The plight of Ascension Island residents cut off from the Falklands' Airbridge

Thursday, July 6th 2017 - 19:29 UTC

Full article 10 comments

Ascension Island, home to around 800 people, is even more cut off than it used to be after weekly flights linking the island to the UK were stopped - due to a dodgy runway and the wrong kind of RAF aircraft, according to a BBC report. The British overseas territory is the tip of an old volcano in the Atlantic Ocean, mid-way between Africa and Brazil. It's so remote, that when the Portuguese discovered it on Ascension Day in 1501, they didn't even bother colonizing it. Read full article

Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules

Doveoverdover
I am prompted by Think to observe that the dental cover per head of population in the British occupied Portuguese Overseas Territory of Ascension Island far exceeds that of Dover. This is quite clearly a breach of the human right of citizens of a colonial power to be better provided with welfare facilities than their colonial cousins are. Airport? They're lucky. We have to travel to London Manston, London Lydd or London Gatwick if we want to get out of our non-tropical paradise.
Jul 07th, 2017 - 03:56 pm - Link - Report abuse -2
-+
Clyde15
Portuguese Overseas Territory of Ascension Island ?

Where is your evidence for this. My understanding was that although a Portuguese mariner discovered the island, it was never claimed by the Portuguese Crown. Have I got it wrong ?
Jul 07th, 2017 - 06:53 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
-+
Doveoverdover
Evidence? I don't need evidence. I make do with assertion, same as everyone else who posts here.
Jul 07th, 2017 - 07:22 pm - Link - Report abuse -3
-+
Think
TWIMC...

I assert that Ascension Island is a perfect “Memento Mori” for the new generation of Kelper Squatters that don't know how the Engrish really are...

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/sep/11/ascension-island-population-cut-uk-government
Jul 07th, 2017 - 07:43 pm - Link - Report abuse -2
-+
DemonTree
Perhaps the Ascension Islanders should ask Argentina to invade, to remind the British public of their existence.
Jul 07th, 2017 - 10:35 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
-+
Hepatia
England will return the Malvinas within 25 years.
Jul 08th, 2017 - 12:23 am - Link - Report abuse -2
-+
St.John
Hepatia will still be in her padded cell in 25 years.
Jul 08th, 2017 - 02:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Think
Cmdr.Mc. Dod...

I hope they won't recognise you..., next time you need a dental job in Georgetown...;-)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2xBJERznOgA
Jul 08th, 2017 - 05:39 pm - Link - Report abuse -2
-+
St.John
Just for the record: The distance between Ascension Island and St. Helena is app. 1.300 km (810 miles), and not some 700 km.

https://www.google.dk/maps/dir/Saint+Helena,+Sankt+Helena/Ascension,+ASCN+1ZZ,+Sankt+Helena/@-12.6723797,-12.2104904,1606644m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x4eae213352ce5e3:0xae804f0450199fa6!2m2!1d-5.7089241!2d-15.9650104!1m5!1m1!1s0x5b0f4126dd69e2d:0x40d606a7f1eda1e7!2m2!1d-14.3559158!2d-7.9467166
Jul 08th, 2017 - 08:19 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
-+
Jo Bloggs
I may be wrong but I don't believe there is any conspiracy here but simply a bungled management of the airport that they got caught out by.
Jul 09th, 2017 - 07:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!