FINN (COM) Daily Record: 20 January 2004

FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: 20 JANUARY 2004

(With Relevant Articles from FIBS)

 

 

“A” Press: 20 January 2004

 

Both Clarin and La Nacion have articles today reporting the comments by Bill Rammell in the House of Commons in which he regretted that Britain had not been able to negotiate a deal to restore the charter flights to the Falklands that have been stopped by Argentina. Clarin’s article is only a short one, but it reports that Argentine Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa has “rejected” Bill Rammell’s criticisms. INFOBAE this morning is reporting that the Argentine Foreign Ministry wants additional flights to the Falklands to be a regular service by an Argentine flag airline. La Nacion article also says this in its subtitle.

 

Yesterday, La Nacion had an article saying that the monument at Darwin will be shipped in Antigua and Barbuda flag vessel to overcome Islander objections to an Argentine flag ship. It quotes the organisers of the inauguration planned for the monument as saying that between 800 and 1000 people might attend this, but there might be a problem over Argentine government officials attending because of Islander insistence that they have their passports stamped.

 

(100X Translation Service)

 

Statement on air links between the Falkland Islands and the South American mainland.

 

By Bill Rammell MP

 

CHAMBER SUPPORTS COUNCILLORS OVER FLIGHTS

 

By J. Brock (FINN)

 

The Falkland Islands Chamber of Commerce has backed up the Islands’ Councillors over the issue of charter flights.  In a press release dated 19 January 2004, Tom Miller, President of the Chamber’s Council said that the Chamber expressed their wholehearted support of the Falkland Islands Councillors in their positive response to the current air-space over-flight ban by the Argentine Government.  “We regret Argentina’s negative response,” he continued.

 

Despite the loss of business to the Tourism Sector, the Falkland Islands Chamber of Commerce supports the present position of the Falkland Islands Government.

 

The support and position also taken by IAATO in this matter is also much appreciated by the Chamber.  “It is very regrettable that Argentina is damaging innocent third parties over the Falklands issue,” said Mr. Miller.

 

He added that he hoped that a practical agreement can be swiftly reached that will enable all involved to continue to promote politically free Antarctic tourism for the mutual benefit of all, in line with the Antarctic Treaty of Co-operation.

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

The first annual Stanley Regatta is set to take place on Saturday 7^th February 2004.  A fun day out for all is planned with something for everybody, spectators and sailors alike.  On the sea front we plan to have a BBQ tent with all the luxuries offered at the Seaman’s Centre on sale as well as a Beer tent with the Narrows Bar offering their wares.  There are fantastic cash prizes to be won with a packed event list.  The following events are planned for the day;

 

P                 Island Shipping Challenge - 5 Round Dinghy Race

(run under the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick Handicap Scheme)

P                 Seafish (Falklands) Powerboat Race

P                 Jet Ski Race

P                 Deano’s Bar Pirate Race

P                 Canoe/Kayak Race

P                 Junior Dinghy Race

P                 Martec Orienteering Challenge

P                 Windsurfer Slalom Race

P                 Seaview Windsurfer Speed Challenge

 

Entry to the Regatta is free.  There are a number of craft available to borrow so if you are keen to have a go in an event and do not have an appropriate craft available to you then let Steve Dent know and he will attempt to procure a craft.

 

Entry forms are available from the Stanley Leisure Centre and the MPA Gymnasium and entry is free.  All event participants must be registered by 10.00 am on the day of the event, and all participants must attend a pre-race briefing at 10.00 am in the committee tent near the Bravo Slip.

 

Safety cover on the day is being provided by the FIDF.

 

To top the day off a Prize Giving will take place in the Narrows Bar from 8.00 pm onwards.  There will be a buffet on offer and entry is by ticket only.  Tickets cost £5.00 each and can be bought from the Stanley Leisure Centre reception or on the door.

 

More sponsors are still needed so if you would like to link your company to this new prestigous, high profile event then contact Steve Dent or Dick Sawle for more details.

 

Further assistance is also needed on the day with marshalling and judging, if you can help contact Steve Dent

 

 

 

FIBS NEWS DIRECT: TUESDAY, 20 JANUARY 2004

 

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ANSWERS LETTER:

 

Director of Education, Sylvia Cole (SC), has issued a response to Friday’s controversial letter in the newspaper from former Community School teacher, Dominic Giles.  Mr. Giles claimed that standards in the Education Department were low, especially among management.  And, that one incident, which should have been reported at the highest level, was covered up.  Mrs. Cole had this to say on the matter:

 

SC:  Having considered the letter from Dominic Giles, which was printed in the newspaper on Friday, January the 16^th, and having discussed it with the Head Teacher at FICS, I would like to make the following observations:

 

1.       Firstly, Mr. Giles and his partner joined the FICS Staff in January 2003, just one-month after the external inspections of the school.  The inspection report made the following comment: “The School is soundly lead and managed.  Since his appointment the Head Teacher has made good progress in shaping the school’s overall direction.”  The report added that the school has a regular tradition of regular staff meetings that form an important part of decision-making. 

 

2.       My second point would be that there are both local and contract teachers on the FICS Staff.  Initially, contract teachers are appointed for two years only.  Currently, three contract officers are in their fifth year, three are in their fourth year and one left in August 2003, having completed five years.  If the school standards and professionalism have deteriorated as Mr. Giles claims, why are these staff still supporting the school and its senior management?  Why haven’t they left

 

3.       Thirdly and very importantly, very serious incidents which are reported to me are never disregarded and I have certainly never in my life told anyone to shut up and put up or leave. Neither I nor the head teacher nor the staff could initially identify what this referred to.  We have now realised there was no incident.  Mr. Giles identified a possible problem and wanted a UK type policy to be introduced.  But the staff disagreed, pointing out that this was the Falkland Islands.  I considered the item raised, particularly in its Falklands context and, in discussion with the Head Teacher, agreed it was not, in any way, serious.  Mr. Giles was informed of that.

 

4.       My final point would be that Mr. Giles and his partner did not break their contract.  Had they done so, they would have been penalised.  One contract was terminated by mutual consent in the future interests of the school and to relieve pressure on the person concerned.  The second partner was allowed to terminate his contract so he could accompany his wife.  They are both good teachers but their time here was neither happy, nor, in the case of one partner, very productive. 

 

I wish them future success and hope that their next post will bring them the satisfaction that they failed to find here in the Falkland Islands in 2003 and in Africa in 2002.  I can assure the people of the Falkland Islands that FICS is in very good hands and that the present Head Teacher is one of the most professional, forward-looking and competent managers I have had the pleasure to work with during 38 years in education.

 

ANOTHER TIRED DOCTOR:

 

Director of Health, Norman McGregor-Edwards, claimed yesterday at the Health and Medical Services Committee meeting that Doctor’s work-load hasn’t increased.  But a second member of Medical staff has now added his weight to claims that doctors are over-worked and their work-load has increased.  Dr. Richard Davis, who arrived in the Islands in 1997, estimates that he was called out around one night in three during the first year.  He said that just last year an audit was carried out in the Hospital which showed that the on call doctor had to go to hospital at least once between 2200 and 0600 on 22 nights out of 45.  And, another nine nights were broken by phone calls.  Dr. Davis says this is an increase of around 50%.  And, when a doctor frequently spends an hour at the hospital during these hours, it doesn’t allow time for a proper rest when working during the preceding and following days.  He adds that the workload during the day has also increased with doctors offering around double the number of consultations they did seven years ago.  Other factors that contribute to the increase in work-load are the many fishermen and tourists that are taken ill during the season and the wider range of services that are now on offer including ultra-sound, occupational health and many more.  He says that consultations tend to be more complex here because they manage cases that would be looked after by a specialist in the UK.  Expectations of patients, managers and the Medical profession itself have all changed.

 

MAERSK:

 

The Maersk Shipping visit that was scheduled for Sunday has been postponed until June.  FIDB heard this morning that Maersk postponed the trip late on Friday, soon before the crew were going to leave Chile.  The Company says it’s not satisfied with the protection and indemnity classification of FIPASS – that is - its  level of insurance cover.  FIDC General Manager, Julian Morris, said that the P and I Classification of FIPASS has been known about by Maersk since they came out in August and it’s disappointing that this has been postponed until June.  He added that they are still working on it.  The Florence is fully booked from February until the end of May.

 

BACK IN WORKING ORDER:

 

Telephones are back in working order across Camp after yesterday’s black-out.  Cable & Wireless say the system was restored around 1845 yesterday.  The problems were caused by a fault which originated at Goose Green.

 

LA NACEON:

 

LaNaceon Newspaper reported yesterday that an Antigua Flagged vessel will bring the Argentine War Memorial to the Islands in early February, says Caesar Gonzales Trejos, attorney for relatives of Argentine servicemen who died during the 1982 conflict.  He says the vessel will be leaving the port of Campala with the 200 tonne load sometime between February the first and third. And should be arriving in the Islands five days later.  AWG Construction will then be responsible for the unloading of the blocks and assembling the memorial.  President of the Commission of Relatives, Hector Cesneros, says that this is the conclusion of a dream for all of us who were the in initiators of this project and we are closer to making true this homage in Darwin gives us assurance that our efforts of almost 21 years are close to becoming a reality.  There are also estimates that up to 1,000 people could attend the opening ceremony.

 

BOMBILLA:

 

Police have confirmed that they are looking into yesterday’s fire at Bombilla House on East Falkland but they would not release any more information about their enquiries. 

 

POLICE NEWS:

 

It was a quiet weekend for the Police with only two incidents to deal with.  The first was a call at 0210 on Sunday saying there had been an accident on John Street involving a vehicle and a motorbike with minor damage done.  And, yesterday morning at 1050, the theft of two wing mirrors from a vehicle parked on Callaghan Road was reported.  The theft seems to have happened sometime since the 29^th of November.  If anyone has any information, could they please contact the Police.  The Police have also asked us to remind you that the EOD OPS Room will be closed this week due to Operation Cape Petrel.  If anyone does find anything suspicious, they should phone the Police, who will pass the information on to the EOD.

 

 

 

 

(100X Transcription Service)