Clearwater, Airport fire depts. unified

The Clearwater fire station at St. David's has been relocated to the Airport Operations division of the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service.

All fire and emergency response teams will now operate out of building number 0637, located on Wallers Point Road, St. David's.

Signs will be posted at the junction of St. David's Road and Southside Road to ensure that residents in the area are aware of the new location, according to a Government spokesperson who said the relocation does not affect emergency calls.

Premier to meet Nevisian leader

Joseph Parry, the Premier of Nevis, is due to meet Premier of Bermuda Ewart Brown today.

A report on the SKNVibes website in St. Kitts and Nevis reported that Mr. Parry will be accompanied by Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Laurie Lawrence.

"According to Premier Parry, Bermuda has done very well in tourism and financial services and he is very interested in identifying strategies for developing both sectors on the Island of Nevis," said the report.

"Premier Parry and Mr. Lawrence will have discussions with officials in related Ministries. Besides having talks with these officials, Premier Parry and Mr. Laurence will meet with representatives of Bermuda's financial services sector."

'IRS letter' declared a fake

Police have warned businesses about a false letter circulating the Island, claiming to be from the US Internal Revenue Service.

A Bermuda Police Service spokesman said the letter has been sent to several local businesses by fax or in the mail claiming to be from the US Internal Revenue Service asking for detailed information such as banking particulars and other sensitive data.

A Police press release stated: "The letter is not genuine and we are asking any local businesses that receive this correspondence not to reply to it. "

They added that the public should not give out their banking or personal details to unverified sources.

Anyone with any questions about the misleading 'IRS letter' currently circulating is encouraged to contact the Fraud Unit on 299-8023.

Man charged with $800,000 drugs importation

A 24-year-old man was in Magistrates' Court for conspiring to import and possession of more than 17,000 grams of cannabis and 500 grams of heroin, with a combined street value of more than $800,000.

Macai Bean was not asked to enter a plea because it is an indictable offence and it will have to be dealt with in the Supreme Court. According to Crown counsel Larissa Burgess between a time unknown and September 1 this year Bean conspired to import 17,286.2 grams of cannabis worth about $864,300 on the streets.

On the same day in St. George's he was arrested for allegedly having in his possession cannabis.

He was also charged on Friday with, between a date unknown and September 1 of this year, conspiring to import heroin and having in possession 524.84 grams of the drug in St. George's.

Yesterday Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner bailed Bean for $50,000 and asked him to give-up his travel documents until he appears in Magistrates' Court on October 10.

Man fined for having crack cocaine

A man found with crack cocaine to the street value of $1,100 claimed it was solely for personal use.

Philip Doars, 36, pleaded guilty to possession but denied intent to supply when he appeared at Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Doars, of Warwick, was caught with 3.66 grams of the drug when he was arrested for another offence on October 23, 2003.

Brett Webber, Crown counsel, said during a body search of Doars, an officer found four brown paper and one plastic wrap 'twists' in his underpants. When asked what they were, Doars replied: "You know what it is."

A drug analysis showed the rocks were 55 percent cocaine. Doars admitted possession of crack cocaine in a later Police interview.

The court heard Doars was no longer an addict and was in employment, "trying to make a meaningful contribution to society".

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined him $1,000.