in February.

Inflationary increases were recorded in tobacco and liquor products (up 3.2 percent), fuel and power (up 0.3 percent), household goods and services (up 0.3 percent) and rent (up 0.2 percent).

The increases were countered by a 0.2 percent decline in food prices and 0.1 percent declines in transport and vehicles, education, recreation and reading and health and personal care products.

CASH IN MONEY POUCH STOLEN FROM VAN CRM A Flatts Hill resident reported he left his insecure van for about 30 minutes on Sunday and returned to find someone had stolen his money pouch.

It had contained about $40 cash together with credit cards and other personal items.

The pouch and some contents were later recovered nearby but the cash was missing, Police said.

BEER PROVES TO BE EXPENSIVE FOR MAN CTS Llewellyn Douglas paid a high price this week for a drink of beer. He was fined $50 by Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis for drinking in Court Street on April 2.

Douglas, of Curving Avenue, Pembroke, admitted the offence.

POLICE CATCH DRUNK DRIVER AFTER CHASE CTS Motorists took evasive action as drunk driver Stanley Perinchief-Woods led Police on a high-speed chase.

Officers sped after the 29-year-old when he failed to stop in Reid Street, Magistrates' Court heard.

They chased him through several Hamilton streets, and through the Bull's Head car park.

Said Sgt. Earl Kirby, prosecuting: "Motorists had to get away to avoid a collision.'' He added Perinchief-Woods admitted to Police he had drunk two bottles of beer.

The incident occurred in March this year, said Sgt. Kirby.

Perinchief-Woods, of Marsh Folly Road, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to driving while impaired.

He also admitted failing to stop for Police, driving an unlicensed vehicle, and having no insurance and licence.

In addition, Perinchief-Woods pleaded guilty to making a false statement to Police.

This related to a separate incident in the early hours last October.

Perinchief-Woods gave someone else's name when stopped by Police in Warwick, said Sgt. Kirby.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis fined Perinchief-Woods $1,500, and ordered him off the road for 12 months.

VISITORS INJURED AFTER LOSING CONTROL AC Two visitors were injured on Sunday in a single vehicle accident after the driver lost control on a turn.

The passenger, a 29-year-old New York woman, suffered head injuries. Police said she was detained in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment.

The accident, which occurred about 6 p.m. near the junction of Turtle Bay Crescent, saw the male driver suffer abrasions.

WARNING OVER BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS CRM Police have advised people not to give out details of their bank accounts to people writing letters from other countries, notably Nigeria.

"These letters are undoubtedly part of a scam and we would strongly advise not to divulge such details,'' Police spokesman Sgt. Gary Venning said this week.

"It appears several letters of this nature have been received recently and we would like, once again, to warn the public to be on their guard.'' The letters have been sent mostly to commercial institutions.

THIEVES STEAL THREE CELLULAR PHONES CRM Thieves smashed a window at a Brunswick Street business on Sunday night and made off with three cellular telephones from a display case.

But Police said the culprits would probably be disappointed as the phones were unusable display items.

The break-in occurred at the Cellular Centre around 9 p.m.

HEALTH WARNING OVER FOOD POISONING HTH Summer is traditionally a time of picnics and parties, barbecues, and camping, but it also a time when health officials report an increase in illnesses brought about by food poisoning.

Chief environmental officer Mrs. Estlyn Harvey told the The Royal Gazette her department has become concerned about the number of cases which have increased over the past two years.

While unable to provide figures, Mrs. Harvey said the numbers of people who have started their own home businesses selling cooked food and lunches were particularly worrisome.

"The recession has hit many people hard,'' she said. "As they are unable to find work they are branching out into these types of ventures.

"But all home baked or cooked foods must be prepared in a licensed kitchen.

We are particularly concerned about those businesses that sell high risk items like beef pies, chicken legs, curries and stews.'' Mrs. Harvey pointed out that the degree of sickness depended on the amount of food eaten but that most of the problems came after the food is cooked and left at room temperature.

She asked members of the public to inquire whether the food vendor has a licence to sell food and if there are any doubts they can call her office to make sure that the vendor is certified by the health department.

MAN DISQUALIFIED FRO DRUNK DRIVING CTS The Senior Magistrate recently fined a St. David's man $800 and disqualified him from driving for three years after he admitted to driving while impaired for the second time in less than two years.

Bayfield Albert Clark, 55, of Ball Street Point, admitted the offence which occurred on March 26.

Insp. Peter Duffy prosecuting, said Police were called to an accident on Middle Road, in Warwick where Clark had struck another car from behind.

At the time Clark appeared unsteady as he tried to walk and his speech was slurred.

At the Police Station Clark was unable to give an adequate sample of breath.

In 1986, Clark had been fined $600 for driving while impaired and refusing to give a sample of breath. Seven years later in 1992, he was before the courts for the same offences and at that time he was fined $1500 and taken off the road for 12 months.

Mr. Francis noting his "terrible record,'' for impaired driving imposed the $800 fine and three years off the road.

A LITTLE BREAK FOR SPEEDING STUDENT CTS High school student Paul Trew was fined $150 in Magistrates' Court yesterday after he admitted speeding on Trimingham Hill in Paget at 57 kilometres.

Magistrate the Wor. Charles-Etta Simmons told the 17-year-old Sandys Parish boy that she would have fined him $210 if he were not still in school.

The court heard he was pulled over on the night of February 1.