FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD:
(With Relevant Articles from FIBS)
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
NO AGREEMENT ON FLIGHTS YET INSISTS CLLR. EDWARDS
By J. Brock (FINN)
Councillor Roger Edwards, in a statement to the Falklands Press on Friday afternoon said there has been no agreement yet on flights between
The frenzy began when there was speculation on the BBC World Service and the local British press about an agreement. According to Cllr. Edwards, one particular financial newspaper today has given quite detailed proposals (agreements they call them) put forward in the talks earlier this week between Mr. Rammell and the officials in
“The so called agreement reflects a proposal which inferred from this week’s meeting in
Maya V Crew Arrest Conditions Lightened
By Peter Collins
Bail surety to ensure crew alleged to be involved in pirate toothfishing
aboard the Maya V did not flee the country, was lessened yesterday by an
The decision was made by Magistrate Tarr in the Perth Magistrate's court
after pleas of financial hardship by the crew.
Lawyer for the crew Phillip Laskaris argued successfully that a bail of
$AUD 5000 each for the 35 men, set on February 12 in the same court, had
meant the men were being held in a high security prison for a charge that
would not involve imprisonment.
Mr Laskaris tended documents regarding the crew's financial position to the
court following criticism by a former Magistrate regarding scant details about
the 35 men's true financial position.
But Amber Goddard, for the Commonwealth of Australia, said the men may
still go to prison if they are convicted and cannot pay their fines.
Mr Laskaris said he believed his clients would be found innocent.
But Ms Goddard re-iterated to the Court that the Crown had a strong case
against the crew and the senior officers apprehended by the Australian Navy
after being found in the United Nations recognised Australian Fishing Zone
around McDonald and Heard Island in the remote Southern Ocean.
It is understood from information given to the Australian Fisheries Management
Authority that at least 10 of the men met reduced bail of $AUD 2000 late
yesterday afternoon from money deposited in a trust account.
Mr Laskaris during the hearing said it appeared as if the Australian
Government had an ulterior motive in keeping the men from making bail - to
send a warning message to other fishing crews internationally.
Ms Goddard refuted the allegation as nonsense to the court and said the
Commonwealth was merely meeting the requirements conditions of the
Australian court system's bail act.
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FIBS NEWS DIRECT:
CHIEF EXECUTIVE TALKS ABOUT HIS LETTER:
Chief Executive, Chris Simpkins, has written to every single Government employee to warn that the Civil Service will tear itself apart if staff continue to criticise FIG anonymously in the newspaper. In a letter sent to every Head of Department for forwarding to employees, Mr. Simpkins warns that if the trend continues “you and your colleague civil servants will become so damaged that it will take years for confidence to recover.” Mr. Simpkins adds that, “the new management code contains rules about the publication of letters which he would not hesitate to use if appropriate.” He denies that he is trying to gag employees by writing, “please be in no doubt that I am not trying to stifle criticism or free speech but if you are minded to have a free swipe at colleague civil servants in another department, pause to think for a moment before you do.” He continues, ”we are all employed by the same organisation, we all live in the same small community. Do we really feel that declaring open season on one another will have a positive impact? With an unlimited supply of resources, we would all have a chance to provide a prefect service to our customers but life is not like that. Government resources are limited and coming under increasing strain. I asked Mr. Simpkins (CS) why he had written the letter?
CS: I don’t think that the present rash of criticism that’s flying around between departments is terribly healthy. It is clearly damaging a lot of people, its damaging reputations. People naturally feel upset when the work that they are trying to do is criticised, particularly for very sound reasons but when they don’t feel able or when people feel, for some reason, that there aren’t the mechanisms by which those concerns can be raised officially. And, clearly those mechanisms do exist. Perhaps, because I am a contract officer, it might be said that I don’t understand. That’s a common expression that one might hear but there is no real reason why, when we have systems in place, people can’t raise their concerns in a perfectly public forum through Government departments and the mechanisms we have. I don’t accept, frankly, in the newspaper, a “name and address withheld letter” is the way to do it. Though, I do not deny people’s right to do it if they wish to do so.
SG: Just briefly, you talk about the mechanisms that can be used internally. What sort of things are you talking about?
CS: There are all sorts of processes through departments, raising concerns with managers. There seems to be a view, perhaps that everybody’s right all of the time. Of course, life’s not like that. As I said in the letter, we don’t have unlimited resources and, frankly, it’s a tough job sometimes rationing resources and managing disappointment. Because the management of disappointment is the inevitability of rationing. People are working very hard to do the best they can, sometimes under very difficult circumstances. And, it’s actually not terribly helpful when colleagues, who are supposed to work for the same organisation, chose to just have a free pop at them. Basically I am saying that if you want to criticise, do so but do bare in mind that you might be on the receiving end of the next lot.
SG: Do you think Government should be big enough and strong enough to take these kind of criticisms? Does reacting like this just show weakness?
CS: Lets be quite clear. These are not criticisms of Government. These are criticisms of colleague civil servants. There’s a distinct difference. I am not grumbling or making comment upon ability of people to criticise Government. My concern is, as I have described it, the disease that is spreading around is criticising one’s colleagues. And, I really don’t think it’s helpful to display those criticisms in public forum.
SG: Are you telling employees not to write to the newspaper at all about Government or just telling them not to do it anonymously?
CS: You are miss-understanding the question again. This is not that I am telling people or, indeed telling at all or asking people not to write about Government. I’m saying this is purely about one service or a service, some services provided by departments being criticised by those civil servants that are supposed to be colleagues sitting in other departments. And, it’s a disease that is spreading. To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction and all it’s doing is getting a great many people pretty upset.
SG: One thing that you do broach in the letter is the danger that people will accuse you of trying to gag staff or threaten them. What would you say to that?
CS: Absolutely nonsense. I hope people have the confidence, if nothing else, to speak to me freely. I don’t think anybody reasonably could suggest that I have never been prepared to listen to concerns. What I will say very openly is that I don’t have all the answers. It isn’t possible to satisfy all of the people all of the time. It would be wonderful if we could but utopia hasn’t been discovered yet.
WAR MEMORIAL LEAVES ARGENTINA:
The Argentine War Memorial is leaving the port of Camplna this morning for the Falklands. A ceremony will be held with relatives, war veterans, national and local authorities and residents from Campala are in attendance. It’s not yet known whether President Nestor Kirshner will take up the invitation to go along. Commanders of the three armed services, the Mayor of Buenos Aires City and the Defence Secretary will all be there.
The War Memorial is expected to arrive in the Islands on Wednesday for construction by AWG. A statement from the Committee of the Fallen, which has lobbied for the Memorial for the past 5 years, says it will take around 40 days to put up. And, planning will then begin for the inauguration ceremony. The Memorial will be travelling onboard the vessel, BBC Japan.
CPA FINAL DAY:
Today was the final day of the CPA Conference. Delegates met this morning to discuss environmental concerns VS commercial development. After lunch it was the closing session of the week about gaining trust with politicians. There will be a reception and farewell dance to send the delegates on their way.
GEO PACIFIC:
Seismic Survey vessel, Geo Pacific was in port on Saturday and gave invited officials and press a good look around. An interview with Phyl Rendell will be transcribed later.
CONSERVATION WATCH GROUP:
Young members of the Conservation Watch Group were the stars of the BBC News programme, News-round yesterday, with a special report on their work. The group took presenter Laura Jones around the Islands, bringing her on a beach-clean and talking about their campaign against Marine Litter.
SHIPPING/FISHING AND HARBOUR NEWS:
The Hansiatic was in Stanley today with 102 passengers onboard. They took shuttle trips into Stanley for shore excursions during the day.
(100X Transcription Service)
