Defections hit vulnerable UBP hierarchy

AVERAGE HOUSING REACHES $1.6 MILLION

Sometimes it's not enough just to have a place to lay your head, most people want a place of their own to lay their heads. The topic of housing kicked off the year when it was announced that the average cost of a house in Bermuda was $1.6 million in 2006 and more and more Bermudians were turning towards condominiums.

That translated into a 30-year mortgage of about $11,400 a month at current interest rates. The good news was that the inventory of houses available was at an all-time high. Environmental activist Stuart Hayward urged Bermuda to stop the "insane" home cost spiral.

Mr. Hayward said the constant drive to expand the economy and boost tourism was creating a market where only the very rich could afford to buy a house.

"It is out of reach of even the wealthiest among the middle class. It is a testament to one aspect of development in Bermuda that's just not sustainable. If the price of housing gets so high that many people are inadequately housed, you are really striking a blow against the order of every facet of the community."

But former Premier John Swan disagreed with the average price of a home in Bermuda, saying that the sale of several large properties had distorted figures. He wanted to see averages for homes in certain categories.

"Slowing down the economy does not solve the problem," said Sir John. "If you tinker with the economy then you could end up losing what we have."

GWYNETH RAWLINS QUITS UBP

In 2007, the United Bermuda Party was in for some turbulent times, with several prominent members leaving in disgust. One of the first to go was Gwyneth Rawlins, Chairperson of the United Bermuda Party. She tendered her resignation on January 18 as Party Chairperson to the Central Executive Committee, and also relinquished her membership in the Party. She cited her chief reasons for resigning as an inability to work in an environment that had become increasingly uncomfortable because of disrespect and one that did not allow her to grow politically. Ms Rawlins was the Party's first female Chairperson in its history.

In January, before Mr. Simmons resignation, he struggled to keep his Pembroke West seat from party rival Erwin Adderley, who lost an earlier bid to replace Mr. Simmons.

Mr. Adderley, 67, was a former transport minister. Mr. Simmons was accused of neglecting constituency issues — a charge he denied, and canvassing with family members who supported the Progressive Labour Party. After a special UBP meeting, it was announced that Mr. Simmons wouldn't run in the next election, and he later resigned from the party. The UBP's Maxwell Burgess also announced he would not run in the next election.

BRITISH AIRWAYS THREATENED–WITH DISRUPTION

British Airways (BA) flights to Bermuda and other parts of the world were threatened with disruption as talks between BA management and 11,000 crew members ground to a halt throughout January. Issues on the table included sickness, pay and staff. The strike was averted at the last hour.

Statistics

Cost of the new Southside, St. David's police station: $2.8 million.

Bermuda's gross domestic product expanded by 9.1 percent in 2005, giving Bermuda residents the highest per capita GDP in the world.

Bermuda's demand for energy was expected to rise 1.5 percent annually over the next 20 years.

Violent crime was at its highest point in seven years following an increase in attacks by gangs and individuals across Bermuda. As of January there were 93 violent crimes in the last three months of 2006 — more than the corresponding figures for each of the previous six years. In 2006 the number was 70, while in 2004 it was 78.

Cheaper airfares and lower gas station fuel prices were part of the reason for a monthly inflation rate dropping from 3.4 percent to 2.8 percent between December and January.

Consumer Price Index figures released in March showed a fall in clothing and footwear prices in January. Women's fashions recorded the biggest fall with prices dropping by an average of eight percent, while men's clothing also became slightly cheaper.

January 2007 Voices

"2007 must be a year when overheating in construction is curbed and these major hotel projects put on a phased basis."

– Sen. E.T. Bob Richards wrote in an opinion piece about the dangers of economic over heating.

"Everybody's astonished but it doesn't bother me at all to see the building demolished. It is just a matter of passing interest to me. I have memories of the place, but I am not sentimental at all."

– Andrew Trimingham, 72, as the old Trimingham Bros. building came down on January 8.

When asked if the United Bermuda Party could win the next election former Premier John Swan said:

"I can't give an answer. Twenty-four hours is a long time in politics. It isn't just this issue. Does the UBP have sufficient potential members that the public can look at to form a Cabinet that can perform?"

Larry Marshall Sr. in charge of Bermudians against the draft said in reference to past comments Premier Dr. Ewart Brown has made about master-servant relationships:

"All this from a man who constantly talks about plantation mentality. The closest thing to a plantation in Bermuda is Warwick Camp. Dr. Brown — your credibility just plummeted to an all-time low among young men in this country and especially among young black men."

"There were times when we discussed, seriously, the option of walking away from the pressures of office. But then I looked to the heavens from whence cometh my strength."

– Wayne Furbert in a televised speech a few months before he was replaced as United Bermuda Party leader by Michael Dunkley.

"…the new United Bermuda Party has not yet been conceived, let alone born."

– Gwyneth Rawlins upon her resignation as Chairperson of the United Bermuda Party, and relinquishment of party membership.

"Our Police Service is working, our prosecutors are working and our Courts are working,"

– Governor, Sir John Vereker.

"I am not old… I have just been on the planet for a very long time."

Edna Mae Scott who died on January 26 one month short of her 100th birthday.

"I had no other choice but to bring them back into the burnt building to sleep. But the six-year-old, all she does is cry, cry, cry, because all she dreams is being dropped out of the window. At 9.30 a.m. this morning she awoke screaming."

– A parent speaking after the Leopard's Club Plaza caught fire.

DEATHS

Stephen Lee, 20, a member of the Airport Security Police, died in the early hours of January 13 from injuries sustained when his motorbike collided with a van on North Shore, Hamilton Parish, on Friday afternoon. Mr. Lee was one of the youngest members of the close-knit team of 20 at the airport, who help deal with medical and other emergencies. He had been in his job for around 12 months. His supervisor Joanne Burgess described the young man as "intelligent and very nice," and recalled that "you could not stay mad at him".

Edna Mae Scott, a well-known educator passed away one month before her 100th birthday on January 26. Mrs. Scott of Queens Lane, Smith's was remembered by many as one of the best teachers Bermuda ever had. For 18 years Mrs. Scott worked at The Central School, which was renamed the Victor Scott School in 1977 in memory of her husband who was principal of the school for nearly 30 years. Premier, Ewart Brown, said: "To generations of Bermudians, Edna-Mae Scott was an icon of the education profession."

January 2007 Timeline

January 4: The search for a 36-year-old Portuguese sailor who fell overboard from a yacht was called off after a rescue team found no trace of him.

Luiz Santos apparently fell into the ocean while fixing a sail on board the Spanish-registered Wendy on Christmas Eve.

January 8: St. George's Mayor Mariea Casey reassured St. Georges that the Old town would still have adequate police presence when the police station closed for renovations.

Officers and staff were moved to the former US Naval Air Station in Southside until Works & Engineering completed the renovations.

Telecommunications entrepreneurs Michael Leverock and Kurt Eve announced that their company Cellular One had bought out Hardell Cable TV Ltd.

A judge ruled on January 12 that Larry Dennis, auditor General, had the right to examine Bermuda Housing Trust books after a year long legal wrangle.

January 14: Mark Capes was sworn in as the new deputy governor. He arrived in October with a torn ligament, which he said was due to too much vigorous dancing in his old post in Anguilla.

A fire gutted the kitchen of Henry VIII's Restaurant causing thousands of dollars worth of damage and forcing its closure for the next three months.

January 15: Southside, St. David's police station was officially opened by Governor Sir John Vereker, housing senator David Burch and Police Commissioner George L. Jackson.

Regina and Bill Peniston were among those who received Drum Major Awards. They helped the homeless by serving food out of their car. Others included Dr. Barbara Ball, Ann Caines and LaVerne Furbert and community groups The Somerset Brigade Band and YMSC's Youth Redevelopment Programme.

Bermuda Regiment soldiers were given the opportunity to study for the equivalent of a high school diploma free of charge, thanks to a new initiative launched by the Ministry of Public Safety.

The Women's Treatment Centre was up and running with an additional two beds, and accommodation for ten women.

January 22: After years virtually fighting in the wilderness family group Childwatch made some headway for their campaign for divorced fathers to be given equal access to their children. In mid January they were given meetings with Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler and Attorney General Phil Perinchief.

January 25: A 33 foot long Humpback whale was found dead near Hungry Bay on the South Shore. Local resident, Barry Bridges, saw the back of the impressive creature arching out of the water as he was taking a friend's boat for a run.

The public was being urged to help Police after a spate of street robberies in the central parishes — including a stabbing.

January 26: The Premier was reported as saying that he travelled with protection on overseas trips and wanted a bodyguard with him when he was here in Bermuda.

Sergeant Russell Matthews, a veteran Bermuda Police officer who was suspended for pepper-spraying a colleague during training was exonerated at a disciplinary hearing. However, in January 2007, Sergeant Matthews was yet to resume duties ten months on from the incident in question.

January 27: A fire at the Leopard's Club Plaza in the early hours of the morning left several families homeless. Apparently, children rescued from the blaze returned there the same evening, to sleep in rooms reeking and blackened by smoke.

January 29: The Commission on Unity and Racial Equality appointed Dr. Sydney Gibbons as the new executive officer.

Hurricane force winds at the end of January closed the Causeway for several hours and sent workers and school children home.