possession of 30 pounds of marijuana, were fined $1,000 and put on probation for four years yesterday The Royal Gazette has learned.

Calvin Burgess, 25, and 22-year-old Jamel Dwayne Amory appeared in court yesterday morning and pleaded guilty to the charges.

They were both represented by lawyers at the short hearing and were given deferred adjudication for four years and a $1,000 fine each. They have been released.

Deferred adjudication is similar to probation or a conditional discharge. If Burgess and Amory do not commit another drug offence in four years then their current offence will be wiped off their record.

The pair were intercepted when they arrived in southern Texas. Ten "bricks'' of marijuana with a Bermudian street value of $480,000 were found on them.

However, the street value of the drugs in the United States is much lower than in Bermuda.

US Police said the pair were detained at Houston International Airport at 9.30 a.m. on September 18.

The drugs were wrapped in duct tape and were found in a duffel bag. Burgess' address was Atlanta, Georgia although a Bermudian driver's licence was also found on him.

The pair were taken to Houston's Harris County Jail, and thought to have been put in separate cells.

Around 10 a.m. they appeared in the 338th district court where they pleaded guilty.

HOTEL TO CLOSE FOR WINTER TOU Hotel to close for winter Sixty staff will be laid off for two months when a Paget hotel closes for renovations in the off-season.

The Newstead, which has 50 rooms, is to close from January 3 to March 1 next year. All major hotels on the Island are staying open during the winter.

It is expected there will be a shake-up of staff when the hotel re-opens and possibly not all employees will come back to a job. Mr. Simon Frith, general assistant manager, said several thousand Dollars would be spent on the renovations which include painting, general repairs and plumbing.

"It is the first year we have ever closed, we are usually open all year round. It's unfortunate because we are getting enquiries, but we are having to turn people away,'' said Mr. Frith.

He said staff would be laid off for the two months.

MAN FINED CTS Man fined Possessing 9.62 grams of cannabis cost a Southampton Princess waiter $1,000 yesterday.

Malkal Darrell, 21, of Hillview Road, Warwick, admitted in Magistrates' Court to possessing the drugs.

Prosecutor Sgt. Donald Grant said Police went to Southampton Rangers Club at 6.20 p.m. on June 17 and found Darrell sitting on a wall.

Darrell, the father of a newborn daughter, appeared to be making a transaction with another man.

He had a clear plastic sandwich bag, which contained the cannabis, in his right hand.

Acting Senior Magistrate the Wor. Edward King fined Darrell $1,000.

NEW ZOING MAPS RELEASED PLN New zoning maps released Copies of the amended Bermuda Plan, detailing areas zoned for specific uses, are now available to the public.

In 1992, the Government produced the original plan which was open to public consultation and objections. Amendments which resulted have now been incorporated into the final version.

A full set of maps can be bought from the Department of Planning for $850 or people can buy individual maps for $10.