MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Weekly Penguin News Update

Heradlines: World's windiest marathon; Tourism work permit denied; FIDF remember; Rotterdam's on her own

Fishing news: Licence revoked; Squid return to zones; SAFC: another non-starter

World's windiest marathon Turn to centre pages for the full storyTourism work permit denied THE application for a work permit for the General Manager designate of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board (FITB) has been rejected by the Principal Immigration Officer. Peter King turned down the application for a permit for Canadian Terry Gainer, as he deemed there was a qualified local candidate who met the requirements of the post. Chairman of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board, Councillor Ian Hansen, was informed of the final decision yesterday. He said there were many reasons given by Mr King for the decision, "...but the bottom line is that Immigration believes there is a Falkland Islands applicant who can fill the post. He had looked into it very carefully." Mr Gainer now has the right to appeal to the Governor in Executive Council, something he can do himself or ask FITB to do on his behalf. Whether or not an appeal will be lodged, Cllr Hansen did not know. He commented, "I'm in the process of contacting the other directors and we are planning to meet next week." EGM stalled?The rumoured intention of the members of FITB to call for the resignation of their directors appears to be meeting procedural difficulties. Immediately after the controversy caused by the board's decision to appoint Mr Gainer, there were calls by members for an Extraordinary General Meeting. First among a list of proposed resolutions to be put to such a meeting was that the members no longer had any confidence in the board's directors. According to the Articles of the Tourist Board, which is a Company Limited by Guarantee, an Extraordinary General Meeting can be called by the Company Secretary on receipt of signed requisitions from at least ten per cent of the members. Asked to comment if and when such a meeting would take place, a spokesman for the legal firm, McGrigors, who act as Company Secretary to the Board, said on Wednesday that if an Extraordinary General Meeting had not already been called, it could be assumed that the required number of signed requisitions had not been received. Second resignationThe resignation of John Fowler as an FITB director, which was reported last week, has been followed by that of Debbie Summers, whose unsuccessful candidacy for the position of General Manager sparked off the current controversy. Ms Summers tendered her resignation while in the Islands for three days, after arriving from the annual Miami Sea Trade conference and before leaving to conduct a port infrastructure and shore excursion study of nine ports in South America. She declined to comment on the reason for her resignation. FIDF remember MEMBERS of the Falkland Islands Defence Force (FIDF) who were called out to repel the invading Argentine force on the night of April 1, 1982 are to hold their own commemorations next weekend. The strength of the Defence Force that night numbered thirty-two men. To commemorate the event, a service of remembrance will be held on Sunday April, 1. At 2.20pm, the FIDF 1982 veterans will arrive at the Liberation Monument, accompanied by an FIDF Quarter Guard and a service of commemoration will begin ten minutes later. A private reception at Government House will follow, during which His Excellency the Governor will present commemorative badges to the FIDF veterans. At 4.30pm, a private buffet reception will be held at the FIDF Club, which will be open to all holders of the 1982 South Atlantic medal and their spouses and other invited guests. It is appropriate for medals and decorations to be worn for this occasion. Fishing news Licence revoked THE fishing licence issued to the ship Jih Da Gan, the jigger from which twelve men jumped last month, has been revoked. According to a government statement, following consideration of the available evidence the Director of Fisheries concluded that the conditions prevailing aboard the Jih Da Ganwere "unacceptable" and he moved to revoke the licence. In its statement, the government said it views any abuse or maltreatment of fishing vessel crews "very seriously" and, in addition to considering issues of criminal liability where appropriate, "will take any action available to it as necessary to ensure that the responsibilities for the efficient management of the fishery on behalf of the Falkland Islands are properly discharged." Squid return to zones AFTER a slow start, squid catches are improving in our waters. Cold water anomalies prevented an early immigration of illex to the Falkland zones, and at the beginning of March all Falklands-licensed jiggers were on the high seas where catches reached up to 70 metric tonnes (mt) per night. However Senior Fisheries Scientist, Sasha Arkhipkin, said several days of strong north-westerly winds finally brought warm water into the zone, "...and together with them came squid." Average catches of illex have increased from 15-18 to 30-38 mt/night, and the number of jiggers from just two on March 13 to 26 March 19. Catches of loligo squid have improved too, increasing from around 15 mt/day at the start of the season to 50 - 64 mt/day. SAFC: another non-starter THE latest meeting of the South Atlantic Fisheries Council (SAFC), held in Buenos Aires last week, has once again proven an unproductive affair. Councillor Andrea Clausen reported that "no progress" was made on re-starting the main discussions on areas of mutual interest (such as data exchange and straddling stock management), "...as Argentina still wishes to amend the mandate of the SAFC." The Falklands Director of Fisheries, John Barton, attended the meeting. Rotterdam's on her own JUST one ship will visit the Falklands this week, the penultimate vessel of the season. Rotterdamwill bring approximately 1,300 visitors to Stanley on Wednesday.