MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

?BELADIES' prohibited from making money on Falkland tour.

It has transpired that this week's visit to the Falklands by the Argentine all-female group ?BELADIES', who sing only Beatles songs, was nearly called off at the last moment as the fear of ?commercialism' was being expressed within the Falklands Government.

Julie Clarke the proprietor of the Globe Tavern who liaised with the group's Manager Martin Aragon, and who organized last Saturday's major function in Stanley's Town Hall which featured ?BELADIES' as the top act, said that she had been warned by a Falklands Government official ?not to assist with the air fares for the 4 ladies (Buenos Aires-Santiago-Falklands return) or make any form of payment to them for their performances'.Ms Clarke who also arranged for the female group to play on two occasions in the Globe Tavern said, ?I was shocked when I received the Government's instruction because I did not think that the ban would affect music groups'.

The Falklands Government has recently relaxed its stance on private Argentine aircraft and ships visiting the Islands but is totally opposed to any commercial air or sea schedules. The stipulation also applies to commercial visits of any kind and accordingly ?BELADIES' had to pay all their own travel expenses and perform for no fee.

?The only thing that I could do was to invite the group and their administrative team to a special 3 course dinner in the newest restaurant in town, the Brasserie', said Julie Clarke.This took place on Thursday night, shortly after the Argentine girls had returned from a day visit to Volunteer Point to see the 1200 adult King Penguins and around 150 chicks. According to 20 year old Lucrecia Lopez from Buenos Aires the dinner ?was a huge success served along traditional South American style'. The Brasserie employs three Chilean chefs and several Chilean waitresses.

On Friday the four band members were thrilled to have their photograph taken with the Falklands Acting Governor Mr.Russ Jarvis who is deputizing for the Governor Mr.Donald Lamont who is currently visiting the Islands of South Georgia. Journalist Hernan Di Lorenzi who is accompanying the tour said that Mr Jarvis had been most cordial and helpful and that it was an honour for the Argentine group to be photographed with the Acting Governor at Government House.

The weeklong tour for BELADIES ended on Friday night when they played to several hundred Beatles fans in the Globe Tavern. An extension to the normal pub closing time was granted to allow the all-female group to pla