Falklands : FINN's Final Interview with H. E. the Governor Mr. Pearce
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 27.07.2006 (Article Archived on 10.08.2006)
H. E. the Governor Mr. Pearce has granted a final interview with FINN.
FINN’S FINAL INTERVIEW WITH H. E. THE GOVERNOR MR. HOWARD PEARCE
By J. Brock (FINN)
H. E. the Governor Mr. Pearce, his wife, Caroline and daughter Suzanna depart the Falklands on the Lan flight on Saturday, 05 August 2005. It is nearly four years since mr. Pearce took up his post in November/ December 2002. A lot has happened to Mr. Pearce, then a bachelor, since then. Howard Pearce begins
FINN: It is said that the best posts are those that one has left and the one he is going to. Has it been the same with you, and when you reach the UK what you are going to be doing?
HP: This has been a tremendous job. I have been in the Diplomatic Service for almost 34 years. I have been very lucky with what I have done. It has been fascinating. And, I enjoyed myself without a doubt. I have to say that this is the highlight of my career as this is such a special job in such a special community at such a special place. There has been an immense variety. They have all been different, so, yes, it has been very special and a very good way from my point of view for ending my career in the Diplomatic Service because I will be leaving the service from here. Carolina and I will be leaving for the UK and initially be taking up residence in a house near Wantage. Then I will decide what I will do next. I don’t know what I will do next.
FINN: There have been some high points but what besides falling in live, getting married and having a baby has stood out as being important to you as Governor?
HP: Those are the big ones and have to be the highlights. I think actually getting involved with the community here and getting to know Falkland Islanders and having the opportunity to go into people’s homes and to make friends here. It certainly has been the most rewarding part of the job. At the end of the day the people make anywhere nice. The people here are very special.
FINN: Previous Governors have made themselves busy with Falklands and South Georgia charities after having left here. Are you interested in participating in any of these?
HP: I shall certainly want to remain involved and in touch with the Falkland Islands and with South Georgia. I haven’t really thought exactly what the nature of that involvement will be in the future and perhaps we will have to see what opportunities come up. Both Caroline and I are interested in wildlife and environmental issues. We have also very interested in problems faced by veterans of ’82. We have taken the opportunity to meet as many of them who visited the Falkland Islands as often as we can. I have nothing specific arranged yet but we will retain a very close interest.
FINN: Where do we stand with the minefield feasibility study?
HP: The Argentine Government has undertaken to pay the costs of a feasibility study into their removal. The issue of their removal comes further down the track. There have been talks going on between the UK and Argentine Governments for some time now about arrangements for a feasibility study. They discussed what is involved in removing the mines, how they would do it and what the options are as well as what the environmental consequences may be and what the costs will be. And, our discussions with the Argentine Government on that subject have been accelerating recently and are making good progress. I can tell you that the feasibility study will be taking place during the next summer. We await details but a contract will be put out to tender to organisations who have expertise in this area. The plan is that somehow or another the study will be carried out next summer.
FINN: Seeing that the International Whaling Commission are slowly clawing back the whaling industry, will the waters around South Georgia be further patrolled for Whale poaching?
HP: In terms of the South Georgia Government’s policy on this issue, it will have no impact whatsoever, in the sense that the UK and indeed the South Georgia Government are against whaling. And, we will remain against it. As for patrolling South Georgia Waters, we already patrol those waters entirely in order to ensure there is no poaching of any species in the waters surrounding South Georgia. And, that will continue to be the case.
FINN: Has there been a representation made to the Argentine Government about the taking of the F/V JOHN CHEEK in international waters by the Argentine Coast Guard?
HP: There was a difference of view between the operators of the vessel and the Argentine Authorities as to whether the vessel actually was in international waters or Argentine waters. The owners said they were just outside the zone and the Argentines said they were in their waters. There is a degree of uncertainty as to precisely where the vessel was and where the line is. We have been seeking to more accurately find out precisely where the borders lie. It isn’t a straight-forward process. Those who know about it tell me it is a very complex process. The world is round but it is not a perfect sphere so the way in which you measure the outer limits depends on a precise definition of the baselines. And, secondly, what data you use to take into account the shape of the earth at that particular point. It’s known as geodesic data and that’s the extent of my knowledge about it. It clearly is important and we need a clear understanding about where the borders lie and I think this had not been absolutely clear.
FINN: Several Argentine newspapers reported in 2004 that the 1999 Agreement has a sell by date that would expire in five years. The general understanding is that there are no limits on this agreement.
HP: I am not aware of the Argentine government had said that the 1999 Agreement had an end date. The Agreement itself doesn’t contain any reference to a time of expiry.
FINN: During the last round of exploration in 1998 the Argentines said they would be charging a 3% tax on any hydrocarbons extracted commercially from the North Falklands Basin. Would it be up to our government or would it be up to the oil companies to say whether or not this 3% tax is paid?
HP: Argentina has no jurisdiction in Falklands waters or even the Falklands Continental shelf. Therefore they have no right to charge any kind of tax on activities which take place in that area. I state clearly that we have no doubt about sovereignty over the Falkland Islands fishing zone and indeed over the Falkland Islands continental shelf. Argentina has no right to tax this and clearly the UK Government has no doubt about sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. The UK Government has also made it clear it supports the policy of the Falkland Islands Government for exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons.
FINN: with reference to a second flight from South America and our relations with Argentina, do you see a time when – maybe after Argentina’s presidential election – that they will grow up a bit and think of ways that they can work with us rather than against us?
HP: I hope that they will be able to establish a proper good-neighbourly relationship with us. The majority of people in the Falkland Islands want to co-operate with Argentina in those areas where it is in the interests of the Falkland Islands to do so. And, where, indeed there are mutual interests in co-operation on a number of issues – fisheries and fisheries conservation in the South West South Atlantic may be the most important of them. Links to South America are another area as well as exploration for hydrocarbons development. These are areas where it makes practical sense for co-operation and for the Falkland Islands and Argentina to work together. But that can barely happen if the Argentines are prepared to co-operate as well and are prepared to behave as good neighbours.. I am not going to make any predictions about the future because that’s always a dangerous business. What I can say is what we would like to achieve.
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