MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Breaking News from Pta. Arenas

Headlines:
Booming Torres del Paine; Outbreak of respiratory infections; Farmers manage postponement of abattoir sale; Lan Chile's fares to be reviewed;

Booming Torres del Paine

Chilean Patagonia National Park Torres del Paine is undergoing a hotel construction boom together with an important public capital investment program to improve the area's infrastructure. A total 7,5 million US dollars are being invested, six million in expanding hotel capacity in three different projects and 1,5 million in building a time saving bridge that includes a route crossing through a spectacular scenery and should be finished in time for the 2004 season. Klaus Thormann, head of the Planning Office of the regional Tourism Department indicated that one of the projects demanding 700,000 US dollars involves the building of a 20 room hotel with 48 beds and a dining room for a hundred people. Local and Santiago investors are working in a second project in the Pehoé area of the park that will cover 1,200 square meters with 98 beds, dining room and other facilities. Finally the Torres del Paine complex is planning construction of a 4,000 square meters hotel. "The three projects are geared to high income bracket visitors and have been carefully designed so they fully integrate with the environment", stressed Mr. Thormann. A hybrid system of solar panels and wind energy connected to a bank of batteries will be used to generate as much electricity as possible. Similarly hot water and heating will employ non contaminating natural gas, and a state of the art sewage plant will ensure minimum contamination. Solids will be collected on a regular basis and transported outside of the partk. As to the bridge over the Serrano river it should save 45 minutes travelling and will incorporate the Cueva del Milodón area, a spectacular landscape that currently can only be appreciated by trekkers. Mr. Thormann indicated that the increase in hotel capacity will help meet the sustained tourist demand and in a decade Torres del Paine is expected to have a similar number of beds to Puerto Natales, the gathering point to visit the national park. Torres del Paine park currently has twelve first line hotels and hostels.

Outbreak of respiratory infections

Extreme weather conditions in Punta Arenas have seen a strong jump in acute respiratory cases particularly among children. Eduardo Velázquez head of the Epidemiology Unit of Punta Arenas Health Service said that during the last week of May, the five clinics of the city received 501under 15 patients, of which 359, 71% correspond to acute respiratory infections. Among the plus 15 age group, 18,2% were also acute respiratory infections. Punta Arenas doctors and health officials have warned that respiratory pathologies must be treated in clinics avoiding self medication . "Some of these virus pathologies can be especially acute for toddlers under two years and parents must consult doctors. Symptoms can be confusing and specific medication is needed for the different cases", said doctor Claudio Barría co-ordinator of respiratory diseases at the local hospital. "Cough syrups, flue pills for example are useless in acute respiratory infections, and could have adverse reactions in some cases, so we recommend the population of Punta Arenas to seek medical advice before they decide any medication", underlined Dr. Barría.

Farmers manage postponement of abattoir sale

The Magallanes regional anti-monopoly Commission suggested postponing the sale of the government managed Sacor abattoir in Porvenir, (Chilean Tierra del Fuego) following a request from the Cattle breeders Association of Magallanes, Asogama. In the recommendation the Commission argues that cattle breeders have a point when they request time to present alternative solutions including the possible incorporation of sheep farmers to the bidding project. The Commission supported its recommendation with an extensive report from the Regional Prosecution Office in Business Affairs stating that the potential acquisition of Sacor in Porvenir by the same company that operates the other Magallanes abattoir licenced to export, Simunovic, would inevitably lead to the "unilateral manipulation of the prices of the regional flock, harming cattle and sheep breeders". Even when the buyer of Sarcor eventually is a third party, the Commission also states that this does not guarantee the free competition of prices, "given the natural risk of a concerted action because of the limited number of sheep buyers". The regional Commission decided unanimously to send all the information and background of the functioning of the Magallanes live sheep, mutton and lamb markets to the main Commission in Santiago suggesting the postponement of the bidding process. Meantime Asomaga is drafting different association options for the abattoir with the final objective of taking control of the Sacor plant:: in a first stage as partners, and eventually as full owners. "Asomaga wants to reach an agreement with the government so the Sacor abattoir is gradually transferred to the private sector, preferably to cattle and sheep breeders", remarked Mario Vega, Asomaga's vicepresident. Mr. Vega added that it was essential that farmers had a say in the Sacor abattoir "otherwise it will be harmful for Magallanes farmers and for a lot of other people who depend on us". Mr. Vega also recalled that Magallanes farmers, including the former mayor of Magallanes found out about the bidding process of Sacor through the international press and third parties.

Lan Chile's fares to be reviewed

Chile's Public Prosecutor in Business Affairs will review Lan Chile's fare system and the self regulation clause established at the moment the Chilean flag carrier acquired and absorbed the other big domestic competitor, Ladeco. "Apparently self regulation is not functioning as extensively as agreed, and the company is charging fares taking advantage of its dominant position in the domestic air market", reported Chilean Deputies Zarko Luksic and Eduardo Saffiro in a press release after holding a meeting with Pedro Mattar head of the Chilean Public Prosecutor Office in Business Affairs. Mr. Luksic and Mr. Saffiro who have repeatedly protested what they describe as Lan Chile's "monopolistic practices", asked for the interview with Mr. Mattar and officially requested a review of the company's price policies. "Lan Chile hasn't honoured any of the clauses agreed when it was authorized to associate with Ladeco. On the contrary it has systematically abused its monopolistic condition, establishing exorbitant fares to those destinations where she only flies and is continually increasing them", underlined Mr. Luksic who is a member of the Transport and Remote Areas Committees of the Chilean Lower House. Mr. Luksic who represents Magallanes Region in the Chilean Congress has stood out as a permanent critic of Lan Chile's fare policies and market position particularly regarding Punta Arenas where she's the only carrier.