Ascension : Letter to Mr Hugh Philpott OTD
Submitted by The Islander (Ascension Island Government) 29.03.2007 (Article Archived on 12.04.2007)

Thank you for offering councillors the opportunity to draft a paper to be conveyed to the Minister reiterating our reasons for refusing to accept one FCO adjustment to the draft housing policy.

Mr Hugh Philpott

Overseas Territories Department

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

19 March 2007

Dear Hugh,

Thank you for offering councillors the opportunity to draft a paper to be conveyed to the Minister reiterating our reasons for refusing to accept one FCO adjustment to the draft housing policy.  Cynical as it may seem, you are the conduit for correspondence, but it is most unfortunate that FCO officials are now viewed with such distrust.

You are correct: "We are where we are", but first allow me to remind you how we got here:

The FCO decided on a course of actions to bring about major changes on Ascension.  Clearly the FCO gently and deliberately misled the people of Ascension into "expectation" as we progressed towards the introduction of taxation.

FCO officials maintain a powerful political position from where they can, at will, impose authoritarian and un-democratic controls and restrictions on the taxpayers of Ascension.

After taxation (April 2001) and democracy (November 2002) were introduced on Ascension, the people readily accepted the fundamental changes, but misplaced their trust in the UK Government.

Following the second election, Governor Clancy ensured elected representatives took the Oath of Office on the 23 November 2005.

With calculated severity, on the 30 November 2005, FCO officials informed councillors of the UK Government's decision to deny the taxpayers of Ascension the basic rights and freedoms that they were led to expect.

As councillors have challenged the decisions and strived for development of democratic principals on Ascension, FCO officials have consistently opposed our efforts in the name of Her Majesty's Government.  As a result of this endless exploitation and manipulation of elected members, the majority of the Island Council has resigned.

There are many important issues to be addressed and resolved.

New legislation and policies on various items are being processed, and when implemented will have some serious implications for taxpayers living and working on Ascension.  Ultimately, the FCO will now decide when we move from where we are, and the direction we will take.

Future elected representatives and FCO officials must find a common understanding, and work to amalgamate the interests and the concerns of Her Majesty's Government and the taxpayers within the unique political arena that has been created on Ascension.

I have given you verbal statements on the particular aspects of the housing policy that we discussed at great length on the 14-15 March.  Therefore, I trust that you will convey those views, and the reasons I gave for them, to the Minister for his decision.

Please feel free to copy this letter on as you wish.

Yours sincerely

Cyril

Cyril Leo

Elected Member

Ascension Island Council