MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update

Headlines: Celebrities on deck as Ilen refit gets underway in Ireland; Stanley Services Ltd: kerosene price explosion not imminent; Longer wait for would-be residents pending public consultation on immigrant points scheme; New leaders in renewable energy; FIDC's David Waugh to arrive in New Year; This weeks cruise ships.

Celebrities on deck as Ilen refit gets underway in IrelandALTHOUGH it has been some years coming, the refitting of the Auxiliary Ketch Ilen,once a familiar sight around the Falklands, has now begun with some fanfare. Film producer, Lord David Putnam and award-winning actor, Jeremy Irons, were among a crowd of well wishers, who turned up at Hegarty's Boatyard at Old Court, Ireland recently to see the work commence, according to Jackie Keogh, writing for the Irish newspaper, Southern Star. The Ilen was originally built by the Fisheries School in Baltimore - Ireland's first vocational school - to the design of Mr Conor O'Brien. Continued on page 3. Stanley Services Ltd: kerosene price explosion not imminentSTANLEY SERVICES Ltd, the sole licensed providers of petroleum products in the Falkland Islands, were quick to respond to a radio report on Wednesday that the price of kerosene could shortly be doubled. On Wednesday, a company spokesperson said that it could reassure the public that there would be no increase to the price of kerosene on December 1. The source of the report on the Falkland Islands Radio Service's News Middayprogramme was a media briefing on Tuesday, when Government spokesman, Councillor Mike Summers, explained the workings of the government imposed formula for the fixing of fuel prices. Giving the assurance that the prices of petrol and diesel at the pumps could be expected ultimately to reflect the recent downward movement of crude oil prices, he said that no such assurance could be given at the moment in the case of kerosene, due to a recent rise in its price by the Ministry of Defence, from whom it had been purchased for the last twenty years. Cllr Summers said: "For some reason entirely unknown to anybody, they have almost doubled the selling price of kerosene. We think it's probably an error, butwe can't get to the source of it just yet, so we are in a real conundrum about whether we will be able to continue to supply kerosene at a reasonable price." While seeking further information from the Defence Fuels Establishment in the UK, Stanley Services was working hard to find alternative sources of kerosene, said Councillor Summers, including in South America, where although prices were relatively high, cost of delivery, would be less. Stanley Services General Manager, Robert Rowlands said the public should be reassured that the company at present had considerable stocks of kerosene. Longer wait for would-be residents pending public consultation on immigrant points schemeFURTHER delays are a prospect for anyone seeking to apply for Permanent Residence Permit (PRP) in the Falkland Islands. At its meeting last week, Executive Council (ExCo) agreed that in order to ensure full public consultation on the proposed introduction of an Immigration Points System, the moratorium on applications for permanent residence applications, which was imposed in January 2007 and was supposed to end on January 25 2009, would now be extended until the end of March 2009. Members were informed that a comprehensive paper shortly to be made public by the Government Secretary contained proposals for the introduction of a points system for general migrants, taking into account their skills, salary, duration of employment offer and work experience relevant to the offer. Age, length of time in the community and pension plan arrangements of the principal applicant, plus property and cash assets, jointly with spouse or partner would also be considered. The three year qualifying period to make an application for a PRP would continue. Policy issues included, good health and clean criminal records for all applicants, a good standard of English and satisfactory accommodation arrangements. Younger skilled migrants would be preferred, but over 50's would be accepted, provided they had comprehensive medical insurance or could provide a bond and there would be different points thresholds for single and partnered applicants. Prospective applicants could assess themselves against the points system and apply, if they considered they had met or exceeded the points threshold, said Councillor Mike Rendell. Continued on page 3. New leaders in renewable energyTHE supply and installation of a third flywheel and additional control equipment to augment the Sand Bay Wind Farm project was approved by ExCo last week. Members were advised that the most significant impact of this additional control equipment would be the reduction on the number of running hours of the larger diesel sets, which would increase their total life and reduce ongoing maintenance costs. The additional £140,000 cost is to be funded by virement. Councillor Mike Rendell said that at a recent seminar for European Union, Overseas Territories and Countries (OTC), it was noted that the Falklands are in the leading group of those represented in respect of percentage of electricity produced from renewable resources. He added that the projected 40% fuel displacement level, when Phase Two of the wind farm is completed, would potentially place the Falklands in the lead of all OTCs, despite the fact that the Falklands uses wind power alone, while some others are using hydro generating power. FIDC's David Waugh to arrive in New YearIT HAS been announced that David Waugh, who had previously withdrawn from his designated appointment as General Manager of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation, due to his wife's illness, is once again able to take up the position. It is reported that there has been a positive change in Mrs Waugh's condition and Mr Waugh is expected to take up the post early in the New Year. This weeks cruise shipsTODAY sees the arrival in Stanley of Akademik Yoffe (79) while Professor Multanovskiy(49) calls at West Point and Carcass Islands, arriving in Stanley on Saturday November 22. Polar Star(98) calls at New Island and West Point on Monday and is due in Stanley on Tuesday.