New faster ferries complete in Tasmanian boatyard

A second new foil catamaran ferry ? is complete and expected to arrive on the Island by late July, Government announced. is set to arrive at the same time as , which was already complete.

After several months of construction, Marine and Ports Director Barry Coupland said was fittingly launched this past Bermuda Day into the surrounding waters of the North West Bay Ship Yard, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

For the past month, Marine and Ports has been sending staff to Hobart on a rotational basis, to familiarise them with the two new state-of-the-art vessels.

Mr. Coupland and Director Designate Francis Richardson are currently in Hobart taking part in sea trials of the two cats which are reportedly performing ?beautifully?.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown said the Ministry is looking forward to the arrival of the new ferries. He said they are designed to go a maximum speed of 37 knots and are slightly shorter in length than and

They are painted in bright hues to reflect Bermuda?s tropical flavour, he added, and will be replacing the ageing mono-hull ferries.

Short session in House of Assembly today

Legislators will today discuss a report on the state of agriculture in Bermuda and consider a bill proposing to give the Surveyors Registration Council authority to issue stamps for registered surveyors.

All other matters on the order sheet ? including Opposition motions to debate Government's ?mismanagement of the Senior Secondary School construction project at Berkeley? and the need for health care reform ? are expected be carried over.

Azorean president?s visit postponed

The local Azorean community are lamenting the postponement of Azorean president Carlos Cesar?s visit to Bermuda. President Cesar was slated to spend June 10 ? Portugal Day ? here in celebrations organised by the Vasco Da Gama club.

However, he will now be arriving on July 7 and leaving two days later, club president Tony DaCosta said yesterday.

The visit would have been the first time an Azorean president celebrated the Portugal Day holiday in Bermuda.

Vasco Da Gama club had arranged a gala cocktail reception for June 9 which has now been moved to June 10 in the Vasco Da Gama club hall. A dinner at a local hotel is in the works to commemorate the president?s visit in July.

According to a letter sent to Vasco club members, President Cesar has had to delay his visit because ?European general elections are being held on June 13 and his presence is mandatory.?

The Portuguse tall ship will be in Bermuda for the celebrations, arriving on June 8 and will departing on June 12.

Hotel Merit Awards ceremony delayed

This year?s Hotel Merit Awards have been postponed to allow hotels and guest houses to complete renovations.

The Department of Tourism said the decision was made due to the after-effects of Hurricane Fabian last September, when considerable damage resulted in temporary closures at many properties.

The Hotel Merit Awards are a joint initiative by the Bermuda Department of Tourism, the Ministry of Health and Family Services, and the Bermuda Fire Service.

The awards are given to properties which meet high standards in the areas of accommodations, hotel safety and appeal of external areas. Deanna Wade, the Assistant Director of Tourism and product development, said: ?Traditionally, property managers advise the Department of Tourism of their interest in participating in the awards scheme.

?The process involves consultation with the Fire and Health departments and usually begins in mid-May through the end of June, with the Awards presentation held in July.?

Tourism Minister Renee Webb said she supported the postponement, noting that she was looking forward to the revival of the event for next year.

Devon Springs Hill embankment still unsafe

Smiths parish business owners are calling on Government to fix an unsafe embankment in their area before someone is hurt.

Party Plus owners Mary and David Fox, who?s South Shore Road business runs along the embankment on Devon Springs Hill have sent letters to Works & Engineering asking for something be done to secure the area before an accident happens in their parking lot.

A boulder which fell out of the wall and onto the parking lot late last year sent off alarm bells for the Party Plus and Pet Care owners.

?We don?t want it to fall and kill someone before something is done,? said Mr. Fox. ?Whenever we see people coming in we?re warning them not to park too close to the wall.?

Mr. Fox said he has been asked to foot the bill for the repairs but he said the road is accessed by Devon Spring Road residents and the general public, and should therefore Government should pay. He is suggesting the embankment be dug back and filled in.

Government has closed the road to drivers and Devon Spring Road residents have been using back entrance on Middle Road to get to their homes as it is unsafe to drive over the embankment.

Yesterday, Works & Engineering consultant Peter Havlicek told that Government records show the embankment is part of a private road. He said Government has plans to fix the embankment as soon as it?s determined who picks up the bill.

?The embankment has been shut to traffic until we can determine who will pay for it,? said Mr. Havlicek. ?The obvious solution is to build a wall. Who pays for the wall, we don?t know. We?re going through the legal side of things at the moment.?

Regiment on hurricane training exercise

The annual hurricane preparedness training begins for Regiment soldiers in anticipation of the season.

Over the coming weekend, soldiers will practice skills necessary to help return the Island to normal after a natural disaster.

A press release stated: ?The majority of this training will be done by cleaning up areas still needing attention following Hurricane Fabian. These areas include public parks such as Ferry Reach, Great Head Park and Higgs Island. Soldiers will also practice shoring and securing damaged houses.

Thief hits Southampton home

A thief stole a Minolta digital camera and two telephones from a Southampton residence on Wednesday evening.

The complainant said that sometime between 6 p.m. and 8.45 p.m. the culprit gained entry into the home. Inquiries into this incident are underway.