MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
British citizenship for Chilean family in Falklands
HE Gov. Alan Huckle and the Ojeda's family A young Chilean family who are among a number choosing to adopt the Falkland Islands as their home, received British citizenship at a ceremony conducted at Government House, Stanley on Monday evening.
Roberto Miguel Alejandro Ojeda Gallardo and his wife Jessica Paola Campos Guala and their son Robertito Ignacio Ojeda Campos (who were all born in Punta Arenas) came to the islands in 2000 to work at Sea Lion Island Lodge, "…we thought that it was a good chance to do something new, learn another language and save some money, our son was only 2 by then so that made things easier as he was not in school yet." After three years on Sea Lion Island the family decided it was time to move to Stanley so that Robertito could attend school with more children. "We decided to stay because it was and still is a very safe place to live, with better job opportunities and offers a good education for our son; we really like it here and we feel part of the community as well Jessica now works at the FIC Travel Department as Travel Co-ordinator which consists mainly of the administration and booking of civilian passengers on the airbridge to and from the United Kingdom. Roberto works at FIGAS as an aircraft fitter and he is also a retained fire fighter. Jessica's parents and sister also live in Stanley. Her father Juan Campos works for the Public Works Department; mother Adela is a housewife and her sister Maribel Campos works for the Falkland Islands Government Social Work Department. Jessica said, "We try to visit our family in Chile every year (Roberto's father lives in Viña del Mar) Roberto's mother has already paid the family a visit in the Falklands. Asked how different it is living in Stanley compared to Punta Arenas Jessica said, "It is quieter and safer than Punta Arenas, especially at night but you can Party in Punta Arenas until 6 am and there are not so many shops here so every time I go there I shop for the whole year. The main difference for us is that our son can go where ever he wants without us worrying that something might happen to him." Of the party at Government House hosted by His Excellency the Governor Alan Huckle, she said, "We really enjoyed it; it was nice and relaxing we would like to thank the Governor and his wife for the lovely Ceremony also to Wendy Reeves for all her help and all our family and friends for all their support over the years." One hundred and sixty one Chileans currently work in the Falkland Islands according to the last census. Lisa Johnston – SeAled PR - Stanley
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