International news in brief

Bermuda to host national referendum on gambling

HAMILTON (CMC):

Hoteliers have welcomed confirmation that the ruling One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) is committed to holding a national referendum on gambling next year. The Bermuda Hotel Association (BHA) is also hoping that a referendum will result in "a positive outcome" to allow casinos to open up in this British Overseas Territory that is battling to emerge from more than four years of recession.

Pastor fined for failing to declare US$28,000

BELMOPAN (CMC):

An American pastor and his wife, who came to Belize with the intention of starting a new church, has been fined a total of six thousand US dollars for failing to declare an estimated US$28,000 to Customs when they arrived. Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser fined Evelyn Patnaude-West, 67, a retired nurse, BDZ$5, 000 (One Belize dollar = US$0.50 cents) and her husband Pastor Gary West 68, one thousand dollars to be paid immediately. They both pleaded guilty to the charge.

All-terrain vehicles banned from public roads

SAN JUAN (AP):

Puerto Rico's governor has signed a law that prohibits the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATV) on public roads following a series of incidents including fatal crashes. The measure signed by Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla also gives ATV owners two months to register their vehicles or risk losing them and paying a $500 fine. ATV riding is popular in Puerto Rico, with drivers often using public streets and private farms on weekends. But complaints of reckless driving led legislators pass the bill to control ATV use. Garcia signed the bills on Monday.