for an International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference on `Creating Labour Management Partnerships for the New Century'.

The two-day event is part of a Caribbean Enterprise Forum and brings together leading figures from Government, business, trade unions and academia from throughout the Caribbean and Bermuda.

Participants will discuss labour and management cooperation approaches and developing strategies that link competitiveness with labour standards.

The Ministry is also represented by Permanent Secretary Robert Horton while Bermuda Employer's Council executive director Malcolm Dixon is also attending.

Last week Minister Cox attended the Bermuda Seminar at St. Anthony's College, Oxford.

FORTE CONFIRMS BELMONT TALKS TOU Forte confirms Belmont talks Trust House Forte, the owners of the Belmont Hotel, has confirmed that negotiations to sell the closed property are at an advanced stage.

The Royal Gazette revealed yesterday that American developer James Dwyer is hopeful of buying the Warwick hotel and golf course by the end of next month.

A Forte spokeswoman in London confirmed the company was close to securing a deal but refused to name the potential buyer.

"Yes, we are at an advanced stage of negotiation and we are hoping for a conclusion in the near future,'' said the spokeswoman.

Mr. Dwyer owns the White Sands Hotel in Paget and has been in negotiations to buy the Belmont, which closed in November 1998, and the Sonesta Beach Resort in Southampton from Aetna Insurance.

His company, the New Jersey-based James Dwyer Hospitality Group, carried out an environmental audit of the 151 bedroom hotel which found asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), a toxic industrial by-product, which would have to be removed if the property is renovated.

The Environmental Health Department confirmed yesterday that Mr. Dwyer's company had been in touch, but that no permits for asbestos removal have yet been issued.

Mr. Dwyer's architects would need to be referred to a qualified asbestos removal firm, but this has not yet happened.

DELAYS EXPECTED TFC Delays expected Motorists face delays at The Lane, Paget, this morning as Belco repairmen continue roadworks to fix an electricity cable.

Around 50 households in The Lane, Berry Hill, and Pomander Road were without electricity for half an hour yesterday morning after a Belco digger accidentally hacked into the cable in a trench.

Workmen will stop work during rush hours to minimise inconvenience to drivers.

SUSPECT ARRESTED CRM Suspect arrested Police chased and arrested a 37-year-old Hamilton parish man after a break-in at Crawl Hill Esso Station, Hamilton.

Officers arrived at 3.40 yesterday morning and saw the suspect running from the storage area which had been entered by force.

After a brief pursuit the man was found hiding under a parked van.