28 schools participated in the 61st Annual Schools Art Exhibitions, hosted at the Bermuda Society of Arts
Images and media release supplied by Government of Bermuda
The Ministry of Education is pleased to announce the 61st Annual Schools Art Exhibitions, hosted at the Bermuda Society of Arts, City Hall. These exhibitions mark the start of Spring Into the Arts 2026, an inspiring island-wide celebration that brings together students, families, educators, and the wider community in a vibrant showcase of youth creativity.
The annual visual arts exhibitions highlight the remarkable imagination, innovation, and cultural diversity of Bermuda’s young people with participation from 28 schools across the island — 21 public and 7 private. These exhibitions run from the end of February through May 2026.
Middle & Senior School Art Exhibition: February 25 – March 14, 2026 Primary School Art Exhibition: March 20 – April 11, 2026
This year’s theme, “One World, Many Stories,” invites students to explore diverse cultures, identities, and lived experiences through visual expression. From bold contemporary pieces to deeply personal reflections, the artwork demonstrates both technical skill and thoughtful engagement with global and local narratives.
Minister of Education, the Hon. Crystal Caesar, JP, shared, “This exhibition highlights the incredible depth of talent within our schools. Our students have produced work of outstanding quality, demonstrating discipline, creativity, and a genuine love for the arts. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and the high standard they continue to set.”
Both exhibitions are free and open to the public, offering residents and visitors alike an opportunity to experience the imagination, artistic growth, and creative excellence of Bermuda’s talented young visual artists. The Department of Education thanks local business, Mailboxes, which continues as a community sponsor of the Annual Schools Art Exhibition, donating $1,000 in prizes for People’s Choice winners, which will go towards their schools’ art programs.
Residents are encouraged to attend, celebrate, and be inspired by the next generation of Bermudian artists as they bring their stories to life through art.
The 4th Annual Bacardi Black Vendor Market brought people together for an evening of culture, shopping, and celebration at the Bacardi Global Headquarters. The event featured more than 50 Black-owned Bermudian businesses showcasing a variety of products, alongside food vendors, live entertainment, and a vibrant atmosphere. The initiative continues to spotlight local entrepreneurs while encouraging the public to support small businesses across the island. Here’s a brief look back at some of the highlights from this year’s event.
A contingent of eight determined riders from the Bermuda Motocross Club has concluded a grueling stint in Florida, testing their mettle against a world-class field at the prestigious Annual Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross.
The iconic Daytona International Speedway, known for its deep sand and punishing ruts, provided a stern test of endurance and technical skill for the island’s representatives. Leading the charge for the veteran riders, Allan (LJ) DeGraff delivered a masterclass in consistency within the Vet 30+ B/C Class. DeGraff secured back-to-back fourth-place finishes in his two heats to claim a highly impressive fourth place overall, establishing himself as one of the standout performers of the event.
In the same division, Aaron Cannonier battled through the demanding conditions to secure a top-ten finish. After an eighth-place finish in his opening heat, he crossed the line tenth in the second to claim tenth overall. The veteran categories saw further representation from Jason Harrell, who displayed remarkable steady form in the Masters 50+ Class with identical 23rd-place finishes across both heats for 23rd overall, while Robert (Bobby) Lambe navigated the Senior 45+ Class to finish 24th overall following 25th and 24th place results.
Bermuda’s younger stars also faced the fierce “Daytona rubble.” A’jahni Foggo undertook a busy schedule, competing across two divisions. In the Mini Sr. 1 (12–14) Class, Foggo finished 18th overall after taking 20th and 18th in his respective heats. He improved on that standing in the Mini Sr. 2 (13–15) Class, where a 15th-place finish in Heat One and 17th in Heat Two earned him 17th overall.
The grassroots categories saw Diego Daniels claim 15th overall in the 51cc 4–6 Class after recording 9th and 15th place finishes, while A’Kyo Cannonier finished 33rd overall in the Mini E 4–8 Class following a 14th place in his opener and 33rd in the second. There was disappointment for King Clarke in the 65cc 7–11 Class, whose promising run unfortunately ended in a non-finish. Despite the varied results, the appearance of such a significant Bermudian contingent at the “World Center of Racing” underscores the continued growth of the sport on the island.
Shares of Expedia were up over 12%, while Booking Holdings and Tripadvisor rose 8% and 5%, respectively
International News via Reuters:
Shares of online travel agencies surged on Thursday after a report that OpenAI is scaling back plans to integrate direct bookings into ChatGPT, easing investor fears that the AI chatbots could eventually cut out travel intermediaries.
Shares of Expedia were up over 12%, while Booking Holdings and Tripadvisor rose 8% and 5%, respectively.
The rally followed a report by The Information that OpenAI found ChatGPT users were researching products in the chatbot but not completing purchases through it.
The AI company will instead focus on checkouts within specific third-party apps that plug into ChatGPT, the report said, citing an OpenAI spokesperson.
OpenAI did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Investors and analysts have grown increasingly concerned that generative AI tools could become the dominant platform for planning and booking travel, potentially bypassing intermediaries such as online travel agencies.
We see the OpenAI news as incrementally positive for online travel agencies, Bernstein analyst Richard Clarke said in a note.
“This means that Booking and Expedia can continue to get in front of consumers on AI-platforms, lowering the risk of disintermediation,” Clarke added.
Expedia and Booking Holdings were among the first companies to integrate with ChatGPTwhen OpenAI launched its plugins programme in 2023.
Reporting by Aishwarya Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid
After initially refusing to allow the United States to use British bases for the U.S.-Israeli campaign, Starmer has come under personal attack from the U.S. president, who said the British leader was “not Winston Churchill”
International News via Reuters:
The “special relationship” between Britain and the United States remains intact and they continue to share intelligence, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday, after Donald Trump rebuked him for hesitating to support U.S. strikes on Iran.
After initially refusing to allow the United States to use British bases for the U.S.-Israeli campaign, Starmer has come under personal attack from the U.S. president, who said the British leader was “not Winston Churchill”.
Speaking at a press conference, Starmer defended his decisions both to withhold initial access to bases, and then to participate in “defensive” operations against Iran, once Tehran had responded by attacking its neighbours.
“The special relationship is in operation right now,” Starmer said. “We are working together in the region, the U.S. and the British working together to protect both the U.S. and the British in joint bases, where we’re jointly located and we’re sharing intelligence on a 24/7 basis in the usual way.”
As well as the tongue-lashing from Trump, Starmer has also faced criticism for his cautious response from other allies in the region, including Cyprus where an Iranian-made drone hit one of Britain’s military bases on the island.
He has also faced criticism at home, including from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a right-wing Trump supporter, who has accused the prime minister of dithering.
“What Keir Starmer has done in alienating the American administration is not to just put that relationship personally at stake, but frankly to risk a relationship with a country without whom we are defenceless,” he told Reuters on Thursday.
Starmer’s government said this week it would deploy a warship, as well as helicopters with counter-drone capabilities, to help blunt Iran’s retaliatory strikes, and on Thursday he announced he would send four more Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar to provide additional protection.
Britain, like other European countries, is searching for ways to repatriate citizens stranded in the Middle East by a conflict that has shut some of the world’s busiest airports.
Starmer said more than 4,000 people had arrived back in the United Kingdom on commercial flights from the UAE, while 140,000 British nationals had registered their presence in the region.
Writing by Michael Holden, additional reporting by Andrew MacAskill and Elizabeth Piper, editing by William James
Energy prices have lurched onto Europe’s political agenda this year, as industries warn they cannot compete with companies in the United States and China, where bills are lower
International News via Reuters:
Governments of seven EU countries, including the Netherlands and Sweden, warned the bloc’s executive on Thursday against interfering with the system that sets Europe’s energy prices, as officials in Brussels scramble to find ways to bring down bills.
Energy prices have lurched onto Europe’s political agenda this year, as industries warn they cannot compete with companies in the United States and China, where bills are lower. Soaring global oil and gas prices due to the Iran conflict have increased pressure on the European Commission to step in.
President Ursula von der Leyen has pledged to assess whether the EU’s current price-setting system should be revised, and the Commission is drawing up options to attempt to curb energy prices. But analysts and officials say there is no quick fix.
In a letter to Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen, seen by Reuters, seven EU governments warned that changing the system which underpins Europe’s energy market would lead to a less efficient mechanism and ultimately increase bills.
“Intervening in the electricity market design and changing price formation mechanisms would also increase market and regulatory uncertainty, which is harmful for investments and European competitiveness,” the letter said.
Dated March 5, the letter was also signed by the energy ministers of Denmark, Finland, Latvia, Luxembourg and Portugal.
GAS PLANTS SET POWER PRICES
The EU’s electricity system is designed so that the last power plant needed to meet total demand sets the power price. Often, that is a gas plant – so gas price spikes can send electricity prices soaring, even when much of the power is being produced from cheaper renewable sources.
The seven countries said “the EU dependency on expensive, imported gas” is the root cause of high prices, and not the power market design.
The signatories urged Brussels to instead expand cheaper renewable energy sources faster to limit the price-setting role of gas in the power mix, and increase measures that encourage consumers to use energy when prices are low.
The letter sets up a clash with governments including Italy, which has announced national plans to remove carbon costs from gas power plants’ bills – an intervention that would upend the price-setting system.
The signatory countries are largely wealthier EU members, and include Sweden and Finland, who have the lowest power prices in the EU. Both produce more than 90% of their electricity from low-carbon sources – a stark difference from others including Poland, which gets most of its electricity from CO2-emitting coal.
Reporting by Kate Abnett, editing by Andrei Khalip
EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso told Reuters in an interview in Istanbul that the conflict “can reduce risk capital” for the region
International News via Reuters:
The widening U.S.-Iran war is a risk to economic growth, the president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development told Reuters on Thursday, but said the fallout depends on how long the conflict lasts.
EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso told Reuters in an interview in Istanbul that the conflict “can reduce risk capital” for the region – but that apart from Lebanon, the fallout thus far was contained.
“For the time being, it’s limited,” she said, adding that “the risk is on the downside.”
Last week, the EBRD pegged growth for the 41 countries it covers at 3.6% for this year and 3.7% in 2027, boosted by spending on big infrastructure projects in Europe, but offset by U.S. tariff and trade uncertainty.
The war has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping artery, sending crude prices up some 12% – and sounding an alarm for many of the energy-importing countries in which the EBRD works.
Renaud-Basso said that the length of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the duration of oil and gas price spikes were key, but that high global gas stocks could help cushion the blow.
The exception, however, is Lebanon, which she said is “very much at the core” of current turbulence. Lebanese group Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into neighbouring Israel on Monday, prompting ongoing full-blown hostilities with Israel.
“There we can expect quite a significant impact on the economic situation and broadly,” she said.
In Ukraine, Renaud-Basso said international funding for the year is unlikely to change despite the new conflict.
But more broadly, she said an extended spike in global energy prices could also drive inflation higher – making it tricky for central banks to cut interest rates.
“This is a new challenge in terms of monetary policy. I think that we need to be careful,” Renaud-Basso said.
Reporting by Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul, writing by Libby George; Editing by Amanda Cooper and Nivedita Bhattacharjee
Bermudian freshman Denver Tucker experienced both the thrill and the heartbreak of championship racing at the Sun Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in Gainesville, Florida.
Representing St. Thomas University, Tucker signaled his intent during the preliminary heats of the Men’s 60 Meters. The sprinter produced a blistering, career-best performance, stopping the clock at 6.89 seconds. The time secured him a spot in the final as the fourth-fastest qualifier and established him as a genuine medal contender.
However, the final proved to be a difficult affair. After a promising start, Tucker was forced to pull up with an apparent injury, ultimately crossing the line in seventh place. Despite the individual frustration, his sub-6.9 second performance remains a significant milestone in his debut collegiate season.
There was better news for Tucker’s teammates, as the St. Thomas Bobcats delivered a dominant collective display to secure their first-ever Sun Conference indoor title. Ending a five-year period of Southeastern University dominance, the Bobcats finished with a massive 315 points—winning by a remarkable 153-point margin. Under the guidance of head coach Joey Scott, the team’s historic victory provided a triumphant backdrop to a weekend of high drama on the track.
Excitement is reaching fever pitch as the National Sports Center North Field prepares to host the island’s premier showcase of youth football talent this Friday.
In a joint initiative between the Bermuda School Sports Federation and the Department of Youth and Sport, the 2026 All-Star matches will bring together the most outstanding players from across the school system. The event has long served as a vital stepping stone for Bermuda’s emerging stars, offering a platform for primary, middle, and senior school students to demonstrate their skills in a high-stakes environment.
The action kicks off at 2:00 PM with the Primary School Girls’ match, followed by the Middle School Girls at 3:30 PM. These opening fixtures have traditionally been closely contested affairs, highlighting the rapid growth of the women’s game at the grassroots level.
As the sun sets over the North Field, the boys take center stage. The Primary School Boys’ encounter is scheduled for 5:00 PM, leading into the night’s headline event: the Senior School Boys’ match at 7:00 PM. This final fixture often features players who are already making waves in the domestic Premier Division and knocking on the door of national team selection.
With a legacy of producing some of Bermuda’s finest international representatives, tomorrow’s matches are expected to draw a significant crowd of families and scouts. Organizers are encouraging the public to come out in force to support the dedication of these young athletes in this annual celebration of school sports.
The 2026 Gnosis Bermuda National Squash Championships reached a grueling peak at the Bermuda Squash Club, as several divisions were decided by punishing five-set encounters.
The Men’s B Division delivered the night’s most sustained drama. Craig Deuchrass showed immense resilience to overcome Rocco Adderley in a 3-2 thriller, eventually edging a nervous final-set tiebreak 12-10. He was joined in the next round by Benjamin Sherratt, who outlasted Philip Barnes in another see-saw battle, clinching his deciding set 11-9.
Stamina proved the deciding factor in the Men’s C Division as Kevin Gillespie fought back from 2-1 down to defeat Kleyon-Paul White. Gillespie dominated the final two games, conceding only seven points to seal the comeback.
The veterans were not to be outdone, as Nick Leach survived a stern test in the Over-40s. Trailing 2-1 against Derek Wheeler, Leach utilized his experience to force a decider before pulling away for an 11-5 victory in the fifth. With several top seeds now safely through, the stage is set for a high-intensity weekend of semi-final action in Devonshire.
Bermuda is closing in on a major community milestone, with $807,000 raised toward The Salvation Army’s $1 million funding goal for 2026 — leaving the organization $193,000 shy of the amount needed to sustain critical services in the year ahead.
The total raised to date reflects a strong island-wide commitment to supporting individuals and families facing hardship, particularly as cost-of-living pressures continue to impact households across Bermuda.
Every dollar raised remains in Bermuda to support a broad network of programs throughout 2026, including food assistance, shelter, housing support, substance abuse recovery, job training, and educational initiatives — services that play a vital role in strengthening the social fabric of the island.
“This moment speaks to the extraordinary compassion that defines Bermuda,” said Captain Dennis Maybury, Public Relations Officer for The Salvation Army Bermuda. “Community support at this level strengthens our ability to remain a steady presence for those who rely on us — delivering immediate assistance while helping people move toward stability and independence.”
This past year’s seasonal giving contributed meaningfully to the overall total. The 2025 Kettle Campaign generated $63,571.30, surpassing its target, while the Christmas Letter Appeal, Digital Campaign, and Giving Tuesday brought in an additional $263,532 in support of year-round services.
The impact of this generosity has already been felt across Bermuda. During the holiday season alone, 737 food hampers were distributed and 426 children received toys, with thousands more benefiting from Salvation Army programs throughout the year.
The Salvation Army also recognized the dedication of volunteers, community groups, corporate partners, local businesses, kettle locations, local schools and media partners — including the Inter-Island Communications Family for once again supporting the ‘Fill the Truck’ initiative.
As the organization moves closer to its funding target, leaders emphasize that community support remains essential to meeting evolving needs across the island. The Salvation Army remains committed to serving Bermuda year-round with dignity, practical care, and hope.
To learn more or help close the remaining gap toward the 2026 funding goal, visit: www.salvationarmy.bm/donate
“We continue to be inspired by the willingness of Bermuda to step forward when it matters most,” Maybury added. “Each contribution helps ensure that no one has to navigate difficult circumstances alone.”
The figure means an estimated 2% of Bermuda’s population is experiencing homelessness
HOME, the registered charity working to end homelessness in Bermuda, has released its 2025 Annual Report, outlining significant achievements in helping a widening demographic of people access stable, independent living over the past year—but also highlighting the urgent need for more affordable housing.
HOME’s annual tracking of data from numerous agencies indicates there were 1,331 people experiencing homelessness at the end of 2025—an increase of 230 individuals from a year earlier. Put into context, the figure means an estimated two percent of Bermuda’s population is experiencing homelessness.
“Our team of young professionals continues to demonstrate a deep commitment to ending homelessness, and in 2025 this was reflected most clearly through the growth of new partnerships with dedicated private property owners,” said HOME CEO Denise Carey. ““Our community is beginning to show what evidence from other jurisdictions has repeatedly proven: real, lasting progress happens when we work together. To create sustainable change, we must collaborate with government, the nonprofit sector, donors, and engaged private community members. Together, we can build the solutions needed to end homelessness for good.”
“Our mission has always been about more than providing shelter. It is about restoring dignity, hope and opportunity,” noted Arthur Wightman, HOME’s Founder and Non-Executive Chair: “This year, we have witnessed countless stories of perseverance and mutual support among our clients. From small acts of kindness to moments of profound personal growth, every achievement is a celebration of their courage in the face of adversity.”
Among its achievements during 2025, HOME:
• Sustainably ended homelessness for 32 people
• Prevented 48 new cases of homelessness
• Helped 25 people find jobs
• Took on 355 new clients and provided intensive case management to 45
• Provided accommodation to 19 rough sleepers during winter months
• Partnered with 147 landlords to house those who had experienced homelessness
• Employed 16 Bermudians and provided contract work to a further 29
• Developed relationships with 42 new strategic donors
• Worked with more than 450 volunteers who generously supported our mission
Notably, HOME continued to operate a Housing-First programme from its Black Circle, Pembroke property, providing shelter, care, and triage for five cohorts of single men through 2025, each group comprising eight individuals. The year brought the total number of cohorts assisted by HOME to 17 since the program’s 2022 launch. The charity also operated HOME for Families, providing shelter and support for six housing-insecure women and dependent children, ensuring mothers secured employment and developed financial independence, while receiving life skills support and a nurturing, safe environment for families.
HOME launched its Renting Ready initiative in 2025, preparing and training participants to become more responsible tenants and landlords. The organisation also led the first “Ending Homelessness Together” forum to mark World Homeless Day last October 10, including panel discussions, and presentations by Minister of Youth, Social Development & Seniors Tinée Furbert and Supreme Court Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe.
And HOME continued to drive the Plan to End Homelessness toward implementation, working closely with the government and numerous social services throughout the community. A national roadmap for turning strategic goals into tasks and timelines, the plan details resources, budgets, risks, and roles to ensure alignment across government and non-government agencies.
Yet HOME’s annual report notes the number of people experiencing different levels of homelessness continues to rise—a trend the organisation has tracked since launch in 2021, when its first survey registered 555 individuals as Bermuda’s homeless population. That figure rose to 650 in 2022, 811 in 2023, 1,101 in 2024, and 1,331 by the end of last year. Bermuda’s housing-shortage and cost-of-living crises are combining to exacerbate the increase, HOME noted.
Data includes only those individuals for whom there has been direct or confirmed contact through a partner agency on the island, not statistical projections. Net new cases of homelessness in 2025 of 230 individuals is attributed to a combination of new cases, as well as previously “hidden homeless” being found, and cases of recidivism minus cases where an individual’s homelessness ended.
“While so much has been accomplished,” said Carey, “the lack of safe, secure social or affordable housing is the most critical issue facing our collective mission to end homelessness.”
Personal testimonials from HOME clients feature in the 2025 report. “HOME has been a huge part of my stability,” said one. “From financial assistance application support and guidance on accessing food donors, to help registering with the Bermuda Housing Corporation, HOME gave me support. Sometimes all a person needs is a helping hand.” Added another: “Today, I am thriving in independent housing and working full-time, and I could not have done it without HOME’s support.”
“The Board of Directors is deeply gratified by the exceptional work our team,” said Wightman. “The results are noteworthy—the impact on human life and the system as a whole are inspiring and significant in equal measure. Huge thanks must extend to all our community partners and the donor community for their shared commitment to ending homelessness in Bermuda. We remain optimistic about ending homelessness in Bermuda—though we also recognize there is so much more work to be done. We invite the greater Bermuda community to join us in this endeavour.”
To learn more about HOME, or to donate, visit the website, www.home.bm
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