MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update

Veterans during their visit in Stanley

Headlines:
Welcome back, boys!; New port report out now; New Lan aircraft - but no change for Falklands; UN's Ki-moon in South America.

Welcome back, boys!25 years after they went to war, more than 200 veterans return to the Falklands ISLANDERS have welcomed with open arms 250 British veterans and next of kin. Visiting under the auspices of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) charity Combat Stress and the South Atlantic Medal Association (SAMA82) the group arrived in the Islands on Tuesday for a week of reflection and to explore the modern Falkland Islands. That evening the veterans, most of whom are staying in the homes of Islanders, attended a welcome reception sponsored by VT Communications at the Falkland Islands Defence Force (FIDF) hall. Early the following day they departed Stanley as part of a convoy of around 100 vehicles and headed to San Carlos via Teal Inlet for an emotional service of remembrance at the British war cemetery. After a lunch provided by San Carlos residents and the British Forces they headed to Goose Green and Fitzroy before returning to Stanley. That evening a third of the veterans and a number of Islanders were hosted by His Excellency the Governor at the first of three receptions at Government House. On Thursday a series of excursions took place, allowing the veterans to make more personal visits to wherever they wished, and three groups headed respectively to Fox Bay, Port Howard and Hill Cove. A service was held on board the Falklands patrol ship, HMS Clyde, over HMS Antelopewhich lies in San Carlos Water. Residents of Goose Green hosted members of 2Para on Wednesday night and some of the veterans chose to spend nights on the mountain tops they fought on 25 years ago: A group of Scots Guards camped on Tumbledown Mountain on Wednesday night and last night men from 3Para slept on Mt Longdon using tents, sleeping bags and other equipment provided by the FIDF. Today memorial services will be held at Fitzroy and Pebble Island and a family dance, hosted by the Royal British Legion, will be held tonight in the FIDF Hall, beginning at 7.30pm. More remembrance services are due to be held over the weekend: On Saturday evening a ceremony will be held at the Liberation Monument and Sunday is Remembrance Day, on which services will be held in Christ Church Cathedral and at the Cross of Sacrifice. A farewell public reception, hosted by the Falkland Islands Government, Serco and Sodexho, will be held on Monday night, beginning at 7pm. UK Veterans Minister, Derek Twigg MP is in the Islands to coincide with the pilgrimage. - Turn to pages 4 and 5 for pictures of the veterans' big journey so far. New port report out nowTHE Development Corporation (FIDC) has published the Royal Haskoning Report on the future of port development in Stanley. Entitled "FIPASS Port Development Plan" it follows a visit to the Islands earlier this year by representatives of Royal Haskoning, meetings with interested parties, and wider consultation. Within the report are some indicative plans, showing how port facilities in the FIPASS area could be expanded and improved. Also published is the accompanying FIDC report "Moving into the Future -A New Deep Water Port for the Falkland Islands." General Manager of FIDC, Mark Brunet said the supplementary report sets the Royal Haskoning report in context; he added that one of the key outcomes of Royal Haskoning's work is an understanding of what a port needs to consist of to be appropriate to the needs of the Islands for the coming years. FIDC are proposing a public debate on the issues surrounding port location, and anticipate a commitment to the next steps in the 2008/9 budget. Mr Brunet commented: "Now is the time to make a decision on a new port - and the Royal Haskoning report gives the information needed to make this decision wisely." The report is available from FIDC. New Lan aircraft - but no change for FalklandsBOEING has announced a multibillion-dollar deal with South American airline Lan including 32 of its new 787 Dreamliners. A spokesperson for the airline said the new aircraft will be used on both Lan's long haul and short haul routes. The Falklands connection is tagged on to a domestic flight in Lan's scheduling and the company says the domestic routes will continue to operate with the Airbus 320, 319 and 318, in addition to a number of the new aircraft. The routes for the new fleet have not yet been determined in any detail, the spokesperson said, but Lan currently expects their operation to the Falklands to continue next year with the existing aircraft, the Airbus 320. UN's Ki-moon in South AmericaTHE UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon is on tour in South America this week. Argentine press have reported him as saying that he would offer to mediate in the dispute between Argentina and Britain over the Falklands. Spokesperson for Legislative Council Mike Summers said Ban Ki-moon had already said that it is a matter between the UK and Argentina, and that he would only act if asked to do so. Cllr Summers commented: "He would only act if both sides requested him to do so. "The UK will not ask him to intervene since it has no doubts about its sovereignty of the Falkland Islands." Picture: Back row (left-right): Rob Nicholls (Welsh Guards), Chris Duggan (Welsh Guards) and Bob Ashton (Royal Marines serving on HMS Endurance); Front row: Brian Bilverstone (RN), Jo Erskin (HMSHydra), Peter Southern (4 Field Regiment Royal Artillery) and Rob Brady (40 and 45 Commando)