MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Weekly 'Penguin News” update

MV Dorada flying her new flag in Stanley Harbour

Headlines: Dorada under new ownership; New Constitution by mid-2008?; Kirchner to London; ASSI inspectors reveal findings; MPs on week-long visit; Drugs man jailed; Coming up this week.

Dorada under new ownershipFormer fishery patrol vessel Doradawas officially sold yesterday morning and at her masthead she now sports the flag of her new owner's country, Denmark. The Director of Fisheries this week confirmed negotiations were ongoing with regard to chartering the Falklands-registered fishing vessel Protegatfor fishery protection duties. Mr Barton said the vessel, which previously fished here and in South Georgia was well suited to Falklands waters and was currently being "mobilised for the contract." New Constitution by mid-2008?CONSENSUS has been reached on a great deal of the proposed new Constitution, a team of legal advisors from the Foreign Office has said, however a "handful" of issues need to be referred to the Minister for the Overseas Territories, Meg Munn, for consideration. "With a fair wind," team leader Ian Hendry said, agreement on a new Constitution could be reached by the middle of the year. He was speaking to the press at the end of a three day meeting with the Select Committee on the Constitution, held in the Council Chambers. Mr Hendry reported that consensus was not reached on the extent to which Executive Council should be consulted about the appointments of senior civil servants. Concern has been expressed by members of the public about the involvement of councillors in the appointment of civil servants and Mr Hendry said it was important in the Overseas Territories that the public service is as independent of political influence as possible. "The appointment process has to be carefully arranged, carefully prescribed in order to protect the integrity of the public service." He added: "It is the case that many other Overseas Territories have Ministers and political parties and an independent public service commission to advise on public service appointments - those things don't apply here so the particular circumstances of the Falkland Islands have to be taken into consideration." Chair of the Select Committee, Councillor Mike Summers, said councillors were not looking for more involvement in public appointments but added: "They are looking to codify the current practice which is that either the Chief Executive or the Governor would consult councillors generally, or ExCo in particular, on the appointments to some senior positions." He continued: "The point here is that at the end of the day it is the democratically elected government which is accountable to the electorate for the quality of work that is put out by the public service and for the standard of governance. Councillors feel therefore there is a role for some degree of consultation." He added: "Councillors are not looking for any type of facility to provide direction to either the governor or the Chief Executive on who they should appoint, but simply that there should be a requirement to consult in [some] circumstances." Cllr Summers said that the Chief Executive, Tim Thorogood, was invited to participate in the meeting and he spoke about what is current practice in UK local government authorities in terms of what advice is given to elected members regarding appointments. "One of the things that in the Falklands we're always anxious to do is to reflect best practice. "These days it is perfectly understood in UK government that heads of sections - senior directors - have to have the confidence of and work with elected members; it makes sense therefore, we think in the Falklands' circumstances, to reflect that here and ensure that proper advice is taken." ? Continued on page 3.Kirchner to London ARGENTINE president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has been invited by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to attend the Forum of Progressive Leaders in London in April. The Buenos Aires press had speculated that the non-official meeting would give the president the opportunity to address the "Malvinas issue" directly with PM Brown, and the negotiations for the Argentine next of kin for the pending inauguration of the war cemetery near Darwin. Last month President Kirchner met with a delegation from the Argentine Families Commission and promised to help make the trip happen. When asked if he thought President Kirchner would use the meeting to press for a charter flight for the next of kin, Councillor Mike Summers said there was little doubt that if President Kirchner went to the forum she would seek an opportunity to raise the next of kin visit. However he commented: "I am satisfied that the UK government will tell the Argentines that the visit is ultimately a matter for the Falkland Islands Government to determine. PN/MP ASSI inspectors reveal findingsTHE stringent limitations placed on the airstrips at Beaver Island, New Island and West Point Island are to remain. However aviation regulators have said the government could improve two to a standard where the limitations could be lifted. Maria Boyle from Air Safety Support International (ASSI) said the "end game" would be to see improvements to the strips where this is possible. She added: "That would be down to the Falkland Islands Government to investigate with the expertise of a civil engineering expert - but we think there should be extensions to the strips wherever possible to increase the safety for all the passengers using FIGAS." ? Turn to page 2 for more.MPs on week-long visit THREE British politicians are visiting the Islands this week. Jeff Ennis MP, Paul Holmes MP, Lord Jones of Cheltenham and Lord McColl of Dulwich arrived on Wednesday. Drugs man jailedA MAN has been jailed for three months after admitting his part in the importation of cannabis resin. Senior Magistrate Alison Thompson said she had a great deal of sympathy with Alan Patrick Francis who had been naive in his actions, but in line with the policy of zero tolerance of drugs in the Falklands a custodial sentence was an appropriate penalty. More on 3. Coming up this week: Cape Pembroke - Half MarathonWalkers start 9.30am, runners start 11am on Sunday. Youth Awareness WeekGames night, Wednesday from 7pm. Fancy dress dance,Friday from 7.30pm.