FIBS NEWS DIRECT: WEDNESDAY, 16 JULY 2003
COURT NEWS:
A Stanley man received a 12 months probation order this morning in Court for theft. Robert Kiddle had pleaded guilty in a previous hearing to stealing a wallet containing £40.00. Senior Magistrate, Nick Sanders, sentenced Mr. Kiddle to 12 months on probation and ordered him to pay pack the money along with £70.00 costs. As a condition of his probation, the Senior Magistrate also be required to attend the "Responsible Living Programme."
A Military man was sentenced to two months in prison this morning for taking a vehicle without the owner's consent and for driving while over the Alcohol limit. Crown Council, Graham Cripps told the Court that John Bowen from HMS Leeds Castle had taken a Military owned Land Rover from MPA after spending the evening drinking. Mr. Bowen, who had only a provisional driving licence, had then driven into Stanley, where Police observed him swerving down Villiers St. When the Police vehicle signalled him to stop, he sped along Ross Road at 60MPH. He then turned on to Philomel Hill where he stopped suddenly, causing the Police vehicle to drive into the back of the Land Rover. Mr. Bownn received a two-month jail sentence for the offences and will be disqualified from driving for two years. Michael Hensen, who was a passenger in the Land Rover at the time, was arrested after he attempted to run away. Mr. Hensen was fines £800.00 for his part in the incident and all had to pay £70.00 costs.
Also in Court this morning, two men pleaded guilty to speeding. Zana Czovic was fined £150.00 for travelling at 39MPH on Ross Road East. Jonathan Butler was fined the same amount for driving at 36MPH on Ross Road. Both drivers had their licences endorsed and ordered to pay £50.00 costs.
BLOB:
Chilean scientists have solved the mystery of the blob that washed up on a beach about a month ago. The big rotting mass is a rotting sperm whale.
HEALTH AND MEDICAL SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT:
After all the hype in the past week, yesterday's Health and Medical Services Committee meeting was a quiet affair. The topic up for discussion was aspirin. There was a suggestion from the Committee that the KEMH had bought up all the supplies of aspirin from retailers in Stanley. What had actually happened, as a precautionary measure, aspirin of one strength from the West Store, due to the Pharmacy thinking they were going to run out. This wasn't the case. The Board of Health also discussed some problems that arose from time to time with dead sheep in the water supplies. In the closed section of the meeting, the termination of free flights for women seeking abortions was brought up. It was put into this section to protect the identity of patients.
FISHERIES NEWS:
There are lower than the expected number of trawlers in the Skate and Ray fishery. There are three Korean trawlers are fishing for Skate and Ray. Two more vessels were expected but one has gone to Montevideo for repairs and the other hasn't arrived. Two vessels are longlining for toothfish. Otherwise the zone is empty. In Berkley Sound there are two reefers, a tanker and a trawler. Long-liner Argos Helena came alongside FIPASS with a medical case aboard. Then they are waiting for the man to recover before sailing.
ARE THE FALKLANDS DESTROYING FISHING GROUNDS?
Argentina is claiming that the Falklands are destroying the fishing grounds. During talks between Tony Blair and Nestor Kirshner in London. the Argentine president complained that the Falklands are issuing too many fishing permits according to a variety of news sources, saying that Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese presence cost losses of $100 Million a year for Argentina. Kirshner says he thinks the Islands have experienced excessive growth. Director of Fisheries, John Barton responds that Argentine catches of Illex, the most significant economically shared fish stock have far surpassed catches in the Falklands Zone. He considers that the focus of talks should be the conservation of stocks for mutual benefit. The conservation measures in place in Argentine and Falklands Zones are working well. The area of concern is on the high seas where catches of Illex are not controlled and, if over-fished, the loss of Illex would affect both countries. The South Atlantic Fisheries Commission has been discussing the issue for a while. The Commission signed off their latest agreement on the 4th of July just before Blair's summit. Britain and Argentina both undertook to jointly monitor and control factory vessels more effectively. Joint scientific assessments are on-going and a document of mutual co-operation was signed regarding joint studies of Antarctic Tooth-fish and Southern Blue Whiting. Kirshner's accusations come at a time when his country's fisheries exports have been overtaken by those from beef and livestock.
(100X Transcription Service)
