Falklands : General Purposes Committee Report (04/27/09)
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 28.04.2009 (Article Archived on 12.05.2009)
A meeting of the General Purposes Committee took place on Wednesday, 22 April 2009. On Monday, 27 April 2009 Cllr Mike Summers briefed the media about what happened.
GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE REPORT (04.27.09)
By J. Brock (FINN)
A meeting of the General Purposes Committee took place on Wednesday, 22 April 2009. On Monday, 27 April 2009 Cllr Mike Summers briefed the media about what happened.
Much of the meeting was taken up with a workshop about port development by Mr Ken Johnson, who has presented a paper on the subject to Executive Council. He went through the options available and came up with a short list of sites and recommendations about the procurement process. A scenario of economic and commercial issues relating to port development was also included in the workshop and in the paper.
Cllr Summers said it is very possible that the paper will go to EXCO in may as the budget was being discussed and the project would cost a considerable amount of money. Small amounts of money have been and will be allocated so that the funding will grow.
It looks as if there is optimism over putting the port at Port Harriot providing the sand bar can be dealt with. Additional work needs to be done with reference to cruise ship activity. It is generally thought that Port William or Stanley harbour would be optimal for those visits and that it would be better to keep the Tourism Industry away from other commercial activities.
Other areas on the list are Port William, Berkley Sound and FIPASS. Cllr Summers said that Mare harbour has been ruled out.
It is not known if or when there will be a final report but Mr Johnson will be producing interim reports on a regular basis.
Funding from investors is sought from a variety of sources including the European Bank and private investors.
The up and coming exploratory round will not be affected as facilities at FIPASS will suffice.
Cllr Summers mentioned that there is no hurry to get the port finished and it could work out that completion could coincide with world-wide economic recovery.
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