by Trevor Sturgess

Falklanders can now walk more safely around their islands thanks to the completion of a mine clearance operation run by Medway experts.

BACTEC International, of Sir Thomas Longley Road, Medway City Estate, has said farewell to the Falklands after the six-month project.

De-mining specialists from Kent, Zimbabwe and the Lebanon have neutralised the deadly Argentian legacy from the 1982 Falklands War.

Despite hold-ups caused by bad weather, the operation at four sites - Sapper Hill, Goose Green, Fox Bay and Surf Bay - went well, with more than 1,250 mines cleared.

The project, given to BACTEC by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, was a triumph for founding chief executive Guy Lucas who knew the terrain well. In 1982, shortly after the Argentinian surrender, he was first on the scene at the mined areas as commander of 49 EOD Royal Engineers.

Project manager Roger Gagen, also an ex-Royal Engineer, stayed behind with four Zimbabweans to clear the final group of 16 anti-tank mines at Surf Bay. Some were found buried in sand more than four metres down.

The work was carried out with a combination of armoured excavator and manual clearance techniques. The last mine was finally located and cleared on May 27. After final checking, the site is being handed over to islanders free of mines and other ordnance and Mr Gagen is coming home.

He said: "We have been faced with a number of challenges, including the weather, all of which we have overcome with the help of the Falklands Island Government, colleagues on the islands and especially the community.

"Our Lebanese and Zimbabwean de-miners adapted well to the Falkland Islands’ working environment and worked assiduously to successfully complete the project to the required standards in the specified timescale.

"We have experienced all weather conditions, some quite hostile but the work continued. I am pleased that the final mines have now been located and cleared and the project has been completed."

He added: "On behalf of both Guy Lucas and the teams, I would like to offer my most sincere thanks and appreciation to the Falkland Islands community for their support, encouragement and patience throughout the project."

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