Falklands' de-mining plans for next two seasons funded by FCO

Friday, July 18th 2014 - 07:21 UTC

Full article 42 comments

Experts helping to clear some of the minefields close to Stanley, planted by the Argentines

The 'Danger Mines' sign, a common sight dating back to 1982. An estimated 18.000 mines are still 'live' in the Islands

The Falkland Islands will be seeing further de-mining over the next two summer seasons funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) that will also carry out a tender process for the works, according to a report from Penguin News.

Priorities for the next phase of de-mining were agreed at this week’s Falklands' Executive Council meeting and include areas, “adjacent to roads which are considered potentially dangerous or which hamper maintenance, and to areas of high amenity value south of Stanley,” said MLA Mike Summers.

This work is expected to take place over the next two seasons and will be subject to a tender process led by the FCO who are funding the programme.

Argentina brought 25,000 anti vehicle and personnel mines to the Falklands during the 1982 war of which 5,000 were accounted for.

Demining and land release operations carried out by British company BACTEC International in 2010 and 2012 - when the popular Stone Corral area near Sapper Hill was reopened to the public - cleared some six per cent of the remaining mines with more than 18,000 mines still in the ground on both East and West Falklands.

No British mines were laid during the war, however the British Government has the legal responsibility for the removal of land mines placed by Argentine forces.

Categories: Politics, Falkland Islands, International.

Tags: Argentina, BACTEC, demining, Falkland Islands, Falkland War, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mike Summers, Sappers Hill Corral.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules

ilsen
The UK sends £2million in direct Aid to Argentina. Also UK contributes a further £7 million as part of the EU Aid package of £50 million to Argentina.
Every year.
Maybe be you didn't know that.

Argentina has been paid for any food it sent 70 years ago. Settled a long time ago.
Maybe you didn't know that.

The UK gives the highest % of GDP in Aid of any country in the world.
Maybe you didn't know that.

The UK is not the most indebted country in world.
Argentina is about to default in only 2 weeks time which suggests it has quite severe debt issues.
Maybe you didn't know that.

Maybe you are a frickin' idiot.
Maybe you didn't know that either.

Enjoy your default burger, McSquealer!
Jul 19th, 2014 - 02:54 pm +1
inthegutter
#24

Care to admit you are wrong when you claimed the UK was the most indebted nation? By no metric is that true.
Jul 19th, 2014 - 06:20 pm +1
ilsen
@33
I have no need to prove anything to you. I really don't care whether you believe me or not. I have never lied on here. No need. You on the other hand frequently lie as I have proved in past.

When are you going to say thank you for the Aid that the British send to Argentina?

you are not ungrateful, are you?
Jul 20th, 2014 - 07:49 pm +1

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