FINN (COM) Daily Record: 08 December 2003

Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)

It is with regret that FINN heard that Mr. Gordon Pickering, a member of the Falkland Islands Association, has died on Saturday. At his request, please donate funds to the Falkland Islands Association in lieu of flowers. He will be sadly missed by many friends in the Falklands as well as overseas.

"A" Press: 07 December 2003

Clarin has three pages today (Sunday) and dedicated its front page and all of pages three and four yesterday to the story that Britain has admitted taking nuclear depth charges to the South Atlantic in the 1982 war. This story broke in Clarin on Friday. Both La Nacion and the Buenos Aires Herald have also mentioned it both yesterday and today, but in a fairly small way.

Clarin’s coverage has been full of hype and aggressive woffle, but really the story doesn’t add up to much. Yesterday the Argentine government was demanding a "full explanation from the British Government", hinting that international treaties had been broken – and even that this might be useful for getting sovereignty negotiations going again. Today it has been demanding an apology from Britain.

But Britain has made it clear that no nuclear weapons were brought into the territorial waters of either the Falklands or any other South American country in 1982, and that British ships routinely carried these in the 80s, and didn’t have time to remove them as the task force sailed south. The other Argentine complaint was that there might have been radioactive contamination either when ships carrying these were sunk or when the weapons were damaged as they were collected up for return to Britain. But Britain has confirmed that this did not happen.

(100X Translation Service)

A small turnout for the third round in the new Clay Pigeon League made for some surprising results. The Local version of English Sporting was conducted this week with shooters facing a variety of different birds from many areas of the range. It was a close run shoot, which ended up down to the wire with all shooters in the running for the first place by the last stand. The end result saw Steve Dent come out on top by the narrowest of margins to Henry McLeod. Next shoot is scheduled for 21^st December; this will be a practical shoot, devised by the club to challenge the game shooters amongst us. Don’t forget we practice most weeks at 1330 hrs on the Phillips Point Range and all are welcome contact Steve Dent for further details on 22021, 27285.

This week’s Score Sheet

The current league table stands as follows with six shoots remaining;

OVERSEAS CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETS TODAY:

Minister for the Overseas Territories, Bill Rammell, is hosting the 5^th Overseas Territories Consultative Council. The series of meetings starts today and will include discussions on the overall UK/OT relationship, constitutional reform and the role of Governors, Financial issues, and EU Development assistance. The Council will also mark the launch of a new £3Million Environmental Management Programme in the OTs to be jointly funded by the FCO and DFID. H. E. the Governor will be representing the Falklands at the meeting.

EMERGENCY SERVICES/SILVER TEAL:

Just a reminder, don’t be alarmed if you see the emergency services out and about tomorrow. They will be taking part in an emergency planning exercise, Silver Teal. There will be a simulated air crash on Pebble Island involving about 100 casualties. And, members of the Military, Hospital Staff and Emergency services will be put through their paces to see how they cope. The Parish Hall will be used as an over-flow centre and members of the public are asked not to contact the Hospital on routine matters if possible.

CAROL SERVICES:

In the run-up to Christmas, there are to be Carol Services not just in Stanley but also out in the Camp. The first of these is happening on Monday, 15^th at Fox Bay starting at 1900. And, then on the 22^nd, there will be one at the same time at Goose Green. If anyone wants more information, about these services, you can give Rev Paul Sweeting a call.

COMMITTEE MEETING:

So far this week, there is only one meeting scheduled. On Wednesday at 1330, the Transport Advisory Committee will be meeting in the Liberation Room.

SHEARING CONTEST FOR CHARITY:

If you want to get out of town for a change of scene, why not go to Goose Green where two brave shearers will be bearing all and taking to the floor in thongs. Stephen Jennings and Lee Molkenbuhr are raising money for Wireless for the Blind and the Stephen Jaffray Memorial Fund. The action starts at 1330 and will finish at 1700.

(100X Transcription Service)