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Falklands hopes complete clearance of minefields will be completed at the end of the decade

Sunday, July 9th 2017 - 00:08 UTC
Full article 43 comments
MLA Michael Poole provided a summary of the current and planned demining work, plus the post-clearance management plan, during a briefing of his portfolio MLA Michael Poole provided a summary of the current and planned demining work, plus the post-clearance management plan, during a briefing of his portfolio
So far 29 minefields have been released this summer with 42 disposal operations having taken place, with almost 4,000 mines and other explosive devices destroyed So far 29 minefields have been released this summer with 42 disposal operations having taken place, with almost 4,000 mines and other explosive devices destroyed

The Falkland Islands hope that the complete clearance of the minefields, a legacy of the 1982 Argentine military invasion, can be finalized by the end of the decade and in the meantime it is actively considering post-clearance management of those sites that are released, particularly in the area surrounding the capital Stanley.

 Falklands lawmaker MLA Michael Poole provided a summary of the current and planned demining work, plus the post-clearance management plan, during a briefing of his portfolio at the Falklands elected Legislative Assembly.

In effect 29 minefields have been released this past summer with 42 disposal operations having taken place, with almost 4,000 mines and other explosive devices destroyed.

However, MLA Poole warned that upcoming work has slightly more complexity to it due to the potential environmental impacts in 10 or 11 minefields due to be cleared in the next season.

He explained that the Falklands' government is actively considering post-clearance management of those key sites, particularly that of the Yorke Bay Area. An active management plan similar to that at Gypsy Cove is likely to be the outcome. But that will be discussed in the appropriate Committee structure and decided upon in due course.

MLA Poole told the Legislative Assembly he, “hoped that the complete clearance of the minefields will be done by the end of the decade.”

MLA Phyl Rendell agreed there needed to be a management plan over those areas as they were released but she also asked what was being done about areas recently released such as Rookery Bay with its Magellanic penguins.

MLA Poole responded by saying there would be a paper produced by the end of August which would discuss environmental management of all released minefields that have key wildlife with in them.

MLA Jan Cheek commented that people need to inform themselves of the changes proposed in the imminent Commons Management Bill.

“There is a small risk but people need to be aware of it that because of a changing definition of some of what we formerly thought of as common land as public land that the land could become marketed by developers”, she explained. (Penguin News).-

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  • gordo1

    Re Hepatitis

    Applause for the Editor!

    Jul 09th, 2017 - 04:10 pm +5
  • Roger Lorton

    Which debate did we “lose”. Argentines don't debate. They make statements and then refuse to listen to anything that counters their supposed facts. There is no debate.

    There was no debate in the 17 years of talks leading up to 1982. Argentina wanted to talk, but Argentina did not wish to listen. Then Argentina chose war, and that was an end to the jaw jaw.

    The matter is settled.

    And nothing important happened in 1833. Just the ejection of trespassers warned in 1829 and 1832.

    Jul 10th, 2017 - 03:11 pm +5
  • Roger Lorton

    Kohen has me blocked on every medium other than Twitter, where he watches but does not respond. I expose frauds, I don't do 'respectful' with deceivers.

    There was a debate in 1834. There were debates in the 1880's. There were debates between 1967 and 1982. Debating is now over. Comes of Argentina choosing War War over Jaw Jaw. Never forget child, it was Argentina that wanted to talk, and Argentina that stopped talking.

    There was no trespass in 1764, nor 1765. Spain didn't arrive until 1767 and, according to Bougainville, had to he shown the way by a French Pilot.

    1780's? Nothing of great consequence during that period. Once a year excursions by the Spanish garrison to see whether the British had returned. We were always expected. And in 1790, Spain drew its horns in and recognised that all it could claim was a coastline 10 leagues either side of a settlement. Wow. That gave Spain part of Berkeley Sound. Nothing more.

    1800's - well France demanded a base in the Falklands in 1801 .... from England, not Spain (its ally), which should give you a hint, and in 1811 Spain left the south Atlantic claiming just one Island. Still claimed it in 1833, but did not complain that Britain had annexed it.

    Argentina was never in the game.

    Nor is Kohen :-)

    Jul 10th, 2017 - 03:56 pm +5
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