Falklands : Falklands - The Election Manifesto of James Peck
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 14.12.2007 (Article Archived on 28.12.2007)
James is the son of Falklands hero, the late Terry Peck. he is the only candidate of the four who was born in the Falklands.
ELECTION MANIFESTO OF JAMES PECK
Good evening, It would seem with putting my name forward for the by election that I run the risk of leaving the political theatre after a brief burst with my tail between my legs. My intention is to say some things which need to be said. And, if one feels the same, then all the better. Perhaps, contrary to what one is told, things might be changed or at least worked on.
My initial feelings to stand were born a year ago when I spent the last weeks with my father, in that we shared an understanding that went beyond anyone’s perception of our relationship. When I saw all the people gathered to celebrate his achievements and the strength within the community as one and all of our family it was a time to reflect on much. You might say a bit melodramatic – yes – but it matters. I mean, being seen to care is a pre-requisite to representing one’s community, which is what we put ourselves forward for.
Firstly one notices, when declaring to stand is how the chattering classes of Stanley jump on to the predictable trap of character assassination – that Falklands factor of putting personality before what one is about to say, regardless of whether you might have a point or two or the ability to do the job - this, even emanating from the odd Councillor, previous and present. Perhaps if I were a descendant of the ‘big house up the green’ I might get more of a hearing or an offspring of a senior professional position, perhaps.
But however daunting it shouldn’t stop anyone from expressing their views as well as their commitment and concern for their birthplace. Heaven forbid, you might even be better at it than many of the social elite. We have had to suffer here for so long.
Education is after all the gift and the duty of the State and it’s open to all we assume, so grab it and thank the good teachers that are out there and scrutinise the short-comings of the system, which unfortunately seem to have stumbled over the dark recently.
We do have an opportunity here for our children – the envy of many a place. If it could be managed slightly more adeptly, then why not demand it. It would be nice to feel listened to rather than ignored, which appears to be a common response.
After concerns with a hick-up in the Education System, there appears to be a lack of real social concerns, putting a smile back on the community with leisure topics taken seriously and the welfare and investment in people and listening to their concerns.
It seems to range from the disaster of the football pitch – trivial you might say but surely symptomatic of the over-paid ineptness that has run riot in recent years in top-heavy administrative areas which are not being scrutinised enough to castigating youth driving where they shouldn’t be when there is little else to do than load up your vehicle with beer and get out there to patrolling Policemen making us feel like we all have done something wrong, to the odd filling of a post with a temporary elite – always a symptom of our colonial past but never gotten rid of, which materialises itself in money wasting projects, when what we already have here can and should be utilised more.
There is a wealth of knowledge in the Islands in many a quiet corner and it should be recognised and listened to more. If only one was represented by people who listened rather than simply applying their own driven and at times petty logic. We are, after all, a small community. It seems bizarre how one can become separated so quickly from the ordinary person, when it is that person who put the elected member into his comfort zone.
This then begs the question of why one needs full time Councillors. For me the place doesn’t. If you want more resentment and disillusionment then maybe you don’t agree. It is funny how some put themselves up for re-election then hint later at not being adequately reimbursed. Being a representative of your community is a duty – hard, yes, but one that you should acknowledge – not an extension of your social calendar or the chance to mix with big business, which obviously is so darn obvious these days it’s embarrassing.
There is a serious need to address the disgruntled many. It’s not too easy to dismiss it as simply as complaining just because – why has somebody not noticed that areas need guidance and encouragement in the community to get clubs functioning properly, to get a cinema going, to get a smile on people’s faces, to get the feeling that one is being listened to – even if it is difficult to do overnight. Why does one get the feeling that some are heard and others never? Why, when big money projects are talked of a little thought cannot be put into the realm of the community here?
Why should I, for example, be about to respond to the Parachute Regiment’s offer to help with my step-mother’s pension – a lady who has made the Islands her home for some 25 years – when it could easily be handled here. The only conclusion is that the capacity and vision of those we expect more from fails us.
There are, of course, many more reasons I feel so strongly in standing, notably the depopulation of the Camp, the lack of human investment in sorting it out and its waste in heritage, which we would be a sorry lot without. If we are going to pump so much money into the ferry and road building then please back it up with long-reaching benefits that keep our heritage alive. Talk to the people who want to stay there, not those who yo-yo between constituencies – their minds fixed on personal gain. It would be sad to see the West become a weekend playground of old buildings snapped up and little else.
It’s understandable that I concentrate for more than a moment on Argentina. It’s actually not that difficult to keep a family relationship separate from the duties of representing one’s people. As far as I am concerned the Argentine Flag will never fly here whilst I live here, regardless of whether I am elected or not. I owe this to my father and to the security and opportunities available here to my children and to those who made the sacrifice for us. It is a simple black and white situation and I will not be bullied into any other position here or anywhere else.
Why I have to explain beyond this or painting pictures of sad conscripts is small detail. My allegiances run deeper than those who have attacked me in the past for failing to understand the previous road I took. And, my father was one of the few who really understood this.
I have had to tolerate insults from certain parts of the community, many who before 1982 had their children educated in Argentina during a viscous right-wing dictatorship. However, it wasn’t part of the Constitution than – the re-claiming of the Islands – I am fobbed off with. Complete rubbish! If Argentina descended into a dictatorship I know my children would never be educated there.
It is a sad indictment of the bullying power of the politics that is so prevalent here that such hypocrisy doesn’t get questioned. As I say, as far as I am concerned the Argentine flag will never fly here in my lifetime because I owe it to my father and to the prosperity of my children and, surprise, surprise, because the Argentine claim is flawed.
But it’s not flawed by being ignorant. It’s kept at bay by having educated leadership here that recognises the threat of having our home traded in for political ease from all quarters – not just the obvious.
I do remember helping my father helping strap my record player into the back of his Land Rover sometime before 1982 for the visit of Nicholas Ridley. As I say, one must be vigilant from all areas and never forget. But I choose the preservation of my people of who I am sure no one is reminding, did not have the right of abode in Britain previous to 1982, in ways not all understand is regrettable.
This is still a great place for people to cherish. Whoever makes it their home for what it has – not what they can get out of it. And, no one can take that from you.
But make it a healthy home where the young feel free to express themselves and taken seriously – not intimidated by dinosaur politics. Its 25 years since the war. Let’s move on and reclaim a bit of flair and modernism here for those settling and for those who have endured it pre-war because they believed in it when it wasn’t easy to do so.
We need to listen to all areas of the community, not just the ruling elite – and put back a bit of care and warmth pre 1982 style when there was more emphasis on working together and community leadership.
And, scrutinise more the dealings of a savvy, top-heavy administration and money for old rogue Council Members. Not all – no! But some, to be honest, seem to be taking us further into a style of unaccountability and win-right policies. Don’t let your freedom be compromised – and the memory of those who lost their lives, soiled by poor vision now and bad leadership, to be honest and inequality which could, if left unchecked, wreck the social fabric of my home and yours.
I have not drafted an empty promise list. Because frankly I cannot believe how so many are hoodwinked with such electioneering approaches. What I do believe in and wish to do so is listen and ask the questions when they are screaming at you and I to be asked.
I will stay in my position of working with those who make the Islands their home through generations and through recent investment. It’s not a science – it’s simple. The idea that one cannot do the job unless experienced is ludicrous. If you want more of the same, it’s simple. Vote for one of the others.
If you want someone who listens then I hope I have given you that option.
Thank you.
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