guilty to stealing more than $40,000 from Holmes Williams and Purvey Suzuki Centre.

Morris Michael Botelho, of Cherry Dale, Knapton Hill, Smith's, yesterday pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to stealing $40,060.60 from the dealership sometime between November 25, 1996 and February 17, 1997.

He also admitted stealing seven Suzuki cycles, worth $17,900, between January 28 and February 13, 1997.

Botelho will return to court on Friday to be sentenced for the offences.

CANNABIS STAND GVT Cannabis stand Government has moved to reassure people that there will be no softening of its approach to the use or legalisation of cannabis.

Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness said he considered the drug to be dangerous with the potential to ruin the lives of young people who used it.

"In Bermuda there are a number of entities who have been pressing for sometime whether or not this should be legalised,'' he said. "I am not getting soft on drugs but I do believe that this discussion should take place.'' He said groups had also raised the issue of young people who were brought before the courts in Bermuda for cannabis offences, and later found they were refused entrance to the US because of it.

Mr. Edness said cannabis was a very dangerous drug that had mental and physical side-effects.

Mr. Edness was speaking after public debate was aroused in both Europe and the US on the issue. A local group called "YES'' is also calling for anti-cannabis laws to be eased.

DANIEL'S HEAD MEETING MIL Daniel's Head meeting The development of Daniel's Head as an eco-tourism resort will be discussed at a public meeting organised by the Bermuda Land Development Company tonight.

The meeting will feature a presentation and slide show by Stanley Selengut on his eco-tourism resorts in the US Virgin Islands and Hawaii, followed by a discussion on his proposals for the Daniel's Head site.

The meeting will be held at St. James Church between 7.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m.

FAKE BILL WARNING CRM Fake bill warning Police are warning the public to be on guard for counterfeit currency after a fake $100 bill surfaced at a local night spot.

Police spokesperson Evelyn James Barnett yesterday said that the management at The Club, on Bermudiana Road, reported one of their patrons offered counterfeit money to pay his bill around 1 a.m. Sunday.

The fake bill, a $100 US note, was handed to an alert waitress to pay for several drinks ordered by a man.

The suspicious cocktail waitress examined the money and upon realising that it was counterfeit reported to the night club's management.

However, the man and his companions had left the premises by time the manager was alerted.

Mrs. James Barnett said the counterfeit bill, which bears the serial number AE24975926, was in Police custody.

COLLEGE APPOINTMENT APP College appointment The Bermuda College has announced the appointment of a new administrator of the Prior Learning Assessment programme.

Hilroy Thomas, former director of the Canadian Student Placement Service, took up the post on April 1.

Dr. Thomas, who has a doctorate in Education from Harvard University, carried out strategic planning and public policy development for the Ontario provincial government and developed public education policy for several countries.

Dr. Thomas also developed teacher training programmes for colleges in Dominica and Grenada.

The Prior Learning Assessment Programme will evaluate workplace and other experiential learning and may give college course credits, promotions in the workplace, and identification of employees for sponsored training.