S.Atlantic : Sartma Daily (12/10/05)
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 13.10.2005 (Article Archived on 20.10.2005)
A brief run-down of South Atlantic news
SARTMA DAILY (12/10/05)
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
CONTENTS:
Section 1: Calling the Falklands Article
Section 2: Articles by FINN
Section 3: Business News from St. Helena
Section 4: Court News
Section 5: Committee News
Section 6: Relevant Announcements
Section 1:
SAVING OUR HERITAGE IN ANTARCTICA
A Report for BBC World Service “Calling the Falklands” by Deborah Vogle (DV) 12/10/05
A campaign has been launched to save the wooden huts in Antarctica used by the great polar explorers. The teams lead by Captain Scott and Earnest Shackleton used them during their heroic attempts to conquer the Antarctic. But after more than a century, they are now deteriorating and will cost millions of Pounds to restore. Here’s BBC Science Correspondent, Christine McGurty (CM)
CM: The race to conquer the frozen continent produced extraordinary tales of adventure and endurance. The fateful expedition of Scott to the South Pole captured the public imagination. And, the survival of Shackleton and his men after their ship became stuck in the ice is held up today as a triumph of inspirational leadership. But freezing blizzards and scouring snow have been gradually destroying the simple wooden huts the explorers used. The cramped cabins still contain explorers’ rations and important polar artefacts. But the weather and visiting tourists have contributed to their deterioration. Shackleton’s granddaughter, Alexandra (AS) says action is needed urgently.
AS: They are monuments to the courage – the raw courage of those who achieved a great deal in the harshest climate of the world. As I say, we are so lucky the huts still exist. Some of them are just hanging on. Conservation work is desperately needed.
CM: Although many of the early expeditions were British, the huts lay in what is New Zealand’s Territory. Six Million Pounds is needed in total for the conservation work and campaigners are calling on the British Government to help fund the work as a tribute to some of the nation’s best known explorers.
(Compilers Note: I feel a fund-raising editorial coming on! Hopefully the other media will catch the bug and lend a journalistic hand wherever needed.)
Section 2:
DO YOU WANT TO BE A BELL RINGER?
By J. Brock (FINN)
(With thanks to Keith and Kathy Biles who sent a reminder)
Christ Church Cathedral are looking for bell ringers and, according to Church Warden, Keith Biles, appropriate staff at the Cathedral will gladly teach anyone interested in learning how to ring the Tower Bells. According to a brief description of the course, learning to ring is simple but getting into the swing of it takes time and concentration. People who do not have any experience but would like ago at it, please call Kathy or Keith Biles, who will arrange a time to demonstrate the skill.
ADVERSE WEATHER AFFECTS FALKLANDS
By J. Brock (FINN)
With Sarah L. Kent at the Met Office MPA
(Sarah L. Kent wrote the featured forecast.)
All through Wednesday late morning and into the afternoon and evening the Falklands had been receiving blustery snow showers. Temperatures plummeted in the west to south-west winds. The forecast doesn’t look all that good either, with slow lying at even lower levels. Not since 1999 has snow so late in the year been so heavy. The Forecast continues:
Strong to gale force westerly winds will veer north-westerly for a time and then increase to gale or severe gale force south-westerly. The minimum temperatures will be around -1C but feeling more like -20C in the wind.
For Wednesday, there will be a bitterly cold day in store with occasional snow showers and some sunny spells. The snow showers are likely to be heavy in places with a few inches falling over the hills and with the snow drifting in a gale force south to south-westerly wind. Afternoon Temperatures only are around 4C.
The sheep chill factor is 98 and is at critical level for newly shorn sheep.
People with farm animals outside are advised to find some shelter for them. It is advised that shearing stops For at least the next day or two. Cessation of sheep shearing during these extreme conditions is why a sheep-chill factor is figured into the forecast on a daily basis during the shearing season.
The fishing and shipping industry have also been affected, as the shipping forecast shows:
The shipping forecast for the FICZ open waters for the period 2200Z on Wednesday until 1000Z on Thursday is that the synoptic situation is a cold front moving swiftly across the FICZ with a gale force showery south-westerly airflow becoming established post front. Wind, west or south-west force 7 to gale 8 veering north-westerly 7 to gale 8 for a time then backing south-west gale 8, locally, severe gale 9 later. Weather, occasionally squally showers of sleet or snow – heavy at times with isolated hale and thunderstorms. Visibility will be, good, occasionally moderate or poor in showers and thunderstorms. And the sea stage will be very rough becoming high.
The outlook for the following 12 hours is that the wind will be from the south-west gale 8 to severe gale 9. Weather will be occasional show showers, heavy at times, visibility, good, occasionally poor in showers. Sea-state will be high.
Depending on the state of the sea and the wind & showers, the fishing effort could be impaired, but, there aren’t that many fishing vessels in the zone to be affected.
Section 3:
BUSINESS NEWS FROM ST. HELENA
Press Release:
Purchase or Lease of Land by Immigrants
Recent experience suggests that members of the public may be unaware of some of the legislative provisions dealing with landholding. When a person (or a company) who is not an ‘Islander’ wishes to buy or lease land, they must obtain a licence under the Immigrants’ Landholding (Restriction) Ordinance BEFORE entering into the transaction.
The application must be made to the Registrar of Lands, using a form which is available from the Legal, Lands and Planning Department. The Registrar is required to advertise the application and allow 30 days for members of the public to object or comment.
Any objections or comments are copied to the person seeking the licence, since the Registrar is obliged to allow the applicant an opportunity to comment on any objections which have been received.
The Registrar then makes a report to the Chief Secretary, who must arrange for the matter to be considered by the Governor in Council. Thereafter the procedure is not prescribed by the law. The Governor in Council has a discretion both as to the procedure and the final decision. However, the Governor in Council has generally wished to see evidence that the land in question has been advertised for sale and that people with Islander status have had an opportunity of expressing an interest in buying it.
This approach is not an absolute rule (if it was, it would be unlawful); but the Governor in Council will generally follow it unless there is good reason to do otherwise. The test to be applied is: “what is in the public interest?”.
Any enquiries about the procedure may be addressed to the Registrar of Lands at the address below.
The landholding policy is being reviewed in connection with air access and resulting development, but the procedure described above will continue in the meantime.
Dated this 11th day of October 2005.
Kenneth I Baddon
Registrar of Lands
Essex House, Jamestown.
Section 4:
COURT NEWS
By J. Brock (FINN)
Barry Charles O’Dean appeared before Senior Magistrate, Mrs. Claire Faulds at 1000 hrs on Wednesday, 12 October 2005 to face a further charge of Criminal Damage to which he pleaded not guilty. The prosecution asked for an adjournment because of non receipt of medical evidence in respect of two other charges, to which Mr. O’Dean has already pleaded guilty. Upon receipt of the evidence, other charges may be considered. A bail hearing would be held on Wednesday afternoon after Mr. O’Dean’s newly acquired solicitor returned from Camp. The case will be re-open at 1400 on Friday, 14 October 2005.
Section 5:
COMMITTEE NEWS:
By J. Brock (FINN)
A meeting of the Transport Advisory Committee will take place in the Liberation Room of the Secretariat at 1330 hrs on Thursday, 13 October 2005. Interesting items on the agenda include: the Murrell Road Route, Corral Creek Report, and the Integrated Transport Study.
Please note that the following committee meetings will be open for public attendance during the forthcoming week:
Falkland Islands Development Board – Tuesday 18th October at 9.00am in the Liberation Room, Secretariat
Cost of Living Committee – Friday 21st October at 10.00am in the Liberation Room, Secretariat
Members of the public can attend but not speak at Committee meetings.
Copies of the Agenda and Reports can be seen in the Secretariat at least three working days before the date of the meeting.
Section 6:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Parents’ Support Group will meet this Thursday at the Welcome Centre at 2000.
There will be a meeting of the Outdoor Football League on Thursday at 1730 hrs in the Geography Room at FICS. All players old and new are welcome. The league begins next month.
Would farmers wishing to participate in the 2006 sheep and cattle AI and ET programme please remember to return their order forms to Nyree Heathman at the Agriculture Department on or before 14 October 2005.
The Housing Section of the Public Works Department will be holding a furniture auction in the FIDF Hall this Saturday, 15 October at 1100 hrs. The hall will be open at 0930 hrs for viewing. A copy of items for sale can be collected from the PWD Office. E-mail copies can be sent from the Housing Officer Designate at dhoy@pwd.gov.fk.
Forms for Off-street Parking Grants of up to £500.00 can be obtained from Fiona Wallace at the Environmental Planning Department on 27390. Five grants are available for the 2005-06 financial year. Only one grant per property is permitted. All bids must be received by 31 October.
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