First session to take place at the end of February
Hamilton, Bermuda, 29 January 2026: The Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) today announced the launch of the BDA Leadership Exchange (BLE), a new forum designed to bring together leaders, innovators, and practitioners across Bermuda’s key economic sectors.
The BLE will convene purpose-led groups to exchange perspectives, surface opportunities and challenges, and support progress across the island’s priority industries.
Developed as part of the BDA’s commitment to more structured and intentional engagement, the BLE offers participants a space to share insight and compare what they are seeing across markets, regulation, technology, and investment trends. Each group will be anchored in one of the BDA’s core pillars:
Asset Management
Insurance & Risk Solutions
Technology & Innovation
Infrastructure & Development
Private Wealth
“The BLE gives us a clearer way to listen, compare perspectives, and understand what stakeholders are experiencing in real time,” said Kyle Rogers, Head of Research & Intelligence at the BDA. “Our goal is to ensure that insight from the business community is reflected in the intelligence we generate and the priorities we advance. It creates a more intentional loop between industry and the agency.”
To drive the BLE and strengthen engagement across sectors, the BDA has appointed Phillip Davis as Stakeholder Relationship Manager. Davis brings extensive experience in strategic marketing, digital engagement, and stakeholder communication, having previously served in senior leadership roles at The Argus Group, including Head of Marketing and Digital Engagement.
“The BLE is a timely and practical forum for people who want to contribute their experience and broaden the conversation,” said Phil Davis. “My role is to help ensure that participation feels meaningful, that insights are captured, and that the relationships we build through this platform support Bermuda’s long-term competitiveness.”
The first BLE sessions will take place in at the end of February. Stakeholders interested in participating are invited to register their interest through the online form.
OBA renews its call for an Independent Education Authority
Statement by Ben Smith, Shadow Minister of Education:
For more than 30 years, Bermuda has attempted to “fix” public education. We have changed structures, renamed schools, hired consultants, and launched wave after wave of big announcements. Every government has said: ‘This reform would be the one that finally delivers results.’
And yet, in 2026, we are still debating the basics. We are still shifting tiers. We are still reorganizing schools. We are still promising stability while families live with uncertainty. After all this time, we still have not answered the most important question:
What is actually wrong with public education?
You cannot fix a problem you refuse to diagnose. For decades, politicians have announced solutions before defining the problem. That’s not leadership.
Political cycles generate quick headlines, not careful analysis. They encourage big reveals, ground breakings, ribbon cuttings, not the slow, steady work of understanding what is happening in classrooms. And that is how we keep ending up here. Reform keeps changing without real progress.
We have adjusted the shape of the system again and again, but we have not confronted the real issues inside it. If structure were the answer, 30 years of restructuring would have solved this long ago.
Those of us who remember the earlier system know it wasn’t perfect. The 11+ exam created pressure and inequity but outcomes were stronger, and families were not paying $25,000 a year just to feel secure. When warnings surfaced about dismantling the system without a full plan, they were set aside.
When warnings were given that this major reform and new system could create antisocial behavior and the forming of gangs it was ignored. We have been trapped in a political tailspin ever since.
Fast forward to where we are after multiple administrations have failed to fix the system. We now have children, especially after Covid, who have experienced rising anxiety, gaps in core skills, and an unstable sense of school identity. Teachers are carrying heavier loads with fewer support. Parents are juggling conflicting messages from officials and feel like they must become full-time investigators just to understand what school their child will attend next year.
Families are voting with their feet. More than half of Bermuda’s children now attend private school. Many others have left the island altogether in search of stability. That is not a plan. That is a warning.
Our teachers are committed. Our children are capable. The system is failing because leadership keeps changing direction without knowing where it is trying to go or communicating why they are going there.
This is not the first time Bermuda has studied its education system. We have had the Education Planning Team of the 1990s, the ABUT Board of Inquiry, Cambridge reports, the Joint Select Committee on Education, the major Hopkins Review, the Learning First consultancy, the parish primary consultations, and years of internal assessments. These were not useless exercises. They identified leadership gaps, curriculum weaknesses, structural issues, and the long-documented struggles inside our schools.
The problem is not that Bermuda never had evidence. The problem is that too many findings were shelved, softened, or selectively used to fit political narratives. This is how a system loses its way. So, before we rush into another version of reform, we must ask the questions that matter:
What are children actually experiencing in their classrooms?
What support do teachers truly need?
Where are the delays, bottlenecks, and disconnects?
Why are so many students waiting months for assessment or intervention?
Do teachers feel valued or worn down?
These are not political questions; they are questions every parent asks when thinking about their child’s future. We cannot answer them with another structural diagram or rebranded model. We need clarity that does not change with political tides.
That is why Bermuda needs two urgent steps:
1. A full, independent diagnostic review of public education.
Not a repeat of past reports but a synthesis. Take the past 30 years of findings, update them with real data from classrooms, and finally give Bermuda the clear picture it has never received.
2. An Independent Education Authority.
A body protected from political cycles, responsible for long-term planning, public reporting, and ensuring that children are not forced to ride the roller coaster of election-driven reforms.
This is how we bring stability to a system that has been shaken for decades.
And let me be clear about something important.
When I say we must be careful in how we talk about public education, I am not talking about avoiding criticism of broken systems. Those criticisms must be made loudly and Ministers can’t hide from those criticisms. What we must avoid is speaking in ways that make children feel like they are broken, or that public-school students are “less than.”
Our children listen and absorb every word. When they hear adults say the system is unstable or confusing, that reflects on leadership not on them. It is our responsibility as adults to ensure they know that they know the difference. The parents are past frustrated and need action, the teachers are frustrated and need to be heard. The students must have a worldclass education and be provided all needed support.
If we finally diagnose what is truly wrong, we can finally build what is truly right.
Gregory Daco, Chief Economist at EY-Parthenon, will return as keynote speaker for the Bermuda Risk Summit 2026, taking place March 9–11
Image and press release supplied.
The Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) is pleased to announce that Gregory Daco, Chief Economist at EY-Parthenon, will return to headline the Bermuda Risk Summit 2026, taking place March 9–11 at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.
Daco’s 2025 session, Navigating Crosscurrents, was one of the most closely followed conversations of the Summit, offering decision-makers clear and actionable intelligence at a time of heightened volatility. Building on that momentum, his 2026 keynote — “Great Rebalance: The Next Phase of Global Growth” — will offer a forward-looking assessment of the global economic environment, analysing monetary and fiscal shifts, demographic transitions, labour-market pressures, and the increasingly decisive role of artificial intelligence in boosting productivity.
His return reflects the Summit’s growing stature as a platform where senior leaders gain direct insight into the economic forces influencing capital, risk, and long-term strategy.This year also marks EY’s fifth consecutive year as Headline Sponsor, underscoring the organisation’s deep commitment to Bermuda’s risk, finance, and professional-services ecosystem and to the Summit’s importance within the global industry calendar.
Gregory Daco, Chief Economist, EY-Parthenon, said: “Last year, we examined the crosscurrents shaping the global economy, from policy uncertainty to uneven growth. In 2026, the focus shifts from diagnosis to adaptation, as supply shocks increasingly drive economic outcomes and uncertainty becomes a constant. Business leaders and policymakers will need to recalibrate strategies amid evolving financial conditions, technology-led productivity gains, and a more fragmented global demand landscape. The Bermuda Risk Summit offers a timely forum to assess where resilience is emerging, where vulnerabilities persist, and how organisations can position for sustainable progress.
Craig Redcliffe, EY Bermuda Partner and Regional Insurance leader, said: “Gregory Daco’s return reflects our commitment to supporting the industry with rigorous, forward-looking economic insight. In a period defined by economic complexity and rapid change, Greg brings a rare ability to connect global trends with real-world implications for our industry. Bermuda offers a unique vantage point for global leaders to assess emerging risks and opportunities, and this Summit continues to reinforce that value.”
Kendaree Burgess, Managing Director of the BDA, said: “Gregory Daco brings clarity at a moment when businesses need it most. His 2025 session set a high bar, and we are delighted to welcome him back to extend that analysis into the year ahead. EY’s ongoing support strengthens our ability to convene world-class expertise and deliver an agenda that meets the expectations of global executives who rely on the Bermuda Risk Summit for meaningful insight.”
This year’s agenda includes high-impact discussions on the most pressing topics in risk and reinsurance today. Highlights include CEO perspectives on reinsurance performance, innovation sessions on AI and alternative capital, and deep-dive panels on private credit, catastrophe resilience, wildfire and heat risk.
Burgess added: “With a balance of strategic discussion and dedicated networking, this year’s programme offers the clarity, access and expertise senior executives expect from Bermuda’s flagship industry event.”
Bermuda Risk Summit 2026: Building What’s Next is sponsored by: Headline: EY Platinum: BILTIR Gold: AM Best, Aladdin by Blackrock Silver: Ariel Re, AXA XL, A&G Travel Supporting: Acord, Aon, Aspen, Fidelis Insurance Group, Rein4ce, SiriusPoint, SS&C Technologies Official Airline: BermudAir
Registration is open at a rate of $595 until 9 February, increasing to $695 thereafter. Additional sponsorship and speaking opportunities are available. For more information, visit bda.bm or email bermudarisk@bda.bm.
To secure accommodation at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, reserve your room online or contact 1-441-295-3000 or the Global Reservations Centre at 1-800-441-1414, using the booking code ‘Risk 326’ to access preferred rates.
Early-morning crash near Barker’s Hill under police investigation
The Bermuda Police Service issued the following media release.
Around 3:35 a.m., on Saturday January 31, 2026, Police & Emergency Medical Services personnel were dispatched to a reported single vehicle road traffic collision involving a motorcycle, near the roundabout at the bottom of Barker’s Hill, North Shore Road Devonshire.
It was reported that a male motorcycle rider was found lying on the roadway. He had sustained serious head injuries.
He was unresponsive and appeared to be having difficulty breathing.
The injured male was attended to at the scene by EMTs before being transported by ambulance to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
The roadway is currently blocked off to vehicular traffic while the scene is processed. Eastbound traffic is being diverted over Barker’s Hill and onto Middle Road. Westbound traffic is being diverted over Store Hill and on to Middle Road.
Anyone who may have witnessed this collision is asked to call 211 or, the main police number, 295-0011.
UPDATE:
The roadway has been reopened to regular traffic flow. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Mark your calendars for their Community Day on Sunday, February 22
The National Museum of Bermuda (NMB) is delighted to welcome the community back for its “Free for February” initiative, inviting all Bermuda residents to explore the Museum free of charge throughout the entire month of February.
Generously supported by RenaissanceRe and Butterfield again this year, Free for February ensures that everyone in the community has access to Bermuda’s history, culture, heritage and world-class collections. The initiative also includes the Museum’s much-anticipated Community Day, taking place on Sunday, February 22.
NMB Executive Director Elena Strong said: “Thanks to the generous support of RenaissanceRe and Butterfield, we’re pleased to offer Free for February for the thirteenth year. Museums play a vital role in bringing people together — they are places of connection, curiosity, and community learning. This initiative ensures that everyone has the opportunity to explore Bermuda’s history and heritage, discover new stories, and enjoy our grounds at no cost. We look forward to welcoming residents of all ages to the Museum this February and on our Community Day.”
Angela A’Zary, Senior Vice President at RenaissanceRe, said: “Museums are essential educational resources for our community. By understanding our history, we can better put the present into context and prepare for the future. RenaissanceRe is pleased to support the National Museum of Bermuda’s educational initiatives, and we look forward to welcoming the community to take part in the wide range of programming available for Free for February.”
Jody Feldman, Managing Director of Butterfield, said: “We are proud to continue our support of the National Museum of Bermuda and its commitment to creating meaningful educational opportunities for Bermudians of all ages. Free for February offers an inclusive and accessible way for everyone to engage with Bermuda’s history and culture. We encourage everyone to join us for Community Day, get involved, and enjoy everything the museum offers year-round.”
Situated within a 16-acre historic fort at Bermuda’s most western tip, the National Museum of Bermuda offers breathtaking views, massive historic cannons, traditional Bermuda watercraft, the iconic Hall of History mural by Graham Foster, dozens of exhibits related to Bermuda history and cultural heritage and family-friendly features including a children’s playground and playhouse. Dolphin Quest Bermuda is also located within the Keep Fort.
Throughout February, visitors can pick up a family activity from the NMB Ticket Office, offering a fun and interactive way to explore the Museum. Visitors can also enter a weekly raffle to win a free family membership.
The month culminates with Community Day on Sunday, February 22, from 10:00am–3:00pm, featuring food vendors, door prizes, interactive arts and crafts, cannon firings, artist talks, dolphin demonstrations, St. David’s Indigenous Society, Gombeys, and more.
To take advantage of Free for February, Bermuda residents are asked to bring proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or utility bill.
The National Museum of Bermuda is open daily from 10:00am–5:00pm (last admission at 4:00pm). For more information, visit www.nmb.bm/visit.
Nonprofit Alliance of Bermuda announces Bermuda National Standards Committee members
Image and press release supplied.
The Nonprofit Alliance of Bermuda (NAB) has appointed Aaron Smith, Dr. Glenn Faries, and Nadine Lapsley-Dyer to the Bermuda National Standards Committee (BNSC), the body that oversees NAB’s nonprofit certification and accreditation services. Their appointments reinforce NAB’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and sector-wide excellence.
Established in 2005 as an independent body, the BNSC was created through collaboration among government, nonprofits, donors, and community members to uphold internationally recognised standards of excellence in nonprofit governance, operations, and programme delivery. In partnership with the U.S.-based Council on Accreditation (COA), the BNSC introduced Bermuda’s certification and accreditation framework, enabling local charities to be assessed against rigorous global benchmarks. In April 2025, these services transitioned to NAB stewardship.
To honour the BNSC’s legacy while ensuring strong independent oversight, NAB has re established the Committee as a NAB Board subcommittee. The BNSC reviews independent evaluation findings, approves certification and accreditation designations, and safeguards fairness and integrity in the process.
“We are pleased to welcome individuals with the leadership, expertise, and prior standards experience needed to guide this next phase of BNSC oversight.” — Dr. Nicola Paugh, Executive Director, Nonprofit Alliance of Bermuda
Aaron Smith is a seasoned chief executive and business leader, with prior board service at a Bermuda nonprofit that successfully achieved accreditation.
Dr. Glenn Faries is a retired social services executive who previously led two Bermuda charities and successfully completed the accreditation process.
Nadine Lapsley-Dyer brings deep institutional knowledge, having served on the original BNSC Board and later as BNSC Manager for 12 years before retiring in 2020.
“As a subcommittee of NAB, the BNSC strengthens a culture of excellence that empowers nonprofits to operate with greater transparency, accountability, and impact. The COA’s rigorous standards provide the framework our sector needs to deliver consistently high quality services. Through our Certification and Accreditation Services, we are building a stronger, more resilient nonprofit community.” — Aaron Smith, Chair, BNSC
Dr. Aria Bean, NAB Director of Operations and Accreditation Services Lead, added: “Our stewardship of the BNSC is grounded in transparency, fairness, and consistency. The BNSC’s work reinforces trust across our sector and supports nonprofits in demonstrating the highest standards of excellence.”
Nonprofits interested in certification or accreditation can learn more at nonprofitalliance.bm.
A suite of digital services across six government departments scheduled to launch within the next 100 days
L-R: Shoaib Khan — Managing Director, Abacus (North America), Mauro Miyake — Territory Manager, Public Sector (Latin America & Caribbean), Google Public Sector, Sam Tabbara — CEO, Paradise Mobile, The Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP, Minister of the Cabinet Office & Digital Innovation, Maroof Mahmud — Senior Executive Director, Digital Transformation, Abacus, Aqeel Abbas — Abacus, Imran Khan — Chief Architect, Abacus.
Recently, following meetings held last week with programme leaders from the Bermuda Government, Paradise Mobile, Google Cloud and Abacus, the initial discovery phase of the Bermuda Government’s Digital Transformation Programme was completed.
The public will recall the announcement last December of the Digital Transformation Programme, a multi-year partnership, which will modernise public services in Bermuda through a secure, integrated digital platform. The programme will make it easier for residents and businesses to access services, complete transactions, and interact with the Government online. It also prioritises data security, privacy, and improved service delivery across departments.
Minister for the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, the Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP, explained, “Today marks the successful completion of the initial discovery phase of the Bermuda Government Digital Transformation Programme. During this phase, foundational requirements were established across six government departments, supporting the development of an initial suite of digital services for residents scheduled to launch within the next 100 days.”
Sam Tabbara, CEO of Paradise Mobile, said, “The completion of the discovery phase is a significant milestone in turning Bermuda’s digital vision into reality. Paradise Mobile is proud to be leading this initiative, with Google Cloud and Abacus, to help implement real-world solutions for islanders. We look forward to bringing secure, user-centred digital services to the public in a meaningful and practical way over the coming months.”
This milestone was formally recognised during the programme’s first portfolio governance session, attended by Minister Rabain and programme leadership. With governance structures now in place, the initiative has officially moved into the development stage of Phase One.
This transition from planning to delivery represents a critical step for the Government in advancing practical digital improvements that will make public services more modern, accessible, and efficient for the people of Bermuda.
Government reviewing impacts, but parents play a key role in protecting children online
Could Bermuda ever ban social media for children under 16?
It’s a question that might be on some people’s minds, as countries like Australia move to restrict youth access to social media and the UK considers similar measures.
The discussion comes amid growing concern over adolescent mental health. A 2023 study by researcher Daniel Cavanagh et al. found that, out of more than 2,500 adolescents in Bermuda who self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety – nearly one-third showed signs of moderate to severe depression.
When asked whether a social media ban is being considered locally … Tinee Furbert Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors said while the matter is on the Government’s radar, it would require extensive discussion.
Bermuda delegation to attend Satoshi Roundtable and World Government Summit
The Government of Bermuda issued the following media release.
The Premier, the Hon. David Burt JP, MP, has travelled to the Middle East, where he will lead a Bermuda delegation to the Annual Satoshi Roundtable and the World Government Summit (WGS), the latter of which is hosted by the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai.
The Satoshi Roundtable is an invite-only event that has been running yearly since 2014. The Government receives invitations recognising Bermuda’s continued leadership in digital finance, and has sent a delegation consisting of officials from the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) to this event every year since 2019.
Following the Satoshi Roundtable, the Premier will attend the multilateral World Government Summit, which convenes hundreds of heads of government, ministers, and global leaders annually to discuss future forward approaches to governance.
The Premier’s participation reflects Bermuda’s growing profile as a jurisdiction that contributes meaningfully to global conversations on financial innovation and public-sector modernisation.
The Premier will be speaking at the Government Services Forum and will lead a fireside chat with CNN’s Eleni Giokos.
On the sidelines of the WGS, Premier Burt has been invited as a special guest and speaker to the 10th edition of the Arab Fiscal Forum, which convenes a dozen Ministers of Finance and Central Bank Governors from the Gulf and Arab countries, as well as the Managing Director of the IMF, to discuss strengthening fiscal policies and institutions.
While in the region, the Premier will also travel to the Kingdom of Bahrain to advance bilateral engagement and strengthen ties between Bermuda and Bahrain. The Premier will be received by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
The Premier will be joined by the Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, and the Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Alexa Lightbourne, JP, MP. The delegation will be supported by the Government of Bermuda’s Special Representative for the Middle & Africa, Ms Alexia Hefti, Esq.
All airfare and accommodations for the Premier, Ministers and the delegation are being covered by the Government of the UAE.
Premier Burt said, “Returning to the Satoshi Roundtable and participating in the World Government Summit reflects Bermuda’s continued leadership in digital finance and our commitment to engaging at the highest levels internationally. This visit also provides an important opportunity to continue strengthening relations with partner countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council, including the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and to advance cooperation that supports economic opportunity for Bermudians.”
BWS warns of heavy rain, gale-force winds from Saturday afternoon through Sunday
Residents are advised to be cautious as a strong winter gale moves toward the island this weekend. The Bermuda Weather Service reports that a complex low-pressure system will move in tomorrow, with conditions rapidly deteriorating from Saturday afternoon through Sunday as gale-force winds develop, along with rain and showers that could become heavy at times.
Michelle Pitcher, consultant with the BWS, provided a breakdown of what residents can expect.
Meanwhile, BELCO says its crews are standing by to respond should the weather result in any power outages.
Global equity funds attracted $33.39 billion worth of inflows in the week, compared with about $9.5 billion worth of inflows in the previous week, LSEG Lipper data showed
International News via Reuters:
Global equity funds had a third straight week of inflows in the week to January 28 on upbeat earnings expectations, while safe-haven assets like gold and bond funds also saw solid demand amid uncertainty over potential U.S. tariff moves under President Donald Trump.
Global equity funds attracted $33.39 billion worth of inflows in the week, compared with about $9.5 billion worth of inflows in the previous week, LSEG Lipper data showed.
By region, European equity funds led with $11.03 billion worth of inflows, the largest amount in three weeks. Investors also added $10.73 billion and $6.95 billion to U.S. and Asian funds respectively.
Among sectoral funds, industrial, tech, and metals and mining funds were the top gainers with weekly inflows of $3.04 billion, $2.7 billion and $2.24 billion, respectively.
Global bond funds had roughly $18.02 billion worth of net investments as investors extended their recent run of net purchases into a fourth successive week.
Short-term bond funds were popular, securing approximately $3.8 billion, the largest amount in three weeks. Investors also added corporate bond funds of a significant $3.45 billion.
Money market funds witnessed $10.31 billion in net inflows, with investors turning net buyers after two successive weeks of net sales.
The gold and precious metals commodity funds attracted a net $2.25 billion weekly net investment, the largest amount for a week since December 24.
Emerging market (EM) equity funds attracted $12.63 billion in net inflows last week, the largest since at least 2022, lifted by their cheaper valuations and growth prospects. EM bond funds also had a net $3.51 billion worth of weekly inflows.
Reporting by Gaurav Dogra. Editing by Jane Merriman
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