MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Penguin News Weekly Update

Julie Bellhouse and Alex Olmedo

Headlines:
Delicious new book launched; Two more men jump ship; Ship runs aground; A question of health; Fake £10 note found;
Inside Penguin News this week: Lt Nick Taylor and Sheffield services; Cruise planning begins; Your letters; Councillors' pay trial; Chichester man visits.

Delicious new book launchedIN FRONT of around a hundred invited guests, Julie Bellhouse and Alex Olmedo launched their new coffee table recipe book, Natural Ingredients: Taste of the Falklands, at the Falklands Brasserie on Wednesday night. The pair started the project more than two years ago. During a joint speech at the launch, they said, "Natural Ingredients: Taste of the Falklandsexplores and gives the reader an insight into the delights we have to offer in our country and showcases to the world the wonderful landscapes and natural resources of the Falklands. "This is just the beginning of what can be done in the prosperous and developing community and country that we love so much and made our home." The book will be on sale in Stanley shops on May 30. A limited, special boxed edition of the book is now available. Two more men jump shipIN WHAT is becoming a disturbing trend, two Bangladeshi men are missing, presumed dead, after they jumped from their ship while it was in Berkeley Sound at the weekend. The men reportedly left the ship as their working conditions did not allow them to carry out religious duties. At 8.30am on Saturday, the Fisheries Department received a report from the FIC Shipping Agency that two men were missing from the Taiwanese jigger Shiuh Dah Mingwhich was anchored in Berkeley Sound. A search was organised using two agency launches and a Sea King helicopter from 78 Squadron RAF. A land search of the shoreline was also carried out by the police and defence force. The search was finally called off at 3pm. Both men are still missing A lifejacket, which matches the pattern of those jackets provided on the jigger, was found nearly a mile east of the ship's anchor position by one of the launches. On Sunday the Shiuh Dah Mingcame alongside FIPASS and was boarded by the police. Inspector Len McGill said that no physical abuse such as assault had been reported by the men, "...and officers have not discovered any evidence to indicate it." However, he added, "...the two crewmen's colleagues on the vessel complained that they are worked very hard and this does not allow them to carry out certain religious duties." The crew have been on the ship since October 2006. Ship runs aground In other shipping news, a Panamanian-registered reefer, Win Sheng, ran aground in heavily mined Hell's Kitchen in outer Port William on Wednesday night. She later re-floated towards high water under her own power. Marine Officer, Jon Clark said it appears the ship was "fairly lightly aground" in the forepart of the vessel. She had been into Port William to obtain Customs outward clearance and was leaving when the grounding occurred. The reason for grounding is, "as yet unclear," Mr Clark added. A question of health A SURVEY on health care in the Falklands is being sent out today. Commissioned by the Media Trust, the aim of the survey is to discover people's level of satisfaction with health care in the Falklands and to determine what level of self-funding for treatment abroad is taking place. The Media Trust is hopeful the survey will initiate "open and frank" discussion on the issue, without divulging any personal or confidential information; the results of the survey will, they hope, "...provide a constructive analysis of health care provision which will give positive information and feedback to councillors on which they can make well-informed decisions." The overall results of the survey will be published in Penguin Newsand presented on Falklands Radio. Every member of the community who is on the electoral roll will be sent a form; responses will be sent to Synergy Information Systems, who will collate and analyse the results on behalf of the Media Trust. Mrs. President? Senator Cristina Fernandez, the wife of Argentine president Nestor Kirchner, may be her husband's successor. Speculation has been growing for months that Kirchner could step aside for his wife to run in his place and, according to Argentine political analysts, the decision has already been taken, although it will not be officially announced until July. It was confirmed this week that elections for president and Congress will be held on October 28. A presidential run off between the two most popular presidential candidates, if needed, is scheduled for November 25. The latest public opinion polls show that either President Kirchner or his charismatic wife could easily win the October challenge in the first round given their popularity plus the fact the opposition is separated into several candidacies. Falkland's councillor Mike Summers believes Ms Fernandez has views and policies similar to her husband in respect of the Falklands, "...possibly even more hard line." He commented, "Hopefully following the election the Argentine government will find time to reflect on the complete failure of its policies towards the Falklands, and return to a more cooperative approach to the management of resources in the South West Atlantic." (MP/PN) Fake £10 note foundA counterfeit £10 Falklands note has been discovered and is being examined by the police. Inspector Len McGill appealed to businesses and the general public to be "vigilant" and keep an eye out for more notes. He said the counterfeit £10 was "particularly well made" but "felt different" to a genuine note, "...and is slightly darker in colour in areas." Inside Penguin News this weekâ€Ã‚¢ Centre pages: Lt Nick Taylor and Sheffieldservices â€Ã‚¢ Page 8: Cruise planning begins â€Ã‚¢ Page 6-7: Your letters â€Ã‚¢ Page 5: Councillors' pay trial â€Ã‚¢ Page 2: Chichester man visits