Examination of Witnesses (Questions 60-67)
COUNCILLOR MIKE
SUMMERS, OBE, LESLIE
JAQUES OBE AND
THE HON
BRIAN W. ISAAC
MLC
3 DECEMBER 2007
Q60 Sir John Stanley: What is the
current position of the Falkland Islands government on the applications
from Argentine families that lost relatives in the war to come
to the Falkland Islands?
Mike Summers: The Falkland Islands
government have always been open to the visits of next of kin
from Argentina. We have had a number in the past. There was an
application for a visit this year that has not materialised because,
I believe, the Argentine families commission was not able to put
in place the arrangements that it needed to bring them. I believe
that they are now planning to make the visit next year. Providing
that all those arrangements are satisfactory, we will welcome
those people in the same way that we have in the past.
Q61 Sir John Stanley: What is the
Falkland Islands government's current position on civil direct
flights between the Falkland Islands and Argentina?
Mike Summers: The Falkland Islands
government at the moment are not content for there to be civil
direct flights to Argentina. We have a strategy to improve communication
on the north-south air bridge to such an extent that it can service
our expansion and development needs, and then to go back to discussing
east-west flights. We must never put ourselves in the position
that we were in during the late '70s and early '80s when we depended
on Argentina for flights. We must have confidence that the north-south
flight is available to us and capable of expansion before we go
back to east-west discussions about how we can go through Argentina.
If we are confident about the air bridge north-south, we will
be more open to considering flights that stopped in Argentina.
Q62 Sir John Stanley: What is your
current position on applications by Argentinian businesses to
engage in trading activities and investment in the Falkland Islands
and to have their own employees in the islands on a commercial
basis?
Mike Summers: I do not recall
having received, or having had to deal with, such an application.
If we did, we would have to consider it on its merits.
Q63 Chairman: What is the current
position regarding negotiations about the air bridge north-south?
Mike Summers: We have had meetings
recently with the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office about improvements to the air bridge and expansion possibilities
for it. We are relatively content with those discussions, but
they have not yet reached a conclusion and we do not yet have
all the answers that we are looking for. Perhaps we could give
you some further information about that in the coming weeks.
Q64 Chairman: Have I asked that question
at a sensitive time?
Mike Summers: Yes.
Andrew Mackinlay: There are just two
minutes left.
Chairman: There are some more questions
that we can ask. Saved by the bell. Gentlemen, our time is up,
in terms of the 40 minutes. We have a Division that will go on
for 15 minutes, if there is just one vote. The Committee will
then resume. If you wish to wait, I can give you five more minutes
of questions before our next set of witnesses. If you are in a
position to do so, then do so. We will be back after the Division
and will then take the final set of witnesses.
Mike Summers: I am happy to wait.
Sitting suspended for a Division in the House.
On resuming—
Q65 Chairman: Gentlemen, I am sorry
to keep you waiting. Whips Offices sometimes tell Members that
there are further votes coming and then we discover that there
are not, so people hang around by the Chamber expecting further
votes and they do not happen.
We have almost concluded our session. I understand
that Mr. Isaac had to go because he had another engagement. Can
I just finish off by asking a general question about relations
with the UK Parliament? Are you satisfied with the present relations
that you have with the UK Parliament, or do you think that there
is anything that can be done to improve them?
Mike Summers: The Falkland Islands
has a very active all-party group in the UK Parliament and it
has done an excellent job for us over a number of years. It is
not easy to see how you would improve on that arrangement. We
are currently satisfied with that link as an important part of
our contact with the UK Government.
Q66 Chairman: Mr. Jaques, would you
like to say anything on this subject?
Leslie Jaques: Only that we do
not have a direct relationship really with Members of Parliament.
We work through the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association,
which has quite a lot of lobbying relationships. Also, from time
to time we get MPs sending e-mails asking various questions, but
we do not have a direct relationship with them.
Q67 Chairman: In the final few seconds
of this session, is there anything that you would like to add
to what you have said before?
Mike Summers: No, I do not think
so. I am satisfied that we have had the opportunity to present
evidence to the Committee. We very much look forward to welcoming
your delegation to the Falkland Islands early next year and we
hope that you will enjoy your lengthy visit.
Chairman: Thank you very much. Some of
us are looking forward to it; summer in the southern hemisphere
will be quite a bit warmer than February in the UK.
Leslie Jaques: We have an excellent
relationship with all aspects of Her Majesty's Government. We
are working together as a team to build Pitcairn's future. There
are challenges, as you have identified, especially rebuilding
from the devastation of the trial process, but we are all committed
to meeting those challenges. We have nothing but gratitude really
for Her Majesty's Government and I think that, in due course,
once we have a sustainable economy and the island is thriving,
everybody will see the benefits of what we are doing right now.
Chairman: Thank you, gentlemen, for coming
and answering all our questions. We will now break for one minute
while we get our next witnesses in and then begin straight away.
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