MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

Headlines: Final product on the way to market; Work starts on West ferry head; Queen's Birthday marks end of summer time; Uganda crew and patients reunite; FIDC interim manager withdraws.

Final product on the way to marketStaff at Sand Bay abattoir pack the final boxes of meat for export as the season draws to a close. Pictured from left to right are quality controller Phil Ovendon, production worker Cesar Gurena, production manager Matt Kelly, production worker Robert Ferguson and (far right) scales operator Claudio Briones. More on page 3. Work starts on West ferry headWITH the new coastal shipping vessel Concordia Baynow compliant with all necessary regulations and due to arrive in late June, work has begun on the West Falkland terminal. A ramp is to be built at Port Howard where the jetty is currently located. Morrison (Falklands) Regional Manager, Mike Butler, told Penguin News that work began in earnest on Friday and was progressing well. He said the gang would work seven days a week to complete the work which was expected to take six weeks. "I'm confident it will be ready for Concordia Bay'sarrival," he said. Tim Cotter from FIDC said that, with the Port Howard jetty being closed for the works, in the interim the Tamarwould deliver vehicles - but not passengers - to Fox Bay and Hill Cove at the ferry rate. Meanwhile, the Roads Engineer from the Public Works Department (PWD), Bob Hancox, said he hoped that New Haven - the East Falkland terminal - would be operational when the Concordia Bayarrived, however the critical part was the digging out in the sea. He said the PWD's work was taking longer than expected but that plant numbers at the site had been boosted recently to help speed up the operation The dry side work at New Haven carried out by Morrison (Falklands) Ltd in the meantime had progressed faster than anticipated, Mr Hancox added, and he was hopeful the terminal would be ready for the arrival of the Concordia Bay. "Once Morrisons are clear of the hole we intend to drill and blast the 'plug'. Before we blast it is intended that the hole will be flooded to ensure that no material from the plug gets washed into the hole by a sudden rush of water. This is still a little while off though," he said. The estimated cost for the New Haven terminal was £1.2 million. At a meeting of the Transport Advisory Committee, the Director of PWD said it as had taken longer than originally considered to undertake the excavation in the sea it was going to be "touch and go" as to whether or not PWD managed to stay within the budget allocation. He commented: "The weather, given the time of year is going to play a big part in how fast some of the work can progress but overall the project is progressing well." Queen's Birthday marks end of summer timeSUMMER time ends this long weekend. Government clocks will be put back one hour, reverting to local mean time, at 2am on Sunday April 20, 2008. Monday will be a public holiday to celebrate the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen. All government departments (other than those providing essential services) will be closed. Ugandacrew and patients reunite THE first reunion ever held for the crew and patients on the 1982 hospital ship Uganda takes place this weekend aboard the cruise ship Aurora.The event, which is being held in Southampton, is unique in that former patients from 1982 have been invited as VIPs. More than 170 people are expected to attend, and nearly all the units of the Task Force will be represented. Many of the most severely injured servicemen are attending with their wives and partners. The British Forces Broadcasting Service's live video units from BFBS Reports have confirmed they will be covering the function. Former Ugandanurse Nikki Pugh commented: "I have watched this weekly programme for many years with you all in the Falklands on my all too short visits with 1982 veterans in the last six years. Hopefully you will see some coverage in the Falklands sometime next week." She added that the thoughts of the veterans were with Islanders during the anniversary of the occupation. "We hope that by continuing to keep you all in our thoughts as the years advance, you can see that distance means little; knowing you continue safe, well and peaceful after all these years is the best medicine for the medics and nurses who helped the injured on board the hospital ship in those difficult days 26 years ago." FIDC interim manager withdrawsNO FIRM appointment has yet been made of an interim General Manager for the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC). A candidate was offered the post last week following interviews in London, but then withdrew. Chief Executive Tim Thorogood commented: "That has obviously put the whole thing back. Meanwhile, Nuala McKay is doing an excellent job as Interim Operations Manager (managing staff on a day to day basis) and meets regularly with the Chair of FIDC and I to check progress." A new interim Financial Controller has, however, been appointed. Mr Frank Molony will start the job on April 2. Mr Molony (32) is a Senior Audit and Accounts Manager with Wilkins Kennedy in London and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2004. Mr Thorogood said: "He will work in the Islands for three weeks before returning to the UK where he will continue to work in this position alongside other work before returning to the Islands again for a further three week period in June, and so on as required."