The News Navigators

This is the 85th and, most likely, last episode of The News Navigators. Here Jeremy Deacon, Jonthan Starling and Michael Fahy, the original co-founder, look back on the highlights - and lowlights.

It was hard pressing the stop record button.

In this episode, Dr David Patrick Ryan, President of Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, Dr Chris Fosker, clinicaloncologist and CEO and medical director of Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, and Darren Glasford, a prostate cancer survivor, discuss how the partnership between Mass General Brigham and BCHC is strengthening cancer care for Bermuda.

The conversation centres on a question many Bermudian families understand: what happens when a patient needs world-class specialist treatment but also wants to remain close to home, family and the doctors who know them.

Mr Glasford’s story brings that issue to life. After first learning about PSA testing more than a decade ago, he beganregular screening despite having no symptoms. His PSA levels were monitored for years before further tests eventually led to treatment involving both Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre and Mass General Brigham.

He is now clear and uses his experience to urge men not to wait until something feels wrong before getting checked.

Dr Fosker explains that the BCHC-Mass General Brigham partnership gives Bermudian patients reassurance, continuityand access to highly specialised expertise. Radiation cases are discussed with Mass General Brigham specialists several times a week, with records, treatment plans and clinical decisions reviewed jointly.

The goal, he says, is to provide as much care as possible in Bermuda while ensuring patients can access Boston-basedspecialist treatment when needed.

Dr Ryan describes Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute as a global centre for advanced cancer care, research andtraining, but stresses that the aim is not to pull patients away from home unnecessarily.

Instead, the partnership helps “bring Boston to Bermuda”, supporting local doctors with expert input, new techniquesand evolving standards of care.

Together, the interview highlights the importance of early detection, trust between patient and doctor, and ahealthcare partnership designed to give Bermudians the best possible chance of effective treatment close to home.

Mass General Brigham sponsored this podcast.

Dr Sawalla Guseh, a sports cardiologist at Mass General Brigham and director of fellowship training within theCardiovascular Performance Program at Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Centre, joins The News Navigators for a timely conversation about heart health, exercise, and the risks facing athletes and active people of all ages.

Dr. Guseh explains that his work focuses on caring for athletes with heart disease, or those at risk of developing it, fromelite competitors to recreational runners, triathletes, and “tactical athletes” such as police, fire and military personnel.

The interview explores why younger athletes can sometimes suffer sudden cardiac arrest, often linked to genetic orstructural heart conditions, while older “masters” athletes are more likely to face coronary artery disease, what he memorably describes as problems with the heart’s “plumbing”.

For Bermuda, where sport and outdoor activity are central to community life, his advice is practical and relevant: know your family history, take symptoms seriously, and understand your numbers, including blood pressure, LDL cholesterol and blood sugar.

He also discusses pre-participation screening, the role of EKGs, the dangers of exercising too soon after viral illness, and why athletes should not fear specialist assessment, since sports cardiology is increasingly focused on distinguishing disease from healthy athletic adaptation.

The conversation also widens into everyday prevention: the importance of movement, sleep, stress management, balanced training, and caution around stimulants and supplements.

Through Dr. Guseh’s expertise, the episode showcases the depth of Mass General Brigham’s cardiovascular care and itsability to combine world-class clinical knowledge with highly personalised guidance for athletes, families, and anyone trying to live a longer, healthier life.

Mass General Brigham sponsored this podcast.

In this second podcast about social media use, we speak to Una Walsh-Taylor and Mike Walsh  who founded  SmartphoneFree Childhood Bermuda which wants to delay smartphone use until at least age 14 and social media use until age 16.

It’s a fascinating conversation and one that parents – and Government – should listen to and take on board.

Would you stop children having a smartphone or not? Tell us why.

In this episode of The Full Point, Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, sets out why he believes he is the right person to succeed David Burt as leader of the Progressive Labour Party and, in turn, Premier of Bermuda.

He speaks candidly about controversial statements from his past, discusses how the PLP can broaden its appeal to bothBlack and White voters, and addresses conversations with Housing Minister Zane DeSilva about the leadership contest.

In an exclusive on this podcast last year, Mr DeSilva declared that he was going to run for the leadership, but subsequently changed his mind. It is unclear if he is going to run for the Deputy Leadership role.

Mr Hayward also shares his views on Iran and the potential impact of the war on Bermuda, and explains why he does notsupport holding a referendum on joining Caricom.

What happens when Bermuda’s environment is treated as more than just scenery?

In our latest conversation, Myles Darrell of the Bermuda National Trust talks about the real pressures facing Bermuda’snatural spaces — from Southlands and open space protection to invasive species, littering, and the growing need for stronger biosecurity.

What stands out is that this is not just a policy discussion. It is also about community, family, education, and the kind of Bermuda we want to leave behind.

Myles brings both credibility and calm urgency to the conversation. He highlights why places like Southlands matter,why threats like red imported fire ants should concern everyone, and how practical conservation work — including youth eco clubs, cedar planting, and community engagement — can make a difference.

This is a thoughtful reminder that protecting Bermuda’s environment is not separate from protecting quality of life, tourism, and national identity. It is all connected.

Should children under the age of 16 be banned from social media, or is a delay with stronger safeguards the better answer?

In this special roundtable episode of The News Navigators, the conversation explores the growing debate around a possible social media ban for young people, inspired by moves in places like Australia and wider discussions in the UK and US.

The discussion looks at the real harms linked to youth social media use, including addiction, anxiety, low self-esteem, cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, online grooming, sleep disruption, and the pressure of algorithm-driven validation.

A key theme is that social media platforms are designed to keep young users engaged, often exploiting developing brains that are more vulnerable to impulse, comparison, and peer approval.

Rather than supporting a simple ban, the main view in this episode is that the issue is more complex. The focus shouldbe on whether children are emotionally and developmentally ready for social media, and on building a stronger system of protection around them.

That includes parent education, digital literacy, resilience training for young people, school and community support,government action, and greater accountability for tech companies and platforms.

The episode also explores the tension between child safety, freedom, parental responsibility, platform responsibility, and government regulation.

While age restrictions may help, the panel argues that bans alone are unlikely to work because young people often findways around them. The stronger solution may be a combination of education, open communication, digital wellness, and platform reform.

This is a thoughtful discussion on one of the biggest parenting and policy questions of our time: how to protect childrenonline without pushing the problem further underground.

Tell us what you think: email [email protected]

In this episode Jonathan and Jeremy agree to disagree over the Caricom Green Paper published by the Bermuda Government – find out why.

Does it set out the pros and cons? Does it do enough to inform people? Is it a Government fait accomplis and really a White Paper in disguise?

Also, homelessness in Bermuda is on the rise again. We talk about the need to get behind the Plan to End Homelessness, which appears to have dropped off the radar, and how Government need to get a champion to ensure all ministries are working as one to ensure an end to this issue.

In this episode of The News Navigators, Jeremy Deacon and Jonathan Starling start with the Iran war and what it couldmean for Bermuda.

Jonathan argues the conflict is an illegal “war of choice” that undermines international law and future diplomacy, whileJeremy agrees on the illegality but pushes back on whether the nature of Iran’s regime matters.

They then move from geopolitics to pocketbook impact: longer fighting in the Middle East could drive up oil andnatural gas prices, disrupt key shipping routes (including the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea risks), and push up the cost of importing goods into Bermuda.

The hosts warn that higher fuel costs would likely raise the Belco bill, increase grocery and commodity prices, and squeeze households—especially working people.

They also discuss knock-on effects for tourism: more expensive flights and cruises, plus less disposable income insource markets like the US, Canada, the UK, and Europe, could mean fewer visitors.

They speculate about elevated security and cyber-risk in a wider conflict environment, and note Bermuda’s vulnerability as a “price taker,” arguing for more energy resilience, local food production where possible, and diversified import routes.

Next, they unpack the AllShores decision to restrict where certain high-cost prescriptions can be filled—directing clientsto Phoenix pharmacies for medicines such as GLP-1 treatments (e.g., Ozempic/Mounjaro/Wegovy), biologics, and oncology therapies.

They outline AllShore’s justification that these drugs drive a large share of costs despite a small share of prescriptions, but highlight concerns raised by independent pharmacies anddoctors about patient choice, medication safety, administrative burden, and the risk of further market concentration.

They also point to Bermuda’s lack of modern antitrust/competition legislation as a recurring issue.

Finally, they tee up the OBA’s budget reply and whether it can win an election and believe that although it has some goodpoints, it is in the shadow of a sweetheart, stimulus budget delivered by the Government.

In this wide-ranging interview, Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, is pressed on two political talking points: the PLP leadership transition and the still-simmering Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) controversy.

On PLP leadership, Mr Darrell says the party leader, David Burt, will be missed but stresses the PLP has depth andpublic confidence after recent election wins.

He notes the leader is not stepping down immediately, pushing back on the idea that “he’s going tomorrow”, and acknowledges how early announcements can create a vacuum and speculation.

Asked if he will run, Mr Darrell is clear: he is not putting his name forward. Instead, he frames leadership as daily service — running a large ministry, appointing multiple boards, and working his constituency regularly — while keeping his support behind the current leader for the months remaining.

He also reacts to the emerging leadership picture, calling the Hayward/De Silva move  “bold” and describing the jockeying and “will you, won’t you” politics that typically surrounds leadership contests. While he avoids endorsing anyone, he confirms the party’s formal process will determine the field and timing.

On the BTA row, Mr Darrell defends why concerns were escalated, saying he acted because he was hearing distressdirectly from people and felt it was his duty to ensure complaints reached the board. He rejects the “threatening” label but admits he was firm, and he reiterates that the BTA board operates independently once appointed.

As the Minister responsible for road safety, he is also put on the spot about what the Government is doing. See if you agree with what he said.