Falklands : General Purposes Committee Meeting Report (18/03/09)
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 25.03.2009 (Article Archived on 08.04.2009)
A meeting of the General Purposes Committee took place on Wednesday, 18 March 2009. On Thursday, 19 March 2009 Cllr Mike Summers updated the media on what happened during this important committee meeting.
GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT 18/03/09
By J. Brock (FINN)
A meeting of the General Purposes committee took place on Wednesday, 18 March 2009. On Thursday, 19 March 2009 the Hon Mr Mike Summers briefed the media on what happened during this important committee meeting.
On the agenda:
- a final paper on the FIG approach to illegal drugs use in the Falklands
- a meeting with the General Manager FIDC about the possibilities of continuing the supply of fresh milk to Stanley
- An update from Mr Ken Johnson on the Ports project
- De-mining Team issues
- Argentine Veterans
Drug use in the Falklands:
There has been an internal discussion about what zero tolerance means but the conclusion is that there is no such thing because there are times that prosecutions are quashed due to public interest. There is a paper due to be published for public consumption that sets out a basic definition about what drug abuse is. This paper will be released by the Police Committee. The Hon Mike Summers will advise when the paper will be available. There is a unique Falklands classification for drugs in the Falklands, for example, Marijuana has always been a Class B Drug here. There was an assurance that all drugs misuse will be investigated. Recently agreed guidelines for the misuse of drugs overseas is also included in the paper.
Stanley Dairy:
Councillors concluded that the Stanley Dairy cannot survive commercially in its present form. However, if the Dairy closed it would be the end of fresh milk for the forseeable future. This means the dairy, if it is to survive, needs to operate using a different business model. There is only a 10% share of the market at present but with previous owners the Dairy was commercially viable. If the dairy would close there would be a lot of start up money to be invested for good milking stock.
Demining:
There will be nothing new until the tender process. It is hoped that local people and equipment will be used during the demining process. The minefield at Fox Bay will not be cleared initially. Surf Bay will take its place.
Ken Johnson:
A paper will go to EXCO next month with a pre-assessment of 8 sites. It is hoped to winnow the number down to 3 or 4 sites. It is cheaper to further assess fewer sites. FIPASS will be analysed along with the other sites.
Argentine Veterans:
Mike Summers, John Birmingham and Richard Stevens met with the travel agent who organised the trip and with Marcello Sanchez of the Argentine Veterans’ Association, the co-ordinator. They covered the reasons why the group came, what they are doing while here, experiences with the population, what they will be doing for the rest of the week and future plans to let FIG know in advance of such a huge visit in the future. People had been kind to them and it was a good visit, which will culminate in positive publicity for the Falklands. Hopefully the good message will be passed on to organisers of the FLOTILLA. Any alarming behaviour would make it bad on Veterans groups who need to bury ghosts just like UK veterans do.
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