get his life back on track before he was led away to prison for two-and-a-half years. ---- Page 2 DIGGINS CASE CHARGES DROPPED CTS Diggins case charges dropped The Crown yesterday dropped charges of stealing and obtaining money by false pretences during the fraud trial of a senior bank executive. ---- Page 3 INSURANCE IN THE SPOTLIGHT CON BUC Insurance in the spotlight The Bermuda Insurance Symposium reconvenes this morning at the Southampton Princess Hotel for a second day of deliberations on issues affecting the insurance and reinsurance industry.

Symposium chairman Robin Spencer-Arscot yesterday led off the first day of panel discussions by noting that the conference had attracted 30 percent more participants and speakers than the previous one held two years ago. ---- Business, Pages 14 and 17 BUDGET FOCUS GIBBONS CHALLENGES RETAILERS HOA TAX Budget Focus Gibbons challenges retailers Bermuda's struggling shop owners have been thrown a Budget challenge -- to lower their prices. Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said shop prices should be lowered in response to Customs duty cuts. ---- Page 7 DILL: IT'S AN EDUCATION BUDGET ED TAX HOA Dill: It's an education budget Education Minister Jerome Dill yesterday gave Government top marks for keeping the public school system a high priority in its 1997/98 budget. ---- Page 8 ECONOMY TIPPED TO GROW IN '97 BUC Economy tipped to grow in '97 Government analysts predict further growth in Bermuda's economy during the year, with growth in gross domestic product projected at five percent. ---- Business, Page 13 SPORTS GETS BUDGET CASH BOOST SP Sports get Budget cash boost Government's new Budget for 1997-98 has earmarked an additional $276,000 for a wide range of programmes within the Ministry of Youth and Sport. ---- Sport, Page 25