Finn(COM) Daily Record for 01 September 2003

With Relevant Items from FIBS News Direct

Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)

IRREGULARITY

Last week an investigation was launched into an apparent irregularity at the hospital. Chris Simpkins has confirmed that the investigation was into apparent irregularities in the storage of drug stocks. He says that the investigation is at a very advanced stage and will almost certainly lead to revised control procedures being implemented. He is, though, happy to say that initial fears about control mechanisms for the storage of drugs have proved unfounded.

CRUISE SHIPS IN PUNTA ARENAS:

A new increase in the number of international and local cruise calls is on the up in Punta Arenas for the coming season. La Prensa Austral reports that they are expecting 71 cruise calls, both in Punta and Puerto Natales, plus another 30 stops by Punta based Mar Australis. Last year they had 57 and 22 visits. This takes the increase in tourist numbers up by 3,000.

FIODA’S GOT MURDER ON THEIR MINDS:

Have you got murder on your mind? FIODA are meeting this week to plan the forth-coming murder production, "Mid Summer Cider Murder." They are looking for players and helpers in all areas of production for the fun event. If you haven’t been involved before, this could be your opportunity to be part of the team looking to fill the Town Hall with eager murder mystery enthusiasts. Interested? Then, why not go along to the Chamber of Commerce at 1700 on Wednesday.

HARBOUR NEWS:

There is to be a lot of activity in the Harbour in the coming week. The Dorada is due in at some point. Reports are hopeful that she will arrive back in on Wednesday. The cargo ship, Ramatimba is also due in. She will be picking up Morrison’s cargo before heading off to South Georgia.

With the closure of the Toothfish Season in South Georgia at midnight last night, three long-liners are heading back to the Islands. One of them will be refuelling and the other two, which are ARGOS boats, will be loading cargo. They will also be having EU cargo inspection.

The Arnelles and de Geosa II came in to port this weekend for a crew change They joined Top Ocean, which is waiting for repairs after having trouble with her propulsion unit. There are two reefers and a Korean Krill trawler in Berkley Sound and 30 vessels fishing in the zone.

MIKE SUMMERS, JAN CHEEK, THE ARGENTINE PRESIDENT AND LEGCO:

Most of us would have heard Mike Summers’ Legco speech on Friday. The South American Press reports today on his wish to distance himself from the comments of the recently visiting Gentleman from the Foreign Office about the possible visit from the President of Argentina. Cllr Summers said that he didn’t expect such a visit, adding the approach of the current Argentine Government towards the Falkland Islands is not entirely satisfactory and that is seems to be their intention to disregard us as a Government. Cllr. Jan Cheek also mentioned that she agreed. Foreign and Commonwealth Officer, Paul Davies, who visited the Islands last month, said that a visit by Nestor Kershner could help move on the relationship between the Falklands and Argentina.

DARTS NEWS:

Julie Clarke and Keith Alazia came up trumps in Saturday night’s Victory Bar – Bonner’s Haulage Darts Competition. The Men’s final was very similar to the Governor’s Cup final with Keith meeting Duncan. But this time, the Euro-fighters player managed to beat Duncan in a very close final. Julie Clark, meanwhile, played fellow team mate Leann Ford in another close match. Players were on top form throughout the competition and there were some excellent matches played. For the first time ever, there were two brothers and two sisters who made it through to the last four. Tooty and Len Ford were joint 3^rd in the Men’s and Maggy Goss and Sibby Summers, joint 3^rd in the ladies. Tonight, League teams will meet for the final time this season, although the Tornadoes have come out on top with one game in hand.

(100X Transcription Service)

Clarin Saturday August 16th 2003

Foreign Policy: Invitation for the President to visit the future monument to the dead in the Falklands

He didn’t miss the opportunity. Paul Davies, a British diplomat visiting the Falklands, thought yesterday that "it would be beneficial" for President Nestor Kirchner to travel to the Islands. But Presidential aids advised Clarin that "no Argentine official is going to go to the Falklands under the present conditions, which are by presenting their passport to enter" the archipelago.

Nevertheless, expert in international relations, Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa is willing to look for some type of mechanism and agreement with the British Government to arrange the visit "as long as it doesn’t generate any negative precedent for the Argentine sovereignty claim over the Islands". And he repeated in front of his officials that "the political breadth of a visit to the Falklands can’t be made conditional on an immigration official" in this case an Islander.

Last week, the President had let slip his intention to accompany the relatives of those who fell in 1982, when they fly to the Falklands to inaugurate the monument to the Argentine soldiers who died during the conflict, construction of which will begin next month at the Darwin cemetery.

Hector Cisneros, Head of the Commission for the Families of the Fallen said: "We said to the President that we would like him and his wife, Cristina, and Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa to travel with us to the inauguration, and he replied that he would be delighted".

Yesterday, in the Presidency they stated that that wish expressed out loud by Kirchner was motivated by the "affection" that the leader from Patagonia has for the families over the Falklands cause. It was an attempt to lower the expectations of the British diplomats supporting the journey.

"The official of the British Foreign Office that made those remarks was simply speaking hypothetically over the possibility of a visit that was recently mentioned in the Argentine press and that could generate a positive effect if it resulted in previous disagreements being put to one side", said the spokesman for the British Embassy in Buenos Aires to this newspaper.

In Stanley, rumours over a visit by Kirchner have already generated a controversy. "A visit by the Kirchner might help, according to the Foreign Office", was the headline of the local newspaper.

The debate was started when Davies, who is in charge of relations in London for the dependent territories, stated while visiting the Stanley that a visit by Kirchner to Stanley "could benefit the Islands". And he added that "it would be an amazing example of leaving things behind" (letting bygones be bygones).

But according to the agreement that the Menem administration signed in 1999 with the United Kingdom, Argentines who want to enter the Islands must present their passports and let them be stamped by the Falklands authorities.

"It was one of the worst concessions that they made during Guido di Tella’s policy of seduction" said ex-ambassador Lucio Garcia del Solar, who was in charge of re-establishing diplomatic relations (1989 - 90) with London after the war. Up until the day the war broke out, Argentines flying to the Islands and Islanders going to the continent only presented an identity card. But the war ended by changing everything.

Ends.

(100X Translation Service)

It is notified for general information, that the Government Clocks will be advanced one hour to Summer Time at 2am on Sunday 7^th September 2003.

The Secretariat

Stanley

1 September 2003

Ref: GSO 11/1

Public Notice: 102/03

____________________________________________________

Cable & Wireless would like to inform their customers that it is once again time for the satellite to pass in front of the sun for a few minutes. This will cause some disruption to all international calls, causing the service to become degraded or interrupted. The following days will be effected for a period of up to 8 minutes, around 9am, between 2^nd September 2003 to the 6^th September 2003. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.

13^th anniversary of the re-opening of the Falkland Club (a. k. a. Glue Pot)

Jaqui and Carol Cotter (01)

William and Lynda Anderson (01)

Bob and Thelma Ferguson (02)

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My name is Fábio Medeiros, I'm professor of Advertising and Marketing
of two universities in Brazil (Unoeste/FAI), but I am writing for other
reason, I love Falkland Islands; I love your nature, your english architecture
and your people.
You people speak English and this is so great and important today that
I think you people could use better this aspect so peculiar in South America
in your advantage. All to year, for example, thousand of Brazilians go to
UK or USA study English and lot of students would like to go, but it's too
expensive to them.
I know that Falkland could be a good option, it's closer and every kelper
speak English, by the way, I have a sketch of a project of a school of English
in Stanley in mind, but I wanted to know if you liked the idea. You people
may work the idea and if possible, I liked to help you people in any aspect,
would be a pleasure.

Fábio Medeiros
Fan of Falkland Island

PS - I know Falkland Islands for the InterNet and my English is a little
bad (who knows I learn a better English in Stanley).

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Hello,

Please can you help me. I would like to email the school in Stanley. The school web site is very informative but does not give an email address. We have to make a 'snap' decision on accepting a return posting to MPA. We were last there in 1996 when our children were 6 and 3. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and met many lovely islanders. But as you can imagine with 2 senior school children we have to ensure a school place before committing ourselves to the move.

Should you personally know any military families who board their children, please do give them our email address. It would be nice to hear from them. Also, if Trudie McPhee from Brookfield has an email, could you give her our email address too. Many thanks. Snail mail takes so long.

Hoping you are able to assist in our enquiry. Many thanks. Please mark your return email 'Falklands' so its not deleted. Unidentified senders 'junk' is automatically binned - virus risk.

Andy and Jo Rickman
email: [email protected]