust and Bermuda Audubon
Society had made efforts to buy up as much undeveloped land as possible, with
the help of donors. Dr Wingate added: “When this property initially came up
for sale, the National Trust put in a bid for it, but the price was too high and
they couldn’t manage the offering price at the time. In the end, we understand
the new buyer got it for less than what it was offered to the trust for. It’s
a pity they didn’t ask for a first option.” Dr Wingate said the area where
quarrying would take place, now home to dozens of pawpaw trees, had been an
allspice forest before it was cleared. He added that allspice trees were
invasive, but good “holding” trees for people who wanted to restore woodland
to its natural state. The quarry application for the land, owned by Nelson
Cordeiro, was made by quarry operator Shawn Perott. The quarry work would be
followed by the construction of a house and apartment on the site. Mr Cordeiro
explained that the house construction would need a section of the hillside
removed and, rather than wasting stone from the site, it could be used to tackle
a shortage of roof slate. The proposal was approved by the Development
Applications Board in October but the BNT — which owns property on either side
of the land, launched an objection. The Bermuda Audubon Society claimed the DAB
approval was an “abuse of fair process” and had left area residents unable
to lodge protests against the proposal.
A
man charged with a stabbing outside a bar on Christmas Eve appeared in
Magistrates’ Court yesterday. It is alleged Jaha Mallory, 35, knifed Tio
Smith with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was also charged with
carrying a knife in a public place. The incident is alleged to have happened
outside Place’s Place on Dundonald Street in Hamilton. Mr Mallory did not
enter a plea because the case must be heard in the Supreme Court. Magistrate
Craig Attridge released Mr Mallory on $10,000 bail and adjourned the case until
the Supreme Court’s February arraignments session. He ordered Mr Mallory to
wear an electronic tag and report to Hamilton Police Station three times a week.
Mr Attridge also ordered him to stay away from the alleged victim and any
potential witnesses.
Hamilton
will ring in the new year with a spectacular light show — the first of its
kind in Bermuda. The New Year’s Festivities will feature a show by
Paintscaping Inc, a California-based 3D projection mapping company, which will
light the front of City Hall with Bermuda inspired graphics and
“eye-popping” illuminations. Jessica Astwood, the event production manager
for the corporation, said: “We really can’t wait to treat our community to
this special evening. The 3D show will mesmerize people, old and young alike.
“It’s never been done in Bermuda, so we’re thrilled to bring something so
innovative and spectacular to Hamilton. There’s going to be a lot of
illumination throughout the evening and we’re just really looking forward to
the crowd’s reaction. We’re encouraging people to bring their own chairs and
settle in for an evening of jaw-dropping fun and first-class entertainment.”
The show will run every hour from 8pm until midnight, with an extended version
for the final screening. The free event will also feature performances from
dance troupes, stilt walkers and music from band DIA. A food court will also be
set up with fish chowder by Herbie Bascome, Ashley’s Lemonade, the Bermuda Cup
Cake Factory and Take Five Catering will run a cash bar. Church Street will be
closed between Queen Street and Washington Street for the celebrations. Any
traffic from the west along Church Street will be diverted down Par-la-Ville
Road and there will be no access to Dismont Drive. The car park at City Hall
will also be closed, but Par-la-Ville Car Park will be open. The barriers at
Par-la-Ville will be raised from 8pm to allow motorists to leave without
payment.
Some
$27 million of new bond notes have been admitted to the Bermuda Stock Exchange.
The Seaside Re 2020-1 $7 million bond, and the Seaside Re 2020-2 $20 million
bond, will be due on January 15, 2021. The issuer is Kaith Re Ltd.
A
garden waste clean-up by the public works ministry and a charity saw a massive
173 per cent increase in drop-offs, it has been revealed. The horticultural
waste effort organised by the ministry and Keep Bermuda Beautiful saw the number
of truckloads collected jump from a Saturday average of 70 to 121. A ministry
spokesman said: “On December 14 there was an increase of 173 per cent, or 121
truckloads delivered, and a further 35 truckloads delivered the following
day.” The clean-up, held on December 14 and 15, was designed to help clear
horticultural waste around the island. Government waived dumping fees over the
two days and waived trucking permits on December 15. Zane DeSilva, the acting
public works minister, said: “In all accounts, this clean-up effort was a
resounding success, a win for the people of Bermuda and a final goodbye to the
remnants of Hurricane Humberto. “This was a community effort, and I thank all
those involved for working together to get Bermuda clean.” Mr DeSilva added:
“Our island is known for its cleanliness, and we can now look forward to the
start of 2020 with Bermuda looking its very best.” Another cleanup is
scheduled for January 11 and 12, with the focus on large household furniture and
major appliances. Dumping fees will again be waived over the two days and
trucking permits will be waived on January 12. Items must be delivered to the
Tynes Bay Incinerator between 7.30am and 4pm and to the airport dump between
7.30am and noon.
Problems
with a Hamilton fire engine and a string of emergencies within hours of each
other meant an out-of-town reserve tender was called to a blazing home in the
city, it has been revealed. Wayne Caines, the Minister of National Security,
explained that a back-up truck in Warwick was ordered to attend a blaze in
Pembroke — about a short drive away from the Fire Station on King Street. The
fire on Union Street on December 7 cost a family of seven, including well-known
para-sportsman Omar Hayward, their home and belongings. Businesses, support
agencies and members of the community have since rallied round to help. Mr
Caines said: “For a family to lose their home right before Christmas is most
disturbing. I am aware that when notification was received of this incident,
fire service personnel and equipment were already attending two previously
reported fire-related events. As such, the fire service was in the unusual
circumstances of having to manage three significant fire-related emergencies
over a relatively short eight-hour period. Furthermore, the Hamilton Fire
Station duty vehicle experienced mechanical problems which prevented its use.”
Mr Caines added: “In these circumstances, fire service personnel immediately
switch to the reserve vehicle, a process that involves transferring essential
pieces of equipment between vehicles and increases the time to respond. As a
result of this unfortunate combination of events, and in efforts to have
fire-suppression equipment attend this incident as soon as possible, the standby
fire service vehicle located in Warwick was ordered. It arrived at the scene 12
minutes after the initial call, followed shortly thereafter, by the Hamilton
fire service vehicle.” Mr Caines said: “Considering these facts, I have full
confidence that the men and women of the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service were
committed to attend the scene of this incident as swiftly and safely as
possible. An investigation into the cause of this fire is ongoing and further
details will be revealed.” A friend of the Hayward family said: “The fire,
of course, got bigger, got more out of control the longer they had to wait for
the fire trucks to come on site. It was just a bad equation all around.” Scott
Quinn, the Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service staff officer, said that a call
about the incident was received at 9.48am on December 7. He added that a fire at
the junction of Princess and Elliott streets was reported at 4.05am and five
fire engines and 12 firefighters attended the blaze, which was “quickly
extinguished”. Firefighters also responded to a boat fire at Chapel of Ease
Road in St David’s at about 11.10pm the night before. Mr Quinn said: “On
arrival Sergeant Kingsley Mundy reported a 32 to 36 foot vessel fully engulfed
in flames. He added: “Due to the boat moored approximately 40 feet off shore,
private boats were required to get the fire fighters close enough to the boat to
extinguish the fire.” Bridget Hayward, who lived at the Union Street home with
her three sons, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, told The Royal Gazette
last week that she had “lost everything”. No one was hurt in the fire and
the Bermuda Housing Corporation found temporary accommodation for the family.
The Green family, owners of the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club, donated
$10,000 to help the Hayward's after their plight was highlighted in The Royal
Gazette. A spokeswoman for the family said this week: “It is the season of
giving and the Green family is pleased to have been able to play a part in
helping a local family get back on their feet. They hope that others will be
inspired to help out or to support their community in other ways throughout the
holidays.” The MarketPlace gave the family a $250 grocery gift card as well as
a hamper filled with cookware, utensils, cutlery, plates, bed sheets and other
necessities. Seth Stutzman, the MarketPlace president, said: “This is the most
wonderful time of the year, a time for giving and helping the community that we
serve. When tragedy struck in the way that it did the Hayward's, The MarketPlace
family felt the urge to provide support to this family in great need.” Roxanne
Christopher, a past president of the Jamaican Association, said her organisation
planned to hold more fundraisers. She added: “It’s a lot of stuff that we
take for granted that they don’t have.”
An
anti-racism campaign group said more people recognised a need for racial justice
than five years ago. A spokeswoman for Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda
said that a summer survey found that 86 per cent agreed there was a need for
more work towards equality and social justice. The compared to a figure of 83
per cent in 2014 and 79 per cent in 2012. The charity said that there was a
“significant difference” in responses between white people and black people
in the latest survey. The spokeswoman added: “While both of the racial groups
felt there was a need to work towards racial justice, blacks were more likely to
feel that way than whites and others — 90 per cent compared to 79 per cent.
The sample — drawn from the voting population — were also asked if they
thought race relations had improved, remained unchanged or worsened over the
past two years. The spokeswoman said: “Here, there was little difference
between the two groups. Fourteen per cent of each racial group equally felt that
race relations had improved, while 51 per cent of blacks and 46 per cent of
whites and others felt that there had been no change in race relations.” But
the spokeswoman added that 33 per cent of black voters and 40 per cent of white
voters felt race relations had worsened. Government has launched an online forum
on race relations to find out the extent of problems and how they could be
tackled.
A
man wanted in connection with a Christmas Eve stabbing outside a bar has turned
himself in to police. The 35-year-old man was knifed in the chest near
Place’s Place on Hamilton’s Dundonald Street. The injured man was said on
Wednesday to be “stable” in intensive care at the King Edward VII Memorial
Hospital. The man was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery with
“life-threatening” wounds after the attack, which happened about 5.30pm
outside the bar on the junction of Dundonald Street and Court Street. Anyone
with information should contact Detective Inspector Kenten Trott on 717-2345 or
295-0011. People can also use the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on
800-8477
Four
tourism-related businesses have qualified for certification that recognizes
top-level customer service standards. Strykz Bowling Lounge in St David’s,
Hog Penny Restaurant & Pub in Hamilton, charter business Sail Bermuda, and
the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s Bermuda Visitor Services Centres in Dockyard,
St George and Hamilton, are this season’s inductees to receive National
Service Standards Certification. The BTA’s four-year-old National Service
Standard Programme now counts a total of 27 certified entities. BVSC is a wholly
owned subsidiary of the BTA. Jakai Franks, BVSC manager of operations, said:
“After vigorous training, role-playing and coaching, it feels good to know my
team received certifications for all three of our centres. We’re excited to be
among this group of qualified businesses, and we’ll ensure visitors and locals
get world-class service when they visit us.” Philip Bailey, owner of the
Strykz bowling alley at Southside, said: “As a business owner, I want to
ensure that Strykz employees are able to give our customers a great customer
experience. I view the Bermuda Tourism National Service Standards Programme as a
sure way of Strykz delivering on that promise and it also guarantees that I’m
setting up the employees for success.” Marilyn Zuill, operations manager for
Sail Bermuda, added: “Going through the NSSC process helped us better
understand the importance of excellent and consistent service. It’s motivated
us to work even harder, and we look forward to growing as a team and company as
a result.” The programme’s criteria over the course of a year ranges from
customer, staff and management surveys to “mystery shopper” visits and
online ratings via portals such as Trip Advisor and Google. Successful entities
are identified on the BTA website with a pink star and appear at the top of
search listings in their respective sectors. The other 23 businesses to qualify
for certification are: & Partners, Alexandra Mosher Studio Jewellery,
Barracuda Grill, Beauty Queen Day Spa, Bermuda Bride, Bermuda Perfumery, Bermuda
Transit Services, Devil’s Isle Café, Dolphin Quest, Dowling’s Marine &
Auto Services, Flanagan’s Irish Pub, Frog & Onion Pub, Fun Golf, Inverurie
Executive Suites, Island Tour Centre, Lili Bermuda, Newstead Belmont Hills Golf
Resort & Spa, Pickled Onion Restaurant & Bar, Ptix, Rosedon Hotel, Royal
Palms Hotel, Tobacco Bay, and Tuckinn Rentals. The next intake period for
businesses interested in enrolling in the National Service Standards Programme
will be the fall of 2020.
Weaknesses
in the British pound and Australian dollar contributed to Somers Limited
recording a $9.7 million loss for the year. It has a concentrated portfolio
of investments in companies principally in Australia, Bermuda and the UK, and it
wholly owns Bermuda Commercial Bank Limited. The company entered into an
agreement in February to sell BCB to Permanent Capital Holdings Ltd. Somers is
awaiting the necessary approvals from the Bermuda Monetary Authority and the
Bermuda Government in order to proceed with the sale. Warren McLeland, chairman
of Somers, said: “Whilst the delay is frustrating, we remain positive that the
transaction will complete and thereby release significant capital to enable
Somers to reduce its debt and to male investments in new and existing
businesses.” He made the comment as part of Somers’ annual report. The
company’s financial year ended on September 30. While it is waiting for
clearance to sell BCB, it has had a busy year, and one which produced strong
earnings in some of the companies it is invested, according to Mr McLeland.
Somers increased its level of borrowing during the year. It entered into a new
loan facility to fund its investment in PCF Group Plc, a bank listed on the
London Stock Exchange, in February. Somers invested £5.3 million ($6.9 million)
as part of a PCF fundraising. It has a majority shareholdings in the bank.
Regarding the increased borrowing, Mr McLeland said: “Given the quality,
diverse nature and size of Somers’ asset base, an external gearing level of 12
per cent remains relatively low and within the company’s risk tolerance.
Whilst the company’s focus remains on delivering strong returns for our
shareholders, we recognise that the global economy is facing numerous challenges
and as such we will look to repay the company’s related party debt and reduce
bank debt as a result of the sale of BCB.” Macro-economic factors, including
Brexit, resulted in a negative impact on foreign exchange movements from
Somers’ investment perspective. Mr McLeland said that while the financial
performance of many of its investments was strong, foreign currency movements in
Sterling and the Australian dollar “which reduced in value due to the
weakening global economy” impacted the valuation of several of Somers’
larger investments. Sterling and the Australian dollar weakened against the US
dollar by 5.7 per cent and 6.6 per cent, respectively, during the year. Somers
has about 41 per cent of its investments in Australia, 28 per cent in the UK,
and almost 27 per cent in Bermuda. It has controlling stakes in Resimac Group
Ltd, an Australian and New Zealand mortgage securitisation business; Waverton
Investment Management Ltd, a UK private wealth management business; and West
Hamilton Holdings Ltd, a Bermuda property holding and management company. It
also has stakes in UK brokerage organisation AK Jensen; Australian financial
services organisation Thorn Group Ltd; and UK law firm MJ Hudson. Somers’ net
asset value per share decreased from $18.15 to $17.10. Its shares trade on The
Royal Gazette/BSX Index, currently at $15 per share. Its total assets increased
during the year from $407.3 million to $423.1 million. At the end of September
it had $17.3 billion of assets under management. Looking ahead to the new year,
Mr McLeland noted the historically low levels of interest rates around the
world, and the weakening of global growth in the face of geopolitical events
such as the US-China trade war, Brexit, and protests in Hong Kong. He said:
“We remain cautious going into 2020. Whilst we may be entering the end stages
of the current economic cycle, we believe our investments are well placed and
expect to be able to take advantage of opportunities that might arise.”
Submarine
cable company Seabras 1 Bermuda Ltd has filed for bankruptcy protection in the
US as it pursues a secured debt-restructuring plan. Severe price drops on a
fibre-optic cable system between the US and Brazil have been cited as the reason
why it, together with its subsidiary Seabras 1 USA LLC, filed voluntary
petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code. The petitions
were filed on December 22. The construction of a competing, larger and newer
underwater cable project, and the Brazilian economy collapse, led to “severe
price drops” on the Seabras-1 cable system between New York and São Paulo,
and led to customers shifting to buying small amounts of capacity on the cable
for one to two-year leases, paid monthly, rather than the previously expected
“front-end payments” of large cash amounts. Larry Schwartz, chief executive
officer of Seabras 1 Bermuda and Seabras 1 USA, described those market landscape
changes in a New York court document. Seabras 1 Bermuda, and a number of its
subsidiaries, own the Seabras-1 fibre-optic cable system between New York and São
Paulo. The company has directors registered in Bermuda, and was an exempted
company incorporated under Bermuda’s laws when it, along with others, entered
into a financing agreement in 2015. But a downturn in business caused Seabras 1
Bermuda to default under the agreement and ultimately file for bankruptcy
protection, Mr Schwartz explained in the court document. Separately, in a letter
to customers and vendors on Monday, he said the reason for the Chapter 11 move
was to restructure Seabras 1 Bermuda’s secured debt. “The restructuring
process is a very positive development for the companies’ business and for the
companies’ loyal customers. It will provide the best opportunity to enable the
business to not just survive, but prosper,” he said. According to a statement,
Seabras 1 Bermuda and Seabras 1 USA expect to complete the process relating to
the Chapter 11 filings within the next few months, and to emerge within the
second quarter of 2020, subject to all required approvals. Seaborn Networks, the
Massachusetts-headquartered operator of the companies’ business, is not part
of the filings and continues to be the operator of the companies’ business.
The statement said: “Seaborn is not owned by the companies, but Seaborn is one
of the indirect shareholders of the companies. Seaborn’s work in this regard
is not expected to be impacted by the filings; and the companies expect that
Seaborn will continue to provide all SG&A and operations and engineering
services for the companies. Seaborn itself has no borrowed money indebtedness
and is a healthy business. Through the filings process, Seaborn’s management
and workforce is expected to remain as it is today.” The statement said
customers and vendors should expect to work with all Seabras’ entities, and
with Seaborn, as usual throughout the process. In addition the plan to be
proposed is not expected to “contemplate any changes in business arrangements
or activities for any of Seabras 1 Bermuda’s subsidiaries, or for Seaborn, and
all trade and vendor claims are expected to be paid in full”.
A
man wanted in connection with a Christmas Eve stabbing outside a bar has turned
himself in to police. The 35-year-old man was knifed in the chest near
Place’s Place on Hamilton’s Dundonald Street. The injured man was said on
Wednesday to be “stable” in intensive care at the King Edward VII Memorial
Hospital. The man was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery with
“life-threatening” wounds after the attack, which happened about 5.30pm
outside the bar on the junction of Dundonald Street and Court Street. Anyone
with information should contact Detective Inspector Kenten Trott on 717-2345 or
295-0011. People can also use the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on
800-8477
The
parents of a man struck down by a serious brain inflammation overseas without
insurance have been given charity status to help raise the hundreds of thousands
of dollars to pay for his treatment. Dandre Outerbridge, 27, who is in the
intensive care unit of the Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach, faces months of
expensive treatment after he was hit by viral encephalitis last month while on
holiday. His parents, Jeanna Scott and Andre Woods, who are with him in Florida,
only found out he did not have overseas coverage on his Argus Insurance plan
after they arrived at the hospital. Ms Scott said yesterday: “He opens his
eyes periodically and responds to the doctor’s commands. He smiled Christmas
Eve and Christmas Day.” She posted on social media on Christmas Eve: “Got
the best Christmas ever! My son opened his eyes, looked around, gave my husband
a fist grip and smiled at everyone! Thank you! Only God!” But his mother said
the slow process of recovery meant his parents were “facing having to be here
for three to six months as well”. Ms Scott added: “He will need that
support, because he doesn’t know anybody.” Mr Outerbridge’s medical costs
topped $300,000 this month and continue to rise. Ms Scott said: “That figure
isn’t including physician costs — that’s simply the hospital alone. What
we do know is that every day our son sits in the ICU, it’s $1,500. Ms Scott
added: “His ventilator is $1,000 a day. A spinal tap costs $9,000.” An
appeal on GoFundMe had neared $27,000 yesterday. The family earlier said they
would struggle to meet the medical bill because, even after Mr Outerbridge gets
through the critical stage of the disease, he will need extensive
rehabilitation. Ms Scott said last week: “They have told us to brace ourselves
for anything from three to six months.” Mr Outerbridge, who works at
electrical firm Corcon and lives in Hamilton Parish, first opened his eyes
earlier this month after three weeks in intensive care. He became ill in Bermuda
and went to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital on November 18 after he
complained of stomach cramps and needed help to get into the building. He was
diagnosed with a stomach virus, prescribed medication designed to treat vomiting
and discharged. He left for Miami five days later on the Saturday flight after
he told his mother he “was feeling OK”. Ms Scott said: “We were a little
concerned because of the way he was talking. On Sunday, he was incoherent.”
The disease can be caused by a range of viruses and how Mr Outerbridge
contracted it is unclear.
Two
tourists bit off more than they could chew after they tried to skip the bill for
their Christmas dinner. Kelly Yawgel and Samantha Salafia, both 25, left the
Huckleberry restaurant at the Rosedon Hotel in Pembroke without settling their
$198 bill, Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday. However, the meal ended up
costing them almost $600 each after the pair pleaded guilty to failure to pay
their bill. Magistrate Craig Attridge fined Yawgel, from New York, and Salafia,
from Connecticut, $500 each — and also ordered them to split the unpaid bill.
The court heard that the pair left the restaurant without paying, but management
followed them to the nearby Hamilton Princess hotel, where the two were staying,
and confronted them. The two asked to see the bill, which was still at the
restaurant, but when the Huckleberry manager returned the women could not be
found. The manager contacted police who arrested the women after they checked
Hamilton Princess CCTV footage.
Gombey
troupes turned out with their trademark drums, whistles and regalia for their
traditional Boxing Day parade around the island. The performance by
Place’s Gombeys at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club delivered a unique
experience for guests. Polly and Harry Martin, first-time visitors to Bermuda,
watched the performance in the courtyard. Ms Martin said the show was
“fantastic”. She added: “We are staying in Warwick but we were told we
should see them today. We were asking around to see where we could find them, so
we came here.” The annual showcase for the art form harks back to the African
roots of many Bermudians and the era of enslavement. Ms Martin said she was told
the Boxing Day performances would show a special side of the island. She said:
“There was so much flavour from the Caribbean and from Africa. The costumes
were unique and the use of different weapons in the performance was amazing. Ms
Martin added: “They had masks, so you cannot see who it is. I was also
watching the work with the whip, which seemed to be to let people know what was
coming next.” A couple from Toronto, Canada, also first-time visitors and who
gave their names as Cheryl and Michael, said they had loved the performance.
Michael said: “It was a short flight to get here. We are thinking Bermuda is
too well kept a secret.” He added Gombeys had a flavour of the Mardi Gras
Indians performances in New Orleans. His wife added: “The costumes and dancing
were beautiful; we wish we knew more about it.” The annual post-Christmas
performances are a childhood treat and an occasion for nostalgia and pride for
older people. Cal Bean, a veteran marathon runner, was among the crowds who
watched as the troupe made their way up St Monica’s Road in Pembroke. Mr Bean
said: “It’s very traditional in this area. Place’s Gombeys started up
Government Gate. Once you hear them, you just can’t help but follow them.
It’s hard to explain; it’s just a natural feeling. Once they come across
your area, everybody comes out of the house.” Mr Bean added: “The most
exciting part is when two groups come together, they try to outdo each other. It
can get a little heated. You can see who’s the better drummers and dancers.
Another big part is when people throw money in the ring.” A woman from the
area said: “It’s definitely about national pride. The woman added: “It
brings everybody out of the house.”
Festive
partygoers braved a breezy start to the day for the traditional toast to
Christmas at Elbow Beach. About 150 people had joined in the celebrations on
the South Shore beach by 11am, which brought together Bermudians, expatriate
workers and tourists in an event that has run for decades. Charlie Souza, a
senior bartender with waterside bar firm Beach Boys, worked at a bar with
company co-owner Dennie O’Connor to raise funds for children’s charity Big
Brothers Big Sisters after he flew home last night from New Orleans. Mr Souza
said: “This is my first time doing this for many years, and considering I just
came from a cold climate, it’s amazing.” He added he had been on tour to
several locations in the United States for Beach Boys to look at the hospitality
industry in other destinations. Mr Souza said: “This event is something really
special for here. You never see anything quite like it anywhere else. It’s
unique to Bermuda.” The event offered a chance for residents far from their
homelands to mingle with others and visitors got to see a Bermudian-style
Christmas on the beach. A Pennsylvania woman, who identified herself as Pam,
visited the beach with her husband and two children. She said she and her
husband were regular spring visitors, but decided to try Christmas on the island
with their children, who were on their first visit to Bermuda. She said: “We
wanted to spend a day at the beach, have lunch, and have a fun time here with
people. It doesn’t matter that it’s not sunny. Where we’re from, it’s
pretty cold.” Mike DeSilva, from Paget, said the event was “a tradition. I
do it every year”. He added: “If it’s not raining, I’m here. A little
cold won’t stop me — I live about five minutes away. I’ll find my usual
spot and just hang out.” Mr DeSilva said his grandson was enjoying his first
Christmas down at the beach with family. But he said he did not plan on joining
the beachgoers who took the plunge into the sea. Mr DeSilva explained: “I was
born and raised here. I lived in Toronto for 25 years and I moved back 14 years
ago. For the first three years, I took the plunge. Now I’m set back to Bermuda
temperature.” Among other first-timers were Gary Silva and Shane DeSilva, the
co-owners of Hamilton bar Coconut Rock. Mr Silva said: “It’s nice — I’m
surprised this many people are here.” Mr DeSilva, who said he was usually away
over the festive season, added: “I’ve never been down here for Christmas. We
came down to mix with the foreign people on the island and the local people
having a good time. We will let the day take us.”
Christmas
Greetings from Governor John Rankin. "I begin this year’s
Christmas message with a quote from Kofi Annan, the former Secretary General of
the United Nations: “Tolerance, intercultural dialogue and respect for
diversity are more essential than ever in a world where people are becoming more
and more closely interconnected.” Today’s technology platforms make it
easier for us connect with each other by electronic means. I myself use this
technology and Government House has a Facebook page and Instagram account to
keep our followers up to speed with what is happening both locally and overseas.
The majority of the time this interconnectivity is helpful by keeping us
up-to-date with family and friends overseas, by the quick dissemination of
public health and safety information during crises. However, it can also be
misused, for example, cyber bullying and uptake of the use of social media,
especially in the younger generation, has led many to feel that there has been a
decrease in face-to-face communication. Fortunately, there are still many
opportunities for young people here in Bermuda to come together in real, rather
than virtual, life and develop new skills. During the summer, I was privileged
to attend the 2019 Endeavour Programme Graduate Summer Regatta. It was a fun
afternoon during which the graduates from all different backgrounds showed off
the impressive sailing skills that they had learnt. Community spirit was never
more evident than in September this year in the wake of Hurricane Dorian and the
devastation which it left in our sister islands of the Bahamas. Over just a
couple of days, Bermudians came together from all walks of life and donated over
200 tonnes of relief supplies. The Royal Naval Ship HMS Protector, which
was in Bermuda at the time, generously transported as much of the donations as
it could take. In little over a week, the people of the Bahamas received the
first 100 tonnes of much needed aid and supplies from Bermuda. It was not just
individuals who answered the call. Many of Bermuda’s companies also stepped up
and did their bit to support the humanitarian relief effort as well. I pay
tribute to all those who helped with their generosity. As an island, we also
offered our condolences and support to the people of New Zealand after 50 people
were killed in terrorist shooting attacks at mosques in Christchurch. After the
attacks I, along with Minister of National Security Wayne Caines, visited
mosques across Bermuda to show our solidarity and support for the local Muslim
community. At a special church service I also joined in showing support for the
people of Sri Lanka after over 250 people were killed in that country in a
series of coordinated terrorist suicide bombings. Closer to home, this autumn
the men and women of the Island’s emergency services, the Royal Bermuda
Regiment, Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service, Bermuda Police Service and St John
Ambulance Brigade, were put on standby in preparation for Hurricane Humberto,
closely followed by Tropical Storm Jerry. Our emergency services staff were
quickly up and running after the storms passed, working together to get the
island back on its feet and to ensure the safety and security of our residents.
I was especially proud as Commander-in-Chief to present field promotions to two
young men of the Royal Bermuda Regiment. Corporals Orville Hall and Kallan
Thomas performed to the highest levels throughout the year and especially during
Hurricane Humberto and TS Jerry. They fully demonstrated the Regiment’s core
values, displaying determination, selfless commitment, dependability and care
for their colleagues. Another significant event was the holding of the first
ever Pride march in Bermuda at the end of August. Some 6,000 people joined the
parade in support of this island’s LGBT community. It was a peaceful and happy
occasion for those involved, taking place in line with the rights of freedom of
assembly, freedom of conscience and freedom of expression which all groups enjoy
under Bermuda’s Constitution and international human rights conventions. The
first weekend in November was filled with events celebrating the 170th
anniversary of the arrival of the first Portuguese immigrants in Bermuda. I was
honoured to welcome the President of the Azores, HE Mr Vasco Cordeiro, to
Government House. During our meeting we spoke about the close historical
connection between Bermuda and the Azores and the huge contribution that has
been made, and continues to be made, to Bermuda by the community of Portuguese
origin. I also enjoyed attending the Reid Street block party which was an
opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate Portuguese culture.
Between the entertainment and the traditional Portuguese food, it was an evening
full of dance, song and laughter. Bermuda’s young people continue to be a
source of inspiration. Two students, Maya Yates and McKenzie-Kohl Tuckett, were
the successful candidates chosen to experience a day in the life of the Deputy
Governor as part of the celebrations for International Women’s Day on 8 March.
They were asked to submit a short video explaining what women’s rights issues
they would like to see addressed, globally or within their local community. Ms
Tuckett wrote of her experience in The Royal Gazette’s Young Observer
saying that the day left her feeling empowered and reminded her that she “can
be anything (she) wants to be”. And earlier this month we were pleased to
welcome more of the island’s young people to Government House on International
Human Rights Day, learning what human rights mean for them now and in the future
which they will help to build. The protection of the environment continues to be
a key concern of young people. In August at the Greenpeace Plastics Night at the
World Heritage Centre in St George’s, I met an inspiring young man, Andreaz
Glasgow, a Berkeley Institute student. I invited Andreaz to Government House to
discuss ways of addressing environmental issues and he, together with his
colleague Micah Richardson, operate Green Team Bermuda which aims to combat
plastic and carbon pollution on the island. We had a very good discussion and I
hope in the future to be able to join Green Team Bermuda in one of their beach
cleanup. The protection of our environment should be of concern to everyone and
if we all act together, we can make a difference and leave a better, cleaner
environment for future generations. All of us — young and old, men and women,
those of different ethnic, cultural, religious and other backgrounds —
contribute to the rich tapestry of Bermuda. I would end my Christmas message the
same way in which I started it with a quote from Kofi Annan — “People of
different religions and cultures live side by side in almost every part of the
world, and most of us have overlapping identities which unite us with very
different groups. We can love what we are, without hating what — and who —
we are not. We can thrive in our own tradition, even as we learn from others,
and come to respect their teachings.” I wish all of you a very happy
Christmas."
Christmas
Greetings from the Premier, Hon. David E. Burt, JP, MP. "Greetings and
Merry Christmas. For many of us in Bermuda, Christmas has a profound meaning.
The miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ is a significant part of people’s
lives and of their faith. This story symbolizes the very essence of this season
and is a symbol of the love our Creator has for us. Our Christmas culture fills
Christians, those of other faiths, and non-believers with joy as we relish the
opportunity to spend time with friends, relatives, and people we meet for the
first time. In Bermuda. we have many traditions that make this holiday unique
and truly special for each one of us. Whether it be that special Christmas dish
or Christmas drink, decorations inside and outside of the home, following the
Gombeys on Boxing Day, or a trip to the beach, we take the time away from the
hustle and bustle of everyday life to reconnect with those close to us.
Christmas is an occasion when we take time to give, to share, to love and to
care; counting our many blessings and of course, sharing these blessings with
others. During the holiday season, we remember and assist those who are less
fortunate, the sick and shut-in, people who are struggling financially, those
who are alone for the holidays, and people grieving the loss of a loved one. Let
us not forget that there are Bermudians who need our love, and we must open our
hearts and homes to assist them in the spirit of Christmas. Let us also remember
those who will not be with their families on Christmas Day as they serve our
community. Whether they be prison, police, or fire officers, or those working at
our ports, in public transport, and our hospital, I extend to them the gratitude
of a grateful country for their service and their sacrifice. Despite the
challenges that our island faces, we are truly a blessed country and we have
much to be thankful for. This holiday season let’s remember to appreciate what
we have, cherish friends and family, and love one another. It is important that
the spirit of that love, that is, the essence of the season with the gift of
Christ, be shared with all during this Christmas holiday. As Christ was a symbol
of God’s love, in Bermuda we need more love in our homes, in our communities,
in our schools, in our workplaces, and in our government. So let’s spread that
love. Maybe it is an estranged family member or friend, a neighbour who you may
have fallen out with, or even a stranger. If you are thinking about reaching out
to someone, or inviting someone to your table, don’t doubt yourself, make that
call or send that message and let us all spread the love of the season. On
behalf of the Government of Bermuda, may God bless you and your family. May your
holidays be safe, peaceful and filled with joy. And from our family to yours,
merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"
Christmas
Greetings from Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Craig Cannonier, JP, MP. "Greetings,
my fellow Bermudians and to those working on and visiting our wonderful island,
during this holiday season. It’s that most wonderful time of the year and, as
your Opposition leader, I want you to know how humbled and honoured I am to
serve you. This time of year brings hope, love, peace and thankfulness. It is a
time of year that sees selfless acts of generosity that have helped thousands of
people throughout our community. At the core of it all is that we are all simply
human, trying our best to journey through this world hoping that we leave this
earth with a legacy that lives on through our children, our work and or our
lives. As humans we are imperfect, so every day we have the opportunity to
become better versions of ourselves. I challenge all of us to continue to become
better versions of ourselves, not just during this holiday season, but at all
times. This is a season where some celebrate the birth of Christ, Hanukkah or
Kwanzaa. There are believers and non-believers, but ultimately this is a time we
share with one another, regardless of who we are. Bermuda, it is times like this
that bring us together and renews our faith in each other. As you connect with
family and friends, as you give to those less fortunate, as you enjoy a festive
feast, remember it is times like this when we are one and — in that unity —
we thrive. Let’s continue to thrive together. May you all have a wonderful,
happy holiday season."
Bermuda
is no longer projected to have a budget surplus this fiscal year. Forecast
revenue and expenditure figures indicate a $1.1m deficit is now likely when the
fiscal year ends on March 31. An upwards revision of how much interest is
being paid on debt is the reason the originally projected surplus of $7.4
million is no longer expected. The Ministry of Finance has released a fiscal
performance report at the halfway point of the 2019-20 fiscal year. It noted the
unplanned $170 million Government has borrowed to make good on a legacy
obligation as a guarantor of the Caroline Bay project. Part of that additional
borrowing, some $88.5 million, occurred during the period covered by the
half-year fiscal data. In the six months to the end of September, Government’s
balance sheet was $7.6 million in the red. That was a big improvement on the
$46.8 million deficit at the same point in 2018. However, last year’s figure
included a $32 million contribution to the Sinking Fund, something which was not
made this year. The first half fiscal performance data also showed:
Regarding the fall in interest expenses for the first six months, which was 5.8 per cent lower than the same period in 2018, the Ministry of Finance, in a statement, said: “This is due to lower debt levels and strategic asset/liability management by the government in which relatively expensive debt has been refinanced by less expensive debt.” Total expenditure for the six months was $552.9 million, which is 49.4 per cent of the full-year projection of $1.119 billion. The expenditure total has been revised upwards by $8.4 million with, as mentioned, interest on debt the reason for the anticipated additional cost. The Ministry said: “The increase in borrowing runs counter to the plan that was outlined in this Government’s budget statement in February which stated that we had no plans to incur any additional long-term borrowings in this fiscal year. While this turn of events was unplanned, the Government’s commitment to being prudent stewards of the public purse remains unchanged.” Government’s current account expenditure to date is $463.8 million, almost unchanged from a year ago. Capital expenditure is $30.8 million, up $4.4 million primarily due to a new capital grant for the West End Development Corporation to develop King’s wharf, and other Ministry of Public Works development projects. The Ministry of Finance said increases in revenue from Customs duty, payroll tax, foreign currency purchase tax, telecommunications receipts and passenger tax were offset by lower receipts in land tax, hotel occupancy tax, stamp duty, civil aviation receipts and all other receipts. The Ministry believes the strength of payroll tax and passenger tax receipts increase the chance of Government meeting its total revenue target for the end of the fiscal year. Meanwhile, it said current expenditures, excluding debt service, is tracking $200,000, or 0.05 per cent, below budget estimates. Gross debt at the end of September was $2.7 billion. Net of the Sinking Fund, debt was $2.56 billion.
A
brace of Royal Bermuda Regiment soldiers have passed out from the British
Army’s elite Royal Military Academy. Now Ci’re Bean and Andrew Wallace
will rejoin the Regiment at Warwick Camp as Second Lieutenants in charge of
other soldiers after completing the eight-week Army Reserve training course at
the RMA, known as Sandhurst. Second Lieutenant Bean, a former Lance Corporal,
said it was “an amazing experience — very intense, but extremely
interesting”. The 21-year-old from Sandys, who runs his own firm, Payakid,
which places at-risk youngsters with employers, added: “We got to meet and
work with a lot of people and learnt a lot of new things. It was just great to
get that exposure.” He added: “It was extremely cold; we were operating in
minus three temperatures and coming from Bermuda, you don’t experience that.
It was my first time in the UK.” But Second Lieutenant Bean, posted as a
Platoon Commander to the RBR’s A Company, the specialists in infantry tactics
and public order duties, said: “I definitely enjoyed it. It was a
once-in-a-lifetime experience. I would never have got the chance to do something
like that if I hadn’t joined the Regiment — I would definitely recommend the
RBR. It offers a lot of opportunities. No matter what walk of life you come
from, there is something for you.” Second Lieutenant Bean was an award-winning
Lance Corporal instructor at the February Recruit Camp, where now Second
Lieutenant Wallace got his first taste of RBR life as a new Private. Second
Lieutenant Wallace, 25, from Paget, spent three years in the Officer Training
Corps while he studied for a degree in military history at Kent University in
the UK. He said he had applied for a commission early in his RBR career, because
his prior experience meant he had covered a lot of the basics of soldiering and
he wanted a bigger challenge. Second Lieutenant Wallace added the Sandhurst
course was a grueling mix of classroom and field work. The curatorial assistant
at the National Museum of Bermuda said: “There was just so much information.
You just have to grab it when you can and hold it tight. It was the longest time
I’ve ever been away from home and the longest time I’ve done anything
military. And you have lessons from about 6.30am to nine at night.” Second
Lieutenant Wallace, now a Platoon Commander in the RBR’s humanitarian aid and
disaster relief B Company, said: “It lived up to expectations. I went in there
thinking it would probably be the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I left
thinking that.” But he said it was good for the RBR that its officers were
trained at an institution with an international reputation. He said: “It’s
putting Bermuda out there. I met a lot of people on that course and if I end up
running into them on a deployment, we will have that instant connection. For the
regiment, the fact that they send people away to an institution held in such
high regard, people recognise that and it’s very valuable.” Second
Lieutenant Wallace said his military training had boosted his efficiency at work
and in his personal life. He explained: “For example, it’s one thing to go
into a grocery store and spend 30 or 40 minutes wandering around. Planning in
advance and getting it done in a few minutes is something else. Time efficiency
has been the best lesson. It’s learning how to manage your time and get the
most out of it. And you can use that time productively elsewhere.” He added
that the RBR, whose physical trainers are also British Army qualified, could get
unfit recruits to the standards required faster than people might think. Second
Lieutenant Wallace added: “I have no regrets about joining. It’s something I
wanted to do for a long time and I’m glad I did.” The two will be confirmed
in their new ranks if they are successful at the Commissioning and Promotions
board and their appointments are confirmed by John Rankin, the Governor and RBR
Commander-in-Chief. RBR soldiers are expected to complete 30 days of service a
year, including a two-week training camp, usually overseas, and regular nights
and weekends and earn about $5,000 in their first year. Further trade and
leadership training, at home and overseas, is also available.
A
man wanted in connection with a stabbing outside a bar has turned himself in to
police, officers said today. A police spokesman said the 35-year-old victim,
who was knifed in the chest near Place’s Place on Dundonald Street, was now
“stable” in the intensive care unit at the King Edward VII Memorial
Hospital. The man was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery with
“life-threatening” wounds after the attack, which happened about 5.30pm
outside the bar on the junction of Dundonald Street and Court Street. Police
have appealed for witnesses. Anyone with information should contact Detective
Inspector Kenten Trott on 717-2345 or 295-0011. People can also use the
confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 800-8477.
In
today’s materialistic world it’s hard to imagine a child feeling grateful
that Santa left a piece of fruit in their stocking. Christmases were a lot
different when Lefroy Brownlow Place was a child back in the 1920s. “We’d
hang out stockings on the sideboard,” the 103-year-old said. “In the morning
we’d find an orange, handkerchiefs or maybe a pair of socks. Santa Claus gave
us what we needed rather than what we wanted. Christmas was Christmas back
then.” Part of it was that many people didn’t have a lot, he admitted.
Families had to be resourceful with whatever they did have. The Place family
used a cedar branch as a Christmas tree; they hung handkerchiefs and socks as
ornaments. As an adult, he wanted to give his three children more. He remembers
the excitement he felt when he bought his daughter, Charlene, a special bike.
“I rode it home and almost ran into a tree,” he laughed. Although the St
George’s resident has had some health challenges this year, he’s happily
anticipating spending time with his family tomorrow. “I am looking forward,
God willing, for this coming Christmas so we can get together again and have a
joyous time,” he said. “If you are not grateful for what you do have, what
good is it? If God gives you these things, or the idea to get these things, you
must be grateful and I am grateful. I am pleased that God has granted me this
year and all the years I have had.” Winnie Oatley, 101, said that seeing Santa
Claus at Clifford’s on Water Street was a highlight of her childhood
Christmases. Owned by the late Robert Oliver Clifford, a Member of Parliament,
the St George’s store was a beehive of activity because it sold gifts. “It
was located where Wahoo’s is today,” Mrs Oatley said. “I never knew who
played Santa Claus.” Also exciting was the annual hunt with her dad, Leonard
Leighton, for a Christmas tree. “We always found a little cedar tree,” she
said. “We made decorations out of crepe paper. We just had a very simple
Christmas.” Her family usually celebrated the day with cassava pie and pork at
dinner, followed by a Christmas pudding. Some families cooked the traditional
dessert outside, in a tin, because it took so long to boil. Mrs Oatley’s
mother, Pearl, cooked theirs inside in a coal stove. “My mother and
grandmother worked together to make Christmas dinner,” she said. “I know we
had to grate the cassava.” She joked that there was probably always a little
blood in the dish, courtesy of the chef’s helpers who grated their fingers by
mistake. “I didn’t actually make cassava until I was a grown woman,” she
said. Like Mr Place, she did not get piles of wrapped gifts. “We got things in
our stocking or there were games, like Snakes and Ladders, under the tree,”
she said. She plans to spend the holiday season with her daughter, Joan, and
grandchildren. Grace Woodley, 100, was born in Norwich, Connecticut. Her mother,
Alethia Simmons, was Bermudian; her father, Emmanuel de Pina, was from Cape
Verde. When she was eight her mother brought her back to the island for good.
Mrs Woodley remembers how her first Christmas here, in 1928, felt so different
than what she was used to. Things were quieter. The decorations her mother
brought from Connecticut seemed prettier than what was on offer in Bermuda.
“Now the decorations are the same in Bermuda, and the US,” Mrs Woodley said.
The real “treat” came at dinner when many families would serve a chicken
they’d killed in the yard. Tomorrow, she’s looking forward to being served
by her 11 children. “They always used to put Christmas dinner on me,” she
said. “I had to put my foot down and say I didn’t want to do it any more.
Now someone else does it.” Michael Darling, 89, said there was always an apple
or orange poking out of the top of his stocking on Christmas morning, but the
real treat was when he also found some sweets. “A chocolate box, like a
Whitman’s sampler, was a big deal in those days,” the Warwick resident said,
explaining that as everything came in by ship, delivery for the big day was hit
or miss. “Sometimes they were quite stale.” He grew up at the end of Reid
Street, near Fort Hamilton. His father, Leslie, ran Bluck’s, which closed this
year. “During the war years he really struggled,” Mr Darling said. They
always had a cedar Christmas tree, and would reuse all their decorations. “The
tinsel was carefully folded up and put away for next year,” he said. Christmas
dinner was always followed by plum pudding. “It had these little silver things
in the plum pudding, such as a little silver shoe, a threepence and a
sixpence,” Mr Darling said. “You were very careful when you ate the pudding.
If you bit into a sixpence you’d know it.” More important was eating a dozen
minced tarts between Christmas Day and Twelfth Night, January 5. “It was
supposed to be good luck,” he said. On Boxing Day Mr Darling looked forward to
seeing the Gombeys. “They would come out and make a lot of noise and would go
on playing all the way from Hamilton to Somerset,” he said. “They were
followed by children who probably wondered at the end, how they could get
home.”
The
Ministry of Finance has reported the first half fiscal performance for 2019-20.
Among the highlights are:
The fiscal year will end on March 31, and the Bermuda Government has a revenue target of $1.12 billion, an expenditure target of $1.05 billion — which includes debt service, and a projected surplus target of $7.4 million. An in depth story on today’s data will follow.
Three
men were arrested at the airport’s private jet terminal on suspicion of drugs
offences at the weekend, police said today. The arrests came after a joint
operation between the police drugs unit and Customs officers was carried out on
Saturday. A police spokesman said: “Earlier that evening two local men entered
the island on a private jet with multiple pieces of luggage that were believed
to contain controlled drugs. Those arrested remain in custody pending the
outcome of investigations and consultation with the Director of Public
Prosecutions.” He added: “The Bermuda Police Service remains committed to
working with its partners in law enforcement, both locally and overseas, to stem
the flow of illegal drugs into Bermuda.”
Police
today appealed for information on the gun murder of a man a week before the
first anniversary of his death. A police spokesman said the murder of
Ronniko Burchall on December 28 last year was still under investigation, but
help from the public was needed. Mr Burchall, who was 30, was shot on December
28 last year as he got on his motorcycle in the car park of St David’s Cricket
Club and died two days later. The police spokesman added that officers were
aware that there were about 50 people at the cricket club at the time and a
“significant number” of people witnessed the shooting. He said that
detectives investigating the case have “continued to maintain regular contact
with the family of Mr. Burchall”. The police spokesman added: “The police
hold regular briefings on this matter and have kept the family of Ronniko
Burchall updated as recently as September 2019.” Four men were arrested just
after the murder, but no one has been charged in connection with the killing.
Anyone with information that could help the inquiry should contact Detective
Sergeant Jason Smith on 717-0864.
A
man who held a shop manager at knife point and stole $150 was today jailed for
more than three years. The Supreme Court heard that Kevin Robinson entered
Belvin’s Variety Store in Smith’s at around 11.20am on May 21 and demanded
cash at knifepoint. Robinson, 60, jumped over the counter and held the knife to
the employee’s neck when he failed to open the till and hand over the money.
Robinson told the terrified man several times: “Open it or I will hurt you.”
The assistant manager opened the register and Robinson snatched $150 before he
fled. Robinson earlier admitted charges of robbery and possession of a
three-inch pocket knife. Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons heard Robinson, of
Hamilton Parish, was identified from security camera footage in the store. She
said an “unwitting accomplice”, who gave Robinson a ride to and from the
store, came forward after he heard about the robbery. Mrs Justice Simmons told
the court that robbery was a serious offence, but that Robinson deserved a
discount on his sentence for an early guilty plea and his apologies in the
court. She sentenced Robinson to three years and three months for the robbery
and two years for the possession of the knife. The sentences will run
concurrently. The judge also ordered that Robinson should serve two years of
probation after his release and that he should pay $150 in restitution to
Belvin’s. The offence was not Robinson’s first. He admitted the theft of
$360 of sports shirts in February last year from Sports Cellar in Hamilton.
Robinson also pleaded guilty to stealing $772 worth of cigarettes from several
stores in 2013. He told the court in both cases that he was addicted to heroin
and asked for help to receive treatment.
A
man cleared of money-laundering charges has been allowed to fight for more than
$300,000 of seized cash to be returned to him. Kenneth Bulford told the
Supreme Court the money was forfeited by another defendant before he could make
any applications to resist the move. Chief Justice Narinder Hargun found Mr
Bulford should have been given an opportunity to address the court on the cash
and set aside the forfeiture order. The court heard in a hearing on December 2
that Mr Bulford was arrested at the airport in March 2013 on suspicion of
money-laundering offences along with Wanda Bowen and Melina Bean. Ms Bowen and
Ms Bean were found to have $314,950 in American currency hidden in sneakers
packed in their suitcase. They also had a total of $1,478 on them. Mr
Bulford’s DNA was found on the money seized from Ms Bowen and Ms Bean, and he
was found to have $10,040 in cash on him. Mr Bulford was charged separately from
his co-accused and the two women appeared in court more than a year before Mr
Bulford. Ms Bowen pleaded guilty to money laundering in 2013 and consented to
the forfeiture of the $314,950, which ended up in the Confiscated Assets Fund.
Mr Bulford was tried in 2015 and he said all of the seized cash belonged to him,
but insisted it was earned by legitimate means. A jury later found him not
guilty of possessing proceeds of crime by a unanimous verdict. The $10,040 found
on Mr Bulford was returned to him a day after the verdict, but the $314,950 was
not because it had already been forfeited. Lawyer Jerome Lynch, who appeared for
Mr Bulford, asked the court to set aside the forfeiture order. He argued that Mr
Bulford was not given notice of the forfeiture order, despite prosecutors’
insistence that the money belonged to him, and he was not given a chance to
argue against it. Mr Bulford said in an affidavit that he did not know Ms Bowen
would plead guilty or consent to the forfeiture. Alan Richards, for the Crown,
said that Mr Bulford had not claimed the $314,950 was his until his trial, which
came after the money was forfeited. But Mr Justice Hargun ruled that Mr Bulford
should have been notified about the forfeiture and given a chance to make
submissions. He said: “I am satisfied that the court was in possession of
sufficient material, in relation to the potential interest of Mr Buford in the
funds and that he should have been given notice so as to allow him to make any
representations to the court he considered appropriate. Mr Justice Hargun
concluded: “In any event, having regard to the fact that Mr Bulford maintains
in sworn evidence that he was wholly unaware of the forfeiture proceedings and
that he has been denied an opportunity to make representations to the court, in
relation to his interests in the funds, he should be afforded such an
opportunity.”
A
vote of no confidence in the Progressive Labour Party chairman has led to
demands for his resignation, it was revealed today. Damon Wade, who took on
the role in October 2018, failed to win backing from the PLP executive committee
at an emergency meeting last week. But the chairman claimed today that comments
made by the party in the wake of the vote were “misleading and malicious”
and went against its constitution. Mr Wade said: “I do not intend to discuss
the details of our dispute publicly but I adamantly reject the extremely
damaging statements made by the party spokesperson regarding my actions as party
chairman. The publishing of their statement was irresponsible and
unconstitutional. I have asked them to retract the misleading and malicious
statements made.” He was speaking after the PLP claimed that Mr Wade had
failed to live up to the standards required and alleged he had tried to exploit
his position. The party said: “Two and a half years ago, the people of Bermuda
called time on the One Bermuda Alliance experiment and voted for the only party
that has a track record of governing for the people. It is a solemn privilege
that we do not take lightly. In the PLP, we proudly stand on our legacy of
vowing that Bermuda’s opportunities and ingenuity must always be utilized in
the public interest and for greatest good. Regrettably, the individual failed to
live up to the high moral standard that the officers and members have set for
the party and themselves. The party acted to protect and further enshrine its
values. To that end, the PLP wishes to advise the public that the executive
committee of the party held an emergency meeting last week where a motion of no
confidence was passed unanimously against chairman Damon Wade. The executive
committee also called for the chairman to immediately resign his position. The
PLP has a zero-tolerance policy regarding the exploitation of party office for
personal gain.” It added: “No public official or public servant acted
inappropriately.”
The
Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) has asked a court to deliver an ultimatum to a
sports club — pay a $1.5 million debt or lose its building in Hamilton.
The BIU has asked the Supreme Court to order Pembroke Hamilton Club to pay the
cash or demand that the Reid Street building be sold, with the proceeds from the
sale going to the union. The BIU also asked the court to order PHC to give the
union immediate possession of the property and all the documents needed to
effect a sale. Alternatively, the BIU has asked PHC to pay $1,532,000,
outstanding as of June 6, 2017, along with interest at a daily rate of $293.81.
The BIU declined to comment on the legal action last night, but said that
discussions with PHC continued. The case is understood to be linked to a $1.2
million loan made by the union to the club in 2001 to pay for a new lighting
system and the resurfacing of the playing field at the club’s grounds on
Stadium Lane, in Warwick. The loan was to be repaid over a 17-year period
through rental income from PHC’s two-storey building on Reid Street in
Hamilton. But it was reported in 2014 that the club had yet to pay the principal
on the loan and the union had threatened to seek ownership of the Reid Street
building. PHC management outlined several proposals in 2012 designed to increase
revenue and pay off debt. Among the proposals was the sale of the Reid Street
building, but the plan was rejected by influential club members.
A
32-year-old man was injured, and two people arrested, after a gunman fired into
a group of people early yesterday as they stood outside a Hamilton nightclub.
Police said the victim was struck in the left shoulder or upper back outside the
Spinning Wheel on Court Street. The gunman then ran inside the club and fired a
shot, with no one hit, before making his escape. The incident marred a year in
which only one other person was injured by guns: a 64-year-old man who was
wounded in the shoulder on October 3 in St David’s. An anti-violence activist
warned yesterday: “It’s concerning, because what often happens with an
incident like this is it awakens the giant.” Gina Spence added: “Depending
on who was shot, it can bring that escalation of them against us.” The victim
was taken to hospital before police arrived at the scene, with injuries that
were not considered life threatening. A police spokesman said he would have to
be flown overseas for further treatment. The attack started just before 1.30am
when an armed man walked on to Court Street. Police said the suspect ran towards
the group outside the bar and opened fire. Afterwards, the suspect fled the
Spinning Wheel, running north on Court Street and escaping through the parking
lot on Elliott Street. Acting on information gathered, police yesterday arrested
two male suspects, aged 31 and 19, but have continued to appeal for witnesses.
Ms Spence, the head of the charity Gina Spence Productions, said despite this
year’s drop in gun crime: “I never take my eyes off. I know that in spite of
the fact it’s been down, there are still guns out there — we know that. As
long as it’s still in the street, there will be incidents. We shouldn’t ever
get comfortable and accept that it’s over. We should be vigilant and prepared
for anything.” Ms Spence said there had been “an unusual kind of hush” in
the wake of the attack. It’s been strange. Usually talk about who it is goes
through the community like fire. This has been quite different. This saddens me
— prior to Christmas I was really grateful I didn’t receive any calls over
any incidents. This keeps us aware that while it’s not happening at the same
level, nonetheless we always have to be proactive.” At the scene, Acting
Inspector Dorian Astwood was unable to say whether the shooting was
gang-related. It came less than ten days after Wayne Caines, the Minister of
National Security, unveiled figures at the House of Assembly showing a sharp
drop in violent crime. Speaking on December 13, Mr Caines warned that his
ministry would not “rest on its laurels”. The minister called on the
community to “roll up our sleeves to assist with stamping the gang culture out
of our island”. Police last night said that “a number of individuals” had
assisted with inquiries.
Plans
have been submitted to turn a vacant site on Church Street near the Cathedral
into a six-storey apartment block. The application, put forward by C33 Ltd
last month, proposed a 68-unit apartment building at 33 Church Street. The
documents state the building will have six above-ground storeys and two floors
below ground. CTX Design Group, the agent for the project, said in the
application: “The building is a reinforced concrete shell with interior unit
partitions of concrete block. The requested programme for this building features
a central circulation spine with residential units along its length. Each unit
has large windows and a private balcony. The application continues: “The east
and west façades step in and out to permit light to penetrate the site along
the boundaries. The upper floors are set back from the boundaries reducing the
mass and exceeding the goals of the City of Hamilton Development Plan.” The
project also proposed the provision of off-street parking in the building for
eleven cars and 25 cycles. The application said: “The applicants envision a
shared car concept using smaller electric vehicles and ten spaces are currently
proposed for those vehicles. A gym, community room and storage facilities are
proposed within the lower basement floor. These spaces open out to the existing
lower grade where planting is proposed to permit outdoor entertainment.”
Proposed
changes to the investment fund regime have been discussed by the members of
Alternative Investment Management Association Bermuda. Economic substance
guidance notes and the economic substance regulations are expected to be
released before December 31, following the passing of amendments to Bermuda’s
Economic Substance Act. That was a focus of the association’s year-end
industry review and holiday reception. “We are pleased to discuss the proposed
changes to Bermuda’s economic substance legislation with our industry
counterparts,” Ifor Hughes, deputy director of policy at the Bermuda Monetary
Authority, said. He was a speaker at the event. Mr Hughes added: “We have made
some needed amendments to our economic substance and investment funds regimes in
response to initiatives by the OECD and EU Code of Conduct Group. These
amendments position Bermuda to continue to be a respected, appropriately
regulated international financial centre. We expect 2020 to be an equally busy
and challenging year, as we continue to build out the regulations and guidance
notes to support the economic substance regimes.” Another speaker was Michael
Frith, adviser to the Registrar of Companies, and who has been actively engaged
supporting it as it assumes the role of regulator of reporting entities under
the economic substance framework. He said: “The amendment acts have been
developed following extensive consultation by the Bermuda Government with the
OECD and EU Code of Conduct Group and are in furtherance of the implementation
by Bermuda of legislation that embraces a global initiative to combat base
erosion and profit sharing.” AIMA Bermuda has worked with industry and the BMA
to ensure Bermuda took steps to comply with the EU’s assessment of collective
investment vehicle regimes. It said that, as a result, legislative amendments
due to come in to force on January 1, “will bring into scope closed ended
investment vehicles and overseas investment funds that are managed or promoted
in or from Bermuda, in line with the approaches taken in other overseas
territories and Crown Dependencies”. Craig Bridgewater, who is stepping down
as chairman of the AIMA Bermuda’s executive committee after a three-year term,
expressed gratitude to the BMA and Registrar of Companies for their engagement
with the association. Sarah Demerling will succeed Mr Bridgewater. She is a
Partner at Walkers (Bermuda) Limited, and said: “Craig has done an amazing job
to lead the AIMA network in Bermuda to where it is today and we thank him for
all of his hard work. I have always been very passionate about the asset
management industry in Bermuda. We have a robust funds offering and it is very
pleasing to have the support of the wider AIMA network as we continue to grow
our local membership and activities. I am absolutely delighted to take on the
role of chair, but recognise that none of the events, educational programmes and
industry engagement would be possible without the dedication of the executive
committee who have worked tirelessly this year.” She said 2019 saw a visit
from Jiri Krol, AIMA deputy chief executive officer and head of Government
Affairs and local representation at the AIMA Canada Investor Forum in Toronto.
Mrs Demerling added: “In 2020, I am keen for us to further deepen our working
relationship with the AIMA group locally and internationally and continue to
tell Bermuda’s story.” The AIMA event was sponsored by Wakefield Quinn. AIMA
Bermuda welcomes members from the accounting, legal and banking, fund management
and administration, and the ILS industry sectors. Through its global industry
initiatives including advocacy, policy and regulatory engagement, educational
programmes and sound practice guides.
Organizers
of the Axa End-to-End have announced the four local charities that will get a
boost from cash raised at the event next year. The Bermuda Zoological
Society, Vision Bermuda, the Garden Club of Bermuda and Family Centre were
selected after organisers received “dozens” of applications. Anne Mello, the
Axa End-to-End chairwoman, said: “We were overwhelmed with applications and
every one of them, in some way, was deserving of support so this was not an easy
decision to take. “However, we felt that the four charities we selected
represented a very good cross section of the charitable sector and each, in
their own way, do a tremendous amount for Bermuda and its people.” The Garden
Club of Bermuda added cash from the event would go towards its Skills
Development Programme, which helps young Bermudians interested in horticulture.
Cindy Young and Anna Fulton, co-chairwomen of the development programme, said
the money would help pay stipends for the trainees and provide cooked lunches
for them three times a week, during the six to seven-month programme, along with
further education and counselling. Lynda Johnson, the BZS development officer,
added the End-to-End funds would be used for the charity’s schools programme.
Ms Johnson said: “It provides Bermudian examples of experiential learning that
students can absorb and relate to while also gaining an awareness of important
issues facing their island home. To remain free of charge, funding from the
community is vital for the continuation of the schools programme and ensures
availability to all students.” Vision Bermuda, once the Bermuda Society for
the Blind, will use its donation to fund its regular work to help those who are
blind or have a vision impairment. Theresa Hall of Vision Bermuda said:
“Experiencing vision loss is emotionally devastating. We believe that no one
should have to face sight loss without support to learn how to manage those
everyday tasks and maintain their dignity through independence. We are the only
organisation in Bermuda to provide a full range of specialist services
supporting people of any age with low or no vision.” Family Centre will use
its slice of the cake to help strengthen families through improved family
communication and to teach problem-solving skills to create better home
environments. Sandy DeSilva, Family Centre director of services, said: “Family
Centre believes in the same principles as the Axa End-to-End. We, too, believe
that families can be resilient when they have the support and inspiration to
work through their challenges. We, too, believe that resilient families are the
foundation of a strong, healthy community, hence Family Centre’s mission is to
strengthen families to create a healthier Bermuda for our children.”
A
struggling family could be separated in the new year if they are unable to keep
their home in the face of rental arrears, it was feared yesterday. The
mother said she risked eviction from a Bermuda Housing Corporation property. It
was thought her children would be placed in foster care if the family was left
without a home. Sheelagh Cooper, a children’s advocate, claimed yesterday that
the situation demonstrated a lack of co-ordination among government services. Ms
Cooper said: “There is a fatal flaw in our safety net in that the government
agencies that are set up to help vulnerable children and their families, the
Bermuda Housing Corporation, child and family services and financial assistance,
are now located in three different ministries. These should not only be located
in the same ministry, they should be down the hall from each other. The welfare
of struggling families depends on these agencies co-ordinating their services.
When these agencies stay in their lanes, it’s up to families to bridge the
gaps by going from one to the other in an attempt to patch together a plan. This
situation is a good example of how that doesn’t work.” The mother, who lives
in Pembroke, said that a single income source from her children’s father
depended on how many hours of work he was able to secure. She explained that the
Department of Financial Assistance had funded half of the $1,300 a month rent
and the householders were expected to pay the rest. However, arrears had amassed
to at least $11,000. The 38-year-old said: “I’m standing to be evicted soon.
They just said some time in January, they didn’t give an exact date. I believe
that if the arrears were paid I would stand a better chance of keeping my house.
Right now we’re just trying to accumulate as much as we can to go up there
with a lump sum, but the process is taking longer than expected. They had said
for us to pay $200 a month towards it, but we decided that we are trying to come
up with a little bit more to get it down a little bit faster. I would have to
pay on the arrears, then I would have to come up with the current [rent] because
I’m not getting any help from financial assistance right now. It’s
stressful, I’m not able to do much for my children as far as Christmas is
concerned. I’ve had some people help me, give me a few things. 2020, I want a
better life for myself, which means I will definitely go out and look for
employment because I can’t afford to live like this any more.” The mother
said that her children lived with her. However, it was feared that they could be
placed in foster care if she lost her home and was unable to secure housing and
a steady income. Ms Cooper said: “I am fully aware that the parents have made
mistakes along the way, but the eviction in this case serves only to punish the
children. There are few things more traumatic to a child than homelessness or
the prospect of being taken away and separated from your parents. When that
happens the scars are deep and the likelihood of the cycle of poverty
perpetuating into the next generation increases exponentially.” Ms Cooper, who
is chairwoman of Habitat for Humanity of Bermuda, added that research in other
countries supported the concept of “housing first”. She explained: “This
essentially, is the belief that housing is a fundamental human right and that
very little can be accomplished in terms of developmental growth, counselling or
therapeutic intervention unless a family has a roof over their heads and
sufficient food to eat. This may sound expensive, but the research is clear,
that the failure to provide that basic life support has a much more expensive
impact on the mental health system, the healthcare system, the educational
system and ultimately the correctional system. The evidence is very clear that a
dollar spent at the front end will save hundreds further down the line — and
that is just the financial argument. The humanitarian and moral argument is an
even stronger one. How can we, in this largely wealthy community, stand by and
watch families put out on the street because they can’t afford to pay the
rent?” A friend of the family, who has helped the mother in the past, said:
“Not all things are perfect, but she takes care of her children. This is not
neglect, it’s poverty and they should not be punished by removing their
children. It’s not in the best interest to remove these children from their
mother under any circumstances. For that reason, we are rallying throughout the
community to help her with the back rents and myself and Sheelagh will work out
a plan for next year.” A spokeswoman for the Department of Child and Family
Services said: “The department will not comment on individual cases, however,
it should be noted that cases are dealt with on their own merits, and based on
the circumstances presented.” The Ministry of Public Works, which oversees the
BHC, was contacted for comment on Friday. The Ministry of Health, for the
Department of Financial Assistance, was contacted by e-mail yesterday and
responded: “We cannot comment on individual cases.”
A
combined ratio averaging above 100 per cent for a five-year period, and with a
$318 million loan repayment on the horizon, AM Best has decided to revise its
outlooks to negative for Qatar Insurance Company QSPC, and its Bermuda-based
subsidiary Qatar Re. However, the rating agency has also affirmed the
financial strength rating of A (excellent) and long-term issuer credit ratings
of “a” of QIC and Qatar Re. The ratings reflect the “very strong”
balance sheet strength of QIC, its strong operating performance, neutral
business profile and enterprise risk management, AM Best said. Regarding the
change of outlooks from stable to negative, the agency said it “largely
reflects pressure on AM Best’s current operating performance assessment of
strong due to underperformance emanating from the group’s non-Middle East
insurance operations [QIC Global]”. It said QIC Global, which includes Qatar
Re, has experienced “considerable staff turnover and a fluctuating business
strategy, at the same time as pursuing aggressive growth in a soft market”. AM
Best, in a statement, also said: “Results have been adversely impacted in
recent years (2017 to 2019) by natural catastrophe losses and Ogden rate
adjustments in the UK motor segment. As a consequence, the group has produced a
five-year (2014-2018) average combined ratio of 101.2 per cent and AM Best’s
expects the group to report a combined ratio in excess of 100 per cent to be
reported for 2019.” The agency said the group has a QAR 1.1 billion ($316
million) “receivable due from the Markerstudy Group before May 2020. Whilst
the group maintains sufficient capital to absorb a default on this loan, any
impairment would represent a material loss to earnings”. AM Best said pressure
on QIC’s underwriting earnings “highlight governance and underwriting
control deficiencies in the group’s decision-making process”. It noted that
QIC reported gross written premium of $3.4 billion in 2018, and increase of 8
per cent year-on-year. The growth was primarily driven by the acquisition of
Markerstudy carriers which “offset material non-renewal of loss-making
contracts in the group’s reinsurance platform”. AM Best said: “Going
forward, the group plans to focus on low-volatility lines, with more than half
of GWP emanating from motor insurance in the UK, Continental Europe and the
Middle East.”
A
32-year-old man was shot this morning outside a Hamilton city nightclub,
with the gunman also firing a shot inside the establishment. The victim was
rushed to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital after the armed man ran towards
a group outside the Spinning Wheel nightclub on Court Street just before 1.30am,
and opened fire. A police spokesman said the victim was struck in the region of
his left shoulder or upper back. As the group scattered, the suspect continued
running and entered the nightclub, where he again fired the weapon, with no one
hit. The suspect left the Spinning Wheel, ran north on Court Street, and made
good his escape into the parking lot on Elliot Street. The victim’s injuries
are not considered to be life threatening, but the spokesman said he would have
to be flown overseas for further treatment. He was transported to hospital
before police arrived. Acting on information gathered, police this afternoon
arrested two male suspects, aged 31 and 19. The spokesman added: “A number of
individuals are assisting police with inquiries, but police are asking anyone
with information on this incident to please contact Detective Inspector Kenten
Trott on 295-0011, or the Confidential Crime Stoppers number, 800-8477.”
A
woman who suffers severe seizures yesterday appealed for the Government to move
fast on the legalisation of medical cannabis. Natasha York, 43, said she
dreaded the thought of what her two daughters went through when she was hit by
an attack. She added: “Every time I come out of it, I give thanks that I’m
okay. Then I just want to have a good cry, wondering what my kids have seen.”
Ms York said she had watched successive administrations debate medical cannabis
for the last five years. She added: “I just need Government to understand that
there are honest people who need help. Ms York concluded: “This journey we
have gone through is just so unfair.” She was speaking after Kathy Lynn
Simmons, the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, earlier this week
tabled draft legislation to allow therapeutic use of the drug. Ms York’s
doctor, Kyjuan Brown, the medical director at Northshore Medical and Aesthetics
Centre, welcomed the news, but warned the pace was too slow for the estimated
1,500 people in Bermuda who would benefit from medical use of cannabis. Ms York
was jailed for three months last year after she tried to smuggle 1,430 grams of
cannabis products into the country. She was released on appeal and served her
sentence at home, with an electronic tag fitted. Ms York said: “I do not
advise anyone to take that risk. But I just felt I didn’t have any voice. I am
a law-abiding person, but it felt like I was being ignored. They weren’t going
to listen to my GP who was telling them what would work for me.” Ms York tried
to bring the drug to Bermuda after she tried medical cannabis in Canada. She got
almost immediate relief from symptoms that had required ten pills a day — and
which failed to deal with her condition. Ms York lost her job at the airport in
2011 when her problem, similar to epilepsy, struck. She recalled: “I was at
the door on my way to work. I just started shaking.” Now living in emergency
housing and on financial assistance, she said she often injured herself and had
bit her tongue and suffered bruises from falls. Ms York said: “Marijuana not
only controls my seizures, it calms my whole nervous system and helps with the
pain. It relaxes me and I can sleep.” She added: “I want to give full credit
to Northshore Medical and Dr Brown. He cares.” But even though Dr Brown helped
her obtain a licence to use medical marijuana last year, she has never been able
to get the drug. Dr Brown explained: “Bermuda can only import one gram per
year, as a country, under a limit agreed with the United Nations. We could
change that — we have the right to do it.” The physician, who also belongs
to the Bermuda Medicinal Cannabis Association, said the draft legislation tabled
this week in the Senate was “not the framework I would envision”. He added:
“This Bill is massive. It brings forth a lot of regulation that I am not sure
is particularly necessary for Bermuda.” A five-person Medical Cannabis
Authority would issue licences for the “use, by inhalation, cultivation and
possession” of the drug, as well as identification cards for cannabis use. The
authority would also keep an electronic database for licences and ID cards, and
designate inspectors to check up on premises involved in the supply of medical
cannabis. Dr Brown said the island would benefit from “something simpler”
— and that there appeared to be an unrealistic expectation that Bermuda could
develop “a next pillar of the economy” through exportation. He added:
“With medical cannabis, we are not talking about growing in a field. It has to
be grown in a facility with artificial lighting. It would be much too expensive
to export from Bermuda. I just feel because my patients are suffering, there is
a simpler way.” He said the Government should give immediate permission for
doctors to prescribe imported medical cannabis. Dr Brown added: “I have heard
from ministers that are ready and willing. I believe it’s the technical
officers that are dragging their feet. We have the mechanisms in place now to
prescribe it. The Government just needs to increase the limits. The framework is
already there — that’s how simple it is.” A spokeswoman for the Ministry
of Legal Affairs said last night: “The Minister of Legal Affairs tabled the
Bill for consultation and a framework is in place for all stakeholders to review
and share their views on the Bill and licensing regulations.” She added that
people could make their opinions known online at forum.gov.bm.
Trash
collection days have been changed for the holiday period. In Christmas week,
trash normally collected on Wednesday will be collected two days later on
Friday. Trash usually collected on Thursday and Friday will be collected on
Saturday. During the week starting New Year’s Day, trash normally collected on
Wednesday will be collected on Thursday. Trash normally collected on Thursday
will be collected on Friday and trash usually collected on Friday will be
collected on Saturday. Bermuda’s island-wide residential recycling collection
will remain unchanged. Tynes Bay Waste Facility will be closed to the public on
Christmas Day and will re-open from 9am to noon on Boxing Day and New Year’s
Day. Christmas tree collection will take place in all areas west of Tee Street
on January 18, and all areas east of Tee Street, including Pembroke, on January
25.
More
disabled parking bays are being introduced in Hamilton despite opposition from
store owners. The City of Hamilton announced it would increase the number of
disabled bays, from 45 to 73, to help cater for demand after more than 1,000
people applied for permits. Dwayne Caines, the chief operating officer for the
city, said: “There has been some pushback from retailers and, while we don’t
take this lightly, it is important to understand that the disabled shopper can
contribute greatly to the retail bottom line if they have access to parking.”
Ryan Gibbons, of A New Life, a group for amputees, said the move was a “great
initiative”. Mr Gibbons said: “Hopefully, they’ve added some bike bays to
the additional parking allocations because that is a concern for the challenged
community.” He added he was “shocked and disappointed” by opposition to
the increase. Mr Gibbons said: “I’d like to know what their reasoning is so
there could be some communication towards understanding the need and the
positive social impact for the longevity of the island’s ageing residents.”
Mr Caines warned that the city authority also planned a crackdown on people who
abused the disabled parking bay system. “It’s no secret that the disabled
bays are already grossly abused by able-bodied motorists due to a lack of
compassion, enforcement and any penalty. We’re hoping to rectify that in the
new year.” The city took part in the global Purple Tuesday campaign last month
to highlight the importance of disabled people’s contributions. Mr Caines
said: “We live in an ageing society and with more and more people applying for
the permits, current numbers stand at more than 1,000, we recognised that the 45
existing bays would need to be amplified, to better accommodate the needs of our
disabled. The city is currently installing a further 28 disabled parking bays
throughout the city, bringing the total number to 73, a mere 2 per cent of the
total.” Keith Simmons, the accessibility officer at the Ministry of Health’s
Ageing and Disability Services, said: “The additional bays are in line with
international disability standards in correlation to the number of disabled
permits that are currently active.”
Most of us are eagerly
awaiting the arrival of Christmas next week, but there is another religious
celebration about to begin. It’s called Hanukkah — traditionally spelt
Chanukkah — and it’s a custom that predates the birth of Jesus and the
celebration of Christmas. The date changes from year to year but this year,
the eight-day celebration begins at sunset tomorrow. This was explained by Fiona
Elkinson, who runs the Centre for The Jewish Community of Bermuda. She
noted: "Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple
in Jerusalem. In 168BC, while Judea was under Greek rule, the Syrian Greek ruler
Antiochus IV outlawed the Jewish religion and ordered the Jews to worship his
Greek gods. When they refused, he directed his soldiers to descend on Jerusalem
where they killed thousands of Jews and desecrated their temple. The Jews were
not allowed to pray to their God or eat their foods. [Antiochus IV] wanted to demoralize
them. He put idols in their temples and made them put pigs on their alter. He
desecrated it. They were not allowed to pray to their God or eat their foods.
They were forced to pray to the Greek gods, of which there are many, and Jews
did not believe in that.” In 165BC, after years of persecution, a small group
of Jews, now known as the Maccabees, staged a rebellion against Antiochus.
Despite their small numbers they defeated him, drove the Syrians out of
Jerusalem and reclaimed their temple. “There weren’t very many Maccabees,”
Ms Elkinson said. “Maybe a couple thousand of them. But on some whim, they
managed to win a few battles and get their temple back.” After reclaiming the
temple, the Maccabees went on to rebuild their altar and rededicate their temple
by lighting the menorah. The menorah, now known as the symbol of the Jewish
faith, is a golden candelabrum with seven branches. It’s an ancient Hebrew
fixture in the sanctuary with only the purest-quality olive oil allowed to burn
its lamps. The Maccabees went to light the menorah and ran into a significant
problem — there was no sacred or pure oil left in the temple. “They
couldn’t find any oil to relight the menorah,” Ms Elkinson said. “The
story goes that they searched for broken jars and jugs and found a little bit of
oil here and there that managed to be preserved through battle. But it was only
enough to last for a very short time. What they were able to scrape together did
not seem to be enough to keep the menorah lit. But they lit it anyway and went
out to source more oil from neighboring cities. To their surprise, when they
returned, the menorah was still burning. The oil lasted for eight days. The
significance of the eight days was, just like now, oil was not available in that
country. So they had to go somewhere else to find it and it would take days to
get it back to Jerusalem. The miracle of Hanukkah is that the little oil they
found lasted for eight days until they were able to return with more oil.”
This incredible event inspired the annual eight-day celebration of Hanukkah,
which means rededication. The Hanukkah menorah has eight candles in
commemoration of the each of the eight days the oil burnt. Some Biblical
scholars believe that Jesus celebrated Hanukkah, which of course would come as
no surprise since Jesus was a Jew. John 10:22 speaks of Jesus attending the
“festival of dedication”, which was most likely the precursor to the modern
Jewish celebration of Hanukkah. Hanukkah falls on a different date each year.
This is because the Jewish tradition follows a lunar calendar, in contrast to
the Gregorian calendar. Ms Elkinson said: “A lunar month is 30 days and there
are 12 of them, which makes a Jewish year 356 days. This brings the date back
and forth on the Gregorian calendar, but Hanukkah is always on the 25th of
Kislev every year.” This year, the 25th of Kislev on the Jewish calendar falls
on the December 22, thus beginning the ceremonial time. The eight days of
Hanukkah will end at sundown on December 30. Jews around the world will
commemorate this miracle in ancient history by sharing family meals or
traditional fried food, playing the old-fashioned game of dreidel and exchanging
a small gift each day. However, the most significant of Hanukkah traditions is
the lighting of one candle on the menorah for each of the eight days. In
Bermuda, there is a small but vibrant community of about 120 Jews. During
Hanukkah they come together on the first night to light the menorah and share in
fellowship. Tomorrow there will be a Hanukkah ceremony at The Centre for the
Jewish Community beginning at sunset.
Job
satisfaction among the working population appears to have increased over the
past year, the Minister for the Cabinet Office said yesterday. Wayne
Furbert revealed that underemployment dropped by more than 10 per cent between
May 2018 and May 2019, which had contributed to the job satisfaction rates. Mr
Furbert said: “I am very encouraged by several of the findings, which I
believe speak to this government’s commitment to invest in our people,
encourage small business development and grow our economy. For example, the
number of persons who were underemployed in May 2019 decreased by 10.6 per cent
when compared to May 2018, totaling 5,673 persons, or 16 per cent of the working
population. A sharp decline in underemployment signals an increased level of job
satisfaction among the working population. Measures of underemployment include
job holder dissatisfaction with working conditions, amount or scheduling of time
worked, concerns with duration of employment, whether temporary or seasonal
work, under-utilization of work skills and desire for higher pay.” Mr Furbert
added that the latest Labour Force Survey results showed that median annual
incomes for younger workers increased by almost 18 per cent over the period.
Overall unemployment was unchanged at 5.2 per cent, but the rate increased
“fractionally” for Bermudians. The LFS report from the Department of
Statistics, published on the Government’s website, explained that the
International Labour Organisation defined underemployment as “the under-utilization
of the productive capacity of the employed population. The under-employed
population is a subcategory of the employed population and is identified by
comparing their current employment situation with an ‘alternative’
employment situation that they are willing and available to carry out.” Almost
3,800 black people were said to be underemployed, compared to 958 white people.
Mr Furbert said that median annual income from the main jobs of people in the 16
to 24 age group rose by 17.8 per cent from $23,455 in May 2018 to “a
whopping” $27,631 a year later. He said that people of “mixed and other
racial backgrounds” saw their median incomes increase from $56,028 to $62,711,
or 11.9 per cent, over the 12 months. Mr Furbert added that non-Bermudians
marked an 8.8 per cent increase in their median incomes, from $67,401 to
$73,352. He explained: “The median is based on annual income before
deductions. Income data relates to the working population including full and
part-time workers, regardless of the number of hours and months worked. The term
labour force refers to those persons of working age who were 16 years or older
during the survey reference week and were either gainfully employed or available
and were looking for work.” Women’s median gross annual income dipped $1,740
from $63,297 to $61,557 in the twelve months from May last year. However, the
figures showed men enjoyed an increase of about $3,000, from $63,155 to $66,246.
The survey results indicated that the median gross annual income for black
people went up by $956 from $57,572 in May 2018 to $58,528 a year later. White
people earned an $81,753 median gross income in May last year, which dropped by
$2,825 to $78,928 twelve months later. Figures for November 2018 showed that not
all trends were consistent over the year. Mr Furbert said the island’s
unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.2 per cent from May 2018 to last May[2019].
The LFS report showed that “the unemployment rate for Bermudians increased
fractionally from 5.5 per cent to 5.6 per cent. The unemployment rate for
persons 16 to 24 years rose from 18.4 per cent to 23.8 per cent.” Mr Furbert
said: “The greatest gains in employment occurred among high school certificate
holders, which grew by 12.6 per cent from 10,627 to 11,969. Degree holders also
made significant strides in employment level as their numbers increased by 9 per
cent during this period. Other noteworthy gains in employment were recorded by
persons aged 25 to 34 years, and 65 years and older, which increased year over
year by 9.3 per cent and 8.1 per cent respectively.” The LFS report explained
that the survey reference week was May 13 to 19, 2019, and that 1,490
households, 99 per cent of its 1,500 sample target, completed the survey by the
end of a six-week data collection period last summer. It said that the sample
represented about 5 per cent of the 28,192 households registered in the 2016
Census. Aggregate results were expected to have a “confidence level” of 95
per cent with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 per cent.
Tourists
have stolen tonnes of Bermuda’s trademark pink sand from beaches, The
Department of Environment and Natural Resources has revealed. It is
estimated air visitors alone take a total of about three tonnes of sand a year
when they leave — more than the weight of three Kia Picanto cars. One report
found that 222 pounds of sand, eight pounds of shells, four pounds of dead
corals and a chunk of cave flowstone, hacked off the wall of a local cave, were
recovered by customs officers at LF Wade International Airport over a two-week
period. Those figures do not take into account items taken by cruise ship
passengers. The department said: “Comments on social media indicate that part
of the problem comes from local tour guides who are encouraging people to take
sand. Bermuda is not the only country encountering this issue. Theft of white
beach sand and rocks from the Italian island of Sardinia is very common and it
appears to be fuelled by a market for these items on the internet. It is
important to note that the importation of unspecialized sand and soil into the
USA, as well as many other countries, including Bermuda, is prohibited because
of the risk of spreading pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi and
micro-invertebrates.” The department said all of Bermuda’s public beaches
are either parks or nature reserves, which means that visitors are not allowed
to remove anything including sand and rocks. Bermuda’s corals are also
protected by law, and the Bermuda National Parks Act prohibits the taking of sea
glass from any area zoned as a park or nature reserve. The department said:
“There are a number of websites that promote the collection of sea glass from
Bermuda, and some of the most popular locations are on private lands close to
the Royal Naval Dockyard. However, collectors need to respect any restrictions
placed upon the areas they wish to visit. For example, the landowner of these
popular beaches has allowed public access, but prohibits the taking of sand or
glass. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources asks that tour
guides, the hospitality industry, and residents who have guests or customers
visiting from overseas be acquainted with local laws governing the collection of
keepsakes from the environment.” Alison Copeland, biodiversity officer with
the department, also warned the public against removing protected shells from
the island’s beaches. Ten types of shell are protected under the Fisheries
(Protected Species) Order, in many cases because they are used by the island’s
threatened land hermit crabs. Ms Copeland said: “The West Indian topshell is
the favourite shell choice of land hermit crabs in Bermuda, and also one of the
most commonly confiscated shells at our airport. Just like souvenir collectors,
crabs need unbroken shells free of cracks and holes. In some areas, it may seem
like there are many of these shells, and the taking of one should not be a big
deal, but you need to know that the population of topshells you see are the
result of nearly 40 years of careful conservation work.” Those convicted of
taking protected shells can face up to two years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
Ms Copeland added: “Instead of taking home the shells you find while
beachcombing, why not practice low impact travel by taking photos instead? By
removing shells from the beach, you could be killing an animal or depriving a
creature of its current or future home. You may also be breaking the law.”
The
new owners of the Fairmont Southampton will spend more than $25 million in
upgrades to the 47-year-old hotel. Miami-based Gencom, which already owns
Rosewood Tucker’s Point, said its 2017 venture into the island’s hotel
business had inspired them to double down on Bermuda. Alessandro Colantonio,
Gencom’s executive vice-president acquisitions and capital markets, said:
“We are really happy to be investing again in this destination. We couldn’t
be more pleased in the community, and everyone we have been in talks with has
been fantastic. We are happy to be a part of Bermuda and to help with the
island’s long-term success and we thought this was really the right time to
double down on Bermuda.” The company spent $25 million on renovations to the
Hamilton Parish Tucker’s Point resort. Mr Colantonio said the company planned
to spend even more on work at the Fairmont Southampton, the island’s largest
hotel. He added details, including the extent of the work and when it will take
place, will not be announced until next year. Mr Colantonio said: “We are
still in planning on the renovations. It will be more than what we spent on
Tucker’s Point, but I cannot give you a number yet.” He added the company
learnt a lot about the island from its work on Tucker’s Point, including the
cost of work in Bermuda, and will take those lessons into account. He said:
“We have certainly learnt more about the occupancy patterns, the trends and
what the customer wants when they come to Bermuda. I think these are things that
we will take to heart when we look at the renovations to the Fairmont
Southampton.” Mr Colantonio added: “We know the location there and have been
very positive about how it has been working with the Government and the people
and the property itself. A lot of the things that we stated when we first made
our decision to purchase Tucker’s Point still apply.” He said the two
properties targeted different sections of the market, as Tucker’s Point
focused on high-end visitors and Fairmont Southampton specialized in group
business. Mr Colantonio said: “Fairmont Southampton is a really unique resort.
The location, the presence it has. It’s scenic. One of the things we look for
in a property is that iconic draw. The beach club alone has the potential to be
among the best beach clubs in not just Bermuda, but the rest of the Caribbean
market. The golf course is very well done compared to what we have seen
elsewhere in the market. The hotel has a lot of unique assets, and the size of
it is unique in the market.” The BTA recently warned that group business is
expected to be down worldwide next year because of an increased number of
destinations in the market. However, Mr Colantonio said Gencom was not concerned
about “short term data”. He added the company was confident that the
hotel’s amenities and Bermuda’s special draw as a destination would protect
group business in the long term.
The
Fairmont Southampton hotel has been sold to a Miami-based company, it was
announced last night. Karim Alibhai, the founder of investment firm Gencom,
said he planned an ambitious programme of renovations at the landmark hotel. Mr
Alibhai added: “Acquiring Fairmont Southampton demonstrates Gencom’s
steadfast commitment to supporting the long-term growth of Bermuda’s tourism
and hospitality sector. The island is located less than three hours from most
major North American cities, making Bermuda a rare and accessible paradise. With
a planned restoration, we aim to create a wonderful, updated destination resort
experience at Fairmont Southampton for leisure and group travellers from all
over the world.” Gencom, which already owns the Rosewood Bermuda resort, did
not reveal the terms of the deal. But the company said in a press release that
it was committed to a “long-term investment” in the hotel, which will
continue to be managed by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. Zane DeSilva, the
Minister of Tourism and Transport, said the deal showed Gencom’s commitment to
the rebirth of the tourism industry. He added: “We support what it means for
this hallmark hotel and welcome the fact it sends a strong message to the world
about Bermuda’s tourism investment value.” Mr DeSilva shared the news in the
House of Assembly last night, when he also told MPs that the first phase of the
St Regis hotel development, in St George’s, was set to be completed April 2,
2021. He added: “This includes both the 122-room resort hotel as well as the
reopening of the affiliated Robert Trent Jones designed golf course.” Kevin
Dallas, BTA CEO, welcomed news of the Fairmont Southampton’s sale and pledged
to work to build on the hotel’s success. Mr Dallas said: “As with Gencom’s
purchase of Rosewood Bermuda, this major investment underscores robust
confidence in our island’s hospitality sector and signals the start of a new
era for this landmark property. The acquisition and any resulting enhancements
at the Fairmont Southampton resort will benefit the hotel, drive eventual growth
in our group-sales sector, and strengthen the overall quality of Bermuda’s
tourism product as we revitalize this industry to keep the island
competitive.” Gencom added that it was committed to a significant investment
in the long-term success of the resort. It said: “Gencom is currently
reviewing all aspects of the property and anticipates a full reveal of their
reimagined designs for the resort in 2020.” The firm bought Tucker’s Point,
which became Rosewood Bermuda, in 2017 and renovated at an estimated cost of $25
million. Alessandro Colantonio, Gencom’s executive vice-president acquisitions
and capital markets, said the firm’s experience with Tucker’s Point would
benefit its efforts to improve the Fairmont Southampton. He said: “As a result
of our successful acquisition and renovation of Rosewood Bermuda, Gencom has
gained acute knowledge and experience in the Bermuda market. We are well-poised
to properly restore the iconic Fairmont Southampton, further expanding our local
relationships and presence in the market. Through our planned investments, the
resort will once again become a leading destination for both leisure and group
travellers.” The Fairmont Southampton was owned by AccorHotels, which took
over the Fairmont Hotels group in 2015. The Royal Gazette reported in May
that the AccorHotels wanted to sell the 593-room hotel, which has ten
restaurants, a spa, an 18-hole golf course and amphitheatre and more than 25,000
square feet of meeting space.
Bermuda
International Long Term Insurers and Reinsurers saw an 11 per cent leap in
membership this year. The number of companies joining Biltir, which
represents the island’s long-term insurers and reinsurers who provide life and
annuity products such as pensions, grew from 55 to 61 this year. Five
reinsurance companies, Fortitude Reinsurance, Gibraltar Reinsurance, Oceanview
Reinsurance, Sagicor Reinsurance Bermuda, and 777 Reinsurance, and one service
provider (Artex Risk Solutions), joined the association in 2019. Assets managed
by the long-term industry in Bermuda grew to nearly $500 billion at the end of
2018 — a large majority of which are controlled by Biltir members. Biltir
member companies employ 540 people on the island and contribute more than $200
million in direct expenditure in Bermuda each year. “The long-term insurance
and reinsurance industry continues to be a major growth engine for Bermuda, both
by number of companies and by assets managed,” Biltir executive director
Ronnie Klein said. “While Biltir is extremely happy with acquiring six new
members in 2019, it is even more pleased with the increased engagement by all of
our members. In 2020, we fully expect Biltir’s growth to continue with at
least two companies already committed to joining our organisation. With the
strong leadership of our board, dedication of our staff, engagement by our
members and co-operation from our sister organisations, regulator and
Government, Biltir will continue to grow and serve the long-term insurance and
reinsurance industry in Bermuda.”
By
reducing its energy consumption by 117,700 kilowatt hours, replacing ageing
equipment, banning single-use plastics, and collecting rainwater from it roof,
the Chubb Building has become a shiny example for others. The building on
Woodbourne Avenue is the first in Bermuda to be awarded Leed Platinum status,
the highest level of recognition in the green building certification programme
that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. Chubb’s
building has twice been reclassified at the gold level, most recently in January
when it scored 72 points in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,
programme. It has now gone to the top of the class locally after earning 81
points on the 100-point certification scale. Platinum certification is awarded
for buildings that score 80 points or higher. The programme is operated by the
more on the US Green Building Council. The Chubb Building’s improved
performance has been helped by a five per cent decrease in its energy
consumption, which represents the same amount of electricity that would power
336 homes in Bermuda for a month. Colin Brown, vice-president of facilities and
Leed project manager for Chubb in Bermuda, said achieving the platinum
certification had been an aspirational goal for the company. “We are gratified
and honoured that Chubb’s efforts to continually enhance the environmental
performance of this building have been recognised. We are proud to lead the way
as the first and only building in Bermuda to earn Leed Platinum
certification.” Chubb has a Leed dynamic plaque on display in the building’s
main lobby, to calculate the building’s performance data on the 100-point
scale across the five Leed categories that are impactful to human health and the
environment, which include energy, water, waste, transportation and human
experience. “The plaque serves as a constant reminder to employees to be
environmentally conscious, which helps to maintain our high standards of
green-building operations,” Mr Brown said. A key objective of Chubb’s
environmental programme is to measure, record and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions in its own operations. In May, Chubb announced a company-wide
initiative to reduce its global greenhouse gas emissions 20 per cent on an
absolute basis by 2025, and by 40 per cent by 2035.
The
Olderhood Group is taking its popular radio show online in partnership with The
Royal Gazette. After two successful years on the airwaves, the Olderhood
team is bringing its lifestyle and financial content to the world wide web. The
first ten-minute segment, posted on The Royal Gazette website today, is entitled
Can I Retire Yet? The Olderhood team includes Bill Storie, Robin Trimingham and
Martha Harris Myron — each of whom writes a column for The Royal Gazette —
as well as Amoti Nyabongo and other subject matter experts. They will offer tips
and advice on a range of issues including financial and retirement matters,
lifestyle and women’s issues. New Olderhood Radio content will be posted twice
weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays. The Olderhood Group has about 100,000 followers
in 100 countries on its own social media platforms and shares its content with
network partners worldwide. Mr Storie, Olderhood CEO, said: “Olderhood is
delighted to be working in partnership with The Royal Gazette, who will upload
the information segments each week. All segments will be made available globally
through our various social media and network platforms.”
The
Attorney-General and legal affairs minister tabled yesterday legislation to
legalise medical cannabis and regulations to govern licences for growers and
importers, Kathy Lynn Simmons told the Senate the Bill and regulations — which
include the setting up of a Medical Cannabis Authority — were presented as a
public consultation draft. She said there were “passionate views” and
different opinions by medical experts on medical cannabis. Ms Simmons added:
“Public consultation is meaningful, at this stage, because now that a draft
framework is fleshed out in legislation, we hope it encourages constructive
feedback and comments, rather than fuelling polarizing arguments in the
abstract.” She told senators: “I can confidently say that this Bill and the
regulations will fulfil this Government’s promise to deliver new mechanisms
for lawful access to medicinal cannabis by way of a prescription from a medical
professional and dispensed by a pharmacist and establishes the legislative
infrastructure for the implementation of domestic medicinal cannabis production,
while also satisfying Bermuda’s international obligations.” Ms Simmons
added: “The proposed framework will also include sufficient regulation and
controls to prevent abuse of the domestic medicinal cannabis scheme.” She said
the cannabis authority would regulate cultivation, importation for cultivation
and possession when prescribed by a doctor for inhalation. Ms Simmons added the
MCA would also govern exportation of the drug, as well as the manufacture of
cannabis products, research and development and transportation. She said the
Medicinal Cannabis Act 2019 would also “establish a licensing scheme for the
local cultivation and manufacturing of cannabis for medicinal and scientific
purposes, to provide for monitoring, inspection and enforcement powers for
inspectors and to empower the minister to give directions to the authority”.
Ms Simmons added: “The accompanying regulations will be stringent, providing
extensive provisions for the application requirements necessary for the various
types of licences available under the medical cannabis scheme and will also
prescribe to whom and how a licence will be granted or may be renewed or
revoked.” She said: “Furthermore, the regulations give the Medicinal
Cannabis Authority sufficient discretionary powers to impose various conditions
on a licence before it is granted.” Ms Simmons added that the MCA would also
be able to use its funds to boost social programmes designed to tackle drug
abuse. The MCA will also be responsible for the issue of an ID card scheme, a
central register and compulsory record-keeping by doctors. A valid ID card will
allow patients to use and carry medicinal cannabis and authorized caregivers can
also be designated by users of the drug so they can assist with obtaining and
administering medical cannabis without the risk of breaking the law. Ms Simmons
said that the Bill and regulations also outlined the legislative framework for a
Bermudian medical cannabis industry. She added: “Private enterprise and free
market forces will determine over time the size and economic benefits of such an
industry. Assuredly, Bermuda’s economic heritage allows us to capitalize on
our strengths, such as size, scale and ease of regulation.” She said that
Bermuda had a good reputation for its regulation in other sectors like
reinsurance. Ms Simmons added: “This scheme creating a medicinal cannabis
industry is no different. The vision is, if we build it — well — they will
come.”
Work
to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis means Bermuda held
its place among a small group of countries to be internationally recognised for
the achievement. The Ministry of Health revealed today that the island was
revalidated with EMTCT status after its initial certification in June 2017. It
added that the status was a “prestigious public health accomplishment”
achieved by only 11 countries worldwide. Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health,
said: “We were delighted and very proud of that achievement. However, once
achieved, EMTCT must be maintained. EMTCT validation indicates that Bermuda is
proficient at preventing mother-to-child transmission of these infections. Good
antenatal care, early testing for HIV and syphilis and treatment for HIV
positive mothers can prevent transmission of HIV from an HIV-positive mother to
her infant during pregnancy, labour, delivery, or breastfeeding. However, HIV
remains a threat and complacency is especially dangerous. Both HIV and
congenital syphilis have serious implications for the lives of babies and can be
prevented. Hence, the importance of maintaining elimination status.” The
ministry explained that validation of elimination status was made by a special
committee of the World Health Organisation, which assesses a country’s systems
to check for HIV and syphilis in pregnancy, its laboratory capacity for accurate
testing and access to antenatal care for all adolescents and women. The
committee also looks at private and public healthcare collaboration as well as
care quality. Countries must demonstrate to Global Validation Advisory Committee
standards that the country’s programmes and procedures can be relied upon to
identify early and treat cases of the diseases during pregnancy. The standards
do not require that the conditions are absent in a community, but countries must
show that pregnant women are adequately tested and cared for. Programme
indicators confirmed that in Bermuda more than 95 per cent of pregnant women are
tested early in pregnancy for HIV and syphilis. To meet the requirement for both
diseases, a country must show:
Ms Wilson said: “In September, Bermuda sent the required maintenance report to GVAC. Our report indicated both the processes used in Bermuda to assure all babies and mothers are tested for HIV and syphilis and provided necessary treatment to prevent mother-to-baby transmission. In addition, we provided feedback on how Bermuda had responded to the recommendations made by the committee during the initial validation visit in June 2017. In order to prepare a maintenance report required an enormous amount of work on the part of the ministry to collect data from Bermuda Hospitals Board, Register General and Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit. We are particularly grateful for the generous collaborations with Department of Health and BHB professionals who played a critical role in this achievement by providing an enormous amount of clinical information.” The ministry said that the GVAC told health officials this month that Bermuda was “in a very strong position to continue to maintain validation of EMTCT of HIV and syphilis”. It highlighted the island’s “strong expertise and commitment” to the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of the diseases and commended Bermuda for “these national, regional and global achievements”. The next review for maintenance of validation of EMTCT will be September 2021.
A
plan to introduce free public wi-fi to North East Hamilton could be a major
boost for businesses in the area, store owners said yesterday. Everton
Dawes, the owner of Casual Footwear on Court Street, said that wi-fi could help
stores expand into the online market. He explained: “It would help businesses
get an internet presence or accept credit cards. So if people come into the
store and they don’t have money they can log onto their phone and transfer
money.” Mr Dawes said that business owners would also be encouraged to
advertise on social media. “The wi-fi would really help those people who are
online shoppers. Someone could browse the web, make a selection online and then
the business can do a personal order for that person.” He was speaking after
the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation announced a plan to set up a public
and private wi-fi network across the area. Dennikia Roberts, the owner of
Embellish Boutique, also on Court Street, said that the network could help
attract customers into the area. “It’s definitely going to draw a crowd
because everybody loves wi-fi. Anything free is going to draw people, so I can
definitely see my customer base increasing because of this.” She added she and
her sister, Dennishia, who is also her business partner, moved their store into
the area in May and that she had noticed it was hard for people to get access to
the internet. “I’ve even had business owners come here and ask to use
the wi-fi, then it gets slow because everybody’s using it.” The BEDC this
week extended its deadline for proposals to create the network from tomorrow to
January 3. The corporation posted a request for proposal on the Government
website last month for qualified companies to submit proposals to provide the
wireless network. It explained: “The system will provide no-fee public access
to the internet within the coverage area and will be able to accommodate needs
of patrons to North East Hamilton area businesses, citizens, students, and
numerous special event attendees in several annual events. The system will also
provide a private secure access to the internet within the same coverage area.
The BEDC intends to have a portal page for system access, which may be used to
facilitate the dissemination of NEH related news and information.” The BEDC
plan said the public and private wi-fi network would cover the North East
Hamilton Economic Empowerment Zone. It added that the project could be used as a
template for similar schemes elsewhere on the island. Avis Soares, an employee
at Court Street’s Jamaican Grill, said that the wi-fi could benefit everyone
in the area, not just business owners. She explained: “Not everyone has money
to pay for wi-fi, so it would be a big help to a lot of people. They can stay in
touch with their people abroad, but also shop online like the majority of
people.” Ms Soares added that internet access would also put more customers in
touch with island restaurants through the Sargasso Sea delivery service. She
explained: “I work late nights so I understand that sometimes people don’t
want to get out of their beds. So they can just call Sargasso, place the order
online, and then someone can come up here when it’s done and they’re good to
go. The restaurants will be more established, so people can find their
locations, know where they are and just do what they have to do online.” Ryan
Brimmer, from Devonshire and a regular customer at Court Street businesses, said
a free network connection would help people who could otherwise not afford the
service. He explained: “I could get free wi-fi across the street from one of
the exempt companies, but those types of privileges aren’t afforded to people
around these parts. So if anyone is able to implement that, I think that’d be
good. I think that’s well worth the effort.”
The
Leader of the Opposition tonight asked Christmas shoppers to back island stores.
Craig Cannonier warned the grim economic climate meant the festive season could
be “make or break” for some retailers. He said: “We have all by now read
how the retail sector in Bermuda is suffering from a collapse of sales
volume." Mr Cannonier said that he “would urge people, where they can, to
spend money on gifts locally. I know that many people are suffering thanks to
new and increased taxes and charges and that it can sometimes be cheaper to buy
online, but the retail sector here employs only Bermudians — thousands of
Bermudians.” Mr Cannonier said 200 jobs have been lost in the retail sector
over the past two years. He added: “Let’s use this holiday season to try and
make sure no one else is left unemployed in 2020. So please, if you can and in
the time that is left, use this holiday season to give the gift of a job to a
Bermudian — and shop local.”
A
trial date will be set for a lawyer charged with assault and wounding a woman
despite his claims that the woman wanted to drop the case. Crown prosecutor
Maria Sofianos said that she was “more than alarmed” that Kamal Worrell, 39,
was still in touch with the alleged victim, despite his bail conditions
forbidding contact. She told Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday: “In these types
of matters involving domestic violence it is very important that the Crown acts
in the public interest and protects the rights of the complainant. More often
than not in these types of offences there is interference and the complainant
ends up withdrawing.” Ms Sofianos was speaking after Mr Worrell claimed that
the alleged victim, Chavelle Dillon, had tried to withdraw her complaint. Mr
Worrell, from Warwick, was charged with assault and wounding Ms Dillon in
Warwick on August 28. The incident was alleged to have happened on June 1. He
later faced six other assault charges with the same alleged victim. These were
alleged to have happened in Warwick on November 14 last year. Mr Worrell denied
all the charges. He was released on $5,000 bail and ordered to have no contact
with Ms Dillon. Mr Worrell told the court on December 9 that he got a letter
from Ms Dillon and claimed that she wanted to withdraw her complaint. He asked
the court to dismiss the case against him. Mr Worrell added: “I understand the
process is that, once that indication is given, that person is facilitated in
order to make a formal withdrawal statement. This complainant has been denied
that because the prosecution has decided that they will proceed in any event.
There is no complaint. The allegations are untruthful.” Ms Sofianos, who
earlier appeared for the Crown, was not present at the December hearing and the
case was adjourned until yesterday. She told the court that Mr Worrell’s
argument was “an issue for trial” that needed to be heard at the appropriate
time. Ms Sofianos added that Mr Worrell was in breach of his bail conditions
after he and Ms Dillon were seen together several times, including at his home.
She added: “I would say that the court can infer that there’s a matter of
coercion going on here. This is exactly why we are seeking a trial date for this
matter and it is in the interests of justice to set a trial date.” Magistrate
Tyrone Chin adjourned the case until January 22. He did not order forfeiture of
Mr Worrell’s bail or remand him in custody. But Mr Chin said: “Mr
Worrell’s treading on very shaky ground. It may cause him to lose his
liberties.”
A
Hamilton liquor store got a shot of Christmas spirit yesterday after it won a
festive window display competition. The City of Hamilton announced that
Gosling’s on Front Street had scooped the top prize for its “Rum Rudolph”
themed window. Leanna Lambert, of Gosling’s, said: “We want to thank the
City of Hamilton for putting on the competition. We knew we wanted to take the
top award home this year.” Gosling’s worked with creative studio Uber Super
Duper on the festive display, which was created with a white marker, a red
Gosling’s bottle cap and a custom-made piece of white board. Ms Lambert also
offered “a huge thanks to Sami and his creative team at Uber Super Duper who
brought our vision to life”. Sami Lill, founder and creative director of Uber
Super Duper, added: “The default solution for retailers is often to simply put
their products in their shop windows. “Since this is one of the most
well-known and iconic brands in Bermuda and the store has famously occupied this
high-profile location ever since 1824, we approached it in an artistic,
attention grabbing way. We look forward to pushing boundaries with Goslings
again.” Demco to Go, a Church Street florist, won second place and the
People’s Choice Award and clothing shop Urban Cottage, on Front Street, took
the third spot. Carmen Phillips of Demco to Go, said: “As a creative business,
we are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as winners in the People’s
Choice category. We held an internal competition to design the window and, as
creativity is our passion, our team is humbled by the many votes our window
received.” The competition was judged by a panel which included an interior
designer, an art director, a photographer and an event producer. Gosling’s got
a $1,000 Belco voucher for their victory and Demco to Go got a $350 gift voucher
to Masters for its People’s Choice win.
Almost
every product and piece of craftwork has been made or designed by Bermudians,
and is ready to be snapped up as a festive gift. For a third year, two rooms
in the historic Waterville property in Paget have been turned into a pop-up shop
by the Bermuda National Trust. It is an Aladdin’s cave of treasures created by
locals, offering Bermuda-centric gifts, some of which are one-of-a-kind
exclusive. Among the items are fish art in wood carved and painted by Robert
Fisher; hanging candles in etched bottles by Robert Marirez; new pieces of
jewellery by Cindy Mitchell; and eye-catching, inlaid backgammon and checker
boards by Silvia Darling. There are handmade bluebird boxes, and cake sprinkles
that resemble the colourful kaleidoscope of Bermuda sand. Diana Downs, a Bermuda
National Trust volunteer at the pop-up shop, said: “It gets the word out.
People like to come and shop on their way by. There’s plenty of parking space.
And people are very generous.” For the first time the Trust is selling jars of
its own honey, collected from a hive at one of its properties. There is also jam
by Sally Godet, as well as books, cards and candles. Elsewhere in the pop-up
there are reusable straws from Ashley’s Lemonade, some are foldable, while
others are made of bamboo, glass and metal. There are leather Bermuda clutch
bags and purses by Bermuda Born, pottery by Jonathan Northcott, cards by Emma
Ingham, and bottles and woodwork by Christopher Dakin. Tomorrow, there is a
holiday crafts event for children aged 8 to 12, where youngsters can learn
holiday craft activities and stories. It runs from 9am to 3pm and costs $50, or
$70 for those who wish to stay until 5pm. The Waterville property is at 2
Pomander Road, opposite the entrance to Aberfeldy Nurseries and Garden Centre.
The pop-up shop is open daily from 9am to 5pm, with Christmas Eve being the
final day. On Saturday, the shop is open from 10am to 5pm.
Security at a post office was
under review yesterday after three men launched an attack on a man in front of
shocked customers. The trio punched the 22-year-old victim several times
after they burst into Warwick Post Office wearing dark-tinted motorcycle helmets
at about 4pm on Monday. Police said a fourth man stood at the door of the
facility on Middle Road while the attack happened in front of “astonished
customers”. The attackers ran from the building after the incident. Police
said the man did not appear to have suffered serious injuries as a result of the
attack. Wayne Furbert, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, said yesterday:
“Although this incident is indeed deeply regrettable, I am relieved to learn
that no post office staff or customers were injured. I would also like to
commend the staff members who were on duty at the time and who acted promptly
and appropriately, despite being understandably shaken. Security is being
reviewed to ensure the maximum safety of our staff and customers going
forward.” Mr Furbert added: “I would like to offer my support to the Bermuda
Police Service.” The suspects were said to be brown complexioned males,
wearing dark-coloured jackets and black helmets. Police said it was believed
they left the area on separate motorcycles and have appealed for witnesses or
anyone with relevant information to contact them. Anyone with information that
could help the inquiry should call police on 295-0011 or the independent and
anonymous Crime Stoppers hotline on 800-8477.
A
man armed with a machete who was involved in a stand-off with police was
“blackout drunk”, Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday. The court heard
that Russell Robinson had gone to his office at the Lorraine Rest Home in
Warwick and noticed the door had been forced. He found Dimetri Robinson, who is
not related, inside the office and armed with a machete. The defendant told Mr
Robinson: “If you call the police, I’ll chop you with this machete.”
Dimetri Robinson left the rest home before Russell Robinson called the police.
Officers later found the defendant on Middle Road in Warwick with the machete in
his hand. A brief stand-off between Robinson and police ended when he was
arrested for possession of a bladed article in public. The incident happened on
November 11. Robinson, 40, from Warwick, pleaded guilty to possession of the
machete in public and threatening Russell Robinson. He told magistrate Tyrone
Chin that he was “blackout drunk” at the time and had no recollection of the
incident. He added: “I need help, your Worship, I’m tired of this. I’ve
seen what drinking does to me. It makes me do stupidness.” Mr Chin remanded
Robinson in custody for a social inquiry report and a drug assessment. The case
was adjourned until January 5.
Police
have appealed for witnesses to a gun murder a year ago to come forward. A
police spokesman said the shooting of Paul Johnson outside his home in
Pembroke’s Rambling Lane on December 10 last year was still under
investigation. It is believed that the gunman lay in wait until he returned
home. The spokesman said residents in the Rambling Lane area may have seen
people acting suspiciously before the shooting. He said: “Time has passed, but
the events of that early morning are still relevant today and you hold the key
to bringing the offenders to justice, and closure to Paul Johnson’s family and
the community, that is still grieving. Several witnesses have been interviewed,
however there are still members of our community that have not come forward. The
investigators want to speak with you.” Mr Johnson had been at a party at the
former Grand Bar on Hamilton’s Church Street on the night he was killed. He
left in a car with friends and later arrived home on his motorcycle. Anyone with
information that could help the inquiry should contact Detective Sergeant Jason
Smith on 717-0864.
A
man was remanded in custody for drug importation yesterday despite a plea that
he needed to care for his sick mother. Magistrates’ Court heard that
customs officers at LF Wade International Airport found cannabis resin worth
almost $123,000 on May 30 in a package addressed to Michael Johnson. Officers
inspected the package and the two machine parts inside and found a plantlike
material when they removed a drill bit. A further inspection found 1,229.7 grams
of cannabis resin hidden in the machine parts. Police were alerted and tracked
the package as Johnson made arrangements to have it delivered to him on July 3.
Officers confronted Johnson and searched his home in Hamilton Parish after the
parcel was handed over and arrested him. Johnson, 51, admitted the offence
yesterday. Maria Sofianos, for the Crown, asked that Johnson be remanded in
custody until a social inquiry report on him was completed. Kamal Worrell, for
the defence, argued that his client was the sole caregiver for his elderly
mother, who had suffered heart attacks and strokes. Ms Sofianos said that
Johnson admitted the charge in March this year and had missed previous court
dates. She added that he had “ample time to get his affairs in order”.
Magistrate Tyrone Chin remanded Johnson in custody until February 4 for a social
inquiry report.
Electricity
rates are going down in the new year, resulting in the average residential
customer seeing an expected 2.3 per cent reduction in their monthly bill.
Before any figures were released a Bermuda Government minister had said there
would be a “slashing” of the electricity retail tariffs, while Belco
referred to the changes as a “modest reduction”. The Regulatory Authority,
and the Government released statements yesterday about the reductions, with
Belco doing so today. However, initially there were no figures mentioned. Belco
has now released a table illustrating bill impacts when the new rates are
applied to meters on January 1. The table shows that a residential user using
300 kWh per month would see their bill go from $105.81 this month to $102.29 in
January, a 3.33 per cent reduction. A user consuming 600 kWh, referred to as the
average residential customer, would see their bill reduce by just over $5, or
2.31 per cent. Meanwhile, a residential user of 1,500 kWh per month will benefit
from $4.50 reduction, or 0.69 per cent. In addition, there are illustrations of
the impact on bills for commercial users, ranging from a 0.44 per cent reduction
on a bill for 500 kWh, to a 0.64 per cent reduction on a 1,500 kWh bill. A user
with a 5,500 kWh bill would see a 0.02 per cent reduction in their bill. The new
rates have been developed by Belco and the RA to implement a retail tariff
methodology issued by the RA last year. The RA was the first to announce the
imminent reductions when, in a statement yesterday, it said retail tariffs for
Bermuda’s electricity sector will be decreased across all customer groups.
This was followed a few hours later by a statement from Walter Roban, Minister
of Home Affairs, who said: “As a government elected with a mandate to improve
the quality of Bermudians’ lives and to drive down the cost of living, we are
pleased that the Regulatory Authority has today assisted in the delivery of one
aspect of our agenda; driving down the cost of electricity via the slashing of
electricity retail tariffs. From day one, the Government has refused to support
a raise of Belco retail rates and sought ways to drive power costs down. Now,
relief is on the way.” Belco was the last to confirm new rates are on the way,
issuing a statement this afternoon. Dennis Pimental, president of Belco, said:
“Belco remains committed to keeping rates as low as possible and we welcome
the new rate reduction. Although we have encountered significant cost pressures
during recent years, including inflation and decreased demand for electricity
resulting from population decreases, Belco has continued to invest approximately
$250 million in our infrastructure. These upgrades will allow us to import
renewables onto the grid, ensuring reliable and sustainable electricity for
Bermuda. Despite these pressures and investments, we have not raised
customers’ electricity rates. Instead, we have focused on efficiencies and
savings. For example, the North Power Station and Battery Storage System are
expected to save $20 million per year on fuel costs. We are projected to save
more than $30 million in expenditures compared to 2015 through efficiencies and
material savings.” Mr Pimental said the company will continue working with the
RA on reducing rates for Belco customers and providing a safe and secure energy
future for Bermuda.
International
sporting events have put Bermuda in the spotlight, and money into island tills,
the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s chief executive said. Kevin Dallas said
that MS Amlin World Triathlon Bermuda may have generated less buzz on the island
because of the absence of home-grown superstar Flora Duffy from the main event,
but the competition was more successful than in 2018 in terms of visitor
numbers. He said early indicators suggested the first PGA Bermuda Championship
was also a success for the island, Mr Dallas said: “The reason why we went for
this event was when we looked at what the PGA tour could bring to Bermuda, it
was a function of both the direct economic impact of having the event and the
media value of the viewership. This was an alternate event; it ran opposite to
[the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament] in China, but the reason we went for it was
this was priced as an alternate event, but it has a disproportionate value media
exposure because the event it is opposite is in China. Most alternate events
don’t get the prime-time live broadcast because that goes to the World Golf
Championship — this event did. We are really pleased by the initial figures we
have seen and pleased by the rebroadcasts, but we are waiting on the Nielson
data and the KPMG report before we can definitively say what the event produced
both in direct impact and media value.” Mr Dallas predicted the Bermuda
Championship would be a bigger event in the future. He said: “This year, I
think the Bermuda Championship was organised on a runway that no one thought
possible, and the quality of the event that was delivered gives us the content
and the data that will make it a much easier sell to potential sponsors, to
visitors, to anyone who might choose to activate for a corporate event around
that. We are bullish on the potential of that event for next year, especially
now that there is a full year to plan it.” Meanwhile, Mr Dallas acknowledged
the absence of our own international superstar affected WTS Bermuda. But he
added: “We are super excited to have [Duffy] back in 2020 and really thrilled
about the Grand Finals in 2021. We actually had more visitors than we had last
year, so the economic impact of that event actually went up this year.” Mr
Dallas said the drive for sports tourism will continue next year with even more
events on the calendar. He explained the United States Tennis Association
Foundation Pro-Am would be held in April. Mr Dallas said: “When we became the
official tourism partner with the US Open, they agreed to host an event here in
Bermuda that will bring tennis stars and rising stars.” The tournament will
also be broadcast on the Tennis Channel, which is expected to give Bermuda extra
exposure overseas. Next year will also feature the regular Newport-Bermuda yacht
race and the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, which will stop in Hamilton in
June. Mr Dallas said that legislation designed to encourage super yachts to
visit the island would also come into force next month. He added: “In the long
run we are very confident that we can develop ourselves as a yacht market, but
we need to recognise that we are not in the Caribbean, so a lot of the
island-hopping that charter boats do in that region is not available here. But
there are compelling itineraries for boats to be here. The ambition at this
stage is that many of the boats are already passing by us as they go between the
Mediterranean and the Caribbean, so our goal in the short term is to get more of
them to stop for longer and to get more of their owners to come by and use the
boat while it is here.”
There
is more a physiotherapist can offer than simply passive treatment, and that’s
why there is a gym and fitness space in the new clinic run by Bruno Teixeira.
The Bermudian physiotherapist and personal trainer opened PhysioActive Ltd, on
Par-la-Ville Road, last month. Having an activity space and gym, as well as
traditional treatment rooms, is a crucial component to the clinic, he said.
“Having a gym was always my big thing. I need to have the big treatment room,
a space to actually exercise. To me it makes total sense. If you are going to
give exercises to people, why not have the facility, the space,” he said.
“There are different approaches to physiotherapy. I’m an active therapist. I
definitely lean more on exercise than anything. It’s the most effective
approach to rehab, and some people would say it is what actually gets people
better and makes them stronger.” His clinic is in the heart of Hamilton’s
business district, and that means there are plenty of potential clients nearby
— those who find themselves sitting behind a desk for hours on end and
“losing years from their life”. Mr Teixeria said: “It’s about getting
the working population active. Fitness is crucial, it leads to better lifestyle,
longevity and have a more fulfilling life. We have the potential to be a really
active community, but we are not.” Seniors and retirees can do fall prevention
programmes and improve their general wellbeing. The clinic has wheelchair access
and offers treatments and assessments in English and Portuguese. Mr Teixeira, a
former head boy at Warwick Academy, has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology
from Dalhousie University, and a bachelor’s in kinesiology and exercise
science from the University of British Columbia. In addition, he has a
bachelor’s and postgraduate diploma in physiotherapy from Keele University in
England. He has trained in the UK’s National Health Service, and did a spell
as a physiotherapist with English professional football club Port Vale. When he
returned to Bermuda he worked as a physiotherapist with the Bermuda Hospitals
Board for more than five years. While there he “got a feel for what Bermuda
needs” and this led to him seeking the opportunity to do more and open his own
clinic. PhysioActive is on the ground floor of 14 Par-la-Ville Road. The
renovated space includes a gym/fitness space and two private treatment rooms.
“Although you have to be active and have a space for strengthening, there is
also the need for some of the passive stuff and assessments and some
treatments.” The physiotherapy clinic is focused on personal rehabilitation
and health prevention goals. Among its treatment options are manual therapy,
soft tissue mobilisation massage, acupuncture and electro-acupuncture, and dry
needling. There’s also patient education, home exercise programmes, gait
re-education, self management plans and return to work programmes. Mr Teixeira
has a background in sports and as a personal trainer. Between his spells at
universities he ran the local company Conscious Movements. Previously he
competed for Bermuda in the national swimming team, and while at Port Vale he
stayed active and explored different training methods and techniques. During his
years working in the clinical physiotherapy with the BHB he saw young people
with lower back pain and chronic illnesses, a lot of which could be prevented,
such as strokes and cardiovascular disease. “My goal is to empower people and
get them active. It’s most gratifying to see a client come in and build some
confidence to go out and care for their body and health,” he said. He believes
exercise is fundamental to physiotherapy treatment. “The number one thing is
the exercising, the strengthening. Some people like to have the assistance, the
guidance. Sometimes it is just to get them started, while others enjoy having
the one-on-one.” As a personal trainer educated in physiotherapy he can analyze
a person’s movements to uncover deficits or areas that need attention to get
them stronger or healthier. “Sometimes I get athletes in, gymnasts, runners,
and triathletes, and work on those faults and little areas that need a little
more tweaking to aid them in their training.” There are also first-timers with
ambitions to tackle the Bermuda Day Half Marathon Derby or a local triathlon,
who require guidance. “First timers get out there and are going at it, and
some are just not educated or not following proper plans that are bettered
tailored for them. They pick up injuries and never show up at the start line. So
it would be better to get more people healthier and prepared for those things.
Then there is the average Joe who has blood pressure creeping up, cholesterol,
things like that they need to address before they pick up illnesses.”
PhysioActive intends to share fitness and rehab tips on social media. People can
book appointments directly on its website, while Mr Teixeira welcomes people to
come along and see the facility. It is waiving consultation fees until the end
of January. Additionally, it is running a promotion for a 90-day
weight-management programme. It can also do packages for corporate entities with
fitness goals. “Ultimately it is just getting the community healthy, whether
you are sitting at a desk or working on light poles,” Mr Teixeira said.
Tashun
Simons is continuing to carve his path in the footballing world, as he aims to
one day fulfil his dream of refereeing a Fifa international. Since becoming
the first Bermudian football official in more than a decade to be named on the
Fifa International Referees List in 2017, Simons, has made steady progress
overseas, being selected as a referee’s assistant for two matches in the
Concacaf Nations League last year, as well as an international friendly between
the United States and Venezuela and a host of Olympic Games qualifiers,
including Grenada, Cayman Islands and Haiti this year. Having turned 25, Simons
is now eligible for his full Fifa referee badge, however, the former Young
Men’s Social Club striker, conceded he will spend the next year continuing as
an assistant referee for Fifa, gaining more experience, while he waits to take
the next step up. “The matches this year were definitely another step up
compared to what I had done before but thankfully they didn’t feel completely
different, which gave me confidence and a morale boost. They were quite intense
occasions because, again, it was at a professional level, but it was more about
keeping pace with the game and staying focused. I’m back on the Fifa list for
2020, so internationally I’ll be working as an assistant for the next year.
Hopefully, by the end of March, I will have a few more confirmed matches lined
up. Becoming a referee with Fifa is definitely achievable; everything is. They
have already seen me working as an assistant and it’s just a case of making
that transition.” With his ultimate dream on standby, for the immediate future
at least, Simons is deciding what direction to take next as he continues his
progression. "It’s still a little up in the air in terms of what I’m
actually going to do moving forward. I have to decide whether to step away from
being an assistant and then waiting a year to possibly be put on as a referee or
continue progressing as an assistant. Fifa have implemented a few more things to
try and raise the standard of refereeing, but because I’m already in the
system with a Fifa badge, for me it is about maintaining a high standard in what
I do. Things have got harder, but because I’m already on the list, for me it
just a case of proving myself and waiting patiently for that call to be made. I
have to be patient, that’s all I can do and, when it does happen, I have to
make the most of it. My dream is to be a referee and I’ll keep striving for
that and we’ll see.” While pondering his own international future, Simons
spoke of the importance of making a valid contribution to helping the greater
good, raising the standard of officiating on the island and guiding the next
generation of young officials. “A big part of any decision is also thinking
about what is best for everyone and not just myself,” Simons added.
“Originally, I didn’t want to be an assistant referee, but Bermuda needed
someone on the Fifa list and so I went with it. It’s definitely about helping
others. There was a big gap between myself coming through and the next lot of
officials. I have to play a part in bridging that gap. I don’t want to step
away from being a Fifa assistant referee, leave a hole and then we have to wait
four to five years for another Bermudian official to possibly get a Fifa badge.
Right now, we are trying to get the younger officials the same training as we do
at senior level. We have to keep that progression going to reach the Fifa
standard. We are definitely seeing younger generations coming into refereeing
and also females which is really encouraging. The women’s side of the game is
growing massively and there’s definitely good signs going forward for the
future.”
A
senior man is homeless after months in jail having been forcibly removed by
police from the former prison service headquarters, near Hamilton. James
Dallas, 70, insisted that he had a family claim to the vacant building on Happy
Valley Road, in Pembroke, and that police had no right to arrest him after a
seven-hour stand-off in March. He said: “They locked me up for eight months
and when I came out, I had no place to stay. I’ve been staying with friends
and sleeping in a car.” Mr Dallas pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court last
month to four charges of throwing a corrosive fluid at officers with intent to
resist arrest, as well as trespassing and using threatening language. He was
released on bail for sentence in February. He was also ordered to keep away from
the derelict building. The siege ended after a seven-hour stand-off on March 28
when a dozen police officers stormed the building. Mr Dallas threw what police
said was a corrosive substance at officers who had tried to convince him to
leave. There was a similar confrontation in November 2017 after Mr Dallas
claimed he had a right to the building because it was built by his grandparents
on land they owned. Mr Dallas said: “I didn’t move back into the building
until 2008. I have a personal place in the back that my people built.” The
prison service headquarters were moved to Dockyard in 2012, but Mr Dallas said
he had lived in the building’s basement for several years without being
noticed. He added that after the prison service moved he “looked after the
place myself”. Mr Dallas said: “The place was run down and I was looking
after it.” He claimed that police had taken some of his personal effects from
the building and that he had other possessions there that he was unable to
reclaim. Mr Dallas said: “They’ve boarded the place up and told me I can’t
go there. I just want to get my things.” Cleveland Simmons, a community
activist who lives on Happy Valley Road, said: “He is level headed. He has
kept the grounds and looked after the place and now he is tired and disgusted
and does not see a way out for himself.” Mr Simmons added: “I am trying to
get permission for him to at least go to the premises to pick up some of his
stuff.” He said he hoped that Mr Dallas would eventually be able to prove his
case. Mr Simmons said: “I don’t think the Government has any paperwork
behind that building. Who was it leased from? I have done some surveying and I
have not been able to find anything relating to that.”
Leaders
of the island’s Catholic and Muslim faiths signed a pledge yesterday designed
to promote peace between the two religions. Bishop Wes Spiewak of the
Catholic Diocese of Hamilton and Emir Saleem Talbot, Imam of the Bermuda Islamic
Cultural Centre at Harrington Sound, signed a copy of the document on Human
Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together. The original document was signed
in February in Abu Dhabi by Pope Francis and the Egyptian Grand Imam of
Al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb in a bid to create a culture of mutual respect. Bishop
Spiewak said: “It brought hope in the time of turmoil in which we are living.
It is my hope that our repeating of this gesture is going to bring more peace,
reconciliation and fraternity here in Bermuda.” He added: “It’s a small
thing, but the big buildings are built with small stones and bricks.” Imam
Talbot added that Islam was sometimes viewed as “strange” in the west, but
highlighted that the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths had much in common. He
said: “In Bermuda, we all know each other and that’s a good thing. We
don’t have to make peace among each other too much because we are already
friends and relatives. But we must spread this peace to others in society
because Bermuda is a microcosm.” John Rankin, the Governor, who witnessed the
signing at Government House, added: “We are fortunate on this island to have
good relations between different churches, different religions and different
faiths. Long may that continue and may this document strengthen those good
relations in order to help spread the message more widely to our neighbours and
friends across the world.” The three released white doves in the grounds of
Government House as symbols of peace after the signing ceremony.
Critics
of the island’s child protection agency should help to improve the service
after a string of abuse allegations, the Attorney-General said yesterday.
However, Kathy Lynn Simmons, also Minister of Legal Affairs, which includes the
Department of Child and Family Services, held little hope for concerned citizens
beating a path to her office door. Ms Simmons told the Senate: “It’s not
what you say — it’s what you do,” Ms Simmons said she gave “kudos” to
The Royal Gazette for articles that detailed allegations of mistreatment of
children, which included accounts from people who had been in the care of the
DCFS. She added: “Those young men who told their stories, I would like to
think they were overwhelmed by support.” Ms Simmons said that “if that has
happened, and if my phone rings next week, and if people’s consciences are
pricked”, then “hand on heart, I would say that The Royal Gazette has
succeeded”. She added: “But if that does not happen, and part of me knows
that it will not happen, because it hasn’t happened today, then we all have
failed.” Ms Simmons was speaking during the motion to adjourn in the Upper
House. Nick Kempe, the Opposition Senate Leader, said the One Bermuda Alliance
had asked “for almost one year for an independent investigation” into the
DCFS so “the public can have restored faith”. Mr Kempe added he had followed
“a somewhat scary scratching below the surface of things” at the DCFS. He
said the island had seen “all sorts of allegations — some yet to be tried in
the courts, some effectively tried internally through mechanisms that have not
been made public”. Mr Kempe added: “There have been challenges to the media
to not ask questions, which all paints a very discouraging picture.” Ms
Simmons appealed for the Gazette to drop its questioning about vulnerable
children sent to overseas institutions by successive governments over decades.
Mr Kempe said the public needed to be “honest with ourselves and look at what
has gone wrong” and that there had been “a tide change in discoveries in the
public realm of challenges, of allegations of abuse”. He added: “Without an
independent investigation, without being able to come to the bottom of
potentially ugly incidents, I do not see how we are going to be able to make
decisions to protect those that most need it.” Ms Simmons said Mr Kempe was
“absolutely correct”. She added: “We have had a long week of adverse
reporting about the Department of Child and Family Services. It’s been
interesting, it’s been disturbing. It has focused on the negative aspects of
aspects of child protection — it has painted a narrative that DCFS is not fit
for purpose. But I would like to think that it also has led all of us who read
the daily being concerned. I do not think this is a bad thing. I think it’s
good. My expectation would be that my phone would be ringing off the hook, and
people would be so concerned they would be lining up to meet with me to assist.
Our problems are not going to be solved by legislation.” Ms Simmons said she
had “utmost confidence” in the DCFS director Alfred Maybury and his staff.
Mr Maybury was suspended in 2018 while the Government investigated abuse
allegations at DCFS. He was also accused of failing to follow financial
instructions. The director was reinstated in January, after the probe found that
claims against him were “not substantiated” although the report was never
released. Ms Simmons said: “There was an investigation and the results may not
be as some people want it. But trust and believe that the civil service
framework that determines such matters has effectively been implemented.” The
Attorney-General said she had been waiting for “a barrage of concerned
citizens to show up” at her office. She added: “I give kudos to The Royal
Gazette because I expect that these so-called concerned citizens are not just
enjoying the stories of misfortune.” Ms Simmons added that people tended to
sit on the sidelines rather than help. She told the public: “We don’t need
your money — we need you to give of yourself.” Ms Simmons said anyone who
went to the Gazette with “their woes, or to the Opposition with their woes, as
scandalous, salacious and heartbreaking as they may be” could also get help at
the DCFS. She added: “That’s what those hardworking professionals do. And
they will not be cowed by The Royal Gazette’s reporters who are calling all of
our institutions in Utah who service our children. They won’t be discouraged.
The facilities won’t be discouraged. That’s what we do, and they do, and
will continue to do.” Ms Simmons said: “If there are processes and
procedures that need reform, that’s my job.” But she added she was
“ashamed to say that not much has been done” with the 1998 Children’s Act,
while “we fuss about airports and hotels and the state of our finances. To
those who intend to make this a political football, it’s not going to happen.
To those that are distressed that we are not in the media, countering those
reports, that’s not going to happen. We have a story to tell and that story
reflects our ethos, that it is not what you say — it’s what you do.”
Campaigners
and schoolboys joined forces yesterday for a march designed to get men to play a
bigger part in children’s lives. About 150 men and boys took part in the
Men are Needed event in Hamilton. Desmond Crockwell, an anti-violence campaigner
who organised the event, said that families, counselors and men from the
Pembroke area who did not have children joined in on the march. He added the
turnout underlined that the public understood the importance of a male role
model in children’s lives. Bayon Robinson, 40, said that he joined the march
to support Mr Crockwell, a relative and a friend. He added: “A lot of these
teens don’t have a man that they can go to for help, even if it’s just an
uncle or a cousin or a grandfather. That’s the time where we lose a lot of the
next generation because nobody really shows them how to make that next step into
adulthood.” Mr Robinson, from Smiths, said he tried to set an example to his
16-year-old son and young relatives. He explained it was his responsibility to
remind them to make their own paths in life. Mr Robinson said that he was
inspired by his father, who taught him about hard work, respect and manners. He
added it was his duty to teach his own son the same lessons. Mr Robinson said:
“I have to transition him from a teenager to a man, which means I also have to
teach him about responsibility.” Mr Crockwell said that there was a larger
turnout than expected despite the absence of Dellwood Middle School, which
withdrew from the event. He added: “But we thought it was excellent — it was
more than what we thought.” Pupils and teachers from the Whitney Institute
Middle School and the Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning took part in the
event. Sergio Pitcher, the founder of maths tutoring service Planet Math, said
that he joined the march to demonstrate the importance of a man in a child’s
life. He explained that he had mentored a troubled child who might have ended up
in prison if he had not taken an interest. Mr Pitcher said: “He tells me all
the time ‘had you not been there to help me, I don’t know where I’d be
today’.” Mr Pitcher said the most important lesson for boys was the need to
accept responsibility. He added that becoming a role model for children required
diligence, hard work and patience. But Mr Pitcher said that the impact a good
role model could have was tremendous. He added: “The more interest that a man
puts in a young boy’s life, the more you see them gravitating towards doing
what’s right, even if it’s hard for them. It’s never easy — it takes
hard work and you’re going to have setbacks — but if you keep working hard,
you’ll achieve what you’re trying to do.” The march was led by a truck
full of young drummers along Angle Street, Court Street and Dundonald Street in
Hamilton and ended with a rally in Victoria Park. Wayne Caines, the national
security minister, told the rally that the just-announced drop in gun crime was
due, in part, to efforts to keep young boys on the straight and narrow. He
added: “What makes me most happy about having no gun-related murders is that
we have families that are not grieving at the start of the year. This is about
our community trying to do better and be better, and I believe that we’re
going in the right direction.” Mr Caines said: “We can’t rest and we
can’t sleep. There are too many miles to go before we can end the work that
we’re doing.”
A
police officer was arrested yesterday on a charge of corruption, the
Commissioner of Police said. Stephen Corbishley said the arrest came after
an allegation of a “serious criminal matter”. He added that the officer was
being interviewed and would be released on bail. Mr Corbishley said the officer
will be suspended while the allegation is investigated. He added that several
allegations were under investigation after the service boosted its Professional
Standards Department, which ensures police officers act with integrity and
professionalism. Mr Corbishley said: “The result of this investment has
identified a number of matters that are now being investigated. However, these
matters are small in number and do not represent the hard work, ethical
standards and professionalism displayed by police officers and staff that work
tirelessly each day to keep Bermuda safe.” Mr Corbishley said the number of
officers suspended was 1.5 per cent of its manpower and was “not
representative of the hard work and honesty of staff”. He added: “That
notwithstanding, it is essential in securing the public’s confidence in our
services that we act when serious wrongdoing by police employees is
identified.” Wayne Caines, the national security minister, said: “No one is
above the law, and corruption will be rooted out. While we cannot comment on the
specifics of the situation, as this is currently going through the legal
process, we take all allegations of inappropriate conduct very seriously,
particularly when the allegations involve individuals in positions of public
trust.” The arrest came after Pc Kyle Wheatley, 34, was jailed for 2½ years
last week for dumping more than 60 traffic tickets for profit. Wheatley resigned
from the service after pleading guilty in the Supreme Court to conspiracy to
defeat the ends of justice. Mr Caines said individuals in the uniformed services
must be held to the highest standards. He added: “The Ministry of National
Security has a professional standards section that is tasked with rooting out
corruption within our uniformed services. And, as Minister, I am committed to
ensuring that we uphold the absolute highest standards of integrity, ethics and
public confidence.” The minister said Bermuda had about 400 police officers
who “carry out their duties on a daily basis with pride and dedication”. He
added: “We appreciate their loyalty and service in safeguarding and protecting
our community. But let me be clear, this ministry will not allow a breakdown in
discipline. Where or when any officer in any of our uniformed services falls
below the requisite standards, they will be held to account.”
Two
men were jailed for three years yesterday after they plotted to bring drugs with
an estimated street value of more than $500,000 into Bermuda on a cruise ship. Cannabis,
vape pen cartridges and shatter — a super-strength derivative of marijuana —
were seized from a cruise ship cabin occupied by Jahad Waldron and Julian Mendez
last year. The pair, from Brooklyn, New York, apologised to the Supreme Court
after they admitted conspiracy to import controlled drugs between an unknown
date and September 5, 2018. Acting Puisne Judge Craig Attridge said the two were
caught by security staff on the Celebrity Summit after it sailed from New
Jersey. The court heard that the substances involved were more than 5,000 grams
of shatter, about 420 grams of cannabis and 192 vape pen cartridges, which each
contained a milliliter of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. Alan Richards,
for the Crown, said the estimated street value in Bermuda was up to $542,853.
But he accepted that there might be “flexibility” in the figure because it
was the first time courts had dealt with some of the drugs on such a scale. Mr
Richards added: “Particularly shatter and the THC oil are only just starting
to be seen on the black market in this jurisdiction.” He told the court that
some of the shatter was found to have a “particularly high concentration” of
THC at 85 per cent, compared to 17 per cent in the plant material. Charles
Richardson, who appeared for Waldron, said that an appropriate sentence would be
two years in jail, with time served taken into consideration. He added that the
men’s sentences would have been lower if they had been convicted in their home
country. Archibald Warner, who appeared for Mendez, said: “These defendants
would not be before this court if they were not wrongfully brought into
Bermuda.” Waldron, 28, told the court: “I’m sorry for what I’ve done.”
Mendez, 24, apologised and added: “I’ve been through a lot since I’ve been
here, I’ve had a lot of time to think about what I’ve done and I just ask
the court to show mercy.” Mr Justice Attridge said the case had led to
arguments about the legality of the charges and “called into question the
jurisdiction of these courts”. He added that the men appeared to be of
previous good character. But Mr Justice Attridge said the quantity of drugs was
“very significant”. He added it was possible that Waldron might have played
a more prominent part in the crime. He said: “There is no clear basis for
distinguishing between the culpability of the defendants.” Mr Justice Attridge
sentenced the pair, who had no previous convictions, to three years in prison,
with time served to be taken into consideration. Leslie Grant, the executive
director at Focus Counselling Services, an anti-drug abuse agency, said:
“Shatter is a glasslike concentrate of cannabis oil. Its effects are similar
to that of hash and hash oil. This form of cannabis is commonly produced in the
US and Canada, but it is not very widely used in Bermuda.”
A
Bermudian man has been charged with killing his mother after he celebrated his
birthday with his parents in Florida at the weekend. Alexander Deltoro is
accused of shooting Cindy Deltoro in the face outside his parents’ home in the
Fort Lauderdale suburb of Margate on Saturday night after he got into an
argument with his father, also Alexander, as the three travelled to the house by
car. Judge Jackie Powell said yesterday in Broward County Court: “The
allegations in this case ... there’s no word for it. Mr Deltoro was in a fight
with his parents and brings a gun to the argument and we are here today because
now his mother is deceased.” The court heard that the two men got into an
argument in the car last Saturday night and Deltoro hit his father in the face.
Mr Deltoro and his father started to push each other and his mother tried to
intervene to end the scuffle. But it is alleged that Deltoro pulled a Glock
handgun from the waistband of his pants and fired a single shot, which hit his
mother. Police said Deltoro, who was arrested on Sunday, had intended to shoot
his father. A school friend said last night she was stunned by the news. She
said: “I am completely and utterly shocked to hear that. That would never have
crossed my mind, him being that kind of person.” The woman, who asked not to
be named, said she became friends with Mr Deltoro at school in the middle of
last decade. She added: “I never met his mother — we were just friends at
school. He always seemed like a happy person at school. I can’t believe it.”
The court heard that Deltoro had no previous convictions and worked as a gas
station attendant. Judge Powell imposed a total of $101,000 in bail and added
conditions, including no contact with his father and a ban on him having
firearms. But the judge was told that Mr Deltoro would not be able to pay.
A
furious householder is still being sent government forms featuring the name of
the dead former owner of her home — six years after she bought the house. Cindee
Miller said the property valuation survey forms, which have to be returned
within 21 days of receipt, were addressed to the owner/occupier, but had the
name of the former owner, who died earlier this year, inside. She added: “How
dare the Government tell me I have 21 days when it has been six years and I am
still receiving my land tax and all information under a dead person’s name.”
She was speaking after she received property valuation survey forms from the
Department of Land Valuation this week. Ms Miller, who bought the Hamilton
Parish house in 2013, said that the envelope was addressed to the
owner/occupier, but that the forms inside had the name of the former owner on
them. The 62-year-old added that it warned that failure to return the forms
before the deadline or the provision of false information was punishable by a
fine or imprisonment. Ms Miller said: “I was so angry.” She added that she
had also received land tax bills and “all kinds of information” addressed to
the former property owner. She asked: “What happens if I don’t pay my land
tax because it’s not billed to me? The Government on Tuesday said the forms
from the Department of Land Valuation had been received by homeowners “during
he first two weeks” of November. It added that all land taxpayers were
required to complete and return the survey and that the next Valuation List
would be published on December 31, 2020. But Ms Miller said that the forms had
arrived at her home on Tuesday. She added that the letter was dated November 6
— but that it had been posted on December 9. Ms Miller said that she and her
lawyers had gone through the proper steps when she purchased the house in 2013.
She added that she had tried to contact Diane Elliott, the director of the
Department of Land Valuation, whose name appeared on the letter she had
received, but had been unable to reach her. Ms Miller said she had spoke to an
employee at the department who said they received several calls a day about
documents being address to the wrong person. A note on the Department of Land
Valuation website advised that it is not responsible for updating the names of
taxpayers and mailing addresses for land tax bills. The Land Title and
Registration Office website said it was the office’s “duty to record any
legal right or interest which affects parcels of land and to provide an
up-to-date report of the evidence of land ownership”.
The
Committee of 25 were the beneficiaries of the TP Hackers golf group Xmas
tournament’s raffle prize winnings for the second year in a row. Their
contribution of $5,186 to the charity will help further its mission statement of
providing financial support to children with medical or special needs to help
them live as full a life as possible in accordance with its policies and
procedures. Jackie MacLellan, Deputy Chair of the Committee of 25 received the
gift on behalf of the Committee of 25 and to express their gratitude.
Consolidated
Fund financial statements for the year ended March 31 were tabled in the House
of Assembly Friday. Curtis Dickinson, the Minister of Finance, told MPs that
the fund had been given an unqualified audit opinion. He added that items that
had led to the fund being given a qualified opinion in 2018 had “been
rectified”. The fund is the general operating fund for the Government and
through which most government transactions were completed. Mr Dickinson said
that for the ninth consecutive year Heather Thomas, the Auditor-General, had
included explanatory paragraphs in her report. He added the paragraphs covered
public debt and guarantees, increasing net debt and usefulness of financial
statements. Mr Dickinson said on public debt and guarantees: “The
Auditor-General has highlighted that while the Government is within the
legislated debt limit of $2.5 billion, there is a further $1.2 billion in
guarantees to various lenders by the CF.” He added that Ms Thomas had
highlighted that net debt “increased by $102 million and continues to grow”.
Mr Dickinson said that Ms Thomas had said that the usefulness of financial
statements was “limited because they are not summary financial statements”.
He explained that the statements did not “represent the combined financial
position and activities of all government entities, only the CF.” But Mr
Dickinson said that it was important that the explanatory paragraphs did not
alter Ms Thomas’s unqualified opinion. He added: “The Government notes the
Auditor’s concerns in these areas and has already started to tackle these
matters. For instance, the Ministry of Finance has already put in place a plan
to eliminate the deficit and ultimately reduce the debt.”
Legislation
intended to update Bermuda’s international business regulations was approved
by parliamentarians on Friday night. The House of Assembly gave unanimous
support to the Economic Substance Amendment (No 2) Act and the Investment Funds
Amendment Act. Curtis Dickinson, the Minister of Finance, said the bills were
aimed at bringing Bermuda in line with international standards. Mr Dickinson
said the Economic Substance Amendment Act is intended to level the playing field
between Bermuda and other jurisdictions including the Cayman Islands, the
British Virgin Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man. He added the OECD
had reviewed the legislation and that it was in line with the stated objectives
of the European Union. The Investment Funds Amendment Act is also intended to
meet the requirements of the EU and OECD. Mr Dickinson explained the Bill would
enhance the regulatory regime for investment funds. Leah Scott, the deputy
Opposition leader, said Bermuda had been forced to play an expensive game of
“whack a mole” with the EU in order to meet their standards. She said the
real intention of the EU was to shut down the island and questioned how long
Bermuda would continue to try to meet the demands. Ms Scott said: “The EU is
trying to write our laws and we are letting them. First is EU substance, and
then they will be writing tax laws and telling us we have to pay income tax. All
they are trying to do is destroy us and put us out of business.” Rolfe
Commissiong, a Progressive Labour Party backbencher, said the idea of Bermuda
“punching above its weight” had always been a misnomer as the larger
countries had benefited from Bermuda all along. And he said the increased
pressure from the OECD and EU highlighted the importance of economic
diversification. He said: “We can moan and talk about the extra cost being
imposed on us, but there has been a geopolitical shift and we need to do what we
can to accommodate that shift.” Mr Commissioning added that Brexit would
probably only accelerate the actions of the EU against offshore jurisdictions
like Bermuda. The House also approved the Bermuda Monetary Authority Amendment
Act and the Insurance (No 2) Amendment Act. The BMA amendments set the
regulatory framework to establish an “innovation hub” in Bermuda to help
enable the development of innovative businesses to support of the operations of
financial institutions.
Pensions
legislation that got turned away from the House of Assembly after the Opposition
faulted its wording was approved on Friday after a redraft. The Bill,
brought to the House last month by Wayne Furbert, the Minister for the Cabinet
Office, allows employers and staff to temporarily suspend 2 per cent or their
national pension scheme payments over a two-year period. It was sent back to the
drawing board after Trevor Moniz, a One Bermuda Alliance MP, flagged up wording
that seemed to permit bosses to postpone payments over an employee’s
objections. Curtis Dickinson, the Minister of Finance, brought a new version
specifying that the suspensions could only be carried out with the agreement of
the employer and the member of staff. However, Scott Pearman, the shadow legal
affairs minister, said there was still ambiguity to the Bill. Mr Pearman said
that cutting a 5 per cent pension contribution by 2 per cent was technically a
40 per cent reduction of the payment. He added: “Could we not simply make it
two out of five in the Bill?” Mr Dickinson said: “We talked to the drafters
about this, and their preference was that we leave the wording as it was in the
document.”
Government’s
efforts to build the economy were the subject of a heated debate in the House of
Assembly on Friday. Michael Dunkley, an Opposition backbencher, told the
House the Progressive Labour Party had done little to help the economy and
struggling businesses since its election in July 2017. But Government MPs argued
both the number of jobs and the island’s gross domestic product had grown, and
international rating bodies expressed confidence in the island’s progress. Mr
Dunkley said retail sales in Bermuda had fallen, while increased taxation had
created an additional burden for small businesses. He told the House he had
spoken to figures in the real estate industry who said an increase in stamp duty
had caused more than $7,000 in additional expenses for a single sale. Mr Dunkley
said: “That’s a cost that sometimes is very difficult to pass on. It’s
very difficult to pay that.” He said that only 31 per cent of retailers
expressed confidence in Bermuda’s economic future in a recent survey. And he
argued that a lack of confidence would encourage more people to leave the island
for greener pastures. Mr Dunkley called on the Government to move forward with
immigration reform, offer retailers short-term payroll relief, improve education
and to control its spending to reduce the tax burden. Wayne Furbert, the
Minister for the Cabinet Office, responded that the PLP had offered retailers
payroll tax relief, but the One Bermuda Alliance restored and increased it to
10.25 per cent. And he said the rise of online retailers like Amazon had hurt
brick and mortar stores around the world. Mr Furbert said that since 2017 the
Government had offered payroll tax relief for new employees, which helped to
encourage the hiring of more than 400 people. He said the Government had also
reduced payroll tax for taxi operators, extended relief for restaurants and
empowered the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation to help more
entrepreneurs. Jason Hayward, a PLP backbencher, said there have been numerous
small business success stories since the PLP returned to power and the
island’s GDP had grown in both 2017 and 2018. Mr Hayward said: “We have to
accept that there are improvements that have to be made, on our retail sector in
particular. The decline in numbers is not positive for any government. However
when you look at it in the overall scheme of our total economy, our wholesale
and retail sector is not a significant industry, not to say it should be
ignored. The numbers support a growing economy. The numbers support economic
growth.” He added that the Government wants to move forward with immigration
reform, but must first address an inherent distrust “that was not created by
the PLP”. Wayne Caines, the Minister of National Security, added that progress
had been made to streamline the work permit system to help businesses. And he
said the Government’s efforts to build a fintech sector have begun to bear
fruit. Mr Caines said: “We have 99 companies registered in Bermuda. We have in
the next months 98 expected jobs. We have 29 companies with a physical presence
in Bermuda and eight came in October alone.” Sylvan Richards, the Shadow
Minister of Home Affairs and the Environment, said he was encouraged by some of
the things he had heard from the Government. But he said there was still work to
be done as there are many people and businesses who are struggling. Mr Richards
said: “There is a massive, massive disconnect between what the Government says
it’s doing and the feeling of the people.”
Bermuda’s
economy grew for the third time in four years in 2018 according to annual gross
domestic data. The 0.1 per cent expansion of GDP after adjusting for
inflation last year was achieved mainly thanks to growth in construction and
international business. This followed up the America’s Cup-fuelled 3.6 per
cent growth in 2017 — the only year over the past decade in which the
island’s real GDP growth topped 1 per cent. Last year’s expansion fell short
of the 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent growth forecast by Ministry of Finance
officials in February this year. The construction and quarrying industry group
was the largest contributor to growth in 2018, adding $33.9 million in real
terms, fuelled by the major hotel and airport projects, as well as residential
work. International business, which generated more than a quarter of the
island’s GDP, grew by $24.7 million, driven mainly by insurance brokerages and
re/insurance underwriting companies. The sectors to see the largest falls in
real dollar terms each suffered particularly from comparisons with the
America’s Cup year. Value added by the arts, entertainment and recreation
industry fell $36.6 million, 60 per cent, in 2018. This followed three
successive years of double-digit increases, as the sector “reverted to levels
comparable to 2014 which precedes the lead up to America’s Cup activity
starting in 2015”, the report stated. The wholesale and retail sector
experienced a $15.5 million, or 4.5 per cent fall in value added, contrasting
its 3.1 per cent growth in 2017. The figures, released on Friday in a report by
the Department of Statistics, featured a change in the base year — from 2006
to 2013 — for reporting of GDP at constant prices, which focuses on real
growth and strips out price inflation. The number of industry groupings in the
report has also increased to 18 from 15. Past years were also revised. The
report said the changes would allow policymakers to “use a set of economic
statistics that is more representative of the economic structure of Bermuda than
those based on the 2006 base year” and would provide “a better understanding
of which industries are driving growth”. The re-basing exercise was completed
with the help of the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre. Bermuda’s
GDP in current prices, which includes inflation, increased 1.7 per cent in 2018
to $6.94 billion. International business accounted for $1.72 billion of that,
while financial and insurance activities with $1.12 billion and real estate
activities with $1.01 billion the next two biggest contributors. Quarterly GDP
figures released this year suggest that Bermuda is on track for stronger growth
in 2019 than it achieved last year, with real GDP growth of 3.4 per cent
recorded in the first quarter and 3.3 per cent in the second. Gross capital
formation, driven by construction, has been the strongest growth area this year,
according to the reports.
Finance
Minister Curtis Dickinson praised the work of financial-services regulator, the
Bermuda Monetary Authority, in earning the island a valuable designation from
the United States. As announced last week by the BMA, the island has been
granted both qualified and reciprocal jurisdiction status by the National
Association of Insurance Regulators, the body that represents US insurance
regulators. This status means Bermuda re/insurers will be eligible for zero
collateral relief, allowing them to compete under the same conditions as peers
based in the European Union and the United Kingdom. Speaking in the House of
Assembly on Friday, Mr Dickinson said: “Bermuda is in the financial services
business and thousands of jobs, both Bermudian and guest workers alike, depend
on the success of this sector. The Government therefore is committed to helping
Bermuda’s financial institutions succeed in global markets. This decision
directly supports our commitment to the financial services sector and the
livelihoods of those employed in it. I wish to express my sincere thanks to
Jeremy Cox [BMA executive chairman] and the Bermuda Monetary Authority team for
doing such an excellent job, with tireless effort, in orchestrating the
regulatory requirements that have led to the NAIC granting Bermuda reciprocal
jurisdiction status. This result is indeed a feat of determination, endurance
and extraordinary discipline.”
An
Opposition MP called on the Government to act over “scandal after scandal
after scandal” at the Department of Child and Family Services. Scott
Pearman, the shadow legal affairs minister, applauded The Royal Gazette’s Who
Cares? series about how the island’s most vulnerable children are looked after
locally and abroad. However, he said it would not make any difference unless
“those with the power” were motivated to do something about it. Mr Pearman
said the One Bermuda Alliance’s calls for an independent investigation into
the department had fallen on deaf ears over the past year. He said: “We have
seen scandal, after scandal, after scandal. When will someone in our government
finally stand up and be counted? When will someone be held accountable for the
tragic events concerning the DCFS? The Royal Gazette’s initiative, shining the
spotlight on the DCFS scandals, is a commendable one, but what will actually
come of it?” As part of the weeklong Who Cares? series, campaigners and people
who were sent to reform schools in the United States urged the Government to
consider alternatives to overseas care for children with behavioral problems. Mr
Pearman said: “As the newspaper so pointedly asks: Who Cares? I would add this
question: who has the power to do something about it? What more has to go wrong
with DCFS before our Premier realizes that an independent investigation is
desperately needed? Without an investigation, we cannot hope to discover what
the problems are, and without identifying the problems, we have no chance of
implementing meaningful solutions. Those with the power to do something must now
act.” The Paget East MP pointed to a long list of controversies that have
involved the DCFS in recent months. These included:
Mr Pearman said: “For over a year, the Opposition has been calling for a proper, thorough and independent investigation into the escalating scandals at DCFS. We have been joined in our call by many others, including citizens involved with social work, with the family courts and with various charities. We have raised these issues with the Premier in the House of Assembly, with the Attorney-General in the Senate and with the public in the media. But we are no closer to the answers, with the cracks being papered over.” The Ministry of Legal Affairs did not respond to Mr Pearman’s comments, but a spokeswoman said last week that the decision on overseas referral was “not taken lightly”. She said: “Recommendations for referral overseas via the psycho-ed programme are made after all other resources locally are exhausted. Local resources are family, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, other family intervention programmes and outreach services. All sections in the department are continually assessing and reassessing processes and making improvements for the betterment of the clients that we serve. Psycho-ed is no different.”
In
November 2019, a cohort comprised of six Department of Education staff and
teachers attended experiential STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art,
Math) training at three award-winning schools in Wake County, NC. Schools
who hosted the Bermuda cohort included Wake STEM Early College, Reedy Creek
Middle School Center for Digital Sciences, and Brentwood Elementary School of
Engineering. This professional development opportunity is directly aligned with
the Government’s Platform and Strategy 2.9.5 of Plan 2022, which places STEAM
Education as a priority. The Department cohort participated in classroom
sessions where teachers served as facilitators of the learning process. The
cohort also spent time actively learning about:
Department of Education Gifted and Talented Education Officer, Luann Wainwright-Dill commented, “Although defined differently in each school, the focused approach to STEAM drove a consistent approach to teaching and learning standards. Students, all the way down to Kindergarten, demonstrated ownership of their learning. This experience was invaluable for myself and other Department of Education staff as we work to expand the STEAM curricula in our Bermuda Public Schools. I am encouraged by the knowledge we were able to glean from this experience and we look forward to providing an in-depth overview of our learning to senior leaders at the Department of Education.” In the 2019-20 Budget Statement, the Ministry of Education allocated $770,000 to continue the deployment of STEAM programmers at the Primary School level. This is inclusive of professional development training for teachers., updating the social studies curricula, and expanding literacy programmes.
Hundreds
of new tourism jobs are expected to come online in the next two years — and
efforts have begun to prepare Bermudians to fill those posts. Kevin Dallas,
BTA chief executive, said: “When we look at future demand, the Azura is
opening around now, the Bermudiana Beach Resort is opening next spring and the
St Regis is opening on April 2, 2021. That creates a lot of jobs, but also if we
look at what has happened over the last couple of years, because tourism was the
career of last resort for a generation of Bermudians, the average Bermudian
hospitality worker is older.” Mr Dallas said some Bermudians have been
discouraged by government statistics, which have shown an increase in hotel jobs
but a drop in Bermudians who work in hotels. He said: “At a superficial level,
it is easy to say those hoteliers don’t want Bermudians, that they want to
employ expats, but when you talk to the hoteliers that’s not true. What’s
happening is their workers are retiring and they are finding them hard to
replace.” The Tourism Satellite Account Report shows that direct
employment in the industry accounted for 3,204 jobs in 2018, up from 2,996 in
2017 and 2,607 in 2016. A study by PwC this year found that the gap between
Bermuda’s future talent supply and the demand for hospitality workers could
range from 555 to 814 by 2021 as new hotels open their doors. Mr Dallas
described the situation as a “whole industry challenge”, but the BTA and
other agencies are already at hard at work to ready younger Bermudians for the
hospitality industry. He specifically noted the Learn to Earn pilot programme,
which launches in January and will offer trainees a skills-development course
and an eight-week paid internship. Mr Dallas said: “What I think is exciting
about the programme is nobody is in a silo and everyone is working together at
what they are good at. This is not just an initiative by [the Department of]
Workforce Development, but it is the restaurant groups, it’s Bermuda College,
it’s the Ministry of Tourism and Transport and the BTA. It took a while to put
everything together, but it’s definitely the right way to do it.” Mr Dallas
said that the BTA’s efforts to build tourism in 2019 have garnered mixed
results. Visitor air arrivals have fallen year-on-year, ending a three-year
upward trend, but visitor spending enjoyed a marginal increase. However, Mr
Dallas said the BTA remains focused on a long-term strategy instead of a more
reactionary approach, and had hired Ailevon Pacific Aviation Consulting to help
build a strategy to grow airlift. He said: “Everybody added capacity in 2016
and 2017, which was great, and then in 2019 because everybody had expanded some
of them started pulling back. As an island, being more strategic in our
management of airline relationships is something that is important, and that is
why we went out and hired some fantastic air service development consultants to
not only help us come up with a plan, but to help us implement that plan.” Mr
Dallas said the Ailevon Pacific are expected to return to Bermuda with the plan
next month. Asked if the increase in visitor spending could be a side effect of
the island becoming more expensive, Mr Dallas said the BTA is looking at how
visitors are spending their money. He said: “Generally speaking, we know hotel
rates have come off a little bit this year, so it does suggest that visitors are
spending more on other things. There has been an expansion in the number of
visitor experiences that are available, there are new charter boats on the
island, new tours and, of course, more and more electric vehicles for our
visitors to rent. Our hope is that they are getting more out of there spending
and spending more in the process. And we know that visitor satisfaction ticked
up this year, so whether they are suffering from higher prices or not, they are
more satisfied with the visitor experience.” Mr Dallas, however, warned that
there are concerns about group business next year due to an increase in
available venues internationally. He said: “Teams and groups is one of the
pillars of the national tourism plan, and it’s important because it brings a
meaningful amount of business to the island. It is also more year-round, so
group business in particular helps in the spring and the fall, but there is a
forecast for a slowdown because there has been a big increase in the available
capacity with demand not keeping pace. There are some dark clouds on the horizon
there. We have several hotels here that vie for group business, but what fits
Bermuda is quite niche.”
Powers
to control traffic including taxis and minibuses are expected to be granted to
West End Development Corporation workers with legislation passed by MPs.
Zane DeSilva, the Minister of Tourism and Transport, told the House of Assembly
on Friday that Dockyard can become chaotic when thousands of cruise ship
passengers disembark. He said that the West End Development Corporation (Traffic
Officers) Amendment Act 2019 was designed to allow the corporation’s traffic
officers to enforce “moving violations and parking infractions”. Mr DeSilva
explained: “In recent years our cruise ship partners have reported passenger
dissatisfaction in transportation at Bermuda’s cruise ship ports, especially
at Dockyard when two or more ships are in port. There is a ground transportation
area at the port where taxis, minibuses and limousines ply for business,
pre-arranged tours and beach shuttles. Wedco has only three traffic
co-ordinators who manage the area and facilitate the safe and efficient movement
of passengers. They interact with operators of the public service vehicles and
passengers, who they direct to relevant transport options. They also monitor and
manage the flow of traffic through the area and at a nearby staging area for
overflow vehicles. Although the ground transportation area is suitably appointed
with proper signage, the area tends to get a bit chaotic when there are
thousands of visitors trying to move at the same time and public service vehicle
operators are vying for customers.” Mr DeSilva said that until last year up to
four Transport Control Department traffic officers went to Dockyard daily when
cruise ships were in port. But in 2018, TCD redeployed its resources and this
year its traffic officers have assisted Wedco only when at least five ships were
docked. Mr DeSilva added: “The main objective of this Bill is to appoint
traffic officers who have the same powers as TCD traffic officers to control
traffic and deter illegal parking.” Leah Scott, the One Bermuda Alliance
deputy leader, said the Opposition had no objection to the legislation. She
sought information from the minister about a planned traffic analysis at
Dockyard which was “supposed to be ready in July of 2019”. Mr DeSilva
replied that he would check on its status. MPs also passed the Superyachts and
Other Vessels (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2019, which related to transit and
cruising permits, and would classify the crew of superyachts under charter as
“special category persons” in the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act
1956.
The
Corporation of St George is preparing for another municipal election in the wake
of the loss of the third councillor this year. A notice in the Official
Gazette published on Thursday announced that a special election would be
held in the town on January 16 to fill a seat left vacant by the resignation of
Lloyd Van Putten less than a year after his election. Mr Van Putten served as a
resident councillor since the Municipal Election in April. The Corporation of St
George did not respond to a request for comment as of press time last night. His
departure follows those of Tania Stafford and Phillip Seaman, who stepped down
in July and October respectively. Ms Stafford stepped down in the aftermath of a
decision by mayor George Dowling to open a pedestrianised section of Water
Street to traffic without a council vote. The decision was reversed a day later
by Mr Van Putten as acting mayor. Mr Seaman later said the incident contributed
to his decision to resign. He told The Royal Gazette: “Water Street
didn’t go to a vote and it contributed to my decision to step down, but I also
had personal reasons. Others called for his resignation. The mayor called me and
said he had decided to open up Water Street to vehicular traffic. I didn’t
even have a chance to discuss it; he just told me. He doesn’t have the power
to do that — the mayor has the deciding vote if it is a tie, but he thought he
had the power to make decisions. I believe in a democratic process.” Mr
Dowling later accepted that he had not followed protocol and the decision should
have been brought to a general council meeting. The Corporation of St George has
struggled to find a full cadre of eight councillors throughout the year. Even
before the resignations one resident councillor post was left empty at the
Municipal Election in April after only five candidates stepped forward for six
seats. That seat was later filled by Nyon Dowling, the brother of the mayor, who
defeated Alfonos Harris at a special election. Ms Stafford’s seat was filled
in October by David Chew, while Mr Seaman’s seat was won by Mr Harris last
month.
Planning
applications will be more difficult to monitor because of a change to the way
they are advertised, the head of an island environmental charity said. Kim
Smith, the executive director of the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability
Taskforce, said the group was “very concerned” that the Department of
Planning’s process for gazetting applications “no longer serves the
public”. She added: “Under the guise of ‘streamlining processes’,
Government is reducing transparency and making the monitoring of planning
applications more difficult. The public has a right to know what and where
development is being proposed without having the onerous burden of daily checks
of the Official Gazette. We should be allowed easy access and sufficient time to
express concerns regarding any proposed development.” Ms Smith said that since
2011 the charity had reviewed applications for development in or near areas with
protective zonings. She added that “until recently” the list of planning
applications was made public on Fridays, or on a Wednesday if a Friday fell on a
holiday, with the deadline for objections 14 days after the date an application
was published. Ms Smith said: “This practice made it easy for the public and
environmental organisations concerned with development and subdivision
applications to monitor planning applications and manage their responses.” The
Government last week released a statement to encourage the public to use the
online Official Gazette to view development applications. A spokeswoman for the
Ministry of Home Affairs said that the move online had allowed the DoP “to
take a more efficient and streamlined approach towards the advertisements of
planning applications”. She added that the online gazette provided several
benefits to the planning process, including that official notices could now be
gazetted any day of the week, and that the public could access present and past
applications any time. Ms Smith said that BEST did not support the move. She
added: “This change further erodes the public’s ability to monitor planning
applications, already hindered by the discontinuance of advertising applications
in The Royal Gazette, which disadvantages anyone without online access. Now,
anyone wanting to monitor planning applications will have to check the online
Official Gazette every day of the week, just in case an application in which
they are interested might appear. The deadline for objections to applications
will no longer be once every two weeks but staggered 14 days after an
applications in received.” Ms Smith said that the demand for development
remained strong in Bermuda and that the DoP should balance “well-considered”
development with conservation policies and environmental protection. She added:
“Unfortunately, present planning practices seem to be leaning towards making
it easier for developers and more difficult for those in support of more
sustainable development in Bermuda.” But the spokeswoman said that the DoP
sought to make the planning process “more efficient for all stakeholders”.
She added that the use of the online gazette had enhanced transparency. The
spokeswoman explained: “The public is now able to peruse the online gazette
daily for planning applications instead of having to wait until the end of each
work week. It should be noted that the online gazette has been utilized by the
planning department for over a year with the only change being advertisements
are now posted daily rather than once a week.” The spokeswoman said that
advertising planning applications only once a week had “drastically slowed”
the overall process. She added that the move to the online gazette “is in the
best interest, and at the request, of the general public”. The spokeswoman
said: “The DoP hopes that persons who do not have immediate access to the
internet may explore alternative options such as public library computers, or
assistance from family and friends.”
Almost
everyone has their fashion fetish, sneakers, purses, accessories — Terrylynn
Doyle loves bell-bottoms. “I wear them mostly every weekend,” said the
Dellwood Middle School teacher. “I wore them every day this summer. I wasn’t
even born in the 1970s, but I love that Bohemian flair.” Four years ago she
put her passion for vintage into her own store Strictly Vintage by Terry, on the
corner of Court Street and Victoria Street, upstairs, directly across from St
Paul’s AME Church. At first she got a lot of her items from thrift stores, but
as things developed she invested more in trendy, colourful new pieces — 80 per
cent of the merchandise is new. But she still loves searching for items at
places like Orange Bay and the Red Cross Upstairs Closet. “I have a
weakness,” she said. “I still go and seek out unique pieces.” Space is
tight in her store for all her jackets, jump suits, dresses, shirts and
accessories. At first, she crammed everything in, and there was hardly room to
turn around. But since then, she has learnt to be creative with her space. Jeans
and trendy shoes line the hallway. The walls inside the main store are covered
with purses and other accessories. “If you want to look like everyone else,
then this is probably not the place for you,” she said. “But if people are
looking for something different then this is the place. Sometimes a person will
come in and say do you have it in a bigger size? Then I will explain it is a
select piece. I would not bring three or four of a piece in different sizes. My
ideal client or shopper will come in and spend 30 or 40 minutes going through
each rack. I like that.” Some customers have come in and compared it to a
boutique in Soho. London. “I am really proud of how this place has
developed,” she said. “It is my passion so it doesn’t feel like work.”
Clients range from 20s to 40s, but she tends to cater more to plus-sized women,
size 12 and up. “I don’t really invest in really small sizes,” she said.
Everything she wears comes from her own store. Sometimes people stop her and
want to know where she got her outfit. “I gave up shopping in town when I
opened Strictly Vintage,” she said. “I have my own style and my own
flair.” Today she has a steady and loyal clientele, but she has found
Bermudians to be holiday shoppers. “They like to shop for May 24, Good Friday,
and Cup Match,” she said. “In the summer now we have a lot of cruises and
raft ups. That is when I have an influx of customers.” One of her challenges
is the cost of bringing in goods. She has learnt to bypass local mail carrier
services and use the regular post office; it’s cheaper. “I time my stuff,”
she said. “If I know I need something for May 24, I do the order a whole month
before so it can get here. The rate and percentage they charge in the post
office is really reasonable.” But she finds business can be up and down.
“There are some days I am here on a Saturday and very few people come in,”
she said. “I think the biggest downfall to the industry right now is online
shopping.” Because she works full time she is usually open only on Saturdays
from 11am to 5pm. But she lives in town, so if someone wants to see something in
the evening, and she doesn’t have a meeting, she can always open up the store.
The store is closed now and will reopen on December 31.
The
grateful family of a Second World War veteran thanked the Bermuda Legion for
pledging to help renovate their home after its poppy appeal marked a record
year. The legion raised about $5,000 on the November 6 tag day, with the
help of civilian and Royal Bermuda Regiment volunteers, and more than $26,000
overall. The wife of a 93-year-old veteran, who asked not to be named, said:
“I certainly appreciate them doing this. They’ve been very kind to us.”
She added: “That last hurricane left my yard in a terrible state. It’s also
blown my kitchen door off its frame.” Carol Everson, a Bermuda Legion welfare
case worker, said: “Thanks to the regiment, it was our best ever tag day. Some
of the funds are still coming in.” The funds help to pay for the Legion’s
year-round support to the nearly 150 veterans or widows who qualify for help.
One new qualifying veteran was found this year, Ms Everson said. Along with
helping families with their homes and providing medical equipment such as
hospital beds, the poppy funds will provide Christmas groceries to families in
need. Ms Everson said: “We are about to have our Christmas gift appeal.
We’ll be distributing gifts and groceries to veterans and widows around the
island. Again, we will be assisted by the magnificent staff at the regiment.”
The legion also hopes to bring the third instalment of its dementia caregiving
course next spring.
December 14
The
Fairmont Southampton hotel has been sold to a Miami-based company, it was
announced last night. Karim Alibhai, the founder of investment firm Gencom,
said he planned an ambitious programme of renovations at the landmark hotel. Mr
Alibhai added: “Acquiring Fairmont Southampton demonstrates Gencom’s
steadfast commitment to supporting the long-term growth of Bermuda’s tourism
and hospitality sector. The island is located less than three hours from most
major North American cities, making Bermuda a rare and accessible paradise. With
a planned restoration, we aim to create a wonderful, updated destination resort
experience at Fairmont Southampton for leisure and group travellers from all
over the world.” Gencom, which already owns the Rosewood Bermuda resort, did
not reveal the terms of the deal. But the company said in a press release that
it was committed to a “long-term investment” in the hotel, which will
continue to be managed by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. Zane DeSilva, the
Minister of Tourism and Transport, said the deal showed Gencom’s commitment to
the rebirth of the tourism industry. He added: “We support what it means for
this hallmark hotel and welcome the fact it sends a strong message to the world
about Bermuda’s tourism investment value.” Mr DeSilva shared the news in the
House of Assembly last night, when he also told MPs that the first phase of the
St Regis hotel development, in St George’s, was set to be completed April 2,
2021. He added: “This includes both the 122-room resort hotel as well as the
reopening of the affiliated Robert Trent Jones designed golf course.” Kevin
Dallas, BTA CEO, welcomed news of the Fairmont Southampton’s sale and pledged
to work to build on the hotel’s success. Mr Dallas said: “As with Gencom’s
purchase of Rosewood Bermuda, this major investment underscores robust
confidence in our island’s hospitality sector and signals the start of a new
era for this landmark property. The acquisition and any resulting enhancements
at the Fairmont Southampton resort will benefit the hotel, drive eventual growth
in our group-sales sector, and strengthen the overall quality of Bermuda’s
tourism product as we revitalize this industry to keep the island
competitive.” Gencom added that it was committed to a significant investment
in the long-term success of the resort. It said: “Gencom is currently
reviewing all aspects of the property and anticipates a full reveal of their
reimagined designs for the resort in 2020.” The firm bought Tucker’s Point,
which became Rosewood Bermuda, in 2017 and renovated at an estimated cost of $25
million. Alessandro Colantonio, Gencom’s executive vice-president acquisitions
and capital markets, said the firm’s experience with Tucker’s Point would
benefit its efforts to improve the Fairmont Southampton. He said: “As a result
of our successful acquisition and renovation of Rosewood Bermuda, Gencom has
gained acute knowledge and experience in the Bermuda market. We are well-poised
to properly restore the iconic Fairmont Southampton, further expanding our local
relationships and presence in the market. Through our planned investments, the
resort will once again become a leading destination for both leisure and group
travellers.” The Fairmont Southampton was owned by AccorHotels, which took
over the Fairmont Hotels group in 2015. The Royal Gazette reported in May
that the AccorHotels wanted to sell the 593-room hotel, which has ten
restaurants, a spa, an 18-hole golf course and amphitheatre and more than 25,000
square feet of meeting space.
Bermuda
is on track to notch up its first year without a gun murder in more than a
decade, it was revealed yesterday. Wayne Caines, the Minister of National
Security, told the House of Assembly yesterday the island had recorded no gun
deaths to date, with only 16 days of the year left. There were three gun
killings last year and the same number in 2017. Police recorded five gun
killings in 2016, one in 2015, two in 2014, three in 2013, five in both 2012 and
2011, seven in 2010 and four in 2009. Mr Caines told MPs that firearms offences
were down by more than half this year, 57 per cent, compared with three years
ago. There have been 35 firearms incidents this year, compared to 36 last year,
47 in 2017 and 82 the year before. There was just one firearms injury this year,
compared to two last year, six in 2017 and nine in 2016. A 64-year-old man was
shot in the shoulder in the Cashew City Road area of St George’s on October 3.
A total of 29 people were injured by firearms in 2010. Mr Caines told MPs that
the overall crime rate had also been cut. He said: “Firearms incidents are
down. Robberies are down. Antisocial behaviour is down. I stand here today to
thank all of the agencies and persons who continue to work to make Bermuda
safe.” The minister highlighted the work of the Bermuda Police Service. Mr.
Caines said: “I recognise the job you have is not an easy one. I can see the
fruits of your labour, especially when you put victims of crime first.” Mr
Caines also thanked the Inter-Agency Gang Taskforce, the Inter-Agency Gang
Enforcement Team, and the Gang Violence Reduction Team for their efforts. He
praised members of the public “too numerous to name” who had also pitched in
to help stem the tide of violent crime on the island. Mr Caines said: “I
recognise the key role played by each of these organisations and individuals.”
A total of 2,977 crimes have been recorded this year up to Tuesday, compared to
3,576 crimes in 2016. There were 635 crimes against the person, which includes
murder, manslaughter and serious assaults, logged this year. There were 740
crimes in the category — more than 100 up on this year — in 2016. Mr Caines
said a steep fall in the number of robberies had contributed to the total crime
rates. There have been 37 robberies so far this year compared to 81 in 2016. But
crimes against the community, which include firearms offences, disorder offences
and antisocial behaviour, went up compared to three years ago. Mr Caines said
there had been 462 offences this year, up from 408 in 2016. He explained there
had been an increase in antisocial behaviour offences — up this year to 325
offences from 286 in 2016. But Mr Caines said that it was important to highlight
that there had been 398 incidents of antisocial behaviour last year. He added:
“The Commissioner of Police and his senior team, based on that statistic and
other factors, decided to create a Tactical Operations Division which was led by
one of his superintendents to address antisocial behaviour and gang violence,
with the support of other agencies such as the Inter-Agency Gang Enforcement
Team and the Inter-Agency Community Response and other agencies working
together.” Mr Caines also told MPs that house burglaries dropped by 306 to 245
this year compared to 551 in 2016. He said there was a “considerable”
increase in arrests by police this year compared to last year — up to 3,362
from 2,728, an increase of 634. Mr Caines explained that the increase was
“largely due” to the introduction in February of an electronic tablet for
frontline officers which had led to a “considerable increase” in arrests on
warrants. But Mr Caines said that the Government and his ministry would “not
rest on their laurels”. Mr Caines encouraged everyone to “enjoy themselves
in a responsible manner” over the festive season. The news came after
Commissioner of Police Stephen Corbishley signaled a “marked reduction” in
violent crime. He said that the fall was due to “prevention, protecting
people, good intelligence and good partnership”. But Mr Corbishley warned that
more needed to be done. He said: “The work to be done, I think, is the social
side — how do we get young men to realise that selling some bags of weed in
the street is not the right way forward and it’s high risk? There’s a lot of
work being done by Government to do that, and I think that is the long road that
will have most success.” MPs also heard that Redemption Farm, a government
project to help steer at-risk people away from crime, had yielded its first
harvest of vegetables last week.
A
top name in Bermudian broadcasting retired from the industry yesterday, 50 years
after she started her career. Darlene Livingston celebrated with Bermuda
Broadcasting Company colleagues and received congratulations from David Burt,
the Premier, and Sir John Swan, a former premier. She said last night: “It was
a lovely surprise, they both had very kind words.” Ms Livingston added:
“Some folks posted on social media, congratulating me and offering their best
wishes. It’s a very warm feeling to have those kinds of accolades, for people
to remember you; for people to have appreciated your work.” Ms Livingston said
she joined the broadcasting company at the age of 15 before she studied
journalism in Ottawa. She returned to Bermuda — although later lived in
Chicago for a number of years — and her career included news director as well
as programming manager for both radio and television. Ms Livingston, who was
once a cub reporter at The Royal Gazette, said: “I’m very proud of my
work and I’m very pleased that people have enjoyed what I’ve done.”
Although she said she will miss the pace of daily news, the veteran journalist
said she was looking forward to “taking a break”. She will leave the island
tomorrow to embark on a trip to Asia, that will include Hong Kong, Singapore,
Japan and the Philippines. The Bermuda Broadcasting Company said yesterday was a
“special day” in a post on its Facebook page. It added: “We held a special
send off for our Darlene Livingston who today retires from the company after 50
years of service primarily in the news department. We will miss you Darlene.”
Bermuda’s
soldiers said today a career in the Royal Bermuda Regiment was the ranking
second job on the island. They explained the RBR offered the chance to
develop themselves, network, and boost their chances in the job market, as well
as providing a rewarding military experience and the opportunity to travel and
gain extra qualifications. Sergeant Joshua Dawson, 28, an auto technician at
Pembroke’s Auto Solutions, said his role in keeping the RBR moving as part of
the Motor Transport section allowed him to gain wider experience in his trade.
Sergeant Dawson, one of more than 20 soldiers promoted last week, added: “You
get to work with all different types of people and situations you don’t
normally deal with – you get all sorts of skills and training. I fix trucks,
drive cars and have done driving on overseas trips. It’s definitely helped me
improve at work because the things I learned doing the trucks are things I
wouldn’t learn in my full-time job.” The six-year veteran, from Hamilton
Parish, said: “I basically joined because I liked the lifestyle and structure.
Going up through the ranks was something I enjoyed doing – it’s about
gaining responsibility and helping people. It’s good to have someone of higher
rank who’s prepared to teach Privates, Lance Corporals and Corporals things
and help them to progress too. I have no regrets. I have always thought about
staying on long term with the possibility of a full-time position if one becomes
available.” Sergeant Dawson added the modern RBR had continued to develop over
his six years of service and now had a more structured and academic approach to
training. He explained: “It’s a lot more beneficial to people now because
we’re looking to teach people and improve people, not just as soldiers, but in
terms of their character. People are enjoying it more and learning more.”
Corporal Ariana Smith, 22, who works at the Bermuda National Library, said she
was pleased to have reached her rank after just two years’ service. Corporal
Smith, from Southampton, the clerk for the RBR’s Junior Leaders programme,
added: “I joined because I enjoy new experiences and learning new skills you
can use elsewhere in life. I expected it to be really tough when I joined,
although I didn’t know too much about the modern Regiment. It was tough, but
it wasn’t as difficult as I’d been told by my father and grandfather, who
were both in the Regiment. It’s very different now – it’s a lot more
humane and I enjoy it very much.” Corporal Smith added: “It’s definitely
helped me with my organisation and time management. They’ve both improved and
my discipline, when it comes to doing anything, projects or whatever, is much
better. I also enjoy the camaraderie – it’s like a big, happy family. We all
have our differences, but at the end of the day you put them aside and treat
each other like family.” Lance Corporal Wayne Willis, originally from North
Carolina and married to a Bermudian, said he was motivated by a desire to give
back to the country and forge friendships after he moved to the island. Lance
Corporal Willis, who has served for a year and was also just promoted, has
transferred from the RBR’s humanitarian aid and disaster relief specialists in
B Company to the Regimental Police. He said: “It’s been a lot of fun and
I’ve been able to meet a lot of people – good people. When I came here I
didn’t know anyone except my wife.” Lance Corporal Willis, 31, who works at
wholesalers Viking Food, added: “The RBR has sharpened my leadership skills
and it’s helped develop me – and the extra money helps. It comes in
handy.” New Sergeant Luke Swan, 26, from Pembroke, was one of the last
soldiers recruited under the old conscription system. Sergeant Swan admitted:
“At the time, it sucked. But it was the camaraderie of the Regiment and the
things you would never do in civilian life, the training, the weapons, that got
me hooked. The camaraderie between troops of all ranks is what really keeps you
there. I like the RBR. It’s actually fun.” And – six years after he ran
through the gates of Warwick Camp - he will be Training Company Sergeant for the
RBR’s next Recruit Camp, due to run from February 18-26 next year. Sergeant
Swan said: “If someone had told me that six years ago, I would have said
‘not a chance’. I didn’t know what to expect when I joined, but it
certainly wasn’t being Recruit Camp Sergeant.” The 2018 Corporal of the
Year, an insulator with BAC air conditioning, added: “I’ve learned a lot
from the Army. You get so many different people and you have to learn to manage
all these different personalities. I can also live in the field anywhere.” He
added his military experience helped him in civilian life. Sergeant Swan said:
“I find I’m always prepared to deal with any situations just through the
years I’ve been in the Regiment. What I would say to my 19-year-old self would
be ‘take any opportunity in the RBR as it comes and to make the most of it’.
At the time, I wasn’t going to go away to school – I wanted to get a job.
The Regiment became a good source of income. I had a job then, but it was a
hustle.” Sergeant Swan added: “If people have had trouble finding a job,
social problems and can’t find their way, the RBR will sort them out. We have
so many resources, people from different backgrounds and you can create a huge
social network. I know a lot of people who have been recommended for jobs based
on their performance in the Regiment.” An RBR spokesman said spaces were still
available for the recruit camp in February. RBR soldiers are expected to
complete 30 days of service a year, including a two week training camp, usually
overseas, and regular nights and weekends and earn about $5000 in their first
year. Further trade and leadership training, at home and overseas, is also
available. To enquire about service in the RBR, phone 238-1045 or visit rbr.bm.
Last
Sunday the Anglican Church of Bermuda licensed and installed two new honorary
Canons in a special service of evensong. The service took place at The
Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, where The Right Reverend Nicholas Dill,
Bishop of Bermuda, appointed Reverends John Stow and Anthony Pettit as Canon
Capitulars for the church. The word Canon, in literal terms, means “a
criterion or standard of judgment”. In this religious context the title is
given as an honour, at the discretion of the Bishop, to members of the clergy
who have shown an exemplary level of commitment, service and devotion to the
church and its ministry. These two newest Canons of the Anglican Church of
Bermuda are most deserving of this title. Canon John Stow is a Bermudian-born
priest currently serving both Holy Trinity Church in Hamilton Parish and St
Mark’s Church in Smith’s Parish. Aside from his parochial duties, Canon Stow
has served as the youth director for the Diocese, spearheaded the creation of a
church-wide safeguarding policy and provided mentorship in the curacy training
of two recently ordained Bermudian priests, Reverends Paul Dean and Jamaine
Tucker. Canon Stow recalled the year he spent working in Israel at age 18 as
being particularly influential on his call to the priesthood. “It was a very
formative time for me. I stayed in monasteries and joined in their common
worship, which introduced me to the life of prayer. Whatever their age, culture
or language, the brothers and sisters knew Jesus to be so close to them, and
this rubbed off on me.” Since his ordination as priest, Canon Stow has
ministered throughout the West Country of England. He became somewhat of a
“rural specialist”, leading congregations in small villages, running
projects with young people and reviving ministries in otherwise isolated areas.
Canon Stow was born in Bermuda and spent the early part of his childhood here.
Thus, his return to the island in 2013 with his wife, Jane, came with a
significant nostalgia. His father, The Venerable Reverend John Stow, served as
rector of St George’s Parish from 1947 to 1961 and also as Archdeacon of
Bermuda from 1951 to 1961. As he continues in this legacy of ministry, Canon
Stow hopes to “raise up young leaders who will bring together people of every
generation and heritage, to be instruments of His peace, both here and where His
providence leads them”. Canon Anthony Pettit has been serving St Paul’s in
Paget for the last nine years. He, along with his wife Ruth and their two sons,
moved to Bermuda in 2010 and have invested themselves into the life of the
church and their parish. Ordained as a priest in 2002 in the Diocese of
Worcester, Canon Pettit has been in ministry for most of his adult life. He
believes that ministry is a way of life for a believer: “All Christian people
are called to engage in seeing God’s kingdom come and in proclaiming Good
News.” However, it was a spirit of service which really cemented Canon
Pettit’s ministry. Having spent time as a child in rural Nigeria, he learnt
that “serving one another is at the heart of good human life. My family went
to church, but I wouldn’t have considered us to be particularly religious,”
Canon Pettit said. “When I went to college, I had a hard time holding onto any
faith, but God kind of kept sticking good Christian people in my way. I started
in church ministry because I wanted to support others who found faith hard to
hold onto — especially young persons.” Canon Pettit previously served as the
director of communications for the Anglican Church of Bermuda before being
appointed as the first director of training and discipleship in 2017. In this
newly developed role, he is responsible for the development and management of a
local training programme, St Mellitus Affiliate: Bermuda, which trains lay
persons for church ministry. In June, the first cohort of 13 students graduated
from the programme and are all currently serving in various ministries
throughout the church. Canon Pettit hopes to be a part of continued
transformation of the Anglican Church of Bermuda, particularly in assisting to
train Bermudians for ministry. On the topic of the St Mellitus Affiliate:
Bermuda programme, he shared: “I have a great hope that this well lead to a
truly Bermudian-shaped church with ministry, prayers, songs and mission really
having those incredible Bermudian flavors.” Bishop Dill was delighted to
appoint the two as honorary Canons: “It is good to have the opportunity to
honour two leaders in our church who have added materially to the growth and
development of our congregations and our outreach to the community.” Said
Canon Stow: “I’m really amazed to receive this honour. I already feel so
very fulfilled, being a parish priest in Smith’s and Hamilton Parish and
serving the wider Anglican Church of Bermuda, so this is like the ‘icing on
the cake’.” Canon Pettit said he was “floored” when Bishop Dill offered
him the honorary role. “I had, and have, a feeling of deep unworthiness with
huge excitement that the ministries with which I am involved are things that our
Bishop feels are heading in a Godly direction.” Their new titles won’t
change much for their everyday ministry. Both new Canons will continue to serve
in their respective parishes and fulfil their leadership roles within the
church. But their appointments represent a growth and change in the leadership
of the Anglican Church of Bermuda and were met with much joy by the recipients,
their parishioners and the wider membership.
Silvermine
Country Club led from wire to wire to clinch the 67th Bermuda Goodwill
Tournament that concluded at Tucker’s Point Club on Wednesday. The team
from Norwalk, Connecticut laid down a marker after an opening round
12-under-par, 59 at Mid Ocean Club on Monday left them four-shots clear of
nearest rival Innis Arden Golf Club atop the leaderboard. A nine-under-par, 62
in second round played at Port Royal the following day kept Silvermine’s title
bid firmly on track before a 12-under-par, 58 sealed the deal in the final round
at Tucker’s Point. The winners finished the best ball event with a three-round
accumulative net score of 179. Innis Arden Golf Club finished second with a
score of 185 and Trump National Briarcliff third with 187. Guiding Silvermine to
what proved to be a comfortable victory in the end was Peter Ballo who won the
individual professional Stableford title with 68 points. Brian Gaffney,
representing Essex Fells Country Club, finished second with 54 points and Chris
Marinaro, of Trump National Briarcliff, third with 52 points. There were no
local players or teams that competed in this year’s event featuring 27 teams
from North America and Europe. Introduced in 1953, the Goodwill Tournament has
become a staple of Bermuda’s golf calendar attracting overseas amateurs and
professionals to the island annually.
A
Southampton sports club has been hit with a police closure order for this
weekend. A police spokesman said the Southampton Rangers club was ordered to
shut for 24 hours from tonight after a disturbance at the club last Sunday,
which led to the arrest of a man. A spokesman for the Bermuda Police Service
said that the club would be closed from 10pm to 10pm on Sunday. The closure
order was issued yesterday by acting Superintendent Hashim Estwick of the
Tactical Policing Division. The spokesman said: “It is hoped that this
temporary closure will allow the management of Southampton Rangers Sports Club
time to review this latest incident and reassess the establishment’s security
measures.” The forced closure is the club’s third this year. A closure order
was issued after a 20-year-old man was stabbed in April. Police also ordered the
club to shut for 24 hours after a brawl in February. Jason Wade, the president
of Southampton Rangers could not be reached for comment.
UK General
Election yesterday until 2200 hours. Conservative & Unionist party
under Prime Minister Boris Johnson win with an 80-seat majority, the best since
Margaret Thatcher in 1987. Brexit now possible by January 31, 2020. Labour
lost hugely. Many key once-Labour seats went Conservative for the very first
time. In Scotland, the results were a Scottish National Party virtual
takeover, with the now louder-than-ever rant of the SNP. political leader
demanding another referendum on political independence for Scotland instead of
it remaining in the United Kingdom, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson has
refused.
Bermuda’s
gross domestic product increased by 0.1 per cent to $6.5 billion in 2018, the
Government announced today. GDP is a measure of economic activity that
captures the value of goods and services produced within a country during a
given period. Including inflation, GDP in current prices increased by 1.7 per
cent in relation to 2017. Overall, eight of 18 industry groups contributed
positive growth to the real GDP, the report compiled by the Government
Department of Statistics reveals. The largest increases in absolute real terms
were recorded for the construction and quarrying industry, which grew by $33.9
million and international business, which grew by $24.7 million. The
international business industry was the largest contributor to GDP, representing
25.2 per cent of total GDP, the report shows. In contrast, value added in the
arts, entertainment and recreation industry fell by $36.6 million and the
wholesale and retail trade industry decreased by $15.5 million. Compensation of
employees accounted for 55.7 per cent of the total cost of producing the GDP at
current purchasers’ prices in 2018. Operating surplus/mixed income and
combined taxes less subsidies (on production and products) represented 28.7 per
cent and 11.5 per cent of the GDP at current purchasers’ prices, respectively.
Depreciation accounted for 4.1 per cent. In 2018, non-financial corporations
contributed 43.6 per cent of the total GDP at current basic prices mostly
concentrated in real estate activities, professional, scientific and technical
activities, and wholesale and retail trade, the report said. Financial
corporations contributed 37.7 per cent of total GDP at current basic prices with
general government contributing 10.8 per cent and households contributing 7.9
per cent. Gross national disposable income reached $7.3 billion at the end of
2018, up 1.2 per cent from 2017. After adjusting GNDI for consumption
expenditure, gross national savings was measured at $2.9 billion, the report
said, which represented a 3.4 per cent increase year-over-year. Of the total
savings, Government said, $1 billion was spent on gross capital formation
(investment in capital goods) which positioned the Bermuda economy as a net
lender to the rest of the world in the amount of $1.9 billion. Government said
that it has re-based the island’s GDP from 2006 to 2013 in order to keep up
with the evolution of prices and capture more current economic conditions. The
re-basing exercise was completed with the assistance of the Caribbean Regional
Technical Assistance Centre. The 2018 GDP publication reflects changes to the
industry structure and levels of the annual GDP estimates, Government said.
These changes are the result of an updated Supply and Use Table for Bermuda as
part of the implementation of the 2008 System of National Accounts, which serves
as the international statistical standard for the production of statistics on
GDP. Wayne Furbert, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said: “The exercise to
update the SUT and the GDP base year was a collaborative process between the
Caribbean Technical Assistance Centre and the Department of Statistics over a
five-year period ending in August 2019. “The DOS finalised an SUT with 2013
data as this was the most recent year with supporting data from the Household
Expenditure Survey. The finalised SUT allowed for replacing the outdated 2006
base year for estimating GDP in constant prices which is used to measure real
growth rates in the Bermuda economy. The updated GDP estimates will give a
realistic and integrated view of the economy that is more suitable for policy
and analytical use and reflects more closely the current economic dynamics.”
Based on the balanced SUT, the GDP level in current prices for the base year
2013 has been revised up by 14.5 per cent, Government said, adding that the
increase in the re-based GDP series is not uncommon, as other countries which
implemented recent re-basing and application of the 2008 SNA showed the
following increases in GDP in current prices: Cayman Islands +27.5 per cent in
2015 GDP; Maldives +19.5 per cent in 2014 GDP; Tanzania +27.8 per cent in 2013
GDP; Kenya +25.3 per cent in 2013 GDP; Bahamas +27.6 per cent in 2012 GDP; and
Zambia +25.2 per cent in 2010 GDP. Bermuda’s GDP series, Government said, now
reflects a more accurate picture of the size and structure of the economy and
incorporates new activities that were previously not captured in the
computational framework. The relevance of the GDP series has been enhanced and
is now more internationally comparable with other jurisdictions, it said. The
2013 base year series features 18 industry groupings versus the previous 15
industry groupings. In support of evidence-based decision making, the re-based
GDP provides a better understanding of which industries are driving growth since
emerging industries such as the Information and Communication industry are now
explicitly featured, Government said. The year-over-year GDP breakdown by
industry is:
Finance
Minister Curtis Dickinson today welcomed the affirmation of Bermuda’s A+
credit rating by Standard & Poor’s. Speaking in the House of Assembly,
he said last month’s report was an “objective endorsement of our fiscal and
economic policies”. Mr Dickinson told MPs that S&P had affirmed
Bermuda’s A+ long-term sovereign credit and senior unsecured debt ratings as
well as its A-1 short-term rating and AA+ transfer and convertibility
assessment. “What prompted S&P to perform this analysis on Bermuda, at
this particular point in time, is due to the fact that the Government borrowed
$170 million to honour its guarantee to the lenders of the Caroline Bay
project,” Mr Dickinson said. The trigger of the debt guarantee on the project
at Morgan’s Point resulted in the Government raising the debt ceiling to $2.75
billion and opening a $200 million credit facility jointly with Butterfield Bank
and HSBC Bermuda in September. S&P recognised that the Government was on
track to produce a balanced budget in the current fiscal year and, if this was
sustained, to lower the government debt burden. “There was also mention of the
Government’s policymaking being effective and predictable,” Mr Dickson said.
“These comments highlight the fact that the PLP Government remains committed
to the island and its economy and demonstrates this through transparent and
prudent governance.” He added that the Government “will continue to
collaboratively press ahead with our economic and fiscal policies in order to
establish a better and fairer Bermuda that was promised in our election
platform”. In its November 4 report, S&P noted that the sell-off of equity
markets in late 2018 lowered the value of Bermuda’s external government
assets, and that, together with the unexpected increase in debt as a result of
the Caroline Bay guarantee, had contributed to its net debtor position. The
ratings agency added: “Ongoing fiscal consolidation could produce balanced
fiscal results and a declining trend in general government debt.” It said that
as external asset values recover and the burden of general government debt
declines, “there is a chance that Bermuda could regain its net creditor
status, possibly by 2021-2022”. Factors that cloud that outlook are the
possibility of slowing US economic growth and uncertainty in Bermuda’s
international financial sector, S&P added.
A
long day is expected in the House of Assembly today as MPs sit for the final
session of the year. It is understood that all Bills on the Order of
Business that are due for second readings are to be debated, including the
Criminal Injuries (Compensation) Amendment Act 2016, tabled by Kim Wilson, the
Minister of Health. The explanatory memorandum for the Bill said the amendment
was “to allow for improved efficiency in carrying out the mandate of the
CICB”. The Bill also proposes that members of the CICB should be appointed by
the Minister of Legal Affairs rather than the Governor. A total of seven
ministerial statements were also listed. They include one on the Standard and
Poor’s rating to be delivered by Curtis Dickinson, the Minister of Finance, an
update on Bermuda’s crime and violence reduction strategy from Wayne Caines,
the national security minister, and an update on the island’s hotel industry
from Zane DeSilva, the tourism minister. Three government Bills are also
scheduled to be tabled. They are the Mortgage Registration Amendment Act, the
Statistics Amendment Act and the Motor Car and Road Traffic (Miscellaneous)
Amendment Act.
Bermuda’s
global insurance market has praised the efforts of the Bermuda Monetary
Authority and the strength of its regulatory regime in being granted reciprocal
status by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The new
designation was introduced this year by the American insurance regulatory body.
Bermuda’s elevated status, effective January 1, makes it one of only three
jurisdictions recognised as being on par with the US and means Bermuda-based
re/insurers can operate in the market without additional capital requirements.
The Bermuda Business Development Agency said this puts the island on equal
footing with its counterparts from the European Union and the United Kingdom and
further adds to its renewed qualified jurisdiction status, a pre-requisite to
achieving reciprocal status, also granted by the NAIC following its five-year
re-evaluation. Roland Andy Burrows, chief executive officer of the BDA, said the
endorsement is a “significant win for Bermuda and testament to the hard work
that takes place to ensure we remain at the forefront of the global re/insurance
market”. He added: “We thank the BMA for their efforts, as well as the NAIC
and all our industry stakeholders, and look forward to a positive 2020.” Given
the significant role Bermuda’s re/insurers play in supporting the US economy,
paying out more than $200 billion to settle US losses over the last two decades,
American businesses and consumers also stand to benefit from greater
efficiencies and access to Bermuda’s capital and expertise, the BDA said.
Stephen Weinstein, deputy chairman of the BDA, said: “We were very pleased to
see Bermuda’s robust, fit-for-purpose regulatory regime accorded this
important distinction from the NAIC, whose standards are respected worldwide.
Insureds, intermediaries and communities across the US will only benefit from
ensuring level playing field access to Bermuda’s capital and risk management
expertise, and from further reducing the costs of exporting risk to the Bermuda
market. “The staff of the BMA deserve our appreciation both for their success
in being one of three regulators worldwide to obtain this designation, and for
their sustained efforts over the years to protect policyholders while adapting
to changes in the industry and the underlying markets and communities we
serve.” John Huff, president of the Association of Bermuda Insurers and
Reinsurers, said: “Bermuda’s leading reinsurers have long been reliable
partners in providing natural catastrophe and specialty reinsurance and a
growing amount of cyber insurance protection for US consumers. The hard earned
‘reciprocal jurisdiction’ status demonstrates the quality of Bermuda’s
world-class regulatory regime and gives Bermuda a competitive edge against other
international markets.” Ronnie Klein, senior adviser, Bermuda International
Long Term Insurers and Reinsurers, said: “NAIC qualification is extremely
important to Biltir member companies as much of our business is transacted in
and with the US. We are proud to be considered in the same jurisdictional
category as Japan and Switzerland and it shows that all of the hard work the BMA
has done paid off. Biltir members will continue to partner with the BMA to make
certain that Bermuda remains NAIC-qualified.”
Lawyer
Saul Dismont detailed in a British law magazine this year how the Government had
failed children by not paying for them to have independent legal representation.
Mr Dismont submitted an article to Family Affairs, the newsletter of the Family
Law Bar Association, which was published in its spring 2019 edition. He wrote
how he came across a “profound case” in 2014 while he was doing a pupilage
at Elizabeth Christopher’s law firm. It involved a young man he was
representing in the criminal courts who asked the lawyer to also help him in
“child court” because he was worried “they” would try to send him away.
“He said he did not have a lawyer or anyone else,” Mr Dismont wrote. “I
thought that unlikely but felt compelled to at least take him to the court to
make sure.” He said before attending the court, he checked the Children Act
1998 and found section 35, which entitles a child to a litigation guardian and
counsel in specified proceedings. Mr Dismont appeared before the Family Court on
behalf of the boy and raised the issue of appointing a litigation guardian.
“It was evident that this was the first time the court had ever been directed
to section 35,” he wrote. “The poor social workers did not have the faintest
idea what I was talking about, what a litigation guardian was and why my client
had a lawyer in the first place.” Further research revealed there was not a
single Bermuda case which mentioned section 35, despite its mandatory nature. Mr
Dismont persuaded the court at the next hearing for the boy that a litigation
guardian should be appointed. “I struggled even to find a social worker that
was not attached to DCFS in some way,” Mr Dismont wrote. “The few I did find
were already committed to charities that were solely committed to providing
family counselling.” He said Tiffanne Thomas was repeatedly recommended to him
and the pair had worked together since. “In every case we were involved in, we
found something peculiar,” Mr Dismont wrote. “Throughout our matters, AG
[Attorney-General’s Chambers] counsel would appear for DCFS and would often
refuse to tell us their position until we entered court and would accuse me of
personally lying in the presentation of my client’s case. It was all very
bizarre. The litigation guardian was accused of ... being too concerned with
following the law ...” He wrote that Ms Thomas had been appointed for 33
children since their first case but that represented a “tiny minority” of
children in specified proceedings, with about 25 to 40 applicable cases a week.
Mr Dismont said the courts ignored section 35 for 15 years because the Act was
not clear on payment and lawyers were not pressing the issue in court. The
Government, he wrote, ignored invoices from him and Ms Thomas. The Court of
Appeal ruled earlier this year, in a case brought by the Human Rights Commission
and child rights’ charities, that failure to introduce a funding scheme for
litigation guardians breached obligations set out in the Children Act. Mr
Dismont, who represented the plaintiffs and whose article appeared in Family Law
before the appeal judgment, wrote: “An interesting question to ask is why it
is that British children in the British territory of England have the
Rolls-Royce of child representation, yet British children in the British
territory of Bermuda do not. Could it be that all British children are equal,
but some British children are more equal than others?” The Royal Gazette
revealed in November 2018 that almost 50 vulnerable Bermudian children were sent
to overseas institutions in the previous five years without their wishes being
taken into account by the courts. Statistics released under public access to
information legislation by the DCFS showed that 48 youngsters sent abroad as
part of the psycho educational programme since April 2014 had no legal
representation at all.
Two
men who suffered abuse as teenagers at a grim reform school in the United States
have urged Bermuda not to give up on its troubled young people and to care for
at-risk children closer to home. Alvone Maybury, 33, and Ezra Ararat, 34,
told their stories
anonymously to The Royal Gazette earlier this year after it was reported
that young boys from Bermuda were sent to Glen Mills Schools in Pennsylvania for
more than 35 years. The two agreed to be identified in the wake of the Who
Cares? investigation into how Bermuda’s at-risk and vulnerable children are treated. They
joined would-be boxer Tyler Christopher, 23, who told his story
on Monday at the launch of the weeklong series. Mr Ararat said he hoped Bermuda
would now look at alternatives to overseas care for children with behaviour
problems. He added: “A better alternative is just to deal with the problem
here, stop giving up on the youth. Just understand you are dealing with
children. It’s rough coming up. They are going to make mistakes. Just don’t
give up on them because they are probably a little ruder than the other
children. Just keep working with them.” Mr Maybury, who appears in the YouTube
series Hustlerz Paradise, said he was “kind of stunned” that the
abuse suffered by some children in the Department of Child and Family Services
psycho-educational programme had at last come to light. He suggested the
country’s leaders should consider if a local treatment centre could be created
to care for troubled teens, which would allow them to see loved ones on a
regular basis. Mr Maybury said: “We have got all these islands in Bermuda. Why
don’t we find one of those islands and use some of the buildings there? Put
people there, take them on a boat. Everybody always wants to be about
punishment. It’s not always about punishment. Help people get better. Help
them to get jobs. Help them to learn a trade or get a GED.” Glen Mills, the
oldest reform school in the United States, was shut in April for abuse and
mistreatment of children. The institution is the subject of several inquiries by
US authorities, as well as lawsuits from former pupils. The DCFS has not
revealed how many boys were sent to the school but has said the last child
went in 2017. But children are still sent to other behavioral schools and
“treatment centres” in the US as part of the psycho-educational programme.
Mr Ararat was placed in care, aged 13, after he stabbed another boy in a fight
at the bus terminal. He said: “I was too young to get charged, so they sent me
to the boys’ home. My momma got upset. She was going through a lot of hard
times; she had five children. It was tough for her.” He added that he ran away
a lot from the boys’ home and was sent to Glen Mills at 15 after a chemical
imbalance in his brain was diagnosed. Mr Ararat said: “They said they were
going to send me away or I’d get locked up and go to Co-Ed. I wanted to go to
jail. I’m thinking I’m safe in Bermuda. But they must have been painting
this pretty story to my momma. Everybody painted this as best to me.” At Glen
Mills, Mr Ararat claimed he heard other children being raped at night by other
pupils, although it did not happen to him. But he alleged he suffered violence
at the hands of staff and other pupils. He said: “All that was done to me was
being abused, hurt, humiliated — and it broke my spirit. Glen Mills has been
the worst experience of my life.” Mr Ararat was shot a few years ago in St
David’s and has not had a permanent job since, although he does landscaping
and handyman jobs. He said: “I suffer from PTSD. I don’t trust people. I
can’t handle being around people for too long. I still face challenges.” Mr
Ararat added that he wanted to be a productive member of society but needed
help, which was not available. He said: “I just try to fix myself.” Mr
Maybury said he was taken into care aged 12 after he took a knife into Victor
Scott Primary School in Pembroke and threatened another boy. His mother was very
ill at the time and he lived at different times at her home, his godmother’s
home and his father’s house. Mr Maybury said: “I remember going to some
meeting at a desk with people and they was telling me ‘we are giving you one
more chance, if you get in any trouble, you are going to be going to the boys’
home or whatever’. And I ended up getting sent to exactly the place they said
I would go.” He lived at Observatory Cottage but, aged 14, it was decided by
the department he would benefit from time at a school abroad. Mr Maybury added
the decision was probably taken because he “was too much for them. Going AWOL.
I just did what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to listen to nobody.” He said
he was given psychological assessments before he left and it was recommended he
take Ritalin, a drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but
he refused. Mr Maybury went to a treatment centre in Atlanta and was allowed to
call his mother every day. He said: “She passed away when I was 14. They had
brought me back from the place in Atlanta to be back with her because they knew
her time was coming.” He went to a school in Tennessee after his mother’s
death, and lived with his much older sister in New Jersey for a time. But Mr
Maybury, whose father died when he was 16, said he became homesick and his
sister, who has since also died, contacted the DCFS to discuss his return to the
island. He claimed a male social worker was sent to collect him and escort him
back to Bermuda — but that it was a “set-up”. Mr Maybury said: “I met
them at the airport in New Jersey. The social worker said we was going to catch
the plane from New Jersey, then spend the night at a hotel and leave in the
morning to go back to Bermuda. At Philadelphia, a truck came and picked us up.
They claimed the people who picked us up were ... going to take us to go get
some pizzas and drinks.” But the truck delivered Mr Maybury to Glen Mills, a Borstel
set in 1,800 acres of land, which he had been warned about by an older Bermudian
boy who had also been in care. Mr Maybury said: “Every placement I’ve been
to, it’s always got to a long road, a dark road with just trees. So when we
hit this long road and it was a straight stretch of road, no lights, just trees,
I turned towards him and asked him, ‘are you setting me up?’. And he never
said nothing to me.” Mr Maybury added pupils were made to give confrontational
“feedback” to one another during group sessions — highlighted by other
Glen Mills pupils in a report in The Philadelphia Inquirer in February
this year. He said boys were encouraged to get so angry they would scream at
each other and he alleged students were made to scrub shower cubicles with a
toothbrush. Mr Maybury added: “I’m like, ‘what is this?’. These people
claim to send me here to get an education, so basically I was rebellious after
that. I wasn’t going to change. I felt like ‘well, if they really think they
are going to change me and break me, it’s not going to happen’. But thinking
about it now ... that place could have messed me up if I wasn’t strong. I
could have came back and been stressed out about everything I went through and
went on drugs, hard drugs. Luckily, I never turned to drugs.” Many of the boys
sent to Glen Mills from elsewhere in the United States had criminal records,
unlike the Bermudian children. Mr Maybury said: “I asked a guy one time
‘what are you here for?’ He said ‘I’m here for shooting somebody in the
head’, so I thought ‘whatever’, but it was true.” Mr Maybury left Glen
Mills after six months and went to George Junior Republic, an all-boys’
school, near Pittsburgh. He gained brief notoriety in 2010 as the Facebook
fugitive after he returned to Bermuda after he bragged on social media about an
escape from police custody. He was later jailed for shooting at rivals from the
Parkside gang and conspiracy to shoot gangster Raymond “Yankee” Rawlins and
is now out on parole until 2026. Mr Maybury said he was a changed man, with a
steady job, a promising acting career and a small business selling books on
black history. But he insisted his turnaround was not down to the DCFS or the psycho-educational
programme. He said: “I changed because I wanted to change. No classes made me
change, no jail broke me or overseas. It’s because I’m just tired. I have
been through it all and I want to do different now.”
An
at-risk teenager’s allegations that he suffered physical abuse at the hands of
a male employee at a boys’ home were investigated only after his litigation
guardian read his file. An inquiry into the abuse claims at the Devonshire
home was launched last summer by the former ministry of social development and
sport after whistleblower Tiffanne Thomas, an independent social worker acting
as a court-appointed spokesman for the boy, raised concerns about four
Department of Child and Family Services staff members accused of the
mistreatment of children in care. The investigation also looked into whether
Alfred Maybury, the director of the DCFS, ignored the accusations made against
the four employees. A separate inquiry was conducted by the Department of
Internal Audit into allegations that Mr Maybury had failed to follow financial
instructions. Mr Maybury was suspended in August 2018 and returned in January
this year after the Government announced that a “thorough investigation” had
found the claims against him were “not substantiated”. The Royal Gazette
revealed that two of the DCFS staff members were disciplined after allegations
of abuse and neglect against them were “substantiated”. Neither employee was
reported to the police and a statement from a government spokeswoman suggested
they were allowed to return to work with vulnerable children, although under
supervision. The findings on the other two DCFS employees, one of whom is
understood to be the male employee accused of mistreatment of the boy, have not
been made public. The Government has refused to release the results of its two
inquiries in response to a public access to information request. The rejection
of the requests is being reviewed by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Saul Dismont, the lawyer for the boy whose allegations were uncovered by Ms
Thomas, referred to as “BC” to protect his identity, said he was never
interviewed by investigators. Mr Dismont added that he was aware of five other
children who had made complaints about department staff. He said: “I’m not
aware of any of those children having been spoken to or interviewed.” A
spokeswoman for the Ministry of Legal Affairs, now responsible for the DCFS
after a Cabinet shuffle late last year, insisted a “full and thorough
investigation was carried out”, but declined to discuss if any children were
interviewed. The launch of last summer’s inquiry was first reported by the
Politica news website.
A
month after losing its chief executive officer, Argo Group International
Holdings Ltd has announced its chairman Gary Woods is to retire in March, along
with four other directors. It has also moved to head-off a proposed special
shareholders’ meeting aimed at removing and replacing up to five directors —
something it said is unnecessary given its “board refreshment” announcement.
The Bermuda-based company is under investigation by the US Securities and
Exchange Commission regarding disclosure of certain compensation matters. In
addition, Argo’s independent directors are conducting a review of governance
and compensation matters. Argo’s credit ratings were last month placed under
review with negative implications by AM Best. The agency said that when it
affirmed Argo’s ratings in October it had been unaware of the SEC subpoena
that had been issued to Argo “some time before”. Mark Watson retired as CEO
last month, and was set to place $2.2 million of his company shares into an
escrow account, to be used to reimburse Argo if an investigation finds that
certain personal expenses of his were paid for by the company. He continues to
act as an adviser to the company and board member until the end of the year.
Kevin Rehnberg has been appointed interim CEO. Earlier this year, Argo was
involved in a bruising proxy battle with activist shareholder Voce Capital
Management LLC, which has been calling for changes to the board. The San
Francisco hedge fund is beneficial owner of about 5.8 per cent of the shares of
Argo. It attacked what it called a “spendthrift culture” and
“inappropriate corporate expenses” at Argo. The company responded by saying
the claims were “poorly researched” and had “little regard for the
truth”. Last Friday Voce, along with Voce Catalyst Partners LP, Voce Capital
LLC, Voce Catalyst Partners New York LLC and American J. Daniel Plants, made a
filing with the SEC aimed at securing a special general meeting of Argo
shareholders, with a view to seeking the removal and replacement of up to five
members of the Argo board. Argo has now filed a consent revocation statement and
is urging shareholders to sign it. In a statement, it said: “The board has
concluded that such a special general meeting is unnecessary given its ongoing
corporate governance review and board refreshment process which has resulted in
the aforementioned changes. “With the retirement of five members of the board
and an accelerated timeline for the 2020 AGM, the board does not believe it is
constructive to call a special general meeting that would be convened a few
weeks before the AGM and entail unnecessary costs and distraction.” The four
directors who, along with Mr Woods, will retire at the annual meeting, are F.
Sedgwick Browne, risk and capital committee chairman; Hector De Leon, member of
the audit and human resources committees; Mural Josephson, audit committee
chairman; and John Power, human resources committee chairman. The AGM is usually
held in May, but is being brought forward to March. Argo said the changes were
being made as part of a proactive refreshment process announced in August. It
said it has engaged a leading national executive search firm to identify highly
qualified director candidates, and welcomes input from shareholders in the
director search process. In its statement, Argo said: “The board intends to
present proposals at the 2020 AGM to declassify the board and reduce the maximum
size of the board from 13 to 11 director seats. The board will also present to
shareholders its revised executive compensation programme.”
Somers
Ltd has reported a net loss for the year of $9.7 million while it awaits
government and regulatory approvals for the sale of Bermuda Commercial Bank,
which it expects to receive “shortly”. Year-end results for the
financial services investment holding company were filed with the Bermuda Stock
Exchange, which released them today. Permanent Capital Holdings Ltd, a private
New York-based investor in financial services companies, announced on February 5
that it was buying BCB from parent Somers, subject to regulatory approvals,
including from the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Somers’ year-end financials
valued BCB at $82.9 million, compared with $94.9 million at the end of fiscal
2018. The net loss for the financial year ending September 30 was despite Somers
recording a net profit of $4.9 million in the fourth quarter. The loss compares
to a profit of $4.2 million at year-end in 2018. Somers said the net loss was
primarily due to net foreign exchange losses of $15.6 million for the year. At
year-end, Somers said, 72.1 per cent of its net assets were exposed to foreign
currencies, primarily sterling and the Australian dollar, and over the course of
the year these currencies decreased in value versus the US dollar by 5.7 per
cent and 6.6 per cent, respectively. The exchange losses were primarily unrealized,
the company said. Warren McLeland, chairman of Somers said: “2019 was a busy
year for Somers with a number of corporate transactions and positive financial
performances at several of the company’s investee companies, particularly
Resimac and PCF. Unfortunately, this did not flow through to the company’s net
asset value primarily due to weaknesses in Sterling and the Australian dollar
which meant that the company recorded a loss for the year. Since the year end
the rebound in the value of sterling, the continued strong financial performance
at Resimac and an increase in the share price at PCF have had a material
positive impact on the company’s net asset value. We are still waiting
regulatory and Government approvals for the sale of BCB but remain confident
that the transaction will complete shortly. 2019 has been a year of geopolitical
events which have impacted global markets and global economic growth which in
turn has led to lower interest rates, often negative rates, and the
reintroduction of central bank liquidity. The extreme volatility that the
markets experienced in the last quarter of 2018 may not have been repeated in
2019 but until some of these events are removed global growth will continue to
be anemic and the threat of further volatility remains. However, our investments
are well placed with strong financials, and with increased liquidity when the
sale of BCB completes Somers will be able to take advantage of the opportunities
that are likely to be present over the next 12 months.” Somers’ total assets
increased during the year to $423.1 million, up from $407.3 million a year
previous. The company had a net asset value per share of $17.10, and
shareholders’ equity of $353.6 million as at September 30, the company
reported. Shareholders’ equity a year ago was $364.1 million. Somers’ share
price ended the period at $15, down from $16 at September 30, 2018. Investment
highlights for the year included completion of the sale of Somers’ holdings in
Merrion Capital, Stockdale Securities and Street Capital Group, the company
said. Resimac Group Ltd remains Somers’ largest investment with a value of
$157.9 million and reported assets under management in excess of $13 billion
Australian and recently announced a significant increase in forecast profits for
the first half of the current financial year, Somers said. Somers recorded a
$4.3 million gain on its investment portfolio for 2019. Total borrowings
increased to $67.9 million from $41.5 million a year earlier. The directors of
Somers have resolved to pay a final dividend of 30 cents per share bringing the
total dividend for the year to 51 cents.
Representatives
from the Hilton hotel chain visited Bermuda this week to discuss the Bermudiana
Beach Resort. The vacation hotel/residential development, to be open next
summer, will be a part of the hotel’s Tapestry Collection. Jenna Hackett,
global head of Tapestry Collection, said: “The signing of Bermudian Beach
Resort brings a unique and authentic resort to our portfolio. “As the first
Hilton property in Bermuda, we look forward to working with the team at
Bermudiana Development Company Ltd to offer visitors a unique hotel coupled with
the benefits of our award-winning Hilton Honors programme.” The Bermudiana
Beach Resort, originally built as an affordable housing, will be made up of 90
fully furnished hotel residences across nine buildings. Bermudiana Development
Company is responsible for the conversion of the property and, once open,
properties and amenities will be fully managed for owners by a professional
hotel management team. The condos are for sale to local and overseas buyers on a
999-year leasehold basis, and under the terms of the lease owners can occupy
their condo for up to 90 days each year. They can then rent it out through the
hotel for the remainder of the year. The resort will also be part of the
award-winning Hilton Honors guest loyalty programme, which offers benefits that
include a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any
combination of points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount,
free standard Wi-Fi and access to the Hilton Honors mobile app.
UK General
Election 0700 to 2200 hours. European leaders secretly hope for a
Conservative victory, horrified by thoughts of a Corbin upset and what it would
mean in further cross-channel costs and negotiations. They do not want a
time-bomb thrown into the European security system by anti-NATO problems
(currently, the USA pays nearly 70% of NATO's costs with Britain paying 10% and
some countries like the EU's Ireland and Austria paying nothing). Britain and
the EU have signed a deal but non-Conservative members of the UK parliament have
refused it, which is why Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the General
Election. A Labour Victory tonight would wipe £367 million from UK shares and
hit millions of pension savers. Plus it would result in loss of Labour-hated
non-dom preferential treatment for those planning to use the UK as a tax haven.
But Bermuda would benefit, with more UK residents seeking use of Bermuda as an
offshore tax haven while they still can.
A
British Overseas Territory stopped sending children with behavioral issues to
residential centres abroad more than a decade ago because young people struggled
to return to the communities they left behind. Laurel Freeman, a social
worker in the British Virgin Islands, explained that relationships formed before
the minors went abroad were disrupted and the distance meant it was difficult
for family to keep in touch. She added that although residential placements
sometimes appeared to be the only solution for troubled teenagers, a change in
culture was needed to make progress. Bermudian children have been sent to
overseas treatment centres since at least as far back as 1984. The Ministry of
Legal Affairs said this week that nine children were in placements abroad, among
a total of 18 who received psycho-educational care from the Department of Child
and Family Services in 2019. As part of it’s Who Cares? series, The Royal
Gazette asked other island jurisdictions how they helped young people. Ms
Freeman replied: “In the absence of a residential treatment centre, the BVI
sought and contracted the services of private and publicly funded agencies
across the Caribbean and the United States to address the needs of those minors
severely affected by various behavioral, development and other issues. The
impetus to continue this intervention ended more than ten years ago, due to
several factors. Namely, on return to the territory from overseas, the minors,
juveniles or young persons found it difficult to integrate back into the society
and as a result they often re-offended. Ongoing communication was not prioritized
and therefore the initial relationship and bond created prior to them leaving
exasperated other family and social economic dynamics. Distance made family
continuity difficult to maintain due to costs associated with travel, telephone
or other contact. In lieu of utilizing overseas facilities, extensive
intervention through co-agency collaboration now occurs within the territory to
serve all facets of the affected minor. It is recognised that in some instances
a residential treatment centre is the only viable option to affect change and
this has been acknowledged by persons who can affect that change but with all
things, a cultural shift needs to take place prior to moving forward.” Ms
Freeman, who works in the Family, Children and Protective Services unit of the
BVI’s Social Development Department, confirmed later that the children who
attended the overseas centres had behavioral issues, but were not juvenile
offenders. She added: “When they came back, I can recall a few of them
actually did end up getting in conflict with the law and ending up in the local
prison. I guess the Government found that the practice was not working, was not
effective.” Ms Freeman explained: “As a British overseas territory,
effective psycho-educational programmes for the challenges now faced with the
teenage population are perhaps one of the more innovative, creative and
challenging components of social services agencies within the Caribbean.” She
said the BVI, which has a population of about 30,000, tried to place children
“with extreme behavioral disruptions” in settings that addressed the problem
and “implement behaviour modification”. Ms Freeman explained that the
territory had a state-owned residential facility that looked after children in
need of care and protection up to the age of 15, including minors affected by
abuse, neglect and abandonment. She added: “Referrals are made for children to
various psychologists and psychiatrists in the territory to address any
psychosocial issues and intervention takes place within the territory, whereby
access to family and familiar surroundings aids with the behavioral change
required.” Other services have included support from private partners in the
form of intervention and prevention programmes, psycho-educational clinics
hosted by private practitioners as well as community mental health schemes like
group and play therapy. Ms Freeman added: “I trust, as like-minded
territories, solutions to help our children can be reached in a concise,
effective manner.” A letter seen by The Royal Gazette showed that a
staff member working in the island’s child protection agency was concerned
about the extent of the psycho-educational programme’s use 12 years ago.
Sharon Merlo, who was a residential treatment services co-ordinator, wrote in
2007 to Kennette Robinson, then the DCFS acting director, about why funds were
needed to develop services on the island at that time. She acknowledged there
would always be limits to what could be provided in Bermuda. But Ms Merlo wrote:
“It is reasonable to assume that the current excessive psycho-educational
overseas placements will continue as long as the resources that require capital
expenditure remain unavailable. We will continue to frustrate the community and
our stakeholders by our inability to service clients locally.” The
psycho-educational programme was developed to help children who were deemed to
have exhausted all therapeutic services on the island. The legal affairs
ministry said on Monday that the DCFS’s child protection in 2018 included
support for 151 families so that 238 children could remain in their care, as
well as counselling services for 105 children and 82 parents. Foster care was in
place for 88 children, with 30 per cent of those being kinship or family
placements. A spokeswoman added: “This is always the department’s preferred
placement option in order to keep the children with family when the courts deem
placement with the parents to be unsafe.” In 2018, 20 young people were in
residential care homes run by the DCFS. The Gazette requested information
from child and family services departments in the Cayman Islands and Jamaica,
but none was received by press time.
A
couple asked a court to consider whether they should be awarded compensation
after their three-year-old son was unlawfully seized by police from their home
on the instructions of the island’s child protection agency. The American
pair sought unspecified damages from the director of the Department of Child and
Family Services, the Attorney-General and the Bermuda Police Service after a
judge earlier found that the authorities had acted wrongly. Their ongoing
lawsuit was launched after they left the island as they tried to stop the same
thing happening to another family in Bermuda. The boy was taken by officers from
the family home in May 2017 and was not returned to his parents for two days.
His mother said, in an affidavit filed with the Supreme Court: “Nothing can
describe the pain of my child being ripped away and being incapable of helping
him. I cannot imagine what he must have gone through and the effect it will have
on his development, but I fear he has been irreparably harmed.” The couple won
the case and received a ruling from Assistant Justice David Kessaram in February
last year that the DCFS, the Family Court and the police had “improperly
exercised” their powers. Their son had been to King Edward VII Memorial
Hospital three times with injuries between December 2014 and May 2017, including
the day before he was removed from the family home. But the judge found that the
DCFS did not have enough evidence to seek an emergency protection order. The
emergency room doctor who saw the child on May 2, 2017 diagnosed an injury
common in young children and said the parents were “concerned and interactive
appropriately”. The health professional added: “I did not have any concerns
that this child had been abused in any way ...” Mr Justice Kessaram said there
was “simply no basis” for the Family Court to “find that there was
reasonable cause to believe that significant harm would likely be suffered by
[the child] if left in the care of his parents”. The boy’s father said
earlier this year: “We are hoping that once concluded, this case will help
right the wrong brought on to our family, create accountability and protect
other families.” The mother said last year that she and her son saw a
therapist to help them after they left the island. She added: “It really
helped to find the words to explain to him what happened because we wanted to
make sure that he didn’t feel that he might have done something wrong.” The
woman said: “I couldn’t imagine a worse emotional feeling for a mother than
to see this happen to her child.”
Children’s
groups hope the Government will provide more information about the newly
established panel of litigation guardians. They said yesterday that
questions about funding and the selection process remained unanswered. Scott
Pearman, the shadow legal affairs minister, added that Bermuda must not
“penny-pinch” when it comes to safeguarding children. The Coalition for the
Protection of Children, Family Centre, Childwatch, Saving Children and Revealing
Secrets and Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda said they were “very troubled
by the recent reports in The Royal Gazette regarding child welfare”. As part
of its Who Cares? series, the Gazette has highlighted stories from some young
people with experience of the Department of Child and Family Services. In a
joint statement, the charities and child advocacy group explained: “Our
ultimate hope is that all the children affected will be afforded the respect and
justice of an independent investigation. An immediate measure that can be taken
is the enforcement of the law that provides children with lawyers and litigation
guardians in court, so that we can be confident children are being dealt with
legally.” Kathy Lynn Simmons, the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal
Affairs, announced last week the establishment of a panel of people who can act
as litigation guardians appointed by the court under the Children Act 1998. She
was the first minister to do so since the legislation was introduced. The
children’s groups said it was “an encouraging start”. They added: “It is
of grave importance that we get this process right from the beginning. We look
forward to learning how these individuals were selected, what form of funding
will be provided, and what specialized training in this field has been obtained.
Hopefully, those selected are completely independent of Government and there is
no conflict of interest or monetary restrictions when representing the best
interests of the child.” The groups were part of a legal challenge brought
against the Government in 2017. That culminated in a ruling last June when the
Court of Appeal made declarations that ministers had “for some time”
breached obligations set out in the Act because they failed to introduce a
scheme to fund litigation guardians. The children’s groups said: “Children
need, deserve and have the right under the Children’s Act, section 35, to
independent representation in Family Court. The role of a litigation guardian is
to ‘safeguard the interests of the child’ by having complete access to the
child’s records held by the director of child and family services. The
litigation guardian and the child’s lawyer are then able to make submissions
to the court on the child’s welfare. Our position holds that this is not only
a right for the vulnerable, but a core value of a just and fair society. When a
litigation guardian is not appointed by the court, it is effectively breaching a
child’s right to a fair trial.” The groups “implored” the Government and
judiciary to make sure that minors were properly represented and said the burden
of proof should be on the court to show “why a litigation guardian is not
beneficial in each case involving the welfare of a child”. They added: “Our
joint position on the matter is that proper transparency and accountability
remains critical where child safeguarding is concerned. We continue to offer our
support to the Government in achieving the goal of protecting our children.”
The Gazette asked for information about who was on the panel, how the
individuals were selected, what qualifications or specialized training they had,
and how much they would be paid. No response was received by press time. Mr
Pearman, a One Bermuda Alliance MP, welcomed the establishment of the panel but
added that “the public needs to know further details”. He said: “The
Attorney-General needs to make clear who is to take on these crucial roles to
ensure that Bermudian children are assisted by litigation guardians who are
truly independent. It is also important to know what the budget is as that will
dictate the number of cases the litigation guardians are able to take on. We
must not penny-pinch when it comes to protecting our young people.” Ms Simmons
said last week that the panel’s five members were “qualified, certified and
experienced social workers. The ministry will monitor and assess the
effectiveness of the implementation of the present legislative scheme for the
appointment of litigation guardians and counsel, while simultaneously advancing
a fiscally sustainable and independent model in keeping with best practice in
this area.” Tiffanne Thomas, an independent social worker, revealed in
November 2018 that she intended to resign her position as a litigation guardian
from 11 active cases involving 17 “at risk” minors because of lack of
payment. She was not included on the panel. The Supreme Court ordered last month
— in a hearing on a single case — Ms Thomas should be granted costs of $60
per hour for her time in the courts. Mark Diel, her lawyer, said yesterday:
“We have received no payment at all, of any sort, and we’ve been informed
that the Attorney-General is appealing this decision.”
Dock-workers
were locked in union talks yesterday after staff downed tools on Tuesday night,
and others staged a morning protest amid claims that a dozen workers had been
fired. The workers later marched to the Bermuda Industrial Union
headquarters for a five-hour meeting with management — at the end of which it
was announced that staff were heading back to the job. One source told The Royal
Gazette that the workers had downed tools after a dispute with management and
were fired yesterday as a result. But a statement last night from Polaris
Holding Company, the parent company of Stevedoring Services, which operates the
docks, said that “no jobs were lost and everything is back to normal”. The
company described the matter as “an ongoing personnel situation”. Meetings
were called after a group of more than 20 dock-workers — many still wearing
reflective safety jackets — gathered in the morning near the entrance to the
docks on Front Street with a cardboard banner that said: “12 dock workers
fired today!!” Staff had downed tools the night before while working on the
cargo ship Somers Isles, delaying the vessel’s departure yesterday. At 5pm, a
joint statement from Chris Furbert, BIU president, and Warren Jones, chief
executive of Polaris, said “resolution to the matter was achieved”. Talks
involved the Port Workers Division of the BIU with a management team and senior
union executives. The meetings came after protesters were met on the street at
about 9.45am by Mr Furbert and other union officials. Police on motorcycles also
attended, although there was no sign of tension. The protesters declined to
comment when approached by The Royal Gazette, but one indicated the action was
not a strike. The group walked to BIU headquarters at 11am and left the union
headquarters as a group of about 50 at 4.10pm. Throughout the day, the workers
would occasionally emerge for breaks, with some voicing frustration at the
length of the discussions. Polaris Holding Company’s statement said the
meetings came after “an incident which occurred last evening on the docks”.
Mr Jones did not elaborate, citing the company’s privacy policy for staff. The
company statement closed: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused but
believe that the talks we held today will serve to ensure that our relationship
stays on the right footing going forward.”
A
Canadian toxicology researcher is urging the island to hang up on any plans to
start a 5G cellular network. Advocates of 5G, which has been called the
network of the “near future”, have promised everything from quicker
downloads to greater network reliability. Paul Heroux, McGill University
associate professor of medicine, is not impressed. “My worry is that we are
impairing the health of huge populations by increasing exposure to
electromagnetic radiation,” Dr Heroux told The Royal Gazette. “What is
particular about the laboratory research I do is that it compares current
exposures to the exposures that existed in the environment before power and
telecommunications systems were deployed, over the last 100 years,” he said.
His research suggests that electromagnetic energy from power lines and cellular
telephone systems produces a slow damage to living materials, which can result
in, or amplify, chronic diseases. He said other scientists, such as Lennart
Hardell of Sweden, have found a connection between electromagnetic radiation and
the growth of certain cancers such as glioblastomas of the brain. “We have
evidence that electromagnetic fields do cause disease and death,” he said. He
said research done in his own laboratory had confirmed the benefits of lowering
exposure to electromagnetic fields. He spoke last month in Bermuda at Generation
Zapped, an event organised by Bermuda Advocates for Safe Technology, and the
Bermuda College Eco Club, to raise awareness of electro pollution. The talk came
a month after the Regulatory Authority announced plans for a radio frequency
study to determine whether cutting-edge technology, such as a 5G network, would
be appropriate for Bermuda. “I think 5G is the wrong direction to go at the
engineering level,” Dr Heroux said. “In Bermuda, there is an impressive list
of places that say they won’t have wireless. Optical fibres are the preferred
means to upload or download large amounts of data. 5G promises to take the data
from one gig per second to ten. This is an obvious improvement but mainly
important if you are downloading movies. “Optical fibre allows ten million
gigabytes per second. It is a billion times faster. We can have all the data we
want more safely.” He wanted to see mobile phones used for what they were
originally intended — communicating. “Mobile phones have proven their value
in society, but adding 5G will increase the number of cell towers immensely,”
he said. “Is this necessary? Do we need this extra layer and can we balance
the radiation we are exposed to with the health impacts? We need to steer
technological development in directions that are less dangerous to humans.” He
alleged that the telecommunications industry claims there is no evidence of a
link between electromagnetic radiation, because they really aren’t looking for
it. “They have stock holders who are not interested in the overall picture,”
he said. “They do not want to explore the health impacts of their products;
they want to expand. From their point of view, they will always deny it. They
use very simple science to convince the public not to believe that the impacts
exist.” He said the rates of acceptable levels of electromagnetic radiation
were set in the US to meet the needs of the US military during the Cold War in
the 1960s. Later mobile phone companies chose to maintain those levels because
it suited their needs. Dr Heroux said he had a mobile phone, but did not use it
much. “It’s often out of charge,” he said. “I sympathise with people who
are mobile users who have to use it. Avoid putting it against your head.” He
thought that in primary schools wi-fi should only be turned on for a limited
period during the day. “It needs to be turned off when not in use,” he said.
“Children are very vulnerable to this very radiation.” He thought the focus
should be on investing in better teaching rather than better gadgets. BAST is
planning to screen the movie Generation Zapped at the Bermuda Underwater
Exploration Institute next year, to coincide with 5G Global Protest Day on
January 25. They showed a trailer for the film at the event that Dr Heroux spoke
at. The screening date has yet to be announced. The World Health Organisation
has examined scientific research on links between electromagnetic fields and
human health. It concludes: “Current evidence does not confirm the existence
of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields.
However, some gaps in knowledge about biological effects exist and need further
research.” On its website, the WHO adds: “The long-term health effects of
mobile telephone use is another topic of much current research. No obvious
adverse effect of exposure to low-level radio frequency fields has been
discovered. However, given public concerns regarding the safety of cellular
telephones, further research aims to determine whether any less obvious effects
might occur at very low exposure levels.” One of the key findings of the WHO
research review was: “There is no doubt that short-term exposure to very high
levels of electromagnetic fields can be harmful to health. Current public
concern focuses on possible long-term health effects caused by exposure to
electromagnetic fields at levels below those required to trigger acute
biological responses.”
Digital
transformation creates both benefits and challenges for society, panellists told
audience members at the International Cyber Risk Management Conference in
Bermuda. Arthur Wightman, PwC Bermuda leader, said digital transformation
presents incredible potential as organisations seek to deliver greater value to
their stakeholders. With digital transformation, however, there is also a social
responsibility to ensure that the gap between the skills people have and those
needed for jobs or to function in the digital world is minimized, Mr Wightman
said. He was joined on the panel by Denis Pitcher, chief fintech adviser to
David Burt, the Premier, and Government’s fintech business unit, and Chris
Garrod, director, Conyers, who all discussed digital transformation and the
importance of digital upskilling. Mr Pitcher said: “We are on the verge of a
paradigm shift in terms of digital transformation and what it will do for global
data connectivity. The impact parallels the introduction of the world wide web
and the hyperlink of the mid-90s and the shift of access to information that it
enabled. Modern technology is enabling us to capture more data, drive more
insights and break down traditional data silos that will unlock tremendous
potential for efficiency, growth and global inclusion over the coming decades.
Essential to benefiting from this transformation is looking past hype to
understand when these technologies are appropriate as tools to be applied to
problems and when they are not. Embracing the technology, upskilling
stakeholders and focusing on immersion of the technology within the population
will drive the greatest understanding and potential to unlock its value.” Mr
Wightman said: “We’re at an inflection point — we need to act now and
collectively to ensure that all parts of our society are able to build the
skills needed to participate in a digital workplace. This is a complex challenge
that will require decision-makers — educators; national, regional and local
government leaders; and business leaders — to come together.” In its latest
Human Development Report 2019 — Beyond income, beyond averages, beyond today:
Inequalities in human development in the 21st century, the United Nations
Development Programme identifies that a new generation of inequalities is
emerging, with divergence in enhanced capabilities, PwC said. Mr Pitcher
addressed the importance of embracing disruption and innovation so people and
organisations are not left behind. He also spoke about the challenge Bermuda has
in terms of access to technology, noting that online payment companies like
PayPal, Square, and Stripe aren’t available to merchants in Bermuda. He said:
“We may be too small and not appealing as a market. Does this present a risk
for inclusion in the future of banking and financial services? What steps can
Bermuda take to ensure we are not excluded from innovation?” Mr Wightman said:
“A clear area where Bermuda can embrace disruption is through upskilling. For
example, there is a huge skills mismatch globally whereby millions of jobs are
going unfilled worldwide. Bermuda has the opportunity to help members of the
existing workforce, those currently excluded, those starting their working
lives, and those in the next generation to learn the skills required to operate
in a digital age. This in turn could provide opportunities to participate in a
worldwide job market where physical location is somewhat unimportant. Digital
upskilling is not just about new technology, in fact it’s the opposite —
it’s about learning how to think, act and thrive in a digital world that is
sustainable over time. That is an area where we can focus.” The PwC global
network is spending $3 billion over four years to specifically digitally upskill
its employees worldwide as well as help clients and communities to do the same.
The professional-services network has launched a 12-minute documentary film
looking at the impact of technology on people and the need to deal with rapidly
expanding skills mismatches. In Upskilling: Bridging the Digital Divide,
academics, NGOs, policymakers and business leaders explain why upskilling for a
digital world has become a priority for society, organisations and governments.
Although Thomas James had
lived on the corner of Burnt House Hill his entire life, he had no idea where
its name came from. He discovered the tragic story behind it when he started
writing "Warwick." “One rainy Sunday afternoon, I spent about
five hours searching through old newspapers,” he said. “Fire can turn up a
lot in newspapers.” On February 2, 1859, a seven-year-old girl accidentally
set fire to dried brush and palmetto leaves while lighting Samuel Tacklyn Jr’s
cellar fireplace. The house went up in flames. Four young children died,
including two who were locked in upstairs, while their caregiver was out. The
remains of the burnt house remained on the hill for many years. “The house was
towards the bottom of the hill on the waterside,” said Dr James. “In the
1930s, an American bought the property and built a new house, calling it Burnt
House.” The story is one of many included in Warwick, the latest in the
Bermuda National Trust’s architectural heritage series which covers more than
160 buildings in the parish. Dr James got involved after retiring from Ettrick
Animal Hospital in Warwick several years ago. “I was very bored,” he said.
“I wanted something to occupy my time. I have always been interested in things
historical and I like finding out things. I enjoyed going to the archives —
looking at deeds, wills and so on and tracing the ownership of the property. I
was very involved in the Hamilton book; I wrote the introduction to that and
also the Pembroke book. Then I was given the opportunity to write the Warwick
one.” He completed it with help from project managers Linda Abend and Margie
Lloyd and a body of volunteer researchers. Cecille Simmons said the project
appealed to her passion for collecting oral histories. One of the people she
spoke with was 102 years old; not all of them were from Warwick. “I have
gotten to know a retired postman, Joseph Lambert, who is extremely helpful,”
she said. “He remembers who he delivered mail to. There are seniors who thank
me just for giving them a call to ask them about something like this.” She
said working on several books in the series has changed her outlook on Bermuda.
“Wherever I go, I ask, ‘Do you know about this house?’,” she laughed.
“I am a nuisance. I am always on duty when it comes to this. That is the part
that I really love.” Her involvement started when the BNT was researching her
home parish, Sandys. Her mother, Edith Snaith, initially refused to have her
historic 1897 home, Cecille-o-Lodge, included in the book. “She was good and
reluctant and put up a struggle,” Mrs Simmons said. “She had a lot of
concerns about giving information about her house — as many older Bermudians
do. They don’t know the people and they are not quite sure what this project
is about. I think there is a past history in Bermuda of getting information
about your house because someone wants to get it.” Although still working when
Ms Abend asked her to help with the research on the next books, she attacked
them with relish. “I thought since I was a district nurse and knew lots of
seniors, this would be something for me,” she said. “It’s about convincing
people that their house is truly beautiful and would be an asset to the book.”
A painting of The Lodge by Chris Grimes was chosen for the cover of Warwick. The
Windy Ridge Road building is one of the parish’s oldest. Records from 1692
show it was then owned by Parnell Robinson, the widow of a mariner Solomon
Robinson. The house originally had a thatched roof and wooden walls that were
later changed to stone to give better protection during hurricanes. Other
Warwick residents followed suit. The parish is remarkable in that there were so
many old houses built in the 1700s that survived to the early 1900s, Dr James
said. “At that time wealthy Americans tended to come for two or three months
in the winter and often decided to buy a house here,” he said. “Several of
them bought houses, which were probably very run down farm houses at that time
and refurbished them — they appreciated their very simple lines. Then
Bermudians came to appreciate the fact that these old buildings did have some
aesthetic value in themselves. Instead of destroying them they refurbished
them.” The volume took five years of research, roughly a year to write and a
year to proofread and print. It includes sidebars on quarries, on Khyber Pass
and the slave graveyard at the “Rubber Tree” across from St Mary the Virgin
Anglican Church. There is also a chapter on the various islands of the Great
Sound. For Dr James, the most challenging part was the time it took to
understand the history of each house. “We benefit, now, from the fact that the
library has the Bermuda newspapers online — from 1784 upwards to the 1940s,”
he said. “With every house, I typically spent quite a bit of time there,
trying to find out little bits of information that might relate to the people
who owned these houses, just to help get a fuller picture of the life of these
people.” It is the ninth book out of ten planned in the series, and the final
book, Southampton, will be completed in “two or three years”.
Governments
on both sides of the political divide have spent more than $33 million over the
past ten years to send Bermudian children to overseas institutions, The Royal
Gazette can reveal. Most of the cash was paid to schools and “treatment
centres” in the United States by the Department of Child and Family Services
to care for vulnerable children in its psycho-educational programme. Hundreds of
youngsters have gone abroad, to places as far afield as Utah, Idaho and Arizona,
but only a fraction of them had independent legal representation before they
were sent away. Some have made allegations of serious abuse and mistreatment at
the centres and complained of feeling isolated and abandoned. It cost about
$115,000 a year in tuition fees for each child treated abroad in 2016, a public
access to information disclosure from the DCFS revealed. Budget Book figures
show that was cheaper than the average cost a year for a child in an island
residential home, which ranged from $157,103 to $183,346 in 2017-18. But the
$115,000 figure did not include travel costs. The amount spent on the
psycho-educational programme in the past decade — $33,658,000 between 2008 and
2018 — is almost three times more than the $11,571,000 spent in the previous
ten years, between 1998 and 2008. An average of $3.37 million a year has been
spent on the programme in the past decade, compared with an average of $1.16
million in the previous decade. The Royal Gazette traced spending of public
funds on the psycho-educational programme back to financial year 1994-1995, as
part of its Who Cares? investigation. The figures showed that $46,972,000 has
been spent since 1994-95 — an average annual cost of $1.96 million. Children
were sent abroad by the Bermuda Government, to at least one harsh reform school,
as far back as at least 1984, but The Royal Gazette could not obtain Budget
Books that went back that far. Annual spending on the psycho-educational
programme in the 1994-95 financial year was $431,000. It stayed at a similar
amount until 2000-01, when it jumped to $583,000. It rose again in the next
three years, with spending on the scheme going over the $1 million mark for the
first time in 2003-04. It dropped back to $780,000 the next year but then rose
again over the next few years to a peak of $5.8 million in 2010-11. Spending on
the programme from 1994-95 rocketed by 1,246 per cent to the high recorded for
2010-11. The most up-to-date figure for spending on the programme is $1.4
million in 2017-18. The estimate for spending in 2018-2019 was $2.1 million and
$1.8 million for 2019-20. The $33.7 million cost of the psycho-educational
programme for the past ten years was compared with the amount spent on Bermudian
centres and programmes for children in the care of the DCFS. The department
listed spending for three residential homes, plus a line item called Residential
Treatment Services, in Budget Books for the ten years from 2008 to 2018. The
cost of those four items came to a total of $33.3 million. The DCFS also runs a
foster care programme, which cost $23.9 million over the past decade, and a
family preservation or home-based programme, which cost $14 million over the
same period. The Ministry of Legal Affairs, which is responsible for the DCFS,
said 20 children were in Bermudian children’s homes in 2018 and another 20
were overseas as part of the psycho-educational programme. There were 88
youngsters in foster care and 238 children in the family preservation programme,
in which children stay at home and their parents are supported by the DCFS. A
spokeswoman for the DCFS said: “Recommendations for referral overseas via the
psycho-ed programme are made after all other resources locally are exhausted.
Local resources are family, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, other
family intervention programmes and outreach services. The department does not
wish to negate or take away from the perceptions of those who choose to take
their stories to the media. However, we wish to highlight that the decision
regarding overseas referral is not one that is taken lightly.” She said that
“year over year, there have been improvements in the processes of the
psycho-ed programme. All sections in the department are continually assessing
and reassessing processes and making improvements for the betterment of the
clients that we serve. Psycho-ed is no different. Based on experiences,
procedures have been reviewed and adjusted to keep up with best-practice
standards and budgetary constraints. Where we are today is light years from
where we were in early to mid-2000.” Alfred Maybury took over as director of
the Department of Child and Family Services in 2000. The spokeswoman earlier
said the number of psycho-educational referrals a year was in decline due to
“increased effort” by the DCFS to use island resources where possible. She
added: “It is also worthy to note that despite the new referrals per year, the
total number of children actually in placements per year has also been
declining. This is due to children transitioning back to the island and efforts
to have them reintegrate into services and supports on island.” The former
United Bermuda Party was the Government in 1994 and had been since 1968. The
Progressive Labour won power in 1998, lost to the One Bermuda Alliance 14 years
later, and regained power in 2017.
A
march designed to encourage men to become role models for schoolchildren has the
backing of education authorities, the Government said today. A spokeswoman
for the Government said: “The Department of Education has confirmed that Mr
Crockwell did request permission from director Llewellyn Simmons for the Men Are
Needed Middle School March, set to take place on Monday. Permission was granted
for this event. All approved events have the expressed support of the Ministry
and Department of Education, as long as events adhere to the guidelines set out
at the time of approval.” The statement, sent at 2am this morning, came after
Desmond Crockwell, an anti-violence campaigner, said yesterday that Diallo
Rabain, the education minister and Commissioner of Education Kalmar Richards had
not told him whether they supported the march. Mr Crockwell said that his “gut
feeling” was that politics might have played a part in the Government’s
apparent reluctance to back the event. He highlighted remarks he made that were
critical of a Government update on work to combat gangs, released only days
after the gun murder of Ronniko Burchall, 30, in December last year. Mr
Crockwell said at the time that the release was a “kneejerk reaction and
response to many of the concerns that many of the community members are
having”. He added that he thought some in the Government had taken the
criticism as disrespect. Mr Crockwell said: “Some politicians are in it for
egos.” He added that if their egos were challenged, they would try to hijack
community efforts to improve the island. Mr Crockwell claimed: “It happens in
this country politically, which stifles our progress economically and culturally
and racially.” He said he believed that plans for the event had not been taken
seriously and that a communication breakdown with the Government had taken
place. Mr Crockwell added: “Either way, it’s not our fault. My hope is that
they allow the children to join us in the march. We have dealt with every single
person in the top brass of education. We still have not got a confirmation from
the ministry that they are in support of what we are doing.” Mr Crockwell said
that Dellwood Middle School, in Pembroke, and the Whitney Institute Middle
School, in Smith’s, had both expressed an interest in taking part in the
march. The event is scheduled to start at Dellwood Middle School at noon, travel
along Angle Street, Court Street and Dundonald Street and end with a rally at
Victoria Park in Hamilton at about 12.40pm. Speakers are expected to include
Leroy Bean, the gang violence reduction co-ordinator, anti-violence advocate
Antonio Belvedere, and Anthony Peets, a school counsellor. Mr Crockwell said
that he met Llewellyn Simmons, the director of academics at the education
ministry, in “late September or early October” about the march and that he
had “given the OK” for the event. But Mr Crockwell said that he had received
an e-mail last month from Mr Rabain that said that Ms Richards had not heard
anything about the march. Mr Crockwell added that he had contacted Ms Richards,
who asked him several questions about the event. He said that he had responded
to her questions on December 3, but she had yet to reply. Mr Crockwell added
that he had got a good response from both schools. He said: “They thought it
was an excellent idea. We have their full support and co-operation.” Mr
Crockwell added that the response from men who wanted to support the march had
been “overwhelming”. He said: “The first thing that comes out of
anyone’s mouth is that this is needed. Men are the first ones to speak about
it. They think this is an excellent idea.” Mr Crockwell explained that the
event was to encourage men to do more to help the young — but also to
celebrate those who had already stepped up to keep youngsters on the right path.
He added: “There’s always room for improvement in everything we do. There
are a lot of good fathers. There are a lot of good role models. We need to
encourage that — because it’s easy for men to get discouraged. We have to
reach out to men who are not involved in their children’s lives — there is a
lot of children looking for their fathers.”
Integrated
communications agency AAC has been awarded the advertising concession for the
new airport terminal, Skyport announced today. AAC will be responsible for
advertising in the new terminal at LF Wade International Airport using a range
of mediums including digital signage, light box displays, airport television
commercial insertions, experiential marketing, wall wraps, and sponsorships.
Aaron Adderley, president of Skyport, said: “During the RFP process, we looked
to identify a design partner who would create fresh, contemporary concepts and
innovative and dynamic advertising programmes for our world class passenger
terminal building. We believe AAC fit the bill and are excited to see the
programmes they implement when we open next year.” Skyport said AAC “is a
full-service agency with a broad customer base with the ability to provide end
to end creation and placement of adverts in the new passenger terminal building.
AAC is known for its expertise and longstanding reputation in the community and
abroad”. Vicki Coelho, chief executive officer of AAC, said: “We are
honoured that we were selected as the long-term advertising concession partner
for Skyport, and that the selection team recognised our capabilities as a 100
per cent Bermuda-owned full services digital ad agency. We continue to expand
our local team bringing marketing solutions to our client base.” The
advertising contract will begin in 2020 when the new passenger terminal opens,
Skyport said. In business for more than 50 years, AAC was acquired by events and
e-commerce company Premier Tickets in August. They are part of Celeste Group of
Companies, which also includes IT provider Fireminds and Innovation House.
A
civil case brought by a former primary school principal against the Public
Service Commission and the Board of Education after she was overlooked for the
Commissioner of Education post ended yesterday. Gina Tucker, who has also
worked in several other senior roles in education, claimed in her affidavit that
she had “not been fairly treated or properly considered” for the job, which
was given to Kalmar Richards, the former principal of CedarBridge Academy, in
September 2018. Dr Tucker earlier claimed that her relationship with Valerie
Robinson-James, the permanent secretary at the education ministry, had soured
after a disagreement over a decision to offer the Commissioner of Education post
to Paul Wagstaff, a British education expert, in 2016. However, Delroy Duncan,
who represented the education board, said there was no evidence to support the
allegation. Dr Tucker said she wanted the appointment of Ms Richards quashed and
an order made for the application process to be held “fairly and in accordance
with the Education Act 1996 and the Public Service Commission Regulations
2001”, as well as costs. Assistant Justice John Riihiluoma reserved judgment.
Prosecutors
asked for a woman who admitted the theft of more than $110,000 from her
employers to be jailed for a year. Deidre Woolgar, 46, pleaded guilty in
June to charges of theft and false accounting after her employers found she
failed to deposit $110,759 in cash sales over the course of more than a year.
But Susan Mulligan, counsel for Woolgar, said the crimes were the result of a
mental health problem and the money had gone towards household expenses. Ms
Mulligan said: “At no time did anyone know. There was no hoard or stash.
There’s nothing they can point to and say where the money has gone.” The
court heard Woolgar, from Warwick, had worked with CSI, an electrical supply
company, for almost eight years before the offences were committed. Duane
Simons, her employer, approached her about un-deposited cash and cheques in her
desk in April last year. Mr Simons later noticed two deposits were made into the
firm’s account, but both were cheques. The absence of cash deposits made Mr
Simons suspicious and he hired a consultant accountant to look at deposits made
between March 8, 2017 and April 13, 2018. The accountant found that $108,085 of
sales recorded in the company’s point of sales system had not been deposited.
A further examination later revealed another $2,674 in un-deposited cash sales.
The missing cash was reported to the police and, on June 9 this year, Woolgar
pleaded guilty to two charges. Nicole Smith, for the Crown, said Woolgar had
exploited her position of trust to steal a substantial sum. Ms Smith added that
Woolgar knew her actions were wrong and that her actions were driven by greed.
She said: “This wasn’t a one-off theft. It was a continuous taking for just
over a period of a year. It was planned; it wasn’t just a passing thought.”
Ms Smith added there was no connection between Woolgar’s mental health and her
offences — but Ms Mulligan insisted it was a significant factor. Ms Mulligan
said Woolgar was the breadwinner in a family of four after her husband suffered
a heart attack that left him unable to work. She told the court that Woolgar’s
mental health condition, combined with the excessive responsibility caused by
her circumstances, had contributed to her actions. She added the money was not
spent on luxuries, but instead on “food, takeout, rent and living expenses”.
Ms Mulligan said the company had already been repaid the cash by Woolgar’s
extended family and, given all the circumstances, a suspended sentence was
appropriate. Acting Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe adjourned the case until February 3
for expert evidence from a psychiatrist on Woolgar’s mental health and how it
might have affected her behaviour.
A
sex offender released just months ago was back behind bars yesterday after it
was alleged he breached a supervision order. Junius Caines appeared in the
Supreme Court, where it was claimed he had broken his curfew, failed a urine
test for drugs and alcohol and did not charge his electronic monitoring device
for nine days. Nicole Smith, for the Crown, told the court that Caines was
warned about his breaches on December 3 — but broke his curfew again the same
night. Caines, 50, was jailed last year for an attempted rape of a woman in 2016
and was released from custody in June. Ms Smith added that Caines’s probation
officer had suggested a more intensive treatment programme might be needed. But
lawyer Jonathan White, for Caines, said he had enrolled in the Turning Point
drug treatment programme and was doing well. Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons
said the combination of drugs and a lack of supervision formed a “toxic mix”
for Caines. She added: “That toxic mix is coming and the court has a duty to
protect the public and Mr Caines. The safety and wellbeing of the community is
at risk if the court accepts the reports made against him, and the court does
accept those reports.” Mrs Justice Simmons remanded Caines in custody until
December 20 so the Crown could decide if it wanted to prosecute Caines in
Magistrates’ Court for the alleged breaches or make inquiries about more
intensive treatment programmes which could assist him. Caines was arrested on
August 6, 2016 after he followed and attacked a woman outside her Hamilton home.
The Supreme Court heard Caines grabbed her from behind and threw her to the
ground, but a group of passers-by heard the noise and came to the woman’s aid.
Caines admitted the offence and was sentenced to three years in prison, to be
followed with a five-year supervision order. He was released on June 24 with
conditions that included he abide by an 8pm to 7am curfew, abstain from the use
of alcohol or drugs and receive treatment. The Crown argued that he should wear
an electronic tag as part of the conditions of his supervision order. In a
hearing before his release, Caines claimed the monitoring device released
“radiation” and that it would cause him pain due to a leg injury suffered in
a traffic collision. Mrs Justice Simmons allowed Caines to be released without a
device on an interim supervision order, but he was ordered to provide the court
with evidence to support his claims. The judge ordered in September that he
would have to wear the device after no evidence was provided.
One
of Bermuda’s most successful charities, the AXA End-to-End, is delighted to
announce that it has a new sponsor. Butterfield, Bermuda’s oldest bank, has
confirmed its commitment as a Platinum Sponsor of the annual event. Michael
Neff, Butterfield’s Managing Director, Bermuda said: “We are proud to work
with the End-to-End Charitable Trust and our fellow sponsors to support this
eminent fundraising event. Butterfield employees sign up in droves each year to
participate and our volunteer committee is already on board, excitedly planning
next year’s water stop theme. Over the past 32 years, the End-to-End has grown
to become one of Bermuda’s largest fundraisers, promising participants good
fun for a good cause. It brings out the best in our Island’s residents while
allowing organisations to carry our essential work to improve the quality of
life for people in Bermuda. I encourage everyone to dust off their sneakers,
bicycles or paddle boards and come out for what promises to be another fantastic
End-to-End event on Saturday, 2 May.” End-to-End chair, Anne Mello, said:
“We are immensely grateful to Butterfield for supporting the AXA End-to-End,
bringing both sponsorship funds together with an enthusiastic and creative team
of employee volunteers. The support of all our sponsors is magnificent, and I
cannot thank them enough for everything they do.” Butterfield is a platinum
sponsor alongside Deloitte, and AXA continues as the main title sponsor.
Changes
to the healthcare insurance system will go ahead, despite a call from the
Opposition to put the plans on hold, the Government said yesterday. The
Government added it would not extend the consultation period on the changes —
which ended on Sunday. Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, said: “In August of
this year we undertook to conduct a comprehensive public consultation period on
the Bermuda Health Plan. “In the four months of open, transparent consultation
over 50 meetings were held with over 600 participants. I am confident that this
period has allowed ample time for the public to provide feedback on what the
core insurance plan should include and how to transition to a more efficient
health financing system.” Pressure group Patients First and the Opposition
have both criticized the proposed changes asked for more time to look at the
plans. But Ms Wilson said: “I appreciate that Patients First and the
Opposition are asking for the Government to do a U-turn on its decision to adopt
a unified model of health financing or a single payer system. Unfortunately,
their campaign has deliberately misled the public with numerous misstatements,
leading to confusion and fear. As a Government, we have to act in the best
interest of the people and we have to make decisions that will benefit the whole
of Bermuda not just those with vested interests.” The Minister added the
Progressive Labour Party had an electoral mandate to pursue universal health
coverage and tackle the high cost of healthcare in Bermuda. She said: “Bermuda
is a small jurisdiction and our health financing system unduly complicated,
expensive and unsustainable. We have to find ways to minimise co-payments,
improve access to primary care, and offer benefits to restore people’s health
and we are confident that simplifying our fragmented health system will help put
us on the road to sustainability. Much work remains to be done on the Bermuda
Health Plan and working groups will be set up to consider the public feedback
and determine next steps.” She was speaking after the One Bermuda Alliance
asked Government to take a step back after concerns were raised over the plans.
Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, the Shadow Minister of Health, said: “An Age Concern
meeting on the health plan was left with standing room only and about 6,000
people have signed a petition against universal healthcare. The Minister insists
that this is not rushed, and she has referred to a report which was done in a
bipartisan way in 2012, thereby insinuating that the public has had seven years
to digest this policy. The reality is that the report was not a bipartisan
report, it was a sub-committee report issued by interested stakeholders. There
were no public meetings explaining the changes or their impact on the public.”
Ms Gordon-Pamplin added: “The OBA supports healthcare reform because 60,000
people spending $700 million a year is not sustainable, but clearly Bermudians
are very concerned about Government’s plan and it must put it on hold until
more details such as a true cost and details of all benefits are available.”
A
British woman caught with more than a kilogram of cannabis resin at the airport
admitted possession of more than $139,000 of cannabis resin with intent to
supply yesterday. Kirsty Hewitt, 30, pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court
to both charges. The court heard that Hewitt arrived at the LF Wade
International Airport in St George’s on a British Airways flight on December
3. She was cleared through a luggage check by Customs officers, but sniffer dogs
alerted the officers to her suitcase. Hewitt denied possession of contraband.
Officers found a red and black backpack in Hewitt’s suitcase that she claimed
belonged to a friend. Crown prosecutor Shuntae Simons said that Customs officers
noticed the bag was empty but still heavy. Magistrate Tyrone Chin heard that
customs cut the bag open and found a bag with a brown substance inside. Hewitt
was arrested and taken to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where she had
an X-ray and physical examination before she was taken to Hamilton Police
Station. The bag was later confirmed to contain 1,391.5 grammes of cannabis
resin with a total street value of $139,150. Hewitt was interviewed by police
but answered “no comment” to all questions. Ms Simons said that Hewitt, from
Watford, near London, should be remanded in custody in case she turned to crime
to support herself. She added that the drugs could have caused “serious
damage” and posed a significant threat. But Simone Smith-Bean, for the
defence, said that the resin, although illegal, did not pose health risks as
serious as drugs such as heroin. Ms Smith-Bean added that she and her client had
not seen the evidence against Hewitt and asked for time to review it before
sentence was passed. Mr Chin remanded Hewitt in custody and adjourned the case
until January 10 for the prosecution to give the evidence to Ms Smith-Bean.
A
former police officer was jailed for 2½ years this afternoon for corruption. Pc
Kyle Wheatley, 34, resigned from the Bermuda Police Service yesterday after he
pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to conspiracy to defeat the ends of justice.
Acting Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe told the court this afternoon that corruption
charges like those against Wheatley were a “strike at the heart” of the
criminal justice system.
A
low-ranking officer who admitted corruption has quit the Bermuda Police Service,
the Commissioner of Police revealed yesterday. Stephen Corbishley said that
he had accepted the resignation of constable Kyle Wheatley. Wheatley, 34,
pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defeat the ends of justice at the Supreme Court
yesterday and will be sentenced today. The charge involved the destruction or
suppression of 63 traffic tickets between July 2017 and May 2018 and Mr
Corbishley said that Wheatley took “beneficial gain in deciding not to
continue with those tickets”. Mr Corbishley added that it was important that
officers were able to use discretion in some circumstances. But he said: “What
should never happen though is that officer takes a personal decision for his own
benefit ... because that is corrupt behaviour. That is behaviour that undermines
justice and it’s not the right thing. That cannot ever be accepted as a police
officer.” Mr Corbishley said that it was important to speak up when a police
officer fell “below the standard expected by the public. That standard is that
they work with integrity, they work with ethics, and they work, above all, with
an honest service to the public. This particular officer chose to go another
direction and put himself first and, indeed, he let down our local community in
Bermuda and, indeed, he let down the Bermuda Police Service.” But Mr
Corbishley said that the behaviour of one officer “should not be used to
reflect on the hard work, integrity and the ethics of officers and staff”. He
added that investigations continued into a separate “serious” allegation for
which two other male officers have been arrested and suspended this month. The
commissioner declined to comment on the nature of the allegation, but said that
the investigation was “sensitive in regards to what the victim has reported to
us”. Mr Corbishley said that a case that involved two female officers, who
have been suspended, continued. He confirmed the investigation also involved
“corrupt behaviour”. Mr Corbishley said that the women were on bail and that
inquiries continued. He added: “We are confident that we are nearing the end
of those inquiries and obviously a decision can then be made on what to do
next.” Mr Corbishley said that he did not deny that the police service had a
problem with “a few rotten apples”. But he added: “It’s a problem not
indicative of the majority of those that come in to work for us.” Mr
Corbishley said that it was the integrity of police officers that gave
confidence to the public. He warned: “I make it clear, both to the public and
indeed some of those people that work in the service, that they will be found
out and their time with the BPS will no longer continue.”
On
December 5, U.S. Consul General Constance Dierman met with a group of
representatives from the Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) and Habitat for
Humanity who were selected to participate in an exchange program designed by the
U.S. Department of State. Before their departure to Washington D.C. on
December 8, the group discussed how the International Volunteer Leadership
Program (IVLP) will support the development of Bermuda’s first Transitional
Living Centre. The U.S. Consulate nominated Elaine Butterfield, Director, WRC;
Sheelagh Cooper, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity; Cheryl Minors,
Executive Assistant, WRC; Judy Lowe Teart, Career Development Manager, WRC; and
Tina Laws, Volunteer, WRC; to participate in the 10 day program, where they will
visit three U.S. cities, explore organizations that provide sustainable housing
and services for women and their families as well as mental-health wellness
programs. They will have the opportunity to engage with leading representatives
from federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and outreach programs to
identify best practices that may be sustainable in Bermuda and gain first-hand
knowledge of successful service models. The group plans to explore issues
related to financial sustainability, data analysis, and collaborations between
government institutions and civil society to address matters related to
homelessness. “I am pleased that this dynamic group of women were selected to
participate in this specialized IVLP program. It will provide a number of
resources to help address challenges and create a system that will benefit women
and their families here in Bermuda,” says U.S. Consul General Dierman. The
International Visitor Leadership Program is the U.S. Department of State’s
premier professional exchange program. Through short-term visits to the United
States, current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields visit
organizations and meet with representatives that reflect the participants’
professional interests and support common bilateral policy goals. Since 1940,
the IVLP, with the help of a dedicated network of community-based non-profit
organizations, has introduced over 225,000 participants to communities
throughout the United States.
A
supermarket group has donated half a million dollars to help build a new Agape
House hospice. Giorgio Zanol, the president of the Lindo’s Group, said his
family had benefited from Agape and challenged others to match the company’s
donation. Mr Zanol said: “The Lindo’s family have been the beneficiaries of
the extraordinary work that the people at Agape House do. Our father and
grandfather, Harry Lindo, had a brief stay at Agape House and our mother and
grandmother stayed in Agape House for the last three weeks of her battle with
cancer. The doctors, nurses, and support staff at Agape House are amazing people
and do an amazing job supporting both the patients and the families of patients
enduring their most vulnerable moments.” Mr Zanol added: “We are proud to
support Agape House in building a new facility that will give patients and their
families the privacy and acute care that everyone deserves at their most
sensitive moments.” Zach Moniz, the manager of supermarket chain Lindo’s
Family Foods, also praised the work of the Agape House team. He said: “They
are special in every way looking after the needs of their patients and
patient’s families. They are the heroes of our community.” Tom McMahon, the
deputy chairman of Friends of Hospice and the chairman of the campaign for funds
for a new building, said the donation was a landmark moment. Mr McMahon added:
“To receive such a significant contribution at the outset of our funding
campaign for the new hospice is very much appreciated and hopefully builds
momentum and encourages other potential contributors to commit to this project
in the coming weeks. We are moving quickly to get commitments from potential
donors so that we are in a position to break ground in the spring of 2020.”
Friends of Hospice and the Bermuda Hospitals Board announced the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding in July to develop a purpose-built hospice on the
BHB-owned Harbour Vista site on Berry Hill Road, Paget. The new hospice, with
equipment and furnishings, will cost an estimated $13.7 million and Friends of
Hospice has already committed $1 million to be used as seed money for the
project. The fundraising campaign has raised $1,734,200 for the project with the
Lindo’s donation. A planning application for the project, submitted on October
11, said: “The new hospice facility has been designed to current guidelines
for hospice care. The building has two floors with both levels having several
egress points at grade. It will accommodate the new hospice and all the support
functions, a day hospice and offices for the BHB, which will replace those being
demolished.” The plan includes eight bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and
verandas, a communal living room and dining room, several gardens and upstairs
offices for doctors and the Friends of Hospice. The Agape House hospice opened
its doors in 1991 in a former home on Point Finger Road, Paget. Improvements
have been made to the building, but it is no longer considered up to the job. A
spokeswoman for the hospice said: “Despite the exceptional care provided at
Agape House, the medical team need appropriate facilities in order to provide
the best care possible, and patients and their families and loved ones deserve
privacy in a setting that allows dignity at a crucial time of life.” Alison
Soares, the chairwoman of Friends of Hospice and daughter of hospice founder
Hillary Soares, said: “It is an incredibly proud and exciting time for me
personally and the organisation as we begin to realise the vision that my mother
started so many years ago. The new Agape House will provide the community with
the level of care that every patient and family deserves during this stage of
their lives journey.”
A
27-year-old mechanic is facing a hospital bill of more than $300,000 after
falling ill on vacation in the United States. Two weeks ago, Dandre
Outerbridge, who works for Correia Construction, developed symptoms of viral
encephalitis, a form of meningitis that attacks the central nervous system,
while celebrating the birthday of a friend in Florida. Mr Outerbridge’s
father, Andre Woods, and mother Jeanna Scott, who lives in Illinois, rushed to
his bedside. His parents were shocked to learn that Mr Outerbridge’s insurance
did not cover emergency treatment overseas without a referral from a doctor in
Bermuda. Ms Scott, a former teacher at T N Tatem Middle School, said: “As of
last week Wednesday alone his hospital bill was $211,000.” Mr Outerbridge was
in intensive care last night, on a ventilator and being given a spectrum of
antibiotics to treat the as yet unidentified form of viral encephalitis. His
mother said: “We can guarantee that this next week will be in the $300,000
bracket and that is not including the specialists. That is just his hospital
stay. We don’t know what damage it has done to his central nervous system.”
For now Ms Scott said everything is “day by day” for Mr Outerbridge. Friends
have set up a Go Fund Me page for Mr Outerbridge to help raise much needed
money. His family hope to sell inspirational wrist bands and Christmas wreathes,
but Ms Scott said there was not much she and his father could do at the moment
because they need to with their son.
A professional services firm has been recruited to help deliver a joint
vision for a healthier Bermuda, the Government announced last night. KMPG will
provide project management as the island’s “health strategy” is updated.
It came as public consultation on health financing reform ended yesterday. Kim
Wilson, the health minister, said: “We all want affordable and high-quality
healthcare. Together, we are working hard to ensure all residents enjoy
equitable access to the quality care our families depend on, while making
important choices to put our healthcare system on a sustainable path.” She
explained that the Bermuda Health Strategy 2014-2019 was published under former
health minister Jeanne Atherden, during the previous One Bermuda Alliance
government. Ms Wilson said it built on the earlier National Health Plan and
“outlined strategic reform priorities for Bermuda’s health system”. She
added: “Much was achieved since that time, but further work is required to
fully achieve success. With the strategy expiring this year, I want to build on
that good work and refresh and upgrade the Bermuda Health Strategy to produce
the vision and goals for 2020 to 2025. We are determined to make Bermuda
healthier and we need a joint vision for health that inspires hope, trust and
confidence across the community. This project will be led by a multisectoral
steering committee and a broad cross-section of healthcare stakeholders as a
Strategic Leadership Group. Their input and guidance will set the direction of
the 2020-2025 strategy for healthcare in Bermuda. Further, to support our
efforts, we have engaged KPMG to provide independent, local project management
resources and to leverage their global healthcare insight. KPMG has been engaged
via a partnership between the Ministry of Health and the Bermuda Hospitals
Board.” Ms Wilson said that BHB believed in the need for a “comprehensive
and shared strategic vision and plan for Bermuda”. Members of the health
financing reforms stakeholder consultation group, which was set up last year,
were invited to take part in the Strategic Leadership Group along with other
health professionals. Consultation with relevant groups will take place in the
first quarter of 2020. Short surveys — to be carried out and analyzed by KMPG
— were expected to be launched this week on forum.gov.bm. Ms Wilson said:
“The Strategic Leadership Group will guide the way to build consensus on the
current state of healthcare in Bermuda and the future state that we want to
achieve together. Bermuda has a strong and compassionate healthcare system. This
is the result of tremendous effort from our frontline providers — our
dedicated doctors, nurses and allied health professionals — and the business
community, insurance sector and Government. I believe this broad stakeholder
collaboration will assist my ministry by bringing the breadth of perspectives
across healthcare leaders in our community. I look forward to the outcome of
their deliberations to provide me with the 2020-2025 vision for healthcare in
Bermuda.” The Bermuda Health Strategy takes in the wider health system
including prevention and long term care. The Bermuda Health Plan is a part of the broader strategy and is focused on
health financing reform to improve access and sustainability in the health
system.
The Department of Parks has sent out a request for proposal for concessions
at several beaches and parks for next summer. A spokesman for the Department
said they are looking for qualified concessionaires to submit proposals for
Church Bay, Horseshoe Bay, Admiralty House, Shelly Bay and Kindley Field.
Horseshoe Bay can house two concessions, while the remaining locations have a
position for one concession each. The proposals will be for the 2020 summer
season, which lasts from the start of April to the end of October. The spokesman
said: “Proposals may be submitted for one or more concession locations,
however, only one will be awarded per concessionaire. “To collect the
Commercial Activity application form and concession location maps, please visit
the Department of Parks’ main office reception desk, at Global House, Ground
Floor, 43 Church Street, Hamilton.” Applicants should provide all supporting
documents and a completed commercial activity application form to the
Department’s reception desk by 4pm on January 10.
The assistant director of the Department of Child and Family Services is to
stand trial over allegations she assaulted a teenage girl who refused to board a
flight to the United States. Kennette Robinson, 51, was charged last Thursday in
Magistrates’ Court with assault and mistreatment of a child. She denied both
offences and the case was adjourned until January 13. Ms Robinson is alleged to
have assaulted the 17-year-old at the LF Wade International Airport on May 8
this year. The girl claimed she was attacked by Ms Robinson when she complained
she did not want to be sent to an overseas secure treatment centre. Three
sources told The Royal Gazette the youngster was being forced to return
to the institution as part of the department’s psycho educational programme,
which is for children deemed to have problems which cannot be tackled on the
island. One source, who spoke to the girl, said the teenager was at the same US
centre earlier but told DCFS staff she did not want to go back because it was
“horrific”. The source added: “She is not even allowed to whistle, hum or
sing.” The Government refused to say in May if Ms Robinson, who was acting
head of the DCFS for a period of time last year while director Alfred Maybury
was under investigation, was suspended or if it had launched its own inquiry
into the alleged assault. The DCFS’s policy on staff under investigation
requires them to be placed on administrative leave and to have no contact with
child clients until the inquiry has ended. Ms Robinson was at work as recently
as November 29, when she e-mailed a reporter at the Gazette to confirm
receipt of a public access to information request for the Child Care Placement
Board.
A
young woman who spent more than a year in a Utah residential institution said
the experience was a good influence on her life. The 27-year-old revealed
that she enjoyed theatre and rafting trips as part of her time at Moonridge
Academy in Utah when she was a teenager. But she said no litigation guardian was
appointed to speak for her before she was sent away and she claimed no officials
from Bermuda’s childcare services visited during her time in the US. The woman
said: “Reading the articles now, that’s what makes me irritated ... children
now having legal guardians or representation. I didn’t.” She explained that
she went to live with a relative as a child after a breakdown in her parents’
living arrangements. Her behaviour sparked cause for concern when she was about
12. The woman said at some point, although she cannot remember all the details,
she was taken into the care of the Department of Child and Family Services. The
youngster had a therapist, and an educational consultant was asked to consider
treatment centres for her. She said Moonridge Academy’s “homely” feel
meant it was chosen out of three alternatives and she travelled there when she
was about 14. The woman added: “It was an all-girls treatment centre, I was
the only black person there when I went. It was OK because after a couple of
months another brown-skinned girl came so we were able to talk and connect. No
racist stuff happened to me out there. I still stay in contact with some of the
girls that were there." Moonridge Academy’s website said it “provides a specialized
unique learning and healing environment” for girls aged between 11 and 15. The
woman explained she shared a “well-kept” room with four other girls.
Residents performed chores and attended school on weekdays until noon, followed
by private therapy sessions. They attended Moonridge’s sister school Kolob
Canyon at weekends. The school’s website said it was set in a 23-acre horse
ranch that provided a “perfect outdoor classroom”. The woman said: “It was
beneficial because I think if I would have stayed [in Bermuda], I would have
ended up with a child super early.” She added: “It had some good times. I
went white-water rafting twice, I got to see Shakespeare plays, I went to see a Titanic
exhibition in Las Vegas.” The girl was at Moonridge for about a year and a
half and said she believed she returned to Bermuda for visits up to three times.
But she said did not remember ever getting visits or phone calls from staff at
the Department of Child and Family Services.
Lawyers
have been given permission to proceed with a court case launched on behalf of a
five-year-old boy who it was claimed had been denied legal protection through a
failure to fund independent court representation for him. Martha Dismont,
for the child, made an application in October for leave to apply for judicial
review in an action against the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs.
The move came more than four months after appeal judges ruled that failure to
introduce a funding scheme for litigation guardians breached obligations set out
in the Children Act 1998. Papers filed in the Supreme Court in October alleged
that funds had still not been provided. Ms Dismont, the executive director of
Family Centre, but who acted in a personal capacity, said in an affidavit:
“This situation for the applicant and all other affected children is simply
unacceptable and inexplicable. How can we expect children to respect the law and
the court system when those who are obliged to protect children refuse to
respect the law and a judgment of the Court of Appeal?” The affidavit
accompanied the application and explained that the boy’s litigation guardian
Tiffanne Thomas withdrew her services in November 2018 because of the
minister’s “failure to pay her”. Ms Dismont wrote: “Consequently, the
applicant no longer has an independent social worker to make submissions and
recommendations on the child’s welfare.” She added: “The respondent’s
failure to pay the litigation guardian is also denying the applicant legal
representation. Although he has a lawyer, the law does not permit a lawyer to
take instructions from a five-year-old. The lawyer must act under the
instructions of a litigation guardian. In this case, there is not one, due to
the respondent’s failure to pay her.” She added that the child and his
lawyer, Saul Dismont, were “deprived full access” to records on the boy held
by the Department of Child and Family Services because only a litigation
guardian can obtain them and use them in evidence. The civil application in the
Supreme Court asked for, among other things, relief in respect of the
minister’s “refusal to abide by” the Court of Appeal judgment, and her
“decision to deny the applicant’s right to a fair trial”, by a failure to
put in place a scheme to fund litigation guardians and counsel. It also asked
for relief in relation to the failure of the Minister of Legal Affairs — at
present Kathy Lynn Simmons — to appoint a panel of litigation guardians. Ms
Simmons announced last week that a panel had been set up. She added: “The
ministry will monitor and assess the effectiveness of the implementation of the
present legislative scheme for the appointment of litigation guardians and
counsel, while simultaneously advancing a fiscally sustainable and independent
model in keeping with best practice in this area.” Mr Dismont said later that
leave was granted to pursue the case last month and the parties involved awaited
a hearing date.
Schoolboys
aged just 14 and 15 were locked up at the Co-Ed Facility as recently as this
year despite laws designed to prevent the detention of children unless in
exceptional circumstances. Ian Kawaley, a former Chief Justice, ruled in
2012 that a sentence of “corrective training” for a minor who was committed
to the St George’s facility was “a custodial penalty akin to
imprisonment”. Assistant Justice Mark Pettingill, on a separate point of law,
found earlier this year that the detention of a 15-year-old boy at the Co-Ed by
the Commissioner of Prisons was unlawful. Mr Justice Pettingill added that the
Department of Child and Family Services was complicit in the unlawful detention
by either “misapplication or disregard for the requirements of the Children
Act 1998”. The Royal Gazette reported in May that police overstepped
their authority when they handcuffed the 15-year-old boy at his school. Mr
Justice Pettingill’s written judgment said that officers had taken “the
draconian step of effectively incarcerating a minor” after the boy skipped his
flight to an institution in Utah. The ruling explained that the child was taken
into care by the Department of Child and Family Services in March and a
magistrate granted an application to send him overseas a month later. It added
that arrangements were made to get the boy to the airport, but he was denied a
request to collect some belongings first. The refusal was said to have “tipped
the pebble off the cliff” and when the child reached the airport he went to
the bus stop, returned to the residential centre and attended school the
following day. Mr Justice Pettingill wrote: “It is agreed that while at
school, two social workers and three police officers attended and the boy was
placed in handcuffs and removed from the campus, despite the fact that he was
compliant and was certainly not under arrest for any crime. This is the first
element of this matter which causes the court significant concern as I fail to
recognise by what legal authority the police became involved and effectively
placed a minor child in custody. The court is aware that this is not the first
instance of the police acting beyond their powers at the request of the DCFS.
The situation was compounded when the boy by agreement and prior arrangement
with the Commissioner of Prisons was transported to the Co-Ed facility by the
police”. Tyler Christopher, now 23, told The Royal Gazette that he
believed he was the first to be “housed” at the Co-Ed when he was 15 in
January 2012, despite not being convicted of a crime. He said: “No one had
ever seen this before, that’s something I will never forget. No one had ever
seen someone housed at Co-Ed without committing a crime.” Mr Christopher
claimed that he was sent to the Co-Ed — where he remained for three months —
because he was in DCFS care and it was thought that placing him with youths from
Somerset at the Oleander Cottage boys’ home would be a security risk. Another
youth, whose story The Royal Gazette reported
in June this year, told how he went to Co-Ed as a teenager after stints at two
different overseas schools. He had been arrested for stealing on his return to
the island and he alleged that Alfred Maybury, the director of the DCFS, would
not sign his bail. “I don’t think he had anywhere proper for me to stay,”
he said. “So I had to go to jail at Co-ed. When I got there I had to take all
my clothes off and stand butt naked in front of the prison guards. They said
they have to do it to everyone, but it didn’t make me feel any better.” A
child identified as JS appealed against “a sentence of corrective training
imposed for an indeterminate period for various offences” by Magistrate Tyrone
Chin sitting with a panel in the Family Court imposed in January 2012. Mr
Justice Kawaley wrote in a Supreme Court judgment in June that year: “The
principal ground of appeal was that the appellant was only 14 years of age at
the date of sentence, the court below had no power to impose any period of
corrective training.” He said it was accepted that the sentence was unlawful
and should be set aside. The Young Offenders Act 1950 stipulates that if a child
— at the time someone under 16, but amended this year to mean someone under 18
— is convicted of an offence that can be punished by imprisonment, the court
can order probation or to “commit the child to the care” of the director of
the DCFS or another person. Mr Justice Kawaley’s judgment showed that parts of
the law that allowed the court to order detention of a boy were relevant only in
cases of murder, attempted murder or manslaughter. He said that prosecutors
believed a community-based sentence was appropriate and sought an order placing
the boy in the director’s care. Mr Justice Kawaley added: “Against this
background, the imposition of a sentence of corrective training on a 14-year-old
child by what is supposed to be a specialist child-centred tribunal is wholly
inexplicable. No reasons for this astonishing sentence were recorded in the
magistrate’s notes. One can only hope that the appellant came to no harm
during his nearly five months’ detention in a place the law deems to be
unsuitable for a child.” Mr Justice Kawaley highlighted that the warrant for
the boy’s detention said he would be kept in the senior training school with
“corrective training at the Co-Ed facility to obtain the following — he is
to be enrolled in the GED programme”. He said that the maximum term of the
sentence should be made clear. Mr Justice Kawaley wrote that section 41 of the
Act allowed “detention in the senior training school or a prison pending
trial, in exceptional circumstances, of children no younger than 15”. But the
Act insisted the child would have to be charged with a serious offence that
involved violence. Mr Justice Kawaley said that “the manifest object of the
Young Offenders Act is to minimise the circumstances in which a child accused or
convicted of a criminal offence is detained”. The Ministry of National
Security and the Bermuda Police Service did not respond to requests for comment.
A slump in retail sales needs urgent action, the Opposition has claimed. Nick
Kempe, the One Bermuda Alliance’s shadow finance minister, said that a change
in approach was needed to protect Bermudian jobs. Mr Kempe added: “Last week
we heard from Zane DeSilva, the Minister of Tourism and Transport, that 200
Bermudians had lost their jobs in the retail sector. Now we hear that retail
sales volume has again plunged when compared to August 2018’s already low
numbers.” Mr Kempe was speaking after figures released last week showed retail
sales dropped by 7.6 per cent in August year-on-year when adjusted for inflation
— the largest decline since June 2018. The value of retail sales dropped
almost $7 million from an estimated $97.8 million to $90.9 million. Mr Kempe
said: “Inflation is low as businesses are struggling to pass on all the new
taxes and healthcare costs due to the plummeting spending numbers. It is no
wonder that stores are closing, and people are losing jobs. Yet again I ask —
where is the plan to fix this? Fintech jobs have nowhere near replaced jobs lost
in other sectors and major construction projects will soon be coming to an end
with nothing on the horizon to replace them.” Mr Kempe criticized a lack of
progress on immigration reform and said the working class and businesses had
borne the brunt of tax increases. He said: “We need to reduce the burden of
government and corresponding taxation levels required to sustain it. We cannot
continue to shift government expense onto workers and businesses and raise taxes
at the same time. All the while, the size of government increases and little is
put towards the debt. We must reform immigration, not to open the floodgates to
foreigners as opponents to reform ridiculously claim, but to retain the existing
guest workforce and to attract new wealth creators. Piecemeal changes in payroll
tax for large retail stores is clearly not helping and the mom-and-pop corner
stores are suffering and closing. Our premier is fast resembling Nero as he
played his fiddle while watching Rome burn.”
People who battled back against physical disabilities have been honoured as
part of day to mark the struggles of the disabled. Chyone Harris, 26, said he
believed that he would never dance on stage again after spinal injuries left him
paralyzed. But he added that after years of rehabilitation he was at last able
to perform again with the Troika performance group. Mr Harris said: “After
being off the stage for a while, getting back on stage with a disability was
probably one of my biggest uncertainties. But although I was in my wheelchair, I
was still a part of the performance, so I still lived out my dream to
participate in performance art.” Mr Harris, from Sandys, was speaking after he
attended a reception for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities last
Tuesday. The reception, held at the Bermuda Society of Arts at Hamilton’s City
Hall, recognised Mr Harris and four other disabled people who overcame their
physical limitations. Mr Harris said that his performing arts dreams were dashed
after he fell 25 feet from a balcony and landed on a pile of rocks. The plunge,
which happened in 2015, broke his neck in two places and almost cost Mr Harris
his life. He was only 22 years old. Mr Harris said: “The fact that I
couldn’t move as freely in my body was frightening, but I kept visualizing myself dancing.” He added: “It gave me a sense of relief to know that I
could still see my potential by visualizing it, although I couldn’t physically
do it.” He said he had since regained the ability to walk with a walking
frame, although he still uses a wheelchair to get around. Mr Harris was also
invited to join the cast of a tenth anniversary show for Troika in August. He
explained that he performed a theatre number with acting, singing and dance he
had perfected before the accident. Mr Harris added that he adjusted the
performance to fit the limits imposed by his wheelchair. He said: “I really
didn’t know what the outcome would be until I tried it, but I was able to step
out on a leap of faith and just be confident.” Mariana Teixeira, 55, said that
she worried she’d suffered a stroke when the left side of her body started to
go numb in 2005. But, after a year of medical tests, she was told she had
multiple sclerosis. Ms Teixeira said: “I was always thinking ‘please don’t
let it be multiple sclerosis — I can take pills or therapy, but I can’t
handle something that has no cure. But it ended up being that and they told me
just before Christmas. Merry Christmas to me.” Ms Teixeira said that the
progressive condition weakened her muscles until she was confined to a
wheelchair in 2013. But she added that she was determined to stay strong for her
family. Ms Teixeira explained: “I was not going to let my children see me as
taking the easy way out. So I got up every day, I put on my big girl socks and
it was go time. You have to swallow a lot of pride, but not in a bad way. You
just have to sit back and say ‘I used to do this and now I can’t, but
that’s okay — somebody’s here to help me’. Ms Teixeira, who also
attended the Persons with Disabilities celebration, admitted that she had
trouble accepting her reliance on others. But she added that her family’s aide
helped a great deal in her adjustment to a new way of life. Ms Teixeira said:
“It is very hard, coming to that realization, but you definitely learn who you
can rely on.” Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, attended the celebration and
honoured Ms Teixeira for her determination. She said: “Persons with
disabilities frequently encounter a myriad of challenges and are often subjected
to stigma and discrimination. Collectively, we must empower persons with
disabilities to become agents of change, as their involvement can help create
opportunities for everyone.” Valerie Wade, Jason Minors and Ryan Gibbons were
also honoured during the reception.
Ten people were arrested at the weekend on suspicion of drink driving. A
spokesman for the Bermuda Police Service said that six of the arrests were
connected to roadside breath checks. The roadside checkpoints were conducted in
seven parishes from Friday night until yesterday evening. The spokesman said
that the next series of checkpoints would be conducted this weekend. He added:
“The checkpoints will be in effect in Hamilton Parish, Smith’s, Devonshire,
Pembroke, Paget, Warwick and Southampton on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Women from the Bermuda Rifle & Drill Team took a trip to the United
States to make preparations for their Bermuda Day Parade demonstration. The
drill team sent 16 members to New Jersey on November 12 to find materials,
measurements and ideas for their parade uniforms. Sergeant Debbie Symons said
she wanted to let the team experience the hard work required so that they can
look their best for the May 24 celebrations. Nichole Wainwright, from Hamilton
Parish, said that the week of errands made her downtime feel all the more
worthwhile. She added: “Now I understand it’s not as easy as it looks, but I
can now appreciate all the running around Sergeant Symons has to do.” Ms
Wainwright said that she organised bonding exercises for the team in during
their downtime. She added that the level of coordination needed for her part
helped to sharpen her leadership skills. Ms Wainwright said: “I have now
prepared myself to take some of the heavy load off of Sergeant Symons to ease
her up in preparation for the parade. I totally understand and appreciate all of
her hard and dedicated work.” Lora Davis said that she was forced to join the
group a day late due to her commitments as a teacher at Dellwood Middle School.
But she added that the trip was a close bonding experience for her with the rest
of her team members. Ms Davis said: “I feel us ladies have bounded closer and
we are now more and more of a sisterhood group.” Ms Davis, from Warwick,
explained that trips such as these helped team-mates grow closer and operate as
a tighter unit on the day of the parade. She added that she planned to get
herself more in shape so that she could give a better performance at the parade.
Sheena Daniels, who joined the BRDT in March, explained that the trip required a
lot of traveling. She admitted that a lot of time was dedicated to finding
small components for the uniform. But Ms Daniels added: “It’s the small
little items that are important to make us look perfect. The running around was
something I enjoyed and now has drawn me to be more involved with such a
positive group with positive women.” Ms Daniels, from Sandys, said that her
role on the trip was to keep track of every team member during travels. She
explained that her role directly enforced the team’s motto: “No Women Left
Behind”. Ms Daniels added that the BRDT was the first military group she had
ever joined. She also said that she greatly enjoyed the camaraderie and
recommended any interested women join. Ms Daniels said: “This is a phenomenal
group which I advise any women, whether married or single, to join. It allows
you to get some ‘me time’ away from your every day life schedule.”
Mount Saint Agnes Academy (MSA) has hired a new Director of Advancement in an
effort to advance the school in a number of areas, including building alumni
connections and keeping the school visible in Bermuda’s community. Suzanne
DeCouto joins MSA from the Bermuda Red Cross, where she was the Fundraising and
Communications Manager for five years. As a graduating MSA Alumna and the parent
of a son in Grade 6, Suzanne is very familiar with the school, both past and
present. Her role will include managing campaigns and fundraising programs,
external relations, relationship building and helping to advance the school in
areas of growth, sustainability and upgrades. MSA Principal, Sue Moench, said,
“We are very happy to welcome Suzanne back to the MSA family. With the
successful implementation of the Alberta Curriculum, our school has been
transforming across the board and Suzanne’s role is an integral part of
sustaining that momentum internally and communicating it externally.” Suzanne
Decouto comments, “No two days are the same, one minute I could be working on
Careers Day with our current students and parents and the next I am connecting
with Alumni who have been with the school for generations.” It is a strange
feeling to be back in these corridors as a member of staff, but I love the
nurturing atmosphere at MSA and I feel like part of the family already.” In
2020, MSA will celebrate its 130th anniversary. Suzanne is planning events
surrounding the celebration and encourages all Alumni who are not already part
of the alumni community to stay connected. MSA also has a social media platform.
Christmas came early for animal welfare charity SPCA (Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) following a recent ‘lunch and learn’
session at Third Point Reinsurance Ltd. (Third Point Re). Staff at the
Hamilton-based specialty property and casualty reinsurer surprised SPCA
Executive Director Kate Terceira and Board member Louisa Knight with a
wheelbarrow full of gifts – the result of an employee drive to purchase
much-needed items from the SPCA’s Christmas wish list. Ms. Terceira said she
was “overwhelmed” by the surprise donation which included animal feed,
cleaning accessories and walkie-talkies. Third Point Re’s Suzanne L. Wylie,
Assistant Vice President, Legal Administration, said: “We’re delighted to
help support animal welfare in Bermuda and in particular the mission of the SPCA
to promote the education for the general public on care and well-being of all
animals.” During the lunch and learn session, Third Point employees heard how
the charity – which is celebrating its 100th year – aims to be more than
“just a shelter” through educational programmes like its planned
Compassionate Classroom initiative. Designed to “encourage children to develop
compassion and empathy skills for life through the lens of animal welfare”,
Ms. Terceira said the SPCA hopes to introduce the programme to all primary
schools over the next two years. At any one time, the SPCA shelter cares for
between 40 and 100 abandoned, abused or neglected animals and in an average
year, its adoption service finds homes for more than 300 animals. Ms. Terceira
explained that the SPCA was working towards a “managed intake” system in
order to properly look after the increased number of animals it is asked to
take. “People have to be prepared to wait,” she said. “We are trying to
encourage people to plan ahead. We understand that things happen – people
leave the island or become too old to look after a pet – and it’s not always
possible so we try very hard to work with every situation on an individual basis
but we only have so much room.” For more information about the SPCA, visit
spca.bm
An investigation into the
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board has highlighted serious problems, the
Ombudsman revealed yesterday. Victoria Pearman said the board lacked the
basic administrative and financial backing to do its job. Ms Pearman added:
“Without prejudging any matters, my investigation thus far has revealed that
the board does not have an operating budget or appear to have dedicated
resources for the administration of its important work of aiding vulnerable
people. It is difficult to see how the board can operate effectively without
having allocated to it the support required for any modern administrative
function.” She said that her investigation into the CICB, the government body
set up to compensate victims of crime, was “progressing”. Ms Pearman added:
“We have had productive and informative discussions and are carefully
reviewing the vast amount of material required as part of our work.” She was
speaking after The Royal Gazette asked a series of questions about the
Criminal Injuries (Compensation) Amendment Act 2019 tabled in the House of
Assembly last Friday. The explanatory memorandum for the Bill said the amendment
was “to allow for improved efficiency in carrying out the mandate of the
CICB”. The Bill also proposed that members of the CICB should be appointed by
the Minister of Legal Affairs rather than the Governor. Kathy Lynn Simmons, the
Attorney-General and the Minister of Legal Affairs with responsibility for the
CICB, and John Rankin, the Governor, declined to comment on the Bill. Ms Pearman
said that her investigation had shown “that on occasion the board has
experienced delays in being constituted”. She added: “By streamlining the
appointment process this might reduce delays experienced in the past.” The
Bill also proposes to change the qualifications for the CICB chairman “by
changing it from a judge to a barrister and attorney with at least ten years’
experience and also amends the qualifications for the deputy chairman of the
CICB by requiring the barrister and attorney to have at least eight years’
experience”. Ms Pearman said that the change would mean “less demand on
scarce judicial resources”. She added: “I have confidence that senior
members of our Bar have the requisite skills to effectively weigh the evidence
and apply the law which is required for these roles.” Ms Pearman announced in
her annual report last year that she had launched the inquiry after she “grew
concerned” that the victims of crimes and their families were facing “long
periods — sometimes years — of uncertainly” as they waited for the CICB to
hand down decisions. She added: “It is in the public’s interest to
investigate possible maladministration that impacts vulnerable members of our
society, such as the victims of crime.” Ms Pearman added that she became aware
of the problem last October through a news
story published in The Royal Gazette. The story involved a victim of
gun violence who had applied to the CICB for compensation in 2015 after he was
shot a year earlier. The man, who asked not to be named, said last month that he
had been told he was to get a payout for his injuries. But he said that the
decision would not stop legal action against the CICB and the Attorney-General
for damages over the delay. The action for damages claimed a Constitutional
breach of duty by the CICB and the Attorney-General by “unreasonably delaying
the hearing of his application”. It said that the man wanted a declaration
that his rights had been breached and aggravated, as well as exemplary and
punitive damages, “equitable compensation” and costs.
A
vehicle emissions test firm has launched legal action against the Ministry of
Tourism and Transport after their contract was axed at the start of the year.
Bermuda Emissions Control Ltd filed a writ against the Minister of Tourism and
Transport and others last month. Other respondents include Roy Dennison, Vernon
Tucker, Craig Smith, Edward Harris, Mike Watkins, Willoughby Richardson, Arthur
LaSalle and Winifred Butterfield, who are understood to be former employees. A
spokesman for the firm declined to comment on the lawsuit yesterday. It was
reported in January that the firm would be stripped of its contract to carry out
checks for the Transport Control Department from the start of February and that
TCD would carry out the work itself. A spokesman for the Ministry of Tourism and
Transport said at the time that most of the team would be offered employment
under the new arrangement, which was expected to save the Government $400,000 a
year. BECL started emissions testing and roadworthiness checks for all vehicles
in 2009 after it was awarded a controversial multimillion-dollar deal without a
tender process. The company was tasked with testing the emissions of vehicles
every year — but there are no emissions standards in place, which made it
impossible to fail. The original five-year contract was later extended on
shorter-term deals by the former One Bermuda Alliance administration. The
contract was last renewed for a year in early 2018 by the Progressive Labour
Party government.
Compensation
for crime victims will be speeded up if changes are made to the body responsible
for payments, an island lawyer said yesterday. Cristen Suess, of law firm
Wakefield Quin, said the proposal to replace a judge with a senior barrister as
chairman of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board was “positive”. She
added: “Although the changes put forward may seem simple, the effect will be
such that there will certainly be a redistribution of court resources, which I
think will have an impact on reducing delays, saving time and cost.” The
Criminal Injuries (Compensation) Amendment Act 2019 was tabled in the House of
Assembly last week. The explanatory memorandum said that the amendment was “to
allow for improved efficiency in carrying out the mandate of the CICB”. Under
the amendment, members of the CICB will be appointed by the Minister of Legal
Affairs instead of the Governor. The memorandum added: “It also amends the
qualifications for the chairman of the CICB by changing it from a judge to a
barrister and attorney with at least ten years’ experience and also amends the
qualifications for the deputy chairman of the CICB by requiring the barrister
and attorney to have a least eight years’ experience.” It was tabled by
Progressive Labour Party backbencher Neville Tyrrell. Kathy Lynn Simmons, the
Attorney-General and the Minister of Legal Affairs with responsibility for the
CICB, and John Rankin, the Governor, declined to comment on the Bill. Ms Suess
said that a similar approach had been taken with amendments to the Liquor
Licencing Act 1974. She added: “The shift away from boards, authorities and
tribunals being inherently linked to the court from the outset demonstrates a
more modern approach to streamlining the judicial process as a whole. The
court’s resources are already stretched to capacity. I would say that the
proposed amendments to this legislation will contribute, substantially, to
improving the efficiency of the court, which can only be a positive thing.” Ms
Suess for several years represented a man who applied to the CICB for
compensation in 2015 after he was shot the year before. The man, who asked not
to be named, said last month that he had been told by the board that he was to
get a payout for his injuries. But he said that the decision would not stop
legal action against the CICB and the Attorney-General for damages over the
delay. The action for damages claimed a constitutional breach of duty by the
CICB and the Attorney-General by “unreasonably delaying the hearing of his
application”. It said that the man wanted a declaration that his rights had
been breached and aggravated, as well as exemplary and punitive damages,
“equitable compensation” and costs. Scott Pearman, the Shadow Minister for
Legal Affairs, said that the One Bermuda Alliance had “repeatedly raised
concerns about the significant delays by the CICB”. He highlighted that the
Court of Appeal had criticized the board for its “serious backlog” of cases.
Mr Pearman said: “It is not immediately clear how the proposed changes to the
appointment and qualification of the chair will improve delays. No doubt the
Progressive Labour Party will explain why they think the Bill will improve
matters.” Mr Pearman added that the Bill would be discussed by the Opposition
in caucus this week.
The
Supreme Court struck down a claim yesterday that the former owner of the Olympic
Club breached a merger agreement with The Athletic Club. Wayne Scott, who
represented The Athletic Club in court, argued that Scott Stallard had broken
clause 26 of the agreement by selling gym equipment that had belonged to the
Olympic Club, among other allegations. However, Mr Stallard said there were no
breaches and Kym Herron Scott of The Athletic Club either acceded or agreed with
his actions. Assistant Justice Jeffrey Elkinson found, in a decision handed down
yesterday, that Mr Scott failed to provide evidence to support his argument. Mr
Stallard had showed the court e-mails between himself and Mrs Herron Scott, in
which she accepted that he had the right to sell the gym equipment. Mr Justice
Elkinson said: “The defendant had put itself in a position where it was unable
to establish the alleged breaches of Mr Stallard simply by relying upon the
evidence of Mr Scott. Leaving aside that much of the evidence of Mr Scott was
replete with hearsay, and in some circumstances, lacking in supporting
documentation, which Mr Scott said was available, the defendant did not present
any or sufficient evidence that could give rise to clause 26, having the effect
that the defendant sought to argue that it did.” Mr Scott said the judge was
mistaken in his ruling and told the court he intended to appeal the decision.
The ruling was a prelude to a larger court case in which Mr Stallard alleges The
Athletic Club owes him more than $100,000 as part of the 2014 merger of the two
clubs. Mr Stallard said that, as part of the agreement, Ms Herron Scott promised
to pay $3,000 per month for a period of 42 months starting on December 1, 2016,
but that no payments had been made. He also alleges that The Athletic Club owes
$22,000 for rent and $17,000 for social insurance payments. At a hearing last
month, Mr Scott argued that Mr Stallard had breached the contract before the
first payment could be made, which voided the obligations of The Athletic Club.
He told the court Mr Stallard sold gym equipment belonging to The Athletic Club
from the Olympic Club in March 2015. And he alleged that under the agreement Mr
Stallard was supposed to provide The Athletic Club with the originals of all
contracts, but he failed to provide copies of an employment contract for one of
the Olympic Club’s employees. An unsigned employment contract was later
produced in the lead-up to an Employment Tribunal case. Mr Justice Elkinson said
the employment contract could not have been breached as the employment contract
was unsigned. The judge said Mr Scott’s decision not to call any other
witnesses to support his allegations had made it impossible for the court to
find there had been breaches. He told the court: “You never called Ms Herron
Scott as a witness, so there was nothing to contradict what Mr Stallard said.
That meant the preliminary case could not succeed.” Mr Justice Elkinson
adjourned the case until April 2, but said the case could return to the courts
sooner if Mr Scott is not granted leave for his appeal to be heard.
Social
media posts that identified a customs officer as the man at the centre of an
international police investigation were wrong, a police spokesman said
yesterday. The spokesman said a 41-year-old man had been arrested in
connection with an investigation by Canadian police, but the case did not
involve the man whose picture had been posted online. He added: “Members of
the public are strongly advised not to continue to circulate the unfounded
social media message.” The spokesman said the Electronic Communications Act
made it illegal to spread false information “for the purpose of causing
annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another”. The maximum penalty
for the offence is one year in prison and a $25,000 fine.
Travellers,
including a national sports team headed for the United States, had to walk to
the airport yesterday after an early morning collision on the Causeway brought
traffic to a standstill. A female driver was later arrested on suspicion of
impaired driving. A bystander said: “People heading to the airport for several
morning flights, including the national volleyball team, were forced to get out
and walk across the Causeway as no traffic was getting through.” The woman
added that the chaos started after two vehicles collided on the narrow crossing
at about 6.30am. She said traffic was backed up as far as Crawl in Hamilton
Parish for more than an hour before the road reopened. She added: “They really
need a better plan when this happens, because as much as everyone was concerned
about the accident victims, it was a massive inconvenience to locals and
tourists trying to make sure they caught their flights. They would have to pay
for the expense of rebooking, not Bermuda.” A police spokesman said the crash
occurred when a car driven west by a female driver collided with a truck headed
in the opposite direction. There were no injuries but both vehicles were damaged
in the collision.
Revellers
from across the island travelled to the East End last night for an annual
Christmas fête put on by a conservation charity. The Bermuda National Trust
Walkabout filled the streets of the Olde Towne as people came out to tour
historic BNT properties. It was the 41st time the event had taken place. Angela
Sulley said that it was the fifth consecutive year that she had attended the
event with friends and that the walkabout served as the kick-off to the
Christmas season for many. Ms Sulley added: “I love this event. If you are
into Christmas, this is the event to be at. It’s a fun time of year.” The
Paget resident was joined by a group of nine adults this year. She added:
“It’s kind of like an annual thing.” Ms Sulley said that her highlights
had been the musical performances, dancers and artwork on display. Preston Gill
said that the “charm of the Olde Towne” was on full display. He added:
“It’s a lovely evening to take a stroll and enjoy the oldest town in Bermuda
and a great opportunity to see bits and pieces of our heritage.” The Smith’s
resident added: “There’s a real sense of community for young and old
alike.” The Old Rectory, Buckingham, Tucker House, the Globe Hotel and other
properties opened their doors to welcome visitors and performances were held in
Kings Square. Jordan Smith, the development officer with the BNT, said that the
event had been “amazing”. She added: “Everyone seems to be really happy.
There’s a lot of Christmas cheer. Everyone that I have talked to sounds like
they are enjoying it.” Ms Smith said the event also showcased some of
Bermuda’s unique heritage and culture to island residents and visitors alike.
She added: “This is where Bermuda started. When St George’s is lit up,
it’s just such an open and beautiful town. It’s just a great way to get
everyone in the holiday mood.” Ms Smith said that a lot of work by BNT staff,
volunteers, community members and sponsors went into putting the event together.
But she added: “It’s worth it in the end.” Kevin Dallas, the chief
executive of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, said that the event had been
“fantastic, as always”. He said that it was the cross-section of the Bermuda
community that the event brought out that made it special. Mr Dallas added that
the timing of the event also made it unique. He explained: “As we think about
Bermuda being for all seasons, we think this exactly the kind of signature event
that we can build on to grow Bermuda’s winter visitor trade.” Mr Dallas said
a personal highlight of this year’s event had been the performances by
children taking part. He added: “The kids are so proud and so involved — and
it’s wonderful to see.”
Legislation
to require non-Bermudians be enrolled in a pension scheme was approved in the
Senate on Wednesday. The National Pension Scheme (Operational Pensions)
Amendment Act will also allow seniors to withdraw up to 25 per cent of their
pension savings after retirement. Vance Campbell, a Progressive Labour Party
senator, said the changes would help level the playing field between Bermudians
and non-Bermudians in the job market. He added the opportunity for seniors to
withdraw part of their pensions would give them another option to pay for
mortgages. Nick Kempe, a One Bermuda Alliance senator, said many of the
amendments included in the legislation were good, including a shorter vesting
period which would benefit workers who move from job to job during their
careers. But he questioned if the reforms would make life easier for job-hunting
Bermudians. Mr Kempe said that, although local companies did not have to pay the
5 per cent employer portion of pension contributions for non-Bermudian employees
in the past, many companies already had those employees enrolled in some kind of
programme. Mr Kempe added that non-Bermudian workers already carry the
additional cost of work permit fees and repatriation expenses. Mr Campbell said
that the cost of work permits and repatriation made the employment of
non-Bermudians more expensive in the short term, but longer term the difference
in pension contributions was a bigger factor. James Jardine, an independent
senator, also backed shorter vesting periods and a requirement in the
legislation to pay interest on any overdue pension payments. But Mr Jardine said
he feared that some seniors might make poor choices about their pension if not
well informed of the consequences. Mr Jardine added it would make sense for
seniors to use a withdrawal from their pensions to pay for mortgages or other
loans, but he would be concerned if a senior used the funds to go on a world
cruise. The legislation was approved, as was the Internal Audit Amendment Act,
which extended the length of appointment for the Internal Audit Committee
chairman.
An
antiracism campaign group has thrown its support behind the Government’s plan
to carry out race relations research. Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda
said the online survey could help the island address “the ongoing inequity and
intergenerational trauma that continues in our community as a direct legacy from
Bermuda’s oppressive past”. A spokesman added: “Four hundred years of
oppression will take both time and effort from both a grassroots movement and
legislation to bring about a more equitable society.” He was speaking after
Lovitta Foggo, the community minister, announced last week that the public would
be asked for their views and possible solutions on how to improve race
relations. Ms Foggo told the House of Assembly: “We recognise that for
generations, Bermuda’s history has also been fraught with tensions and
disagreements, particularly when it comes to the topics of race, diversity,
inclusion and equality. We also recognise that the issues of racial inequity and
race relations can be difficult and complex discussions for us to have as a
people. However, I believe that as a community, we should have the courage,
openness and vulnerability to have these important conversations.” Curb said
it has spent the past 14 years working through educational forums, lectures and
presentations. The spokesman added: “Through research, surveys, conferences,
trainings and presentations we continue to educate and help people understand
how that past affects the social dynamics at play in our community today. For
the majority of Bermudians, Bermuda’s history has been one of learning about
the movers and shakers of white colonial history, with the works of black
historians being suppressed and sidelined.” Curb highlighted its Hidden
History workshops which increased knowledge of marginalized black history and
its Truth and Reconciliation Community Conversations programme designed to
“create empathy for each other’s truths”. It said groups in Canada and the
United States had piloted programmes based on Curb’s Truth and Reconciliation
model. The spokesman said: “We look forward to learning the results of
Government’s online survey and offer our assistance and expertise in any way
we can.”
A new almanac designed to
highlight when island food is at its best will be produced for next year’s
Restaurant Weeks, the Bermuda Tourism Authority has said. Glenn Jones, chief
experiences development officer with the BTA, said Restaurant Weeks will feature
a series of culinary events around the island and the release of a Bermuda food
harvest almanac. Mr Jones said: “We think it’s a first-of-its-kind resource
for Bermuda. It’s a visually appealing presentation of what locally harvested
foods are available when. For visitors and for locals, we hope it becomes the
go-to guide for eating Bermuda’s foods at their absolute freshest and for
affluent travellers who care about sustainability, this guide should be
especially valuable. Fruits and vegetables, seafood and herbs. There’s a lot
in there.” Mr Jones said the almanac was created with assistance from farmers,
fishermen and beekeepers and it is hoped it will help increase demand for
domestic products. He added restaurants had adopted more home-grown ingredients
for their Restaurant Week menus and that 85 per cent of the 46 restaurants
involved in the event had Bermuda-inspired dishes. Mr Jones said special
Restaurant Week events designed to merge food and famous locations around the
island had also been organised. Eettafel, a company that organizes upscale
picnics, has joined forces with perfumery Lili Bermuda for a Fragrance and Food
Pairing Picnic at the Waterville Rose Garden in Paget. Eric Adjepong, an
American chef and finalist on television cooking competition Top Chef, will team
up with chefs from Bermy Eats and Fourways for the Bermuda Culture and Heritage
Dinner on January 24, inspired by the historic Cobbs Hill Methodist Church and
the Africa Diaspora. Mr Jones said: “Chef Eric, who is from Brooklyn, with
West African roots, used his heritage as a constant thread in the kitchen when
he was on Top Chef. The food was unfamiliar to the judges — and to the
audience — but they both fell in love with it because the dishes were
delicious and the storytelling was compelling. Chef Eric is convinced he can do
the same thing out here and we can’t wait. He visited this past August to do
his research.” The final Restaurant Week event will be a fish fry on February
2 at the Bermuda Transport Museum in Dockyard with food from Generosa’s, Frog
& Onion and Bonefish Grill, as well as beer from On de Rock and Dockyard
Brewing and 9 Parishes rum swizzle. Mr Jones said: “Restaurant Weeks has
resonated with locals and visitors for almost ten years and we hope these new
food experiences resonate as well. But let me be clear. This is not an either-or
proposition — it’s an opportunity to choose both. Restaurant Weeks is
three-weeks long, which gives everyone a chance to eat in a restaurant and to
eat outside the walls of a restaurant at one of the food experiences I
mentioned.”
The
assistant director of the Department of Child and Family Services appeared in
Magistrates’ Court today charged with assault and mistreatment of a child.
Kennette Robinson, 51, pleaded not guilty to the alleged offences, said in court
to have happened on May 8 in St George’s. The alleged victim cannot be
identified for legal reasons. Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe released Ms
Robinson, from Devonshire, on $1,000 bail and adjourned the case until January
13.
Business
start-ups will encounter less bureaucratic red tape in the New Year with the
introduction of a concierge service by the Bermuda Economic Development
Corporation. Erica Smith, executive director of the BEDC, said new business
owners will no longer have to visit multiple locations to register their
enterprise. Instead, the BEDC will facilitate the registration of new businesses
with the Office of the Tax Commissioner, with the Department of Social
Insurance, and with the BEDC itself. The programme, expected to roll out in the
first quarter of 2020, will be manual to begin with, but a digital platform is
planned, Ms Smith said. "Other government entities are on board.
Ultimately, the goal is a smoother process and to take the bureaucracy out of
entrepreneurs doing the right thing, and being compliant,” she said. “At the
moment, we are asking for the same information in multiple places. That is
confusing, inefficient and frustrating for entrepreneurs.” Ms Smith said a
survey of BEDC stakeholders, and the public, in 2018 revealed that bureaucratic
red tape was an issue. “When you compare what happens in other countries to
what happens in Bermuda with the registration of start-ups, and being compliant
by registering the business, Bermuda is very bureaucratic with all the places
you have to go to register the same business. It doesn’t make sense if you
want to encourage start-ups and new local businesses forming and make them as
successful and sustainable as possible. One of the ways to do that is to make
the process of starting a business as easy as possible and to make being
compliant as easy as possible. If the BEDC is able to facilitate that, and act
as concierge to reduce the burden on businesses, then we will have realised one
of our goals and objectives for the country. Ultimately, jobs don’t create
themselves. Businesses create jobs, and our role is to create businesses and
ultimately create jobs. We feel there is a direct line to job creation if we can
facilitate business creation.”
A
lawyer has raised “serious concerns” over whether funding was in place for a
panel of litigation guardians to represent children in court. Saul Dismont
also questioned why the five panel members had not been identified after Kathy
Lynn Simmons, the Attorney-General, announced the creation of the group earlier
this week. He added: “It is great for there to have been some movement in the
right direction, but of course there are serious concerns.” Ms Simmons said
the panel members were “qualified, certified and experienced social workers”
when she announced the move on Tuesday, but did not give further details. Mr
Dismont has represented children in cases against the Department of Child and
Family Services over a failure to fund independent advocates for them in court
cases. He said creation of the panel was “only one of the requirements”
under the Children Act 1998. “What about funding? Can the
Attorney-General confirm that funding has been made available? If not, why
not?” Mr Dismont said that without an operational budget, the guardians scheme
would be a failure. He also questioned the criteria and training for candidates
for the panel. Mr Dismont added: “In June, the Court of Appeal identified that
the Attorney-General had a statutory duty to create a panel of litigation
guardians, which had not been done for 20 years, and the Attorney-General had a
statutory duty to ‘introduce an appropriate scheme that provides for the
funding of litigation guardians and counsel to represent children’.” The
court also ruled that the Attorney-General’s failure to provide cash to pay
for litigation guardians had breached children’s human rights. Mr Dismont said
that last month Martha Dismont, the executive director of Family Centre, started
legal action to “force” the Attorney-General to create the panel. The lawyer
also applied to the Supreme Court for a judicial review of the failure of the
Ministry of Legal Affairs to provide children with independent legal
representation. The existence of the panel was revealed last month as Tiffane
Thomas, who has served as a litigation guardian, applied to the Supreme Court to
withdraw her services because she had never been paid for her work. Mr Dismont
said: “If funding is not secured, the litigation guardians will end up not
being able to continue for lack of payment, just as Tiffanne has done.” Ms
Dismont said this week that a group of charities had met Ms Simmons and that
they had agreed to create the panel “as a collaborative exercise”. Family
Centre teamed up with the Coalition for the Protection of Children, as well as
the charities Childwatch, Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda and Saving
Children and Revealing Secrets, to push the case for litigation guardians in the
Court of Appeal. Ms Dismont said she and other charity heads had secured an
agreement for consultation over the composition of the panel. She added: “We
were concerned about whether there would be independent litigation guardians —
in other words, individuals with no association or bias relative to the
Government. We said that an independent guardian would be someone working in
children’s best interests and not in any limited sphere, including the
Government, because they are limited by their remit.” Kelly Hunt, the
executive director of the Coalition for the Protection of Children, said she had
been part of the meeting, which happened before the Court of Appeal’s ruling,
when it was “agreed that we would collaborate with Government on this matter.
Unfortunately, there has been no consultation with the direct service providers
in the third sector since then. This is such an important matter that we must
get it right. Proper transparency and accountability is critical where child
safeguarding is concerned. We look forward to learning more details on the
selection process, oversight and funding for these individuals.” The Ministry
of Legal Affairs did not respond to a request for more details on the panel.
An
information session about Bermuda’s economic substance legislation and its
impact on island companies attracted more than 120 people, while another 50 dialed
into the session, organisers said. The Institute of Directors Bermuda
organised the session in conjunction with the Association of Bermuda
International Companies. Attendees and those who dialed in heard from Kenneth
Joaquin, the Registrar of Companies, as well as members of his team, Michael
Frith and Venous Memari. Rochelle Simons, IoD Bermuda chairwoman, said: “IoD
members and the business community at large are eagerly awaiting economic
substance updates and this was borne out by the fact that we were
over-subscribed and that people were prepared to dial into the session.” Mrs
Simons said that Mr Joaquin highlighted the impact of the Economic Substance
Amendment (No 2) Act 2019 that was presented to MPs on November 30. She said:
“The Amendment Act changes the definition of holding entity and refines a few
other sections of the legislation to be in keeping with international standards.
It is anticipated that the Amendment Act will come into force later this month,
following which the Economic Substance Regulations will be enacted quickly by
negative resolution. Guidance Notes will be released by year end. As directors,
they need to understand how these regulations will affect both their own
business and the business of the boards they sit on. The Registrar of Companies
acknowledged that while the presentation of the Amendment Act and the approval
of the same by Members of Parliament during the next few weeks is a milestone
reached, he and his team will continue to press forward to build and test the
infrastructure that will accept the first filings in June 2020 for financial
years ending December 31, 2019. We anticipate hosting future events that will
keep the membership informed and encouraged as business owners and the Bermuda
Government engage a new reporting platform.”
Bermuda’s
re/insurance industry will be in focus at next week’s EY Re/insurance Business
and Accounting Update. The event will gather industry leaders and cover a
range of topics including accounting, tax, and regulatory matters, as well as
the business imperatives facing the Bermuda re/insurance industry. Patrick
Tannock, managing director and chief executive officer of Axa XL’s Bermuda
insurance operations and chairman of the Association of Bermuda International
Companies, who will offer his insights on the industry. David Brown, senior
partner and regional insurance leader, said: “Amid the ever-changing business
and regulatory environment, Bermuda has consistently been the home of innovation
in the re/insurance space, so it’s the perfect location to bring together
industry professionals to discuss the various opportunities and challenges
impacting our industry as we look to 2020.” Cordelia Davis, partner and
regional financial accounting advisory services leader at EY Bermuda, said:
“Today’s insurance executives face a multitude of complex demands and
pressures on all fronts. “This conference will provide many practical insights
— not only related to new regulatory, tax and accounting developments, but
also perspectives on their practical and effective applications in companies.”
The event, which is geared towards finance, accounting, tax and compliance
re/insurance executives, will take place on December 10 at O’Hara House in
Hamilton.
Thousands
of people are expected to visit St George tonight for the traditional Bermuda
National Trust Walkabout. Christmas lights and music will fill the narrow
streets of the town and historic BNT properties will be open for visitors until
9pm. Alana Anderson, the BNT president, said: “It is going to be amazing. The
weather is expected to be beautiful and we are looking forward to seeing the
island tip to the east as everyone goes to St George’s.” She added that
seats were still available on a special “Walkabout Ferry” and advised anyone
interested in attending to use the boat to cut down on traffic problems. George
Dowling, the Mayor of St George, said: “It is wonderful that the town and
businesses can come together to promote a great event for the town. All the
stakeholders take great pride in making the town look fantastic for the event
and for the holiday season.” Ms Anderson added that the walkabout marked the
start of the holiday season. The Old Rectory, Buckingham, Tucker House and the
Globe Hotel will all open their doors and Kings Square will have a range of
performances starting at 6pm. The Menuhin Foundation, the Bermuda School of
Music, the Salvation Army Band, Aerial Arts and the Christ Church Bell Choir are
all set to perform, along with several of the island’s dance schools. A
spokesman for the Corporation of St George said the municipality had worked with
the BNT to help make the annual event a success and that staff had made sure the
town was lit up for the holidays. He said: “It was evident with the Lighting
of the Town and Boat Parade last weekend of the great job that was done. The
corporation encourages everyone to come to the town, not just for the walkabout,
but come to the various activities that will take place in the town in December.
There will be opportunities with the Santa is Coming to Town event on December
14 and New Year’s Eve and they can come to Somers Garden to see the Winter
Wonderland.” Kevin Dallas, the CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, said:
“This is a beloved tradition and the hallmark kickoff to our holiday season
out here. Islanders and visitors mingle and celebrate in the cobblestoned crown
jewel of Bermuda’s Unesco World Heritage Site — a wonderful opportunity to
experience festivities Bermuda-style.” St Peter’s Church and St David’s
Chapel of Ease will provide Heavenly Treats in the Clair Spencer Hall at St
Peter’s with a variety of treats on offer. Kristin White and Genelle John, St
George’s businesspeople, said they looked forward to welcoming the crowds. Ms
White’s business, Long Story Short, recently joined forced with Ms John’s
Salt Spray Soap Company, and the pair will launch a merged shop on Water Street
at the walkabout. The store will offer sustainable and fair-trade housewares,
African-print clothing from Liberia, and Rinelle White’s UMAMI spices. Ms John
will also offer an in-store DIY activity for the walkabout. She said: “The
Bermuda National Trust Walkabout is St George’s most celebrated Christmas
event. We are excited to welcome everyone to our shop and hope they fall in love
with our vibrant new space.”
An
island resident’s 980-mile end-to-end bicycle trip in Britain raised a total
of $20,000 for four Bermudian charities. William Lawrence completed the
nine-day cycling trip from Land’s End, in Cornwall, England, to John O'Groats,
in Caithness, Scotland, as part of the Deloitte Ride Across Britain. Mr Lawrence
said that it was the first time he had taken part in a multi-day cycling event.
He added: “All I had to do was think about riding the bike, thank God.” Mr
Lawrence, from Paget, said that the trip had two purposes — to mark his 60th
birthday and to raise funds for island organisations. He added his wife,
Felicity, suggested he also use the trip as a way to raise cash for good causes.
Mr Lawrence said: “The charities didn’t know I was doing it at all until I
called them up two weeks ago.” The money raised was divided between four
groups — Bermuda Autism Support and Education Society, Focus Counselling
Service, Project 100, and the Salvation Army. Mr Lawrence said it felt great to
be able to tell each group that they would get $5,000. He added: “They were
all really appreciative. Charity money is hard to find at the moment.” Mr
Lawrence, a keen cyclist, said that he took part in several rides each week with
the Bicycle Works cycling club. He added that he had done “about a year’s
worth of training” under coach Grant Goudge, the owner of Bicycle Works in
Hamilton. Mr Lawrence said: “He fixed me up with a training plan and a great
bike. That was all the difference.” But he said that Mr Goudge was not the
only supporter he had. Mr Lawrence added: “I want to thank all the people that
helped me train. There was a bunch of them.” He also thanked his wife for
putting up with his training schedule, which often meant 4.30am starts. Mr
Lawrence said: “She didn’t have to get up — she just had to put up with me
disturbing her.” Ms Lawrence and a friend followed her husband in a car as he
did the grueling trip. The event also overlapped with the couple’s 32nd
wedding anniversary. Ms Lawrence said the ride experience was exciting, but also
“nerve-racking” at times. She added: “Some of the roads they had cyclists
going down were not really meant for bigger Jeeps.” She said that her
husband’s participation made her “extremely proud” and that she never had
any doubt that he would be able to finish the ride. Ms Lawrence added: “Once
he put his mind to it, he was going to do it no matter what.”
A
leading light in the foundation of the Progressive Labour Party has died. Edith
Richardson, 97, was the widow of Hugh Richardson, a former President of the
Senate and the first chairman of the PLP. The Richardson’s home on
Serpentine Road in Pembroke, was the meeting place for the founders of the PLP
in the early 1960s. Mr Richardson’s garage was the venue for discussions among
Edward DeJean, Walter Robinson, Wilfred Allen, Albert Smith, Dilton Cann and R.
Austin Wilson to form Bermuda’s first political party in 1963. Ms
Richardson’s brother-in-law, William “Billy” Richardson, said she had
served “almost as a secretary” for the party in its early days. Mr
Richardson added: “I was one of the messenger boys of the PLP, running here,
there and everywhere.” He said his mother had died before the Richardson's
married in 1943, and the couple raised him. He added: “She was a good mother,
a wonderful person. I helped her to bring up her daughter, Carol, who was born
around Christmas. I used to joke to her that she spoilt my Christmas dinner.”
Carol Currin said: “Mom was deceptive; she looked as though she wouldn’t
hurt a fly, but she was strong and just what my father needed. She was someone
he could talk to. She would tell him the truth, exactly what she thought.” Ms
Currin said that political discussions at the family home often became “heated
arguments”. She added Ms Richardson shared her husband’s political
convictions, but played a quiet role at home. Ms Currin explained: “You have
to remember, she was born in 1922. Women in those days stayed in the background
and helped — and she was top of the line at that.” She said the PLP founders
at the Richardson’s home were nicknamed “the desert group” as a joke,
because the lane was prone to flooding. Ms Currin added that Mr Richardson, who
died in 2007, was “the first chairman of the PLP because nobody else wanted to
take the job and stand out front”. She explained that a prominent role in the
new party meant “going out on a limb”, and that Mr Richardson had cleared
his decision with his wife and daughter first. Ms Currin added that Ms
Richardson also helped to encourage PLP supporters to register to vote. She
said: “She could be quiet, she was smart, and she was very much into the St
Paul AME Church. Not that she wasn’t feisty as well.” Ms Richardson became a
seamstress at AS Cooper & Sons and specialized in curtains. She left the
company to work with Irene Trott at Trott’s Drapery. She later worked as a
hairdresser and the family ran a travel agency, Always Travel, in St George. Ms
Currin said: “She loved to travel. She didn’t care how, as long as she was
going somewhere. She loved to visit her cousin Blossom in Chicago.” Walter
Roban, the Deputy Premier, paid tribute to Ms Richardson last week in the House
of Assembly. Mr Roban told the House: “In public service, as members of both
Chambers, often their whole families serve with them and give their energy and
sacrifice, Edith Richardson did the same.”
Wayne
Furbert, Minister for the Cabinet Office, today praised the trust industry for
its role in maintaining the island’s reputation as a premier international
jurisdiction. Speaking this morning at the Society of Trust and Estate
Practitioners (STEP) Bermuda Conference, Mr Furbert said: “The Government recognizes
the importance of the trust industry to Bermuda. The industry is a significant
employer in Bermuda, and it brings to our shores business from some of the
world’s wealthiest and most influential families and businesses.” He said
Bermuda has been providing fiduciary services for private clients for more than
100 years, and during that time Bermuda had developed a reputation as a premier
jurisdiction with a stable and reliable legal system and experienced trust
professionals. “My friends in the industry tell me that Bermuda continues to
lead with innovative developments such as ‘Statutory Hastings-Bass’ and
‘Section 47 Applications’,” he said. “International families take
comfort in Bermuda’s reputation, stability, long standing English common law
system [with right of appeal to the Privy Council] and the integration of the
trust sector with the insurance, funds and wealth management industries, and
with emerging areas such as fintech. As a government we could not have faced
these challenges without the support and participation of the trust industry,”
he said. Mr Furbert said the Government is committed to continuing to work with
the private client pillar, and industry in general, to ensure that Bermuda
remains a premier jurisdiction. “And, in return, I hope that I can count on
the industry in Bermuda to work with the Government to ensure that the
jurisdiction remains in the top tier of international financial centres. Bermuda
boasts the ability to create trusts that have an indefinite duration; provides
an efficient regime for unregulated private funds and close ended funds and a
lightly regulated regime for exempted funds; and is one of the strongest
insurance markets in the world. Insurance products are often used to provide
stability, investment growth and tax efficiency with respect to private and
commercial trust structures,” he said. “Bermuda trusts can be used for asset
preservation.” He said Bermuda’s strong asset protection legislation,
commonly known as “firewall” legislation, seeks to defend and protect off
shore trusts from attack — whether from creditors, spouses or heirs — and
from pressure from the onshore world. “From a tax perspective, Bermuda is
attractive for international structuring because it does not impose income or
capital gains tax,” he said. “Further, Bermuda ‘exempted’ entities
[established for international clients] may apply for an assurance from the
Minister of Finance that such taxes will not be imposed on such entities before
31 March, 2035. Bermuda also does not impose exchange controls on non-Bermuda
assets.” Mr Furbert said Bermuda’s infrastructure and availability of
internationally renowned financial service providers is impressive. “Bermuda
also reaps the benefits of having a number of effective international agreements
that facilitate business between Bermuda and other jurisdictions,” he said.
“Bermuda is a beautiful environment in which to do business, and the
government is committed to working with the private client pillar, and working
with industry in general to ensure that Bermuda remains a premier
jurisdiction.”
Bermuda
is working to establish itself as a landing hub for transatlantic submarine
cables carrying internet and telecommunications. Three such hubs exist in
the Pacific Ocean, in Hawaii, Guam and Fiji, but there are none in the Atlantic.
If Bermuda succeeds in becoming the Atlantic’s first, the benefits and
opportunities could range from attracting submarine cable operators’ head
offices to the island, to captive insurance for submarine cable operators, and
creating an additional revenue stream for the economy. In addition, companies
with intellectual property rights would be better able to demonstrate economic
substance in Bermuda, while operators landing cables would be able to achieve
network diversity and divert some telecoms traffic away from certain
jurisdictions if required — this could be for privacy or data sovereignty
reasons. There are at least 26 submarine cables that cross the Atlantic from
Americas to Europe and Africa, and others that link North and South America, and
the Caribbean. Three cable systems land in Bermuda, namely GlobeNet, Challenger
and Gemini. Many other transatlantic cables transit around the island, but do
not land here. Efforts are being made to attract them to Bermuda and to promote
the island as a tech cable corridor. “Bermuda is ideally positioned to be an
Atlantic hub,” Fiona Beck said. She has an extensive background in
telecommunications and technology, and is a former chief executive officer of
Southern Cross Cable Network, and a past president of Sub Optic, an industry
body for the global submarine cable industry. She moderated an industry panel
discussion on submarine cables at the Bermuda Tech Summit, which took place
during the Bermuda Government’s consultation period for three Bills relating
to submarine cables in Bermuda. The Bills were tabled at the end of September,
and final versions have yet to return to the House of Assembly. “Government
has created a new thing called a submarine protection zone. This allows
submarine cable to land in an efficient and effective manner, and at the same
time protects new and existing systems that are all ready in the water,” Ms
Beck said. More than 99 per cent of the world’s global communications is
carried on submarine cable networks, and those networks have increased due to
the “exponential growth of data”. Ms Beck said: “The world is changing. It
is key infrastructure; many governments have declared subsea cables strategic
national assets.” It costs between $250 million and $300 million to build a
whole submarine cable system stretching between the US and Europe, while a cable
that connects more than 20 countries would cost $1 billion, or more, said Joel
Ogren, CEO of ACA International. A shorter cable link, between New York and
Bermuda, cost close to $50 million to be re-laid, according to Erick Contag,
executive chairman of GlobeNet Telecom. Two of Bermuda’s proposed Bills relate
to protected areas for submarine cables, while the other is for permit and
licensing. In jurisdictions that don’t have a submarine cable protected zone
it is difficult to get permissions to land a cable because “you have got to go
through all sorts of environmental assessments, financial assessments”, Steven
Rees Davies, partner, Appleby Bermuda, said. Referring to Bermuda’s approach,
he said: “This is basically setting up a doorway where we have assessed it all
ready, so you can come in here. Not only that, but when you lay your cable the
cable owner is protected from any damage caused to the cable in that zone.” A
protected zone would prohibit activities, such as the use of explosives, or from
dredging. The one-stop-shop approach of permit and licensing was explained by
Walter Roban, Minister of Home Affairs, when he tabled the three Bills.
“Landing and operating significant systems in some jurisdictions has become
increasingly difficult and lacks a single landowner or a single marine spatial
planning regulator,” he said. “Countries that have shorter and more certain
timeframes for the permitting process are being sought and are becoming much
more attractive.” Joel Ogren, CEO of ACA International was on the panel at the
summit in October, and said it takes more than two years to land a cable in the
US. He added: “A cable protection zone is a great concept, it is the
streamlining of the activity. You can assure investors that you can land here
within a timeframe — because time is money.” Mr Contag said: “It creates
an asset that will last at least 25 years. By protecting the cable, providing
certainty, if there is an issue, you want to have a way of going in to the
country or region with minimal headache to do your repairs. You don’t want to
have people waiting a month or two to get a permit.” Bermuda’s legal
framework is one reason why cable operators might view Bermuda favorably as a
landing hub. Another is the ability to reroute some telecoms and internet
traffic away from chosen jurisdictions rather than, for example, sending it all
in to the US before reaching its ultimate destination elsewhere. On the issue of
data privacy and data sovereignty, Mr Ogren said: “Businesses and countries
want their data to be treated like an embassy, you don’t want anyone poking
around in there looking at it. You want it to be privatized. That needs to fall
under the regulatory environment here.” He added: “In the US there has been
a lot of talk about, from a cybersecurity perspective, ‘we don’t want our cyber traffic
going to the US’. So this is a reason why Bermuda could attract cables to land
here. It doesn’t mean you don’t have connectivity to the US, [but] that
traffic only goes there if you want it to.” Ms Beck, who is also a director of
the Bermuda Business Development Agency, said: “It’s exactly what the
transit cable concept does — it says I’m going from Europe, I land in
Bermuda, I might want some traffic to go to the US, but I don’t want
everything to go to the US, so I’m going to land here and only get the stuff
that needs to go to the US, and the rest is going to go to Brazil.” The BDA is
working in partnership with the Government to progress a national subsea
corridor initiative aimed at attracting new cable business and boosting
connectivity.
Compulsory
police background checks should be carried out on anyone who wants to work with
children, the head of a child protection charity said yesterday. Debi
Ray-Rivers, the director of Saving Children and Revealing Secrets, said that
police vetting should be a requirement for anyone involved with a
“youth-serving organisation”. She added that the recent discovery of a court
letter given to sex offender Malik Zuill that wrongly listed him as having no
convictions, showed that police records are the most reliable indicators of a
criminal past. Ms Ray-Rivers said: “This incident revealed a significant error
with potentially serious and harmful consequences, had the court’s error and
the subsequent actions of Malik Zuill not been discovered and made public. It is
our hope that protocols and checks and balances have now been implemented by the
courts, to ensure such an error does not occur in the future.” She added:
“It is preferable and prudent that youth-serving organisations and employers
accept only background checks conducted by the Bermuda Police Service and/or the
relevant police services of the city or country where an employee or volunteer
was previously a resident. This will ensure authorized and verified vetting of
persons working with children." Zuill, who was sentenced to five
months in prison in July for a sex assault on an underage girl, was given a
letter from court services in August that said he had had no convictions in the
past three years. He used the letter in an attempt to remove articles about his
conviction. But Larry Mussenden, the Director of the Department of Public
Prosecutions, later confirmed Zuill’s conviction, which was earlier reported
by The Royal Gazette. The judiciary said in a notice published last month
in the Official Gazette that court worker Donneisha Butterfield, whose
signature was on the document, “did not do anything fraudulent”. The notice
added: “The document in question was issued in error and additional
administrative measures have been put into place to ensure that this does not
reoccur.” The judiciary declined to answer questions about what sort of
investigation was conducted, what caused the error or what measures have been
put in place to prevent further mistakes. Ms Ray-Rivers said: “To offset the
cost to youth-serving organisations, many of which are charities, it is
imperative that persons who are short listed for positions with youth-serving
organisations be required to provide police vetted background checks to the
potential employer for the safety of Bermuda’s children. It is our
understanding that background checks for volunteers working with youth-serving
organisations are free of cost.” The Children’s Act prohibits anyone listed
on a child abuse register to work with children. This includes areas such as
healthcare, education, social work, the police service and recreational groups.
Kelly Hunt, the executive director of the Coalition for the Protection of
Children, explained that mandatory police vetting would help strengthen the law.
She added: “Private companies, churches and organisations should not wait for
this to be mandated in law, but rather lead by example with this position. Codes
of conduct, vulnerable person’s policies, and official police reports that
identify previous convictions of assault or abuse against a minor should become
the norm for everyone entrusted in roles or positions around young people in our
community.” A spokesman for the Bermuda Police Service confirmed that police
vetting was not mandatory for charity staff. But he added that the process was
encouraged and cost $100 for every criminal record check. Volunteers of Bermuda
charities are exempt from the charge, although paid charity staff have to pay
the fee.
A
chief executive “mercilessly fired” from a key role at the Bermuda Health
Council has been appointed to a top job at the island’s psychiatric hospital.
Tawanna Wedderburn will become clinical director of mental health services at
the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute on Monday as the replacement for Glenn
Caisey, who has retired after 20 years. The announcement came almost a year
after she was forced out of her job as CEO of the BHeC in December last year. Ms
Wedderburn claimed the termination was politically motivated and launched a
legal battle against the health council, its former chairwoman Alicia
Stovell-Washington, Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, and David Burt, the
Premier. Her request for a judicial review was denied in October, when the judge
ruled the decision to sack her was not a matter of public law. Her lawyer,
Eugene Johnston, said at that time her legal proceedings over the matter were
“just beginning”. Her husband, Livingston, wrote in a letter to The Royal
Gazette in January: “Tawanna was mercilessly fired as the CEO of the
Bermuda Health Council on December 7, 2018, leading to the Christmas
holidays.” Ms Wedderburn, who has worked at MWI in the past, will be
responsible for the quality and direction of community and inpatient mental
health services. She said yesterday: “I’m excited to be returning to MWI in
this leadership role as we work to update the strategy for mental health
services in Bermuda. I already know there is a wonderful team of professionals
and support staff in place providing high-quality services, and I look forward
to working with them and our external partners to further develop mental health
services.” Ms Wedderburn will report to Preston Swan, the vice-president of
clinical operations at MWI. Mr Swan said: “I am very pleased to welcome Ms
Wedderburn back to MWI in this critical role. I would like to thank Mr Caisey
for his leadership and dedicated service over many years. We expect a smooth
transition of leadership with Ms Wedderburn’s experience and understanding of
MWI and mental health in Bermuda and are looking forward to exciting times in
the mental health arena.” Mr Swan said MWI staff were in the early stages of
service development with partners such as Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore
and the East London NHS Trust in the UK. He added: “Ms Wedderburn is well
placed to lead the team in this process as we seek to improve outcomes for
people in Bermuda suffering from mental illness.” Bermuda Hospitals Board
declined to comment on Ms Wedderburn’s legal battle over her termination. Ms
Wedderburn said: “The Supreme Court judicial review matter is ongoing. My
pending employment by the Bermuda Hospitals Board is entirely separate from the
judicial review matter. I have no additional comments with respect to my
appointment.” Ms Wedderburn worked for the BHeC as programme manager and
director of health regulation between 2007 and 2018 and became CEO in 2015. She
worked at MWI in child and adolescent services between 2002 and 2008, in roles
including family therapist, and as an adoption worker and family consultant for
the Department of Child and Family Services between 2002 and 2010. She was also
a crisis intervention worker in Toronto.
A
Bermudian man has been arrested in connection with an international case. A
spokesman for the Bermuda Police Service said yesterday that a 41-year-old man
had been arrested “in relation to an ongoing investigation by law enforcement
authorities in Canada”. He added: “The specifics of the investigation cannot
be disclosed at this time.” The news site TNN reported last night that a
customs officer had been arrested last week. The police spokesman declined to
confirm if the man arrested was employed by customs. He said: “We have
provided you with all the information we can at this time.”
Opinion.
By Attorney Josephine Noddings, a Senior Associate and a member of the Corporate
Team at Appleby. "The Bermuda Monetary Authority has confirmed that
it will not object to BMA-supervised entities conducting cannabis business with
a licensed cannabis cultivator, processor or seller so long as the conduct of
the cannabis business is legal at all levels within the country in which it is
operated. The BMA’s position, issued in a notice, was made clear in
response to it receiving an increase in enquiries in respect of licensing to
re/insure cannabis related risk and the legalisation of cannabis in Canada,
which occurred in October 2018. What this means for Bermuda is that companies
can incorporate here and, subject to the appropriate application and approvals,
be supervised by the BMA, and be allowed to re/insure cannabis-related risk in
foreign jurisdictions. The notice stresses that it is the responsibility of the
BMA-supervised licensed entity to understand the application of foreign laws and
comply therewith. In the conduct of its business, the BMA-supervised licensed
entity must continue to adhere to Bermuda’s legal and regulatory requirements
as set forth by the BMA and other regulators. That includes meeting legal and
regulatory requirements in respect of anti-money laundering and antiterrorism
financing, performing risk assessments of clients, fulfilling the obligation to
file Suspicious Activity Reports to the Financial Intelligence Agency and
completing source of funds enquiries. In the notice, the BMA confirms its
requirement that source of funds enquiries are sufficient to establish that
funds derive from activities that do not predate the legalisation of the
cannabis-related activities. Obtaining adequate insurance remains problematic
for those conducting business in the cannabis sector with many insurers
remaining reluctant to insure cannabis related risk. Consequently, it is an
industry that can benefit from captive insurance, which is where a parent
company wholly owns a subsidiary and the subsidiary is registered as an
insurance company to insure the risk of the parent. Bermuda is the leading
domicile for captives globally. In February 2019, the BMA released a statement
that said the Bermuda registered captive count was at 711 in 2018 with insurance
premiums totaling $40 billion. The BMA said that 19 new captives had registered
in 2018 compared to 17 in 2017, suggesting an upward trend. It was also revealed
that, although the majority of new captives originated from the United States,
they also came from Europe, Canada, Latin America and Africa. Canada is of
particular interest with respect to the cannabis sector. Insuring risk through a
captive enables businesses to obtain customized solutions to their risk needs
while centralizing costs and administration. The BMA’s notice reiterated this
point by flagging that the new captives covered a diverse range of company
structures including pure captives, association captives and long-term captives.
The lines of business being written were described as a “good mix”. If you
wish to learn more about Bermuda’s insurance regulation or how Appleby can
assist, please engage with your usual Appleby contact or any member of the team."
Retail
sales plunged 7.6 per cent in August when adjusted for inflation. It was the
sixteenth month in the past 18 that sales declined year over year and the
largest percentage decline since June 2018. All retail sectors recorded
lower sales volumes. Motor vehicle retailers recorded the largest volume decline
of 20.5 per cent. Building materials outlets saw a 15 per cent volume decline
and apparel stores an 11.4 per cent dip. In value terms, retail sales decreased
7 per cent to an estimated $90.9 million. Excluding Sundays, there were 25 full
shopping days, the same as August 2018. Wayne Furbert, the Minister for the
Cabinet Office, said: “It should be noted that the large decrease in liquor
and food sales reported in August 2019 when compared with August 2018 can be
partly attributed to the timing of pre-Cup Match sales which took place in July
this year and August last year. This means we are not strictly comparing
‘like’ for ‘like’ for this particular retail sector.” Cup Match fell
on August 1 and 2 this year, while last year it fell on August 2 and 3. Foods
stores saw a 7.8 per cent decline, while liquor stores experienced an 11.7 per
cent fall. Imports via courier fell $300,000 to $10.3 million because of lower
imports of clothes and machinery. Declarations by returning residents at LF Wade
International Airport climbed by $200,000 to $6.6 million. Imports via sea
increased by $200,000 to $1.6 million, while imports via the post office
remained flat at $200,000. In July retail sales volume climbed 1.3 per cent.
It
had been 66 years since Cliff Taylor was in Bermuda. On his return last month,
what he found most fascinating was just how little had changed. “There are
so many cars on the road now,” said the 87-year-old, who made the trip from
England with his wife Joy to celebrate their 60th anniversary. When I came here
it was mainly pony and traps and bicycles and, along the coastline there
weren’t nearly the same amount of houses there are today. That is the biggest
change. Other than that it’s still the same old island. It still has friendly
people.” Understandably, it was a much anticipated visit. The former jockey
was eager to reminisce about Shelly Bay Racetrack, where he worked from 1951 to
1953, and his favourite band, the Talbot Brothers. The lyrics to their song, She’s
Got Freckles On Her But She Is Nice, still roll off his tongue. A letter his
wife wrote to The Royal Gazette had the desired result. Calls flooded in
to El-Ville Hideaway in Bailey’s Bay, where the couple stayed for two weeks.
They led to meetings with Allen Smith, whose late brother Sinclair “Sinny”
Smith also raced and David Lopes, a horse lover and radio personality. Mr Taylor
grew up in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. He fell in love with horses when his father
took him to the Epsom Derby in the county. “As soon as I saw all the horses
working, that was for me,” he said. “And I was told that we had a retired
jockey that lived near us called Kenny Robinson.” He was around the age of ten
when he spotted a very short man riding by on a bike. “I said, ‘Excuse me,
are you Mr Kenny Robinson?’ He carried on and said, ‘Yeah.’ I said, ‘I
want to be a jockey.’” Through Mr Robinson, Mr Taylor was introduced to
Epsom Racetrack trainer Johnny Dines who arranged for him to have riding
lessons. Two years later he became Mr Dines’s apprentice. “I wasn’t even
13 when I started,” Mr Taylor said. “He was supposed to have arranged for me
to go to school, but he never did. I didn’t want to go to school either. Race
was all I wanted to do.” He stayed there for several years and then joined
Dick Perryman, a trainer at a bigger stable, the Newmarket Race Track in
Suffolk. Mr Taylor was 19 when Mr Perryman asked if he’d like to go to
Bermuda. Initially, he thought he was joking. But Mr Perryman had a friend,
Stanhope Joell, who was looking for a couple of professional jockeys for Shelly
Bay Racetrack. “I came out here as a lightweight jockey,” Mr Taylor said.
“I weighed just over 100lbs. I am just under 5ft tall.” Shelly Bay was quite
different to what he’d been used to at Newmarket. The racetrack was much
smaller and had tighter turns, and it was surfaced with a sandy shale instead of
turf. He and Ben Goulden, the British jockey he’d been hired with, had to be
at the racetrack by 4.30am to exercise the horses. Mr Goulden called the Bermuda
jockeys “chickens” because they used safety goggles when they raced. His
attitude soon changed. “If you are in front, it was okay,” Mr Taylor said.
“But if you weren’t in front, you had the horse ahead of you kicking all
this sandy shale back in your face. It only took me one meeting to see why they
wore goggles.” Mr Taylor remembered one race on a horse called Fanny, where
his saddle split almost as soon as he got out of the gate. Only in “the
cuttings”, an area of the track out of sight of spectators, was he able to
right himself and complete the race. It was often in the cuttings that jockeys
showed their true ruthlessness, mercilessly whacking at each other with their
riding crops to put each other off. Mr Taylor did pretty well, placing third in
the Bermuda Derby one year and second in another. When he returned to England in
1953, he continued in the sport for another two years, but being a jockey then
didn’t pay very well. For every ride, he earned £5.25; if he won, £7.35. It
was up to the horse’s owner whether the jockey got a cut of the winning purse.
Once Mr Taylor received £25 for placing third in a race at Newmarket. “That
was a lot of money in those days,” he said. “It was to me anyway.” He left
racing and became a milkman; for a time, he also ran a grocery store with his
wife. The couple, who have three children and five grandchildren, are now back
at home but considering returning for Mrs Taylor’s 80th birthday in 2021.
Senators
are expected to debate changes to the national pension scheme today to require
expatriate workers to be enrolled. But the Government will be short a
senator in the wake of the election of Jason Hayward to the House of Assembly. A
PLP spokeswoman said yesterday that David Burt, the Premier, was overseas and
would appoint Mr Hayward’s replacement in the Upper House when he returned.
The main item of businesses for senators will be the National Pension Scheme
(Occupational Pensions) Amendment Act 2019, which was approved by the House of
Assembly last month. The legislation will require non-Bermudian workers to pay
into their occupational pension schemes, along with self-employed workers. It
will also allow employees to take out up to a quarter of their private pensions
as a lump sum on retirement. Also on the agenda is the Internal Audit Amendment
Act 2019, which adds the Internal Audit Committee to the Government authorities
listed in the Government Authorities (Fees) Act.
The
Information Commissioner’s Office has upheld a decision not to release
communications between the Government and the UK about the airport redevelopment
project. Answer Styannes, the acting information commissioner, said the
documents were Pati exempt because they were communicated in confidence by a
state. The ICO decision said on November 28: “There is a significant interest
in furthering the public’s understanding of a substantial investment of public
money in a project such as the airport redevelopment. The acting information
commissioner notes, however, that the Ministry of Finance has disclosed the
entrustment letters dated November 10, 2014, and July 17, 2015, which were
accepted by the Bermuda Government. Furthermore, the acting information
commissioner is of the view that there is a strong public interest in
maintaining states’ expectation of confidence when engaging in free and frank
discussion with another jurisdiction to further its interests.” Ms Styannes
found that the public interest in maintaining the confidence outweighed the
public interest of disclosure. The original Pati application, made by The
Royal Gazette on February 23, 2016, called for records relating to the
redevelopment of the LF Wade International Airport. Documents requested included
the correspondence between the British Government and the Government of Bermuda
on the agreement with the Canadian Commercial Corporation, including its
original approach to the UK. The application was denied in April 2016, but after
an appeal Government released some records of correspondence between the nations
in 2018. The ICO found that the Ministry of Finance had not processed three of
the records and urged the Government to make an initial decision. The Ministry
declined the request in a decision released on February 11 this year. The
applicant subsequently filed for an internal review of the decision and, when
the decision was upheld, sought an independent review. In defence of its
decision, the Ministry of Finance said the records contained confidential
government-to-government communications which the UK Government would expect to
be held in confidence. The Ministry also argued that “considerable
information” had already been released on the project and the disclosure would
give the public no further insight into the decision making and rationale behind
the project. The ICO decision stated: “Records 1, 2, and 3 are correspondence
between the UK and Bermuda Governments discussing the wording of a draft
entrustment letter which was to set out the powers delegated to the Bermuda
Government by the UK Government in relation to the airport redevelopment
project. In these records, the acting Premier provided the Bermuda
Government’s detailed views on the draft and proposed changes for the
consideration of the UK Government.” The decision added: “The outstanding
records were not marked confidential at the time they were sent, nor do they
contain any statement that the information was provided in confidence. However,
formal designation of a record as confidential (or the lack thereof) is not
definitive of whether the record was communicated in confidence.” After a
review, Ms Styannes found that the content and nature of the records, along with
the circumstances of the communications, indicated that the communications were
intended to be kept in confidence. As such, she found that the Government was
right to find against the release of the records. The decision follows one made
by the information commissioner in January to withhold legal advice related to
the island’s multimillion dollar airport redevelopment. In that decision
Gitanjali Gutierrez ruled the Ministry was right to deny disclosure of the legal
opinion on the grounds that it was legal advice and was protected by legal
professional privilege. The Royal Gazette has argued that there was
significant public interest in the release of records about the controversial
$250 million deal.
An
application for the release of further communications between the Bermuda Health
Council and the Chief Medical Officer about two prominent physicians has been
denied. However the Information Commissioner has approved the release of one
record and ordered it be disclosed by January 6. The Royal Gazette had
applied for records of any communications between the BHeC and Cheryl Peek-Ball,
the Chief Medical Officer, about Ewart Brown and Mahesh Reddy between May 19,
2016 and April 11, 2017. A total of nine records were identified, but the
application was originally refused on the basis that the documents were exempt.
BHeC said it found no records referencing one of the two physicians and it
argued the Bermuda Health Council Act 2004 barred the release of any of the
documents. Section 18(1) of that legislation says that members of the council
“shall preserve and aid in preserving confidentiality with regard to all
matters relating to the affairs of the Council or of any person, that may come
to his knowledge in the course of his duties”. In a decision dated November
25, Gitanjali Gutierrez, the Information Commissioner, found that eight of the
nine records fell under the protection of the BHeC Act. But she found that one
of the records did not fall under the umbrella because the information contained
in it is publicly available from another source. BHeC further argued the
disclosure of the documents would undermine its role as a regulator and weaken
its ability to carry out its functions. The Royal Gazette argued that the
documents should be released in the public interest. Ms Gutierrez said: “The
applicant highlighted the context concerning the provision of healthcare in
Bermuda, including rising healthcare costs, the potential over-ordering of
diagnostic tests, the arrest and investigation of a physician and the lawsuit
against the Lahey Clinic in the United States. The applicant urged that the
Health Council, as a regulatory body concerned with healthcare quality, has a
role to play in the investigation, monitoring and regulating the alleged
over-ordering of potentially dangerous medical tests and a duty to disseminate
its findings to the public. The applicant stated that it is very much in the
public interest to know what the Health Council is doing from a regulatory
standpoint in relation to the potential over-ordering of tests.” Ms Gutierrez
found that the release of the record would not hinder the BHeC’s future work.
She also dismissed claims that the record would harm the commercial interests of
the physician or that it fell into the category of information provided to the
BHeC in confidence.
The
Bermuda Business Development Agency failed to complete a review of its decision
to refuse to release documents about Game Theory Ltd within the legislated time
limit. But Gitanjali Gutierrez, the information commissioner, said that the
BDA completed its decision during an ICO review of the delay, so no further
action was needed. On May 2, the BDA received a Pati request for records related
to Game Theory Ltd, a Guernsey-based private company. The company had sought
help to set up shop in Bermuda, but opted not to open an office on the island
after a small story ran in The Royal Gazette’s business section about a
job advert it placed to recruit six local employees as “sports trading
operators”. The decision led Premier David Burt to claim in a parliamentary
speech in February that The Royal Gazette and the One Bermuda Alliance
were to blame. He alleged the newspaper had joined forces with the Opposition to
derail any success in Bermuda’s fledgling fintech industry. The BDA released
an initial decision on the Pati request on July 25, but the applicant requested
an internal review on July 31. Just two days before September 11, the deadline
for a decision, the BDA requested a one-month extension, but on October 8 the
applicant requested an independent review by the ICO. The BDA told the ICO that
the reason for the delay was that it had reached out to third parties, but did
not receive responses in time. The agency argued in the interests of fairness
the BDA was required to consider whether any concerned third party should be
notified of the internal review and given an opportunity to make
representations. But the ICO found the delay in response did not change the
timeline to complete the internal review. Ms Gutierrez said: “The BDA was
correct to point out that it may be in the interest of fairness for a public
authority to notify a third party and invite their submissions at the internal
review stage, even though the Pati Act does not require public authorities to do
so. When it chooses to notify a third party at that stage, however, the public
authority is still required to issue an internal review decision within the six
week time frame set out in the Pati Act.” Ms Gutierrez added that if the BDA
did not received submissions from the third party in time, it should continue to
process the request and make a decision based on the information available. She
added: “If the internal review decision was to withhold the third party’s
personal information and the requester is not satisfied, they have the right to
apply for an independent review by the Information Commissioner.”
An
acting principal has been appointed at Clearwater Middle School. Lisa Swan,
the former principal of Heron Bay Primary School, will assume the role on
January 1, after the retirement of Garita Coddington. Ms Swan was principal of
Heron Bay from 2015 to 2017, before becoming Assistant Director of Student
Services for the Department of Education. She also served as deputy principal at
Francis Patton Primary School for a year from 2014. She previously worked as a
special-education teacher, school psychologist and assistant principal in the
United States.
A
panel of independent guardians to represent children in court has been set up,
but it does not include a social worker who has been a litigation guardian and
campaigner for children’s rights since 2014. Kathy Lynn Simmons, the
Attorney-General and the minister responsible for the Department of Child and
Family Services, announced yesterday that a panel of five “qualified,
certified and experienced social workers” had been established. Ms Simmons
added: “The number of persons on the panel may increase, in due course, based
on resource and service requirements.” The announcement came after it was
revealed that Tiffanne Thomas had been excluded at a sitting of the Supreme
Court last month. Ms Thomas was in court to make an application to withdraw her
services as a litigation guardian, because she has not been paid for her work
for children involved in legal proceedings. Mark Diel, who represented Ms
Thomas, said her exclusion from the panel was “incomprehensible”. Mr Diel
said: “This means, going forward, that children are being deprived of the most
experienced person to serve in that role.” Ms Simmons did not respond to a
request for a list of panel members. Mr Diel said he would write to Ms Simmons
to ask about the absence of Ms Thomas from the panel and warned he “may have
to issue proceedings for judicial review”. He added: “She is arguably the
most experienced person, in that field, on the island. Justice [Nicole] Stoneham
was at pains to state how pleased she was with the work Tiffanne has provided
the courts. Quite why the minister has seen fit not to include this person,
simply because the Government have not paid her for a number of years, is not
clear.” The existence of the panel came up during a hearing on November 22,
before Justice Stoneham, when the court ordered that Ms Thomas should be granted
costs of $60 per hour for her time in the courts. Mr Diel said the order would
be set off against Ms Thomas’s claim for fees “in due course”. He added:
“During the hearing, we were informed by counsel for the Attorney-General,
that there is a panel of litigation guardians. We have not seen it and do not
know who it comprises. So there is the question of how the court is supposed to
select a litigation guardian when there might be an issue of conflict — not
least it appears that Tiffanne Thomas is not on the list.” Mr Diel said, under
the panel scheme, the courts would be given a list of approved litigation
guardians to select from when one was needed. The fight to secure formal legal
representation for children in court dates back to a legal challenge in
September 2017 brought by the Human Rights Commission against the Government.
Last night, Martha Dismont, the executive director at the Family Centre, said
that the charity had met last year with the Attorney-General’s office, and
representatives from the Department of Child and Family Services, and agreed to
collaborate on the creation of a panel of litigation guardians. Ms Dismont said:
“It was agreed in that meeting that charities would be able to work with DCFS
to come up with not only the panel, but the criteria for establishing it. We
would like to see the panel and ensure that it is made of individuals who are
independent from the Government. We have yet to be involved in that process.”
A
legal battle between a construction firm owned by a government minister and his
niece and her mother, his ex-sister-in-law will be fought out in the Court of
Appeal. But Island Construction, owned by Zane DeSilva, the current Minister
of Tourism and Transport, has been ordered to pay $70,000 into an escrow account
pending the result of an appeal. Island Construction was earlier this year found
by an Employment Tribunal to have wrongfully dismissed Barbara Phillips, Mr
DeSilva’s sister-in-law, and Rebecca Phillips, her daughter, over allegations
of theft and dishonesty. Supreme Court Puisne Judge Shade Subair Williams upheld
the tribunal’s ruling on July 29, but the construction firm appealed the
decision, and asked for the $70,000 award to be stayed until after the case was
heard by the Court of Appeal. Mrs Justice Subair Williams upheld the application
in a judgment dated November 15. The judge said: “I accept Mark Pettingill’s
classification of the $70,000 award as ‘significant’ even for a solvent and
financially able litigant such as the appellants. I have given careful thought
to the merits of the appeal grounds filed, which I consider to be minimal but
just short of unarguable. These points must be measured against the
respondents’ current financial resources.” Mrs Justice Subair Williams said
Barbara Phillips was unemployed and Rebecca Phillips received a “modest”
salary. The judge added: “While respondents’ fiscal limitations may invoke
sympathy for the prolonged non-payment of the award, it also opens them up to my
real concern, that they may likely spend the fruits of the award without finding
themselves able to reimburse the appellants on the not-so-foreseeable chance
that judgment is reversed on appeal. For these reasons, I grant the
appellant’s application to stay execution of the judgment, on the condition
that the judgment sum should be paid in escrow into a client trust account, held
by Chancery Legal, within 21 days from the date of this ruling.” She ordered
that, if the appeal was dismissed, the cash should be paid to the Phillips
within seven days of the appeal court judgment or by April 30 next year,
whichever was sooner. Island Construction fired the pair on April 27 last year
for serious misconduct. The company alleged Rebecca Phillips stole gas and was
paid money for hours she had not worked. Barbara Phillips was claimed to have
acted dishonestly. The mother and daughter went to an employment tribunal on the
grounds of wrongful dismissal. The tribunal ruled that they were wrongfully
dismissed at a hearing on December 4 last year. In the Supreme Court, Mr DeSilva
and Island Construction argued in an appeal they were deprived of a fair
hearing, but their appeal was dismissed.
A
man denied robbery and drug possession charges yesterday. Gerald Green, 42,
pleaded not guilty in Magistrates’ Court to the theft of a gold chain and
pendant worth more than $2,800 from Ronald Trott on July 11 in Pembroke. Mr
Green also pleaded not guilty to the possession of diamorphine on July 27 in
Pembroke. Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe released Mr Green, from St George’s,
on $4,000 bail and ordered him to have no contact with Mr Trott. He adjourned
the case until December 19. The court also heard that Mr Green had a total of
$2,190 in unpaid traffic fines. Mr Wolffe ordered him to pay a $340 speeding
fine by January 7 next year and a $350 fine for riding an unlicensed motorbike
by January 31. He also ordered Mr Green to pay a $1,500 fine for driving without
insurance by April 30 next year.
Technology
has brought huge changes to the construction industry over the last
quarter-century, but some elements have remained unaltered over time, according
to Greymane Contracting Ltd president Alex DeCouto. The company celebrated
25 years in business in November, inviting clients and industry partners to a
bash at Azura, Greymane’s ongoing three-phase project on the site of the
former Surf Side Beach Club on South Road, Warwick. While processes have changed
since Greymane was founded by Tomas Smith in 1994, and some personnel needs have
disappeared, a lot has stayed the same, says Mr DeCouto, 43, who took over the
business ten years ago. “A guy still mixes mortar in a concrete mixer, an
electrician still cuts wire with a pair of pliers, and we still drive trucks to
haul away dirt. But technology in the workplace? We have been affected by it
just like every other workplace. We don’t have a receptionist any more, there
is no one to type my letters, and there is a constant fire hose of information
coming at you all the time. On the good side, that information can help the
business, and make it easier to do your job. Take our job at the airport, we
don’t produce printed drawings any more. We use iPads, or phones. Our drawing
package of 1,000 drawings ‘lives in the cloud’. Our architect might be in
Toronto, and our engineer might be in New York, and changes are made live. The
guy on the job site has access to those changes right there. That requires new
skills, and technology, more hardware. We do a lot of things the same, but we
have improved information, and that has sped up things, and it means that our
quality levels, and our finished product, can be higher now than it used to
be.” Greymane, which is 100 per cent Bermudian-owned, started out in the
drywall business. Evolving to meet the changing needs of the local construction
market, the company’s offerings now include general contracting for
large-scale commercial and residential projects, and a builders’ supply
business that provides materials to the local industry via partnerships with
overseas manufacturers such as Armstrong and 3M. The company has 55 full-time
staff, including 12 people at the management level, while there can be
“hundreds of people” working on Greymane projects at a given time, Mr
DeCouto says. He added: “We are management-heavy compared to some companies.
We are not a ‘man in the van’ type of outfit. We have five or six guys who
have been to university working for us. We have hired a largely local management
staff, and have empowered them to join the leadership team with me so that we
can grow and evolve the company. It’s an exciting time for us.” Most of
Greymane’s clients, Mr DeCouto said, are other businesses, including
developers, hotels and commercial tenants. Aside from the Azura development, the
company’s current major projects include a subcontract at the airport for
Aecon and Skyport, and the renovation of Hiscox Bermuda’s new corporate office
space. The company has a well-deserved reputation for top-class commercial
interiors work, having worked on jobs including the newly-renovated PartnerRe
office space designed by CTX, and the award-winning Hamilton Re headquarters
designed by L&S Design Ltd. Commercial clients understandably have high
expectations, Mr DeCouto said, and so Greymane staff must have the skill sets to
deliver those projects. A graduate of Mount Saint Agnes Academy, Mr DeCouto
later earned a diploma in the three-year construction management programme at
George Brown College in Toronto and a construction-specific master’s degree in
business administration from the University of Reading in England. He said:
“The MBA was eye-opening, it created that thirst and curiosity for bigger and
better things, like running a company.” Mr DeCouto, recipient of a $1,500
scholarship from the Construction Association of Bermuda in 1998, is a big
supporter of the industry group’s annual educational offering, which has now
increased to become a $15,000 stipend. Greymane’s project manager, Malachi
Astwood, is another former recipient of the scholarship while 2019 summer
student, Patrick Gibbons, is the current recipient. A number of Greymane
employees got their first taste of the industry during the company’s summer
internship programme. There are a wide range of career opportunities in the
local construction industry, Mr DeCouto said, including working as an engineer,
architect, designer, quantity surveyor, building surveyor, in real estate
building valuation, or in construction management. “There is a whole world of
opportunity in construction, whether it’s as a white-collar worker or
blue-collar worker,” he says. “Blue-collar work can be just as lucrative for
a seasoned, trained and certified tradesperson.” A decade after taking over
Greymane, Mr DeCouto said the company’s ability to adapt to fluctuations in
the economy have allowed it to survive some difficult years in the industry.
“The last ten years have been a bit of a roller-coaster,” he says, “but in
the last two years, we have poked our head above water. Having a growth mindset
that looks for opportunities, believes there are opportunities, and goes out and
finds them or creates them, there really is something to that as opposed to the
opposite, where a person lets pessimism rule. I have resolved to have a positive
outlook, and find or create opportunities if they aren’t there.” Mr DeCouto
said the company’s future is “tied to the success of Bermuda over the next
while”. He added: “People invest in construction because they’re confident
where Bermuda is going. So, if Bermuda can maintain its success, there will be
opportunities.” The company marked its 25th anniversary with the launch of a
new Greymane brand, designed by local firm Strata-G. The tagline, “Building
Inspiration”, speaks to the team’s desire to bring their clients’ visions
to life through creativity and innovation, the company said. The new brand,
Strata-G explained, has an energetic, vibrant feel and puts Greymane’s
clients, and their success stories, at the heart of its communications. “It
was time,” Mr DeCouto said. “We wanted to be topical, in the forefront of
people’s minds, popping up on their social media feeds, so that if people make
a critical buying decision later, we have got a coherent message pulled
together. It’s why we rebranded.”
Outside
help has been hired to examine a controversial quarry plan, the Government has
announced. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Home Affairs said that an
“independent inspector has been recruited to review the application as well as
the appeal” for the proposal for an area of land on Judkin Lane, in Hamilton
Parish. But she added: “We can categorically state that the process has been
fair according to the legislative requirements.” The Development Applications
Board gave planning permission for one year for quarrying at the site in
October. The quarrying application for the property, owned by Nelson Cordeiro,
was made by quarry operator Shawn Perott. But conservation groups said the
Government had forced through the application for the site, which is near
Mangrove Lake, a nature reserve. A spokeswoman for the Bermuda National Trust
confirmed last week that the group had appealed the go-ahead for quarrying. The
spokeswoman claimed that the application “was not advertised as normal, nor
were the details clear, meaning that many of the neighbours and other concerned
conservation bodies were denied their right to provide input”. The appeal has
been backed by the Bermuda Audubon Society. Karen Border, the president of the
BAS, said in a letter to The Royal Gazette, that there was “a clear failure in
the handling of the quarry application”. She said that the planning
application for the quarry had been published in the Official Gazette on
Wednesday, October 9, and not on Friday as was done normally. Ms Border added
that the quarry application was also not included in the list published on
October 11 of applications registered between October 3 and October 10. But the
spokeswoman said there was “no legislative requirement to gazette the
advertisement every Friday”. She added: “Prior to the implementation of the
online Gazette managed by the Government, past practice was for planning
applications to be advertised on a Friday in a local newspaper. While
advertisements could be gazetted on other days, it incurred an additional cost.
The new e-Gazette now allows advertisements to be posted on any day, Monday
through Friday, free of charge. All other statutory requirements remain to be
followed.” The spokeswoman said that Walter Roban, the home affairs minister,
had outlined plans to streamline the planning process earlier this year. She
added: “The e-Gazette is one such example.” Mr Roban said at a press
conference last week [Thursday] that he was not prepared to comment on the
complaints about the Judkin Lane plan. He added: “As would be publicly known,
that application is the subject of an appeal.” Mr Roban said that all the
processes that involved development were a matter of public record. He added:
“Anyone can go and see the whole process. The file is open to those who wish
to view it. There’s no secret as to the process around these sort of
applications.”
A
panel has been established for the selection of litigation guardians to
represent children in court, according to Kathy Lynn Simmons, the
Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs. Ms Simmons said this
afternoon that the panel consisted of “five persons who are qualified,
certified and experienced social workers”. She added: “The number of persons
on the panel may increase in due course based on resource and service
requirements.” Ms Simmons said: “As the Minister responsible for child and
family services, I am pleased to be the first minister to establish a panel of
persons to serve in this capacity. The Chief Justice has been advised
accordingly and the Court can now effectively select a litigation guardian from
the panel unless it is satisfied that it is not necessary to do so in order to
safeguard the child’s interests.” She said the ministry would monitor the
effectiveness of the scheme while “advancing a fiscally sustainable and
independent model in keeping with best practice in this area”.
In
a recent request via media, Minister Wayne Furbert asked the public to sign up
to be on Government Boards. The Women’s Resource Centre recently drew the
below stats to the Minister’s attention, and would like to draw to the
attention of the Public the below stats as well, from 2018. 2018 Summary, of 104
Boards listed:
The stats are not 100% accurate in that some boards list an unnamed ex-officio member from the relevant Government Ministry or other body. Also, the board listings also include Parish Councils but ‘the point’ is that there is prevailing gender disparity especially in board leadership and a demonstrated and prevailing opportunity for improvement. The Women’s Resource Centre says: We have proposed to the Minister that this is an issue that can be easily remedied. We encouraged the Minister to advance with his colleagues to annually prescribe and encourage gender parity to board appointments, particularly relating to board leadership; that during selection, the Government and population as a whole would be reminded of the importance of this representation, and that this could easily be advanced as a Government Policy. Additionally, it would be admirable if, as in many parts of Europe, this Government might also consider applying parameters for gender parity on private Company boards. Again, it could be a Policy in the first instance, not necessarily legislated unless the former isn’t willingly achieved. It would be easy to track and as companies must currently declare the percentage of Bermudians (ownership and directors), the percentage of females on their boards could also be a required reporting. The Minister’s response was favorable with a response to encourage women to apply. So this is a Clarion Call to all the women of Bermuda to please apply to Government Boards. Let us collectively contribute toward our outcome as women, so that we have a voice in the decision-making process of our community that is more reflective of all of our interests. For further information about the Women’s Resource Centre please visit our Facebook page at Women’s Resource Centre Bermuda at 295-3882.
International
co-operation on tax transparency has identified about $113 billion in additional
tax revenues over the past decade, says the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development. A report on the tenth anniversary of the
founding of the OECD’s Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of
Information for Tax Purposes also credited the group’s work with a 24 per cent
decrease in non-resident bank deposits in international financial centres.
Working through the forum, 158 member jurisdictions including Bermuda, have put
in place thousands of bilateral information exchange relationships, enabling
250,000 information exchange requests over the past ten years. Automatic
exchange of information, which began in 2017, accelerated the trend. The report
stated that in 2018 nearly 100 member jurisdictions automatically exchanged
information on 47 million financial accounts, covering total assets of $4.9
trillion. “The Global Forum has been a game-changer,” OECD Secretary-General
Angel Gurría said. “Thanks to international co-operation, tax authorities now
have access to a huge trove of information that was previously beyond reach. Tax
authorities are talking to each other and taxpayers are starting to understand
that there’s nowhere left to hide. The benefits to the tax system’s fairness
are enormous.” The OECD said that almost all Global Forum members had
eliminated bank secrecy for tax purposes, with nearly 70 jurisdictions changing
their laws since 2009. Almost all members either forbid bearer shares —
previously a longstanding impediment to tax compliance efforts — or ensure
that the owners can be identified. Since 2017, members have also had to ensure
transparency of the beneficial owners of legal entities, so these cannot be used
to conceal ownership and evade tax. Looking ahead, the report states: “While
the results achieved are impressive, more needs to be done to ensure that tax
scandals of the scale seen in the past are not repeated. Tax evaders remain keen
to exploit any new loophole or weakness in the legal and regulatory frameworks
across the world. International co-operation should remain strong to address the
remaining gaps in the system and pre-empt new tax evasion and avoidance
strategies.” To that end, the Global Forum intends to continue its peer review
process to ensure the effectiveness of exchange of information and to strengthen
regulatory frameworks and practices in developing countries. Bermuda has been a
proactive participant in the Global Forum, since having been elected as
vice-chairman of the organisation’s steering group in 2009. In 2011, when
Paula Cox was the finance minister, the island also hosted a meeting of the
Global Forum, which attracted 227 delegates from 85 countries.
The
Airport Charity Classic organized by Skyport, Aecon & Bermuda Airport
Authority raised more than $30,000 for two local charities in its second year.
The event was held on October 10 at Tucker’s Point Golf Club with all proceeds
going to Tomorrow’s Voices and SCARS (Saving Children and Revealing Secrets).
Twenty-eight teams registered to play with more than 100 golfers taking to the
course. Aaron Adderley, President, Skyport, says: “SCARS and Tomorrow’s
Voices were both chosen for the amazing work they do for Bermuda’s young
people. We believe in supporting the education and development of children by
investing in programmes that leave a lasting impact on their lives and these two
organizations were a great fit. On behalf of Skyport, Aecon and the Airport
Authority, I would like to thank all of our sponsors and partners who made the
second Airport Charity Classic a successful event.” Thanks to sponsors and
partners, The Airport Charity Classic raised $30,310 for charity in its second
year, exceeding the $30,000 mark yet again, following donations to Big Brothers
Big Sisters and Mirrors during the inaugural event last year. Many of the
sponsors included subcontractors who are presently working on the site of the
airport redevelopment project. Debi Ray-Rivers, Director, SCARS, says: “On
behalf of SCARS, we are beyond grateful to have been chosen as one of the
recipients of the Airport Charity Classic fundraiser. This very generous
donation absolutely makes a huge difference for us. These funds allow us to
continue providing prevention education and awareness to reduce the risk of
child sexual abuse in our community. It also provides SCARS an opportunity to
continue to advocate and be a voice for children who have been sexually abused
as well as their affected family. SCARS does not charge attendees for any of our
prevention programs and we hope that we never have to. With donations like this,
a significant economic barrier is removed; thereby giving all adults in Bermuda
the opportunity to become educated by participating in our programs, and for
that, we say thank you to Skyport, Aecon, the Airport Authority and all those
responsible for raising these funds.” Stacy Hill, Funding and Development
Officer, Tomorrow’s Voices, says: “Tomorrow’s Voices- Bermuda Autism Early
Intervention Centre would like to thank Skyport, Aecon and the Airport Authority
for choosing our charity as one of the recipients of The Airport Charity
Classic. It is because of donations like this that we are able to continue to
provide our in-house one-on-one programme, our social skills programme, our
summer camp programme, our in-home and school consulting and provide educators,
health professionals, parents and the Bermuda community with trainings to
support those touched by autism. Again, thank you to Skyport, Aecon and the
Airport Authority for your generous donation which will positively impact the
life of a child with autism.” Sponsors for the event included Aecon, Apex
Industries, Argo Engineering, Benson Steel, BEST Shipping, BCM McAlpine, Burrows
Lightbourne Ltd Cedar Aviation, Correia Construction, Current Vehicles, Daco
Worldwide, Delta Airlines, D&J Excavation, Dolphin Glass, Eventscape,
Fairmont Southampton, Fish Construction, FOURSITE – GREYMANE JOINT VENTURE,
Freisenbruch Meyer, Grotto Bay Beach Resort, Hamilton Princess, HTS, iHope
Global, Kaissa, Lili Bermuda, Link Bermuda, Marsh, Menzies, Noesis, NORR, Palgag
Construction, RA Murray, Scott Associates, Stantec, The St. George’s Club,
Rosewood Bermuda, Thermoset Roofing and Update Group.
The
Bermuda Industrial Union has launched legal action against a sports club over
unpaid debts from up to 18 years ago. A writ, filed by the law firm Trott
and Duncan on October 2, referenced two promissory notes between the BIU and the
Pembroke Hamilton Club, one dated March 26, 2001 and the second on April 15,
2003. The writ also referenced a collateral mortgage dated April 23, 2003.
Michael Trott, the PHC president, confirmed the legal action yesterday. He
declined further comment and said: “The process is ongoing.” Chris Furbert,
the BIU president and a former PHC president, did not respond to a request for
comment. The case is understood to be linked to a $1.2 million loan made by the
union to the club in 2001 to pay for a new lighting system and the resurfacing
of the playing field at the club’s Stadium Lane, Warwick grounds. The loan was
to be repaid over a 17-year period through rental income from PHC’s two-storey
building on Reid Street in Hamilton. But it was reported in 2014 that the club
had yet to pay the principal on the loan and the union had threatened to seek
ownership of the Reid Street building. The PHC management made out several
proposals in 2012 aimed at raising revenue to improve the club’s financial
standing and pay off outstanding debt. Among the proposals was the sale of the
Reid Street building, which was rejected by influential club members.
Butterfield
Bank’s board of directors has approved a new $125 million share repurchase
programme. The programme, which was announced in a filing with the Bermuda
Stock Exchange, will enable the bank to buy back up to 3.5 million of its own
common shares through February 28, 2021. Michael Collins, Butterfield’s
chairman and chief executive officer said: “Having the flexibility to
repurchase shares is an important aspect of our capital management strategy,
complementing our quarterly cash dividend payments and maintaining the ability
to support organic growth and make strategic acquisitions in our core markets.
“We see significant value in repurchasing Butterfield shares and appreciate
the confidence and support of the board with this new authorization.” The
timing and amount of any share repurchases will be determined by bank management
based on its evaluation of market conditions and other factors that include
Butterfield’s share price and the availability of alternative capital
investments. Repurchases under the new share repurchase programme may be made in
the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. The new programme
will come into effect following the completion of the existing 2.5 million share
repurchase authorization that was announced on December 6, 2018, which currently
has approximately 225,000 shares remaining. Butterfield also said that during
November it spent around $12.9 million buying back 383,600 of its own shares at
an average price of $33.79 per share.
A
family business that has been part of the island’s real estate scene for 40
years has changed its name as it moves forward through its second and third
generation. Shrubb Realty is the new name of Roderick DeCouto Real Estate,
which moved from its long-time home on Reid Street to nearby Chancery Lane two
years ago. Judy Shrubb, daughter of the late Mr DeCouto, is president of the
company. She and her husband, Peter Shrubb, have owned and managed the business
for the past 20 years. A third generation of the family are also part of the
team; the couple’s children Matt Shrubb and Kristen Ahmed are both agents. Mrs
Shrubb and her son, Matt, explained the changes that have been transforming the
business, starting with the change of the company’s name. “My children keep
me on my toes and finally convinced me that even answering the telephone with
such a long business name sent people to sleep,” said Mrs Shrubb. Her son
added: “Every thing nowadays has become a bit simpler and cleaner, that’s
the model of the modern world. Roderick DeCouto Real Estate was long in the
tooth — just answering the phone or writing e-mails. And there were still
people calling for or looking for Roderick DeCouto. There were a lot of
different factors to push forward with the new name. It keeps things concise,
simple and also keeps the family heritage.” The name has changed, but the
company has retained its distinctive Bermudian roof logo design. Moving with the
times has also meant a new-look website, featuring easier to navigate pages and
listings, map and street-view options to help clients locate properties, and the
introduction of QR codes. The matrix bar codes also appear on agents’ business
cards and on property detail handouts. Mrs Shrubb’s son has a background in
mechanical engineering and an interest and familiarity with computer coding. He
played a role in the website redesign and other technology improvements. He said
the QR codes “allow easy access to information about a listing, and a single
button method for a client to add an agent’s information to their contacts”.
Mr Shrubb added: “A client can scan with a phone camera and add all their
agent’s details. On handouts you scan the code to pull up the webpage with all
the information. I find transparency is such a big thing in the world these
days. We like to offer full transparency, so we have estimators of what the
closing costs are likely to be, what you can afford. We try to get as much
information to our clients, so we’ve made that a big feature of our new
site.” It is a big change from how things were in 2000 when Mrs Shrubb became
an owner of the business. Back then, there was no website and e-mails were a
rarity, while the advertising of properties was primarily through the pages of The
Royal Gazette and in the large window display at the company’s office. Mrs
Shrubb said: “It was also very much a face-to-face way of doing business. Now
it tends to be more arms-length until you get to the crucial point where you
have people interested to go and view. As I am beginning to understand and
learn, a lot of the younger people like to shop online, stay at home and do it
on their computer on a Saturday night or Sunday morning with their coffee in
front of them. Today, it’s all about facts, they want to know where it is,
what’s the cost, give me the facts. That’s what people are comfortable
with.” The other members of the Shrubb Realty team are Jeff Payne, Barbara
Willis, Linda Tailford and Diana Heslop. When asked what differentiates Shrubb
Realty from other real estate businesses, Mrs Shrubb pointed to the experience
of the team. She is a member of the Chamber of Commerce’s real estate
division, and a past chairwoman. She added: “I was taught by one of the
veterans, and one of the earlier realtors to establish themselves. And having
owned and run his company for 20 years, from my point of view, we do have the
experience.” Her son said being a smaller firm means Shrubb Realty is more
cohesive with strong communication between agents. He said: “Some of the
larger firms wait for the Wednesday morning debrief to talk about things, but
since we are closer knit we are constantly talking about things as they come up
and getting a better lead on things.” Mr Shrubb said the team members bring a
variety of perspectives and backgrounds to the process, which helps clients. As
an example, he mentioned his sister’s background in interior design, which can
add insight for a client viewing a property. While his own mechanical
engineering background and exposure to architecture and interior design, also
comes in useful when advising clients. “I’ll go down to the pump room and
I’ll love it, then I’ll see a beam and love it,” he said. “I’ve always
loved the looking at houses part, and the design part. When we are looking at
places, I can give clients a bit more in depth insight. Like, when we look in a
pump room and I see galvanized or I see PVC in there — I can tell them
that’s all looking good and they don’t need to worry about that. It helps
give them a different insight.” Mrs Shrubb said one reason she has stayed in
the business for 20 years is that she is a people person who enjoys meeting,
understanding and helping clients. And regarding the company’s office on
Chancery Lane, where it has been for the past two years, she said: “We think
this a really welcoming space where they can come in and have a chat, have a
coffee, and get some ideas.” Shrubb Realty has a website at
shrubbrealty.com.
Sylvia
Shorto joined the Lifelong Learning Centre as its director 11 days ago. She’s
likely still figuring out how the coffee pot works. But when the dust settles,
she has some plans. High on the list is eliminating “concepts of ageism”
from the Bermuda College programme that offers enrichment courses to people aged
55 and older. Dr Shorto believes that as people get older they become privy
to some of life’s “well-kept” secrets. “You cease to be afraid of
death,” she said. “When you are young you are made anxious by the fact that
eventually you will die. When you become older, you know of course you will die,
so you take advantage of every second that you have got.” Getting older also
works against you, said Dr Shorto who refused to give her own age. She believes
people often make blanket assumptions — such as whether you are capable of
doing a part-time job. “You are able to continue as long as you feel you are
able to continue and able to contribute,” she said. Born in a military family,
she lived all over the world as a child. On her 19th birthday she came to
Bermuda to visit her aunt, Frances Frith. She intended to stay for six months
but, at a wedding, met Gavin Shorto. They married and had a son, Hamish.
“Focus began to come to me in my mid-30s,” she said. “Once you have become
focused, you are more and more able to take a path that suits you, and see the
path that you are on, then continue to pursue what you find valuable and
important.” Furniture, and by extension, architecture were her focal points.
As a child she’d loved watching her grandfather doing woodwork. “He would
sit at the kitchen table with his fret saw and cut things out,” she said.
“My grandmother used to be bustling around with a dustpan and brush cleaning
up the sawdust.” In boarding school in Devon, England, she took lessons with a
group of younger boys. “There was a substitute teacher who cut one of his
fingers off on a band saw. I had to deal with it because, at 16, I was the
oldest in the room.” Next came a class in furniture making, but her appetite
for power tools was soured. “I suspect that led to a greater interest in hand
tools and how things were made by hand before the invention of power tools,”
Dr Shorto said. In Bermuda, she took a class in furniture restoration. “I am
very interested in how objects reveal history,” said Dr Shorto. “You just
have to interrogate them and look at them closely and try and figure out what is
going on with them, what their function was. You can do this with furniture and
paintings, and anything man-made.” Her interest led her to a bachelor’s
degree in art history from the University of Toronto, then a master’s and a
PhD from New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts. She wrote her doctoral
dissertation based on a study of five homes in 19th-century Delhi, India. Her
research took her in and out of the South Asian country for more than a year in
the 1990s. “I was physically nervous of it to begin with,” said Dr Shorto,
the author of Bermuda: Gardens and Houses and British Houses in Late Mughal
Delhi and several other books and scholarly articles. “I didn’t know what to
expect. India then was very shabby and it was hard to distinguish what was
shabby and dangerous and what was shabby and perfectly safe. It was a question
of adjustment. I went on a fellowship from an organisation called the American
Institute of Indian Studies. They had a guesthouse, so I had booked a room
there. The first thing that happened was I met a mongoose in the garden. I
thought, ‘How lovely. It has whiskers.’” As the mongoose is known for
killing poisonous snakes she worried that there might be a cobra in the garden.
But she grew to love India. Research grants such as the National Endowment for
the Arts Award for curatorial studies and the Acheson Wallace Fellowship helped
her studies. After getting her PhD, she taught in the art and design school at
the American University of Beirut. “It was wonderful,” she said. “It was
never a negative experience. Beirut was sophisticated. It was like most places
that have a great deal of history. It was many, many things all bunched
together. Because of the political history of Beirut, it has tensions and
conflicts, but somehow people manage to find a way to balance things together
and live together in relative unity.” It also helped to extend her view of
history. “I had been to Rome and Athens, but when you go to the Middle East,
you go back 3,000 to 4,000 more years to visible material culture,” she said.
“You can look back into Iron Age settlements and see excavations that take you
back 7,000 years BC.” While there she also volunteered with a programme
similar to the one offered by the LLC. “One year I took undergraduate students
and senior students to Spain,” she said. “They had a great time together.
The older people went clubbing with the young ones. The undergraduates were
mindful of the seniors and helpful. It was wonderful. We started in southern
Spain and went up to Toledo.” Two years ago, she left the job and returned to
the home she and her husband share in St George’s. “The first little while I
was back was spent really getting to know St George’s,” she said.
“Although I was always home for at least four months of every year —
sometimes for years off when I had research grants — it was necessary to
relearn the place. When you go away for a long period of time and come back
sporadically, you think it is the same but don’t have time to really catch up.
I was assuming Bermuda hadn’t changed, but, of course, Bermuda had changed
enormously over the years. I think I see that people are becoming better and
better informed all the time. Bermuda is becoming less isolated because of the
internet.” Lifestyle profiles the island’s senior citizens every Tuesday.
Contact Jessie Moniz Hardy on 278-0150 with full name, contact details and the reason you are suggesting them.
Under-fire
the Duke of York, of Britain's Royal Family, has quit as patron of a charity set
up to raise funds for the preservation of the historic St Peter’s Church in St
George’s. Buckingham Palace said the Prince Andrew has stepped down as
patron of more than 200 charities — including St Peter’s — over sex
allegations. The Duke, who was removed from public duties last month, is still
listed as the patron for the Friends of St Peter’s, dedicated to the
preservation and promotion of the church. The Royal Gazette asked Erskin
Simmons, chairman of the charity, if the Duke remained as patron, but he did not
respond. Buckingham Palace announced last month that the Duke would step down
from all 230 of his patronages over allegations that he had sex with a teenage
girl. The Duke has come under scrutiny in recent years over his friendship with
Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender and wealthy financier. Virginia
Roberts Giuffre alleged in a 2015 court filing that she was paid $10,000 by
Epstein to have sex with the Prince when she was 17. The accusations resurfaced
this year when Epstein was arrested on federal charges for the sex trafficking
of minors in Florida and New York. Epstein died in his prison cell on August 10
of what a medical examiner ruled to be suicide. Ms Giuffre maintained her claims
last night in an interview with the BBC programme Panorama. She called
the response by the royal’s to her allegations “BS”. Ms Giuffre said
of the Duke: “He knows what happened. I know what happened, and there’s only
one of us telling the truth, and I know that’s me.” The Duke discussed his
friendship with Epstein and the accusations against him in an interview with
flagship BBC news magazine Newsweek on November 16. He denied the allegations
and said he had “no memory” of a photograph taken with him and Ms Guiffre.
The interview was branded a public relations disaster by the British media.
Prince Andrew resigned as chancellor of the University of Huddersfield after
students lobbied for his removal in the wake of the scandal. He also stepped
away as patron of the Outward Bound Trust, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and
London Metropolitan University among other organisations.
Tim Hodgson, a former Editor
of the Mid-Ocean News and Editorial Consultant for The Royal Gazette,
has died. He was 57. Colleagues and friends said Mr Hodgson, who started his
career in journalism aged just 15, was an unparalleled reporter whose output
left an enduring mark on Bermuda. Bill Zuill, a former Editor of the Gazette ,
said Mr Hodgson took to the trade as a youngster with “stunning ease” and
produced some of the island’s best investigative journalism over the past 25
years from his position at the helm of the weekly Mid-Ocean News . Mr
Zuill said Mr Hodgson was “brilliant and iconoclastic” with an insatiable
curiosity. He added: “These were the hallmarks of a great journalist and an
even better human being.” Gavin Shorto, also a former Editor at the Mid-Ocean
who worked at the Gazette when Mr Hodgson joined the weekly, said: “You
don’t expect much from a schoolboy, but Tim was different. He was working more
or less as a senior reporter very quickly, and certainly before he left
school.” Mr Shorto added: “Tim was thoroughly intelligent, wrote extremely
well and carried a small library’s worth of general knowledge around in his
head. Although this changed later in his life, he loved what he was doing — he
came into the office with a smile on his face, almost rubbing his hands at the
thought of being able to find and write about something that would surprise and
shock Bermudians.” Both former editors agreed that Mr Hodgson seemed destined
to ply his trade on the world stage, but he remained committed to Bermuda. Mr
Shorto added the Mid-Ocean’s output in the 1990s rose to “amazing
journalism when the Progressive Labour Party first came into power”. He said:
“If the paper had been eligible for Pulitzer Prizes, they’d have won a bunch
of them. But Tim was too self-effacing ever to have thrown his hat in that kind
of ring.” Mr Shorto said Mr Hodgson was a “larger-than-life, Falstaffian
character, though without always showing the jolly side that word suggests.
Here, he certainly challenged the parameters of our journalism. Tim Hodgson was
a large and complex man, but make no mistake, he was extraordinary. Bermuda is
much the poorer for his passing.” Mr Hodgson was taken on as an intern by
Charles Barclay, then the Editor of the Mid-Ocean News, after he won the The
Royal Gazette’s Christmas Short Story Contest while still at Saltus
Grammar School. He wrote for the Mid-Ocean News as a teenager on holiday
from Stowe School in England, where he continued his education after leaving
Saltus. Mr Hodgson later attended the University of Toronto, graduated in 1984
with a Bachelor of Arts degree and joined the Gazette full time, rising
to the position of sub-editor. He succeeded Amanda Outerbridge as Editor of the Mid-Ocean
News in 1989 — a role he held until the weekly newspaper ceased
publication in 2009. Mr Hodgson later freelanced online for Bermudian and
overseas publications before he returned to the Gazette in July 2013 as
Editorial Consultant. He ran the Gazette newsroom until the appointment
of Dexter Smith as Editor in June 2015, but remained as Editorial Consultant
until he left the company in May 2018. Mr Hodgson’s range of interests
included books, music, film and Bermuda history, and he often posted historical
pieces on social media. Mr Smith last night paid tribute to “one of the great
literary minds of our time. It was an honour to work alongside Tim — first
during my spell at the Mid-Ocean between 1994 and 2000, and subsequently
on my return to the island at the end of 2013 for a briefer period. He was a
fount of knowledge, his recall of Bermuda history unparalleled. Such a treasure
will be very difficult, if not impossible, to replace.” Ms Outerbridge said Mr
Hodgson had “outstanding” research and writing skills. She added: “Once he
had a topic in his sights, he focused intently and left no stone unturned.” Ms
Outerbridge said Mr Hodgson wrote for the Mid-Ocean while she was Editor
and that “we could depend on him to come up with meaningful and substantial
articles with depth”. She added: “He was intellectually curious, knew a
tremendous amount about many topics, ranging from the Hollywood movie industry
to Bermuda history and politics, and he cared deeply about Bermuda.” Ivan
Clifford, Assistant Editor for 20 years under Mr Hodgson at the weekly, said:
“Tim was the fifth Editor of the Mid-Ocean News I worked under. He was
a highly intelligent man and a wonderful writer who spent almost his entire
career at either the Mid-Ocean News or The Royal Gazette and was
well respected for his editorials which were a hallmark of both newspapers. He
was a fearless editor who certainly left his mark on local journalism. Life in
the newsroom was never dull. His last throw of the dice at the Mid-Ocean News
was to switch from a broadsheet to a tabloid, and it was a great shame when this
didn’t work out and the newspaper closed in 2009.” Mr Hodgson was
predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Aileen Hodgson. Kenneth Hodgson served
as a captain in the Royal Engineers during the Second World War and was among
the British soldiers who liberated the Nazi Bergen-Belsen death camp in 1945.
His life and experiences were a huge influence on his son. Mr Hodgson co-wrote
an award-winning series of reports with Kevin Stevenson on the United States’
Cold War nuclear weapons deployment plans. The two won a first-place award in
the Inland Press Association’s annual newspaper competition for their
articles, which exposed the storage of nuclear depth charges at the former US
Naval Air Station in Bermuda. Mr Hodgson was praised by former premiers from
both sides of the political fence. Sir John Swan, a long-serving leader of the
United Bermuda Party, said Mr Hodgson was “one of the best writers Bermuda had
— an intellectual writer able to grasp the issues of the day and unafraid to
write about them in a literary form”. He added: “He was a master of words
that defined not only the attitudes of people, but the importance of issues. I
enjoyed my close relationship with him and respected his work. More important
was the integrity he had in getting the job done.” Dame Pamela Gordon Banks,
also a former UBP premier, said Mr Hodgson was “an incredible and erudite
writer — I respected his passion and his ability to be forthright. I hope that
he finds peace. My heart goes out to his family.” Dame Jennifer Smith, who led
the Progressive Labour Party to its first victory at the polls in 1998, said:
“Even though I objected vociferously to some of his writing, he did his best.
My sympathies to his family.” John Barritt, a journalist and former UBP
minister and One Bermuda Alliance MP, said Mr Hodgson was “one of the best
writers I have ever known. As a columnist who wrote under his watch, I valued
his opinion always. He had such a way with words which were, after all, his
stock in trade — a wordsmith par excellence he was. Opinions aside, he was as
entertaining as he was illuminating. That is a rare skill. I particularly loved
his turn of phrases. His keen wit would shine. He was also an engaging raconteur
and great company at the table. I shall miss him.” Dale Butler, a former PLP
MP and minister, said Mr Hodgson had become a friend in recent years. Mr Butler
said: “Our friendship was mainly over the sharing of old photographs. He also
wrote extensively — I could only admire his background knowledge. As much as I
and my political party could be cut by the knife of his writing, over the past
couple of years I enjoyed his conversation because politics was no longer
involved.” Steve Thomson, the chairman of Bermuda Press (Holdings) Ltd, the
parent company of the Gazette , said: “Tim’s passion was journalism
and it showed. His editorials in both The Mid-Ocean and The Royal
Gazette were in-depth, thoughtful and always inspiring. His writing style
was very apparent and after the first sentence, you were immediately aware that
Tim Hodgson was the author. Tim’s long tenure at the Mid-Ocean and the RG
made him a lot of friends, both on island and off. Words that come to mind when
thinking about Tim and his life’s work are passion, gentleman, intelligent,
focused, kind and all-consuming. On behalf of the entire Royal Gazette,
Mid-Ocean and Bermuda Press (Holdings) families, we extend our heart felt
condolences to Tim’s family. He will be missed and was taken from us far too
early.” Stephen Davidson, vice-chairman of BPHL, said: “Tim was the rare
journalist who had an elephantine memory for small details that — built up
over the span of years — he could synthesize into a bigger pattern driving a
hard news story or a balanced editorial or just a darn good story to tell
friends. He had a singular voice and force of argument that leapt from print,
where even without a byline, readers would instantly recognise ‘Tim Hodgson
wrote this’. Tim was from the old school of journalism of thought, research
and eloquence where readers felt that they learnt something useful and of
substance.” Jonathan Howes, the BPHL chief executive, said Mr Hodgson’s
“passion for reading and journalism were second to none. He was a great
journalist, perhaps the best Bermuda will ever know. He was firm in his belief
that Bermuda needed independent journalists, free from the interference of
advertisers and those on the business side of newspapers. He stood up for what
was right, defended the public’s right to know and was not afraid of being scrutinized
for doing his job.”
European
Union plans to require large multinational companies to publicly reveal their
profits and tax liabilities in each member state have stalled. Twelve
countries, including Luxembourg, Malta and Ireland, opposed the transparency
measure at a meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council, as Germany abstained and
the UK did not vote because of its imminent General Election. Consequently, the
proposal failed to garner the necessary 16 votes to move forward to the European
Parliament. Supporters of the measure saw the vote as a setback to efforts to
combat tax avoidance. Sven Giegold, spokesperson for the Alliance 90/Greens
party in the European Parliament, said: “This is a bitter day for tax justice.
A blocking minority of member states prevented more tax justice in Europe and
sided with the tax havens.” Bermuda is one of the countries to have signed up
to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s
country-by-country tax reporting for large multinational companies, which is
aimed at preventing companies from shifting profits to low-tax jurisdictions.
The rules require large multinational companies with an annual turnover of $750
million or more to provide country-by-country tax and profit reports to national
tax authorities. The EU proposal differs in that it would make such information
public. It targets multinational enterprises with total revenue of more than
€750 million ($830 million) in each of the past two financial years, requiring
that they disclose the income tax they paid in each member state along with
other relevant tax-related information. Some countries, including Germany, worry
that revealing companies’ tax and profit information publicly will give a
competitive advantage to companies outside the EU that don’t have to report
the information. One head of tax at a multinational manufacturing company told International
Tax Review: “It’s not just reputational risk, but wider business
competitiveness. Public CbCR offers tax information on EU-based companies,
including insights into [tax] structures, but US companies don’t share this
information under any such standard.” The legal basis of the EU proposal as EU
single-market law was a major source of disagreement in the European
Competitiveness Council meeting. Ten countries put forward a statement saying it
should instead be considered tax law, which would require unanimous approval by
member states, rather than the majority vote needed for single-market law.
However, member states led by France, Italy, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands,
Denmark, Belgium and Finland argued during the debate that the core of the
legislation dealt with transparency and not taxation. “This legislation does
not impose a tax nor does it affect the tax base of corporations,’’ Timmo
Harakka, Finland’s labour minister, said. “Therefore it does not impact
national tax sovereignty of member states.” Ireland and Luxembourg are among
the lower-tax EU countries who have most to lose from measures to reduce tax
avoidance. Each are also home to the European operations of some of Bermuda’s
international re/insurers. Luxembourg, in particular, is coming under increasing
scrutiny. International Monetary Fund data showed that the country of 600,000
people hosts as much foreign direct investment as the United States. The IMF
argues that much of this flow goes to “empty corporate shells” designed to
reduce tax liabilities in other countries.
Yearly
road crash figures appear to have decreased as a result of breath-test
checkpoints, national security minister Wayne Caines said on Friday in the House
of Assembly. The minister said the island had recorded 1,117 collisions so
far this year, compared with 1,467 for the whole of last year and 1,249 for
2017. There have been six road deaths, down from 12 last year and 15 in 2017. Mr
Caines told the House of Assembly that roadside sobriety testing had helped
improve public awareness and culture towards the dangers of drink-driving since
their introduction last September. He said: “I am hopeful that the continuance
of the roadside sobriety checkpoints will lead to a shift in Bermuda’s
drink-driving culture. “If the roadside sobriety checks initiative will stop
just one person per weekend night from operating a vehicle while under the
influence of alcohol, if the roadside sobriety checks will prevent one person
from dying on our roads, I believe that it is worth the inconvenience and we
will have made a difference.” Mr Caines said that businesses had shown a
“positive shift” in favour of the policy by offering free transport to
customers, while late-night use of taxis had increased. The minister said 153
people had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in the
first ten months of this year, including 28 at roadside checkpoints. The worst
offender had 380 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, more than
four times the legal limit of 80mg/100ml. A breakdown of drink-drivers showed
133 were men and 20 were women; 110 were black, 25 white and 18 others; ages
ranged from 19 to 71; 143 were Bermudian, one British and nine did not have
their ethnicity recorded. Mr Caines noted that 47 of the arrests came after
collisions. Breath-test checkpoints will be in place in Hamilton Parish,
Smith’s, Devonshire, Pembroke, Paget, Warwick and Southampton next weekend.
A
Bill dealing with pension scheme payments was put on hold after a string of
complaints from the One Bermuda Alliance at the House of Assembly. Wayne
Furbert, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, agreed to “rise and report” on
the National Pension Scheme (Occupational Pensions) Temporary Amendment Bill
2019 on Friday. The legislation would give an employer and staff the choice of
temporarily suspending 2 per cent or their national pension scheme payments over
a two-year period. Mr Furbert, who was standing in for the absent finance
minister, Curtis Dickinson, said the Bill would have amounted to a 2 per cent
hike in take-home pay, aimed at alleviating financial hardship and boosting the
economy. But Opposition MP Patricia Gordon-Pamplin branded the legislation “a
tacit admission that the policies of this government are failing”. Ms
Gordon-Pamplin told the House: “The idea of having a pension fund is for it to
grow over time.” Neville Tyrrell, a Progressive Labour Party backbencher,
called her “a purveyor of doom and gloom”, and said people might avail
themselves of the extra cash in times of financial distress. Scott Pearman,
another Opposition MP, said: “I don’t doubt it’s a personal choice — but
we as government have a responsibility to make sure people are taken care of.”
OBA MP Trevor Moniz told the House that he was concerned the legislation
“seems to allow the employer to suspend 2 per cent of his contributions into
the employee’s benefit scheme without the agreement of the employee”. He
added that the only exception was if the employee was “represented by a
collective bargaining agent”. Mr Moniz said: “I just don’t understand how
you can give different sets of rights to employees. It just seems to wrong to
me.” Michael Dunkley, of the OBA, said he was “surprised government Members
have not jumped up in droves to speak about this” and told them: “What the
Government should do is stop raising taxes.” He added: “If Members on that
side sat on this side, they would be saying the same thing.” Mr Furbert later
told The Royal Gazette that the Opposition had “brought up issues”
and that the Bill would return to the House on December 13, when Mr Dickinson
could “clarify if needed”.
Bermuda
should invest in algae farms to help fight climate change, a Progressive Labour
Party MP backbencher urged. Dennis Lister III said that the island should
look at “exploring algae cultivation as a means of combating this imminent
issue”. He added: “Algae proves to be a sufficient source in combating, and
even reversing, the effects of climate change, as it not only absorbs carbon
dioxide, but also works as an alternate production resource and food source.”
The comments came during the Motion to Adjourn in the House of Assembly on
Friday. Mr Lister told MPs that the problem of global warming could be
accelerating. He highlighted figures that showed the 20 warmest years on record
had all occurred since 1995. Mr Lister added: “The five warmest years have all
been in this decade.” He said that rising temperatures had led to rising sea
levels and that “eventually, big coastal cities and Bermuda, will be
underwater”. Mr Lister said that when properly used algae was “up to four
times more efficient than a tree at removing carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere”. He added: “That means that while we are learning to reduce
carbon emissions and augment our consumption patterns, we can start to make big
reductions in atmospheric carbon. When wielded correctly, it could make city
carbon negative without changing current production or consumption patterns.”
Mr Lister said that algae could also be used for bio-fuels — “a more
sustainable alternative to carbon-producing fossil fuels”. He added: “Algae
has been known to produce as much as 5,000 bio-fuel gallons from a single acre
in one year.” Mr Lister said that the use of algae for bio-fuels had been
explored by the United States government during the gasoline crisis in the
1970s, and that oil companies and venture capital groups were at present
conducting research focused on algae. He highlighted that a protest by
schoolchildren over environmental concerns had taken place on Church Street, in
Hamilton, that day. Mr Lister said policies related to climate chance most
affected youngsters. He added: “The youth-led movement is building a coalition
of first-time voters prioritizing climate change.”
Bermuda
Hospitals Board (BHB) has achieved a decision of Accredited with Exemplary
Standing, Accreditation Canada’s highest level of accreditation. The
decision follows four years of quality and safety improvements, culminating in a
weeklong onsite visit by independent surveyors in May. Accreditation Canada is a
non-profit organisation that works with the Ottawa-based Health Standards
Organization, healthcare providers, policy makers and patients to improve the
quality of health and social services. More than 1,000 health and social service
organisations and 7,000 sites around the world have been accredited by
Accreditation Canada with a goal of safer, high-quality healthcare.
Accreditation Canada surveyors are volunteers who are healthcare professionals
in senior clinical or administrative roles at other accredited organisations.
BHB CEO and President Venetta Symonds said: “I’m very proud of this result,
which reflects the dedication and hard work our staff devotes to BHB’s quality
and safety improvement projects in addition to their daily work of caring for
our patients. The surveyors emphasised how much we’ve achieved at BHB over the
last few years, and even in the six months prior to the survey. They applauded
how we have used the Strategic Plan 2016-2021 at the centre of our planning
across BHB, and how our extensive Clinical Services Plan serves as the anchor
for our strategic goals. They cited our dedication to quality and safety
improvement and training at all levels, especially initiatives like the
introduction of daily bullet rounds on inpatient wards and more focused
discharge planning, the significant reduction in pressure injuries, our
commitment to early identification and treatment of sepsis, and our increasing
engagement of patients and families in policy and process development. They
recognised the involvement of our entire team in achieving these results.” BHB
Chief of Staff Michael Richmond, MD, said: “In Bermuda our hospitals are
required by law to be accredited by an approved accrediting body. However, the
most important part of the process is the opportunity to receive feedback and
recommendations from the Accreditation Canada team and the surveyors based on
the knowledge and insights they’ve gained from our peers across North America
and around the world. Clinical and non-clinical teams across BHB have been
collaborating with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Johns Hopkins
Medicine International and other partners to identify and implement changes to
our services, processes and policies. These changes are already having a
significant impact on the quality and safety of our care, as evidenced by
Accreditation Canada’s survey findings.” Mrs Symonds added: “Achieving the
highest level of accreditation does not mean we don’t have more work to do.
The survey report highlights the things we’re doing well, but it also outlines
areas we need to improve. Their advice, along with our other quality improvement
partners, will help us along the journey to attaining our vision of Exceptional
Care. Strong Partnerships. Healthy Community. One of our greatest resources on
this journey is our patients and their loved ones. Their input on our services
and care is invaluable in identifying the areas we fall short and helping us
deliver the best possible care to every patient, every day. Our newly formed
Patient and Family Advisory Council also provides advice on how we can implement
or change processes to improve the patient experience. Thank you to the Council
and to every member of the community who has taken the time to contact our unit
managers and patient relations with their suggestions and concerns.” From
13-17 May 2019, four independent surveyors assessed BHB against 26 sets of
healthcare standards, 35 priority processes and 30 required organizational
practices. They spent time at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Mid-Atlantic
Wellness Institute, Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre and three of BHB’s group
homes, observing staff, reviewing documentation and policies, and interviewing
staff, patients and community partners. The surveyors’ findings were then
reviewed thoroughly by the Accreditation Canada team before an accreditation
decision and full report were issued. “Accreditation Canada is committed to
supporting organisations like Bermuda Hospitals Board, who offer safe and
effective care with a focus on continuous improvement. We commend BHB for their
outstanding achievement and their contributions to our goal of achieving quality
health services for all,” noted Katerina Tara ova, Accreditation Canada’s
executive director of international accreditation. Accreditation Canada will
continue to work with BHB throughout the four-year accreditation cycle,
reviewing evidence related to unmet criteria, providing feedback, and monitoring
standards and practices to ensure the organisation continues to perform at the
expected level. BHB has been accredited since the 1970s. This year marks the
13th onsite survey by Accreditation Canada. The next survey will be held in May
2023. The accreditation report, decision letter and survey comparison table are
available on the BHB website at bermudahospitals.bm.
Prisoners
appealing their convictions could have remained in jail for months longer than
necessary because of delays at the Court of Appeal caused by “lamentable
failures” by lawyers. The court issued a hard-hitting judgment after four
criminal appeals had to be immediately adjourned when it opened for a three-week
session last month. In each case, for appellants Jeremiah Dill, Alex Wolffe,
William Franklyn Smith and Kiari Tucker, counsel had failed to meet court orders
for written submission for the dates specified. The court threatened to issue
fines for contempt or dismiss appeals, if its orders were not followed in future
cases. Defence lawyer Charles Richardson also came in for heavy criticism, for
“playing the system” by failing to inform the court that he had been unable
to track down his client. The judgment, signed by Court of Appeal President Sir
Christopher Clarke and Justices of Appeal Geoffrey Bell and Anthony Smellie,
pointed to “a number of regrettable and disruptive applications for
adjournment” on November 4. It said: “We had before us, four applications to
adjourn criminal appeals fixed to be heard in the following week.” It said the
applications came about “because counsel for the appellant had not complied
with the orders of the court, to file written submissions by specified dates”.
One of the matters was pushed back to November 15 but the court “found
ourselves with no option but to grant an adjournment in three of the cases”.
The judgment said adjournments have “several effects which are prejudicial to
the administration of justice”. It continued: “The appellant will not have
his or her case heard until months later. If a convicted person’s appeal
against his conviction is allowed, he or she will have remained in prison for
longer than he or she would have done if the case had been heard when originally
fixed and when it should have been heard.” The judgment added that other cases
become delayed as a knock-on effect, and that expenditure is wasted as Justices
of the Court “are unable to fulfil their judicial function in the empty
days”. It acknowledged that the Court of Appeal “would not normally publish
a ruling of this nature”. But it added: “We do so in order to draw attention
to the lamentable failures which compelled us to take the course that we did, to
explain to a wider audience why we have been unable to sit for three days of the
current session, and to indicate that this state of affairs must not be allowed
to be repeated.” Sir Christopher will meet with the Criminal Bar to discuss
changes ahead of the March session. The judgment rebuked Mr Richardson over a
separate case that was repeatedly put on hold. It said Mr Richardson had allowed
the Supreme Court to make an order in November 2017 to provide submissions
within 14 days “without indicating that he could not do so or would be in any
difficulty”. When that order was not complied with, Mr Richardson told the
Court in February 2018 that he could produce a skeleton quickly and a new
hearing was fixed for March 2018. The judgment said: “No such skeleton was
ever produced and it appears that at some stage in March Mr Richardson indicated
that he had not heard from the appellant and was not properly instructed. The
true position was that Mr Richardson was awaiting instructions from his client,
with whom he said he had no means of communication. Mr Richardson told us that
he was acting in the interest of his client and did not want to harm his appeal
by saying that he was trying to track him down. He said that he would not act in
this way again." The judgment continued: “It is plainly unacceptable to play
the system along, by letting the court think that the submission can be provided
by the date specified, when that is not, in fact, the case, because counsel is
not in contact with the client and is without instructions; a fact of which the
Court should be told.”
Two former leading executives
of Bermuda-registered insurer Ironshore are to leave Liberty Mutual’s Global
Risk Solutions division at the end of the year. The departures of Mitch
Blaser and Kevin Kelley come about 2½ years after Ironshore was bought by
Liberty in a deal worth $3 billion. Mr Blaser, chief transformation officer at
Liberty GRS, is particularly well known in Bermuda, since he arrived as the
founding chief financial officer of Ironshore when it opened its doors on the
island as a $1 billion start-up in January 2007. It is understood he will leave
the company to pursue other opportunities. Mr Kelley, who served as CEO of
Ironshore from 2008 to 2018, is set to retire from his role as Liberty GRS’s
vice-chairman at the end of the year, industry publication The Insurance
Insider reported. A message announcing Mr Blaser’s departure and sent to
Liberty Mutual GRS staff from Dennis Langwell, the division’s president,
reads: “While Mitch has expressed his desire to pursue other interests, he
will maintain an active role through his transition after which the
Transformation team will report to chief financial officer Frank Robinson.” Mr
Blaser has decades of experience in the insurance industry which included a
spell as CFO of global broker and risk adviser Marsh & McLellan in the 1990s
and he also served as CFO of Swiss Re’s American division in the 2000s. In
Bermuda, his other notable roles included a spell as Ironshore’s chief
operating officer, the CEO of Ironshore Bermuda and CEO of the joint venture
with CV Starr & Co, Iron-Starr Excess Agency Ltd. Mr Blaser also led the way
in his company’s community efforts, helping causes including the Western
Counties Cricket Association, the Railway Trial rehabilitation efforts and
Scars. Perhaps best known was the company’s support the Relay for Life, the
event that annually raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for Bermuda Cancer
and Health. Ironshore was the lead sponsor from the first Relay for Life in 2014
and Liberty Mutual has continued that tradition. Mr Blaser has also earned a
reputation for supporting the career development of Bermudians up through the
ranks. In April this year, Liberty Mutual was one of two insurers — the other
being Sompo International — to be invited by the Bermuda Government to take
part in a fast-track work permit pilot programme designed to tackle delays in
application turnaround times. Wayne Caines, the immigration minister, told the
House of Assembly that Liberty Mutual was selected because it has a “firm and
deep commitment to Bermuda” with a track record of progressing Bermudians
through the company and a leadership team that understood the “tapestry” of
the island. Mr Kelley took the helm of Ironshore in December 2008, when he was
one of the highest profile executives to leave American International Group,
following the company’s near collapse in during the global financial crisis.
After he left his role leading AIG’s Lexington Insurance Company from 1987 to
2008, he was able to attract a string of former AIG executives to Ironshore to
help lead the company’s global expansion. He oversaw the sale of Ironshore to
Chinese investment company Fosun in 2015 and remained in a senior role after the
Liberty Mutual buyout. Before his work at Lexington, Mr Kelley was executive
vice-president of AIG’s property and casualty group and president of AIG’s
domestic personal lines operation.
Butterfield
Bank has been named Bank of the Year in Bermuda for the seventh consecutive
year. The award for 2019 was bestowed upon Butterfield by UK-based
international banking industry periodical The Banker, a publication of The
Financial Times, which annually selects banks in more than 100 countries to
receive its Bank of the Year awards. In making their selections, Butterfield
said, The Banker’s global editorial team considers not only a bank’s
financial performance, but also strategic initiatives, innovative use of
technology and service delivery channels, and efforts to extend banking services
to all parts of the community. Michael Neff, Butterfield’s managing director
in Bermuda, said: “Having earned the Bank of the Year distinction for seven
straight years in Bermuda is a point of pride for all of us at Butterfield. The
last few years have been a period of strategic growth and change for Butterfield
Group, during which we’ve expanded our ownership base and extended our
geographic reach. But our focus on serving the needs of our clients in Bermuda
has been unwavering, and our international growth has enabled us to enhance the
financial solutions we’re able to offer here. This award reflects our
commitment to Bermuda, and the efforts of our dedicated team of banking, trust
and investment professionals who strive to exceed clients’ expectations every
day, at every point of service. I would like to take this opportunity to thank
them, and also thank our clients for their ongoing loyalty to the bank.”
Earlier this year, Butterfield was named Best Private Bank in Bermuda by PWM/ The
Banker, the company said. Butterfield also received the Bank of the Year
2019 award for the Cayman Islands, the fifth time it has received the award
during the last seven years, the company said. A full listing of winners will be
published in the December edition of The Banker.
Spirits
were high as the holiday season kicked off in Hamilton yesterday. Revellers of
all ages lined the streets to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus and his helpers as
part of the MarketPlace Christmas Parade. Sharon Peets was taking in the
sights with twin granddaughters Ari and Tai Simons, 8. The Pembroke resident
said: “We have been coming for years.” She said the combination of the
floats, the dancers and the Gombeys is what brought the family back year after
year. Ms Peets said the best part was “to see the excitement and the look on
the children’s faces”. Ari said she was excited for the floats and to see
her friends take part with their dance troupes. Tai said she was “looking
forward to having a good time”. Both girls said that they were looking forward
to spending time with their family for the holiday. Ms Peets said that answer
made her “very proud”. Jason Samuels and wife Cindy, from Warwick, were out
with daughter Chloe, 11, and son Silas, 9, and their friends Sophia Ward, 11,
and Kyle Valadao, 9. Chloe said: “It’s tradition to go with our friends
every year. It’s a lot of fun. There are a lot of bright lights and the
dancers are really cool.” Silas added of the parade: “It makes you happy.”
Amy Da Costa was out with her family, including daughter Carina, 4. Carina said
she was excited for the candy, the marching groups and Santa Claus, who she had
already asked for some special clothes for Christmas. Ms Da Costa, from Paget,
said it was the third or fourth year she had been to the parade. She added:
“It’s just a fun experience.” Alfred Emery, of Pembroke, was joined by
wife Angela, daughter Arleyne, and granddaughter Nalah Burgess, 5. Nalah said
that she was looking forward to seeing Santa Claus and the dancers — plus the
candy. Mr Emery said that the enjoyment of his granddaughter was what brought
the family back each holiday. He added: “We do it for her.” Lionel and JoAnn
Paynter, who were camped out along Front Street, said they had been coming to
the parade “for ever”. Ms Paynter said that her niece was taking part in the
parade with one of the dance groups. She added: “I definitely come out to see
her perform.” Ms Paynter said it was the “atmosphere and festivities” that
brought them back each year. She said the holiday season was a good time to get
together with family and friends. Ms Paynter said: “This is a nice way to
start it off.” Participants in the parade included the Lions Clubs of Bermuda,
Lotus Ariel Team, Bermuda Long Riders Motorcycle Club, the Association of
Filipinos in Bermuda, Blu Kids, the Bermuda Police Service Motorcycle Division,
the Bermuda Fire Service and the Royal Bermuda Regiment. The St George’s
Dancerettes, DanceSations, In Motion School of Dance, Vasco Folklore Dance
Group, Rated E, United Dance Productions and Place’s New Generation Gombeys
also took part. The parade set out from the junction of Church Street and
Par-la-Ville Road and headed east along Front Street. It swung north on Court
Street, west on Church Street and continued to Wesley Street.
The
closure of an East End restaurant is a significant loss to Bermuda, its owner
said last night. Marlon Laws, the owner of Gombeys Bar & Restaurant, in
St David’s, said that the establishment was an integral part of the island. Mr
Laws said: “Gombeys is Bermuda — it’s like losing a part of Bermuda. When
you come through those gates at Gombeys, you’re not a number. We’ve become
family.” Mr Laws’s lease expired on Saturday. He was speaking last night in
response to a statement issued about the concessions at Clearwater Beach.
Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, said that “every
effort” had been made to help Mr Laws to “provide a comprehensive
proposal” to retain control of the concession. A request for proposal was
issued by the Bermuda Land Development Company. Colonel Burch said:
“Management, and the board, have gone to considerable lengths to assist the
current leaseholder, to no avail, and have made what I consider the appropriate
decision, to give other Bermudians an opportunity to make Clearwater a greater
success, without dramatically changing the character of the Clearwater
experience.” News of the end of Mr Laws’s lease led to online conversation
about the reasons behind the decision. A petition called “Save Gombeys Bar
Clearwater Beach” was also launched on Change.org. It had nearly 3,000
signatures last night. Colonel Burch said that an “open and transparent
competitive process” had been conducted. He added that Mr Laws, his family
members and his lawyer had been told that his bid had not been successful on
November 22. Colonel Burch added: “The assertion that the owners have not been
given a reason is patently false.” He said that Mr Laws was told in a letter
in April 2016 that the site would go out to tender when his lease expired on
April 30, 2019. Colonel Burch said that the BLDC had met with Mr Laws in July
2018 to discuss a lease extension and remind him of the RFP process. He added:
“BLDC extended his lease to November 30, 2019, in order to allow him another
full summer season to operate while reiterating that the concession will be put
out to tender.” Colonel Burch said that BLDC had identified the standard of
service provided by Mr Laws “as not meeting the minimum expected of an
operator at Clearwater Beach”. He added: “He had been asked over the years
to enhance the product and his level of service.” Colonel Burch said that Mr
Laws had also been told “since at least 2016” that the BLDC “was looking
to enhance the experience and the facility”. He added: “Despite outreaches
and warnings, no action was taken nor help sought to enhance the facility.”
Colonel Burch said that Mr Laws had submitted a two-page letter as his response
to the RFP “that indicated a desire to leave everything the way it was with no
improvement”. But Mr Laws said that he did not believe he should have been
required to submit a bid in the first place. He said: “Why should I have to
put in a proposal? I put it in 14 years ago. I delivered. I brought the place
from a derelict skating rink up to a five-star rated place that is enjoyed by
locals and tourists alike.” Mr Laws said that the end of Gombeys was more than
just the closure of his business. He said: “It’s like I’m losing my
life.”
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Authored,
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