The annual Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) between the United Kingdom Government and the Governments of the Overseas Territories is taking place virtually this week with the involvement of lawmaker MLA Teslyn Barkman in representation of the Falkland Islands.
The Falkland Islands' government has released new information on the current state of the Capital Development Program, saying that progress has been good despite the disruption from Covid-19.
By John Fowler (*) – The selective amnesia of successive Argentine governments never ceases to amaze. Last week, during universal rejoicing in the Falklands that the eleven year-long demining campaign had finally come to a successful conclusion, the Argentine Government was complaining about it in Geneva.
Commodore Jonathan Lett of the Royal Navy officially took over as the new Commander of British Forces for the South Atlantic Islands November 20. He replaces the outgoing Commander, Brigadier Nick Sawyer as head of Mount Pleasant Complex in the Falkland Islands.
As anticipated, the Argentine government objected to the mines' clearance effort announced by the United Kingdom in Geneva for having been addressed “unilaterally in Argentine territory illegitimately occupied” and in violation of UN Resolution 3149 which calls on both sides to abstain from any unilateral action in the disputed territories.
The United Kingdom made the official presentation in Geneva before the 18th meeting of the States parties Antipersonnel mine ban Convention of the successful Falkland Islands Demining, an eleven-year program which culminated in the clearance of 122 minefields, and was celebrated by the Islands' community last Saturday 14 November.
On 18 November the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) and the Government of the British Antarctic Territory (BAT) are celebrating the inaugural Polar Pride Day. This day demonstrates a commitment to support and enhance Diversity in Polar Science.
Uruguayan authorities have pledged to respond to complaints from the Spanish fleet fishing in the South Atlantic and which normally operates from the port of Montevideo where they call for supplies and cargo transshipments.
As a result of the significant operational and financial risks presented by the global pandemic, the Falkland Islands Meat Company, FIMCo, in consultation with the autonomous government of the Islands, FIG, and elected lawmakers, MLAs, has made the decision not to employ any overseas meat workers this summer.
Today 14 November 2020. the Falkland Islands have been officially declared mine-free, almost 40 years after the end of the Falkland Islands war. The minefield danger signs and fences that were once the hallmark of the invasion have all finally been removed, and the community is again free to enjoy some of the Islands’ most beautiful areas which have been off-limits since 1982.