Bermuda - Essential

Acts appearing at the 2010 Bermuda Music Festival have been announced by Ewart Brown, Premier and Minister of Tourism and Transport.

The line-up for the 15th annual festival includes Ziggy Marley, Toni Braxton, Angie Stone, and Estelle. It will be held at the Fairmont Southampton from September 30 to October 2.

Tickets go on sale July 26 and are available online at www.bdatix.bm and in Bermuda at the iStore on Reid Street in Hamilton and Fabulous Fashions at the Heron Bay Plaza.

The Ministry of Works and Engineering is making a final appeal to all veterans who served in the First World War and Second World War to ensure that their names are included on the new War Memorial that is under construction on the grounds of Cabinet Office. To date, some 2,000 names have been identified for engraving on the new Memorial.

It is believed that more Bermudians per capita than any other country in the world volunteered to serve in the First Word War (1914-1918). They served in all of the great battles of the First World War, including the Battle of the Somme in France, which lasted for six months and claimed nearly a million lives.

After the First World War, the Government of the day promised a War Memorial and the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII, laid the foundation stone in the Cabinet Grounds in 1920. A competition was held for the design. The Memorial was never built and pensions and benefits were never given to the returning soldiers.

After the Second World War (1939-45), there was no change in the Government’s attitude towards Bermuda’s returning soldiers, but a war memorial does exist for smaller separate units, like the BVRC Memorial in Victoria Park.

Bermuda’s military units were segregated at the time of the World Wars and the records of many soldiers, particularly black soldiers, have been poorly maintained. Many others do not exist at all. The current campaign aims at righting an historic wrong in the Bermuda community. The aim is to recognize appropriately the First and Second World War service of all of Bermuda’s residents. The new War Memorial will honour the sacrifice of every Bermudian man and woman who served in the Great Wars.

Until the Government amended the War Pensions and Services Act in 2007, Bermudians who served in the defence of Bermuda and nearly all black veterans and their widows received no acknowledgement or benefits.

The Government has extended benefits to veterans and widows to include free hospital treatment, respite and palliative care, a monthly pension and a funeral grant. There were extensive benefits available in the 1919 and 1947 versions of the War Pensions and Services Act, but unlike other Commonwealth countries which had similar Acts, the benefits were never made properly available in Bermuda.

It is to be noted that the Cenotaph, located on the Cabinet Grounds, is not a war memorial. Instead, it is an ‘empty tomb’ that reflects in abstract the ‘Glorious Dead’ who perished in the two World Wars. It is a miniature model of the Cenotaph in London.

The Ministry of Works and Engineering has launched an appeal to the community to ensure all their names are included on the War Memorial and the public is encouraged to contact Ms. Carol Everson at 533-4567 or via email at nosoldierleftbehind@hotmail.com to provide details of any Bermudian war veteran.

Ewart Brown, Premier of Bermuda and Minister of Tourism and Transport, is today welcoming news that total visitor spending increased by $800,000 during the first quarter of 2010.

The Premier said, “This is good news for the people of Bermuda and for our economy. The impact of the global recession on tourism destinations has been staggering and many countries have seen their arrivals plummet and their air capacity decline along with it. Thanks to an aggressive marketing campaign, diligent maintenance of the relationship with our partners in the air and cruise industry we have managed to keep Bermuda competitive as a tourist destination. When we combine this news with the positive talks held recently with Carnival Corporation regarding bringing more ships to St. George’s and the announcement that the Grand Atlantic Hotel will soon break ground we can see that there are many positive signs pointing to a tourism turnaround.”

The Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation, the Hon. D. Neletha I. Butterfield, M.B.E., JP, MP would like to advise everyone that the Bermuda Day Parade will again begin at 1:30 pm on Monday, 24th May.

The parade route will follow the same route as in previous years. Starting at the junction of Bermudiana Road and Front Street, the parade will continue along Front Street to Court Street where it will make a left turn on to Court Street. The parade will then turn left on to Church Street, make a right turn on to Burnaby Hill, then on to Cedar Avenue and proceed along past the Tennis Stadium to Marsh Folly Road. The parade will then make a right turn on to Dutton Avenue and into Bernard Park. Please note that vendors have chosen to be located at various points along the parade route.

The safety of the general public is of utmost importance and every possible measure will be taken to ensure that the public can have a safe and enjoyable Bermuda Day Holiday.

CCTV cameras will be located throughout the parade route and at Bernard Park, the general public is asked to respect all barricades and security fences placed at key points along the route.

Minister Butterfield wishes the public a safe and enjoyable Bermuda Day and calls on the community to help our visitors enjoy Bermuda’s celebration of our culture and heritage.

Minister Butterfield also wishes to advise persons who can’t make it to this year’s Bermuda Day Parade that they can watch it live on CITV beginning at 1:30 pm on Monday, 24th May. The parade will also be carried on Cablevision Channel 2 and WOW Channel 102. For families overseas – the Parade will also be streamed live at www.citv.gov.bm.

Nationals of more countries now require visas to visit Bermuda.

The new rules, effective May 1 2010, now require citizens of countries such as South Africa, India, Panama, Philippines, Turkey, and the Dominican Republic to obtain visas to enter the country.

The move has prompted much criticism in the media and throughout the tourism industry as it was not widely announced.

Some cruise passengers who had booked trips months before the regulations came into force were reportedly unable to come ashore when their ships docked.

The Cabinet Office announced today that Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis has accepted the Premier’s invitation to visit Bermuda.

Dr. Douglas will arrive on 20th May and depart on 25th May. During his visit Dr. Douglas will attend the House of Assembly, calling on the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, call on His Excellency the Governor and tour Dockyard and Commissioner’s House.

Premier Brown said “with such close links between Bermuda and St. Kitts it is a tremendous honour to welcome Dr. Douglas during our Heritage Month celebrations.”

Dr. Douglas will also join dignitaries on the reviewing stand at the Flagpole on 24th May to witness this year’s Bermuda Day Parade.

The Premier continued, “The Prime Minister has also committed to reaching out to the local Kittitian community and those who retain close links to the Island by hosting a Town Hall meeting to discuss recent development and change in St. Kitts.”

More details of the Prime Minister’s schedule will be provided in the coming weeks.

Dr. Douglas has been Prime Minister for 15 years and was first appointed in July 1995. His St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party recently won its fourth consecutive term in January 2010.

Canadians are now required to hold a passport to enter Bermuda.

Prior to today Canadians could enter Bermuda with photo identification and a birth certificate.

Research indicates that the move will have little impact on the numbers of Canadian tourists visiting the island.

Ewart Brown, Premier of Bermuda, today congratulated Phil Mickelson on winning his third Masters Tournament. With his three stroke victory over Lee Westwood, Mickelson has earned the honour of donning the coveted Green Jacket and secured an invitation to the 2010 PGA Grand Slam of Golf to be held in Bermuda.

Premier Brown said, “This was a fantastic Masters…..a golfer’s dream finish. Phil Mickelson played a wonderful round and deserved to win his third Green Jacket. For Bermuda and the PGA Grand Slam, the outcome could be hugely positive considering Phil’s immense popularity. In my meetings with the PGA here in Augusta, they were very upbeat about this year’s Grand Slam and I am hopeful that we will negotiate an extension of our agreement.”

The 2010 PGA Grand Slam of Golf will return to the Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda, October 18-20, where Lucas Glover posted a five-stroke triumph over Angel Cabrera in last year’s meeting of major champions.

Bermuda is turning up the heat with its new Sizzling Summer Promotion, offering up to $600 in resort credit based on room nights booked. Guests receive a $600 credit when booking a six night stay, $500 credit when booking a five-night stay and $400 credit when booking a four-night stay.

The Department of Tourism teamed up with the Bermuda Hotel Association for this exclusive promotion, available for booking April 1 – 30 for travel May 1 – October 31, 2010.

Participating hotels include: Cambridge Beaches, Coco Reef, Elbow Beach, Fairmont Hamilton Princess, Fairmont Southampton, Grape Bay Beach Hotel, Grotto Bay, Newstead Belmont Hills, 9 Beaches, Pompano, Reefs, Rosedon, Royal Palms, St. George’s Club, Surf Side, Tucker’s Point and Willowbank.

The Department Tourism is pleased to announce the appointment of the St. George’s Foundation effective April 1, 2010 as the vendor to provide visitor information services in the Town of St. George’s.

Director of Tourism Mr. William Griffith said, “Having the St. George’s Foundation manage the visitor information services in St. George’s guarantees that our visitors have a first class information experience.”

To serve the visitor better and have the VIC’s run more efficiently, there will be two Visitor Information Centre locations in St. George’s. The primary location will be The World Heritage Centre, and an additional satellite location at the Deliverance replica on Ordnance Island. Both locations will be open 10:00 am – 4:00 pm daily.

In addition to changes in the VIC operations, there will also be additional activities planned for visitors. After extensive research in North America through a series of Focus Groups, market research indicated that visitors in general are looking for more Historical and Cultural activities to see and do while on a vacation. To satisfy this need of the traveller the Department of Tourism in partnership with the Corporation of St. George’s, the St. George’s Foundation and the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce will be providing additional cultural activities in St. George’s.

Beginning April 1, history will come to life with a series of walking tours that travel the path of the Blockade Runners, explore the quaint streets of the historic town and showcases Bermuda’s artists trail and unique architectural history.

Starting April 12, visitors can see the historical ducking every day except Friday and Sunday. This entertaining, light-hearted re-enactment will be followed by lively Bermudian entertainment that will keep the energy and excitement up in King’s Square. April 27, visitors can explore the hidden treasures of St. George’s while experiencing great local entertainment and an assortment of local products at the St. George’s Market Nights.