EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, 30 JANUARY 2003
- The first meeting of Executive Council in 2003 took place at Government house on Thursday 30 January. We had a heavy agenda, although made up mostly of routine items. In policy terms, we had important discussions about fisheries, tourism and minimum wage legislation.
- In recent months Government has undertaken a wide-ranging review of fisheries policy and associated maritime issues. This work has produced 3 detailed policy papers. EXCO discussed 2 of them last week: the papers on marine farming in the Falkland Islands, and on the expansion of maritime service industries. A third paper, which reviews licensing policy, will be taken by EXCO in February or March.
- Taken together, these 3 papers address a range of issues which are fundamental to the development of the Falkland Islands economy. It is difficult to summarise a full and complex discussion. EXCO was keen to take forward work on the potential for marine farming in the Falkland Islands, but recognised the importance of environmental considerations. It was agreed that new legislation was required as a matter of urgency, and that work on this should go forward, with a view to having the legislation ready by the end of the year. It was agreed in principle that the Falkland Islands Government should, during the initial phase of development, forego any charges which it might otherwise be entitled to make for the use of coastal areas for marine farming. EXCO underlined the importance of making training available to Falkland Islanders in marine farming techniques. Both of these elements should help the Islands to establish an internationally competitive marine farming industry.
- Closely linked to all this is the development of maritime services. EXCO focused on the recommendation in the second paper for the establishment of a Port Authority, which would be responsible for the management of commercial port infrastructure in the Falkland Islands. We had a useful discussion on the ways in which this might be taken forward. We agreed that the options should be investigated in more detail, and that the Falkland Islands Government should undertake a detailed business study of future port developments. The aim would be to establish the new Port Authority by 1 July 2004.
- I look forward to discussion – at either the February or March EXCO – of the issues surrounding fisheries licensing, when EXCO will be focusing on the key question of ownership of marine farming and fishing rights.
- Equally important for the development of the Falkland Islands economy is the tourist industry. We discussed a useful paper which reviewed developments in this area and made recommendations for the future of the industry. In particular, EXCO agreed to establish a new organisation which would take over from the FIDC responsibility for developing and promoting tourism in the Islands. This new organisation would be a company limited by guarantee, and would be run and jointly funded by the industry and Falkland Islands Government. This is an important development in the way we organise this key aspect of the Falkland Islands economy.
- Another important issue for EXCO concerned policy on the introduction of a minimum wage and working conditions. There was a broad consensus that this was not the moment to introduce legislation on this subject, and that at a time of economic uncertainty it was necessary to tread carefully.
- I should just say a brief word about other issues on the Agenda. EXCO held a short discussion of the Principal Auditor’s report on the financial statements for the year ending 30 June 2002, which was broadly reassuring. EXCO agreed that the maximum fines and sentences for a range of traffic and drugs offences should be updated. It was agreed that invalid carriages should be exempted from the provisions of the Road Traffic Ordinance. EXCO agreed a Bill which would allow the Licensing Justices to exempt premises in camp from the prohibition of children from licensed premises. It was decided that no further action should be taken on the amalgamation of the Housing Committee and the Stanley Lands Committee, beyond the transfer to the Housing Committee of responsibility for Government serviced housing plots. And finally, EXCO took decisions on the usual range of individual land, personnel and immigration issues.
H J S Pearce
Governor
3 February 2003
