MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

One fresh face in the Falkland Islands by-election line up

Birmingham, Hansen and Summers, former Legislative council members

At least four candidates will stand for election at the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly by-election (Stanley constituency) on June 23; only one of which has never taken up a place in former Legislative Assemblies.

John Birmingham (58) Ian Hansen (52) and Mike Summers (58) are all former Legislative Councillors (as Members of the Legislative Assembly were formerly known) while businessman Steve Vincent (54) is new to the election scene.

Mr Vincent, who is married to Jeanette and has two grown up children, is the owner of Stanley Electrical Ltd and The Print Shop Ltd. Keen golfer Steve came to the Falkland Islands in 1981 to work for British Antarctic Survey. He set up Stanley Electrical Ltd in 1987 and the Print Shop in 2005.

Mr Vincent says he stands “as a concerned citizen… This government made a great deal of the idea of open government when they stood, but I feel I know less now then I did with the government before that. Sometimes I feel I know more about what is happening with the UK government than our own lot.”

Asked how he felt he would fare against candidates with experience in Legislative Assembly he said, “I just think I would bring a fresh pair of eyes and that’s sometimes enough to see a different way forward. In any case I will let the principle of democracy influence any decision I make; I believe in choice. I would just be one voice but perhaps I could put forward a coherent argument and hopefully influence opinion within the rest of the Assembly.”

Ian Hansen is a former member of the Legislative Assembly for the Camp (the rural community) constituency. He was elected in the 2003 by-election and then in the general election of 2005, finishing his term in 2009.

Mr Hansen said issues on which he would be standing include, “…the urgent need for a containerized shipping link in and out of the Falklands as well as a review of the Falkland Islands Government super-heads and how much they are costing.”

His former portfolios included agriculture, Falklands Landholdings and tourism and he said should he be successful he would be comfortable in taking up Mr Ross’s portfolios that included the Falkland Islands Meat Company, agriculture and Falklands Landholdings, however, he would be equally as happy to undertake alternative portfolios.

Asked if he foresaw any difficulties in representing Stanley when he lived on a West Falklands farm he said, “No I don’t see any difficulties; all of the issues affect everyone island-wide such as shipping links, the budget, education and health. I may be at a disadvantage in terms of campaigning but if I am elected I don’t see a problem and I will be spending a fair bit of time in Stanley as I did before.”

Mr Hansen is married to Susan and has one child and lives at Main Point Farm. The couple have owned the sheep station since 1987 but lived there since 1983.

Businessman Mike Summers has served a total of 13 years on Legislative Council (now the Legislative Assembly).

He said, “I would in particular expect to be able to contribute in foreign affairs and the economy… I have a lot of experience in government which I think could still be put to good use.”

Mr Summers is the owner of Falklands fishing company Quark, as well as Pioneer Seafoods. He is a former Manger of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation and was Chairman of the Select Committee on the Constitution. In his younger days he was a Member of the Falkland Islands Association for many years and a former Chair in the late 1980s.

Mike is married to Jackie and has two stepchildren and two grandchildren.

John Birmingham told Mercopress he is standing for three main reasons, “I like to be involved in local affairs; I haven’t been totally happy with the decisions made by the current Assembly and I feel I have something to offer the community.”

Asked what his manifesto might contain he said “…the big issues are clearly the budget which is being discussed at the moment, sea and air transportation in and out of the Islands, and the continued difficulties involved in dealing with our unfriendly neighbors; also the general running of government and the elected members involved in that.”

Mr Birmingham who is married to Louise and has two children and one grandchild came to the Falkland Islands in 1974, contracted as a farm worker to the Falkland Islands Company. He has already served 12 years as an elected representative. He describes himself as a keen walker and a family man.

The new member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly will replace Mr Glen Ross who recently resigned due to the pressure of his work for the Falkland Islands Government Power and Electrical Section.

The official list of names of candidates for the by-election will be released on 2nd June .

By Lisa Watson –SeAledPR – Stanley