11125+
web files in a constantly updated compendium on Bermuda's business, culture, cuisine, customs,
districts, economy,
education, food, geography, government, history, internet access, laws,
parishes, politics, religions, traditions, wildlife etc. For tourists, business
visitors, employers, employees, newcomers, researchers, retirees, scholars. Funded by and linked to The
Royal Gazette, Bermuda's only daily newspaper.
By Keith Archibald Forbes (see About Us) exclusively for Bermuda Online
To refer by e-mail to this file use "bermuda-online.org/whatsnew.htm" as your Subject.
One
of the nine smallest places in the world, in total land area. 21 square miles or
53 square kilometers, compared to the USA's 9.629 million square kilometers. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_outlying_territories_by_total_area
.
Today's Bermuda Weather from 0430 hrs Eastern Standard Time (EST) or 0930 hrs Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Bermuda is one hour ahead of EST and four hours behind GMT.
The
Royal Gazette, cover price BDA$0.90 (since December 2007, prior to that 80c,
electronic
Edition will remain at 75 cents). Use the
"Contact Us" link to see all key staff by name, department, office
phone numbers and e-mail addresses. A world-class daily (except Sunday)
newspaper, with a daily size and scope far in excess of newspapers abroad
covering much larger communities. Member of the Newspaper Association of
America and Inland Press Association, etc. Established in 1828, it incorporates
The Colonist and Daily News (established in 1866). The Royal Gazette Limited is
a subsidiary company of the Bermuda Press (Holdings) Ltd, incorporated in
Bermuda. Its physical address is 2 Par La Ville Road, Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda.
Its mailing address is P. O. Box HM 1025, Hamilton HM DX, Bermuda. Telephone
(441) 295-5881. Editorial fax is (441) 292-2498. Letters to the Editor are letters@royalgazette.bm.
The daily abbreviated Internet edition is usually published by 10 am EST. The
full electronic edition is complete with all advertisements for those with an
international interest in professional employment or contemplating an
international business based in Bermuda. The full print edition publishes 6 days
a week, Monday though Saturday. It produces more than 80 percent of the
daily community and business news of Bermuda and from overseas, is the only
daily newspaper in Bermuda, is read by more than 80 percent of the entire
population of Bermuda and 100 percent of all of the international business
leaders in Bermuda. By any international standard, it is a fair, honest, factual
and not sensational newspaper, with a superb international reputation. It has an
electronic newsroom, satellite facilities, wire and syndicated services.
Because they are fully independent of the Bermuda Government and/or are often the minority complexion - white - Royal Gazette reporters are regularly verbally attacked and belittled by politicians at press conferences and public events. It is the only developed country in the free world where this kind of constant government hostility towards the free press goes unchallenged; not good for Bermuda's image as a tourism resort and business center. Even in the United Kingdom, where the leading independent newspapers regularly police and often challenge the government, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Cabinet, always conscious of the freedom of the press as a unique democratic right, have never ended government's advertising or stopped subscription deals with any newspaper. In complete contrast, the Cabinet of the Bermuda Government decided in March 2008 to end the Government's advertising and subscription deals with this newspaper, claiming it was a cost-saving measure. A press release at the time said: "The Cabinet determined it was not cost-effective or penetrative enough to rely heavily on print advertising in an electronically advanced community." However, despite repeated requests the methodology used has never been revealed. However it continues to place adverts with other, far less frequent print media and to select one of them, only a twice a week publication, as its Official Gazette, despite its much higher-to-government bidding cost.
The information is extensive and without commissions of any kind to hotels, individuals,
companies, corporations or organizations.
See files under:
Recommended properties are shown in bold.
Enhanced security and hand baggage restrictions affect all flights between Bermuda, UK, Europe, USA and Canada.
All Americans (who number about 85% of all visitors, See Bermuda's Links with USA) traveling to Bermuda from USA.
Before they arrive, American visitors should note that the US Government has implemented new regulations that require from January 8, 2007 all those traveling to Bermuda and from here to the USA by air - meaning on commercial flights, charter flights, private planes and corporate planes, or by sea - to travel on a valid passport, required to be inspected and approved by US authorities before or when they reach the USA. The USA's Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires this. Further details can be obtained from the US Consulate in Bermuda.
Non-citizens of the USA must also carry a US Green Card showing them to be legal registered aliens there, if entering Bermuda from USA
Britons (5% of all visitors, see Bermuda's Links with the UK):
Canadians (5% of all visitors). See Bermuda's Links with Canada file.
Non-citizens of Canada or the United Kingdom must have an appropriate travel visa from Canada or the United Kingdom if entering Bermuda and not a citizen of that country.
Nationals of other countries (5% of all visitors).
All adults and children - irrespective of nationality - should have individual official passports from their country of birth or domicile to enter Bermuda. It is the only way of confirming and proving both your nationality and your identity. Birth certificates and drivers' licenses, not issued by countries but merely by sub divisions of them, don't show such confirmation or proof. Travel documents for all must be shown to Bermuda Immigration on arrival.
All adults and children - irrespective of nationality - should have individual official passports from their country of birth or domicile to enter Bermuda. It is the only way of confirming and proving both your nationality and your identity. Birth certificates and drivers' licenses, not issued by countries but merely by States or places that don't have official representation outside their jurisdictions, don't show such confirmation or proof and can be easily faked, but passports cannot. Only these are regarded as proper travel documents for all and must be shown to Bermuda Immigration on arrival. Non-citizens of the USA, Britain and Canada must also carry a Green Card or equivalent, showing them to be legal registered aliens there and have a valid US or UK or Canadian re-entry permit if entering Bermuda from the USA or UK or Canada and not a citizen of that country.
Yacht arrival tax was upped in 2008 from $15 to $35 per person.
Departure tax for all visitors and residents increased in 2008 per person from $25 to $35 (now equivalent to $1.66 per square mile)
All visitors and residents arriving or returning by air or cruise ship or yacht are now being given a very detailed questionnaire form - see Airport - by airlines, cruise ships and yacht clubs and are required by the Bermuda Government to complete them on both sides before they arrive at Bermuda Customs and Immigration. These provide a way to track visitors and what they import. In contrast, the UK abolished virtually all records of visitor arrivals and departures. ( Which makes it difficult for the UK to track terrorists and people who overstay their welcome).
All visitors - including those from the UK - should note they are not covered locally, so should insure themselves adequately to cover their visit or employment locally. Costs of medical services are appreciably more expensive than in USA.
British National Health laws of the United Kingdom don't apply. British National Health or other British medical plans, and, for other Europeans, the European Health Insurance Card, are not recognized. In Bermuda, there is no reciprocal health insurance arrangement with Britain or USA or Canada or Europe or any other country.
Bermuda is far more expensive than the USA for health related costs.
Visitors need insurance - especially when they rent a scooter or moped. Nationals of all countries including the USA, UK, Canada, are advised to cover themselves for adequate travel insurance, or be prepared to accept any liability financially. Canadians are urged by their Government to get travel and medical insurance - and most do - before they fly to Bermuda and elsewhere. Ensure your plans to Bermuda include taking spare money, travel insurance and health insurance to cope with possible unexpected accommodation in an emergency medical situation for any reason or a death. It seems many visitors do not do this, yet have no hesitation in renting motor scooters or mopeds in Bermuda, which can be very dangerous to those not familiar with them; drive them on the wrong side of the road compared to Europe, USA and Canada; and end up having accidents, with their vacation ruined.
Hotels, guest houses, apartments, efficiency units and rented private homes will not allow cancellations at no charge in the event of proof of a sudden illness, death or tragedy of a person or couple or family who intended to come. This is what travel insurance is for.
International airlines, travel agents and tour operators are under no obligation to cancel in the event of such tragedies. Instead, they expect travelers to claim on their travel insurance.
For Bermuda Customs (Import Duty) purposes, residents - not visitors - can claim only $100 per person duty free allowance (it was a $200 per person allowance until April 1, 1996 and $400 per person a few years ago) each time they travel for over 3 days, or can lump all such allowances together if returning to Bermuda as a family.
Residents and visitors should retain in their possession and produce if necessary the receipts for clothes, personal effects and goods they purchase abroad, in case their value declared by the resident is challenged by a Bermuda Customs officer. Duty is payable at 30% of the value of purchase cost abroad of imported goods less the $100 per person duty free travel allowance. Some goods are duty free, such as books and computer business software (not games).
Compare the BD/US$100 per person duty free allowance for residents allowed by the Bermuda Government to the present £290 or BD$580 per person duty free allowance (effective 1 January 2008) applicable in the United Kingdom for purchases outside the European Union (EU); the unlimited rate for travelers within the EU; $300 for Canadians returning to Canada from abroad; and $800 in the USA for US residents visiting Bermuda. Also - unlike US citizens or registered aliens returning home to the USA after a vacation or business trip who qualify routinely for a further US Customs exemption of up to $100 per day of bone fide goods shipped from abroad, for their own personal use - Bermudians or residents do not get the same consideration from the Bermuda Government.
Visitors are not entitled to the US$100 duty-free allowance of returning residents. Instead, they may bring in gifts up to the total value of $25 (compared to $100 or so in most other countries) after which they pay duty at prevailing rates.
An American gallon - same as in Bermuda - is 3.785 liters, and local prices - fixed and heavily taxed by the Bermuda Government - are about the same per liter as Americans pay for a full gallon.
Keith A. Forbes
Editor & Webmaster
Last Updated: May 15, 2008
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Royal Gazette Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Contact Editor/writer
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