FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: WEDNESDAY, 25 AUGUST 2004
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
SAINT HELENA’S VITAL LIFE-LINE
A Report for BBC World Service “Calling the Falklands” by Graham Bound (GB) 08/25/04
St. Helena’s vital life-line, a freight and passenger service operated by Andrew Weir Shipping, is to change radically. Following a review, which considered ways in which the RMS St. Helena can improve its service to both the Saints and to their visitors, the direct service to the Island will end. Instead, for a trial period of one year, the RMS, as it’s known, will shuttle between Cape Town in South Africa, Walvis Bay and Luderitz’s Bay in Namibia and St. Helena and Ascension. But, how will this benefit Islanders? I put that question to Captain Bill Langworthy (AL), the General Manager of Andrew Weir Shipping.
AL: We are trying to improve the Island’s economy by bringing more tourists and also to bring in more regular imports into St. Helena, particularly from the UK. At the moment, the ship calls into the UK around about every 3 months or so. And, we have a large number of exports from the UK for the Island. But, this does mean that things that are only acquirable in the UK - Mars Bars or Hob Nobs or
GB: Very important
AL: If you do run out and you buy them from South Africa, they don’t taste the same. And so there is a legacy of wish to see UK exports continue. But we’ve addressed that by providing transport with a feeder service from the UK to Walvis Bay, then the RMS will pick up those UK exports every 21 days across to the Island.
GB: Can you just give us the nuts and bolts of this? What will the new service mean in terms of frequency and facility for the users?
AL: The service leaves Cape Town every 23 days. It’s about 36 hours or so up to Luderitz Bay. The vessel is there for eight hours and then overnight to Walvis Bay. We will be in Walvis Bay all day.
GB: Taking on Freight.
AL: Taking on Freight, discharging freight. And, then passengers cross three and a half days from Walvis Bay to St. Helena. The ship is there normally two days and then a two day run up to Ascension. One day at Ascension, back to St. Helena, two days and then one overnight stay at St. Helena and back to Walvis Bay, three and a half days. A day call at Walvis then overnight to Luderitz, eight hours in Luderitz and then down to Cape Town for an early morning arrival. The arrival times that we’ve set now for the new service are co-ordinated with the flight information that we have at the moment, so that when people do arrive at Ascension, Walvis Bay or Cape Town, they are in time to get connecting flights for international departures.
GB: And, also it should be attractive for the tourists. If you spend a week on the Island, without actually too much time getting there and so on. The current cruise option is really a very long one, isn’t it?
AL: It is a very long one and we’re very conscious that people have a lot of money but not time. Obviously, we are trying to get as many tourists to the Island as possible. What the new service has done is to make passage to the Island more affordable in Pound (Sterling) terms because it’s a shorter period, therefore the prices are cheaper. But, it’s a quicker passage all the way through. So, now from the UK to go to Walvis Bay then across to the Island, have a week on the Island with family or friends, relations, etc.. and then get back to the UK, it can be done in about 16 days or so. That gives you three and a half days each way on the ship and a week on the Island.
GB: What’s the feedback from the Tourism industry both on the Island and out here in the UK?
AL: We are seeing a much greater take-up of passenger berths now, with people doing different options. We’ve got 10 different ways of actually doing St. Helena. We hope these different options will improve the number of people going to St. Helena for holiday. That’s important as far as we are concerned - to try and boost the economy and the tourism industry. On the back of this, we are also hoping that we provide the Island with the opportunity to export fruit and vegetables from St. Helena into Namibia. This is something we seriously hope will grow. We are hoping that people will pick up on this. Here’s an opportunity. Let’s give it a try.
GB: If you are a Saint planning a trip home, or perhaps you fancy a holiday on the Island, you can learn more about RMS St. Helena’s new service on the Andrew Weir Shipping website. That’s: http://www.aws.co.uk.
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INTERNET NEWS:
The Australian Court has sentenced three fishermen from Maya V. All three men were placed on $6,000.00 (AUS) Good Behaviour bond and fines $1,500.00 (AUS) each, after pleading guilty to using a foreign vessel to fish in Australian waters. Presiding Judge, Mr. Peter Martino’ summation stated that although the men had been detained on very serious charges, he imposed a lenient sentence, hoping that this might deter them from any future fishing in Australian waters. The men will be deported sometime before the end of the month.
FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 25 AUGUST 2004
COURT NEWS:
Terry Mills received a one-year probation order and a three-year drink-driving ban in Court this morning, after pleading guilty to a charge of drink driving. Crown Prosecutor, Alison Ingles, told the Court that Mr. Mills had been charged on July 30th after providing a sample of breath of 132mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35. Richard Marlor for the Defence asked Justices of the Peace Judy Summers, Tim Blake, and Phyl Rendell to take several circumstances into account when imposing sentence. He said the day before the incident had been the 8th anniversary of Mr. Mills’ wife’s death and he had been unable to get to sleep that night and drank a litre of wine before finally dropping off. When he woke on the 30th, he was too tired to go to work but drank two more glasses of wine and went to the bank to get some money for the weekend. He had also failed to take prescribed medication from the 29th of July to the 3rd of August, which Mr. Marlor said had affected his judgment. Mr. Marlor said his client was extremely sorry and was adamant that it wouldn’t happen again as he had sold his vehicle and therefore wouldn’t be a danger to the public. He urged the JPs not to give Mr. Mills a prison sentence, although this was in their powers, given the high alcohol reading. Mrs. Summers, sentencing, told Mr. Mills “We hope this will give you a way through the problems you have at the moment.” He was also ordered to pay £70.00 Court Costs.
IMMIGRATION POLICIES:
Immigration policies are being reviewed to see if any improvements can be made, according to Cllr. Roger Edwards, Chair of the Immigration Board. At last night’s Public Meeting, a member of the public said that COWS, or “Contract Officer’s Wives or partners living and working in the Islands” had difficulty in getting work or obtaining a work permit. They said that despite having qualifications themselves, they were often overlooked for contract positions themselves in favour of overseas recruitment. It was stressed by Councillors that FIG does look locally to fill vacant positions but a number of factors were also taken into account, such as qualifications and experience. They said all jobs were advertised in the Islands for the positions advertised overseas with Immigration and EXCO having to approve FIG appointments. Cllr. Mike Summers said that it was a difficult judgment sometimes and you can’t make someone appoint someone they don’t want to. Brian Summers said Immigration were over-stepping the mark and being too restrictive, while Eric Goss said jobs specifications often seem to be fabricated to suit a certain person. Tim Miller said that the process of applying for a work permit for part time employees was too long and drawn out. By the time it was completed, the job was over.
OTHER PUBLIC MEETING NEWS:
Mention was made of the upcoming talks between Argentine Foreign Minister Raphael Bielsa and UK Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw next month. Concerns were raised as to whether Mr. Straw had been well briefed on the situation and what Islanders wanted. Cllr. Norma Edwards said the Governor had assured Councillors that sovereignty wasn’t for negotiation. And, Foreign Office Minister, Bill Rammel was well versed on the situation and had briefed Mr. Straw well. Recent reports in the Argentine press suggested that the flights issue would be up for discussion. It was reiterated at the meeting that a regular flight from Argentina would not be accepted.
Finally, Eric Goss took the chance to sing the praises of the PWD Road Gang, who had been working to improve the surface of the MPA Road after the recent spate of bad weather. Cllr. Roger Edwards said he would pass on the praise to the people involved.
FIGAS:
FIGAS planes are grounded today because of the bad weather conditions. The decision was taken by the pilots to avoid putting planes and the passengers at risk in the blustery winds. A spokesman from FIGAS said the weather forecast was not looking good for the rest of today, although they will be attempting flights again tomorrow. There was only one flight yesterday, due to the wind and state of the strips.
BABY BOOM:
There has been a baby boom on the Islands over the past year. Figures supplied to the Education Committee by Health Visitor, Margaret Grebby, show there have been 48 new arrivals in the Islands since the 1st of September last year. The figure for the previous year was just 28, with 33 babies born in the Islands the year before that and 24 before that.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE:
The Education Committee will be hearing on Friday about the new teaching staff taking up posts for the new school year. Joan Nelson will be teaching Home Economics, with Spanish Teacher, Angela Waller and English Teacher, Sandra McCready also joining the team at FICS. Andrew Hepworth will take up a post teaching Maths and PE. There are also two travelling teachers taking to the Camp - Wendy Reynolds and returning teacher, Sandra Picconi. Graham Didlick has taken up the Houseparent post vacated by Denise McPhee. Denise will take up a part time Learning Assistant post at the Infant/Junior School.
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