Archive for February 18th, 2011

Local Acts Share Spotlight With Thomas

Homegrown Bermuda talent will be sharing the spotlight with world-class illusionist Rick Thomas when the award-winning Las Vegas entertainer brings his act to the island, Sandys Rotary announced today [Feb. 17]. Sandys Rotary is presenting “The Rick Thomas Magic Show” beginning with a gala opening on February 25 at the Southampton Mid Ocean... Read more of this article

Text Message: Alleged Attempted Child Abduction

The Bermuda Police have issued a statement about a text message circulating saying a man attempted to abduct a boy from the bus terminal, and stated that no reports of anything similar occurring locally have been received. The statement follows in full below: The Bermuda Police Service is aware of a text message being circulated claiming that a man... Read more of this article

2011 Budget: Payroll Tax to be Rolled Back

During her presentation of the 2011/12 Budget this morning [Feb 18] in the House of Assembly, Premier and Minister of Finance Paula Cox said that payroll tax would be rolled back, which would return approximately $50 million of spending power to taxpayers in 2011–2012. The Premier said: “This was not an easy decision given the Government’s... Read more of this article

Tony Brannon: Budget Day Theme Song

Veteran musician and tourism activist Tony Brannon has provided Bermuda with a theme song for Budget Day, which you can listen to here. Mr. Brannon, recently appointed to Government’s Tourism Board along with fellow entertainer Shine Hayward, has been a longtime critic of public spending under successive United Bermuda Party and Progressive... Read more of this article

Charts: 2011/12 Bermuda Budget Explained

This morning [Feb 18] Premier and Minister of Finance Paula Cox delivered the 2011/12 Budget in the House of Assembly. The charts show an estimated revenue of $940 million, and the estimated expenditure is $1,079.5 million – a shortfall over over $130 million. You can read the full 2011/12 Budget here, or view charts extracted from the budget... Read more of this article

Full Statement: 2011/12 Budget

The full 36-page statement detailing the 2011/12 Budget which was delivered this morning [Feb 18] by Premier and Minister of Finance Paula Cox in the House of Assembly is below. The Premier started off by saying: “There are times when Government leaders take pleasure in seeing their predictions come true. This is not one of them. A year ago, I... Read more of this article

Argo: ‘Progress Made Over Last Year’

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., a Bermuda-headquartered international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products, today [Feb. 17] announced financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2010. Highlights for the year ended December 31, 2010 include: •Total revenue was $1.38 billion compared to $1.54 billion... Read more of this article

Lionfish: DC ‘Eats ‘Em To Beat ‘Em’

Now Washington, DC is taking a page out of Bermuda’s lionfish cook book. Inspired by Bermuda’s “Eat ‘Em To Beat ‘Em” campaign to add the invasive lionfish to Bermudian restaurant menus, executive chef Xavier Deshayes of the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Centre in association with Washington’s... Read more of this article

Colbert Challenges Mogul To Bermuda Race

Comedian Stephen Colbert last night [Feb.17] challenged British serial entrepreneur and adventurer Sir Richard Branson to compete against him in the upcoming Charleston-Bermuda yacht race to decide who is “the greatest sailor in the world.” The Comedy Central talk show host has an ongoing mock feud with the Virgin music, airline and telecommunications... Read more of this article

“Mismanagement Must Not Continue”

[By Shadow Tourism Minister Cole Simons] In yesterday’s article of the RG, it was mentioned that Bermuda’s air arrivals down 30% from the same air arrivals in 2000. This is not surprising as we have been in a Tourism trough for the past 15 years. Our downward spiralling statistics have confirmed only one thing., and that is the PLP Government... Read more of this article

Bermuda Musical Duo ‘Truly Captivating’

Bermuda husband-and-wife duo Brian and Nic Swan — who perform as 1undread — are introducing their unique sound which combines electronic beats, jazz basslines and a soulful voice to Pennsylvania audiences this weekened. They are among the 300 musical acts appearing at Harrisburg’s 15th Millenium Music Conference. While the event provides... Read more of this article

XL Pleased With NYID’s Status Decision

XL Group announced yesterday [Feb. 17] that two of its Bermuda-based subsidiaries, XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd. and XL Re Ltd., have received approval from the New York Insurance Department to qualify for reduced collateral status in the state of New York pursuant to requirements set forth by New York insurance regulation. At the beginning of this... Read more of this article