MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:

Chief Executive in court; CPA delegates arrive for conference; Chopper crash injures five; Big cruisers this week; Irish band supports Islands charity.

Irish band supports Islands charity

Brothers and sisters of the late Stephen Jaffray receive a £2,100 cheque for Stephen's Memorial Fund from Irish band, the Brewery Boys. The money was raised during the band's week-long Falklands tour. Pictured are (l-r): Ian Nellans, Kenneth, Tanya, Gerard and Lisa Jaffray, Robert Mallon and Neil Somerville. Full story on page 5.

Chief Executive in court

A STANLEY housewife has launched a court case against the government's Chief Executive for refusing to furnish her with a committee document. Chris Simpkins pleaded not guilty to the charge on Tuesday. Sarah Davies brought the private prosecution against Mr Simpkins following a meeting of the Health and Medical Services Committee (HMSC) on January 19. During the meeting, Director of Health, Norman McGregor Edwards, and Chief Medical Officer, Dr Roger Diggle, both read out statements in response to a letter to Penguin News from Dr Bernadette Paver regarding the hours doctors at the hospital are required to work. Mrs Davies told the court that Councillor John Birmingham, a holder of the medical portfolio, asked the two men to provide the press with copies of their responses to ensure they were accurately reported, however Mrs Davies alleged that she was refused a copy of the response as a member of the public. She said, "I know this document has been sent to the press; it's therefore in the public domain. "Why can't I just have a copy of that, we can all go home, I can do some ironing and Mr Simpkins can run the country?" Mrs Davies has been unable to secure legal representation but Kevin Kilmartin, acting on behalf of Mr Simpkins, said his client is planning to obtain counsel from the United Kingdom. Senior Magistrate Nick Sanders said: "If this document has been sent to the press then...this is a phenomenal waste of time and money. "If it is already in the public domain we could save a considerable amount of time and money with a big dollop of common sense." However Mr Kilmartin said his client is taking the charge seriously as he feels the implications of a conviction, upon his career as a local government officer, could be severe. Mr Sanders adjourned the case until Thursday, February 19, with a provisional trial date set for late March. Regarding the funding for Mr Simpkins' legal representation, a government spokesperson yesterday said, "Mr Simpkins is the ?proper officer' of the HMSC. "The ?proper officer' is an integral part of the Falkland Islands Government therefore FIG would pay his legal expenses."

CPA delegates arrive for conference

DELEGATES have begun to arrive in the Islands for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) conference which takes place next week. Two delegates for the 35th Regional Conference arrived from Guernsey with their spouses on Monday; they will be spending the rest of the week visiting Camp. A further four are expected today (Friday), followed by the remainder on the Lan Chile flight on Saturday. The normal business of the Conference starts with an Opening Ceremony in the Court and Council Chamber on Monday, which will be broadcast live on the Falkland Islands Broadcasting Station. During the week there will be five workshops for which subjects have been proposed from around the Region: - the ability of small countries and overseas territories to defend themselves and safeguard their status and independence; - educational issues relating to small countries; - tourism and world security; - environmental concerns versus commercial development; and - how to restore trust between the public and politicians and how to convince the public that good public services in a community are the result of good government. A spokesperson for Gilbert House said, "The Falkland Islands Branch of the CPA hope that, besides the business of the Conference, delegates will gain a good understanding of the Islands, including environmental, internal and foreign policy issues. "It is also hoped that all the delegates will find their visit a valuable, interesting and enjoyable experience."

Chopper crash injures five

THE crew of a helicopter all escaped with their lives when their aircraft crashed in Antarctica on Sunday, but all five members' sustained injuries. They were injured when a Royal Navy Lynx Helicopter from the Ice Patrol Ship HMS Endurance crashed off the coast of the Weddell Sea. One crew member, the most seriously injured, remains in hospital in Santiago, Chile after being evacuated from Antarctica on Monday. He has experienced a number of complications, including a ruptured spleen. Two other members returned to the Islands aboard a military VC-10 aircraft yesterday after receiving medical attention in Punta Arenas. One had sustained a broken leg and the other had an injury to his eye. Both men will return home to the United Kingdom as soon as flights permit. The other two crew members involved in the crash escaped with cuts and bruises and remain on board Endurance. A military spokesperson confirmed the cause of the accident is to be the subject of a full investigation. He commented, "The helicopter came down on the coast of the Weddell Sea while Endurance and the RRS Ernest Shackleton were laying down fuel caches for BAS use." Initially, the three most seriously injured were flown to receive medical attention at the British Antarctic Survey's (BAS) Halley Research Station, some 1,200 miles away, before being transported out to Chile aboard a BAS Dash-7 aircraft. The wreckage of the helicopter has been recovered and placed on board HMS Endurance and two Royal Navy Flight Safety personnel are due to travel to Antarctica to survey the accident site as part of the enquiry. HMS Endurance carried a pair of Lynx M3 helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron, which are used to support the ship's patrol and hydrographic survey work in Antarctic waters.

Big cruisers this week

THIS is a week for visits from large cruise ships. Marco Polo (700) and Caronia (668) will call in to Stanley on Monday. Norwegian Crown (1052) will be in Stanley on Tuesday and Marco Polo will call in to West Point Island. On Wednesday, Royal Princess (1275) will be in Stanley. *Figures shown are maximum passenger capacity.