MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine Memorial to miss 22nd anniversary.

According to Ken McKenzie, Head of the construction AWG, the permanent Memorial being erected at the Argentine War Cemetery on the Falklands will not be completed before the 2nd April, which sees the 22nd anniversary of the Invasion of the Islands by Argentine Forces.

On Thursday, workers of AWG began moving the large blocks which make up the Memorial, by truck from the Military port at Mare Harbour, to the Cemetery site, a distance of 40 miles. The base work at the site has now been completed and it is anticipated that the first sections of the Memorial will be manoeuvred onto their intended foundations early next week.

Mr McKenzie said that progress on the Memorial contract has been maintained at the required level, but it would be foolish to try and rush the construction in order to have it completed by 2nd April.

It is believed that around 800 Argentine next-of-kin intend to travel to the Falklands for the consecration of the Memorial, and they had high hopes that this would coincide with the 22nd anniversary of the Invasion of 2nd April 1982. However Falklands Councillors have stated that they will not permit any Argentine charter flights to land in the Islands, given that the Buenos Aires Government have imposed a ban on charters to the Islands by Lan Chile. 'No charters means no charters from any Country as far as we are concerned', said Councillor Mike Summers.

Mr McKenzie said that there has been no hindrance to the work from any members of the public, and confirmed that just one Islander, employed by the construction company, had specifically asked not to be employed at the Cemetery. He said that this request would not jeopardize the individual's employment status with AWG.

Bill Brown - MercoPress ? Falkland Islands.