FINN (COM) Daily Record: 14 January 2004

TRANSPORT DISCUSSIONS:

Discussions are continuing into the transportation of the Argentine War Memorial. Newspaper, Clarin says the monument’s ready at Aziza Airport but that there is still discussion as to how it will be transported by sea. They say that over the weekend, the Islands press had revealed the Government’s refusal to allow a ship carrying the national flag to dock. Sources from Business Manager, Eduardo Eurnekian, who paid for most of the monument, say that the docking is still being negotiated and there was a possibility that a Cypriot company may be brought in to bring the memorial to the Islands.

BABY SAVED:

A baby has been saved from certain death by the RAF. As gales and ice grounded civilian aircraft and RAF Rescue Helicopters, a Tristar was scrambled to make the journey from Glasgow to Brize Norton, carrying 2 doctors and a paediatric nurse. A Hercules was waiting on the tarmac to pick them up and flew them on to Cardiff Airport where the team travelled 40 miles to Bridge End to stabilise the baby before taking him to Glasgow airport on the giant plane. The newly born boy was suffering from a severe lack of oxygen because his lungs weren’t working properly and, without treatment, would have died. Flt. Lt. Barry Self said it was a big task involving four flights and a great deal of organisation. The urgency of the case required exceptional measures to get the baby to hospital in Glasgow as quickly as possible.

EARNEST SHACKLETON:

The EARNEST SHACKLETON’s on her way to the Falklands from Halley (Antarctica) and will be arriving at East Cove sometime tonight. She’s due to come around to Stanley over the weekend.

LEEDS CASTLE SHIPS COMPANY BANNED FROM STANLEY

The entire ship’s crew of the Leeds Castle has been banned from Stanley after four crew members were fined in court for exposing themselves outside the Globe on Sunday. Violence made the incidents worse. In two of the cases most notably that of Daniel Wilson. He pleaded Guilty to five charges of Criminal Damage, using unlawful violence towards DS Jonathan Butler, resisting or unlawfully obstructing the Police, being drunk and disorderly and assaulting WPC Sarah Rowland. He was fined a total of £1400.00 this afternoon. He was also ordered to pay £50.00 compensation each towards WPC Rowland, DS Butler, Inspector McGill and PC Cairns-Wicks and a contribution towards costs of £70.00. This case had been adjourned from this mornings session so that a short report could be prepared by the Probation Officer. This report, the speech on his behalf by his Commanding Officer and his exemplary record in the Navy helped Senior Magistrate, Nick Sanders, come to the decision not to send Wilson to prison. Keeping him out of custody, Mr. Sanders said, "I’m not sure I’m doing the right thing." He said he was only just satisfied that a substantial was the way to go and stressed that he had considered sending him to prison for two months. According to sentencing guidelines, there is very real displeasure, he said, in those that assault the Police, who are only doing their job.

COURT NEWS:

Three men from HMS Leeds Castle were fined in Court this morning after exposing themselves outside the Globe on Sunday. A fourth man awaits trial this afternoon. Denis Dwyer was fined £200.00 after he pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly on Crozier Place. Garreth Linkman was fined £300.00 after he pleaded guilty to resisting and wilfully obstructing Police Officers in the course of their duty and Benjamin Smith was fined a total of £600.00 after pleading guilty to three charges or resisting arrest, being drunk and disorderly and criminal damage. All three men were also ordered to make a contribution towards costs of £70.00. A fourth man, Daniel Wilson, pleaded guilty to five charges of criminal damage, using unlawful violence towards DS Jonathan Butler, resisting and wilfully obstructing the Police, being drunk and disorderly and assaulting WPC Sarah Rowland.

Senior Magistrate, Nick Sanders, told Wilson his case involved more serious charges and ordered him to re-appear at 1400 today so the probation Officer could prepare a short report.

The appearance of the four in Court today related to an incident on Sunday outside the Globe Tavern after Police were called out because several men were exposing themselves outside the pub. When Police arrived, the men became abusive and, in two cases, violent and aggressive. A number of the Police Officers were hit, kicked or bitten, either outside the Globe or on the way to the police station or when they had arrived there.

Senior Magistrate, Nick Sanders, told all four of the men that this incident had brought incredible disrepute to the Royal Navy and the HMS Leeds Castle and that they should all be ashamed of themselves. All four men expressed deep regret for the incident with one saying that if he could turn back time the incident wouldn't have happened again. They all acknowledged that they all had let down the ship’s name in Stanley.

CLOTHES AND TOYS FOR IRAQI CHILDREN:

If you have any old children’s clothes or toys that your youngsters have grown out of, they could make a difference to Children in Iraq. As you may have seen on BFBS Reports last week, women of 23 Brigade Port Squadron were so moved by conditions they’ve seen in parts of the country, they decided to try and help some of the children from some of the villages in Southern Iraq by collecting clothes and toys for them. And, making a donation couldn’t be easier, thanks to Anya Cofre (AC), who has arranged to have parcels delivered from the Falklands straight to the collection point in Iraq. She told us more:

AC: My Mum saw it on Friday night and said there was some Military women in Iraq appealing for children’s clothing and toys to be sent out to a very poor area. It was very sad and children were poorly clad. Apparently it gets very cold so if we can send anything at all, it will be a help. Thankfully, BFBS have said that if we can package the clothes and get them into 2kg bags, they will send them away to Iraq. We’ve got a lot at the moment. I am busy packing it in my porch. Anything else would be greatly appreciated. People can drop stuff off at my house at 1 Brandon Rd. West or give me a ring and I could collect it.

You can call Anya on 21857.

CONSERVATION SPECIALIST IN THE FALKLANDS:

For the past two weeks, Dr. Mike Piankofski from the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum has been in the Islands. The Non Governmental Organisation works with environment groups in the UK and Overseas Territories around the world, including Falklands Conservation. It also links up with Government Departments here and in the UK to help protect our unique environment. He’s here to familiarise himself with our wildlife and also to talk about the Falklands Environment Charter, which is under development and will lay out future responsibilities for the Falklands Environment between the UK and local organisations. It’s already been drawn up and work is now going on to decide how to put it into practice.

(100X Transcription Service)