FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: THURSDAY, 19 AUGUST 2004
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
SAFE AND SKILLED DRIVING COMPETITION
The Commander British Forces hosted a Winter Safe and Skilled Driving Competition on Saturday 8 August 2004 to promote road safety and to test drivers’ skills on a wide range of vehicles and challenges. The day, although cold and windy, was well supported by teams from the Units and the wives based the Mount Pleasant Complex, from Ascension Island, and the Royal Falkland Islands Police, eagerly competing for the prizes including Landrover clothing kindly provided by the event sponsor, the Falkland Islands Company.
The competition comprised teams touring 8 stands ranging from driving the huge Royal Engineers dumper truck to riding a quad bike. Other stands included driving the all-terrain BV206 tracked vehicles through a slalom course; carrying out a 3-point turn and reversing a Citroen Belingo into a garage; recovering a Landrover from soft ground using winch and tackle; and a test on the Highway Code.
The Resident Rapier Squadron won the competition with the winners of the summer competition, the Falkland Islands Air Wing, coming a close second. Best overall driver was Shiralee Collins of the RFIP. She was awarded with driving the Royal Engineers heavy armoured engineer tractor to dispose of a scrapped Land Rover in a dramatic way.
Air Cdr. Lacey, CBF, highlighted the importance of road safety to military personnel driving in the Falkland Islands and his drive to reduce the cost and injuries resulting road traffic accidents. Due to local measures and education, the number of accidents has greatly reduced this year. Mr Stephen Luxton, representing the FIC, presented the prizes and shield to the top teams.
Squadron Leader Andrew Gransden, SO2 J4 ESQA
NEW OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURS AND TRAVEL
By J. Brock (FINN)
It’s all change for International Tours and Travel Ltd. Who have moved from their rented accommodation in the Beauchene Complex to a renovated house at No. 1 Dean Street. Jenny Forest and her staff of three have started trading from the new location, which offers a lot more room, last week.
The brightly appointed ground floor of the house has room for displays and reference material as well as staff, while the upstairs can be used for storage. It’s ideally located across from Pastimes and behind the Arch Green Gardens.
INTERNET NEWS:
CHILE REITERATES ARGENTINE CLAIM:
Chile has, once again, reiterated its full support to Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Falklands. This follows criticism from Argentina that the Chilean Ambassador was present at the recent annual reception at Lincolns Inn. This apparently caused discomfort with Argentine Foreign Minister Raphael Bielsa. Chilean opposition Senator, Michele Ramero, said it was imprudent and is calling on Chilean Foreign Minister Solidad Alviar to explain before Congress the reasons for such a blunder. The Chilean Foreign Affairs Ministry have since pointed out to Argentina that during the C-24 session a resolution presented by Chile was approved, recommending that both Argentina and the UK resume sovereignty negotiations and also that during the 34th OAS General Assembly in June, a similar resolution was also approved, with Chile’s full support.
CHILEAN FISHING NEWS:
Ray and Eel catches have grown and in doing so have remained the main fisheries option in the Magallanes region of Chile, according to catch statistics. According to the Regional Director of the Chilean Fisheries Department, Patricio Diaz, regional Ray catches have gone up 20% but nearly non-existent Eel catches have gone up from 860 kg to over 52 tonnes. Mr. Diaz says that the potential is even greater because of the recent free trade agreements signed with South Korea and, Eel is a staple dish for the country. He added that researchers are looking into possible Eel licensing areas.
FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 19 AUGUST 2004 (Lee Hazell)
GUN AMNESTY:
There’s just over a week left to get any unlicensed guns and ammunition handed in to the Police Station. The Police have been holding a weapons amnesty for the month of August so that people who hold any unlicensed items can hand them in without fear of prosecution. The last weapons amnesty was held over 5 years ago and it failed to turn up any weaponry. But, have the Police had more luck this time? I asked Sergeant Tom Whistler (TW) to tell me more.
TW: I am glad to say we have had items handed in. They have ranged from a pistol through to old Naval shells.
LH: OK, well, I guess these are obviously left over from the War. Are they?
TW: We believe the Naval shells were but the pistol was a firearm that was registered but the owner wants it destroyed. That’s the purpose of the amnesty, not just for legal firearms to be handed in. Anything handed in to be destroyed will be disposed of correctly.
LH: Were the shells live?
TW: No but the whole purpose of it is for anything to be handed in and we will dispose of it correctly for them.
LH: OK. And, there’s not long left now for people to get any weaponry of whatever in, is there?
TW: The weapons amnesty runs out in 12 days’ time on the 31st of August. So, we urge people to phone up for advice if they need it. We will come and collect the firearm or item off them. I would like to emphasise, it isn’t just firearms. There are knives, bayonets, old swords and stuff like that. If they want, they can hand them in at the Police Station.
LOCAL STAMPS EX:
A collection of Stamps, First Day Covers and Coins opened to the Public in the Town Hall yesterday. The man behind the Exhibition, Phil Middleton (PM), spoke to Liz Elliot (LE) on yesterday’s Lifestyle programme to tell her more about what’s included in the display.
PM: I’ve spent the last couple of days taking over the Town Hall. The EX is based around my interest in stamps, covers and coins all to do with the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the British Antarctic bases. Over the last 5 years or so I have accumulated an awful lot of material, mainly mine, for my own interest and a lot of which no one else sees. So, in the middle of winter I got it out, got it sorted and put it on display.
LE: Tell us a bit about how you set it up.
There is very large display boards that I managed to find. There are 14 all put up down the centre of the Hall, concertina pattern. On each display I have put a theme or idea, which emphasises what you can do with stamps and covers because they are bigger and you can see more of them and what people have done over the years, how people have taken a theme and actually put together things like the same idea through Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctic Territory and also how people overseas have recognised the same event. And, there’s a lot of covers, in particular, which, I don’t think we ever see here in the Islands, though they use Falkland Islands Stamps. I have been keen to get those back together again.
LH: The EX is open to the public until Sunday between 1400 and 1700 and 1900 to 2100 in the evening. Charity covers will also be on sale and items for auction are on display.
RAT ERADICATION:
Falklands Conservation’s Rat Eradication Programme got off to a good start last week, when a number of volunteers made their way out to North-West Island, near Port Sussex, to lay bait. Darren Christie (DC) came into the studio to talk to Liz Elliot (LE) on Conservation Conversation this week to tell her more about how the trip went.
DC: Everything went really well on the island. It’s a big relief and I was really pleased with the way everything was done. The trouble with this kind of work is there’s an awful lot of things that can go wrong - things that we might not even have thought of. But there’s nothing you can do about that. We did all the right things while we were there. I’m quite optimistic, really. The other thing about this kind of work is you can’t see the detail for a couple of years. We are going to have to sit back with fingers crossed to see what happens.
LE: Did you actually see any evidence of rats when you were on the Island?
DC: Yes. I have done 10 to 12 islands before here and we’ve never actually seen rats up on the surface. On the first night, when we had set up the campsite, we sat there having a drink in the evening and a rat actually came right up into the camp - that’s a bit cheeky. There must be a big population on the island. They are sort of hopping around on the beach.
LE: So what next for the rat work?
DC: Due to Time restrictions, we had and the limited numbers of people, we only managed to clear the larger of the islands - 65 hectors - and that’s actually quite a good achievement. It’s the second biggest island Conservation have actually managed to clear. That leaves the inner island, which is 35 hectors and some of the smaller ones that are about 4 hectors. They will be cleared either later on this winter or early next winter. We have als got to check all of the islands we have cleared before. There are lots of islands for the future to look at as well. I think I will be busy.
(100X Transcription Service)
