MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Donald Lamont represents the Falklands at London conference of Governors.
Donald Lamont, Governor of the Falkland Islands, has spent the last three days attending the annual conference of governors of Britain's remaining Overseas Territories.
The conference ended on Friday afternoon, and Mr Lamont spoke to the BBC world Service's Calling the Falklands.
Excerpts:
Q: Did the governors discuss progress towards full British citizenship for the approximately 125,000 people of the Overseas Territories? A: This is not a question which is so compelling for the Falklands because citizenship is not so much an issue there, but there were two themes relevant to your question. One is the general principle of partnership. We discussed where we are on that. Is it working? The short answer is that no one pretends that there has been a sudden change, but it can be regarded as a work in progress, and we develop the relationship in that spirit. There is a difficulty about the promised legislation on citizenship. There is no reduction in the government's commitment, which is of particular interest in St Helena, but not uniquely there. It was an offer which was made and will be delivered, but Parliamentary timetables and other priorities have impeded progress. There is a consciousness that there is a powerful pressure for the Government to fulfil its commitment.
Q: You touched on partnership. How do you see partnership developing in the Falklands between the Governor, the councillors and the people? A: I think the role played by governors in the Falklands is rather more informal than is the case in other overseas territories. There is a pretty open relationship between the governor than would have been the case in the Falklands five or ten years ago. We have to trust each other and we have to be open with each other and that is the best way to do business in a partnership. There is always going to be the awkwardness that a governor is seen as, and probably is, serving two masters. There is the master in the UK, but he is also the head of the government in the territory. That is not a straight-forward role to play, but an openness and willingness to discuss the issues is the way one must proceed.
Q: there have been suggestions that a slightly more paternal relationship has been developing again between the Foreign Office and the Islands, and perhaps one can lay that at the door of the Argentines who refuse to liase with the Islanders. One example of that was the agreement covering private aviation to the Falklands from Argentina, in which F
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesCommenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!