MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

Headlines: Flyglobespan' heads south; Immigration survey results announced; Sailors caught out by drugs tests; E Boye trip called off.

'Flyglobespan' heads southTHE new South Atlantic airbridge contract has been awarded to Chapman Freeborn. The service will be operated by Flyglobespan using a Boeing 767 aircraft four times every fortnight, beginning on Wednesday, October 1. The airbridge is run under a two-year contract with two one-year options, expected to run until 2012. The flight will leave Brize Norton southbound on Wednesdays and Sundays, and will leave Mount Pleasant northbound on Fridays and Tuesdays. According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the service provides a higher frequency of flights than the previous arrangement, which offered three flights per fortnight, as well as an enhanced aeromedical and freight capability. The aircraft is chartered to carry 184 passengers on each flight. Although designed to carry more passengers, the extra payload will be used solely for freight and the extra fuel required for a journey of this length. Twenty-nine seats will be reserved on each service for the use of the Falkland Islands Government, reflecting the statement of requirement the Islands set out for a fortnightly period, adjusted by the change in service from three to four times every two weeks, the MoD said. Flights on the new service can be booked from September 1, at current airbridge prices and fare structures: "The prices will alter to new pricings based on the cost of running the B767 once a new Joint Policy Statement has been agreed and ratified," the MoD announced. It is not yet known whether fares will increase, Councillor Mike Summers confirmed: "We have no indications at this time on whether the pricing will change as a result of this contract. "We expect further information on this next week and will then be able to respond accordingly." Little is known in the Falklands about Flyglobespan. According to the company's website, it operates a young fleet of modern aircraft: "The technology used is always up to the latest standards and the quietest and most economical engines are used." However the BBC reported on August 4 that the airline had been fined £5,000 for flying between Liverpool and New York's JFK airport in 2007 with faulty aircraft instruments due to a lightning strike which hit the aircraft on a previous flight. The aircraft had been authorised to fly with the faulty instruments by the airline. When asked by Penguin Newswhether assurances had been given by the MoD about the level of service the Islands were to receive, Cllr Summers commented: "We have no assurances from MoD on levels of service at this time, though we will be seeking them." Immigration survey results announcedPRIORITY for housing, health and education should always be given to those born in the Falkland Islands. That is just one of the resounding messages which has come out of a survey commissioned by the Media Trust into the public's views on immigration. Thirty-five per cent of respondents commented on their frustration at the dilution of Falkland Islands culture due to immigration, how those born in the Falkland Islands felt like aliens in their own country, and that priority for employment (especially for young Islanders returning from further education overseas), housing, health and education should always be given to those born in the Falkland Islands. There was also concern expressed regarding those born in the Falkland Islands who moved away and then wanted to return at some point in the future - it was felt that they should not lose their rights in terms of residence, status and the right to own property. One respondent commented: "This place has become a very sad and discontented land." There were positive messages contained in the results of the survey too: 25 per cent commented favourably on the immigrant history of the Islands, with one respondent, born in the Falklands, commenting: "The Falklands has no indigenous population. To say our culture is threatened by immigration is to ignore history." An additional six per cent of comments stressed that the Falkland Islands are British, and that British immigrants should be given priority over other nationalities. An emphasis on ensuring immigrants were from English speaking countries was placed by 61 per cent of Falklands-born respondents while, in contrast, this figure was only 39 per cent among those born outside the Islands. In the comments section of the survey, a total of 16 per cent of respondents commented on the importance of the ability of immigrants to speak English, with one respondent suggesting: "Non-English speakers should have compulsory language lessons, to encourage integration." A number of respondents commented that immigrants did not necessarily need to come from English-speaking countries, but that they and their families should be required to have a good standard of spoken and written English. Turn to centre pages for more of the survey's findings. Sailors caught out by drugs testsEIGHTEEN crew on a Royal Navy warship have reportedly tested positive for cocaine. The company of HMS Liverpoolwere tested by the Compulsory Drugs Testing team whilst alongside in Santos, Brazil on a break from patrolling in the South Atlantic. The Royal Navy had a zero tolerance policy on drugs and action against the individuals was underway, a military spokesperson said: "The Royal Navy has a very robust anti-drugs policy and will not tolerate misuse of drugs by its personnel in any form or at any time. "It is not usual policy to disclose the details of the results of the tests. Internal action is underway against all 18 individuals." Positive rates in the Royal Navy last year averaged around 0.38%, compared with over 7% in civilian workplace drug testing programmes in the UK, the spokesperson said: "These statistics demonstrate that drug misuse is significantly less prevalent among service personnel than in corresponding civilian demographic groups." HMS Liverpool is currently alongside at Mare Harbour and will next put to sea on August 31. "This event will have no impact on HMS Liverpool'scapability and her programme currently remains as planned," the military spokesperson said. E Boye trip called offSEVERAL local traders were dismayed to find out on Wednesday that the next scheduled trip of the charter ship Elisabeth Boyefrom Montevideo has been cancelled and she will now proceed to drydock where she may remain until late October. Tim Miller of Stanley Growers said traders who had preplanned freight for this voyage to minimise the impact on local supplies during the planned drydock period, could now not get their stores, containers from UK, and - in the case of his business - fresh produce from Uruguay. Mr Miller said the news had reached him too late for volumes to be increased in Chile and warned that the public will see some nasty price rises in several basic items that traditionally come by sea when they suddenly have an airfreight price ticket instead. Continued on page 3.