Help advertise Bermuda abroad - with a bumper sticker

Gorham's is doing its part to revive tourism after Hurricane Fabian with bumper stickers and decals aimed at luring visitors to the Island. Rod Ferguson, chairman of Gorham's Ltd., presented Premier Alex Scott and Tourism Minister Renee Webb with the Bermuda inspired window clingers and bumper stickers that say "Bermuda: Where I'd rather be right now".

"Bermudians travel like crazy and we rent cars all the time. We can all advertise when we're in the US," Mr. Ferguson said.

He explained that the window clingers could be pulled off at the end of the trip and saved for the next business trip or vacation.

"Gorham's is not in the hotel or tourist business, but we thought we should do our part," said Henry Durham, assistant general manager of the hardware store.

Along with the window clingers, Gorham's also produced bumper stickers with the same slogan and pink and blue colours that Mr. Ferguson was hoping hotels might order and hand out to their guests before they leave. He also thought they would be excellent for taxi drivers who also frequent the store.

"This really reflects your national spirit," Mr. Scott said. Ms Webb thought it was "ideal" for tourists. Mr. Ferguson said 15,000 of the decals were printed and customers are welcome to pick them up at their store.

Judge Kawaley treads new ground

A Bermuda judge ruled yesterday that it could not be accepted as fact that removing a tampon from a woman will wake her up.

Puisne Judge Ian Kawaley made the ruling after the Prosecution appealed Magistrate Will Francis's decision that expert evidence was not needed on that matter during a sexual assault case in which a 35-year-old Policeman was cleared.

During the May trial the complainant, a visitor, testified she was staying with a friend in Bermuda last December when she met the Policeman. After a night on the town the pair and some other friends went to an apartment to socialise before she went to bed at around 5.30 a.m.

The complainant then stated she awoke to find the shirtless defendant having intercourse with her underwear down around her knees and her tampon removed.

The defendant said the woman had voluntarily helped remove the tampon and if she had been asleep she would have woken up at that point. But the Crown argued Mr. Francis was wrong to use judicial notice to accept as fact, without other evidence, that a tampon could not be removed without waking the defendant.

Mr. Kawaley granted the appeal which can be used for future reference in other trials. He also ordered the Crown to pay legal costs the cleared man incurred after the Crown had originally said it would appeal the entire case but later dropped that action.

Hero recovers wallet from robber

Another hero has come to the aid of a neighbour, this time helping retrieve a pensioner's wallet.

Following in the footsteps of off-duty Canadian policeman Peter Huska, who chased down a purse thief at the weekend, on Monday evening a 65-year-old Devonshire woman was followed home by a man who was asking for $4.50 for a bus fare.

He grabbed the victim's wallet and then attempted to run off but a member of the public grappled with the suspect and recovered the woman's wallet, although the robber did escape on his motorcycle.

The incident took place around 6.15 p.m. on North Shore Road, Devonshire, and anyone with any information should contact central CID on 295-0011.

Man beaten in broad daylight

A man is recovering in hospital after being beaten with a piece of wood in Pembroke in broad daylight.

The 42-year-old is stable on a general ward at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where his injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Members of the public found the man lying on the sidewalk screaming in pain on Marsh Folly Road at about 4.15 p.m. on Wednesday.

At the time, they also saw the suspected attacker walking away from the scene carrying a piece of wood. The suspect escaped soon after in a green car.

The believed attacker is described as being about five foot ten inches tall, brown skinned, aged between 20 and 30, and with braids in his hair. Any witnesses to the incident are anyone with information should call Police CID on 295-0011.

Break-in at Buckaroo

A thief broke into a Pembroke restaurant and stole hundreds of cigarettes and loose change.

Sometime between 7 p.m. on Wednesday and 3.45 a.m. yesterday the unknown culprit entered the Buckaroo restaurant on Serpentine Road and took 25 cartons of cigarettes and about $400 in change.

Just a day or two earlier, burglars broke into the A-1 MarketPlace supermarket in Paget and stole hundreds of cigarettes and liquor.

Police are appealing for members of the public to be on the lookout for anyone selling Marlboro and or Salem Light cigarettes. Inquiries into the incident are underway and anyone with information should call Police on 295-0011.

Valuable globe stolen

A valuable Mother of Pearl globe worth hundreds of dollars has been stolen from a store on East Broadway in Pembroke.

A man at Great Things said he opened a container at the store and noticed that a 13-inch 3D globe, like the one pictured, had been taken in the middle of August.

Anyone with information should call Det. Con. Jasmine Saltus on 295-0011.