Inter-Island Communications News Brief – May 13, 2021

A Government spokesperson said, “The Ministry of Health received 1229 test results since the last update, and six were positive for coronavirus, yielding a test positivity rate of 0.5 %. Four of the new cases are classified as local transmission with known contact as they are associated with known cases. The additional two new cases are classified as under investigation. Additionally, since the last update, there were 40 recoveries and no deaths. There are 208 active cases, of which 197 are under public health monitoring and 11 are in hospital, with three in intensive care. Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 2461 confirmed cases of coronavirus, out of which a total of 2222 have recovered, and sadly 31 Covid related deaths. The seven-day average of our real-time reproduction number is 0.55. Bermuda’s current WHO country status remains ‘Community Transmission’.”

Covid has finally – and completely – cancelled this year’s Carifta games. The meet has been pushed back previously due to the pandemic, and despite efforts to still arrange and produce the regional athletic competition here in Bermuda in mid August, the conditions and requirements on island made it impossible.

This was the key message shared by General Secretary of the North American, Central American, and Caribbean Athletic Association Keith Joseph who said in a statement that the COVID-19 protocols in Bermuda have significantly impacted on the cancellation.

Mr. Joseph shared that quote “The Bermuda authorities have made it clear that the 14-mandatory quarantine for unvaccinated athletes is non-negotiable. While Bermuda allows for athletes from 16 years to be vaccinated, the majority of our CARIFTA family members are in countries where the authorities only allow vaccination for persons 18 years and older. We cannot host the event without the Under 17s, who, from our vantage point are as integral to the event as the Under-20s. We will not agree to having an edition of the CARIFTA Games that does not engage the traditional categories and which disenfranchises a significant number of athletes.”

The Bermuda Stock Exchange has received a significant international recognition from the United Nations – specifically, the BSX has become a member of the UN’s Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative as a Partner Exchange.

According to a spokesperson quote “The Sustainable Stock Exchanges [SSE] initiative is a peer-to-peer learning platform for exploring how exchanges, in collaboration with investors, regulators, and companies, can enhance corporate transparency – and ultimately performance – on ESG [environmental, social and corporate governance] issues and encourage sustainable investment.”

BSX CEO and President Greg Wojciechowski added that quote, “The BSX is delighted to join the UN SSE as a Partner Exchange. Bermuda’s insurance and reinsurance industry continues to be a global leader in climate finance and insurance linked securities which are addressing the global protection gap – those corporate entities, municipalities and countries that are uninsured or under-insured – and providing resilience and recovery in the face of a changing climate. As an integral part of this market, the BSX will soon be issuing ESG guidelines for our listed issuers which will provide an opportunity to take an active and important leadership role in promoting sustainable business practices.”

The Bermuda Festival is using their platform to help those experiencing ongoing food insecurity while providing wonderful local entertainment.

A spokesperson said “the Festival recognizes the challenges of many of our fellow Bermudians goes much deeper and they are struggling to feed themselves. The Festival is utilizing the opportunity of their virtual platform to both Feed Your Soul and Feed Bermuda. For every donation received through the ‘Feed Your Soul, Feed Bermuda’ campaign they will donate 50% of every dollar to help eliminate food insecurity in Bermuda.”

Executive Director Cindy Campbell said that quote “The Festival has partnered with Food 4 Thought Catering and Sargasso Sea to help our audience create ‘watch party’ events at their homes while they enjoy The Festival shows. We want people to create a fun environment to watch the shows with the bonus of helping eliminate food insecurity in Bermuda. Food 4 Thought has created four special menus designed especially for the Festival’s Virtual events. A portion of every order will be donated to the Feed your Soul, Feed Bermuda campaign.”

Visit bermudafestival.org to see the full line up of artists, show dates and times.