Falklands : General Purposes Committee Meeting Report (November 2006)
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 22.11.2006 (Article Archived on 06.12.2006)
Find out what General Purposes Committee discussed during November.
GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE REPORT (20/11/06)
By J. Brock (FINN)
On Monday, 20 November 2006 Cllrs Rendell and Robertson gave a press brief about what happened at the November General Purposes Committee meeting as well as Councillors activities in November. Cllr Robertson explained that November was a busy time and there were few opportunities for them to get together. Due to scheduling GPC was held one week earlier than normal.
Councillors met with the economic advisors from the FCO who were in the Falklands to discuss whether or not to dip into reserves. They also met with two MPs who visited recently with Sukey Cameron, FIG’s Government Representative in London. They also met with her on various topics. Keene provided on the spot media training for Councillors and other members of Government who felt they needed to be savvy during the 2007 Commemorations. Cllrs also met Mr Aaron Richardson, the new General Manager at Cable & Wireless Plc.
A press release would outline a new procedure for reporting on Executive Council. It will begin next month as it was too late to do anything for this month. Councillors on Executive Council will give the brief. The time-frame for reporting to the media would be discussed at a later date.
Overseas visits for next year have been announced with Cllrs Summers, Clausen and Robertson as well as Government Officials participating in the Falklands Forum
Tentatively in Belfast in May there will be a CPA Conference at which Cllrs Stevens and Cockwell will be present, the C-24 will be attended by Cllrs Davies and Hansen. The OTC Seminar in Brussels will be attended by Cllrs Clausen and Summers. The CPA Plenary Conference in New Delhi will be attended by Cllrs Cockwell and Stevens, Party conferences in 2007 will be attended by Cllrs Rendell and Hansen and the Overseas Territories Consultative Council will be attended by Cllrs Summers and Robertson. Hopefully there will be a CPA workshop in the Falklands some time in 2008. The CPA will pick up the costs. Cllr Davies will go to a CPA conference in Fiji.
GPC discussed a stone cairn at Pangbourne that would feature stones from Falklands Battlefields, a working group report about banning smoking in public places. Cllrs Clausen, Davies and Summers as well as a Publican and two others would be on a working group to get a wide range of views on the subject.
The Committee also discussed publicity material. It seems the UK Press have miss-reported some items and there are the inevitable problems with keeping official websites up to date, etc. During 2007 there will be opportunities to advertise in the press as well as have reporting about the economic and political situation.
The future of Cable & Wireless in respect of their recent changes and lay-off of employees was also discussed with Mr. Richardson. Cllrs would like to see better communications packages for small businesses in the Falkland Islands. There were proposals for a working group to investigate systems especially for Camp.
The Spokesperson for GPC will continue to be Cllr Summers because Councillors felt 2007 was too important to have a novice speaking for them.
The debate over the draft constitution is reaching its conclusion with one or two public meetings left. It is thought it could be sent to the UK in the New Year.
The final cost of the prosecution of two Falklands Police officers could not be tallied yet but thus far it has cost over £200,000.00.
Finally the Attorney General’s Office will be commenting on who is or is not allowed on to private property when the de-mining survey is done in the Falklands. Some land owners have objected to having Argentines on their property.
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