Official celebrations marking Bermuda's 400th anniversary start tonight. The Royal Gazette spoke to residents about the occasion, what it means for them and their hopes for the future.

Greg Simons, 50, a corrections officer from Sandys, said: "I think it is a big deal. It's something that we need to be thankful for, that we were discovered or we wouldn't be here today. It should be acknowledged and celebrated."

Speaking about his hopes for the future, he added: "We need to make things better. We need to get along and work together. There's always a lot of bickering between politicians. We need to sit down and work for our common cause, work together for a solution."

Jess Gilbert, 24, a ladies' department manager at Pirate's Port, agreed: "It's definitely a big deal."

She added: "It would be cool to see them set up an area — a village where everyone dresses in olden day clothes and see what it was like to live in the old days."

Karl Outerbridge, a 41-year-old business owner from Hamilton Parish, would like to see historic re-enactments too.

"When I think about it (the Anniversary), I think it is very important," he said. "We should recognise everybody despite their skin colour, who has brought us to where we are now. We all played a role.

"We should have some sort of re-enactment of the events that happened, more than just dunking people in the water in St. George's."

Asked what she felt about Bermuda's 400th anniversary, Tivana Seymour's first response was: "Really?"

Having thought about it, the 17-year-old CedarBridge student said: "I think it's good to celebrate something that we are all a part of in Bermuda. Our 400th. That's crazy!"

She felt that the anniversary should be advertised more in places like stores and radio stations where young people could learn about it.

"I think that we need to know more about the people rather than the history. We need to learn about the people so we can relate more and have a better understanding of who we actually are. We need to learn more about our ancestors."

Talking about her hopes for the future, she said: "We need to stop the ignorance and the xenophobia. Stereotypes, judgment, alienation, discrimination, hatred and envy need to stop."

She suggested a week-long holiday would be the best way to commemorate the anniversary.

Toni Ogunyemi, 17, a student at Saltus Grammar School said: "I hope people will stop dying," she said. "They need to have a better frame of mind.

"I'm happy that Bermuda is having its 400th year," she continued. "For a little island in the middle of nowhere, Bermuda is very successful in terms of how developed and sophisticated we are. It is one of a kind."

Margaret Simons, 59, a salesperson from Smith's, said: "The walk (on New Year's Day at Spittal Pond) was a good idea."

She does not agree with the planned renaming of Spanish Rock as Portuguese Rock, however.

"I don't know why they're trying to change the name of it. It's been that way, why change it? The celebration is a good idea though."

"I am hoping that it will be a better year," she added. "We have had so many fatalities. Youth need to start paying attention to the rules of the road. The men need to start paying attention."