MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Fishing-fuelled prosperity
Several British press articles focus on the transformation of the Falklands economy since 1982, thanks to the new fishing industry.
The Economist, in a positive report headlined: "A breezy squid-rich paradise", says the return of former islanders and new settlers have boosted the resident population back to its 1930s peak of 2,400. Immigration has almost restored the balance of the sexes, and nightlife at weekends is lively. Stanley has doubled in size, with smart new houses, more shops, bars and restaurants, oil-fired central heating instead of peat, a new abattoir to process organic meat, two taxi firms, and many miles of new roads.
The fisheries money has helped provide subsidised housing, free health care and education with new schools.
There is a market garden, a big telephone network, cable television, and half of all households have Internet access. Islanders have the money to import whatever they want, and there is very little crime.
Eco-tourism and cruise ship trippers are booming, and there is still hope of finding offshore oil.
Though the Falklands remain unmistakably British, they are not controlled by Britain. The elected Council makes most decisions apart foreign policy and defence.
Other than making the islanders feel secure, the British garrison (perhaps 1,000 military personnel and 500 support staff) has surprisingly little effect on their lives.
For every Falkland Islands pound in circulation, the government keeps reserves of £1.10 in sterling. Unlike Argentina, whose debts have bankrupted it, the Falklands not only have no public debt, but have savings equivalent to two years' public spending. The main issue in the Falklands' election was what to spend their money on. More roads? Sheltered housing for the elderly? Or pile up more money in the bank?
The Economist concludes: "Having seemed, 20 years ago, not worth fighting over, the islands are prosperous, self-confident and increasingly able to run things the way they choose".
Harold Briley, London
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