A controversial cellular tower remained in close proximity to a Southampton residential complex after Puisne Judge Philip Storr's decision the company can keep its lease on Fairmount Southampton Princess land.

St. George's Prep parents petition Premier Jennifer Smith, who is the local MP, in protest of Government's decision to make the school single form entry.

The Premier is accused of lying by the parents after 40 stood outside the House of Assembly in the rain with a petition. When they finally saw her, she said she would have a decision in a week and she never knew about the issue because she only just got back on the island.

Customs officer Brenda Azzario and former Vasco football club midfielder Dennis Robinson plead guilty to exporting cocaine in New York.

Thirty-six students are suspended from Sandys Middle School after one of them took a bottle of Malibu to school. Three students were drunk.

Fisherman Andrew Farias -- son of former Marine Resources Chairman Danny Farias -- is arrested for allegedly using illegal fishpots.

Former Governor Viscount Dunrossil died while on vacation in Spain.

A US Coast Guard C-130 is being sent to look for potential survivors from a 776-foot tanker Leader L that sank 400 miles northeast of the Island. Six crew were killed and 12 weremissing after a search by a five-ship task force carrying two helicopters and assisted by two US Coast Guard C-130. The survivors are brought back to Bermuda.

CURE Regulations were put on hold after being stopped in the Senate because Independent and Opposition Senators said the regulations needed more discussions with employee groups.

APRIL Anonymous Regiment officers protest the likely appointment of Major David Gibbons as the new commanding officer.

Premier Jennifer Smith, in answer to questions in the House of Assembly, denies that she will make changes to the number of seats in the House of Assembly in the next year. She will later be accused of misleading the public when she unveils Constitutional changes later in the year.

Policeman Saleem Tony Bukhari goes on trial for allegedly neglected his girlfriend after she took a quantity of aspirin. His girlfriend, Elizabeth Codell, was a sub-editor for The Royal Gazette . He is freed after the charges are dismissed.

Belco Holdings Ltd. CEO Garry Madeiros warns that CURE regulations create double standards by increasing red tape while trying to take advantage of global business barriers coming down.

Seven hundred people sign a petition to protest begging in Hamilton, but Police say there is little they can do.

Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox says it will take a few months for the 20 new Police recruits from the Caribbean to arrive and start duties. Meanwhile, 32 years since he came to Bermuda from the Caribbean as a Policeman, Archibald Warner becomes Senior Magistrate.

Controversy over St. George's Prep ends when Government restores the second entry class and adds another teacher's position.

Director of Public Prosecutions Khamisi Tokunbo vows to put Bermudians first when several senior posts became available in April after contracts finished.

Dockworkers return to the news when Supreme Court Judge Vincent Meerabux ruled dock workers had breached an injunction by an illegal overtime ban.

Stevedoring Services can claim punitive damages from the union and theoretically and BIU leaders could be imprisoned for breaching the overtime injunction.

Bermuda's World Cup team draws 0-0 against Antigua in the second qualifying round, first leg match.

Chit Chat restaurant closes its doors for good after a series of renovations, rethinking and high staff turnover.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley said Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess should resign after Mr. Burgess called Judge Vincent Meerabux's ruling "the most repressive in the history of worker's rights in Bermuda''.

The Bermuda Film Festival returns after a year's hiatus and is declared a success.

The management company of the Elbow Beach Hotel and Resort is bought by Mandarin Oriental International, a subsidiary of the Bermuda-registered Jardine group. But tourism numbers continued to dip, falling 5.06 percent in February for a total of 14,413 visitors.

A survey carried out by Total Marketing and Communications said 86 percent of Bermudians feel expatriates make a positive contribution to the island's economy.

A freak tornado bashed homes in Warwick, Devonshire and Hamilton around 6.30 April 28. At Spice Valley Middle School, night students bunkered in as winds shattered windows, sending glass into classrooms.

Randy Burgess was found not guilty of murdering Dean Antoine Young when he stabbed Mr. Young 23 times with a kitchen knife, but was found guilty of manslaughter. The incident stemmed from a love triangle involving 28-year-old Trina Todd. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

UK pollution experts found an underground cave the American military pumped raw sewage into at its old Naval Annex in Southampton for years. A source close to the redevelopment plan for the US Naval Annex in Southampton told The Royal Gazette , pollution continues to stand in the way and scare off tourism developers.

A member of the Government's Marine Resources Board, James Parris, was arrested with his brother, Noel, in connection with the illegal fishpot usage.

Government's report on its first 500 days in power said more than 100 families had been housed and 60 others had become homeowners. It also said it was planned to renovate 150 homes for rent in a joint venture with private sector owners.

Premier Jennifer Smith defends Bermuda's right to tax during a Bermuda International Business Association conference in San Fransico while working behind the scenes to prevent the US Congress from labelling Bermuda and passing legislature that could damage the island's economy.

MAY On May 4, a computer virus which shut down the UK House of Commons and infiltrated the US Congress arrived in Bermuda, called the Love Bug. Business giants like Bank of Bermuda and Shell International experience problems while IT professionals rushed to save the island's computer networks.

Stevedoring Services managers had to empty containers themselves after 60 plus workers decided to leave work to attend a court case. Then the dockworkers threatened to take action if Stevedoring Services did not pay them for the time they weren't there.

Former Crown counsel Peter Eccles said one of the reasons he left the Department of Public Prosecutions was he could not stomach having to worry whether decisions to prosecute criminal cases would be politically popular.

Texas A&M University's marine biologist Thomas Iliffe said the US Navy planned to blow up a cave it pumped full of oil and sewage. Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson said the revelation will give strength to Bermuda's battle for compensation.

Reporters from The Royal Gazette leave the cruise ship Crown Dynasty , walk through the terminal and get into a cab without being stopped, demonstrating Customs lack of control on the docks -- thought to be caused by staff cuts.

A UK/Caribbean Forum report said the UK government has no plans to force offshore jurisdictions to stop operations after the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development added Bermuda to its "hitlist'' of offshore jurisdictions.

St. David's residents voice concern when they learn one-fifth of Bermuda Housing Corporation's 100-home project is to be built on Southside. Residents worry that St. David's will become the dumping ground of low-cost housing.

More than 200 residents sign a petition objecting to the plans.

The Government comes under fire as the House of Assembly is told that tourism marketing drives by Minister David Allen have cost $500,000 for three overseas trips; PLP backbencher Arthur Pitcher admits he "jumped the gun'' when he began work on a controversial housing project in St. David's without a building permit; Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon says the report that Premier Jennifer Smith gave to the House of Assembly about the UK/Caribbean Forum was lifted word for word off the Internet.

Soon after Premier Smith denies allegations that Government asked international companies for the cash to buy a $5 million luxury headquarters for the Tourism Ministry. Oil tycoon John Deuss is later revealed as the cheerleader to drum up cash for a new Tourism Ministry headquarters.

In the House of Assembly, Premier Jennifer Smith will halt a line of questioning regarding whether or not she or Tourism Minister David Allen tried to solicit funds from international business, citing rule 11, subsection five, paragraph J of the Rules of the House of Assembly which prohibits members from responding to questions raised in the media.

Former PLP Central Committee member Rolfe Commissiong said the PLP should distance itself from oil tycoon John Deuss. Mr. Commissiong added Dutch-born Deuss' record of selling oil to the then-racist apartheid South African government in the 1980s should have barred him from entering Bermuda.

CURE regulations that were under fire by business leaders, made it to the discussion table when Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister sat down to hear concerns.

Construction worker Keith Bean is acquitted of a grievous bodily harm charge for punching his supervisor then throwing a heavy shackle, fracturing the supervisor's skull. Bean said the boss, Michael Carey, was saying racial comments.

Reports show child support collection have dramatically increased under the administration of Magistrate Carlisle Greaves.

A force of 22 Police officers made four arrests and more than a dozen seizures after riding in a caravan of cars and stopping at known drug spots.

Taxi driver Noel Kenneth Bascome, 41, was sentenced to four years and three months imprisonment for causing death by impaired driving after getting in a single vehicle accident that resulted in the death of an elderly passenger.

Commercial fisherman Roger DeCosta and Joseph Dawson are fined $9,000 for using illegal fishpots.

Former US President Jimmy Carter arrives in Bermuda to launch an island branch of a worldwide charity, Habitat for Humanity International, aimed at helping people build and own their own homes. While here, he attends a special joint session of Parliament.

Telecommunications and E-Commerce Minister Renee Webb said Government would allow Internet telephone access, reversing an ealier policy.

JUNE Bermuda threw out the welcome mat to thousands of sailors taking part in the Tall Ships 2000 Race. As the boats leave, thousands of people take to the ocean and saluted the vessels in a show of pageantry and colour -- boats clogged the waterways and zipped around the sailing giants as the race headed for the US.

A report reveals that dogs in care of Government kennels are kept in virtual darkness and given no exercise. Amid rising concern, animal welfare workers say illegal dog fighting is on the rise with children as young as 13 years old drawn into the gambling, breeding and fighting.

Paco Fubler is imprisoned for ten years after admitting his part in the savage murder of golf caddy Brian Sherlock. Fubler was already serving 18 months for robbery.

Taxi driver Warrington (Soup) Zuill said he's going back on the job after getting severely beaten by three men as crime against taxi drivers goes on the rise. Three men are later formally charged with beating and robbing cabbie Mr.

Zuill -- Ricardo Alexander, 21, Howard Austin Sinclair Mello, 21, and Andrew Leroy Hayward, 20, all of North Shore, Pembroke.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown and Bermuda Industrial Union President Derrick Burgess say they are are working to improve security on the job for taxi drivers in light of a recent crime increase.

Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson, Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister and Premier Jennifer Smith go to the UK for further Baselands clean-up talks with the Foreign Office.

There is good news for the economy: Bermuda escaped the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's `hit-list' of countries it considers tax havens.

And the G-7 Financial Action Task Force later says Bermuda is a high quality and well regulated international financial services centre and did not engage in money laundering.

But Finance Minister Eugene Cox warns the world's most powerful nations that Bermuda will not sell out its sovereignty to get in line with an international drive to cripple off-shore jurisdictions but he said Bermuda does support the initiative. He stressed Bermuda's size does not allow for equal competition with larger markets.

For the second time in a week, a dolphin at Dolphin Quest gives birth to a calf. The first arrival was Bailey, then Caliban was born.

Workers say PLP MP Arthur Pitcher gave the order to rip out potentially deadly asbestos without providing protective gear. Later in the month, Government says Mr. Pitcher flouted established procedures by not applying to the Planning Department for a permit before he began demolishing asbestos-ridden buildings at Southside. Housing Minister Nelson Bascome launches an investigation in to the case.

Airport firefighters walk off the job after a row believed to be over pay.

Subsequent stories reveal some airport firefighters had been refusing to work a new rota system that was introduced because they were allegedly not properly consulted.

Director of Public Prosecutions, Khamisi Tokunbo, decides not to proceed with prosecutions against a theft ring at the Butterfield and Vallis food supplies -- which resulted in around $200,000 in goods disappearing.

His office soon comes under criticism as Opposition Legislative Affairs spokesperson John Barritt warned of a "void of experience'' as senior lawyers depart.

Two-year-old Cormac O'Donnell dies at his family pool despite frantic efforts by Police, neighbours and Fire Service emergency response teams to resuscitate him.

Outgoing vice president of the Bermuda College, Dr. Donald Peters, said the Education Ministry should be disbanded because Bermuda students are leaving high schools with the average ability of a 13-year-old.

It is later revealed that Dr. Peters was paid $85,000 to leave his post six months ahead of schedule. He claimes he was forced out of his career to make room for idlers and said Bermudianisation is putting the Island's education at risk.

Also in education, numbers indicate 35 percent of Bermudian school children are privately educated but those numbers do not account for the students sent abroad for studies.

Vandals destroy sections of Prospect Primary, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage.

Government admitted public education is below standard when Acting Education Minister Nelson Bascome said he agreed with comments made by Dr. Peters. But Mr. Bascome said that will soon change under the leadership of the PLP government.

JULY Bermuda Electric Light Company opens a new $42 million power plant at the Pembroke facility. The new power plant includes a 205-foot chimney and computer monitoring system.

A supplementary estimate for refurbishment of the ferry docks revealed the cost will be around $3.2 million.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome said he doesn't see the need for a full inquiry into the Arthur Pitcher affair when PLP MP Mr. Pitcher hauled away open containers of asbestos from a Southside site. Mr. Bascome said all those who feared contamination of their properties should contact him.

Cabinet Secretary Leo Mills formally retired. John Drinkwater, former Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, becomes the Cabinet Secretary and Stanley Oliver becomes Head of the Civil Service in accordance with the Civil Service Review carried out earlier in the year.

Defence Department administrator Larry Burchall begins a systematic sweep of draft dodgers after revealing that some 30 percent of those called up never appear for Recruit Camp.

Quinton George Ible is acquitted of killing Humberto Pineda, 33, in a head-on collision in 1998.

Finance Minister Eugene Cox announces a major revision of Government policy when he says that 60/40 ownership regulations will be relaxed. But he stresses this will not mean an invasion of multi-national chain stores.

The Bank of Butterfield later announces it will be applying for exemption from the 60/40 rule in order to secure a listing on an overseas stock exchange.

CURE Regulations -- amended after public consultation -- are passed by the House of Assembly after the Senate rejected the original copy in March.

Finance Minister Cox said he had not sold out Bermuda by signing the Organisation for Economic and Cultural Development's annexe and further said, there was no hidden agenda in no publishing the annexe or its contents.

The Royal Gazette reveals that Neil Inchcup is running a Las Vegas-style casino in a private home on Collector's Hill called Seamont Exclusive.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said government is taking steps to improve conditions for prison officers -- who threatened to strike over overcrowding problems. The officers would later called off their strike threat following last minute talks with government.

And The Royal Gazette lined by for legal battle against the Collector of Customs after Customs officers took film from a Royal Gazette photographer David Skinner then detained him and reporter Karen Smith. Customs will return the film in August.

For the first time in 130 years, the African Methodist Episcopalianism appointed a Bermudian as the local bishop.

Armed Police were out in force when a knife-wielding man held his mother hostage for five hours. He peacefully surrendered to Police. Health Minister Nelson Bascome launched a mental health probe after it was revealed the man that held his mother hostage was a St. Brenden's, mental health hospital, outpatient.

The Senate unanimously passed CURE regulations the same week Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister admitted the CURE regulations will not highlight any prejudice against Portuguese -- sparking Islandwide debate.

Plans for a $20 million, 17,000 square foot Police/Court complex come off the drawing board and go before Planning. Crime fell 27.4 percent from the second quarter.

Commissioner of Police Jean-Jacques Lemay announced the Police will return to "grass roots'' policing and community officers. But Police were embarrassed when Brian Carlton Rogers escaped from St. George's Police Station by chipping through a wall. Police would later recapture him at Ferry Reach.

AUGUST Cup March fever sets in and a victory for the disabled is won when 22-year-old Robert Fox is selected as a reserve for the St. George's team as a reserve.

Mr. Fox is deaf.

Unfortunately for Mr. Fox, but to the delight of Somerset fans, Somerset wins the Classic in convincing style.

Eco-resort visitors Gary and Lecil Waltz declare the place a disaster, saying they do not plan to return but other guests rallied to the resort's defence.

Bahamas Supreme Court judge Stanley Moore is named as chairman of the Serious Crime Commission, which opens during August. During early hearings of the Serious Crimes Commission, Opposition MP and lawyer Trevor Moniz and lawyer Mark Pettingill express concern over how the Commission was being run.

In spite of the Commission being formed to probe all serious crimes, the circumstances surrounding the Middleton case draw most attention.

Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Victor Richmond told the inquiry that after Kirk Mundy and Justis Smith were arrested, detectives held a meeting with top prosecutors and said Khamisi Tokunbo, who was Senior Crown counsel at the time, wanted to offer Mundy a deal whereby he be offered a lesser sentence in return for information. But the hearing was halted when the Commission said it could not delve too deeply into the case.

Charge and counter-charge were later traded, with former Attorney General Elliot Mottley denying that any immunity or plea bargaining deal had been made with Mundy and Mundy's attorney Mark Pettingill saying he personally struck a Calling the Middleton case a "fiasco'', Sen. Pettingill said he was amazed Police and prosecution did not examine forensic evidence before bringing charges.

Mr. Mottley also blamed Solicitor General William Pearce for failing to successfully prosecute Smith.