Hydrocarbons Daily Record Tuesday, 25 March 2008

In early November there will be six veterans of the 1982 conflict coming back to the Falklands for a visit. One will have a nurse carer with him. All of the veterans to one degree or another are suffering the ill affects of combat stress – even though the conflict was 23 years ago.

It’s one thing to be grateful to soldiers, sailors and airmen who gave 74 days for us but those suffering combat stress have given the past 23 years for us. That’s too long. We not only need to thank them for our freedom but also help them put those ghosts to rest.

Dame Ellen MacArthur is heading for South Georgia at the end of November. During her time in South Georgia she will be doing research in relation to the “Save the Albatross Campaign” and will see first hand the dangers long-line fishing has on Albatross survival.

In truth Dame Ellen will see a fisheries regime at its best in that Albatross losses due to long-line fishing are minimal. Several factors contribute to this, including the timing of the Toothfish season to when the Albatross are not breeding and mitigation measures that are required in order to receive a licence to fish in South Georgia waters.

The “Save the Albatross Campaign” has trained instructors, who teach fishermen and fishing companies some of the methods that are needed to prevent Albatross from taking bait on long-lines, thus preventing seabird deaths.

What Dame Ellen MacArthur will not see are the real culprits – poachers who do not use mitigation measures or even care about Albatross by-catch.

On the research list will be research into what Albatross eat and how that fits into the food chain, as well as the affects of red tide catches on the cumulative toxins present in some Albatross.

While at South Georgia Dame Ellen will meet up with Sally Poncet, a biologist and researcher with 20 years’ experience in South Georgia as well as the Falklands and will liaise with British Antarctic Survey possibly with their base at Bird Island. Sally Poncet will be aboard “Golden Fleece” with a group of scientists on the same project.

Dame Ellen will be aboard the B&Q and is expected back in the

in mid February 2006.

Each year representatives from the United Kingdom Overseas Territories meet to discuss issues of great importance not only collectively but to individual territories. The representatives met with Foreign Office Ministers as well as people from other Ministries.

Representatives of every territory took part in round table discussions about constitutional modernisation, human rights, external relations, good governance and EU issues. Most of the UK Overseas Territories are facing Constitutional Reform at this time. St. Helena just voted on theirs and the Falklands are undergoing the process. Human rights are supposed to be uniform but each territory applies those rights in a specifically local way. And, the problems with the EU deal with red tape – and lots of it.

Higher Education was also discussed in the margins Falklands representatives mentioned that during a public meeting last winter the subject of paying for that higher education came up in a public meeting. At the meeting Cllr. Jan Cheek, one of the representatives, said that over the years the problem of UKOSTs paying more than foreign students was raised at the appropriate level. The problem is a Ministerial level matter but it will be pursued, yet again, as it had been put on the agenda. Hopefully this will be followed up sooner rather than later.

It’s always good for representatives from the UK Overseas Territories to get together and compare notes. This year Tristan da Cunha and Ascension Island as well as Pitcairn joined the established group. With this meeting will come new contacts and new ideas for helping each other. That can only be a good thing.

LaPrensa Austral reports that the Granddaughter of Sir Earnest Shackleton, the Hon. Alexandra Shackleton, is visiting Punta Arenas, Chile this week. Mr. Robert Headland, Curator of the Cambridge University Polar Museum is accompanying her.

The historic visit co-insides with Regional Magallanes Day but mostly she and Mr. Headland will be concentrating on the links between Punta Arenas and the rescue of her Grandfather, Sir Earnest Shackleton’s crew from Elephant Island in 1916.

The Hon. Alexandra Shackleton will be visiting Punta Arenas schools to talk about her Grandfather’s 1914 -1916 expedition on which his ship, the ENDURANCE sank in the Weddell Sea. She will also hand out leaflets about the historical aspects of Earnest Shackleton’s association with Punta Arenas.

The Chilean Antarctic Institute will host Mr. Headland for an evening speech as well as a donation to the Chilean Antarctic Museum. This Friday the Hon. Alexandra Shackleton will sail the Magellan Straits with Jamie and Fernando Pedro Huerta, grandchildren of the pilot of the Chilean vessel, YELCO that assisted with the rescue of ENDURANCE’S crew from Elephant Island in 1916.

According to a press release from Sea Cadets HQ in the UK Falklands Sea Cadets will play a major role in a parade at Trafalgar Square on Sunday when the contingent act as wreath bearers for HRH the Duke of York, Admiral Sir Alan West and the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr. Tim Joiner when they lay wreaths at the foot of Nelson’s Column.

Spending a week with UK Sea Cadets, Shane Mitchell, Tanzie Bonner, Mark Courtney and Dion Robertson will commemorate Trafalgar day in honour of the 200^th anniversary of the victory over the Spanish fleet by Admiral Lord Nelson in October 1805.

Admiral Lord Nelson was mortally wounded in the battle and had a hero’s funeral when his body was returned to the UK.

Corral Creek is now passable but rough. PWD would like to thank everyone for their patience during the road closure.

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 Number 27272 or fax on 27270 or by writing to the Registrar General, Town Hall, Stanley.

The Stanley Leisure Centre Sports Hall is now ready for re-opening, contrary to advertised schedules. For a booking please contact the Stanley Leisure Centre Reception on 27291.

The Community Library will be closed on 22 October 2005 and Saturday, 29 October 2005.

There will be a football match on Sunday, 23 October 2005 between Stanley and crew members of a visiting cruise vessel. Kick-off is at 1500.

S.Atlantic : Sartma Daily (20/10/05)Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 21.10.2005 (Article Archived on 28.10.2005)

S.Atlantic : Sartma Daily (20/10/05)
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 21.10.2005 (Article Archived on 28.10.2005)