Drug-fighting sailors to visit in May

The HMS Liverpool will be docking in Bermuda in May in a goodwill visit to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Island becoming a British colony.

Until then the Cammell Laird-built destroyer is on a six month mission to help smash international drug smuggling rings in the North Atlantic.

With a crew of 280, which includes 14 Merseysiders, the HMS Liverpool will take part in the crackdown, working with the US Coast Guard and ships from the Dutch and French navies looking for suspect ships heading to, or from the Caribbean.

In-between work periods, the ship's company hope to carry out voluntary work at schools, orphanages and hospitals along the way.

This spring, we're ‘back in big way'

Bermuda has been named “Destination of the Week” and given the thumbs up as a spring time getaway by a leading monthly trade publication, Recommended Weekly.

Ministry of Tourism spokesperson Nea Talbot said the online newsletter focused on profiling unique and interesting travel destinations and made the announcement last week.

She said the publicity for Bermuda followed a media luncheon in Miami last week, hosted by Tourism Minister Ewart Brown.

Recommended Weekly is a the monthly tourism trade publication specifically targeted at travel agents.

In an online article, it highlighted Bermuda's scenic appeal and unique culture, as well as some of the Island's popular events and activities. “Bermuda is back in a big way this spring. The resort Island, a perennial favourite, is once again earning the Conde Nast Traveller reader's award for ‘Best Island in the Caribbean/Atlantic Region' with a slate of festivals, sporting events and celebrations throughout the months of March and April.

“And with old standby activities like wreck diving and golf at the top of their game, and a new discounted Miami-Bermuda flight in the works, it's never been a better time to send your clients to the Island.”

Drunk driver faces one-year ban

A Southampton man was fined $1,000 and disqualified from driving all vehicles for one year in Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Robert Burns, 56, admitted to riding a red moped on Court Street on January 4 while his ability was impaired by alcohol.

Crown counsel Juan Wolffe said the labourer tried to run away from Police when they pulled him over. Burns was found with 107 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milligrams of blood - the legal limit is 80 milligrams in 100 millilitres of blood.