News from Bermuda

Tiger Woods will not play in the 2008 PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda after being forced to withdraw from the remainder of the PGA Tour season. Just days after winning the US Open and qualifying for the tournament, Woods announced that he will shortly be undergoing reconstructive knee surgery and will be need time for rehabilitation.

The news comes as a big blow for Bermuda who had hoped to bring the star to the island. Woods qualified for the event last year, the first time it had been held in Bermuda, but withdrew for personal reasons.

The PGA Grand Slam of Golf tournament will be held at the Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda on October 14 – 15 2008. Tickets are available from www.pga.com.

The Waterloo House hotel and restaurant in Hamilton will close on July 29 and is likely to be redeveloped as offices. Owners Horizon Ltd say the luxury hotel has not been profitable despite winning numerous awards, including being named as one of the best hotels in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine just 2 years ago. All staff have been offered employment at the hotel’s sister property; Horizons and Cottages.

Government have announced that the St George’s Golf Course is set to close because it is losing too much money. The public course will close in August, despite the fact that Port Royal, another public course, is not reopening until January 2009.

It is anticipated that the land will be used for a new course that will be part of the Park Hyatt hotel, set to open in 2011.

The Bermuda Government have given the go ahead to allow cruise ships to operate casinos while docked in port. The concession is part of a wider plan to increase the competitiveness of the island as a major cruise destination.

Premier and Tourism Minister Dr Ewart Brown announced the decision in the House of Assembly last week. Cruise ships would also be allowed to open bars, shops, and allow entertainment while docked, all prohibited under current legislation.

The Government have defended the plans, stating that Bermuda is losing its competitive edge in the cruise market, particularly the ability to attract smaller ships capable of docking in Hamilton and St George.

Cabin tax for ships visiting Hamilton and St George has also been waived for 3 years.

The Harmony Club in Paget has been purchased by the Bermuda Government from Bermuda Resort Hotels. It will be used to provide accommodation for police recruits from overseas. Bermuda Resort Hotels will use most of the $6.25 million sale proceeds to redevelop one of their other properties, the Surf Side Beach Hotel.

New fees for marriage certificates and licences for Bermuda weddings have been announced by the Registrar General. A regular marriage certificate now costs $42 (an express option is available for $57) while the application fee has increased to $243. Fees are effective April 1 2008 to March 31 2010.

The Bermuda Government announced yesterday that the island’s new Jumeirah resort will be built at Morgan’s Point. The move was welcomed by the Bermuda National Trust and the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce who had objected to its original location at Southlands.

Government also announced that the hotel currently being developed by Bazarian International on the old Club Med site in St George’s will be managed by the Park Hyatt hotel group. It is expected to open for business in 2011.

Home Affairs Minister David Burch has announced that 4,000 incomplete work permit applications are to be returned to employers. Addressing the Senate he said that too many applications are being submitted without the correct documentation, resulting in lengthy delays. He expects that the move will lead to correct applications being processed in a timely manner.

A 39-year old American tourist has become Bermuda’s third road fatality of 2008. Martha Hoopes died on Monday after loosing control of her rental moped and crashing into a van. Her nine year old daughter, a pillion passenger, is recovering in hospital. Ewart Brown, Premier and Transport and Tourism Minister, has promised a review of procedures for training tourists to ride mopeds.

Fort St Catherine will close this weekend for repairs and improvements. It is expected to reopen in mid-June.