Excellency has been the British Commissioner to the country since 2002 and whose appointment ends this year.

First in the Crown Prince's visit itinerary was the Sultan Bolkiah Vocational School that was previously known as Lorong Lima Vocational School. At the residence of the Penghulu Mukim Seria, His Royal Highness mingled informally with the headman's family members. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince continued his visit by taking a closer look at the teaching aspects at the Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran Mohd Yusof Primary School in Lorong Tiga Selatan, Seria.

His Royal Highness continued to observe the educational teaching and learning processes - this time at the Anthony Abell College in Seria Town. Moving on, His Royal Highness proceeded to the residence of Ketua Kampong Pekan Seria, Awang Haji Ibrahim bin Idrus. His Royal Highness also takes great interest in the health of residents. Since its establishment in 1982,

the Seria Health Centre has been providing basic health services to the town's residents. Private businesses also drew His Royal Highness's interest and this was evident from his visit, firstly to one of the town's leading Bumiputra business concerns Syarikat Malai Mashhor Sendirian Berhad. Here, a donation worth three thousand dollars was presented to the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans. His Royal Highness also commissioned two oil trailers and a scaffolding - training and assessment centre.

His Royal Highness also visited a modern hotel of the Seria Cooperative Association. The twenty-four room hotel first opened its doors to guests in 1999 and has since been frequented by both local and foreign visitors. His Royal Highness also received a donation for the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans amounting two thousand 500 dollars.

His Royal Highness later toured the Seria Police Station. The station has 66 personnel under the supervision of a head controller. Before luncheon, His Royal Highness performed the afternoon Zohor prayer at the Pekan Seria mosque. Luncheon itself was at the Brunei Recreation Club, where a doa selamat was read. The reception was followed by a donation to the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans worth 15 thousand dollars from Brunei Shell Petroleum Company.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince continued his visit to the Oil and Gas Discovery centre, and the Human Learning and Development Centre. A keen sportsman himself, His Royal Highness took a tour of the Mumong Sports Complex, which serves as a centre for sporting activities in the Belait District.

His Royal Highness continued the visit by focusing on various business companies in Kuala Balai. At the Basalton Factory, His Royal Highness heard that it is owned by Haji Adinin Company. Commencing its operation in 1990, the company supplies equipment to Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sendirian Berhad. This time a contribution of 10 thousand dollars was donated by the company to the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans. The Megamas Training Company Sendrian Berhad, meanwhile, is owned by a local businessman and began operating in 1989. Another donation took place here, an amount of three thousand dollars to the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans from the company. S-K-S Wood Sendirian Berhad, another locally owned company, was also visited by His Royal Highness. It donated 12 thousand dollars to the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans. A financial institution, the Islamic Development Bank of Brunei, was also looked at by His Royal Highness. The bank also made a presentation to the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans. It donated 30 thousand dollars.

His Royal Highness also made a point to look closely at the progress and condition of the Belait Wet Market. The Commercial Building in Kuala Belait was His Royal Highness last destination during the almost day-long visit. Located at Jalan Mac Keron, the building houses a tailor shop, a bridal dress shop and others. Before heading back to Bandar Seri Begawan, His Royal Highness performed the late afternoon Asar Prayer at the Pekan Seria mosque. His Royal Highness visits are in tendem and as well as a continuous support to His Majesty's efforts in ensuring all government agencies and others in instilling excellent in work culture and be more committed. His Royal Highness also used these visits as an opportunity to listen to grievances and difficulties aired by penghulus and village heads. In response, His Royal Highness urges government departments and agencies to take appropriate actions.

His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has granted seperate farewell audiences to two foreign envoys to Brunei Darussalam. The audiences took place yesterday at the Balai Penghadapan, Bukit Kayangan. His Royal Highness first received in the audience, the outgoing

British High Commissioner, His Excellency Andrew John Forbes Caie. Later, His Royal Highness granted an audience to the outgoing non-resident Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the country, His Excellency Vladimir Nikolaevich Morozova who was accredited to Brunei Darussalam since November 2000. His Excellency resides in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. During the audiences, His Royal Highness expressed his appreciation to the envoys for their work and wished them much success in their future undertakings.

Brunei Darussalam and the United Arab Emirates have signed a bilateral agreement on the full liberalisation of air services. The agreement allows designated airlines of both countries to provide air services in either or both directions from points in the territory of the country granting the right via any intermediate points to points in other country and beyond. Signing on behalf of His Majesty's Goverment was the Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abu Bakar whilst the United Arab Emirates was represented by its Minister of Communications, His Excellency Sultan Saeed Al Mansoori. The signing ceremony was held in Dubai. The Bilateral Agreement represents a significant achievement in implementing the full liberation of air services between Brunei Darussalam and United Arab Emirates, a step forward striving towards an open-sky arrangement. The agreement would also promote and encourage all cargo airlines to operate into this country and at the same time enable the national carrier to develop and expand air services in the Middle-east region and beyond. Brunei Darussalam already has full open-sky agreements with Singapore, the United States and New Zealand.

Forty three pupils of the Dato Marsal Primary School have experienced spates of vomiting believed to be caused by food poisoning. The School headmistress, Dayangku Hajah Zubaidah binti Pengiran Haji Sulaiman, said the incident occurred during school break. But as yet the cause has not been confirmed.

The RTB Newscentre was informed the pupils involved were taken to the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital for treatment. Ten pupils were treated in hospital - six pupils have been discharged, while four remain in hospital . The rest were give out-patient treatment.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has assured that it is carrying out an immediate investigation with the cooperation of the Health Division of the Ministry of Health. Samples of the consumed food have been sent to RIPAS Hospital, to ascertain the cause of the food poisoning. The Ministry of Education regrets the incident and is awaiting the outcome of the investigation.