Prominent church minister Vernon Lambe could speak in court this morning in a bid to win bail for his cousin.

Alternatively Marvin Lambe, an admitted drug addict, will be remanded in custody on housebreaking charges.

Lambe told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner that Rev. Vernon Lambe, whom he called "my cousin Vernon'', was "working on getting me in some programmes''.

He added he should not be held until he was dealt with by the Supreme Court.

Lambe, 36, of Radnor Close, appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday in relation to two break-ins in Hamilton Parish.

The Royal Gazette understands others will appear in court on similar charges soon.

As Lambe has been indicted he did not have to plead to whether it was he who broke into the Shelly Bay Laundromat in the nighttime between November 22 and 23 and stole $200.

He also faces a charge of breaking into a Cottage Hill, Hamilton Parish home and stealing an assortment of cookies, three gold pendants, two gold and rhinestone tie pins, one "thick'' solid gold bangle type bracelet, two gold chains, three ankle bracelets, $50 in cash, and clothing including a suede jacket.

The total value of that Christmas Eve heist is $3,015.

Mr. Warner told Lambe: "What they are saying is that this is a serious offence and they want the Supreme Court to deal with you.

"I'll tell you what, I'll remand you in custody until tomorrow,'' he continued. "You get Dr. Lambe in here tomorrow and I'll listen to any arrangements he has made or is making for you and then I'll consider what to do with you.'' Mr. Warner added: "Because I'm not inclined to give you bail but if Dr. Lambe can tell me something different then...'' During the bail hearing Lambe had said Rev. Lambe was his cousin and he and others in his family had sought help for his drug abuse.

Power point: Sacked Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson warned against the dangers of leaders getting carried away with their own authority at a speech for the Hamilton Rotarians yesterday.