Falklands : Falklands -LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY MOTION OF THANKS SPEECHES (26/05/09)
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 03.06.2009 (Article Archived on 17.06.2009)

Assembly Members thanked H. E. the Governor Mr Huckle for his Address to the Nation speech

Commentary and transcription by J. Brock (FINN) for 100X Transcription Service

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY MOTION OF THANKS SPEECHES (26/05/09)

Commentary and transcription by J. Brock (FINN) for 100X Transcription Service

The Hon Mr Mike Summers (MS):

Mr Speaker, Your Excellency the Governor, Honourable members, it is inevitable in this budget session and because of the state of the world economy that economic issues are going to dominate the proceedings in this session of the Legislative Assembly. 

It is tempting in presentations to the public to engage in all sorts of hyperbole on these occasions – sometimes to over-state the case to make the point.  But I have been consistent in what I have had to say about the Falklands economy over a number of months and indeed years – and I think remains the case that we actually have a strong economy for which we can be very proud and on which we can continue to build – and one which does not put us in a position where we have to take any panic measures or emergency measures to effect the way we will move forward.

We do have to examine closely the effect of expenditure as well as reductions of expenditure on not only the economy but also the people of the Falkland Islands because both expenditure and reductions of expenditure have consequences. And we must always be conscious about what they are.  There is a balance to be struck between investment in development and investment in social and societal welfare and benefit.  And that’s what we hope to achieve over the next few months that are left of this assembly.

We aim to achieve an egalitarian society in which everybody can benefit and which avoids poverty and excessive elitism.  That has been the philosophy, I believe, of this Council and the philosophy that carries forward into our budget process.  And, I believe a philosophy that pervades this community.  The Green and White papers have been an important part of that process.

Sir, you mentioned in your address the work of the Policy Unit.  There are not too many parts of the Government for which I have portfolio responsibilities that I should directly address but I think the work of the Policy Unit is important.  The economic development strategy in particular is a very important piece of work that was started in this council.  It will carry on in the next.  And it provides a major opportunity for both public and private sector participants to engage positively in the future development of the future economic development of the Falklands and I look forward to its outcomes.

You mentioned the Government Review.  This has been a large and important piece of work and I know that has caused a certain amount of disturbance amongst public servants as inevitably it was going to do.  But as I said on the radio when we were talking not very long ago, you can’t achieve change without changing things.  And those people who have been saying to us for years and years that actually the Government doesn’t work in the way in which it ought to – it is sometimes slow – it is sometimes cumbersome – it is not efficient – we accept those conclusions but you can’t change them without changing things.  So changing things is what will have to happen.  The essence of the Government review is not really about top-level directives.  It’s really about how you affect the important policies of training, performance management and professionalism.  And, the top-level review is only to achieve those aims.  And, again, in the Government Review and in the new government we have to find a balance between professionalism and generic management and skills capabilities and that is the essence of the Government Review.

I would like to touch on just two more issues that you raised in your address, Sir:  The first is telecommunications.  It is clear that there has been a change in management style in the delivery of the telecommunications service in the Falklands from a co-operative, helpful, working together type of approach to a much more attritional.  That being the case, the Government has to adjust its stance in terms of the regulation of that monopoly.  And, I think it was made perfectly clear, Sir, in your address that that the Government would do and will do in the next few weeks.

And finally, I am, like you, very pleased to note that the visit of Argentina Next of Kin is to be affected in the next few weeks – hopefully in early October.  This matter has been dragging on for a long time.  It’s caused a significant amount of international friction and difficulty, not only between the UK and Argentina but in comment by other nations, who couldn’t understand why a Next of Kin visit was so difficult to organise.  It has been difficult to organise.  We believe we have an effective way forward that doesn’t compromise our principles but will provide the opportunity for the Argentine Next off Kin to make a visit to the Darwin Cemetery and to pay their respects to the dead.  The Government has long said that it supports and it continues to support Next of Kin visits to the cemetery – providing nobody’s playing politics with it, so I look forward to that being done quietly, peacefully and respectfully in the next few weeks.

Mr Speaker, I support the Motion for Thanks for the Governor’s Address.

The Hon Mr Ian Hansen (IH):

Mr Speaker, Your Excellency, Honourable Members:  Your Excellency, thank you for your opening address to this Assembly.  Since your address a year ago there have been significant changes and, as you say, many of them to the detriment of the economy of the Falklands as a whole.  Global recession has, to an extent, I guess, affected all our major industries and may continue to do so in the future.  I would just like to, in this brief reply to your address, touch upon my portfolio responsibilities.  I would like to begin by thanking the staff of the departments that I am responsible for.  I would like to thank them for their support over the last year – and not least – of course – in the process leading up to this budget.

Concerning Agriculture, there was certainly a very negative beginning to this financial year for farmers.  However, that has since been negated to some extent, with the recovery – or at least the part recovery – of wool prices and meat prices and the eventual pick up and speed of sales both through overseas agencies and the Falkland Islands Wool Company.

I doubt that there’s been for some time what you would describe as an easy year for agriculture based businesses but despite the current economic climate that makes it even more difficult than usual and despite the constant criticism from certain sectors about investment in Camp as a whole, I have little doubt that the farming community, or the rural community indeed will survive.  But I do believe it is the nature of those who choose to live in the difficult environment that is the Camp.

I do hope there will be continued support from the Falkland Island (s) Government for the Farm Improvement Plan, which will ensure the farmers have the best possible chance of supplying the Abattoir with good quality stock for export in future years.

Sir, you mentioned the Rural Development Strategy and this, of course, has to be strongly linked to Agriculture and the future survival of the Camp.  It’s perhaps unfortunate that we are not as far along as we hoped to be with this strategy but nevertheless a considerable amount of consultation and a considerable amount of work has been achieved since its beginning.  It is intended to next update and to consult with the general public during Farmers’ Week in July.

I guess, on a positive note, I am going to speak about Minerals briefly.  The joint meeting with the oil operators earlier this month, I believe, was a huge success.  There is, unquestionably, a will to contract a drilling rig or rigs as soon as possible by those companies that are required to do so under their current licensing agreements.  And, Your Excellency, it is indeed a challenge to facilitate investment.  It is, indeed a challenge to develop plans for security and disaster management.  But this is a challenge – I think you would agree – that’s a forward-looking and a positive challenge.

And just finally, Mr Speaker, I, too, would like to comment on the Next of Kin visit.  This visit has been, indeed, a lengthy process – or the organisation of it.  But I do believe that this compromise proposal is the best way to see that this pilgrimage happens.  And, it happens without there being any loss in service to our community through scheduled flights and it also minimises any chance of potential radical decisions in the Argentine Government.

Mr Speaker, as I have an opportunity on Thursday to speak further, I will halt at this point.  Sir, I support the Motion.

The Hon Mrs Janet Robertson (JR):

Your Excellency, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, thank you very much for your excellent speech, Governor but while listening to it did occur to me to think over the years and how much change there has been.  Just as a small reminder, a little over 20 years ago, expenditure in these Islands was a fraction of what it is today, there were no roads to maintain apart from those in Stanley, there was no FIPASS, there was no Abattoir, there were much fewer public buildings to furnish and maintain, there was no Civil Aviation Department, no Leisure Centre, no IT Department, no television, no internet, a two longs and a short telephone system – for those who could remember that – a vehicle section and a Defence Force much, much less provisioned than they are today, Government Housing was extremely scarce, there were no social services, no medical treatment overseas and only a determined and lucky few ever got to go abroad to study.  How much it has all changed in 20 years! 

And how much we have all benefited from it!  And, of course, how much it all cost!  And, that’s what we are looking at today and we are looking at it against a back-drop of falling growth around the world, which has affected the Falkland Islands as much as anywhere else.  This is centred principally on the need to find a balance between maintaining good standards of service and continuing to invest in areas of growth and development.

Health and Education are the principle services where, perhaps, the strongest and the most wide-spread passionate views exist.  We all want a good standard of health and we all want our children to have the best educational opportunities possible.  Whilst this cannot make these services completely immune from requirements to make efficiency savings, it does stand to reason that for most people it is preferable to make the choice to contribute to a service rather than to lose it all together.  And, I think the recent consultation periods we’ve had on finance and the health paper have demonstrated that quite clearly.

And when we try to achieve cuts in expenditure we can’t forget the basic principle because a failure to provide decently in these areas will undoubtedly lead to people making a choice actually to go and live elsewhere where they perceive the provision of these services to be better.  In this budget – at least in this respect, I am sure we will allay people’s fears about that but it is something that all Councils are going to have to take into account when deciding.

A little more on the Health Service – it has continuously received high commendations from external reviewers for clinical practices and services. And, really, the staff at KEMH should be congratulated and commended for this.  Still, over the next year, work to strengthen our administrative and budget management capabilities must be undertaken to ensure that the public and Councillors alike can be assured that the system is operating efficiently and with minimal inconsistencies.  And part of this will be also to ensure that we are gather a variety of statistical data that will facilitate the analysis that we need to ensure that particular areas of concern can be properly targeted and strategically planned for.  And, anyone who has looked at the aims and objectives in the Islands Plan will see that this is one of the purposes and business objectives of the Health Services.

At the 2006 Budget Session, initial comment was made on the subject of Means Testing in certain areas.  At the time I advocated caution, concerned that an over-exuberance of means testing of benefits and allowances could lead to placing considerable burden on middle income families and penalising the sector for hard work, career development and holding high aspirations for their children’s education.  I did also say that if financial circumstances were such, we would need to accept that some means testing was inevitable.  Well, that time has now come, hopefully, as no surprise to anyone, and hopefully, largely within acceptable boundaries.  I will say more about this during the budget process itself.  And, It is likely that future budgetary decisions by the next council will also need to consider further means testing measures as a cost-cutting contribution but the original plea for caution still stands.

Along with the provision of services there is the necessity of investing and supporting areas of economic growth and development.  It’s already been mentioned twice today that that balancing act has got to be the prime purpose in making our budget decisions.

Without growth we will one day simply not be able to fund the services that we currently enjoy, even with the providing of public contribution.  There are several strands to this, firstly the development of service and export opportunities, which allows new money to come into the Islands, investment in Tourism, including FIGAS and the Ferry, the development of a meat exporting industry and infrastructure such as the port and dockside developments, which lead to greater value-added benefits to industries who are all part of this process.  All require scrutiny and evaluation on a regular basis to ensure that value for money and contribution to the economy overall remains positive.  But they also require long term commitment and investment.  Secondly, developments which encourage money to circulate within the Islands and move freely between industries are important contributors to the economy and, of course, inward investment.  The means to encourage entrepreneurship and local investment within the Islands is key and of course all form an essential part of the economic development strategy.

Councillor Hansen has already mentioned the RDS – a very important piece of work and I would urge them not to allow it to lose steam.  The strategic development of business and social opportunities in Camp to reverse decline of a falling population will benefit the whole islands, not just mainly the agricultural population.  A viable Camp population is a benefit to us all.

And lastly, I would just like to thank the Treasury for all their hard work and for responding so well to our criticisms and our requests last year for an earlier budget process, to allow us to have a wider public consultation and debate that we have had on this occasion.  As a result of this, there won’t be anything, I don’t think, of great surprise to anyone.  And though some of those decisions may not be popular, they won’t be a complete surprise.

I did say lastly.  There is one more thing – Argentina – I am very pleased that the Next of Kin issue has finally been resolved satisfactorily.  Many of us were uncomfortable with the appearance that the next of kin were being used to achieve political agendas.  And, I think this outcome satisfies both the Next of Kin’s wishes and our own to have the circumstances and the practicalities of their visit settled. 

Mr Speaker I support the Motion.

The Hon Dr Andrea Clausen (AC):

Mr Speaker, Your Excellency, Honourable Members, I, too, looked back at last year to see what you said so that I could compare it to what’s gone past in the past year.  And, given that my area of portfolio responsibility is finance, I have a few things to say.

Last year you did mention that we were already facing budgetary challenges.  We were and many of my colleagues have already mentioned it.  We were looking at the ever increasing volatility of the Illex fishery.  At that point three out of the previous six seasons had effectively been failed.  We were also facing an ever-increasing demand for first world, high-quality services and that remains the case today.  Since then, of course, you have mentioned already the global financial melt-down followed by a recession, the collapse of the Illex Fishery and this year, further increasing demands for services, particularly those in the medical area – health area have also been placed with the unprecedented volatility in oil prices, all of which have had an impact and some of them will continue to have an impact in years to come on the Falklands economy. 

Of course there is some good news here and it was good to hear it again at Standing Finance (Committee) this morning.  And, I don’t want to be somebody who stands and extorts (I think she meant extols) about the doom and gloom that the Falklands faces because it’s not all bad news.  And our investments are one of those areas where the news is not too bad compared to the rest of the world.  We have seen declines in our investment values.  However, FIG’s conservative investment policy has protected us from the very worst situation.  And, for example, it was interesting to hear this morning how, whilst the UK FTSE has seen a 31% decline year on year, FIG have only seen 3.1% in special funds and 6.2% in the consolidated fund. (I think she is talking about a decline)  So I think that is OK.  It’s not great news but it’s still an awful lot better than where we would have been.

In order to try and address the worsening situations we have started – initiated – a number of processes and procedures.  The EDF, the RDS, the Green Paper process, which I think has been – hopefully in people’s eyes – a success so far in that we have gone out to consult the public, which is what the public wanted – those will be followed up with White Papers.  There already have been in some areas.  I think it’s really important that people respond to these papers so that we can be clear what their views are.  And I thank those who have done (this) so far.

Prior to last year’s budget we had already approved a Medium Term Financial Plan and we had aimed to try and make a year on year reduction of £1 Million from our budget.  At last year’s setting of the budget we didn’t achieve this not necessarily in the balance that we wished but we did achieve it.  However, this year, with the events that have taken place, I am not so sure that our outturn will be as good.  In fact, Your Excellency has already mentioned that that position looks like it’s going to be pretty bleak.

So it remains our responsibility and, in fact, not much of ours, but more in particular the new government,  to continue with these processes and to look at ways of trying to address the charges that face us.

On oil prices, I would just like to mention that you picked up on the fact that we have approved the second phase of the wind turbine project and also storage.  And I think that’s really good news and we have to continue to look at ways to reduce our reliance so that we can mitigate against these hugely volatile oil prices.  Reading on the news this morning, I see that the “experts” are predicting there will be another peak within the next two years.  So we need to be doing our best to try and mitigate such high spikes in prices going forwards.

Briefly, Sir, I would like to mention the elections that are coming up.  You mentioned how you would look forward to seeing a range of new candidates standing from a wide range of backgrounds.  This is something that this Government has looked at and is keen to see as well.  Indeed, it’s one of the objectives within the Islands Plan, which is our responsibility to achieve.  I look forward to the decision being made by this Government as to how we might address that with the forth-coming elections.  Of course, it will remain the case it will be for a new government in November to decide what they do or don’t expect – sorry - what they do or don’t accept from this Government but I would like to see this Government make at least some decisions and give clear direction so that those individuals who are considering representing the country know under what terms they are to do that.  And, I hope that we can see a wide range of candidates from a wide range of backgrounds.

Finally – well, not quite finally – just one or two things – I would just like to mention that I also am pleased to see that we have resolved the issue of the Next of Kin visit and I am pleased to see that it’s been achieved within the framework of the LAN scheduled service. 

Lastly, I noticed that your address concluded with mentioning the outcome of the working group on prohibition of smoking in public places.  And I am certainly looking forward to the new legislation being enacted within this year.  Unfortunately, we are not there and events have conspired against this work.  Through no individual’s direct fault, we are still in a position of not having any draft legislation produced and unfortunately I believe that we may not see it before the end of this Government.  But I sincerely hope that we will – or the next government – if it remains a priority – the new government in November that they can see the completion of that work.

Sir, thank you for your speech. 

The Hon Mr John Birmingham (JB):

Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, in rising to speak to the Governor’s speech, may I welcome the Chief of Staff and also the group of year 10s to this House.  I hope it won’t be too boring for the students.

As we have a busy week I will keep it as short as possible as we are back here on Thursday.

Sir, during your speech you mentioned Air-bridge fares and I would like to assure the public that any impression given during that speech that the fares haven’t been re-adjusted to take into account lower fares for children and students isn’t quite right and that they do – they will be lower fares for those two sectors of flyers. 

As portfolio holders, we tend to speak on behalf of our portfolios which is right and proper but there is a line in your speech, Sir, and it goes like this: “Added to this, is the large amount of routine work that goes on throughout Government, often unnoticed and unheralded, for which we are extremely grateful.”  I take that as meaning a lot.  It’s only two lines, actually but the air service, power, water, sewerage, roads – all of these things just continue and we don’t take any notice until something goes slightly wrong.  Actually, for all the talk about Government not working, there are certain areas where Government works extremely well.

I’m optimistic about the future.  I tend to be reasonably optimistic anyway.  However, I accept that we face certain difficult times in the future now and there’s a certain re-adjustment of how we as a community are going to spend our income.  As elected representatives, it’s our duty to make difficult decisions when they have to be made.  And, I am sure and hope that we will.

Sir, on the Next of Kin visit, I support that visit and hope that it will go ahead with respect and dignity – the dignity that it deserves.

Sir, I support the Motion.

The Hon Mr Richard Cockwell (RC):

Mr Speaker, Your Excellency, Honourable Members, in rising to support the Motion I will also try to be as brief as I can because all the subjects have been very well covered.  But if I could just comment on issues in my portfolios, which are Fish, Tourism, and the Development Corporation-

The Honourable Mike Summers has already commented on the issues regarding – well many Councillors have commented on the issues regarding the Illex – the Illex results but we do need to – I think this does actually emphasise the need for an agreement on the issues of straddling stocks right across the waters.  We do need to do something.  As somebody pointed out, this is the last place in the world to actually not have some sort of multi-lateral agreement over the fisheries.

Regarding Tourism, it has been a very successful season but in the future it’s not looking so rosy and I think we do need to accept this and try and get our industry to do everything which is possible to alleviate any problems.  And most probably the cruise liners next year – the cruises could reduce.  I think everybody has suggested that due to the economic situation.  But also something which has come to my mind or come to my attention this morning is that there is also the fear of Swine Flu, which looks like it may affect the cruise industry quite seriously.  But there is very little we can do about that.

The Development Corporation has had a difficult year but I am sure that the arrival of Mr David Waugh as General Manager is already injecting new focus and life into the Corporation.  He is actually putting a new view on the Rural Development Strategy, which, as everybody points out, creates a lot of discussion but most people agree – and I think we have to recognise this – that the whole Rural Development Strategy – the success is based on good communications. And the telecommunications, which at the moment are failing quite seriously, are a vital element.

And finally, the Hon Janet Robertson has identified the improved services that are available.  And these changes have made a hugely different lifestyle from what we remember – 25 – 30 years ago.  And, although she refers to two dots and a dash (U), I remember one dash and two dots (D).

With that I wish to support the Motion.

The Hon Mr Mike Rendell (MR):

Mr Speaker, Your Excellency, Honourable Members, quite a lot of the subjects I was going to talk about have already been mentioned but I am going to mention them again because I think they deserve it.

Firstly I would just like to comment on the Green and White Paper process that has been undertaken over this last year and to give my thoughts that I think this has been a very worthwhile process.  It allows the public to be brought into dialogue at an early stage of discussion, it allows their comments to be taken into mind and it allows for no surprises.  I think that is what is so important about the process.

I was interested to see, Your Excellency, in your address that 60% of the tourists that came by sea last year are keen to come back for a land based tour.  Now if that was to be realised, it would be a tremendous fillet to land based tourism in the Falklands.  And, I am quite sure that that won’t happen but even if we got one, two, three, four or five percent of those numbers to come for a land based tour, that would make a significant increase in the land based businesses that exist here in the Falklands.  And, it does show that there is an awful lot of work still to be done in terms of tourism infrastructure if we are going to be taking that kind of increase.  We always thought that cruise ship passengers with their one day in Stanley or wherever it’s been in the Falklands would have a lot of enthusiasm but coming back to do something in a bit more detail and let’s just hope it all comes to fruition.  But there is a lot of work to do and a lot of money to be spent if we are going to do it.

There has been some discussion about our telecommunications provider and I’d like to reinforce the comments made by the Honourable Mike Summers on that subject as the portfolio holder.  There can be no doubt at all that Cable & Wireless needs to achieve a reasonable rate of commercial return.  At the same time there can be no doubt that they need to be fit for service, reliable and affordable.  The balance is not right.  We all know this and robust actions have to be taken to get this right  We look forward with interest to Dr Doyle’s report, which should be arriving soon in order that this can happen.

The Concordia Bay has now been operating for a full season.  Without any shadow of a doubt it has not yet achieved its full potential.  That’s an under-statement, of course.  But many lessons have been learned so far in the way it’s operated and we have to put that all down to experience and move forward.  It is important that when a consultation process, which is about to be undertaken, gets underway that there is a full customer feed-back process in that so that there can be no doubt that the views of all the users as well as everybody else involved with the Concordia Bay and the way it operates are taken into account because if the Concordia Bay does not operate in a fully sufficient manner next season, then we are not going to be looking very good at all.

I would just like to make a few comments about the review of Government process that’s been going on.  And, whilst it is clear that there has been some poor press in some areas and there are a lot of difficult areas to move through in respect of the review of Government, I think that, from my point of view, I would like to be thinking about the positive benefits for Members of the Government in the future and the fact that with the training and development process that’s going to take place as part of this structure with the effective performance management that’s going to be part of it with the ability or responsibility to be devolved downwards, the result can only be that the potential for Falkland Islanders to reach the top jobs becomes much more likely.  And that is the important thing as far as I’m concerned.  I don’t think we’ve had time to focus on that side of it so far but I think it’s most important, in my opinion.

I want to reinforce the comments made by the Honourable Dr Andrea Clausen in relation to legislative drafting and to note the unfortunate circumstances in which it looks as if no meaningful – in some people’s terms - legislation is passed in the remainder of the life of this Council.  I think that’s regrettable but that’s where we are.

And lastly, just a few comments about the Argentine Next of Kin Pilgrimage – this is a pragmatic solution to an inevitable event.  I think it’s very important that it’s going ahead and I support it.

Mr Speaker, I support the Motion.

The Hon Mr Richard Stevens (RS):

Mr Speaker, Your Excellency, Honourable Members, I would like to say a few things in standing to support the Motion of Thanks.    Firstly, in listening to your address, we do have our challenges but there were a lot of positives all the way through.

And your address records the lot of hard work throughout the Education Department, including the Leisure Centre.  Certainly everybody involved have been trying very hard to develop and evolve that service.

And one of the issues that have probably been talked about quite a lot at t e moment is the funding for further education.    And certainly it’s been discussed to great extent amongst Members, particularly the means testing of the pocket money element.  And I think over time we forget that this money that was introduced to enable students to be able to take advantage of living in Britain and the things that are available there including travelling to other parts of the world.  I think one would hope even now that students could do a few enjoyable things during their years away to do things that perhaps they wouldn’t have the opportunity to do here like go to a pop concerts or a huge football match where there are tens of thousands of people and to witness that kind of atmosphere, to visit ice rings (I think he means rinks), theatre – recently I heard of a number of students going to the Chinese Circus that’s in the South of England at the moment.  These are all things that you want our students to do to help them develop a broad mind and hopefully – I am not quite sure about the circus – be better people for it.

Again, few have studied the Penguin News over the last years, really, we have seen our students all over the world in some really exotic places and again hopefully some of our Government funding has helped them if they’ve been prudent with it to do these things.  Of course you would expect that to be supplemented by other funds.  So I hope that we are able to keep that in mind when we make our final deliberations. On the funding so that we are able to keep some element that – some element of support that gives that baseline because I think if that baseline was to fall below a certain level there would be a greater gap between them that have and them that haven’t and I think that would be a shame.  But we are where we are.  We are having to consider means testing.

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