MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News.

Headlines:
Hansen is elected; 1982 veterans arrive today; Ship's register grows; Cruise season starts; Falklands oil exploration geologist dies.

Hansen is elected

IAN Hansen has won the race to represent Camp on Legislative Council, taking the seat vacated by Philip Miller in September. The results of the by-election were officially announced by the Returning Officer, John Rowland, at approximately 6.45pm last night. Speaking to Penguin News from his farm at Main Point, West Falklands, minutes after he had heard the result, Mr Hansen said he had not been confident that he would win the by-election: "I thought it would be pretty close and it was." Of the 227 votes cast, Mr Hansen gained 96. Candidates Lewis Clifton and Eric Goss received 63 and 66 respectively. Two votes were spoiled. Mr Hansen said he chose not to fly in to Stanley for the count: "The Camp constituents are out here anyway - it just would have been another flight wasted." Mr Hansen said he did not intend to approach his new role in council, "...with all guns blazing - that would be a foolish thing to do." Instead, he said he intends to, "...push further forward," the issues he addressed in his election manifesto. The successful candidate expressed his thanks, "...to those who voted for me." He added, "To repeat what I said in my manifesto, I'm here to represent everyone in Camp. I'm looking forward to it." After hearing the election result, unsuccessful candidate Eric Goss said, "Ian's got a lot of work to do now." He said he was pleased with he turnout (227 votes cast out of a possible 281.) Mr Goss said he felt Mr Hansen's win was probably due to the fact, "...he lives in Camp and works in Camp." Third candidate Lewis Clifton, a former member of Legislative Council, said, "I gave it a reasonable shot. "I think it is an uphill struggle for a Stanley resident to appeal to Camp voters." The new councillor will have a busy first day in office. On Monday morning, Mr Hansen will meet at Gilbert House with all other Legislative Councillors before heading to the Secretariat to meet with the Chief Executive, Chris Simpkins. At 12.15pm he will visit Government House, accompanied by the Attorney General and Clerk of Councils, to swear and sign the Executive Council Oath. This will be followed by a ?one to one' lunch with His Excellency the Governor, Mr Howard Pearce. At 2.00pm, he will meet at Chambers with the Attorney General to discuss forthcoming legislation, then he will head across to the Treasury to meet with the Financial Secretary and Deputy Financial Secretary to discuss government finances.

1982 veterans arrive today

SIX veterans of the Falklands war and two family members of a soldier who was killed on Mount Longdon, are due to arrive in the Islands today. Four of the visitors are under sponsorship from the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) and the rest of the group are funding their own visit. Chairman of the Falklands Branch of the South Atlantic Medal Association (SAMA82), Terry Peck said, "Two have visited before, Grant Grinham and Tony Kempster who fought in Corporal Stewart ?Scouse' McLaughlin's Platoon on Mt Longdon. "Scouse died during the battle; his son Stewart (who was four months old at the time) is also visiting." Stewart will be accompanied by his uncle, Scouse's brother, Russell. The four visitors sponsored by FIG are former Welsh Guardsmen Wayne Trigg and Paul Bale, 3Para's Mick Stanton, and Margaret McLelland, a senior nursing officer on the Uganda.

Ship's register grows

TWO new longliners are expected to be added to the Falkland Islands Register of Ships. It was decided at a meeting of Executive Council held last week, subject to the fulfillment of a number of conditions, Pioneer Seafoods Ltd vessels Isla Graciosa and Mellas will be reflagged on the Falklands Register. Both vessels will be renamed. Mike Summers, a Falklands Legislative Councillor, is owner of Pioneer Seafoods Ltd. Mila, a ship belonging to Prion Ltd, another of Mr Summers' companies, is likely to be deregistered from the Falklands Register.

Cruise season starts

Beginning the 2003/2004 season, three cruise ships will call in to the Falklands this week, On Sunday the QE 2 and Explorer II will be in Stanley. On Monday Explorer II heads to George and Barren Islands. On Tuesday, Clipper Adventurer will call in to West Point Island and Carcass Island then on Wednesday she will arrive in Stanley. Sea Lion and Bleaker Islands will be the Clipper Adventurer's ports of call on Thursday, when Professor Molchanov will visit Carcass and Saunders Island.

Falklands oil exploration geologist dies

A British geologist who had close involvement in the establishment of offshore oil exploration in the Falklands died on Tuesday. Dr Nigel Fannin first became involved in the Falklands in 1993/4 when British Geological Survey (BGS) were contracted to advise the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) on offshore oil exploration matters. Director of Mineral Resources, Phyl Rendell said, "He played a key role in the very successful licensing round conducted in 1995/96 which resulted in the award of licences to such companies as Shell and Amerada Hess. "Promotion within BGS resulted in him having overall responsibility for the Falklands but not such close involvement in later years though he was always ready to give advice when needed. "He joined the British delegation along with Islanders on several occasions at Hydrocarbon Commission meetings with the Argentines." Dr Fannin had been periodically ill for a number of years but continued working until retirement from BGS in July this year. Mrs Rendell said, "He looked forward to undertaking geological projects that he had had no time to address when working. "He had recently embarked on a biographical account of FIG's geologist, H A Baker who published the first report on Falklands geology in 1922." Mrs Rendell said the team at the Mineral Resources Department, "...together with colleagues at BGS are resolved to see oil exploration flourish here as a tribute to Nigel's enthusiasm and drive."