Govt. to hike scholarships

Bermuda Government education scholarships will be increased by $10,000 a year by a bill tabled in the House of Assembly on Friday.

Government scholarships are currently capped at $15,000 a year, but the Bermuda Government Scholarships Amendment Act 2003 will increase that to $25,000.

Also tabled on Friday was The Education Amendment Act 2003, which would provide for the education of children in "tutorial sites", otherwise known as home schools.

The bill defines "tutorial sites" as any institution other than a school which has been approved by the Minister of Education to provide education for no more than 15 persons.

The bill provides for Government regulation of such sites.

Apartments approved

The Development Applications Board has approved plans for an apartment complex on Old Road, Hamilton Parish, being planned by Limestone Nominees Limited.

The company wants to demolish an existing building and replace it with a complex of 12 new dwelling units, a swimming pool and a pool house.

The DAB also approved plans by David Durham to construct a new apartment complex on Palmetto Road, Pembroke.

And the West End Development Corporation has been given final approval for plans to erect temporary buildings at Snorkel Park in Dockyard.

Thief sates hunger

A hungry thief helped himself to some chicken and cheese that was in a fridge in a house in Jubilee Road, Devonshire, but left without stealing anything.

The break-in took place on Friday night and the thief ransacked the house but didn't remove anything.

Taxi cheat caught

A man who tried to run out on paying his taxi fare was caught when the driver and a member of the public chased him down.

Two men ran out the cab at 1.30 a.m. on Spanish Point Road without paying after being picked up at the Swizzle Inn.

Police said a member of the public helped the driver catch one of the men, but the other escaped. The arrested man was taken to Hamilton Police Station.

Drinks stolen

Twenty cases of Tradewinds drinks, four cases of Mott's juices and bags of chips were taken from a locked container at BAA parking lot over the weekend.

Boats robbed

Boats have been targeted by thieves. On Monday morning a boat owner said a cooler and two fishing rods were taken from his vessel moored at Red Hole Dock.

In the afternoon Police went to a boat moored in Mill's Creek after a TV and a bottle of vodka had been stolen.

Suspect arrested

Police have arrested a suspect after a bag of clothing and tiles were stolen from Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pembroke sometime last week.