A memorial and thanksgiving service to Baroness Thatcher was held in the Falkland Islands Wednesday afternoon at the local church a few hours after the main ceremony in London’s St Paul cathedral.
The Falkland Islands have spoken, and have spoken clearly and loud for all countries in the world to listen, said Ian Hansen, member of the elected Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly currently on a tour of Caribbean countries to deliver the message from the March 10/11 referendum.
Falkland Islands members of the Legislative Assembly have stressed the absolute need for a big turn out next March 10/11 when the Islanders will de deciding on their political status and future.
The Falkland Islands government at a public meeting defended their position of not including in the annual budget what they described as ‘windfalls’ from fishing and oil and instead adding the ‘exceptional” excess revenue to the Consolidated Fund.
Member of Legislative Assembly Ian Hansen will assume responsibility for the Falklands’ government Minerals portfolio after MLA Barry Elsby relinquished the post due to a conflict of interest. The brief release from Gilbert House adds that MLA Hansen has prior experience in the Minerals portfolio adding that MLA Jan Cheek will continue as the second portfolio holder.
With general elections scheduled in November, Falkland Island politicians are anxiously awaiting the recommendations of a Commission advising on the full-time or part-time status of elected representatives going forward, according to a piece published by the Jamaica Observer.
The issue of the political status of the self-governed British overseas territory Falkland Islands has dominated (non-relations) and relations since the British and Argentine war in 1982 after the Argentine military government invaded the Islands, writes Alicia Dunkley-Willis from the Jamaica Observer who recently visited the Falklands.
Chief Minister Fabian Picardo hosted the annual Gibraltar Government reception at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester on Sunday which was also attended by Falkland Islands Members of the Legislative Assembly, Jan Cheek and Ian Hansen.
The Falkland Islands Government stand at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Brighton welcomed a number of senior party members including the leader Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the Argentine ambassador in London, Alicia Castro who was also attending the event.
Members of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly Gavin Short and Sharon Halford are currently attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Plenary and Small Countries Conference in Sri Lanka.