FINN (COM) DAILY RECORD: 14 NOVEMBER 2003
(With Relevant Articles from FIBS)
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Falkland Islands Training and Education Council - Monday 17th November at 8.30am in the Liberation Room, Secretariat
PWD Committee - Monday 17th November at 8.30am in Gilbert House
Falklands Landholdings Statutory Corporation - Tuesday 18th November at 10am in the FIDC Board Room
Falkland Islands Development Board - Tuesday 18th November at 2pm in the FIDC Board Room
Historic Buildings Committee - Thursday 20th November at 1.30pm in the Archives Building
Members of the public can attend but not speak at Committee meetings.
******************************************************************************************
Both Clarin and La Nacion have articles this morning reporting that discussions are taking place over direct Argentine flights to the Falklands, despite opposition from the Islanders. Clarin's is a whole page, entitled "Bielsa confirms the discussions for Argentine flights to the Falklands". It quotes Bielsa as saying "The idea is to have an Argentine flight. It might not be just from Buenos Aires, but a triangle with Comodoro Rivadavia, but what is important is an Argentine flight to Stanley".
INFOBAE.COM has a major article too. It is entitled "Falkland Islands: Argentine flights to reaffirm sovereignty". Like Clarin and La Nacion it says that Bielsa doesn't care about the opinion of the Islanders. They all quote him as saying that "The 3,000 people who live in the Islands have been British subjects since 1983 (See Note). So their opinion is of no more importance to me than that of the 3,000 Britons that live in Eaton (apparently a town near London)". "To have a flight from Buenos Aires to Stanley is beneficial to the British who live in the Islands and necessary for Argentina's historical claims". INFOBAE also quotes Bielsa as saying that "It isn’t the commercial aspect that motivates us, that’s why we haven’t even thought about which company could undertake to carry it out". It says that they want 20 flights per month starting in March 2004. But Clarin and La Nacion only mention 27 flights between now and March 2004 – which are presumably the flights for cruise ship transfers.
Clarin also has an editorial supporting the Argentine Government’s policy of excluding the Islanders from any discussions, but urging readers not to be overoptimistic. It says there is no concrete proof that the British have agreed to discuss the subject. It also says that Islanders have an effective veto. But it also describes the Islanders' need for more flights as "One of the keys of the negotiation".
Yesterday Clarin had yet another article, this time reporting Argentina’s refusal to ratify a conservation measure in Antarctica (to have satellite monitoring of fishing vessels). Argentina wanted a reference to its claim to the Falklands in the proposed treaty, but this was rejected. As the proposed treaty required unanimity from all countries that are signatories to the Antarctic Treaty, it could not come into force.
My own opinion is that whatever the facts of the matter, the Argentines are clearly working themselves up to believe that it is all happening. The aggressiveness of the Kirchner government over the Falklands is obvious. Their intention to get direct flights in order to support their sovereignty claim is very clear too.
Note: 1983 was when Baroness Vickers’ bill was passed into law restoring the right of Falkland Islanders without parents or grandparents born in Britain to reside in Britain. This had been taken away by the British Nationality Act in 1981. I have seen the Argentines use this specious argument before.
(100X Translation Service)
FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 14 NOVEMBER 2003
RURAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION:
The Rural Business Association has elected Paul Robertson of Port Stephens as its new chairman. The vote came after Ian Hansen decided to step down from the Chairman’s role, having been elected to Legco in last week’s Camp by-election. He will stay on the Committee. Philip Miller is now Cice-chairman, with the rest of the Committee remaining the same. Its members are Ted Jones, Carol Phillips, Ian Jaffray, Richard Stevens, Raymond Evans and Justin Knight.
KIRSTY BROWN:
Antarctic Scientist, Kirsty Brown, was mauled by a 4 metre long Leopard Seal, which caused 45 separate injuries, the Coroner’s Court heard today. The reports read to the Court, witness John Withers, described the seal head area larger than Kirsty’s entire head and upper torso.
Mr. Withers was part of a team of four researchers taking part in an underwater survey at South Cove near Rothera on July 22nd this year. Two of them, including 28 year old Kirsty, sere snorkelling. And the other, Richard Burt, was 15 metres away from her when the team heard a scream from Kirsty and she disappeared beneath the water. Mr. Withers said he saw Kirsty re-surface briefly and then saw her under water being held by a flipper. A boat was launched and Mr. Withers said that after boarding it, he had seen the seal with Kirsty’s head in its mouth and apparently playing.
When the seal dropped Kirsty, she was retrieved around 300 metres from the shore but despite repeated resuscitation attempts by colleagues, and Dr. Jane Nash, she could not be revived. Her dive computer later showed that she had been held under water for around six minutes at a depth of up to 70 metres. Home Office Pathologist, Professor Guy Ruttie, described in his report there were 45 bite marks and bruises which resulted from the attack, concentrated mostly around her head. As she was snorkelling, she may have seen the seal coming toward her.
He also described how he had borrowed a Leopard Seal skull from the Museum to help him identify the bite marks as he carried out Kirsty’s autopsy.
A report was read from seal expert Professor Ian Boyd from St. Andrews University. He said the Leopard Seal may have mistaken Kirsty for a Fur Seal, or may have been frightened by her presence and made a defensive attack. He said Leopard Seal attacks on humans were virtually unheard of but warned that the increasing human presence in Antarctica could see them becoming more common.
Coroner, Nick Sanders, offered condolences to Kirsty’s family, friends and colleagues and paid particular tribute to those who tried to save her.
He recorded a verdict of accidental death caused by drowning and Leopard Seal attack.
CRUISE SHIPS:
There were two cruise ships in today, the Professor Moltinov is anchored in Stanley Harbour with 26 passengers onboard, who did a walking tour of Stanley. Also in the Harbour is the Lubov Orlova who had 52 passengers onboard.
SARAH JONES:
The widow of Col. H. Jones, Sarah Jones, CBE, has been appointed a deputy Lt. Of the County of Wiltshire. Mrs. Jones, who is also Chairwoman of the Falkland Families Association, was appointed by the Lord Lt. For Wiltshire, who is the Queen’s representative in the County. She is one of 32 Deputies who will stand in for him on ceremonial occasions and will hold the post until she reaches the age of 70, when it’s traditional for Deputy Lt. To retire.
STANLEY SPORTS ASSOCIATION:
The Stanley Sports Association will be holding a working evening on Monday, 17 November at 1700. The event will be at Stanley Racecourse. Organiser, Steve Dent, says there are a few jobs that need to be done and he hopes as many people as possible will turn up to help out.
(100X Transcription Service)
