MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

‘Not an easy job’ Falklands Governor warns all new Assembly

New members of the Legislative Assembly. (BR): Bill Luxton and Glen Ross;(M) Jan Cheek, Gavin Short and Roger Edwards; Front: Emma Edwards, Dick Sawle and Sharon Halford

b531a7c8a40543fd57f7da726308

FALKLANDS Governor Alan Huckle this morning warned the entirely new Falklands Assembly that the days when councillors could criticise government from the sidelines, “…are long gone.”

During the official swearing in ceremony held at Government House for the eight members of the Legislative Assembly, he said, “…collective responsibility now rests firmly with you – and yours will not be a light or easy job.”

Last night all eight members of the old assembly were expelled by Falklands voters, to be replaced with a combination of five who have served in past years (Sharon Halford, Bill Luxton, Roger Edwards, Gavin Short and Jan Cheek) and three new faces (Glen Ross, Emma Edwards and Richard ‘Dick’ Sawle).

The atmosphere in Government House combined quiet elation with a degree of solemnity as the new government absorbed Mr Huckle’s caution: “The tasks of government grow more complex and varied as our modern-day society develops and becomes more sophisticated. You will need all your political skills to cope with the challenges ahead. Your collective political leadership will certainly be tested.”

The group takes up the task in the midst of budgetary deficit caused by the collapse of the islands ilex fishery. Current plans predict a deficit for this year with reserves hit by the global economic recession, said Mr Huckle.

He also warned against reliance on future oil income, saying there was a possibility that the current oil exploration round, “…will be inconclusive.”

Speaking to MercoPress, Assembly new boy and fishing business owner Dick Sawle, who picked up a massive 17.7% of the Stanley constituency vote, believes however, that the Falklands, “…can make much more out of its fishery,” which he describes as the islands, “…biggest single asset.”

Mr Sawle explained that it is normal that the government moves more slowly than the private sector but said he hoped to be involved in decisions that would speed up the processes that slowed down business development in the Falklands.

He added, “Hopefully I will bring some of my hard earned expertise into the fray.”

Sharon Halford expressed deep concerns about morale in the islands agricultural sector: “All the incentives are gone from the camp…. Government and the Rural Development Strategy are not working together; we need some ‘joined up writing’ in that area.”

Mrs Halford was one of three (including Bill Luxton and Roger Edwards) in the camp constituency who were only separated by one vote.

Local reaction to the ‘clean sweep’ Legislative Assembly has been mixed. While some voters appear buoyed up by the change, others are worried at the loss of consistency.

A government insider told MercoPress, “Some of the upper echelons of the civil service are shocked by the result, they’re definitely worried about the promises that this lot were making in their manifestos.”

Many Islanders have expressed disappointment at the loss of long time Assembly Member Mike Summers; one commented, “You didn’t always agree with him but you knew he could take on the overseas politicians without embarrassing us and he had a ton of experience.”

The next task of the new assembly will be to undertake a briefing programme created by the Falkland Islands Government Chief Executive Tim Thorogood.

By Lisa Watson – SeAledPR - Stanley