Most motorists are obeying the law to buckle up when behind the wheels, according to a Transport Ministry survey.

The Ministry surveyed a total of 456 vehicles on January 8 on East Broadway and found that 92 percent of the drivers were obeying the law which came into effect this year.

It found that of 297 private cars, 285 (97 percent) had seat belts in use. And seat belts were being worn in 80 percent (111) of the 138 trucks surveyed. Taxi drivers were the most compliant, at 98 percent, with just one driver out of 61 found not to be wearing a seat belt.

"This clearly demonstrates that the message to buckle up was heard and I want to take this opportunity to applaud our motorists for being so diligent in adhering to the law," Transport Minister Ewart Brown said in a Government press statement.

"The focus after all is not on the punitive, but on safety and the prevention of serious injuries."

Failure to buckle up could result in a fine. Police were unable to say this week how many tickets had been handed out.

The Reefs continues to gather critical praise, winning plaudits from Conde Naste Traveler and Travel and Leisure magazines.

The South Shore, Southampton, resort is named as one of Travel and Leisure's top 500 resorts in the world, and Conde Naste Traveler includes it in its 91 best properties in the Americas.

Horizons and Cottages, and Waterloo House also make the Conde Naste Traveler list, while Cambridge Beaches is included in the Travel and Leisure 500 roll of honour.

A thief stole jewellery and a bottle of Crown Royal scotch from a Hamilton Parish home on Tuesday.

A Police spokesman said that the complainant, of Red Kiln Road, said the incident happened sometime between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, a thief broke into a home in Aldie Drive, Smith's Parish and stole electronic games including a Sony Play Station 2 system.

The resident told Police that the incident occurred between 8.10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Inquiries into both incidents are underway.

The Bermuda Institute will open its new computer lab today.

The school received funding for the new computer lab for elementary students and also to renovate an existing one for secondary students.

The funding came from the Bank of Bermuda Foundation, Fidelity International Limited and Belco.

Bermuda Institute development officer Friga Simmons said the labs are identical.

"We are going to have a short thanksgiving service and then we will cut the ribbon," said Ms Simmons.

Ms Simmons said the Bank of Bermuda Foundation donated $100,000 for the elementary school computer lab and to also help upgrade the high school computer lab.

Fidelity International and Belco each donated $10,000 for the upgrading of the high school lab.

A 36-year-old man was remanded in custody after pleading guilty to a wounding charge.

Fitzgerald Glen Richardson of Ewing Street, Pembroke originally pleaded not guilty at an earlier court appearance, but changed his plea at yesterday's Supreme Court hearing.

Richardson was charged with wounding Delvin Michael Caines with intent to cause grievous bodily harm during an altercation in August, 2001. Darrell Clark, who represented Richardson, asked the court for social inquiry, psychological, psychiatric and Bermuda Alcohol and Drug Referral Centre reports to be done before sentencing because he felt his client had "issues".

Justice Charles-Etta Simmons did not feel the psychiatric report was necessary but ordered that the others be carried out.

She agreed to a request made by Crown counsel Graveney Bannister to remand Richardson in custody pending the reports and set March 1 for mention.

A Pembroke woman narrowly escaped a prison sentence yesterday after assaulting a Police officer on Tuesday night.

Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves told Kamala Battersbee to immediately pay a $750 fine or spend 75 days in jail.

Battersbee, 33, of Court Street, Pembroke, was charged with unlawfully assaulting a Police officer while he was executing his duty.

Crown counsel Shakira Dill told Magistrates' Court that Police went to Battersbee's apartment because of a call from a man who wanted her removed from the premises.

Officers had asked her to calm down, but she continued to argue and fight with the man.

She then turned her anger on the Police, slapping the face of one of the officers and breaking his glasses.

The Police then restrained her on the floor and she then said: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Ms Dill said Battersbee had several similar convictions which dated back to 1991. Battersbee once again apologised for her actions yesterday, but Mr. Greaves fined her with a demand to "pay now or go up now".

Mr. Greaves said: "You have too much experience beating Police."

Battersbee said: "You see these bruises on my neck ? where do you think they came from? That's why I slapped him."

The sentencing of a burglar with a string of other offences was adjourned yesterday after he turned up unrepresented in Supreme Court.

Jubert Thatwood Williams 46, had been charged with three counts of burglary in Paget last November plus stealing cash and wilful damage to a cigarette machine at Somerset Bridge Recreation Club in June last year. Williams, a self-confessed heroin and cocaine addict, has pleaded guilty to the offences.

Yesterday, Assistant Justice Philip Storr adjourned the case in order for reports to be prepared on the defendant's suitability for drug court.

Mr. Storr also wanted to delay sentencing to investigate Williams' claim that he had applied for legal aid but had heard nothing back.

He complained that lodging calls was also difficult in Westgate.

"It isn't easy to get things done when you have to get them done at Westgate," he said.

Williams was remanded in custody and will reappear at next month's arraignments session.