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New faces on Sargasso Sea panel

Tony McWilliam
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New faces on Sargasso Sea panel

Commissioners help to monitor the health of unique marine eco-system

The new line-up of the Sargasso Sea Commission. Images supplied

Three new appointments have been made to the Sargasso Sea Commission.
The Commission has a stewardship role in keeping the health, productivity and resilience of the Sargasso Sea under continual review.
The new Commissioners, approved by Cabinet, are Dr Frank Muller-Karger, Dr Ana Colaço and Dr David Johnson
Dr Frank Muller-Karger, a first-time appointment to the Commission, is a Professor in the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida with a PhD in Marine and Estuarine Sciences.
Dr Ana Colaço is a deep sea ecologist at the University of the Azores. She is now entering her second three-year term as a Sargasso Sea Commissioner.
And Dr David Johnson, a first-time appointment to the Commission, is a Director of Seascape Consultants Ltd. and the former Executive Secretary of OSPAR – the environmental organization responsible for the Northeast Atlantic.
The Sargasso Sea has a unique ecosystem characterized by floating seaweed, known as sargassum, which serves as habitat and breeding grounds for various marine species, including fish, turtles, and crustaceans. This biodiversity plays a crucial role in the local fishing industry and the diverse marine life supported by the Sargasso sea enhances Bermuda’s appeal as a tourist destination.
The Bermuda Government has led the Sargasso Sea initiative since 2010 and was one of the original signatories to the Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea, which celebrated its 10th anniversary earlier this year.
Commissioners working in their independent capacities collaborate with ten Signatory governments of the Hamilton Declaration.

Mischa Fubler joins the Senate

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Mischa Fubler joins the Senate

His appointment follows the untimely death last month of Senator Leslie Robinson

Newly-minted PLP Senator Mischa Fubler is seen here at his signing-in ceremony with Governor Rena Lalgie.         Photo supplied

A new Senate appointment was announced today.
On the advice of Premier David Burt, Governor Rena Lalgie appointed Mischa Fubler to the role of Senator.
Senator Fubler’s appointment is with immediate effect and will be followed by his appointment as a Junior Minister.
The move follows the untimely death last month of Senator Leslie Robinson.
Mischa Fubler is the PLP’s General Election candidate for Southampton East Central.
A Government press release this morning stated that Mr Fubler attended CedarBridge Academy, before continuing his education at York University in Toronto, where he obtained a B.A. in Urban Studies.
He also holds a M.Sc. in Information Systems from Brooklyn College in New York.
Mr Fubler leads a team of software developers at a Bermuda-based international reinsurance company as the Assistant Vice President of Applications and Management Information. 
Today’s press release stating that he regularly volunteers for local youth outreach opportunities, sharing his IT journey and career advice with middle and high school students. 

Bermuda Tonight – 26 November 2024

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Bermuda Tonight – 26 November 2024

Tourism numbers up, air arrivals still below 2019

Gary Foster Skelton
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Tourism numbers up, air arrivals still below 2019

Tourism visitor numbers continue their upward trend, although we are yet to get back to pre-pandemic levels.

Our cruise visitor numbers, however, have grown beyond 2019, bolstered by winter cruise arrivals. Air visitor spending is also up.

Although this year’s Q2 cruise visitors were more than 28,000 below 2019, compared to pre-pandemic numbers we had 6,000 more visitors in Q3, and 31,000 additional cruisers in Q1.

63,000 more tourists have stopped in Bermuda so far this year, compared to 2023, and 185,000 more than in 2022.

We’re still more than 36,000 shy of where we were in 2019 at this time of year – and it’s our air arrivals that are holding us back.

46,000 fewer tourists have landed at our airport so far in 2024, compared to pre-pandemic 2019.

On the other hand, estimated air visitor spending is above 2019 for the second quarter running – comparatively, an extra $7.4 million dollars going into our economy between July and September (although this does not account for inflation).

Year to date, air visitors are thought to have spent $61 million more than last year, and $5.4 million more than 2019 – again, not accounting for inflation.

Equipment snag puts kidney stone surgeries on hold

Tony McWilliam
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Equipment snag puts kidney stone surgeries on hold

Hospital acknowledges “frustration” of patients who need treatment

The hospital is sourcing a replacement pedal to fix laser equipment.        File photo

Kidney stone surgeries are on hold while the hospital waits for a part to fix its laser equipment.
There are about three kidney stone surgeries a week at the hospital, carried out by the three on-island urologists. 
But kidney surgeries started being cancelled from November the 6th.
A Bermuda Hospitals Board spokesperson telling Bermuda Broadcasting this evening that it is sourcing a replacement pedal, from the manufacturer Olympus, for a piece of three-year-old laser equipment: “Kidney stones are painful so we fully appreciate patients who need them treated will be very frustrated.  We also recognise that delays in treatment may cause complications, so will be working with the local urologists until the pedal is replaced to identify if patients need overseas referrals.”
The hospitals board says it is relying on Olympus to provide the part as soon as possible and is doing all it can to ensure that they deliver the part quickly.

Bermuda is tipped to become the next hub of a carbon credit registry

Jasmine Patterson
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Bermuda is tipped to become the next hub of a carbon credit registry

Carbon credits are climate financing initiative that could help to get sustainability projects off the ground, which have already been used in Costa Rica, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and Japan.

Kevin Richards, President and Managing Director of Bermuda Asset Management sat down with Jasmine Patterson to talk about the work being done behind the scenes to fill gaps in the innovation and tech spaces.

He is also the co-found of the Bermuda Innovation and Technology Association (BITA) tasked since 2022 with gathering the industries tech leaders from the Island and abroad.

For the full story, click the video link above.

Bermuda Tonight – 25 November 2024

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Bermuda Tonight – 25 November 2024

Hopping from hospitality to law enforcement?

Gary Foster Skelton
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Hopping from hospitality to law enforcement?

This year, police ran an extra recruitment drive, and actively promoted the fact that resident work permit holders can now apply.

Police Commissioner Darrin Simons also told us they will double-up on recruitment drives for the next two years to increase their presence across Bermuda.

24 new recruits are set to begin training in December.

Commissioner Simons lauded the impact of widening the net to recruit resident work permit holders and their eligible spouses.

“We will now be two courses where we’ve had 5 or 6 additional bums on seats that we wouldn’t have had”, he said.

Anecdotally, Bermuda Broadcasting has heard about at least two work permit holders moving from hospitality to law enforcement in the most recent recruitment drive.

Commissioner Simons says this could be a good fit…

“The nature of hospitality work really lends itself to policing because they have, generally speaking… a customer service kind of focus.”

“At the end of the day, policing is a service. And how people feel about that service is critically important.”

Appeal to help struggling families

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Appeal to help struggling families

Poised to launch its biggest annual fund-raiser, The Salvation Army says the need is greater than ever

Bermuda might be one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but many families rely on charitable help to get by.             Image supplied.

The Salvation Army’s Annual Christmas Kettle Campaign will start on Wednesday on the steps of City Hall.
The launch event, which starts at noon, will feature Governor Rena Lalgie and local dignitaries. The Town Crier will make a proclamation and the Northlands Primary School Choir and The Salvation Army Band will perform for the event.
The Salvation Army says this year’s campaign is critical to addressing the growing needs of families facing food insecurity and financial hardship.
Captain Dennis Maybury, Bermuda Regional Public Relations Officer, said: “Last year just under 50,000 visits were made to the Salvation Army for assistance.
“Without volunteers and community support, we can’t meet this growing demand. For The Salvation Army to provide these critical services throughout the year we rely on community efforts to raise one million dollars in kettles and donation support.”
Last year, the Salvation Army provided 8,085 seniors and local families with food hampers and toys at Christmas. This year, The Salvation Army stated in a press release issued today, the need is even greater.The charity says that every dollar raised stays in Bermuda, funding programmes such as housing support, food banks, hot meals, street ministry, substance recovery, and emergency relief — not just during Christmas but year-round. For details on how to donate, go online to salvationarmy.bm or call 292-0601.

Bermuda Tonight – 22 November 2024

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Bermuda Tonight – 22 November 2024

‘We’re electing high charisma, low competence’

Gary Foster Skelton
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‘We’re electing high charisma, low competence’

OBA Leader Jarion Richardson says we’re currently focused on electing people with high charisma and low competence.

Mr Richardson was responding to a report that recommends pay rises for MPs, to which he is opposed.

The report also notes that Cabinet Ministers are not required to have relevant experience.

When asked if this suggests that there is a lack of relevant expertise among MPs, the OBA Leader said, “I think you have to be careful because democracy isn’t a question of getting a technocrat to to do a job… democracy is about people, and people get elected and they do jobs.”

“I do think that we lean too much right now in our elections process on selecting people who have a high charisma and a low competence.”

Mr Richardson said an OBA Government would seek to reduce the number of cabinet ministers, and possibly even the number of MPs and constituencies…

JR: “…one of the first things we said we’d do when we got into government is look under the hood. And some of the things might be so difficult to fix that we need someone to stay there and pay attention to it… But, ideally our entire direction of travel is reducing the amount of cabinet ministers.”

GFS: “Would an OBA government reduce the number of MPs, or essentially the number of constituencies?”

JR: “There’s a number of different reports that have to get done first, before a person can authentically say, ‘yeah, this is the exact number of seats we’ll go down’. But again, in principle, we agree… There’s just too many legislators. There’s too many cabinet ministers. There’s just too many of all these people.”

We reached out last week to ask Premier David Burt if he supported any kind of pay rise for MPs, and for a response to the Board’s comments about Cabinet Ministers’ skills and experience.

We did not receive answers from the Premier.

However, a Cabinet Office spokesperson responded, saying that the Salaries Review report was generated by an independent body. Once appointed, the board operates autonomously without direction from Government, the spokesperson said.

Two men hospitalised following shooting inside a Warwick home

Jasmine Patterson
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Two men hospitalised following shooting inside a Warwick home

Neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots and a motorcyle leaving the scene in the St. Mary’s Road, Warwick area around 9 p.m. Thursday, November 21, 2024.

Two men remain in hospital after being injured in a firearms incident Thursday night in Warwick, police have confirmed.

Upon arrival shortly after 9.pm., it was confirmed that two males had sustained gunshot injuries.

They were attended to at the scene by E.M.T’s before being transported by ambulance to King Edward Memorial Hospital.

No one has been arrested in connection with the incident.

While at the scene Thursday night, Chief Inspector Scott Devine confirmed an investigation is currently underway and is in its early stages.

“As far as we can understand, it was inside a property, yes,” said Chief Inspector Devine.

It is unclear whether other occupants were inside the Cedar Heights Lane home at the time of the shooting incident.

Again any witnesses or anyone with relevant information should contact Detective Sergeant Anneka Donawa on 717-2250 or call the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477 or speak with an officer you are familiar with.

The main BPS switchboard number is 295-0011.

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