Calshot Harbour at Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, Tristan Da Cunha is to undergo emergency repairs in an effort to prevent the island from being cut off from its only access to outside supplies and help and for its residents regular visits of supply boats.
Photos By James Glass (Tristan Times)
Personally I think Mr Preston, whose article in the Guardian entitled ‘Ditch the Falklands’ written on Remembrance Sunday is an affront not only to the 252 British Forces and 3 civilians who lost their lives during the 1982 Conflict with Argentina, but also the people who had to suffer under Argentine occupation during that time.
Today's crop of threatening articles about a potential Falklands invasion by Argentina has no unusual reaction in the Islands and the people see it as yet another flap.
ELECTIONS ON ASCENSION ISLAND
On 20th October I promised to issue another statement following the suspension of the Island Council due to the lack of sufficient candidates coming forward in time for an election to be held.
I have consulted at length with the Administrator and I know that he has in turn spoken with many people on the island. The choices we have had to make concern an early election or one delayed until after the Christmas holiday, and whether we should create some kind of consultative group, so that we have access to at least some form of advice, albeit falling far short of true democracy.
We have decided that the wisest course of action is to plan for a fresh election after February. This will allow some of the recent dust to settle as well as accommodating those who will be away from the island over Christmas. It will also be well within the six months gap that is allowable under the constitution.
As far as a consultative group is concerned, there are fairly strong arguments in both directions. On the one hand I do not wish to preside without any advice coming from the population and yet a consultative group, however constituted, would have no real validity and experience shows that it could well attract justified criticism. It seems hardly worth it for the sake of a few months.
So over the next few months we will carry on governing the island in the light of previous recommendations. That includes taking forward the view of the previous Council that a Facilitator should work on trying to resolve some of the outstanding problems relating to the financing of the Island with the objective of creating a workable long-term solution.
I must stress that this interim period will be one in which both the Administrator and myself will be very willing to listen to any representations that anyone on the Island wishes to make. This is a fledgling democracy that requires very careful management and we will listen attentively to all those who wish to express a view with regard to the future.
Andrew Gurr
Governor
9 November 2010
The second draft MOU was sent to DFID this afternoon. This puts the St Helena Government on target in terms of completing this stage of the MOU preparation.
Government House in the Falklands has announced the launch of the latest Overseas Territories Environmental Programme. This is a joint fund - run by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development - which supports the implementation of Environment Charters and Environmental Management in the Overseas Territories.
We agreed a paper on budgetary procedures which will mean that the process will start a little later than in recent years. Other financial papers included the Supplementary Appropriation Bill remitted to the next day’s Assembly meeting.
