Royal Gazette

Three political newcomers are to run in St George’s in the General Election.Dwain Smith of the new Free Democratic Movement will stand in St George’s West, the One Bermuda Alliance’s Thomas Harvey will contest the same seat and James Perry of the OBA will run in St George’s North.Mr Smith said that the economy was a top priority, along with education and immigration reform. The former police officer added: “People feel like St George’s is the forgotten of the nine parishes – the step

Following a “chat & chew” event in July at which community clubs were hosted to discuss and identify areas of need, Premier the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, and the Minister of Community Affairs and Sports, the Hon. Lovitta Foggo, JP, MP, presented cheques to eight (8) local community organisations. Cheques were presented today to:Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club – $50,000Boulevard Community Club – $12,500Devonshire Colts Football Club – $12,500Devonshire Recreation Club -$36,

A man was fined a total of $1,200 and banned from the roads yesterday after he admitted drink driving and driving without a licence.David Brunson, 30, pleaded guilty to the offence at Magistrates’ Court.The court heard that Brunson was seen driving a car at high speed along Trimingham Road in Paget and almost collided with a police car at its junction with South Road.Police suspected Brunson of drink driving when they confronted him about the incident.Brunson admitted he had b

A man was given a six-month suspended sentence yesterday after he admitted the theft of a motorcycle.Jovon Virgil, 32, pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court to taking a motorcycle without the consent of the owner.The court heard that police officers on patrol on Front Street, Hamilton, saw Virgil walking a bike through Albouy’s Point in the early hours of May 23 last year.Virgil said when questioned that he had borrowed the motorcycle from a friend, but left his keys at the nearby Roy

A Progressive Labour Party politician is the new leader of the Immigration Board.Scott Simmons, who was an MP in the last Parliament and is a General Election candidate for Southampton West, took up the board chairman’s post on September 16.The announcement was published in the Government’s Official Gazette this week.The appointment came after Renée Ming the previous chairwoman, became Minister of National Security in July.Mr Simmons, who will face Christoph

Kayakers will take to the water this weekend to complete a loop of the islands in aid of a child sexual abuse prevention charity.They will be joined by surf skiers and paddleboarders for the fifth annual Kayak For Kids, to raise money and awareness for Saving Children and Revealing Secrets.Jerry Rivers, one of the organisers, said that the 2020 event was expected to include 23 participants – an all-time high – and that there were “more corporate sponsors this year than ever before”.H

A former top nurse appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire 20 years ago for her contribution to healthcare has died.Jacqueline Lightbourne, the island’s first Chief Nursing Officer, was 84. Ms Lightbourne started at the Department of Health in the early 1970s and rose through the ranks.She became the first Co-ordinator of Nursing Services in Bermuda before she became Chief Nursing Officer.Ms Lightbourne told the Mid-Ocean News in 1991:

This morning, when I reached for my mask before entering work, I instead pulled a thong out of my handbag. What makes this worse is that it happened in front of someone else. I wasn’t quite sure how to pull it off …. pretend that was my plan along? Wear my thong-mask with pride? Or just laugh about it … I went with the latter. To be fair, it IS easy to mix them up – especially when you’re rummaging through a pile of clean laundry at 6.30am in the half-light. I’ve had my fair share of handbag mix-u

Cross-party election candidates featured at a youth forum have backed a debate among party leaders in the run-up to the General Election.Would-be MPs who took part in a virtual forum organised by youth group Bermuda Youth Connect said a debate before polling day on October 1 was a vital part of the democratic process.Gavin Smith, the Free Democratic Movement candidate for Pembroke South East, said: “It shouldn’t be perceived as audacious that our young people are asking for this.”He

An historic entertainment venue that attracted world-class entertainers to the island is being razed to the ground. The Clayhouse Inn on North Shore, Devonshire, deteriorated after it was damaged in a 2002 fire and will soon be levelled. But people in the area yesterday had mixed emotions about the end of an era.Maurice Brimmer, a manager at takeout restaurant and bar The Inferno Lounge Two, which neighbours the building, said he spent much of his youth at the Clayhouse and admitted he watc

If football clubs required a reminder that Covid-19 remains a threat to the current campaign, they needed only look at the chaos that ensued at the London Stadium on Tuesday evening.Less than an hour before kick-off in their Carabao Cup encounter against Hull City, Hammers manager David Moyes, defender Issa Diop and midfielder Josh Cullen all received positive coronavirus tests.All three were forced to leave the ground immediately and while West Ham went on to win the third-round tie 5-1, t

Legislation to revamp the financial assistance system is in the pipeline, the Minister of Labour announced yesterday.Jason Hayward said that the changes, if approved by the next government, would help give assistance to people who needed it and assist recipients to return to the workforce.Mr Hayward added: “The reformed system will focus less on policing and administration of rules and more on helping more individuals achieve access to services and support available to help them. This appro

Tem sido um ano desafiador: it has been a challenging year. That’s likely how the Portuguese School of Bermuda would describe 2020 after Covid-19 wrecked its fundraising efforts and threw a monkey wrench into plans for teacher recruitment.A donor drive is in the works but, meanwhile, the hope is that virtual classes will keep the programme alive. The school has helped hundreds of children learn Portuguese since it was launched as an afterschool initiative for prima

American music promoter Anthony Blakey was allowed an “initial rent-free period” in a government-owned property at Dockyard after he proposed setting up a recording studio there.Andrew Dias, the general manager of the West End Development Corporation, told The Royal Gazette that Savvy Entertainment, owned by Mr Blakey, was given the rent reprieve at historic Moresby House to “assist the business during the start-up phase”.Mr Dias said: “At the end of the rent-free period,

Hefty discounts will be on offer as the former ASC Women store holds its final liquidation sale.Today, there is 40 per cent off all items, tomorrow 50 per cent, and on Sunday, 60 per cent.Liquidators KPMG Advisory Ltd said: “The sale will include all of the women’s store stock, a limited amount of men’s apparel, and some other accessories.”No Vineyard Vines stock is included in this sale. The sale will be cash and credit card only.” No gift cards will be accepted. AS Cooper gi

Staff thrown out of work by the closure of the Fairmont Southampton hotel will be helped to find jobs elsewhere, the labour minister promised yesterday.Jason Hayward said the news, announced on Wednesday, was “yet another blow to an already challenged workforce and our economy”.He added the ministry would work with the Bermuda Industrial Union and its hotel division to make sure redundancy payouts were fairly calculated.He added that staff who hit financial troubles would be helped t

The central bus terminal kiosk in Hamilton is closed to for repairs to its air conditioning unit, the Government announced tonight.The Department of Public Transportation apologised for the late notice and for any inconvenience caused to the public.A Government spokesman said an update on the reopening date would be provided as soon as possible.

A total of 787 tests for the coronavirus came back clear today.The news meant the number of cases remained at 181, with five active cases, all monitored by health officials.None are in hospital.A total of 167 people have recovered from infection and the number of deaths stands 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 91.The number of on-island transmissions with

Staff left jobless by the closure of the Fairmont Southampton Hotel will get linked with work elsewhere, according to Jason Hayward, the labour minister.The mass redundancy on October 23 of up to 750 employees, roughly 500 of whom are Bermudian, will allow for 18 months of renovations at the South Shore resort, largely shut down because of the Covid-19 pandemic.Mr Hayward called the news, announced yesterday, “yet another blow to an already challenged workforce and our economy”.He sa

Shares of Bermuda Aviation Services improved five cents, or 4.5 per cent, to $1.15 after 5,400 traded on The Royal Gazette/BSX Index.There was also trading in 100,000 shares of One Communications Ltd, but with no change to the closing price of $4.On the New York Stock Exchange, shares of Butterfield Bank were up 44 cents, or 2.04 per cent, at $21.99.The Royal Gazette/BSX Index was up 0.23 of a point, or 0.01 per cent, at 1,731.67, while the BSX Insurance Index was down 23.64 points,

The City of Hamilton’s Taste of Bermuda drive-through culinary experience is just two short weeks away. The event will feature three nights of food and films to take place in the Par-la-Ville Car Park. The public is reminded that entry for each night of the event is via receipts totalling at least $25.00 from any City of Hamilton eatery. Taste of Bermuda lead coordinator, Allison Tucker, said, “Due to the pandemic and the subsequent changes that restaurants have adapted to, it’s more challenging

Members of the public can get a sneak preview of the new passenger terminal at the airport as Skyport tests out the new facility.Skyport said the body was looking for volunteers to serve as mock passengers in “trials” scheduled to take place before the airport opens.It said: “Between October 20 and November 19, Skyport will host a total of nine trial sessions, inviting more than 800 people to comprehensively test facilities, systems and procedures in the new passenger terminal building.

SECOND SPRING SENIORS BOWLING LEAGUESeptember 23Pinsplitters 0 New Comers 4Drifters 4 Islanders 0 Last Pin 0 Blue Angels 4Just Kickin 4 The Star Lites 0MENHandicap Game: Charles Pearman 223; Llewellyn Jones 199; McNeil Simmons 173 Handicap Series: Llewellyn Jones 561; McNeil Simmons 491; Charles Pearman 421 Scratch Game: Charles Pearman 141; Llewellyn Jones 130

On Monday, September 28, the Minister of Community Affairs and Sports, the Hon. Lovitta Foggo, JP, MP, will host the premiere film screening of “Louis Rafael ‘Kid’ Corbin: Breaking Golf’s Colour Line in America, Canada, and Bermuda”.The 20-minute short documentary explores the contributions of the Bermudian golfer Louis Raphael “Kid” Corbin, who led the charge against segregation in golf. The documentary features interviews with Dr. Jeffrey Sammons, Mr. Kim Swan JP, MP, and Mr. Corbin’s rel

The world’s first exchange-traded fund designed to track digital assets investments has been approved for listing on the Bermuda Stock Exchange.The Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index ETF, an open-ended investment fund that will operate as a traditional ETF will track the Nasdaq Crypto Index.An ETF is a basket of different assets bundled together, which trades much like a single stock. The development of an ETF for cryptocurrencies has the potential to open up the sector to a much broader group of

One Communications Ltd has adjourned the Annual General Meeting of its shareholders which was due to be held tomorrow. The company has been notified that the delivery of the notice convening the meeting, together with ancillary materials, was adversely affected by hurricane-related delays. This has resulted in shareholders not receiving adequate notice of the meeting in accordance with the company’s byelaws. In a statement, the company said: “Accordingly, to ensure that shareholders’ consti

A new investment adviser has joined LOM Financial (Bermuda) Ltd.Bermudian Melanie Gauntlett was previously a personal banker at Clarien for two years. She will join the investment team at LOM and specialise in developing bespoke investment strategies, providing portfolio oversight and the cultivation of client relationships. Mike Greaves, global head of sales at LOM, said: “We are delighted to have Melanie on the LOM team. She brings with her both knowledge and experience in the Bermuda mar

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