US govt. withdraws passport deadline

The US has withdrawn from the December 31 deadline for Americans to use passports when returning from Bermuda and other countries. The measure were meant to prevent terrorists entering via the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, and Bermuda.

But the US Government has listened to fears from Caribbean countries that the new travel rules will hurt tourism and trade.

The US Government plans to implement the rules for all countries by 2008 but no new dates have been set for specific nations or regions and the Bush administration is considering its options, including a cheaper identification card for US citizens and residents who frequently travel.

BIU seeks sponsors for textbook

The BIU is seeking to get sponsorship to buy one thousand copies of the History of the Bermuda Industrial Union to place in schools.

The Chamber of Commerce has been approached to buy the $38 books however a Chamber spokeswoman said it was too early to gauge the response from member companies as the letter had only just gone out.

15-year-old crashed car

An underage driver fled the scene of an accident after overturning a car in Hamilton parish on Sunday, Police said.

The driver, a 15-year-old Smith?s Parish boy and his three young passengers were later located by Police, however, they did not say whether any arrests had been made.

At 12.40 a.m. on Sunday Police attended a single vehicle accident resulting in injury near the junction of East Point Lane and North Shore Road.

?It appears that the car, a silver Renault Clio was travelling west on North Shore Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle crossing into the eastbound lane, colliding with a utility pole and two trees before the car overturned, landing on its roof,? Police said.

One of the passengers, an 18-year-old Hamilton parish man was treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital after injuring his shoulder in the crash, but was later released.

Two other passengers, an 18-year-old Devonshire man and a 17-year-old Smith?s man were not injured. Police said inquiries into this incident are underway.