Tristan : H.E. THE GOVERNOR MR ANDREW GURR REPORTS ON HIS MAY-JUNE VISIT TO THE UK AND ELSEWHERE
Submitted by Tristan Times (Juanita Brock) 30.06.2008 (Article Archived on 01.09.2008)
Most of you will remember that I produced a list of what I hoped to do while I was away from the Island. I also said I would report back on the various meetings and impressions of my absence, and this is that report. We departed via Cape Town and on the RMS I had a meeting with the crew.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR MR ANDREW GURR REPORTS ON HIS MAY-JUNE VISIT TO THE UK AND ELSEWHERE
Most of you will remember that I produced a list of what I hoped to do while I was away from the Island. I also said I would report back on the various meetings and impressions of my absence, and this is that report. We departed via Cape Town and on the RMS I had a meeting with the crew. This was a follow up to the meeting I had with them during my January visit to Ascension. At that time they had raised a number of issues that I said I would look in to. We covered pension arrangements, which invariably involve extra money which is never available, and the tax situation, which no longer contains the Seaman’s Allowance. Both pension and tax are being looked in to on the Island – pension by the Financial Secretary, and tax by a Tax Adviser. The unique issue of our seamen will be included in both those studies, but I made it clear that changes in their favour would be unlikely. I was able to confirm that the policy of SHL is that all vacancies on the RMS are offered first to Saints. Employees from elsewhere are only appointed if suitably qualified Saints are not available. They had also commented on the lack of time in port for maintenance and I was able to assure them that this will increase anyway as the ship is now of an age where it will have to be out of the water for at least once a year. It was interesting that in discussion on board with the Chief Engineer he was able to tell me that during its busy life, the RMS had been actually sailing for two thirds of the time. I would have expected the percentage to be larger than that.
Once in Cape Town I met up with Peter Meihuizen – who is a fount of shipping knowledge, with the British and French Consuls, with Andrew James of Ovenstones (the Tristan lobster concessionaire), and of course with Adam Kossowski, our own Commercial Representative. Adam has been working closely with Linda Houston and was able to introduce me to two developers of boutique hotels. Both of them had a very positive interest in either building, or renovating existing buildings, to create small but superluxury accommodation to coordinate with the opening of the airport. The existence of this niche market of well-heeled tourists who are keen to travel to unusual places as long as they will be very well looked after, was thoroughly confirmed. In fact what I found pleasing was that they assured me that their existing clientele would be keen to come to the island, provided that the quality of the island’s tourism product could meet their expectations.
I also had a positive meeting with the Commodore of the False Bay Yacht Club that organises the Governor’s Cup race in January. It seems that we will have quite a few visitors from the yachting world during January and that will provide a useful stimulus to our economy. It also helps to put St.Helena “on the map”. It may seem irrelevant whether those living elsewhere actually know anything about us, indeed it is often taken as a joke that most people would have no awareness of our existence if it hadn’t been for Napoleon. However, in this modern world I believe it is imperative that St.Helena becomes better known, especially in the UK.
We do not have the financial resource to spend money on Public Relations at present and I tried to get some media interest generated in London, but without an agent and a current story of real interest, that is quite difficult. Once the airport is being built I am confident of more success. The Falklands has spent many thousands of pounds on both Public Relations and Parliamentary Relations over the years and we have to find ways of achieving the same kind of results without spending the same amount of money – this may not be as impossible as it sounds.
In London my first few days were spent in the Foreign Office, and I reviewed progress on many fronts with Andrew Allen and Amanda Ross McDowell. I was also able to go in to details regarding the draft constitution with the legal team. I had a very useful meeting with Ross Denny the new Administrator for Ascension who arrives there in mid September. Ross is looking forward to his arrival on Ascension very much and to having the chance to hear and discuss the views and interests of people on the island. I suspect that there will be a great deal to listen to during his early weeks on Ascension!
I was able to have a productive meeting with the All-Party Group of MPs that specialises in St.Helena. The attendance was small, but my experience of these meetings is that such is the norm. We will be hosting a short visit from 3 of this Group during August: Fraser Kemp, a Labour MP from NE England, Ann Winterton, a Tory from Congleton in Cheshire, and Lord Shutt, who is the Liberal Chief Whip in the Lords. All of them will be accompanied by spouses, which is of especial significance as Ann Winterton’s husband is Nick Winterton, the M.P. for Macclesfield and the two Wintertons are well known for their crusading zeal. At the meeting, all those present were anxious to learn about the airport. I think we often fail to realise that the ordinary backbench MP will probably know far less than we do here about this kind of thing as they have no direct links with either the FCO or DfID unless they have some kind of ministerial role. They were all concerned over the perceived delay in any announcement of the airport, and thoroughly supportive in their attitude. It was a helpful meeting in that I feel I was able to get some ideas as to how their relatively short stay with us (two nights) should be organised, and I will say more about this nearer the time when I have discussed it with Councillors.
I spent some time with Meg Munn, the Foreign Office Minister who has special responsibility for our affairs. She was as ever well informed and personable, and could not have been more supportive on the subject of the airport. I was able to stress to her that I felt that not only is the economic case conclusive, but that the historical perspective is worthy of mention. St.Helena played a major role in the establishment of India as part of the empire, in the practical abolition of slavery, in the managing of the Boer War and in the incarceration of Napoleon, who was tangibly threatening the peace of the whole of Europe.
She showed interest in this line of thought, but it is not the main argument, merely an interesting addition. We discussed the issue of skill and the possibility of a shortage once the airport building gets going. There is some sympathy for a scheme whereby Saints might be helped to return to the Island if they possess the required skills. This will need a great deal of thought, but when opportunities exist in both the public and private sectors, the diaspora should have some form of priority after our home-based Saints.
I met with Adam Dunlop of Cable & Wireless. He is the Senior Manager responsible for all Islands business. I was pressing for broader broadband and better TV coverage. He obviously indicated some of the problems involved and equally obviously, the cost.
However, we are close to starting a new series of negotiations with C&W with regard to the supply of their services beyond the current contract, and we agreed to maintain contact.
A meeting with the SHL Board in Kedell’s office was also useful. As has been reported previously, and very much in line with some Councillors’ requests, a significant consultancy is to be carried out shortly on the whole matter of our ship and how it is managed. Obviously the Board was keen to discuss this and I was able to assure them that the existence of the consultancy is in no way a criticism of the current structure or expertise. DfID has a responsibility to ensure that public money is efficiently spent and managed, and that is what is behind this study.
However, the report will be interesting for all of us as we too need reassurances that everything possible is being done to keep the cost of travel down, especially in the light of the escalation of the cost of oil. Management from Andrew Weir were also present at the meeting, and it was helpful to get their perspective. I cannot emphasise enough the impact of the oil price, it is absolutely crippling to the cost of running the ship and is likely to add at least a million pounds to the cost of the current year as against last.
As a remote island we are harder hit than most places by the cost of oil and it should be of considerable concern to us. It is certainly a talking point in the U.K. as in effect virtually everyone is suddenly poorer and likely to have far less money to spend in the forseeable future. The price of petrol and diesel at the pumps had gone up by 30% in the 7 months we had been away. What with that, and the housing market being particularly depressed, the mood of many was very downbeat.
In a way that leads on to the airport question that is the largest issue ever to face this historic island. It used to be said that when New York sneezes, London catches a cold, and I sometimes feel that when the UK economy looks vulnerable, that can impact even on such peripheral places as the Overseas Territories.
Phil Mason of DfID outlined the reasons that have extended the extension of decision making time over the airport. Many of the interpretations that have been put on that delay in St.Helena have been far from the truth. For instance, the current negotiations with the contractors are not a desperate attempt to save money, nor is the appointment of a professional negotiator anything to do with a lack of skills within DfID. Both those situations are quite normal in a contract of this type and scale. The simple truth is that this decision is a DfID one, and they are exercising their responsibility to minimise the risk to the UK taxpayer as much as they possibly can. Many fresh questions have been asked, and many previous answers are being re-examined. This seems to me to represent a desire for certainty rather than seeking an escape route.
There was one question however that is being asked with persistence, in fact I was asked it in almost every meeting I had. It is whether we here in the Island are ready for the airport and all that it will entail. My answer is that many are, and some aren’t, but that it is a prime task of the St.Helena Government to ensure that we are thoroughly prepared for the opportunities that will be presented. I had a meeting with Julie Brenner, our new Tourism Commissioner. She shared with me some of her thoughts with regard to her forthcoming report that she is drafting in the UK prior to joining us. What came through was her vast experience in this kind of market.
At DfID I met Shahid Malik, the minister who has a special interest in our affairs. I took the same positive line I had adopted with Meg Munn and he complimented me on my enthusiasm. He too sounded very positive with regard to the airport, and he too asked whether the Saints were “up for it”. One of the interesting situations within DFID is that our Overseas Territories team are themselves accused of being too “up for it” with regard to the airport. You all have experience of Sharon Wainwright and Nigel Kirby’s determination to succeed, and I feel we owe a great deal to those who work unsocial hours on our behalf. My personal view is that a bit of enthusiasm is a good thing, indeed on a project like this, it is essential in order to balance all those who are born with a “cup half empty” approach to life. While at DfID we discussed the FLITs (Front Loading Initial Triggers), and reviewed Malcolm Geere’s impressions following his recent visit, which were very positive. Neil Davidson is our new Public Solicitor. He will be arriving in July and I had a most helpful discussion with him. He has a vast experience having been an Attorney General himself in the past, and I am confident that he will be of enormous benefit to our Lay Advocates and provide a vital balance in our judicial system.
I had two sessions with the people who effectively comprise SHELCO. Indeed there were eleven of them at the second one where I viewed a substantial presentation by their architect. I was left in no doubt that they are dealing very thoroughly with issues relating to the environment and to the training and employment of Saints. Both had a high priority in their thinking. In fact their architect is particularly experienced in the environmental field, and very advanced techniques will be used for the management of water and energy. Although the development is obviously geared to tourists with a determination to spend good money and enjoy a high level of service, the whole venture will in no way prohibit Saints from the facilities, and the management of the operation will be in the style of the Oberoy Group which is famous for its high level of expertise. I was astonished to learn that their training is so detailed that they have identified 57 different ways of unloading a car boot!
With the airport decision immediately ahead of us, it is particularly helpful to our case to have this kind of tangible venture in prospect. I am fully aware that the whole issue of this utilisation of Broad Bottom has not been the most popular of ideas with some Saints, indeed the history of how we arrived at this point in the project has given rise to a great deal of angst and cynicism. However having examined the detail of what is proposed, I would recommend that this project should be considered in the light of the reality of what is being proposed rather than imagination. I know that all of you will have the opportunity to look at the details in the near future.
I am sure you are aware that I was able to sign an agreement with SHELCO while in London. This was not the substantive agreement, but it was a confirmation of the existing situation that we have agreed to reach agreement at a future date, given that they fulfil all the carefully crafted obligations implicit in land ownership and business development.
Another meeting took place with Chris Bates, the new Tristan Representative in the UK. He seemed admirably suited to the role, having the communication skills necessary as well as a feeling for its unique situation having visited the Island himself. Kedell had organised a meeting of the St.Helena Forum in London. She has been setting up this kind of informal gathering for Saints in various locations and I attended one in Swindon that Ishmael Stevens had been instrumental in organising.
I found the Swindon meeting more depressing than the London one, in that the area of Swindon where the Tap & Barrel is situated is actually quite poor. I put it to them that they would be happier sitting on their balconies in St.Helena looking out over the Atlantic with their spiced rum in their hand. Few seemed to disagree.
Salaries in St.Helena are unacceptably low, yet the much higher earning power in the UK does not always guarantee a better lifestyle or even a higher disposable income at the end of the month. Nevertheless some had made a real success of their lives in the UK and I am sure that their skills are in demand there. Yet they remain more anonymous and less able to influence their own lives than they would here. It is a very good idea for these meetings to take place, and I feel that the advent of the airport will mean that we must maintain contact with as many Saints abroad as possible.
The last major topic that I was able to cover was that of fishing. I had a meeting with Argos; that was another step on the pathway forward which I arrived at after the meeting I had with all those concerned with fishing at Plantation House. Much of the discussion was obviously confidential, but they are committed to helping us develop our industry over the next few years and I think we all felt the exchanges were helpful. The idea of actually having our own larger vessel that will be able to fish the seamounts is being actively worked on by the Development Corporation.
There was some time for rest on this mixed bag of a holiday. Jean and I were able to meet our two-week old grandson Evan, as well as attending our daughter Kathy’s wedding in Rome. We also had many of the administrative problems to confront that try the patience of the returning ex-pat. Why should the credit card be blocked simply because it hasn’t been used for 6 months?
How does one get re-connected to broadband when there is a waiting time longer than the holiday itself? Is it convenient or inconvenient when one’s teeth start falling apart in the UK? How could the gutters collect so much dirt in such a short space of time? We are delighted to be back. Sailing in the RMS with a damaged stabiliser was as comfortable as ever, and feeling the heat of the sun during the shortest days of the year was a great welcome. This next year will be a very important one for St.Helena as well as for Ascension and Tristan. Of course there is work to be done, but I feel that the potential rewards for patience and application are now closer than they have been for many years past.
A.M.Gurr
23rd June 2008
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