Royal Gazette

Jason Hayward, the Minister of Labour, is holding a press conference this morning.The Royal Gazette is providing a live video on this page.

Reducing the level of taxation in Bermuda is necessary if the economy is to recover, the leader of the island’s newest political force said yesterday.Marc Bean of the Free Democratic Movement said the organisation’s action plan for economic recovery includes the elimination of taxes on sugar and dividends as part of a larger plan to reduce the tax burden.He added that a range of other initiatives, including reducing the cost of government and reducing the regulatory burden on businesses and

A Progressive Labour Party government would boost the economy with major public and private-sector building projects valued at more than $1 billion if it was re-elected, it said in its just-released platform.The PLP added it would use the proceeds of the Government’s recent $1.35 billion debt raise “to move capital projects forward, providing immediate employment for those looking for work”.The party said the projects were expected to “provide employment in construction over the next five y

David Burt has apologised for overseeing an $800,000 loan to an American music promoter who failed to pay the money back to taxpayers.But he stressed that it was civil servants who authorised the release of the funds after carrying out background checks.The Premier issued a statement on Facebook in the early hours of this morning about the payment in April 2018 to Anthony Blakey, of Atlanta, and Danilee Trott, a Bermudian event planner who worked for Mr Blakey.”The Cabinet I lead is

The Hurricane Teddy-driven seas were the highest in almost 30 years, a veteran charter boat captain and conservationist said yesterday. Choy Aming, also co-founder of the Bermuda Shark Project, added: “I might actually dig out some old photos to look at older hurricanes, but that was about the biggest I have seen.”Mr Aming, 45, said: “Looking at the outer reefs, I saw the waves breaking at about 30 feet. “When you see a 30-foot wave on the outer reef, that is a rare thing. I think I

Police have found forensic evidence at the scene of a serious sex assault on a woman at knifepoint, a senior officer said yesterday.Detective Superintendent Nicholas Pedro revealed that “a number of forensic items” had been detected at the scene of the attack on Fairylands Road, Pembroke.He said that businesses and residents in the Pembroke area had turned over to police CCTV footage from Sunday morning to help police identify the assailant.Mr Pedro added: “We have been working with

Party leaders David Burt and Craig Cannonier traded barbs over the weekend about their party’s records in power.Mr Burt, the Premier and leader of the Progressive Labour Party, said at a virtual rally on Saturday that his administration had kept its promises, even while it tackled the Covid-19 pandemic.He added: “Oftentimes people ask about the economic plan and our promises, and in the coming days, when you hear the opposition’s plans and promises, I want you to ask yourself if you trust t

Goals were few but the excitement was plenty as Devonshire Cougars advanced to the semi-finals of the Dudley Eve Trophy with a late equaliser in a 1-1- draw against Dandy Town at Goose Gosling Field last night.Somerset Trojans avoided elimination from their group when they beat North Village 1-0 in the opening match.Cougars, who trailed 1-0 from the second minute of the match after an error by goalkeeper Ajai Daniels when, in trying to pass the ball out of his box, only succeeding in giving

Ian Williams and Team GAC Pindar will bid for a record seventh world match racing title at the same venue where they savoured their maiden success competing at that level more than a decade ago.The British professional sailing team made a major breakthrough on the World Match Racing Tour after winning the 2006 Argo Group Gold Cup in Hamilton Harbour before being crowned as multiple world match racing champions.”I remember winning back in 2006, my first major event win,” Williams told The Ro

Jevon Roberts warmed up for the PGA Bermuda Championship local qualifier next month with a sparkling display at Port Royal last weekend.The top amateur shot a tournament low two-under-par 69, which included six birdies, competing for team Yahtzee during the Bermuda Golf Association’s season-opening BGA Team Challenge at the Southampton layout.”Off the tee I was very pleased with how I hit the ball and was able to capitalise on those good tee shots with some good irons into greens and hit th

Tahiyyah Ali knew that she was not qualified for the job Intuition was advertising, but it was exactly the one she wanted.Determined, she sent in her résumé with a cover letter pointing out her shortcomings – and waited.As a teacher who had worked with special needs students, what she found most appealing about William Madeiros’s consultancy was that it was designed to help children with a broad range of behavioural challenges and development disabilities.It took a year before she wa

Hundreds of hotel workers face redundancy because of the closure of a leading Bermudian resort for almost two years.The 18-month shuttering of the Fairmont Southampton hotel for renovations would mean about 750 layoffs, roughly 500 of them Bermudian, and cause “significant hardship for many”, according to Kiaran MacDonald, the general manager.Mr MacDonald said staff were “resigned” to the news, broken at a meeting yesterday, which he said marked “a very sad day for all our colleagues, Fairm

When teenager Sari Smith launched a sugar-free drink business in July, things got off to a rough start.The 16-year-old went door-to-door flogging her products, but only one person answered the door and they refused to try her drinks sweetened with monk fruit. “I don’t know if people didn’t want to buy homemade stuff or they were nervous because of Covid-19,” she said. “I didn’t make many sales. It was hot and the sun was horrible. I felt like going home.”Walking around town, things d

A man was banned from the roads until 2024 after he was caught drink-driving while disqualified.Juan DeLeon Garcia, 22, from Southampton, pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal alcohol limit, driving while disqualified and driving without a valid licence on July 31.Magistrates’ Court heard police were on South Road in Devonshire, near the entrance of the Botanical Gardens, at about 10.20pm when they saw Garcia ride a motorcycle east at high speed.They followed Garcia and saw

The leader of the One Bermuda Alliance today branded the Progressive Labour Party platform “smoke and mirrors” and built on unaffordable promises.Craig Cannonier said David Burt, the Premier, had attempted to deceive the public.He added: “The Premier’s platform is simply not based on reality. Bermuda, there is an absence of reality with the PLP’s platform. “The sleight of hand has become tired. We see through him. It is all smoke and mirrors.”He said the redevelopment of the F

PHC and Tuff Dogs delivered contrasting victories in their first-round matches to set up intriguing Evening Cricket League knockout semi-finals at Shelly Bay on Saturday.PHC have drawn defending champions The Associates, while Tuff Dogs will take on league champions Renegades, who ended the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record.With Renegades and The Associates, the league runners-up, drawing first-round byes, PHC held off CV Chargers by ten runs before Tuff Dogs overpowered BCB Academy

Cleveland County Cricket Club and Somerset Cricket Club have been crowned the winners of the Bermuda Cricket Board Under-11 Hiscox and Under-14 KPMG Youth Leagues.The participating teams included Warwick Academy, Warwick Workmen’s Club, Somerset and Cleveland in the under-11 league, with games being played at Warwick Academy Field.Warwick Academy, Cleveland, Somerset, Warwick Workmen’s Club, St George’s and a BCB select team from the Under-15 National Academy took part in the under-14 leagu

Jason Gillespie praised his players after Sussex Sharks beat defending champions Essex Eagles by four wickets last weekend to reach the quarter-finals of the T20 Vitality Blast. Gillespie said he was “incredibly pleased” after his team reached the last eight of the tournament. After a hectic ten matches in 24 days, Delray Rawlins, the Bermuda all-rounder, and his team-mates now have a ten-day break before taking on Lancashire at home in the quarter-finals next Thursday. Sussex res

No new cases of Covid-19 were reported today.The Ministry of Health got back 858 test results and all were clear.Bermuda has had 181 total confirmed positive cases.There are five active cases, all monitored by public health officials. None are in hospital.A total of 167 people have recovered, and the death toll remained at nine.The average age of confirmed cases is 56 and the age range is from 9 to 101.The average age for deaths is 74 and the age range is 57 to 9

Shares of Butterfield Bank tumbled $1.50, or 6.1 per cent, to $23 after 3,000 traded on The Royal Gazette/BSX Index.On the New York Stock Exchange, the bank’s shares were down 71 cents, or 3.19 per cent, at $21.55.On the local exchange, shares of Somers Limited fell 50 cents, or 3.7 per cent, to $13 after 2,800 were exchanged. The Royal Gazette/BSX Index was down 70.79 points, or 3.93 per cent, at 1,731.44, while the BSX Index was down 14.67 points, or 1.09 per cent, at 1,335.83.

About six out of ten local businesses have fully reopened again amid the disruption caused by Covid-19, a Bermuda Chamber of Commerce survey has found.The foot survey carried out between July 29 and August 19 found that 8 per cent, or about 44 businesses, had closed fully, while another one third of businesses had been temporarily closed and were operating on reduced hours.A total of 558 businesses across the island were surveyed, comprising 345 in Hamilton, 67 in St George’s, 95 in North H

Police have found forensic evidence at the scene of serious sex assault on a woman at knifepoint, a senior officer said today.Superintendent Nicholas Pedro revealed that “a number of forensic items” had been detected at the scene of the attack on Fairylands Road, Pembroke.He said that businesses and residents in the Pembroke area had turned over CCTV footage to the police with CCTV from the time of the attack to help police identify the assailant.Mr Pedro added: “We have been working

Hurricane Teddy battered Bermuda from a distance, but the island escaped major damage.The hurricane passed the island as a Category 1 storm yesterday afternoon with its closest point of approach about 150 miles to the island’s east at about 3pm.Renée Ming, the Minister of National Security, said the island had coped well and the Government had shut down the island for the hurricane as a precaution.She said: “As with all hurricanes, there is a level of unpredictability. That was the c

The Covid-19 test centre at the Perot Post Office in Hamilton will reopen tomorrow at 10am.The pandemic hotline will reopen at 9am.People who missed their Covid-19 tests at the Perot centre today will be e-mailed with a new time.A spokeswoman for the health ministry said that people who are unable to receive e-mails should contact the hotline at 444 2498 tomorrow between 9am to 9pm to reschedule.The spokeswoman warned: “Testing results may take up to 36 hours for Tuesday’s res

• Clarien Bank will resume normal business operations on Tuesday. A thorough assessment of all facilities and systems has been completed to ensure the safety and security of clients and employees.• Saltus Grammar School will open as normal on Tuesday.• The Causeway has reopened. Renée Ming, the Minister of National Security, said: “The structural engineers have inspected the Causeway and report it is structurally sound. During the EMO meeting this afternoon, we made the decision to reopen t

The police commissioner reprimanded adults who allowed children to play in ferocious waves today.A video circulating on social media, believed to have been shot today in Devonshire, shows four children playing on a dock as a large wave crashes towards them. Three adults are standing further back with three other children. Stephen Corbishley said he was shocked by the level of naivety and claimed the children could easily have been taken out by a rogue wave and potentially killed.He i

• Butterfield Bank’s offices and banking centres will be open for business as usual at 9am on Tuesday. • Lindo’s stores will be closed on Monday. The store expects to reopen Tuesday, in line with EMO recommendations, and will provide updates should this change.• The Hamilton Princess and Beach Club’s Exhale Spa, restaurants and bars 1609, Crown and Anchor, and The Duchess, will be closed on Monday. They are expected to reopen on Tuesday, following guidance from the EMO.• MarketPlace

Hurricane Teddy has begun to move away from the island after it lashed the island from a distance.The large Category 1 hurricane is no longer considered a threat having passed the island earlier this afternoon.Some homes lost power over the course of the morning, with the first outages reported shortly after 4am.At 2pm, 217 Belco customers were without power, with Pembroke the worst affected.The Bermuda Weather Service said in its 11.30am update conditions were expected to wor

Hurricane Teddy passed its closest point of approach to Bermuda earlier this afternoon. The 3pm briefing on Teddy’s progress said:Closest point: Passed.Status: Category 1 hurricaneLocation at 3pm: 165 miles to the east. Current wind speeds: Sustained winds of 92mph. Gusts to 115mphMovement: North-northeast at 18mphCurrent position: 32.2N 62.0W

A woman suffered a “very serious sexual assault” at knifepoint as she walked to work at the weekend. The attack was believed to have been thwarted by a jogger who saw what was happening and called police.Superintendent Nicholas Pedro said this afternoon: “The 31 year-old victim was walking to work when she was accosted by a man who is described as being about 5ft 10in and brown-skinned, riding a red motorcycle.”It would appear that he rode past her and then rode back towards her and

More than 200 customers of power firm Belco suffered power cuts as a result of Hurricane Teddy.A spokesman for the company said this afteroon that a total of 217 households had lost electricity.The worst affected area was Pembroke, with 166 outages.There were 26 outages in Hamilton Parish, 23 in Warwick and two in Devonshire.

The Bermuda Chiropractic Association is getting #BDABackonTrack with World Spine Day 2020. World Spine Day occurs October 16th every year to raise awareness of back pain and other spinal issues. With Doctors of Chiropractic, fitness instructors, and other health professionals, school children and patients taking part, the World Spine Day 2020 theme #BackonTrack will be celebrated on every continent. The Bermuda Chiropractic Association (BCA) celebrates World Spine Day 2020

AIG, a global (re)insurer, takes great pride in improving the situations and operations of its insureds and local communities. This ambition to assist; wherever possible, extends far beyond the course of normal business. AIG Bermuda has always been an active participant in bettering our Island and its many communities.This year AIG Bermuda is pleased to partner with the Packwood Home, a vital institution which provides care for Bermuda’s seniors. As part of this relationship AIG Bermuda, in conju