Data presented by the Chamber of Commerce also shows Airbnb and derelict properties are not a big contributor to housing shortage
Steven McGuiness, Co-Chair of the the Chamber of Commerce Economics Committee, alongside President Marico Thomas
More than half of the dwellings in Bermuda are under rent control, according to data presented by the Chamber of Commerce, with more than three quarters of apartments under rent control.
Area with lots of rent control properties are also where developers don’t tend to build.
Marico Thomas, Chamber President, and Steven McGuiness, Co-Chair of their Economics Committee, presented a data deep dive today showing that there are a lot of pieces to the housing puzzle.
We need to go about solving the puzzle, says Mr Thomas, because we need at least 2,500 more dwellings to house a necessary increase in our working population…
If you think the takeoff of Airbnb and properties being left derelict has contributed heavily to the housing shortage – think again.
Chamber of Commerce data indicates that vacation rentals and uninhabitable properties are not big pieces in the housing puzzle…
Some Government members had pushed back against the Chamber’s previous estimates that our population has fallen to around 57,000 or lower, since that appears to contradict the fact that we don’t have enough housing.
However, the Chamber’s data indicated that the average number of people in a household has decreased, making it entirely possible to see a simultaneous drop in both the population and the availability of housing…
CEO Adam Scott says new route is a ‘natural extension’ of BermudAir’s growth in Canadian markets
BermudAir celebrated its new direct service from Montreal this afternoon.
Upon the aircraft’s arrival at the airport, it was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute. Inside the arrivals hall, passengers were greeted with the lively sounds of steel pan drums.
The occasion marked the grand finale of BermudAir’s inaugural launch series to key destinations over the past few months.
Adam Scott, Founder and CEO of BermudAir, said that following the airline’s successful entry into Canadian markets, Montreal was a “natural extension.”
Meanwhile, Isabelle Ramsey-Brackstone, Canadian Honorary Consul General in Bermuda highlighted the long-standing ties between Montreal and our island, describing them as a “natural link” with much to offer on both sides.
Solid rounds for the women on day two of Kitty Michael Invitational
Flying the flag with pride: The Bermuda team is well-positioned heading into the final day of this prestigious event
The Bermuda team competing in the 45th annual Kitty Michael Golf Invitational delivered a dominant performance on Day Two at the El Conquistador Golf Club in Puerto Rico, with Bermudian golfers leading the charge. The team, led by Captain Linda Down and Vice Captain Tracy Burgess, put in an impressive collective effort, showcasing their talent on the international stage. The second round saw a remarkable display from the Bermudian contingent, particularly at the top of the individual leaderboard. Carine Brule shot the best score of the day, an excellent 7-over par. Not far behind, Tracy Burgess and Katrin Burnie both recorded solid 9-over par rounds, securing the top three daily scores for Bermuda. These strong individual performances have significantly impacted the overall standings. Tracy Burgess now leads the overall individual competition at 18-over par, having posted back-to-back 9-over par rounds. Carine Brule sits just one stroke back in second place at 19-over par. The strong showing on Day Two highlights the depth of talent within the Bermudian team and positions them well heading into the final day of the prestigious Kitty Michael Golf Invitational.
Boat users should use extra caution on Monday File photo
Press release: The Director of Marine and Ports Services has issued an advisory to all mariners regarding the Edward Cross Long Distance Comet Race on Monday, June 16, 2025. Mariners are urged to exercise caution and provide ample clearance to the racing comets, ensuring minimal wake in their vicinity. The race will commence at 11:00 a.m. in the Great Sound near the West End Sailboat Club. Competitors will navigate eastward along the North Shore, with the event concluding approximately three hours later in St. George’s Harbour, near the East End Mini Yacht Club.
63-year-old Warwick resident Norman ‘Sonny’ Bell was found dead in the Lagoon Park area in Sandys on 2 June
Investigators are treating the recent death of 63-year-old Norman ‘Sonny’ Bell as ‘suspicious’ following an autopsy determining the cause of death.
However, during a media briefing today at the Hamilton Police Station, Acting Superintendent Jason Smith could not give specific details in to the death of Mr. Bell.
His unresponsive body was found by a member of the public on 2 June and was last seen in the Warwick area on the previous day, according to police.
Police said they are currently reviewing several CCTV camera footage to trace the movements of Mr. Bell as part of their investigation.
Police are now appealing for any information on the whereabouts of Mr. Bell leading up to his death to contact Detective Sergeant Shannon Trott on 717-2152.
First loss for Bermuda team on their Dominican Republic tour
The Bermuda men’s national basketball team has suffered their first defeat on their development tour in the Dominican Republic, falling 69-66 to local club team Club Million in a hard-fought encounter. The Bermudian side demonstrated strong control and maintained a lead for most of the game. However, the final five minutes proved decisive, as the host team unleashed an 8-0 run to pull ahead and ultimately secure the narrow victory. Despite the loss, several Bermudian players put in strong individual performances. Camron Basden led the scoring for Bermuda with an impressive 19 points. Caelin Peters chipped in with 10 points, and Malachi Scott also reached double figures with 10 points. The close nature of the game against a local club side from a strong basketball nation like the Dominican Republic suggests a competitive spirit from the Bermuda team. While disappointed with the result, the squad will undoubtedly take valuable lessons from this challenging encounter as their development tour continues.
Opposition says underfunding of the prison service could have dire consequences
Robert King: “We need to take meaningful action now.”
Statement by Robert King, Shadow National Security Minister:
The recent attacks on correctional officers at the Westgate Correctional Facility are unacceptable. These officers have a difficult job working in a highly stressful and dangerous environment and it is imperative that they receive the requisite services for their physical and emotional health. Incarcerated persons, especially those whom have chosen to make the necessary changes in attitudes and beliefs that will support a good and simple life, also face similar risks to their health and safety. They too must receive all services necessary to increase their chances of success, including educational/vocational opportunitites and treatment for substance use disorders, violent and sexual offending, intimate partner violence, anger and emotional management, criminal attitudes and beliefs and conflict resolution and restorative justice. The issues concerning the operations of Westgate Correctional Facility have been repeatedly communicated and documented by officers on the front line, incarcerated persons, the Prison Officers Association, staff and myself. The physical plant is in a state of disrepair and yet there is no sense of urgency to fix the problems. There has been chronic problems with the plumbing that has resulted in the facility not having no hot water, and at times, no water at all. As was highlighted recently by an inmate “Behind the Walls” in a letter to the editor, $400,000 was earmarked for educational and rehabilitative services. The money was spent on upgrades to the kitchen facility and a few months later the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Kim Wilkerson, toured the Westgate facility and posed for a photo opportunity in front of the recently purchased kitchen equipment. A press release said the new equipment was installed in support of culinary classes at the facility. However, as the inmate explains, there are no culinary classes being offered at Westgate, and there have not been any classes offered since before the pandemic. As the inmate explains: “the truth is that the kitchen at Westgate was — and still is — in a state of disrepair and that the equipment that was purchased was necessary in order to keep the facility running.” This is unacceptable. Corrections officers and inmates need immediate, concrete action – not photo ops. Officers have identified the need for equipment to improve safety, in particular cell phone jammers and drone nets to prevent cellphones, drugs and weapons from entering the facility. The Department of Corrections is critically short of officers, which results in many working overtime and burning out because of mental and physical exhaustion. This has the knock on effect of a deterioration of safety protocols and the ability to conduct regular and random sweeps to clear the facility of phones, weapons, drugs and other contraband. The Government has underfunded Corrections by more than $7 million dollars that could have positively impacted on safety, service delivery and a reduction in reoffending. The One Bermuda Alliance recognises that staffing is a primary need and that we do not currently have sufficient candidates for the positions. Bermuda cannot wait for the new uniform training school to provide staff, we must recruit trained officers from the UK using a similar approach to the Bermuda Police Service. We should also consider sending a Bermudian cohort overseas to work for a minimum of six months in maximum security prisons to get the necessary knowledge and experience to effectively operate a safe and results driven facility. If we continue on our current course, lives will be lost, on both sides. We know what we must do and instead of empty promises and witnessing the further deterioration of the system we need to take meaningful action now.
– Robert King is the OBA MP for Constituency 10, Smith’s North
An impressive start puts Bermuda in a strong position in Group A
Bermuda’s Davis Cup team has kicked off its Americas Group III competition with a stunning 2-1 victory over host nation Costa Rica in their Group A opener. The highly anticipated clash at the Costa Rica Country Club saw Bermuda deliver a resilient performance to secure a crucial win on the opening day. Bermuda took an early lead, with Daniel Phillips staging a remarkable comeback in his singles rubber. After losing the first set, Phillips battled back to defeat Christian Felipe Winstead 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 in a marathon match lasting almost three hours, securing Bermuda’s first point. Costa Rica then drew level after Trey Mallory fell in straight sets to Jesse Flores, bringing the tie to 1-1. With the tie hanging in the balance, Phillips and Mallory teamed up for the doubles match against Flores and Winstead. The Bermudian pair delivered a dominant performance, securing a straight-sets victory, 6-2, 7-5. Their strong partnership sealed the 2-1 win for Bermuda, a significant upset against the host nation. This impressive start puts Bermuda in a strong position in Group A as they continue their quest for promotion in the Davis Cup Americas Group III competition.
Betschart qualifies for U.S. Amateur regional stage after playoff drama
Oliver Betschart put in a clutch performance under pressure
Bermuda’s Oliver Betschart has advanced to the next stage of the USGA U.S. Amateur Qualifying, navigating a strong field and a tense playoff to secure his spot. Competing at the KickingBird Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma, Betschart delivered an impressive round of 2-under par 68. From a challenging field of 117 players, only the top 11 were set to advance to the Regional Qualifier in San Diego on July 14th. The day concluded with 12 players making the cut, necessitating a playoff for the final 11 spots. Betschart found himself among five players tied for the last four qualifying positions, setting up a high-stakes tiebreaker. After a tense three-hour wait, Betschart maintained his composure and continued his strong play into the playoff, securing his spot in the next round. It was a clutch performance under pressure, marking a significant milestone on his road to the prestigious U.S. Amateur Championship. His round included four birdies, twelve pars, and just two bogeys.
For the latest news and sports, presenters Gary Foster Skelton and Earl Basden bring you today’s noon radio cast.
In the headlines: Main hospital phone experiencing problems; Island-wide sobriety checkpoints for the holiday weekend; Emergency Measures Organisation readies itself for hurricane season
The plane came down in a residential area, crashing on to a medical college hostel. It was headed for Gatwick Airport.
A view shows the rear of an Air India plane following its crash, in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE VIA X/Handout via REUTERS
AHMEDABAD, India (Reuters) -More than 200 people were killed when an Air India plane bound for London with 242 people on board crashed minutes after taking off from the western city of Ahmedabad on Thursday, authorities said, in the world’s worst aviation disaster in a decade.
The plane came down in a residential area, crashing on to a medical college hostel outside the airport during lunch hour. It was headed for Gatwick Airport, south of the British capital.
City police chief G.S. Malik told Reuters that 204 bodies had been recovered from the crash site. There were no reports of survivors being found, and the Indian Express newspaper said all 242 on board had perished, citing police.
Malik said the bodies recovered could include both passengers and people killed on the ground.
Relatives had been asked to give DNA samples to identify the dead, state health secretary Dhananjay Dwivedi said.
“The building on which it has crashed is a doctors’ hostel… we have cleared almost 70% to 80% of the area and will clear the rest soon,” a senior police officer told reporters.
Parts of the plane’s body were scattered around the building into which it crashed, photographs and videos from the area showed. The tail of the plane was stuck on top of the building.
India’s CNN News-18 TV channels said the plane crashed on top of the dining area of state-run B.J. Medical College hostel, killing many medical students as well.
The passengers included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants, a source told Reuters. Of them, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, Air India said.
Aviation tracking site Flightradar24 said the plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, one of the most modern passenger aircraft in service.
It was the first crash for the Dreamliner, which began flying commercially in 2011, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. The plane that crashed on Thursday flew for the first time in 2013 and was delivered to Air India in January 2014, Flightradar24 said.
“At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates,” Air India said on X.
CRASH JUST AFTER TAKE-OFF
The crash occurred just after the plane took off, television channels reported. One channel showed the plane taking off over a residential area and then disappearing from the screen before a huge jet of fire can be seen rising into the sky from beyond the houses.
Visuals also showed debris on fire, with thick black smoke rising up into the sky near the airport.
They also showed people being moved in stretchers and being taken away in ambulances.
“My sister-in-law was going to London. Within an hour, I got news that the plane had crashed,” Poonam Patel, a relative of one of the passengers, told news agency ANI at the government hospital in Ahmedabad.
Ramila, the mother of a student at the medical college, told ANI her son had gone to the hostel for his lunch break when the plane crashed. “My son is safe, and I have spoken to him. He jumped from the second floor, so he suffered some injuries,” she said.
According to air traffic control at Ahmedabad Airport, the aircraft departed at 1:39 p.m. (0809 GMT) from runway 23. It gave a “Mayday” call, signalling an emergency, but thereafter there was no response from the aircraft.
Flightradar24 also said that it received the last signal from the aircraft seconds after it took off.
U.S. aerospace safety consultant Anthony Brickhouse said one problematic sign from videos of the aircraft was that the landing gear was down at a phase of flight when it would typically be up.
“If you didn’t know what was happening, you would think that plane was on approach to a runway,” Brickhouse said.
Boeing said it was aware of initial reports and was working to gather more information. Boeing shares fell 6.8% to $199.13 in pre-market trade.
Aircraft engine-maker GE Aerospace said that it would put a team together to go to India and analyse cockpit data, India’s CNBC TV18 reported.
Britain was working with Indian authorities to urgently establish the facts around the crash and to provide support to those involved, the country’s foreign office said in a statement posted on its website.
“The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X. “It is heartbreaking beyond words.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said images emerging of the crash were “devastating”, and that he was being kept informed as the situation developed. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said King Charles was also being kept updated.
“My wife and I have been desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning,” the monarch said in a statement.
MODI’S HOME STATE
The Indian aviation minister’s office said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had directed it to ensure all support was extended to the rescue efforts immediately.
Ahmedabad is the main city in Modi’s home state of Gujarat.
Ahmedabad Airport, which suspended all flight operations after the crash, said it was operational again but with limited flights. The airport is operated by India’s Adani Group conglomerate.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragedy of Air India Flight 171,” Gautam Adani, founder and chairman of the group, posted on X.
“Our hearts go out to the families who have suffered an unimaginable loss. We are working closely with all authorities and extending full support to the families on the ground,” he said.
The last fatal plane crash in India, the world’s third largest aviation market and its fastest growing, was in 2020 and involved Air India Express, the airline’s low-cost arm.
The airline’s Boeing-737 overshot a “table-top” runway at Kozhikode International Airport in southern India. The plane skidded off the runway, plunging into a valley and crashing nose-first into the ground.
Twenty-one people were killed in that crash.
The formerly state-owned Air India was taken over by Indian conglomerate Tata Group in 2022, and merged with Vistara – a joint venture between the group and Singapore Airlines – in 2024.
(Reporting by Sumit Khanna in Ahmedabad, Sakshi Dayal, Tanvi Mehta, Aditi Shah, Aditya Kalra, Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Krishna Das and Shivam Patel in New Delhi; Writing by YP Rajesh; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Alex Richardson)
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