FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: 28 MAY 2004

FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 28 MAY 2004

GOOSE GREEN MEMORIAL SERVICE:

At 1100.  The service is an event organised by June MacMullan on behalf of Goose Green residents to commemorate their liberation from captivity in 1982 and is traditionally attended by as many residents at the time as possible.  The Rev. Paul Sweeting will carry out the service and wreaths will be laid by the Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands and the Governor, Howard Pearce and also by members of the public.

NATHANIEL B. PALMER:

The research ship, Nathaniel B. Palmer, is due into FIPASS at 0900 today, ready for its voyage south in search of the sub-Antarctic Cod.  The Fishery Department’s Paul Brickle has been onboard the vessel since it left Punta Arenas two weeks ago.  Members of the ship’s crew will be giving talks to youngsters in the Infant/Junior School and also the Conservation Watch Group about their quest to find out how the sub-Antarctic fish differs from its Antarctic cousins.  The team, minus Paul, are heading off to South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha and ending up in South Africa.

HARBOUR NEWS:

The CFL Gambler is at FIPASS and is due to leave today.  There’s nothing in Berkley Sound and the Typhoon is expected to be laid up until February next year.  Two trawlers have stopped fishing in the Zone, leaving 11 still there.  Catches are static but good outside the Zone.

COMMITTEE NEWS:

The Fisheries Committee met at 0900 this morning in the Liberation room of the Secretariat.  Members discussed the Illex licence refund and heard a brief preliminary report from some participants in the recent aquaculture fact-finding trip to Ireland and Scotland.

Members said there is a market for Muscles, which is expanding.  The Attorney General said that he’d identified a draftsman to draw up the principle legislation before the various regulations are drawn up.

Director of fisheries, John Barton, said that most of the refunds for Illex licences had been paid but they were still endeavouring to collect money due.  It was noted that most companies were content with the refund policy that was agreed and the general feeling was that it had been pretty fair this time.  The Committee is also waiting for a response from the FCO on part of a fisheries policy.  The Attorney General said that a bill on the issue of duration of rights had been read but nothing could be done until the FCO responded and identified possible amendments.

ERIC GOSS ON THIS YEAR’S BUDGET:

With the disappearance of the Illex, it was always going to be a difficult budget round and Councillors are braced for criticism.  According to Eric Goss (EG), they deserve it.

EG:  The budget, I recon, was criminal.  What they handed out to the public.  And, I think that Councillors should have taken Philip Miller’s advice to weed out all the dead wood.  Lets take a close look at all Government Departments and pare out the interlopers.  Great savings would be made in salaries and gratuities.

Now, to go on to the holiday credits, this was a sop to take the focus off the Hay Management massive salary increases to the higher-paid.  But the level playing field was tilted in favour of the higher paid civil servants.  If they were locals or had local status, they got credits as well.  If you take a look at today’s prices - £1148.00 to fly to the UK, it will take the man in the street six years to accrue enough holiday credits to offset that passage.

ALEXANDRA SHARPE:

On Saturday, if you are driving along the MPA Road, spare a thought and a few pennies for a group who are walking from MPA to Stanley to raise money for 24-year old Alexandra Sharpe.  Members of Supply Squadron are hoping to raise £1,000.00 to send Alexandra, who suffers from Hodgkin’s Disease, to a health farm where she can relax and recover from intensive chemo therapy and radiotherapy treatment.  Family friend, Sgt Steve Mixture, who is organising the event, says that Mount Pleasant personnel have also donated £400.00.

DARTS:

The first major darts tournament kicks off on Saturday night in the FIDF Hall.  Doors open at 1830, with the games starting at 1900.  Games are 301, double in, double out, the best of three legs increasing to five legs in the semi-final and seven in the final.

(100X Transcription Service)