Falklands : South Atlantic 25 the Subject of May Public Meeting
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 23.05.2006 (Article Archived on 06.06.2006)

Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Falklands Liberation was the subject of Tuesday's Pyblic Meeting.

PUBLIC MEETING REPORT (22/05/06)

By J. Brock (FINN)

A public meeting took place in the Court and Council Chamber of the Town Hall at 1700hrs on Monday, 22 May 2006.  Present were Cllrs Mike Summers (Chair), Mike Rendell, Ian Hansen, Andrea Clausen, Richard Davies and Richard Stevens.  Also present were the Chief Executive, Chris Simpkins, the Civil Military Liaison Officer and the Command Secretary.  The subject of the meeting was a presentation by Lewis Clifton, Chairman of the South Atlantic 25 Committee in the Falklands.  Cllr Summers said that members of the committee include Harriet Hall, Gary Clement, John Mascall-Bott and the Command Secretary,

Lewis Clifton showed a slide presentation about the 2007 commemorations about the 25^th anniversary of the Liberation of the Falklands from Argentine occupation.  Some of the items that will be on the list include events taking place in the UK and others taking place here.

According to Mr. Clifton the events are tentative arrangements that need to be firmed up. In the UK on 14 June there will be a morning service at the Memorial Chapel in Pangbourne and an evening reception at Lincolns Inn.  In the 17^th of June veterans’ events will include a march down the Mall, a Royal Salute and a fly past.

In the Falklands the focus of events will be from the 12^th to the 18^th of June 2007.  On the 12^th a chartered aircraft will arrive with VIPs including an as yet unnamed member of the Royal Family, 36 special FIG guests, a whole suite of journalists and cameramen and women and a 60 man Royal Marine Band as well as other unspecified guests.

On the 13^th there will be pre parade rehearsals and people will have the opportunity to settle in.  And, on the 14^th besides the traditional events, the military will exercise the Freedom of Stanley and there will be a party.

On June 15^th people will be off work but it is unclear whether the day will be a public holiday.  There will be an open day at the schools, hospitals, and other government departments as well as private sector businesses.  In the evening there will be a silver service dinner at Mount Pleasant Complex.  Rededication of the mountain top sites will take place on 16 June and on the 17^th a re-dedication of the Blue Beach Cemetery.  This event should be video linked with events at Horse-guards Parade.  There will also be a televised family day at Mount Pleasant with the youth groups participating in an as yet unspecified way.  Finally there will be a dedication of a memorial commemorating the 25^th anniversary of the Falklands Liberation.

The special Charter flight leaves on the 18^th of June 2006. 

The general schedule for 2007 includes a special New Years Bash at the Football Pitch (to be arranged), the Annual raft Race, Thatcher Day, the FICZ 20^th Anniversary, April 2^nd commemorations, Landing Day on 21 May, 12 November Remembrance Sunday, and the 8^th of December and the 93^rd anniversary of Battle Day.

Key funding will come from the Falkland Islands Government to the tune of £150,000.00 and the UK MoD as well as the private sector.

A member of the public asked if the Marine Band would be used for light entertainment like dances and Lewis Clifton said that it was possible but the band’s programme had not yet been finalised.

There was some discussion about the amount of alcohol that would be consumed by the public during the commemorations.  This is why the 15^th may or may not be a public holiday.  The plan is to make the 15^th a showcase day and many people will have to go to work on the day to ensure the visitors will be able to see everything.

Cllr Summers said that feedback from all sectors of society is needed to help finalise plans for South Atlantic 25.  Stephen Luxton mentioned that the public needs to know how long the period of consultation will be.

In other matters Gerold Cheek asked why Morrisons were doing work on the MPA Road when PWD can do the job for a more cost effective price.  Cllr Summers said he was not aware of this.  Roger Spink asked about the Gordon Forbes case and Mike Summers said that a report is in hand and will be made public asap.

Stephen luxton asked why money was waster by using the charter boat to deliver supplies to the West and why FIGAS transported H. E. the Governor and his party to San Carlos when he could have gone overland.  Cllr Summers said that the Tamar may not have been able to take the cargo and it was loaded anyway.  The ship was on its way to Punta Arenas anyway and this made sense rather than re loading the items on the Tamar, which may or may not have been able to take the cargo.  As for the FIGAS Flight, the helicopter that was due to take the Governor’s party to San Carlos was broken down and the spare parts were on the delayed air-bridge.

The last question dealt with sending people without British or Falkland Islands passports away on overseas medical flights.  Cllr Rendell said that this affected only nine people and that the anomalies are being looked into.  The Chilean Hospitals are giving a 10% discount above the discount they already give.  There is a reciprocal agreement with the UK about costs and this must be protected,

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