MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Commonwealth conference closes; Simpkins case: charge dropped; Cruises this week.

Commonwealth conference closes

THE regional meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) hosted by the Falkland Islands officially draws to a close today. The five day conference, attended by twenty-one parliamentarians, including the CPA's Secretary General, the Honourable Denis Marshall QSO, has been deemed a success by delegates and organisers alike and has addressed an array of issues from tourism and world security to education. At a session entitled The ability of Small Countries and Overseas Territories to defend themselves and to safeguard their status and independenceheld on Tuesday, Falklands Councillor, Mike Summers addressed delegates on the relationship between internal self government and self determination saying the two go, "...hand in hand." He said, "The way we defend ourselves is through democracy." Gilbraltarian delegate, Steven Linares MP, was applauded by the meeting for his criticism of the treatment of small countries by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). He said, "To be able to defend ourselves, Gibraltar and all the other Overseas Territories and small countries have to be vigilant at all times, in our case not only with Spain, the country which wants to take our homeland, but unfortunately with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office whose policy is always ambiguous and, most of the time, contrary to our expressed wishes." He spoke of the importance in building support networks: "Gibraltar has been better defended by the Ministry of Defence, not through its military power, but through its political intervention due to Gibraltar's strategic importance in the fight against terrorism. "We have been better defended by the CPA intervention, by pressuring the British Government's undemocratic stance. We have been better defended by the UK MPs who have seen and felt the injustice of the Foreign Office's policy. "We are better defended by our own vigilance and by always exchanging information with each other and we are better defended by sticking together and not allowing the British Government via the Foreign Office, and in some cases the Home Office, who does not seem to understand, or worse still, not want to understand, our needs and concerns." Support for Falklands
Martyn Quayle MHK from the Isle of Man addressed Argentina's interference with flights to the Falkland Islands in recent months. He said, "It has been a particular pleasure to be here in the Falklands for this conference but it has been with a certain amount of shock and incredulity that we have learned of the continued interference and bloody-mindedness of the Argentine government and its continued efforts to acquire these Islands or to put pressure upon them." Mr Quayle recommended the CPA officially express its disapproval at Argentina's action. He said, "We are all aware that with NATO, and the members within it, an attack on one country is in effect treated as an attack on all of the member countries. "Perhaps this conference then, could...consider what is posed as an ongoing threat to the Falkland Islands from Argentina, and a continued threat to Gibraltar from Spain, and consider informing the British Government of this conference's profound concerns at the continued uncertainties that prevail in the light of some of the actions of the FCO and British Government and all that entails." At the opening of the conference, held at the Council Chamber on Monday morning, His Excellency the Governor, Mr Howard Pearce urged Argentina to respect Islanders' right to self-determination. He said, "Unfortunately geography provides Argentina, which persists in its claim to the Falklands, with the opportunity to obstruct these developments. "Our friends from Gibraltar will understand these problems only too well. Islanders are ready to engage in practical co-operation with Argentina where it is in their interests to do so, but only on the basis of full respect for the Islanders' right to self-determination." The CPA delegates will hold two final sessions today: Environmental concerns versus Commercial Development and, on a lighter note, 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.

Simpkins case: charge dropped

A "FARCE" which has been a "monumental waste of time" is how the Chief Executive has described a criminal charge against him which was dropped yesterday. The charge against Chris Simpkins, that he refused to furnish a member of the public with a committee document, was yesterday dropped by Sarah Davies, the Stanley housewife who brought the private prosecution to court. Mrs Davies told the Senior Magistrate she had been supplied with a copy of the statement from Dr Roger Diggle which she had previously attempted and been unable to obtain and, as a result, wished to drop the charge. After the court hearing, Mr Simpkins commented, "The legal principle that Mrs. Davies sought to challenge remains intact and all she has achieved is a copy of some notes that would have been printed by the Penguin News in any case." He added, "Falkland Islanders will, I'm sure, draw their own conclusions as to the value of this misconceived prosecution. "At least, now that it's over, I can devote my full attention to the job I'm paid to do and Mrs Davies can get back to her ironing." Mrs Davies said, "The piece of paper delivered to me yesterday by FIG should have been given to me weeks ago when I asked for it. If there is no harm in doing so now, why could it not have been done then? "Must a government official be dragged to a court every time a member of the public asks for a document which has been read out at a public meeting and even given to the press? I do hope the answer to that is no." Continued on page 5

Cruises this week

IT'S a relatively quiet week ahead for cruise ship visits. Today, Hanseatic will visit Volunteer Point and Stanley. On Sunday World Discoverer will call at West Point and Carcass Island then on Monday she will head to Long Island and Stanley. Bremen will visit Volunteer Point and Stanley on Monday.