FINN (COM) DAILY RECORD FOR 17 OCTOBER 2003
With Relevant Stories from FIBS
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
THREE CANDIDATES FOR CAMP BYE-ELECTION
By J. Brock (FINN)
Three candidates have returned their nomination papers to the Registrar General in Stanley and therefore will be standing for election to Cllr. Philip Miller’s vacated seat in Legislative Council.
Darwin Lewis Clifton, 53 Davis Street, Stanley, Eric Miller Goss, 2 Fitzroy Road, Stanley and Ian Hansen, Main Point Farm West Falkland will shortly begin campaigning for the slot.
Nominations closed today at 1630 LMT.
FINN will be interviewing each candidate and publishing their manifestos.
WORK COMPLETED ON 1000 POUND BOMB
By J. Brock (FINN)
Explosives experts have completed their task and rendered safe a1000-pound bomb that workers dug up at Stanley Airport on Thursday. According to an EOD spokesman, today’s task was to place explosive charges on either side of the bomb, blow the casing off and burn the plastic explosives inside. This operation was safely carried out at 1230 LMT today. Seeing that islanders were kept away from the area, all that was observed – through binoculars – was a puff of smoke.
Police Chief Officer, Dave Morris, confirmed that it was a British Bomb that Explosives experts were dealing with. Further to this, an EOD spokesman confirmed that the bomb was part of a payload of a Vulcan Bomber sent to destroy the airport during the 1982 conflict.
The 21-year saga began on 01 May 1982 when a Vulcan Bomber that had flown non-stop from Ascension Island and delivered that 1000-pound payload. Instead of exploding, the live bomb burrowed into the peat and lay undisturbed until Thursday, 16 October 2003. Indeed, there were five such Vulcan Raids on the Falklands.
EOD experts were able to identify the manufacturer of the bomb and trace its construction down to the person who tightened the screws. This provided vital information on how to dismantle the bomb and render it safe.
Several Falkland Islanders remember the night on which that bomb, Chief Police Officer, Dave Morris was, at the time, a Royal Marine who was anxiously awaiting news of his family in Stanley. Another Police officer who was in the Falklands at the time is Police Inspector Len McGill – deja-vu all around.
"A" Press: 17 October 2003
Top story today is the official visit by President Lula of Brazil to Argentina. They have agreed to set up a Mercosur court to iron out problems between member countries. Other agreements on cooperation and integration are being made too. They have also agreed to act jointly in dealing with their debts to overseas creditors.
Pickets were again out in Buenos Aires yesterday causing chaos to the traffic. They were demanding "social plans" (ie handouts) and right for unemployed people to use the trains without paying.
In other news, Antonio Bussi the mayor elect of the city of Tucuman has finally been arrested - after he refused to give evidence before an examining magistrate. He was a general and was active in the Dirty War and has long been suspected of involvement in the "disappearance" (ie murder) of Senator Guillermo Vargas Aignasse. Unlike other members of the military involved in the dictatorship and Dirty War, he has survived since then because he was active in politics in Tucuman where he was a succesful governor and is quite popular. Now, in the new climate of justice (or vengeance) of the Kirchner government, it looks as if his past has finally caught up with him.
Kidnappings are in the news again. La Nacion reports today that there were forty in the last two months just in the north and north-east of Buenos Aires (which is the worst area for these), including two yesterday.
Moline O'Connor was suspended by the Senate from his post as a Supreme Court judge several days ago, but not finally dismissed. He resisted his impeachment fiercely. He is finally expected to be formally deprived of his office any day now. The government is now turning its attention to two more Menemist judges on the Supreme Court that it wants to get rid of - Guillermo Lopez and Adolfo Vazquez. Lopez is next and is not expected to oppose impeachment as he is old and in poor health.
There was a major electricity blackout yesterday in Buenos Aires for about 15 minutes. The electrical companies have blamed this on a fire they say was deliberately started. It is a strange coincidence as very recently these companies complained that because they haven't been allowed to raise their prices they cannot make the investment necessary to ensure continuing electricity supplies. Cynical Argentines have been tempted to draw the conclusion that the electricity company complaints and yesterday's fire and blackout are somehow connected.
Last Wednesday the press reported a protest march in Jujuy by 5,000 people against the police following the death of a young man in custody there and the death of another in the riot itself. The Chief of Police there has been dismissed.
(100X Translation Service)
FIBS NEWS DIRECT: FRIDAY, 17 OCTOBER 2003
EXERCISE PURPLE STRIKE:
Members of the FIDF are due to take part in exercise Purple Strike over the weekend. Their role in the exercise will be to take part in an amphibious landing and tabbing their way to a live firing exercise. Director of Fisheries, John Barton, says the Dorada will also be taking part in the operation.
COURT NEWS:
Robert Bernard McGhie is to appear in the Summary Court this morning charged with three offences. Two of these are for possession of Class B drugs and the third is for supplying false information to an Immigration Officer. The charges came about after Police and Customs Officers received a tip-off which lead to the search of a room at MPA.
No pleas were given to two charges of possessing drugs in Court this morning but a plea of guilty was heard to the Immigration charge for supplying false information with the intention of gaining a work permit. The court heard how Turners’ employee, Robert McGhie’s room was searched after one of his friends tipped off Police. A small amount of cannabis resin and amphetamines were found. Preliminary tests were carried out on the substances in the Islands. As there was only a trace of cannabis, the drugs are to be sent away for further tests. Crown Council, Ros Cheek, told the Court that as well as the Cannabis resin, there was also approximately a teaspoonful of amphetamine found. Follow-up checks were made in Scotland into the defendant’s background and it was found that he had a recent conviction for miss-use of drugs. All three JPs decided that the case should be adjourned until 04 November at 0930, when it is possible that test results may have been received. Mr. McGhie was remanded on conditional bail with one condition attached – that he hands over his passport to the JSPSU at MPA before 1630 today.
NEW MANAGER NEEDED:
Have you the skills to take the Stanley Football Club on to bigger things? Could you kick the team into shape? If so, then the position of Stanley 1st Team Manager/Coach could be for you. The current Manager is leaving the Islands, leaving the space free for a newcomer to come in and take up the reigns. Interested? Then why not give the Club Chairman, Ian Betts, a ring on 22115, or the secretary, Chris Gilbert on 22809.
MYSTERY SPECIES OF OCTOPUS:
A mystery species of Octopus could be about to hit the Fisheries hot list as a new source of income. The fisheries Department says their data suggests an unidentified kind of deep water Octopus is living around the Falklands. The Department wants to pay £6200.00 to bring an Octopus expert over from Japan to study them. Professor Ian Gleadell will spend 4 weeks examining live or frozen creatures from Falkland Waters to establish exactly what kind of Octopus they are. At the moment, they are believed to be related to similar species living in waters around Japan. The bill for the project would include the cost of an artist to make drawings of the creatures. Senior Scientist, Sasha Arkhipkan (SA) tells us more..
SA: Octopus fishery is quite important in several areas of the world ocean, like in Japan, for example, and in West Africa. We didn’t have too much interest of Octopus fishery here before because this has only been a by-catch. But from another point of view, we don’t have an in-shore fishery here. And one of our goals of the Fishery Department is to develop the inshore fishery. And, one of the potential resources in the in-shore fishery could be Octopus. It is very valuable and very tasty. Quite a few people have tried Octopus here already.
SG: The proposal will be discussed by the Committee when it meets on Monday morning.
PASTURE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME:
There is to be a series of meetings to discuss the pasture improvement programme and to summarise wool sales from the 2002/2003 season. Neil Judd, from the Department of Agriculture, said the first of these meetings will happen on the 22nd of October at 1330 in the Goose Green Social Club. The next day at the same time, the team will be at Hope Cottage. They will then fly out to the West on Monday, 27th to meet at the Fox Bay Social Club and on to Hill Cove on Tuesday. Both of these meetings are happening at 1330. Everyone is welcome to go along. And, if anyone wants more information, then give Peter Johnston or Neil Judd a call at the DOA.
ELECTION:
Nominations have closed for candidates in the Camp Bye-Election. Three candidates are to fight the seat on November 6th. Candidates are Eric Goss (EG), Ian Hansen (IH) and Lewis Clifton (LC) We spoke to each of them in turn this afternoon to find out what they think they can offer voters.
SG: Eric, why are you standing for election?
EG: Because of my long experience in Camp life in the Falklands and a lot of persuasion from people who live in the Camp for me to stand and represent them.
SG: What do you believe you have to offer as a candidate?
EG: Experience on the ground and in Camp matters and long time living and working in the Camp. I know all the problems and know all the short-falls. I have a lot to offer because of my experience in politics and farming.
SG: What are the key issues that you are going to be campaigning on?
EG: The problems with the Abattoir is probably going to be the main topic, the concern about the education and the truant problem. There are many issues but at this stage, I will be like one of the other candidates, who have to keep somebody’s powder dry.
SG: Ian, first of all, why have you decided to stand?
IH: Initially, the main reason I am standing is that I strongly believe that a Camp Councillor should actually live in Camp. To represent the people, I think you should be from the Camp Community. I also believe I have something to offer. I have been in Agriculture for many years and I have lived in camp all my life. Hopefully, I will have something to offer from that direction as well.
SG: What are the key issues that you think the election is going to be brought on?
IH: I think there is quite a wide variety of issues that will concern people as far as the election goes. I think the viability and re-population of the Camp is always an issue. The Abattoir, obviously and the way forward for the Abattoir. That’s going to be an issue. I don’t honestly believe, at the present moment, there is one thing that stands out but I think there is a wide variety.
SG: Lewis, why are you standing for election?
LC: I am standing because a number of folks have asked me to stand. I considered that. I consulted with a number of others and I decided to let my name go forward for the Camp bye-election.
SG: And, what do you think that you personally have to offer as a candidate and ultimately as a Councillor if you are elected?
LC: I will take the last part of your question first. As a Councillor I have had some former experience in those matters, having twice been elected. Previously, in my last four-year term, one of my prime responsibilities was agricultural affairs so I have a pretty good background in that. And, I believe I can use that experience. Another experience is that having held public office over the years to be a benefit to Camp and the rural community.
SG: What do you think are going to be the key issues for you and for your constituents?
LC: In terms of the constituents out in Camp, I started a process last week trying to get out to West Falkland in particular and I’m hopeful of getting out to West Falkland tomorrow and through Sunday. I was delayed due to the bomb at the airport so I don’t know if I still will be afforded that opportunity but it’s my intent to get out to Camp, assess the views, to have people raise issues with me, to engage in discussion and then prepare my manifesto around that.
CAMP CHARITY SHOP:
Anya Cofre has asked us to point out that the new Camp Charity Shop we talked about yesterday will be at Hill Cove and not at Port Howard as we broadcast.
(100x Transcription Service)
