Ascension : What Is Happening On Ascension?
Submitted by The Islander (Islander Internet Editor) 18.06.2009 (Article Archived on 02.07.2009)

Ascension Island is facing increased financial hardship. For the last three years, the UK Ministry of Defence occupied many buildings on Ascension

Ascension Island is facing increased financial hardship. For the last three years, the UK Ministry of Defence occupied many buildings on Ascension, they have refused to pay the stipulated property tax, which has led to a revenue deficit for the Ascension Island Government of just under half a million pounds per year. Out of a total budget of about six million pounds a year, this would mean a shortage of over eight per cent. The Administrator on Ascension Island, Ross Denny, said to the Independent yesterday that the consequences of this shortfall are considerable and the Ascension Island Government is in need of funds to replace the derelict crane currently in use, improve the possibilities to send well achieving children to education overseas and to keep up the normal maintenance of the island. To add insult to injury, it has been rumoured that the air bridge charges from the Falklands to Ascension and Brize Norton, which were recently decreased, will have to go up again due to cuts of the number of servicemen at the garrison in Mount Pleasant on the Falklands. In all, it looks like a gloomy future for Ascension and the Saints working there. It appears that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) believe that they own Ascension Island. Currently, discussions are ongoing between FCO and MOD to solve the issue of the unpaid taxes but really, the issue must be fairly straight forward. According to the Constitution, passed by the Privy Council says that Ascension is a part of St Helena, which is vested in FCO and if FCO says that MOD has to pay tax that should be the end of the story.

(Extracted from The St Helena Independent Volume 1V, Issue 29, Friday12th June 2009)