February 4: Government announced a schedule of events to celebrate Bermuda's 400th anniversary in 2009.

They included hosting the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge in June and a memorial in July to mark the wrecking of the Sea Venture in 1609.

An international military tattoo, Portuguese festival, a museum to mark 400 years of agriculture and a new interpretation of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', were also in the pipeline.

Opposition MP Mark Pettingill (Warwick West) provoked controversy by criticising the PLP's "indoctrination" of young people.

Mr. Pettingill claimed Government's 2007 election campaign was racially divisive and said: "The PLP is on a campaign of mass indoctrination, certainly if you give them their mass rally gatherings."

He added: "Standing there with the Black Panther salute and plantation rhetoric isn't going to lead to a harmonious future in this country."

The Senior Abuse Register Act 2008 was tabled in the House of Assembly.

Anyone abusing seniors either mentally, physically or financially could face three years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000.

Government was to consult the public on a national energy policy to make the Island more sustainable.

Offshore wind turbines and domestic micro-renewable sources such as photovoltaic panels were among the suggestions to reduce the Island's dependence on oil.

Following a public consultation period, Government pledged to produce a Green Paper outlining the national policy to go forward.

Bermuda's Antonio Pierce was on the winning side as the wildcard New York Giants denied the New England Patriots a 'perfect season' in the US Super Bowl.

The linebacker made a series of important tackles to help take his side to victory. If the Patriots had won they would have been only the second team in history, after the 1972 Miami Dolphins, to go an entire season without defeat. Sports Minister El James declared Pierce a "national hero".

February 8: The Voters' Rights Association (VRA) wrote to the UK's Foreign Affairs Committee questioning the results of the 2007 General Election.

The VRA accused the Parliamentary Registrar's Office of inaccuracies in voter registration. It also called for an independent Election Commission and reform of the Parliamentary Election Act.

The letter raised 22 "areas of concern" ahead of the FAC's visit to Bermuda as part of an audit of the UK's 14 overseas territories.

Geoff Parker, VRA co-chairman, accused the Parliamentary Registrar of "an eight to ten percent error" and called for a Voters' Bill of Rights.

"The system doesn't work, so let's fix it before the next election," he said.

However, Parliamentary Registrar Randy Scott said: "I am quite irritated by it all."

School results were to be made public by next year.

Education Minister Randolph Horton pledged the results of curriculum exams would be released to the public from 2009, as part of the review of the public education system and calls for more accountability.

February 12: An Energy Department was created in response to soaring oil prices.

Terry Lister was appointed Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce. He said he wanted to see the Green Paper on a national energy policy within a year, and that environmental groups would also have an input.

Mr. Lister said Bermuda was spending $100 million a year on oil just to produce its electricity the equivalent of $1,500 per person.

February 14: Residents in Pembroke launched a protest group against Belco's plans to expand its central power plant.

The Bermuda Energy Alternative Taskforce (BEAT) announced it would examine alternative energy sources and called on Government to defer a decision on Belco's planning application until the Green Paper went before "Parliament and the People".

Belco said it needed two new power stations and three more emissions stacks in order to meet the growing demand for power. The $200 million project was scheduled to take place in phases over the next 23 years.

February 21: A water shortage engulfed the Island, forcing residents to adopt a 'Blitz spirit'.

Up to 300 people were forced to wait several days to refill their tanks, while Government urged the community to adopt conservation measures.

The spell of dry weather led to many homes running dry, with the Island experiencing less than half its normal rainfall since the start of December 2007.

Government advised people to avoid cleaning cars, using dishwashers or taking baths until the crisis was over.

Russ Ford, vice president of the Bermuda Water Truckers' Association, said: "It is a crisis, we definitely have a water crisis.

"Usually at this time of year we receive more than five inches, but right now the rainfall is not even an inch."

He said: "Usually this is our slowest part of the year but at the moment, people are having to wait four to five days for water. Some have been so desperate they've been pooling resources and going around to someone else's house to have a bath."

Mr. Ford called for more Government investment into its outlets and plants, some of which were described as "old and beleaguered".

A few days later the truckers raised the cost of delivery to $70, blaming breakdowns in infrastructure for the rise.

February 22: Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, David Burch, said the parents of children accused of crimes should go on trial as well.

Senator Burch said although he was expressing his personal views, he was looking to steer the proposal into law.

"I am of the view that particularly in cases of young people and children, we adults are responsible and we are certainly exploring... having the ability to hold parents accountable," he told a press conference.

"For instance, if a child is charged with a crime it is my view that the parent should be standing in the dock charged with them and that is what we are exploring."

Sen. Burch said the idea could go to Cabinet and if approved, could result in legal amendments.

Shadow Attorney General Mark Pettingill however, said making parents responsible for their children's crimes was "nonsense and would never work".

February 25: Anti-draft campaigners had their day in court as lawyers for 14 men in Bermudians Against the Draft (BAD) argued conscription was illegal.

BAD hoped to outlaw the draft through the Supreme Court case, arguing conscription was also a breach of human rights. It claimed conscripts suffered physical and emotional ill-treatment at the Bermuda Regiment's Warwick Camp and said it wanted to see a paid voluntary force instead.

The Regiment's Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. William White, called the claims "complete and utter nonsense".

February 26: Minister of Works and Engineering, Derrick Burgess, announced a U-turn over the cement silos at Dockyard, further adding to the controversy.

Mr. Burgess said the new company operating the silos would not be required to dismantle its equipment or move the plant for at least five months. He admitted a lease on the twin silo site had been extended by Wedco until June 30, and later clarified the lease had been signed by new company Maxcem and not the former Bermuda Cement Company (BCC).

The Minister would not clarify whether the owners of Maxcem were BCC shareholders Dennis Correia, Chris Shanks and Paul Simons.

Jim Butterfield, BCC's former majority shareholder, sold his shares in the company to Mr. Correia, Mr. Shanks and Mr. Simons in December 2007, after months of controversy over the silos.

Wedco had told Mr. Butterfield to demolish the silos, rebuild the plant at a new site and then sign a 20-year lease. It also wanted him to open 20 percent of the company to the public.

Mr. Butterfield refused, saying it would cost anywhere from $12-15 million to rebuild the plant. He and the other six BCC shareholders sold their shares to Mr. Correia, Mr. Shanks and Mr. Simons in December.

Commenting on the U-turn, Mr. Butterfield said: "I think the whole thing stinks. Their mandate was to kick us out so it doesn't surprise me at all with the behaviour. The only shock is that they are admitting it now."

February 27: Cooper's Island was to become a $7 million "living museum".

The nature reserve and former NASA tracking station was officially announced the Cooper's Island National Nature Reserve. Classed as a national park together with Clearwater Beach, it was to be transformed over the next eight years into a "living museum" and eco-tourism destination, with guided walks, scuba diving, bird watching, kayaking and whale watching.

February 29: The Masterworks Foundation officially opened its Museum of Bermuda Art in the Botanical Gardens, after years of preparation.s