FINN (COM) Daily Record: 10 February 2004

 

 

FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD:  10 FEBRUARY 2004 

(With Relevant Articles from FIBS)

 

Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)

 

CPA PRESS RELEASE

 

FALKLAND ISLANDS WELCOME CPA DELEGATES

 

Delegates for the 35^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Regional Conference being held next week are starting to arrive.  Two delegates from Guernsey arrived with their spouses on Monday’s airbridge; they will be spending the rest of the week visiting Camp.   A further four are expected on Friday, followed by the remainder on the Lan Chile flight on Saturday.

 

Besides the normal business of the Conference, starting with the Opening Ceremony in the Court & Council Chamber on Monday, which will be broadcast, there will be five workshops for which subjects have been proposed from around the Region:

 

-          the ability of small countries and overseas territories to defend themselves and safeguard their status and independence;

 

-          educational issues relating to small countries;

 

-          tourism and world security;

 

-          environmental concerns versus commercial development; and

 

-          how to restore trust between the public and politicians and how to convince the public that good public services in a community are the result of good government.

 

The Falkland Islands Branch of the CPA hope that besides the business of the Conference delegates will gain a good understanding of the Islands, including environmental, internal and foreign policy issues.  It is also hoped that all the delegates will find their visit a valuable, interesting and enjoyable experience.

 

Gilbert House

10 February 2004

 

 

FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 10 FEBRUARY 2004

 

 COURT NEWS:

 

Chief Executive, Chris Simpkins, pleaded not guilty this morning to a charge of refusing to furnish a Committee Document to an entitled person.  The Court heard that the private prosecution has been brought by Sarah Davis after a meeting of the Health and Medical Services Committee on the 19^th of January.  At the meeting, Director of Health and Medical Services, Norman McGregor-Edwards and Chief Medical Officer, Roger Diggle had responded to a letter in the penguin news from Dr. Bernadette Paver about the hours doctors at KEMH were working.  Mrs Davis told the court that Committee Member, Cllr John Birmingham, had asked them go give copies of their responses to the press so that they could be accurately reported.  Mrs. Davis complained that she had later been refused a copy of the response as a member of the public.  She told the Court “I know that this document’s been sent to the press and it is therefore in the public domain.  Why can’t I just have a copy of that.  We could all go home.  I could do some ironing and Mr. Simpkins can run the country.  Senior Magistrate, Nick Sanders, said “If this document has been sent to the press then we are all wasting our time.  If that’s right, this is a phenomenal waste of time and money.  If it’s already in the public domain, we could save a considerable amount of time and money with a big dollop of common sense.”  He also expressed concern that Mrs. Davis had been unable to get legal representation, while the defendant was planning to bring Council down from the UK for the case.

 

Mr. Kilmartin, for the defendant, said that it was a relatively minor offence in law, that is, the impact on the career of a career local Government Officer is quite severe and so he is taking this charge very seriously.  He also said he would be addressing the Court on whether Mr. Sanders should stand down and have someone else try the case.  The case was adjourned for a review hearing next Thursday.

 

CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW:

 

We’ve all had a grumble about politicians at one time or another but how many of us have actually done something about it.  If you have strong feelings about how the Falkland Islands Government is run, you can make your voice heard by contributing to the current review of the Constitution.  Councillor Mike Summers (MS) brings up to date on progress so far.  Here, he discusses the role of Councillors and the Governor.

 

MS:  You hear sometimes some folks saying Councillors shouldn’t get themselves involved in this and that and that the Governor should do it.  The problem is if you do that you are effectively handing authority back to the UK Government.  The Governor is the Governor of the Falkland Islands but he’s the representative of the UK Government here.  And as schizophrenic as he might like to be, that’s his principle role.  He might dispute that but I don’t think anybody here does.  We really must do everything that we possibly can for ourselves because that underpins the whole notion of Self Determination.

 

POLICE NEWS:

 

The police were kept busy over the weekend with a number of incidents.  On Friday night just before 2100 they were called to Ross Road where a person was reported to be laying in the road.  The person had fallen over drunk and was taken to the hospital by ambulance.  On Saturday morning at 0810 they were called out to a traffic accident in the Jetty Centre car park.  When they arrived, they found that an articulated lorry had rolled back into a Mitsubishi Shogun, causing some damage.  Later on in the day around 1955, they were told that someone had been seen staggering along the sea-front on Ross Road West.  When Officers arrived, they found the person asleep.  The person is now assisting with enquiries.  At 2215, they had a call from the hospital to ask that two people be removed because they were harassing the Watchman.  One person was detained in cells overnight.  And finally for Saturday, the Police were called out to a disturbance on Philomel Street between two groups at 2345.  The Officers dealt with the matter on the scene.  Police are also asking for information regarding damage to two vehicles parked near the Malvina House Hotel.  The damage happened between 0820 and 1900 on Sunday.  If anyone saw anything, would they please give the police a ring.

 

CARGO:

 

The Cargo from the St. Brandon’s voyage to Punta Arenas is ready for collection today.  Island Shipping say it can now be picked up from the centre warehouse on FIPASS.  Customers are reminded that Customs Clearance must be gained before it’s collected and a release note issued by Customs.  The appropriate bills of lading must be produced at the time of collection.

 

FISHING AND HARBOUR NEWS:

 

Another 16 jiggers have been in over the last few days for licensing.  The Typhoon has moved off its moorings at the west-side of the East Jetty and has been berthed alongside the main jetty.  The Zalgares is back in Berkley Sound and the Minerva II finished bunkering late last night.  There are now 17 vessels fishing in the zone, for which catches are variable.  The cruise ship, Andrea was in port today with 49 passengers.

 

CONTRACTOR:

 

A contractor at MPA was medevaced into Stanley over the weekend after he suffered a heart attack.  The worker was brought in to KEMH via SeaKing on Sunday and was considered stable enough to be flown back to MPA yesterday.  He was then flown out on a Gulf-Stream Aircraft for further treatment.

 

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