FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: 03 FEBRUARY 2004

(With Relevant Stories from FIBS)

 

Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)

 

****************************************************************************************

 

PRESS STATEMENT

FROM THE FALKLAND ISLANDS GOVERNMENT

 

 

The Falkland Islands Government has given permission on humanitarian grounds for an Argentinean aircraft chartered by international insurers, Axa Assistance, to evacuate a seriously ill Namibian fisherman from the Islands.  Medical evacuations are usually carried out by the Chilean based company, Aerocardel but, on this occasion, the insurers, over whom FIG has no control, selected Aerorotas to effect the evacuation to Buenos Aires .  All normal immigration requirements were satisfied and the aircraft, a Learjet, spent just 97 minutes at Mount Pleasant Airport last Friday afternoon to receive the patient.

 

Cllr. Jan Cheek who holds the health portfolio commented:

 

“Whilst FIG would have preferred Aerocardel to have carried out this evacuation, refusal to allow the process to be undertaken by Aerorotas would have put the patient at risk.  The decision was taken on purely humanitarian grounds which, on this occasion, were paramount.”

 

Falkland Wool Growers Ltd

 

WOOL REPORT: for the week ending Friday 30^th January 2004

 

Auctions

 

The Australian market’s Eastern Market Indicator lost another 2.4 percent this week, with  wool finer than 24 microns most affected.  The EMI dropped 20 cents on Wednesday and lost a further two cents on Thursday.  The EMI thus closed the week 22 cents lower at 789 A cents.  “Traders adoped a wait-and-see stance in what continues to be an erratic environment in terms of offerings, business and currency.” WRWMR

 

In New Zealand the Fine Indicator was quoted at 1,086 NZ cents.  The Medium Indicator added 11 cents to 536 NZ cents. The Strong Indicator was unchanged at 368 NZ cents, whilst the Lamb Indicator gained four cents to also close at 368 NZ cents.

 

The Cape Wools Overall Merino Indicator reversed 5.2 percent from 3,516 SA cents to 3,332 SA cents.  92% changed hands.

 

Wool Stocks

 

“The Australian Wool Exchange says that 705,244 bales of wool are in brokers’ stores nationally, compared with 381,192 bales a year ago” WRWMR.  Such stocks, currency movements, lower new season price levels and current demand will ensure that 2004 will differ significantly from 2003.

 

Currencies

 

The Australian dollar traded stronger towards the end of the week at 2.35 A cents/£ whilst the New Zealand dollar was also stronger at around 2.69 NZ cents/£.

 

FWG Agency

 

We received good interest from several speciality buyers this week.  All additional supplies of Falkland wool would be much welcomed by our speciality customers.

 

Many thanks for all the bale specifications received of late. With Regards Robert.

 

 

MAJOR POACHING INCIDENT AT ASCENSION ISLAND

 

By J. Brock (SARTMA)

 

 

Two vessels have been sighted off the coast of Ascension Island that were engaged in illegal fishing. One vessel has regularly come closer than three miles to Ascension over the last week whilst the other has apparently remained around 30 miles off shore. The radio call sign of one ship has been identified and this will enable its identification.

 

Conservation Officer, Tara George, reported regular sightings since 28th January and as of yesterday, 3rd February, a vessel was still observed to be fishing less than 7 miles offshore. The vessel had been blatantly fishing in site of Georgetown over the weekend. Ms. George reports that an estimated 5 miles of long-line was observed to be 100 metres offshore and that several Green Turtles have been ensnared on them. When the thieves are identified SARTMA will name and shame them. More later.

 

Note:  Many thanks to Tara George, Ascension’s Conservation Officer, for adding the detail and editing the information in this article.

 

 

FIBS NEWS DIRECT: TUESDAY, 03 FEBRUARY 2004-02-03

 

PRIVATE ARGENTINE FLIGHTS:

 

Falklands Councillors have given permission for a private Argentine Flight to arrive in the Falklands on March 13^th.  Flights operated by private individuals are protected by the 1999 Agreement with Argentina.  And, Councillors say they can’t be seen to break the agreement while they are lobbying for the return of charter flights and a second LanChile flight.  The decision comes after Councillors also approved the arrival of an Argentine Air ambulance last Friday.  The plane came in to pick up a crew member from the Spanish Trawler, Rolma Dos.  Because he was being repatriated to Namibia, the insurance company chose the cheapest option and decided to send him via Buenos Aires.  Government House says permission for the Ambulance visit was given for humanitarian reasons.  Councillor Roger Edwards (RE) told us this:

 

RE:  The air Ambulance came in on Friday.  I don’t know what time it got in but it left about 1800.  We were thinking initially it was due in on the Thursday and because it didn’t come we thought that perhaps there had been some interference by the Argentine Government over these flights.  But on investigation, we discovered that the insurance company had actually gone for the cheapest option, which was the Argentine aircraft and the Thursday date was just a date.  All the Councillors stood together when we were informed that it was this Argentine aircraft coming in and they all agreed that because it was a medivac flight it could come in but we did ask for an investigation to find out why it didn’t come on the Thursday.  All flights are taken on a flight by flight basis aside from the RAF Flights and the LanChile Flights.  Other flights coming from the South American Continent are all taken on a case by case basis.

 

SG:  And, Cllr Edwards had this to say about the forth-coming private flight.

 

RE:  We have approved another flight that will come from Argentina on March 13^th.  It is a private flight coming in.  Once again, it was a private flight. Out of the 1999 agreement, letter following in 2000, agreeing to private flights coming in from Argentina as part of the agreement.  And, we can’t be seen at this stage to be interrupting those private flights by being seen to be going back on the agreement.  We don’t this especially when we are still trying to get a second LanChile Flight and hoping we can get the charter flights back.  It’s a chap with a Piper Aztec and there are three of them coming in, spending the night in Stanley and going out again on March the 14^th.

 

SG:  What’s the purpose of their visit?

 

RE:  Pleasure and tourism.  They have written down here.  We have all the details of their passports.  Obviously they will be going through the full immigration procedures when they arrive.

 

ANOTHER COMPUTER GAME STORY:

 

A computer game is to be created, which is based on the Falklands War.  The company behind the simulation, Shrapnel Games, describes the war as a perfect conflict for gaming.  The game, expected to be called “War in the Falklands,” will feature digital maps of East and West Falkland and they allow the player to play an amphibious operation, naval warfare and special forces attacks.  The project leader for its design for its design is Gary Bassinet, who has 23 years of military experience as an artillery officer.  The company says the war itself was a curious mixture of modern high-tech warfare and low-tech “in your face” battles that could have taken place in any conflict over the past 50 years.  A spokesman told News Direct this morning that it would be possible for British Forces to lose in the game and admitted that controversy sometimes surrounded war games based on conflicts with living witnesses.  He said, “From our experience there will always be someone who finds it objectionable to play a conflict in which real lives were lost. But that’s a very tiny minority.”  The developers of the game are all either active military or retired military.  And, the lion’s share of the customers are either in or retired from the military.  He added “War games don’t glorify military actions, nor do they attempt to sex them up.  They are meant to be intellectual exercises and, in many cases, quite valuable for educating people on the conflict.”  The game is scheduled for release in Spring 2005.

 

GOOSE GREEN BYPASS:

 

Work on the Goose Green bypass is to be brought forward, thanks to speedy completion of other parts of the Camp Road Network.  EXCO heard last week that the Bypass would be included in this season’s work.  Harriet Hall (HH) explains.

 

HH:  Following the completion by Mr. Michael McKay of the work assigned to him, ahead of time and below budget, the Goose Green Bypass can now be included in this season’s work.  EXCO extended their thanks and congratulations to Mr. McKay for his achievement.  So, good news for Goose Green residents.

 

MINERAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE:

 

The Mineral Resources Committee met at 1000 this morning and had an update on the current seismic survey in the North Falkland Basin, among other subjects.  Director of Mineral Resources, Phyl Rendell, told members that work was progressing as planned and there was a liaison with the Fisheries Department to make sure the work would not affect the Illex fishery, which is further south than the survey area.  Other meetings to be held this week are Planning and Building on Thursday and the Stanley Lands Committee on the same day at 1330.  On Friday, the Fisheries Committee will meet at 0900 and the Housing Committee at 1330.  All four of those meetings will be held in the Liberation Room.

 

(100X Transcription Service)