MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update
CBFSAI Air Commodore Gordon Moulds presents a very laid back <i>Leo</i> with a Commande's certificate of merit. Pictured with handler Corporal Kev Carver Headlines: Top dog Leo in drugs bust; New Constitution approved by Her Majesty the Queen; Fuel prices not set to fall.
Top dog Leo in drugs bustTWO men appeared in court on Monday faced with the charge of illegally importing 30.06 kilograms of cocaine into the Falklands. The Class A drug was discovered on board the fishing vessel Ventura following a routine, random check by the Immigration Department and an RAF Police dog and is estimated to have a street value of £1million. Principal Crown Counsel Ros Cheek told the court that the men had worked on the Falklands flagged Venturafor only one season and that their seamen discharge books showed that they had frequently changed vessels and employers in recent years, but it was believed they had worked together for a number of years. The drug was initially detected in the cabin and sleeping area of forty-one year old Rogelio Curras Pastoriza by the RAF police dog Leoand a further search revealed 29 packets of the substance under the bunk of Jesus Carbullo Martinez (26). Mr Carbullo, who was represented by lawyer David Lang, pleaded guilty to the charge, while Mr Curras opted to obtain legal representation before making a plea. Ms Cheek said that in police interview Mr Curras had given a number of different accounts, however, in the most recent he had admitted possessing and importing the 1kg block of cocaine discovered in his quarters. Mr Carbullo, however, had given a full account of what appeared to have happened. He told police that he and Mr Curras had obtained all 29 packages in a brothel in Montevideo and that both men had carried them on board in two lots and placed them in Mr Curras's wardrobe. They were to be paid 20,000 Euros to take the packages to Spain. Continued on page 3. New Constitution approved by Her Majesty the Queen FALKLANDS history was made this week when the Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008 was made by Her Majesty the Queen in the Privy Council on Wednesday. It is expected to come into operation on January 1 2009, and is welcomed by representatives of both the British and Falkland Islands governments. Commenting on the new Constitution, Councillor Mike Summers, spokesperson for the Falkland Islands' Government said it more accurately described the relationship between the Falklands and the United Kingdom, and formally established the degree of internal self-government. "We have been pleased with the co-operative nature of our negotiations, reflecting a maturing partnership and a continuing commitment to security, social and economic development. The right of the people of the Falkland Islands to determine their political future has been freely exercised through the democratic process," he said. Foreign Office Minister, Gillian Merron, said she welcomed the new Constitution for the Falkland Islands. "In agreeing it, the UK Government and the Falkland Islands' Government have worked together, openly and constructively, to ensure that it will serve the Islands well in the future. "I was particularly pleased that all Falkland Islanders had opportunity to discuss and comment on it at all stages before it was finalised," she said. The world has moved on since the previous Falkland Islands' constitution came into operation in 1985, and the Falklands have developed considerably, both economically and socially, said Ms Merron, adding that the new Constitution reflects this. "It enhances local democracy, while retaining sufficient powers for the UK government to protect UK interests and to ensure the overall good governance of the territory. It provides for greater transparency and accountability through the creation of a Public Accounts Committee and a Complaints Commissioner. And the Rights chapter has been brought up to date to bring it into line with international agreements. However it does not change the UK government's overall commitment to the Islands as an Overseas Territory, "nor does it change the right to self-determination, fundamental to our relationship with all of our Overseas Territories," she concluded. Fuel prices not set to fallTHE fact that fuel prices are not falling at the pump in line with global prices is the result of a decision taken by the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) not to pass the full increase onto the public and the strength of the pound against the dollar, Stanley Services Manager Robert Rowlands said this week. As a result, a debt had been incurred, which now had to be repaid, he added. While Mr Rowlands would not reveal the extent of the debt, he said it was a, "considerable sum" of money and he could not set a time limit on when the debt would be repaid and when any significant decrease in pump prices would occur. Mr Rowlands stated that the Company has a contract with the Falkland Islands Government that the Company has to carry a minimum of three months stock of each product. This meant that local prices are slower to rise and slower to fall when compared to international markets, as the stock is revalued after purchases made by the Company. Kerosene and petrol are currently purchased in pounds and the cost of stock is revalued monthly and the price changed, according to the costing of the fuel from the suppliers. Diesel is purchased in American dollars and whilst the product price has seen a rapid fall from the highs experienced in July, the pound against the dollar has fallen by approximately 20% in the same period, which has reduced the price reduction in Falkland pound costs. When the fuel prices were rising rapidly, the Falkands Government asked the Company that the full price increases on products should not be passed on to the customer at that time. This resulted in the build up of a debt that will have to be repaid and, along with the weakened pound, will slow the price reductions at the pump. Diesel was decreased in price by 2p per litre on November 1. Continued on page 3. Welcome to the 46 members of the SAMA 2008 pilgrimage of 1982 veterans and their families who arrive tomorrow. Schedule of events on page 4.
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