MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update

Headlines: Football crazy kids return; New senior Magistrate John Trevaskis; The ups and downs of the FIGAS shuttle.

Football crazy kids returnFALKLANDS youngsters have enjoyed a week of football and culture in Punta Arenas, Chile and are returning to the Islands tomorrow (Saturday) having won a respectable amount of games against several schools. The kids who left the Islands last Saturday with six carers and a band of supporters played their first impromptu match on Sunday against Club Carlos Dittman andwon 3-1. On Monday three five a-side games were played against Escuela Español and Club Carlos Dittman with close results, but the IJS only won one match. On Wednesday the boys received an accolade from the adults, after they braved driving rain and sleet to play The British School, in what was a competitive 0-0 draw. "The boys were fantastic," said IJS Head Teacher Nick Barrett. "In a team of heroes, Ross Stewart played a sterling game in midfield and Andrew Barrett saved a certain goal racing back to clear off the line." A welcome home party has been arranged for the plucky kids and their sponsors at the Infant Junior School on Saturday. New senior Magistrate John TrevaskisTHE appointment of Mr John Trevaskis as Senior Magistrate for the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands and the British Antarctic Territory has been announced. Mr Trevaskis has 27 years experience of practice, which includes criminal defence, civil and family proceedings, military law, immigration tribunals, licensing law and fishery prosecutions for DEFRA. He is taking a sabbatical from his appointments with the Ministry of Justice to work in the Falklands for a period of two years. Mr Trevaskis who was born and still lives in Cornwall is due to arrive in the Falklands on November 10 and will later be joined by his wife, Jane. They have two adult daughters in the United Kingdom. The ups and downs of the FIGAS shuttleTHE Islands are experiencing change with internal transport systems of late with an improved ferry service between East and West Falklands, while the Government's air service (FIGAS) has been operating a new model shuttle system around the Islands. The shuttle, which has been in operation since the beginning of October, might be seen as a less convenient service than the air-taxi system enjoyed for many years, however most of the customers contacted by Penguin News seemed satisfied with the service, particularly the parents of children who board at the Stanley House Hostel while attending school in Stanley. There are some concerns about the arrival and departure times of short stay tourists at some of the local lodges, however leading Falklands land based tourism organisation International Tours and Travel (ITT), have expressed their satisfaction with and support for the shuttle service. General Manager of FIGAS, Shaun Minto explained that it is important that the new two-tier operating model is considered in its entirety. The shuttle is only one half of the two tier model, the other being commercial operations. "The purpose of the shuttle model is to move as many passengers as possible, using as few resources as possible," he said. While there is some potential to reduce direct operating costs through gains in efficiency, the main aim of the shuttle model is to release pilot and aircraft resources for use on the second tier commercial operations, which is the only way FIGAS can hope to reduce the public subsidy (currently in the order of £1.25m), said Mr Minto. One of the main means of generating commercial revenue is by charter flights for tourists groups, an initiative that has had a mixed reception from the tourism industry, with only one of the two main tour providers actively promoting the concept, he said. "Despite this, we have already quoted approximately £30,000 of full-cost charter revenue, including the successful visit by the Pelle Mohlin tour group," (as reported recently by PN). Earnings forecasts for the current year will undoubtedly be affected by variables, which include the new ferry service and the impact of the credit crunch on tourism numbers, however Mr Minto said that, assuming the total number of passengers remain constant, he expects total revenues to increase by approximately £200,000 in this financial year. Turn to page three to find out what the customers think of the service to date. Inside this week's Penguin NewsPage 4: Local landmark the Jhelumbattered and broken by time and high winds. Page 5: Court news and Your questions answered. Centre: PN heads to South Georgia for the day with 1312 Flight. Page 9: Bound ungagged and Two minutes. Picture: Back row l-r: Jake Buckett, Jamel Adeoye, Ross Stewart, Dean Dent, James Tyrell, Andrew Barrett and Coban Eriksen; Middle row: Ieuan Ford, Kalon Jaffray, Kieran Roberts, John Davies, Gareth McGhie, Dane Gilson-Clarke and Scott Thain. Front row: Callaway Tooby, Ethan Gilson-Clarke, Adam Elouassi, Zlodovan Marinovic, Jim Davies and Declan Bonner.