Commentary by J. Brock (FINN)

Mr. Speaker, before I speak, I would like to come over and present the Commander British Forces with a Legislative Council tie.

JG: Many thanks.

JB: This is presented on behalf of all the Legislative Council. Thank you for your time in the Islands. We wish you and Fiona well – and the children – not forgetting the dog.

JG: Again, many thanks. I will say some words later.

JB: Again, Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members. I missed the last Legislative Council meeting as I was on the Tristar – the one that was on time. I might add. And, it’s sometimes difficult to find things to speak about in this House. So, you look through the paper and you hear people’s complaints and moans. And, even sometimes members of the public.

Trips overseas by Councillors was mentioned not so long ago in the newspaper and indeed, on the street. And, I don’t know if anybody’s interested in Rugby but an Australian Radio Commentator, I think it was at the start of the World Cup, when talking about Argentina, the person next to him asked about where Argentina was and the Australian said it was near the Falkland Islands. I would suggest that one of the reasons that the Falkland Islands have a profile that’s possibly higher than some say we should have, is because of the continued promoting by Councillors, by senior officials going overseas, not least by the Falkland Islands Government Office in London. And, we have to continue doing that. Because, if we don’t go out there and project ourselves then, I’m afraid people will tend to forget who we are, where we are, and what we are about. As One of the least travellers, I certainly support and would continue to support Councillors going over to meetings and not least now that we have to get involved in the European Union. There will be more trips to Brussels and the like to keep a finger in that door.

Another recent topic is absenteeism within school – or the schools. I spoke out in the newspaper and was wary of what was being said. So, I visited the Department of Education Head Office and was shown some figures. And, I have to say, and having seen those figures, that I was still not convinced that there is a problem large enough to warrant a change in legislation. This has already been touched on this morning, I know. I just sometimes wonder and I’ve asked the Director of Education, for some figures on non- overseas absenteeism. Those figures haven’t arrived yet and I am sure they will. Sometimes you see a number of children – young people – our wandering around and do question why they are out of school.

Next week there is a by-election, as we all know. There are only three candidates, which I’m surprised at because constantly we see letters in the newspaper and I get interesting phone calls from people who obviously have all the answers. And, I just wonder why there were only three but perhaps some are keeping their powder dry for two years on.

I would like to finish, Mr Speaker, by thanking the Medical Department, who, at the moment, seem to have the finger publicly pointed at them. The Medical Department have a large staff. That staff do a marvellous job. We have a very good Medical Service here. There are problems. There will always be problems. There are mistakes. There will always be mistakes. Bur, in the main, we do have a good service and I really would like to emphasise that.

Sir, I support the motion.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, in rising to support the Motion for Adjournment, may I also add my very best wishes for CBFFI and his wife, Fiona, for the future. Thank you for all you have contributed to our Council during the time here and we wish you well for the future. We hope you enjoy your new job.

My Honourable Colleague on my left here has mentioned the hospital and I would endorse what he said. We do have a good Medical Service for the Islands and I wouldn’t want anyone to think that that we don’t. However, I do feel that we do slip up in various areas and one of them is in the Physiotherapy Department. I don’t think we give adequate cover to our patients – adequate physio cover and I would like to see this addressed rather more urgently. We are going to look at it, I believe it’s in the next budget session but it’s a long time to wait if you’ve got some nasty pain to get that fixed. The next budget session is next May. So, I would like to see perhaps if we couldn’t increase our physiotherapy services for our patients. And, I am very pleased that the Hospital are not going to supply wait-list treatment for overseas patients. We’ve asked that they don’t do that, that they continue sending people who need to go overseas, overseas, as and when.

The MPA Road – I have to say, the last Council we had – maybe it wasn’t the last one. Maybe it was the Legco before that, we had complaints about the state of the MPA Road and it was at the back end of winter and there were potholes. I was very impressed the last time I went out to MPA. They must have worked tremendously hard – the lads – since the onset of the good weather and they’ve made a remarkable difference to the road. It really isn’t too bad at all, considering the traffic it takes, I think.

Likewise, the West Roads. We had a very wet winter and I was very pleasantly surprised when I went last on the Port Stephens Road. It has held up pretty well and we now have a second Road Gang on the West, which, there has been lots of noises about. I am pleased that we have and I am pleased that they are getting on with the job. Hopefully this will be a good summer and they will make tremendous progress. I am sure they will. I wish them well. They do work hard and they get very little thanks for it sometimes.

Sir, I don’t think I have anything else to add at this particular time so I will support the Motion for Adjournment.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I have just three issues I would like to deal with today. I would first like to pay tribute in this House to the work that the late Tony Agreiter did in this community. You will be aware that he sadly passed away recently. I had the good fortune of working with Tony in the YMCA Management Committee. And, I found him a very caring and common sense man. I know he’s been away from the Islands now for a little while. And, he has probably already been missed by those people who normally would have seen him and worked with him but he lead the prayers on occasions in this House and he did a great service in our community.

I would like to thank those people who represented the Falklands at the ABC recently in Argentina and particularly the common sense approach adopted by former Councillor, Tony Blake. We felt, for very good reasons, that we could not go to the ABC this year. But it is important, nevertheless, to have our views – Falkland Islanders views – put forward in front of people who perhaps don’t always understand them – don’t understand the community, don’t know who we are, don’t know what we are up to. And, I think it was useful to have somebody like that there, to put them forward.

It’s important that people in Argentina and elsewhere understand the need for and the depth of internal self government in the Falklands. Internal Self Government is a key issue – an absolutely key issue in the fight to Self Determination. And, it must be respected by all parties. It’s important that it’s respected overseas and it’s important that it’s respected here. So, I think we might see in future weeks some more discussion, certainly in relation to the Constitution and perhaps some other matters about the depth of Internal Self Government here and the need to preserve and expand and protect it.

My further comment is to say good-bye to Jamie and Fiona. Thank you for your work here. It has been a pleasure to work with you both on the Councils and to talk with you in private. Some of those things have been most illuminating. It is distressing for me to see that Commanders British Forces are getting so much younger year by year. And, I hope your predecessor looks a little more older and haggard than you do.

NE: How do you think I feel.

MS: Sir, I support the motion.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I would like to endorse the tribute paid by my Honourable Colleague, Mike Summers to Monsignor Tony Agreiter. He was an exceptionally intelligent and perceptive man and mixed well with not just his own congregation but people right across the community. As Mike said, he was extremely caring.

Moving on to overseas travel by Councillors, I know it’s an easy target for people who want to bash a Councillor or two. I would add to what the Honourable John Birmingham said. Having recently been to the party conferences, something you are very much aware of now is that there is a whole generation grown up since the war in ’82, some of whom who have only the haziest idea where we are and what it’s all about. We don’t just meet MPs and important people at those conferences, we meet the whole rank and file of active party members. And the support that we have from those people, which is conveyed to their representatives is well worth having. And, it’s a cross-party thing, not just Labour or Conservative.

Medical costs and referrals have been mentioned and I’d like to make a public apology to one or two people I may have mislead. Because of the decision we made at Health and Medical Services Committee, that referrals would not be delayed until the matter had been discussed with all Councillors, I blithely assumed that no referrals would be delayed. It’s become apparent to me that one or two were. I hope this won’t continue and I apologise to people I miss informed in the intervening period.

Mention has been made of absenteeism at school. I think that because of the way it was reported – the way the discussion at Education Board was reported, has been somewhat distorted. We have advice from the Attorney General that the current law is not enforceable in terms of a fine for parents who, for whatever reason, do not send their child to school. We would only want to use that law in a pretty extreme case and a pretty rare case. But it would be good to know what in that last resort the law was enforceable, hence the need to look at the possibility of change. I don’t see wholesale prosecutions or anything of the kind but it’s something which we should have. And, in an extreme case we would be able to enforce it.

Finally, I’d like to add to the Good wishes to Commander British Forces, to Fiona, and his family and, of course, the dog. Very best wishes for the future and thank you for all your work while you were here.

I support the Motion.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members one of the problems of standing up towards the later end of these Motions for Adjournment is that most people have already said what you are intending to say. I think I can concur with just about everything people have said before me. However, just one or two small points that I would like to raise, I wish to totally associate myself with the remarks regarding Tony Agreiter. I was fortunate that I was able to call him a friend, even though I wasn’t part of his congregation. Someone else who passed away recently, who I think should be remembered in this House is Eyleen Videl. She did sterling work for people in the Camp over many years. She was our lifeline and many of us view her passing with regret and I would like to pass on my condolences to the family.

We have a by-election coming up next week and I hope that people will see that they do vote. I think that people will recognise, if you don’t vote you can’t complain about what you get. We have some good candidates and lets hope that may the pest person win.

Regarding the travel of Councillors, well obviously I think everybody knows at the moment, I am on the Executive of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and I travel at least twice a year on that Executive, which is paid for by the CPA. But I think one thing which people do need to know that we meet new people every time we go to these meetings. And, it is amazing the amount of people who really don’t understand the situation in the Falklands. They either think that there are a lot of indigenous populations – South Americans who really should belong to Argentina, or that we do belong to Argentina, although that we are totally funded by Britain. And, it is very useful, I believe, to be able to explain to Parliamentarians that this is not the case. And, I think Falkland Islanders going and telling people around the world that this is the case cannot do us anything but good.

Just one thing. In my travels, I pass through a lot of Customs posts, immigration and such like, and – I really don’t want to complain about our procedures here but I would like to have them looked at. It seems to take an enormous amount of time to pass through immigration, particularly in entering the country. And we are trying to make the Falklands a place where people wish to come. And, the irritation of having to wait while what appears to be draconian detail is actually checked. And, I would like to ask the Honourable Roger Edwards, who is in charge of the Immigration Committee if they could review the necessity of these things. I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t have all the records we require but do we need to go through the processes of checking two numbers for everybody – Falkland Islanders – any overseas people.

The other thing, which I know people have raised, before now, is the security on the way out. I am all for security but I can assure people I went through 13 or 14 different countries in my travels this time. I passed through checks and the only place where I was asked to take out my Government Computer and switch it on to show it wasn’t a bomb was in the Falkland Islands. I think we need security but we need pragmatism in this and I think it would help to give people a slightly better feeling about the Falklands. It’s just an irritant when we leave.

And finally, I would like to also pass on my best wishes to Jamie and Fiona I am sure you are going to a place which isn’t nearly as pleasant as the Falklands but I do hope you enjoy yourselves in Northern Ireland.

Thank You.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, in rising to support the Motion for Adjournment I would first like to publicly thank the Public Works Department and all those involved in getting the road work underway once again, in particular the gang that has moved out to West Falkland to the Roy Cove area. They had to move the whole camp – the machines and everything else through Fox Bay. Fortunately, the weather conditions were such that they were able to proceed along the road. They have managed to erect their camp and, as of the beginning of last week, they had already completed one kilometre of road, which I think is a really good effort on their behalf. And, I would like to thank Cllr. Norma Edwards for her comments concerning the MPA Road and the West Roads and I will pass that on to the people in the Public Works Department.

At the same time as I am talking of roads, the work in the Roy Cove area should be finished, just prior to Christmas 2004, when they will be moving south to start building the road towards Dunnose Head and Shallow Harbour. And, I have asked of the Transport Advisory Committee and of the Public Works Department that when they do that move that they try and improve the crossing of the Chartres River. There are several plans afoot and they must start now looking at which is the best option for them so that work can be done around Christmas 2004.

Councillor Birmingham reported that we punched above our weight when it comes to the Falklands image abroad and I think that’s absolutely right. I am shortly to announce my ideas on promoting junior ambassadors. And, this will be discussed with our representative in London, the Governor and Members later on next month when we all get together.

Immigration procedures – I will certainly take Councillor Cockwell’s views and images of the immigration procedures. I think he must come in to a different airport than me because the last time I came in I was through in about 30 seconds flat.

The election – we are not far away from the election now. I wish good luck to the candidates and I would urge everyone to go out and vote. No vote is a wasted image – a wasted vote and I don’t believe people should complain if they haven’t voted.

Commander British Forces, I would like to echo the remarks of my colleagues and bid you farewell and good luck for the future.

Sir, I support the Motion.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I would like to start by echoing the farewells to the Commander British Forces. I wish him and his family all the best for the future.

I am tempted to do for the Honourable Richard Cockwell an explanation of security at Mount Pleasant, which I received a letter. He will probably be getting a letter in the post in the near future.

I would also like to congratulate the road gang on a very successful move and I also was delighted to hear recently that they have already completed about a kilometre of road. The Chartres River crossing is something that is under active consideration. The Transport Advisory Committee recognises it is a problem and it will be dealt with at an appropriate time. Exactly what that time is I don’t think has actually been set but we will be, I’m sure, be discussing it in the next meeting.

I would like to mention the visit of the FCO Prisons Advisor, Chris Gibbard. I confess to having approached our initial meeting spoiling for a good argument but I was bowled over by the outstandingly sensible cost-effective proposal that he put forward. During a very short visit he dashed off a quick "back of an envelope" sketch of a new prison that will cost, in his opinion, no more than a quarter of a million pounds and would meet all the requirements. Compare that to the original estimate for a full police station and prison of over 12 times that amount and, even if the Falklands Factor doubles it to half a million, which wouldn’t surprise me. I think it’s at a level which Members are now able to take seriously. I only wish that all the advise that we got was as good as we got from Mr. Gibbard.

Before I start being nasty to people, a quick word of praise is also in order for the highly professional operation undertaken to deal with the recent drama at Stanley Airport. It speaks volumes for the procedures that the EOD, Police and other agencies have in place, that everything went like clockwork. I think a special mention is also deserved for the guys who did all the earthworks down there to protect some expensive assets. This was certainly above and beyond the call of duty for what was supposed to be a new construction contract. I am sure it also provided excellent training in dealing with the real thing for the EOD.. If they want to have a crack at another 1,000 pounder, I happen to know roughly where they might find one, which has evaded capture on previous occasions.

I’d like to say a few words with my newly acquired Housing hat on. There are a small number of people, maybe half a dozen, who are persistent offenders in non-payment of rent. In some cases, they have been so for several years and they owe a significant amount of money. I would like to take this opportunity to warn publicly that at a recent meeting, the Housing Committee decided to take a much tougher line on Rent arrears for Government Rented properties. There are dozens of people on the housing list, in fact, about 80 at the last count, some of who have been there for years. It seems grossly unfair to me that all these people are going without housing while others that have the houses can’t be bothered to pay the rent. The message is simple: "Pay up or you will be seeing an eviction order rather sooner than might previously have been expected. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not, I repeat, not aimed at the person who might be a few days late now and then with their rent, nor at those who genuinely have income problems. For the genuinely hard up, there is a rent scheme available. Information about that can be got from the Treasury. Please don’t be afraid to ask

Its there to help you. Likewise, if you’ve got a temporary problem with cash, or are between jobs, talk to the Treasury about it. The group we wish to target are a small minority that seem to think they have the right to live in a Government House and just not bother ever paying any rent. It would be perhaps a good time to commend the hard work and tenacity of the Treasury Officers involved with debt collection, who manage to weedle money out of all but a few of unwilling debtors.

Finally, I would like to say something about Coastal Shipping. As people will be aware, the hand-over period on the Coastal Shipping Contract we want followed was perhaps not as soon as we would like. But I have to say, the situation to date has not been helped by persistent sniping by some people against the contractor. There have been a number of legitimate problems that have been brought to our attention. Most of them have been sorted out or some problems are being investigated. And, the contractor is doing their best to accommodate what everybody wants. As an example, Island Shipping specifically asked some time ago what people’s requirements were for wool collection. I gather only around half of the farms replied. For those that didn’t I would suggest that if hyou don’t get exactly what you want, it’s hardly the contractor’s fault.

Sir, I support the Motion.

Mr. Speaker, honourable Members, first of all, can I thank Honourable Members for their very kind words and for this very unique tie, which I shall wear with pride when I depart these Islands as well as elsewhere.

I am not sure that actually Commanders are getting younger. Maybe it is that they just look younger. Perhaps it’s Councillors getting older.

RC: Point of order Mr. Speaker!

JG: It is some service It found myself saying good-bye to the Legislative Council. As the end of my tour approaches, time has passed so quickly. My successor and those that follow him will be much luckier because they will get 18 months here rather than the year that I have been allowed.

I consider it a great honour and privilege, as well as great fun, to command British Forces Falkland Islands, even though it is now 21 years since the war ended. There are some real jobs to do in terms of carrying out the mission and making sure that we are prepared for whatever the future might bring.

Recently, headquarters – my higher headquarters – put us through a most thorough test of our capabilities, which was quite good value as well. I am glad to say that we passed the test. Islanders can rest assured that we have the sources and the skills to defend British interests here in the South Atlantic.

In all of this, the Falkland Islands Defence Force has ably assisted us. They also take part, or have just done, in our regular exercise, Purple Strike series of exercises where the infantry component is put through its paces. And, I know Dr. Hart, your Economic Advisor, thoroughly enjoyed the standard walks that I threw into the exercise.

You have a very professional and enthusiastic force that has high standards. Indeed, the Director if Infantry, who has just visited here, and saw them on exercise, was impressed. However, these standards can never be taken for-granted and much work is required to maintain them with what they do. There might be the regular Warrant Officer attached to that force as Keith is.

I have been surprised and pleased by the regular interface that takes place between British Forces Falkland Islands and the Falkland Islands Government. Areas on tax, human rights issues, are areas where we can co-operate to our mutual benefit where we should co-operate to reduce our costs. As always, inevitably, there is pressure to reduce defence costs. It happens all over the world. It’s important that we as British Forces Falkland Islands seem to be lean and efficient and making the best use of resources available. And, this is something that my staff and I work hard on.

To this end, you undoubtedly do a lot for us. Contractors, employees, do not pay income tax, which helps to reduce the cost of defence of the Falkland Islands and you build two married quarters per year for us up at MPA.

But because we are there, we do a lot for you. For example, we effectively reduce the cost of your commercial airport and we provide 24-hour search and rescue for Falkland Islands fishermen and those of foreign companies that pay for their fishing licences to fish in your waters.

The Falkland Islands economy has fallen in relative terms and hopefully as your Government’s plans come to fruition, the fish remain in the sea, there may be the opportunity to explore for oil and other natural resources. When it comes to pass, they will continue to grow.

And we are grateful for the part the Falkland Islands plays in shouldering some of the costs of the defence effort for the Falkland Islands. In fact, I know, this will continue to be so in the future.

I think I’ve spoken for long enough. I know Councillor Birmingham is actually very keen to go but I think I am allowed 45 minutes. I’m not going to use my full time, you will be glad to know but I did think about it.

Fiona and I have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves here in the Falkland Islands. Little did I think in 1987, when I was last here, that I would be returning as a commander. I hope our boys will remember some of their time here. They certainly thrived on the fresh air, the healthy food and all the adventures that are to be had.

I would like to end by saying thank-you to all of you on Legislative Council for being so supportive of the Forces here. It is good to be appreciated. And, to all the Islanders that we have come to know and who have been so kind to us and I hope we will remain friends in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I support the Motion.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I also extend my best wishes to the Commander British Forces and his family for the future and to thank them for their contribution to Falklands affairs over the past year.

I thank Councillor Luxton for his strong support on the treatment of house rent defaulters. The Treasury will continue to pursue with vigour the recovery of these debts as well as all other outstanding sums due to Government.

Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, Just briefly, rising last always makes it very difficult to say something original but I might have something. I do just wish to take the opportunity, of course, to add my very best wishes to Brigadier Gordon, to Fiona and to the boys for their future endeavours and for all their future adventures, not least in Northern Ireland. It’s been a joy to work with him and to meet with him and his wife socially also.

Sir, just finally, without wishing to imply that members should repeat their speeches, I beg to move that this house stands adjourned Sine Die.

I apologise for that – not letting you propose the motion for adjournment, may I also wish the Commander British Forces and his family good fortune and success in the future. I think it is noticeable that Military/Civilian relations have been particularly good and that is the result of the man at the top. And, I think he is to be thanked for that effort he has made.

The House stands adjourned.

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