MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Bombilla House destroyed by fire;
Bielsa: we will ?retake' Islands; Maersk test visit delayed; Staff nurse charged with theft; International cricket; This week's cruises.

Bombilla House destroyed by fire.

A FIRE which destroyed a house in Camp is being investigated by police and fire officers. At just after 9.00am on Monday morning, Stanley air traffic control tower received a report from a Government Air Service (FIGAS) pilot that Bombilla House on East Falkland was ablaze. Within minutes, the pilot reported back to say the house had collapsed. Chief Fire Officer, Gardner Fiddes was notified of the fire and drove to the house with a colleague. He said he had been told there was, "...no sign of anyone around and there were animals in the shed. "We were keen to find out where the occupants were and if animals were in danger." The occupants were eventually found at Estancia farm. A fire appliance was sent to Bombilla from Stanley to provide water cover. Mr Fiddes said, "There was no water in the area and the ground was hot; we were concerned about a camp fire so dug a ditch to stop it spreading then thoroughly soaked the area." An investigation into the cause of the fire is now being carried out by police and fire officers. Above: The remains of Bombilla House (Photo: A Wilkinson)

Bielsa: we will ?retake' Islands

THE Argentine Foreign minister Rafael Bielsa feels conflict with the United Kingdom over the Falklands will not be resolved until the Islands are under Argentine control. He commented yesterday, "The conflict situation with Great Britain will not disappear until the country retakes control of the archipelago. "We'll have 400 years of patience, but the Islands will return (to Argentina)". Mr Bielsa also insisted that the Argentine government will not make any gesture to "de-escalate" the claim. Meanwhile the Falklands business community has publicly supported Legislative Councillors in their, "...positive response to the current airspace over-flight ban by the Argentine Government." Chamber of Commerce president, Tim Miller, this week said the organisation regrets Argentina's "negative response". Mr Miller said the Chamber supports the present position of the Falkland Islands Government, "...despite the loss of business to those members in the tourism and service industry." He added the Chamber's appreciation of the support and position taken by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO). IAATO Vice-President, Denise Landau last week deemed the charter flight ban "irrational". Mr Miller said, "It is very regrettable that Argentina is damaging innocent third parties over the Falklands issue." He added that the Chamber of Commerce is hopeful that a practical agreement can be, "...swiftly reached that will enable all parties - Chile, Argentina, the Falklands and IAATO - to continue to promote politically free, Antarctic tourism for the mutual benefit of all, in line with the Antarctic Treaty of co-operation." Addressing Parliament on Monday, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Bill Rammell underlined the, "...negative impact on the tourist industry in the Falkland Islands," of the ban on charter flights. However Mr Rammell pointed out that, "...Falkland Islanders believe that there are principles at stake here which outweigh short term economic costs," and, "...we respect and agree with that view." Continued on page 3

Maersk test visit delayed

INTERNATIONAL shippers, Maersk will not be sending a vessel to the Islands until later this year. At the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) board meeting held on Tuesday, General Manager Julian Morris confirmed that the Maersk vessel, due to arrive in the Islands this week to conduct an experimental visit, will not be here until June, due to problems with protection and indemnity classification. The Falklands Landholdings Corporation (FLH) had planned to ship a large quantity of wool on the Maersk vessel early next month. As a result of the delay, General Manager Greg Bradfield said, "We will not have as much wool on the market as quickly as we would have liked. "We had planned for the wool to leave here in February to sell in March; it will now not be away until July." He described the delay as, "...manageable but not ideal," and added that FLH has an amount of wool previously sold and ready to ship which will now have to be sent with another shipper. Despite the delay, Mr Bradfield described the Maersk link as, "...a significant opportunity if they can supply a reliable service."

Staff nurse charged with theft

A STAFF nurse has appeared in court, following an investigation into the theft of a class A drug from the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. Denise Schophaus (49) entered no plea to a charge of theft when she appeared in court on Friday, January 19, and Principal Crown Counsel Graham Cripps prosecuting, said the Crown may bring further charges against her. In a summary of facts, Mr Cripps told the court that on January 5, during a weekly check of controlled drugs carried out at the pharmacy, it was discovered that a quantity of pethidine was missing and Ms Schophaus had signed two entries inthe drugs register to say she had removed the class A drug for a patient. Next to her signature was a second, unrecognisable witness signature. The patient named in the register as having the pethidine had not been prescribed the drug. During a search of Ms Schophaus's home by police more controlled drugs, syringes and drug taking "paraphernalia" were discovered. A number of substances have been sent to the United Kingdom for forensic analysis. Ms Schophaus was remanded on conditional bail and will reappear in court on January 28. She resigned from her job in the hospital on January 7.

International cricket

THE Falkland Islands cricket team is to tour Chile. During their week long trip, the team will be playing the Chilean National Cricket Team, members of the International Cricket Council (ICC). They will also have matches against I Zigari and the Chilean National Cricket League XI. This is the first overseas international match for the Falkland Islands Cricket Association. The team is training three times a week and flies to Chile on Saturday, February 7. Penguin News plans to publish a diary and photographs from the tour.

This week's cruises

PROFESSOR Multanovskiy will call at West Point Island and Carcass Island tomorrow (Saturday). On Sunday she will head to Stanley. Polar Star will be at West Point and Carcass. On Monday, Akademic Sergey Vavilov will call at Sea Lion and Bleaker Islands and Saga Rose and Polar Star will be in Stanley. On Tuesday, Explorer II and Akademic Sergey Vavilov will both be in Stanley.