Man jailed for threatening Police

A Pembroke man was ordered to spend ten days in jail after using threatening behaviour and wilfully obstructing Police on New Year's Eve.

Magistrates' Court heard that Vaughn Edwards, 37, of Happy Valley Road, was in a car on Church Street, in Pembroke, which had its left indicator flashing at a stoplight.

Police called the vehicle in and were told there were several warrants under the car owner's name. Officers positioned themselves on Par-La-Ville Road and saw Edwards leave the car.

They tried to get Edwards to stop, but when Police approached him he said: "Don't put your hands on me, you must be f***ing crazy. You can't touch me.

"You f***ing Police are p***ies and don't know who you are messing with. When we get to the station and these cuffs are off, it's on."

Edwards was taken to Hamilton Police Station where he was searched and detained.

According to lawyer Larry Scott, who was representing Edwards, his client had respect for Police, but also treated them in the same manner to which he was treated.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said the evidence showed the contrary and for both counts ordered Edwards to serve ten days in prison, to be served concurrently.

Edwards was also before the court for using offensive words in a public place. For that offence he was also ordered to serve ten days, concurrent to the other sentences.

He will face trial on January 12 for traffic offences including improperly displaying a license plate, which he denied.

'We Arrive' slave memorial to be unveiled

The unveiling of the 'We Arrive' slave memorial sculpture for Barr's Bay Park will take place on February 11.

Corporation of Hamilton events coordinator Danilee Trott told board members at the municipality's weekly meeting yesterday that in addition to the unveiling, the night would feature performances and a film.

The semi-abstract piece portrays the landing of the first slaves to Bermuda's shores. It depicts five men showing a range of emotions and thoughts. Ms Trott said the final schedule of events will be completed next week and invitations will follow.

"There will be a 30 minute segment of the film 'Lion and the Mouse'. We're going to have choirs and other performances and a live band. The invitation is being designed as we speak and we will be ready next week."

Ms Trott also said her team was looking for family members of those first slaves brought to Bermuda to be honoured at the ceremony. There will a re-enactment of the arrival.

The event will take place February 11 at 5.30 p.m. at Barr's Bay Park.

Probation extended for teen who had cannabis

A 19-year-old caught with four grams of cannabis dodged getting a conviction after telling a Magistrate he wants to go to college in the US.

Christopher Rhoda Bell was caught with the drugs on August 26 when he was arrested between Blackwatch Pass and Marsh Folly in Pembroke on another matter.

He told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo he wants to go to US to study computers, but might not be able to enter the country with a conviction against him.

Mr. Tokunbo heard from his probation officer how he has done well over the last 12 months since being handed probation for a robbery offence.

He agreed to extend the probation order for another 12 months on the condition that Rhoda Bell abstains from drugs and undergoes testing.

Burglar sent to drug court

A burglar caught red-handed with more than $13,000 of stolen jewellery was given one last chance to mend his ways by a Magistrate, who referred him to drug court.

Prosecutor Nicole Smith told Magistrates' Court that Leon Fough, 35, was stopped by the Police on Monday afternoon on Ferry Reach Road, in St. George's.

They had been informed that a person fitting his description had been prowling about the area. When they stopped him, they noticed he was wearing a pair of socks on his hands, had a screwdriver and was wearing the jewellery. He responded by telling one of the Police officers: "OK Jason, you got me."

He went on to admit: "I broke into this house and stole the jewellery."

Ms Smith said the items taken were four gold chains, two gold pendants and four gold rings, with a total value of $13,200. Fough pleaded guilty to burglary and carrying the screwdriver and socks to commit the burglary. He told the Police he used the screwdriver to get in through a bathroom window.

He has previous convictions. Fough told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo he'd suffered a relapse into drug addiction after being clean for four years ever since he was last sent to jail.

Mr. Tokunbo remanded him into custody pending an appearance before drug treatment court on January 13.

CoH to put minutes online

The Corporation of Hamilton has gone a step further to being more transparent in its dealings by allowing the public to read the minutes from their board meetings.

The municipality recently opened its doors to the public after years of closed meetings after this newspaper's A Right To Know Campaign called for transparency.

Now the minutes will be available on the website and a copy will be at the front desk for members of the public to review, but not keep.

Because the minutes must go to the board to be signed off, they won't be available until about a month after the meeting has taken place.

The Corporation's website address is www.cityhall.bm

RBYC bar voted eighth best 'sailing' bar

An online sailing digest has named the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) one of the top sailor bars in the world.

The readers of Scuttlebutt Europe voted the RBYC's bar the eighth best sailor bar in the world, alongside bars in the British Virgin Islands, the United States and Hong Kong.

The top ten bars will each receive a certificate from the contest's sponsor, Wight Vodka.

Peter, a bar located in Horta, Azores, won what organisers hope will be the first in a series of annual best sailor bar contests.