MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update

Headlines:
Redundancies at C&W; Visiting economists to examine government reserves; Visiting economists to examine government reserves; Complaints system needed: Governor; Tourism website launched; Military fireworks invitation.

Redundancies at C&W

EMPLOYEES of Cable and Wireless plc have been shocked by news of redundancies within the company. Following an announcement from Cable and Wireless International this week that a new subsidiary company is to be established for St Helena, Ascension and the Falklands, a small number of employees in the company's branch here have been made redundant. The new company, Cable and Wireless (South Atlantic) Ltd is scheduled to come into being on December 1, 2006. Penguin News believes up to six people have been made redundant within the Cable and Wireless operation in the Falklands however the company would not confirm or deny this. Brian Summers of Cable and Wireless in the Falklands said, "We are talking to our staff about the implications for resources. It would be wrong to announce anything before we have discussed it with them and come to decisions." However Penguin Newscontacted some of the individuals who were rumoured to have been made redundant and two confirmed it was true. Nobby Clarke, who has worked for Cable and Wireless for 13 years in the maintenance section, confirmed he has been made redundant and that he is happy with the situation. "I'm looking forward to doing something new," he commented, adding that tour driving was on his list of things to do: "it will be good to meet new people." Watch Keeper Phil Barker was not so happy with the redundancy news. He said he was not given a choice and that it came as a "complete surprise." "The day before yesterday I had a job and now I don't, " Mr Barker said. New company Richard Dodd, Cable and Wireless International (CWI) Director for Monaco and Islands, said the establishment of the new company would "align" the South Atlantic businesses with the CWI strategy. "The change will strengthen our ability to offer modern and sustainable telecoms services," said Mr. Dodd. "It will reinforce our position in each of the three territories (Ascension, St Helena and the Falklands) so that we can plan the sustainable development of the new business alongside our stakeholders." He said CWI is giving itself the flexibility to take advantage of future developments, "whether they are technical or regulatory." The three business units will in future be run as a single company with increased autonomy and local decision-making power, according to Mr. Dodd. "They will be more able to share skills and experience, as well as develop new processes to meet customer expectations and provide an enhanced customer experience." He said that as CWI implements these changes there will be no disruption to the service provided to customers. Photo: Cable and Wireless office on Ross Road with the Earth Station in the background.

Visiting economists to examine government reserves

WHAT is the appropriate level at which the government's reserves should be set? Two economic consultants are due to visit the Falklands next week to examine this question. Damian Reeves, the economic advisor for the Overseas Territories Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), will visit with Mark Watson, an independent economic consultant, following a discussion during the May budget session by councillors on the government's overall financial strategy, particularly with regard to the level of reserves. Councillor Mike Summers said the government has for some years adopted a strategy of maintaining reserves at a level of 2.5 times current operating expenditure and this is in the Islands Plan. "The origin of this target has no particular economic justification; it was a figure that was chosen at the time as a target, and seemed very safe. We are comfortably working within that target." Councillor Summers said he and his colleagues wanted to get "another perspective" on this as an economic policy. He explained, "Might there be greater economic returns on investing some of the reserve in our own economy (eg development of aquaculture, fisheries, tourism, port infrastructure, etc) than is achieved by investing it in other people's economies through investment of reserves (that currently yield around 8%)?" He said councillors asked whether the FCO economic advisor might visit and provide a view. "The FCO offered to fund the second person to provide greater depth." So, should we be spending the reserves? Councillors do not necessarily think this, Mr Summers said, but added, "...we would like a second opinion on whether our current reserves policy is economically sound." Penguin News asked Councillor Summers if the move to consult the economists was due to pressure to construct a new government administration building. He commented, "There is no pressure from any outside agency or from anyone else to invest the reserves, and it has nothing to do with the proposal for an administration building. "It is simply that we do not currently employ an Economic Advisor, and wish to seek advice on the current policy as it stands from an economic perspective." He added, "We are under no obligation to accept any advice given or to make any changes to our current policy."

Complaints system needed: Governor

THE Governor believes a "properly constituted" system for handling complaints against members of the public service needs to be established. His words followed an investigation into formal complaints made against the Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Simpkins, by the former Headteacher of the Community School, Mr. Alan Purvis. Mr Purvis' grievances, lodged in July and September 2006, were about the way in which a complaint against him as Headteacher of the Community School, made by a parent and a guardian of a pupil at the school, had been handled. After seeing Mr. Purvis on September 22, His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Alan Huckle, appointed Mr Keith Biles to review the circumstances of the complaint and to report back to him. Yesterday he commented, "I have now received his report and have made it available in full (and in confidence) to the Chief Executive and to Mr. Purvis." Having noted Mr. Biles' views on Mr Purvis' complaints Mr. Huckle said he intends to take no further action on them. However he added that the review highlights the need for "setting up a properly constituted system for handling complaints against members of the public service (including staff within the schools system)." He has asked the Chief Executive, "as a matter of priority", to bring forward the work that he had already commissioned in this regard, "...which should include consideration of the possibility of establishing a post of Commissioner of Complaints, so that the matter can go to councillors prior to discussion in Executive Council in December."

Tourism website launched

THE Falkland Islands Tourist Board (FITB) has launched its new website: www.visitorfalklands.com. Specialist sections include accommodation, flights, wildlife, tours and excursions, eating out, shopping, fishing, and an overview of Stanley. Colour brochures covering these key areas can be downloaded in PDF format from the site, as can a five minute promotional film,

Military fireworks invitation

THE British Forces have invited the general public to a fireworks display at Mare Harbour on November 5. The bonfire will be lit at 8.15pm and the fireworks display will begin fifteen minutes later. Parking is available at the port.

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