The New Year -- and the new Millennium -- started with a bang with celebrations in St. George's and Dockyard where Bermudian pop star Heather Nova performed.

But partygoers criticised public transport, saying it was inadequate for the numbers of people who flocked to Dockyard.

Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay announces Police will recruit from overseas to fill the undermanned service but Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox goes public with her criticism of his announcement. She said the Commissioner announced overseas recruiting prematurely because she had not put the decision to recruit overseas through the Cabinet.

In tourism, the 68 degree guarantee scheme is dropped. Days later, November, 1999 tourism figures are announced, pushing the overall decrease for the year to eight percent.

Government and RenaissanceRe announce the launch of a research project into finding methods for alternative sentencing.

The United Bermuda Party criticises Government plans for a lavish dinner party featuring the Gombeys at the Davos World Economic Forum, saying it could turn a very serious event into a "circus''.

Home Affairs Minister Cox says budget limitations could hurt the Police Service, sparking worries that the Police manpower shortage could worsen. The UBP estimates that a five percent cut on the Police budget of $35 million would mean $1.8 million -- equal to 35 to 40 Police positions.

Bermuda hosts the Orbis World Bridge Championships and the Bermuda Ladies Bridge Team upsets tournament favourities Holland 16-14.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome halts production of the Paget Post Office to fund renovations for rest homes, which he says are in deplorable condition having been ignored by previous Government administrations.

Bissoonduthsing Ramchurn, 33, is charged with causing the death of German student Catrin Schaefer, 23, in a road accident in September, 1998. Ms Schaefer's friend who was riding behind her, said Ramchurn was driving on their side of the road. Ramchurn failed a breathalyser test, indicating he had three rounds of drinks before the crash. He is later convicted for the unlawful killing of 23-year-old visiting German student, Catrin Schaefer.

The Works Ministry buys a Peugoet 406 for Cabinet Ministers which is larger than those allowed for private car owners, beginning a rancorous political row over Ministers' perks and privileges.

A UK report on the Civil Service recommends a drastic overhaul of the Cabinet including a reduction in size, contracting out public transport, an independent ombudsman, fixed penalty fines to clear up Magistrates' Court and streamlining decision-making for minor matters from Cabinet.

Premier Jennifer Smith is accused of misleading the public on a major review of the Civil Service and PLP press officer Corey Butterfield verbally assaults Cabinet Secretary Leo Mills.

In a miserable month for the weather, temperatures hit an all-time low of 44.9 degrees in the middle of the month and on January 25, gale force winds and rain began lashing Bermuda on January 25, with showers and winds up to 40 knots.

In the courts, the Privy Council begins hearing the Crown's case to overturn the appeal that overturned the Supreme Court's ruling that there was not enough information to try Justice Smith for the torture, rape and murder of Rebecca Middleton. In the judgment, Senior Privy Council member Lord Steyn criticised Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux for dismissing the murder case against Justice Smith, but the Privy Council upheld the dismissal, saying it could not rule on questions of fact, not law.

And Government circulates a draft policy on work permits, placing time limits, raising renewal costs, giving financial incentives for training plans and allowances for emergency applications.

At the same time Police place ads for 45 officers in the UK and Caribbean to bring the undermanned Police Service up to strength.

Government House begins looking into a report that then-Senior Crown Counsel Khamisi Tokunbo brought influence to bear on the handling of a minor assault charge against landlord and former Progressive Labour Party candidate Rodney Smith.

Police launch an investigation into the illegal Pyramid schemes which sweep the Island. Bank of Butterfield president and CEO Calum Johnston said bank staff involved in pyramid schemes may face disciplinary action after Police probes into the illegal activity.

In February, hundreds of people meet at a secret meeting at the Bermuda Industrial Union's main hall to discuss the schemes, described by their promoters as "mutual assistance financial plans''. Police employees and civilians were later warned by Commissioner of Police Jean-Jacques Lemay: "Stay away from Pyramid Schemes.'' Bermuda's Amnesty International says former Chilean dictator General Pinochet's flight should not be allowed to land on its way back from London to Chile.

FEBRUARY The month began with taxi driver Howard Burnell Cross being found guilty of threatening to cut a visitor's jugular with a steak knife after the New York City resident banged the door of his taxi with the door of another taxi.

Cross, who claimed he was using a plastic spoon, was sentenced to three months in prison.

Three schoolboy arsonists who caused $1.3 million damage to Harrington Sound Primary School were sent home from juvenile detention centre, Observatory Cottage, just two hours after being sent there, on the grounds that the home was not equipped to handle "firebugs''.

A panel appointed to select the new Director of Public Prosecutions reaffirmed its support for its original choice, Principal Crown Counsel Khamisi Tokunbo, and he was later appointed as the Island's first Director of Public Prosecutions.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said the size of cars allowed on Bermuda's roads is set to go up on "safety grounds.'' The group which was going to buy the Belmont resort complains of being "sideswiped'' after Government's decision to offer $30 million in financial incentives to the Castle Harbour redevelopment. In March they back away, saying Government should offer a deal across the board. Others began bidding for the property.

Rebel churchgoers at St. Mark's in Smith's Parish considered an appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury in London to unseat new rector Fr. William Hayward, and Bishop Ewan Rattery refuses to bow to pressure to sack the new rector in the face of the campaign.

A Police officer was suspended following allegations that he smoked marijuana while on duty. Months later, the officer will be dismissed from the Service.

Painter Robert Bolin becomes the first road fatality of the year after he was run over by a taxi while lying on Cut Road.

Professor John Moulder says the cellular phone tower at Faraway in Warwick poses no threat to residents, children or pregnant females as Bermuda Digital Communications (BDC) sought to keep its license.

In politics, Ministers and civil servants are criticised after checking into the Hamilton Princess Hotel as part of a two day think-tank on good Government.

Concert Limited, a $7 billion global venture between AT&T and BT, is launched and creates 60 new jobs in Bermuda.

MARCH The UBP calls for an independent inquiry into the handling of the Rebecca Middleton murder case after no-one is found guilty in the case.

Governor Thorold Masefield will later order a public inquiry into "serious crime'' in Bermuda, including the Middleton case. Hearings begin in August.

Richard Calderon becomes Director of Tourism and Baroness Patricia Scotland, UK Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for Bermuda, arrives for her first official visit.

Addressing a joint session of the Senate and Lower House, Baroness Scotland predicted that Bermuda will skip a hitlist of dodgy offshore jurisdictions formed by the OECD or Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Shaun Goater leads Bermuda to a 5-1 victory over the British Virgin Islands in the World Cup qualifier in Tortola.

Keneil Alfred Ingham, 27 and Jamal Cuikie Robinson, 23, both from Warwick, are charged with murdering Jermaine Pitcher along with others outside Champions Sports Club in February.

Crime is reported to have jumped ten percent in 1999 with firearms offences and violent crimes rising the most. MP's blame the surge in drug abuse. Days later, a robber armed with a machete robs Arnold's Supermarket on St. John's Road.

The 1998 Employee Survey shows there is racial pay disparity; at the same time the Chamber of Commerce's International Companies Division chairman, backed by the companies, voiced their concerns over Bermuda's xenophobia.

International business is then rocked when multi-billion dollar exempted company STW Fixed Income Management pulls out amid controversy over new work permit rules. Eighteen Bermudians lose their jobs. Shadow Minister Grant Gibbons said Government was ignoring alarm bells from international business.

Auditor Larry Dennis publishes a list of shame of firms which have failed to step up pension contributions has been published. Among the companies named is the Government-owned Stonington Beach Hotel, which is listed as owing $64,321 in pension contributions.

TeleBermuda's parent company, Globenet, is bought out for $1 billion by US cable giant, Worldwide Fibre.

Lawyer Tim Marshall says new CURE regulations were unconstitutional -- Mr.

Marshall opposed similar legislation in 1995 when the UBP was in pwoer.

Calvin Eugene Trott pleaded guilty to serious sexual assault and robbery against two expatriate women in September -- when he forced both women to perform oral sex on him and held them for two and a half hours. He was imprisoned for 22 years.

Concerns arise when dockworkers threaten to march to Supreme Court in support of colleagues facing legal action. Marine and Ports management say they are willing to pilot the ferries themselves to ensure US citizens can get on a tiger cruise onboard the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy . But the tiger cruise gets off to a rough start when government ferry Deliverance failed to dock with the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy due to rough swells. The dockworkers go back to work after leaving during the day to watch their court bid to overturn an overtime ban injunction.

Employers Council chairman, Gerald Simons, said Bermuda's bosses should not support controversial new rules on mandatory reporting on race in the workplace better known as CURE, or Commission for Unity and Racial Equality.

In the House of Assembly, the UBP falls one vote short of blocking passage of the CURE regulations.

Photos by David Skinner Tall ships celebration: Thousands of Bermudians took to the water -- in every kind of vessel -- to see off the Tall Ships after their visit in June.

Celebration: Premier Jennifer Smith and Deputy Premier Eugene Cox share a hug after seeing off the leadership challenge of Arthur Hodgson and Dr. Ewart Brown.