Falklands : Falklands - ELECTION MANIFESTO SPEECH BY JOHN BIRMINGHAM
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 06.12.2011 (Article Archived on 20.12.2011)
I like to be involved in local affairs and so I am standing in this by-election to the Assembly because I believe I have something to offer.
ELECTION MANIFESTO SPEECH BY JOHN BIRMINGHAM
As broadcast over FIRS on Thursday, 01 December 2011
Transcript by J. Brock (FINN)
Good evening. My name is John Birmingham. I am married to Louise; I have two children and one grandchild. I first came to the Islands in 1974 to work in the Camp and have lived and worked in Stanley for the last 22 years.
I like to be involved in local affairs and so I am standing in this by-election to the Assembly because I believe I have something to offer.
Whoever is voted in on the 15th of December will be joining a Council that has already made the policy decisions for this term. There are, however, issues which I am interested in that I believe make me suitable to represent you, the electorate.
Every candidate has to have his view on our hostile neighbour. I have experience of promoting the Islands’ interests abroad, having been, amongst other places, the United Nations on a number of occasions. The last time there the Argentines accused me of insulting their foreign Minister. Clearly, a misunderstanding but I will not be bullied and can hold my own.
I believe the current Legislative Assembly are doing a good job both in spreading the Falkland Islands’ story overseas and, at the same time, not over-reacting to every petty provocation by the current government in Argentina.
If elected, I would support a continuation of the policy of robustly defending the Falklands whenever and wherever possible.
I believe that this, the third and hopefully final by-election of the current Assembly is about current, local issues.
This Government’s second budget had some back-slapping because of the agreement to a balanced budget. This was due to a continuation of previously planned policies, very much aided by the windfall coming from oil exploration. However, this cannot be relied on in the future. The next 12 months will show whether there really is any possibility of oil development in or around the Islands.
The tax rises over the last two years have hurt the lower-paid far more than those in a higher income bracket. The lowering of the tax threshold, the taxing of family allowances and the new Medical Tax – not a penny of which goes into increasing the Medical Department’s budget, have in no way been made up by a cost of living an award of 3% by the Falkland Islands’ Government and other employers.
How can it be right that electricity, which we all need, goes up by 2p per unit and yet alcohol gets no duty rise at all? People on fixed incomes are feeling the pinch. I believe people are willing to tighten the belt when necessary, but when there is a lightening of the financial pressure on the Islands and £19Million – if it truly is that – is a large amount and there needs to be some reward. It would be wrong in my opinion to give promises and seed expectations that cannot be delivered.
However, if elected, I would try and return, amongst other things, the tax threshold to its previous level. At the next budget, people have a right to expect some reward for the squeeze.
The economy needs to grow and if elected, I would support the continued existence of a development organisation but one that, if using tax payer’s money, is then accountable for that money spent to Government. First class travel and hotels for senior people would be half acceptable if there was something to show for it.
Remember import substitution? Remember the Rural Development Strategy? Talk of a second air link? I believe there’s a grand total of £7.000.00 put in budget for improving the terminal at MPA.
More work is needed to persuade fishing companies to bring economic activity onshore. I assume that’s the reason for the Rolls Royce container park close to FIPASS. An important aspect of development on the Falkland Islands surely has to be a new port. On whose desk is this project sitting at the moment?
I have always supported privatisation where it is in the public interest but would not support the privatisation of key strategic assets such as electrical and water supply.
The medical department, despite being staffed by hard-working professionals, is, as usual, stretched. I find it quite disconcerting that over £150,000.00 has been spent on the recruitment of a new Chief Medical Officer. The costs of recruitment of staff have to be seriously looked at.
Some years ago I put forward the idea of there being a small to medium sized guest house situated appropriately for convenient access to various hospital trusts dealt with by the Falkland Islands. At present the government spends an enormous amount of money on accommodating people waiting for appointments and recuperating in the UK. I think it’s time to reconsider this idea, with any spare capacity being filled by other travellers.
Although no longer having children in the schools here, I am still interested in education. And I am puzzled by the decision to combine the Assistant Deputy’s post with the Head of the Falkland Islands’ Community School, in effect creating a part-time head teacher, despite the almost total opposition from the teaching profession. The decision has been made so we will have to stand by that.
If elected one of the areas I would try to sort out is the apparent unfairness in the Education Department, whereby some staff can have time out but not others.
I have always been interested in housing, having been involved as far back as the East Stanley project. I was very active in the setting up of Mink Park.
If elected, I will seek to revisit the possible selling off of older FIG properties including the single units to genuine first time buyers; and would then use the monies raised to build more. Young people are still finding it difficult to get on the housing ladder, especially single people.
Everyone has an opinion on roads and their maintenance and I am no different. I travel along the MPA Road frequently and its use over the last couple of years has gone up substantially, with more and more large lorries using it. Some time ago an MLA on the radio told us there was active discussion about the road and its improvement. I believe it is now time to seriously look at improving what has to be the most economically important road in the Islands.
I chaired the Transport Advisory Committee two years ago and asked for a paper to be brought to that committee entitled “Roads to Non-Agricultural Destinations.” That was to be the basis of a discussion about areas that at present fell outside the funding remit. If accepted, it would have been possible to assist not only the outer islands which after all have not benefited from any road construction at all; but also the assistance to tourist destinations.
Some time ago it was possible to have an energy audit on your place of work. I believe that within FIG – who after all the biggest users of electricity and fuel – there is scope for some large savings. Anyone who thinks not should visit the Attorney General’s office, which has the area of a three-bedroomed house. They have 10 3 KW heaters burning away and no double glazing. It wouldn’t have got past the Planning Committee if it had been a private project. But there has to be an incentive to save costs.
The post of Chief Executive is coming up and if elected, I would do my best to ensure that the next one has a proven track record of management. The Falkland Islands have more of a need of an administrator rather than a blue sky strategist. And I don’t believe we need to go overseas this time.
My interests are many and varied. If anyone has a question for me then please feel free to give me a call on 21443 or 52834.
Clearly, I think I am the right choice for your vote on the 15th of December. Although independently minded, I am also a team player and that is important.
Whatever you do on the 15th, please vote.
(100X Transcription Service)
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