MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands celebrates 21 years at UK party conferences

FIG UK Rep. Sukey Cameron MBE, FCO Minister, Meg Munn MP and Cllr Ian Hansen at the Labour Party Conf. last year.<br>Photo Gus Cambell

The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) celebrates this month its twenty first consecutive year of attendance at the Labour and Conservative Party Conferences. It is one of the longest standing exhibitors at the Conferences.

Sukey Cameron MBE, the UK Representative, will be joined on the Falkland Islands stand by elected representative Councillor Ian Hansen, who holds the portfolio for Minerals and Agriculture on the governing Legislative Council. The Party Conferences provide an opportunity for the Falkland Islands Government's representatives to update Government ministers, Shadow Cabinet members, MPs and other delegates on recent developments. Among the issues that are expected to be discussed this year are plans for a new constitution for the Falkland Islands which will substantially advance internal self-government and enshrine the Islanders' rights of self-determination. They will also remind politicians about Argentina's continuing attempts to interfere in the Islands' fishing, minerals and tourism industries. Against this background the proposed new constitution and the right of Falkland Islanders to determine their own future take on a particular significance. The Labour Party conference is scheduled for September 20/24 in Manchester and the Conservative Party, September 28 October first in Birmingham. Over the past 26 years, the Falkland Islands have become one of the most modern and dynamic Overseas Territories of the United Kingdom. The Islands enjoy a sophisticated system of internal government and are economically self-sufficient in all areas except defence - which is estimated to be less than half of one percent of Britain's overall defence budget. The Islands' population has risen from 1,800 in 1982 to around 2,500 in 2006 (the latest Census). Nearly 96% of the population is British and 79% of the population is aged 55 years and under. The majority of young Islanders chose to return to the Islands to live and work, contributing to its thriving private and public sector.