S.Atlantic : Ian Hansen's Election Manifesto
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 23.10.2003 (Article Archived on 06.11.2003)

Ian Hansen tells us why he wants to be elected to the Camp seat.

Manifesto of Ian Hansen for by-election 2003

As you will be aware there is soon to be a by-election for the Camp Constituency. I would like to put my name forward as your representative on legislative council for the next two years. My main reason for doing so is that I strongly believe that to represent your views your choice of councillor has to be from within our community. It is very easy to lose track of the constantly changing everyday issues that effect the camp population, unless one actually experiences them first hand. I also think that the two-year term following this by election is the right time to put an untried councillor in place. It will be beneficial to the candidate, and in the long term to the electorate. I am aware how time consuming the task will be and if elected would employ part-time help on farm, so as that I can attend as many meetings as realistically possible, and also have more time to listen to you, the people of camp, when at home. I have lived all my life in the camp, working on large farms, an outlying island and now as an individual farm owner. This I hope gives me a greater understanding of whatever problems you feel that you may have, wherever you live or work in camp. The problems of these environments are widely different, and each needs to be addressed individually to produce a clear picture of what is best overall for the rural community. I have some experience in meeting and speaking to government officials. Over the past thirteen years I have sat on many committees and would like to use what knowledge gained to help the rural cause. I have also represented the Islands overseas at the Royal Shows, and whilst I am aware that these experiences are limited, I would not be going in totally at the ‘deep end’ so to speak.

There are ongoing issues important to our way of life and it’s future that needs to be constantly addressed. It concerns me that although the road-building programme is advancing well, there are problems with the maintenance and repair of existing roads. In some cases these are serious enough to see farms cut off during certain weather conditions, and can cause problems with heavy haulage at any time of the year. I believe more emphasis on repairs and maintenance is needed. It concerns me that we seem to be no further ahead in the type of surfacing required for the MPA road. The existing trials do not appear to be the answer, and the longer it takes to arrive at a solution the worse the surface becomes. I personally don’t know what the answer is but taking into account the amount of money spent and so called expert advice given, surely by now we should have at least an idea of what direction to go in.

It concerns me that our Government wage bill is as much as it is per annum. For a country with the size population we have, the cost of administration seems totally out of proportion. Are we getting our money’s worth? If elected this is a question I shall be asking on a regular basis.

My views on the abbattior and its future are pretty widely known .I welcome the formation of FIMCO and more farmer involvement. I believe the current team within FIDC and the farmers involved have to be given the chance to try and further develop marketing, improve operating conditions and make sure transportation and delivery of livestock goes as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Already a better financial deal for suppliers of stock to the abattoir is in place for this season. However, I would not like to see any of these objectives achieved at the expense of existing retail businesses. Handled correctly, this situation should not arise.

We have to encourage our youngsters to follow careers in the Islands, and to facilitate those skills not just in Stanley, but in Camp as well. Apprenticeships and training in all kind of skills are important if we are to fill positions locally. If we are to repopulate the Camp, or to keep the people that are living in Camp here, there has to be advantages seen for living in Camp. I believe for example the recent Tax Review missed an opportunity to encourage more businesses to start in the Camp. If other opportunities arrive in the future we should not make the same mistake.

The recent issue of pupils missing thirty weeks of education during their school lives is misleading; certainly as far as the Camp population is concerned. I would need to see a lot more information on this before I would support any change of the existing Ordinance.

Other issues that need to be constantly monitored and addressed are shipping- both internally and north and south bound to and from the Islands. A regular and reliable link between east and west is important for obvious reasons, including the same type of service for outlying Islands. Tourism – I would like to see more financial aid to those who cater for tourists in camp. The grant scheme for improvement or modification of buildings was a great help and should be re-introduced as soon as possible. Pasture Improvement- we are on the right track with this I hope, but we should not get complacent .A regular review of the progress and it’s results at the end of each season is needed. It has to be remembered that what works on one farm, won’t necessarily work all over the Islands.

Councillors are often criticised for the amount of time they spend away from the Islands, and I have probably done my fair share of complaining. However, it is important that internationally we are represented and our views expressed on the world stage. As one who still recalls being imprisoned at gunpoint on Pebble Island during the 1982 conflict it will come as no surprise to you that my views on relations with Argentina are less than favourable. Argentina claim sovereignty over these Islands, a claim totally unacceptable as far as I am concerned. Until this claim is dropped I would not consider discussing any links of any kind.

Quite probably there are issues that I haven’t mentioned in this circular that you feel are important to the future of camp and our way of life. If so please feel free to contact me at any time either by telephone (41008) fax (41009) or e-mail shansen@horizon.co.fk

I would be grateful for your support. Thank you.