MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands Councillors ask for “more continuity” in the British Foreign Office.
A British Foreign Office spokesman in the Falkland Islands has responded to recent criticism by several elected Councillors with respect to ?a lack of continuity in the Overseas Territories Department' of the Foreign Office.
Councillor Michael Summers, speaking during a meeting of the Legislative Council told Governor Donald Lamont, ?I think you know that we are not entirely happy about the personnel and staffing arrangements in the Overseas Territories Department (OTD) in the United Kingdom and the short-termism that seems to have crept in. It does not bode well in relationships or for good management ?? we would prefer to see more continuity in the OTD'.
The OTD of the Foreign Office employs around 30 people and it has responsibility for Britain's remaining Dependent Territories such as St Helena, Montserrat, Bermuda, Turks & Caicos Islands, Tristan da Cunha, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia the Falklands and others. One Dependent Territory not under its jurisdiction is Gibraltar which comes under the European Department. Its previous Head, John White, who visited the Falklands on several occasions, is now Britain's High Commissioner in Bridgetown, Barbados and he has been succeeded by Alan Huckle. However there has been a considerable turnover of other senior members of the Department during the last year, which has resulted in some Falklands Councillors expressing their dissatisfaction.
Speaking from Government House, Foreign Office First Secretary and Falklands Deputy Governor Russ Jarvis responded to the criticism by saying ?I understand that some Councillors feel that the staff turnover in the OTD has been too rapid ? 2 years is the normal length of time that each person serves. However the perceived lack of continuity has been generally caused through illnesses and resignations but hopefully the problem has now been resolved'.
Councillor Janet Cheek speaking during a meeting of the Legislative Council this week also expressed her concern, saying,?We still have some difficulty with the lack of continuity in the relevant departments in the Foreign Office, and we still have some way to go on real transparency - it would be nice to know their thinking - their long-term planning'.
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