Successful start for Team Bermuda as the inaugural Pickleball Caribbean Championships get underway
2 gold and 2 silver for Team Bermuda on day one of the inaugural Pickleball Caribbean Championships in the Cayman Islands. In juniors action Jaden Jones took gold in the under 18 singles while Owen Stewart claimed silver in the under 14 singles. Later Bermuda’s top 2 teams faced off in the finals of the mixed doubles with Team Captain Gavin Manders and Sasha Fisher edging out teammates Benjamin Jones and Imani Phillips in the 3rd set decider to take gold.
For the third consecutive election, the PLP has chosen to release its platform late in the evening—an apparent attempt to avoid scrutiny and limit public discussion before media deadlines.
“We know the PLP playbook,” said OBA candidate Robert King for constituency 10, Smith’s North. “But after seven years of failed leadership and broken promises, the real question is simple: Why should Bermudians believe anything in this latest platform?”
Over the last two elections, the PLP has pledged fish processing plants, vertical farms, casinos, balanced budgets, education reform, a dispute resolution centre, crypto jobs, universal healthcare, and action on gangs and violence—none of which have materialized.
“Tonight’s platform launch was nothing more than another list of empty promises,” said King. “They’ve had seven years to solve Bermuda’s problems, yet many have only worsened. Every voter should ask themselves: Am I better off now than I was seven years ago? If the answer is no, David Burt has got to go.”
OBA Deputy Leader Ben Smith reinforced the party’s stance, stating, “David Burt has a history of making promises he never intends to keep, just to win votes. As a result, nearly three-quarters of Bermudians are considering leaving for better opportunities elsewhere. It’s time for real change.”
After four years of rebuilding, the OBA has the leadership, the team, and the platform to turn Bermuda around.
“Today marks a turning point in this campaign,” said OBA leader Jarion Richardson. “We’re not going to dwell on the government’s failures or another list of promises that they intend to break—Bermudians already know how bad things have gotten. Instead, we are focused on a positive vision for the future. We have the people, the plan, and the commitment to make Bermuda the best place in the world to live, work, learn, play, and raise a family. And if given the opportunity, we will wake up every day with that mission in mind.”
Commitments include pausing new marine protected areas, decriminalising abortion, expanding affordable housing, and introducing absentee voting
All eyes were on Alaska Hall this evening as the Progressive Labour Party unveiled its 2025 Election Platform.
Premier and leader of the PLP David Burt and senior members of the party were in attendance tonight. And one of the pledges to be made by the PLP was of particular interest to fishermen.
If re-elected on February 18th, the PLP will pause the implementation of new marine protected areas.
They will hold off on what proved to be one of the most controversial aspects of the BOPP initiative – until an agreement is reached with local fishermen on better enforcement and fairer data collection rules, to support any new marine protected areas.
They will also aim to redirect funds collected from the sugar tax towards the agricultural and fishing sectors.
Feeling their voices have been ignored by officials, they called for a “government that listens” and includes them in ground-level decision-making on the future use of Bermuda’s waters.
These are some of the ranges of pledges announced in a 30-plus page document presented to the public and directed at all aspects of government policy, from domestic violence protections, legal reform, legislative changes for BELCO, affordable housing schemes, further duty relief on the import of essential items and electoral reform.
Premier Burt said: “The PLP is committed to introducing absentee voting for eligible overseas students registered in their course of study, ensuring their voices are heard in Bermuda’s democratic process.”
A number of pledges were made affecting social reforms for women and early stages of child development.
The PLP said it was committed to “removing pregnancy termination from the criminal code and the requirement for Committee approval” .. effectively, decriminalising abortions taking place in Bermuda.
Regarding immigration reform, the PLP said it would continue with their plan to implement and education authority to change how education is funded, governed and led whilst also transitioning away from the use of overseas consultants and focus on utilising local talent.
Education reform will continue as planned, by phasing out middle schools – returning the island’s public school system to a 2-tier framework.
To help educators involved in the five-year transitional period, the PLP pledges to “provide additional resources to support professionals in education as they navigate education reform, including enhanced support for professional development.”
The PLP platform also contained several economic measures meant to offer relief to the “sandwich generation” – those of working age, raising children while also tasked with financially supporting elderly members of their families.
Echoing Premier Burt’s announcement made last week, they said they are committed to the construction of “at least one new” senior daycare facility to reduce the financial burden on families during the work week.
An increase to the minimum wage and the development of a living wage was also mentioned in the party’s election platform – building on the implementation of the island’s first minimum wage introduced last June.
In addition to expanding the availability of more affordable housing on island, the PLP has made a pledge to introduce a rent-to-own scheme and a housing lottery for residents to take advantage of the Bermudiana Beach Resort making units open for locals.
Immigration reform pointed to a change to laws that would guarantee British Overseas Territory Citizen’s who were naturalised would not automatically be granted unlimited access to purchase land in Bermuda.
Looking at crime prevention, the PLP said it was committed to introducing speed cameras through the established island-wide CCTV system to improve road safety.
In the transport sector, the PLP government – if elected, would introduce a “scheme to increase the legal vehicle tint threshold through an annual fee at TCD” that “promotes safety…and generates additional government revenue.”
Opposition says the late PLP platform release limits public discussion before media deadlines
OBA Leader Jarion Richardson, Deputy Leader Ben Smith, and Smith’s North candidate Robert King
OBA Press Statement below:
“For the third consecutive election, the PLP has chosen to release its platform late in the evening—an apparent attempt to avoid scrutiny and limit public discussion before media deadlines.
“We know the PLP playbook,” said OBA candidate Robert King for constituency 10, Smith’s North. “But after seven years of failed leadership and broken promises, the real question is simple: Why should Bermudians believe anything in this latest platform?”
Over the last two elections, the PLP has pledged fish processing plants, vertical farms, casinos, balanced budgets, education reform, a dispute resolution centre, crypto jobs, universal healthcare, and action on gangs and violence—none of which have materialized.
“Tonight’s platform launch was nothing more than another list of empty promises,” said King. “They’ve had seven years to solve Bermuda’s problems, yet many have only worsened. Every voter should ask themselves: Am I better off now than I was seven years ago? If the answer is no, David Burt has got to go.”
OBA Deputy Leader Ben Smith reinforced the party’s stance, stating, “David Burt has a history of making promises he never intends to keep, just to win votes. As a result, nearly three-quarters of Bermudians are considering leaving for better opportunities elsewhere. It’s time for real change.”
After four years of rebuilding, the OBA has the leadership, the team, and the platform to turn Bermuda around.
“Today marks a turning point in this campaign,” said OBA leader Jarion Richardson. “We’re not going to dwell on the government’s failures or another list of promises that they intend to break—Bermudians already know how bad things have gotten. Instead, we are focused on a positive vision for the future. We have the people, the plan, and the commitment to make Bermuda the best place in the world to live, work, learn, play, and raise a family. And if given the opportunity, we will wake up every day with that mission in mind.””
The Bermuda National Gallery hosting photographs by Seth De Roulet
From the grasslands of Tanzania to some of the biggest waves in the world, photographer Seth De Roulet has captured some of Mother Earth’s most stunning scenes—and his work is currently making an appearance in Bermuda.
I sat down with Bermuda National Gallery Executive Director Jennifer Phillips to find out about their new exhibit, ‘Bending Light – Photographs by Seth De Roulet’.
She says that the Bermuda-resident incorporated the island into his work.
“Seth is an American, but he grew up spending summers in Bermuda. His ties to the island go back many, many years. During the pandemic, he and his wife moved to Bermuda.”
Seth was initially a big-wave photographer, shooting for major surfing and sports magazines.
It was during this time that he got involved with black and white, 35mm photography.
“When he was doing his work, he would take his camera along with him and eventually develop this portfolio.”
You can catch Bending Light at the Bermuda National Gallery from tomorrow, the 7th of February, 2025.
The exhibit is open from Tuesday to Friday 10am-4pm, and Saturdays from 10am-2pm.
Admission to the Gallery is free, courtesy of a generous donation from The Christian Humann Foundation.
You can find more information on ‘Bending Light’, here.
Petition urges government to reconsider school’s fate
More than 200 people have signed an online petition to save Prospect Primary School from closure.
The campus is set to shut its doors at the end of the academic year in June as part of government’s education reform plans.
Last year, Education Minister Diallo Rabain said the Devonshire campus would be redeveloped as a signature school for students with exceptionalities.
The petition, launched by Prospect parents yesterday, is calling on the relevant authorities to reconsider their decision and has already garnered more than 200 signatures.
The petition organisers said the notion of Prospect Primary School closing is “not only concerning but deeply personal.”
They highlight that students risk being relocated, separated from friends and teachers with whom they have formed strong connections.
Organisers said,“These bonds are crucial for their emotional development, and abruptly severing them could lead to long-lasting psychological impacts.”
They also expressed concern over the potential for larger class sizes as a result of the restructuring of the public school system.
“Children require a stable environment to excel, not chaos and uprooting to overpopulated schools,” organisers added.
Earlier this week, parents, students and politicians called for the government to halt plans to close Gilbert Institute in Paget.
Bermuda Broadcasting has reached out to the Ministry of Education for further comment.
General Wing visitor parking lot will be accessible from Berry Hill Road
Update via Bermuda Hospitals Board
Bermuda Hospitals Board advises the public that there will be no through traffic on the campus of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) between Point Finger Road and Berry Hill Road on Friday 7 February from approximately 1pm to 6pm.
The General Wing visitor parking lot will be accessible from Berry Hill Road.
To ensure safety, please adhere to all signage, barricades and directions of personnel at the site.
The road closure will facilitate two consecutive crane lifts, the first outside the Orthopaedic (Fracture) Clinic and the second by the General Wing lobby entrance.
This will allow the replacement of an air handling unit and air unit coils.
Doug De Couto says economy outside of IB has only grown 0.4% annually since pre-COVID
STATEMENT FROM DR DOUGLAS DE COUTO, SHADOW MINISTER OF FINANCE:
“Members of the media, good morning and thank you for joining me today.
The economy and the cost of living is perhaps the biggest concern of Bermudians today. From our canvassing, from conversations with family and friends, and in some cases our own experiences, we know that many people in Bermuda are struggling to make a living and get by.
We know this is one of the most important problems we need to work on for the Bermudian people.
That’s why our platform states that: “Every person living in Bermuda should have the means to live a dignified life with adequate healthcare, housing and food. Our mission is to ensure that every Bermudian, including the most vulnerable in our society, enjoys this basic right.”
There are many underlying causes for this problem, and while some may be out of our control, many are – and the One Bermuda Alliance is laser-focused to applying maximum effort to improving this for Bermuda.
The cost of living crisis is intertwined with our poor local economy. Government and industry statistics show that since before Covid:
• There are 989 fewer jobs on the island than since the PLP took power in 2017 • The local GDP has only grown 0.4% per year since before Covid – no growth at all • Shipping volumes are down -10% since before Covid – fewer people buying fewer things
How someone feels about their cost of living is directly related to the economic opportunities available to them – and people’s current mood reflects the local economy’s particularly poor performance under the current Government.
The Government will also want to claim success for reduced inflation – but that’s not much consolation for those stuck with already-high costs, and stagnating opportunity on-island.
The One Bermuda Alliance will tackle the cost of living by:
Growing the local economy and increasing opportunity
Improving healthcare coverages and reducing costs
Addressing housing costs and availability
Reducing the cost of energy and food
Supporting seniors
And, in all of our initiatives, we will take care to care of those most in need.
Local Economy
We believe in a growth mindset, and increasing the size of the economic pie for all. While there is an important and necessary role for direct Government support for those in need, we aim for a future where fewer people even require that support, because they have the opportunity for success.
We will cut red tape and bureaucracy and make it easier for Bermudians to start and run businesses. This includes increasing the certainty and transparency of working with Government. Today, Government ministers often override rules and regulations for some, but not others. We will ensure fair access to Government contracts for all. We will also cut payroll taxes for business that hire young Bermudians, to incentivize their employment.
And, we will attract high quality investment, from overseas and local investors. We will aggressively market to and seek them out – rather than fly to Dubai and CARICOM we will get actual projects and investments working on the ground today, that hire Bermudians and use Bermudian firms.
A growing economy will also attract a larger working population, helping with costs like healthcare and pensions, which can be reduced by spreading them over a larger, younger, and healthier population.
Healthcare
Health care costs and coverage are impacting Bermudians at all economic levels. Some Bermudians can’t afford any healthcare, some can’t retire for fear of losing healthcare, and others struggle with prescription and co-pay costs.
We will ensure that everyone in Bermuda can get good health care with good health outcomes – at an affordable cost. We will do this by working collaboratively with our health care professionals and insurers – not threatening to lock them up.
Food and energy
Like healthcare, food and energy costs are negatively impacted by our smaller working population. Fewer people buying food, gas, and electricity means those businesses need to charge more per person just to cover staff and operating costs. That’s why a growing, more vibrant economy with more workers is part of keeping those costs in control.
However, we’ll immediately cut the Sugar Tax, and work with importers, distributors, and retailers to ensure that savings makes it to the costs of goods experienced by Bermudians. We will also work with local farmers and fishermen to increase local food production. For example, rather than bringing in expensive foreign consultants pitching high-tech and energy intensive vertical farms, we’ll work with our experienced local farmers on “right-tech” solutions that work for Bermuda.
We’ll address energy costs by giving the Regulatory Authority stronger powers to keep electricity costs in check. And, we’ll work on practical and immediately useful expansions of renewable energy, such as streamlining planning and other rules to make solar power feasible for renters and those with lower incomes.
Seniors
Bermuda has an aging population, that needs to be taken care of with dignity and appreciation. Many individuals struggle to afford basic necessities as they age, and many families struggle to pay for care for their elders, including food, housing, and professional assistance. That’s why so many seniors are stuck in the hospital, when they should be somewhere dignified, comfortable, and cost-effective. We’ll support better services for our seniors, whether it to be to support independent living, or provide them a safe place to live with appropriate care.
It would be fair to say all of the above collectively represents an ambitious agenda, which we acknowledge. However, it’s all essential work to arrive at a fair and prosperous Bermuda for all of us.”
The Bermuda-based airline has recently purchased two new Embraer aircrafts to join their fleet in Spring 2025 boosting flight frequency
Three new destinations – Montreal, Richmond and Providence, were added to BermudAir’s schedule Photo: BermudAir
BermudAir will soon offer Montreal, Canada, Richmond, Virginia and Providence, Rhode Island as new routes from Bermuda, this spring. The company said BermudAir will operate twice-weekly flights to each of these destinations aboard their Embraer aircrafts direct to these destinations eliminating the need for complicated layovers. Two Embraer E190 aircrafts will be added to their existing fleet starting Spring 2025 creating additional flights to Orlando, Toronto and Halifax.
Adam Scott, Founder and C.E.O. at BermudAir said, “We understand just how critical it is to make Bermuda more accessible and at the same time, to provide residents with seamless access to key destinations, whether for work, school, family, or medical travel.
“These new routes and our significant investment in fleet expansion—reflect our commitment to providing improved service and reliability, more choices, and greater comfort with a stress-free travel experience for our community.”
A spokesperson added, “All flight schedules are subject to regulatory approval.” BermudAir currently services flights to Boston, New York, Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando-Florida, Toronto, Halifax, Hartford Bradley- Connecticut, Raleigh-Durham-North Carolina and Charleston-South Carolina.
Jarion Richardson, leader of the opposition One Bermuda Alliance says their policy objective remains to protect Bermudians
One Bermuda Alliance leader Jarion Richardson confirmed that the party would offer a public consultation on new proposals for immigration reform, should they be elected to government.
The General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18 with both parties the ruling Progressive Labour Party and the OBA fielding 36 candidates each. A historic 110 total candidates, including those representing the Free Democratic Movement and independents will vie for seats in parliament.
Last week, the PLP’s Premier and party leader David Burt, Economy and Labour Minister Jason Hayward, the minister responsible for immigration and PLP candidate Lauren Hayward Bell doubled down in opposition to the former OBA’s controversial ‘Pathways to Status’ bill that sought to grant Bermudian status to permanent resident certificate holders or those residing on the island for more than 20 years.
The subject was reignited after the OBA presented the person characterised by the PLP as the ‘architect’ of the bill, former Home Affairs minister, Michael Fahy as their candidate in Pembroke South West -widely seen as an OBA ‘safe seat’.
Mr. Richardson was asked whether or not an iteration of the controversial Pathways to Status bill would make a re-appearance should the OBA re-claim control of the government. He said firstly, the topic of immigration reform must be “de-weaponised” in order to find solutions to growing the country’s population size.
The Government has stated that the population will be comprised of 25% senior citizens by 2025 with an estimated 8,400 additional jobs needed for the economy to sustain the current population.
He said, “We have to protect Bermuda and Bermudians and part of doing that is making sure there’s enough economic resources and jobs in Bermuda and the way to do that is through immigration reform.
“So, there’s a lot of work to be done. There was a plan put forward. It, obviously…it was weaponised – I truly believe that. And to that end now, we have to effectively de-weaponise immigration and make immigration reform, not a topic that used to beat people about the head, but a genuine conversation about how Bermuda’s going to thrive into the next generation.”
The PLP argued last week during a news conference that their rejection of Pathways to Status was aimed at protecting young Bermudians who otherwise would have to compete for internships against the children of non-Bermudians and protect the small available size of land for Bermudians.
Mr. Richardson’s response points to a wider, pressing issue of coming to a solution that will equally protect Bermudians and expand the economic pie.
Placement of current and future cameras being assessed
National Security Minister Michael Weeks (File photo)
Update From National Security Minister Michael Weeks via Government press release:
Good day, Bermuda.
As your Minister for National Security, I want to begin by emphasizing that your voices matter.
I hear your concerns about privacy and the placement of CCTV cameras in your communities, and I want to assure you that they are being taken seriously.
My top priority is the safety and well-being of every resident of Bermuda.
A strong partnership between the government and the people we serve is essential to achieving that goal.
While CCTV cameras have played a critical role in crime prevention and law enforcement efforts, I fully understand that their presence raises valid privacy concerns.
I assure you that we are actively reviewing these concerns and assessing the placement of both existing and future cameras to ensure they meet our shared objectives- enhancing security while respecting individual privacy.
We will approach this process thoughtfully and transparently, with the goal of striking the right balance between safety and privacy.
Engagement with residents, community leaders, and key stakeholders will remain a priority throughout this process.
Your input is invaluable, and we are committed to working together to find solutions that address your concerns while keeping Bermuda safe for everyone.
Thank you for your patience, feedback, and trust as we navigate this important issue.
Rest assured, my team and I are listening, and we are dedicated to implementing a CCTV system that supports security and the rights of our community.
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