Sunday, November 8, 2026
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‘We can strengthen ties to Caribbean without $2.2M payout’

Ahead of the latest Town Hall on full CARICOM membership this evening, Shadow Home Affairs Minister says people are confused as to the benefits versus cost, and suggests Bermuda can deepen cultural ties to Caribbean without the price tag

The OBA’s Dwayne Robinson believes audiences at the recent CARICOM town halls remain perplexed about the tangible benefits of full membership, which carries a hefty price tag.

The Shadow Home Affairs Minister also cites the CARIFTA Games and Bermuda joining the Caribbean Golf Association as ways we can align closer with the Caribbean culturally, while remaining an associate member of CARICOM.

On potential benefits to entrepreneurs, Mr. Robinson says “most folks who we have spoken to, especially small business owners and owners of businesses, are able to set up and have branches in CARICOM now”.

“It doesn’t really come across as if there’s really huge hurdles to jump in order to start business, and to open up businesses in the Caribbean if you are based in Bermuda.”

Regarding the the labour force, Mr. Robsinson says Government does not need to take Bermuda to full CARICOM membership to change immigration policy and make it easier to exchange labour between us and the Caribbean.

Mr. Robinson also reiterates the One Bermuda Alliance’s position that Government should hold a referendum on full CARICOM membership – and adds that the OBA would support full membership if a referedum showed it is the will of the people.

PREJUDICE

When asked about the argument that there is an anti-Caribbean prejudice driving resistance to CARICOM, Mr. Robinson says he agrees with Alexa Lightbourne, Minister of Home Affairs, about the need to improve education about our ties to the Caribbean.

However, he does not believe that is what is behind some of the concerns being raised…

“There are always going to be people that are prejudiced,” he says, “but most of the concerns that I’ve heard voiced from the town halls, and to me personally, come from all shades and backgrounds of Bermudians who are just simply concerned about why we will be paying $2.2 million now … as a full member, versus staying as an associate member, and trying to maximize what we can do with that.”

Ultimately, Mr Robinson believes Bermuda doesn’t need to be a full CARICOM member to strengthen our cultural ties to the Caribbean.

“We can do shared festivals. We can do enhancements to our education system that showcase our Caribbean roots … we can have more town halls based specifically on educating us about what Bermudians have done or been tied to in the Caribbean prior to this.”

“[CARICOM is] not the end-all-be-all for our cultural ties to the Caribbean … that comes down to tradition, family ties, history …”

“You cannot dictate that based on being a full member of CARICOM or not. It just is.”

EAST END TOWN HALL

The latest Government Town Hall on full CARICOM membership takes place tonight in St George’s, starting at 7:00PM at the Penno’s Whard Cruise Ship Terminal.

This will be the third town hall, after a central meeting in April, and a west-end meeting last week.

The first presentation focused heavily on Bermuda’s cultural and historical connections to the Caribbean and on economic opportunity, as opposed to immediate tangible economic benefits of full membership.

At last week’s town hall in Sandys, The Royal Gazette reported that some attendees questioned the necessity of the $2.2 million membership fee – a six-to-ten-fold increase on our current associate membership costs.

Nevertheless, Home Affairs Minister Alexa Lightbourne previously affirmed that, as the elected Government of the day they see benefits to deepening ties with CARICOM. She acknowledged that there may be different perspectives on the rewards, adding that “a benefit for me may not be a benefit for you”.

New season of Harbour Nights set to get underway

Harbour Nights is due to re-start on Front Street tomorrow, with an expanded 2026 season. It was called off last week due to bad weather.
The weekly event will once again feature live entertainment, food vendors, local artisans and businesses.

Kendal Trott spoke to Jennifer Woods, CEO of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, who said that around 150 vendors are expected this year. 
She also explained how the public can stay updated on weather announcements and important Harbour Nights information throughout the season.

We also spoke with Jerry-Dee Richardson and Brittany Haley of JB’s Coastal Creations, a vendor that has participated in Harbour Nights for the past three years, who shared the benefits they believe the event brings to local businesses and the wider community.

Sixth road fatality confirmed after Paget crash

Police say Leroy Smith succumbed to injuries sustained in April collision

The Bermuda Police Service can now confirm that 43-year-old Leroy Smith, who was involved in a single vehicle collision shortly after 11:15 p.m. on Thursday, 30th April 2026, has succumbed to injuries sustained in that incident.

His death marks the 6th road fatality of 2026. The Bermuda Police Service extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Smith.

The deceased was the pillion passenger on a motorcycle ridden along Harbour Road in Paget, near Lower Ferry, when the vehicle was involved in a collision while negotiating a bend.

Both the rider and Mr. Smith were thrown from the motorcycle. The rider was not reported to be seriously injured.

A 26-year-old man has since been arrested in connection with this collision and enquiries remain ongoing.

Police continue to appeal for any additional witnesses, or persons who may have information relevant to this investigation, to contact Constable Bianca Glasford on 247-1175 or via email at bglasford@bps.bm, at the earliest opportunity.

Two fatal crashes recorded in one day

Police confirmed the deaths of two men following separate road collisions on Monday

The Bermuda Police Service can now confirm the deaths of two men who lost their lives as a result of separate road traffic collisions yesterday, 18th May. These tragic incidents bring the total number of fatal road traffic collisions in Bermuda, so far this year, to eight.

Fatal Collision Palmetto Road, Devonshire

Police and other first responders were dispatched to a serious two-vehicle collision involving a public bus and a motorcycle on Palmetto Road, Devonshire, approximately 11:24 a.m. on Monday, 18th May 2026.

Initial information suggests that a 73-year-old male motorcyclist was travelling in a westerly direction when his vehicle collided with a public bus driven in the opposite direction.

Attending officers immediately commenced lifesaving efforts until the arrival of EMTs.

The victim was subsequently transported to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital via ambulance, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The male bus driver was not reported to be injured.

Anyone who may have witnessed this collision is asked to contact Constable Ralshon Douglas on 717-0964 or via email at rdouglas@bps.bm, at the earliest opportunity.

Fatal Collision Malabar Road, Sandys

Shortly before midnight on Monday, 18th May 2026, police and other first responders attended the scene of a serious two-vehicle collision involving a motorcycle and a livery cycle on Malabar Road in Sandys, near the junction with Kitchener Road.

Initial information suggests that the motorcyclist was travelling in an easterly direction when he collided with a rental cycle, carrying a male and female believed to be visitors.

The 30-year-old male motorcycle rider was found seriously injured at the scene.

Lifesaving measures were initiated by attending EMTs before the victim was transported to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital via ambulance. Unfortunately, he later succumbed to his injuries.

The male and female occupants of the livery cycle were also transported via ambulance to hospital for treatment of injuries and later released. The male visitor has been arrested in connection with this incident and enquiries are ongoing.

Traffic in the area was brought to a standstill for several hours while the scene was processed.

Anyone who may have witnessed this collision or who may have information relevant to the investigation is asked to contact Constable Bianca Glasford on 247-1175 or via email at bglasford@bps.bm, at the earliest opportunity.

The Bermuda Police Service extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of both men, who tragically lost their lives in these recent collisions.

UK’s FTSE 100 ends marginally higher as bond yields resume their rise

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed 0.1% higher at 10,330.5 points after rising as much as 0.8% earlier in the day

FILE PHOTO: Branding is seen inside the LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) headquarters in Paternoster Square, London, Britain, April 25, 2025. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

International News via Reuters:

UK’s blue-chip FTSE 100 ended slightly higher on Tuesday as the global move higher in government bond yields hit sentiment, overshadowing optimism stemming from labour market data that eased worries of an immediate rate hike.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed 0.1% higher at 10,330.5 points after rising as much as 0.8% earlier in the day. The midcap FTSE 250 reversed its initial gains to fall 0.2%.

• Data showed Britain’s employers reined in their hiring and posted fewer job vacancies in April, prompting investors to cut their bets on Bank of England interest rate hikes.

• “For the MPC, this sharpens the policy tension: while energy‑driven inflation risks dominate near term, the labour market backdrop is already loosening, increasing the risk that policy remains too tight and entrenches unnecessary weakness,” said Jefferies economist Modupe Adegbembo.

• Traders expect a 29.1% chance of a rate hike at the June meeting, according to data compiled by LSEG.

• Long-dated government bond yields resumed their uptrend on Tuesday as the inflationary impact of the Iran war unsettled investors.

• Yield on both the 10-year gilt and the 30-year gilt were higher on the day after inching lower in the last session.

• Most FTSE 350 sectors trended higher, with medical equipment and services and personal goods among the top gainers.

• A drop in metal prices hit miners listed in the UK, with the sector for precious metal miners sliding 3.7%, and industrial metal miners down 2.7%.

• Meanwhile, political uncertainty still remained in focus as Keir Starmer earlier this week reiterated that he would remain at the helm, but several of his Labour Party’s lawmakers have called for him to quit.

• Among single stocks, IG Group rose 10.5%, the biggest gainer on the FTSE 100, after it raised its annual and medium-term revenue forecasts for the second time this year.

Reporting by Niket Nishant and Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore

Ebola deaths in eastern Congo rise to 131, WHO voices deep concern

The new deaths brought to 131 the fatalities associated with the outbreak in eastern DRC

International News via Reuters:

Twenty-six more suspected Ebola deaths were recorded in 24 hours in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities said on Tuesday, and the head of the World Health Organization expressed deep concern about the outbreak’s spread.

The new deaths brought to 131 the fatalities associated with the outbreak in eastern DRC. There have been 516 suspected cases and 33 confirmed cases in DRC, according to a daily bulletin published by health authorities, and two confirmed cases in neighbouring Uganda.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus a public health emergency of international concern on Saturday, the first time a WHO chief has done so before convening an emergency committee.

The outbreak has alarmed experts because it was able to spread for weeks undetected across a densely populated area ravaged by widespread armed violence. A 2018-2020 outbreak in eastern DRC was the second deadliest on record, killing nearly 2,300 people.

Butembo, a city of hundreds of thousands of people, recorded its first two confirmed cases on Monday, Jean-Jacques Muyembe, director of Congo’s National ​Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB), told Reuters.

Ugandan authorities have started restricting movement across the Ishasha-Kyeshero border crossing, Ambrose Amanyire Mwesigye, a local government official, told Reuters, though he said the border was not formally closed.

Further south, Congolese people trying to cross into Rwanda from the cities of Goma and Bukavu were being stopped at the border, Reuters reporters said. Rwandan officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

The WHO had on Saturday urged countries not to close their borders, saying this could lead to informal border crossings that are not monitored.

AMERICANS TO BE EVACUATED TO GERMANY

Ebola, which spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people or animals, has an average fatality rate of around 50%, according to the WHO.

“I’m deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic,” Tedros told members of the World Health Assembly in Geneva on Tuesday.

WHO’s representative in DRC, Anne Ancia, said identifying cases was slowed by limited diagnostic capacity for the Bundibugyo strain, with just six tests possible per hour.

Experts say the delays in detecting the outbreak show gaps in preparedness following cutbacks by the U.S. and other major donors to global health funding.

“We seemed to have wasted a pandemic because everybody has gone back to doing what they’re doing,” Sierra Leone’s health minister, Austin Demby, said in Geneva.

One American has tested positive for Ebola, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday.

The individual, identified as Dr Peter Stafford by his Christian mission organisation, and six other Americans who were exposed to the virus were being moved to Germany for care and monitoring, the CDC said.

The U.S. suspended entry of travellers who had been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan during the past 21 days, with certain exceptions, for 30 days and urged Americans not to travel to those countries for any reason.

In a statement on Tuesday, Africa CDC, the continent’s top health agency, said such restrictions can hurt economies, discourage transparency and complicate humanitarian operations.

EXPERTS TRY TO DEVELOP TREATMENTS AND VACCINES

Unlike with the more common Zaire strain, there is no approved virus-specific ​therapeutics or vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain.

The U.S., which said it had mobilised an initial $13 million to respond to the outbreak, is working to develop a monoclonal antibody therapy as a potential treatment, the CDC said.

A panel of experts led by the WHO was meeting on Tuesday to discuss vaccine options that could help tackle the outbreak. The WHO’s Ancia said Merck & Co’s Ervebo was one candidate but that it would take two months to be available.

President Donald Trump formally withdrew the U.S. from the WHO in January after criticising its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ancia said the WHO had been working “very well” with the U.S. government on the Ebola outbreak but reductions in health funding had had a “tremendous impact” on the organisation’s ability to counter the disease.

Emma Farge reported from Geneva; Additional reporting by Jennifer Rigby in London, Olivia Le Poidevin in Geneva and Elias Biryabarema in Kampala; Writing by Aaron Ross; Editing by Timothy Heritage

U.S. troop withdrawal will not undermine NATO defence in Europe, top commander says

Grynkewich, speaking in Brussels where he met with military chiefs from NATO countries, added that European allies and Canada are taking more responsibility for the conventional defence in Europe

U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, commander of the U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the “posture of the U.S. European Command and U.S. Transportation Command in review of the Defense Authorization Request”, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

International News via Reuters:

NATO’s top commander Alexus Grynkewich said on Tuesday that a U.S. decision to withdraw an armoured brigade, or a total of 5,000 troops, from Europe will not undermine the alliance’s defence plans in the region.

Grynkewich, speaking in Brussels where he met with military chiefs from NATO countries, added that European allies and Canada are taking more responsibility for the conventional defence in Europe with continued backing from the U.S. capabilities, which are being adjusted.

“As the European pillar of the alliance gets stronger, this allows the U.S. to reduce its presence in Europe and limit itself to providing only those critical capabilities that allies cannot yet provide,” Grynkewich said, adding that he couldn’t provide an exact timeline but that it would be an “ongoing process for several years”.

Reporting by Sabine Siebold, Inti Landauro, editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout

Trump says US may attack Iran again but that Tehran wants deal

Trump was speaking to reporters at the White House a day after saying he had paused a planned resumption of hostilities following a new proposal by Tehran to end the U.S.-Israeli war

People walk past a mural depicting the late leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and the late Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, Iran, May 12, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

International News via Reuters:

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. may need to strike Iran again and that he had been an hour away from ordering an attack before postponing it.

Trump was speaking to reporters at the White House a day after saying he had paused a planned resumption of hostilities following a new proposal by Tehran to end the U.S.-Israeli war.

“I was an hour away from making the decision to go today,” Trump said on Tuesday.

Iran’s leaders are begging for a deal, he said, adding that a new U.S. attack would happen in coming days if no agreement was reached.

“Well, I mean, I’m saying two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something, maybe early next week, a limited period of time, because we can’t let them have a new nuclear weapon.”

In Tehran, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee, said on X that pausing an attack was due to Trump’s realization that any move against Iran would mean “facing a decisive military response”.

Iranian state media said Tehran’s latest peace proposal involves ending hostilities on all fronts including Lebanon, the exit of U.S. forces from areas close to Iran, and reparations for destruction caused by the U.S.-Israeli attacks.

Tehran also sought the lifting of sanctions, release of frozen funds and end to the U.S. marine blockade, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi as cited by IRNA news agency.

The terms as described in the Iranian reports appeared little changed from Iran’s previous offer, which Trump rejected last week as “garbage”.

BOTH SIDES ‘CHANGING GOALPOSTS’, SAYS PAKISTANI SOURCE

Reuters could not determine whether military preparations had been made for strikes that would mark a renewal of the war Trump started in late February.

He is under pressure to reach an accord that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz – a key supply route for global supplies of oil and other commodities. Trump has previously expressed hope that a deal was close on ending the conflict, and similarly threatened heavy strikes on Iran if it did not reach an accord.

Trump said on Monday that Washington would be satisfied if it could reach an agreement that prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

“There seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I would be very happy,” Trump told reporters.

A Pakistani source confirmed that Islamabad, which has conveyed messages between the sides since hosting the only round of peace talks last month, had shared the Iranian proposal with Washington. 

The sides “keep changing their goalposts,” the Pakistani source said, adding: “We don’t have much time.”

The U.S.-Israeli bombing killed thousands of people in Iran before it was suspended in a ceasefire in early April. 

Israel has killed thousands more and driven hundreds of thousands from their homes in Lebanon, which it invaded in pursuit of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. 

Iranian strikes on Israel and neighbouring Gulf states have killed dozens of people.

The Iran ceasefire has mostly held, although drones have lately been ​launched from Iraq ​towards ⁠Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and ⁠Kuwait, apparently by Iran and its allies. 

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they launched the war to curb Iran’s support for regional militias, dismantle its nuclear programme, destroy its missile capabilities, and create conditions for Iranians to topple their rulers.

But the war has yet to deprive Iran of its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium or its ability to threaten neighbours with missiles, drones and proxy militias. 

The Islamic Republic’s clerical leadership, which had faced a mass uprising at the start of the year, withstood the superpower onslaught with no sign of organised opposition.

Trump spoke on Tuesday shortly after his administration imposed sanctions on an Iranian foreign currency exchange house and what it said were front companies overseeing transactions on behalf of Iranian banks.

Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by William Maclean; Editing by Peter Graff and Andrew Cawthorne

Champions crowned after final stand at Kim Burns Memorial

The third annual Kim Burns Memorial Pickleball Tournament reached a dramatic crescendo at the W.E.R. Joell Tennis Stadium, with a glittering day of finals bringing a breathless week of high-octane action to an end.

Following a grueling group stage, the knockout rounds produced a tactical showcase of baseline grit and high-intensity volleys as medals were decided across multiple divisions.

In the Men’s 3.5 Singles Open, Pool A heavyweight Donn Trott maintained his flawless form to capture the coveted gold medal. His pool rival Nicholas Butterfield took home a well-deserved silver, while Pool B standout Owen Stewart clinched the bronze.

The elite Men’s 4.5 Singles division treated spectators to a masterclass in power and precision. Ben Jones emerged as the class of the field, delivering a clinical performance under pressure to secure the gold medal over a resilient Jasper Thomas.

More silverware was decided in the ultra-competitive Men’s 4.0 Singles division, where Rian Michelsen demonstrated flawless court coverage to claim the gold medal. Nicolaas Van Der Westhuizen fought valiantly to settle for silver, while Aman Sangareria won a tense third-place playoff to round out the podium with bronze, capping off a spectacular week for local pickleball.

Somersfield Academy dominate middle school badminton championships

Somersfield Academy enjoyed a spectacular day on home soil, sweeping three of the four gold medals on offer at the 2026 Bermuda School Sports Federation’s Middle School Girls Badminton Championships.

The undisputed star of the tournament was Somersfield’s Emmalyn Tothong, who produced a masterclass in badminton to secure a magnificent golden double in the under-13 division.

Tothong kickstarted her golden run in the under-13 singles final, where she faced off against teammate Hanako Kitade. Showing ruthless precision, Tothong controlled the court from start to finish to cruise to a straight-sets 15-2, 15-5 victory.

Tothong was back on court shortly after for the under-13 doubles tournament, this time partnering with Jeanne Prabis. The formidable duo proved far too strong for the Warwick Academy pairing of Ava Swart and Madeliene McBain, wrapping up the gold medal with a convincing 15-5 win.

To cap off a dominant age group for the hosts, the Somersfield pair of Hanako Kitade and Sophie Ferrar battled their way onto the podium to claim the bronze medal.

The dominance of the host school spilled over into the over-13 girls singles division, which culminated in an all-Somersfield Academy final. Kate Purcell showcased her title credentials with a powerful performance against Aniah Tucker, claiming the over-13 crown with a 15-5, 15-7 triumph.

Warwick Academy managed to disrupt the hosts’ clean sweep, starting with a grueling third-place playoff in the singles. Devi Samuels had to dig incredibly deep in a tense, three-set thriller against her own doubles partner, Annabelle Shah. After taking the first set 15-12, Samuels dropped a nail-biting second set 14-16, but recovered her composure beautifully in the decider to storm to a 15-7 victory and secure the bronze.

That hard-fought singles battle clearly galvanized the Warwick Academy duo, as Samuels and Shah put their individual rivalry aside to team up for the over-13 doubles tournament. The pair produced their best badminton of the day in the final, upsetting Somersfield’s Anya-Aeleishe Pearman and Aniah Tucker with a clinical 15-9 victory to take a well-deserved gold medal back to Warwick.

Somersfield still managed to make their presence felt on the podium in the final event, as individual champion Kate Purcell teamed up with Della Masters to claim third place with a swift 15-3 demolition of the Saltus Grammar School pairing of Lauren Simons and Sophie Lacasse.

Narraway competes in Gran Premio New York City

Costa Rica’s Sebastián Brenes Mata produced a stunning late surge to win the Gran Premio New York City, snatching victory in the final 50 meters of a grueling elite race.

The Canel’s-Java rider timed his sprint to perfection, launching an explosive acceleration on the outside line to pip Colombia’s Wilmar Paredes (Team Medellín-EPM) to the line in a breathless finish. Brenes Mata crossed the line in 3 hours, 7 minutes and 42 seconds to secure his second victory of the season.

The challenging 135km route rolled out across the iconic George Washington Bridge, tackling the punishing climbs of Harriman State Park before turning back toward New Jersey for a high-speed finish in Fort Lee.

A select front group broke away during the closing stages, setting up a ferocious tactical battle. Paredes looked poised to take the crown, but Brenes Mata’s extraordinary late kick altered the script just ahead of the line.

The frantic pace of the finish was highlighted by the depth of the leading group, with Bermuda’s Nicholas Narraway putting in a stellar performance for Competitive Edge Racing. Narraway showed superb grit to stay with the main protagonists over the climbs and put himself right in the mix for the final dash.

In a reflection of just how tight the final bunch sprint was, Narraway crossed the line in 22nd place, credited with the exact same time as the victorious Brenes Mata.

Bermuda’s young sailors set for North American title bid

Bermuda’s next generation of sailing talent is heading north to compete against the continent’s finest at the 2026 Optimist North American Championship.

The Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association (BODA) has unveiled a formidable nine-strong roster for the prestigious regatta, which takes place in Halifax, Canada, from 21st May to 28th May. Hosted by the historic Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, the event will feature a massive fleet of more than 200 elite young sailors.

The selected squad—featuring Heath Meyers, Jesse Savage, Rex Henagulph, Calypso Coulter, Ishmael Dill, Elaine Jones, Walker Smith, Alfie Jansma, and Miguel Leite—earned their spots following an intensive, globetrotting high-performance preparation programme.

The young team traveled to Spain in February and Slovenia in April, gaining critical tactical experience on congested international start lines that coaches believe will be invaluable on the waters of Nova Scotia. Lead coach Pablo Weber will steer the traveling contingent.

“The participation of these sailors at the international championship level is a testament to the skill, dedication and resilience of Bermuda’s young athletes,” a BODA spokesperson said. “We wish our sailors the very best as they take on this incredible challenge and represent Bermuda on the global stage.”