curious as to the contents of rum bottles he brought to Bermuda.

Former Kingston, Jamaica, resident Clifton Hopeton Morrison, 38, took the stand in his own defence against charges of possession of cocaine with intent to supply, importing cocaine, and an alternative charge of knowingly handling cocaine.

Morrison said the decision to come to Bermuda was made after his auto spares company fell into financial trouble and he had fallen behind in his taxes and rent.

Morrison said he met a man called Jabba one day after a bus ride to the parish of Westmoreland. "Each time I went there I went with him and discuss basically business,'' said Morrison.

He said he told Jabba of his monthly visits to Miami to buy auto parts.

One day he said Jabba, who he had known for only six months, made him an offer.

He testified Jabba told him some person owed him money in Bermuda and he would like it collected. Morrison said Jabba also was to give him two bottles of rum to take to Kathy Tait.

"I told him that I would like to take the bottles but I had prior obligations,'' said Morrison.

But three weeks later Morrison said he contacted Jabba to ask if the deal was still on.

Prior to leaving Jamaica, Morrison said he met Jabba and discussed the matter with him.

"I looked at the seal of the rum bottles and they looked intact,'' Morrison added.

He said Jabba gave him the address of Kathy Tait and told him she works at Loughlands Guest House.

Morrison said Jabba met him at Kentucky Fried Chicken in Mobay the day before his flight for further talks. The next day the rum was brought to the airport in Montego Bay to him by Jabba in a duty-free card box.

He told the court he asked Jabba if the bottles were okay and if he was sure there was no cocaine inside; Jabba replied they were okay, he said.

Upon arriving to Bermuda, Morrison told authorities the bottles were his and he purchased them as a gift for Kathy Tait.

Morrison told his lawyer, Victoria Pearman, some of the things he said to the Police were not entirely true.

He said he did not know he was arrested by the Police and was never told so.

He said no person read him his rights and questions were put to him before a Police interview. These allegation were refuted earlier by officers involved in the case.

The trial continues today in Supreme Court before Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller. Sandra Bacchus is prosecuting.