welcome the first baby of 2001.

Born on January 2, at 7.09 p.m., Reyne (pronounced Rain) Dawn Kiara entered the world at a healthy six pounds, six and a half ounces, edging out one other baby who was born a scant 16 minutes after her to become the New Year's baby.

Parents Kiawana Frost and DeFrest Evans said they were "filled with joy''.

"We are so excited,'' Ms Frost said. "This is definitely a blessing for us.'' It was beginning to look like touch and go in the early hours of the New Year at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital that there were no babies born on New Year's Day.

And according to hospital maternity staff, there were no mothers waiting in labour to give birth throughout New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.

However, the following day at about mid-afternoon, Ms Frost and another mother arrived at the emergency room in labour.

Later that evening Ms Frost gave birth to her bundle of joy.

In fact, Ms Frost said she was not sure whether Reyne would make it in time for the New Year and the birth of her baby girl was earlier than expected.

"My due date was January 10,'' she explained. "I wasn't expecting her to come that early.

"I was listening to the news all day long and they were saying there still wasn't a baby born yet. But I began thinking to myself on the way to the hospital that they might be wrong.

Maternity Ward clinical coordinator Kathleen Roberts said it was not unusual for no new babies to be born on New Year's Day: "Some years back, we didn't have any new births on New Year's Day, so this is not out of the ordinary.'' Ms Frost, who already has a son, is expected to leave the hospital today.