Bermuda News Updates

Tributes were paid today to one of Bermuda’s most celebrated fishermen, who died yesterday, aged 84.Llewellyn Hollis, who helped save many lives on rescue missions, was described by the community affairs minister as “a true Bermudian treasure”.Lovitta Foggo said: “Mr Hollis was considered one of Bermuda’s finest fishermen who was committed to the arts of the sea throughout the course of his life, including making shark-oil barometers, scuba diving, and powerboat racing. “In addition

Social Justice Bermuda (SJB) is a collective of Bermudians who are inspired by the global Black Lives Matter Movement and the way that communities around the world are standing together to tackle and dismantle oppressive systems of injustice and racism. A SJB task force was formed to address cannabis reform and to advocate for a sensible and regulated cannabis market that is based on restorative justice and empowers those who have been oppressed by historical cannabis prohibition laws.

The Progressive Labour Party was accused of “stunning hypocrisy” yesterday for its barrage of abuse of the airport terminal development.The attack by Douglas DeCouto of the One Bermuda Alliance brought a sharp response from the PLP, which criticised the OBA’s transparency record when it was in power between 2012 and 2017.But Mr DeCouto, the OBA candidate for Warwick North Central, said the OBA had released more information on the deal “than any other Government project in history”.He

Police have released two photos in relation to a serious sex assault on a 31-year-old woman and asked for the public’s help in identifying the suspect.The photos, which show the suspect on a motorcycle, were taken by a CCTV camera at the junction of Par La Ville Road and Front Street at 6.30am on Sunday.Detective Superintendent Nicholas Pedro said: “We believe someone in the community may recognise the person on this bike, whether they saw them that same morning, or because they know them p

A teenager reported missing yesterday was found safe and well, police said today.The police thanked the public’s assistance in finding Noldre Brown, 16.

A founding member of the Free Democratic Movement has resigned from the group and will not be a candidate in the General Election.Kae Thomas Palacio announced the move this morning.A press release said: “Kae Thomas Palacio has resigned as a founder and member of the Free Democratic Movement and has withdrawn her candidature from the upcoming General Election in C31 Southampton West Central. “She extends her best wishes to the FDM in the upcoming election. “It leaves Ben Smith

Chaka DeSilva will rest his Johnnie Walker Classic title on the line at Ocean View Golf Course this weekend.The 40-year-old is among 19 professionals competing for a share of the $4,000 purse during the 36-hole championship, which will take place at the Devonshire course tomorrow and Sunday.”I am extremely excited to get out on the golf course and play some competitive golf,” DeSilva said. “Obviously the coronavirus pandemic has put a halt to a lot competitive golf, so it’s really nice to g

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