FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: 04 FEBRUARY 2004

(With Relevant Stories from FIBS)

 

Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)

 

           

 

 

GOVERNOR’S REPORT ON THE MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON THURSDAY 29 JANUARY 2004 

 

Executive Council met on Thursday 29 January.  As usual, we had a wide ranging agenda. 

 

ExCo considered whether work should proceed on a new Living Allowance to replace a variety of existing schemes of financial assistance (including welfare grants, unemployment assistance, housing benefit, winter fuel allowance and special funds support).  ExCo concluded that it would be premature to replace this range of schemes with a single Living Allowance.  Further steps to reform social systems policy should wait until the impact of the recent tax changes, particularly on the low paid, could be properly assessed.  ExCo will review the issues again in a year or so’s time.

 

ExCo approved a revised version of the Taxes (Benefits in Kind) Rules 2003, to take account of certain changes to the table setting out the annual value of various board and accommodation benefits.  The rules are likely to be submitted to Legislative Council in February, and will take effect retrospectively from 1 January this year.  ExCo also approved four further extra statutory concessions in connection with the operation of Taxation Policy.  Listeners may recall that these are relaxations in practice which give taxpayers a reduction in tax liability to which they would not be entitled under the strict letter of the law.  The four new concessions concern the use of company vehicles; clubs, societies and associations; entertainment expenses; and gratuities. These new concessions follow five concessions which were agreed by ExCo in December.  ExCo also approved an amendment to the extra statutory concession concerning pension income allocation for married couples. They will be published in the Gazette in due course.

 

While on the subject of money, I should report that ExCo approved a revised schedule of fees for services provided by the Department of Agriculture, to take effect from 1 February 2004.  This follows the approval by ExCo in November 2002 of a recommendation by the Director of Agriculture that fees levied by the Department should be reviewed annually.  ExCo also agreed that fees for services provided to the Fishing Industry should be considered, with a view to implementation in 2005.

 

On a lighter, and sporting, note, ExCo agreed that financial assistance should be provided to the Falkland Islands Cricket Association in connection with their forthcoming visit to Chile to play a series of international matches.  The assistance will take the form of up to 50% of flight costs for the Falkland Islands participants, amounting to some £3,200.

 

ExCo considered the operation of the Occupational Health Service.  Members expressed their satisfaction with the Service, and recommended that it should continue to be funded in the 2004/5 financial year. 

 

ExCo also considered certain minor changes to the Camp road construction programme.  They noted that, following the completion by Mr Michael McKay of the work assigned to him ahead of time and below budget, the Goose Green Bypass could now be included in this season’s work.  ExCo extended their thanks and congratulations to Mr McKay for his achievement.  Also on the subject of transportation, ExCo noted that the North Camp Transportation Scheme, designed to provide transport for children in North Camp to school in Stanley, had been discontinued because of changes in the circumstances of the families concerned.

 

ExCo approved the extraction of Calcified Seaweed deposits for use as an agricultural liming agent at Ruggles Bay in East Falkland, subject to certain conditions. 

 

ExCo considered future arrangements for the provision of housing plots in Stanley.  After some discussion, members agreed to the following three points:

 

-          to discontinue direct subsidy for FIG housing plots once plots in Phase 7 of the East Stanley development had been allocated;

-          a new “means tested” FIG financial package should be developed, to take the form of a conditional grant for both public and private sector plot purchase, with increasing emphasis on first time buyers only;

-          to support continued discussion with the private sector, with a view to developing partnerships for future housing provision in place of FIG providing serviced plots.

 

ExCo considered whether to ask the UK Government to include the Falkland Islands in its ratification of the AARHUS Convention.  The Convention concerns access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice on environmental matters.  Members concluded that the Falkland Islands should not be included in the UK’s initial ratification of the Convention.  Members wished first to seek further clarification of the legislative changes which would be required and of the necessary changes in environmental information gathering and reporting, with a view to considering the possibility of ratification for the Falkland Islands at a later stage.

 

ExCo continued its work on the reform of Falklands Fisheries legislation.  Members gave brief consideration to the first draft of the new Fisheries (Conservation and Management) Bill.  They congratulated the Attorney General on the work he had undertaken in the production of this very substantial piece of legislation.  It was agreed that the draft should now be passed for detailed discussion to the Fisheries Working Group and the Fisheries Policy Advisory Committee.

 

ExCo considered and approved an amended version of the Falkland Islands driving licence, and agreed that more work should be undertaken on making the licence look more like an official document.

 

ExCo approved a draft amendment to the Immigration Ordinance, which would have the effect of defining more closely the rules governing the issue of Work Permits, and agreed to remit this to Legislative Council. 

 

ExCo considered a paper on policy for the provision of Human In Vitro Fertilisation by the Falkland Islands Health Service.  Members approved the paper, which recommends changes in the criteria for eligibility and in particular the introduction of an age limit of 39.  Members also approved certain transitional arrangement for the introduction of the new criteria.

 

ExCo considered the arrangements for certification of ships as free from rat infestation.  They concluded that this task should no longer be carried out by the Doctors.  It was agreed that the service should in future be provided either by the private sector or by another Government Department.  Further consideration would be given to this.

 

Finally, ExCo approved the Conservation of Wildlife and Nature (Amendment) Bill, which would, once approved by Legislative Council, make it possible for the Falkland Islands to be included in ratification of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels.      

 

 

 

 

 

FIBS NEWS DIRECT: WEDNESDAY, 04 FEBRUARY 2004

 

FALKLANDS POLICE INVESTIGATE HIGH SEAS DEATH:

 

Falklands Police have launched an investigation after a man was airlifted to KEMH this morning with head injuries and another man died in what is thought to have been a violent incident onboard a Taiwanese Jigger.  The Sea King was called out at 11:21 last night to pick up the injured crew member from Uruguayan flagged Tai Chang 6.  Media Ops at MPA say they understand there had been a fight on the boat.  The dead man’s body is thought to still be on the boat, which is now returning to Uruguay.  The incident happened on the high seas and the man was picked up from the boat on the edge of the Falklands Fishing Zone around 200 Miles N/W of the Islands.  The Sea King had to be stripped of some of its usual contents to make it lighter to give it enough range for the rescue.

 

ROSS ROAD CLEAR-WAY GETS THE GO AHEAD:

 

The Ross Road Clear-was is to be made permanent almost two months before its trial was due to end.  Businesses at the east end of Ross Road raised a petition last year to complain about the affect the clear-way was having on them.  Councillors say they now hope to provide parking spaces for them in a new area near the Jetty Centre as soon as possible.  Chairman of the Public Works Committee, Cllr Roger Edwards (RE) told us this:

 

RE:  The recommendation is that the clear-way stays.  However, we must progress the car parking problems that are faced.  One of those is hopefully we can get some land from the Falkland Islands Company on the corner by the Jetty Centre, to lay down 8 parking spaces.  They will be black topped and they will be designated for the use of the Gift Shop and the Waterfront Bed and Breakfast.  They will have to park in areas allotted to them.  We want to get this underway as soon as possible.  We also looked to Dave Eynon for in-filling the harbour between the public jetty and his jetty so that we can make car parks there.  His proposal was for quite a large – two lines of parking near to the harbour.  I don’t know how much that would cost.  Presently, PWD are looking at what it would cost.  There’s quite a lot of rock that would have to be hauled down and dumped in the harbour.  It would probably cause severe damage to Ross Road on the corner.  It obviously couldn’t be done during the tourist season.  It would have to be done outside that.  It would also have to tie in with the re-build of Ross Road because.  Heavy lorries going the corner there would probably wreck the road completely

 

LH:  The Committee heard that Cllr John Birmingham, Manfred Keenleyside and Tony Lancaster would work together on setting up the new parking places.  This morning, Sue Gyford (SG) asked Shula Phillips (SP) of the Waterfront Guest House what she thought of the decision to make the clear-way permanent before the end of its trial period.

 

SP:  I think everyone will probably know what my feelings are about that.  I am not too amused but to me it seems like just another broken promise or an empty promise to start with.  They always say what day it will run till and as the day gets close, they change it.  I’m not really in favour of that.

 

SG:  Do you think eight parking spaces will be enough for the businesses down there?

 

SP:  No.  I certainly don’t.  It’s just a bit of a joke really.  I think they are just thinking of any excuse not to make a big car park out the front like Dave Eynon has planned.  I think that is an excellent idea and I just wish that everyone would support that 100%.  That would certainly work long-term and it would be big enough to take the traffic we have now plus more.  That’s obviously what’s going to happen. As far as I can see that’s what we need.  Eight spaces doesn’t really cover it.  To start, I have eight bedrooms so, no.  I don’t think eight is enough.

 

TORRES DEL PAINE TRIP POSTPONED:

 

The Leisure Centre trip to Torres del Paine is to be postponed for a month to give parents more time to find the money.  The trip was originally scheduled for sports week but has now been put back to April.  The trip now will run from 10 April to 17 April 2004.  £100.00 deposits are now due by 20 February with full payment two weeks before the trip.  There are 12 places which are open to pupils in year 9 and above.

 

INFANTRY COMPANY DEMO:

 

The RIC showed off their shooting skills this afternoon at a fire-power demonstration at Onion Range.  Around 30 to 35 Civilian Invited guests plus 40 military spectators had the chance to see what the capabilities of the Royal Highland Fusiliers are.  As well as platoon attacks, there were a number of weapons demonstrated, such as the SA-80 the Milan and the Browning .5 calibre machine gun.

 

IRISH BAND:

 

Irish band, The Brewery Boys,” arrived in the Islands today.  While they are here, they will be performing in a number of venues around Stanley.  The first of these is tonight in the Globe Tavern from 2000 and tomorrow, they will move on to the Victory Bar.

 

JANUARY WEATHER:

 

We have just had the sunniest and driest January since records began in 1987, according to the MPA  Met Office.  The average temperature for the month was 16.9C, above the average of 15.3.  The highest recorded temperature was 22.8C on 23 January, with the lowest maximum of 10.7C on the 14^th.  There were only 26.8mm of rain compared to the normal 60.9mm and we had 275.5 hours of sunshine.  The average for January is 232.1.  On the 26^th, the Falklands had an incredible 14.3 hours of sunshine.  It was a bit windier than normal with gales on 11 days and gusts exceeding 33kts occurring on 25.

 

HARBOUR NEWS:

 

Reefer Invincible is still in Berkley Sound with the Don San Ho transhipping and the Jigger Chan Shin 302 is in Stanley Harbour.  The Yacht, Shenandoah was bunkering at FIPASS earlier today and the FIC boat, Anne Boye is now along side.  Falklands Flagged trawler, Castello, is in for licensing and there are 13 vessels fishing in the zone, where catches are picking up with the return of the finfish fleet.  And, there are two more trawlers due in tomorrow morning for licensing.

 

 

USHUAIA BOOMING?:

 

Tourism in the Argentine cruise ship port of Ushuaia is booming, according to a report from Reuters today.  But the news agency says the town’s tourism business is being held back by Argentina’s economic problems.  Ushuaia was expected to benefit from the Argentine Decision to ban charter flights to the Falklands with cruise operators offering it as an alternative turn-around for journeys, which were due into the Islands.  Officials expect the number of tourists to go up by 20% this year.  Last year saw 181,000 visitors to Ushuaia with hotels enjoying 95% occupancy rates.  But Argentina’s economic struggle means there’s no cheap credit available to hotels, restaurants or other businesses wanting to make the most of the boom.  The article describes steak houses bustling with rosy faced foreigners just back from luxury cruises and Hotel owners desperate to add extra beds to their establishments.  But it says tourist attractions are peeling paint and men dressed up in Penguin Suits asking tourists for spare change because there are no better jobs at the hotels.  The new Governor of Tierra del Fuego has also blamed corruption for the financial problems, saying his predecessors had looted the provincial bank, leaving the province bankrupt.

 

 

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