Ascension : Ascension Island Has a New Council
Submitted by The Islander (Ascension Island Government) 23.10.2008 (Article Archived on 06.11.2008)
The seven candidates who were elected to serve as Councillors are:
Georgina Benjamin
Helen Close
Keturah George
Cyril Leo
Ann Miller
Howard Peters
Larry Poultney
A well-attended reception was hosted by the Administrator at the Residency in honour of the new Council. In his address he paid tribute to all eight candidates whose nominations had made the elections and a Council possible. He reflected that the new Council, following its swearing in by the Governor on Monday the 27th of October, has a lot of serious business ahead of it. “……….The Council will need to appoint a Finance Committee which will be involved in deciding the priorities for government spending in the next financial year. It will need to look at whether we have the right balance between what we raise in taxation and what we deliver in services and fulfilment of our obligations, not least as pressure is on many of the employing organisations to make economies, and our tax base diminishes. There are reports to be considered and implemented on important issues ranging from child protection through to food hygiene. On all of these and more issues, and those yet to emerge, the Governor will wish to have the benefit of considered advice from your elected representatives”.
The Administrator concluded by saying that “A new Council gives us the opportunity of a fresh start and I very much hope we can put the disappointments and frustrations of the past firmly behind us and move on to a better, more constructive future.” Finally he proposed a toast to the new Council, wishing it all the very best and that he very much looked forward to working together.
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