Falklands : Falklands - The Election Manifesto of Roger Edwards
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 14.12.2007 (Article Archived on 28.12.2007)
Roger Edwards was defeated in the 2005 election.
ELECTION MANIFESTO OF MR ROGER EDWARDS
Although currently living in Camp, I am spending more and more time in Stanley and have decided to put myself forward as a candidate in the Stanley Constituency by election because I feel strongly that this Council has failed in its promises to the electorate and allowed too much waste.
There is a perception that spending is out of control, yet not enough money is available neither for the key foundation stones of Health, Housing and Education, nor even for a usable football pitch. A recent report sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce supports this view.
Councillors speak of efficiencies and yet we see new posts being created such as ‘head of policy and policy and performance officer’ at an annual cost of over £100,000.00. I thought setting policy was the job of Executive Council. Shame to see we now have to employ an outsider to form policy.
We seem to be going backwards by recruiting from overseas when we can make savings by using perfectly adequately qualified local applicants. I fought in the last Council for more local appointments and I am delighted to say that those local applicants have proven to be excellent.
We need to be looking to complete existing projects before we commit huge sums to other major installations. Tourism has been proven as our second largest income source yet we seem to put very little into this to make the tourists’ life a little more comfortable. Thousands of wet and shivering people awaiting their return launches made me realise a simple, relatively low-cost shelter at the Jetty Centre would be more appreciated than spending the tens of millions of Pounds likely for other projects.
The Cross sound Ferry has been accepted as the way forward in Camp development. This project shows signs of costing close to £2Million a year over the next 8 years. Even strong supporters of this project are now embarrassed at the huge cost. I do wonder if Council was ever really aware of the total cost of this project set against the level of service provided, which will probably be less than the assistance provided by the now, dreadfully neglected TAMAR-FI.
Camp tracks to the port of the ferry require urgent capping and maintenance or else the sub-structure will begin to collapse and even more stretches will be impassable during wet winter months. Half of the West’s all-weather tracks have never been capped and two farms have still to be connected to the network. Simply calling them roads will not improve the situation.
The Abattoir continues to consume huge sums of money, mainly in support of ever-changing EU regulations. But many farmers having been encouraged by the Agricultural Department, have diversified into meat and this has added a very valuable additional source of income which, in some cases, has enabled farmers to earn a living wage and remain in Camp. However, with overall sheep numbers in serious decline – now a total of only 496,000 – a close watch must be kept on the cost-benefit equation.
I, like the majority of the population, was appalled with the amount of money used in setting up a wool board, along with its doubtful benefits. And what is the cost of its continued consultancy?
This Council failed to take a tough stance over an Argentine visitor flag waving incident. I believe we must ensure firm, no nonsense policies in place before any future visits. I also believe in continuing to state our right to self-determination at the United Nations Committee of 24. I accept the Decolonisation Committee is not the correct forum for this debate but it is the only one available and must be continued. I would not support taking the argument to Argentina.
I do not believe scrutiny has improved in the new portfolio structure recently announced by Councillors. It appears only to further widen the gap between those Councillors on EXCO and the others. Major decisions can still be forced through by a cartel of two strong characters. I still believe all eight members should sit on EXCO, thereby reducing the influence of any one dictatorial Councillor.
All is not doom and gloom, however. Our youngsters continue to seek higher education and we must continue to encourage students into apprenticeships. Then we must recognise their achievements when they return to the Islands by giving them jobs and responsibilities. It seems that the goalposts for these young achievers have moved and they are required to have a longer period of experience in their chosen occupation before they can return to a job in the Falkland Islands. Or, when they return, they find that in their absence the necessary qualifications had been increased while they had been away training.
The wind farm and waste heat recovery system supported and sponsored by the previous Council have been a great success.
Cable & Wireless is slowly getting sorted out, thanks in no small measure to our consultant, Dr. Chris Doyle. But much more needs to be done in service provision, reliability, and efficiency and lower tariffs before we can say we have half-decent communications.
I believe this Council still has much to do in its remaining two years. Stanley’s water supply is vulnerable to long periods of drought. And, the plans to enlarge the catchment area should be put into place now rather than wait for the day we run out of water.
Houses are in short supply and housing plots are running out fast. Many houses are being crammed into small, unsuitable plots. And, with the private sector reluctant to release serviced plots, I believe it is the duty of Government to again make plots available.
Stanley and Camp radio and television is about to undergo a major transformation. I believe Government should foot the bill for the majority of this project, perhaps using some of the savings they made by cutting the Holiday Credit Scheme.
And, I hope in the not too distant future we can look again at re-introducing holiday credits as originally envisaged.
There are requirements for improvements within the Health Department – breast screening facilities perhaps. And why, can anyone tell me, were gallbladder operations singled out by EXCO when it came to funding.
It was always the policy of reports on the schools were discussed first by the Teachers who commented on the correction of any factual content, then reviewed by the Board of Education and forwarded to EXCO before being released to the public. It was a shame this last report left a demoralised teaching staff in the way it was handled.
There is an urgent need to look again at how we provide pensions for long-term employees. Low rates of interest and poor stock market performance leaves much to be desired on retirement.
The Immigration Ordinance is still in a state of flux. After so long this should really be grasped and given a higher priority for completion within the tenure of this Council. If immigration continues to be virtually unchecked we will be in danger of losing our identity.
If elected I cannot promise to change anything. I would be, after all, one of eight. But I can promise to do my upmost and fight hard to prevent further waste.
I cannot possibly cover all the subjects in this brief radio broadcast, so please feel free to stop me in the street, call me at home or contact me by letter or e-mail if you wish to discuss anything further.
If you are not going to be in Stanley on the 3rd of January to vote in person then I encourage you to make other arrangements to cast your vote. On January the 3rd, you the electorate have a chance of voting to make a change. Do not waste that chance. Vote for me. Vote Edwards.
(100X Transcription Service)
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