MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands' high profile at UK party conferences.
Though both the main political parties' annual conferences in the United Kingdom were cut short because of the terrorism crisis and Parliament's emergency debates, two Falklands Councillors, Mrs Jan Cheek and Mrs Sharon Halford, who attended with London Representative, Miss Sukey Cameron, found themselves just as busy as in previous years with a steady stream of Members of Parliament and other delegates to the Falklands stand.
At the Labour Conference in Brighton, these included the new Foreign Office Minister for Falklands and Latin American issues, Mr Denis MacShane, who expressed a wish to visit the Falklands when his other onerous duties allow. At the Conservative Conference in Blackpool, they were introduced to the new Party Leader, Ian Duncan Smith, by his Parliamentary Private Secretary, Mr Owen Paterson, a relatively recent visitor to the Falklands. They also met Shadow Foreign Secretary, Mr Michael Ancram, and had a useful talk with the Conservative Defence spokesman, Mr Bernard Jenkin.
Dispelling myths Councillor Cheek told Mercopress: "We give out all manner of information, but mostly answering questions, setting facts straight. There is quite a mythology built up about the Falklands. People still believe we have terrible weather, that we relied upon Argentina for all our medical services, and ?how on earth are we managing now?' We still have to dispel misconceptions. We have to keep plodding away, hoping this constant dripping of information will get through. One reason we are there is to demonstrate that the Falklands are developing, that the fishing revenues are being well used in building up the infrastructure, which we did not have before, such as roads, and educational services, which are incomparably better than before 1982.
"The three of us were flat out on the stand. When it comes to lunchtime, a runner is sent for sandwiches". Public relations representatives from Westminster Strategy (formerly Profile) were also at the conferences, but Councillor Cheek said: "Party members are very impressed when they find themselves talking to representatives who are Falkland Islanders".
The weather at both seaside resorts was stormy, with sheets of rain and howling gales. Councillor Cheek was amused when the delegates remarked: "Isn't it terrible weather in the Falklands?" She told them: "Compared with Brighton and Blackpool, Falklands weather is wonderful".
Harold Briley, London
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