disqualifications from driving.

The Wor. John Judge made his comments on Friday as he imposed suspensions that will keep a man off the road until 2003.

"I do think it will be a desperately long disqualification,'' Mr. Judge said as he added a mandatory five years to disqualifications already imposed on Terry Q. Minors.

"There ought to be a mechanism whereby after a clear period of, say, five years from today, a degree of mercy would be shown.

"I wish it were so,'' the Magistrate said. "It isn't.'' Minors, 34, of Smith's Parish, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without a vehicle licence or insurance on November 3 on Dutton Avenue in Pembroke. For those offences, he was fined a total of $700, given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years, and disqualified from driving for two years.

He also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and dangerous driving on Jubilee Road in Devonshire on January 6. Police stopped Minors' cycle after a chase.

On those charges, he was fined a further $800 and disqualified from driving for two years and five years respectively. All the disqualifications are to run concurrently.

Minors had 13 previous convictions for driving while disqualified.