Service to celebrate Rosa Parks

An Interfaith Service at Hamilton?s Cathedral will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the protest action of the late American civil rights campaigner Rosa Parks on Thursday.

The service has been organised by the committee of Imagine Bermuda 2009, which is planning to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the the settlement of the Island and the 50th anniversary of the theatre boycott in four years. Glenn Fubler, co-chair of IB2009, said the achievements of Mrs. Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a bus in Alabama in 1955 has resonant parallels with the local theatre protest which helped to make a better Bermuda.

The programme at the Cathedral will include the participation of children from all of Bermuda?s senior schools, in recognition of the fact that Mrs. Parks dedicated the last three decades of her life to the development of young people.

At a Press conference to publicise the event, 16-year-old Bermuda High School student Lizzie Thompson said: ?This will give us an opportunity to reflect on the action of Rosa Parks as an example of the power of one and a source of inspiration and encouragement for each of us to play some part in enhancing our corner of the world.?

The Interfaith Service will be held between 12.30 and 1.30 p.m.

Teen arrested after hit and run accident

Police arrested a teenager following a hit and run on a pedestrian. A 53-year-old man was crossing Dundonald Street on Thursday afternoon when he was floored by a black car which didn?t stop.

The car was later found at Fort Hamilton with three people inside. One ran off but Police arrested a 17-year-old boy on outstanding warrants. Inquiries are continuing. The accident victim suffered minor injuries but refused medical attention.

Brothers must pay over $9,000 in damages

Three brothers were found guilty of ?chopping? a car and released on absolute discharge, but they must pay approximately $9,000 in reparations. Marlon, Stevon and Devon Rewan, ages 34, 30 and 27 respectively, were charged with wilfully damaging an orange Subaru on November 29, 2003.

The car is owned by Leanne Samuels and was being used by her son at the time. The incident took place after Marlon was knocked unconscious and robbed of several items after in the early hours of November 29 near Captain?s Lounge by Kenneth Caines and Ryan Burgess. Marlon and his brothers took matters into their own hands that evening and arrived at the Devon Lane resident of Ryan Burgess and demanded he return the stolen property, Burgess did so.While the brothers were leaving his home Kenneth Caines arrived in a friend?s car.

An intense period of shouting and arguing broke out between the young men, which quickly turned violent. The driver of the car was not involved in the robbery or the violence that erupted on Devon Lane. There are many versions of who lashed out with a machete first, the brothers contend Caines did while Caines claims they did. Eventually Caines sought refuge in the Subaru and the brothers started ?chopping? and throwing things at the car.

The fight resulted in several of the young men being rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, including Stevon Rewan, who received a machete wound to the head, and Devon Rewan, who was cut on his right hand. During Caines? trial for two counts of wounding with the intent to do grievous bodily harm Insp. Simon Groves said he arrived on the scene and saw all three Rewan brothers using weapons and causing damage to the Subaru car Caines was sitting in.

Their lawyers Shade Subair and Allan Doughty said the brothers did not pose any risk to the community and had taken responsibility for their actions and assisted Police during Caines? trial.

Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney told the court that in light of the preceding incident and that the defendants were provoked, he did not recommend a custodial sentence. Mr. Mahoney recommended the men be required to pay reparations. Pusine Judge Charles-Etta Simmons agreed with Mr. Mahoney?s submission and handed down an absolute discharge and told them to pay back the $9,262.10 worth of damages.