Bermuda Overview Country Overview Bermuda consists of a chain of some 180 coral islands and islets lying 1046km (650 miles) off the coast of North Carolina, in the Atlantic Ocean. Its coastlines are characterised by small bays with beaches of fine pale pink coral sand. The surrounding waters are a vivid blue-green. Inland there is an abundance of subtropical plants and flowers. Hamilton is the colony’s capital city, situated at the end of Bermuda’s Great Sound on the inner curve of the ‘fish hook’. Ferry trips are available round Hamilton Harbour. In Hamilton parish is the Bermuda Aquarium and Natural History Museum and Zoo, based at Flatts Village. At the far eastern end of the chain of islands is the 17th-century town of St George. The town’s narrow lanes and historic landmarks appear much as they did more than three centuries ago. St George has many excellent pubs, restaurants and shops. Bermudian specialities include Bermuda lobster, shark and fish chowder laced with sherry, peppers and rum. There are restaurants, cafes, bars and taverns to suit all pockets. Local drinks are mainly rum based. Most hotels offer evening entertainment. Local music is a mixture of calypso and Latin American. General Information Area: 53 sq km (20.59 sq miles). Population: 62,997 (official estimate 2000). Population Density: 1188.6 per sq km. Capital: Hamilton. Population: 1100 (1991). GEOGRAPHY: Bermuda consists of a chain of some 180 coral islands and islets lying 1046km (650 miles) off the coast of North Carolina, in the Atlantic Ocean. Ten of the islands are linked by bridges and causeways to form the principal mainland. There are no rivers or streams and the islands are entirely dependent on rainfall for fresh water. Coastlines are characterised by a succession of small bays with beaches of fine pale pink coral sand. The surrounding waters are a vivid blue-green. Inland there is an abundance of subtropical plants and flowers. Government: British Crown Colony since 1684. Gained internal autonomy in 1968. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor Sir John Vereker since 2002. Head of Government: Premier Jennifer Smith since 1998. Language: English is the official language. There is a small community of Portuguese speakers. Religion: Anglican, Episcopal, Roman Catholic and other Christian denominations. Time: GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October). Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz. American (flat) two-pin plugs are standard. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 1 441. Outgoing international code: 011. The internal telephone system is operated by the Bermuda Telephone Company. Bermuda numbers dialled from within Bermuda should be prefixed with the last two digits of the country code (29 or 23) but there are no conventional area codes. Mobile telephone GSM 1900. Main operator is Telecom Bermuda (website: www.telecom.bm). Coverage is excellent. TDMA and AMPS (800 MHz) networks operated by BDC (website: www.cellularone.bm). Fax This service is available from many hotels and offices. Internet ISPs include Logic Communications (website: www.logic.bm) and NorthRock Communications (website: www.northrock.bm). There are Internet cafes in Hamilton and St George. Telegram Cable & Wireless Ltd operates Bermuda’s international telecommunications system. Cablegrams may be sent from the C&W office in Hamilton. Post Most letters will automatically travel airmail even if surface rates are paid, although paid-for airmail will be given priority. Airmail letters to Europe take five to seven days. Poste restante facilities are available. Post offices are open from Mon-Fri 0830-1700. In addition, the General Post Office in Hamilton is open on Saturday mornings until 1200. Press The main newspapers are The Mid-Ocean News (weekly), The Royal Gazette (daily) and The Bermuda Sun. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.19 12.10 9.740 5.975 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes No Yes Australian Yes No Yes Canadian 1 No Yes USA 1 No Yes OtherEU Yes No Yes Japanese Yes No Yes Note: Before entering Bermuda, it is essential to be in possession of either a return or onward ticket to a country to which one has a legal right of entry. Anyone arriving in Bermuda and intending to return to their own country via another one which requires a visa must obtain such a visa before arrival in Bermuda. Visitors are advised to check details with the British Overseas Territories Visa Section (see Contact Addresses section). Restricted entry: Admission will be refused to travellers intending to immigrate from Bermuda to the USA. Those who intend to visit the USA must possess an onward ticket to a country beyond the USA and the necessary documents to enter that country. PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all except 1. nationals of Canada and the USA for a maximum stay of six months provided they have other documents with proof of identity, such as a birth certificate, a re-entry permit/naturalisation certificate, an alien registration card or an expired passport (bearing a photograph which resembles the traveller). Photo ID is required. VISAS: Not generally required for stays of up to three weeks except by nationals of the following countries who do require visas: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China (PR), CIS, Croatia, Cuba, Ghana, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Korea (Dem Rep), Lebanon, Libya, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia, Vietnam and Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). Nationals who do not require a visa for stays of up to three weeks can obtain an extension by applying directly to the Department of Immigration in Bermuda (tel: 295 5151). Note: (a) Nationals of the Slovak republic with Czech passports need visas. Citizens of the Czech Republic do not. (b) Transit passengers from countries mentioned above must continue to a third country within five hours by the same aircraft, hold confirmed onward tickets and documentation and not leave the airport. Types of visa and cost: Tourist: £28. Validity: The permitted length of stay is initially three months. For extensions, permission should be sought from the immigration authorities in Bermuda (see address below). Application to: British Overseas Territories Visa Section; see Contact Addresses section. Application requirements: Completed application forms and, for business trips, a letter from the host company or organisation. An onward or return ticket is a condition of entry. Working days required: Four weeks. Temporary residence: Persons intending to take up residence and/or employment will require prior authorisation from the Department of Immigration, Government Administration Building, 30 Parliament Street, Hamilton HM 12 (tel: 295 5151). Money Currency: Bermuda Dollar (Bda$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of Bda$100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of Bda$1, and 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents. Note: The Bermuda Dollar is tied to the US Dollar. Currency exchange: US Dollars are generally accepted at par. It is illegal to exchange money other than at authorised banks or bureaux de change. Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club are accepted at most large hotels, shops and restaurants. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: US Dollar cheques are widely accepted. There is no bureau de change at the airport. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars. Currency restrictions: There is no limit to the import of local or foreign currency, provided declared on arrival. The export of local currency is limited to Bda$250. The export of foreign currency is limited to Bda$2000. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Bermuda Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 1.46 1.52 1.58 1.59 $1.00= 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Banking hours: Mon 0930-1600, Tue-Thurs 0830-1600, Fri 0830-1630. Duty Free The following goods may be taken into Bermuda by travellers aged over 18 years without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 454g of tobacco; 1137ml (1qt) of spirits and 1137ml (1qt) of wine. Prohibited items: Spear guns for fishing, firearms and non-prescribed drugs. All visitors should declare any prescribed drugs on arrival as regulations are strictly observed. Clearance of merchandise and sales materials for use at trade conventions must be arranged in advance with the hotel concerned. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Apr 18 Good Friday. May 24 Bermuda Day. Jun 16 Queen’s Birthday Celebrations. Jul 31 Cup Match Day. Aug 1 Somers Day. Sep 1 Labour Day. Nov 11 Remembrance Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Boxing Day. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Apr 9 Good Friday. May 24 Bermuda Day. Jun 21 Queen’s Birthday Celebrations. Jul 29 Cup Match Day. Jul 30 Somers Day. Sep 6 Labour Day. Nov 11 Remembrance Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Boxing Day. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No No Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio No N/A Malaria No N/A Health care: Health insurance is essential as medical costs are very high. There is a fully equipped 237-bed hospital near Hamilton. Travel - International AIR: Bermuda has no national airline, but British Airways operates regular weekly flights to and from London Gatwick and Bermuda. Other airlines serving Bermuda include American Airlines, Air Canada, Delta, Iberia, USAir and Continental Airlines. Approximate flight times: To Bermuda from London is 7 hours 45 minutes and from New York is 1 hour 45 minutes. International airports: Bermuda International (BDA) (website: www.bermudaairport.com), is 16km (10 miles) from Hamilton (travel time – 30 minutes). Bermuda Hosts (buses) meet all arrivals. Taxis are also available. There are duty-free shops and bureaux de change at the airport. Duty-free goods may also be purchased in town shops for collection at the airport on departure. Departure tax: A tax of Bda$20 is included in air tickets. Children under two years and passengers in immediate transit are exempt. SEA: Many cruise lines call at Bermuda including Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises. Cruises operate in the summer months of April-October and suspend services during the winter. Travel - Internal SEA: Ferries run on a regular daily schedule across Hamilton Harbour and to points on the West End and East (in summer months). ROAD: The main island has an extensive road network, but foreign visitors may not drive cars in Bermuda. Motorcycles may be hired (see below). The speed limit is 35kph (20mph) and traffic drives on the left. Bus: Buses are modern and punctual. Bermuda’s state-run buses (painted pink) are a pleasant and inexpensive way to visit points of interest. The trip from Hamilton to the town of St George’s, the northeastern tip of Bermuda, takes about half an hour, with the ride from Hamilton to Somerset, Bermuda’s westernmost point, taking about 45 minutes. It is essential to have the correct fare in coins. A route and schedule map is available free, and books of tickets are available at sub-post offices. Taxi: All taxis are metered, with a surcharge after midnight; there is a maximum of four passengers per taxi. Taxis displaying small blue flags are driven by qualified guides approved by the Department of Tourism. A 25 per cent surcharge operates between midnight and 0600. Carriages: Horse-drawn carriages are available in Hamilton. Motorcycle/bicycle hire: Lightweight motor-assisted bicycles (‘livery cycles’) may be hired throughout the island; a driving licence is not required for this. Crash helmets must be worn. Third party insurance is compulsory. Bicycles can also be hired. The Department of Tourism produces a comprehensive sheet giving details of prices and supplies. Minimum age limit is 16 years. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times from Hamilton (in hours and minutes) to other major towns and the airport on Bermuda. Road Sea Airport 0.30 - St George’s 0.30 - Somerset 0.45 0.30 Naval Dockyard 0.45 - Accommodation The Bermuda Department of Tourism issues a booklet Where to stay in Bermuda listing all accommodation. Another leaflet gives rates and added taxes. Reduced rates are available during the Rendezvous, or ‘low’ season, which runs from November to March, and there are many special package tours for speciality holidays. Visitors will be charged 7.25 per cent government room occupancy tax. HOTELS: Hotels are all of a high standard. The top resort hotels offer a range of facilities including shops, restaurants, organised entertainment, beauty salon and taxi rank. They usually have their own beach or beach club and pool. Several have their own golf course. Many of the smaller hotels have their own beach or pool. Hotels usually offer a choice of meal plans. Information is available from the Bermuda Hotel Association, 61 King Street, Hamilton MH 19 (tel: 295 2127; fax: 292 6671; e-mail: bha@experience-bermuda.com; website: www.bermudahotels.com). Grading: There is no formal grading system in Bermuda, only MAP, AP, BP, CP and EP. MAP is Modified American Plan; breakfast and dinner included with the price of the room, plus in some places British-style afternoon tea. AP is American Plan; room, breakfast, lunch and dinner. BP is Bermuda Plan; room and full breakfast only. CP is Continental Plan; room and light breakfast. EP is European Plan; room only. Large hotels with many facilities make up about seven per cent of accommodation in Bermuda. Smaller hotels (around 16 per cent) have fewer than 150 rooms. Normally less expensive than the self-contained resorts, they have limited on-site facilities for shopping and entertainment and are less formal. GUEST-HOUSES: Guest-houses generally taking fewer than 12 guests are usually small private homes. Some incorporate several housekeeping units (see below) while others provide shared kitchen facilities. Most of the larger establishments are old Bermudian residences with spacious gardens which have been converted and modernised. A few have their own waterfront and/or pool. Guest-houses make up 50 per cent of accommodation in Bermuda. Grading: Larger guest-houses may offer the Bermuda Plan or a slightly stripped-down version of the CP (Continental Plan) – room and light breakfast. EP (European Plan) consists of room only. All guest-houses offer an informal atmosphere. COTTAGE COLONIES: These are typically Bermudian and feature a main club-house with dining room, lounge and bar. The cottage units are spread throughout landscaped grounds and offer privacy and luxury. Though most have kitchenettes for beverages or light snacks they are not self-catering units. All have their own beach and/or pool. CLUB RESORTS: These are noted for privacy and luxury and are for members or by invitation only. There are two club resorts on the main island. SELF-CATERING: Housekeeping cottages are large properties situated in landscaped estates with their own beach and pool, much like cottage colonies, but without a main club-house. They are considered to be luxury units. All have kitchen facilities but BP or a reduced CP is available at some establishments. APARTMENTS: Apartments are smaller and less expensive with fewer amenities than housekeeping cottages. Most holiday apartments are nonetheless comfortable. Some have a pool; all have kitchen and a minimal daily maid service. CAMPING/CARAVANNING: There are no camping facilities for visitors in Bermuda. Introduction HAMILTON: The colony’s capital city, situated at the end of Bermuda’s Great Sound on the inner curve of the ‘fish hook’ is an interesting place to explore. Here, between Parliament Street and Court Street, is the Cabinet Building where the Senate – the Upper House of Bermuda’s Parliament – meets. The Lower Chamber of Parliament is housed in the Sessions House in Hamilton and is open to the public. Front Street is Hamilton’s main street which runs along the water’s edge from Albuoy’s Point, site of the Ferrydock and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, to King Street in the east. Located on Queen Street in Hamilton is Perot’s Post Office. The Perot stamp, Bermuda’s first postage stamp, was printed by Bermuda’s Postmaster from 1818 to 1862. In the summer months there are usually up to three cruise ships moored at the city’s piers. Ferry trips are available round Hamilton Harbour, and also longer cruises to Great Sound and the rural village of Somerset. The restored 19th-century Fort Hamilton welcomes visitors to its formidable ramparts, cannon, underground web of limestone tunnels and spectacular view of Hamilton. In Hamilton parish is the Bermuda Aquarium, Natural History Museum and Zoo, based at Flatts Village. ELSEWHERE: In Somerset, on the western end of the island, Fort Scaur is a good place to picnic, fish, swim and enjoy the panoramic view of the picturesque Great Sound. At the far eastern end of the chain of islands is the 17th-century town of St George, Bermuda’s first capital, founded in 1612. It has been the focus of considerable recent restoration; today, the town’s narrow winding lanes and historic landmarks appear much as they did more than three centuries ago. At the corner of Duke of Clarence Street and Featherbed Alley is a working model of a 17th-century printing press. Also to be seen are the Confederate Museum, a hotel for Confederate officers during America’s Civil War; the Stocks & Pillory; and the replica of the ‘Deliverance’, one of Bermuda’s first ships. St George also has many excellent pubs, restaurants and shops. Gates Fort, which dates back to 1620, is built on a promontory overlooking the sea and offers a spectacular view of the ocean and harbour. Nearby is Fort St Catherine, built in 1622, the largest and one of the most fascinating of the island’s fortifications. At the very tip of Bermuda, on the western side, is Ireland Island, with a Maritime Museum which displays relics of sunken wrecks and the neo-classical buildings of the Royal Naval Dockyard. Two of the best known caves are Crystal Caves and Leamington Caves, made up of sprawling underground systems and crystalline tidal pools. They are open daily in season. The best view of the island is from Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse, in Southampton parish. Two notable churches on the island include Old Devonshire Church and St Peter’s Church, on Duke of York Street in old St George. Everywhere on the island there are circles of stone, called Moongates, a design brought to Bermuda in the 1800s by a sea captain who had seen them on a voyage to China. Oriental legend has it that honeymooners should walk through them and make a wish. Sport & Activities Watersports: Bermuda’s most famous beaches lie along the island’s southern edge. Some of the most beautiful are at Warwick Long Bay, Stonehole, Chaplin and Horseshoe Bay. Snorkelling and scuba diving are popular. Visibility underwater is often as much as 61m (200ft). Experienced scuba divers can go below for a historic ‘tour’ of old wrecks, cannons and other remnants of past disasters on the reefs. All necessary equipment is easy to hire – visitors should note, however, that spear guns are not allowed. For sailing enthusiasts, the Blue Water Cruising Race – from Marion, Massachusetts, to Bermuda – takes place in June bi-annually, in odd-numbered years. The Newport to Bermuda Ocean Yacht Race is also held bi-annually, in even-numbered years. This world-famous June Blue Water Classic (fondly referred to as the ‘Thrash to the Onion Patch’) attracts scores of the finest racing craft afloat. The week-long festivities which follow the arrival of the boats are held at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. In August the Non-Mariners Race is held. Sailboats and skippers are available for hire from ‘Sail Yourself’ charter agencies. Bermuda is one of the world’s finest fishing centres, especially for light-tackle fishing. Equipment may be rented for shore fishing and there are charter boats for reef and deep-sea fishing. For deep-sea aficionados, wahoo, amberjack, marlin and tuna abound. On the reefs, there are amberjack, great barracuda, grey snapper and yellowtail. Shore fishermen can test their skills on bonefish and pompano. The best fishing is from May to November, when trophies are awarded. Golf: There are seven 18-hole courses, including the Mid-Ocean Club, which is world-renowned for its challenge and beauty, and Port Royal, situated in oceanside terrain. There is one 9-hole layout, Ocean View. For information on Amateur, Professional and Pro-Am tournaments, write to the Bermuda Golf Association, PO Box 433, Hamilton. Tennis: There are almost 100 courts on the island, with a variety of surfaces. Most of the larger Bermuda hotels have their own courts, many of them floodlit for night play. Tournaments are held all year round and several are open to visitors. Cricket: The annual Cup Match, an island-wide, two-day public holiday, is held once a year, when the St George’s and Somerset Cricket clubs vie for the Championship Cup. Social Profile Food & Drink: Hotel cooking is usually international with some Bermudian specialities such as Bermuda lobster (in season, September to mid-April), mussel pie, conch stew, fish chowder laced with sherry, peppers, rum and shark. Other seafoods include rockfish, red snapper and yellowtail. Peculiar to Bermuda is the Bermuda onion; other fine home-grown products include pawpaw and strawberries in January and February, and a variety of local citrus fruit. Traditional Sunday breakfast is codfish and bananas while desserts include sweet potato pudding, bay grape jelly and a syllabub of guava jelly, cream and sherry. There is a vast variety of restaurants, cafes, bars and taverns to suit all pockets. Service will vary although generally table service can be expected. Local drinks and cocktails have Caribbean rum as a base, and have colourful names such as Dark and Stormy and the famous Rum Swizzle. British, European and US beer is available. It is normal in bars to pay for each drink and to tip the barman. In restaurants, drinks are added to the bill. Nightlife: Most hotels offer a variety of entertainment. Dancing, barbecues, nightclubs and discotheques are all available. Local music is a mixture of Calypso and Latin American, and steel band music is very popular. Shopping: The best buys are imported merchandise such as French perfumes, English bone china, Swiss watches, Danish silver, American costume jewellery, German cameras, Scottish tweeds, and various spirits and liqueurs. Bermuda-made articles include handicrafts, pottery, cedar ware, fashions, records and paintings by local artists. Antique shops may have the odd good bargain and shops in the countryside offer many souvenirs. Bathing suits, sports clothes and straw hats are other good buys. There is no sales tax or VAT. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1700, with some closing early on Thursday. Shops at the Royal Naval Dockyard are open on Sundays 1000-1700. Special Events: Bermuda’s many annual events include concerts, marathons, cricket matches, regattas, golf and tennis tournaments and horse shows. The following is a small selection for 2003. For a full list of special events, contact Bermuda Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). Jan Annual Bermuda Regional Bridge Tournament. Jan 13-Mar 1 Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts (showcase of world music, theatre, art and popular entertainment). Jan 17-19 Bermuda International Race Weekend. Feb Annual Bermuda Rendezvous Bowling Tournament. Mar Championship Cat Show (Bermuda Cat Fanciers Association). Mar 2-8 Sixth Annual Ladies Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Apr 66th Annual Agricultural Championship. Apr 11-17 Sixth Bermuda International Film Festival. Jul/Aug SOCA (Caribbean music festival, Royal Naval Dockyards). Aug Annual Sea Horse Anglers’ Club Billfish Tournament; Reggae Sunsplash. Nov Bermuda Tattoo. . Social Conventions: Many of these are British influenced, and there is a very English ‘feel’ to the islands. It is quite customary to politely greet people on the street, even if they are strangers. Casual wear is acceptable in most places during the day, but beachwear should be confined to the beach. Almost all hotels and restaurants require a jacket and tie in the evenings; check dress requirements in advance. Non-smoking areas will be marked. Tipping: When not included in the bill, 15 per cent generally for most services. Hotels and guest-houses add a set amount per person in lieu of tips to the bill. Business Profile Economy: Bermuda’s economy is dominated by two industries – tourism and international financial services – which together account for approximately 90 per cent of GDP. Offshore banking and related services have been the mainstay of the financial sector, although in recent years insurance has grown to the point where Bermuda is now the world’s third largest insurance market. Tax receipts from several thousand offshore companies registered in Bermuda, plus customs duties, go some way to offsetting the island’s large annual visible trade deficit of around US$500 million. The small light manufacturing base in Bermuda is engaged in boat-building, ship repair, and perfume and pharmaceuticals production. There is some agriculture, concentrated in the growing of fruit and vegetables, but most of Bermuda’s food is imported along with all its oil, machinery and most manufactured goods. Bermuda has recently established an important diamond market. The USA is the largest trading partner followed by Japan, Germany and the UK. Business: Lightweight suits or shirt and tie are acceptable, as are Bermuda shorts. Visiting cards and occasionally letters of introduction are used. Codes of practice are similar to those in the UK. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, PO Box HM 655, Hamilton HMCX (tel: 295 4201; fax: 292 5779; e-mail: info@bermudacommerce.com; website: www.bermudacommerce.com) or Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA) Century House, 16 Par-La-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 08 (tel: 292 0632; fax: 292 1797; e-mail: info@biba.org; website: www.biba.org). Conferences/Conventions: The Bermuda Department of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section) can give information, including advice on customs arrangements for the speedy handling of materials. The Chamber of Commerce can also offer assistance; Special Groups and Incentive Services (published by the Department of Tourism) is a list of members’ services available to organisers. Climate Semi-tropical, with no wet season. The Gulf Stream which flows between Bermuda and the North American continent keeps the climate temperate. A change of seasons comes during mid-November to mid-December and from late March through April. Either spring or summer weather may occur and visitors should be prepared for both. Showers may be heavy at times but occur mainly at night. Summer temperatures prevail from May to mid-November with the warmest weather in July, August and September – this period is occasionally followed by high winds. Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens. Light waterproofs or umbrellas are advisable and warmer clothes for cooler months. History and Government History: Bermuda was first discovered in 1503 by Juan de Bermudez, the Spanish mariner, and was claimed in England’s name by Sir George Somers in July 1609. After colonisation, the islands prospered and have continued to do so almost continuously ever since. The tourist industry, catering particularly for the American market, began in Victorian times. Bermuda is the oldest British colony and there are still elements of British culture and customs in almost every aspect of life on the islands. In 1968, the island was granted internal self-government – formally a British Dependent Territory – while Britain retained control of defence and foreign policy. Bermudan political life revolves around two main political parties: the Progressive Labour Party (PLP), which has close links with the influential trade union movement, and the United Bermuda Party (UBP), dominated by professional and business interests. The UBP won a long string of elections from the mid-1970s until 1994. In November 1998, however, the PLP, with a substantial majority in the House of Assembly, formed a government under Premier Jennifer Smith. The Government’s recent agenda has been dominated by three issues. The first of these is the economy, which relies heavily on financial services and has grown steadily despite competition from elsewhere in the region and external pressure to alter some of its offshore financial service practices in order to restrict money laundering. This was a key factor behind the Labour victory in 1998, as party leader Jennifer Smith promised to resist external pressure on the country’s financial sector. The second issue is independence: the most recent plebiscite on the issue took place in August 1995 and, in a low turnout, produced a vote of 74 per cent against independence and in favour of remaining under British rule. The belief that the umbilical link with Britain guarantees stability and encourages foreign investment was sufficient to persuade the majority of the electorate. Third and finally, the failure of successive British governments to grant full citizenship to inhabitants of Britain’s remaining colonies has long been a source of resentment. However, in July 1998, the British Government announced a change of policy: the inhabitants of Bermuda will be granted full British citizenship – in due course. Government: Bermuda is a British Crown Colony. Its bicameral legislature – the Senate with 11 appointed members and the 40-member House of Assembly, elected by universal adult suffrage for a five-year term – is responsible for most internal affairs, but foreign policy and security matters are decided by the Governor (since 2002, John Vereker) who is appointed by and represents the British monarch. He in turn appoints the majority leader in the House of Assembly as Premier; the latter appoints the Cabinet. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.