Falklands : LEGCO 14/11/08 Part 3: Legislation and Motion for Adjournment Speeches
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 18.11.2008 (Article Archived on 02.12.2008)
Mr Speaker, thank you. This Bill amends the Falkland Landholdings Corporation Ordinance. It provides for two Members of the public to be appointed to the board by the Governor. This replaces the existing provision under which two members of the Farming community are to be elected from amongst their members and then be appointed to the Board by the Governor.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 14/11/08
Part 3: Legislation and Motion for Adjournment Speeches
By J. Brock FINN
CAP: Orders of the Day – Bills – The Falkland Landholdings Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2008. This Bill is being presented under a certificate of urgency and therefore requires a first reading.
The Chief Executive Mr. Tim Thorogood:
Mr Speaker, thank you. This Bill amends the Falkland Landholdings Corporation Ordinance. It provides for two Members of the public to be appointed to the board by the Governor. This replaces the existing provision under which two members of the Farming community are to be elected from amongst their members and then be appointed to the Board by the Governor.
There are basically two reasons for this change. Firstly, the process of defining the farming community for an election purpose is actually quite complicated and largely impractical, certainly these days. And, secondly, determining farming community is now considered too restrictive and members of the wider community may have relevant skills which could be useful for Board membership.
Mr Speaker, I move the first reading.
The Honourable John Birmingham seconded the Bill. After the first reading, The Hon John Birmingham said:
“Mr Speaker, Honourable Members of the public can better understand, the way it sits at the moment is that you would have to be an active member of the Farming community to be involved on the Board of Falkland Landholdings. That actually stopped anybody who had recently retired, who had a lot of experience and this would change that and allow anybody to be put forward and to be elected to sit on the Board.
The fast tract was adopted for this Bill and it passed all its stages and was passed.
MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT SPEECHES:
Cllr the Hon Mr Richard Cockwell:
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I don’t intend to speak very long because we have been talking quite a bit this morning. But I think I should talk again about the world financial difficulties and the fact that we do recognise that sooner or later it will hit us and also I think we need to recognise that recovery – a bit like the fuel prices – will take a bit of time to catch up with us. So we need to be aware of that and prepare ourselves for that eventuality.
I’d like to welcome back the Attorney General as he’s been away for some time. It’s good to see him back and I would also like to complement Ros Cheek – the Principle Crown Council who has done very sterling work while she’s been Acting Attorney General.
This is the last meeting of the Legislative Council of the Falkland Islands. From now on we will be called the Legislative Assembly and so it is quite a momentous period in our time. And the reason for changing our name to Legislative Assembly is so that it is understood that we are not just a rural district council or a town council. We are an Assembly who actually governs a country. In view of this I would like to see that we have a MACE. Under the present financial circumstances it may be difficult to afford at this stage but I would like to propose that we do have a MACE which is formally brought into the building. I am also, looking across – I believe that Mr Speaker, the Clerk and the Attorney General should wear wigs. (General chuckling and a hearty ‘here, here’ from Councillor Birmingham)
I support the Motion
Cllr the Hon Mr Ian Hansen:
Thank you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I, too, am going to be very brief. I just have a couple of issues I would just like to address.
We often hear about opposition to Councillors Overseas trips – are they worthwhile? I recently attended the Party Conferences (during) late September-early October. And my answer to that particular trip overseas would be ‘yes – definitely.’ This is the 21st year that the Falkland Islands have attended which means that the Falkland Islands has a pretty high profile at these conferences. The Falkland Island(s) Government Representative – if there is anybody to know who is anybody – believe you me, she knows them. And just the fact of making contact with people who will always have a say, I guess, in shaping our future or helping us to shape our future has to be of huge importance. It’s not just the current MPs and the old friends but the prospective candidates who will be in power in the future. So for me that is definitely a worthwhile exercise.
The other issue I want to address today – and I won’t go into any great detail because I believe my colleague to my right would also like to speak about it. That is Cable & Wireless – in particular camp Telephones. I know it’s very positive to see the conclusion of Goose Green, Darwin and Fitzroy – I believe now are on the new system. And I think Fox Bay and Port Howard are soon to join. But I think it has to be noted that the remainder of the Camp are experiencing possibly the worst service that we have ever received.
That’s why I welcome very much the formation of the – I thought it was a telecommunications users group but I believe it’s now called the Telecommunications Consultative Forum. So, I will refer to it as the TCF from now on. I welcome that because I think the views and the needs of those resident in the Camp that have been on the old system – there needs to be some sort of action or recommendation through that group or from us on the current tariffs that are unopposed on the current service.
There is absolutely no doubt that the old system that is in operation now is absolutely diabolical and the speeds are dropping as low as 2 on occasion, which is unacceptable. Just a personal incident was that it took me three attempts over three evenings last week to download an antivirus update – a total of seven hours, which is a bit beyond the palate.
I hope that my colleagues would support the sentiment that the quality of the service – especially when it sinks this low – and until we that are on the old service can actually get on to the new service – I think the charges should be reflected in the service. Now, whether this is how it’s done I don’t know. I would probably personally suggest that we should be asking Cable & Wireless to slash or totally remove service charges until we go over to the new system. But that is another discussion for another day. I certainly hope that colleagues would support the fact that something needs to be done.
I think that’s all I have Mr Speaker. I beg to support the Motion for Adjournment.
Cllr the Hon Mr Richard Stevens:
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I won’t speak for very long either. I would also like to speak about Cable & Wireless. First of all I’d like to say how hard I think they worked and their supporting crews that worked in appalling conditions on top of mountains in the most exposed places, climbing up towers – connecting towers, climbing up towers, laying concrete. It really has been impressive and I have had a first hand view of what’s been going on with the work that’s going on at Sussex Mountain. And, it’s really been exciting to hear the broadband and the improved broadband system coming out to camp. It’s never fast enough but it’s still a great, great moment.
However, I have to move into the area of discontent and actually I can remember when it was slightly worse when we had the first camp phone with boxes under the tables which hummed so loud that if you had people – people in Camp seemed to get rid of it but if you had visitors you could hardly have a conversation because of the noise coming from under the table. Then we moved to the micro-station like we have now which was certainly an improvement at Sussex anyway.
Now, Sussex has always been quite a good location – its only got one or two links going back to town but even in recent times we have had what’s probably kindly called issues – being unable to turn pages on the Government Website, ordinary phone calls cutting off and I should imagine if Sussex is not that great then the far west – people that work through a number of links – must have an unworkable system. So hopefully we have got work being undertaken to look into it.
It’s very difficult to completely criticise Cable & Wireless because they are working so hard and many of us in Camp are looking forward to the day when we join this upgrade. But until we get there I think there should be some accommodation for the people whose services are certainly going down.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members I support the Motion.
Cllr the Hon Mr Mike Rendell:
Mr Speaker, Honourable members, as the Councillor with responsibility for telecommunications I hoped I was going to be able to follow on behind my two Camp Colleagues to address the same issues that they have raised.
It does seem that Cable & Wireless have, perhaps, taken their eye off the ball in terms of the old system and have put all their efforts into the new system and I think that’s probably almost inevitable.
It is also the case that the one meeting of the TCF – I think that’s the easiest way to enunciate it – which has an RBA member – no complaints came to TCF as far as I can see about this particular matter. So I suppose it only illustrates that in its very earliest days it is not achieving the aims for which it was set up. And I imagine by now the Member for the RBA that’s on the TCF will have received a number of phone calls because it is a wide-spread problem and it has to be addressed.
Trying to be a bit more positive now on the upgrade, we had a meeting on the upgrade last week where Cable & Wireless were able to tell us exactly how things were going and it is on time, it is on budget and nearly all the civil works have been completed and we have very good reason to believe that it will be completed on time, which is at the end of March this coming year.
I think a lot’s going on behind the scenes. I think people in Camp probably are aware of the extreme difficulties within which the project has had to be taken forward. And I was very lucky, in the middle of the winter to go up to the top of Green Hill and see at first hand the sort of circumstances that exist when you go up 1,000 metres when down at sea level it’s 4, 5, 6, 7 degrees up there it’s -2C or -3C on the same day. And the sort of conditions that people are having to work in are extremely difficult. So we shouldn’t take for granted what’s going on here. I am sure we don’t take for granted but some people may not fully understand the colossal sort of scale on which this is being done – not only are the conditions in which people are working very difficult but the new type of equipment that is being introduced in ground-breaking. And people all over the world are monitoring this new Cable & Wireless system because it is achieving lots of targets which are brand new. It’s introducing equipment which has only been used in a couple places before. I don’t think we are absolute guinea pigs so I wouldn’t want people to think that we are just being tested out to see whether it works. That’s not the case. All these systems have been proven in other places and we look forward to having a really good service in due course.
I was privileged along with a number of colleagues to attend the official opening of Newhaven last weekend and I think it was a very good event and it was very pleasing to see everybody coming together – a large number of people in attendance – everybody very positive about it and it was a fairly enjoyable day and we were very, very pleased that we’ve got what we have got. I suppose I definitely have to make the comment that it’s not yet completed in terms of the cross-sound link. There is clearly some more work that will need to be done at Port Howard but not to the levels that some people have made it seem is necessary – in other words to have another Newhaven on West Falkland. That. Of course, is totally unnecessary and it would not be considered in any way. But there will be some more work that needs to be done at Port Howard. There can be little doubt about that.
On the completion of the opening it became clear to me that the plaque – and other people have now picked up on this – the plaque that was made may need to be re-made because I think there is not only a spelling mistake but there are also a few people missing off it. And, one of those is Bonner’s Haulage, who worked behind the scenes on tops of mountains and in bottom pits pouring concrete – have done a lot of civil works for both of the projects I have just been discussing and I think deserve recognition for the extremely professional way in which they carried out their tasks. So congratulations to them.
I just want to finish with a very few words on the visiting 1982 Veterans. And it’s again very pleasing to see the benefits which they are getting from coming down here to see battle sites, to meet up with Falkland Islanders and to – using the term – lay their ghosts to rest – so important. But an additional area which I’ve noted with real enthusiasm this year is next of kin coming down or daughters and sisters whose brothers or fathers died in ’82 being able to come down and see for themselves exactly what it was all about and hopefully going away knowing that it was well worthwhile.
Mr Speaker I support the Motion
Cllr the Hon Mr John Birmingham:
Mr Speaker Honourable Members, I along with my colleague Richard Cockwell won’t speak for very long.
It was just mentioned there about the plaque. I will certainly take that along to the Public Works Department. I was in the Hospital the other day in the Dental Department and was looking at plaque and the misspellings – I know a person in this town who’s name is Brain because that’s what’s on the – most of us do – that’s what was on his birth certificate. And I am not going to mention my middle name to anybody.
Mr Speaker, there were two major events this week – one being the Ferry, which has been actually well-aired - not in this room this morning but one thing I would say about the Ferry is that it is there now and really we have to make it work. And we have to look forward in that respect and not just as some people keep going on about the past.
And the other big event is of course the – going through the Privy Council – of the Constitution, which I am sure we will hear about shortly. But dare I say that this has been on-going for years and it comes into effect on the 1st of January. Honourable Richard Cockwell has mentioned that this is the last meeting of the Legislative Council but this has been going on for I don’t know how many Councils but it is this Council that has finalised it. And I think that everybody in this Council and previous Councils should be congratulated. And, I think that the Chair of the Select Committee has to be congratulated for his perseverance and commitment to see this through. And it was definitely a major step in the political progress in the Falkland Islands.
This year not only does it mark the 60th anniversary of prince Charles and his special seating but also marks the 60th anniversary of the Falkland Islands Government Air Service. Although there will be no formal anniversary events, it’s my pleasure as the portfolio holder to congratulate the personnel both past and present on running what has to be amongst the most technical and testing of services that the Falkland Island(s) Government provides to members of the public.
The service is going through a change at the moment, which has already been spoken about and I would just ask again that there be some patience and a willingness to give it time and a chance, I am confident that we will have a FIGAS that will serve the Islands, be it in a different way – more suited to our changed circumstances for the next 60 years.
Recently there’s been a person employed to finalise – within 6 months I believe – the location of a new or improved port. This project could make any other Falkland Island(s) Government project seem like petty cash if some people had their way and spent as much as some people want us to spend. One of the reasons given to me for a new port is that the future is in containerisation. I can’t argue that – I am no expert – but this person does work in the fishing industry and he explained to me what containerisation meant in its basic form and it would appear that what it means – and I had been squidding in the past – but it does mean that lumps of froze fish are placed in containers here in the Islands and then they are not touched again until they are being sold. And he said what you need for that is space. FIPASS, as it stands at the moment – if anybody wants to go down there for a look, - actually if it was cleared of a lot of stuff (pronounced stuff) has a lot of space so I just wonder whether one of the companies might like to maybe do a trial run and containerise something here to just see how it goes and see how beneficial it could be. Is it being done – I don’t know. Well, if it’s being done then do we need a Rolls Royce port facility? But we’ll see. I’m sure – in the next few months about this.
It’s already been said that we are not going to touch any big amount of the Consolidated Fund and we aren’t going to – are we?
I would also like to say something about the Veterans that are here at the moment. I had the pleasure of welcoming them at the Narrows on Saturday night and there are some very fine and upstanding people here and I also agree it’s nice to see the – and it’s a pleasure to see them – relatives of those who didn’t go home coming back. And I look forward to the building and the completion of the Veterans’ House – Liberty Lodge – down at the east end of Stanley.
Of course – dare I – even I am a caveman when it comes to telecommunications but I do know - I go out to Goose Green a fair bit – and I believe that things have been rolling over in Lafonia recently – and the rolling over of the broadband to the parts of the Camp that it’s possible to get to – I look forward to the time when modern technology that we enjoy here in Stanley is actually Island(s) wide.
To finish off can I say that actually we have been serious this morning but the sun is shining? Life is pretty good here in the Islands and I believe that we are – we are blessed in many, many ways.
Mr Speaker I support the Motion.
Cllr the Hon Mrs Janet Robertson:
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I wasn’t going to speak about ports at all but I do feel compelled to make a couple of comments about containerisation. Having been one of the people that has spent some time putting lumps of frozen fish into containers on their way around the world, I’d like to say its not just about space but it’s also about the capacity of FIPAS to take the sort of crane in that we would need to have good and efficient containerisation.
I don’t have much else to say, really but I would just like to take this opportunity to commend all of those agencies that were involved in a major drugs bust recently – the Police, Customs and Immigration, and all of those - and whilst I have absolutely no reason to believe – or at least I have total faith that none of our children anywhere in the world are consuming any of a drug like this – I thought it might be a good time to just remind those who I – because you’re all in school won’t hear it but maybe your parents will - that the approach to drugs in this community is very, very different (than) the approach to drugs in the UK and many of you when you go away to college might feel tempted or persuaded to partake and indulge. and that the attitude here is not the same as the attitude in the UK, or should I say visa versa so please don’t be too tempted or carried away whilst you are there because it could go horribly wrong.
I would just like to say about the education department. They are all working very busily at the moment looking forward to – not probably looking forward to – I can’t imagine inspection’s ever anything – something only everything somebody looks forward to particularly but I would just like to say that from my point of view and I think that the Honourable Richard Stevens would agree with me we’ve seen a huge amount of work going into the Education Department by all concerned over this last year and really encourage that the messages that were given to us last year have been heeded – have been taken seriously – not just by the staff but also by Council here who were persuaded to provide financial help that they – that was required as well so I look forward to that and got high hopes that a big improvement will be seen.
Lastly I am very pleased with the Executive Council decision regarding the breast cancer screening – the equipment down – I am aware the people – the Cancer Support and Awareness Trust – and indeed those at HMSC – were in favour of not raising a charge in this instance because of the levels of fundraising that had already been provided by the community. Whilst I understand this I think that I think that it is a good exercise for people to make some contribution and I think that £20.00 is affordable. Of course anyone who feels they cannot I am sure will be able to apply for assistance. But I think it’s a great – it’s a great development and I again congratulate all of those who have been involved in the fundraising and those people on the Trust itself who put so much effort into it.
Last but not least yes this is our last meeting of the Legislative Council – just on the reaction in Argentina and the outrage about the level of Democracy in the Falkland Islands. I think that says quite a lot.
Mr Speaker, I support the Motion.
Cllr the Hon Mr Mike Summers:
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I am conscious that Mr Speaker will be wanting to go for his Lunch. I have just two or three things to say. I would like to add my welcome to the ’82 Veterans and say what a delight it is to see them here on an annual basis at the Remembrance Service on Sunday and also to see the families and carers. And, I would like to add my thanks to those many people who take the Veterans in and look after them and give them such a good time while they are here and to help them to understand the way the society has progressed, so that’s a real contribution and we thank everybody for that.
In terms of the Constitution can I thank my Honourable Colleague for his kind words? It’s been a long process but actually a very enjoyable one and I feel entitled now to argue with anybody about what’s in the Constitution. I think I read every word of it at least 50 times.
But it has been an important process and one that I hope will be of benefit to the community going forward. I hope it’s not another 14 years or so before we revise the Constitution again because it is a live document and one that we should keep reviewed. And, just in that respect, because I know that if she’s been here our other colleague would have raised the issue of representation and can I take the liberty of just reading a short extract from a letter that we had from the Minister on the Constitution? And she says:
“You also mentioned the discussions that had been held and the public meetings and in Legislative Council about changes to constituencies. As you are aware the intent of Section 27 is to give some protection to the minority who live in Camp. While some of the community would clearly like to see amendments to this section I understand there is no consensus amongst Councillors on this issue and that no majority view against the current draft came out in public meetings. I am clear, therefore, that we should proceed with the draft as it stands. Were Councillors as a body to ask me to do so, I would consider future amendments. And, of course that is the basis on which we have moved forward.”
Mr Speaker, I presume that the Constitution now having been passed in the Privy Council and laid before Parliament gazetted and will come into force on the 1st of January as a result of a proclamation that the Attorney General is shortly to issue that Select Committee on the Constitution has completed its work. I don’t know if there is a formal process for closing select committees but I declare it closed anyway.
I have one other issue that I would like to raise and it is this: I would like, in this House, to send our formal thanks and congratulations to the UK’s ambassador of the permanent representation in New York – John Sawyer – who, with his team, achieved a terrific result the other day in the 4th Committee by denying an attempt by Argentina and Spain to compromise the right to self determination of peoples. The UK Government sponsored and was strongly supported in an amendment to the proposal put by Argentina and Spain that the right of self – determination should not apply to those countries where there is a sovereignty conflict. That was firmly defeated in the 4th Committee by a majority of about 60% to 40(%). As it is a tremendous result we are conscious that the UK Government and the Ambassador in particular put a lot of work into this. But it does show that the view that we have been taking here year on year on year that the right to self determination is a universal right that can’t be compromised is understood and supported and accepted by the large majority of right thinking people.
And, it’s noticeable that some pretty big hitters voted with the UK in this respect including Australia, South Africa who spoke very positively on the subject, France, Italy – great result – the USA, Germany and even India, which is very interesting.
So I think we can look forward with a very positive attitude towards the UN supporting the right of people in the Falklands to self-determination. And, just to recall that the United Nations on no occasion has ever said that the Falkland Islands are restricted in its development either democratically or economically and that the view that the Argentines would like to put forward when talking with us, others and working with letters of protest that suggest that Falklands don’t have that right to continue development without their permission is utter nonsense.
They have wasted something like 26 years now in navel gazing and wasted protests over the issue of self determination for the people of the Falklands. It’s time, actually that they moved on and understood that the world will not tolerate bullies and will not tolerate people who simply go land grabbing just to satisfy their own internal problems.
So Mr Speaker – many, many congratulations and many thanks to the Ambassador in the United Nations and I support the Motion
The Financial Secretary and the Chief Executive both supported the Motion without speaking.
The Speaker the Honourable Mr Lewis Clifton OBE:
If I may - it’s not the speaker’s position to pick up on comments made by Honourable Members but I do so in terms of the Honourable Richard Cockwell – his expression that the House should have a MACE and several Members be wigged or gowned here –I would simply say this – if there are financial constraints there is an excellent gavel here which I believe was a presentation to the House. Wigs, I believe, are rather expensive as indeed maybe gowns. I’m a bit of a traditionalist at heart and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the purchase of three pairs of wellington boots and three bubble hats and a Falklands Tee-shirt.
With that, Honourable Members, I declare the House adjourned accordingly.
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