But sometimes, the real work happens quietly. One hour a week. One student. One conversation at a time.
For Riley Jackson, an academic support volunteer with the Family Centre’s Youth Leadership Academy, giving back started with a simple decision.

“I had just moved back to the island after graduating from De Montfort University in the UK, and I wanted to find a way to reconnect with the community,” she said. “After looking online, I came across the YLA, and it just felt like the right fit.”

The YLA is a long-term, trauma-informed programme that supports young people from middle school through high school. It focuses on mentorship, academic support and helping students navigate challenges both inside and outside the classroom.

For Ms Jackson, the connection was personal from the start.

“In school, I had to make a real effort when it came to studying,” she explained. “I didn’t always find things easy. I had a tutor, and I leaned on my teachers for extra support.”

Now, she finds herself on the other side of that experience.

“I’ve learned so many different ways to study and figure out what works,” she said. “So, the idea of helping someone else who might be going through the same thing just made sense.”

Even the subject she now tutors, biology, wasn’t always her strongest. “It was actually a hard class for me in school,” she admitted. “So, I understand the struggle.”

Volunteering might sound straightforward, but Ms Jackson is quick to point out that it requires commitment.

“Before each lesson, I review that week’s topic in the syllabus and find teaching material to match,” she said. “We’ve found that worksheets work well, so we usually end with a few of those.”
Each session is one-on-one, once a week. But it’s not just about jumping straight into academics.

“We always start by catching up,” she explained. “Just taking a moment to decompress from the day helps us both get into the right space to learn.”

Balancing volunteering with work and personal life isn’t always easy for Ms Jackson, who works in underwriting at CG Insurance’s Personal Lines Department.

“There are weeks when we can’t meet because of other commitments,” she said. “And for me, I can’t just show up and teach. I have to relearn the topic and find the right resources. That process takes time.”

Still, she makes it work.

Ask Ms Jackson what keeps her going, and her answer is simple.

“The most rewarding thing is when my student gets it,” she said. “When she can apply what we’ve gone through or explain it back to me: that’s the best part.”

Sometimes, the learning goes both ways. “There are times when my student will even correct me if I slip up,” she added.

But it’s not just about grades. “Seeing her confidence grow is a big thing,” she said. “That’s what really stands out.”

There are also moments when the focus shifts entirely. “I remember one day she had a really tough time at school and didn’t want to study,” Ms Jackson recalled. “So, we decided it wasn’t a learning day. We just talked.” That flexibility is important, she said. “You have to balance mental health with academics. Sometimes, just being there to listen is enough.”

Through her work with YLA, Ms Jackson has gained a new perspective on the education system.

“It’s been eye-opening,” said the Warwick Academy alumna. “Coming from a private school background, my experience was different.”

What she sees now is a gap, and a need.

“There are so many students who want to learn and improve, but they don’t always have the support,” she explained. “Programmes like the YLA are doing an amazing job of helping to bridge that gap.”

The post Giving back appeared first on RG Magazines.

You just need to know where to go…

Family fun

Sunday brunch

Wear your fancy outfit, but nothing that fits too tightly around the waist. Sunday brunch is a treat: a rare chance to indulge in some of the finest foods Bermuda has to offer, and a time to shine for our super-talented chefs.

Unlimited trips to the buffet table mean you don’t have to choose between salad, soup, sushi, roasted meats, pasta, or good old Bermudian classics. You can have it all … and then go back for dessert.

Where to find it: Pick your favourite hotel or restaurant, or one you’ve never tried before.

RG top tip: Don’t make plans for Sunday dinner – you won’t need to eat again until Monday evening.

Kicking back with friends

Beach day

If it’s good enough for the thousands of visitors that flock to Bermuda every summer, it’s good enough for us, right?

Appreciate the beauty on your doorstep by making Saturday beach day with your amigos. No matter what kind of beach you’re looking for, you can find the perfect one for everyone.

Where to find it: Horseshoe Bay for crowds and camaraderie; Astwood Park for tranquil scenery; Tobacco Bay for water activities; Hog Bay Beach for waves; John Smith’s Bay for BBQ; Snorkel Park Beach Club for parties; Glass Beach for something you won’t find anywhere else.

RG top tip: Nominate the most reliable member of the group to bring the cooler and ice – the staple of your afternoon. Flakier folks can contribute chips and drinks.

Hot dates

Glass-bottom boat trip

We’re rightly proud of our many delicious dining spots and their sumptuous settings – but for a truly spectacular romantic experience, get out on our wondrous waters.

A glass-bottom boat trip gives you and your partner a front-row seat to beauty that people travel thousands of miles to witness, from our coral reefs and turtles to the shipwrecks and their mesmerising tales.

Where to find it: Hamilton options include Bermuda Reef Explorer; Dockyard’s offerings include the Glass Bottom Boat Cruise.

RG top tip: Stories from your ship’s captain will give you something to chat about as you look back on your adventure while sipping cocktails at a waterfront bar.

Mingle when you’re single

Explore something new

There are so many stories to hear about our amazing island – and so many new friends to make while you do it.

Walking tours, cycling tours and adventure trips on the water or land add up to a great day out, whether you’re part of a group or on your own. And they’re a great way to find like-minded people who share your inquisitive nature.

Where to find it: Long Story Short in St George’s; Bermuda Watersports in Sandys; Crystal Caves; take your pick from the reams of activities on offer at Island Tour Centre in Dockyard.

RG top tip: Don’t be that person who hides at the back of the group. Make the most of your tour guide: ask questions to find out what makes this place so special.

2026 Weekend Events

July 30 to August 2: Cup Match weekend

August 30: Sandcastle Competition at Horseshoe Bay

October 8-11: Taste of Bermuda food festival, Hamilton

October 11: Round the Sound charity swim, Harrington Sound

November 15: Cambridge Beaches Triathlon

December 4: Bermuda National Trust Christmas Walkabout, St George’s

December 12: Christmas Boat Parade, Hamilton Harbour

• Dates correct at time of going to press. Check The Royal Gazette for updates and new events.

The post Weekends in Bermuda appeared first on RG Magazines.

More than just a cricket game, it is a celebration of heritage, resilience and community – a time when families come together to honour the past while creating new memories.

For Kenten Trott and his family, Cup Match is not simply an event on the calendar: it is a deeply rooted tradition that blends history, family bonding and the rhythms of island life.

Mr Trott, a police inspector and longtime Cup Match participant behind the scenes, describes his connection to the holiday with both pride and reflection.

He grew up in St David’s, and acknowledges the unique, sibling-rivalry-style phenomenon that compels many St David’s Islanders to support – and even play for – Somerset during Cup Match.

But he supports St George’s.

Having a similar story myself, I endorse his choice.

For Mr Trott’s family, however, the real heart of Cup Match lies beyond the cricket field. Their tradition centres around camping at Turtle Bay, a ritual they have built and refined over the years. Preparations begin long before the holiday, with permits secured early to ensure their place. Then, at precisely midnight on the Wednesday before Cup Match, the family arrives – flashlights in hand – to set up camp.

“It’s pitch black, but we’re out there setting up tents, getting everything ready,” Mr Trott said. “That’s part of the excitement.”

The campsite becomes a temporary village. Multiple tents house immediate and extended family members while cooking areas, tables and coolers transform the beach into a home away from home. Though some modern conveniences have crept in – thanks to a cousin’s generator – Mr Trott prefers to keep things simple, embracing a more traditional, unplugged experience.

“I’m old school,” he asserted. “I don’t need all the extras. It’s about being out there, enjoying nature.”

From Wednesday through Sunday, the family lives by the rhythm of the holiday. Days are spent swimming, relaxing and listening to the cricket on the radio. Meals are shared, stories are told, and children roam freely between the tents and the shoreline.

Even unpredictable weather can’t dampen their spirits. Mr Trott remembers one year when heavy rain lashed the island, yet the family stayed put, covering their tents with tarpaulin and riding out the storm together.

“It’s all part of it,” he declared. “You just make it work!”

Balancing his professional responsibilities with family traditions adds another layer to Mr Trott’s Cup Match experience. As part of the policing team responsible for the event in St George’s, he often works shifts during the holiday. Even so, he finds a way to return to the campsite, ensuring he remains connected to both his duty and his family.

At its core, Mr Trott believes Cup Match is about far more than sport. It is a living reminder of Bermuda’s history – particularly the legacy of emancipation and the resilience of those who came before.

“People don’t always realise the significance,” he explained. “Our forefathers took a stand; took time off work and created something meaningful. That says a lot about who we are.”

The quiet moments at the campsite, away from all the distractions and pressures of modern life, offer Mr Trott time to reflect on that history, and to pass its meaning on to his children. Though they are drawn to technology more than any generation before, the experience of camping helps ground them in tradition.

“It’s family bonding,” he said with a warm grin. “It’s teaching them what Cup Match really means.”

In that space between AI encroachment and historical heartbeats, Cup Match continues to thrive – carried forward by families like the Trotts, who ensure its spirit lives on year after year.

The post Freedom and adventure in paradise appeared first on RG Magazines.

Patrina O’Connor-Paynter doesn’t buy into that.

“I wouldn’t say that they’re less willing to do so,” said the executive director of the Big Brothers Big Sisters charity.

“Covid did impact them. They had missed key social development windows, reduced in-person interaction, loss of routines, increased isolation and we see higher social anxiety.

“But you know, some of the teens did bounce back quickly. Some are still rebuilding their social skills, depending on their age range.”

All of them, according to Ms O’Connor-Paynter still need and want real-life connection — and that’s where BBBS steps in.

As well as its traditional one-on-one mentoring, where youngsters are matched with a specific adult ‘brother’ or ‘sister’, the charity offers a whole host of other ways for young people to benefit from the wisdom, guidance and life skills of their elders and connect with one another.

The broadened scope allows adults who can’t commit to being a mentor to still volunteer to help.

That might mean hosting a cooking class for young people, like community partner Carmen DeSilva, or taking part in a networking event for mothers, such as the one recently hosted by insurance company Chubb.

“We have a big community,” Ms O’Connor-Paynter explained.

“What we are trying to do at Big Brothers Big Sisters, outside of one-on-one matches, is to develop a community of people that look out for young people, a community where young people know that there are people watching out for them.

“There are people that care, that they’re being able to be exposed to [and that gives them] opportunities and experiences that they might not necessarily otherwise get. We’ve been able to see that happen.”

Evolving connections

She said it’s wrong for adults to assume teens want to disappear into their phones and avoid real-life interaction.

“People still long for connection but it just looks a little bit different from back when we grew up.”

She encourages adults to think about giving a little of their time to connect with the youngsters helped by BBBS.

“People in the community need to understand that everybody has something to offer. Everybody can make an impact on a young person.

“Just because you feel that they’re glued to a screen or you think that they’re disconnected, sometimes it’s just giving that listening ear and being there, instead of being so judgmental about them and the things that they do.

“It’s actually just showing interest and showing that you care.”

Ms O’Connor-Paynter said that even before the pandemic, BBBS noticed a “lot of our boys had challenges expressing themselves; the majority of them are being raised by a mom or a grandmother or a female”.

That led to a partnership with MASC, a male-centred counselling practice, which gets middle school and high school boys to meet once a week, express their feelings and take part in fun activities together. There is a primary school group too.

“The boys enjoy it,” she said. “It also gets them to bond with each other and develop a network amongst each other, because one of the things that we really want to bring back is the family network, where our family members at Big Brothers Big Sisters can also look out for each other.”

MASC is also the partner for a Mothers Raising Sons scheme.

Dedicated girl-power sessions, meanwhile, were launched with psychologist Dr Jana Outerbridge, with a focus on developing leadership skills.

BBBS has now partnered with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for middle and high school-aged girls to take on community service projects.

Family

Ms O’Connor-Paynter, who has been at BBBS since 2008, uses the words “family” and “community” a lot; she knows how important both are in giving young people the best start in life.

“We’re developing family,” she said. “One of the things that really resonates with me is that we have children that are as young as five, but we have young men and young ladies that are as old as 18 that are in the programme.

“Whatever events that we’re having, we still have 16- and 17-year-olds that come out as well and it shows me that they feel a part of something.

“We’ve had young people tell us they feel like they belong and they feel like they’re a part of a programme that cares about them.”

She paused, then added: “Actually not a programme, a family.”

Opportunities for “in-person” events are many at BBBS and they are popular.

Giving a lie to the idea that young people want to isolate themselves, Ms O’Connor-Paynter said: “It’s so funny because for most of our events, we have to cap the limit.”

One such example is her grandfather Eugene O’Connor’s annual kite-making workshops.

“We see some of the moms coming out,” she says. “We see some of the ‘bigs’ coming out to help.

“We see the children coming and wanting to embrace themselves in Bermuda culture.”

Ms O’Connor-Paynter shares that BBBS, which formed in 1978, has 180 children on its books, with about 130 “definitely able to say that they’re serviced regularly”.

In her line of work, she simply doesn’t see a “whole generation of disconnected” youth.

She said: “I think that they experienced a deep disruption [during the pandemic] but I think it makes them want connection more.

“They still long for connection and they still long to be connected with people.”

She adds: “The pandemic showed us that we need people.

“We need human interaction. We need human touch. And so do young people.”

• Big Brothers Big Sisters can be contacted on 232-2802 or 537-1217, or by emailing [email protected] or visiting bbbs.bm

The post Teen connection appeared first on RG Magazines.

In a rare personal interview, with RG, Mr Burt shared his heartfelt thoughts about his loved ones, childhood, pressure, public service and the private self behind the office.

There are moments in an interview when the mask falls away. For David Burt, it came when he was asked about his family.

The Premier paused, wiped away a tear and, for a few seconds, the familiar public figure receded.

Not the man at the press conference. Not the politician accustomed to scrutiny, criticism and command. Just a husband to Kristin and father to Nia and Edward, speaking about the people who have carried the cost of public life alongside him.

“They did not cope well,” he said of the demands placed on his family. “They still don’t cope well.”

That is why Mr Burt has no regrets that he will step back from the Premiership, the front bench.

“I want to be there for them,” he said.

He remembered his very young son watching the official car pull away. “GP1 would drive and he would stand in the window and cry,” the Premier said.

It is a small domestic image, but it says more than any grand statement about sacrifice. The machinery of government moving forward. A child at the window wanting his father to stay.

For almost a decade as Premier, Mr Burt has been probably the most visible person in Bermuda.

At the age of 38, he became the island’s youngest Premier, led through the Covid-19 pandemic and lived with the scrutiny, anger, personal criticism and relentless intimacy of politics on a small island.

Mr Burt, now 47, who also took on the crucial role as the Minister of Finance for most of his Premiership, is careful to make one thing clear: he does not see himself as leaving politics.

He intends to continue as a Member of Parliament and says constituency work is something he has missed. What he is leaving is the front bench, the daily demand of executive office, and the constant pull away from home.

“I just want to make sure I have time to enjoy my family,” he said, “and especially to enjoy my children before they turn into full-fledged teenagers that don’t want to be seen with their parents anymore.”

He smiled at that. He is already, he admitted, beginning to get “a little taste” of it.

The anti-sport youngster

As a child, long before the title and the decisions, David Burt describes himself as “an unabashed nerd”.

He says it without embarrassment. In fact, it may be one of the things he is most relaxed about.

“I grew up as an unabashed nerd because I have no physical attributes,” he joked. It is still funny to him, he said, to see his daughter running and setting long jump records for her age, and his son winning football tournaments.

He said he had loved computers since getting his first one. “I was about as anti-sport as you could get because I’ve always been in love with computers, and that was always my thing.”

His upbringing was ordinary in one sense, but formative in another. He was the first in his family to go to college. His mother was a beautician, his father was a mason, but both were entrepreneurs.

“I never saw my parents work for anyone else,” he said. From them, he learnt hard work and independence. He saw them struggle, persevere and push to give him better opportunities.

That shaped his own view of work. It also shaped his appetite for enterprise.

He spoke about early business ideas, later starting his IT company, and launching Hitch. Technology was not a slogan for him. It was where he felt most himself.

“I’m not a nature person. I’m not really an animal person. I’m more of a tech person, a computer person,” he said. “I fell in love with computers at a very young age.”

Climbing to the top

At Florida Air Academy, where he went to military boarding school, he earned his pilot’s licence a week after his 17th birthday, meaning he could fly a plane before he could drive a car.

While other students were playing sport or going to the mall, he was on the school’s computer programming team, going to competitions at a local community college.

He also attended George Washington University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and information and a Master of Science in information systems technology.

No one in his family had been in politics before. After coming back to Bermuda in 2003, he became involved with the Progressive Labour Party, later becoming its chair.

In 2009 he stepped away, wanting to do other things, and when former PLP Premier Paula Cox asked him to return, it took time to say yes, he said.

Then in 2010 onwards, he was back on the front line. Senator, MP, shadow minister, Opposition leader, Premier. By his own calculation, most of his adult life has been committed to service.

“I love my job,” he said. “I love the challenge of my job. I love going to work.”

That is why he will miss the work: setting public policy, debating it, thinking about the future, trying to move an agenda through the limits of government.

He has also missed having more contact with his constituents — what he will not miss is the loss of ordinary space. Public life, he said, has made him more reserved.

Personal impact

He finds himself not fully being himself in public. Sometimes he wants to enjoy time with friends without someone trying to discuss politics. Sometimes he is out with his children and needs to ask people to let him simply be with them.

“It’s not just the scrutiny of the role. It’s that sometimes you just want to enjoy yourself with your friends and not have to worry about a person at the bar who wants to cause a scene or wants to discuss politics when you’re just trying to relax and enjoy your evening.”

Asked about regrets, he pointed to the quarantine hotel policy during the pandemic.

It was done, he said, for the right reasons, but the Government later reversed the policy. The division it caused became deeply personal.

He also remembers the sound of ambulances from the Premier’s official residence during Covid.

At night, he said, he could hear them going to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Sometimes, worried by the frequency, he would call the hospital to ask whether everything was all right.

“It was very difficult,” he said. “It was very stressful.”

As Covid closed the island, there were 20-hour days, press conferences, e-mails, documents, decisions, and then the attempt to still be “a husband and a father and a son”.

The job aged him, he said. He can almost date photographs by the beard: before the pandemic, no beard; after the pandemic, beard. He joked about the grey, the hairline and the visible signs of office.

As well as being Premier, he is the leader of the Progressive Labour Party which comes with its own set of meetings: central committee meeting, party executive meeting on top of Cabinet and caucus meetings, Parliament and constituency clinics: all in a week.

But he is not leaving with bitterness. Nor is he trying to pretend the work did not matter.

Putting family first

If he could speak to the David Burt who became Premier in 2017, his advice would be simple. “Push harder on your agenda.”

He added: “I don’t think there’ll be anyone who says that I haven’t pushed hard, but you can always push harder.”

It’s not because he regrets everything, but because politics gives leaders narrow windows to act.

When he speaks about what comes next, the emphasis changes.

Kristin, he said, has had to carry the burden of his career. He wants to support hers.

His parents are getting older. His children are growing up. He wants to be present before the window closes.

Perhaps that is the real story of this transition. Not a man disappearing from public life, but one trying to recover more of his private life before it passes him by.

Asked about the “Premiership mask”, Mr Burt did not offer an easy theatrical answer.

The role does not come off neatly at the door. There are always messages, calls, briefings, decisions, pressures.

“I struggle to stop being Premier when I’m at home,” he said.

But when the public mask slipped, the person underneath was not hard to see.

He was the computer-loving boy who became a pilot before he could drive. The son of two entrepreneurs. The “unabashed nerd” who found his way into public service.

The husband who knows what his wife carried. The father who still remembers his child crying at the window.

And now, after years of being available to almost everyone, he is ready to be more available to the people who know him best.

On transitioning from public life, he said: “I would say that it is going to be a huge adaptation, but I would say that people underestimate my ability to do nothing well. Trust me. I will look forward, hopefully, to that point in time.”

David Burt off duty

A lighter look at the Premier’s favourite places, rituals and cultural touchstones.

Favourite ordinary Bermudian ritual

Swizzle. Mr Burt joked that “everyone knows the answer”. His own swizzle story began at a Department of Immigration end-of-year gathering, when he tasted his father’s version and decided he could improve it.

Favourite Bermudian traditions

Public holidays, especially May 24 and Cup Match. He enjoys being around people, saying hello, catching up and moving between camps.

Somerset or St George’s?

Do you really have to ask? Somerset. People assume he is from Somerset, but the reason is simple: both his parents were St George’s supporters.

Favourite place in Bermuda

His first answer was his bed, because he does not get enough of it. More seriously, he named Paradise Lakes and Turtle Bay. He loves the calm of Turtle Bay, although he’s not a big beach person because he hates sand.

Music

An “unabashed soca fan”, but he only got the bug after moving back to Bermuda.

Books

Mostly audiobooks now, especially on technology and artificial intelligence. He does not have much time for fiction.

Favourite film

True Lies. This answer has not changed in years because he does not watch many films.

Television

Star Trek: The Next Generation. A huge Star Trek fan, in keeping with what he describes as his “nerd thing”.

English football team

West Ham United. The first song sung to both his children was I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles, and both wore West Ham kits in hospital after they were born.

Bermuda football team

Devonshire Recreation Club. He was involved before having children and would like to give back to football administration in future.

The post The Premier, the father … and the time he wants back appeared first on RG Magazines.

Ki-Juan Minors: Riding against the tide

Ki-Juan Minors, a professional equestrian from Bermuda, didn’t choose his career based on demographics. From a young age, his passion for horses was the driving force behind his decision to enter this female-dominated sport. “I always wanted to be the change,” Mr Minors stated, reflecting on his desire to stand out and pursue his love for equestrian activities, despite it being seen as unconventional for men in our community.

The journey wasn’t without its hurdles. Mr Minors faced scepticism and discouragement from peers and the broader community, who questioned the viability of his career choice. “I heard people say things like: ‘Why do you want to ride horses?’ And ‘Who sells horses. That’s not a real sport or career’. It makes me laugh looking back at it now. But of course, in the moment the negative feedback made me doubt myself, especially while starting out in my career.”

Mr Minors now understands that when you are new to something, people can perceive you as a threat. This can cause you to feel like the literal ‘odd man out’ in the group, he said. “Despite the criticisms, I knew what I wanted so I took the chance and risk to get there,” he explained. Instead of giving up, he said these challenges fuelled his resolve.

For men hesitant to follow a similar path, Mr Minors admitted that passion and perseverance are key to overcoming stereotypes and succeeding in any chosen field. “Take the risk, if you believe in it,” he advised. “Don’t allow people to block your blessing because they don’t have the mindset to get that step ahead.”

James Lee: Painting new norms

James Lee’s entry into the world of make-up artistry was not a planned conquest into a female-dominated field but a natural progression of his passion for art. Originally interested in graphic design, Mr Lee found there were limited opportunities in that field and instead turned to make-up as a means of expressing himself. Finding his niche in beauty, he transformed his self-taught skills through YouTube into professional mastery, working at local salons, the Bermuda Fashion Festival, and with prominent global brands like MAC Cosmetics.

For the most part, he’s received positive feedback on his artistry and professionalism. However, he has noticed some cultural resistance and moments of hesitation from clients surprised or unsure about a man in the role. “Some women have declined my services in favour of a female artist, and in one rare instance, a customer requested I leave the sales floor for religious reasons,” Mr Lee recalled. “Yet, these experiences never discouraged me. Instead, I handled them with professionalism and grace, understanding that perceptions take time to shift.” He admitted he takes pride in the moments when clients are pleasantly surprised by his work or obviously feel relaxed and comfortable, as if in a spa.

“Interestingly enough, many iconic beauty brands, including the one I work for (MAC), were founded by men—highlighting how deeply rooted men actually are in the history of beauty and cosmetics,” he said.

Mr Lee encouraged other men to ignore societal expectations and embrace their talents. “The face is just another canvas,” he said, urging men to see the beauty industry as a realm of artistic and professional opportunity, regardless of gender.

Keenan Van Putten: A nurse with vision

Keenan Van Putten’s journey into nursing began in a seemingly unlikely place—the sterilisation department of a hospital. Intrigued by the direct impact nurses had on patient care, particularly in surgical settings, Mr Van Putten pursued nursing with a desire to contribute significantly to patient health. “I attended Bermuda College where I got my associate’s in science, then matriculated to Hampton University’s School of Nursing in Virginia where I got my bachelor’s degree,” he said. “I came back to [King Edward VII Memorial Hospital] in Bermuda in 2012 after completing the nursing internship programme and during that time I got to see different departments within the hospital and settled on Cooper Ward, which was a medical and surgical unit.” Since then, his career has spanned various roles from community health nurse to entrepreneurship, as he opened a rest home, Caring Hands Ltd, with his fiancé, Christina Belboda, a fellow nurse, in May 2024.

Mr Van Putten acknowledged he has experienced mixed reactions in his career, with one or two older nurses questioning his place in the field. However, he focuses on the positive impact and the unique perspectives he brings, particularly in surgical and community settings. “The career path is a good one,” he said. “It is very rewarding to be able to give back to the people that we serve.”

His advice to males considering nursing is to gain as much experience as possible, particularly internationally, where a broader range of challenges and illnesses might provide deeper insights and skills. Mr Van Putten admitted he was proud of his pioneering roles in Bermuda’s nursing industry and he continues to champion nursing as a profoundly rewarding and essential service.
“I’ve been able to make history so far in my career – not only as the first Black male Bermudian in the operating room as a surgical nurse, but also as the first male district nurse in Bermuda.”

While these three men come from different backgrounds and careers, they share a common thread in their stories: a determination to pursue their passions and a commitment to excellence in their professions. They not only challenge the gender norms within their fields but also inspire others to follow their dreams, regardless of societal expectations.

The post Breaking the mold appeared first on RG Magazines.

It is not hard to find examples of successful women in business in Bermuda, including high-flyers at the very top. 

The recent merger of Argus and BF&M insurance companies saw one female CEO, Abigail Clifford, replace another, Alison Hill. 

Several firms in the international business sector have women heading their C-suite: Hiscox Re + ILS and QBE Re Bermuda, to name a couple. 

In the public sector, the Bermuda Tourism Authority and the Bermuda Gaming Commission are both run by women. 

And yet … 

A CLEAR TREND 

As far as women have come in the workplace in recent decades, they remain in a minority in Hamilton boardrooms and in senior positions overall, particularly if they are black. 

A 2019 survey by the Association of Bermuda International Companies put the IB workforce composition at 30 per cent black women, 26 per cent white women, 24 per cent white men and ten per cent black men. 

Yet only three per cent of executives were black women, with 22 per cent white women, 63 per cent white men and ten per cent black men. 

Across the wider workforce, women complain of more discrimination and harassment. 

The Human Rights Commission’s 2023 annual report revealed that females represented 53 per cent of those complaining of discrimination because of their sex in employment, compared with men at 33 per cent. Those remaining selected ‘other’ or did not state their sex. 

Female complainants represented 55 per cent of those alleging harassment within the workplace, while male complainants represented 27 per cent. Those remaining did not share their sex. 

GENDER-BASED DISCRIMINATION 

Tawana Tannock, managing director of Skuld Bermuda, former HRC chair, and private and public sector board executive, said the statistics were unsurprising. 

When she chaired the HRC board, most complaints she saw were about gender-based discrimination. 

She said: “What I saw as a common thread through complaints … was actually with regards to women’s issues: women being let go from work when they were pregnant, so their companies – usually smaller companies — did not have to pay maternity leave … or women being passed over for promotion because the promotion time comes up when they are on maternity leave. 

“I chaired two cases of women being harassed in the workplace.” 

Ms Tannock said her own experiences in the corporate world taught her “there are always things that are going to impact women. When you add the layer of motherhood, that goes further. 

“Have I seen it impact me? Yes. Have I made changes that I don’t think a man would have to make? Of course.” 

Ms Tannock recalled a job she applied for years ago at an exempt company which involved 11 interviews. A male coach told her he would have walked away after four. 

“I felt as a woman that I had to do it,” she said. “It got to the point that I realised that they kept waiting for me to make a mistake.” 

She puts her willingness to undergo those interviews down to the fact that “options and opportunities present themselves more readily for males”. 

THE NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY 

Angela Parry, president of the International Women’s Club of Bermuda, suggested women can lack the confidence exhibited by men when seeking leadership roles. 

“You have to really negotiate, and I think a lot of women don’t believe in themselves,” she said. 

“Don’t they say that women will apply for a job if they can tick every single box on the advert and a guy will apply if he ticks maybe not even half of them?” 

She added: “I think women will always have to work harder, because they have more guilt associated with their family as well.” 

Ms Parry, an accountant, pointed out that it was hard to get a clear picture of equality in business without transparency about salaries. 

“In the UK, [companies with 250 or more employees] have to disclose [their] gender pay gap,” she said. “I’m not aware of there being any requirement on employers to do that [here]. 

“We could have our suspicions, but often people don’t talk about what they earn.” 

She felt there “definitely” should be a requirement for companies to share the information. 

CREATING A FAIRER FUTURE 

Ms Tannock agreed, but said a “change of culture” more widely was needed to ensure a fairer future. 

She described discrimination as often “insidious”, noting that in Bermuda there are many male work-permit holders in senior positions in business whose female spouses don’t have the right to work here and so provide full-time support at home. 

“If your partner is not working, you get the opportunity to focus and concentrate on work in a way that somebody who doesn’t have a stay-at-home partner doesn’t,” she explained. 

“When you think about … why might it be that men in senior positions don’t [always] understand or appreciate or have more flexibility, it might be because it is literally a blind spot.” 

Ms Tannock believes women have a “social minefield” to navigate as they progress their careers, because their behaviour is often scrutinised and judged more harshly than that of their male colleagues. 

“You could be considered as a colleague on equal footing, but that does not mean that you can act or be like one of the guys because there are different rules,” she said. 

“The classic example is Rugby Week. [There is] the culture of drinking and partying and getting untidy. 

“It is a joke and it’s funny for [men] and you come to work the next day and it’s fine for them. Those are not the rules for us.” 

She added: “As women, we are judged by our worst moments.” 

Ms Tannock sees great value in female leaders helping other women find their voice, citing We Speak as an example of an organisation offering opportunities for public speaking and honing leadership skills. 

She said recently she has noticed “more opportunities for women, especially younger women, in more senior management career-track roles”. 

But she said that didn’t mean it was a level playing field yet. “My experience, when I do speak with younger women, is that they are still just as frustrated …. 

“They don’t feel that they might have the same inclusion or opportunities as their male colleagues.” 

The post The fight for equal rights appeared first on RG Magazines.

According to one physical assault survivor, the Centre Against Abuse picked him up at his lowest ebb, coaxed him through his immediate trauma and then guided him back to a better place.

The man had suffered head injuries in the attack in his own home.

“As a male victim this was a crazy ordeal,” he recalled.

“I had to control myself and practise restraint while the attack was occurring. Afterwards, I spoke to the police, then I had to get to the hospital myself to get my wounds checked, and then back to the police station to give a report.

“It was very traumatic because I had to do it all by myself. That whole process took eight hours. I didn’t leave the police station until 1 in the morning.”

The survivor said he felt it was unsafe to return home, so he stayed at a friend’s house overnight. 

“I didn’t go to work the next day,” he said. “All I kept saying was I need help. A liaison officer from the police gave me a call and put me in touch with Laurie Shiell from the Centre Against Abuse.

“After that, I have been so much better, from the first meeting in a safe location which allowed me to express my understanding of what happened.

“They’ve done everything to assist me. I’m very grateful to her and the Centre Against Abuse.”

The Centre Against Abuse helped the man obtain a Domestic Violence Protection Order against his assailant and was given regular counselling sessions to deal with the trauma.

“The hardest thing is living with it, trying to go about your day-to-day and be the best you can,” he said.

“The best thing they said is that, being a male victim, I had to remove the male out of it and say I’m a human being.

“My counsellor has been phenomenal. I don’t miss a session. It’s the best thing every weekend. We talk about an array of things. We talk about the incident. She has given me the tools, making me know it’s OK and I’m not alone. I love counselling. It allows me to function and understand it’s OK to feel.”

The man encouraged any victims to consider the Centre Against Abuse as a safe place to put your life back together. 

“I wouldn’t be able to function day-to-day if it wasn’t for them,” he said.

“I’m grateful for Laurie and her team. They have made me feel human. I’m very grateful. Very grateful. 

“Abuse is not normal and one can’t normalise it, whether it’s mental or physical. You just need to seek assistance immediately, regardless of whether you are male or female.” 

The post Survivor Story: “I feel human again” appeared first on RG Magazines.

One mother recalled that she had nowhere to live when she separated from her husband because she was non-Bermudian with no family on the island.

“My relationship did not work out as I planned as a woman. I had my child. He was 3 by then,” she said.

“So someone got me in contact with the Centre Against Abuse. They talked to me and they sheltered me. They showed me how to resolve the problem, how to cope physically and emotionally.

“They clothed and fed my child. They asked for financial aid to pay for a lawyer to proceed my divorce and helped with everything I needed at the time.”

The woman stayed at the shelter for about six months.

“There were about five ladies in the shelter,” she said. “It’s unbelievable. They said, ‘You are one of the family.’ I never felt like I was in trouble. I felt I had found a family. 

“They were really and honestly trying to help me out in any way possible.”

This included providing emotional support and boosting her confidence, as well as assistance with paperwork and transport.

“They even took me to the beach – they make sure you live the normal life,” she said.

“It was not a good time for me, but they created good memories. They are truly kind. For them, it’s not a job. They are there for you. They make themselves so vulnerable so it’s easy to communicate with them about how you feel. You feel like you are in a safe place.” 

Her son even got to celebrate his birthday with a fun castle and other entertainment.

“They really made his birthday as special as a kid can imagine.”

Eventually, the woman was integrated into the Bermuda community and now has a job.

“I’m doing good where I’m at and I’m happy,” she said. “I reside with my child here in Bermuda. This is home. This is his country. I’m not a person who keeps crying about yesterday. I’m thinking about tomorrow.”

She advised anyone in need to seek help.

“Do not be ashamed to be vulnerable and open up for help,” she said.

“Even if you don’t, you are not in a dark place. Do not fear. 

“There are people out there who are kind and willing to help. That moment when you are in the darkest place, just reach out for help. We carry a lot of emotions. It’s very important to speak out for help.

“The people that came to be a family at the Centre Against Abuse are for a lifetime. They made a remarkable change in my life.” 

The post Survivor Story: “They became my family for life” appeared first on RG Magazines.

Laurie Shiell, executive director of the organisation since 2008, recalled one survivor who recognised she was in a mess – but was in love with that mess. 

“We had a client who would come to us for help because her partner was abusive,” Ms Shiell said. 

“A church member or family member would call us and ensure that she came to us for support, but she would always leave and go back to the abuser, who was her children’s father. 

“Then one day she said she had a lightbulb moment.” 

That epiphany came when the woman recognised her three children were being impacted by the abuse – and realised she loved the youngsters more than she loved the “mess” of her relationship. 

Thanks to the Centre Against Abuse, the woman was finally able to move away from her abuser. 

“The Centre Against Abuse put seeds in her to know she has a space to go,” Ms Shiell said. 

“Every time she came back to us, she was loved in the same way as if she was brand new. We had reached a place where she trusted us.

“Sometimes survivors leave someone abusive, but then three or four weeks later they want to go back to that person. That’s when the Centre Against Abuse provides a space for you and is still there for you.” 

Since its foundation under its original name the Physical Abuse Centre in 1979, the Centre Against Abuse has offered vital support to thousands of abused women, men and children. 

Centre Against Abuse statistics show more than 130 cases of abuse are recorded in Bermuda every year. 

In the past five years, 721 cases of abused women have been recorded, and 35 cases of abused men. In 2023, 126 women were abused and 7 men. 

The Centre Against Abuse’s mission is to eradicate intimate partner abuse and sexual abuse in Bermuda. It may sound like an ambitious target, but aiming high is vital because the impact of abuse is so far-reaching. 

Ms Shiell said: “Abuse is linked to gang violence. Abuse is a cause for difficulties with children’s behaviour in school. It leads to lack of self-esteem. It leads to the continuation of abuse. When a child’s parent is abused, it affects the mental health of a child at a far higher rate than a child who is being abused directly. 

“It might show up in school, where someone might be labelled as the naughty child. But that’s because they have all this stuff that they can’t express or explain. They don’t know if it’s right or wrong, but it feels wrong. 

“It shows up as disruption. It shows up as not doing work. Nobody’s asked me or talked to my mom and dad.” 

The Centre Against Abuse advises abused parents to let teachers know when their young child might be impacted by abuse. 

“Just let them know what’s happening so they don’t penalise him or her,” she said. “We need to love on him or her instead. Love can conquer this.” 

The Centre Against Abuse has led the fight against all kinds of abuse, including emotional, financial, physical, verbal, sexual and social. 

Ms Shiell said abuse can happen to anyone. 

“It can be with intimate partners, it can be between someone who is elderly and their caretaker, it can be between someone and their child, or a child and an adult,” she said. 

“It’s about power and control and someone who is some type of relative who is using behaviours to control you, to gain and maintain that power and control.” 

While there is a long way to go, Ms Shiell believes mindsets have shifted for the better. 

Regarding sexual abuse victims, she said: “I’ve seen some survivors say my family has ostracised me, but I’m not going to let what happened to me happen to my child. 

“I have seen people’s mindsets change. I have seen people say I want to out my family members. People are becoming more aware of the importance of supporting victims and not blaming victims. 

“We are now seeing historical cases come before the courts at an unprecedented rate. We’re seeing that once a year. We are seeing positive results from that.” 

Colleagues from similar agencies in the UK and Caribbean have been impressed that Bermuda has secured convictions through the courts. 

Ms Shiell said better education from groups such as Saving Children and Revealing Secrets has encouraged survivors to come forward; the Department of Public Prosecutions office does an excellent job speaking with clients when they report cases; police officers, in particular the Vulnerable Person’s Unit, are well trained to handle these issues. There is also better collaboration between all these groups, as well as the Government Departments of Child and Family Services and Ageing and Disability Services, so that everyone is on the same page. 

Ms Shiell praised Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, as well as Police Commissioner Darrin Simons for offering tremendous support and making tackling abuse a top priority. 

Eradicating abuse will require all of society playing its part: talking openly to children from a young age and working with the abusers themselves. 

“Our biggest challenge is ensuring that abusers are not only held responsible but there are services readily available for them as well,” Ms Shiell said. 

“This starts from young. When you see those bad behaviours in school, those supportive services must be readily available. 

“A child might just be labelled unruly at school. But we might be also seeing some of the behaviours that are a sign that something is going on – the child may not smell nice, may smell of urine. 

“It could be that the child has something internally and it’s not that something is happening at home. But us not addressing it does not help the child.” 

To make abuse a thing of the past, people need to speak up about it. 

“If you’re not sure what to say, contact us,” Ms Shiell said. 

“If you’re not sure what’s going on, contact us. If you’re not sure what you’re feeling about what someone said to you, contact us. Help is available for you. 

“If you feel you have abusive ways and you want help, help is available for you. Before it becomes too late, come now.” 

Items on the agenda in future include pushing towards legal change to provide more support and protection for children and victims in the courts, as well as a national plan on domestic abuse. 

“The unfortunate thing is that abuse is nothing new,” Ms Shiell said. 

“But we want to make it old. We want to make it a thing of the past.” 

The post Love can conquer the evils of abuse appeared first on RG Magazines.