MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands’ new Legislative Assembly allocates portfolios

Gavin Short takes on Fisheries on which much of the Islands economy depends

The newly elected Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly announced Monday the portfolio allocations among its new members and on Tuesday will elect three of their number to sit on the Executive Council.

Dick Sawle will be responsible for Legislation, Registry, Post & Telecommunication, Monopolies, Port Development and Trade & Industry.

Roger Edwards holds the portfolio for Treasury & Taxation, European Union Issues and the Standing Finance Committee.

Glenn Ross will be responsible for Agriculture, FLH/Fox Bay and FIMCo.

Emma Edwards’ areas of responsibility include Tourism, Minerals, Environment and Heritage and Housing.

Gavin Short will be responsible for Customs & Immigration, Fisheries, Police, Fire and the Falkland Islands Defence Force, Utilities & Municipals and Transport.

Sharon Halford’s portfolio includes Health and Medical Services, Social Services and Child Protection.

Bill Luxton will be responsible for Civil Aviation, Falkland Islands Development Corporation, Aquaculture and Rural Development.

Jan Cheek’s portfolio responsibilities are Education, Training, Youth Development, Leisure Services, Art & Culture and the Falkland Islands Government Office in London.

The new Legislative Assembly also decided there will no longer be a spokesperson: members will take the Chair alphabetically.

Last Thursday the Falklands electorate went to the polls and in a surprising result swept in a completely new Legislative Assembly. None of the eight outgoing members managed to retain their seat.

The new assembly has a combination of five members 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).

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

Falklands’ voters last Thursday also cast their votes in the first election to be held since the new Constitution was adopted on 1 January 2009.

The Constitution which enhances local democracy and reinforces self-determination led to a record turnout of 1,232 (77.7 per cent of the electorate) going to the polls.