politician Dr. Ewart Brown in a US hospital has been a success.

Dr. Brown spent six hours on the operating table as surgeons corrected a problem which has been causing him considerable pain.

Last night Dr. Brown -- a patient in his old training hospital, Howard University Hospital in Washington D.C. -- was still suffering from the effects of the anaesthetic and was unable to comment.

But his father, also Ewart, said last night the operation had went smoothly and there were no complications.

Mr. Brown Sr. added: "He's just come back from the recovery room and is resting in his room. The operation went well and it was necessary -- he was suffering a great deal of pain.'' Mr. Brown was unable to say how long his son would remain in hospital before returning to Bermuda.

BIU GAS STATION ALL SET FOR A FACELIFT UNS BIU gas station all set for a facelift The BIU gas station will be revamped to meet its competition head on.

Bermuda Industrial Union President Derrick Burgess said yesterday that plans were to create a smaller version of the Esso City Service Station at the Dundonald Street premises.

He said he hoped construction would begin next month but declined to add how much the venture would cost.

Architects for the development are the Marshall Bernardo Partnership and work is planned to last three months, continued Mr. Burgess.

The existing building will be removed and new fuel tanks, pumps and a convenience store will be put in, he added.

There were also possibilities of increasing the station's opening hours and adding more staff, said Mr. Burgess, but that would be decided later.

GOVERNMENT WANTS LOCAL FOOD LABELLED GVT Government wants local food labelled Producers of Bermudian foods have been asked to begin labelling their products for easier consumer identification.

The move comes after months of negotiations between wholesalers and the Health Department, chief environmental health officer Estlyn Harvey said yesterday.

She said local producers were now being asked to put clear labels on their products which identified their ingredients, what the product was and who produced it.

The label would also state how to contact the producer and how to store and prepare the food.

This was especially important for consumers who suffered from allergies because they needed to know what a product carried, said Mrs. Harvey.

But it also protected every consumer's right, she added.

She warned that while it was not compulsory yet for products to carry labels, it could quite possibly become legislation eventually.

IT'S GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE TO GAS UP EGY It's getting more expensive to gas up Motorists as of yesterday had to pay a little extra to fill up their tanks.

Gasoline prices increased by .6 cents a litre. And as a result of this the maximum retail price was set at $1.16 cents per litre.

Diesel and kerosene prices also increased by .5 cents a litre and .7 cents per litre, respectively.

The maximum retail prices of those petroleum products were set at 89 cents and 68 cents a litre, respectively.

MAN, 30, ADMITS IMPORTING CANNABIS CTS Man, 30, admits importing cannabis Shannon Leroy Tuzo, 30, of Cedar Park, Devonshire yesterday admitted importing cannabis and cannabis resin.

Tuzo had originally denied the charges and his trial was due to begin earlier this week.

But Tuzo, who was unrepresented, yesterday reversed his plea.

Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux asked: "You do have a right to be not guilty, do you know that?'' Tuzo nodded his head.

Crown Counsel Peter DeJulio suggested a social inquiry report be completed before Tuzo returned to court for sentencing, but Mr. Meerabux rejected the suggestion.

Tuzo, who was released on $2,500 bail, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 9.

MAN, OWED $1,000-PLUS IN UNPAID FINES CTS Man owed $1,000-plus in unpaid fines A man appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday for owing more than $1,000 in fines.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis heard that 35-year-old Robin Stovell had not paid his fines from June 1995 and September 1995 for traffic offences.

Stovell told the court he could not pay the fines because he had been "locked up'' in prison, but that he could pay them before August 16.

He denied further charges of stealing or receiving a cycle worth $1,300 and wandering abroad.

He will be tried for wandering abroad on August 6, and for the cycle offence on October 11. He was granted $500 bail with a like surety.

WOMAN ARRESTED IN ALLEGED STABBING CTS Woman arrested in alleged stabbing Police have arrested a 33-year-old woman for allegedly stabbing a Pembroke man.

The stabbing occurred yesterday morning at a Parson's Road, Pembroke residence.

Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning said the 39-year-old man was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital around 5 a.m. and released after receiving treatment.

He added that the man's injuries were not life threatening.