FIBS NEWS DIRECT: WEDNESAY, 22 MAY 2003
FREE FACILITIES FOR CHALLENGE DAY PARTICIPANTS:
This year’s challenge day is just a week away. To rise to the occasion, all you have to do is physical activity, which will cause you to become breathless. This year, the participation of Government Departments is being supported by the Chief Executive where practical. And, organiser, Steve Dent, says that already quite a few departments have expressed an interest in taking the Participation Trophy. A full range of free activities have been arranged for the day including football and table tennis tournaments and free use of many of the Leisure Centre facilities next Wednesday, such as aerobics and Aqua aerobics, swimming, squash courts and the use of the exercise machines. Steve Dent says there will be a registration form in the leisure centre on the day so that you can record your efforts after you have finished. Or, you can contact him by 1900 that evening to have your details included. Last year’s event saw a hockey league begin and that’s still taking place now. And, there were people taking part as far away as St. Helena. This year, it looks likely that members of the London Office will be getting involved, too.
COURT NEWS:
Sodexho employees, Alan Essex and Melissa Jane Clingham both pleaded guilty to a number of driving offences in court this morning. The first set of offences that Alan Essex pleaded guilty to were of driving without due care and attention and for not wearing a seat-belt. This followed a serious accident just past Sapper Hill on the 1st of April. He was fined £175.00 and £50.00 respectively for these offences. After coming into Stanley with a friend, who was picking a vehicle up, he agreed to drive the other vehicle back to MPA and, whilst driving off the tarmack on to the gravel had lost control and come off the road. The Court was told how the vehicle had flipped three times before coming to rest and, as no seat-belt was being worn, the man had been thrown out of the vehicle. He was said to have been extremely lucky to escape injury. For the second set of offences which happened on the 12th of May, involving Miss Clingham, he was fined £300.00 for not having a valid policy of insurance, £100.00 for not having a vehicle licence, £50.00 for not having inadequate brakes and £10.00 for failing to register the vehicle. Melissa Jane Clingham was also fined £300.00 but received no separate penalty for the other two offences she was charged with. Both were ordered to pay reduced costs of £50.00. This followed an incident in which Mr. Essex was teaching Miss Clingham to drive the vehicle and the Police stopped them near Wall Mountain.
Graham Minto pleaded Guilty to being in charge of a vehicle whilst under the influence of Alcohol. The case had been adjourned for a week so that legal representation could be sought but none was available so the Defendant asked friend, Patrick Watts, to speak on his behalf. Mr. Watts told the Court of the circumstances surrounding the incident on the night and the troubled background that his friend had to deal with. Senior Magistrate, Nick Saunders took all these factors into account but did tell Mr. Minto that he was going to order a pre sentence report to be prepared, with the sole purpose of looking at a probation order. He added that there would be a driving disqualification imposed. The case was adjourned until the 3rd of June at 0930
Willie Harvey pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour in Court this morning, to which he was given a two-year conditional discharge. This was after an incident, which happened on the 11th of May around Michele’s Café and the Brassiere. Senior Magistrate, Nick Saunders, told Mr. Harvey that he was by no means a stranger to the Court and, at the age of 30, he should know better. It was noted, though, that Mr. Harvey had kept out of trouble for five years and was given credit for his early guilty plea, which was why he had been given the conditional discharge.
ST. HELENA DAY:
It’s St. Helena Day and 501 years since the South Atlantic Island was discovered. There will be celebrations at Deanos.
LACK OF FUNDING FOR SPECIAL CARE UNIT:
A specialist care unit whose patients includes Falklands War veterans is facing difficulties because of lack of funding. The BBC reports that they may have to turn people away unless things improve. Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. David Alan Jones says that there is a battle to get money each time a patient is referred by a GP, adding that often available cash doesn’t cover their stay. The MOD says it doesn’t have an obligation to pay for the treatment of ex servicemen but that it sometimes contributes on a case by case basis. The centre has been offering support to people suffering from PTSD since 1990.
Former troops have lost their battle for compensation for trauma suffered in the line of duty. The claim, which was ruled on in the High Court and rejected by the judge. Veterans of several campaigns, including 1982, say they weren’t adequately prepared to handle the horrors of war. The claimants are now considering whether to launch an appeal against the ruling.
FISHERY NEWS:
Although the number of vessels in the zone has risen, Illex catches are reported to be very poor, with one jigger extracting just 200kg in one effort. This has ranged up to 6 tonnes, which is said still to be a very small amount. There are 37 vessels in the zone today. There were only 6 on Sunday. Most of these are Korean Jiggers. The Scalloper, Avalmad is back alongside FIPASS after suffering from hydraulic problems on the way to her fishing grounds was back in port yesterday after sheltering in Berkley Sound. And, there is a reefer, a trawler and a tanker in the Sound, too.
LANDING DAY CEREMONY:
People from both East and West Falkland have been attending the Landing Day Ceremony at Blue Beach this morning. VIPs including Governor Pearce, the First Secretary and the Chief Executive were taken to San Carlos by Helicopter for the service which got underway at 1100. The day marks 21 years since the landing of the task force in 1982.
(100X Transcription Service)
"A" Press: 21 May 2003
Kirchner has released the names of his cabinet. Most are not well known, except of course, for Roberto Lavagna who continues as Minister of the Economy, and for a man called Gustavo Beliz. He is now Minister of Justice. He quit the Menem cabinet years ago because he didn't like the corruption.
Foreign Minister is a man called Rafael Bielsa. He is originally from FREPASO, which was a protest party during the Menem period that is not important now. He is not well known. He is a constitutional lawyer who has done a lot of work at the United Nations. Bielsa was imprisoned for a while during the dictatorship (The papers don't say for how long). He then spent three years in exile in Barcelona. He has a law degree from a University in the United States (Virginia). So I assume he speaks English. There is no mention of the Falklands in a Clarin article dedicated to Bielsa.
The pickets are reported to be planning to block roads again today as part of their endless protests.
(100X Translation Service)
