Yet how many of us really understand the laws and the language as we sign our life-changing documents?

To help break it down, we enlisted the expertise of Neil Molyneux, a senior associate in the Bermuda office of law firm Appleby, who is a property law specialist and a member of the firm’s property team.

The legal framework:

• Bermuda’s land law is based on English common law but modified by statutes and Bermuda court decisions which address Bermuda’s particular requirements. The primary legislation governing the transfer of land is the Conveyancing Act 1983 as modified by the Land Registration Act 2011.
• For unregistered land, title is demonstrated through a “chain of deeds” going back at least 20 years. After land becomes registered, title is demonstrated by obtaining a copy of the register for the property from the Land Title Registry.

Property in Bermuda is held under two distinct legal interests:

• Freehold (or fee simple), which represents ultimate ownership, with absolute rights over the land and buildings forever; or
• Leasehold, which represents an interest for a fixed time period, often 999 years for an apartment/condominium.

Co-ownership is as:

• Joint tenants, where a deceased’s interest automatically passes to the survivor; or
• Tenants in common, where each owner holds a distinct share that can be bequeathed to heirs or separately sold.

Mr Molyneux said: “Due to limited land, the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 1956 imposes restrictions on foreign ownership.”

The term “internationals” refers to those who are not legally Bermudians or Belongers (British Overseas Territory citizens). Permanent Resident Certificate holders are internationals for property purposes (with some concessions beyond this article’s scope).

• Licensing: internationals must apply to Government for an Acquisition Licence. This process involves vetting financial standing and character references.
• Annual rental value restrictions: internationals are restricted to high-value homes, eg, a minimum ARV of $126,000 for standalone homes.
• Inventory limits: internationals are typically prohibited from purchasing vacant land.

Mr Molyneux added: “Bermuda has no capital gains tax, but transactional costs are high.”

Payments to Government are:

• Stamp duty: calculated on the value transferred on a sliding scale, reaching up to 7.35 per cent for high-value properties.

• Licence fees: internationals pay a one-time fee for their Acquisition Licence, which ranges from zero per cent (for a hotel/resort unit placed into hotel inventory), to 12.5 per cent (for a standalone home) of the purchase price depending on the property type.

• Land tax: all property owners pay a bi-annual tax based on the property’s ARV (set by government).

Regarding zoning and planning, Mr Molyneux said: “Development and building permits are controlled by the Department of Planning. The Bermuda Plan dictates land use, conservation zones, and building heights.

“Given Bermuda’s tough environment (high humidity, salty air and being situated in ‘hurricane alley’), the building code requires features, such as concrete blocks and white-stepped limestone roofs, which allow for water catchment.”

The process involves distinct classifications:

• Planning permission (using Form DAP1): required for most development, including new buildings or material use changes. This involves public advertisement and review by the Development Applications Board.
• Building permits: with planning approved, a building permit ensures construction meets the safety standards set by Bermuda’s Building Code. Note the code is updated from time to time. Older plant and apparatus, if installed to code, is grandfathered, however modifications require retrofitting to current code.
• Permitted development permits: minor works may bypass full planning review, which the Department aims to process within five working days. This permit confirms planning permission is not required.

Planning Department applications are submitted via the online Customer Self Service portal. Fees are based on project type and square footage.

The post Know your Bermuda land laws appeared first on RG Magazines.

However, in Bermuda, you can add the build-up of mould, moss, algae, dirt and rust stains, on a vast variety of exterior surfaces to that list.

Our very damp climate is the perfect breeding ground for the growth or development of such irritants on the roofs, walls and grounds of our properties.

To address those concerns, property owners are calling on entrepreneur Seth Ming for assistance.

Mr Ming, set up Peak Performance Pressure Washing in April 2024 and now serves both residential and commercial clients seeking to maintain and refresh their properties.

The business restores properties by offering both pressure washing and soft washing services, stain removal, and roof and tank cleaning.

Mr Ming said pressure washing and soft washing are the perfect treatment for surfaces such as concrete driveways, mouldy walls, patios, brick and stone.

He has built his own soft washing system where he can apply measured solutions with the turn of a switch.

The low-pressure cleaning approach is used on house washes and brick to get rid of mould.

Mr Ming said: “I also use it to pre-treat and post-treat concrete areas.”

He said the process uses a gentle mixture of cleaning solutions to result in a deep clean with long-lasting results. Bacteria are killed at the source, without damaging delicate surfaces, or painted surfaces.

Chemicals in the cleaning solution do most of the work, killing black mould, algae and mildew off walls, concrete or any other surface.

It is a longer process than pressure washing as the solution must stay on the target surface for up to 20 minutes to remove the residue before Mr Ming administers a freshwater wash.

The detergent used, which is a percentage mix of water to chemical solution, is altered to fit the task.

Mr Ming said: “I customise the ratios according to the job. I have a different solution mixture from pressure washing to soft washing.”

Bringing an idea home

He first had the idea to begin a pressure washing business when he saw a soft washing job being done while enrolled in a heavy equipment operator’s course in Florida.

Returning home from the course in 2010, Mr Ming operated heavy equipment for a range of employers in the construction sector before becoming a driver in the trucking business in 2014.

All the while, he was thinking about the promising potential of a pressure washing business in Bermuda.

Mr Ming said: “I’ve had it in the back of my head ever since. I was thinking of things that could be a valuable business and help people on the island at the same time because this island breeds mould.

“I’ve been on a countless amount of site visits where I have slipped and slid due to the black mould.

“When people call and ask what else I can clean, it’s pretty much everything external on a residential or commercial property that I can clean. I’ve got special solutions for everything!”

In the beginning, Mr Ming worked his trucking job alongside the launch of Peak Performance, offering power washing services to family and friends so that he could build up a portfolio of work.

He went full-time with Peak Performance this January after a busy pre-holiday period last Christmas.

“Last summer was pretty busy with a lot of pool decks, patios, house washes and roof jobs, but everybody wants stuff clean for Christmas. My schedule was through the roof!

“Nobody wants their auntie coming with the Christmas turkey and slipping on the drive and falling. That’s the time that people want stuff spic and span.

“I’ve also got people calling me because they have elderly people staying in their properties, and they want to avoid ‘slip and falls’, so I can help people in that regard too.”

Plans to grow

In addition to being hired by property owners, Mr Ming said the business is now getting referrals from painting contractors, who need exterior walls or roofs cleaned before they start their projects.

Sometimes, he said, residential customers prefer a soft wash of exterior walls rather than a full paint job.

The service is customised to the property being worked on. An SKB roof, for example, is treated differently than a traditional limestone slate roof by adjusting the pressure of the water being applied.

Mr Ming said: “With an SKB roof, you can get a little more aggressive with pressure. With the older style roofs, you are gentler when you are washing them clean and getting the dirt off the roof.

“I did a house last year that was built in 1703, which is without a doubt the oldest roof I’ve stepped foot on. You’ve got to be extra careful with an old cottage like that.”

As a teenager, Mr Ming and his older brother assisted their father, Roderick Ming, who operated Ming’s Contracting.

He said: “I left my full-time job to operate Peak Performance Pressure Washing because I like to be independent, I like to make my own hours, and I like to do my own work.”

Now that the business has his sole attention, Mr Ming said he wants to hire summer students and plans to expand Peak Performance in the future.

Already, five or six people are reaching out to him daily, offering their services and expressing an interest in learning the business.

Peak Performance has a presence on Facebook and Instagram and soon will launch a Google Ads campaign.

Mr Ming said: “It’s going well, but there is definitely plenty of room for growth. It’s just how fast I want to grow. I want to expand in the right way.

“My plan is to be the biggest exterior cleaning company on island.”

The post Performing under pressure appeared first on RG Magazines.

Those undigested wood pellets, or frass, that you see are a sign that termites are active – and they’re going to continue chowing down on your wooden beams and fine wooden furniture unless the problem is addressed.

Should you see flying termites, or find termite wings, it means termites have likely been in your house for five to seven years because it’s a sign that the colony has grown too big, and termites have started to spread to other pieces of wood.

Justin Tavares is the operations manager at Bermuda Pest Control, which has been in business since 1952, and does around 140 tented fumigations annually.

“Tent fumigations are reserved for treating wood-destroying organisms,” he said.

“The majority are termites, but every now and then, there’s another insect called a powder post beetle that is also a wood-destroying organism.

“If you have them in your house, that’s when you want to get it treated, because it’s a problem that does not go away. It’s just going to keep getting worse and worse and worse. Our advice is always to get it taken care of sooner rather than later.”

Termites live in wood, eating it and expelling the frass.

Mr Tavares said: “Frass is termites’ droppings, and it looks like sand if you put it under a microscope. Termites like to eat wood, but they can’t digest all of it, so they excrete what they can’t eat.

“When you see that, that’s your first sign that an infestation has gotten to a point where it needs to be properly looked at.”

He added: “Termites prefer soft woods, but they’ll eat any wood. A common myth in Bermuda is that they don’t eat cedar. They don’t like cedar, but I can guarantee you they will eat it.”

On the day of a tented fumigation, the Bermuda Pest Control team will arrive with tarps to go over the house, clamps to hold them together, and sandbags to form a tight seal on the ground to ensure that the colourless, odourless gas sulfuryl fluoride – trade name Vikane – is contained inside the house.

Mr Tavares said: “While that’s going on, inside the house everything is being opened to promote good airflow, so drawers, cabinets, dressers, attic spaces, are opened up.

“The only things that need to be out of the home during the fumigation are people, pets and plants.

“We set up fans to help circulate the fumigant. So once all that prep work is done, the technician, who has to be licensed to do so, will release the fumigant into the property.”

He added: “The gas sits and circulates for typically somewhere between 12 and 16 hours. The next day, tents come down, and the house gets aired out. Once that is done, we have special detection devices to make sure that the gas is at a level, which is zero for us, to allow people to reoccupy the space.

“There’s no residual to the gas, so there’s no clean-up. You don’t need to wash dishes. You don’t need to change the linens. You don’t need to wipe down every surface.”

Fumigations, which carry a seven-year warranty, are done year-round.

The only excepted days, for safety reasons, are those where winds exceed 25mph.

Mr Tavares said: “If fumigation is an idea that you’ve been toying with, inspections are free, and quotes are free. Just give us a call and we can come out and help you in any way that we can.”

The post Tenting for termites appeared first on RG Magazines.

The Serpentine Road, Pembroke, company is the largest supplier of residential and commercial windows and doors in Bermuda.

General manager Jimmy Thatcher said doors and windows can be either hurricane impact or non-impact, each coming in a variety of styles; the former also provide greater security, which is increasingly a client priority.

Commercial clients, and residential new-build customers, are normally represented by architects and designers, who know which styles and specifications they are after.

Renovation or upgrade projects require a different approach.

Mr Thatcher said: “When customers come in looking for doors and/or windows the first question we have to ask is ‘are you looking for hurricane impact or non-impact products?’

“This is the client’s choice and is usually driven by the choice of protection or no protection.

“In the last 15 to 20 years, we have noticed an increase in requests for hurricane impact doors while in the last five to eight years, there has been an uptick in interest in impact windows.

“Typically, windows have been non-impact because people use shutters or blinds that offer protection and also keep with our ‘traditional Bermuda’ look.”

Kim Powell, manager of human relations and payroll at Island Glass, said residential customers are increasingly valuing small sight lines when it comes to exterior doors.

Mr Thatcher concurred: “If you buy a million-dollar view, you don’t want to have a whole lot of material blocking your view. That’s why a lot of people are starting to go ‘big glass’ with modern, slim profiles.”

Windows and doors are available in a range of materials including aluminum, PVC/vinyl, steel and solid wood.

Mr Thatcher said: “The material and style are determined by aesthetics, function and budget. That is true for both residential and commercial clients.”

Door styles include traditional sliding doors, sleeker modern style sliding doors, which are popular in Europe, as well as French or swing doors, folding doors and walls, pivot doors, disappearing doors, storefront doors, automatic doors, all glass entranceways and more.

On the commercial side, Island Glass has been involved in some of the most prominent construction projects in Bermuda, including Waterloo House, the Waterfront complex, Seon Building, Brookfield House, Maxwell Roberts Building, The Berkeley Institute, RenaissanceRe, XL and Cambridge Beaches.

The company is also the main automatic door vendor on island – they installed the automatic entrance at the grand entranceway at the former home of The Royal Gazette on Par-la-Ville Road in Hamilton.

Island Glass deals with a range of vendors in the United States, Canada, Guatemala, Colombia, United Kingdom, Italy and Portugal.

Mr Thatcher said: “For the last 40 years, we’ve forged long-lasting relationships with high-quality manufacturers who understand the unique challenges of the Bermuda environment, and they stand behind Island Glass and we stand behind them.”

For clients who need products immediately, Island Glass stocks standard size PVC double hung windows, sliding doors, French doors and fiberglass entrance ways.

Working product samples are showcased in the company’s 1,450-square-foot showroom on Serpentine Road. That facility also includes a full glass shop and aluminium shop.

For custom orders the typical manufacturing lead times are four to eight weeks for standard products to the island while specialised products can take 12 to 16 weeks.

Island Glass also stocks the island’s largest selection of commercial and residential window and door hardware parts. They have a wide variety of hard to find “old” items as well as newer hardware.

Mr Thatcher said: “If there’s ever an issue, we can service a customer very quickly.”

The post Making an impact appeared first on RG Magazines.

Five years ago, the BCHC – in tandem with the Bermuda Hospitals Board – launched an integrated breast cancer care pathway of education, detection, diagnostics, treatment and recovery that is designed to improve efficiencies and the quality of care.

The BCHC’s goal for all patients is to reduce the time between abnormal imaging or biopsy, confirmed diagnosis, and initiation of treatment, to improve both the patient experience and the clinical outcome.

All BCHC breast cancer cases are presented to a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) that includes surgeons, clinical and medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, nurses and a dedicated cancer navigator, to ensure each patient benefits from collective clinical expertise across the island.

The MDT’s functions include:

• Case discussions. The team reviews all newly referred patients, including diagnostics (biopsies, scans), to determine the best treatment plan
• Evidence-based care. The MDT uses national guidelines to guide decisions, reducing variation in practice
• Clinical trials. The team discusses suitability for clinical trials
• Patient-centred approach. Although patients usually do not attend the meeting, their preferences and needs are represented by the nurses and doctors in the meeting
• Communication. After the meeting, the treatment plan is communicated to the patient via their oncologist or general practitioner.

The BCHC said the integrated pathway has resulted in patients being better informed about what should be happening next, how long it should take, and who they should be talking to.

The development of the pathway formed part of the BHB’s integration programme and was led by clinical oncologist Dr Chris Fosker, now the CEO and medical director of the BCHC, in collaboration with BHB executive sponsor Scott Pearman and physician lead Anna Neilson-Williams.

There are also specific MDTs, or in some cases clinical review meetings, for other cancers, as well as the multi-disciplinary Comprehensive Tumour Board, which also reviews cancer cases of all types.

Dr Fosker said: “The pathway work gave us visibility into where the system was creating delays and unnecessary stress for patients. Once those barriers were clearly mapped, we were able to make practical changes to improve co-ordination, reduce avoidable waiting, and create a better experience for patients at a very uncertain time.

“Cancer care is time-sensitive, but it is also emotionally charged. By structuring the pathway and reviewing cases through a multi-disciplinary team, we have been able to remove friction points in the system and ensure patients move from diagnosis to treatment in a co-ordinated, deliberate way.”

Promoting awareness

The integrated breast cancer care pathway starts with an emphasis on early detection.

Programme manager Azuree Williams is responsible for promoting breast health education, awareness and the importance of early detection, including public education campaigns and how women are encouraged to seek screening early.

BCHC’s Know Your Lemons presentation explains nine breast cancer risk factor categories, 12 symptoms, and six detection tools that can help with early detection. 

Eight presentations in 2025 attracted a total of 5,000 attendees. Information was also presented at BCHC events such as the annual breast cancer walk and Relay for Life, reaching 7,230 attendees.

Ms Williams said: “Early detection truly can change someone’s story. When people understand what is normal for their own body and feel confident recognising changes, they are far more likely to seek help early. As an educator, I see every day how knowledge gives people the reassurance and clarity to act sooner and often that means treatment can be simpler and outcomes more positive.

“Breast health education isn’t about creating fear. It’s about building understanding and confidence. Through programmes like Know Your Lemons, we focus on practical, relatable information: what to look for, understanding risk factors, recognising symptoms, and knowing what screening tools are available. 

“My hope is that everyone feels informed and supported enough to act early if something doesn’t feel right, because when they do, they will have more options and a stronger chance of a good prognosis.”

Breast specialist radiologist Paul Risk interprets imaging, performs image-guided biopsies and identifies suspicious findings that lead to diagnosis. 

Dr Risk said: “My role within the pathway is to ensure that imaging and biopsy results are accurate, timely and clearly communicated. Breast imaging is often the first step in a patient’s cancer journey, and precision at this stage is critical.

“Through the weekly multi-disciplinary meetings, imaging findings are reviewed alongside pathology and clinical information. That collaborative review ensures that diagnoses are robust and that each patient’s case is considered from multiple expert perspectives before treatment decisions are made.”

Clinical oncologist Pat Murray leads systemic treatment planning and works closely with radiation oncology and surgical colleagues to deliver co-ordinated care. 

Dr Murray said: “Treatment planning needs to be patient centred. Each patient’s tumour biology, stage of disease, overall health and personal circumstances must be considered carefully.

“The strength of the multi-disciplinary approach is that no single clinician is making decisions in isolation. We discuss each case collectively and agree on the most appropriate, evidence-based plan. From there, we tailor treatment to the individual, ensuring that care is both clinically sound and aligned with the patient’s needs and values.”

Michele Hypolite supports patients and general practitioners by answering questions and co-ordinating care after diagnosis, helping to ensure that the right appointments happen at the right time. 

She said: “A cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. Patients are suddenly faced with new terminology, multiple appointments and difficult decisions, often all at once.”

In her role as a cancer navigator, she provides clinical, practical and emotional support to patients and their GPs throughout the diagnostic and treatment pathway. She helps interpret clinical information, co-ordinate investigations and appointments, address questions or concerns, and ensure that each step is clearly communicated and well organised.”

She said: “Patients and physicians consistently report that the integrated pathway offers greater clarity, smoother communication, and the reassurance that a dedicated clinical professional is actively guiding and supporting the process from start to finish.”

For information related to breast cancer, see https://www.cancer.bm/cancer-information/prevention–early-detection/breast-cancer-and-the-bermuda-pathway

The post Making treatment better and quicker appeared first on RG Magazines.

That makes the Bermuda Ministry of Education’s scholarship and awards programme vital as it aims to ensure that Bermudian students – regardless of background, pathway or stage of life – have the financial support to pursue higher education locally and overseas.

The ministry said the comprehensive suite of scholarships, for which applications are now open, reflects its continued commitment to expanding access to post-secondary education, promoting equity and supporting Bermuda’s national workforce priorities.

Government Senator Crystal Caesar, the Minister of Education, said the programme “reflects our unwavering belief that education transforms lives. These awards are an investment in our people and in Bermuda’s future”. 

Scholarships and awards

• Minister’s Achievement Scholarship for high-achieving graduating students from a public senior school to attend overseas post-secondary education
• Minister’s Exceptional Student Award for graduating students or school leavers with disabilities pursuing local or overseas post-secondary study. Persons with disabilities up to the age of 25 who may be working, volunteering or already attending college or university are also eligible to apply
• Minister’s Technical and Vocational Award for public school graduates pursuing local or overseas post-secondary study in technical or vocational fields
• Minister’s Applied Science Scholarship for graduating public senior school students who attended the applied technology dual enrolment diploma programme with Bermuda College and who plan to continue the programme to obtain an associate’s degree or certificate
• Further Education Award for students who have completed at least one year at an accredited college or university and are continuing their post-secondary studies. Awards will also be granted to students pursuing or currently attending post-graduate study
• Non-Traditional Student Award for persons aged 25 and over pursuing post-secondary education
• Teacher Education Scholarship for current college or university students studying selected subjects and/or teaching areas needed within the public school system. Applicants must graduate from a recognised college/university, complete their teaching practicum, and obtain a Bermuda Educators Council licence within three years of receiving the award
• Teacher Sabbatical Award for current experienced teachers in the public school system interested in pursuing approved study to gain new skills or qualifications
• Bermuda Government Scholarship for well-rounded graduating senior school, college, or university students up to the age of 25 who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement
• Caribbean Schools Award, which provides funding for up to three years for either undergraduate or post-graduate students attending schools in the Caribbean region
• College Promise Programme, which provides public high school graduates with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher the opportunity to attend Bermuda College tuition-free
• Bermuda College Book Award, which provides funding for books for Bermuda College students demonstrating financial need

Aside from the named categories, the ministry last year gave to Bermudian students an additional 55 further education awards.

In total, the ministry’s scholarship and awards committee in 2025 awarded $1.77 million to support the further education of 71 students. 

More than 500 students sought financial help.

The ministry website at www.moed.bm includes guides with details to help candidates to apply for each individual scholarship and award, as well as details on the documents required to apply for a scholarship or award.

Applicants are advised to carefully review scholarships and awards guides for eligibility and application requirements. 

To be considered, applicants must follow the application instructions and ensure that their application is complete and submitted by the deadline. 

Applications must be submitted on www.bermudascholarships.com. 

Direct any queries to the Ministry of Education at [email protected].

The post Investing in people appeared first on RG Magazines.

That status has been forged based on its stellar legal advice, and also due to its activities as a good corporate citizen of Bermuda.

In addition to its generous charitable giving programme, and its attorneys performing pro bono work and sitting on government boards, MJM supports aspiring lawyers on the island by offering an annual scholarship.

First awarded in 1998, the MJM Legal Scholarship is given to an outstanding Bermudian or Permanent Resident Certificate holder who aspires to enter the field of law and is committed to return to Bermuda to practise. The award may be renewed for up to three years.

In 2025, scholarship recipient Emily Orchard was given $15,000 while Za’Khari Turner received a $5,000 bursary.

Ms Orchard is studying law at the University of Birmingham, and Ms Turner is enrolled in the law programme at De Montfort University in Leicester, England.

During the current school year, a combination of last year’s recipients and previous awardees Imani Bell ($15,000) and Sarah Medeiros ($10,000) received a total of $45,000 from the firm. Since inception of the scholarship, the firm has awarded several hundred thousand dollars to deserving students.

Giving something back

Jeremy Leese, a director of the firm and head of its corporate department, said: “Our standard advertised amount has been $15,000 for several years, but in recent times, with tuition fees and expenses for students on the increase, we have sought to provide more funds, often split between two students, when we are able and when worthy candidates have applied.”

He said the scholarship and bursary awards underline the firm’s support of the community.

“We are a Bermudian law firm, with majority Bermudian ownership and majority Bermudian staff. We believe that it is of the utmost importance to give something back, to help those coming up after us, and to contribute to the development of the Bermudian lawyers of the future.”

Applications for the scholarship close on June 1. Shortlisted candidates must be available to attend a personal interview with the firm’s scholarship committee, which are held from mid-June to early July. Announcements are made in mid-July.

In addition to a citizenship requirement, a successful candidate must be at least 18 and enrolled in law school or a postgraduate vocational course (bar vocational course, legal practice course) or equivalent that leads to a Commonwealth qualification and subsequent admission to the Bermuda Bar.

Applicants must complete an application form, as well as submit a wide variety of supporting documents. They include a cover letter, current curriculum vitae, letter of acceptance from an approved university or institution, academic letter of recommendation, 1,500-word essay, proof of citizenship or PRC status, character reference, copies of educational certificates and transcripts.

Of the qualities that the firm looks for when deciding on a scholarship or bursary recipient, Mr Leese said: “There is a combination of two factors at play – the raw material to be a lawyer in the future and financial need. We try to balance the two in our deliberations. 

“Financial need is common amongst virtually all applicants, so we use the cover letters, CVs, educational results, the 1,500-word statements and the interview process to analyse the respective strengths of candidates. 

“We want to see evidence of intellectual curiosity, independent thought, self-confidence and maturity and a genuine interest in the practise of law. 

“For any prospective applicants, I would suggest considering how you can stand out from the crowd, bearing in mind that we might receive and read a dozen submissions each year.”

He added: “Oh, and we are lawyers, words are our livelihood, so good grammar and spelling are a must.”

Launching careers

Thirty-two staff work at the law firm, 23 of whom are Bermudian.

Mr Leese said: “We have had plenty of our award winners become pupils of the firm, and several go on to become qualified attorneys with the firm after that. 

“A number of our past award winners are still working in Bermuda as lawyers, some with other law firms and some occupying in-house positions.”

He added: “We take great pride in being a part of their journey and hope that the training with which we provided them stands them in good stead to have a long and successful career in the legal profession.”

In addition to the scholarship or bursary award, students may be offered summer and Christmas employment, depending upon need and staff availability.

They are also given preferential consideration for pupillage opportunities, and the firm provides access to MJM attorneys to assist students while at university or law school when they have questions or need practical support when completing coursework.

MJM has a broad ranging practice with an emphasis on civil and commercial litigation, banking and finance, general corporate, trusts, insolvency, restructuring, insurance and reinsurance. It also offers advice and services to international individual and commercial private clients.

In addition to the law practice, Quorum Limited is licensed to conduct corporate service provider business and trust business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority, and Quorum Services Limited is licensed to carry on corporate service provider business by the BMA.

Full details about the scholarship, including how to apply, can be obtained from MJM by emailing the firm at [email protected].

The post Helping hand appeared first on RG Magazines.

Ms Ray, 22, graduated from Loughborough University in Britain with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.

In January, she began working as an actuarial consultant at EY in Bermuda. 

She said 2026 “has a lot of potential”.

“From a sporting perspective, I hope to help the Tigers win the netball league. In cricket, my goal is to play premier division cricket and establish myself at that level. Transferring to the Somerset league team is an important step in helping me achieve this. 

“Working with Janeiro Tucker and Mahesh Hatkar — both of whom are passionate about developing women’s cricket through 186HP Cricket Academy — would allow me to grow while being part of something bigger than just my own development.

“I also want to be involved in Cup Match training and work hard enough to earn an opportunity in the Cup Match trials. I aim to play in the Colt Cup Match again and deliver a strong team performance to win the cup and bring it back to Somerset.”

Ms Ray added: “From a career perspective, I hope to pass my actuarial exams on the first attempt and settle comfortably into my new role.”

Breaking barriers

The talented all-rounder left Bermuda at 14 to attend Sedbergh School in Cumbria, England, on a cricket scholarship.

Since then, she has played on Loughborough’s British Universities and Colleges Sport champion women’s team, been named substitute fielder for England in the historic women’s five-day Test match against Australia, opened twice for Flatts in the Athene T20 Knockout Cup, played for South Perth Cricket Club women’s team in Australia, and last year became the first woman to play in Somerset Cricket Club’s final Cup Match trial and in Colt Cup Match.

However, the journey has had its challenges.

At Sedbergh, Ms Ray missed her family and friends, and the warmer, drier Bermuda weather – but the experience humbled her and made her more independent and resilient.

Two years ago, a lower back stress fracture sidelined her for ten months. A sports psychologist helped Ms Ray to talk through the experience of wondering when, or if, she would feel like herself again.

“One of the most important things that process taught me was that I am more than just a cricket player. The journey back was long and demanding, but it reshaped me. 

“Rehab forced me to slow down and focus on the fundamentals — spending countless hours in the gym and rebuilding my skills from the ground up. In doing so, I became stronger, more functional, and more aware of my body.”

Returning, Ms Ray bowled nearly five miles per hour faster and her batting improvement allowed a transition from lower-order to middle-order.

“Being forced to slow down gave me something I wouldn’t have found otherwise. It taught me resilience, perspective, and that growth doesn’t always look like progress in the moment — but it can shape you in ways that last far longer.”

Of her successes, Ms Ray says two moments stand out.

“Winning the BUCS final at Lord’s during my final year at university remains one of my proudest achievements, as it represented three years of hard work both on the cricket field and in the classroom. Winning at Lord’s, alongside some of my closest friends, was an unforgettable experience.

“Becoming the first woman to take part in Colt Cup Match and Somerset Cup Match trials was something I never expected to happen in 2025. I attended Cup Match training to challenge myself and to place myself in a high-intensity environment. 

“Cup Match is a dream for every Bermudian cricketer, and being so closely involved in that space made me incredibly proud. The support I received from women across the island meant a great deal to me and made me feel truly backed throughout the journey.”

Overseas, Ms Ray admired the work ethic of English international cricketer Tammy Beaumont, her teammate on The Blaze, the East Midlands regional women’s team. 

“The standard she sets every day, both on and off the field, is incredibly inspiring, and seeing that level of commitment up close made a lasting impression on me.”

She added: “Having a role model is important because sometimes you need to see what is possible before you can fully believe it for yourself. 

“Role models show you that success is achievable through hard work, resilience, and consistency, and they help shape the standards you set for yourself.”

Inspiring others

Now, Ms Ray seeks to inspire Bermuda’s young female athletes.

“This isn’t just about women cricketers — it’s about women in sport as a whole. This matters deeply to me because I want any young girl in Bermuda who loves cricket to be able to play at home, without feeling that she has to leave in order to be taken seriously. For many, leaving home to pursue sport simply isn’t accessible, and it shouldn’t be a requirement to follow your passion or fulfil your potential.

“Growing up, it never felt as though women’s sport was truly taken seriously, and that feeling has stayed with me. All I have ever wanted — then and now — is to be in Bermuda, in my home, playing cricket alongside other women and girls. 

“While playing with the men presents a significant challenge, I will always support and admire any woman who puts herself forward to compete in male-dominated environments. I find it incredibly empowering to see women thrive in spaces where they have historically been underrepresented and perform at the same level.

“I would love to be that example for a young girl in Bermuda — someone she can look up to and see as proof that she can aspire to anything, and that her dreams are valid right where she is.”

Of her cricketing aspirations, Ms Ray said: “I would love the opportunity to play overseas again, but for now, I’m focusing on developing my cricket and career here in Bermuda. 

“I see this as a chance to strengthen my game, gain experience, and contribute to cricket locally.”

The post Howzat for a trailblazer! appeared first on RG Magazines.

In the excitement of big ideas, these issues should not be overlooked.

Neil Molyneux, a senior associate in Appleby’s Bermuda office, is a property law specialist and a member of the firm’s property team.

He said several potential issues can be addressed by a careful review of the property deeds – the legal documents that demonstrate ownership of a home.    

“Your planning application in respect of the renovation requires a declaration that you own the land; therefore, check your ownership,” Mr Molyneux said.

“You should also review the boundaries from your deed plan, so that any required setbacks can be assessed by your surveyor, architect, or contractor.”

Mr Molyneux added: “Sometimes, restrictive covenants affect property and can prevent certain development. Therefore, check the deeds and if in doubt consult a property attorney.”

Many homeowners will have purchased their property with assistance from one of the island’s banks.

Mr Molyneux said: “If you have a mortgage, check that the bank has no objection to your renovation proposals and get the bank’s agreement in writing.”

Several issues arise due to legislation that has been enacted in Bermuda.

Section 34 of the Development and Planning Act 1974 allows the minister responsible for planning to enter into agreements with owners to regulate the development or use of land.

Meanwhile, similar legislation places restrictions on what type of renovations can be carried out on listed buildings, and what works can be done in designated conservation areas.

Mr Molyneux said: “Section 34 agreements, listed buildings and conservation areas can affect renovation plans. Therefore, check with the planning department or a property attorney in advance to determine if your land is affected.”

As not all renovations in Bermuda require planning permission or building regulations consent, Mr Molyneux said that it is important to check with your surveyor, architect or contractor to determine if your plans are exempted from a requirement for permission.

Historically, many disputes have arisen between property owners and those that they have hired to do renovation work on their home, so it’s important to protect yourself against potentially unhappy outcomes.

Mr Molyneux said: “Use written contracts detailing the scope of work, payment schedules, warranties, and the method of dispute resolution. You should be clear about costs and how problems are to be resolved.  

“Ideally, no payment should be made until the work is completed to the homeowner’s satisfaction. However, a holdback of a meaningful payment for, say, six months may be more likely. With a payment delay or holdback there is a monetary incentive to fix any snagging properly.”

It’s important to investigate insurance matters as well.

“Check to ensure that your contractor has public liability insurance and that any damage to your home is insured by either you, or the contractor. In the latter case, ask to see copies of policies and check with the insurer directly.”

Mr Molyneux also warned: “As a landowner, you may be liable for death or injuries so make sure to request in writing that the contractor is responsible for checking that the site is safe for you, workers and the public.”

The post Renovation preparation appeared first on RG Magazines.

But, as Island Glass general manager Jimmy Thatcher reminds us, it’s never too early to take steps to protect your home against the damage that can occur when the wind blows.

The company, which has supplied island residents with peace of mind for more than four decades, is holding its annual hurricane protection sale through the end of April, offering special pricing on roller shutters, accordion shutters and in-stock Lexan polycarbonate panels.

Roller shutters operate vertically, and accordion shutters operate horizontally; made of extruded aluminium, both are custom orders and typically take eight to 12 weeks from the date of ordering to installation.

Lexan panels are in-stock at the company’s Serpentine Road, Pembroke showroom – and are particularly popular with do-it-yourself homeowners when the time to protect a property is short.

Act now

Hurricane season in the north Atlantic Ocean begins June 1 and runs through November.

Of the sale, Mr Thatcher said: “We want our customers to be thinking ‘let’s get the protection going’. We also want to get the shutters here and get them installed before a storm comes.

“Some people say ‘it’s not even hurricane season yet’, but if you wait to order until June, the order is probably not going to be here until September.

“And then most likely, there’s a hurricane, the ship’s delayed, and next thing you know, the shutters are going up in October. And then you have a frustrated customer that has paid for protection but doesn’t have protection.”

Most hurricane protection products are made by Florida-based manufacturers, who also supply shutters for purchase by consumers in their home state, adjacent states in the US, as well as Caribbean islands that are often in harm’s way during hurricane season.

Mr Thatcher said: “It’s important to jump in now in a production schedule because the minute late spring rolls around, the manufacturers get busy. By ordering now, you’re trying to beat longer lead times.”

Island Glass was founded in 1980 by Jimmy’s father, Clive Thatcher, who had glass industry experience gained working for two other local outfits.

The company originally served the commercial glazing market but soon expanded its product lines to include hurricane protection products, sunshade products, and other lines that complemented the company’s original focus.

The entire industry was transformed after category five Hurricane Andrew hammered Florida in 1992.

Mr Thatcher said: “Beforehand, shutters were for hurricane protection and security protection, but hurricane protection was a second thought to security.

“But when Hurricane Andrew hit, the whole Florida market and the US insurance market opened up and started demanding, ‘hey, you need to have hurricane protection’.

“With that, the industry really took off. Products evolved, products got better, products got stronger.”

Options

Mr Thatcher said the price of hurricane protection is linked to the amount of human effort required to protect an opening.

“The least expensive option out there, a piece of plywood, takes the most human effort. You’ve got to go and get it, put it up, drill it. Because it’s such a pain to do, you usually end up leaving it up all season and you have got this big piece of plywood on your house until after the season, and then you take it down.

“Next up are the clear corrugated Lexan panels. You have to go pick them up out of storage, put them in place, anchor off the screws, and so on.

“The next one is an accordion shutter where you actually have to walk up and slide it back and forth.

“Then you have a manually operated roller shutter where you have to crank it up and down.

“Then you have an electric shutter where you just walk over to it and hit a button. Right now, with a lot of shutters that we are bringing in, people are going for the motorised option.

“The top of the line would be a hurricane impact door and window where you just have to make sure it’s locked. That’s probably the smartest investment.”

Customers who choose shutters are reminded to maintain them while they are not in use.

Mr Thatcher said: “Any product that moves requires maintenance. If there’s no hurricane, people won’t use shutters. Next thing, we get a call, and we’re pulling birds’ nests out of them. You’d be amazed.

“Being prepared is key. Check your shutters. Wind them up and down two or three times a year. That’s all you have to do.”

Service

Kim Powell, manager of human relations and payroll, added “Every quarter, oil the roller shutter, check it out, or call Island Glass to come and do a service for it. We will make sure the parts are working properly.”

Island Glass employs 26 staff, 25 of whom are Bermudian. The company has six trucks and crews on the road.

Mr Thatcher said: “We’ve got the most experienced crews on island as far as hurricane protection. We have staff that have been here going all the way back to the 1980s.”

In addition to hurricane protection products, the company sells commercial and residential doors and windows of all types, glass railings, skylights, bath and shower enclosures, mirror and glass work, sun shading products, drop down screens made of Kevlar, and more.

Aside from a 1,450-square-foot showroom with working product samples, the Serpentine Road location also includes a full glass shop and aluminium shop. The company also has a warehouse full of parts.

Mr Thatcher said: “Everything we sell, we service and we have parts for. We supply, install, service, the whole works.”

Roller and accordion shutters aren’t only effective during hurricane season, of course. As we’ve already seen this year, the winter storm season in Bermuda can also produce dangerously high winds.

Mr Thatcher says: “It is all about peace of mind. When a storm comes, whenever it happens, you’d rather be in your house and feeling calm as opposed to worrying about everything going on outside it.”

The post Calm during the storm appeared first on RG Magazines.