RG sat down with Paul Simons, CEO of Convex Re Limited, to find out.

Mentorship is vital

I’ve been fortunate to have several mentors who helped shape not only my understanding of the industry, but also how to navigate challenges and lead through difficult situations.

They helped me with guidance on how to develop both the expertise and the softer skills that are critical to succeeding as a leader.

Early in your career, success is all about demonstrating competence. As you move into management and leadership roles, the demands and expectations are just as pronounced, but how to drive results, particularly as it relates to people, becomes far more nuanced.

It helps to have people who believe in you, invest in your success, and advocate for your growth. Those relationships can make a real difference in helping you reach your full potential.

That’s where mentorship becomes especially valuable. Today I still have individuals that I tap into for advice because they have seen and done it.

Qualities of people you work with

Integrity is extremely important. You have to be able to trust the people you surround yourself

with professionally and feel confident they genuinely want to see you succeed.

The best professional relationships are ones where people support each other and collectively help raise the standard.

It’s important to surround yourself with talented people. Early in my career, a CEO I worked for used to say, ‘Surround yourself with people who are better than you.’ That always stuck with me.

To do that well, you have to be secure in your own abilities. Strong leaders aren’t afraid to work

with highly capable people — in fact they embrace it.

Like in sports, over time there’s always someone who will come along who’s faster and better, and I believe in embracing these individuals. As a good leader you can’t be insecure about this.

Time management

There are constant demands on your time, and one of the most important decisions I make each day is what you choose to focus on. I have a lot of requests for my time, and it’s not easy saying no to

people, but I’ve learned that saying no to something or someone means I can say yes to another, as there are only so many hours in the day.

One belief you’ve changed your mind about

The importance of simplicity. Our industry is incredibly complex and early on I approached challenges with trepidation as the complexities can often overwhelm, and you can lose site of the forest for the trees. But one of my mentors was instrumental in showing me that not overcomplicating things is within itself a strategic benefit that I now try to live by.

Over time, I’ve learned the value of slowing down, really understanding the underlying issues,

and breaking complex problems down into their core components before trying to solve them.

I’ve also learned how important listening is. Earlier in my career, I think I was more focused on

reacting quickly and driving toward action. With experience, I’ve come to realise that taking the

time to truly listen and fully understand what people are telling you is often just as important as

the action itself.

What legacy do you hope to leave?

Professionally, I want the organisation to continue to be a place where people can thrive and grow, and where that success is sustained over time.

Personally, I’d like to know that I’ve made a tangible difference in helping others progress, particularly people who may see aspects of themselves reflected in my journey. In Bermuda

especially, there are still not enough people in senior roles who reflect the diversity of the

community.

Interview by Stuart Roberts

The post Reaching the top appeared first on RG Magazines.

What’s past is prologue…

Like many Bermudians born before 1980, my reference for hurricanes was largely shaped by the experience of Hurricane Emily in 1987, when I was eight years old.

While I have experienced many storms since, up until 2003 Emily remained my primary reference.

That changed in 2003. It was my first year of the Regiment, having been conscripted like many Bermudian men before me.

My time in the Regiment coincided with several major storms, and I served in the immediate aftermath of hurricanes in Cayman and Grenada.

But it was Fabian that devastated Bermuda.

I volunteered to serve as part of the Regiment’s rapid response force, along with others from the Corporals Cadre. This meant arriving at Warwick Camp the day before the storm, and spending the long night of the storm in barracks, prepared to deploy even in the midst of the storm, but otherwise with the intention of heading out at first light to begin clearing roads to facilitate both emergency transport and for the rest of the Regiment to muster and deploy.

Many former soldiers will be familiar with the term ‘hurry up and wait’, and that was basically my night during the storm. Some of us played cards. I believe someone had dominoes.

Periodically there would be a crash or a bang outside that would snap us back into the reality of the storm. I almost always have a book with me to kill time, and for Fabian I had brought to camp a paperback version of The Tempest by Shakespeare. It seemed fitting. Throughout the storm and its aftermath – which for me was weeks as a soldier – I read the play over and over.

Destruction

At first light, my team was dispatched towards the hospital, to ensure access was secure. The focus is on ensuring a single lane to the hospital. Clearing two lanes comes later – single lanes ensure emergency access. You have to be careful to look for downed wires first: before you act, you must observe to ensure you yourself do not become the emergency.

Other teams were sent east and west along the main roads – those are the priority after the storm.

Shortly after reaching the hospital and seeing it was clear, my team was dispatched instead to the Deputy Governor’s house. The Governor was off-island, so the Deputy was acting as Commander-in-Chief. Our focus was on clearing his driveway so he could more readily get from A to B. It was there that the radio crackled. We were the closest Regiment team to the Causeway at that time. And we were needed. None of us knew at that moment what the situation was, or why it was urgent to drop what we were doing and head there. Myself, I was just hoping to do something more important than clear a driveway.

On the way we began to speculate what we would find and what we would be doing. Was the Causeway destroyed? Was it blocked? We didn’t know, but we watched the destruction on our way and made mental notes of where we may be needed next.

We sped off to the Causeway, only stopping as needed to clear a path to get there. What greeted us shocked us to the core. It is difficult to express the sight: the Causeway was shattered. We knew there was a search and rescue operation underway.

I walked as far as I could to the halfway point of the shattered Causeway, fractured like one sees of earthquakes in the movies. We couldn’t get beyond the midpoint, at least not safely.

Having surveyed the scene, we returned to Grotto Bay, pushed back onlookers as far as Swizzle Inn and set up a security cordon. Only emergency vehicles allowed.

Tragedy

It is said that during war there is a fog, in the sense that one doesn’t fully grasp the whole of what is going on at the time, and only afterwards is one able to sort of piece things together. The same applied after Fabian. We knew that marine police were searching the waters but we didn’t really grasp the severity of the situation, though of course we wondered. Were they looking for something? Someone? Just checking the structural damage? We only learned later, in the barracks, that there had been deaths. It cast a shadow over the barracks as we digested the news with our rations. At that time, our job was to prevent curious onlookers trying to get past us to see the Causeway.

The next few days kept us busy. My unit was mostly clearing roads. I mostly remember the stretch from Watch Hill Park through to Collectors Hill, and then some sites out in the West End, clearing school campuses. We didn’t really have time to reflect on things. It was wake up, eat food, head out, work, back to Warwick Camp, eat, sleep, rinse and repeat. It was only on the anniversary of Fabian, and every hurricane since in the years after that, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on that day.

There is a certain beauty in the aftermath of storms. The air is fresher. The stars are brighter due to the blackouts. The tree-frogs are louder. There is the hum of generators. I associate the aftermath of hurricanes with the scent of jasmine. I’m not sure why. They can give one a greater appreciation of life, how precious and fragile it is. I spent the next few weeks working hard, clearing debris, sleeping when I could. Appreciating life in the aftermath of the tragedy at the Causeway. My frame of reference for hurricanes was no longer Emily, but Fabian and Shakespeare’s Tempest.

Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,

Sounds and sweet airs, that delight and hurt not.

Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments

Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices

That, if I then waked after long sleep,

Will make me sleep again; and then in dreaming,

The clouds methought would open, and show riches

Ready to drop upon me, that when I awaked,

I cried to dream again!

The post Serving in the shadow of tragedy appeared first on RG Magazines.

For more than three decades, Bermuda has played a huge role in helping the world cope with the unpredictable devastation wreaked by hurricanes.

In turn, this has helped Bermuda build a crucial pillar to its economy by establishing itself as the world’s risk capital.

The historical roots of our global (re)insurance market stem from Hurricane Andrew, which hit South Florida as a catastrophic category 5 hurricane in August 1992.

In Andrew’s aftermath, eight highly capitalised property catastrophe reinsurers were established in Bermuda, offering much needed capacity, particularly in a Florida insurance market where prices were rising sharply.

These include RenaissanceRe, which has since grown to become the world’s fourth largest reinsurer, and Partner Re, which likewise continues to be an important global participant.

As a global leader, Bermuda’s reinsurance market consistently grew over time, enhancing its relevance and helping to close protection gaps for some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. For example, following the devastating hurricanes of Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2005, the market grew substantially.

Today, Bermuda consistently holds about one-third of global reinsurance capacity, and is a premier hub for catastrophe reinsurance, Insurance-Linked Securities and most recently, InsurTech companies. According to the latest figures, the island’s internationally respected, independent and integrated financial services regulator, the Bermuda Monetary Authority supervises more than 1,200 (re)insurance companies managing $1.9 trillion in assets.

Someone who experienced much of this exciting period of growth firsthand was Stephen Weinstein, the founder and CEO of Mangrove Property Insurance, whose career began at Wall Street in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew.

In between those roles, Mr Weinstein has two decades experience as a senior executive and

was an executive committee member at RenaissanceRe.

Mr Weinstein is also a past chair of the Bermuda Business Development Agency, where he guided important strategic initiatives to support Bermuda’s position as a premier international financial hub.

“Over my career I have seen Bermuda build decades of strength in natural catastrophe risk management,” Mr Weinstein said.

“As a market, Bermuda has invested in a superior understanding of climate-driven perils like tropical windstorms.

“Consistently following disruptive natural catastrophes, the Bermuda market has responded quickly. No one understands the risks of hurricanes and other extreme weather events better than the experts in the Bermuda reinsurance market, and no one has a better track record of honouring their claims promises than the companies here. The historical default rate in Bermuda’s third-party market is literally zero.”

Helping vulnerable communities rebuild

“Bermuda is the best place in the world to capitalise, operate and domicile global business-to-business technical strategies,” Mr Weinstein said.

“As a global leader in property insurance and reinsurance, Bermuda plays a vital role in helping to close the protection gap for some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.”

As former chair of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Mr Weinstein knows about the importance of protecting the natural environment.

“Bermuda has been leading on climate for 400 years and had the first-ever piece of legislation passed in the western world to protect an endangered species, for sea turtles in the early 1600s,” he said.

“Today, part of what BIOS does is share the results of its research with the Bermuda’s (re)insurance market as a public good but also to enhance the market’s understanding of hurricanes.”

BIOS’ chief operating officer, Dr Mark Guishard, expounded further upon on the important partnership between Bermuda’s scientific community and its global (re)insurance market.

“BIOS has been engaging with the local risk market for over 30 years, since Hurricane Andrew’s devastating impact led to questions about storms and climate,” Dr Guishard said.

“Through our science/business partnership, the Risk Prediction Initiative, we’ve focused attention on trends and variability of hurricanes, severe weather and winter storms.

“This has led to meaningful breakthroughs that have resulted in adjustments of views of risk, and updates to catastrophe modelling methods.”

The Bermuda/Florida Trading Partnership

This is one of the most important trading relationships in the world and is estimated to be valued at

approximately $60 to $65 billion annually.

Mr Weinstein said: “I have no doubt the post-Andrew Florida homeowners’ market would not exist without Bermuda. But I think the reverse is true, in that Bermuda’s market leadership begins with

its unique access to the world’s peak risk, which is Florida Property.”

In 2025, Mr Weinstein became founder and CEO of Mangrove Property Insurance Company.

“We launched Mangrove in part to reflect a partnership ethos with reinsurers, particularly Bermuda-based reinsurers,” he said.

“We reflect in our very name that we put down roots in both of my homes. Mangroves are resilient, adaptable, and essential to the protection of vulnerable coastlines.

“These unique trees thrive in challenging conditions, saltwater, shifting tides and low-oxygen

environments yet they grow strong, stabilise the shoreline, and create safe havens for life to flourish.”

“It’s part of our core identity and competitive advantage that our leadership team has unique strong relationships with some of the world’s leading reinsurers, who are disproportionately resident in

Bermuda,” Mr Weinstein said.

“The part of my strategy that I have the most conviction in is, I know our partners in the reinsurance

community will support us.

“In our inaugural year, we bought more reinsurance than any Florida start-up ever, and we believe we bought deeper in the tail with real protection than any Florida home-owners carrier.

“We are trying to reflect both the expertise of the Mangrove team but also the information we glean in partnership with our reinsurers.

“When Mangrove rebuilds a home in Florida, we want to build-back better. Our white labelled Grove Repair Solution is structured to reflect both excellent claim service as well as the insights that we glean in part from our partnership with reinsurers including Bermuda reinsurers.”

Mangrove Insurance has been approved by Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation to provide property and casualty insurance to Florida homeowners.

To learn more, visit www.mangrove-fl.com.

The post Helping vulnerable communities recover appeared first on RG Magazines.

International Business is often described as the bedrock upon which Bermuda’s economy is built. The Association of Bermuda International Companies also believes IB impacts the community in other important ways.

Wayne Smith, executive director of Abic, said: “The multiplier effect says it all. Each new job creates 1.33 additional new jobs in Bermuda. We work to make Bermuda a domicile where international companies come and choose to stay, because they will have qualified talent, a community that welcomes their presence here, a business environment that is internationally competitive and evolves with changing times.”

But why would an expatriate worker want to live, work and play in Bermuda?

“It’s a great opportunity to work in a thriving business environment,” Mr Smith said.

“We are in international business, but we are really in the lifestyle business. Bermuda provides an excellent quality of life.”

From corporate sponsorship of important community events, to volunteering for local charities, IB helps the community in a myriad of ways.

“There are lots of community initiatives in which international companies and their staff participate,” Mr Smith said.

“Some employees volunteer for Big Brothers and Big Sisters. They also provide mentorship for scholarship awardees in the Abic education awards initiative. Last year, Abic gave out $800,000 in scholarships to almost 30 students so they can get into university. We do it every year and

over the last nearly 50 years we have given out about $20 million in scholarships to 830 people. You cannot overstate the value of that.”

Environmental stewardship is another important way that IB impacts the local community.

“We have an initiative with Keep Bermuda Beautiful where Abic member companies and their employees clean up sections of the Railway Trail,” Mr Smith said.

“In addition to KBB, other local sustainability projects in which IB is greatly involved includes the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Project.

“The Bermuda Government is working with the private sector and the Waitt Institute, and of course, the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences. They, in conjunction with BOPP, are working earnestly to preserve our magnificent oceans. International companies also invest heavily in the Bermuda Zoological Society Aquarium Museum and Zoo.”

Some 70 per cent of the Zoological Society’s annual support comes from international companies

and their staff.

If you’re a guest worker about to experience Bermuda Day for the first time, top tips include having a good night’s sleep and a full breakfast.

“The first thing a guest worker should do when they come to work in Bermuda is to learn about Bermuda’s history and why it is the way it is,” Mr Smith said.

“Once a person understands Bermuda’s cultural heritage, I would encourage them to get a good night’s rest, get up early and take in the Bermuda Day Half Marathon.”

Many countries have sporting events where people line up on the side of the road to cheer on the competitors.

But Mr Smith noted the Bermudian iteration of this is unique.

“It is special because you have food stations and families camped out along the race and parade routes, cheering for runners, cyclists and parade participants,” he said.

“It’s a unique experience unlike anything you would find anywhere else in the world.”

He added: “Also, have a good breakfast because Bermudians love to entertain and the local cocktails are abundant. I encourage all visitors and guest workers to take it all in, all of it.

“Take in the parade, the floats, the music and the food, and have yourself an amazing Bermuda day.

“Bermudians really are some of the most friendly, hospitable people in the world.”

The post Giving Back appeared first on RG Magazines.

Image: supplied of Wantley, a planned Urban Development Authority project at Princess Street, Hamilton

Bermuda’s construction sector stands at a pivotal moment.

With the Government’s stated goal of increasing the working population by more than 8,000 people, the island faces an urgent need to expand its residential capacity.

Yet, while the demand is clear, rising development costs and borrowing constraints have slowed progress.

The Approved Residential Scheme framework — strengthened further by the new ARS Kickstart Programme — seeks to address exactly that challenge, offering a structured path to growth for both the construction industry and the wider economy.

Established in June 2022, the ARS initiative was designed to spur development within Bermuda’s four Economic Empowerment Zones: North East Hamilton, South East Hamilton, Somerset and St George’s.

These areas hold deep historical, cultural, and economic significance, but have long faced socio‑economic disparities, underinvestment and aging physical infrastructure.

The ARS framework provides a mechanism to reverse this trend by creating opportunities for high‑quality residential development that supports local businesses, enhances community life and broadens access to housing.

The recently introduced ARS Kickstart Programme adds a crucial missing piece: financial feasibility. By providing a $50 million sovereign guarantee to participating banks, the Government enables reduced borrowing rates for qualifying construction projects, effectively lowering one of the largest barriers to development.

The guarantee remains active for six years beyond construction completion, giving developers confidence and breathing room to deliver large‑scale residential or mixed‑use complexes within the EEZs.

In return, banks commit to discounted interest rates, while maintaining their underwriting independence and first claim on collateral.

This is more than a financing tool; it is a catalyst for transformation. With EEZs already identified as zones with cultural vibrancy but structural under‑resourcing, ARS developments can meaningfully uplift communities, provided they are planned with sensitivity. The guidelines emphasise affordability, stakeholder engagement, prevention of displacement and long‑term socioeconomic benefit.

These requirements reinforce a holistic approach to development, one that values not just buildings but the people and histories they anchor.

Urban Development Authority

As these initiatives take root, the Urban Development Authority is positioned to play a central role in shaping the built environment with intention and equity.

The UDA’s mission is to promote sustainable, community‑focused urban revitalisation through coordinated planning, strategic investment and inclusive development practices.

Its vision is to create vibrant, resilient and economically diverse urban districts where residents, businesses and investors can thrive together.

By aligning with the ARS framework, the UDA helps ensure that new residential projects contribute to coherent neighbourhood planning, quality design standards and equitable economic growth. Its commitment to community‑first development mirrors the ARS objective of strengthening local economies without triggering the displacement or gentrification pressures that too often accompany regeneration efforts.

Turning point for the industry

For Bermuda’s construction professionals —developers, architects, engineers, contractors — the ARS and the ARS Kickstart Programme represent both opportunity and responsibility.

Opportunity, because financing barriers are easing and demand for new residential units is growing. Responsibility, because the outcomes of this moment will shape community landscapes for generations.

If executed with foresight and collaboration, this initiative could spark a new era of construction activity, economic vitality and housing stability within Bermuda’s most historic and culturally rich neighbourhoods.

More importantly, it can help ensure that growth is shared, sustainable and rooted firmly in community empowerment.

The post Addressing the housing gap appeared first on RG Magazines.

Aegon, the Dutch international financial services holding company, launched the awards in 2025 as part of its “Live Your Best Life” programme that aims to bolster the local community.

The scholarship, available for up to five outstanding students pursuing education in Canada and the United States, is worth up to $30,000 per year and is renewable for up to three years.

It is open to any student with Bermudian status and aims to help close educational gaps for those who require financial support to pursue their studies

Aegon explained it is keen to support students interested in careers in healthcare, shaping our built environment, the trades and the technology sectors; it is particularly keen to reward people who are committed to returning to Bermuda after graduation to live and work.

The company – which stepped up its presence in Bermuda in 2023 – has a philosophy that they are members of the community themselves, and it is in their interest to help other community members live their best lives.

Aegon said it recognises education as a crucial element for people to achieve their full potential. By doing so Aegon aims to contribute to the prosperity of the entire country.

Tibor Leeuwenburgh, Aegon’s country executive in Bermuda, said: “With our Live Your Best Life community investment programme – with the great support of the Bermuda Foundation – we want to contribute to the growth and wellbeing of Bermuda’s vibrant community.

“We are excited to work together with partners that offer financial and social opportunities to help more people live their best lives. Moreover, we’re inspired by the ambition and resilience of these students and proud to support them in their journey.”

The Live Your Best Life programme is centred around education, financial and social empowerment, and has also included $60,000 grants, through the Bermuda Foundation, to Age Concern Bermuda, Connectech Coding and the Family Centre.

Aegon has connections to Bermuda as far back as the 1970s and established a presence here in 2005 through its subsidiary Transamerica Life Bermuda.

This relationship has been deepened since, when Aegon’s legal seat switched to Bermuda in September 2023.

Aegon says it has a long history of community involvement in the places where it operates and wanted to continue that tradition here with the legal seat change.

This scholarship was awarded in 2025 to Anijahe dos Santos Martin, Paulo Aguiar, Kylie Butterfield, Keiazia Burchall-Busby and Milahn Powell.

The post Building community relationships appeared first on RG Magazines.

As a child, Ms Burchall-Busby’s rare bleeding disorder was misdiagnosed – meaning her condition was not properly treated, which left her feeling helpless and invalidated.

After her haemophilia was correctly identified and her health improved, she grew into a star student with a passion for medical science, determined to make life better for future patients than it was for her.

Mr Burchall-Busby, now 24, is a recipient of scholarship awards from Bermuda Hospitals Board, the University of West Indies and Aegon. She is studying medicine at the University of Medicine in Grenada.

“From an early age, medicine has been at the forefront of my aspirations, shaped by my experiences as a patient,” she said.

“Throughout my younger years, as a haemophiliac female, I faced the challenges of misdiagnosis firsthand. This opened my eyes to the disparities in healthcare and the importance of staying current with medical advancements.”

Ms Burchall-Busby said women with blood disorders are often overlooked or diagnosed later due to “misconceptions and gaps in awareness”.

She explained: “My initial prognosis was determined due to the overlapping symptoms and longstanding assumptions that haemophilia primarily affects males.”

This resulted in physical challenges such as ineffective treatment and unmanaged bleeding symptoms.

It also led to “feelings of invalidation and helplessness” that are often underrecognised in patient care.

She said: “These experiences motivate me to provide holistic, patient-centred care, to advocate and ensure that every patient’s needs are met with both compassion and expertise.”

Catalyst for care

Navigating the healthcare system during her childhood exposed Ms Burchall-Busby to the consequences of diagnostic gaps and disparities in care, particularly for patients whose conditions fall outside what is typically expected.

Rather than discouraging her, this experience became the catalyst that inspired her to serve others.

She explained: “Those experiences showed me the profound impact that compassionate, patient-centred care can have on patients and their families, inspiring me to emulate my physicians and provide the same care to others facing similar challenges.”

She wants to improve care in our community by incorporating precision medicine to provide care tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

It’s been a long journey already. At Bermuda High School, she focused on science-intensive courses, which led her to specialise in genetics at Western University, with a minor in microbiology and immunology.

As a genetics specialist, she was captivated by the intricacies of genetic research and its role in the advancement of medicine.

Pursuing a career in medicine comes with significant financial challenges, however, and opportunities for scholarships in the medical field are limited.

But Ms Burchall-Busby said: “The combined support of the BHB Scholarship, Aegon Scholarship and the UWI Scholarship played a pivotal role in supporting my studies this year by providing both financial assistance and resources for a financially demanding path.

“Beyond finances, these awards represent a reminder that I am not on this journey alone. The internal recognition that came from receiving these scholarships were deeply validating, not only in my abilities and potential, but also the acknowledgement of the effort I have dedicated to my goals and the committees’ decision to invest in me.”

After graduating, she has her eyes on a career in haematology, and she has a strong passion for working with children.

“I hope to return to Bermuda to give back to my community and build a career focused on compassionate, patient-centred care while integrating advances in precision medicine,” she said.

“My aspiration is to be a physician who not only treats disease but also contributes to a more equitable and responsive healthcare system for future generations.”

Embracing challenges

She already has some impressive experience under her belt.

During the pandemic, she worked on the frontline as a laboratory technician through the Department of Workforce Development’s Summer Employment Programme, processing Covid-19 tests and providing results to the community.

“This role allowed me to contribute directly to public health efforts while developing my laboratory skills under high-pressure conditions,” she said.

After that, she dived deeper into the study of genetics with the new Caribbean-based genomics company, CariGenetics, started by Dr Carika Weldon.

She began as an intern under the Department of Workforce Scholarship and later transitioned into the Graduate Trainee Programme, before being offered a full-time position and then promoted to senior laboratory technician.

She played an active role in genetic research addressing the underrepresentation of Caribbean ancestry and biodiversity in the scientific community, with a focus on breast and prostate cancer, and genetic studies of the Bermuda cedar and the Bermuda petrel.

The development of medical science, of course, can have wonderful benefits for us all.

“After spending time pursuing research, I believe that as the medical field continues to evolve, the way we care for patients must evolve alongside it,” Ms Burchall-Busby said.

“Medicine is increasingly moving toward personalised and precision-based approaches, driven by a growing understanding of how genetics, environment and individual variability influence disease and treatment.

“By embracing this shift, I hope to contribute to care that is more thoughtful and tailored to each patient, ultimately improving outcomes and strengthening trust within our community.”

One challenge for this high achiever might be keeping her feet on the ground – yet she’s got that covered through her love of dancing.

She represented Bermuda at Carifesta 2017, and it still plays a key part in who she is today.

“Staying connected to dance in this way allows me to remain grounded, maintain balance and reconnect with a passion that has shaped my discipline, creativity and work ethic,” she said.

“This also reinforces my love for mentorship and working with youth. Even without dancing regularly, the lifelong lessons I gained through dance continue to influence how I manage stress, stay motivated and approach my studies with resilience.”

The post Inspired to care appeared first on RG Magazines.

The protest against segregated seating in cinemas, launched on June 15 by the Progressive Group, struck a fatal blow against racial discrimination in two short weeks — something that various parliamentary committees and commissions had failed to do over the years.

Minus the closing of theatres by owners on day nine of the Boycott, the first sign of victory came from hoteliers, who on June 28, announced they would “accept reservations for dining, dancing and entertainment from local residents without discrimination.”

High-end restaurants in Hamilton followed suit the next day, and one day later, theatre owners announced that cinemas would reopen on July 2 and patrons could sit anywhere they liked.

There was praise all around for the dramatic change.

A statement from the then anonymous Progressive Group members said: “We are appreciative

of the fact that the hotels, restaurants and theatres are desegregated. The people of Bermuda are to be thanked, indeed congratulated for the striking display of solidarity shown since June 15th. The day should become for Bermuda what Emancipation Day was for the world.”

But the struggle for equality was far from over.

Discrimination

Blacks were welcome in hotel nightclubs and restaurants, but not for overnight stays. Some restaurants were still refusing to serve Black patrons.

In August 1960, the dust from the boycott having long been settled, The Bermuda Recorder reported the experience of two visiting couples, one White, the other Black, who had gone to the upscale Penthouse restaurant on Front Street for lunch.

Both couples left with a bitter taste in their mouths when told the restaurant did not serve Blacks. The tourists were on a taxi tour and asked their driver to suggest a place for lunch.

The driver told the Recorder: “I honestly believed they had stopped this business of discriminating.”

Two weeks later, the case of a Black American family who had booked a five-day stay at Castle Harbour Hotel hit the headlines. The couple, travelling with their 10-year-old son, were being assigned a room when the hotel manager intervened, telling them, “in no uncertain terms that Negroes were not acceptable as room guests,” the Recorder reported.

After a two-hour standoff, the family agreed to an offer of accommodation at the Princess Hotel in Hamilton. In an attempt to seek redress from the hotel, the couple met with Bermuda tourism officials, MP E.T. Richards and the US Consul General.

The next month, a similar incident took place involving 15 passengers, most of them Black Bermudian college students, but also Black Americans.

They were denied accommodation at Castle Harbour after their New York-bound flight was forced to return to Bermuda.

The Royal Gazette reported that White passengers on the same flight were given rooms, which led to some Black hotel staff walking off the job.

Kenneth Richardson, a student at Howard University, said the White passengers were checked into rooms, “but they told us it was the policy of the hotel not to accept coloured people.”

The Black passengers declined the hotel’s offer to dine in Castle’s restaurant, electing instead to be

transported to the Bermudiana Hotel in Hamilton.

Castle’s manager John Fischbeck described the situation as “very unfortunate.” He told the Gazette: “We have 2½ floors closed for renovation and it is sometimes hard to accommodate people at short

notice. There was some confusion as to whether meals only were wanted or whether accommodation was required. We were quite prepared to serve meals.”

Legal wrangling

As Bermuda grappled with a changing racial reality, a parliamentary Joint Select Committee was considering a motion, proposed by E.T. Richards in March 1957, to abolish the 1930 Hotel-Keepers Protection Act.

Lawyer Mr Richards, later Sir Edward and Bermuda’s first premier, called for the act to be abolished and replaced by a law that would make it illegal, and punishable by a hefty fine and imprisonment, for a hotelier to refuse accommodation to anyone on the grounds of race, creed or colour.

He told Parliament of “the embarrassment, insult and humiliation suffered in Bermuda by Negroes, Jews and other non-Caucasian races by virtue of the policy of racial discrimination enforced by hotel keepers and others.”

Sir Edward had first-hand knowledge of this injustice. In Richards’ biography Peaceful Warrior, author J. Randolf Williams wrote that Barbados premier minister Sir Grantley Adams had to be put up at

Government House, and the Government minister with whom he was travelling accommodated at Richards’ residence, because they could not stay in a White-owned hotel.

This happened nine days before he placed his motion before Parliament, but there were similar incidents involving Caribbean leaders whose flights landed in Bermuda in transit.

MPs, the majority of them White, gave the usual reasons for maintaining the status quo—it would harm the tourist trade. Their proposal of a Joint Select Committee was a tried and true delaying tactic.

However, in December 1960, a majority report recommended that racial discrimination in hotels and restaurants be outlawed. But when the report was debated in Parliament in January, MPs voted to exclude hotels from the bill.

There were heated exchanges in both the lower and upper Houses between White and Black members. Black physician Dr Eustace Cann, a member of the Legislative Council (now the Senate), said: “The coloured people want a legal guarantee that no one shall humiliate them in public with the aid of the law. We must be sure this does not happen again.”

He was incensed when White LegCo member Frederick Misick called for the words “race, creed and colour” to be removed from the bill.

In the end, White MPs won the day. The bill that was signed into law in March 1961 applied to restaurants only. Two months later, Joseph Rego, owner of the Arcade Restaurant, pleaded guilty to a charge of refusing to serve a Black patron. He was fined £25.

The Hotel-Keepers Protection Act was revised in 1967. In 1969, one year after Bermuda’s first election under universal adult suffrage, Parliament passed the anti-discrimination Race Relations bill.

Members of the Opposition Progressive Labour Party voted against the bill, arguing it did not go far enough. The Race Relations Act was eventually repealed and has been replaced by the 1981 Human Rights Act.

The post The long battle against racism appeared first on RG Magazines.

That promise became conditional on him not being toppled by former finance minister Curtis Dickinson in a leadership challenge that October. 

The Premier insisted that he would be no lame duck, telling The Royal Gazette: “I’ve always said that I will serve only two full terms as leader of the Progressive Labour Party.

“The Progressive Labour Party’s terms for leaders are for four years. I will serve, if elected … until 2026 and I will not stand again for party leader.”

He cited family reasons and a pledge he had made to his wife, Kristin. 

In January, looking ahead to the political landscape of 2025, The Royal Gazette raised the question of whether Mr Burt would, if not publicly, anoint a successor.

The General Election of February 18 resulted in a win for the PLP, keeping Mr Burt comfortably in the top job. 

During the late-night celebrations on Court Street, he reminded the public of his intentions to step down in October 2026. Until then, he reaffirmed his commitment to serving Bermuda and ensuring that his government continues to work for the people.

Before the election, an unnamed former politician predicted that Mr Burt would likely step down after two thirds of his term.

The observer further opined that Zane DeSilva, a PLP backbencher, would attempt to challenge Mr Burt, but lose.

It was that same embattled backbencher who put himself forward for the position of deputy leader of the PLP — in competition with Michael Weeks and Diallo Rabain. 

Despite still being embroiled in the Savvy Entertainment loan saga, Mr DeSilva won, assuming the position previously held by Walter Roban.

Mr DeSilva won the backing of the PLP delegates at St Paul AME Church hall in March, as he saw off the challenges of first Mr Rabain, and then Mr Weeks in a tightly contested second vote.

Mr DeSilva said on the night: “I’ve spent a lot of time with a lot of different organisations in the country and I’ve spent a lot of time with our people — I know their heartbeat, I know what they feel. I don’t forget where I came from.”

One longtime observer of politics in Bermuda said: “I imagine the Premier will pitch himself as a bridging candidate to ensure a seamless political transition from his premiership to whoever will take over from him in the next PLP leadership election.

“Depending on the outcome of the General Election, that may be potentially brought forward.

“I imagine his heir apparent will be made clear during the election campaign, though of course the election results will determine the potential pool of candidates for that leadership election.”

In May, in an interview with CITV during the Bermuda Day celebrations, Mr Burt reiterated that come October 2026, he will no longer be leader of the PLP.

In September, Scott Pearman, the Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs, wrote an op-ed in the Gazette warning Mr Burt about his “victory lap”.

He said: “What a tight grip David Burt must have on the PLP if he and he alone can dictate when he steps down …

“Beware the victory lap, Premier Burt. Now that people know you are leaving, some may seek to hasten your departure. And others will naturally have cause to reflect, and to judge a departing premier by his record.”

Speaking at the PLP gala in November, Mr Burt said it was a “personal tragedy” that he was unable to bring Bermuda to independence as the leader of the party.

At the 62nd annual event, he said it would also stand as a tragedy for the party if the island refused to become a full member of the Caribbean Community, better known as Caricom.

Mr Burt noted that the gala at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club would be his last at the helm and urged that PLP members select a successor who would prioritise the party.

He told the gathering: “I cannot tell you the amount of times that I have had to swallow my pride because I must put party first — the amount of times I have had to hear the anger from my friends and supporters while inviting someone into the Cabinet who may not have supported me, because I know how important it is to put party first.”

Mr Burt added that the PLP was committed to free and fair internal elections, and urged the party to get behind whoever was elected to take the leadership.

The post The final days of David appeared first on RG Magazines.

Alexa Lightbourne said the Affordable Bermuda Agenda — which took effect on November 1 — was a “concrete step towards cost-of-living relief”.

She said the ministry had been given “a clear mandate to address the cost of living” in February.

The Affordable Bermuda Basket runs through to July 31, 2026 at Lindo’s and MarketPlace stores across the island.

BGA, Viking Foods, Butterfield & Vallis and Dunkley’s are among the other participants in the scheme.

Under the savings plan are a list of products for reduction on supermarket shelves, which Ms Lightbourne said included “the everyday items that families rely on”, such as baby formula, rice, toiletries, dairy products and cleaning supplies.

The plan included an Essential Goods Relief Initiative element in which wholesalers have committed to apply a 10 per cent reduction in the cost of designated brand products supplied to retailers.

The agenda said that retailers had agreed to apply a further 10 per cent reduction at the shelf.

It said consumers would guarantee savings on participating brands for a nine-month period. 

The scheme came after a meeting in August with retailers and wholesalers to develop and advance practical solutions to mitigate the cost of living.

It followed research and analysis conducted by the ministry on possible recommendations shared at the Cost of Living Summit held in June.

Michael Fahy, the Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, said the savings blueprint “falls woefully short on tangible long-term solutions” to lower the cost of living on the island.

He also claimed that the plan was “glossy” and lacked detail and he recalled a deal negotiated by the One Bermuda Alliance in 2013 for a 10 per cent reduction of all groceries on Wednesdays.

Mr Fahy, who served as Minister of Home Affairs at the time, told the Senate a year later that the grocers suffered financially because of the weekly discount, and could not continue the programme.

He said that the OBA could do better than the Government’s savings scheme, such as its proposal for targeted electricity reductions for low-income earners.

At the summit in June, business leaders in the retail, wholesale and utilities sectors pledged to take action to reduce the cost of living.

In the House of Assembly, Ms Lightbourne described the summit, which attracted more than 250 attendees, as “a significant milestone” of “candid and constructive dialogue”.

She said that it had “inspired” government policy and showed the importance of collaboration.

After the summit, Mr Fahy said he learnt nothing new from the event and questioned why the Government had repeatedly failed to introduce simple legislation that would ease cost-of-living challenges.

The Cost of Living Commission was to review the summit’s outcomes which Ms Lightbourne said would “contribute to the public communications of the ministry’s affordability strategy, including its implementation road map and regulatory reform timeline”.

She said her ministry was working to process summit feedback to combine with survey data.

Residents were later urged to complete a series of online surveys through questionnaires that were devised after the June summit.

The surveys covered the four “most critical aspects of daily life” — imports, housing, utilities and food.

Kim Wilkerson, the Minister of Justice, told the Upper House in November that working with wholesalers and retailers in tackling Bermuda’s cost of living had yielded success.

John Wight, the Vice-President of the Senate, questioned if the Government would consider legislation to “force” providers to lower costs.

Ms Wilkerson said: “We believe it’s in our best interest to collaborate as much as possible, so the idea of a legislation to force the hand of the suppliers of food isn’t contemplated immediately.”

A free web-based platform was launched to assist consumers in comparing local and overseas prices, and uncovering savings in a “meaningful, data-driven way”.

The Pure NonCents Calculator gives businesses the insight and consulting pathways to refine pricing, sourcing and operations for better efficiency, its founder Michael Pearman said.

“Pure NonCents isn’t about blame — it’s about shared insight and identifying opportunities for improvement,” Mr Pearman said.

The platform helps consumers make smarter purchasing decisions while enabling businesses to assess their competitiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.

Mr Pearman told The Royal Gazette that he had built the platform “so it gives both consumers and businesses better information”.

The post All eggs put into cost-of-living basket appeared first on RG Magazines.