MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands approves government financed travel credit for residents: £1,826 in five years
The maximum accrual of unused credits will be £1,826 for those over 18 and £913 under 18. That equates to five years’ worth of credits The Falkland Islands' Executive Council approved travel credit scheme legislation at the December 12 meeting. The scheme will give £1 a day to residents over the age of 18 with Falklands status and 50p to those under the age of 18 with status.
Amongst other points the Executive Council paper notes that maximum accrual of unused credits will be £1,826 for those over 18 and £913 under 18.
That equates to five years’ worth of credits. Accrual of travel credits stops once a person had accumulated the maximum amount, and accrual resumes once the person has reduced the balance to below the maximum.
Claims for travel credits must adhere to the following criteria:
- Travel credits accumulated by a registered person are not transferable and may only be used for the benefit of that person
- The claim must relate to travel originating in the Falkland Islands
- A claim must be for a minimum of £50 per registered person
- A claim must be for travel of at least 10 miles.
The Scheme Administrator may suspend a person’s registration if the person is serving a sentence of imprisonment. Suspension is for the period of the sentence of imprisonment. (Penguin News)
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Read all commentsMore explanation required= what exactly is the Travel Credit scheme and how is it applied?
Dec 14th, 2018 - 10:24 am 0Does this mean that a Falkland Islands permanent resident can fly from MPA to anywhere in the world (for example on a LATAM flight) and then claim the cost of the ticket back from FIG?
”Does this mean that a Falkland Islands permanent resident can fly from MPA to anywhere in the world (for example on a LATAM flight) and then claim the cost of the ticket back from FIG?“
Dec 14th, 2018 - 04:51 pm 0Basically - yes!
Provided the cost of the flight is less than the travel credits accrued. You get £1 per day in your ”account” and can use any or all of it at any time subject to the criteria listed above.
Years ago, government employees were entitled to a return airfare to UK after a certain length of employment (2, 3, or 5 years depending on your seniority, I can't remember exactly). After a review in the 90's (I think), it was decided that this should be replaced by a system that benefitted all Falkland permanent residents. The system ran for a number of years until it was withdrawn for financial reasons, but has now been reinstated.
Under the previous system, a person who did not wish to travel (or was unable to for health or age related issues) could use their credit to pay for a relative to visit the Falklands from outside the islands, but this seems to have been removed, which I think is a bad decision.
Won't be necessary once the oil starts flowing?
Dec 15th, 2018 - 11:50 am 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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