Liquor store forced out by new building

The owner of a Front Street liquor store is not happy about having to move out in order to make way for a new six-storey office building.

Edgar Ward, owner of Bermuda Wines and Spirits, which is located across the street from the Bank of Bermuda-HSBC building near Albuoy?s Point, said yesterday he will have to shut his shop down to make way for the development.

?I don?t know what I am going to do,? Mr. Ward said. ?I am not happy about it.?

Mr. Ward said he was told to leave his rented shop by 2007 but has not yet found an alternative location.

The Development Applications Board (DAB) last week granted final planning approval to the Somers Building Limited to renovate No. 15 Front Street, to create a new, six-storey office and retail building with a basement area.

However, the DAB said before they grant a building permit, Somers Building must enter into an agreement with the Corporation of Hamilton for any necessary encroachments into, over or under Par-La-Ville Park.

?No part of the hereby approved building shall exceed six storeys above final grade,? said the DAB in its decision.

Five arrested for drunk driving on weekend

Five people were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving and five incidents of breaking and entering occurred over the weekend.

The Police Service also reported 19 damage-only road traffic collisions and nine road traffic collisions resulting in injury.

Fire Service promotes three officers

Three veteran firemen have been promoted, the Bermuda Fire Service announced, with Lloyd Burchall being made a Divisional Officer.

A qualified fire investigator, D.O. Burchall has worked throughout the service since joining in 1982, and is currently attached to the training division.

Colin Swan, who has been working in the service for 20 years, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Lt. Swan has completed various overseas courses and has worked the training division and is currently working in the operations division as a Station Commander at the Clearwater Fire Station.

He is in charge of fire suppression and special services for the East End of the Island in conjunction with St. George?s Fire Brigade and Serco.

Alex DeSilva, a 20-year veteran of the service, was promoted to Sergeant. He has worked in the training division and is currently working with the operations division.

Two purse snatchers sought by Police

Police are hunting for two purse snatchers who struck on Monday.

In the first incident, a 54-year-old female tourist told officers her wicker handbag was snatched as she walked towards a restaurant on Chancery Lane in Hamilton.

The victim and her friends chased the offender towards Front Street, but he got into a new, white hatchback car and escaped.

Police said the suspect is black, about 5 foot 6 inches tall and of slim build. He had a thin moustache and curly hair, was wearing dark clothes and is believed to be in his 40s.

The bag, which contained a silver Nokia cell phone and personal items, was reported stolen at 8.30 p.m. on Monday.

In another incident, a woman had her bag snatched as she rode on the back of a motorbike through Paget.

The 22-year-old Warwick woman told Police she was passenger on a male friend?s bike, travelling west on South Road, when the offender struck near the junction with Ardsheal Drive.

The suspect rode alongside the victim and stole her purse from the cycle basket. Despite being chased, he escaped with $30, a Nokia cell phone and personal items.

The suspect, riding a red scooter, was dark-skinned, of slim build and was wearing baggy blue jeans and a dark yellow shirt.

The incident was reported at 11.45 p.m. on Monday. Witnesses should call the Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit on 295-0011.