MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update

Headlines: Early baby rushed to Monte; Unauthorised decoders are ?against the law'; Southampton sails in; Waiting for junior; Who's the new guy at school?

Who's the new guy at school?

Infant and Junior School pupils Leo Benjamin and Max Jaffray welcome their new headteacher, Nick Barrett, to an art lesson. More about Mr Barrett on page 3.

Early baby rushed to Monte

BABY Ty Wilkinson rests in a neo-natal ward in Montevideo today, oblivious to the well co-ordinated, international effort which led to his safe arrival. Born three months too early, Ty was evacuated from the Falklands on Wednesday morning. He is now with his parents Johan and Alistair in the British Hospital in Montevideo and reported to be doing well. His young life began at Stanley's King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH); Johan delivered her son at around 10.30 on Tuesday evening after only the second trimester of her pregnancy. He weighed in at just 1.2 kilograms. The KEMH does not have the facilities to care for premature a baby which is why Ty was flown to Uruguay. Within minutes of his birth he was moved into an incubator where Dr Tony Rocke and theatre technician Eric Black worked to stabilise him and prepare him for medical evacuation. He was placed onto a ventilator. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Ty, his parents and a team from the KEMH were collected by the British Forces Search and Rescue team's Sea King helicopter. They were flown to Mount Pleasant where they boarded a waiting VC-10 aircraft for the flight to Montevideo, along with Wing Commander Tim Webster and Flt Lt Tess King from the British Forces medical centre. Yesterday, Flt Lt King said the two and a half-hour flight to Montevideo went "very well." She explained, "We were there to look after Jo primarily - we left Ty in the capable hands of Tony. We were there in case things took a turn for the worse which, thankfully, they didn't." She added, "Overall, we're very happy with how it all turned out, and a big thank you must go to all involved." Chief Medical Officer, Dr Roger Diggle agreed, saying Ty's treatment and evacuation went "remarkably smoothly" and "all our training and preparation for aeromedical transfers paid off." He described the Royal Air Force as "brilliant" in that, "...they were prepared to accommodate all our requests regarding timing of the helicopter's arrival at KEMH and the availability of the VC-10, etc." Johan's sister, Andrea Clausen - whose husband, Gus, also made the journey to Montevideo in his role as hospital engineer - yesterday said mother and baby are doing well. "Ty is making considerable efforts to breathe unaided but is still having a little help. We hope he will be coping alone by Friday." She cautiously added that, although it is "very early days", the outlook is "positive". On behalf of Jo and Alistair's families, Andrea thanked everyone who was involved in Ty's care, "...from the hospital staff to the military and the fire service who were there for the helicopter's landing in the middle of the night and the immigration team who organised Ty's passport." She said the entire operation went, "...exactly as it should have - it was so well orchestrated," and everyone was, "...incredibly professional. We are all really grateful."

Unauthorised decoders are ?against the law'

IT IS illegal to bring unauthorised decoders into the Falkland Islands; the government's Chief Executive has reminded the public. Chris Simpkins said it appears the passing of the Broadcasting Ordinance last year has led to some misunderstandings among residents "with regard to the legality of decoders brought into the Islands from South America," and he explained the present legal provisions. It is an offence to bring unauthorised decoders into the country and Customs officers have the power to seize them. Mr Simpkins explained that an unauthorised decoder is one which has been imported for the purpose of receiving encrypted transmissions without the authority of the person making transmissions which it receives. "Therefore people can import decoders if, for example, they can produce an agreement with or letter from the company making the transmissions which shows that the importer is authorised to use the decoder in the Falkland Islands." He added, "It is unlawful to receive an encrypted broadcast and then re-broadcast it for receipt by other people without a licence from the government." KTV have not been awarded a monopoly to re-broadcast TV programmes or a monopoly to provide satellite decoders, Mr Simpkins confirmed. He added, "...the Attorney General will be happy to provide advice to anyone requiring further clarification."

Southampton sails in

THE latest South Atlantic patrol ship, HMS Southampton is expected to arrive in the Falklands this month. The Type 42 destroyer under Commander Rob Vitali spent time in war ravaged Sierra Leone before heading for the south Atlantic to replace HMS Portland. After going through the Patagonian canals HMS Portland, which left the Falklands in August, is returning to England up the West coast of South America.

Waiting for junior

HIS EXCELLENCY the Governor has joined his wife Caroline in her native Holland to await the arrival of their first child. All being well, the baby is due at the end of the month and Mr and Mrs Pearce are expected to remain overseas until the end of October. In Mr Pearce's absence, the First Secretary, Miss Harriet Hall, has taken on the role of Acting Governor.

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