For the first time the Falkland Islands have underlined the significance of the hydrocarbons industry as a fully integrated sector of the local economy as it effectively and successfully moves from the exploration to the exploitation stage with first shipments scheduled for 2017. At the same time it regrets that South American companies are not participating of the logistical opportunities because of Argentine interference.
Argentine tourists have staged a British invasion, with record numbers flying in to the UK in the last year, according to an article by Matt Chorley published in the Daily Mail. The influx of more than 100.000 visitors, up more than a quarter year-on-year, comes despite renewed tensions between the two countries over the status of the Falkland Islands.
Donald Lamont, a former British ambassador and former governor of the Falkland Islands took over as chairman of the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust. He replaces Philippa Foster Back, who retires from the position having served as trustee since 2000 and chair for the past seven years.
Gibraltar veteran Minister Joe Bossano launched a scathing attack on to the record of the UN Committee of Decolonization or C24 claiming it is consistently falling to do the work it is tasked with: decolonising the territories on its list.
The Specialist Oil & Gas Advisor for the Falkland Islands Government (FIG), Anne Drinkwater has stated that the Falkland Islands are an attractive location for the oil and gas industry and has praised FIG five year plan which sets the desired economic and social context for development generally.
Falkland Islands Government Director of Natural Resources John Barton said that he is confident that there won’t be any repetition in the future of recent offences by companies licensed to fish in Falklands waters.
The Falkland Islands are only asking the international community to support the fundamental human right of Falkland Islanders to choose their own form of government, to exercise their right to self determination, said lawmaker Mike Summers during his presentation at the United Nations Decolonization Committee (24) Caribbean regional seminar, in reference to the recent referendum held in the Islands, whose sovereignty is disputed by the UK and Argentina.
As from 2016 the British Overseas Territory of St Helena in the mid Atlantic will have regular flight connections when the island’s first airport opens which opens a magnificent opportunity for promoting tourism and for Saints living overseas to visit their homeland.
“The Malvinas Islands are not only Argentine, they are Latinamerica”, said Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa who claimed it was time to put an end to the ‘colonial situation’ of the disputed Islands in the South Atlantic and blasted the Organization of American States, OAS for dragging its feet on this and other crucial issues for the continent.
An expert in the Falklands/Malvinas Islands dispute and professional diplomat has been accepted as the new Argentine ambassador in Ireland. Silvia Maria Merega has held important posts at the Organization of American States in Washington, before the European Union and at the Argentine embassy in the US.