Falklands : Falklands Public Meeting Report Part 2
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 24.04.2008 (Article Archived on 08.05.2008)
One final point the people had to make was that Councillors seemed ill prepared to discuss the way forward. Many times throughout the session they indicated that decisions hadn’t been made. Those attending were not satisfied that the project was thought through and they left the meeting more confused than when they came in.
PUBLIC MEETING REPORT (22/04/08)
Part 2: FIDC
By J. Brock (FINN)
One final point the people had to make was that Councillors seemed ill prepared to discuss the way forward. Many times throughout the session they indicated that decisions hadn’t been made. Those attending were not satisfied that the project was thought through and they left the meeting more confused than when they came in.
At the end of the discussion about TV Licences there was a small amount of time to bring up other business. The situation surrounding the departure of the former General Manager was discussed.
Barry Elsby asked whether any amounts of money were classified as misplaced after the external audit at FIDC. Cllr Cockwell said that the issue was that the internal audit report came up with certain procedures that needed to be done just to make sure FIDC were looking after the money safely.
“Unfortunately, this hadn’t happened and for some reason, which we haven’t got to the bottom of yet, the external audit process did not pick up the absence of these procedures,” he said. Cllr Cockwell reassured everyone that no money went missing or that public funds were misappropriated.
He reaffirmed that the procedures that needed to be in place so that the auditors can actually make sure that things are happening. The internal auditor asked for these safe-guards to go in and this hadn’t been done. That’s why the issue came up and why the Chief Executive said in PN that this involved large amounts of public money.
Stella Prindle-Middleton asked why yet another manager had been hired on at FIDC to do the port. She went on to say about managers at the abattoir as well and asked why we need yet another manager for FIDC. Cllr Cockwell said that the FIDC needed someone at the head – a leader. He went on to say that it was necessary to save someone properly qualified to actually look after the whole organisation of FIDC. “Port Development is a totally different issue and we need somebody with the skills of actually setting in motion the process of us developing a new port. He continued that we need someone with the skills and that there was no point in filling that position with just anybody.
Tim Miller asked about the interim manager at FIDC and Cllr Cockwell said the man had opted out. He added that an interim Financial Controller was coming down. Interviews for the permanent position will take place at the end of July.
Cllr Rendell mentioned that money already has been allocated. The person appointed needs to take the port project forward. He or she could well influence where the actual site of the port will be and as yet no decision has been taken as to where the port will be regardless of the studies that have been done. Until the person with the proper skills is in place the project won’t be going forward.
Cllr Clausen agreed with Cllr Rendell that a specialist person needed to be recruited so that a proper decision can be made.
Phil Middleton asked how a general Manager for FIDC would be recruited and Cllr Rendell said that an agency had been approached. The one person who was selected said that he wouldn’t be able to come until July, so FIG are now advertising for the permanent post.
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