Three years after American-based Lantana Resort Ltd. announced plans to open a world class destination spa and sports resort at the former Lantana premises in Sandys, owners last week applied for a licence to operate in Bermuda.

The former Lantana Colony Club was closed in 1998 by owner John Young and purchased in 2002 by Lantana Resort Ltd. to be developed into the Sanctuary Spa and Resort at Lantana.

Should it open next year, as is hoped by the corporation, the 9.6 acre resort will offer residents and visitors exclusive accommodations ranging from 14 spa suites, six private residences, four beachfront villas, four yacht club villas, 40 hotel suites, four corporate suites, a 25,000 square foot spa and conference centre, a 25 slip marina, gourmet restaurants, sports facilities and yacht club.

The Sanctuary Spa and Resort at Lantana will be managed by HFD, America?s foremost spa development and consulting groups and GHM, a sister company of Aman Resorts, an international hotel management company that manages some of the finest five-star hotels and resorts in the world.

Lantana Resort Ltd. is made up of founder Don Burkett, his brother Richard Burkett, David Wilk, Les Riley, Harris Recht, Laird Bunch and Jill Chernekoff.

The corporation is also planning on launching a range of health products, including one based on a flower found in Bermuda, the lantana camara.

Owners teamed up with scientists from Boston University and the Russian Academy of Sciences to research anti-ageing skin treatments ? the dermatological range of products which will all be available at Lantana, on the Internet and exclusive retail stores world-wide.

Mr. Burkett was not available for comment yesterday.

With ?the Round De Rock? power-craft rally set for tomorrow, the Marine Police has issued a friendly warning to all participants to stay safe on the water.

All mariners must have all necessary safety equipment, a Police spokesman said, adding: ?If in doubt, mariners should refer to the Bermuda Water Safety Handbook or log on tot ht Bermuda Police service web-site (www.bermudapolice.bm) and click on Marine Safety for more information.?

From next month Police will be able to tape interviews with suspects at the Hamilton station.

It follows renovation work which has created three interview rooms operational from September 5.

It means courts will not have to rely on handwritten notes taken by officers which have sometimes been challenged by witnesses who deny making certain comments.

There are also facilities available for tape recording in the Commercial Crime Unit, Narcotics Department, Serious Crime Unit, Somerset Police Station and the Bermuda International Airport Police station.

Police have began to advertise the Commissioner?s post ahead of the December departure of Jonathan Smith who has resigned to go into business. The $137,341 job is offered on the usual renewable three-year contract basis.

Police are still investigating fraud allegations made against Det. Ch. Insp. Stuart Crockwell.

He was suspended from duty in February after claims funds disappeared from the bank account of a construction company the detective helped set up. Department of Public Prosecutions consultant Kulandra Ratneser said this week: ?I can confirm the matter is still being investigated.?

A Harrington Sound Road church will open its doors during the week to be a Christian private school for 30 students.

Mrs. Lisa Smith made an application for the new school at St. Philip AME Church, Smiths. ?This is an extension of the Ministry,? St. Philip?s pastor Rev. Milton Burgess said. ?The Church is trying to reach out to a community in need.?

Rev. Burgess said should the planning application be successful, the school would be located inside the auditorium of St. Philip.

It will be open Monday to Friday, not just as a Sunday school, he said. Rev. Burgess also said the church would not appear to be changed in any other way by the plan.

A break-in at a Smith?s guest house on Thursday left a tourist with $800 less to spend on the Island.

Sometime between 9 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. on Thursday an unknown culprit broke into the guests? room and stole a leather wallet containing $800 in cash, a silver Citizen watch as well as some personal items. Inquiries into the incident are underway, Police said.

The Bermuda Red Cross has raised almost $32,000 so far in donations towards its West Africa Crisis Appeal.

Director Ann Spencer-Arscott said yesterday that Niger Red Cross volunteers are currently working with support from Red Cross and Red Crescent international delegates to provide 24,500 children under the age of five in Niger with supplementary feeding and health services including vaccinations.

The Red Cross is distributing food on a larger scale to around 536,000 people in Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso,? she said. Members of the public can donate funds directly into the following West Africa Crisis Appeal accounts:

Bank of Bermuda account: 701-19842;

Bank of Butterfield: 20-006-060-663859-200;

Capital G Bank: 35760

Donations can also be mailed directly to the Bermuda Red Cross, West Africa Crisis Appeal, Charleswood, 9 Berry Hill Road, Paget, DV 03.

Members of the public can also make donations over the telephone by calling The Bermuda Red Cross at 236-8253.

A 23-year-old Smith?s parish man has appeared briefly in Magistrates? Court on charges of breaking and entering and sexual assault.

The man had been arrested on a warrant after failing to appear in court on Wednesday. He pleaded not guilty to the charges that he broke into a house in Devonshire shortly before midnight on February 19 this year and returned a few hours later to sexually assault the occupant.

He will return to Magistrates? Court for trial on October 31 and was released on $2,000 bail with one surety.