MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Islanders to be asked to vote on Major Constitutional change.

When the Falkland Islands population are asked to vote in a General Election in November, not only will they be voting for a new Legislative Council, but also on a major Constitutional change. After a long period of consultation it has been decided to ask the voters if they wish to abolish the current two-constituency system and in future opt for a Single Constituency within the Islands.

At the moment Stanley voters elect 5 candidates to the Legislature for a 4 years period and the Camp (Farming) community elect 3 candidates. However the farming population is diminishing rapidly and on West Falklands there are now less than 100 people living on isolated sheep farms. 10 years ago the population was close to 300. Falling wool prices and a perceived ?lack of interest by the Government' as one farmer put it, has led to an alarming decline in the farming communities, particularly on West Falklands.

When the Islanders go to the Polls on November 22nd, they will also be asked to vote on whether there should be a Single Constituency. However in a surprise move recently the present members of the Legislature announced that, ?the result of the referendum to be held in conjunction with the General Election on the issue of a Single Constituency should not be binding'.

Similarly it was decided that ?the results of the Referendum between Camp and Stanley would be counted and declared separately'. This action was taken, according to one Councillor, ?because it is feared that the larger Stanley constituency is expected to vote overwhelmingly for a single constituency and this could lead to little or any representation for the farmers in the future'.

One disillusioned farmer commenting on the single constituency issue said gloomily ?if we lose our representation on the Legislature then we all may just as well pack our bags and head to Stanley like everyone else seems to be doing'.

The farmers point to the fact that apart from a road building programme on West Falklands, the Government appear to concentrate most of their infrastructural development in the area of Stanley. A new abattoir which is being built just a few miles out of the capital, could have given employment to many beleaguered farmers had it been constructed on West Falklands, point out the protesters.

Meanwhile the Councillors have stated that, ?they recognize that if the result of the Referendum is a YES for a Single Constituency there will be a need for an alternative Voting System'. This will, insisted a Councillor, ensure that the farming community will have representation on a future Legislature.