MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Referendum in conjunction with Election

The referendum on the issue of a single constituency should be held in conjunction with the general election say the select committee on the review of the constitution. This decision follows a meeting held on the 20th and 21st February. Also decided was that they should reach their conclusions on the constitution prior to the election but that the review should run across the election for the new council to continue with the process.

Navy man caught with drugs on random search

A Merchant Navy man who pleaded guilty to drug charges in court today was imprisoned for three months. He'll then be deported to his country of origin.Alan Memory was charged with importing 79.8 grams of Cannabis Resin, a class B Drug. On Friday 16th February Customs and Immigration found the brown resinous substance wrapped in cling film in a soap dish while performing random checks on passengers who'd arrived on the Tri-Star. Asked if he had any other substances on him, Memory pulled out another brown resinous block from a trouser pocket. He claimed to have used it four or five times. The defendant said he had packed his own bags and told the court that the substance was for personal use during his four-month tour onboard the RFA Diligence. Senior Magistrate Keith Watson highlighted the seriousness of the case, saying it was a deliberate act of purchase, importation and use. He recognized that although there are drugs in the Falkland Islands there is no drug problem.

Councillor's letter triggers articles in LA NACION

A letter sent by Councillor Richard Cockwell to Argentine press yesterday, has triggered a number of articles in today's LA NACION, Mercopress reports. Their front-page headline reads "Malvinas: Surprise Message to Argentina". And inside it has three articles all discussing the letter, which calls for cooperation with Argentina to combat illegal fishing. The first article says this urge for joint action is a novelty from the Islanders who are resistant to talks with Argentina. It asks for the speeding up of the coordination of joint patrols foreseen by the July 14th agreement. It quotes part of Richard Cockwell's letter where he said that discussions had progressed slowly and were not even