MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

Headlines:
Death of a hero; No full-timers for this council; £3m price tag for terminals; Cathedral rector heading south; 'Governor Gurr'; Oil operators meeting; Beds for vets still nended.

Death of a heroFLAGS will fly at half mast in the Falkland Islands on October 5, the day of the funeral of Major General Sir Jeremy Moore, the Commander of British Land Forces during the Falklands War. Already well known within the Royal Marines and the British Army as a gallant officer, the Falklands War made Sir Jeremy a household name in Britain, most of the English-speaking world, and in Argentina. The culmination of his military career was the surrender of the Argentine forces in June 1982. He famously refused to allow the Argentine General Mario Menendez to use the name 'Islas Malvinas' in the surrender document, dismissing it as a propaganda term. For his service in the Falklands he was appointed KCB. Sir Jeremy (79) died suddenly but peacefully on Saturday, September 15. Representing the Falkland Islands at his funeral in Wells Cathedral will be Councillor Ian Hansen and the Islands' UK Representative, Sukey Cameron. A Book of Condolence has been placed in Gilbert House for those members of the public who wish to pay tribute to Sir Jeremy. Legislative Councillors have written to Lady Veryan Moore expressing shock and sadness at the news of Sir Jeremy's passing, a man they described as, "...one of the Falklands great heroes." The letter states, "The name of Major General Sir Jeremy Moore will live long in the memory of all those who experienced the war in the Falkland Islands, and for many generations to come." While acknowledging this is a time of private grief for Lady Moore and her family, councillors say they, "...feel sure you will draw comfort from the extraordinary life that Sir Jeremy lived, and his achievements on behalf of his country in many parts of the world. "Without the skill and tenacity on the ground in the Falklands of Sir Jeremy and the team he built around him, the outcome here would have been even more in doubt. "The defeat of the Argentines and the recapture of the Falklands was a remarkable achievement that crowned a remarkable career and for which we remain eternally grateful." No full-timers for this councilDESPITE many people thinking it was a done deal, councillors have decided not to adopt a full time salary option during the life-span of this council. Reporting the decision, Cllr Summers said it was taken for "a number of reasons". The idea will be examined further and developed, "...with a view that something will be in place to propose to the next council so it will cross an election," he said. As for their current pay structure, councillors will continue with the current system of allowance at the same rates but with one proposed change which they will take to Legislative Council in November: that the number of portfolio days for which councillors can claim pay will be increased from three per month to five. The full-time debateMany people had assumed the move to allowing councillors take the option of being full time workers would be agreed and introduced in November. However, in what appears to be an about-turn, Cllr Summers says there was a, "firm consensus decision," to delay. There were a number of issues surrounding the making of the decision, he said, "...some to do with whether it is appropriate to introduce such a scheme during the life of a council. We all knew the rules when we started, why change them half way through?" He added that, in the current council, it is unlikely that a majority of people would take up the option of a full time salary, "...and it might therefore prejudice the minority..." In the meantime the implementation of the new portfolio structure will continue. This new structure, councillors believe, creates a division between those with Executive Council responsibility and those with portfolio responsibility. "The portfolio holders are the non-ExCo members, so there is a division of responsibility which provides a degree of scrutiny and supervision," Cllr Summers commented. "The ExCo members never sit as members on any of the five portfolios but they do have a responsibility to attend meetings to listen and understand what's going on. They will have no voting power on the committees." £3m price tag for terminalsFUNDING for the new ferry terminal at Newhaven has been approved by Standing Finance Committee, a total of £1.185 million. The West Falkland terminal is projected to cost £1.94 million. Despite receiving a paper from the Transport Advisory Committee recommending the West Falkland terminal be constructed at the Port Howard jetty site, Executive Council recommended that it should be at Second Creek. The estimated cost of the Second Creek terminal includes the construction of a temporary ramp at the jetty at Port Howard and of two breakwaters at Second Creek. Executive Councillor Mike Summers says the choice of Second Creek made sense in light of, "a number of concerns," about the Port Howard site, "...in terms of longer term development, the movement of animals, turning and reversing areas/angles, and as yet unquantified costs of moving pens, etc. "In these circumstances it would be more narrow sighted to go for Port Howard - the option being pushed by the operator (Workboat Services Ltd) purely from a ship manoeuvering point of view - since it is likely that in a few years it would be inadequate." Continued on page 3 Cathedral rector heading southTHE new Rector of Christ Church Cathedral arrives in the Islands next week. Revd Dr Richard Hines is to be licensed to the Falkland Islands by the Right Revd Stephen Venner, Bishop for the Falkland Islands, at a service in Norwich Cathedral on Sunday, September 23. Richard and his wife, Jen, are due to arrive here on the airbridge on Wednesday, September 26. At 10.30 am on Sunday, October 7, there will be a special service of welcome at the Cathedral, at which Richard will be officially presented by the Governor and installed as Rector of the Falkland Islands. Members of the other churches in Stanley and Mount Pleasant will join in the service, which will be followed by a lunch in the Parish Hall. Richard will officially take up his duties as Rector on Monday, October 8. 'Governor Gurr'A FORMER Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands Government has been named as the new Governor of St Helena. Andrew Gurr was Chief Executive from 1994 -1999 and published a book, A Little Piece of England, about his experiences in the Falklands. The appointment comes as a surprise to some Islanders, given that Mr Gurr has no previous work experience with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, although he did serve as Acting Governor on a number of occasions in the Falklands. He will take up his new appointment in November. Oil operators meetingREPRESENTATIVES of five oil companies will descend upon the Islands at the end of next week for a series of 'joint operator' meetings. They will meet with government, private sector and military representatives over the week and will hold a public meeting on Thursday, October 4 in the Court and Council Chamber. Beds for vets still nendedBEDS are still needed for veterans who will be visiting the Islands for a week in November as part of a pilgrimage. Turn to page 3 for the story.