MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Penguin News guide is a hit; Wool price falls; Fighting seaman sent to prison; Cruise ship visits; Paul is new chairman; Neil moves up in Agriculture; Wideawake opens up; No passports issued.

Penguin News guide is a hit

Passengers from Seven Seas Mariner take time out to study the Penguin News Tourist Guide during their visit to Stanley. According to Tourism Representative Deborah Ford, the new look A4-sized guide has proved popular. She said, "Feedback from recipients of this guide has been extremely positive regarding its content - especially the street map, fact pages and features which include information on the Islands' economy, conservation and history."

Wool price falls

THE global wool market is experiencing a significant down turn and, combined with a strengthening Australian dollar last Friday, the Falkland Islands Micron Price Guide (MPG) for 28 micron wool has dropped. In a presentation to the Falkland Landholdings (FLH) Board this week, General Manager, Greg Bradfield stated, "...the current position is that the price for 28 micron MPG is approximately 220p/kg clean. When the budgets were compiled it was 252p/kg clean." He continued, "Last year the whole of the FLH wool clip averaged approximately 13p/kg below the 28 micron MPG so a budgeted figure of 234p/kg clean appeared sensible. At the current price the budgeted returns would be approximately 207p/kg clean; this would reduce the FLH wool income by approximately £106,000." The wool market continues to drop and the Australian dollar continues to strengthen. Mr Bradfield said, "The outlook for the short term is uncertain. The medium term is more promising. "Merchants are hesitant to make any predictions. Forward contracts have been difficult to secure with the uncertainty in the market..." Penguin News contacted a number of farmers to gauge their reaction to the drop in price. Marshal Barnes from Dunbar said he is, "... not unduly worried. It is early days and I think it was later than this before prices picked up last year." He added "I have not received any indication from Robert Hall (of Falkland Wool Growers) that there has been any significant drop." Rodney Lee, of Port Howard Farm who arranges the core testing and sale of his own and a number of other farms' wool said, "It is concerning that the prices have dropped as low as they have again, but I am hopeful that in the medium term they will come back up to an acceptable level as I believe there will be a shortage in supply again this season." He added, "... woollen garments are becoming more user friendly and more affordable so it makes sense that there is going to be demand." Talking of the rise in prices last season Mr Lee said, "What happened last year was a little bit predictable; with the Australian stock pile running out, buyers went into a little bit of panic and were paying over the odds. "So a bit of a dip this season, again, was a bit predictable but most people were not expecting it to drop as low as it has." He added, "We will certainly have to watch our spending over the coming months until we get a clearer picture of which way the market is going to respond."

Fighting seaman sent to prison

A MAN who failed to declare a string of previous convictions was sent to prison yesterday. Michael Taylor pleaded guilty to charges of assault and providing false information to the Immigration Department to obtain a work permit. Mr Taylor was employed by Island Shipping on MV Tamar FIwhen he head butted a fellow crewmember in Deano's Bar on October 24. Subsequent investigations revealed Mr Taylor had not provided information on previous convictions, which included a four year jail sentence for manslaughter, to the Immigration Department when applying for a work permit. Mr Taylor was sent to prison for 21 days for the assault and a further seven days for providing false information. He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim of the assault.

Cruise ship visits

THE Falklands cruise ship industry has a busy week ahead. Today (Friday) Endeavour andProfessor Multanovskiyare both in Stanley. Tomorrow World Discoverer will visit West Point and Carcass Islands and Stanley welcomes Amsterdam and Professor Multanovskiy. On Sunday World Discoverer will be in Stanley and Professor Multanovskiy will visit Sea Lion and Bleaker Islands. She will call into Beaver and Staats Islands on Monday. On Tuesday, Norwegian Crown will visit Stanley and Multanovskiywill be at New Island and West Point Island. Polar Star will call in to West Point and Saunders Islands. She will move on to Stanley on Wednesday. Professor Multanovskiy will visit Saunders and Keppel Islands on Wednesday and San Carlos Waters and Port Howard on Thursday.

Paul is new chairman

A NEW chairman of the Rural Business Association (RBA) has been elected. Paul Robertson from Port Stephens has replaced Ian Hansen as Chairman. Mr Hansen stepped down from the RBA following his election to Legislative Council. Philip Miller is the RBA Vice-Chairman.

Neil moves up in Agriculture

NEIL JUDD is to take up the newly created post of Senior Agricultural Advisor. Mr Judd, the current Wool Adviser at the Department of Agriculture, will take up his new post on January 1, 2004. The post has been created as part of the staffing restructure in the department. A Falkland Islands Government (FIG) spokesperson said, "The new post reflects the department's increased emphasis on the provision of practical, well-costed farm management information and advice that is tailored to the business needs of individual farms." In his new role, Mr Judd will be required to lead and manage staff to achieve, "...the integrated delivery of multidisciplinary research, development and extension programmes that will improve the profitability of the livestock production systems in the Falkland Islands and to provide a high level of direction and advice."

Wideawake opens up

AN AGREEMENT was signed last month allowing Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island to open to civilian charter flights. A question asked in the United Kingdom parliament on Monday revealed the "Wideawake" agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States Governments was signed on 1 October. Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean told the House of Lords, "It will be for airlines to decide on commercial grounds whether to take the opportunity to fly to Ascension Island," however, "The UK Government will work closely with the Ascension Island Government to encourage airlines to fly there."

No passports issued

NON-MACHINE readable passports will no longer be available in the Falklands Islands after December 31, 2003. The British Government has committed itself to issue all passports in the machine readable format as of January 1, 2004. It is expected that a machine readable passport service will become available in the Falklands before the end of June 2004. In the meantime British citizens will not be able to obtain a passport locally. However, contingency measures are in place to cover for this period giving individuals various options. More details next week.