Falklands : SOUTH GEORGIA POSSESSION DAY MARKED AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 20.01.2012 (Article Archived on 03.02.2012)
A reception to mark the 237th anniversary of Captain James Cook’s discovery and possession of South Georgia took place at Government House on Tuesday, 17 January 2012.
SOUTH GEORGIA POSSESSION DAY MARKED AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE
By J. Brock (FINN)
A reception to mark the 237th anniversary of Captain James Cook’s discovery and possession of South Georgia took place at Government House on Tuesday, 17 January 2012.
Possession Bay is the spot where Captain Cook aboard the HMS Resolution landed and the Island was named in honour of King George III.
In his remarks Richard McKee, Executive Officer for the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands said that last week the South Georgia Government had launched the first SGI Phone and i-pad app and he wondered what Captain Cook would think of it. He went on to say that after the discovery sealers and whalers came to exploit the Island’s resources and they also brought the first invasive species – Brown Rats.
Also mentioned was the current glacial retreat – in some cases as much as 400 metres a year.
“The clock is ticking for man to try and return the island to the pristine condition in which James Cook found it,” he said.
Mr McKee then described the progress the South Georgia heritage Trust made in rat eradication on South Georgia and he said it was a massive step forward in trying to achieve the environmental goals set by the Trust and others. Heritage Trust members are busily planning the next stage of the operation.
Sightings of Pintail Ducklings have been made and Mr McKee quipped that the local resident Skua population were enjoying a variation to their diets. He said that there was a very narrow window of opportunity for the people to try to achieve the goals despite the financial down-turn that has been felt world-wide.
In conclusion Mr McKee thanked people who had helped in the effort to bring South Georgia back to its pristine condition. He mentioned that many of the people were at the reception and he thanked the Military for all their help as well as the public and private sectors.
The late Frank Wild’s contribution was mentioned as well as the fact that he was the last of the original polar explorers to be laid to rest at Grytviken. It was fitting this was done on South Georgia and his example should inspire us all in these challenging times.
Mr McKee’s remarks were completed with a toast to South Georgia.
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