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18 May 2021

The Regulatory Authority announced that it has reduced the Retail Tariff for the second year in a row, and has lifted the moratorium to “allow 5G technology to be deployed in Bermuda.” A spokesperson said, “The Regulatory Authority [the RA] is mandated by law to:

1. promote and preserve competition in Bermuda;
2. promote the development of the local economy; and
3. promote innovation in the sectors it regulates.

“As such, the RA is pleased to announce the status updates to three initiatives in the Electricity and Electronic Communications sectors: Electricity Sector:

1. “The RA reduces the Retail Tariff for the second year in a row. With a focus on providing relief to consumers due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Retail Tariff [“RT”] has been reduced. The RT is the rate at which electricity per kilowatt hour is sold to a consumer and is reflected on a BELCO bill as the ‘Usage Charge’. Electronic Communications Sector.
2. “RA lifts the moratorium on 5G. After an extensive review process, the RA’s Board of Commissioners has lifted the moratorium to allow 5G technology to be deployed in Bermuda. This decision is based on the compelling benefits that consumers and local and international businesses will reap – such as enhanced mobility, connectivity, reliability, and security, and includes strict safety measures and adherence to Appropriate Safety Standards as referenced by several International Standards bodies.
3. “Communications licences were issued to three new providers in the Electronic Communications sector. Increased competition typically benefits consumers through greater product variety, lower prices, and higher quality services.

“For more information, visit www.ra.bm.”

Original BerNews Link: https://bernews.com/2021/05/ra-reduces-retail-tariff-lifts-5g-moratorium/

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19 April 2021

Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues, and Earth Day 2024 will occur on Monday, April 22, the holiday's 54th anniversary. The holiday is now a global celebration, sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on environmental action and sustainable living.

Celebrate Earth Day with a challenge that makes everyone a winner!

We took the Earth Day theme “Invest in Your Planet”, and turned it into “Invest in Your Parish” – a new, interactive photo challenge. Now it’s a race to see which parish will commit to the most environmental actions from Saturday, April 20th to Monday, April 22nd. We’ve teamed up with Hink so you can share high-resolution photos of friends, family, and colleagues as they take part in their Earth Day Challenge commitments, from planting trees to cleaning up the coast, from going on a nature walk to using your cycle or zero-emission vehicles. There are 13 actions – choose one, or challenge yourself to complete them all!   

What is the Earth Day Challenge?

To participate, first, Register Today! and then commit to as many of the following activities as possible to help your parish secure the top spot!

Instructions for The New Earth Day Interactive Photo Challenge are listed below

• Reduce energy consumption
• Cook your meals at home
• Remember to recycle
• Spend time outdoors
• Clean up the coast
• Buy local produce and seafood
• Go plastic free
• Plant a few trees
• Go for a nature walk
• Do some gardening at home
• Ride your cycle or use zero emission vehicles
• Go meatless for the day
• Pick up waste in your area

Sign Up Today!

We've partnered with Hink to create a NEW Interactive Photo Challenge

Share your best photos of friends, family, or work colleagues taking environmental action on Hink and help your parish secure the top spot in the Earth Day Challenge 2024!

Amateurs, professionals and smartphone photographers are all invited to participate.

The rules are simple.

Download Hink and create an account (takes about thirty seconds)

Make sure you have not disabled the location on your camera app. Click here if you need help doing that.

If you are using a digital camera sign up here to get a link to the web uploader where you can also set the location from where you took the photos.

Take great photos of friends, family, or work colleagues taking environmental action. An image should have at least one person in the frame to be eligible. Be creative and try to capture the person actively engaged! Be sure to upload your photos before midnight on Monday, April 22nd to participate.

Download any photos on the app and share them on your social media platforms. Read here for more information on how Hink works.

A team of three (3) preselected volunteers will monitor the interactive Earth Day Challenge site map and tally up the relevant photos of individual actions uploaded to Hink in each parish. The parish with the highest number of individual environmental actions posted on the interactive map will win.  The winning Parish Council will receive assistance from the participating environmental organizations with an environmental initiative or help them solve an environmental challenge in their parish.

Please remember, Hink is in the early stages of development and we love feedback. If you need help or have suggestions, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We all know that people always want great shots of themselves, so let’s take some amazing photos on Earth Day!

Call us at 441.747.7625 for more information or to discuss how you can get involved.

 Earth Day Activities

Saturday, April 20th, 2024

Sustainable Farming Workshop

Join us for a walking tour of FoodForest. An ecological microsystem of biological sustainability that incorporates several varieties of fruits, vegetables, roots, berries, and nuts. Learn how regenerative agriculture is the only alternative to the fragile micro system our communities depend on. This educational experience is free for Greenrock members. Fresh, organic vegetables will be for sale.

Sunday, April 23, 2023

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26 March 2021

Greenrock is proud to announce that WEDCO, the City of Hamilton, the Corporation of St. George, BELCO, The Department of Public Transportation, the Cabinet Office, and numerous Government departments will all be participating in Earth Hour this year.  

Chairman of the Board, Eugene Dean said, “Having support from major stakeholders is key to the success of our campaign. While individual participation is extremely important to our movement, participation from governments and large corporations is just as essential.  Their participation helps to ensure that  laws, policy frameworks and infrastructure developments are all in alignment with the goals we seek to achieve.  Sustainable development is the foundation to sustainable living, which means that they both need to grow hand in hand.  Everyone has a role to play in creating a sustainable future for Bermuda and, for that reason, we are pleased to have so many of the island’s core organizations involved.”

The Premier, David Burt confirmed that the Cabinet Office will be participating in Earth Hour and followed through with his commitment to encourage all Government departments to participate as well.  The Department of Public Transportation confirmed that it will be dimming lights at the Hamilton bus terminal this year and representatives from the Corporation of St. George confirmed that they will continue with their tradition of turning off lights on Water Street, Ordinance Island, in King’s Square and the Town Hall Building.

The Mayor of Hamilton, Charles Gosling, shared how the City will be participating, what they are doing to operate more sustainably and why it is important for everyone to get involved: “The City of Hamilton is pleased to once again support Greenrock in recognizing Earth Hour in order to further awareness about the urgent need for energy conservation globally.  As such, we will shut off all lights in and outside of the City Hall building on Saturday, March 27th between 8:30pm and 9:30pm as well as the Works Depot which will have all lights turned off for the hour.  

“Over the past few years, the City has made a more concerted effort to be greener. We’ve changed the bulbs in City offices and properties as well as the streetlights to LED, transitioned to an electric fleet for City vehicles, and moved to a paperless system for our Board agendas and meetings.  Additionally, in February of this year, the City oversaw the installation of 78 solar panels at its Front Street pump station which, it is anticipated, will save the City more than $30,000 a year on electricity costs.

“The City already has a significant solar panel installation at its Works Depot and has plans for further installations on some of its other buildings including Pier 6 and Customs House. Additionally, the City has plans to install solar carports on the fourth floor of Bull’s Head car park and the City Hall car park which will offset electricity costs at the Works Depot as well as City Hall.  City technicians are also working hard from an efficiency perspective – carrying out interior renovations such as converting the City’s lighting network to LED and finding innovative ways to reduce HVAC costs.

“We encourage all City taxpayers, be it restaurants, retailers, businesses or residents to all do their part to reduce their consumption during Earth Hour, by switching off non-essential lighting. We are all responsible for the state of our planet and it is up to each and every one of us to do our part to make a difference.”

In a recent interview with Greenrock, General Manager of WEDCO, Andrew Dias shares the numerous ways WEDCO has embarked upon developing properties in the West End sustainably.  Click here to watch the interview.

BELCO, recently impacted by the high profile acquisition of its parent company Ascendant Group Ltd., now owned by Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., is on the cusp of embarking upon a new journey that will see the company culture evolve.  While most appreciate the fact that renewable energy will play some part in their energy mix, few may realize the extent to which sustainability has the potential to redefine the future of their operations.  With that said, we feel positive about what we know of their newly-found direction, and are very pleased to have BELCO as Earth Steward Sponsors again this year.  We are appreciative of the assistance the company has provided us annually with this initiative and look forward to working with its team to find the most effective ways to provide the people of Bermuda with clean, affordable and renewable energy.

Greenrock encourages everyone to tune in to our Earth Hour Live broadcast at 6:30pm and turn off any unnecessary lights from 8:30pm - 9:30pm while taking time to pause and reflect on adopting new behaviours that reduce our carbon footprint, help us live more sustainably, and inspire others to do the same.  Anyone interested in supporting Greenrock or taking part in Earth Hour this year should visit our website www.greenrock.org or contact us via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Please sign our Take Part Form to register your participation. 

Submitted on Friday, March 26th, 2021

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25 March 2021

Greenrock is proud to announce that SailGP - the sport’s pinnacle league that starts its season next month in Bermuda - is supporting its 2021 Earth Hour Campaign this year as an Earth Steward Sponsor. 

SailGP is powered by nature and driven by purpose, and uses its global platform to champion a better world powered by nature, with a focus on accelerating a transition to clean energy. In addition to the partnership, SailGP is committed to full staff participation and encouraging its local partners to take part in the campaign. 

“We are very pleased to have SailGP involved with our campaign this year,” says Greenrock Chairman Eugene Dean. “Having a cutting-edge, international sporting brand advocating with us for nature and sustainability, raises the profile of our efforts and expands the reach of our campaign beyond our shores. Already the relationship has paid dividends, with several local agencies, government departments and participating vendors reaching out to us about Earth Hour as a result of SailGP encouraging them to get actively involved.”  

Established as the first climate positive sport and entertainment property, SailGP recently achieved both the Carbon Neutral International Standard and joined the UN Climate Neutral Now Initiative, plus the international sustainability standard ISO20121 – ensuring it delivers its events to the highest operating standard. While setting new standards and inspiring action globally, SailGP has developed partnerships with a host of other like-minded businesses and organisations, right here in Bermuda.

“Being a league that travels the globe means we need to take a closer look at every aspect of our day-to-day operations, ensuring we’re making decisions that align with our purpose”, says Alexandra Rickham,  SailGP Sustainability Manager. “For instance, at each event we are using solar to help charge the F50 foiling catamarans’ batteries and power the technical areas.”

 “As a climate positive business - we measure, reduce and offset our carbon footprint at every opportunity. Trialling new technology to help reduce our on-water operations is just one of many examples of this”, adds Alexandra.Collaborating with local organisations such as Greenrock, SailGP is, in turn, supported in its efforts to host sustainable events utilising clean energy. The reciprocal relationship of utilising local suppliers to keep their footprint smaller and local economic impact bigger is a winning combination. 

“Holding regular conversations with the SailGP Sustainability Officers has been an enlightening experience for us”, says Eugene. “We have gained a tremendous understanding of the work they do to ensure that inclusion, social consciousness and environmental sustainability are both central to the organisation's mission, and seamlessly integrated into all levels of its operations.”  

“Over time they are eliminating red meat from their menus and are increasing the presence of plant-based options in their meals. Their strict guidelines regarding waste reduction, waste management and waste removal have been developed to ensure that items are separated into various waste streams, reused and recycled, whenever possible, then disposed of correctly at the appropriate waste facility.  All of these initiatives are driven by a commitment to operate more sustainably and as a country there are several opportunities for takeaways from observing and understanding their operations, that we can incorporate in activities we host year round.”

SailGP’s partnerships, that go beyond Bermuda’s shores, have taken an interest in Earth Hour and will be showing their support of the Island’s event. The City of Taranto, Italy – SailGP’s next host city following Bermuda – will be switching off the lights to their City Hall and the lights of one of the main city squares, Piazza Ebalia, as a show of solidarity. 

Recognition surrounding the goodwill of SailGP’s local partners, who play an integral role in SailGP’s Race for the Future agenda, are getting involved in a variety of ways.

Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) - Official Host Partner - It will be ‘one hour, no power’ on Saturday evening at the Hamilton office location. Sharing information across their social feeds, the BTA will encourage others to do their part. The initiative aligns with the organisation’s 2025 aim to guide Bermuda on the path to becoming one of the ‘greenest’ tourist destinations, attracting visitors who value this through more eco-friendly practices and better use of its natural resources as outlined in the Bermuda National Tourism Plan.

Hamilton Princess & Beach Club - Title Partner - Turning off outdoor lights and reducing indoor lighting in public areas inclusive of their restaurants, patrons may experience the bonus of a candlelight dining experience, health and safety permitting. 

WEDCO - Official Venue Partner - Lights will be turned off in the Royal Naval Dockyard in support of Earth Hour as a reminder to take action by living and developing more sustainably. Committed to the environment, the team at WEDCO are dedicated to the preservation of history and the sustainable development of their vested lands. Their solar panel installation project, wastewater treatment facility, electric vehicle recharge zone, reverse osmosis plant, and their LED lighting project are part of the growing list of amazing initiatives undertaken by this group.

BF&M - Official Partner - As well as pledging to support Greenrock, BF&M will be turning off their building lights, encouraging their staff to do the same at home, as a unified effort.

Butterfield - Official Partner - Also an official sponsor of Earth Hour, and with a workforce of over 600 employees, will promote supporting the initiatives within their organisation

Appleby - Official Partner. Official Law Firm of the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix Presented by Hamilton Princess - Will be turning off their outdoor lights and encouraging their employees to turn off all lights in their homes to support Earth Hour and help raise awareness of the importance of our planet.

This year Greenrock will countdown to Earth Hour with a live stream and television broadcast on Saturday, March 27th from 6:30pm to “Lights Out” featuring a youth segment, a community segment and a segment on the green economy.  The two (2) hour program will be streamed live on the Greenrock website, our YouTube Channel and our Facebook Page. For more information please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 441.747.7625.

Submitted on Thursday, March 25th, 2021

Details

23 March 2021

Greenrock is proud to announce that SiriusPoint Ltd. (“SiriusPoint”), a global insurance and reinsurance company, will be the lead sponsor of Earth Hour 2021 in Bermuda.

Earth Hour is one of the world’s largest grassroots movements for the environment, and in 2021 hopes to inspire individuals, businesses, and organizations in over 180 countries and territories to renew their commitment to the planet. The Bermuda event is being organized by Greenrock, which is an island sustainability charity.

SiriusPoint, which was recently formed after the merger of Third Point Reinsurance Ltd. and Sirius International Insurance Group, Ltd., is sponsoring the Bermuda part of a global campaign. Third Point Reinsurance Ltd. was the lead Earth Hour sponsor in 2020. 

The charity will use the sponsorship money to help make Bermuda more sustainable and fund the mid-Atlantic island’s countdown to 2021 Earth Hour campaign which is being held on Saturday March 27 at 6.30 pm AST.

Greenrock Chairman, Eugene Dean said: “We are very thankful for the sponsorship we have received from SiriusPoint and their commitment to being Lead Advocate for our 2021 Earth Hour Campaign. Their generous contribution means the world to us and will go a long way toward supporting our efforts to help make Bermuda more sustainable.

We have very aggressive goals for our organization this year and a variety of programs that have the potential to deliver environmental impact and education where our community needs it most. The level of their sponsorship over the past two years is a clear indication of the confidence they have in the work we are doing, and for that we are both humbled and inspired to do more. We have made it very clear to SiriusPoint how much we appreciate their contribution and, more importantly, their willingness to align themselves with us publicly in an effort to inspire environmental action, encourage greater appreciation for nature, and advocate for an island-wide commitment to engage in strategies and behaviors that lead to the reduction of our dependence on fossil fuels.”

Mark Nash, SiriusPoint Senior Vice President, Enterprise Risk Management and Head of the Charitable Donations Committee, said: “Earth Hour 2021 is designed to raise awareness about the challenges facing our planet and this year’s campaign will focus on reducing our dependency on fossil fuels. We are delighted to be able to sponsor such a worthwhile initiative in Bermuda. At SiriusPoint, we are committed to finding better ways to do things, to collaborating and empowering individuals, and to positively impacting the communities and environments we work in. Greenrock is doing incredible work focusing the Island's community on the challenges we face together, and we are proud that our values align with their mission.” 

This year Greenrock will countdown to Earth Hour with a live stream and television broadcast on Saturday, March 27th from 6:30pm AST to “Lights Out” featuring a youth segment, a community segment and a segment on the green economy.  The two-hour program, which will be broadcast on Bermuda channels ZBM and Channel 82 and streamed live on the Greenrock website, YouTube Channel and Facebook Page, will include:

Young Environmental Leaders

The Eco-Schools Program

Fossil Fuel Energy Generation

The Bermuda Clean Air Coalition

Trash Collection

Composting and Recycling

Electric Vehicles

Solar PV & Battery Storage

We encourage everyone to tune into our Earth Hour Live broadcast at 6:30pm and turn off any unnecessary lights from 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm while taking time to pause and reflect on adopting new behaviors that reduce our carbon footprint, help us live more sustainably, and inspire others to do the same.

Anyone interested in supporting Greenrock or taking part in Earth Hour this year should visit our website www.greenrock.org or contact us via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Please sign our Take Part Form to register your participation. Also feel free to share the links to our commercials and details about our TV broadcast and live stream.

About Greenrock

Greenrock is a Bermuda not-for-profit organization that has been established to engage the community and share solutions for a sustainable island. For more information, please visit our website www.greenrock.org or contact us via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Earth Hour

Born in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has grown to become one of the world's largest grassroots movements for the environment, inspiring individuals, communities, businesses and organizations in more than 180 countries and territories to take tangible environmental action for over a decade. Historically, Earth Hour has focused on the climate crisis, but more recently, Earth Hour has strived to also bring the pressing issue of nature loss to the fore. The aim is to create an unstoppable movement for nature, as it did when the world came together to tackle climate change. The movement recognizes the role of individuals in creating solutions to the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges and harnesses the collective power of its millions of supporters to drive change.

Link to Earth Hour site

Link to Earth Hour 2021 assets for media

About SiriusPoint

SiriusPoint Ltd. (SiriusPoint) is a top 20 global insurer and reinsurer providing solutions to clients and brokers in almost 150 countries. Bermuda-headquartered with offices around the world, we are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (SPNT). We write a global portfolio of Accident and Health, Property, Liability and Specialty business, combining data and creative thinking to underwrite risks with skill and discipline. With over $3 billion total capital, SiriusPoint’s operating companies have a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) from AM Best, S&P and Fitch. For more information, please visit www.siriuspt.com

Source: SiriusPoint Ltd.

 Submitted on Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021