Asked at a press conference on Wednesday why the Argentine Government had appeared to be against his appointment to the Falkland Islands, while also attempting to vilify him as someone who had previously opposed the right to self-determination of the inhabitants of another small island community, the newly-arrived governor, Mr Colin Roberts CVO, said that he was mystified by the logic and “would welcome illumination”.
The Plymouth based frigate, HMS Portland currently deployed on South Atlantic tasking reached this week South Africa's Cape Town where she was involved in promoting Britain and in charity activities. Previously she made a short stop in the Angolan capital, Luanda to highlight UK’s relationship with Angola and provide training to Angolan Navy personnel.
The leader of thousands of displaced Chagos islanders fighting Britain for a return to their Indian Ocean archipelago (Diego García) has said they will wage a joint diplomatic battle alongside Argentina as it seeks sovereignty over the Falklands, according to a report from The Telegraph credited to Hannah Strange.
At the Annual General Meeting of UKOTA (United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association) held on Wednesday, Gibraltar was elected Chair of UKOTA. Albert Poggio the Gibraltar Government’s United Kingdom Representative, will represent Gibraltar in this role.
Successful trade missions to Uruguay and Chile and the growing support and know-how links with Scotland for the development of the Falkland Islands oil and gas industry were mentioned as some of the 2013 highlights by Roger Spink, president of the Falklands Chamber of Commerce in his Christmas speech.
Britain accused the Argentine government on Tuesday of revving up a dispute over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands to try to divert public opinion attention away from the country's severe economic problems.
The British Government drew a historic parallel between Gibraltar and Spain’s north African enclaves in a parliamentary response this week. While recognizing that Ceuta and Melilla had a different constitutional relationship with Spain, Europe Minister David Lidington said the enclaves and Gibraltar both stemmed from “a distinct set of historical circumstances.”
Praise for the Falkland Islands last March referendum and encouragement for other Overseas Territories to hold similar referendums on their future, was included in the final communiqué from the annual UK/British Overseas Territories joint Ministerial Council held this week in London.
A Falkland Islands delegation made up of two members of the Legislative Assembly, Roger Edwards and Ian Hansen will be attending the second annual Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Conference (JMC) in London next week. The Falkland Islands’ delegation will also include HE the Governor Nigel Haywood, Jamie Fotheringham (Head of Policy), and Sukey Cameron (Representative in UK).
Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and other leaders of the British Overseas Territories have welcomed remarks by the Prime Minister David Cameron that Overseas Territories should not be described as tax havens.