In the News…

Anybody who has listened to Parliamentarians on a Friday night can vouch for their smooth talking into the moonlight hours — but when it comes to winning the hearts of the voting public they have some way to go.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we asked 400 registered voters which of the island’s politicians they would most like to join for a romantic dinner.

Unfortunately for the Romeos and Juliets of the House on the Hill, the top answer was: “I would not go.”

It wasn’t all bad news though, with 17 different politicians getting at least one mention and Michael Dunkley apparently in need of a stick to beat off all the attention from elderly ladies.

The Premier topped the chart with 18 per cent of voters, picking him as their Valentine, followed by Progressive Labour Party MP Kim Wilson with 11 per cent and Opposition leader David Burt on 9 per cent.  Read more.

Bermuda restaurateurs’ hearts will be beating a little faster tonight — thanks to the patron saint of love.

For St Valentine’s Day is expected to provide a boost for the trade, with a total expenditure for the day on the island in excess of $1.5 million, according to a survey carried out for The Royal Gazette.

Philip Barnett, head of the Island Restaurant Group chain and also industry spokesman for the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, said: “It’s a big thing for the industry in what is usually a slow month.

“We’re always happy to have it, particularly when it falls on a week night.”Read more…

Nearly two-thirds of registered voters want the Bermuda Government to press ahead with its plan to build a new airport, according to a poll commissioned by The Royal Gazette this week.

The survey, conducted by Global Research, found 62 per cent in favour of the proposal, with 26 per cent believing the Government should ditch the project and renovate the existing terminal instead. The remaining 12 per cent wanted neither option.

Job creation and the need to repair a crumbling facility were the most popular reasons given by those in support of the development; those wanting to renovate argued that method would be less costly and would avoid leasing the airport out for a long time; a perceived lack of transparency was the top reason for those wanting neither a new build nor renovations. Read more.

Poll results have been released on Rev. Tweed’s work permit and union-related matters, showing that 77% of respondents agree that BIU President Chris Furbert’s “call for union workers to down tools over non-union related matters is inappropriate because it unfairly hurts the majority of Bermudians”, while 85% agreed that “Rev. Tweed’s work permit should meet the same standards as all other applications.”

The poll was conducted between January 5 and January 9 in order to “measure public opinion on the handling of Reverend Nicholas Tweed’s work permit and on the role and actions of unions in Bermuda.” Read more…

A little more than a year ago, the One Bermuda Alliance enjoyed a 12-point lead over the Progressive Labour Party. In the first of a three-part series looking at Bermuda’s political landscape at the start of 2017, we ask political commentators how and why that lead withered away

The leader quitting after months of public bickering with his colleagues, a string of resignations and a support said to be growing weary of the mediocrity within its ranks — it was not a vintage year for the Opposition. Read more…

Two-thirds of people contacted in an island-wide poll said they were against last month’s protest outside House of Assembly which prevented MPs from entering the building.

The dispute led to police intervention when officers pepper-sprayed protesters and in turn sparked a storm of controversy.

According to the Global Research poll, which sought the opinion of 400 registered voters who intend to vote in the next General Election, 67 per cent said they believe protesters did not have the right to break the law and block access to the House. Another 25 per cent said protesters had the right to block access, with 8 per cent either not responding or didn’t know. Read more…

The threat to derail the America’s Cup has received a huge thumbs down from all sections of the community.

Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert warned last Tuesday that the showpiece sailing event would be jeopardised unless the Government reversed its decision to refuse a work permit for the Reverend Nicholas Tweed.

A new Global Research poll has found that, regardless of religious or political beliefs, age, gender, race, household income or union membership, opposition to the ultimatum is extremely strong. Read More…

Bermudians believe Brexit will restrict their opportunities to live and work overseas, according to a survey commissioned by The Royal Gazette.

In a Global Research poll, 39 per cent of registered voters said Britain’s departure from the European Union will be negative to the island, with 12 per cent optimistic, 6 per cent believing it will have no impact and 43 per cent unsure.

Some 57 per cent of people said they opposed Brexit, with 15 per cent in favour and 28 per cent saying they do not know.

Among those who believe Bermuda will be adversely affected, 69 per cent identified their reason as passports and the ability to travel, work and live abroad. Read More…

Almost half of Bermudians believe Donald Trump will damage the island because of his temperament, radical views and tax policies, according to a poll commissioned by The Royal Gazette.

Some 45 per cent of registered voters fear United States President-elect Mr Trump, right, will have a negative impact on Bermuda, with just 8 per cent saying he will have a positive impact, 11 per cent saying no impact and 36 per cent unsure.

The overwhelming majority had been hoping Hillary Clinton would win the election on November 8, with Clinton supporters locally outnumbering Trump supporters by 68 per cent to 7 per cent. Read More…

Three times as many voters disapprove of public works minister Craig Cannonier’s performance as those who support him, according to a political opinions poll.

The Devonshire South Central MP had the backing of 23 per cent of voters, compared with 67 per cent overall who disapproved of his performance and 10 per cent saying they didn’t know.

The Global Research survey took place between December 1 and 8, shortly before Mr Cannonier was touted by One Bermuda Alliance sources for a potential return as Premier. Read more…

The Progressive Labour Party has said a poll showing it to be more popular than the ruling One Bermuda Alliance was an “encouraging endorsement”.

However, a spokeswoman for the party played down the importance of the results.

“The PLP does not place much emphasis on poll results,” the spokeswoman said. “They are a snapshot in time and, in politics, much can change in an instant. Our focus remains on ensuring the people’s voices are heard and that we hold the Government accountable. Opinion polls do not affect what we are truly working for, which is equality, social justice and fair opportunity for all.” Read More…

The Progressive Labour Party has a lead over the One Bermuda Alliance for the first time in more than a year, according to a poll commissioned by The Royal Gazette .

The PLP has a 38-35 advantage in the survey by Global Research from November 18 to 25, compared with the 38-37 lead held by the OBA in our last poll in September.

It means the PLP has gained 15 points over its rival in the past year, having trailed by 42-30 in December 2015.

Some 27 per cent of people refused to back either party, including 1 per cent saying they would vote for an independent candidate. Read more…

Confidence in Bermuda’s economy is marginally up, according to a poll commissioned by The Royal Gazette.

The Global Research survey this month found 30 per cent of people had faith in the direction the economy was heading — up from 25 per cent three months ago, but still short of the 36 per cent achieved last December.

In keeping with trends from previous polls, those most likely to be happiest with the economy were whites (51 per cent, compared with 15 per cent of blacks), men (34 per cent, compared with 26 per cent of women) and people aged over 65 (44 per cent, compared with 14 per cent of those aged between 18 and 34). The economy also retained its place as the leading issue facing Bermuda. Some 53 per cent of people named the economy or unemployment as the island’s top concern, down from 58 per cent in March.  Read more.

Roughly half the population believes the two-party political system is not good for Bermuda, according to a poll commissioned by The Royal Gazette.

The battle between the One Bermuda Alliance and the Progressive Labour Party encourages infighting and division, and prevents the Bermuda Government from focusing on the issues that really matter, registered voters told pollsters Global Research.

Asked whether the Westminster system is good for the island, 49 per cent of people said “no”, 40 per cent said “yes” and 11 per cent did not know.

Earlier this week, The Royal Gazette revealed that 57 per cent of people believe both the OBA and PLP had too much infighting to govern Bermuda, with the leaders and deputies of both parties scoring poorly on transparency, unity and trust. Read more.

Michael Dunkley, the Premier, has called on the disaffected Bermudian public to help improve the island’s political system through increased participation.

A Royal Gazette poll published yesterday revealed that 57 per cent of people believed that both the One Bermuda Alliance and the Progressive Labour Party had too much infighting for either to run the country.

All four of Bermuda’s leading politicians (Mr Dunkley, PLP leader Marc Bean, Bob Richards, the Deputy Premier and PLP deputy leader David Burt) were also widely chastised.

Asked to choose which politician they rated best on transparency, unity or trust, easily the most popular response from the public was none of them. Read More.

The One Bermuda Alliance and Progressive Labour Party are both unfit to lead the country because of their infighting, according to a poll commissioned by The Royal Gazette.

All four of Bermuda’s leading politicians were also widely chastised for their lack of transparency, unity and trust, in our survey into registered voters’ assessment of their elected representatives.

Asked whether either the OBA or PLP have had too much internal strife to run the country, more than half replied that both of them have. Another quarter pointed the finger at just one of the parties, with the remaining 15 per cent saying they don’t know. Out of 402 people quizzed, not one thought that both parties had enough harmony to govern. Read More

The One Bermuda Alliance is clinging on to a one-point lead over the Progressive Labour Party — with both receiving a thumbs down for their performance.

The OBA has a 38-37 advantage on the PLP in a poll commissioned by The Royal Gazette this month, compared with its 38-36 lead in the previous survey in June.

With 25 per cent of people refusing to back either party, both the OBA and the PLP found voters were much more likely to say they disapproved of their performance.

Just 25 per cent of people said they approved of the ruling OBA’s performance, with 44 per cent saying they disapproved; 23 per cent of people approved of the Opposition PLP’s performance, with 46 per cent disapproving. Read More

Law firm Marshall Diel & Myers was yesterday crowned Bermuda’s top employer.

The Hamilton company topped the rankings in The Bottom Line Top Ten Employers Awards.

Adam Richards, appointed managing director of the firm this month, said: “We are very surprised and honoured to receive the award.

“We try to provide a good working environment for our staff so they can come to work and enjoy being in work — and at the same time, allow us to provide a good professional service to our clients.”

“Everyone enjoys coming to work, which is a good thing. If they enjoy coming to work, they will be more efficient and productive when they’re there.” Read More

The One Bermuda Alliance is hanging on to its narrow lead over the Progressive Labour Party, according to a poll commissioned by The Royal Gazette.

The OBA has a 38-36 lead over the PLP in the survey by Global Research this month, compared with the 39-38 advantage it held in our last poll in March.

More than a quarter of people — 26 per cent — chose to back neither party.

Michael Dunkley and Bob Richards, the leader and deputy leader of the OBA, both saw their performance approval ratings improve, with PLP leader Marc Bean recording a slight drop and his deputy David Burt remaining unchanged.

The telephone survey of 402 registered voters took place between June 6 and June 13 and has a margin of error of +/- 5 per cent.  Read More.

The campaign against same-sex marriage has an eight-point lead over the campaign in favour, according to a poll commissioned by The Royal Gazette.

However, those in favour of same-sex civil unions outnumber those against by 13 percentage points, in the survey carried out by Global Research between June 6 and 13.

Pollsters asked 402 registered voters the same two questions they will face at the referendum on Thursday next week. Responding to the first question, “Are you in favour of same-sex marriage in Bermuda?” 41 per cent said yes, 49 per cent said no and 10 per cent did not know.  Read more.