Police advise motorists to take alternative routes
Image: BPS
A heads-up for motorists … around 11am today a collision occurred in the Middle Road, Tee Street Devonshire area.
Police say initial information suggests that two vehicles and a pedestrian were involved.
Traffic diversions are currently in effect at that location and motorists are advised to expect delays, or take alternate routes, if possible.
An update will be provided when more information is available.
Many customers not receiving deliveries of gas cylinders
Bermuda Gas says it is optimistic that the current issues will be resolved soon. Image: bermudagas.com
Bermuda Gas & Utility Company Limited is currently facing significant disruptions due to industrial action which is affecting its ability to serve both residential and commercial customers.
In a press release, the company said the industrial action began in late November and has persisted longer than anticipated.
A spokesperson said: “We had hoped the matter would be resolved by now, as we had requested assistance from the Labour Relations Office, but unfortunately, that is not the case.
“It is unfortunate that our union partner has chosen to impact daily operations of an essential service during the holiday season. Although the actions are being framed as a ‘work to rule,’ this action against us is, in effect, a ban on contractual overtime, and is evolving exponentially into a go-slow, with sporadic occurrences of full work stoppage, which in our opinion is unlawful and unwarranted.”
Bermuda Gas has been unable to fulfill many of its bulk customers’ orders, deliver residential Liquid Propane Gas cylinders, or refill the BBQ cylinders found at RUBiS stations.
The company says it remains optimistic that the industrial action will be resolved soon.
Onion Drop, live music and food vendors will usher in 2025
‘Apeeling’ event: The Onion Drop on King’s Square. File photo
Heads-up, revellers … The Town of St. George is inviting everyone to its New Year’s Eve party on December the 31st.
The venue is historic King’s Square, home of the island’s official countdown and Onion Drop.
Organizers promise a night filled with music, dancing and celebration as 2025 is ushered in.
Mayor Quinell Francis, said: “The New Year’s Eve celebration in the Town of St. George is more than just an event; it’s a party that brings our entire community together. As we count down to midnight and celebrate with the Onion Drop, we’re reminded of the joy and unity that makes Bermuda so special.”
Festivities get underway at 8pm and there will be food vendors, a kids’ fun zone and live music.
This event is free, and free parking will be available.
Founder Aaron Crichlow calling for empathy this holiday season
‘Bermuda is Love’ founder, Aaron Crichlow Bermuda Broadcasting image
“Bermuda is Love’s not just about understanding that poverty or homelessness is an issue, but putting our love and empathy for others into action to solve those issues.” Aaron Crichlow says that year-end Christmas festivities provide the perfect opportunity for communal goodwill, encouraging Bermuda residents to ‘put themselves in someone else’s shoes’.
The charity’s ‘Empathy in Action’ December campaign included a free clothing giveaway, a blood drive, and an upcoming feeding programme at Christ Church in Warwick. “You don’t have to cultivate empathy in just December at Christmas time, but all throughout the year. You can always think about what you can do for other people…serving others in the name of love and empathy. “
Mr. Crichlow posits basic necessities are human rights, and anticipates Bermuda is Love playing a larger role in ensuring the country’s vulnerable population have those critical needs met. “Going into 2025 we are looking to set up programs that meet people’s basic needs.” A school breakfast programme, a partnership with the Coalition for the Protection of Children, is slated to start at Elliot Primary School. Additional initiatives are already in the works.
Despite Bermuda is Love’s upward trajectory, Mr. Crichlow says that there’s always a need for volunteers and support. “People who are interested in how they can get involved with the events and campaigns, you can join one of our working groups. At the moment we have twenty-five people who are actively planning events. Come join us and see how we can positively impact your community.” For more information, visit bermudaislove.com
Bermuda’s role in shaping the future of risk to be explored at next year’s event
Kendaree Burgess, Managing Director of the BDA: “Bermuda [is] a leader in the global (re)insurance industry.” Photo supplied
The Bermuda International Long Term Insurers and Reinsurers (BILTIR) has joined the 2025 Bermuda Risk Summit as a Platinum Sponsor.
In a press release, the Bermuda Business Development Agency says the move reinforces the event’s position as a premier gathering for the global (re)insurance industry.
The summit will take place at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club on March 10-12 next year.
BILTR join title sponsors, the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR) and EY, as well as other sponsors including AM Best, Aspen, SS&C Technologies, Kirkland & Ellis, KPMG, Aon, Fidelis Insurance Group, KBRA and Rein4ce. The Official Airline for the event isBermudAir
The 2025 Bermuda Risk Summit, themed “Redefining Resilience,” will explore Bermuda’s role in shaping the future of risk, driving innovation, and addressing global challenges.
Organizers state: “This year’s event builds on the island’s long-standing reputation as a global leader in (re)insurance, while setting the stage for transformative, thought-provoking discussions and fresh perspectives.”
Kendaree Burgess, Managing Director of the BDA, said: “We welcome BILTIR as a Platinum Sponsor. Their involvement reflects the high caliber of this event and underscores Bermuda’s role as a leader in the global (re)insurance industry. With the support of all our partners, we can continue to deliver a platform that fosters collaboration and drives meaningful progress for the industry.”
The BDA is also partnering with leading media organisations, including The Insurer (Thomson Reuters), Insurance Insider, Bermuda:Re+ILS, and Insurtech Insights to share the event’s highlights with a global audience.
See bda.bm for details.
Its an homage to the legendary Teddy Tucker Cross through a partnership with New York based jeweller who designed 10 replicas
Astwood Dickinson recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Bermuda collection.
In light of the celebration, Managing director Ian Smith and their team decided to highlight a jewellery piece each month – finishing the year off with a very special gem.
Kendal Trott reports.
17-year-old’s Kemiya Smith and Ceyarie Jackson have been performing with United Dance Productions since as long as they can remember.
An uplifting story now about Bermudian talent.
17-year-old’s Kemiya Smith and Ceyarie Jackson have been performing with United Dance Productions since as long as they can remember.
And this holiday season, the two talented dancers took to the stage in one of their final performances with the school – the 2024 edition of UDP’s Soulful Christmas Show.
Julie Matthews-Borshardt has the details in the video above.
Racing returned with a roar on Sunday as thousands of spectators gathered at Coney Island Park for the Pink Sands Scrambling motocross competition—an event the Government is hailing as a resounding “success.”
The buzz of motocross racing made a thrilling comeback at Coney Island Park on Sunday, providing nostalgic scenes for many Bermudians. It had been more than two decades since the venue last hosted racing, and its revival drew thousands of spectators.
The Pink Sands Scrambling motocross competition, organized by Jyire Mitchell, saw over 80 local and international riders competing for cash prizes in a family-friendly atmosphere.
Following the event, Lt. Col. David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, had nothing but praise for the organizers.
“I think it was better than my wildest dreams. It was well-organized and a tremendous success. I think that it proves you can do things differently in a space, return it to its natural state, and not cause any lasting damage,” Minister Burch said.
In the lead-up to the competition, plans to temporarily transform the National Park into a racetrack drew objections from environmentalists. However, Minister Burch supported Mr. Mitchell’s proposal, emphasizing the balance between opportunity and environmental responsibility.
He added that Coney Island Park is now in “better shape than it was before the event,” with organizers restoring its condition and taking the opportunity to clean up two decades of pollution from the lagoon.
On the cultural impact, Minister Burch highlighted how the event brought generations together to celebrate a key part of Bermuda’s history and identity.
“It’s a place of peace, and I think it’s because you insert young people into the equation who are racing, and in many instances, are supported by their fathers. And so, it’s a whole knock-on effect of familial and friendly benefits that come from motocross in the country. I just think it’s a tremendous compliment to their effort that you could have 8,000 people together and not one incident. Everybody operated on the basis that we’re here to watch motocross and motocross only,” he said.
While overcoming scrutiny from environmentalists was one challenge, it wasn’t the only hurdle Mr. Mitchell faced in bringing his vision to life. His planning application required checking additional boxes, which Minister Burch consulted on him with.
Looking forward, Minister Burch hopes the success of this event will inspire other young entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas.
“I hope that other young people, having seen his experience… because when I got to him, he was a little discouraged because he’d been told no at the first hurdle. And I just think that we, as a country, need to transition from being transient and say, yeah, we’ll explore just about anything. Some of the answers will be no, we can’t do it. But I suspect that a majority of them will actually be yes, and we’ll have this type of success on a number of fronts,” Minister Burch said.
Premier David Burt, who attended the event, echoed this sentiment, describing it as a “remarkable showcase of Bermudian talent and community spirit” and “a perfect example of what can happen when bold ideas are supported, which the government was proud to do.”
Rena Lalgie offers reassurance after high-profile cases involving powerful figures
Governor Rena Lalgie: “Individuals in every walk of life make errors of judgement … that does not necessarily mean that those institutions are … corrupt or failing.” Photo: Bernews
The system is working.
That’s the key takeaway from an extraordinary message issued by Governor Rena Laglie this afternoon, stressing the importance of accountability, transparency and integrity in public life.
“As well as recent headlines regarding various Police Conduct matters,” the Governor states, “there have been a series of stories in recent years reporting disciplinary and criminal matters taken up against members of the uniformed services and those in positions of significant power and influence.
“These individual cases may raise questions about standards and integrity in public life. Whilst some of these cases have shown up criminal, concerning or unacceptable behaviour, this is in fact a powerful demonstration that our accountability systems, whilst they could be stronger, are indeed working.
“Individuals in every walk of life make errors of judgement and sometimes show character flaws through their behaviour. That does not necessarily mean that those institutions are, in and of themselves, corrupt or failing.”
Governor Lalgie adds that public service is a privilege: “The public rightly has high expectations around the conduct, integrity and accountability of all public servants … I am pleased … that in recent years, the systems and processes that enable accountability have been applied effectively, fairly and with an appropriate degree of transparency.”.
Yellow lines missing on repaved roads due to broken machinery, says Public Works Minister.
Motorists may have noticed that all roadways repaved by the Government over the last year are missing the yellow centre lines.
According to Lt. Col. David Burch, Minister of Public Works, the issue is due to broken equipment. While repairs are ongoing, he could not commit to a specific timeline for when the issue will be resolved.
Minister Burch explained: “The machine is broken. We are having challenges with repair. Since the advent of post-Covid and supply chain issues, I’m not going to say I expect X, because when X date comes and it hasn’t happened, I will have misled you —that will be the accusation—or worse, I will have lied. So, as soon as we can, it will be fixed.”
In the meantime, dotted white lines have been placed down temporarily to mark the centre of newly repaved roads.
Minister Burch also delivered a strong message to those driving and riding across the island, urging motorists to slow down. He said: “I would say this is way outside of the Ministry of Public Works’ responsibility, but the people in this country need to slow down. Simple. The roads are dreadful—everybody knows that because everyone complains—but I see people riding and driving like they’re on a super highway.”
