MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands preparing for the coming tourist season.

The capital of the Falkland Islands Public Jetty is undergoing a face lift ready for the construction of the ?secure zone' for the forthcoming tourist season, exactly half a century after the jetty was initially concreted.

Ian Stewart Construction is carrying out the work 50 years from when the Stanley jetty was first cemented.

Bill Kidd has been transcribing the diaries of Jack Barnes, a well known contractor who built many jetties around the Falklands.

On August 28, 1954 Jack made the following entry in his diary. "Today was much better and we started concreting at the Public Jetty. We did 27 feet x10'6"x6". "Started at 7.45 and finished at 11.30 with half hour for breakfast. 8 men. Cost for wages , 6 men @3/- (three shillings) per hour and 2 men at 3/6 per hour. £6-5. Approximately 4/7½ per square yard, 6" thick."

Jack and Ernie Barnes both received 3/6 per hour, Ernie also received an additional 2.5% for ?setting up' contracts. The other workers were Hamish and Neil Jennings, Jackie Atkins, Ken Summers, Bob Ferguson and W Reives. The project was completed on September 2, 1954.

The current secure area of the Public Jetty that will demand an investment of £ 80,000, is required under the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea and its associated Ship and Port Facility Security Code, which must be complied by port facilities which interface with vessels over 500 gross tonnage on international voyages.

Another important event for the coming season was the reopening last week of The Upland Goose Hotel now under the management of Sodexho Defence Services. Contract manager of Sodexho Jo Robertson said there have been no major renovations to the building.