Falklands : Busy Month for Falklands' FIDC
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 08.10.2009 (Article Archived on 22.10.2009)
The Falkland Islands Development Corporation Board met on Tuesday, 06 October 2009 in the Function Room of the Chamber of Commerce. During the meeting the General Manager, Mr David Waugh, summarised the busy month beginning with updating the Board about the changes to Board meeting dates and said that bringing the meeting forward from 13 October was for administrative and operational purposes.
BUSY MONTH FOR FIDC
By J. Brock (FINN)
The Falkland Islands Development Corporation Board met on Tuesday, 06 October 2009 in the Function Room of the Chamber of Commerce. During the meeting the General Manager, Mr David Waugh, summarised the busy month beginning with updating the Board about the changes to Board meeting dates and said that bringing the meeting forward from 13 October was for administrative and operational purposes. He went on to say that strategic matters and considerations will be brought to the Board at the meeting scheduled for December 1st. with that meeting being the first for the newly-appointed Chair of the Corporation.
Following is a brief summary of the other items covered:
New Staff Member: Michael Betts joined FIDC as Business and Development Analyst on September 7th, 2009, following a formal recruitment process
FIMCo Review: Mr Waugh said that the FIMCo Review continues with the development of a 10-year business plan. Each element of the plan is examined and considered before re- incorporation back into the whole. This work is being carried out by FIDC with FIMCo and with input from the Policy Unit and the FIMCo Suppliers Working Group (which includes FIDC, FIMCo, the Policy Unit, DoAg, the RBA and livestock suppliers).
In view of the dissolution of Government on September 25th, the resources available to deal with the complexity of the business review, and the need to get it right, it has been agreed with FIG that the complete Review will be submitted by mid-November.
Government has
requested that the Policy Unit issue, during September, a preliminary and draft summary Economic Impact Analysis of FIMCo as at May, 2009, and prior to the incorporation of the revised financial projections that will result from the business plan.
Port Development Progress: The FIG Major Projects Officer has obtained funding approval from ExCo for the appointment of a Lead Technical Consultant for the Stage I project development works.
The funding approval and the appointment follows a formal tender process from pre-qualified international consultancy firms.
The GM FIDC is working with the Major Projects Director and the GM FITB on the preliminary outline of a Waterfront and Jetty phased project for Stanley as part of both economic and tourism development.
Renewable Energy Survey: Survey forms have been distributed by FIDC to those who have a renewable energy system in order to obtain a picture of the overall situation and an overview of people's concerns. In the region of 80-90 recipients and systems got the forms and 51 responses were received - all were positive. These have highlighted some common problems and are being collated. The overriding initial picture is that people are very pleased to be saving quite a lot of fuel. It is hoped to gain a more accurate quantitative assessment, but many are quoting savings of over £2,000 per year and getting 24 hour power. It is intended to produce a Report by October 9th.
West Falkland Wool and Livestock Transport and Subsidy: Following the FIDC ExCo Papers196/09 (Concordia Bay – Customer Survey Results and Rate Review for the 2009/10 Season) and 223/09 (Wool Transport from West Falkland – 09/10), ), ExCo held an extra-ordinary meeting on September 24th and it is understood that ExCo, contrary to the recommendations in Paper 196/09, has decided to leave the ferry tariffs as they are but to instruct FIDC to provide a direct subsidy to West Falkland farmers with respect to the ferry element of the cost of transport of livestock to the Sand Bay meat plant and the transport of wool bales to FIPASS or Mare Harbour for export.
The details of this anticipated instruction have not been received at the time of writing and further information will be made available to the Board either at or before the meeting on October 6th. Initial and very preliminary indications are that the subsidy cost to FIDC for the 09/10 season could be in the order of £20,000.
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