S.Atlantic : Sartma Daily (01/11/05)
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 02.11.2005 (Article Archived on 09.11.2005)
A brief run-down of South Atlantic news
SARTMA DAILY (01/11/05)
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
CONTENTS:
Section 1: Police and Court News
Section 2: Remembrance Sunday Press Release
Section 3: Committee News
Section 4: Candidates’ Manifestos (Forrest and Stevens)
Section 5: Announcements
Section 1:
POLICE AND COURT NEWS:
INQUEST
An inquest into the death of a man killed in a road traffic accident on Saturday, 29 November 2005 was opened and closed in the Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, 01 November. The inquest opened at 0815 hrs and the man’s body was identified and the inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed for the purpose of a post mortem report into the medical cause of the man’s death.
POLICE NEWS
The Royal Falkland Islands Police had been kept very busy over the weekend with the fatal RTA but there were a few other incidents that happened over the period.
At 1545 hrs on Sunday, 30 October 2005 the Royal Falkland Islands Police were informed of a vehicle fire at Mullet Creek. The Fire Brigade were tasked to deal with the plaze. Causes leading to the vehicle fire are unknown.
At 2205 hrs on Monday, 31 October 2005 there was a request for an ambulance to go to Philomel Street. Hospital Staff dealt with the incident.
At 0940 hrs on Tuesday, 01 November 2005 the Royal Falkland Islands Police were informed of a helicopter movement from the KEMH to Mount Pleasant with a patient involved in Saturday’s RTA at MPA.
Section 2:
PUBLIC NOTICE
Observance of Remembrance Sunday
The following arrangements have been made for Sunday 13th November 2005, Remembrance Sunday.
There will be a Memorial Service in Christ Church Cathedral commencing at 9.45 am. His Excellency the Governor, Commander British Forces, members of Council together with other Senior Officers of the Armed Services will be attending this Service. During the Service a collection will be made for the Earl Haig Fund.
At about 10.10 am detachments from the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and the Falkland Islands Defence Force will form up at the Cross of Sacrifice. Youth organisations will also be present.
Relatives and others wishing to lay wreaths will be shown to their places.
At 10.48 am His Excellency the Governor will arrive at the Cross of Sacrifice.
A short nondenominational service will then be held and the Roll of Honour read out. This will be followed by the two minutes silence marked by the firing of the saluting guns on Victory Green.
His Excellency the Governor will lay a wreath, followed by representatives of the Armed Services, The Falkland Islands Defence Force, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Royal British Legion. Others wishing to lay wreathes will then do so.
This is a public occasion and it is earnestly hoped that as many members of the community as possible will attend this commemorative ceremony and play an equal part in honouring those who lost their lives for their country. It is appropriate for medals to be worn on this occasion.
All those arriving by vehicle should arrive by 10.40 am. To avoid congestion it would be appreciated if those using vehicles would await the departure of the parade before moving off.
Members of the public are also invited to observe two minutes silence on Remembrance Day, Friday 11th November, commencing at 11.00 a.m. The firing of the saluting guns on Victory Green will signal the commencement and conclusion of the two minutes silence.
Gilbert House
1st November 2005
Public Notice No: 97/05
REF: INT 21/2
Section 3:
COMMITTEE NEWS:
A MEETING OF THE |Housing committee will take place at 1330 hrs on Wednesday, 02 November 2005 in the Liberation Room of the Secretariat.
HEALTH AND MEDICAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
A meeting of the Health and Medical Services Committee took place in Gilbert House at 1215 hrs on Tuesday, 01 November 2005. Present were Cllrs Cheek (Chair) and Birmingham, Jason Lewis, Candy Blackley, Mrs Nikki Osborne and Dr. Barry Elsby, who sat in for Dr. Diggle who is in the UK. The MPA SMO, Al Holsworth, also attended.
The first item of business was Cllr. John Birmingham’s report on confidentiality, which was moved for obvious reasons to the closed part of the meeting.
MATTERS ARISING:
During last month’s meeting Cllr. Cheek asked about warning the public should the ozone hole come over the Falklands. The situation didn’t need monitoring but did need warnings when UV levels due to depleted ozone became too high. Nikki Osborne had spoken to Dr. Diggle about it prior to his departure to the UK.
Jan Cheek was pleased to report that sausage rolls were in the cooler of a certain shop.
HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
The two full time dentists have arrived and have started to sort things out that were out of order due to there being a succession of locum dentists. Now they are working through on patients who couldn’t start or complete their treatment but it would be some time before a complete service is up and running. Routine Dental patients would be asked to hang on a little longer while things are sorted out. A school screening programme would be undertaken with the Junior School children being first. The school would be consulted and a letter sent to parents, with children needing treatment being seen to over three days to be set.
A new Social Worker has arrived as well as an Evening Security Officer. There are problems recruiting qualified nurses. The UK, Australia and New Zealand netted only one applicant. There are three staff nurses positions available. The Government Health Visitor will be starting fairly soon.
The Psychiatrist’s visit went well with a post visit due soon. Dr. Elsby commented that the Psychiatrist worked 12 hours a day and that we could lose locums if we worked them too hard. It was suggested that a holistic approach to locum contracts be applied so that people could get out and see the Islands. A GP’s cull would help keep the Psychiatrist working on necessary cases only.
Paul Rosen and Joe Levitt would be arriving on the Lan flight but the eye drops they require will not be available due to the shipment arriving at room temperature and not cooled, thus being of no use to them. The SMO from MPA would look into it and try to get the eye drops – cooled – to the Falklands.
GP appointments now can be kept in two days’ time and there were slots open for emergency dental treatment every day. Social Services were working with five categories: Children in Need, Child Protection, Financial Assistance, Adult Referrals and Old People. There have been 35 overseas referrals in the past 3 months and 3 complaints as well as three compliments since last month.
NCH Commissioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office concerning the UN Charter on the Rights of the Child would be looking at a whole range of issues and reviewing Child Protection Arrangements.
The Board of Health would be meeting but it would meet after Dr. Diggle got back.
It was decided that the next meeting would be held on the 2nd Tuesday in December.
Section 4:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Vehicle Sale: Toyota Prado Automatic - £10,500.00, Toyota Prodo Manual £10,500.00 , Toyota 185 Surf Manual £8,000.00, Toyota 185 Surf Automatic £7,900.00, Delica Mini Bus 4 Wheel Drive £7,500.00. Contact Bruce Miller on 22287 or 21572.
Section 5:
RICHARD STEVENS MANIFESTO 2005.
2002-03 was a good year for wool prices. It gave the farming community a lift after years of lows. Elders told many farmers in the refreshment room of the town hall, prices would stay high for at least three years, but probably five.
This news, plus the abattoir coming on line, made many farmers think that at last a reasonable living could be realised from farming and many could invest in replacing run down assets.
Here we are a few years later with wool value cut by a third and the abattoir, which was meant to add income opportunity, unable to fill the void.
FIG have continued to support farms, looking forward with investment into many things which will make stock more valuable in wool markets and to the abattoir, with AI and ET. There is also a lot of work and private investment going on. This is all positive, but slow, along with the economic benefits.
Many farms have gone into other areas to make money. The problem is that almost all of these markets are small and in many cases what is a good business for one is made worthless by two. The other problem is that as farming gets more complex, diversification conflicts with a developing farm. There is only so much work a two person unit can do.
Lots of farms are finding it tough and I think that FIG should again consider short term financial help. Last time there was large scale subsidy, many people outside farming questioned whether things were that dire, because no one had left their farms. It is well over ten years since the first subsidies but since that time many farmers have decided to move to Stanley and in some cases land has moved away from farming practices.
Short term help should be combined with long term solutions. This has been done before, but the very optimistic returns on reseeds have not been realised by many. The whole council should sit down, and brain storm the rural problems and suggest solutions and then fine tune and develop ideas in road shows.
Today’s population is a priority of course, but we should be preparing policy for life to appeal to the next generation of rural people as well. With an aging camp population we need to generate more money in camp to keep people here and to attract new people in.
There are many ways to make living in camp less stressful.
I would like to see support in the area of power. FIG has invested £1000s in purchasing 24 hour power systems and yet there has been no regard by them to look after this investment. Surely a scheme funded by FIG to maintain 24 hour power equipment makes sense. A scheme like this open to all 24 hr power users wouldn’t cost very much and would introduce best practice procedures at the very least. It would certainly add to the peace of mind of people that operate them.
To produce power in camp is very expensive. You have to have a reasonably sized generator to charge your 24 hour battery as the wind turbines are not always enough. Then most farms buy another engine for emergencies. I would like to see the FIG buy or support a business or the RBA into having in stock serious generators so that farms, lodges or other resident campers don’t have to hold expensive back up - The same with a wool press. If someone’s press breaks down or finally wears out, the first problem is how quickly you can get spares, second to find £5000 if it’s clapped and the third is how long will it take to get here? Farms have carried on for years without this safety net, but will the next generation? With roads and a ferry most farms could then hire, buy, replace this item with a small amount of trauma apart from the financial one.
Another Transport document has been compiled and now is the time to debate it. The coastal shipping service seems to be in free fall. As a member of the RBA board, we have had more concern expressed on this issue than any other. Three or four councils ago, a conscious effort was made to get local companies and people involved in Falkland Shipping and in one fell swoop the collective memory fails and we go backwards. I think we need to look at bringing back the local skills and connections .
A regular ferry link is essential if Government is serious about developing the West. The first hurdle is whether the MOD will support this service .This question has been asked for years but it is an important one. If it is yes, a boat large enough to carry two articulated trailers can be envisaged and a strong operation should be possible. It is important that this service is priced to encourage use. There are going to be problems which will have to be overcome.
On a positive note hopefully this will be the council where the basic road network is completed.
There seems to be a lot of activity on the telecommunications front. Cable and Wireless have promised to reduce costs for the inferior camp system. An Island wide mobile phone coverage of the Falklands should be encouraged as the replacement for the camp network as long as the costs remain compatible with what we have today. Phones are very important in camp and provide essential links with family and friends. To many, phones are part of today’s social life in camp.
This would also be an important development for the FIG to have Island wide emergency cover. With many roads winding their way through isolated areas, people working miles away from anyone else, and the ferry which will encourage more people out and about, mobile phones Island wide must be the ultimate aim.
Another development which would benefit from mobile phones in camp is the increase in weekend retreats.
The future of the current system seems precarious, with stretched repair agreements and second hand units from upgraded stations around Stanley. We need to act before there is a crisis. If FIG and C&W were able to deliver on the mobile phones it might be some compensation for having little prospect of broad band internet access in the short term.
The Abattoir is supported by a majority of farms and has a management group made up of farmers.
Farmer’s contacts outside the Falklands have led us to selecting the best criteria from world standards to fit our needs. The extending of the description of a lamb to 20 months, which is similar to the New Zealand standards, is a positive step. Reducing the weight also makes it possible for farms to supply lambs to the abattoir without the risk of re seeds and fodder crops. Trying to grow lambs to a higher standard than is naturally achievable will have us hostage to our unpredictable climate. As we develop from this strong foundation anything can happen, driven by the farmer.
Now we need to have bench marks as we do with wool, to achieve the prices that European markets can deliver. If we realise ¾ of the UK lamb price, say £1.50/kg, the meat industry would take off. We must also remember the marginal farms that won’t make much from the abattoir.
The one area I do feel uncomfortable with is the staffing levels of the abattoir. If this was a private company, I am positive the staffing levels would be lower.
Although I do see myself as a candidate to become a Falkland Councillor, I would see camp as part of my responsibilities, along with the portfolios. If I was elected you would hear about issues that affect camp.
One of the biggest challenges to recent councils and to future ones is to maintain our development but retain our identity. I think a lot of our identity has been eroded over recent years.
I am a conservationist but not an extremist. Protecting Albatross from long liners for instance and educating youngsters about flora and fauna seems essential but this blanket protection of everything apart from geese seems over the top.
A couple of weeks ago the world news spoke of a mass cull of cormorants because it was affecting the leisure fishing industry. Farmers here on the other hand, without the most bureaucratic gymnastics, are unable to control turkey vultures that pluck the eyes and tongues out of sheep and lambs while they are still alive.
I am not into legislation just for legislation sake.
I do believe however the next Government should encourage all companies with a monopoly to open their books to scrutiny whether this monopoly is by design or otherwise. If this was rejected by these businesses I would support legislation to force them to comply.
It is always going to be difficult to deliver a fair deal for everyone on a shrinking or static budget, but I think we should still have regard for the poorest and most vulnerable members of our community. I find it strange that things like spectacles and root fillings are now charged for, because these items are needed by all members of the community, well off or poor. A root filling is hardly cosmetic, as I would consider say a veneer. In this day and age policy that encourages tooth extraction seems out of place.
Accountability – I see a Councillors job being to shape policy collectively and the Chief Executive and heads of departments to carry out these wishes with a negotiated budget. Heads of departments are paid a lot of money to do a job and they should be allowed to do it. Development and future policy will be shaped by councillors, heads of department and board members with the final word being had by all eight councillors at Exco. I do feel however that when expensive professional decisions are wrong someone should be accountable.
Professional estimates on Capitol projects have often been inaccurate over and above an acceptable level.
The fisheries are still really important to the Falklands. Previous councils have tried very hard to find ways of controlling the effort on the high seas and the next council has to keep looking. There must be international conservation organisations that can lobby the Governments who are funding Argentina’s most recent bankruptcy that can bring pressure to bear.
Argentina – we should keep up a robust defence of our position but as time goes by we have to balance our views to maintain our support with other countries, which as a small country we will always need. We should always remember the unprovoked invasion of our Islands, but also highlight the differences in our culture, history, politics and economy. A rational combination of all these points highlighting the differences in our peoples will be the best long term defence of our right to determine our own future.
There has always been support for camp but with an aging camp community this next Council needs to deliver because we are a bit like Ilex Squid and in danger or falling below the critical biomass.
MANIFESTO OF MIKE FORREST –GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 2005.
Firstly I will introduce myself for the benefit of those people who do not know my background.
I first came to the Islands in 1976 with Johnston Construction to work on the building of Stanley Airport. During the 18 months I was here I met my wife Jennie. I worked with Johnston in another British overseas territory, the Cayman Islands, for 12 years from 1982. After a number of visits to the Falklands in that period we settled back here for good in 1994. I was the Director of Public Works for 8 years from 1996. If I am successful in this election I will register my business interests and I think the electorate should be aware of them in advance. I am a director and minority shareholder in International Tours & Travel Ltd. I am also a director and shareholder in a small fishing company.
The main topics of my election manifesto are: -
· achieving sustainable government expenditure,
· encouraging the private sector,
· foreign affairs and our relationship with Argentina,
·
| 
