Brunei Darussalam has lost about 70 million dollars in fish value due to the illegal fishing activities of hundreds of foreign vessels in Brunei Waters since 1992. According to the Fisheries Department about five hundred and sixty foreign fishing vessels were caught intruding in and around Brunei Waters since that year.

Relentless efforts have been undertaken by relevant authorities in order combat such activities.

The Department of Fisheries continues to conduct routine air surveillance with the cooperation of the Royal Brunei Air Force by using their CN235 maritime patrol aircraft. In one of the operation Friday, there was no foreign fishing vessel in sight. The surveillance was done some 64 kilometers off the Brunei’s coastlines.

The estimated potential value of the fisheries industry at the moment is 200 million dollars annually on sustainable basis and is expected to rise to 400 million dollars by the year 2023. The 200 percent increase is based on the upsurge of production in the aquaculture sector,

seafood processing and also from opportunities that can be derived from the fisheries eco-tourism industry. The continuous involvement of the fisheries operators and all the supporting agencies are considered as a critical factor in reaching the target. With their continuous involvement will certainly increase contributions towards the Gross Domestic Product.

The Commissioner of Police has called on every police officer and personnel to be more professional in handling and meeting the increasing expectation of the public and in facing and enforcing the laws that continue to change or becoming more in-line with their needs.

Pehin Dato Paduka Seri Zainuddin made the call at the opening of the 25th Royal Brunei Police Force Inter-Branch Sports Championship Friday. The commissioner said that the country needs high-caliber police officers and personnel.

Decision made by every officer at each level of management, is very complex such as it is with the society today. Thus this requires readiness on their part to make changes in facing all the challenges more efficiently and professionally.

More than 50 events will be contested at the three-day sports championship. The opening ceremony took place at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

A premises use as a stockpile by a tyre shop went up in flame Friday sending thick smoke and unpleasant smell that blanketed the areas around Gadong and Kiulap Friday. No causalities were reported as a result of the fire that happened when Muslims were about to perform the Friday prayer. The thick smoke attracted curious onlookers that created a traffic congestion.

A number of fire engines from nearby fire stations hurried to the site and their quick action had prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. The Fire Services Department had to use a special kind of chemical to put out the fires.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Cooperative spirit or ‘semangat memucang-mucang’ is still high amongst residents in the country and this in together making life easier for each other. A group of volunteers Friday carried out renovation work on a house in the Belait District which was rendered no longer safe to live in.

Located in Kampong Sungai Teraban, this 35-year-old wooden house is owned by the late parents of Dayang Rosini binti Sidi, who is now living alone in the house. Dayang Rosini, 50, said that the wooden beams that had supported the house is already old and could snap at anytime. She is unemployed and depends largely on welfare fund and community support. Her only relatives left are the wife and children of her late sibling.

The voluntary work includes making a new passage way and a jetty linking Dayang Rosini’s house with the neighbours. Also joining in the work was the Acting Belait District Officer, Awang Haji Ali bin Matyassin with several other government gencies including 17 army personnel from the 3rd Batallion of the Pananjong Garisson as well as kampung residents.