Search for missing senior

Police have stepped up the search for St. George?s senior Frank Cabral, who went missing 11 days ago. Mr. Cabral, 70, of Cove Valley, is a white Portuguese male, 5 feet 3 inches in height, balding with grey hair.

He was last seen on February 13, wearing tan pants and a red shirt. Bermuda Police Service spokesman Dwayne Caines said Police have accelerated the search.

?Under the direction of Insp. Clark Minors a team of officers, which include several sections of the service including the Community Beat Officers, Marine Police and officers of different watches are presently looking for Mr. Cabral, who suffers from Alzheimer?s disease. They have canvassed the St. David?s area where he was last seen. They are going into restaurants, bars, stores and they have also visited where he was last seen (the last time he went missing).

?The Marine officers have done a shoreline search ? all in all there are about 15 officers looking for him.?

Mr. Caines said the Service has received reports that Mr. Cabral has been sleeping in cars and at the bus terminal.

Mr. Caines said: ?It seems he did not want to be at the rest home and it has been suggested that he may be staying with someone.

?We want to appeal to anyone who might be harbouring him to let the authorities know that he is alright. We would like for him to be returned safely to his family.?

Anyone with information should call Police on 295-0011.

Teenage girls brawl at bus terminal

Six teenage girls allegedly assaulted two other girls at the Hamilton bus terminal on Friday.

One of the victims sustained facial bruising and swelling.

The girl?s mother told Police that her daughter had been at the bus terminal when she was approached by one girl intent on provoking a fight.

She said, when her 16-year-old daughter and her friend decided to walk away, they were attacked by a group of six girls who beat them to the ground and kicked them about the head.

The girls then fled from the area on foot. Police are appealing for any witnesses to contact Hamilton CID on 295-0011.

Health authorities look at new drug options

Island residents suffering from diabetes are set to benefit from improvements in the supply, sale and distribution of diabetic medication. Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Cann said the Department of Health is currently exploring several options.

?Members of the public who have diabetes, heart disease or other chronic conditions are being strongly urged to complete the survey questionnaire recently published in the daily newspaper as it will provide invaluable information that will be used to help improve the supply and sale of medications for individuals with diabetes,? said Dr. Cann.

The questionnaire has been published by the Bermuda Diabetes Association and copies are also available from physicians? offices, pharmacies, the TB Cancer and Health Association and at the front desk at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

?The Health Department has been working closely with the Bermuda Diabetes Association, the Diabetes Centre at KEMH, the Bermuda Hospitals Board, the TB Cancer and Health Association, the Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association, pharmacies and local importers to ensure that medications and supplies are available and affordable,? Dr. Cann said. ?Members of the public are being asked to provide information to help with this process.?

Teen in contempt of court

A teenager was held in contempt of court after he repeatedly swore at Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves and was warned that if he was not careful he would become a long-term resident of Westgate.

Stacy Simpson, 18, was also jailed for 12 months because he was in breach of his probation.

Magistrates? Court heard that Simpson, of Clay Court, Hamilton Parish, had not attended youth counselling sessions or meetings with his probation officer and had not submitted himself to random urine tests and continued to smoke marijuana.

He also hadn?t paid a $1,000 fine and was told by Mr. Greaves to pay up or go to jail.

Simpson then became agitated and called Mr. Greaves ?stupid? followed by a string of expletives.

The court heard that Simpson, a motorcycle thief, had received two years probation on two separate occasions ? the last time in September, 2003.

Mr. Greaves told the court that probation officers had recommended that Simpson be discharged from probation. ?All this ATI (Alternatives to Incarceration) can?t change all of these fellas,? said Mr. Greaves. ?You can take the lion out of the jungle, but you can?t take the jungle out of the lion. You come in here cursing everybody this morning. If you don?t try to change fast, you are going to be a long-term resident at Westgate.?

27 accidents reported this weekend

Police were kept busy at the weekend with a total of 27 accidents, five of which resulted in injury. Five people were also arrested under suspicion of driving while impaired. There were three reported incidents of shoplifting and two incidents of loud noise.

American fined for importing speed

An American visitor was fined $1,000 yesterday in Magistrates? Court for importing amphetamine (speed).

Deanna Marie Christian, 33, from Minnesota, pleaded guilty to importing the controlled drug on Friday afternoon.

Crown counsel Oonagh Vaucrosson told the court that Customs officers discovered the drugs in her carry-on luggage at the Bermuda International Airport.

The Customs officer, noticing that she was nervous, asked if she used cocaine and the woman said that she frequently used the drug.

After the drugs and a straw were found, she was X-rayed to see whether she had ingested any drugs, but the results were negative.

Christian said: ?I am sorry that this has happened and I never intended to bring in anything.?

Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves fined Christian $1,000 to be paid immediately or face 90 days in prison.