NIOBE CORINTHIAN SAGA

The controversial Niobe Corinthian casino ship was to set sail from Bermuda for the first time on September 29, according to lawyer Llewellyn Peniston. Mr. Peniston, who acted for the owners of the vessel, said legal loopholes were found that would allow it to be used as a casino outside the Island's territorial waters — despite the recent high-profile prosecution of its captain and general manager.

A vocal opponent of Bermuda's anti-gambling laws, Mr. Peniston acknowledged the inaugural voyage was likely to spark fresh criticism from Bermuda's church lobby, which had voiced opposition to the ship in the past.

In July, the Panamanian captain of casino ship Niobe Corinthian was fined $15,000 for illegally importing 100 gaming machines into Bermuda.

Fermin Alfonso Reyes, 30, was found guilty along with the ship's manager George Kezas, 72, after a trial that first began last September. Kezas, like Reyes, faced a maximum penalty of two years in jail, a $100,000 fine, or both for breaking the law banning gaming machines from Bermuda. Kezas will be sentenced later.

On October 11, the Niobe Corinthian, was damaged after one of its engines overheated and caused a fire in the upper lounge area of the vessel.

Around 9.30 a.m. the ship was en route from St. George's to Dockyard for refuelling when the starboard engine began to heat as the vessel approached Grassy Bay. However, the crew managed to contain and extinguish the fire using onboard equipment before fire personnel arrived. Two Marine and Ports tug boats were standing by to tow the vessel into the commercial berth in the south basin in Dockyard.

On November 26, Following three years of controversy over whether it flouts Bermuda's strict gambling laws, the Niobe Corinthian finally set sail from the Island for the first time.

Passengers boarding the boat at St. David's told The Royal Gazette that although church groups and former Premier Alex Scott had vigorously opposed the venture, they couldn't see what all the fuss was about and were looking forward to a chance for a rare flutter.

Gary Simons, from Pembroke, said: "It's something different to do. People just get bored. You can only drive so far in Bermuda. At least with this boat you can have a little show time, a little gambling and good fun."

BERMUDIANS ADMIT COUNTERFEITING CHARGES IN HALIFAX

Three Bermudians studying in Canada pleaded guilty to using counterfeit cash. The trio made the admission on the morning of their scheduled Supreme Court trial in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The prosecution was due to allege that they bought expensive electronic goods with fake $100 bills. Wayne Howard Tucker, 21, Anthony Gaston Effs, 20, and Dean Martin, 22, were arrested last November after three stores in Halifax, Nova Scotia, told Police suspects purchased and attempted to purchase goods with counterfeit $100 US bills.

This newspaper understood that among the electronic items listed in the allegations were a large flat screen television set, and that the defendants, all of Brunswick Street, Halifax, are students in that city.

DENNIS PAMPLIN CHARGED IN NEW JERSEY

The husband of Deputy Opposition Leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin claimed he had receipts that would prove where almost $100,000 seized by Police in New Jersey came from. Dennis Pamplin, 57, was arrested on August 28 in Chatham, New Jersey, along with two other men, Ronald Ellis, a 38-year old Bermudian, and Mark Small, 40, of New York, on suspicion of money laundering and conspiracy. Pamplin appeared in a Morristown, New Jersey court along with his co-accused on September 20.

According to reports from the Daily Record in Chatham, his lawyer, Paul Bergrin, told the court his client had financial documentation to prove he legally had more than $98,000 in his possession to buy music equipment. His wife, Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin, attended the hearing.

EMISSIONS COMPANY–DENIES SWEETHEART DEAL

Construction boss Dennis Correia and emissions expert Donal Smith defended the granting of a contract to build an emissions testing facility at the Transport Control Department.

A cousin of Premier Dr. Ewart Brown, Mr. Smith told The Royal Gazette he'd researched and developed his company for 15 years and knew as much about the technology as anyone here.

Mr. Correia – the husband of PLP candidate Jane Correia – admitted he owned 30 percent of Bermuda Emissions Control but defended the decision to grant the company rights to test vehicles at TCD.

Both men denied there was a sweetheart deal worth $8.6 million.

Statistics

The Bank of Bermuda Foundation boosted its revenue by almost $3 million, while putting more than $7.3 million into promoting education. The bank's charitable branch saw its revenue, including dividends, gains on sales of investments and donations received, rise from $3,697.512 in 2005 to $6,283,962 last year.

By 2010 the number of hotel jobs will have decreased further by more than 250 jobs. An extra 1,000 jobs are being created each year in Bermuda and will result in the Island having 44,000 jobs by the year 2010. In 2006, 75 percent of new jobs were filled by non-Bermudians and that trend looks likely to continue. These statistics were presented at an employment seminar in Hamilton given by Profiles of Bermuda.

Inflation continued above four percent for the third month running. The rate of inflation hit 4.3 percent in July, following figures of 4.5 percent and four percent for May and June respectively as inflation peaked at a 16-year high. Overall inflation has increased by more than half from 2.8 percent at the start of 2007, compared to July's second highest total of the year.

Experts predict that by 2030, seniors will make up 22 percent of the Island's population (they currently account for 11 percent).

A survey of new prisoners showed heroin use had doubled to 30 percent while cocaine use had soared to 57 percent.