Falklands : General Purposes Committee Meeting Report
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 04.07.2006 (Article Archived on 18.07.2006)
Cllrs Summers and Robertson update us on what happened at this important meeting.
GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT
By J. Brock (FINN)
A meeting of the General Purposes Committee took place on Wednesday, 28 June 2006. On Monday, 03 July 2006 Cllrs. Summers and Robertson gave a brief to the press about what happened at the meeting.
Prior to discussing what happened at the meeting, Cllr summers gave a run-down of the month’s meetings. He said there was a meeting with Ms. Schofield, command Secretary PJHQ to discuss items of mutual interest, a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce to discuss employment of young people and conditions of employment as well as work permits and one meeting of the Select Committee on the Constitution.
While Cllr. Summers was in the UK, he and Chris Simpkins signed a memorandum of understanding with the BBC about their relationship with FIRS. They also went to a service commemorating the 80th birthday of H. M. the Queen. Sukey Cameron also attended the service.
Cllr Summers also attended a seminar on commonwealth Studies for Good Governance. He presented a lecture about how this is applied in the Falkland Islands.
Items on the GPC Agenda included the Dockyard, Cllr Summers visits to the FCO and DPI, where he discussed energy and the CPA. Where he discussed the size of populations of those Commonwealth territories and countries attending the Small Countries Conference, C-24 brief by Cllr Davies (Cllr Stevens has yet to return) Public Reception for Howard Pearce as well as Alan Huckle and FIGAS.
C-24:
The usual support for self determination was discussed as well as the need to win hearts and minds by staying longer in New York and working harder to gain support. More input was needed and the role of the Falklands councillors at C-24 would be discussed with future Governor Mr. Alan Huckle. Defining strategy would be difficult because the United Kingdom delegation at the UN does not recognise the C-24. However, Cllr Summers reports that they have been helpful with introductions and helping to facilitate meetings. It was important for the Falklands to attend C-24 because it helps to correct some of the inaccuracies that have been reported as fact by the Argentines. It is important to get our message out there to the right people. Cllr Summers rubbished the idea that development in the Falklands was illegal and said that all of the agreements signed since 1990 did not say that the Falklands could not develop its resources.
THE DOCKYARD DEVELOPMENT:
Cllr. Summers confirmed that the development of a marina was not at present on the cards but the development was a heritage project of the Museum.
EMPLOYMENT:
Discussions about the difficulty for young people to gain employment after leaving school dominated the discussion with an estimated 35 leaving school and not going on to further education in the UK. Cllr Summers suggested that if a young person wants a job, contact should be made with potential employers in March, prior to leaving school in June. The persistent students probably would fare better. It wasn’t the responsibility of FIG or the training centre to take them on. It would be difficult for many school leavers to adjust to 0800hrs to 1630hrs Monday to Friday. We had to give school leavers the opportunity to find work before issuing work permits to immigrants.
FALKLAND ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DISCUSSION ON PAY AND CONDITIONS:
Concern had been raised about low pay and conditions offered by some contractors at MPA. It was thought that the contractors were not members of the Falkland Islands Chamber of Commerce. The minimum wage, while a relevant discussion, was not popular because it was thought that employers would have to let people go and those who could afford it would find it an unpopular move. An eye would be kept on the situation. Many workers come to the Falklands for these jobs so they can save money. If they couldn’t save it they wouldn’t be coming. Councillor Summers said that the minimum wage would raise more issues than it solves.
FIGAS
Issues in the Transport Study identified by Councillors included airframes and aerodromes as well as the times that flights take place. It was thought that the working hours flights weren’t tourist or business friendly. Flights had to be integrated with the industry as well as with the ferry and the road network. More flexibility needed to be introduced to FIGAS.
PUBLIC RECEPTION FOR OUTGOING AND INCOMING GOVERNORS
While Governor Pearce’s reception will take place on 27 July, Governor Huckle’s would be put back until October due to Councillors being away. This would give Gov. Huckle tome to visit Departments, meet people and get his feet under the table.
ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE
Cllr Robertson and Cllr Summers brought up on-going discussions about the Road Traffic Bill and the designation of Camp Roads. Issues about farm vehicles being used on these roads and the occasional use of the road within the farm for practical reasons needed to be addressed. Cllr Robertson said that for the most part Councillors did not know what the farmers were doing with their vehicles. This would be discussed during Farmers Week..
Weighing bridges were thought to be impractical but the weight of each vehicle would be put on a plate. There is a weighing bridge at Pony’s Pass Quarry. The Police Committee are dealing with this.
POST OFFICE
A suggestion that the Post Office be open fewer hours was not popular because people on shift work would lose out. It was not considered to be the right time to implement these hours. A questionnaire would be issued so that people could voice their concerns to the Post Office Staff.
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