The Argentine yacht “La Sanmartiniana”, which had been spotted and rescued, abandoned in the high seas, October 2015 by a Falklands Fisheries Protection patrol finally left the Islands on Sunday morning 27 November and is in route to Mar del Plata with a stop in Puerto Deseado, reported Robert King, Falkland Islands government Collector of Customs, Registar of Ships, Shipping Master, Receiver of Wreck and Admiralty Marshal.
The Falkland Islands Government announced that on Wednesday the Executive Council approved the Terms of Reference to update the Falkland Islands Economic Development Strategy. The existing EDS was published in October 2010 following an extensive, two-year consultation process, and was intended to provide a blueprint for economic growth and development to 2025.
The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) has welcomed the agreement made between the Argentine and United Kingdom Governments, laid out under this morning’s joint statement. Speaking to the media, Members of the Falkland’s Legislative Assembly stated they “looked forward to a better relationship with Argentina”, especially in the areas of hydrocarbons, fisheries, shipping and tourism.
The Falkland Islands Government has acknowledged it is aware of media coverage of Argentine foreign minister Susana Malcorra referred to proposals of possible air links between the Islands and Argentina as well as talks on other areas of interest such as the fishing and hydrocarbons industries.
The commercialisation of the Sea Lion Oil Field off the Falkland Island’s continues to take steps forward as Premier Oil prepares a detailed project proposal to be submitted to the Falkland Island’s Government (FIG). Premier Oil has been undertaking public consultations in the Falklands over the past week as part of their Environmental Impact Assessment, which will support their application to FIG to proceed with oil development.
The Falkland Islands government has made a public statement pointing out that the UK Government has been open and transparent with FIG about how it would like to improve the bilateral relationship with Argentina but ”has made it clear that this will not include negotiations on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.”
The Falkland Islands Government said on Friday it will be working with the public and private sector to further investigate the impact of Brexit on the Islands.
The Falkland Islands and Argentina will be making their case on Thursday in New York before the United Nations Special Decolonization Committee, or C24, an annual event where the Islanders demand recognition of their right to self determination, as clearly expressed in the UN charter for all peoples of the world.
The Falkland Island’s Government (FIG) announced yesterday that a conditional offer of employment had been accepted in principle by Mr. Barry Rowland for the position of Chief Executive. Current FIG Chief Executive, Keith Padgett, is retiring later this year after serving as head of the civil service for the past 5 years.
Falkland Islands remains hopeful of improved relations with the new administration of Argentina and cooperation in the many areas of mutual interest such as fisheries and connectivity, but sovereignty of the Falklands is not for negotiation, reads the Gilbert House report to the 46th British Isles and Mediterranean Region Conference, which opened on Sunday in Jersey.