Falklands : Executive Council: January Report
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 01.02.2005 (Article Archived on 15.02.2005)
A full transcript of the Governor's interview with Corina Bishop will be posted shortly.
GOVERNOR’S REPORT ON THE MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON THURSDAY 27 JANUARY 2005
Executive Council met for the first time in 2005 on Thursday 27 January. The first agenda of the new year was a full and varied one.
It does not seem so long ago that we marked the 20th Anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands. But minds in both the UK and the Islands are already being turned to preparations for the 25th anniversary in 2007. With this in view a small committee has been established under the chairmanship of Lewis Clifton to set preparations for 2007 in hand. Representatives of Government House, Gilbert House and British Forces South Atlantic Islands are included in the committee membership. EXCO agreed that a budget of £150,000 should be set aside for the events in 2007. Members will be encouraging the committee to produce innovative and imaginative ideas for the programme of commemorative events.
Representatives of the Falkland Islands Government and British Forces South Atlantic Islands have been working on a set of “cost sharing guidelines” designed to encourage sensible collaboration between them, in order to achieve best value from the provision of goods and services, both between the two parties and from third parties. Executive Council approved the draft guidelines, which are now ready for signature by the Governor and Commander British Forces.
Executive Council considered the report produced by Biosecurity Ltd on importation and quarantine procedures, which recommends a strategy for the Falkland Islands Government in relation to biosecurity issues. Executive Council noted the report, agreed that an Oversight Working Group should meet to prioritise the recommendations which it contains, asked the Group to put recommendations to EXCO in March, and agreed the appointment of an additional officer in the Department of Agriculture to deal with biosecurity responsibilities.
There were two further important reports on EXCO’s agenda. The consultants McLellan and Partners had been commissioned to examine the electrical supply infrastructure in Stanley. The Public Works Department Committee had already given some preliminary consideration to the report, in particular its recommendations on a link with MPA, windpower, waste heat recovery and Stanley power station. The report itself has already been made public. EXCO noted the work which is already in hand to follow up its recommendations. Secondly, Dr Chris Doyle has prepared a report at the request of FIG on telecommunications in the Falkland Islands. A non-confidential version of this report will be published towards the end of this week. Meanwhile, EXCO noted the contents of the report and subsequent exchanges with Cable & Wireless. Developments in the field of telecommunications will be an issue to which Executive Council will be devoting close attention over the next few months.
The Principal Crown Counsel, Melanie Chilton, attended a meeting in Ascension Island shortly before Christmas at which representatives of St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha were also present. The purpose of this meeting was to attend the official launch for the South Atlantic Islands of the Child Protection Programme for all of the UK Overseas Territories. The Programme is sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development. EXCO considered a short paper by Mrs Chilton which summarised the purposes of the Programme. She commented that it was apparent from the meeting on Ascension Island that, by comparison with some of the other Overseas Territories, the Falkland Islands were already fairly well advanced in this field. At the same time it was clear that there was more work to be done.
The Principal Crown Counsel also put before EXCO the new Code for Crown Prosecutors. This Code, which has already taken effect in the UK, has been adopted by the Attorney General as good practice for the Falkland Islands. It sets out for prosecutors the general principles to be applied when making decisions about prosecutions with a view to achieving fairness and consistency. The Code is being published and will be available for consultation by any member of the public who wishes to see it.
The next item will be of particular interest to civil servants. EXCO considered a paper by the Financial Secretary covering a number of issues relevant to the retirement arrangements for civil servants, including in particular age discrimination, pension contributions and benefits. FIG’s senior management will be explaining the issues in more detail and setting out the conclusions reached by EXCO in a communication to all civil servants.
EXCO considered a number of legal issues. First, it approved for remission to Legislative Council three bills which give effect to policy decisions taken previously by EXCO: the Falkland Islands Pensions Scheme (Amendment) Bill (which deals with benefits payable to civil servants who become permanently incapacitated through ill health or disablement) the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, and the Employment Protection (Amendment) Bill, which extends the provisions of the Employment Protection (Amendment) Ordinance in respect of dismissal to public officers. EXCO also approved a revised set of registry fees. These fees cover the services provided by the Registrar General. The new fees are designed to implement “The user pays principle”, with a view to ensuring that as far as possible the cost of providing the services of the Registrar General and his staff are met by the people who use them.
It is important in any democracy that lawyers, public servants, businesses and members of the public should have ready access to the current laws. In this connection, EXCO considered a paper from the Principal Crown Counsel about the future publication of the Revised Edition of the Laws of the Falkland Islands. For nearly fourteen years work on this subject has been carried out by Dr Alan Milner in the UK. However, Dr Milner will be resigning from the middle of this year as Commissioner for the Revised Edition of the Laws of the Falkland Islands. EXCO decided to publish so much of Dr Milner’s work, with his extensive notations, as is complete by 30 June 2005 and to revise and publish all work outstanding as at 30 June 2005 in all Titles of the Laws, with minimal notation, as soon as possible. EXCO also decided to publish all work after 30 June 2005 solely on CD -Rom together with six monthly updates, this being a more cost effective method of publication. EXCO also considered the merits of publishing the whole of the revised edition on CD-Rom, once it was fully up to date, and also on the internet. These steps will of course be subject to funds being made available to finance this activity.
The Attorney General’s Chambers face an extremely heavy workload, not least in terms of the preparation of new legislation. EXCO therefore considered the current list of outstanding legislation, and decided to place it into three categories, in order to enable the Attorney General to prioritise future work. The three categories are: essential/urgent, highly desirable, and desirable. EXCO decided on the priorities for current outstanding legislation, and also decided to review these priorities every six months, in January and June each year. It was also agreed that responsibility for procuring and budgeting for all legislative drafting services should be put in the hand of the Attorney General’s Chambers.
EXCO was asked to consider the future of the Government Boathouse. Members noted that the Sea Cadets have recently expressed an interest in using the Government Boathouse to store two sailing dinghies during the winter months. It was therefore decided to offer the Boathouse to the Sea Cadets at a peppercorn rent for five years.
Finally, a subject of interest to all users of Goss Road. EXCO agreed a recommendation by the Chief Police Officer that yellow lines be painted on the bend at the east end of Goss Road in order to prohibit vehicles parking there. This follows expressions of concern by members of the public about the dangers created by vehicles parked in this location.
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