News from Bermuda

Ewart Brown, Premier of Bermuda and Minister of Tourism and Transport, is today praising local hotel The Reefs on their recent renovation and expansion.

The Premier said, “One of the keys to Bermuda’s tourism turnaround is proactive, visionary leadership among our hoteliers. The recognition that what was good enough forty years ago isn’t good enough for the modern, sophisticated traveller should compel our entire Tourism industry to keep our product renewed, revitalized and ahead of our competition.

The Reefs’ David Dodwell has shown that he is not content to rest on the laurels of his hotels’ fine reputation, but instead has looked for ways to keep his product fresh, exciting and customer driven. He is a pacesetter for hoteliers who have been slow to upgrade the product and he has demonstrated a deep understanding of his customer.”

The Reefs which has been consistently ranked in Travel & Leisure Magazine as one of the best resorts in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda region has just completed a renovation and expansion project that now incorporates fractional ownership.

Premier Brown remarked, “The fact that The Reefs have made a commitment to employing, promoting and retaining Bermudians within its staff should be noted. We often say that the best thing about Bermuda is our people and The Reefs should be praised for keeping Bermudians on the frontlines of tourism at their hotel.”

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.”

Later this month more than 190 ships will set sail from Newport, Rhode Island carrying about 2000 sailors to Bermuda’s shores in the biennial Island invasion called the Newport Bermuda Race. Over that same weekend flights to the Island will be chock full of families, friends and return crews to bring the total invasion force to about 6,000 people, guests of Bermuda.

“Hospitality rules,” says Peter Shrubb, Commodore of race co-sponsors Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. “We’ll make Bermuda’s guests welcome. We want them to come back in two years . . . or sooner. Thanks to all the local volunteers in Bermuda who work from the finish line to the duty desk and behind the scenes, it all happens with style.”

Racing starts in Newport at 2.00 p.m. on June 18. Spectators can track the racing boats’ course to Bermuda online at www.iboattrack.com. And new for 2010, thanks to the new Gateway Bermuda Finish Line Cam, spectators watching the big screens at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club can watch boats finish 24/7.

All race details are updated on www.BermudaRace.com.

All those in Bermuda during the week is invited to join the fun at RBYC. Some of the most spectacular racing and cruising boats will berth in the club marina. Captains and crews are always willing to spin a sea-yarn or two with inquisitive guests. Winning boats are identified with appropriate signage. Shirts, caps and lots of logo race wear for men and women are available in the regatta store.

The RBYC Anniversary Regatta will be held on Friday, June 25 in the Great Sound and adjacent waters. The second race finishes off the Hamilton Princess in mid-afternoon. Up to 30 yachts from 37 to 90 feet long will be racing in Bermuda that Friday. It is the biggest offshore race in Bermuda all year.

If conditions are right for Newport Bermuda, the fastest boats, three 90 to 100 footers in the Open Division, could finish on Sunday afternoon. Alex Thomson’s Speedboat, first to finish in 2008, hopes to repeat but this year in record time. Ken Read on Puma, a Volvo 70, and Bermuda’s Argo Group CEO Mark Watson, sponsor and skipper of the US Merchant Marine Academy’s Dubois 90 Genuine Risk, both hope to snatch line honours and rain on his parade. The Open Division record was set in 2004 by Morning Glory with a time of 48 hours, 28 minutes and 31 seconds.

In the other divisions, competition is just as tight. The focus in the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Division will be on Niklas Zennstrom’s JV72 Ran, winner of last year’s Rolex Fastnet Race and class winner in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race. Peter Rebovich in his Cal 40 Sinn Fein are going for a record tying three straight St. David’s Lighthouse Trophy wins.

In the Cruiser Division, Bermuda’s Paul Hubbard has his sights set on a repeat first place finish aboard Bermuda Oyster. The double-handers feature the biennial battle between Rich du Moulin’s Express 37 Lora Ann and Hewitt Gaynor’s J120 Mireille along with 25 other boats sailed by just two sailors.

Destination Dockyard, the annual summer series of Monday night street festivals at the Royal Naval Dockyard (King’s Wharf/Heritage Wharf), will run from May 31 until August 2.

Evenings include a full programme of entertainment and things to do:

• The Main Event 8 pm to 10.30 pm – Live entertainment, glassblowing at Dockyard Glassworks, shopping at the Clocktower Mall (opening hours extended to 9 pm), children’s activities, Gombey dancers, and more
• After Hours– live music at the Snorkel Park (10 pm to 2 am), and salsa dancing at the Bone Fish Bar & Grill (8.45 pm to midnight)

Visitors coming from Hamilton can take the 7 pm ferry. The last ferry from Dockyard to Hamilton is at 11.30 pm.

Destination Dockyard is hosted by the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and the West End Development Corporation (WEDCO).

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.

9 Beaches will not open for the 2010 season.

Yesterday Premier Ewart Brown announced the Sandys Parish resort will undergo an $80 million dollar redevelopment and reopen in May 2011.

He said, “This development is yet another step on the path to revitalizing Bermuda’s tourism product to ensure we regain our reputation as a first class resort destination. This new development is also going to provide jobs during the re-development as well as additional jobs once the resort re-opens in 2011.”

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.

Carnival Cruise Lines will dramatically expand its Bermuda cruise schedule in 2011, offering 16 departures to the island from four popular eastern US ports — Baltimore, Norfolk, New York and, for the first time, Charleston, South Carolina.

Carnival will be the only cruise line offering Bermuda cruises from Charleston.

The 16 Bermuda voyages — the most the line has ever offered — will encompass a variety of six-, seven- and eight-day cruises from April through November.

Carnival’s 2011 Bermuda departures include:

• Baltimore (seven-day cruises on Carnival Pride) – April 10 and 17, September 18, October 2 and November 6
• New York (seven- and eight-day departures on Carnival Miracle) – April 14 and 21, and September 11 and 27
• Norfolk (six-day sailing on Carnival Glory) – October 16
• Charleston, South Carolina (six-day voyages on Carnival Fantasy) – April 23, May 19, June 16, August 25, September 15 and October 6

Reservations are currently open for the six Charleston departures with the line’s other Bermuda cruises expected to be open over the next few weeks.

All ships will dock at the Royal Naval Dockyard (King’s Wharf or Heritage Wharf).

Six-day cruises will offer two-day calls at King’s Wharf or Heritage Wharf while seven- and eight-day cruises will feature three-day visits.

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.