MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
?On your marks...'; Falkland Gold and Minerals to drill on Monday; Illex unimpressive but looking better than last year; Brock: Government ?competes with media'; Atlanta replaces Luxor; SAMA Wales men arrive.

?On your marks...'

SPORTSMANSHIP was alive and well at the Infant Sports Day held at the Stanley play field on Tuesday. Junior students had their turn last week and on Wednesday the older children from the Community School tried their hand at javelin, discus, high jump and a host of other athletic events. Next week is Camp Sports Week; Fox Bay is hosting the West Falkland event this year while on the East, the action will be taking place at North Arm. Penguin Newswill feature coverage of the Senior Sports day next week while Sports Week reports will be included in the March 11 edition. Pictured: (left to right) under starters orders: Rebecca Harris, Katheryn D'Avino, Carly East, Jessica Morris, Laura Lazo, Ophelia Ellick and Tegan Francis.

Falkland Gold and Minerals to drill on Monday

DRILLING for minerals in Lafonia are due to begin on Monday, Falkland Gold and Minerals Ltd (FGML) have confirmed. Visiting the Islands this week are John Armstrong, Chairman of Global Petroleum - 10.11% stake holder in FGML - and David Hudd, Chairman of Falkland Islands Holdings, 14.38% stakeholder in the company. The two are here at a time when not only is the first hole being drilled but as the seismic survey vessel GSI Admiralbegins itssecond phase of a 2D seismic survey in an area to the North East of the Islands licensed to Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd (FOGL). The first phase ofsurvey work was carried out in an area licensed jointly to FOGL and Hardman Resources. Global Petroleum owns 16.1% of FOGL and Falkland Islands Holdings owns 18.1%. In total, over £50 million has now been raised in the United Kingdom to explore for minerals and carbons around the Falkland Islands. Mr Armstrong says, best case scenario, exploratory drilling for oil and gas could begin in the summer of 2006/2007.

Illex unimpressive but looking better than last year

PRELIMINARY results from a joint British/Argentine research cruise underway to the west of the Falkland Islands indicate that there may be more illex squid in Falklands waters than last year, however the Director of Fisheries says that abundance is likely to be "lower than the long-term average." Mr John Barton says this is "not wholly unexpected" in view of the poor situation in 2004. No significant catches have yet been reported from Falkland Islands zones. Mr Barton says, "The odd jigger has tried fishing but catches have generally only been a tonne or so per night so far." Catches on the high seas also appear to be low, "...although there has been a bit of an upturn in the last few days." The joint cruise still has some way to go, Mr Barton says, so final results will not be available for a few days. He added that the preliminary results may yet be modified as the survey covers the remaining area. "The survey still has some significant areas to cover, although the bulk of the survey should be concluded within another week or so." On a more positive note Mr Barton reports that surveys of loligo squid using the Fishery Patrol Vessel Dorada and one commercial vessel indicate that it may be "a reasonable first season" for loligo.

Brock: Government ?competes with media'

THE Bureau Chief of the Falkland Islands News Network, Juanita Brock, has told a Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) conference in Australia of moves by the Falklands government to set up its own media in competition with private operators and to exclude independent media from its press conferences. Ms Brock's words are reported on the CPU's website. Yesterday, Councillor Jan Cheek said Ms Brock's comments came as, "...a bit of a surprise." She explained, "We do make an effort to invite all the local media and, without knowing which particular incident she's referring to, I don't know about any attempt to exclude her." Mrs. Cheek said it was possible that any reference to the government setting up in competition with private media could refer back to the days when Penguin News received a subsidy from the government; however, she added, "Penguin News is currently totally independent and, in any case, the Media Trust was created to ensure the independence of Penguin News."

Atlanta replaces Luxor

THE new contract for the South Atlantic airbridge has been awarded to Icelandic airline, Air Atlanta. The company will use a 747-200 Jumbo Jet aircraft for the service instead of the slightly smaller Airbus A-330 currently used by Air Luxor. The new service will begin with the southbound flight leaving the UK on Sunday, April 3. A military spokesperson said, "The contract is nominally for a two-year period, but options to cancel the contract at the six, 12 and 18-month points have been built in. "This is so that, should the RAF Tri-Stars become available for the route, the contract can be terminated at these points and the RAF flights reinstated."

SAMA Wales men arrive

FIVE veterans - all members of the Welsh branch of the South Atlantic Medal Association - from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards arrive in the Islands today. During their stay, the group will present a photograph album to the museum in Stanley, depicting the Welsh Guards' story of the Falklands War. On March 1, St David's Day, they will also be unveiling a bench seat at the Welsh Guards Memorial at Fitzroy and taking part in a service at 10.30am, to which the public is invited.