FINN(COM) Daily Record for 20 October 2003

Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)

By J. Brock (FINN)

British Antarctic Survey Twin Otters left Stanley Airport at 1045 this morning. They headed towards Rothera research station in the Antarctic, thus beginning the summer season of flying between the Falklands and the White Continent. The Dash Seven will leave when passengers on the delayed Tri-star arrive.

As you will be aware there is soon to be a by-election for the Camp Constituency. I would like to put my name forward as your representative on legislative council for the next two years. My main reason for doing so is that I strongly believe that to represent your views your choice of councillor has to be from within our community. It is very easy to lose track of the constantly changing everyday issues that effect the camp population, unless one actually experiences them first hand. I also think that the two-year term following this by election is the right time to put an untried councillor in place. It will be beneficial to the candidate, and in the long term to the electorate. I am aware how time consuming the task will be and if elected would employ part-time help on farm, so as that I can attend as many meetings as realistically possible, and also have more time to listen to you, the people of camp, when at home. I have lived all my life in the camp, working on large farms, an outlying island and now as an individual farm owner. This I hope gives me a greater understanding of whatever problems you feel that you may have, wherever you live or work in camp. The problems of these environments are widely different, and each needs to be addressed individually to produce a clear picture of what is best overall for the rural community. I have some experience in meeting and speaking to government officials. Over the past thirteen years I have sat on many committees and would like to use what knowledge gained to help the rural cause. I have also represented the Islands overseas at the Royal Shows, and whilst I am aware that these experiences are limited, I would not be going in totally at the ‘deep end’ so to speak.

There are ongoing issues important to our way of life and it’s future that needs to be constantly addressed. It concerns me that although the road-building programme is advancing well, there are problems with the maintenance and repair of existing roads. In some cases these are serious enough to see farms cut off during certain weather conditions, and can cause problems with heavy haulage at any time of the year. I believe more emphasis on repairs and maintenance is needed. It concerns me that we seem to be no further ahead in the type of surfacing required for the MPA road. The existing trials do not appear to be the answer, and the longer it takes to arrive at a solution the worse the surface becomes. I personally don’t know what the answer is but taking into account the amount of money spent and so called expert advice given, surely by now we should have at least an idea of what direction to go in.

It concerns me that our Government wage bill is as much as it is per annum. For a country with the size population we have, the cost of administration seems totally out of proportion. Are we getting our money’s worth? If elected this is a question I shall be asking on a regular basis.

My views on the abbattior and its future are pretty widely known .I welcome the formation of FIMCO and more farmer involvement. I believe the current team within FIDC and the farmers involved have to be given the chance to try and further develop marketing, improve operating conditions and make sure transportation and delivery of livestock goes as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Already a better financial deal for suppliers of stock to the abattoir is in place for this season. However, I would not like to see any of these objectives achieved at the expense of existing retail businesses. Handled correctly, this situation should not arise.

We have to encourage our youngsters to follow careers in the Islands, and to facilitate those skills not just in Stanley, but in Camp as well. Apprenticeships and training in all kind of skills are important if we are to fill positions locally. If we are to repopulate the Camp, or to keep the people that are living in Camp here, there has to be advantages seen for living in Camp. I believe for example the recent Tax Review missed an opportunity to encourage more businesses to start in the Camp. If other opportunities arrive in the future we should not make the same mistake.

The recent issue of pupils missing thirty weeks of education during their school lives is misleading; certainly as far as the Camp population is concerned. I would need to see a lot more information on this before I would support any change of the existing Ordinance.

Other issues that need to be constantly monitored and addressed are shipping- both internally and north and south bound to and from the Islands. A regular and reliable link between east and west is important for obvious reasons, including the same type of service for outlying Islands. Tourism – I would like to see more financial aid to those who cater for tourists in camp. The grant scheme for improvement or modification of buildings was a great help and should be re-introduced as soon as possible. Pasture Improvement- we are on the right track with this I hope, but we should not get complacent .A regular review of the progress and it’s results at the end of each season is needed. It has to be remembered that what works on one farm, won’t necessarily work all over the Islands.

Councillors are often criticised for the amount of time they spend away from the Islands, and I have probably done my fair share of complaining. However, it is important that internationally we are represented and our views expressed on the world stage. As one who still recalls being imprisoned at gunpoint on Pebble Island during the 1982 conflict it will come as no surprise to you that my views on relations with Argentina are less than favourable. Argentina claim sovereignty over these Islands, a claim totally unacceptable as far as I am concerned. Until this claim is dropped I would not consider discussing any links of any kind.

I would be grateful for your support. Thank you.

New Year’s Day Thursday 1 January

Good Friday Friday 9 April

HM The Queen’s Birthday Wednesday 21 April

Liberation Day Monday 14 June

Spring Holiday Monday 4 October

Battle Day Wednesday 8 December

Christmas Day Monday 27 December

(in lieu of)

Boxing Day Tuesday 28 December

(in lieu of)

Christmas Holiday Wednesday 29 December

*Government Holiday Thursday 30 December

*Government Holiday Friday 31 December

*Note 1: These two days are not public holidays they are days on which

all Government Departments (other than those providing

essential services) will be closed.

Note 2: Margaret Thatcher Day falls on 10 January each year but is

not a Government or Public Holiday.

Note 3: Falkland Day falls on 14 August each year but is not now a

Government or Public Holiday.

2am-Revert Clocks to Local Mean Time Sunday 18 April

2am-Advance Clocks to Summer Time Sunday 5 September

OVERSEAS HEALTH CARE UNDER DISCUSSION:

The Health and Medical Services Committee is meeting to discuss a serious budget squeeze on treatment overseas. The Health Department has received £410,000.00 this year for overseas medical treatment but says there has been an unusually high number of patients travelling to the UK. On October 9^th, there were 25 patients there including several who needed longer-term treatment for four to six months or more. Health managers say all the referrals have been made correctly but they are going to have to start putting off some non-urgent treatment, even though managers acknowledge that people have to put up with pain or discomfort for longer than normal.

HEATED DEBATE AT FISHERIES COMMITTEE MEETING:

There was heated debate at the Fisheries Committee Meeting this morning, over the latest paper on eligibility for fishing rights. Members discussed who would be eligible for individual transferable quotas or ITQs. New rules are likely to state that shareholders should be ordinarily resident in the Falkland Islands, as well as being status holders. The change is designed in order to avoid a new generation of so-called absentee landlords holding fishing rights. Dick Sawle of Polar Limited asked the Committee to clarify exactly what ordinarily resident meant, given that residents that are overseas for 6 months would lose their place on the electoral register. But Attorney General, David Lang, insisted the phrase was recognised in law and could be defined by common sense without the need to be written down in statute. Fisheries Director, John Barton (JB), explained.

JB: The paper being considered at the Fisheries Committee this morning on the eligibility to hold fishing rights was really setting out some of the process and detail to a policy decision that was already taken back in January of this year. The main decision at that time was that companies who would be eligible to hold ITQs, should have their entire share-holding made up of people who are Falklands Status Holders. That was the preference expressed at the time. It had to be reviewed a bit to see whether that was possible and the view seems to be that it is possible. The paper today was more setting out the programme of how we might move a bit more from the current system towards the full property rights system and, in particular, the paper that was being considered today advocated the setting up of a number of registers to move into the new system for the folk who are eligible to hold fishing rights would hold ITQs or various other classes of rights would have to go through a process to apply to be on a number of these registers. It’s that sort of process that is being discussed today. I emphasise the one that was being considered this morning will have to go to EXCO. It’s still very much an EXCO decision as to whether they agree to the proposals in the paper. The clarification that was given this morning was that their status holders would be ordinarily resident. We had some discussion about what that meant.

The paper is to be circulated to Industry representatives for comment and will be considered by EXCO on the 31^st of October.

SECOND LAN CHILE FLIGHT:

The proposed second LanChile flight has once again hit the headlines in Chile. The British Ambassador in the country, Richard Wilkinson, has underlined the importance of trade and communications links between Punta Arenas and the Falklands. He’s also confirmed that talks are underway on the second flight. He says it’s a serious problem that many travellers to the Islands have to wait a whole week before they can leave. But he warned there are issues of profit and aircraft availability and said the issue will have to be negotiated by Britain with Chile and Argentina.

24 HOUR DELAY:

Outgoing Tri-star passengers are having to wait 24 hours before having to leave the Islands. The plane is delayed with a technical problem. But the Tri-star is still due to leave RAF Brize Norton at 2359 tonight, landing in the Falklands at 1405 tomorrow afternoon.

MOD PENSIONS EXPERT:

A Ministry of Defence pensions expert is to be brought down by the Royal British Legion to offer advice to ex service people. He will be here from 04 November to the 13^th and can help you work out if you are entitled to a service pension or clear up any other issues around your pension. The offer is open to all ex service people whether or not they are members of the Royal British Legion.

SAMA SPONSORED MARCH:

There is to be a sponsored march in aid of SAMA. Super fit Logistics Support Squadron Personnel are to march from MPA to Hillside Camp on the 29^th of October to raise money for the veterans’ charity. They hope to finish the march within 12 hours, arriving at Hillside by 1800.

FISHING AND HARBOUR NEWS:

Catches have dropped for the 26 vessels fishing in the Zone. The majority of these are fishing in the W-N-W of the Zone. The RRS James Clark Ross left FIPASS yesterday evening, leaving the Golden Fleece alongside. The Argos Parera arrived into Port William this morning to have her E. U. health inspection and to take on bunkers and stores before heading back to Spain. There are only two vessels, the tanker, Zalgares and the reefer, Frio Marathon in Berkley Sound.

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