FIBS NEWS DIRECT: FRIDAY, 20 JUNE 2003
OPERA SINGER TO TUTOR FIODA:
A professionally trained opera singer, Philipa Thompson from MPA, will be giving tuition to members of FIODA, Tour Guides and anybody who is interested. She will be teaching techniques and voice production and projection, confidence building and how to avoid voice strain. Normally this sort of training costs £20.00 an hour but here, it’s free. FIODA’s Norman McGregor-Edwards says lessons will be starting on the 14th of August.
FALKLANDS SOVEREIGNTY:
The Chilean rep to the UN has spoken of the issue of Falklands sovereignty, saying that the only way is that of bilateral negotiations between Argentina and the UK. Horaldo Minoz, who took up the post of permanent post at the UN this week, presented the draft resolution to the UN Decolonisation Committee. Proposing the so called "Falklands Problem" as a special colonial issue, saying that the draft resolution presented to both sides is asking to strengthening the dialogue and co-operation process by restarting negotiations so as to find a solution that conforms to UN resolutions.
JELLY TOTS CHILDRENS FANCY DRESS:
The Jelly Tots Fancy Dress is happening this weekend. It’s taking place in the Town Hall on Sunday. So, if you want your child to take part in the fun and you haven’t already done so, so you need to get sticking, licking and sewing soon.
WHALING:
Whaling means whale watching says New Zealand. The country made the day at this week’s IWC meeting by arguing that. According to the news reactions, that ranged from astonishment to non English speakers wondering what they missed from the English language. It was nothing but a circus said Christian Lurdsen, Executive Director of an Icelandic whaling company. He’s also known as Captain Ahab. The Oxford dictionary describes whaling as the activity and business of hunting and killing whales.
PRESENTATION TO THE KEMH:
Members of 1435 Flight are going to be making a presentation to the hospital. Chief Tech. Graham Webster and colleagues will be giving the KEMH a personal stereo / CD player, which will be for patients use. They had some money in their Flight Charity Account and so asked the hospital what they would like. The presentation is happening at 1100 on Monday morning.
FISHERIES PATROL VESSEL:
As yet no decision has been made to whether Byron Marine will remain the contractor for the Fishery Patrol Vessels. This follows information that said the contract had been lost. A spokesperson from the Secretariat said the tender process is still underway, though and a decision will be made soon.
(100X Transcription Service)
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING - 19 JUNE 2003
This month’s meeting was brought forward to allow for the fact that the Governor, the Attorney General and the Financial Secretary are all departing the Islands on 21 June for meetings and leave. The Governor is attending a meeting in London and is taking the opportunity to visit Guernsey and the Falkland Islands participants at the Small Islands Games there.
It was felt, therefore, because of the Governor’s imminent departure that I should do this broadcast and as this was my last Executive Council meeting before I leave after six and a half years in the Islands I am delighted to be able to do so.
The following represent some but not all of the items covered at the meeting:
A paper from the Financial Secretary reported on the Government Actuary’s Department’s review of the Island’s Retirement Pension Scheme. They have commented very favourably on the scheme and the current strategy followed by government. It is good to note the healthy state of the scheme.
An appeal against a decision of the Planning Committee not to agree to the use of a garage other than to park vehicles was allowed. But whilst this appeal was allowed it has to be made clear that the general principle that garage conversions of any type requires approval still stands.
The Environmental Planning Officer was congratulated for his good work in the production of the draft Falkland Islands Development Plan. This Plan is made up of the Structure Plan and the Stanley Town Plan. These plans will be made available to the public so that a three-month consultation process can commence. These two documents are of major importance to the future development of the Islands and Executive Council stressed that they need to be widely available. Plans are in hand to ensure that the public consultation process is followed as comprehensively as possible by using the media, presentations here and in camp, displays, producing copies of t./he documents on CD and in hard copy and other means.
An additional paper submitted by the Environmental Planning Officer sought approval to add 10 "threatened" plant species to the list of protected species under the Conservation of Wildlife and Native Ordinance 1999. Whilst approval was granted, the EPO was asked to produce and circulate illustrations of the "threatened" species to aid identification. It was also agreed that the Rural Business Association should be provided, for its members, clear guidance on the legal position for farmers operating in the normal course of agricultural work in instances that could affect these species.
The Senior Magistrate proposed amendments to the legal aid scheme. The proposals, which will result in changes to the various rates payable to legal practitioners, were accepted.
The Government Secretary put forward a paper to clarify the term "ordinarily resident" in connection with applicants for Falkland Islands Status and PRPs. On advice, it was agreed that the term "ordinarily resident" in relation to the residential requirements for persons to make Status and PRP applications could now include applications from persons living and working at MPA. It was, and will be made clear, that being qualified to make an application does not guarantee or infer it will be approved.
The only issue under AOB that I report on relates to parking restrictions on the "Ice Route" in Stanley. There have been reports of problems incurred as a result of parking along Brandon Road. There is a need to ensure that emergency vehicles can pass along the ice route without interference; approval was given for parking restrictions to be put in place along the north side of Brandon Road when required.
