S.Atlantic : Sartma Daily (30/10/05)
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 31.10.2005 (Article Archived on 14.11.2005)
A brief run-down of South Atlantic news
SARTMA DAILY (30/10/05)
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
CONTENTS:
Section 1: Articles by FINN
Section 2: Business News from St. Helena
Section 3: Announcements
Section 1:
FALKLANDS: CHIEF POLICE OFFICER AND DETECTIVE SERGEANT SUSPENDED
By J. Brock (FINN)
Government House have announced today that the Acting Governor, Miss. Harriet Hall, has suspended the Chief Police Officer, Dave Morris and Detective Sergeant, Jonathan Butler from duty on Full Pay.
The acting Governor further stated that arrangements are being made for a formal investigation to be conducted by Officers from the UK, who will report to the Governor in due course.
Inspector Len McGill of the Royal Falkland Islands Police is now in charge.
It is understood that the reason why the two Royal Falkland Islands Police Officers were suspended is in the legal arena and thus will not be reported on until the Court report.
MPA ROAD CLAIMS MORE VICTIMS
By J. Brock (FINN)
A serious accident occurred on the MPA Road at the turn-off to the Mare Harbour Road on Saturday, 29 October 2005 at around 1945hrs. One person is reported dead and three are seriously ill in hospital. Three others were hospitalised with non life threatening injuries. All casualties are members from H. M. Forces.
The SeaKing Search and Rescue Helicopter was tasked and arrived in Stanley and the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital at approximately 2037 hrs, 2110 hrs and 2359 hrs, with one returning to MPA at 0020 hrs on Sunday.
Names of the fatality and the six other injured people have been withheld until the next of kin have been notified.
Section 2:
St. Helena: Local Poultry Deaths
Over the last few days, a total of 68 local chickens have died. An officer from the A&NRD has told the local media that all chickens had similar symptoms. Photographs and information from the post mortems have been sent to Cape Town.
While the cause is under investigation and likely to be relatively harmless, the sudden outbreak of the contagious deadly ‘bird flu’ is a real cause for worldwide concern, especially as many human deaths have been linked to the deadly virus.
Many Asian countries have suffered from the virus, and in the process, millions of poultry have been killed with hopes of ending the virus. Although there is no export market on St. Helena for chicken, many homes around the island still keep poultry for their own private consumption. To date, there have been no known cases of bird flu on St. Helena, but people were concerned when the Agricultural & Natural Resources Department (A&NRD) received reports of chickens dying in Half Tree Hollow, New Ground and the Hutt’s Gate area. Radio St. Helena contacted the Senior Agricultural Assistant, Mr Arthur March who says that it is likely that the chicken deaths may have been caused by the type of food that the chickens consumed particularly as many locals tend to feed their poultry on household scraps such as vegetable peelings, stale bread etc.
Many locals will agree that this has been the main food fed to chickens and pigs for decades and there has never really been any major or growing concern over this. However, Arthur feels that the peelings and stale bread often contains mould and the mould produces a fungus that has made the chickens sick.
Radio News reported that at present, there is no way of sending specimens away for analysis, but the chicken’s symptoms and photographs from the post mortems were sent to Cape Town for investigations. This is still being analysed. Until information is received about the unusual deaths of the chickens, Arthur warns all poultry owners to be more vigilant in what they feed to the poultry and try not to feed them very stale food. Owners of poultry are asked to inform the A&NRD if there are any cases of poultry suddenly dying. The owners of the dead poultry were advised to destroy all eggs. Owners either burnt their dead poultry or buried them.
Pre-Qualification
St Helena Airport: Design, Build and Operate Contract
[OJEU Notice: 202-199644, Published 19/10/2005]
The UK Department for International Development (DFID), on behalf of the St Helena Government, invites Capability Statements for the design and build of an airport on the island of St Helena, located in the South Atlantic, and its operation (estimated for ten years) to support air services using Boeing B737-800 or similar. The project is being financed through grant funds from DFID to the St Helena Government. On completion of construction, the contractor will be required to provide airport operational services for a fixed period and, at the end of the agreed operating term, return the asset in good working order, having followed a strict maintenance regime so as to maximise the working life of the airport, also having effected operating skills transfer to local people.
An air service will be provided under a separate contract with an air service provider to meet passenger traffic requirements. It is expected that the service would start with one rotation per week. The DBO contractor will be expected to interface with the air service provider on aspects of airport design impacts and also on airport operations.
Industry Day
An Industry Day will be held on the 16th November 2005 at DFID’s offices at 1 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5HE. This event will be an open forum for parties who are considering submitting a Capability Statement. It will include a presentation outlining the project, a short video about St Helena and a Question and Answer session, with a panel of SHG, DFID and Atkins representatives. Contractors who intend to attend the Industry Day should contact: Sandra Barnes, Atkins Management Consultants, Floor 1C, Woodcote Grove, Ashley Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5BW Tel: +44 (0)1372 752 118 Fax: +44 (0)1372 754 818 Email: sandra.barnes@atkinsglobal.com
Deadline for receipt of Capability Statements: 16th December 2005:
Further information on the contract, and on St Helena, can be found at: http://www.sthelenaaccess.com
Sharon Wainwright
St Helena Access Project Manager
25 October 2005
St Helena Government
Section 3:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Museum and National Trust is proud to announce that as part of a special Trafalgar 200 display a collection of original letters written by Admiral Lord Nelson can be seen in the Museum. These six priceless items have been loaned to the Museum and National Trust by the noted Nelsonion Collector Mr. P. C. Lascaredes and will be shown in the Falklands for one week only. It is a great honour to have these letters written by Britain’s greatest naval hero in the Falkland Islands. Do not miss this singular opportunity to see them.
The annual General Meeting of the Falkland Islands Cricket Association will take place at 1900 on Monday, 14 November at the Narrows Bar. Would all members who are unable to attend please return their completed proxy form to the Acting Secretary by 11 November. If you have not received a proxy form, please call Richard Marlor on Phone No. 22765.
From Media Ops: In response to recent delay to the air bridge, Media Operations at MPA announce that the Air Atlantic 747 should be back in operation later next month. The current delays are due to the MoD commitment to troops in Iraq and these delays will be rectified as soon as the 747 is back on line. The Tri-star has been pulled off other commitments to come to the Falklands and if maintenance is required, then there are not enough resources to divert more aircraft. The fleet is under pressure due to other commitments and, if the high standards of RAF maintenance are to be achieved, then there will be delays. The contract for the airline is a matter for the MoD.
In the up coming weeks troops at MPC will be going through a number of exercise scenarios as part of annual training. All visitors to MPC and Falkland Islanders should be aware that personnel will be at a heightened state of alert. This in no way represents a real time security stance and is simply for the training period, however visitors are to ensure they have the correct ID. Troops will be walking round in full combat equipment with weapons. The exercise period lasts between the dates of 31st October to 4th November
The Public Works Department have closed Ross Road between Barrack St. and Villiers St. to allow for surface repairs to be carried out. It is intended that the road will be opened at peak times – mornings, lunchtimes and in the evening in order to minimize disruption. But for the rest of the day no through traffic will be permitted. On the occasions when the road is opened the surface will be rougher than usual so drivers should pass through the works at a slow speed.
Contributing Websites: http://www.falklandnews.com. http://www.tristantimes.com, http://www.the-islander.org.ac, http://www.sartma.com, http://www.news.co.sh, http://www.sgisland.org
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