personal safety.

All prison officers will now have a radiophone and a set of handcuffs while on duty.

The move came almost immediately after a meeting between prison officers and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox last month.

Officers staged a sick-out in an effort to have their concerns addressed. At that time the Minister agreed to meet with them.

Yesterday, president of the Prison Officers Association, Lynn Hall, revealed that the day after meeting with Ms Cox brand new radios were on hand at the Co-ed Facility. New radios are also expected at the prison farm and the Westgate Correctional Facility.

FERRY USE JUMPS TRA Ferry use jumps Ferry use in June rose nearly 12 percent compared with June last year -- when the service was hit by breakdowns and industrial action.

According to statistics released yesterday by Government Information Services, 59,256 people used the ferries in June, while only 52,039 did so during the same period last year.

The Somerset/Dockyard ferry showed the sharpest increase, with 30 percent more passengers using the service this year.

Marine and Ports assistant director Mike Dolding said the increase was due to industrial action and breakdowns last year.

The East/West ferry service to St. George's also saw a 12 percent rise.

But Paget/Warwick passenger numbers declined by six percent from 22,687 to 21,172.

COURT WORK STARTS GVT Court work starts Work will begin on new tennis courts at Admiralty House Park next week.

During construction, the parking area of the Pembroke park will be unavailable for use by the public.

Work is set to begin on Wednesday and is scheduled to continue for up to four weeks.

A Parks Department spokesman said the work will involve the demolition and excavation of the existing tennis court and construction of new courts. This will also include the landscaping of the surrounding area.

Members of the public are asked to avoid this area while the construction is in progress.

The spokesman apologised for any inconvenience.

OBJECTIONS OPEN TO ALL TAX Objections open to all Retailers can object to increases in annual rental values, a Government official said yesterday.

Land Valuation Department officer Chris Farrow said commercial property owners have the same right to object to the draft valuation list as residential taxpayers, including the right to present their case before the Land Valuation Appeal Tribunal.

Mr. Farrow made the statement after English Sports Shop president David Hamshere said retailers could not object to the ARVs and were therefore lodging a group appeal with Finance Minister Eugene Cox.

People have until December 27 to make a formal objection against the new ARV that appears in the draft valuation list.

Forms for making the objections are available at the Land Valuation Department in Global House.

Retailers fear land tax increases could put marginally profitable tourism-oriented shops out of business.

SOCIETY HIT FOR $6,000 CLB Society hit for $6,000 The Bermuda Society for the Blind should not be stumped for cash in the near future.

They have picked up a cheque for more than $6,000 from the Cup Match cricket game.

Cable and Wireless pledged a $200 donation for every six scored during the two-day event.

This year 31 sixes were hit, up from last year's figure of 21, netting the charity $6,200.

Cable and Wireless spokesman John Instone explained: "The idea of Cup Match sixes originated from one of our staff, Malcolm Raynor, as a novel way of making one of our regular charitable donations.

"We're pleased to make this donation in the name of players who scored the runs and their clubs.''