MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Explosive Ordnance Disposal moves out; Illex collapse hits budget; Almirante Irizar was ?in Argentine waters'; Belt up in future; Meetings postponed; Governor meets the Queen.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal moves out

THE building which has housed the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operations room since 1990 has been handed back. The EOD detachment, to be reduced from six to four members in November, will now operate from Hillside Camp. All discoveries of unexploded ordnance should now be reported to the Royal Falkland Islands Police on telephone 27222. A military spokesperson said, "The EOD detachment's expertise will still be available to respond to such discoveries in their normal efficient and professional manner." Pictured: WO2 QMines Ray Fortuin hands over the EOD operations room to Manfred Keenleyside, Acting Director of Public Works.

Illex collapse hits budget.

COUNCILLORS are assessing the financial implications appalling illex squid catches will have on the government's budget. Chairman of Standing Finance Committee Councillor Mike Summers yesterday confirmed that, following the lowest catches on record, the illex season will have to close early. This, he said, will require the Falkland Islands Government to make, "...substantial refunds of licence fees (or where they have not been paid that income will not now accrue)." Taking into account other related activity to the illex fishery, Councillor Summers said the government believes income this year will be near to £10 million less than anticipated. He said this "clearly affects" the budget process, "...because there will now be a substantial deficit on this year's accounts. "There are few opportunities to reduce expenditure in the rest of this financial year." Councillor Summers said judgements will have to be made on what level of licence fee can be charged for illex next year: "...given the results of the last three years it is likely to be substantially less than in past years - perhaps a reduction of around £5 million on the normal figure. "Whilst we have substantial reserves which we can draw on in the short term, we cannot continue to use them up year on year, so we will have to take steps to reduce expenditure on a progressive basis until we get back to a balanced budget." Following examination last week of departmental budget submissions, councillors have asked senior government officers (Chief Executive, Financial Secretary, Deputy Financial Secretary) to, "... come to us in about two weeks with some further proposals to reduce operating expenditure and capital/transfer costs by a further 5%." Councillor Summers said this will be easier to achieve in some areas than others, "...but inevitably it will result in reductions in service levels in some areas." Regarding any possible impact on the health and education services, he said, "We will look at the whole package of proposals before coming to any firm decisions on any of them. "We will make every effort to maintain education and medical services at current levels, but this might not be achievable in all areas; however there is no threat to mainstream education and health service provision." Councillor Summers believes the current challenges to the budget will not be a one year process and planning for the future is vital. He said, "Even if illex were to return in profusion next year, licence income would in all likelihood not be proportionate, and in any event after two bad years in three we have to be conscious that there could be a new pattern of ocean current change, and less reliability. "We must therefore plan to reduce expenditure on a measured basis, taking care all the time not to damage the private sector economy and public confidence in the future." Councillor Summers added, "There is a positive future for the Falklands economy, but we require some adjustment to public expectation and consequently expenditure levels which we would hope to achieve over the next three or four years."

Almirante Irizar was ?in Argentine waters'

ARGENTINE press reports say the naval icebreaker Almirante Irizar which sailed through the Falklands Outer Conservation Zone and the Falklands Interim Conservation Zone last month was, "...carrying out fishing-control operations in Argentine waters." On March 15 the icebreaker and one of its Sea King helicopters challenged by radio a number of vessels fishing in the Falklands zone. On Tuesday, the website of Argentine newspaper, La Nacion quoted a Foreign Affairs Ministry official as saying, "The Irizar was engaged in fishing-control operations in waters under Argentine jurisdiction, including the fishing prohibition zone and the area west of this zone, as agreed with the United Kingdom in 1989 and 1990. "During its voyage the ship was in contact for security purposes with British ships, in accordance with maritime rules and customs. "Given the lack of squid in this season, the Argentine government has taken great precautions to protect fish species, which includes control of illegal fishing." Falklands reaction: page 3

News in brief

Belt up in future

IT WILL soon become compulsory for children to be strapped in when travelling in motor vehicles - and adults travelling outside Stanley will have to buckle up too. Executive Council agreed to a change to the law governing the use of seatbelts at its meeting last week. This will make the wearing of seatbelts or child restraints compulsory for children being carried as passengers in motor vehicles. It will also ensure that adults will be required to wear seatbelts on all designated roads with speed limits in excess of 25 miles per hour.

Meetings postponed

THREE committee meetings have had to be rescheduled in the past two weeks, after they were found to be in violation of the government's access to information rules. A Public Works Meeting held on Wednesday, March 24, was declared invalid as agendas for the meetings were not made available to the public three working days in advance of the meeting. Meetings of the Falklands Landholdings Corporation and the Falkland Islands Development Board had to be postponed from March 30 to April 20 for the same reason.

Governor meets the Queen

HIS Excellency the Governor, Mr Howard Pearce, has had an official audience with the Queen. Mr Pearce had his post as Governor officially confirmed by Her Majesty in an audience at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.