MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Seventeen candidates for eight seats in the Falklands Legislative Council.

Eighteen names were finally listed in the Gazette for the Falkland Islands General Election next November 22nd. Eleven candidates will be running for five seats in Stanley and seven for three seats in Camp.

The list for Stanley includes previous Councillors, Sharon Halford, John Birmingham, Mike Summers, Jan Cheek and Richard Cockwell who in the last election represented Camp. New faces are: Ian Doherty, Kevin Osmond, Stephen Luxton, Eric Goss, June Besley-Clarke and Rodney Tuckwood. However Mr. Tuckwood early Monday reported that for "unforeseen personal circumstances" he was withdrawing from the election campaign in spite of his nomination.

Camp candidates include previous Councillor Norma Edwards, and the rest are new names: Roger Edwards (Norma's husband), Chris May, Robin Goodwin, Ian Hansen, Philip Miller and Richard Stevens.

All candidates have been invited by the local weekly "Penguin News" to publish a 500 words manifesto, and will be participating in several open meetings organised by residents and the local broadcasting station.

Since the establishment of a fisheries conservation zone in the mid eighties and the promotion of tourism the Falklands have undergone a radical transformation from an austere and wool dependent community to a strong and dynamic economy.

With 694 people out of a total population of 2,500 working for government, administration related issues, plus Camp and foreign affairs are expected to be among the main issues of the campaign.

Administration related issues concern the number of contract officers working for local government, and the way the abundant resources of the government are spent. Many locals are very sensitive since they consider that clue areas of the administration and some of the best paid jobs are in the hands of non Islanders. The plight of farmers and agriculture in general, and how much is government doing to help Camp is also expected to figure high in the debate.

Relations with Argentina, mainly the July 1999 agreement that allowed free access to Argentine passport holders and was very controversial at the time, could have an impact. Of the six Councillors seeking re-election, only one, Norma Edwards was openly against the agreement that also helped resume the air link with Chile and benefited overall communications and trade.

More locally working parents are also involved in an open controversy with more conservative members of the commun