Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, reappointed on Friday having quit at the start of last week, presented a 2026 budget bill to parliament on Tuesday
International News via Reuters:
The French government’s 2026 budget plans are based on rosy economic assumptions and its belt-tightening measures may fall short – or never even take shape if the new administration collapses, the independent fiscal watchdog said on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, reappointed on Friday having quit at the start of last week, presented a 2026 budget bill to parliament on Tuesday while facing the prospect of a no-confidence vote if his leftist opponents cannot stomach his budget plans.
With the risk premium on French bonds high and credit ratings under pressure, financial markets are increasingly sensitive to the political turmoil as it makes the prospect of France getting its fiscal house in order seem ever more remote.
The euro zone’s second-largest economy has a budget deficit nearly double the European Union’s 3% limit last year and a debt-to-GDP ratio heading towards 118% – the third-highest in the EU after Greece and Italy, according to Eurostat.
President Emmanuel Macron has tasked five different prime ministers in less than two years with reducing the deficit, the widest in the euro zone, to get the country’s public finances back on an even keel.
But having lost control of parliament, and with opposition parties vehemently opposing his budget-squeezing plans, Macron’s prime ministers have been toppled one after another, taking their fiscal plans with them.
Lecornu’s budget, already submitted to the Haut Conseil des Finances Publiques for review, aims to narrow the deficit to between 4.7% and 5% of GDP — a modest improvement from this year’s 5.4%, the fiscal watchdog said.
The plan hinges on a more than 30 billion euro ($34.7 billion) budget squeeze, including cuts to corporate tax breaks, tighter rules on social welfare contributions, and new levies such as a small parcel tax and an exceptional surtax on complementary health insurers, the Haut Conseil said.
It also clamps down on the taxation of holding companies used by wealthy people to lower their tax bills, stopping short of a 2% tax on wealth over 100 million euros as demanded by the Socialists.
“Overall, the public balance forecast for 2026 submitted to the Haut Conseil is weakened by an optimistic economic scenario and, more importantly, by the risk that the projected revenue and savings measures may be under-delivered — or may simply not materialise at all,” it said.
The government forecasts the economy will grow 1% next year, which the watchdog said was based on stronger private demand despite tougher belt-tightening. The watchdog does not issue its own forecasts.
The budget squeeze, equivalent to 1% of gross domestic product, is made up of 17 billion euros in spending cuts and nearly 14 billion in new taxes, the Haut Conseil said.
Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Hugh Lawson
The pound was last down 0.5% against the dollar at $1.3279 , having traded in modestly positive territory before the data was released
International News via Reuters:
Sterling fell on Tuesday after data showed growth in average British earnings slowed slightly in the three months to August, suggesting the Bank of England may be able to continue cutting interest rates, albeit at a very cautious pace.
The pound was last down 0.5% against the dollar at $1.3279 , having traded in modestly positive territory before the data was released.
It also softened against the euro, which was up 0.5% at 87.18 pence, on track for its biggest daily jump in nearly a month.
Average weekly earnings, excluding bonuses, were 4.7% higher in the June-August period than a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics said, slightly weaker than an increase of 4.8% in the three months to July and the slowest since May 2022.
In the private sector alone – watched closely by the BoE – earnings excluding bonuses rose by 4.4% in the three months to August, while the jobless rate edged higher to 4.8%.
“While all data are subject to revision (and should be taken with a pinch of salt), one thing is clear: slack continues to build in the labour market,” said Sanjay Raja, Deutsche Bank’s chief UK economist.
He said the data should ‘give ammunition’ for the doves on the BoE’s rate-setting monetary policy committee – those who typically lean towards lower interest rates – while providing the centrists on the MPC with “some food for thought”.
“We continue to think that a (fourth quarter) rate cut may be underpriced by markets,” he said.
Markets are not fully pricing a further BoE rate cut until March, but see around a 40% chance of a cut in December.
Yields on British government bonds also fell, with the 10-year gilt yield down 5 basis points at 4.61%, falling slightly more than European peers.
Gross domestic product data due later in the week, along with inflation data next week, will offer further indications about the health of the British economy and the prospect of further BoE rate cuts.
Reporting by Alun John; Editing by Amanda Cooper and Gareth Jones
Harbour Road crash renews calls for discussion on road safety
A crash on Harbour Road that resulted in a car veering into the ocean at the weekend has renewed concerns about road safety.
Just before noon on Saturday, a vehicle crashed through a wall and landed in the harbour near the junction with Belmont Road in Warwick.
Police say it appears that a car driven in the westbound lane of Harbour Road crossed into the opposite lane and struck a wall, ending up in the water below.
The cause of the crash has not been confirmed, but the incident has renewed calls from residents for improved safety along that stretch of road.
David LaHuta, a journalist who has lived on Harbour Road for eight years, praised his neighbour, Darren Mills, for his swift and heroic actions in coordinating the rescue of the occupants – a 38-year-old female driver and two children.
Mr LaHuta said: “He’s a guest worker, a visitor in our country, and he took it upon himself to jump into the water and save their lives. I have to say, not all heroes wear capes, and he’s one of them.”
“We caught up that day to talk about his heroism, but moreover, it was a way to start a conversation about road safety in Bermuda and how dangerous this stretch of road truly is, and ways we could do better to protect our motorists here.”
Photograph of Darren Mills. Image supplied.
Mr Mills, a plumber from South Africa, told Bermuda Broadcasting that he was the first on the scene and acted without hesitation.
“Thinking quick and acting fast saves lives,” Mr Mills said.
He explained that following the crash, he heard people screaming that they couldn’t swim, and his first thought was to get to the vehicle and bring the occupants to safety at a nearby dock.
He flagged down a car to call 911 before jumping into the water to reach the car, focusing on keeping the passengers calm and making sure they stayed above water until more help arrived.
Mr Mills said the car was filling up quickly with water and that the situation could have been different if the tide had been higher and moving faster, or if the dock hadn’t been there.
When others came to assist – including Ms Dyer, Ms Butterfield, and other gentlemen – he said they all worked together to pull the passengers out of the vehicle through the window.
Mr Mills expressed gratitude that he was in a position, along with others, to help the passengers, underscoring that quick thinking, calm action, and teamwork made all the difference.
“We all saved these people… everybody is a hero,” said Mr Mills.
Police also commended the actions of those who came to the aid of the driver and children involved.
Following the crash, police confirmed that all occupants were accounted for and taken to hospital for medical assessments and later discharged the same day.
Image credit: David LaHuta
Traffic was diverted away from the area for around three hours, while the scene was processed – which included the damaged car being removed from the sea by crane and then towed away – as well as the attendance of Works & Engineering crew for wall/roadway remediation efforts.
Area resident Mr LaHuta said he hopes the incident will spark much-needed discussion around road safety across the island.
“I feel like we see another terrible accident on this stretch of road every month,” said Mr LaHuta. “Something needs to change – whether that’s changing directional patterns for rush hours, making it eastbound in the morning and westbound in the evening – that could help. Adding rumble strips or speed bumps could also help. But something really needs to be done, because there are so many dangerous and horrific accidents that happen on this road. If more police need to be out monitoring driver speed, that’s important too. And really, we need to encourage all motorists around the island to slow down … that has to be the message.”
Police say inquiries continue regarding the circumstances of the collision and any witnesses are encouraged to contact BPS Constable Jameelah Sabir by calling 211or e-mailing jsabir@bps.bm.
It added that these new embassies would serve to launch joint projects involving agriculture, energy, education, mining and other common interests
International News via Reuters:
Venezuela’s government said on Monday it will close its embassies in Norway and Australia and open new ones in Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe as part of a restructuring of its foreign service, after weeks of growing tensions with the U.S.
The closures are part of the “strategic re-assignation of resources,” President Nicolas Maduro’s government said in a statement, adding that consular services to Venezuelans in Norway and Australia would be provided by diplomatic missions, with details to be shared in coming days.
Caracas said it was setting up new embassies in “two sister nations, strategic allies in the anti-colonial fight and in the resistance against hegemonic pressures.”
It added that these new embassies would serve to launch joint projects involving agriculture, energy, education, mining and other common interests.
The announcement occurred just days after the Nobel Committee in Oslo announced that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado had won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for fighting dictatorship in the South American country.
The embassy closures with the two U.S. allies also followed weeks of escalating tensions between Caracas and Washington.
Venezuela has called on the United Nations for support over several deadly U.S. military strikes on vessels off its Caribbean coast, which Washington alleges were carrying drugs. Some U.S. allies on the U.N. Security Council called for de-escalation and dialogue.
Venezuela has said it is in a situation where it is rational to expect an armed attack against the country in the short-term, and Maduro has alleged the U.S. is seeking a change in government.
Washington has not responded to this accusation, but has called Venezuela’s socialist leader the illegitimate head of a narco-state. The U.S. also has announced a new counter-narcotics task force in its Southern Command, a military branch that oversees Latin America.
The governments of Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso are more aligned with that of Russia, which has supported Venezuela at the U.N. and accused the U.S. of acting according to “the cowboy principle of ‘shoot first.'”
Reporting by Vivian Sequera and Deisy Buitrago in Caracas; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Brendan O’Boyle and Paul Simao
A UNCTAD report in July found that global foreign direct investment fell for a second consecutive year in 2024
International News via Reuters:
Small and medium-sized businesses and developing economies are likely to be at particular risk of a slowdown in investment due to ongoing tariff uncertainty, the Secretary-General of the UN Trade and Development Agency told Reuters on Monday.
“We fear that there will be more lagging numbers in terms of investment,” UNCTAD’s Rebeca Grynspan said in an interview at her office in Geneva.
“We fear small and medium-sized businesses will be affected everywhere, but also small countries that depend much more on trade and investment to really seek growth.”
While AI has driven trade and investment this year, she said, it remains concentrated and excludes small countries with developing economies.
A UNCTAD report in July found that global foreign direct investment fell for a second consecutive year in 2024, with concerns this year could be even worse as trade tensions rock investor confidence.
Since he took office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff decisions have shaken financial markets and sent a wave of uncertainty through the global economy.
Grynspan said forecasts for 2026 hinge on whether the current trade tensions escalate into a full-blown trade war, or if higher tariffs persist amid ongoing trade negotiations.
“There is uncertainty, but there will be more predictability. The markets will adapt to the new situation,” she said.
Grynspan said the least developed countries in Africa and small island states were “worse off” and have less resilience amid trade uncertainties, as they face higher tariffs compared to developed nations.
While the EU has struck a deal setting duties at 15% on most goods it exports to the United States, they are often much higher on so-called least developing countries. Laos, for example, faces tariffs at 40%.
Grynspan urged the U.S. to spare vulnerable countries from higher tariffs. In July, Lesotho, a small African nation, received a modified tariff rate of 15% following Trump’s earlier threat of 50% tariffs.
Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Jan Harvey
The estimate for 2026 and 2027 remains unchanged between 350 TWh and 370 TWh, the utility said
International News via Reuters:
French nuclear operator EDF said on Monday that it raised its estimates for nuclear production for the full-year 2025 to between 365 terawatt hours to 375 TWh due to improvements in the maintenance program.
The estimate for 2026 and 2027 remains unchanged between 350 TWh and 370 TWh, the utility said.
Reporting by Forrest Crellin; Editing by Makini Brice
The European Union’s corporate sustainability due diligence directive was adopted last year and requires companies to fix human rights and environmental issues in their supply chains
International News via Reuters:
The European Parliament’s legal committee on Monday backed plans to water down the EU’s corporate sustainability law, which is facing pushback from companies that say complying with the rules would hinder the competitiveness of European industries.
The European Union’s corporate sustainability due diligence directive (CSDDD) was adopted last year and requires companies to fix human rights and environmental issues in their supply chains, or face fines of 5% of global turnover.
In the vote on Monday, lawmakers in the European Parliament’s legal committee approved proposals that would make the rules mandatory only for companies with 5,000 or more employees and at least 1.5 billion euros ($1.74 billion) in turnover.
Currently, CSDDD applies to companies with 1,000 or more employees and above 450 million euros in turnover. The committee also backed dropping a requirement for companies to carry out “transition plans.”
CUTTING COSTS FOR BUSINESS
“The (conservative) European People’s Party’s goal has always been to simplify rules and cut costs for businesses,” said Jorgen Warborn, the lawmaker who drafted the text approved on Monday. “Our vote today will create more predictability for our businesses in an unpredictable world.”
The committee requested that the European Parliament now start negotiations on the final rules with EU countries, without a full vote of the assembly. A group of lawmakers equivalent to a tenth of the assembly could still decide to force a vote next week.
Some of the changes already appear likely to pass. EU countries have already said they support changing the law to apply only to companies with 5,000 or more employees.
The CSDDD has become one of the most politically contested parts of Europe’s green agenda, with countries including the United States and Qatar demanding changes. They argue that the EU is overstepping by imposing requirements on foreign companies.
European companies including TotalEnergies have demanded that the EU scrap the law entirely, warning it would hurt the bloc’s competitiveness.
But the walk-back has met resistance from some investors and activists, who say it weakens corporate accountability and hits Europe’s ability to attract investments toward meeting climate goals.
“If such changes are ultimately adopted, this law will be stripped of its very purpose for short-term political convenience,” said senior lawyer Amandine Van den Berghe of nonprofit law firm ClientEarth. “What is a cornerstone of responsible business in Europe is being turned into a political bargaining chip.”
Reporting by Kate Abnett and Inti Landauro in Brussels; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Matthew Lewis
Blades Brown, the 2024 Rolex Junior Player of the Year from Nashville, Tennessee, has earned an exemption into the 2025 Butterfield Bermuda Championship. The 18-year-old secured the prestigious American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) award following a remarkable season highlighted by a third-place finish at the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship, tied for third at the RLX Ralph Lauren Junior Classic and a runner-up finish at The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by Rolex.
“Being named the 2024 AJGA Player of the Year is one of the greatest highlights of my junior golf career — a moment I’ll always carry with me,” said Blades Brown. “From the moment I learned I would be receiving the award, the opportunity to play in Bermuda has been at the forefront of my mind. I have heard nothing but incredible things about the tournament, the staff, the course, and the entire experience. I mean, who wouldn’t want to play golf in paradise? I’m truly grateful to the AJGA and the Butterfield Bermuda Championship for extending this invitation. It’s an honor to compete in 2025, and I sincerely hope it won’t be my last time teeing it up in Bermuda.”
The Butterfield Bermuda Championship continues its partnership with the AJGA, offering an annual exemption to the Rolex Junior Player of the Year. This collaboration provides a direct pathway for top junior golfers to compete at the professional level.
“We’re incredibly proud to continue our partnership with the AJGA and to welcome Blades Brown to Bermuda,” said Danielle Carrera, Tournament Director of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. “Blades represents everything this exemption is meant to highlight — exceptional talent, dedication, and maturity beyond his years. His rapid rise through the ranks is inspiring, and we’re thrilled that Bermuda will be part of his journey. Fans can look forward to watching one of golf’s brightest young stars compete on one of the most breathtaking stages in the sport.”
In a historic milestone for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, Blades Brown, the 2024 Rolex Junior Player of the Year, will be the first recipient to accept the tournament’s exemption as a professional rather than a junior golfer. Having turned professional in December 2024 at age 17, Brown’s transition to the pro ranks has been marked by rapid success, including earning Special Temporary Membership on the Korn Ferry Tour after accumulating over 237.718 points, the threshold for the No. 100 player on the 2024 Points List, with a runner-up finish at the Veritex Bank Championship and strong subsequent performances. This status, officially accepted after turning 18 on May 21, 2025, grants him unlimited sponsor exemptions, allowing him to accept the Butterfield Bermuda Championship exemption despite having already used all seven of his allotted PGA TOUR sponsor exemptions for the 2025 season.
Brown’s 2024 season was exceptional. In addition to his standout AJGA performances, he made his PGA TOUR debut as an amateur at the Myrtle Beach Classic, finishing an impressive T26. His 2025 season marked a significant transition as he turned professional in December 2024, forgoing college golf to pursue a full-time career on the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour. His professional debut came at The American Express in January 2025, where he carded an 8-under-par 64 in the second round, the third-lowest score by a player under 18 in a PGA TOUR event in the past 40 years. He has played in six PGA TOUR events and eight Korn Ferry Tour events since his pro debut, with his best finish coming in April at the Veritex Bank Championship, where he finished T2.
The AJGA has hosted the Butterfield Bermuda Junior Championship at Port Royal Golf Course since 2023. The 2025 event, held from January 16-19, featured 54 holes of stroke-play and welcomed top junior golfers from around the world. The tournament included three Bermuda natives, seven countries and 17 states represented. Phillips Swift of Macon, Georgia and Kayla Black of Ontario, Canada both claimed their first AJGA wins at the 2025 event.
“Blades embodies everything the Rolex Junior Player of the Year award represents — talent, hard work, and the ability to rise on the biggest stages,” said Patrick Cansfield, Director of Development at the American Junior Golf Association. “His exemption into the Butterfield Bermuda Championship is a well-deserved next step in his journey, and we are proud that the AJGA and the PGA Tour continue to provide a pathway for the game’s next generation to showcase their abilities at the highest level. This partnership with the Butterfield Bermuda Championship highlights our shared commitment to creating opportunities for juniors to chase their dreams.”
The Rolex AJGA Rankings is the proprietary system created to identify and rank the top junior players who have competed in the premier junior golf tournaments in the United States. Several notable Rolex Player of the Year winners include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth, among others.
The 2025 Butterfield Bermuda Championship, part of the FedExCup Fall, is scheduled for November 13-16 at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda. The event promises to deliver a thrilling showcase of talent, with Brown joining a field of established professionals and rising stars.
For more information about the Butterfield Bermuda Junior Championship, please contact Director of Development, Patrick Cansfield (pcansfield@ajga.org).
About the Butterfield Bermuda Championship
The Butterfield Bermuda Championship, Bermuda’s first-ever PGA TOUR event, is an annual stop on the PGA TOUR calendar each fall. The 2025 tournament will take place November 13-16 at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda, and the field will feature a minimum of three local Bermudian players. This official FedEx Cup Fall event will showcase Bermuda to its worldwide spectators with live broadcasting brought to you by Golf Channel. For more information on the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, please visit the Butterfield Bermuda Championship website.
About Bermuda Tourism Authority
The Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) is an independent, non-government entity and the official destination marketing organization for the island country. The Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) promotes Bermuda globally as a world-class destination for leisure and group travel and tourism investment. For more information visit: https://www.gotobermuda.com/bta
About the AJGA
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls, ages 12-19) of more than 10,500 members from 50 states and 60 foreign countries. Through initiatives like the Liberty National ACE Grant, a financial assistance program, and Leadership Links, a service-oriented platform that teaches juniors charitable-giving skills, the AJGA fosters the growth of golf’s next generation.
TaylorMade and adidas are the AJGA’s Global Sponsors, supporting the AJGA for more than 25 years. TaylorMade has served as the Official Ball of the AJGA since 2016. adidas has been the Official Apparel and Footwear of the AJGA since 2017. Rolex, in its fourth decade of AJGA sponsorship, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 1,000 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Jessica Korda, Nelly Korda, Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang.
As the search for 15 year-old Ja’Dore Wilson continues, her mother says she is disappointed in the community, police and government
It’s been almost four weeks since missing teen Ja’Dore Wilson was reportedly last seen at her North Terrace, Pembroke home.
At a press conference this afternoon, Ja’Dore’s mother, Di’Shunta Clarke, acknowledged various narratives being presented but said, “the truth is there is no evidence to suggest or to prove that Ja’Dore is willingly missing, that she is safe or even that she is alive at this point.”
This runs somewhat counter to a previous police statement on September 30, that said there was reason to believe the 15-year-old may be staying away from home voluntarily, and possibly being harboured.
Police reiterated today that the last confirmed sighting of Ja’Dore Wilson was on September 17.
Ms. Clarke told media today that there have been no confirmed sightings, no communication and no way of knowing her daughter is okay. She added that no visible belongings are missing from their home that would indicate that Ja’Dore left or intended to leave for this long.
Any beliefs or opinions beings shared regarding the matter, Ms. Clarke said, are false and “extremely damaging to bringing [Ja’Dore] home soon and safely.”
The family has launched a GoFundMe page with a goal of raising $30,000 to support search efforts for Ja’Dore. (image below from website below)
The campaign description states that donations will go directly toward hiring private investigators, search and rescue operations, including boats and drones, detection dogs trained to locate missing persons, and specialized equipment and military assistance.
“If I’m honest, I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed in the community, in the police service and in the government. I should not have to stand up here and beg for more resources,” said Ms. Clarke.
Police said they have utilised canine units and conducted physical searches for Ja’Dore, however, underscored that at 15 years old, she is “extremely vulnerable.”
Detective Inspector Kenten Trott, leading the search, acknowledged that the BPS does not have a dog trained to search for bodies. The last time a cadaver dog was used, in the search for murder-victim Chavelle Dillon-Burgess, the animal had been brought in from overseas.
DI Trott thanked the public for leads provided thus far but called on residents to continue searching around their homes and in derelict sheds/buildings.
“If everybody helps, we can find Ja’Dore”, he said.
A police spokesperson has subsequently stated that they have no evidence to suggest Ja’Dore Wilson is not alive.
Ja’Dore Wilson is described as light complexioned, 5 feet 4 inches tall, of medium build, weighing approximately 175 pounds, with black and blonde hair past her shoulders, which may also be worn shorter.
Persons with relevant information on the whereabouts of 15-year-old Ja’Dore Wilson are urged to contact Detective Inspector Kenten Trott immediately, by calling 717-2345, or e-mailing kenten.trott@bps.bm.
Di’Shunta Clarke, mother of missing teen Ja’Dore Wilson, with Ja’Dore’s aunt Kaylyn Bascome, who has started a GoFundMe page to fund a private investigation. Photo by Ra’ees Tankard.
Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited (BELCO) will resume major road work on Monday, October 20, 2025, for the final phase of its Transmission Upgrade Project. Work on the section of the transmission network from Seymour Farm Road to Evans Bay will require trenching and will begin on Middle Road adjacent to Seymour Farm Road and progress to Evans Bay where it will end.
The public is encouraged to use South Shore Road to avoid congestion, but once the trenching reaches Barnes Corner there is no alternative route, and motorists are advised to allow extra time when traversing the area.
Traffic lights will be in place for the duration of the project with manual traffic controls to accommodate rush hour traffic. There will be a break during the holiday period beginning in December with work scheduled to resume in January 2026.
The transmission upgrade in the east end of the island is now complete. This final segment will complete the island-wide Transmission, Distribution & Retail (TD&R) asset upgrades designed to improve reliability and expand grid capacity for the island.
BELCO’s entire transmission network has been underground for decades. The trenching work that has been taking place across the island is to replace 40% of the old, high-voltage underground transmission cables, some of which are more than 50 years old. Nearly 25% of the underground cables had served Bermuda for over 60 years. These cables and other transmission and distribution assets were beyond their useful lifespans, causing a higher number of faults, system vulnerabilities and higher maintenance costs.
The transmission cables connect to substations around the island where the voltage is stepped down and is then fed into the distribution network and further stepped down to supply homes and businesses.
The new cables are being installed in multi-service duct banks that will eliminate the need to dig up the roads for cable replacement in the foreseeable future. Working closely with Works & Engineering and other utilities, the construction phase was designed to complement Government’s future water and sewage plans as well as any cabling needs for other utilities.
The current grid upgrade project hasn’t been undertaken to this scale since the 1950’s when there was significantly less traffic, causing less disruption. The project will create a more robust grid and enable BELCO to be able to better accept the interconnection of large-scale renewables in the future.
BELCO Managing Director, Shelly Leman said: “This multi-million-dollar transmission upgrade project is one of the biggest, most important projects BELCO has undertaken in recent times. The works are substantially complete and once the project reaches Evans Bay, the targeted transmission upgrades will be complete across the whole island. This will be the last segment of trenching for the project. I encourage everyone to drive safely around open trenches and working crews. This project has many benefits for the consumer and will be the last time we need to trench roads to replace major grid infrastructure for the foreseeable future. I thank the public for their patience and understanding and look forward to the project being completed and ensuring a more reliable, sustainable energy future for all our customers.”
More information about the Transmission Upgrade Project can be found on BELCO’s website at belco.bm
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About BELCO
Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited (BELCO) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Group Limited. Liberty Group Limited is a Bermuda-based provider of energy and energy-related services, owned by Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., also parent company of Liberty Power and Liberty Utilities (Liberty). BELCO was established in 1904 as Bermuda’s sole supplier of electricity and currently operates generating plant and transmission and distribution systems to service 36,000 metered connections. For further information about BELCO visit belco.bm
Asafa Powell will be at Grotto Bay for BOA’s Equity in Motion event
The Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA), through its Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, is proud to announce the upcoming Equity in Motion events – an inspiring weekend designed to celebrate, empower, and connect Bermuda’s athletes, coaches, officials and leaders regardless of gender identity or expression, can realize their highest potential both on and off the field.
Taking place Saturday, November 15, 2025, this highly anticipated event will take place at the Grotto Bay Hotel, bringing together athletes, coaches, mentors, and community leaders not only from Bermuda but the Caribbean and USAfor an engaging mix of interactive workshops, storytelling, and sport-inspired activities. The event banquet will feature guest speaker, legendary Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell.
Building on the success of the previous initiatives promoting and supporting gender equity, Equity In Motion aims to encourage participation and leadership in sport, highlight Bermudian role models and international guest speakers, foster mentorship between generations of athletes and professionals, and advance gender equity and inclusion within Bermuda’s sporting community.
“This event is about more than sport — it’s about showing our girls that they belong in every arena, on and off the field,” said Donna Raynor, Chair of the Gender Diversity and Inclusion. “We want them to see possibility, confidence, and community reflected in every story they hear that day.”
The BOA encourages the public to save the date, secure your event tickets at https://runsignup.com/TicketEvent/GDIConferenceBDA and join the movement as they champion policies and programs that break down barriers, cultivate belonging, and ensure that the Olympic values of equality and dignity shine brightly within Bermuda and beyond.
EVENT DETAILS
What: Equity In Motion Conference and Banquet Weekend
When: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Where: Grotto Bay Hotel
Hosted by: The Bermuda Olympic Association, Women in Sport Committee
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