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BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

The commonality of Bahamas and Brexit: they both need a miracle

Left in ruins: the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian is seen on the island of Abaco in the Bahamas (Photograph by Sjoerd Hilckmann/Dutch Defence Ministry/AP)

Dear Sir,

There are some points of Martha Myron’s opinion that jump out as curiously odd.

Such as, Eleuthera was settled by Bermudians in 1648?

Were they Bermudians or Bermuda settlers?

Because the leader of the group known as the “Eleutheran Adventurers” — Captain William Sayle, it is claimed — was born in Bermuda in 1590, that would be inaccurate because Bermuda was settled in 1609.

Although William Sayle was Governor of Bermuda, twice, he was born in America and other members of his group were probably born elsewhere as well. But they settled in Bermuda, then resettled in the Bahamas in their quest to form a more tolerant religious community.

So, when did the population drop from 65,000 to 61,000 in Bermuda? A rhetorical question as the goalpost moves swiftly based on who opines and on what subject.

With the Bahamas being less than 350 miles from the state of Florida, while Bermuda is less than 850 miles from New York State — our second-closest point to American soil — both are within relative ease from the United States.

But the biggest singular question coming from Britain is, why were there so many wooden structures, wooden houses? And my reply has been: “Tradition and/or heritage, but certainly not due to extreme poverty.”

And building standards and/or codes are factors that feed into mortgage and insurance requirements and payouts, especially for any type of super insurance fund to rebuild throughout the region.

Finally, the events of Brexit are moving swiftly and it would be miraculous if there is any forward action from the British Government. Brexit may not be a Category 5 hurricane, but it is a series of seismic political events rocking Britain to its constitutional core.

VALIRIE MARCIA AKINSTALL

London, England