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Julian Hall: A Daughter’s Hero

RG Mags Staff — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 14:00:34 +0000

by Liana Hall

“I was brought up with a sense that if I was going to have a destiny, it might as well be a destiny to lead. Anything short of that is no destiny at all.”– Julian Hall, Bermuda Business, 1991

In delivering the news of Julian Hall’s death in July 2009, The Royal Gazette declared my father a “Colossus of Parliament and Courts”. Thousands of words were printed about him, which I consumed in the rawness of grief. They provided solace as I navigated the tremendous loss of a man who was not only my personal hero, but a hero to so many.

This week, I revisited the many words written about and by him during his life. I laughed at his sharp wit, I smiled at his utter brilliance, and I wept as I remembered that heroism is not achieved without sacrifice. His life story rivalled a Shakespearean tragedy – a fitting comparison given his flair for the dramatic. It was present whether he was donning his wig and gown, acting on stage, delivering a parliamentary address, or hosting friends in our home.

The tributes share a similar theme: that he was Bermuda’s great hope, destined to be Premier, but like Icarus he flew too close to the sun, burnt his wings, and crashed into the Sargasso Sea. In The Mid-Ocean News editorial ‘A Bermudian tragedy’ Tim Hodgson wrote that “Julian became the nail that stood too high – the nail that was invariably hammered down.” Having lived through these relentless blows, I understand these sentiments. However, as I reflect on his legacy, my father’s life seems to be a story less of tragedy, and more of triumph.

They came for him. But when the dust finally settled, my father stood bloodied but unbowed.

It is the story of how a poor, bookish, Black boy became a formidable presence whose legal victories set precedent and who in personality, as The Royal Gazette asserted, “was Bermuda’s rock star.” It is the story of a man with such stubborn indomitability of spirit that he was not an Icarus, but a phoenix who perpetually rose from the ashes of the fires set upon him. It is the story of a man who not only knew how to live, but, more importantly, knew how to love. My father’s life was vast. Epic. One cannot encapsulate an ocean in a thimble, so I can share only a few drops.

Dad’s story starts at the poor end of Reid Street where he was raised in a small apartment with his sisters. It was here that his grandmother taught him to treat others with generosity and grace no matter their station or situation. She would add water to the soup to stretch their meal and feed anyone in need: friends or family, prostitutes or drug addicts, strangers, or neighbours. She set his template for life.

The year I turned five, my father was elected as a PLP MP and many of the challenges and victories that had made him an icon were already behind him. Even then, I was conscious of the profound effect he had on people. He threw his considerable intellectual abilities behind the causes that truly mattered, taking positions that were honourable. For this, he was admired and respected, but also feared and despised, reflecting the wildly diverging perspectives of a Bermuda divided along race and class lines.

I had not yet been born when he joined the UBP in 1977 “believing that it was possible to change the system from within” as he told Bermuda Business. I was not yet a thought when he broke party ranks over the executions of Tacklyn and Burrows and assisted Opposition PLP Leader, Lois Browne-Evans in her legal fight to save the two men. There was no twinkle in his eye for me when he battled the Government in the Privy Council and won rights for illegitimate children, setting a precedent still used across the Commonwealth. And yet within my own life, what looms large are the principles that my father and his grandmother held aloft.

Space doesn’t permit me to delve into the full con- sequences of Dad’s decision to “tilt against the UBP windmill” as he put it. Rehman Rashid in Bermuda Business wrote, “More than a few Bermudians saw signs of an establishment hand in the concatena- tion of calamities that had befallen Julian. He had turned his back on those who had groomed him to professional and political prominence, and now he was paying their price.” Or as Dame Lois recalled, “He was their darling and then he ceased to be their darling.”

They came for him. But when the dust finally set- tled, my father stood bloodied but unbowed. After effective banishment from Bermuda, he returned and staged what Rashid termed “an extraordinary comeback”. He galvanised the rank and file through his masterful articulation of their grievances in the House of Assembly and formed a legal team with Delroy Duncan The Royal Gazette deemed “literally unbeatable”. But the machinery of institutionalised racism continued to aim its slings and arrows.

The attacks left him bankrupt. He was denied the right to practice law or stand for election to political office due to legislation designed to persecute him specifically. In derogation of his fundamental right to a fair trial, he was menaced by criminal charges without a hearing for nearly a decade. In 2005, after stunningly representing himself with the able assistance of Charles Richardson, he was unanimously acquitted of theft. The verdict was met with rapturous applause from the gallery and jubilation in the streets.

My father was a staunch trade unionist and never abdicated his responsibility for advancing workers’ rights, representing the BUT and BIU several times. In 2005, I watched him deliver the BIU Banquet speech. He proclaimed, “I don’t want to be part of a movement based on race. I want to be part of a political machine that has belief, principles, that believes in what it’s doing and never forgets its core support, the working people of Bermuda.”

Despite the blows, my father never lost his passion for life, sense of humour, and unbreakable commitment to dismantling our system of oppression. This is how tragedy and victory share the same space at the same time. His life will only become a tragedy if we stop fighting for what he fought for, if we stop championing the cause of the underprivileged, and if we stop telling the stories that matter.

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Body Strong While Working at Home

rbarbosa — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 14:46:10 +0000

by JEREMY DEACON

For some, the opportunity to work from home is the realisation of a long-held ambition that they hope will lead to a better work/life balance. The decision is taken well in advance, giving time to research and set up a properly equipped homeoffice.

However, with the onset of COVID-19 and sudden enforced work from home, people are making do. Patio tables, kitchen worktops, beds, and laps have become the new workstations, and none were designed for the task.

Not surprisingly, as people are forced to adapt to changes in work, it has led to increased incidences of prob- lems relating to poor posture and the incorrect placement of computer screens. The physiotherapists are busy.

Staff at the Orthopaedic & Physiotherapy Associates (OPA) have experienced an uptick in work as they see more neck and back issues with their patients, something they put down to poor ergonomic workstation set-up on either the kitchen table, sofa, or someone’s lap.

They said the most com- mon issues they see are the neck – typically referred to as ‘tech neck’ – and back pain with or without stiffness. The cause of these issues, they say, is poor posture, looking down for too long and seating that is too low and too deep, such as a sofa.

Interestingly, OPA is also seeing increased problems with shoulder, arm, and back pain due to people exercising at home. Due to gym closures, people are deconditioned and have a lack of appropriate resistance equipment. They have found that people tend to overdo it in intensity and the weights used without the instructor being present to guide them.

The staff at OPA is ad- vising their patients how to overcome these work-from- home issues with posture advice and how a good ergonomic workstation set- up will positively affect their issues, and how to set-up an ergonomic workstation at home which addresses the correct height of the com- puter, screen, and seating – possibly by getting their chair from work, using a wireless keyboard and not working from the sofa/bed.

They are also able to give specific exercises to prevent recurring pain such as simple steps like getting up and moving around the house in frequent intervals e.g., every 40-60 minutes, shoulder rolls, neck movements as well as arm and shoulder stretches.

Raina Steer-Pitcher, a phys- iotherapist with the Bermuda Physiotherapy Association, has also seen an increase in problems in people ranging in age from 20 to 60, as students and those used to working at a desk are less mobile when working from home.

The neck, mid and low back, and forearm issues are the main concerns, she said, caused by poor ergonomics at home, using one monitor when a person may be used to two or working from lap- top instead of a desktop with bad chairs, desk and lighting. Wrist problems and head- aches are also an issue.

“People would park and walk to work, and they would get up and walk around the office. We would walk into town, but at home there is not the same mobility.” In addition, she pointed to people taking on other responsibilities such as home schooling which reduced time for exercise.

The Association has produced two videos giving advice on its Facebook page on a range of issues such as ergonomics and bodywork.

Ergonomics:

• When you find a chair, what you ideally want is all joints at 90 degrees. You want to start at your ankles, your knees, your hips, and your elbows at 90 degrees, and have something to support you behind. You want to keep your elbows nice and relaxed, and hold a nice, easy shoulder position.

• With a laptop, tilt the screen back a little bit. In that way, you’re keeping your gaze the best you can for working on a laptop. If you have it too upright, you’re going to tend to look down and just crunch into the back of your neck. Ideally, get your monitor/screen at eye level.

• Remember, when you’re at your desk and you’re working, you really want to make sure that you take breaks every 20 to 30 minutes. Just get up and have a sip of water and try to get your eight glasses in a day. Take a washroom break, do a little bit of stretches.

Bodywork:

• A lot of us rely on body- work to control chronic pain, anxiety, and physical ailments. Some of us have regular work done so that we can continue a normal active daily life, whether that’s as simple as going for a walk or running seven miles. There’s a lot of evidence to show that meditation, body scans, and mindfulness can work really well to manage chronic pain and anxiety.

• You can reach out to your doctors and/or physiotherapists to organize online consultations, where they can guide you through these techniques. It’s a great time to explore and research meditations that work for you specifically because every single per- son is different.

Activity:

Not surprisingly, as people are forced to adapt to changes in work, it has led to increased incidences of problems relating to poor posture and the incorrect placement of computer screens. The physiotherapists are busy.

The staff at OPA is advising their patients how to overcome these work-from- home issues with posture advice and how a good ergonomic workstation set- up will positively affect their issues, and how to set-up an ergonomic workstation at home which addresses the correct height of the computer, screen, and seating – possibly by getting their chair from work, using a wireless keyboard and not working from the sofa/bed.

Ensure a safe and appropriate workstation set- up at home. Avoid sitting for too long. Get up in regular intervals and move your body (especially the neck, back and shoulders). Use guided exercises classes on zoom/ YouTube to avoid injuries. See a physiotherapist to get professional advice on how to manage your pains and assist in workstation set-up from home.

• Try to get up often. Get outside for a little walk every day, or even try putting an exercise mat on the floor and not just sitting on your couch. Get down on the ground, move your body, and challenge yourself! How many push-ups can you do? How many sit-ups can you do? How many squats can you do? Check-in with your body regularly.

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CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Looks ahead to busy 2021

rbarbosa — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 17:17:36 +0000

Fairmont revamp and Riddell’s Bay development offer opportunities

by Jonathan Kent

Construction is not work that can be done remotely, so the industry ground to a complete halt in April’s shelter-in-place period. But it has stabilised since then and has reasons for optimism looking ahead to 2021.

With a slew of major projects completed, such as the new passenger terminal at LF Wade International Airport and Belco’s new North Power Station, and another, the new St Regis hotel in St George’s almost finished, some might wonder: what’s next?

However, Alex DeCouto, of Greymane Contracting Ltd, believes there is work in the pipeline coming from several sources.

Mr DeCouto says construction “is what happens when people have enough confi- dence to make substantial investment in physical plant”.

“I don’t need to tell you the reasons why Bermuda might be seeing an uptick in inves- tor confidence at the moment,” Mr DeCouto said. “Our handling of the pandemic has sure- ly caught the eye of some people who value that kind of safety.

“We are also seeing lots of movement
in the reinsurance industry in the form of takeovers and new businesses that could po- tentially fuel an increase in employment and physical presence on island. The ‘why’ might be up for debate, but on the face of things I would say that we have reasons to believe that investor confidence is ticking up.”

On the residential side, confidence also ap- pears to be on the up, Mr DeCouto said, with anecdotal evidence of healthy demand, some of it stemming from the work-from-home phenomenon.

“Whether it be for the digital nomads or people looking to improve their ‘at-home’ experience, the chatter I am hearing from ar- chitects and contractors is that their forward order books are quite busy,” Mr DeCouto said. “I’ve also seen flashy adverts teasing the new development at Riddell’s Bay, which should create a bunch of new-build opportunities.”

Permission to develop homes on 18 lots on 23 acres on the site of the former Riddell’s Bay Golf Course was given under a Special Development Order in June.

There is also one large, commercial project looming, the $100 million refurbishment of the Fairmont Southampton before it reopens in April 2022.

Mr DeCouto said: “All indications seem to be that they intend on pressing ahead with a substantial renovation of the entire property. This is obviously good news and I am keeping my fingers crossed for this one for Bermuda.”

While that is the only “megaproject” the Greymane boss sees on the horizon, he added: “I would almost rather see a ‘rising tide’ of local commercial property investment, as it will be like having more eggs in more bas- kets and will be indicative of rising business confidence.

“While it might be hard to envision a return on investment in a retail store or a restaurant at the moment, there are other businesses that are doing well and might benefit from physical investment.”

The pandemic has thrown the future of the office, as the traditional workplace, into some doubt, as businesses adapt to having staff working from home and physically distanced on site.

Mr DeCouto is not convinced employers will give up altogether on the office. From his own experience with his office-based staff, he said having them together in the office for at least some of the week was “much more efficient and effective than working 100 per cent remotely”.

“I’m not exactly sure at this point what the impact will be on the traditional office layout, but I do know that any change is likely to result in construction work,” he said. “From that perspective I have some optimism that investment in office reconfiguration will see an increase in 2021.”

Another traditional source of construction work is government capital projects. The need for emergency funds to deal with the social impact of the pandemic put the squeeze on public-sector capital spending in the spring. Since then the Government has bolstered available funds through a $1.3 billion bond issuance.

Curtis Dickinson, the finance minister, said last month that some of the proceeds will be used to bring forward some aspects of the Government’s long-term capital plan. “These capital projects will support our economic re-

covery, provide employment for Bermudians, while improving our quality of life,” Mr Dick- inson said. The Government would provide up to $90 million for capital investment focused on construction projects for the fiscal year 2020-21, he added

Mr DeCouto said: “The Government’s position is rather delicate when it comes to capital projects, especially as PPP [public-pri- vate partnership] projects have been heavily politicised. That’s a pity, because I think there may be more opportunities with private finance in the future.

“They maybe have seen potential with this new arbitration centre on Parliament Street which seems to be using a lease-back model. I would have liked to have seen this opportu- nity presented to local developers and am not sure why it wasn’t.”

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Ready to see the back of 2020

rbarbosa — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 16:28:51 +0000

Expert sees an uneven economic recovery ahead

by Jonathan Kent

Most of us will be delighted to see the back of 2020, a year that forced fundamental changes to the way we live and plunged us headlong into economic turmoil.

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic brought us shelter-in-place and the closure of our airport for three months, cost many hotel, restaurant and retail workers their jobs and caused thousands more to be laid off or suffer wage cuts. Working from home has become normal, rather than exceptional, while travel plans were scrapped and the tourism indus- try ground to a virtual halt.

In 2019, the sight of someone wearing a face mask entering a bank or service station would have signalled the arrival of a robber: in 2020, it became required attire for us all.

This is all besides the human tragedy of those who died or became seriously ill as a result of the virus.

All eyes are now looking in hopeful antic- ipation to 2021. What will economic recovery look like?

RG Business has spoken with businesspeo- ple from multiple sectors to get their outlook on the coming year. While it was clear that the pandemic has beaten down some indus- tries more than others, many of our inter- viewees viewed 2021 with cautious optimism, displaying the resilience, ability to adapt and

can-do spirit of Bermuda’s business commu- nity.

But there was also an acknowledgement that some sectors, particularly retail, restau- rants and tourism, would need help to survive until better days, from breaks on taxes to lo- cals making an extra effort to patronise their businesses.

While most of us would yearn for a V-shaped recovery, Nathan Kowalski, chief financial officer of Anchor Investment Management and financial columnist for The Royal Gazette, sees the more likely scenario as K-shaped. That means a two-speed recovery, with those in international business doing

well, while many parts of the domestic econo- my continue to struggle.

Mr Kowalski said even though gross do- mestic product figures may not look so bad, that will not tell the story of those who are suffering. “Many jobs in areas like hospitality and restaurants have gone,” he said. “With those positions not available, there will have to be some retooling and retraining so that skill sets can match job options.”

Struggling sectors will inevitably turn to the Government for help, but public finances are also stretched.

The Government said last month it had paid out $56.8 million in financial aid to more than 10,000 people since the start of April.
It has also committed $12 million to support stricken small businesses through the Ber- muda Economic Development Corporation, and millions more in waived taxes, duties
and fees. All this, while revenue from tour- ism-based taxes, on air and cruise arrivals and hotel occupancy, have slumped to minimal amounts.

Faced with a large deficit that will propel its debt burden close to $3 billion, the Government will seek extra revenue from somewhere, but Mr Kow- alski urges Curtis Dickinson, the finance

minister, not to pull the usual levers. “The two major sources of government

revenue are payroll tax and Customs duties,” he said. “But I’m not sure there is any leeway to increase those right now.” For businesses, he said that would be like “punching them as they get up off the floor”.

He added that the Government should
also pursue tens of millions of dollars of unpaid back taxes more aggressively. Allow- ing companies to avoid paying what was due disadvantaged competitors who played by the

rules, he added.
For several years, the Government – both

Progressive Labour Party and One Bermu- da Alliance administrations – have looked at ways of broadening the tax base. In the

Throne Speech this month, the Government signalled an intention to introduce a capital gains tax.

Mr Kowalski said the Government’s debt burden was less of a concern than the health of the economy, given a successful $1.3 billion bond issuance this year that had not only sup- plied projected borrowing needs for the next two to three years, but had also rolled over existing debt, securing a lower interest rate in the process, and extended durations.

However, while Bermuda maintains an A rating from Standard & Poor’s that helps it to secure low borrowing rates, Mr Kowalski said the Government must act to protect it.

“You need to show the rating agencies that you’re fiscally responsible,” Mr Kowalski said. “Reducing government expenses has to be part of the equation.”

Public-sector unions agreed to a 10 per cent pay cut for one year from September 1, as well as a freeze on contributions to social insurance and the Superannuation Pension Fund. Mr Kowalski said more was needed, changes that would reduce the Government’s cost structure, such as a privatisation pro- gramme, as recommended in the Sage Report. Privatisation need not cost any jobs, he point- ed out, and would give government workers the opportunity to become business owners.

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Why It’s Important To Celebrate International Women’s Day

Alejandra Ottley — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 08:30:21 +0000

By Alejandra Ottley

Women’s Day is not only a day to celebrate brave women who have played a role in history, and the process we’ve made so far, it is also a time to reflect on the work we still have to do. These are some of the reasons why this day is so important, and why there is still a lot of progress to be made before we can all enjoy a more equal world.

Women Make 79 Cents For Every Dollar A Man Makes

Despite what skeptics might argue, the gender pay gap is very real, and it’s even worse for women of color. On average, Black women earn 63 cents to every dollar a white man makes, and Latina women, earn only 54 cents. The gap might not seem very large, especially when talking about cents, but when multiplied by hours worked in a week, a month, or a year, it is overwhelming to see how much money we’re talking about. According to the U.S National Women’s Law Center, that is a loss of $10,470 in median earnings every year. Despite having the education, skills, and experience, women often get the shorter end of the stick and even end up making less than their less qualified male peers.

Violence Against Women

According to the United Nations, an average of 137 women worldwide are killed by a partner or family member every day, and out of the 87,000 women killed in 2017, more than half were killed by intimate partners or family members. As they’ve put it “the home is the most likely place for a woman to be killed”.

Lack of Access To Education

Though we are fortunate to live in a country where basic education is accessible to all, there are millions of children, primarily girls, who will never see the inside of a classroom. According to Unesco, there are 21 million primary school age girls out of school, and out of these, 17 million are expected to never enter school. Young girls are not only prohibited to go to school but also persecuted if they attempt to. Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani woman, and the youngest Nobel prize laureate was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen at age 15, simply for going to school.

Child Marriage

According to UNICEF, 12 million girls under 18 are married each year, and 650 million girls and women alive today, were married as children. Child marriage is a global problem and can be found in regions and cultures all around the world. In the United States, for example, there is no minimum age requirement for marriage in 25 states, and according to Forbes, more than 200,00 minors where married in the U.S between 2000 and 2015. Sadly, girls are being married off before they are allowed to consent or understand the commitment they are entering. These “marriages” often trap them in a cycle of poverty, abuse and make them more likely to drop out of school.

It is hard to eradicate sexism and inequality when they are so deeply rooted in our cultures and traditions, but it’s not impossible. This Women’s Day let’s celebrate womanhood, the women who have fought for the rights we have today, and the progress we’ve made. But let’s also advocate for those in vulnerable situations and those who don’t have a voice, there is still a long way to go.

The post Why It’s Important To Celebrate International Women’s Day appeared first on RG Magazines.

To Airbnb or Not to Airbnb? Let’s Run Some Numbers

Kristen Scott Ndiaye — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 18:54:36 +0000

Allison Settle-Smith

We all know someone who has become a successful entrepreneur thanks to modern accommodation booking websites such as Airbnb. As popularity for vacation rental properties continues to increase more homeowners are starting to ask themselves whether this a worthwhile income option.

As a rental associate at Rego Sotheby’s International Realty, one of the most common conversations I have with homeowners is advising them of the pros and cons of entering the market with a long-term rental versus a short-term/vacation rental. People often want to know which option will generate a higher revenue opportunity, what will work best for their lifestyle, and whether renting their property or apartment on Airbnb is truly worth it. The answer to these questions is yes! Renting your home on the vacation rental market can be worth it if you have the time, resources and a property that can exceed the average vacation rental market statistics.

What do the average market statistics look like in Bermuda?

First, let’s take a look at the short-term/vacation rental market. The average daily rate is $160 BMD per night and the average number of nights that a property is booked is 72 nights per year. Therefore, the average annual revenue of vacation rental properties is $11,520. Of course, many exceptional properties in Bermuda will far exceed this number.

Now let’s compare that with the long-term rental market. An average one-bedroom apartment rents for $1,200-$1,500 per month. Therefore, the average annual revenue of one-bedroom properties on the long-term rental market is $14,400-$18,000.

It is important to consider that the operating costs of a vacation rental are higher than a long-term rental. For a long-term rental your operating costs are land tax, landscaping, appliance maintenance and general property maintenance. The operating costs of a vacation rental encompass all the costs of a long-term rental but have additional expenses such as utilities (electricity, internet, TV package, water), cleaning costs, maintaining supplies for guests (toilet paper, dish soap, salt, pepper etc.) and cost of replacing furniture or kitchenware due to normal wear and tear.

So how can a property owner create a vacation rental business that will be more profitable than renting their property on the long-term market? Maintaining a 5-star rating on the website which you use to advertise your property is critical. You get a five-star rating by providing an exceptional experience for your guests.

A quick response and being available to your guests 24/7 is crucial to achieving the profit you desire. The work involved in this could include things such as: answering all guests questions before their arrival, arranging airport transportation, facilitating grocery store deliveries, supplying basic toiletries and pantry items, check-in/out inspections and condition reports, professional standard cleaning and attending to property maintenance or internet issues without delay. There is also a requirement to report bookings to the Bermuda Tourism Authority and pay a 4.5% Vacation Rental Tax.

Ensuring that a vacation rental is ‘guest-ready’ for each booking requires a financial investment, as well as a time investment. Do not underestimate the value of your time. Many successful vacation rental property (VPR) owners will tell you that operating a successful VRP is a full-time job.

When you are deciding on a rental option for your property ask yourself if you have the time to properly commit. Are you prepared to work an on-call job on top of your full-time job? Or do you have the means to make VPR management your full-time job? If you have a passion for tourism, a property that will be in high demand and the drive to work for yourself, then you can absolutely create a VRP that will beat the vacation rental market average statistics.

If the time commitment is daunting, and you desire an easier revenue stream from your property then renting your property on the long-term market will most likely be better suited for your lifestyle, while still being profitable. Remember, there is also the option of hiring a property manager for a small fee to alleviate some of the responsibilities related to maintaining a vacation rental property.

There is no denying that websites such as Airbnb have had a significant impact on the tourism industry, and it is only growing. Every property and every owner is different. Take the time to reflect on which option is best for your lifestyle, and of course, do not hesitate to contact the professionals for advice!

Allison Settle-Smith is the Long-Term & Vacation Rental Advisor at Rego Sotheby’s International Realty.

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End-to-End 2017

Rajan Simons — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 16:52:21 +0000

Highlights from the Royal Gazette’s water stop during the 2017 XL Catlin End-to-End walk.

Photographs by Akil Simmons

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