MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falkland Islands: General Election with a difference
Preparations are under way in the Falkland Islands for a General Election to be held on November 7 this year and 4.30pm on October 17th marks the last moments for would be Members of the Islands Legislative Council to announce their candidacy. This year the list of candidates will be subject to particular scrutiny. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesPhyl Rendell makes the difference? This woman couldn't make a difference even if she wanted! haha Never power to the people, always power to the corporations haha
Oct 17th, 2013 - 02:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I think Roger Spink is right. All in good time. In the Mother of Parliaments, it was an evolving process. But fuelled, initially, by a desire for reform and wider representation. This doesn't really seem to exist in the Falklands. As the yanks say, “If it ain't broke, don't fix it”. Just let the people decide!
Oct 17th, 2013 - 02:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@1
Oct 17th, 2013 - 02:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Gonzo obviously cannot read English. Phyl Rendell was a former senior civil servant, nothing to do with corporations.
@2 This REALLY hasn't been the last couple weeks to look to us for legislative guidance....
Oct 17th, 2013 - 02:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0But I'll kvetch anyway. Why is Cockwell bemoaning how a now-fulltime big-league FIG isn't attracting junior professionals? It is THEY who will be the people who make things work at the ground-level and their dynamism is needed to grow all parts of the Island economy. Once established, THEN they can turn themselves over for full-time public service -- they certainly can serve the islands and work with the FIG for now but they will be needed to make great stuff happen. Exciting times for all, I think!
True democracy in action La Campora putting up a candidate Bonzo?
Oct 17th, 2013 - 02:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@1 Do you know Phyl? I think she'll make a very competent MLA if she gets in.
Oct 17th, 2013 - 03:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@6 not “if” but “when” :) !
Oct 17th, 2013 - 07:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I believe that some of the politicians should be financed purely to travel the world like roving ambassadors to counter Argentina's lies-and still leave enough politicians to do their job in the islands.
Oct 17th, 2013 - 07:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In most countries politicians getting more money would be frowned upon. But I get the impression that FI politicians HAVE to be effective as there is no escape from the local population-no guarded mansions behind steel gates etc etc and they need to be paid something (they have been extremely good value so far).
This is another improvement in keeping FI politicians focused on their job, another improvement sparked in part by CFK.
Thanks Kristina.
What has happened to our resident comic, the doleful foghorn from Chubut? Sent off to do scarecrow duty on his turnip patch in disgrace?
Oct 17th, 2013 - 10:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I say:
Come back, Think. We miss your comic interludes on these threads.Come back soon
Chuckle chuckle
9) Hey Think, redpoll is calling you back (billingually) cant you hear him???
Oct 18th, 2013 - 01:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7QYo-9SlP0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7QYo-9SlP0
Chuckle chuckle
@7 I think you're probably right, she'll have a lot of support.
Oct 18th, 2013 - 09:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0Think's taken Holy Vows.
Oct 18th, 2013 - 09:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0Hes seen the error of his ways.
lts alright, Think, we forgive you.
Just say “The Falklands belong to the Falklanders”, 100 times a day.
Think, has the electric gone off where you are or cant you now afford SSEs prices? My advice is to switch!
Oct 18th, 2013 - 11:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0@12 Must be a Trappist monastery where they are under a vow of silence. Probabably just a temporary Retreat and hopefully he will soon be back to entertain us with some new monk-ey tricks?
Oct 18th, 2013 - 12:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0With the greater time available for Government duties by its members, I suggest a natural progression in the Falkland's journey towards eventual nationhood (that is, if and when it's inhabitants choose to do so).
Oct 18th, 2013 - 12:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0My understanding is that Britain's only responsibility in the Falklands is defence and foreign relations. The former won't be changing in the foreseeable future, but why not formally hand the latter over to FIG to reflect what is already happening to a large extent? From what I have seen, the amateur unpaid part-time diplomats in FIG consistently manage to make complete fools out of the supposed professionals in Buenos Aires (although admittedly they get a lot of help from the aforementioned fools themselves) and do so in a manner that makes it all look so effortless. They are more than capable of representing themselves to the world already and will be more so once they themselves become full time professionals. Such a change would further increase the Island's autonomy, help negate the false accusations that the FI MLA's are merely London's mouthpieces, and demonstrate the Island's independence to all of its latin american neighbours.
@ 15
Oct 24th, 2013 - 09:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0”The former won't be changing in the foreseeable future, but why not formally hand the latter over to FIG to reflect what is already happening to a large extent? From what I have seen, the amateur unpaid part-time diplomats in FIG consistently manage to make complete fools out of the supposed professionals in Buenos Aires (although admittedly they get a lot of help from the aforementioned fools themselves) and do so in a manner that makes it all look so effortless.”
It is happening-the Islanders are as you say taking over their foreign policy, and without the huge numbers the Argentinian government have at their disposal are having a bigger impact per head of population.
It's not hard to figure out.
The Argentines with 40 million and a less than effective government screw up their country with great success.
The Islanders with 3000 people run their economy and society effectively, increasing their wealth.
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