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Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
More delays for Murrell road?; General Election candidates confirmed; Forbes/FIG dispute: ?an end is in sight'; Solo cruise liner this week.

More delays for Murrell road?

NORTH Camp farmers Adrian and Lisa Lowe are worried the already behind schedule building of a road to their farm will be delayed even further after a paper on the road was withdrawn from Executive Council's agenda. A dismayed Adrian from the Murrell Farm contacted Penguin Newssaying that he feared the road's construction may be put off for another year if a report on a draft management plan for the Murrell area - due to be submitted yesterday to Executive Council - was not put forward. Chief Executive Chris Simpkins confirmed that the plan for the management of the Murrell Valley will not be considered by Executive Council (ExCo) until its meeting in November, following the General Election. However he said this should not delay the progress of the road building. A draft Management Plan, published before construction of the next phase of the Murrell road, was approved for public consultation by ExCo in September. A report on the consultation exercise was to have been submitted to ExCo this month but was withdrawn by Mr Simpkins. He said, "Whilst I am satisfied that the currently proposed route of the road complies with the planning consent, the detailed plans, which show the location of the river crossing some 90 metres north west of Mastin's Point and the cutting which is to be constructed, have not previously been published. They can now be inspected in the Environmental Planning Office. "Executive Council's requirement that a draft Management Plan should be published before construction of the road commenced has also been complied with but consideration of the final proposed plan has been deferred to enable more time for a comprehensive report to be prepared and reflect upon the concerns which have been expressed." Despite this, Mr Simpkins said construction of the road will not be delayed. "Tenders for the work are currently being evaluated and there is currently no reason to suppose that work will not commence in the next few weeks and be completed this season." Former Councillor Ian Hansen who was on the Transport Advisory Committee said he was "extremely frustrated that this has happened at such late notice." Roads Engineer Bob Hancox was relieved to hear work on the road will not be delayed: "I am happy to be able to get on with the work as soon as possible." Map: This plan shows the proposed route for the road to Murrell Farm.

General Election candidates confirmed

THE candidates standing in the General Election have been confirmed. Nominations closed at 4.30pm yesterday afternoon and, shortly after, the Returning Officer announced that five candidates are standing for Camp, while twelve are standing for Stanley.

- The Camp candidates are: Roger Anthony Edwards- proposed by Ron Rozee, seconded by Leon Marsh; Ian Hansen - proposed by Bill Pole-Evans and seconded by Peter Robertson; Philip Charles Miller- proposed by Robin Pitaluga and seconded by Jene Pitaluga; Michael Rendell - proposed by Vernon Steen, seconded by Gail Steen; Richard James Stevens -proposed by Ailsa Heathman, seconded by Tony Heathman.

- The Stanley candidates are: John Birmingham - proposed by Rhoda McBain, seconded by Martin Cant; Janet Lynda Cheek - proposed by Shirley Hirtle, seconded by Sharon Halford; Andrea Patricia Clausen- proposed by Cheryl Roberts, seconded by Morgan Goss; John Richard Cockwell- proposed by Terry Spruce, seconded by Joan Spruce; Richard Andrew Davies- proposed by Nancy Poole, seconded by Derek Clarke; Michael John Forrest - proposed by David Lewis, seconded by Richard Biggs; John Andrew Thomas Fowler- proposed by Fran Biggs, seconded by Gary Clement; Eric Miller Goss- proposed by Gene Williams, seconded by Tony Carey; Philip John Middleton - proposed by Anton Livermore, seconded by Joan Spruce; Kevin Michael P. J. Ormond - proposed by Don Bonner, seconded by Gary Webb; Janet Robertson - proposed by Jane Cameron, seconded by John Allan; Michael V. Summers - proposed by Deborah Summers, seconded by Barry Neilson. The General Election will take place on November 17. Candidate's manifestos will be published in next week's edition of Penguin News.

Forbes/FIG dispute: ?an end is in sight'

"AN END is in sight" in the long running disputes with Gordon Forbes Construction (Falklands) Limited, the government's Chief Executive says. The company had claimed additional payments for work undertaken under two contracts which the government (FIG) had denied were due. The claims resulted in Arbitration proceedings and appeals to the Supreme Court of the Falklands. Some claims are still to be heard. The Chief Executive and Principal Crown Counsel, Melanie Chilton, recently met with Gordon Forbes and his legal representatives in an effort to achieve a negotiated settlement of all outstanding and potential claims against FIG. Executive Council yesterday endorsed an agreement which had been negotiated and signed by the Chief Executive in London on October 12 which, he said, "...brings all matters to a mutually acceptable conclusion." The financial arrangements will need to be considered by the Standing Finance Committee when it meets on November 25, following which the financial terms of the settlement will be published. Chris Simpkins commented, "Assuming final approval is given by the Standing Finance Committee, the Agreement brings this long running dispute, which has cost a great deal of time and money to defend, to a satisfactory conclusion. "Detailed negotiations were held over many hours and I'm pleased to say that we eventually found common ground and achieved a settlement which represents good value for money for FIG given the stage reached in proceedings." Mr Simpkins said the amount to be paid in settlement is substantially less than the amounts claimed, even after taking account of FIG's legal fees. However, he added, lessons need to be learnt from this. "The Principal Crown Counsel and I will be producing a report for ExCo which will identify how a similar situation might be avoided in the future."

Solo cruise liner this week

MS Alexander Von Humboldtis the only cruise ship expected in the Falklands this week. She is due to visit West Point on Tuesday and Stanley on Wednesday, from 8am until noon. She can carry a maximum of 430 passengers.

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