MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' familiarization visit for UK ambassadors from Brazil, Chile and Uruguay

Fiona Clouder, Governor Colin Roberts with Alex Ellis and Lyster-Binns at the reception Monday evening

British ambassadors to Chile, Brazil and Uruguay respectively, Fiona Clouder, Alex Ellis and Ben Lyster-Binns are currently visiting the Falkland Islands to familiarise themselves with the people and economy and to discover what opportunities there are to increase links between the Islands and their host countries.

 At a reception held at Government House on Monday evening, Governor Colin Roberts said the ambassadors represented and co-ordinated all British interests in the countries where they served, including interests in the Falkland Islands: “That is why they have come to learn about the Falkland Islands and to discuss and provide their advice on how the government, businesses and others in the Falkland Islands can best pursue their interests and objectives in those countries.”

Ambassador to Brazil Mr Ellis said his goal was to “learn more about the Islands and the people so I can better represent and advise on the realities of Brazil and how best to build up economic and, I particularly hope, the human links between the Islands and Brazil.”

Celebrating her first anniversary as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Chile this week, Ms Clouder, who previously worked on Falkland Islands issues when she served as the FCO’s Deputy Director of the Americas, said: “I’ve been taking a long standing interest in what’s going on here and also very much looking to the future. For me it is a wonderful opportunity to visit, to find out about the Islands and to hear about your community, find out about your interests and how we can best help you.”

Uruguay had a particular place in the hearts of Islanders, Mr Lyster-Binns said, because of the long relationship Islanders have had with Uruguay and particularly the Port of Montevideo. He added that an important part of his visit would be to try drive forward trade and people-to-people links.

Using a sporting metaphor, Mr Lyster-Binns said a collective term for Ambassadors could be “the assist”, adding, “There is a part of our work and our visit here that is to give the Falkland islands collectively the assist so that you can knock the goals in.”