Falklands : Falklands Public Meeting Report (02/19/08)
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 21.02.2008 (Article Archived on 06.03.2008)
A public meeting took place in the Court and Council Chamber of the Town Hall at 1700hrs on Tuesday, 19 February 2008.
PUBLIC MEETING TUESDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2008
By J. Brock (FINN)
A public meeting took place in the Court and Council chamber of the Town Hall at 1700hrs on Tuesday, 19 February 2008. Councillors Birmingham, Rendell, Robertson, Clausen and Summers were present, with Cllr Summers taking the chair. Approximately 20 members of the public also attended.
Public Accounts Committee:
A member of the public asked whether members of the proposed public accounts committee would be sourced from outside or inside FIG. Cllr Summers clarified the issue by saying that H. E. the Governor would appoint three members of the public to sit on the committee, with two Legislative Councillors, making it a 5 – member committee. He went on to say that the committee’s remit was not set in stone but it was responsible to assess how FIG spent their money. Therefore, the Financial Secretary, Deputy Financial Secretary, and Chair of the Standing Finance Committee would not take part. However, experts would be brought in to give advice in their own particular area of skill.
The committee would report to legislative Council as it is LEGCO that is responsible for expenditure. He went on to say that it was important to see how public accounts committees in other overseas territories did their business. Broader issues like scrutiny of companies with government sanctioned monopolies could be looked at in this committee. Though private companies are not in the remit of LEGCO, dodgy and quasi illegal practices could be looked at but this depends on whether the community asks for it.
Status for Falkland Islanders and Children Born Overseas for Medical Reasons:
Cllr Summers explained that the constitution will change with the new Constitution as far as granting status to Commonwealth Citizens. Now the applicants must seek naturalisation as a British Overseas Territories Citizen, or be naturalised British Citizens before status could be granted.
Status for people born in the Falkland Islands is automatic. Children born overseas to people who are normally resident in the Falkland Islands will be treated as if they were born here.
Argentine Next of Kin Visit:
Cllr Summers reminded those present that the reason why this visit has not yet taken place is because there is a ban on charter flights. It is an Argentine ban set up by them to hurt us economically but the repercussions are that not even the Next of Kin can take a charter flight to the Falklands.
Plans that were acceptable to the Argentine Next of Kin and to those on the Falklands involved chartering a cruise ship to bring the families over. However, the Argentine Government decided that the Next of Kin should fly over, contrary to their own ban.
This problem is not the making of the Argentine Next of Kin or the Falkland Islands. The charter flight ban was set up by the Argentine government and is their responsibility. The MPs who recently visited the Falklands would like to gently persuade the Argentine President, when she visits the UK to benefit everyone by lifting the ban.
Mine Clearance:
The public report on the mine clearance says that it can be done at a cost of £100 Million. Clearing out sandy beaches would entail removing all of the sand and then putting it back again.
It was the Argentine Government who paid for the feasibility study but the UK that will have to pick up the tab for clearing up mines left by Argentina in 1982. Because Ministers twisted several arms to get Britain to sign the Ottawa Treaty, it is an anomaly for the UK not to remove the mines in the Falklands.
According to Cllr Summers our argument is that we know where the mines are and that £100 Million could build hospitals, roads and other infrastructure. Places in the world are in more need than we are to have the mines removed.
When Don’t Cruise Ships Pay Harbour Dues?:
Another member of the public brought up an incident he heard of where a cruise ship that did not land passengers did not pay harbour dues. Cllr Summers explained that the ship in question dropped off a medical case but the weather was too bad for the vessel to discharge passengers. Therefore, the ship went on its way after discharging the passenger and did not pay any harbour dues for the visit. He went on to say that the cruise company does not refund the £15.00 per head to the passengers so a small profit is made by them. The losses are on our side when this happens. It is up to the cruise companies to take the commercial risk when a decision of this kind has to be made. No one will go if they can’t get off anywhere.
Maintenance of Airstrips:
A proposal for £15,000.00 to cover minor airstrip maintenance was brought up by a member of the public who knows that there is equipment available from the Aerodrome Department to cut the grass. A debate followed about whether it is the responsibility of the farmer or the government to keep the airstrips maintained. Some airstrips are used rarely and would benefit from a few sheep running on them before the occasional aircraft comes in.
Maintenance of Boxer Bridge:
Finally, a member of the public brought up the apparent unsafe condition of Boxer Bridge. While it looked sound from the top, underneath it was quite a different story. Cllr Birmingham said he would check it out. Cllr Summers said the whole thing would be solved by building a causeway across the Canache and reclaiming some land as well.
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