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What's New in Bermuda Online for Sunday, March 14, 2010

News and events in these Islands, with over 80% of annual visitors American

Today's Bermuda Weather.

Full impact of this is still being absorbed. Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Paula Cox delivered the National Budget Statement for 2010/11 in the House of Assembly on Friday, 26th February 2010. See http://webgazette.bm/static/html/2010-11%20BUDGET.pdf. Government's fiscal year ends on March 31. Government spent many millions more than it budgeted for in 2009/2010 and collected hugely less in revenue than expected, with the Island's fiscal deficit said to be widening. Ms Cox said the Budget debate in the House on the estimates of revenue and expenditure would begin on March 8 and continue on from March 10 to March 19. Unless the House decides otherwise, a maximum of 42 hours can be spent on the discussions, with the official Opposition, the United Bermuda Party, able to divide the time as they choose on the various ministries and departments. The debate typically takes place over six separate seven-hour sessions. Once MPs have approved the statement and passed the Appropriation Act, the Senate debates the Budget, with a maximum of 22 hours allowed for their detailed discussion on the different headings. Senators have no power to alter the Budget but need to have it approved so it can pass into law by March 31.

March 28. Palm Sunday Walk. Bermuda National Trust. This year the 37-acre Southlands estate in Warwick, featuring rare exotic plants, hidden quarry gardens and coral sculptures, is the annual event, now in its 37th year. Participants will enjoy a 6.5-mile stroll along the South Shore, starting at Horseshoe Bay at 2 p.m. and taking in the Trust's recently opened five-acre Lighthouse Hill Nature Reserve, which was acquired last year. The route includes many fortifications built over the last four centuries to defend the Island's south  Southampton resort. The Southlands property dates back to at least the 18th century and many of its most unusual features were created by early 20th century owners James Morgan and Brigadier H. D. Maconochie — including a mausoleum for Glaswegian Mr. Morgan and his wife. Bermudians Craig Christensen, Nelson Hunt and Brian Duperreault bought the estate from the Willowbank Foundation in 2005 and announced plans to develop a tourist resort, prompting a public outcry. Thousands signed a petition calling for the land to be saved. In 2008, the owners agreed to swap the estate with Government for 80 acres at Morgan's Point former US Navy Base, later USNAS, so that Southlands could be preserved as a national park. But the exchange has never been completed and the two parties fell out publicly last month. Conservationists fear the owners of Southlands will revert to their plan to build on the land if the deal falls through. Mr. Christensen said: "The National Trust asked if we could make Southlands available as part of their Palm Sunday walk. We are pleased to help them celebrate this special occasion and they will be in for a treat to see some of the historic quarry gardens, tunnels and ponds as part of their walk."

Bermuda is one hour ahead of EST and four hours behind GMT. 

"Bermudan" NO - Bermudian YES! Despite what Webster's and other leading dictionaries claim, there is no such word as "Bermudan" - and never has been. Only those who are not Bermudian have used "Bermudan" in ignorance, including large P&O cruise ships the official ships' registry of which is  Bermuda. They describe their registry as "Bermudan. " The correct word is Bermudian - like "Bostonian" or "Canadian" or "Floridian." Bermudians (not Bermudans) were recognized in official English documents from 1612. Ships have been named "Bermudian," - never "Bermudan."

March 2010 social Events Calendar in Bermuda

Bermuda's ONLY daily newspaper

Except on a Public Holiday when it is not published. A world-class daily (except Sundays and weekday Bermuda public holidays) newspaper a daily size and scope equivalent to newspapers abroad  covering much larger communities. The full print edition publishes 6 days a week, Monday though Saturday.  It produces more than 90 percent of the daily community and business news of Bermuda and from overseas, is the only daily newspaper in Bermuda and read by more than 90 percent of the population and 100 percent of all of the international business leaders in Bermuda. By all international standards, a fair, honest, factual, reasoned, accurate, unbiased and not sensational newspaper, with a superb international reputation. It has an electronic newsroom, satellite facilities, wire and syndicated services. Costs Bda $ 1.00. 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). 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, 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 information is extensive and without commissions of any kind to hotels, individuals, companies, corporations or organizations. 

See files under:

• Guide to Accommodation

• Hotels

• Small hotels

• Cottage Colonies & Private Clubs

• Guest Houses

• Efficiency Units

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). The USA's Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 and subsequent amendments requires this. Further details can be obtained from the US Consulate in Bermuda. 

• All UK nationals (5% of all visitors, see Bermuda's Links with the UK):

• All Canadians (5% of all visitors). See Bermuda's Links with Canada file.

• All 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.

• All 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 and can be faked but valid passports cannot. Travel documents for all 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).

Hospitals, health care services, health insurance

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. Bermuda, an isolated and tiny island of only 21 square miles and with a total population of about 69,000, has gasoline prices very slightly less than London, capital of North Sea oil-producing Britain with a population of over 60 million.

Senior Citizens