FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: MONDAY, 02 May 2005
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
Section 1: Article by FINN
Section 2: Article on Press Freedom
Section 3: Announcements
Section 4: FIBS News Direct
Section 5: St. Helena Business News
EU CONSTITUTION: PROTEST AND CHINKS
By J. Brock (FINN)
Last week when Argentina protested over the inclusion of the Falkland Islands in the EU Constitution as a British Overseas Territory, Islanders wondered what else was new. Argentina had protested before about various EU laws and policies that contradicted their sovereignty claim over the Falkland Islands. This latest flap is just one of those things.
I recall when the Argentines included the Falkland Islands in their new constitution as part of their territory. There were various “protests” by other countries about it but the Argentines included the Falklands anyway.
Though Islanders have enjoyed the benefits of being a British Overseas Territory, they realise that at every turn in the development of the economy there will be severe objections from Argentina. It’s called economic terrorism. And, we have fought the battle in one form or another for the past 172 years.
Given the fact that the proposed EU constitution has several areas that are contentious to one member or another, I cannot see it being defeated or accepted on the Falklands issue alone. Whatever happens the important issues are European in nature. Whether or not they take any notice of the Falklands issue is up to them, not forgetting that the UK is a EU member. A former advisor to the Falkland Islands Government and British Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Edward MacMillian-Scot, Vice President of the European Parliament, has written to Javier Salano, Secretary General of the EU Council following the Argentine protest against the Falklands being included in the draft EU constitution. He said in a letter that Argentina was a bit slow in the up-take and that the EU Governments had agreed this treaty on the 18th of June 2004.
There is no doubt that the Argentine Government are looking for chinks in the armour and will relentlessly push on those chinks, to see if they will give way. Today it’s the proposed EU constitution and tomorrow it will be something else.
Section 2:
A reflection on World Press Freedom Day
By Mark Pearson
FINN joins others throughout the world in commemorating World Press Freedom Day today (May 3). It is a time for all of us to reflect upon the important role of newspapers in a modern democratic society.
Press freedom is not owned by the media- rather, it is owned by each and every citizen as a central platform of democracy. Good newspapers ask the tough questions of those who hold influence over the lives of their readers - politicians, bureaucrats, judicial officers, business leaders, and anyone else who holds a position of power or responsibility.
That is why the great British statesman Edmund Burke dubbed them the "Fourth Estate". Society needs newspapers as a checking mechanism, a watchdog on the workings of democracy.
They play such an important role in the civic process that an early champion of press freedom, US President Thomas Jefferson, suggested newspapers might even be more important to democracies than governments themselves. "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter," he wrote to Edward Carrington in 1787. Great newspapers are in the truth business and they operate by the principle that, even though the truth may hurt sometimes, it is almost always better hat it is exposed so the citizenry can debate it.
There are those in society who like to keep secrets because the truth may damage their interests or make them uncomfortable. They try to "shoot the messenger" by blaming the media for reporting the truth rather than addressing the social or political faults that have created the problems in the first place.
Such individuals exist in every nation in almost all walks of life, though countries vary in the extent to which their political and judicial systems support press freedom.
Some, like the United States, enshrine it in their Constitution, but even there the principle is under constant attack. Despite that country's First Amendment protecting press freedom, journalists have been jailed for refusing to reveal their sources and legislation like the Patriot Act has placed security interests above media freedom.
Other nations pay lip service to press freedom while they engage in measures to erode it. Laws such as defamation, contempt, sedition and privacy all operate as mechanisms of censorship to gag the media.
Some countries even require newspapers and journalists to apply for licences, which can be withdrawn at the whim of a disapproving government officer. And in some places journalists are bullied, jailed, or even killed for exposing truths, which threaten the interests of the criminal and corrupt. This is where "shooting the messenger" takes on its saddest and most callous form.
World Press Freedom Day gives all citizens the opportunity to meditate upon the sacrifices these journalists and editors have made in their attempts to out the truth for the betterment of society.
It is a time each and every one of us might contemplate, like Jefferson, a society without an inquiring press and imagine the abuse of power which might go unchecked without a Fourth Estate operating as a watchdog. Certainly, newspapers will sometimes make mistakes. Despite their best efforts within their tight deadlines they will publish errors of fact and their editors and journalists will exercise errors of judgment.
But in the course of modern history it has been the nations with the most vibrant and questioning media, which have offered the best models of democracy because it is in those countries that citizens have been best informed when they have exercised their vote.
A newspaper's freedom is its readers' freedom. Please join us in defending it.
* Mark Pearson is professor of journalism at Bond University, Queensland,
Australia.
Section 3:
Announcements:
CAMBER HOUSE: The Falkland Islands Government offers for sale by public tender the Camber House and two small outbuildings situated on the North Shore of Stanley Harbour, together with a plot of land measuring 1340 sq. metres. The sale will initially be on the basis of a two-year building licence during which specified repairs including fencing of the property must be undertaken on the successful completion of which a 999-year lease will be granted. The house, which has 6 rooms downstairs and three rooms upstairs and a number of smaller rooms and walk-in areas, which could be used for storage has not been occupied since around 1984. Sale will be on an as seen basis. The house is also listed as being of architect and historic interest. Details of the property and terms of sale are available from the secretariat general office during normal office hours. Telephone enquiries regarding the sale may be directed to Pete King or Lyn Brownlee on 27240. The closing date for tenders is 1630 on 29 July 2005.
FROM THE INFANT-JUNIOR SCHOOL: If you have a child of pre-school age born between 01 September 2001 and 31 August 2002 and you wish to enrol them at the Infant/Junior School for the start of term in September 2005, you must complete and return an admission form as soon as possible. The forms are available from the Secretary, Mrs. Katrina Stevenson during normal working hours.
THE JETTY VISITORS’ CENTRE will be reverting to winter opening hours from Tuesday, 03 May 2005 and will be open from 1200 and 1500 from Tuesday to Sunday each week.
Section 4:
FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 02 MAY 2005
APRIL WEATHER:
April’s mean temperatures, rainfall and sunshine were average but the mean wind speed was above average and gusts of more than 33kts were the highest since MPA records began. The mean temperature was 10.1C with the highest recorded being 16.5. Nearly 48mm of rain fell and it snowed and hailed on 7 days. Sunshine was up at nearly 123 hours compared to the long-term average of 112. There were 5 days of gales and the highest recorded gust was 54kts.
GOVERNOR OUT OF THE ISLANDS:
Governor Howard Pearce is out of the Islands at the moment. I (CB) asked Acting Governor Harriet Hall (HH) what he’s doing.
HH: The Governor is attending a conference in the Foreign Office of all Governors of all Overseas Territories. That’s this week and that will discuss lots of different issues, some to do with governance of overseas territories and other very mundane issues such as Foreign Office Computer problems and communications problems. It’s a good chance for them all to get together and have a moan at the administration. He’s also going to be taking some holiday and he’s doing various other meetings - some on South Georgia issues - while he’s in the UK.
HISTORIC BUILDINGS COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT:
The Historic Buildings Committee met last week. I (SF) asked Archivist, Jane Cameron (JC) what was discussed.
JC: There were several items for update from the last meeting. One of them was the Hall at Goose Green, where we are trying to renovate the windows. There are a lot of windows to be dealt with. It’s a huge job and we are trying to do it in sections. They do seem to be mainly in good condition and capable of renovation. At the moment it’s a question of identifying somebody who can actually do the work. We will be able to do that fairly shortly. Members heard that tin had arrived for Westpoint Island and it should be delivered on the next voyage of the Tamar. A deal has been made with a volunteer group at Mount Pleasant for anybody interested in caring for historic buildings. The group is quite active and now have a Military Internet site where people who are interested can log on and register their interests. It could be quite a useful resource for the future. Members also notices that the work was progressing well with the application of shingles for the old Central Store and a press release was being prepared for the trade journal for the company who sold us the shingles. They are very interested in the building progress and the work so we are preparing a little piece for them. Otherwise it was routine. There were no particularly relevant planning applications this month. And, in part 2, members had a review of the budget and the current position for the remainder of the financial year.
SF: Is there anything else you have new on German Camp?
JC: Only that a request has been put in to the MPA Volunteers Group and hopefully they will be able to give us a hand with that and other projects. But of course, at the moment, the weather isn’t entirely favourable so it may have to wait until spring before we get seriously involved with the volunteer group in a building project. The question of chimneys around Stanley was discussed. One or two in particular and in general, how to maintain them in old houses because it’s a very important feature in old houses. But they are difficult to maintain and there aren’t many people around with the experience of brickwork. But fortunately there are one or two people who are able to do this sort of work and we are hoping in the fairly near future we ma be able to carry out a small programme of renovation on brick chimneys that need immediate work.
CHILD PROTECTION COURSE:
Details are being finalised for a child protection course that will be run by the training and development centre. A questionnaire was sent out to FIG departments earlier this year and returned by 32 people, 27 of which would like additional training in child protection. Areas they felt were most needed included FIG child protection procedures, putting them into practice, what to do if a child discloses abuse to you, communicating with children and young people and initial signs of child abuse. Training Co-ordinator, Maggy Battersby, said that feedback from Government employees has helped ensure training in the area meets public requirements. Dates and course contents are due to be advertised shortly.
TRAINING REVIEW:
A review of training undertaken in the last year has shown that participants were positive about the courses they enrolled on, viewing them as a good opportunity to learn new skills and fine-tune existing ones. In a report to SFC the Training and Development Manager said there is a much wider range of training on offer now than there was 12 months ago and all the Training Unit staff have benefited from the opportunity to plan and deliver the training. IT training has been pitched at a higher and more appropriate level following local request from Councillors and the number of local people gaining qualifications as targeted in the Islands Plan is constantly growing.
FARM WALK AND DISCUSSION:
A farm walk and discussion is happening at Port Howard and Bold Cove next Monday. This will give farmers the chance to inspect trials and grazing of forage crops with Rodney and Carol Lee’s managed grazing trial, Miles and Critta Lee’s forage grazing and Ginny and Jimmy Forster’s managing grazing unit. This will give farmers a chance to see in practice managed grazing systems that are working on farms, a variety of low-cost fencing options and low cost pasture improvement options. Damian O’Sullivan from the Agriculture Department says that some of these systems and principles demonstrated will help farmers in planning the use of their pasture improvement funds. He will be at the walk along with Neil Judd, Doug Martin and Andrew Pollard, who are also from the department. The event will be starting at 1230 at the Port Howard Purvis Pond airstrip and will last two hours.
HARBOUR SHIPPING AND FISHING NEWS:
Long-liner, Yeong Sun and Trawler, Insung 207 were in Berkley Sound on Saturday for bunkers. Reefer, Cape Navero was also in for bunkers on Saturday. She left on Sunday. Jigger, Hi Sen Uah 8 came in on Sunday to tranship in Berkley Sound. Trawler, Aurora 2 left Port William on Saturday. On Sunday, Tanker, Centaurus left FIPASS, Tanker, Baltic Pride is still in Berkley Sound. The Tamar is at East Jetty.
(100X Transcription Service)
Section 5:
Business News from St. Helena
PRESS RELEASE
Development of Housing Plots - Half Tree Hollow
St. Helena Government is in the process of working with the private sector in regard to the development of land for residential purposes. This will be a partnership which will enable the Private sector an opportunity to develop their business operation further.
The land is situated between the Apostolic Church and Harlyn, Half Tree Hollow, and should provide for a minimum of 37 plots. The developer will be required to make provision for services such as electricity, drainage, road, telephone and water, to individual plots. Further information in the form of a Development Brief can be provided by contacting the Lands Officer, Essex house, Jamestown.
Expressions of interest in the form of a written statement or an outline plan (including layout plans in both cases) should be submitted to the Lands Officer, Essex House, Jamestown by not later than 31st May 2005.
LANDS OFFICER/ PLANNING OFFICER: Legal, Lands & Planning Department 2nd May 2005
