Bermudian soldier in Iraq, Sgt. Jason DiGiacomo, has not mentioned the capture of Saddam Hussein to his parents - despite having spoken with them twice since the former Iraqi president was found in a hole in the ground.

However, life does not appear to have changed much for soldiers in Iraq, with attacks still taking place almost daily.

“He was tired,” said Sgt. DiGiacomo's mother, Margaret DiGiacomo. “He's very busy, they're doing maintenance on their vehicles and so on. He's good, but everything's still going on.”

Her son was not in the area north of Baghdad where US troops captured the former Iraqi dictator, she said. “He was still at base camp.

“He called on the Tuesday (after the capture). He didn't say much. He didn't say anything about the capture - he didn't say if he couldn't speak to it or not, he just didn't say anything.”

The DiGiacomos themselves are relieved at the capture, feeling it helps justify what their son is doing and is a sign of progress.

However, Mrs. DiGiacomo added: “We won't breathe a sigh of relief until he is out of there and safe.”

Too early for stats

Police have been unable to release any early details to the media of seatbelt-related offences in 2004.

New legislation which could bring fines of up to $2,100 for those failing to buckle up was introduced at the beginning of this year but a Police spokesman was unable to say if anyone had yet fallen foul of the new law.

Road closed

Cemetery Road closed for traffic yesterday - a situation which could last up to 16 months as BELCO prepares to add two new engines to its plant.

They will add an additional 29 megawatts of power to help cope with growing electricity demand.

Cemetery Road is expected to re-open by April next year with the new engines expected to be operating by summer 2005.

The road is closed between Cemetery Lane and the north side of Gorham's bridge. Businesses with access to Cemetery Road are Gorham's, Animal and Garden House, CNC Automated Carpentry, Adventure Travel, TreeCon Ltd and Central Filing.

In the pink

Pink Beach Club is planning to build an extra ten tourist units, taking its room count up to 104.

The project, which will cost between $2 and $3 million, will be ready for the 2005 season if planning permission is granted, said Pink Beach president Michael Williams.

The company is hoping to build two suites and eight junior suites overlooking the beach and the lake on the South Shore, Smith's, property.

Mr. Williams said if planning permission is granted, he hopes construction work will begin in March or April and be completed for the following year.