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Headlines: BAS vessels in Montevideo; New British Ambassador in Chile; Richard Gere finally makes it; Record fine for fishing company; Chile picking up; British schools summit; “Clipper Adventurer” rescued;
“Time for a Magallanes airline”

BAS vessels in Montevideo

A rare sight in the port of Montevideo this last weekend was the presence, at the beginning of the Antarctic season, of both British Antarctic Survey, BAS, icebreakers; "James Clarke Ross" and "Ernest Shackleton" docked together. A rare sight because, had she not been rammed by a tanker in FIPASS, "JCR" should have been since early November in BAS Rothera base unloading the modules and equipment for the new Bonner laboratory that was completely destroyed by fire in the last season. Forced to come to Montevideo for repairs, "JCR" had to wait for the special "E" grade steel plates to be flown in from the United States. Once the plates were welded just below deck level, X rayed and with Lloyds Registrar full certification, since no structural damage was detected, she was finally able last Sunday to sail for the Falklands and hopefully recover some of the lost weeks. "She's a sturdy vessel, strongly built, but I believe that when back in England they will double check the whole structure. This is quiet normal procedure, even for icebreakers because they are exposed to such harsh conditions as in Antarctica", revealed Uruguayan naval sources. A fully loaded "Ernest Shackleton" on the other hand, --and gratefully with no surprises--, made a brief call in Montevideo on her first trip of this Antarctic season. She left Montevideo last Monday and is also scheduled this week end in East Cove.

New British Ambassador in Chile

The Chilean government announced that it accepted the nomination of Richard Denys Wilkinson as the United Kingdom's next Ambassador in Chile. Ambassador Wilkinson began his diplomatic career in 1973 as Second Secretary in the British Embassy in Madrid. From 1997 to 1982 he remained at the Foreign Office and between 1983 and 1985 was First Secretary in Ankara, Turkey. He was later posted in Mexico City as Chief of the Political Section. From 1988 to 1993 Mr. Wilkinson was stationed in the British Embassy in Paris. The following four years were spent in the Foreign Office followed by three years, until 2000, as Ambassador in Venezuela. Since May 2000 Ambassador Wilkinson was head of the Americas Desk in the Foreign Office. Mr. Wilkinson, 56, was born in 1946, is married to María Angela Morris and has three children.

Richard Gere finally makes it

Hollywood movie star Richard Gere was finally able to visit Antarctica when this Wednesday he was flown to Patriot Hills from Punta Arenas in an Adventure Network Ilyushin aircraft. Gere arrived in Punta Arenas November 20th to participate in the Warner Brothers film "Emperor Zehnder", a Swiss born photographer who dedicated his life to take pictures of penguins and died tragically during a storm in Antarctica in 1997. Besides several brushes with Punta Arenas press that followed him wherever he went, Richard Gere accompanied by his body guards and a translator managed to visit some of the main sights of the area including a trip to Puerto Williams where he shared with local officials and descendents of the Yagan Indians a typical Magallanes dish of king crab with white wine. The world famous actor had to wait for weather conditions to improve before flying south. Another outstanding star that apparently was to join Gere in Punta Arenas, Robert Redford hasn't yet arrived according to local press.

Record fine for fishing company

A Japanese businessman and his fishing company have been ordered to pay the equivalent of 7 million US dollars for tax fraud by a Punta Arenas Fiscal Court following legal actions by the Chilean Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Hitoshi Hanaoka and his company Comercial y Pesquera Hanamar, seated in Punta Arenas, were found guilty of filing false and incomplete information in their fiscal declarations plus having obtained tax reimbursements by fraudulent means simulating export operations. The case covers tax returns corresponding to fiscal years 1993, 94 and 95. According to Prensa Austral Mr. Hanaoka solicitors have appealed the ruling of the Fiscal Court. The total amount owed is split in 2,3 million US dollars owed by Mr. Hanaoka and 4,7 million by his company. Mr. Hanaoka faces a second demand in a criminal court, for which he was arrested once.

Chile picking up

Chile's economy expanded 1,8% during the third quarter compared to the same period a year ago, and could end close to 2%, following an average growth of 1,7% during most of 2002. Agriculture and industry are picking up while mining with depressed international copper prices continues to stall. Public utilities, transport and communications managed a healthy 1,8% in the third quarter in spite of a slowdown in construction, according to the latest Chilean Central Bank release. Exports dropped slightly compared to a year ago, 2,1%, and imports increased 0,4%. Finance Minister Nicolás Eyzaguirre indicated that the main point of the third quarter figures is "that the economy is steadily beginning to grow: 1,5% in the first quarter, 1,7% in the second and now 1,8%". "Much still depends on international factors out of our control, but we'll begin 2003 with a strong thrust, and that is what really matters", stressed Mr. Eyzaguirre. Original Central Bank growth estimates for the Chilean economy were in the range of 2,5%, but had to be consistently reduced until the third quarter.

British schools summit

Representatives from Chile's sixteen British schools are participating in Punta Arenas in a national meeting to assess three main issues that have changed significantly normal educational procedure. Top of the list figures the newly approved reform regarding access to Chilean higher education, particularly universities; secondly the overall educational review and finally juvenile drinking, a practice that "must be eradicated from Chilean youth". Vivian Maira national president of the Chilean Association of British school parents said that "this is a task, a challenge for all Chilean parents: unfortunately Chile has the highest degree of youth alcoholism in the world, something of which we can't be proud". The Association encompasses all British schools in Chile representing 18,000 students.

"Clipper Adventurer" rescued

For the second time in less than two years the Bahamas flagged cruise vessel "Clipper Adventurer" had to be rescued in Antarctic waters according to an official release from the Chilean Navy distributed in Punta Arenas. Apparently the 4,673 tons cruise vessel run aground in the vicinity of Deception Island (King George Island) and requested immediate assistance "given the climatic conditions in the area". Chilean icebreaker "Almirante Viel" was immediately dispatched reporting that damage was minor and no fuel leakage was evident. "All passengers and crew aboard Clipper Adventurer are safe and sound, with no further information to add", read the Chilean Navy release, adding that the "Clipper Adventurer resumed the cruise and is sailing normally with all capabilities in operation". However icebreaker "Almirante Viel" is following closely and the powerful Navy tug "Lautaro" is on stand by. The information does not actually give the number of people on board, but it does mention that "Clipper Adventurer" inaugurated the cruise season in Puerto Natales last November 10th, with 72 passengers and 78 crewmembers. In February 2000 the same vessel with 186 passengers was trapped in Antarctic ice, almost 1,000 miles from Ushuaia and had to be rescued by the Argentine icebreaker "Almirante Irizar".

"Time for a Magallanes airline"

"It's time for Magallanes to have it's own airline; this will definitively end ou remoteness, revalue investments and ensure that our children will return to their land to work and prosper", said Punta Arenas businessman Andrés Pivcevic. Mr. Pivcevic whose family has interests in the air industry, (Aerovías DAP), farming and construction underlined that "because of geography in Magallanes we're islanders, and as good islanders we want to have the boat at home, and not depend from others to rescue us". Still emotional about the fact his company was pushed out of the lucrative Punta Arenas-Santiago route in 1996 by Lan Chile, Mr. Pivcevic who has several favourable Court rulings condemning Lan Chile for dumpling and monopoly practices, --that was also forced to pay a half million US dollars fine to the government--, is hopeful justice will finally be made. "If I ever get hold of the 14 million US dollars compensation I'm demanding from Lan Chile, I will invest that money in setting up an air infrastructure to ensure our needs", emphasized Mr. Pivcevic who recalls that the "dumping" campaign by Lan against DAP benefited Magallanes in millions of dollars. "During the campaign air rates dropped to less than half, multiply that by 100,000 passengers and imagine the millions of US dollars we left in Magallanes, more than the whole aid Magallanes receives annually from the central budget". "I think the final ruling will be exemplary, it will teach monopolies that paying fines to keep a lucrative business with disregard to fair competition practices does not pay", underlined Mr. Pïvcevic. However Mr. Pivcevic said he was in peace with himself, "I hold no grudges, I only resent and reject the abuse of power or force by one person or several persons against those who are in a weaker position". When asked how he felt about having to fly in Lan Chile to reach Santiago, Mr. Pivcevic admitted that after swallowing the fact he has to pay monopoly rates, "I sit back and enjoy a very safe trip in the hands of very competent pilots, crewmembers and mechanics".