S.Atlantic : Sartma Daily (16/10/05)
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 16.10.2005 (Article Archived on 23.10.2005)
A brief Run-down of South Atlantic news
SARTMA DAILY (16/10/05)
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
CONTENTS:
Section 1: Committee News
Section 2: Court and Police News
Section 3: Falkland Wool Growers Report
Section 4: Announcements
Section 1:
COMMITTEE NEWS: TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
By J. Brock (FINN)
A meeting of the Transport Advisory Committee took place in the Liberation Room of the Secretariat at 1330 hrs on Thursday, 13 October 2005. Cllr. the Hon Mr. Stephen Luxton was Chairman. Others attending the meeting were: Cllr. Ian Hansen, Manfred Keenleyside, Bob Hancox, Ros Cheek, Fraser Wallace, Andrew Newman, Raymond Evans, Julian Morris and Trudi Lee.
After confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held on 05 May 2005, matters arising from the minutes were discussed. The main item, the Murrel Road Route, was the subject of an oral update by Road Engineer, Bob Hancox. He said that the route was out to public consultation and tender. Another oral update was about the Corral Creek culverts that had to be replaced due to winter deterioration. The culverts would be made of p. v. c. and while culverts made of it are difficult to install, they have an indefinite life no matter what the weather. Weather, plant, weather and tides had made the closure of the road around the culverts but the replacement should not deteriorate in the way the corrugated iron culverts did.
There was a page by page discussion of the Integrated Transport Study produced by the Policy Unit in September Internal shipping services were discussed at length with a basic requirement for two Island Shipping vessels, one for the ferry and the other for transporting goods to settlements. It was also suggested that Island Shipping does its own thing rather than going into partnership with the MoD. It was felt that the MoD would use the service anyway, once the roads were in place to help in the shipping effort to the mountaintops where the MoD has installations. Island Shipping would have to take the financial risk until the MoD came onboard. Military operations sometimes involved helicopter movements from ships and it would be something for Island Shipping to consider.
Roads were then discussed with a report that the network was nearly finished, however there were problems with heavy vehicles damaging the roads. When the road building project began the decision was taken to make low cost, high maintenance roads. The culprit seems to be heavy vehicles using these roads in the winter, causing them to deteriorate. They must be repaired, thus costing money during a time when Government Departments are trying to make savings.
One idea that caused discussion was that fuel taxes could be put on the cost of petrel and diesel that are used in vehicles. The more fuel a vehicle burns, the more money it raises for road maintenance. Generally all at the meeting thought there was merit in the idea and it will be discussed further in March during the next meeting. Though this idea was popular at the meeting, members realised that it would be unpopular with road users, who also are feeling the financial pinch of several successive poor Illex seasons.
With the figures worked out, it is not cheaper to fly a washing machine to West Falkland than it is by sea. Medical Evacuations are the first priority and mail, parcels and freight are second. Passengers are third. Air strips will not be closed and it is the responsibility of FIGAS to look after the safety equipment. Though they won’t be closed, some airstrips won’t be used. Those having the best infrastructure, rather than the closest, like Fox Bay, will be the main airstrips.
In closing, Cllr. Luxton said that though pressures affecting development are different, the resolutions would be political ones. It was generally agreed that consultation on the Integrated Transport Study should take place after the election. Details would be published in due course.
The date of the next meeting will be in March 2006.
Section 2:
COURT NEWS
By J. Brock (FINN)
An open Court session took place on Friday afternoon at 1400 in the Court and Council chamber of the Town Hall. Before Senior Magistrate, Mrs. Claire Faulds was Barry Charles O’Dean, who had pleaded guilty to five charges resulting from an incident that took place at the Globe Tavern on the evening of Friday, 07 October 2005. Mr. O’Dean was represented in Court by Kevin Kilmartin. Ros Cheek prosecuted the case.
Mr. O’Dean had pleaded guilty to the charges named and Mrs Faulds dealt with them in the order of their seriousness.
For the charge of Grievous Bodily Harm against Trina Berntsen, contrary to Section 18, Mrs. Faulds accepted that there was no premeditation and she took into account his guilty plea at the earliest possible opportunity. He therefore was sentenced under section 20 and received 6 months imprisonment.
For Actual Bodily Harm against Natasha Medford, Mrs Faulds recognised that there was no premeditation and that Mr. O’Dean had pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity. He was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment to run concurrently with the sentence she imposed for GBH to Trina Berntsen.
However, Mrs. Faulds recognised that the action against LPC Collins was with intent and he was persistent in resisting arrest and created a weapon of a plank from a picnic table outside the Globe. Mrs. Faulds sentenced Mr. O’Dean to 6 weeks in prison for the offence to run concurrently with the previously mentioned sentences.
Mr. O’Dean received a one months sentence to run concurrently with the other sentences for actions contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act – Assault by Beating – against Mrs. Michelle Evans.
There was no penalty for criminal damage to the picnic table outside the Globe Tavern.
Mr. O’Dean will pay £70.00 Prosecution Costs.
POLICE NEWS:
CAYMAN ISLAND’S PRINCIPAL PRISON OFFICER TRAINS FALKLANDS POLICE
By J. Brock (FINN)
Peter Foster, the Principal Officer in the Cayman Islands Prison Service is currently in the Falkland Islands training the Royal Falkland Islands Police in Prison Craft. He is training the Royal Falkland Islands Police because the Territory has only one Prison Officer and the Police care for prisoners on a regular shift basis.
Training sessions were tailored to conditions here in the Falklands, which are different than those in the Cayman Islands. He explained that the types of crimes for which people here were imprisoned were different than those that lead to imprisonment for people on Cayman Island.
Here in the Falklands people tend to get imprisoned for alcohol related crimes, leading to a different level of security and prisoner care than in the Caymans. Prisoners here are often day-released to work, for example. In the Cayman Islands the more sophisticated crimes dealing with drugs and drug trafficking cause imprisonment, thus a different level of care, in that there is a thorough programme to help treat addicted people in prison.
The Cayman Islands has three prisons: one prison is for men only, another for young offenders and a third for women. And, there are many Prison Officers with a wide range of skills to deal with the numbers incarcerated in the system. In the young offenders unit, for example, skills required by Prison Officers are different than those in the Men’s or Women’s Prisons.
While here, Officer Foster has had an opportunity to see some of the mined beaches, Penguins at Gypsy Cove as well as some Sea Lions. He’s also visited a few pubs and has thoroughly enjoyed his visit. Kay’s B&B ranks high on his list of enjoyable experiences.
Section 3:
WOOL REPORT: for the week ending Friday 14th October 2005
Auctions
Starting the week at 670 A cents, the Australian Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) added a cent on Wednesday and remained unchanged on Thursday. The EMI thus closed the week up a cent at 671 A cents. Of the 53,346 bales offered, 92% were sold. “There was stronger interest than of late from Europe”.
In New Zealand, the Merino and Mid-micron Indicators were not quoted. The Fine Crossbred Indicator (33-35µ) was quoted down another five cents at 348 NZ cents and the Coarse Crossbred Indicator (35.1+µ) was down a cent to 341 cents. The Lamb Indicator was not quoted.
In South Africa the Cape Wools Overall Merino Indicator was quoted up 0.4 percent on the week from 2,464 to 2,475 SA cents per kg clean. A total of 8,337 bales were offered with 95% cleared. European buyers were active.
Currencies
Towards the end of the week, the Australian dollar was trading a cent weaker at A$2.32/£ whilst the New Zealand dollar was trading down three cents at 2.52 NZ cents/£.
FWG Agency
For winter shorn wool, please identify the length of all fleece wool that is not full length (eg ¼, ½, ¾.). Please also advise the range of wool within each bale if of more than one length (eg ½ - ¾ ).
Many thanks for some early bale specifications.
With the 2005/2006 season gathering momentum it is vital that the highest quality control and wool preparation standards are maintained throughout shearing.
With Thanks and Regards, Robert
Section 4:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
FROM THE REGISTRAR GENERAL: Electors are advised that Tuesday, 17 November 2005 is Polling Day. Polling Stations will open all day at Fox Bay, West Falkland, where Mr. Ken Halliday has been appointed Presiding Officer and at Goose Green, East Falkland, Miss Myra Pitt has been appointed Presiding Officer. These polling stations will be open from 0900 to 1600 hrs. In Stanley, there will be a Polling Station in the Court and Council Chambers of the Town Hall. The entrance is via the east door on the Ground Floor. This station will be open from 1000 to 1800 hrs (6:00 pm). All times given for General Election are Stanley Local Time. For further information or guidance please contact the Registrar General on Telephone Number27272 or fax on 27270 or by writing to the Registrar General, Town Hall, Stanley.
From the Leisure Centre: The Pool will be closed from 1000 to 1100 on Tuesday 18 October 2005 for private hire. The Gym will be closed on 21 October.
The Falkland Islands Company advisee customers that the access road behind Homecare may be closed on Monday to complete asphalt laying. Homecare can be accessed by Michelle’s Café.
The Department of Agriculture will be holding a lambing course on Wednesday, 19 October. For more information, please phone Sarah Bowles on 27366.
The North Camp Track is closed at Corral Creek for the replacement of culverts in the creek crossing. Due to the bad weather, the time of closure has been extended. 4WD off road only detour has been marked around the head of the creek. The detour will add about 20 minutes to trip times.
|
