Agenda

Town Managers Report

Committee Reports

- Finance
- Infrastructure
- Governance
- Activities

The next meeting will be on the last Thursday of September, which will be 23 September. If you have any questions, please visit our website or email the Town Manager, Ms Candy-Lee Foggo.

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Resolutions

The Corporation of St George acknowledges Labour  

Few realize how important labour is to the Town of St George — stonework, engineering, sanitation, gardening and more.

Local Origins

Labour Day, commonly known as International Workers Day or May Day, is a public holiday that is celebrated by many countries throughout the world, dating back to the latter part of the 19th century

It is a celebration of labourers and the working-class members of society, the fight for fair payment of wages and the shortening of a regular working day from 12 to 14 hours to a workday of eight hours. 

The spirit of that holiday is fully reflected in the Bermudian version, which celebrates Labour Day on the same day as its North American neighbours, Canada and the United States.

The holiday was first formally celebrated in 1982.  In 1981 the late MP Eugene Cox proposed legislation on the floor of the House of Assembly to celebrate Labour Day on May 1st as an official holiday. The motion was subsequently amended and adopted into law by the Bermuda Government to celebrate Labour Day on the first Monday in September.

International Origins

Observed the first Monday in September, Labour Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labour activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.

 Who first proposed the holiday for workers (In America)? It’s not entirely clear, but two workers can make a solid claim to the Founder of Labour Day title.

Some records show that in 1882, Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labour, suggested setting aside a day for a "general holiday for the labouring classes" to honour those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labour Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that machinist Matthew Maguire, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, New Jersey, proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.

According to the New Jersey Historical Society, after President Cleveland signed the law creating a national Labor Day, the Paterson Morning Call published an opinion piece stating that "the souvenir pen should go to Alderman Matthew Maguire of this city, who is the undisputed author of Labor Day as a holiday." Both Maguire and McGuire attended the country’s first Labor Day parade in New York City that year. 

The St. George's
Town Library

Location

“The first home of the St. George’s Branch Library was built by ex-pirate George Dew in 1703. The cottage was used as a library from 1951 to 1968. In recent years, another historic house, Stuart Hall, 5 Queen Street, has served as the St. George’s Branch Library.” “Recent years” would have been April 1968 until 1992 when both branch libraries (‘Stuart Hall’ and ‘Springfield’ in Somerset) were shut down.

Learn more: the Bermuda Library’s 150^th Anniversary Stamp issue (1989 150th Anniversary of the Bermuda Library - Bermuda Stamps)

The Town Librarian

One of key Library Assistants who worked at Stuart Hall was Mrs. Leitha Trott, while additional staff also shared duties as needed.

Past Library Services

The branch library offered circulating and reference books (including Bermuda books) to any Library member who visited the branch.

Current Library Services

Outreach and Book Delivery Services are available. This service continued through the past 18 months as regulations permitted.  Please note that the Mobile Library started operation in 1993 and continued until 1998 and used to park at Ordnance Island once a week. The new outreach van started services in 2008 and, as noted above, continues today.

While there are several books about Bermuda’s early settlement, books that focus on St. George’s include:

• “Architectural heritage. St. George's” by The Bermuda National Trust. Bermuda : The Bermuda National Trust, c1998.
• “Guide to the historic towne of St. George, Bermuda” by David F. Raine. Bermuda :­ Longtail Publishers,­ c1971.
• “Historic Town of St. George and related fortifications :  management plan” prepared by the Corporation of St. George ... [et al.]. Bermuda : The Corporation, 2000. 

Flag Nation

Ordnance Island, St, George's, Bermuda.

There has been much discussion about the placement of flags at Ordnance Island.  We help demystify the choice.  

The Corporation of St George undertook a project to revitalize Ordnance Island and give it historical relevance by integrating elements of our shared history. In one area, Flag Nation, we visually acknowledge this by placing flags.

Seven Nations flag poles represents Bermuda and the primary nations that form our heritage.

Bermuda • United Kingdom • United States
Canada • Portugal • Ghana • Angola

Business in the Spotlight

Bermuda Smart Tours (App)

Video Interview with Mr. Calix Todd, President. Download for Android devices: Google Play Store

Shop & Stroll

Plan your whole evening around being in St George. We have lots to offer, and you will experience the best of local hospitality and customer service.