This
is the news from this week.
Politics
Argentina Again
This week Argentina has pledged to strengthen its
relationship with the Caribbean community.
Argentina’s representative to the CARICOM group, Luis
Martino, has said that the Argentine Government intends to have a greater
presence in the region. He said this was exemplified by the opening of new
embassies in St Lucia and Suriname and the re-establishing of a diplomatic
presence in Guyana and Barbados.
He said that the Argentine Government is ready to
start working toward the implementation of the agreement with Caricom to
establish a Standing Joint Commission on Consultation, Cooperation and
Coordination.
In recent years, the
Argentine Government has sought support from the Caribbean community on its
sovereignty claim to the Falklands.
Local News
Pagefield for the Falklands
London’s fastest growing communications agency, Pagefield,
has been appointed by the Falkland Islands Government. They are to provide
strategic and tactical advice in relation to all public relations and media
issues in the UK,
following a competitive pitch.
The account will be
serviced by the Pagefield Diplomat team led by Florence Quirici. Pagefield
Diplomat specialises in strategic advice and communications for overseas
governments and companies, with projects covering countries in Asia,
sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. The
contract is for three years.
Chief Executive of the
Falkland Islands Government Keith Padgett says that Pagefield's integrated offer,
experience across key territories, and unparalleled understanding of the
Falkland Islands and the UK
media and political landscape means that they are uniquely suited to working
for the Falkland Islands Government. Mr Padgett says that their experience and
energy will help FIG to tell their story and provide the UK public with a better understanding of the Falkland Islands.
Mark Gallagher, Senior
Partner and Founder of Pagefield, says Pagefield Diplomat is delighted to be
working for the Falkland Islands Government. Mr Gallagher says that they are
looking forward to tackling misconceptions, raising awareness and promoting a
better understanding of and support for the Falkland Islands in the eyes of the
Government, the media and the wider public in the UK.
Murrel Road Incident
Officers of the Royal
Falkland Islands Police assisted a member of the public this week following an
accident on the Murrell Road.
At 3pm on Monday 28th
October two police officers Daryl Harada and Neil Mitchell were on patrol on
the Murrell Road
when they came across an upturned vehicle which was sinking into a wide stream.
The officers checked the vehicle to find the sole occupant trapped in the
vehicle bleeding heavily from a deep head wound. The vehicle was beginning to
slip into the stream and was filling with water so Constable Harada freed the
driver and gave him first aid whilst Constable Mitchell summoned other
emergency services personnel.
It is believed that without
the officers prompt actions this may have turned into a fatal accident.
The Director of Emergency
Services Barry Marsden says that the incident demonstrates how changes in the
police service are having a positive effect.
Executive Council approved
for one year a new Station Enquiry Officer post which is enabling police
officers to get from behind the control room desk and get out on routine
patrol.
The Director of Emergency
Services says that the increase in police numbers has allowed them to develop
Neighbourhood Management Policing which allocates geographic and thematic areas
to dedicated police officers and places a personal objective on them to get to
know their area and the people who live there. The Murrell Road area is one of the areas
assigned to Constable Mitchell.
Without the additional
resources, the Director of Emergency Services says that they would not be able
to do routine patrols and the individual involved in the accident may have
either bled to death or drowned.
Falklink Discuss
Two business consultants
are currently visiting the Islands to engage
with local businesses and discuss their readiness for any upcoming oil industry
requirements.
David Owen and David
Stewart will be developing a skills gap analysis of Falkland
Islands readiness whilst here.
They will be identifying
gaps and the extent they might be solved with local support. A second seminar
will take place in Aberdeen and will
specifically target oil related businesses in Scotland
which will investigate development opportunities that may lead to the creation
of partnerships between Falklands businesses
and Scottish oil industry service companies.
Credit Union Consultation
A period of public
consultation is underway on the possibility of introducing a credit union to
the Falklands.
FIDC have been leading the
project and are now asking the public if it believes that there is a need for
alternative financial services in the Falklands
and whether they feel a credit union can provide a solution.
Michael Betts, Business
Relations Manager for FIDC says that he would encourage the public to give
their opinions on the proposal.
Shackleton Scholar Ezequiel
A Shackleton scholar is
currently visiting the Islands to carry out
research on a project examining the Falklands War.
Ezequiel Mercau, who is
Argentine and has studied in Ireland
and Copenhagen, has been sponsored by the Shackleton
Scholarship Fund to visit the Islands to work
on his thesis.
He is in the Islands for two weeks.
Local Events
Island Parish
The production team who
will be filming a new series of the BBC’s Island Parish programme in the Falklands have arrived to begin their work here.
The team will be here for
six months to produce the series which is expected to be broadcast towards the
end of 2014.
Film-maker Robin Barnwell
says that the series will be an observational documentary on the way of life in
the Islands.
Titan Surveys
The Ramform Titan survey
ship has arrived in the Islands. It is the
largest seismic ship in the world.
It is in the Islands to carry out survey work for Noble Energy
Falkland Islands Ltd.
Raising Money
Two hundred and sixty
pounds was raised at a car boot sale held last weekend.
The car boot sale was
organised to raise money for the Stephen Jaffray Memorial Fund. The day was
very successful with 16 vehicles attending. The money was raised by entry costs
and sales.
A second car boot will be
held on Sunday 1st December following requests. This car boot sale
will be held as a family day, with events such as a bouncy castle.
The family and trustees of
the Stephen Jaffray Memorial Fund wish to thank everyone who helped make the
day a success.
Pink Money
Funds were also raised at
the Community School on Friday on Wear It Pink Day.
£75 was raised from cake
sales and £77 from general donations.
Sports
Motocross Returns
The motocross
season returned this week, with the first event taking place at the Ponds Track.
Jay Moffatt was
the winner of the Experts section with Scott Henry Roberts and Adrian Sim
following him in second and third places.
In first place
in the Clubman Class was Joe Clarke, Nathan Lowe in second place and Arthur
Turner was in third place. Angeline Joshua was the winner of the ladies class.
In the Juniors
Class, Adam Dickson was first, Jack Alazia second and Kia Alazia third. Travis
Jaffray took first place in the Pee Wee class with Rebecca Clarke second and
Kyra Smith third.
