Ten years ago, the people of the Falkland Islands participated in a landmark referendum, overseen by international observers, to determine their political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. The question posed was, “Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status?” and an overwhelming 99.8% of voters, on a 92% turnout, chose to remain a self-governing territory of the UK.
Members of the Legislative Assembly are disappointed to hear of Argentina’s decision to put an end to the “Foradori-Duncan Pact” of 2016. This pact looked at improving relations on trade and security between the UK and Argentina but it also ensured the agreement to identify the remains of the unknown Argentine soldiers buried near Darwin.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly wrote on Twitter that the Falkland “islanders have the right to decide their own future: they have chosen to remain an autonomous British Overseas Territory,” and therefore “the Falkland Islands are British.”
UK's news agency Press Association has interviewed the current chair of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, MLA Teslyn Barkman on the 40th anniversary of the Falklands' war and the ninth, on the self-determination referendum from March 2013.
Argentina's main leader and vice-president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner recalled on Sunday in Twitter that her government strongly supported Ukraine back in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, but also complained about the double standard of the great powers in their stance regarding the Falkland/Malvinas Islands issue.
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.
By Dov S. Zakheim (*)This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War. Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory, on April 2, 1982.
Next Thursday, 24 September, Falklanders will be going to the polls to vote on a referendum on a Single electoral Constituency for the whole archipelago. Currently, there are two constituencies in the Falklands, Stanley the capital, which elects five of the eight members of the Legislative Assembly, and the so-called Camp, which represents the rest of the territory and sends three representatives.
The Falkland Islands Government on Friday moved to the next stage of its response to the global COVID-19 situation. While there are still no confirmed cases on the Islands, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Rebecca Edwards, says it is now likely COVID-19 is present here.
The Falkland Islands Government announced on Thursday that a referendum will be held on Thursday, 26 March 2020. On that date, the electorate will be asked to vote on whether there should be two constituencies, Stanley and Camp, or if there should be one constituency for the whole of the Falkland Islands.