S.Atlantic : Sartma Daily (29/09/05)
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 30.09.2005 (Article Archived on 07.10.2005)
A brief run-down of South Atlantic News.
SARTMA DAILY (29/09/05)
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
CONTENTS:
Section 1: Article by FINN
Section 2: Ascension Island News
Section 3: Announcements
Section 1:
DOYLE RECOMMENDS UTILITIES COMMISSION
By J. Brock (FINN)
Communications consultant, Dr. Chris Doyle, a fellow at Warwick University in the United Kingdom, has visited the Falklands during this past week to advise FIG on the best way forward for Islands wide communications. He has advised mainly on how much mobile phones, broadband and the like should cost.
Sticking with his advice that competition in a small population base isn’t viable, he recommended a Utilities commission not only to regulate telecommunications but other utility based businesses as well.
“There simply aren’t enough people to warrant multi operator competition for each phone company to service a number of individuals, said Dr. Doyle when asked about possible competition to Cable & Wireless.
Installing a network is a rather expensive exercise and, you have to recover those costs from your customer base. He added that it probably costs almost the same to service 200 or 300 as it does to service 800 or 900 people. “Obviously there is a difference in cost but it won’t be enormous. And, if you service 3,000 or 4,000 it’s that much more expensive.”
Dr. Doyle had said during an Ascension Island Interview that telecommunications are a lot better than they used to be throughout the South Atlantic. But he acknowledged that everything, including telecommunications on remote islands is expensive.
Cable & Wireless Plc have been supplying telecommunications on Ascension, St. Helena and the Falklands for many years now and you could say they were a monopoly. Normally competition keeps prices down but Dr. Doyle thinks that where there is little to no competition a Utilities commission could keep an eye on things and make sure that people are charged a fair price for the telecommunications services they receive.
But there will be other differences with two companies in that first of all customers have a choice, there will be greater competition on quality, there will be more concern on parts of management, dealing with customers because if they don’t deal with them appropriately, they might lose them to the other company.
“But if you have 1,000 people then you could have two companies servicing 500 each and they will compete. Well, I’m afraid if you have 2 companies servicing 500 each, then the average cost per person served will be significantly higher than having a single firm supplying 1,000 people, where the average cost would be much lower,” he said.
Section 2:
NEWS FROM ASCENSION ISLAND
Ascension : FAREWELL!!
By Andrew Kettlewell
By the time that this appears in the Islander I shall have left Ascension and my successor, Mike Hill, will be recovering from the ordeal of his inward flight.
May I take this opportunity to wish Mike the very best for his tenure as Administrator, it is one I enjoyed very much. I am sure that if Mike and his wife receive as much support as Bernie and I did, they will both enjoy it as well.
The Island Council is also coming to the end of its first term. At this time of change it might be appropriate to pause and consider what has been achieved during the last three years. Some of the major policy issues that the Council has tackled require a great deal of negotiation as there are many interested parties. Whilst it is true to say that some of these haven’t progressed as far as people in Ascension would have liked that does not represent a lack of interest by the Councillors or indeed a lack of effort. On other fronts a great deal of progress has been made. All of them have meant breaking new ground and some of the ones that would appear to be simple have not proved so! I have highlighted some of these key achievements below. I am sure that other people can add to the list. Finally, on behalf of Bernadette and myself, Katie our daughter (and not forgetting Midnight the cat!) I would like to thank you all for helping to make our three short years in Ascension so fulfilling and rewarding.
The Island Council
The first general election was held on 1st November 2002 and the Island Council formed. The first Council Meeting took place on 7th November 2002 at the Obsidian Hotel; Since then regular Council Meetings have taken place, which members of the public are welcome to attend); An early exercise that took place was to establish the strategic direction for Ascension. This resulted in several outcomes:
A Strategic Development Plan was established. This was communicated to the public through public meetings and through the Islander; A forum for Councillors to meet with the major organisations on Ascension was established (“The Strategic Partnership Forum”). This enabled matters of common concern to be raised and discussed;
Meetings with representatives of the Permanent Joint Headquarters to establish a Memorandum of Understanding between AIG and the MOD on the mutual exchange of services Council has commissioned several expert studies, including beach sand extraction, waste management, an assessment of the pier head and a review of the telecommunications regime. Terms of reference have been produced for a review of the medical services; The Council has worked hard to raise its profile internationally. This resulted in several outcomes:
Councillors met with FCO Minister Bill Rammell and Defence Procurement Minister Lord Bach, two all-party groups of MPs and numerous transiting diplomats; An Ascension Councillor will be attending the Overseas Territories Consultative Council in October 2005; In 2004 the Governor confirmed the right for the Ascension Island Government to sell its own fishing licences. Council is considering how this can best be established and quotes have been invited from companies to undertake a survey of fish stocks to determine whether this would be profitable;
Promotion of the Legislative System
There is an annual training programme for members of the Court Users Group;
Substantial improvements have been made to the Police facilities, the holding cells and the Courtroom, funded by the FCO’s Good Governance Fund; The first qualified Legal Adviser was recruited in September 2004;
The Land Registry was opened in April 2005;
The Island Council has discussed numerous pieces of legislation, including: The Harbours Ordinance was redrafted Amendments to the Fishery Limits Ordinance were approved; A Development Control & Land Planning Ordinance was approved in draft form; The National Protected Areas Ordinance was enacted; A redraft of the Island Council (Ascension) Ordinance is under consideration;
Central to Council’s strategy for Ascension has been the development of Right of Abode and the right for private individuals to buy land. In 2003 Council engaged the services of FCO Constitutional Adviser Michael Bradley QC, who worked with the Council to produce a draft Immigration Ordinance. This was put out for public consultation and will form a key component of discussions with the Foreign Office hopefully scheduled for later this year.
Development of Education
The teaching cadre at Two Boats School by recruiting a foreign languages teacher, an ICT teacher and a primary teacher in September 2003;
In 2003 AIG established a sponsorship for students at Chichester College in the UK to study A Levels & BTEC. Students have attended in each of the 3 academic years since the scheme was introduced;
A review of primary school was undertaken in 2004; A series of work placements in the UK for 3 primary school teachers was established in 2004; A Community Library and Resource Centre opened in December 2004.
Development of the Infrastructure
AIG recorded a recurrent surplus in the financial 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 and is on course for a surplus in 2005-06. Despite the limitations of the budget significant improvements have been made to the island infrastructure, including:
AIG relocated to the Islander Building in January 2003. This brought the Administration and Finance Departments together for the first time and created the Council Chamber. Since then the rationalisation of government accommodation has continued with the Conservation Department moving to the Agency Building in March 2005.
Premises have been provided for new private sector businesses, including the bakery and the restaurant in the former Galley building, Ocean View, two shops in the Solomon’s shop complex in Two Boats. Work has commenced on restoring the Exiles Build and the budget includes funding to convert the old fire station into a retail unit;
Marine services have been improved with the purchase of the inshore lifeboat and the new pontoon. A second pontoon is on order and the new passenger launch will be delivered before Christmas. Work is scheduled on the pier head to replace the railings, improve the surface and renovate the fisherman’s bench area. As part of our requirement to comply with International Port Security Regulations the baggage scanning facilities have been set up in the Warehouse
An application for EU funding to improve passenger facilities has been approved and we await the transfer of the funds so that work can commence; Bates & Evans Blocks were converted into 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Work is underway to improve the accommodation at Thornton House. Two of the houses on Links West are finished and all four will be ready by the end of October.
Following the signing of the agreement in 2003 to allow charter flights into Ascension the Civil Aviation Authority was invited to undertake a review of the airhead facilities.
Environmental Developments
The programme to eradicate feral cats was completed and is now in the monitoring phase. The outcome is the return of nesting seabirds to the island. Allied to this a programme to control rats is in place;
The policy to prevent the extraction of beach sand was endorsed by Council, after a study undertaken by an Oceanographer; The Green Mountain National Park was opened in June 2005;
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Most recently a project to develop a digital mapping system for Ascension has started. This will provide an important basis for managing the balance between the constructed infrastructure and the natural environment in Ascension.
Section 3:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The tourism Course begins at the Chamber of Commerce Function Room on Tuesday, 04 October 2005 This year the course will take two weeks and will include a one day of assessment, Falkland Islands Knowledge Days, Customer Care and Wildlife Guiding. Please get in touch if you wish to take part in a third course being organized.
A murder Dinner will take place on Friday, 30 September 2005 at the Town Hall. Tickets will cost £16.00 and the venue begins at 1930.
Besides the warning issued by Brookfield farm yesterday, the Chief Fire Officer reminds people they must receive permission from land owners before BBQ or fires are started. Use fire with care and fully extinguish them when you are finished with them during the holiday weekend.
Combat Stress will benefit from a Pub Quiz being held on Friday, 30 September 2005 at the Stanley Arms. The venue begins at 1900. There will also be a raffle and dance. £5.00 on the door will include dinner.
The Stanley Leisure Centre will be closed on Monday, 03 October 2005 due to Peat cutting Monday.
To all horse owners with animals currently grazing on Cape Pembroke, please be advised that all horses must be moved to the common behind the FIDF Building by Tuesday, 04 October.
The Post Office would like to advise the public that due to Monday, 03 October being a public holiday, the outgoing airmail for Monday will close at 1500 on Friday, 30 September 2005.
The Narrows Bar will be closed to the General public on Saturday, 01 October 2005 from 1800 onwards due to a private party.
Websites: http://www.falklandnews.com. http://www.tristantimes.com, http://www.the-islander.org.ac, http://www.sartma.com, http://www.news.co.sh
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