MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Islands to host Commonwealth forum; Farmers take on management of Meat Company; Exam results ?delightful'; Ships cruising in; Expert investigates fire.

Islands to host Commonwealth forum

THE Falklands will welcome more than twenty Commonwealth parliamentarians next month. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is to hold its annual regional conference in Stanley from February 14 to 21. Delegates will attend from Alderney, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Malta, St Helena, Scotland and Wales. Councillor Richard Cockwell, the Falklands delegate on the CPA's Executive explained, "The Association is a collection of parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth who get together to discuss matters of mutual interest. "It is, outside the United Nations, the world's largest organisation of parliamentarians." The Falkland Islands belongs to the CPA's British Islands and Mediterranean Region and has been chosen to host this year's regional conference. Councillor Cockwell said, "This is the first time there has been a conference held like this in the South Atlantic. It's very exciting for us, a great honour." Twenty-one delegates will attend the conference, in addition to eight branch secretaries and the Secretary General of the CPA, the Honourable Denis Marshall. Councillor Cockwell said the fact delegates are travelling to the Falklands for the conference is, "...very important. "Not only is it a very good thing for parliamentarians to get together like this, but it is also extremely good PR for the Falklands..." He continued, "One of the things we're trying to establish in the world is the fact we are a nation in our own right and we're not just something tacked on to the United Kingdom...we are a genuine country in ourselves." He added, "Hopefully this might encourage other people to come to the Falklands for conferences because it's an interesting and unusual venue." The delegates have a packed schedule for their week long stay. During three days of discussion sessions to be held at the Argos building, delegates will address issues ranging from ?Tourism and World Security' to ?Educational Issues relating to Small Countries'. Their programme also includes visits to Long Island Farm, Darwin and Sea Lion Island and a variety of social functions. The opening ceremony of the CPA conference will be held at the Council Chamber and will be broadcast live by the Falkland Islands Broadcasting Station from 9.30am on Monday, February 16. Clerk of Councils, Claudette Anderson confirmed the Falkland Islands Government is funding internal costs (accommodation, food, entertainment and internal travel) for the conference but delegates' home branches are funding their travel to the Islands. The CPA cites its mission as promoting, "...the advancement of parliamentary democracy by enhancing knowledge and understanding of democratic governance and by building an informed parliamentary community, able to deepen the Commonwealth's democratic commitment and to further co-operation among its Parliaments and Legislatures."

Farmers take on management of Meat Company

THE new Falkland Islands Meat Company (FIMCo) Board held its first meeting at Sand Bay abattoir on Wednesday. The board comprises six farmers along with the Operations Manager of Falklands Landholdings, Owen Summers, and the General Manager of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation, Julian Morris. Pictured are the new Board: Paul Robertson, Mike Evans, Julian Morris and Ben Berntsen; (front row): Owen Summers, Steven Poole, Tony Blake and Rikki Evans. The meat export season got into full swing at the abattoir this week - more details on page 5.

Exam results ?delightful'

GCSE RESULTS received yesterday by Falklands students have "delighted" their teachers. Director of Education Sylvia Cole said, "Staff at the Community School (FICS) are delighted with the grades which the students achieved; the majority either reached or exceeded their expectations. "We hope that students will take advantage of this very satisfactory starting point and build on it in the future." Mrs Cole congratulated, "...all students and staff on their hard work during the academic year. In the past two years the Senior Management Team at FICS has worked hard to improve monitoring and assessment systems." Two years ago, the Director of Education said that the Education Department would, "strive for excellence". Yesterday Mrs Cole said, "The very high number of GCSE points gained suggests that good progress is being made." Next week: Penguin News speaks to the students

Ships cruising in

MEMBERS of the Falklands tourism industry have another busy week ahead. Norwegian Crown, carrying 1,052 passengers will spend today in Stanley while Orion (100) will visit New Island and Carcass Island and Bremen (approximately 160 passengers) will visit New Island. Royal Princess (1,275) and Orion and Bremen will be in Stanley on Saturday. On Tuesday, Clipper Adventurer (141) will visit West Point and Carcass Island and on Wednesday she will head to Stanley. World Discoverer (188) will spend Wednesday at West Point and Carcass Island. On Thursday World Discoverer will visit Long Island and Stanley while Akademik Ioffe (110) and Clipper Adventurer will visit West Point and Carcass Island.

Expert investigates fire

AN investigation continues into the fire which destroyed a North Camp house last week. Mark Philips, a consultant scientist and engineer who specialises in fire investigations, was in the Islands for four days this week, working in conjunction with the police and fire service's joint investigation into the Bombilla House fire.