By Dominic O’Connell, The Times- Head north from the Falkland Islands, across the South Atlantic waves where albatross wheels and whales sound, and you pass over what could be a big new oil province — a significant source of hydrocarbons controlled not by sheiks or oligarchs, but by the United Kingdom.
On Tuesday the Falklands government in an official release reiterated the need for human rights and democratic liberties of the Falklands' nation to be respected, particularly self-determination.
Britain allegedly thanked Argentina for its offer of two humanitarian flights so that Falkland Islands residents could visit relatives, mainly in Chile, or for other reasons during the holidays season, but the UK also recalled that air links with the Islands are the exclusive responsibility of the Falklands' elected government.
The Falkland Islands Government has invited the public to welcome the RRS Sir David Attenborough as it makes its maiden voyage into the Falkland Islands on Thursday 9 December 2021.
The Falkland Islands Government yesterday published its budget for the upcoming financial year, describing it as a prudent budget that focuses on stability and continuity. The budget forecasts operating expenditure of £78.3m and revenues of £92.2m, as well as a capital programme totalling £53.5m for the upcoming financial year.
Falkland Islands European Union exports are now subject to tariffs due to the UK not obtaining an agreement on behalf of the Falklands in relation to Brexit. On Wednesday, Legislative Assembly members released an opinion piece that expressed disappointment and frustration.
In light of the recent unavoidable disruptions to the South Atlantic Air Bridge (SAA) schedule, British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) have been looking at options to increase the frequency of access to Southbound flights for Falkland Islands Government (FIG) fare-paying passengers.
The Falkland Islands Government confirmed its commitment to delivering its capital program, despite some disruption caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The approved total capital program is valued at £130m over five years and there is significant work on-going to deliver critical infrastructure projects.
Some key changes within the Falkland Islands' Budget for 2020/21 from July 1, 2020, unless stated otherwise a 1.5% pay increase for Government employees.
This Sunday we will mark Liberation Day, the day when we commemorate, and indeed celebrate, the liberation of these Islands from Argentine invasion in 1982.