LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING: 25 OCTOBER 2002
A meeting of Legislative Council took place on Friday,25 October 2002 at 1030 in the Court and Council Chamber of the Town Hall. All eight elected members were present, as well as the Commander British Forces, the Attorney General, Financial Secretary and Speaker.
After prayers the first order of business was to elect members for Executive Council. The Attorney General and Financial Secretary were appointed as tellers. The results of the election is as follows:
Stanley: Cllr John Birmingham
Camp: Cllr Philip Miller
Stanley and Camp: Cllr. Mike Summers.
After the election took place, the confirmation of the minutes of the previous Legislative Council meeting on 23 August 2002 took place. The Speaker signed them as being a fair and true copy of the proceedings.
Papers then were laid on the table by the Hon. The Chief Executive, as follows:
The Ordinance for Pioneer Row Designation order 2002
Buildings: Barren Island Designation Order 2002
Fishing Licences Application and Fees No. 2 Order 2002
Magistrates and Summary Courts Guilty Pleas in Absence Rules Amendment Order 2002
Post Office Amendment Order 2002
Criminal Justice Increase in Fine, Control of Drinking by Juveniles Ordinance Order 2002
Licensing Amendment Ordinance 2002 Correction No. 3 Order 2002
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER:
Q-18/2002 By the Hon. Mrs. Norma Edwards (NE):
Will the Hon. Roger Edwards (RE) tell the House if there are plans to repair the bad parts of Ross Road this summer season. And, if this is the case, when is work likely to begin?
Answer by the Hon. Mr. Roger Edwards (RE):
Mr. Speaker, the project for the reconstruction of Ross Road is being deferred. Therefore, only temporary Patch repairs will be carried out this season. It is envisaged that work on the worst areas will commence during this month and in total should carry on for about 3 weeks.
NE: Can I ask if it is hoped to complete the bad pieces of road in time for the SAMA visit? Or, will that not be possible?
RE: Mr. Speaker, the worst areas of the road have been identified and all efforts are going to be made to ensure that they are patched prior to the SAMA visit and any marches that take place on those roads.
Q-19/2002 by the Hon. Norma Edwards:
In view of some of the discrepancies in the grading of recent "A" Level results in the United Kingdom, can the Honourable Jan Cheek (JC) tell this House if checks have been made on our students’ results to ensure that they were properly graded?
Answer by the Hon. Mrs. Jan Cheek (JC):
Mr. Speaker, Honourable members, the decisions on re-grading and which subjects to be looked at were taken by the then Secretary of State for Education, Estelle Morris in the UK, the re-grading process was separate from any re-marking requests, which were personal to individual students. It appears that the only subject at Peter Symonds affected by this re-grading process was Physics. The Director of Education has consulted the Principle of Peter Symonds college and he has made it clear that no Falkland Islands student was affected in any way by the re-grading process, which I take to mean that none of our students took any of the subjects involved. Peter Symonds would, as a matter of course, be checking for all students there. This shouldn’t be confused, as I said earlier, with requests for re-marking, which can be made by students and their tutors for subjects where grades are not as predicted and expected. As far as I am aware, no re-marking has been requested, which would seem to indicate that the grades achieved were those expected by the Students.
NE: Thank you very Much.
MOTION No. 5:
Motion No. 5/2002 by the Hon Chief Executive:
It is moved that this House approve the Criminal Justice Evidence Ordinance2000 Commencement Order 2002 to come into force upon publication in the Gazette.
The Chief Executive, the Hon Mr. Michael Blanch (MB):
Mr. Speaker, I so move. Members will recall the original piece of legislation that this seeks to add to. The original piece of legislation was passed in September 2000 and related to the discretion being given to Courts to define how they would treat witnesses, particularly witnesses in cases where there were difficult matters being discussed, such as in areas of child abuse, or rape.
The original legislation that members passed bound the legislation to those things that had been passed also in the United Kingdom. At time it related to the ways in which the court could have discretion to rule upon the giving of evidence by children aged 17 or under. Members will recall, for instance, that this allowed the giving of evidence by video link for the giving of evidence in private if absolutely necessary, or by using (inaudible) communication. Now at that stage members said that they were not happy to take the legislation further forward in order to include certain categories of adults because that had not been done in the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom has now passed those additional parts of its act into law and we bring it back to you now to consider whether those protections can be given, or the Court can be given discretion to offer those protections to certain adults in certain circumstances. Sections 4 and 5 define how those adults may be defined. And, here we are talking about witnesses who may have problems with a learning disability, or mental health impairment, or maybe under threat of considerable intimidation in a Court situation. The facilities given to those witnesses, again, at the discretion of the Court defined in Sections 11 through to 24, and that allows in those certain circumstances those witnesses to be screened from the accused, the witness evidence can be given by live link, can be given in private in certain circumstances although I doubt that this means the accused is moved from the Courtroom or his representatives, the removal of wigs and gowns and also video recording of evidence. This, I think, is a correct step now UK has done it and it may well be that members will support that.
In addition, Members are being asked to implement Section 28, which allows the Court’s discretion in certain circumstances to restrict the questions which might be placed on a witness, about that witnesses sexual history. This and the proposals I put before you, does not implement the entirety of the UK possibilities of all the legislation that Members saw. In particular, Members will remember Section 17. Section 17 allowed the giving of evidence through an intermediary, or by proxy. That has not been approved in the United Kingdom and we are not seeking that approval from you today.
Mr. Speaker, I think that this is a right addition to our legislation and I so move.
The motion was seconded by the Financial Secretary, Mr. Derek Howatt.
Cllr. The Hon. Mr. Mike Summers (MS): Mr. Speaker, can I ask either the Chief Executive or the Attorney General to advise the status of Section 17 in the United Kingdom now. Is it part of the United Kingdom legislation or is it anticipated that it will be in due course? And, if so, will there be recommendations here for its implementation?
The Attorney General, Mr. David Lang, QC (DL):
The corresponding position from which Section 17 was taken is law in the United Kingdom which has passed Parliament but which has not been commenced. My understanding is that debate continues in the legal profession – the judges and consultative committees as to the regulation or rules of Court which should be made before that section is implemented. The matter is visited with some controversy – the detailed rules – and it may be some time before it is commenced in the United Kingdom. No decision has been taken at this stage whether it is commenced in the United Kingdom whether it will be recommended to Honourable members for commencement here. We will need to consider the matter in the light of the rules which are made and to see whether special rules should be made here. But the intention would be that if satisfactory rules are available in the United Kingdom, we make a recommendation to Honourable Members for its commencement here.
Cllr. The Hon. Mrs. Jan Cheek:
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I just want to welcome the commencement of these measures, which are an important part of ensuring that justice prevails for all, including thosw who are vulnerable for reasons of age or disability. Thank you.
Motion No. 5 was passed unanimously.
ORDERS OF THE DAY, BILLS:
The Grass Fires Bill 2002 was withdrawn pro tem for further discussion by Elected Members.
Cllr. The Hon. Mr. Philip Miller (PM):
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, it is generally felt that we are rushing the bill through and it hasn’t been allowed full consultation with the farming community and land owners in general. There are a couple of amendments that it was felt shouldn’t be done on the floor of this House.
The Speaker, the Hon. Mr. Tim Blake (TB):
Can we be assured that any future bill will be published well in advance of it coming to this table so that we can get reaction the public?
MB: Yes. Most certainly, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, the substantive changes are not enormous but they are changes of some context and we just feel the need to ensure that they are right in response to the limited consultation we have had.
The Grass Fires Bill 2002 was then withdrawn.
MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT SPEECHES:
Cllr. The Hon. Mr. John Birmingham:
It’s unusual, Mr. Speaker, for me to be called first.
TB: The First shall be last and the last shall be first etc.
JB: Well, that’s right, unless it’s to pay the bill. Mr. Speaker, in rising to speak to the Motion, I shall say those famous words "I’ll be brief." Only just returning last week from the Party Conferences, with the Hon. Roger Edwards, I do know there is quite a bit said this week about the Party Conferences and I would just like to say that Falkland Islanders, in my opinion, must continue to have a presence at those particular conferences.
Mr. Speaker, there is a certain amount of unease in the fishing industry and in the public at large at the numbers of Councillors involved n the fishing industry. And, with the process that we are going through at the moment, I would like to put them at ease by saying that n this Council,, there are only three Members, to my understanding, that have no involvement in the fishing industry. When it comes to the final decision, I do not see those Councillors involved in fishing in any being party to that final decision making. There will be consultation all the way through. But the final decision, I am sure, will be made by the Councillors who have no involvement. And, it’s always been the case since the fishery first opened that there are some people who view with suspicion any elected person being involved in the industry. The fact is that we are part time and we have to earn a living elsewhere. That’s how it is at the moment.
Everybody has their little baby and mine is the issue of housing plots and housing and at the last meeting, I asked a very simple question to which I received a very long and detailed answer. So long, if I remember rightly, that if I’d have known what was coming I would have probably packed a lunch. I didn’t. But I am still confident that we will be able to do something in the near future for those single people – not necessarily young single people – but those who wish to live on their own –to be able to purchase affordable housing.
I had a quick glance n the newspaper this morning, purchased on the way here, and I don’t mind spending .80p, I think it’s a fine read, but I had a quick breeze through the editorial and I notice that the editor is wants to have invited editorials. I’m not very up on this and I am sure Cllr. Cheek will right (or write me) me if I am wrong but if somebody other than the editor does an editorial, surely, it’s not an editorial because the editor’s not doing it.
I also note in the newspaper that there’s a full page on disabilities. And, at the Hospital Committee Meeting, last week, or earlier this week, I meant to mention this but I forgot. And that is that possibly the worst public building throughout the Falkland Islands Government for anybody in a wheelchair to actually enter is the Hospital. And, I’ve jotted this down now and I hope to follow this through. But there are certain buildings that – we all know when we go overseas we see something revolutionary called electric doors. And, I wonder why it is that these electric doors, which have been around for donkey’s years – why it is that we down here – we have lifts – we have all manner of modern equipment –why it is that Government buildings can’t install electric doors but as I say, I shall be pursuing that.
I have one other item and then I will sit down and that is contracted staff. Whilst away, I was getting the local newspaper and you see before you here the real flesh and blood, another cardboard cut-out - I must emphasise that – I don’t mind slagging off the Local newspaper. I think it is part of the job. But the continued attacks on contracted staff is something that should worry us all. Now, it’s been said time and time again that contracted staff are brought here – they are employed by the Falkland Islands Government – every post is Okayed by Councillors. There is no way a post is going to be taken on – a contractor taken on unless it passes through Council. So, we are the ones to blame. We are spending upwards of £200,000.00 a year on recruitment costs. Now, that’s a lot of money that we could be using elsewhere for social purposes. Surely, if we need these contracted staff, and we will do until the day comes when we can have our own home-grown teachers, home-grown nurses and other medical staff – home-grown agricultural professionals then we will require contract workers. And, whilst they are here, I don’t think it does the community any good at all by certain individuals continually writing letters, having a go at these people. And, it amazes me why that individual writes when he, himself, spent 20 years overseas being a contractor. We all like to have a moan and groan – me as much as anybody – but the vast majority of these people come here and do their best for the Falkland Islands and I feel that sometimes it gets a little too personal.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to support the Motion
Cllr. The Hon. Mr. Mike Summers:
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I have two subjects that |I wish to speak about today. Ine is the Abattoir and the other is the economy. Just to update people on the status of the licensing of the Abattoir and works that still need to be done so that we can retain public confidence in the project, which is extremely important for the future of the Camp Community, the economics of the Camp Community, and indeed, the economics of the Islands as a whole. We have been right royally messed about on this project by the European Union – not something, I suppose, that was unexpected but still irritating when it happens. But we are now in a position where we have to make interim and then firmer arrangements for the provision of cold storage.
That wasn’t the position when we first discussed the project with the European Union but they have changed their position and we now have to do it. So, since it’s their licence we will have to do what they want us to do. That is now very much in planning and in process. We have also been let down by the European Union in respect of processing our residues plan for testing for residues in the meats. There is no problem with our residues plan – they simply haven’t put it through the necessary legal processes. So, that leaves us tight on time for acquiring the licence for this killing season.
But I do want to assure the rural community – Camp community that we are pushing very, very hard to have the licence issued as soon as we possibly can – hopefully, still during the course of this year. We have a lot of people working in different spheres pushing this direction. I remain confident – mildly confident that we will make the licence in this killing season. If we do not, we have had some very preliminary discussions about whether we will, in fact, still carry on with the whole kill of all the animals the farmers have retained for this season, in order not to be disadvantaged through having accepted our planning parameters – our planning proposals. It may well be that it will result in, certainly reduced cash flow and, almost certainly operating losses for the Abattoir but it may well be better to, in fact, take all the animals being held for the Abattoir this year and kill them and sell them into lower price markets rather than disappoint farmers.
That is not yet a firm plan but I wish to assure farmers everything is being done to ensure that the Abattoir will be in production in time to take the sheep that they plan to put through this year. All of this has resulted in some additional expenditure for the Abattoir - on the freezer and for other works outside, which the Standing Finance Committee has agreed today. And we are now in a position to make absolutely firm commitments with the European Union about our obligations and hope that they will now accept them and now proceed with the issuing of the licence.
Second item I just wish to address is the economy and where we are now in general terms with our revenues and short-falls in revenues for next season. By in large, the Illex licence fees that were due from the last season have been collected but there are still some amounts outstanding but we are confident that the very large majority of those will be collected. So, revenues for the 2001-2002 fishing season are pretty well all collected.
For the forth-coming season, there have been some quite productive and helpful discussions with Korean and Taiwanese companies about their intentions for next season and I think we made good progress in ascertaining that there will be a level of licensing come next year that is, at least, satisfactory and is not disastrous. However, there will still be a need, as a result of that, to do some budget squeezing.
A very large proportion of the population will know that the Government has been going through some heart searching in respect of expenditure both in capital expenditure and in operating expenditure. And, priority budgeting has been very much the buzz from the Government. We haven’t yet finished that process but there will inevitably be some squeezes on the budget. And, we will not have the level of revenue from Illex next year that allows us to support the current level of expenditure. So, there will be a measured response to the reductions in licence revenue. It continues to be that way.
I would just like to assure the whole community that, that is very much a measured response, any of the reductions that we make will be those that are strictly necessary to keep us in as near as we can, a balanced budget and to retain the reserve as near as we can to 2.5 times level of recurrent expenditure. So, that process will continue during this next month and, we hope in the new year to be able to give more and further information about the level of expenditure for future years.
Mr. Speaker, I support the Motion.
Cllr. The Hon. Mr. Philip Miller:
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, in rising to support the Motion for Adjournment, I do have two subjects I would like to mention.
With the very welcome rise in wool prices that farmers are achieving at the moment, I would just like to remind farmers that it is still a very volatile market and, just because the future is looking a little brighter, we shouldn’t get complacent and shove diversification plans and ideas to the side. The proceeds from wool can help to bring some of those diversification plans to fruition and may even become the main farm income, with wool being the secondary income.
Another important issue is we will shortly be welcoming a substantial amount of visitors to the Islands. Among them will be VIPs plus Media personnel. I would just like to ask members of the public to make an effort and have a general tidy-up. Junk can be less of an eye-sore if it is stacked uniformly and tidily. Landowners in Camp have possessions along the side of the road that may look untidy. I drive past one such site at New House turn-off every time I come to Stanley. The MPA Road also has its fair share of eye-sores and we would really like to create a good impression. The last thing we need is a headline in the newspaper like "Junk Shadows the Natural Beauty of the Falkland Islands," or something along those lines.
Sir, I support the Motion.
Cllr. The Hon. Mr. Richard Cockwell:
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I also have just one or two items that I would like to mention. During my recent travels abroad, I was privileged to visit Gibraltar as a guest of the Gibraltar Government. And, I was able to discuss with Government Officials issues of mutual interest and to express our support for the people of Gibraltar in their wish to determine their own future. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Gibraltar for their hospitality during my only too short a visit. We shall follow with interest the outcome of the referendum that is to be held soon.
Within the next few months, we are undertaking two major consultations over matters that will affect the future direction the Falklands may go. Firstly, we have the Fisheries Policy Review. This review is intended to permit us to find ways to help our fishing industry to expand in a way that is to the benefit of all members of the industry and the economy of the Islands. The process is underway and I am pleased to see the amount of constructive response that has already been received. I look forward to following this through.
And, the second consultation that is underway is the Draft Stanley Town Plan and structure plans. Coupled together, these plans, when completed, will guide planners as to the way we wish Stanley to expand within the next 10 years. I recommend anybody who is interested in the future development of Stanley to obtain a copy of the first draft document and forward their comments to the appropriate department.
The down-turn in the fisheries income is causing concern in many sectors of the Islands. I, along with other people, am very concerned. However, given this situation continues, I do believe that we have the ability to overcome any possible down-turn in income. We may not quite enjoy the same ability to spend in the way we have in recent years, however, I have confidence that we shall be able to maintain a full budget based on the income that may occur. This will entail the tightening of belts in many Government Departments but I do not believe that it will result in significant reductions of the central services.
And, if I could just say, one item as the Honourable Philip Miller mentioned, that we have the people from SAMAS coming in the next month and I do ask people to remember that many of these people are people who have suffered post traumatic stress through the war and can they please remember not to let off fireworks while they are here in the country. It is not much to ask but I do wish that people will not let off fireworks willy-nilly while these servicemen and ex-servicemen are here in the Islands.
Sir, I beg to support the motion.
Cllr the Hon Mrs. Jan Cheek:
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, in supporting the motion, I’ve just got a couple of things to say.. The Fisheries Policy Review has been mentioned and I felt this was a time when I thought I should not be available for election for Executive Council because, no matter how often I declare my interest and withdraw from the debate when it’s proper to do so, I think it’s essential for credibility that someone who stands to benefit from improvements to the industry here, should not, in any way, be seen to be advocating parts of that issue, or even imagined to be advocating parts of that issue. I am always happy to give factual information to my colleagues, should they ask for it. I do try to be scrupulous in not getting involved in the discussion of things where I stand clearly to benefit, either overtly or quietly behind the scenes. And, I hope that my three colleagues who have no fishing interests will be able to confirm to anyone who asks them that I do not buttonhole them privately, socially, or anywhere on the subject. And, when Cllr. Birmingham recently asked me something just before he left, I was actually quite reluctant to discuss it at all for that very reason.
Moving on to the problems we may experience with our budget, I think I am not alone in believing that this is going to be a useful exercise. We can all look around and see things that to us appear to be wasteful and unnecessary, badly done, things, having been done once, having to be done again. Whatever the outcome in terms of revenues in the coming year, I hope that we will end up with a slimmer budget and one which has less members of the public to criticise.
Finally, when the Honourable John Birmingham mentioned the local newspaper in terms of the guest editorial, which I believe they are having, I thought he was actually wanting me to give a critical analysis of his poetry.
I support the motion.
Cllr. The Hon. Mr. Roger Edwards:
Mr. Speaker, in rising to support the Motion for Adjournment, there are a couple of things I would like to mention. One has already been mentioned by the Hon. John Birmingham and that was the Party Conferences. I must admit, before I went to the Party Conferences, I didn’t quite know what to expect and was a little sceptical of the whole thing. |However, now having been, I realise just how important they are to the Falklands. I believe they had three main aims and that was to renew the acquaintances and to thank those who presently support us, to meet those who do not support us and try and convince them how they are wrong and thirdly, even 20 years or so after the conflict, to dispel the myths and rumours that are still around about the Falkland Islands. It amazed us just how many people came up with the most ridiculous questions that they believed to be true. However, we were able dispel most of those myths and I feel the whole thing was very, very worthwhile.
It was also worthwhile, while we were at the conferences, to attend several of the meetings regarding Gibraltar and to listen to their First Minister’s speeches and to realise what support they are being given by the Government that’s actually doing the negotiations to get away from that Joint Sovereignty with Spain, or to give away the joint sovereignty to Spain. The average rank and file MP appears to me, or appeared to me at those meetings that they do fully support the people of Gibraltar and their rights to self determination. And, as was pointed out many times during these speeches and by the MPs we met, and this applies to us also here in the Falklands because when it comes to self determination, size doesn’t matter. It is a principle that should be looked upon. You either support the principle of self determination, which is the right to determine your own future. If you don’t support it, then you are against it. And that is meaning that someone else should decide a person’s future. That is totally wrong. And, I was pleased to hear Councillor Cockwell say how welcomed he was in Gibraltar and how he enjoyed the experience.
Our economy has been mentioned by the Honourable Mike Summers. And, I would like to point out that this Council, I believe, has done quite a lot in re-vamping the budget and the capital programme in such a way that we have been able to keep many things going and supplying work and cash into the private sector that would otherwise be lacking. We hope, with the increasing wool prices, with the return of the fishes, and we hope with the possible coming on line of oil resources to the south west of the Islands and I hope that our future is looking again Rosy.
Sir, I support the motion.
Cllr. The Hon. Mrs. Norma Edwards:
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I think most of the subjects have already been mentioned that I was thinking about talking on. I would just say, as far as the Abattoir goes, I am relieved to hear what the Honourable Mike Summers said this morning that we will continue regardless of the EU. And, I am not a great admirer of the European Union, I have to say. It wasn’t a road that I wanted to go down originally with the Abattoir. However, that’s water under the bridge. But I am pleased to hear that the Farming Community will still be able to send their sheep in for slaughter regardless of the decision of the EU inspectors this next time around.
MS: May I make a point of order? I did not guarantee that that was going to happen. What I said was that we have begun those discussions and we very much hope that we will be able to continue to take the animals that people have kept but we can’t make an absolute commitment at this stage.
NE: I beg your pardon. I thought that we had agreed that that was the road we were taking should we not have agreement from the EU. However, I would also say that it has been a bad winter and there may well not be the number of sheep available this year anyway, that may be required and that I just hope all goes well and we don’t have to worry about whether we are going to have to find another source for the sale of the animals.
I would just reiterate what the Honourable Philip Miller has said about the visit from SAMA and tidying up around and about the Bazaars. It doesn’t make a nice impression on people, I think, if they see a load of rubbish hanging about the place. I hope that people will take that on board and tidy up where they can.
As far as the budget goes and squeezing the budget, I would just remind our Honourable Colleagues that we have always said, and I hope that it is still the case, that when we come to looking to downsizing budgets, if we have to, that Education and Medical Services will come bottom of the pile and everything else that we can do will be cut before those two particular departments. I think that’s important that we don’t cut back on our education and, if possible, we don’t cut back on our Medical Services.
Sir, I support the Motion for Adjournment.
TB: Cllr. Luxton, your name, unfortunately, is going to be on the bottom of the pile for the next 12 months.
JB: Rightly so.
Cllr. The Hon. Stephen Luxton:
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, it’s my great pain that I shall always have the last word. I think it’s been a while since the subject of Camp Phones came up in this house. Some areas of the Camp network are still experiencing significant problems with line noise, which is extremely disruptive to FAX and Phone communications and renders the internet almost completely unusable on some days. I was talking to somebody in Camp just the other evening and commented that I must go and download the mountain of e-mails from No. 9. I immediately regretted saying this as the response was that the caller probably had some, too but hasn't been able to get them all. Incidentally, this exchange has been edited to remove any un-parliamentary language. However, the biggest irritation seems to be not the fact that customers can take several attempts to download their e-mail but the fact that they apparently get charged the full rate for every one of those attempts. I do hope Cable & Wireless will look sympathetically at this issue until such time as they are able to improve the service provided.
While I am on the subject of communications, it is very disappointing that the people at Port Stephens have now been without FM Radio for almost 1 year. This is mainly due to procrastination of certain contractors, who, I am told, have taken an unbelievable length of time to install a simple power circuit to feed the rebroadcast transmitter. I learned yesterday afternoon that the job might actually be almost done. The Port Stephens area is generally disadvantaged by poor radio reception but this particular problem has got nothing to do with radio reception and everything to do with waiting a year somebody to get off their butt and do a half-hour job with £20.00 worth of materials. It’s been very frustrating for people in the Port Stephens area, not to mention to BFBS, who, I understand, have been waiting for months to be able to finish their own work. And I hope the service will be up and running again soon.
There has been a fair bit of criticism of the Camp Road Network in recent months, following the very bad winter that we had. With only a few exceptions, the only thing that ever gets publicity is complaints. Few people make a fuss about a good road. The Road Gang have done an excellent and very quick job in patching up the winter damage to te bulk of the Camp Road Network in double-quick time. And, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them on a job well done. It’s not a long-term solution. This will take more time. But it gives time to think about the options of creating a better all-weather road network, which will better withstand the rigors of winter In the meantime, the roads that I have driven on have been reinstated to an almost new surface, which must have transformed the travel of those people that rely on them.
Sir, I support the Motion.
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