MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands lawmakers: “The full time problem”
Falkland Islands are holding elections next 7 November and eleven candidates will be disputing the five Legislative Assembly seats for Stanly and five the three for the Camp. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesIt is what is best for the Falklands and not what is best for the MLAs.
Oct 28th, 2013 - 08:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As the Falklands economy grows more complex and the Islands take on more responsibilities and the trappings of statehood, there is a need for more permanent and full time 'hands on the wheel'.
While this may mean that some quality candidates are unable to stand, that is the price to be paid by a community that is now more than just sheep farming.
1- Quite right, and would not imagine a farmer would have to pay a manager the full £40k - and the idea behind it is the farm owner would still havew the farm income and the balance of the 40k to live on anyway. Reality is that 40 years ago being an MLA took 2-3 days a month and a week at annual Budget and maybe one trip abroad every 2 or 3 years if that.
Oct 28th, 2013 - 08:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Today we live in the real world.
What an insult to the dead of 198would be the emergence of a salaried political class for what is little more than a parish council. There is no need for any MLAs, just put any issue to a vote, like New Hampshire town meetings.
Oct 28th, 2013 - 09:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As far as I am concerned, the UK cam leave them to the Argies if they vote in salaries for MLAs, the place would not be worth defending.
3 Mr Ed
Oct 28th, 2013 - 10:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Too late; it's already happening.
That whole 'parish council' thing is utter tosh. Parish councils don't have to provide healthcare, education, social services, manage natural resources, decide policy and manage the national budget. Apart from that, it's exactly the same.
Luckily, you aren't 'concerned', in any way.
2 Islander1
That's not really practical, is it, when you think it through. Most settlements only have one house, so where is the 'manager' going to live? Most farms are family operations , needing more that one person at busy times. Anyway, moving yourself and your family to town, even assuming you had somewhere to live, rather defeats the purpose, doesn't it?
@2 Islander1
Oct 28th, 2013 - 10:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Agreed!
The Falklamd Islands are no longer a lonely colonial outpost here London ran and dictated everything but a nation in its own right that is taking on more as more responsibilities. Eventually (though not too quickly) it will become a nation-state. And that can't be done without professional politicians who make a career out of public service; whether as politicians or public servants.
What will probably be needed is too deepen the skills base which will require an increase in immigration. I understand the concerns this causes but it is possible. It will change the character of the Islands but that is not necessarily a negative thing. Here in Australia we have a massive immigration programme. Indeed I saw an article yesterday that estimates a 10% increase in our population in the next 5 years and more than half of that will be from immigration. That will be a 7 million increase on our 2001 population. You would be hard presses to find anyone that thinks this has made Australia worse.
@ 4 why not govern by referenda? Voluntary effort can provide fire brigades, life boats, magistrates, mayors, police services, aircraft restoration, medical care, the lot. If some fool wants to be a politician, the worst thing that you could do is to give them a salary that would insulate them from the consequences of their policies and give that fool a financial interest in being paid for their looting and waste. Look at the scoundrels who have fiddled expenses in Westminster, and all the 'legitimate' expenses the rest get, that is the repulsive future awaiting once the snouts are in the trough. Why not be different? Politics is about rewarding failure, and taking from the productive, keep politicians poor and the people prosperous. By all means pay expenses for the trips abroad for anyone who wishes to represent the people, but paying politicians is wrong. Don't confuse political talent with ambition. Anyone who wants to be paid for political office should thereby disqualify themself for it. And if the Islanders don't resist this measure, then they won't be worth defending.
Oct 28th, 2013 - 10:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The FI are small enough and still civilised enough to have Town Hall meetings US style, with modern adaptations such as electronic voting for those remote or busy doing something productive.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town_meeting
Let the FI become a nation state if they want, but let them defend their waters and territory with their money and their lives.
Also it's only for 4 years....what happens if you are in the service sector or a civil servant....being such a small place someone with probably fill your shoes...
Oct 28th, 2013 - 11:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Then what happens at the end....no job....
It's a difficult choice...
@3 big boy! if I can't have my way, let them burn in hell! sicko!
Oct 28th, 2013 - 11:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0A_Voice
Oct 28th, 2013 - 11:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0That is indeed a good point. And something politicians whine about here though none of then seem that hard up in my eyes. However I think FI suffers an employment shortage rather than unemployment. And with a more complex economic base starting to form I would say that it shouldn't become too much if an issue. However it may stop some worthy people running for a position. But as I said this is the price and consequence of the Islands becoming a more a nation-state and less a colonial offshoot.
Creating a job with salary will attract people that would otherwise not run. As a part time unpaid position; going forward this would become an elitist job that only the wealthy could endure.
Remember you can please some people some of the time but not all people all of the time. Whatever way the issue was decided someone would have had a lot to say about it.
Oct 29th, 2013 - 12:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0People know the reality of giving up their job to become a councillor and will stand on that knowledge alone. Yes there will be some who are in it for the money after all it is almost four times more than some of the candidates are getting paid right now. But they all know the score . The tax payer is paying their salaries and the voters will put them in or kick them out.
Bottom line is that no matter who runs they will be in for the toughest time of their lives if elected .
Naive Mr Ed - the process of democratization and self-government leads unfailingly to professional representatives. It has everywhere else and the islands are no exception. Those who died in 1982, on the British side at least, died for this - progress !
Oct 29th, 2013 - 01:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0The islands economy is growing, and if the oil flows the archipelago will change dramatically. Sadly there is no room for amateurs and its about time this step was taken.
@ 6 Mr Ed
Oct 29th, 2013 - 03:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0“The FI are small enough and still civilised enough to have Town Hall meetings”
Population-wise, yes, but the area is 12,173 sq.km = 4,700 sq.miles, and distances are up to several hundred miles - not exactly your average UK parish. People would have to fly at a high cost from home to wherever the meeting is to be held.
”They cannot afford to devote five days a week sitting in Gilbert House while they have a business or sheep farm to run
Oct 29th, 2013 - 04:01 am - Link - Report abuse 0It should say:
They cannot afford to devote five days a week sitting in Gilbert House while they are on paid vacations six months out of the year in London or south France.
@12 radio and telephone conferencing, staggered meetings, online proposals for voting, keep up with the world.
Oct 29th, 2013 - 07:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0@8 not at all, if I and millions like me who have been paying for the defence of the Islands for decades feel that they are no longer worth the bother, we are entitlted to walk away and stop paying, should the majority of Islanders wish to copy our mistakes and vote in a class of troughers, I would let them, but pray tell me why we should pay to defend them should we choose not to? If the Islanders want freedom, they have to defend it, even if that means going to the effort of restraining their own would-be politicians. If they can't be bothered, why should the Uk taxpayer pay?
@11 indeed, butthere is no room for professionals, as too much might be at stake, but the oil might get fracked beyond marginal cost. It is not inevitable, if people care, if they don't, then that is there look out, if the current crop have been getting by on £10k, no one forces them to do so.
Absolutely Marcos, London is the best city on earth. Or, they might go to Lonely Planets other coolest places, Gods own county Yorkshire or Scotland. They can afford it, they are welcomed, and its far more fun than going to the nearby dump, your country. Thats why England is increasingl packed with talented RG refugees. They want to escape the hellhole CFK has created. The British Legion in Dover is far more attractive (and much safer) than the waterside in BA!
Oct 29th, 2013 - 08:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0Its nice to see Partick speaking up on something he clearly feels strongly about....and the great thing is that he is free to do so. In many other places he would be in jail by now.
Oct 29th, 2013 - 10:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0I have never liked the idea of “professionalisation” of politicials, particularly here. It must never be a job for life. It is still very much a community service, and is best approached in that fashion. A balanced group of people from different age groups and different parts of the social structure is what is required, a good diversity of people. The new system is beginning to look as though it will produce that, though inevitably it will not suit everyone.
I suggest that Mr Watts has a point that merits proper consideration. But it is a matter of ways and means rather than reverting to unpaid MLAs. This is where local knowledge becomes important. For example, the 2007 estimate of GDP (PPP) per capita was US$55,400. The equivalent of F£34,223. Against that an annual salary of F£40,000 sounds quite reasonable. But it's not that simple. Presumably the MLA has to pay tax and so forth. So he/she doesn't actually get F£40,000. As Monty points out, everyone has to actually live somewhere. Moving from Camp to Stanley for 4 years is not an option I would consider. Especially if I had a family. I understand that the Falklands has already seen the necessity for YOUNG MLAs. Ones most likely to have families. The idea that the Falklands can still be governed by the equivalent of a town or parish council is frankly laughable. As is the idea of governing by referenda. Imagine. “Shall we have a new road between A and B?” After taking the best part of a week to deal with the referendum, what happens when, partway through construction, it looks as though costs are mounting beyond the budget? Another referendum? Now, how about an “electronic” government? Video conferencing on an appropriate scale. Electronic communications. First job after an MLA is elected would be to outfit their home with all the necessary equipment. Come to think of it, why not an adapted container on a suitable truck? Just drive it to where it is required and lay power cables. The MLA can be in constant communication, but still in a position to continue their business. And the salary still gets paid! Perhaps, to make it really worthwhile, the MLA salary could be non-taxable. After all, it's only 8 salaries. Just how much tax is due on F£320,000? As for the idea that the introduction of salaries for MLAs somehow makes the Falklands not worth defending, that isn't laughable. It's disgusting. No normal human would abandon nearly 3,000 people due to 8 salaries.
Oct 29th, 2013 - 10:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0The issue was widely consulted on prior to consideration and appeared to have general support. Most of the points raised were considered and debated, and this is the solution that wasc onsidered appropriate. Patrick has a minority view, and that is fine. All our friends and supporters will have different ideas about what is best to do, and I hope we always learn from others experience.
Oct 29th, 2013 - 12:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I would just add that in my view Government by referendum (even if it were practical) is no kind of Government. MLA's are elected to make judgements and to lead the country, and that is what they should do.
@ Mr Ed
Oct 29th, 2013 - 01:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0How many parish councils have to deal with £100+ million budgets, the creation of laws, setting up an infrastructure for oil, dealing with billion pound companies, legislating a large fishing industry and having to work around a large aggressive country that tries its best to bring economic sanctions against us.
There is too much work for someone making an average living to dedicate enough time to council meaning that only the well off or the retired can afford to run for council.
As for a voluntary medical service, really? What do we call the local butcher for life saving emergency operations. Voluntary options for a towns local services might work fine when you have a national service to call on when things get hairy but not when you are 1000 mile from the nearest friendly nation.
@13 Marcos Alejandro
Oct 29th, 2013 - 07:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Nice work if you can get it!
Technically speaking, I suppose you would consider it was at Argentina’s expense, as the resources paying for it you would consider Argentinian.
Ouch, that must hurt!
As bad as having to buy gas from us at exorbitant prices?
Monty69- dont think anyone expects to move from Camp to Stanley- they will be in Stanley 4 days a week instead of averaging 2 or 3 I think. Back in their Constituencies the rest of the time similar to Members of Parliament in many countries and their family will tend to stay on the farm most of the time I expect.
Oct 29th, 2013 - 10:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0With today,s drive to get more people into Camp again there wouldbe a good chance of good deals on grants and loans for new housing in Camp - and with roads the hired manager can live several miles away.
I imagine that is how farmers in UK who are MPs make it work and in many other places - just needs a different approach.
Mr Ed - you show your total ignorance of facts!Marcos - do please give me current examples of MLAs spending 6 months holidays a year in europe? One did for a while-and his electorate knew it in advance but still voted him in - he later resigned as he relaised it was unfair on the others MLAs - but he never drew a £ of expenses whilst away and not doing MLA jobs..
Like Mr Ed you love ballsing up facts and fiction!
21 Islander1
Oct 30th, 2013 - 12:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0In the UK, most MPs have homes in London, paid for through their expenses, and visit their constituencies at the weekend.
It would be possible to leave the 'family' on the farm, but a tough proposition for everyone involved. Running a Camp household is a very tough proposition for one person alone, and adding the social isolation of being without your partner, I just can't see it appealing to many people. Well, it clearly hasn't this time around.
Plus most people who have stuck it out in Camp this long really want to live there. They would have moved to Stanley long ago otherwise.
The problem is, there really aren't many people in Camp. There isn't likely to be anyone nearby to manage a farm for you, even with the roads. Most people are flat out running their own farms. There aren't any deals on housing, especially on the strength of a four- year contract.
I'm happy enough with our candidates; they are the usual crop of retired and rich people mainly, but there are some realistic choices there. I don't think anything's changed though.
8 people to govern 2000 odd people deal with international oil and shipping companys etc etc is not bad going
Oct 31st, 2013 - 12:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!