MP Weeks: Include “Bermuda” In Race Name
In the interest of the preservation of an “iconic Bermudian event,” the name “Bermuda” should be included in the name of the May 24th race, Shadow Minister Michael Weeks said this afternoon [Apr 11].
Yesterday Appleby and the organisers of the Bermuda Day Half Marathon said that the event’s name will change from “Bermuda Half Marathon Derby” to “Appleby Half Marathon Derby” to reflect Appleby’s longstanding support as title sponsor.
The announcement prompted extensive conversation locally, with numerous people expressing displeasure with the change, while some others expressed an opposing view.
Mr Weeks said, “The Bermuda Progressive Labour Party is appreciative of the sponsorship by Appleby for the Annual Bermuda Day Half Marathon during the past nine years. We strongly believe that it is because of this generous sponsorship that the race has gone from strength to strength.
“However, after listening to the many callers to talk radio and reading the many comments on social media, we believe that in the interest of unity in the community, the preservation of this iconic Bermudian event, that “Bermuda” should be included in the name of the race,” concluded Mr Weeks.
The race was first held in 1909 with 25 entrants,and has grown into one of the most popular sporting events on the local calendar.
Update 8.17pm: “Bermuda” has been put into the name of the race, organisers just announced.
Makes sense just include the name and make everyone happy, hope they have not started printing stuff as yet.
Totally agree with Mr. Weeks.
While we are appreciative of the corporate support to ensure that this tradition continues it should remain Bermudian in name IMO.
Bermuda exists because of companies like Appleby’s. Think on dat brah!!!!!!
Dear minister Weeks,
Please have a meeting one Wednesday evening while Parliament is in session and have a conversation with your opposition colleagues on how they should make statements in th media and what they should be saying.
If it isnt constructive like you have done above then tell them not to bother – this is constructive opposition
Statements like “you have been goverment for 105 days and have not yet implemented the things that we paved the way over the last 14 years, like the referendum bill on gaming” are NOT CONSTRUCTIVE
Makes no difference what the new name will be. No one and I mean no one will refer to the race as “Appleby’s”, unless it’s the media. The general population will still refer to the race as 24th May race or Bermuda day race. Even using “half marathon” doesn’t get used that often. No disrespect to Appleby’s, but that’s just how it is.
Is this what he thinks is important? That a race in Bermuda has Bermuda in its official name?
I think it is important too. What country do YOU celebrate on May 24th? Just wondering.
PROUD BERMUDIAN
Hello!! After all its Bermuda Day, not appleby day! All these people ever see is $$ signs…smh
I agree with Mr. Weeks.
What’s next, changing Cup Match. Bermudians should have a say with changing the name!
The days of Cup Match have had it’s names officially changed for a number of years now. Sir George Sommers day is the first day & the 2nd is Emancipation day, it was said to of been done so that it would be inclusive of everyone in Bermuda (even though I never heard anyone being turned away before the name change).
This is just a reflextion on how Bermudians are Socially and Finanically,
everything is Money,,The Prositutes of the World ! Its All About Money Here,,I dont think much thought was put into it at all,,Just give me the Check,,
Where is the complaining during “Market place christmas parade?”
just cause bermuda isnt in the name and suddenly its not bermudian?
After all the independence chat, i swear some people have serious identity issues
There’s a cultural heritage that goes with the half marathon that is traced back & cemented into Bermuda’s history. Tell me this, was the Christmas Parade ever known as Bermuda Christmas parade? No. Does the Christmas parade mark any Bermuda specific strong hold to our history? No. Bermuda day is only one of two Bermuda specific holidays that lays roots to our own history alone, it is important to keep hold of your roots & not sell it out to the highest bidder.
I have to agree with Mr Weeks,it is important that we honor and respect the sponsors of the race but it is more important to look back at our heritage and our forefathers who made it all possible.
To not include the name Bermuda in there is a sure sign of opening up the event to phase us out in the long run and it will be more of an international marathon then what it is at present.
We look across the U.S. and we see the most popular marathons being named after the State,like the New York or Boston marathon.so why fix something that is not broken.
I often laugh at the fact that many don’t seem to like change but then when we see change take place it is with the most stupid ideas that seem to come out of a hat and no real thought or consideration went into it.
We are Bermudians and this is our day and it belongs to us and with all due respect to the sponsors,they should be more willing to allow us to keep our name in the forefront of our legacy,if not the government needs to step in and take on the funding for something that is our heritage of our forefathers and mothers,both past and present and the future ahead.
O.k now I just spoke to this country the very thing that the government would hire a consultant to tell us and pay him big bucks,so Mr Premier I will be looking for my cheque via Bernews and they have to get a cut out of it,as it was them that broke my public release here first.
Next they will be renaming cup match after some idiots.
While we’re at it could we change the name of the Frederick Wade International Airport back to the Bermuda International Airport. Alternatively, Sir John Cox International Airport would be acceptable – it is because of him that the airport is where it is (and not Devonshire Marsh) and indeed partly because of his negotiating skills (and Sir Henry Tucker’s that we got free use of it for nearly fifty years. Come to think of it, why is there not something significant named after Sir Henry?
I have to agree with you partially here,although there are many airports worldwide named after someone.I think for a place so small it should be named after the country or at-least someone who was instrumental in it’s being were it is presently.
For example The Dame Lois Brown Evans court building is a good decision and honors the work and legacy of one who fought tiredly and hard in the judicial circuit of these Islands,on behalf of the people of this country to make the laws more applicable to the well being of the Portuguese community and the black community.
To be a woman in that era was uncommon to stand against not only the man in government but the elite of the elite in the entire white community,Dame Lois is our modern day Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks and is well deserving of this right to have such a building named in her honor.after all she was in the legal fraternity.
Duane P. Santucci, you do make soooo much sense, now will it be heard? that is the $64000:00 question.
I agree Mr. Weeks. Hopefully you will now champion revisiting the decision to rename our airport “in the interest of unity in the community” so that “Bermuda” [is again] included in the name”. Looking forward to your press release.
I don’t like the word “Derby”. It makes the title of the event too long.
Bermuda should stay in the name.
LOL