to AIDS during the first two months of the year.

According to a surveillance report released yesterday for the month of February, three new AIDS cases were recorded in that month.

One new case was recorded in the 40-to-49-year age group, while two were recorded in the 50-to-59-age group. All the new AIDS sufferers were males.

According to the statistics, intravenous drug use accounted for two of the new cases while bisexual activity accounted for the other.

And the Island lost one intravenous drug user in the 50-to-59-age group to AIDS in February.

To date Bermuda has lost 306 people to AIDS between June 1, 1985 -- when the Island began recording such statistics -- and February 28 of this year.

HOTEL DECISION IS DEFERRED PLN Hotel decision is deferred Planning officials have deferred a decision on the future developer of the derelict Bermudiana Hotel.

The Development Applications Board met on Wednesday to consider the plans by ACE Ltd. and EXEL Ltd. to build offices on the site.

However the meeting was adjourned until next Wednesday when a decision should be reached.

No-one on the DAB was able to comment on the reasons for the deferral but it is understood it has been done to iron some small planning issues.

COLLEGE DISPUTE SIMMERING EDC College dispute simmering Faculty at the Bermuda College may resort to industrial action, if a simmering dispute with the administration is not resolved.

The Royal Gazette understands that negotiations over several issues, including staff hours, have been going on for sometime.

Staff reportedly would like to see the matter taken to arbitration, but the administration is against such a move.

A Press conference is expected to be held by staff members this morning at the college on the matter.

When contacted yesterday, College president George Cook said he was not aware of plans for a Press conference. And he referred inquiries about the dispute to the college's Human Resource manager Neville Manderson who was not available for comment.