Tsunami relief donations continue to pour in

Even though it has been almost three months since the devastating Boxing Day tsunami struck, donations continue to pour in.

Spice Valley Middle School yesterday donated $700 to the Bermuda Red Cross to be used for survivors of the tsunami which left more than 286,000 people dead, 7,900 missing and more than 1.6 million displaced in a dozen countries of south Asia and eastern Africa.

The money was raised during a grub day at the school and brings the total raised by the Bermuda Red Cross to $1,398,403.24.

Red Cross administrator Helen Wicks said this week that even though the amount of donations had ?slowed down? they were still coming in from schools and individuals on a steady basis.

So far at least 22,000 volunteers and nearly 300 international staff, from donor nations are well as from affected countries have been mobilised. More than 400 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are bringing vital assistance including food, clean water, medical care, shelter and household and hygiene articles as well as psychological counselling to some 700,000 people in affected countries.

Recovery programmes are expected to extend to 2010 and beyond.

College closes in on accreditation

Bermuda College moved one step closer in its accreditation process this month following a visit by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

This was the first site visit by the accreditation team, which spent the day interviewing faculty, staff and students about various aspects of the operations of the College, including its mission and purpose, planning and evaluation, organisation and governance, programmes and instruction, student services, physical resources, financial resources, public disclosure and integrity.

At the end of the visit, a report will be submitted to NCASC?s Commission for a decision on the application for candidacy.

A decision is expected by mid-October and if approved, Bermuda College will be only the second institution outside of the United States to be granted candidacy by the Commission.

Trial of accused lawyer delayed

A lawyer who allegedly attempted to obtain Bermudian status by using false documents appeared for mention in the Supreme Court on Monday.

Robert William Martyn, 41, of Smith?s, appeared briefly before Puisne Judge Charles Etta Simmons.

He is being represented by Saul Froomkin QC and Victoria Pearman.

However, under much protest from Ms Pearman, Martyn?s trial was postponed after Crown prosecutor Paula Tyndale asked for more time.

Martyn will return to court for the next arraignments session on April 1 when a trial date will be set. His bail was extended.

Charges dropped for Wellington Oval accused

The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided not to prosecute one of the four men involved in the violent clash at Wellington Oval on April 4 last year.

John Everest Trott, 27, who is currently imprisoned at Westgate for another matter, was previously charged with causing intentional grievous bodily harm to Kiwon Butterfield and with the possession of a six-foot piece of wood he was allegedly using as a weapon.

Appearing in court on Monday without legal representation, Trott stood in silence as Puisne Judge Charles Etta Simmons told him that prosecution of the matter had been stopped. Justice Simmons warned Trott to behave himself because she did not want to see him back in her court.

Sport shop hit by daylight robbery

Police are hunting a screwdriver-wielding robber who grabbed cash from the till at the International Sports Shop on Bermudiana Road on Saturday at lunchtime.

The victim, a 20-year-old salesperson from Pembroke, said at 12.35 p.m. the man entered the store, greeted her and went behind the cash register.

When confronted, the suspect threatened her with a screwdriver before swiping cash and fleeing.

The suspect is described as a light brown-skinned male, approximately six foot two inches tall with brown eyes and some facial hair.

He was wearing a grey hooded sweat suit top, black sweatpants and a grey helmet.

Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with any information about this incident to contact the Hamilton CID on 295-0011.

It is the second daylight robbery in the space of a few days however a Police spokesman was unable to say whether the incidents are related.

On Thursday morning a man grabbed $300 from the till at Cecile?s on Front Street before running off.

Staples stitched up for $333

A thief broke into the Staples office on Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke, some time over the weekend and stole $333.