Star Princess ban from Falkland Islands: health reasons not politics
FOR only the second time in recent years, on January 14 the Falkland Islands Government refused permission for a cruise ship to land its passengers in the islands' capital, Stanley. The ship in question was the Star Princess which had 2,608 passengers aboard.
The reason for the ban, according to a press release from a government spokesperson was the presence on the ship of the highly infectious norovirus, which causes sickness and diarrhea. At the time of the ship's arrival it was at what was described as 'red alert' status with 58 registered cases.
This decision, described as “difficult” in the communiqué, was taken by the Islands' Chief Medical Officer , “following agreed protocols” and after “consultation with both the ship's doctor and a consultant microbiologist in the UK.”
Suggestions from Argentina that the decision to cancel the ship's visit was made as a reprisal for the recent Mercosur countries decision to ban vessels flying the Falkland Islands flag are being ridiculed in Stanley, where the loss of a visit by a ship of this size may have cost the economy over £100,000, including the £46,944 which would have gone to the government's coffers from passenger arrival tax alone.
Source: Penguin News
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The problem is that given the fact that the Falkland Islanders can remember the previous Argentine idea of taking into account and guaranteeing their interests and way of life, not to mention the current Argentine administration's efforts to undermine their interests, they don't trust your guarantees.
As for the unrelated comment @ 1. That opinion piece is one person's opinion. In the UK press we allow free expression and there are a variety of opinions expressed. Some reflect majority opinion and some do not. This particular opinion does not reflect government policy or the majority opinion. It is valid as a minority opinion but that is all.
If you do not like the content of MP, why read it? Why not start your own online news site?
There is nothing to talk about.
Get used to it!
Now could you please tell everyone what your rant had to do with the Article. In future, no matter how hard it is for you please stick to the topic in hand and the topic in hand on this post is about a cruise ship that has a virus on board that is following protocol in not docking and that the silly deluded lying Argentine Government are saying it’s in a reprisal. It never crossed their tiny minds that is cost the islands in revenue £100,000. No wonder the whole world sniggers behind the backs of these clowns.
so cruises can better choose others more interesting landscapes (its so nice Arg, Chile) and better tourism offers
Long Live the Falklands.
“Princess Cruises said Monday that it is surprised and disappointed that the Falkland Islands government turned away its Star Princess ship because a small number of people on board have stomach flu”
“She said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Britain's Health Protection Agency and other international health organizations encourage ports to provide support to vessels arriving with ill people”
“Benson said a total of 74 passengers and crew, about 2 percent of those on board, had been reported ill. Of those, 20 people now have symptoms, which falls short of the 3 percent that the CDC would consider an outbreak, her statement said.”
finance.yahoo.com/news/argentina-falklands-hostile-blocking-cruise-144548838.html
@6 Of course there aren't enough baths in the Falkland Islands. All the ones that argie troops left their dung in had to be destroyed. Do you not send them on courses to acquaint them with the 19th century technology they may encounter when illegally invading other people's territory?
Although I gather from a British newspaper report that there are “Many Argentines are among the 3,500 passengers and crew.” I believe the Falkland Islands when it says this is not a reprisal for the recent Mercosur ban on FI-flagged vessels. But there's no need to let loads of argie spies and other animals land.
Should this not be FIG policy? No entry to argie nationals. No entry to nationals of mercosur members. No entry to any suspicious-looking foreigners.
@8 There's a point that you're missing in relation to “support to vessels arriving with ill people” Argies aren't ”people”!
Or it could be their health standards are higher than the Argies
Argentina Major infectious diseases
www.indexmundi.com/argentina/major_infectious_diseases.html
@8
Dont want to be catching anything nasty off the Argies
Dengue outbreak in Argentina now ‘epidemic’
Nearly 8,000 have the disease, according to nation’s health ministry
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30115212/ns/health-infectious_diseases/t/dengue-outbreak-argentina-now-epidemic/
finance.yahoo.com/news/argentina-falklands-hostile-blocking-cruise-144548838.html
it was the islands decision, and they called it,
That is the end of it,
Anything else is purely anti brit ?
Dengue is here to stay,” Ocana said.
Ocana had previously insisted that there was no epidemic. But local news media and political leaders in towns and cities affected by the mosquito-borne disease claimed the national government was underreporting the numbers to calm fears and avoid blame for not addressing the problem sooner
The cheapest way to close the tourism to the islands-
Including Icterichia Colli viruses inside-
Gracias señores malvinenses por aislarse cada vez mas del mundo- No saben la mano que nos dan-
Please do that again every time- :D
PD: even chilean protocols says 20 passengers are OK for landing..... tahnk you thank you thank you!!!!
Regardsssss
Argentina's Dengue Fever Outbreak Fans Anger at President .
The lesson from dengue is that “the Argentine health system simply isn't ready to handle the problems of our country,” says Gonzalo Basile, president of the Argentine office of Doctors of the World, an international humanitarian group. The group says the number of dengue cases might be three times higher than the government is citing.
online.wsj.com/article/SB124087003193660939.html
novovirus could have caused havoc in a small community. I'd have banned them too !
Of course the point is - it's the Islander's decision :-)
There will be no talk - nothing to talk about!
Reality, history and international law favour the British. Argentina only has geography!
No milk spilt :-)
Also dear Simon Winchester omitted to ask the islanders their position on the whole matter.
Here is my preferred negotiating position:
A referendum is held very publicly like in Gibraltar yes or no to Argentine sovereignty....simple cheap, democratic and definitive if Argentina doesn't like democracy...tough....bugger off.
We do not have to justify ourselves to Argentina or anyone else for the banning of the Star Princess.
lf it's possible that infection could come ashore, then the banning has my full support. lts no-ones business but ours.
Simon Winchester doesn't live here...thus he does not speak for my family.
He could give his home in the UK to an Argentine family if he feels so strongly about it.
Now he IS a turnip.
He is not even British,
‘America…it takes all kinds:’ Author Simon Winchester on becoming a U.S. citizen
multiamerican.scpr.org/2011/06/america-it-takes-all-kinds-author-simon-winchester-on-becoming-a-u-s-citizen/
There were a very small number of Argentines on the Star Princess, one with a loud mouth and even bigger ego who thinks we would bother to ban him from his day trip. Why, pray ? Are you really that important sir ?
The Falkland Islands refuses admission of one passenger vessel for one visit for valid documented health reasons..............
Mercosur, on the direct request of the Argentine Government, denies access to all Falklands vessels at all times from all Mercosur ports for the purpose of causing economic and social difficulty to the whole Falklands population...................
Which of the above do we think is the actions of a rational Government who cares for its people, and which is the predatory aspiring colonialist power ? Answers on a postcard to the Casa Rosada.
Malvinenses only gained discredit with this....
Long live the free Falklands!
Shows how stupid the argies are, it as been known in the past passengers have been unable to be tendered ashore because of the wheather,there was always a risk they couldnt get ashore anyway
gentlemen,
the fuse is lit,
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