MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland's London office celebrates 25th birthday

Mrs. Sukey Cameron MBE front of FIGO in London

THE Falkland Islands Government Office (FIGO) in London celebrates its 25th birthday next week, making it one of the longest established UK OverseasTerritories offices.

The occasion will be marked with an informal reception at FIGO on Monday evening. Sukey Cameron MBE has been the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) UK Representative since 1990. She said the role of FIGO has evolved over the years: "During our early years we were concerned with the reconstruction of the Islands and then as things developed, delivering our PR messages to both the general public and MPs to make sure people were well briefed on Falklands issues." Since FIGO first opened, its staff have taken on recruitment, travel and medical patient responsibilities and work in all these areas have increased over the years, Ms Cameron said. She added: "We have hosted two Falklands business forums and are involved in all the various Falkland Islands support groups; we were also a founder member of the Overseas Territories Association. "On the PR front we are now in a multi-media world, whereas it was simpler in the early years, so we have make sure that our message gets out to all areas. In Parliament we have to vie for MPs' attention against a whole range of issues, so we have to make sure we get the balance right of keeping our supporters informed." Penguin News