MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands' new constitution bolsters “Britishness”
THE 'Britishness' of the Falkland Islands is to be underlined in its new constitution, by a change that insists all individuals applying for Falklands status must first become a British citizen.
Councillor Mike Summers confirmed that at a recent public debate on the subject of the proposed new draft constitution, held on West Falklands, residents were, "content" with the intended proviso on status as well as virtually all other proposed changes. On the subject of who gains status under the existing constitution, Councillor Summers explained, "…because the Falklands is not an independent country there is no Falklands nationality; every Falkland Islander holds either British or some other nationality. So we have Falklands' status which provides certain rights and privileges in the Falkland Islands, for example the right of abode and the right to vote and stand for election". Under the new draft constitution, it will be proposed this should change so that "...in future for anyone to gain status they must first be or become a British citizen, this is not only to underline the 'Britishness' of the Falklands, but also to avoid the possibility of Falkland Islanders whose only passport is from an unfriendly country. "Those who will gain automatic status are any British child of a parent who was a permanent resident at the time of the birth, whether born in the Falklands or elsewhere, the British child of a resident status holder and the British child of a Falklands born status holder, whether resident or not." Councillor Summers said the only concern so far expressed by Islanders at the round of public debates was the suggestion that widows and widowers without individual Falklands status could lose the right to stay in the Falklands on the death of their partner. Currently spouses receive the Falklands status of their wife or husband, but this is to change and the spouse must apply separately. If they were not to receive individual status there exists the possibility that on the death of their spouse they would have to leave the country. Councillor Summers said there was unhappiness expressed at this intention but noted, "It isn't a problem and it can be fixed." Self determinationIt is also proposed, and agreed by the British Government, that given the persistent claim to the sovereignty of the Falklands by Argentina the proposed new draft constitution sets down the right to self determination in accordance with the charter of the UN in the body of the constitution rather than in the preamble where it used to be. This section also confirms unequivocally that the mineral rights (and the rights to exploit other resources) in the Falklands belong to the Falkland Islands and its people and not to the United Kingdom. By Lisa Johnston – SeAled PR - Stanley
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