Winds force cancellation of flights to Island

Saturday's gale force winds caused the cancellation of two airlines.

Bermuda International Airport general manager James Howes said the Delta flight, out of Atlanta, and the Continental flight, from Newark, did not land.

"The winds were 45 miles per hour for most of the afternoon," said Mr. Howes.

"But the BA (British Airways) flight landed okay because the winds had decreased."

He said everything was back to normal yesterday.

Minister condemns attack on waste collector

Three men assaulted a 28-year-old Government waste collector as he carried out his duties in Pembroke on Tuesday.

The three men attacked the Hamilton Parish man with a bicycle handlebar, a baseball bat and concrete block while the man was collecting trash on Middle Town Lane, Pembroke. He received head injuries that required hospital treatment as a result of the attack.

Yesterday, Works and Engineering Minister Ashfield DeVent released a statement concerning the attack.

He said the Ministry "deplores the actions of individuals who carried out this assault" and called on witnesses to contact Police.

"It is important that our staff members should be able to carry out their duties in a safe environment without interference or fear of incidents such as this," he said.

The press release added that although the Ministry did not want to interfere with the Police investigation they wanted to make it known that the assailants would be prosecuted for the injuries caused to the employee and damage caused to the vehicle.

Tender open for airport Sand bar

The bar in the US departures lounge at the Bermuda International Airport is out for tender as the current operators plan to focus on their other airport services.

Airport General Manager James Howes said the current operators of the Sand Bar, Bermuda Aircraft Services, also handle ground servicing and the company wanted to "concentrate" on their other airport services.

"The Sand Bar is very popular so we are looking for a top notch company to take over," Mr. Howes said.

The bar will still be operational until a new company takes over, Mr. Howes added.

Renovations had to be made to the bar after that area of the airport was severely hit by Hurricane Fabian.

Mr. Howes added that remodelling was welcome but the bar would remain in the same location.

Proposal packages can be collected at the Department of Airport Operations and should be collected before March 16. The closing date for proposals must be submitted by April 2.

VIPawards recognise helpful mariners

Mariners who went the extra mile to help the Island's tourists have been recognised as winners in the Visitor Industry Partnership (VIP) awards.

Shannon Outerbridge, the Corporation of St. George's works supervisor, and Michael Baxter, the owner of the charter boat Ellen B, were nominated by visitors for their outstanding service.

Mr. Baxter was named first quarter winner in the VIP awards for 2003/04, and Mr. Outerbridge took the nomination for the second quarter.

Both enjoyed lunch on Thursday with Tourism Minister Renee Webb and could be named the Island's outstanding tourism ambassador at the VIP Sunshine at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel in May.

Mr. Outerbridge was nominated by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence D'Aloise for his warm an generous behaviour.

They said: "You have taken our family on fishing trips and have toured them all around Bermuda and you have even invited them to your home for dinner on more than one occasion".

Mr. Baxter was commended by Mrs. Paul Caudhill who wrote how he "went out of way to make sure everyone was OK and enjoying themselves" on the Ellen B.

Hamilton Parish nursery planned

Plans were submitted to the Department of Planning to change a residence into a nursery at 194 North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish.

Dennis Bean hopes to turn the house Callan Glen into a nursery catering to 75 full time children and 30 to 35 children in need of after school care.

He plans on having seven teachers and one driver/maintenance person.

The hours of operation for the nursery will be from 7 a.m. until 6.30 p.m. Monday through Friday and flexible on weekends depending on activities planned, said Mr. Bean.

The department is in the process of reviewing the plans.

Break-in in Pembroke

A thief stole a DVD player and $40 in cash from a Pembroke home yesterday morning.

A Police spokesman said the complainants of Mount Hill Mews said that sometime between 8 p.m. on Saturday and 12.35 a.m. on Sunday someone broke into their apartment and stole a black Toshiba DVD player and cash.

Meanwhile, a visitor living in a guest property, on Sandy Mount Lane, Warwick, said that someone had stolen a black wallet containing approximately $500 in cash and a packet of cigarettes.

The complainant told officers that the incident happened sometime between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Herbalist to speak today

A veteran herbalist from Jamaica will be speaking today at a two part event entitled "A Celebration of our Uniqueness: By Us, For Us, About Us."

Rashan Abdul Hakim will speak about the "noble virtues of African holistic health" said a press release from organisers Nicole Stovell and Eugene Dean.

Mr. Hakim will be speaking from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the BIU's Dr. E.F. Gordon Hall. Admission is $15 and tickets are available at Emperial Group and the Queen of Sheba Tradepost.

For more information about the events call 292-4341.

Pillion passenger has purse snatched

A Pembroke woman had her handbag snatched as she was riding as a pillion passenger on Thursday night.

The driver of the auxiliary cycle was attempting to turn right on to Berkeley Road from St. John's Road in Pembroke when two men on a green Honda Scoopy rode alongside and the pillion passenger grabbed the 27-year-old Pembroke woman's purse.

The woman and her friend attempted to chase after the suspects but the men sped off to North Shore in the direction of Spanish Point.

The woman described the suspects as two black males in their late teens or early 20's, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, both were wearing dark coloured jackets and pants. One of the suspects was wearing a hood over his head under the helmet.

She told the Police that the purse contained $25 in cash and other personal items.