MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Penguin News Weekly Update

Headlines: Shaun takes up FIGAS job; Concern at Kirchner's planned London visit; Kalista's fighting spirit; Drugs importer jailed for four months; Esvagt Beta sets sail

Shaun takes up FIGAS jobSHAUN MINTO is the new man at the helm of the Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS). His mother, Katherine "Ducky" Blyth is a fourth generation Islander, who emigrated to New Zealand in 1962 with her husband Howard 'Jock' Minto who worked for FIC at Fitzroy and Mount Pleasant for eight years. Shaun (43) is married to Rosemary and they have a son Connor who is two and a half; they also have two elder daughters and two grandchildren who will be remaining in New Zealand. Rosemary and Connor will be joining Shaun in mid-April. Shaun was born and educated in New Zealand, and has been involved in the aviation industry since 1987. He commented: "It is wonderful to have the opportunity to live and work in the country that my parents still call 'home'." Concern at Kirchner's planned London visitTHE planned visit of Argentine president Cristina Kirchner to the UK, to attend the Forum of Progressive Leaders at the invitation of Prime Minister Brown, was cause for concern for many attending Tuesday's public meeting. The subject of charter flights for an Argentine next of kin visit was bound to be slanted against the Islands and the Falklands needed to get their side across first, said Mr Tim Miller. Councillor Mike Summers said it was a subject he had been giving "active thought" and it was a good time to remind friends - and those less friendly - that the problems the Argentine Families Commission were experiencing with organising a visit had been created by their own government. "To put pressure on us seems to me intellectually irresponsible, seeing as the problem exists as a result of discussions with Argentina about flights," said Cllr Summers. "The ban on charter flights was bought in unilaterally by Nestor Kirchner four years ago - the Families Commission should go to their own government, tell President Cristina Kirchner that her husband caused the huge problem and ask her to fix it." Some at the meeting had concerns that the Argentine Government had not been at all supportive of the Families Commission and were treating them as a political pawn. Cllr Andrea Clausen said the Commission had been refused financial assistance for a visit by sea, however the Argentine government had said there would be funding available for flights. "A successful visit is in everyone's best interest and we've said we will welcome and support a next of kin visit," said Cllr Summers. MPs take on the issueVisiting Labour Member of Parliament Paul Ennis said that the next of kin visit was an issue he and his colleagues planned to raise with UK ministers upon their return. In recent months there has been a feeling among some Islanders that Foreign Office Minister Meg Munn was pressuring the Falklands to accept a charter flight from Argentina for the visit. He commented: "On the face of it, it looks as though there is a slight impasse between the attitude of our government and the Falkland Islands Government in terms of actually delivering on the visit. "That's an issue we've already raised with the Governor and I think it's one we need to bring up with the Minister." Lord Nigel Jones (Lib Dem) issued a challenge to Mr Ennis, the sole Labour representative in the delegation: "We understand that the Prime Minister has invited President Kirchner to London and we suggest that, when there is the inevitable Downing Street reception for this lady, some of us are invited along to have a face to face exchange of views." More from the MPs on page 2. Kalista's fighting spiritA LITTLE Falkland Islander who was born seven weeks early is reported to be progressing well. Kalista was delivered by caesarean section at Clinica Alemana in Santiago, Chile on February 1 after her mother, Donna Triggs, developed pre-eclampsia and was flown from the Islands by air ambulance. The baby weighed just 1,419g (just over 3lbs) and she was 38.5cm long. She was moved from intensive care to intermediate care on Sunday though she is still in an incubator and will be in the Clinica until she puts on enough weight to fly - her doctors predict this could be between the end of February and the middle of March. Donna and her partner, Jeremy 'Spurs' Henry, reported on Wednesday that Kalista had put on a little weight and now weighed 1,500g. She was being fed on milk, by syringe and tube. Donna said the care she and the baby had received was "amazing." She commented: "The staff made me feel really comfortable and looked after me well." She added: "Some staff speak English which is also very good, but others who don't often try and learn - it is a good giggle sometimes. "Dr Pedraza, Carmen Luz and her team also have provided excellent support for us while we have been here." Drugs importer jailed for four monthsA SECOND man has been jailed in connection with importing cannabis into the Falklands. On Wednesday, Mount Pleasant man Meshara Nicie Yon (27) pleaded guilty to conspiring with Alan Francis to import cannabis resin leading up to November 26 and was jailed for four months. Crown Counsel Julia Kraehling-Smith told the court that Customs and Immigration officials had found a suspicious parcel in the Post Office and on discovering it contained four ounces of cannabis resin had substituted another package to be collected. The substitute package was removed overnight, she said, and it was discovered that a Philatelic Bureau employee had removed it along with "family mail." This person was not being prosecuted, Miss Kraehling-Smith said, as she was, "picking it up as a favour." The parcel was traced through that person to Alan Francis, who was jailed for three months last week, and then onwards to Mr Yon. More on page 3. Esvagt Beta sets sailTHE former fishery protection vessel, Dorada, left the Islands this week with a new name to accompany her new flag. Esvagt Betadeparted for her new home in Denmark on Tuesday evening.