Bermuda International Airport has been renamed LF Wade International Airport in honour of the late PLP leader L. Freddie Wade. A ceremony held at the airport on Monday to mark the change was attended by Premier Ewart Brown and Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley.
A cruise for gay and lesbian families organised by chat show host Rosie O’Donnell has cut Bermuda from its itinerary because of fears of protests by local church groups. R Family Vacations, a company owned by O’Donnell’s partner Kelli O’Donnell, said on its website, ‘we feel that our cruise would be more enjoyable with an alternate itinerary to ports where we know we are welcome by everyone.’ In 2004 a similar cruise to Nassau was met by protesters chanting anti-gay slogans.
Bermuda’s tourist information centres have been renamed and their operations handed over to private companies. Management of the Visitor Information Centres, previously known as Visitor Service Bureau, has been transferred from the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce to three private operators; BermyNet, Café Latte and TMM Visitor Services.
Foreign workers from non-English speaking countries will shortly have to pass an English language test to remain in Bermuda. Derrick Burgess, Minister of Labour and Immigration, told the House of Assembly last week he was concerned that many Bermudians had complained that many restaurants were employing waiters who couldn’t speak English and brought incorrect dishes.
Premier Ewart Brown has revealed a pretty impressive set of tourism statistics for 2006. Total visitor arrivals were 641,717, up 23.2% on the figure for 2005. 298,973 visitors arrived by air (up 10.9%), 336,299 by cruise ship (up 36.0%) and 6,445 by yacht. Hotel occupancy rates rose to 63.8%, compared to 56.9% in 2005.
Panic gripped Bermuda on Saturday as a false rumour of a Tsunami about to hit the island spread like wildfire amongst the local community. In the panic many residents headed for higher ground and the police cleared Dockyard and Somerset village. The police have been blamed for much of the chaos. Early reports indicate they acted on the rumour without contacting the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre to confirm its validity.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative has been amended yet again. US citizens traveling to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada and Mexico by air now have to have a passport by January 23 2007. The previous deadline was January 8 2007.
Ewart Brown has won the PLP’s leadership battle and is expected to be sworn in as Bermuda’s new Premier today. He has indicated that he may also reclaim the tourism portfolio he previously relinquished.
The World Travel & Tourism Council has opposed the decision of the US Congress to delay the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative to land-based tourism and cruise line passengers, while keeping the January 8 2007 deadline for air passengers.
They estimate the Caribbean region could lose around US $2.6 billion and around 200,000 jobs as a result of the WHTI. Fewer than 30 percent of American citizens have current, valid passports.
Dr Ewart Brown, who recently quit as Tourism Minister to enter the race to be Bermuda’s next Premier, has revealed his plans for island if his bid is successful. These include a rethink of plans to build a new hospital at the Botanical Gardens and a commitment to gain independence from Britain.