The Governor of Bermuda is appointed by His Majesty The King on the advice of the British Prime Minister and holds office during His Majesty’s pleasure. The Governor is responsible for upholding the Bermuda Constitution.
Responsibilities of the Governor of Bermuda
Under Section 62 of the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968, the Governor’s primary responsibilities in Bermuda include external affairs, defence (including the armed forces), internal security and the police. The Governor is the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Bermuda Regiment.
Governors are expected to observe international obligations and to protect key values, such as the independence of the Judiciary, the political impartiality of the public service and integrity in the administration of justice. The Governor works closely with the elected Government of Bermuda and meets weekly with the Premier.
View list of previous Governors of Bermuda.
Governor of Bermuda's biography
Her Excellency Ms Rena Lalgie was sworn in as the Governor and Commander-in Chief on 14 December 2020. Before that Her Excellency was Director at HM Treasury where she was responsible for implementing and enforcing financial sanctions. Her Excellency’s previous experience includes drugs policy, public spending, regulatory policy, international trade, economic growth and national security having worked in various UK government departments.
Governor Lalgie was an active member of her community in London where she had served as a magistrate for many years, was the Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors at an inner London primary school and a member of her church finance committee. Governor Lalgie is living in Bermuda with her husband Jacob and their two daughters.
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The Deputy Governor of Bermuda
The Deputy Governor is appointed by the Governor in pursuance of instructions given by His Majesty The King through the Secretary of State and holds office during His Majesty’s pleasure. The Deputy Governor acts as Governor during any period when the office of Governor is vacant or the Governor is absent from Bermuda.
Outside of those times, the Deputy Governor chairs or is a member of various committees charged with work under the broad responsibilities of the Governor. The Deputy Governor represents the Governor on the Defence Board and the Emergency Measures Organisation Executive Committee and works with the Bermuda Government on a wide range of issues.
As a UK employee of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Deputy Governor is also responsible to the Governor for ensuring that Bermuda meets the international obligations that the United Kingdom has assumed on its behalf, such as marine, aviation, environment and human rights issues.
Deputy Governor of Bermuda’s biography
Mr Tom Oppenheim was sworn in as Deputy Governor of Bermuda in May 2022.
Prior to coming to Bermuda, Mr Oppenheim served as Counsellor for Press, Public diplomacy and Programmes, at the British Embassy in Moscow. He has served in the British Diplomatic Service since 2006 in a variety of roles covering Economic, Politico-Military, Political, Human Rights and Press work. He has served as Deputy High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, twice at the British Embassy Moscow, and in the British Embassy in Zimbabwe. Before joining the Diplomatic service Tom worked as a financial advisor in the UK.
He is accompanied on this posting by his wife, Elmarie, and their three teenaged children.
Government House
Government House is the official residence of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief and is located in 33-acres of open space in Pembroke Parish. It is also a working office for 13 people employed as executive, secretarial and domestic staff who work with the Governor and Deputy Governor enabling them to work in harmony with the community in the exercise of their duties as set out in the Constitution for a stable, prosperous and well-governed Bermuda.
Due to major renovations required at Government House, the Governor and Staff have temporarily located to a property in Paget.
PATI Statement
Office of the Governor's Public Access to Information statement