BERMUDA

COUNTRY NAME

Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Bermuda
Former: Somers Islands

BERMUDA CAPITAL CITY

Hamilton is the capital city of Bermuda.

BERMUDA CURRENCY

Bermuda dollar is the official currency of Bermuda.

ETYMOLOGY OF BERMUDA

Bermuda was named after Juan de Bermudez.
Bermudez sailed through the reefs to reach the island in 1515.
An account of his voyage is given by historian Gonzales Ferdinando d’Oviedo who was also present on the ship.

HISTORY OF BERMUDA

Bermuda is believed to have been discovered by the Europeans in 1503.
It featured on a map designed by Peter Martyr d'Anghiera in 1511.
Spanish explorer Juan de Bermúdez was the first to discover the islands.
Spanish and Portuguese ships halted at the islands to replenish their resources.
The islands were known as the “Isle of Devils” due to legends and folklore.
The islands were not inhabited by permanent settlers for a long time after their discovery.
Unfavorable weather prevented colonization on the islands.
The island was claimed by the English Crown in 1684.
In 1615, the colony was taken over by the Somers Isles Company .
John Rolfe was responsible for beginning Virginia's tobacco industry.
Planned settlement began with the arrival of the “Plough” in 1612.
Before the American Revolution, thousands of Bermudians immigrated to South America.
The conservation laws of the New World were created in Bermuda during 1616 to 1620.
In 1649, the English Civil War raged and King Charles I was beheaded in London.
The Bermudian Civil War followed which was ended by embodied militias.
The colonists forced the puritans and independents into exile in the Bahamas.
Agriculture on the Bermuda did not meet with success.
After the dissolution of the Somers Isle Company, Bermudians shifted from agriculture to shipbuilding and replanting farmland with the native juniper trees.
Bermudians deforested their landscape to begin salt trade that massively contributed to the land’s economic growth.
Whaling, privateering, and the merchant trade were the major income generating activities.
During the American War of 1812, Bermuda was used by the British as a launching pad for attacks.
In 1816, James Arnold fortified Bermuda's Royal Naval Dockyard against possible US attacks.
Defense and foreign affairs were taken care of by the United Kingdom.
Bermuda now exists as the oldest British colony.
A Royal Assent granted Bermuda limited self-governance in 1620.
Bermuda has the fifth oldest parliament in the world.

DEMOGRAPHICS OF BERMUDA

Majority of the population is black (54.8%).
34.1% population is white and 6.4% is multiracial.
The number of Asians is also gradually increasing in Bermuda.
10% of the population is Portuguese in origin.
Many people on St. David Island are descendants of Native Americans.
The Algonquian peoples were exiled from New England colonies and sold into slavery during the 17th century.
Expatriate communities comprise of people from the UK, Canada, the West Indies, and the U.S.
29% of the population is non-Bermudian.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS AT BERMUDA

Bermuda is an overseas territory of the UK.
It is a self-governing territory ruled by a parliamentary government.
Administrative divisions comprise of nine parishes and two municipalities.
The two municipalities include Hamilton and Saint George.
The nine parishes include Devonshire, Hamilton, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George’s, Sandy’s, Smith’s, Southampton and Warwick.
Bermuda Day (24 May) is observed as a national holiday.
The Constitution came into effect on June 1, 1967.
The Constitution was amended in 1989 and 2003.
Queen Elizabeth II is the chief of state.
The head of government is the premier.
The cabinet ministers are nominated by the premier and appointed officially by the governor.
The governor is appointed by the monarch.
The leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed premier by the governor following legislative elections.
The legislative branch consists of a bicameral parliament modeled on the Westminster system.
The Senate is the upper house consisting of eleven members appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier and the leader of the opposition.
The House of Assembly consists of thirty-six members elected by the eligible voting populace in secret ballot.
Elections must be called at 5 year intervals in the country.
The legal system is based on the English law.
The Judicial branch is represented by the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the Magistrate Courts.

BERMUDA CULTURE

Bermudian culture is a combination of British and African heritages.
The British influences can be seen in the education system, government and legal framework.
Cricket is the most popular sport in the country.
Pub culture is very popular among the Bermudans.
Majority of the people speak English.
Christianity is the dominant religion.
A subtle African influence can be seen in the music and dance forms.
Reggae and calypso are popular musical genres.
The unique Gombey dance is the most popular dance form.
Gombey dancing is inspired by the Christian missionaries, the British military and the American Indians.
Gombey dancing is carefully choreographed to specific rhythms and often depicts biblical stories.
The dancers traditionally perform on the streets on Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Bermudan cuisine is heavily influenced by British styles.

BERMUDA ECONOMY

Bermuda has the third highest per capita income in the world.
Tourism and international financial services are the primary revenue earners.
Bermuda’s international business sector is rapidly growing due to the increasing number of reinsurance companies.
Most capital equipment and food must be imported.
Construction is the most important industry.
Agriculture is limited due to unavailability of arable land.
The GDP (purchasing power parity) as calculated in 2004 was $4.5 billion.
2.1% of the population is unemployed.
19% of the population is below poverty line.
The main agricultural produce consists of bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers, dairy products and honey.
The primary industries are international business, tourism and light manufacturing.
Export commodities include re-exported pharmaceuticals.
Import commodities include clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals.

INFRASTRUCTURE OF BERMUDA

Telecommunication system in Bermuda is fully automated and modernized.
There are eight radio broadcast stations and three television broadcast stations.
Internet facilities are readily available.
Bermuda has one international airport.
Roadways cover a distance of 447 km.
Bermuda’s merchant marine is equipped with 133 ships.
The main ports and terminals are located at Hamilton and Saint George.

EDUCATION IN BERMUDA

Until 1965, there were separate schools for “whites” and “blacks”.

At present, the Bermuda Public School System has twenty-six schools.
An Alternative Programme is provided for students with behavioral challenges.
The Bermuda College offers higher education in the form of associate degrees and other certificate programs.
Bermuda does not have any four-year colleges or universities.
Three categories of schools operate in the Bermuda Education system:

Aided schools: These are run by a board of trustees and are partially maintained by public funding.
Maintained school: These are owned by the Government and fully maintained by public funds.
Private school: These are registered with the government and do not receive any financial aid.

BERMUDA NEIGHBOUR COUNTRIES

Bermuda is surrounded by:

Miami, Florida (southwest)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (North)
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (Southwest)

BERMUDA GEOGRAPHICAL SETTINGS

Bermuda is located off the east coast of the United States in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Its geographical coordinates are 32 20 N, 64 45 W.
Bermuda covers a total area of 53.3 sq km.
The coastline is 103 km long.
Bermuda enjoys a mild, humid, subtropical climate.
Gales and strong winds are common during winter months.
The terrain comprises of low hills separated by fertile depressions.
The highest point is Town Hill standing at 76 m.
20% of the land is arable.
Natural resources include limestone and pleasant climate fostering tourism.
Hurricanes are common between June and November.
Sustainable development is the primary environmental concern.
Rainfall is abundant but there are no rivers or freshwater lakes.
Bermuda consists of about 138 coral islands.

BERMUDA FREEDOM

Bermuda is a partially self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom.

NOTABLE PEOPLE FROM THE BERMUDA COUNTRY

Artists:

Carole Holding
Caroline Troncossi
Charles Vincent Zuill
Christopher M. Grimes
Dan Dempster
Desmond Fountain
Graham Foster
Helen DanielJonah Jones
Joy Blackburne
Lisa Rego
Lynn Morrell
Manuel PalacioMark Boden
Michael Swanemail
R.W. Trimingham
Robert D. Bassett
Sharon Wilson
Vernon Clark

Writers:

Mark Twain
Eugene O'Neill
Noel Coward
James Thurber
Peter Benchley
Georgia O'Keefe
Winslow Homer

BERMUDA COUNTRY FAMOUS FOR

Bermuda is rrenowned for its pink sand beaches and natural beauty.
St. George's is a designated World Heritage Site.
Shipwreck sites and coral reefs are popular among scuba divers.
Bermuda's most popular attraction is the Royal Navy Dockyard and Museum.
The Crystal Caves are famous for stalactites and underground saltwater pools.
Bermuda’s aquarium, zoo and museum also receive a large number of visitors every year.