Dissatisfaction turned into action on Friday 27th April when members of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board (FITB) passed a vote of no confidence in the Board, at an extraordinary general meeting.
According to a release issued today by the Tourist Board, the motion of no confidence was proposed as a result of widespread concern by members over the Board's recent decision to appoint an overseas applicant to the role of General Manager of Tourism, above a Falkland Islands applicant.
Following the first resolution that members had no confidence in the Board were six resolutions calling for the resignation members of the Board individually, Votes were counted by FITB Company Secretary, McGrigors LLP, and the results read to those present. The first resolution was carried, as were resolutions against two of the six current directors. Resolutions for the removal of four directors were not carried on the evening, despite the fact that in three of the four cases the votes in favour of removal had exceeded those against.
However, in the light of members' questions about a counting procedure which had included abstentions and after seeking independent legal advice, McGrigors acknowledged they should have only counted the votes 'for' and 'against',and subsequently performed a recount and reissued corrected results along with an apology to FITB members on Monday afternoon.
With the abstentions no-longer included in the voting it became apparent that members had carried the resolutions against five of the six remaining FITB directors, with Jenny Luxton of Falkland Islands Holidays the only director being spared from censure, though she had already stated her intention not to stand for election again at the Board's Annual General Meeting which is scheduled for the 21st May.
The Falkland Islands Tourist Board, which used to be part of the Islands' Development Corporation, became a limited company in 2003.
Despite the resolutions carried against them, three of the directors: the General Manager of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation and two members of the Islands Legislative Council, all of whom are appointed rather than elected, will not need to resign unless asked to do so by the Islands' Executive Council or unless there is a change to the Articles of Association of the Tourist Board.
Such a change to the Articles regarding the Board's composition could only be brought about by a new Board of Directors, in accordance with the wishes of a majority of the members. At the moment the pressing concern is to find five members willing to put themselves up for election before the Annual General Meeting.
Chairman of the Board, Councillor Ian Hansen, who was among those requested to resign by the members' vote said in the Tourist Board's release that he hopes 'â€Ã‚¦Members will nominate individuals for election that have the experience and commitment required to unite the Falklands' second largest industry, and drive forward the change and development essential for the industry's future sustainability.'John Fowler (Mercopress) Stanley
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