| News Updates, Press Releases and Speeches 2007 | ||
| 21st December | 2008 - 2012 Islands Plan out for Consultation A draft Islands Plan, setting out the Falkland Islands Government's agenda for the next five years, has been issued for consultation with the community and stakeholders. The proposals will guide future business plans for Government departments and set targets and milestones. For more information see press release. [ Press Release... ] | |
| 21st December | Constitution Consultation satisfies FCO Advisers from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office have declared that they are more than happy with the consultative process undertaken by the Select Committee on the Falklands Constitution. A draft Constitution is now being prepared ready for further discussions in February. | |
| 10th December | Tourism Reaches a New High The Falkland Islands experienced its biggest ever cruise ship day on 4 December welcoming 3,779 passengers from three different vessels in to Stanley. Falkland Islands Tourist Board General Manager Jake Downing commented that despite the large demands placed on operators and local residents, the day was a great success. One tourist, from the United States said that Stanley was a wonderful, authentic destination, and had been the highlight of his cruise thus far. | |
| 6th December | UK Overseas Territories' Consultative Council Councillors Mike Summers and Janet Robertson attended the ninth Overseas Territories' Consultative Council which took place in London on 4-5 December. Issues discussed included the Overseas Territories' relationship with the UK, constitutional modernism, imigration issues and climate change. The event was hosted by Meg Munn, the FCO Minister for the Overseas Territories, who will visit the Falkland Islands in the New Year. [ Press Release... ] | |
| 27th November | By-election set for January A by-election for the Stanley constituency, which is represented by five Councillors, will take place on 3 January 2008 after Dr Richard Davies' seat on the Legislative Council became vacant. Dr. Davies had to vacate his seat due to a conflict of interest over his duties as Councillor and as acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO). The law does not allow senior officers, acting or substantive, to serve on Council. Dr Davies intends to seek re-election for the Stanley constituency and will no longer act as CMO. | |
| 27th November | MS Explorer Sinking The Falkland Islands Government was sad to learn of the sinking of the MS Explorer over the weekend, after the cruise ship hit an iceberg off Antarctica. All passengers and crew were rescued. The ship has been a regular visitor to the Falkland Islands since the 1970s. | |
| 27th November | Mine Clearance Study Completed The UK has announced the completion of a joint feasibility study with Argentina on the clearance of land mines in the Falkland Islands. The study concluded that mine clearance in the Falklands was possible, but would present significant technical challenges and risks. | |
| 27th November | £25,000 raised by Forces for Combat Stress Men and women serving with the British Forces in the Falklands have reached their target of raising £25,000 for the Charity Combat Stress. A range of fund-raising activities were undertaken to reach this target, including acts of stamina, strength and endurance along with social activities such as discos and quiz nights. | |
| 16th November | Pilgrimage a Huge Success 250 Falklands War veterans and family members of those who lost their lives in the Conflict took part in a pilgrimage to the Islands from 6 to 13 November. The visit was declared as a great success by everyone involved. The veterans were accommodated by local families and spent a busy week remembering and commemorating the events of 1982. Islanders had the chance to express their gratitude for the sacrifices made for their freedom. | |
| 16th November | First Chief Executive Dies The Falkland Islands Government's first Chief Executive, David Taylor CBE, has died at the age of 74. During his time as Chief Executive from 1983 to 1988, Mr Taylor led the Islands through the post-war reconstruction. He passed away in London this week following an illness which affected his lungs. A memorial service will be held in the UK in January. | |
| 6th November | Veterans Visit Two hundred and fifty Falklands war veterans have returned to the Islands this week to commemorate the 25th anniversary. The Veterans will visit and lay wreaths at battlefield sites and memorials and will join Falkland Islanders at remembrance services at the weekend. Remembrance Sunday will be observed in the Falkland Islands with a special service at the Liberation Monument on Saturday 10 November and with a memorial service in Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday 11 November. These services will be held in honour of the Liberation of the Falkland Islands 25 years ago and will reflect on the struggle and sacrifices made. | |
| 6th November | Air Service Review The FIG is considering the inclusion of helicopters in its future air service. This could relieve pressure on existing airframes and provide an opportunity to support the tourism industry by increasing the number of locations accessible via air. | |
| 6th November | British Ambassador to Chile to visit Falklands The British Ambassador to Chile, Howard Drake, is to visit the Falkland Islands on 17 November. Mr Drake will meet Councillors and discuss having a Chilean consul in the Islands. | |
| 6th November | New Fishing Alliance A new alliance of fishing companies, the Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association (FIFCA), has been established to represent the fishing industry as a whole. It is hoped that licensing reforms will lead to greater efficiency and prosperity. | |
| 6th November | Constitution Talks Representatives of the Foreign Office will visit the Falklands in December to discuss the report of the Select Committee on the Constitution. | |
| 6th November | Wind Farm's Contribution Grows The wind farm has been providing 25% of Stanley's electricity and its power is increasing. So far over 300,000 units of electricity have been generated by the turbines. | |
| 6th November | Elephant Seal Research Two Italian scientists are celebrating 12 years of continuous research of the elephant seals on Sea Lion Island. During this time they have studied population dynamics, breeding strategies, and the life histories of male and female elephant seals. | |
| 29th October | Falklands Conservation Grant Scheme Falklands Conservation is offering grants of up to £1,000 for projects that benefit conservation in the Falkland Islands. This scheme is now in its fourth year and gives grants for education projects and practical work. For further information on Falklands Conservation visit www.falklandsconservation.com. | |
| 24th October | UK Press Coverage Exhibition at Standard Chartered Bank From 5 - 16 November an exhibition of a selection of UK media coverage of the Falkland Islands will be on display at Standard Chartered Bank in Stanley. The publicity has been generated by Keene, the public relations consultancy for the Falkland Islands Government. [ Press Release... ] | |
| 17th October | New Protection Vessel for Falklands HMS Dumbarton Castle has been replaced by HMS Clyde. HMS Clyde will patrol the Falklands until at least 2012 and is capable of operating a variety of aircraft from her flight decks. | |
| 17th October | Good Potential for Oil and Gas Oil industry representatives, who met in the Falklands last week were optimistic about the prospects of finding oil and gas in the Islands. It is expected that there will be wells drilled within the next three years. | |
| 10th October | Falklands Oil and Gas Ltd Strikes Deal with BHP Billiton Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd has signed an agreement with BHP Billiton which ensures that a minimum of two exploration wells will be drilled in the next three years. | |
| 10th October | Falkland Islands Government Representatives Meet Prime Minister Councillors Ian Hansen and Mike Rendell along with the FIG UK Representative Sukey Cameron represented the Falklands at this year's Labour and Conservative Party Conferences, meeting the Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a reception at the former. The Falklands was mentioned in speeches by the General Secretary of the Labour Party and The Rt Hon William Hague MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. This is the twentieth year that the Falkland Islands Government has exhibited at Party Conferences. | |
| 10th October | Royal Marines arrive in Falklands Over the next two weeks a group of reservists from the Royal Marines will be in the Islands as part of an exercise organised by 1982 veteran Lt Col John Davies RM. The group will practice live firing and participate in battlefield tours. The exercise is being considered as a 'test run' for future training opportunities. | |
| 10th October | Falklands War Memorial Unveiled in Wales Hundreds of Falklands War veterans attended a ceremony to unveil the first Falklands war memorial in Wales. The memorial in Cathays Park, Cardiff consists of a stone inscribed with the names of every Welsh soldier who died. Councillors Hansen and Rendell were present at the unveiling ceremony and Councillor Hansen laid a wreath on behalf of the Falkland Islands Government and Islanders. | |
| 8th October | Cruise Visitors to Falklands Increase Dramatically Over 81,000 cruise ship passengers are projected to visit the Falklands in the coming tourism season which runs from October to April. This represents a dramatic 58% increase on the 2006/2007 season. | |
| 8th October | 3D Seismic Survey A new phase of seismic survey work has been announced by hydrocarbon exploration company Borders and Southern. Described as "the most extensive 3D seismic study ever conducted in this area", the survey area will measure approximately 1,500 sq km and is expected to start in October. | |
| 4th October | Replacement of Camp Telephone System Following recent meetings between representatives of Falkland Islands Government (FIG) and Cable and Wireless South Atlantic Ltd (C&W) agreement has been reached, subject to contract, on terms for the replacement of the Camp telephone system with a new and upgraded telephone service, offering broadband, from mid-late 2009. Heads of Understanding were signed by the parties on 4 October 2007. [ Press Release... ] | |
| 26thSeptember | Stanley Racecourse Secured The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) and the Falkland Islands Company Ltd (FIC) are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on a land exchange which will result in the whole of the historic Stanley Racecourse site being in Government ownership. [ Press Release... ] | |
| 25th;September | Remembering Major General Sir Jeremy Moore Flags will fly at half mast on 5 October to commemorate the funeral of the Commander of British Land Forces during the Falklands War, who has been described as "one of the Falklands' great heroes." | |
| 25th September | New Director of Health New Director of Health, Kathleen Bree, has taken up her position at the King Edward VII Hospital. Kathleen has had a successful career in the health services sector, mainly based in Scotland, and has also worked in New Zealand. | |
| 25th September | Andrew Gurr New Governor of St Helena Former Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands Government, Andrew Gurr, has been named as the new Governor of St Helena and will take up his new appointment in November. | |
| 25th September | New Rector Arrives in the Islands The new Rector of Christ Church Cathedral, Revd Dr Richard Hines, arrives in the Islands on 26 September to be installed as Rector of the Falkland Islands. Richard will be accompanied by his wife Jen. | |
| 25th September | Oil Operator Meeting Representatives of five oil companies will arrive in the Islands at the end of September for a series of joint operator meetings with FIG, private sector and military representatives as well as holding a public meeting. | |
| 25th September | Falklands Plant Conservation Programme Falklands Conservation have started a new initiative, the Falklands Plant Conservation Programme, to protect the 13 plant species endemic to the Islands. The programme is funded by the Overseas Territory Environment Programme, the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Studies Budget. British biologist Dr Rebecca Upson has been recruited to lead the two-year programme. | |
| 20th September | Wind Farm Shows Results Sand Bay Wind Farm is already creating substantial savings on fuel consumption at the power station and is only running at a third of its capacity. Three turbines have come online during August and are producing 23% of the electricity used during the night and 13% of the daytime consumption, which is already saving between 800 and 1,000 litres of fuel per day. | |
| 6th September | Falkland Islands Tourism Board Appoints General Manager The FITB has appointed Jake Downing to the post of General Manager. Mr Downing will take up his position in November, moving to the Islands from New Zealand where he is responsible for the management and development of eight visitor information centres across Auckland and surrounding islands. Jake Downing will join the existing FITB office team based in Stanley of Liz Dimmlich, Tourism Development Coordinator, and Steph Middleton, Tourism Assistant. [ Visit: www.visitorfalklands.com ] | |
| 4th September | New Head Teacher Arrives in Islands Alastair Baldwin, the Community School's new head teacher, has arrived in the Falklands. He is preparing to start his new job by meeting colleagues and getting to know the school. Mr Baldwin has previously taught in Zimbabwe, the UK, India, Qatar, Thailand, China and Mozambique. | |
| 4th September | Arts and Crafts Workshops In September craft workshops will be taking place in Stanley and Camp to teach Falkland Islanders a whole range of textile skills, including weaving, spinning and dyeing. The classes will be taught be Andrew Johnson, who has extensive textiles experience and has taught in higher education in the UK as well as working as a handicraft adviser in St Helena. The workshops are being supported by the Shackleton Scholarship Fund and being organised by the Guild of Spinners. | |
| 4th September | World First for Aquaculture Project The Aquaculture Project's zebra trout have spawned in captivity, which is not believed to have happened anywhere else in the world. This is an important step in the culture of this species as if a species cannot or will not reproduce in captivity it is of limited aquaculture potential. | |
| 30th August | Falkland Islands Government appoints new Chief Executive The Falkland Islands Government is delighted to announce that, following a comprehensive recruitment process, His Excellency The Governor has agreed to the appointment of Tim Thorogood as its next Chief Executive. Normal pre-contract formalities will now begin but it is expected that Mr. Thorogood will arrive in the Islands, with his wife, Alison, in January 2008. Tim has extensive experience in local government in the UK having been a Director with Three Rivers District Council and the London Borough of Haringey before becoming Chief Executive of Swansea City and County Council in March 2003. He is currently Chief Executive of the Local Government Information Unit, a national policy and service improvement organisation aimed at strengthening local government in the UK, which post he has held since July 2006. In welcoming the appointment, Council spokesperson, Cllr. Mike Summers commented: "This is a key appointment to the Government, and one that requires energy, enthusiasm and commitment as well as relevant skills and experience. Councillors are satisfied that we have found the right person for the next stage of our development, and look forward to working with Tim to carry out the programmes and projects in hand. The Falkland Islands is an exciting place to live and work, and we will continue to strive together to ensure that it remains an attractive place for residents and visitors alike." | |
| 28th August | Falklands Airbridge Flights From October, Air Partner will run the airbridge service from Brize Norton to the Falklands. It will use Omni Air International which will operate a DC10 aircraft which has been fitted to provide 272 seats. | |
| 3rd August | New Overseas Territories Minister Confirms UK Sovereignty Meg Munn MP, the new Minister responsible for Overseas Territories, met Cllr Summers and Cllr Hansen during their recent visit to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. The Minister confirmed that there is no doubt about the UK sovereignty of the Falklands. The UK Government's policy towards the Falklands under Gordon Brown is consistent with the policy of Tony Blair's administration. | |
| 3rd August | Loligo Season Underway The Director of Fisheries John Barton has reported that the Loligo season has commenced with modest catches. | |
| 3rd August | Falklands Scouts Attend Centenary Celebrations Three members of the Falklands Scout Group attended the 21st World Scout Jamboree on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour to celebrate the centenary of the scouting movement. Other members of the group took part in a sunrise ceremony in Stanley, joining 28 million other scouts in 158 countries around the world. | |
| 25th July | New First Secretary at Government House Paul Martinez, from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has arrived in the Falklands to take up the position of First Secretary at Government House. Paul replaces Harriet Hall, who continues to be based at Government House but is now working full time for the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. | |
| 25th July | Falkland Illex Fishery Breaks Records The senior fisheries scientist has reported that the total Falkland Illex catch for this year achieved 161.5 thousand tonnes of squid, the highest annual catch since 2000. In terms of catch per vessel day, 2007 has been the best season ever. | |
| 25th July | Glass Recycling Starts in Stanley His Excellency the Governor, Mr Alan Huckle, was the first to test new glass imploders which have arrived in Stanley. The technology should ensure that the 230 tonnes of glass bottles, that are thrown out per year, will no longer end up as land fill but will be used instead as building material. | |
| 25th July | HMS Southampton's Official Visit to Stanley HMS Southampton made an official visit to Stanley as part of her deployment in the South Atlantic. HMS Southampton will be stationed in the Falklands until the end of October. | |
| 5th July | Interim Chief Executive Appointed FIG is pleased to announce that Dr. Michael Blanch, who was Chief Executive for three years ending in March 2003, will be returning to the Islands as Interim Chief Executive at the end of September for a period of 3 months pending the appointment of a permanent successor to Chris Simpkins who will leave on 12th September to take up a new appointment in the UK. Councillors carefully considered options to maintain leadership of the civil service and continuity of the government's programme and are very pleased that Dr. Blanch is able to return for a short period. He will be accompanied by his wife, Penny, and will leave early in the New Year. | |
| 5th July | Falkland Islands Cricket Association Affiliated to the ICC The Falkland Islands Cricket Association has been awarded Affiliate membership of the ICC. The cricket team are on tour in the UK from 10-16 July. | |
| 5th July | Falklands Team in Rhodes for 2007 Island Games Falkland competitors have arrived in Rhodes to take part in the twelfth Island Games. Clay target shooters, golfers and swimmers are representing the Falklands. | |
| 5th July | Albatross Conservation Continues Falklands Conservation is continuing to raise awareness of the plight of the albatross. Seabird ecologists and conservationists are collecting data vital to conservation efforts through satellite transmitters which have been attached to three young black-browed albatross. On 25 June the BBC's Saving Planet Earth series featured a programme on the albatross which was filmed in the Falklands and presented by Carol Thatcher. | |
| 29th June | Councillors at UN Decolonisation Talks The United Nations Decolonisation Committee was addressed by Falklands Councillors Ian Hansen and Richard Davies, who argued against Argentina's claim to the Falklands and asserted the Islanders right to self-determination. | |
| 29th June | Former AG Awarded Birthday Honour Former Attorney General, Mr David Lang CBE QC has been awarded a CMG for services to law in the Falkland Islands in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. | |
| 29th June | HRH The Earl of Wessex at Liberation Commemorations HRH Prince Edward has expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome from the Falkland Islanders during his week-long visit to the Islands for the Liberation commemorations. | |
| 29th June | Wind Farm Officially Opened The Sand Bay Wind Farm was officially opened by HRH Prince Edward during his recent visit to the Islands. The scheme is predicted to reduce diesel fuel usage by 20%. | |
| 29th June | Service of Commemoration and Remembrance at Pangbourne A Service of Commemoration and Remembrance took place on 14 June at the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne. The service was preceded by a flypast of Harrier aircraft and after the service, Her Majesty The Queen laid a stone on the memorial Cairn dedicated in memory of the people who died serving their country. | |
| 29th June | Annual Reception at Lincoln's Inn The Falkland Islands Government Annual Reception at Lincoln's Inn on 14 June was attended by over 400 guests. Falkland Islands Government UK Representative, Sukey Cameron MBE, addressed the guests. This was followed by a performance of Beating Retreat by the Band of the Parachute Regiment. | |
| 29th June | Falklands Expo Over 600 people visited the Falklands Expo, an event held in Stanley, to show what the Islands have achieved in the last 25 years. It showcased businesses, charities and community organisations. | |
| 29th June | Flourishing Tourism Industry Tourism to the Falklands is flourishing, in particular the cruise ship sector. Visitor figures have increased by 13% compared to the previous tourism season with Americans remaining the nationality most keen to visit the Islands. | |
| 27th June | Falkland Islands Government Exhibiting at Royal Show The FIG will be exhibiting at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire from 1-4 July. Visitors to the show will be able to find out how the Falklands has developed since 1982 into a dynamic UK Overseas Territory which is diversifying its rural economy to achieve sustainable development. [ Press Release... ] | |
| 14th June | Liberation Day Falkland Islands Government conveys "undiminished" gratitude to British Forces on Liberation Day. [ Full text... ] | |
| 5th June | Falklands Represented at UN Decolonisation Seminar Cllr Richard Davies addressed a United Nations Seminar on Decolonisation in Grenada and responded to a statement made by the Argentine delegation, who were also in attendance. | |
| 5th June | Falklands Cookery Book Launch Natural Ingredients: Taste of the Falkland Islands, a coffee table recipe book showcasing the wonderful landscapes and natural produce of the Islands was launched at Falkland House, London on 30 May. [ Press Release... ] | |
| 5th June | New Appointments Several new appointments have been confirmed: Kathleen Bree will take up the position of Director of Health Services in July; Captain Stephan Koehler has been appointed General Manager of the internal air service, FIGAS and will also take up his post in July; [ Press Release... ] ; and Chief Inspector Paul Elliott has been appointed Chief Police Officer of the Royal Falkland Islands Police Force. [ Press Release... ] The Council of Christ Church Cathedral has also announced the appointment of a new Rector, the Revd Dr Richard Hines, who will arrive in the Islands later this year. [ Press Release... ] | |
| 5th June | 25th Anniversary Coin Collection Minted Baroness Thatcher and Sir Rex Hunt, Governor of the Falklands in 1982, have launched a special collection of coins to mark the 25th anniversary of the Liberation of the Falklands. The coins have been minted by Pobjoy Mint Ltd and will be legal tender in the Falklands. All Falklands school children will receive a commemorative 50-pence piece. | |
| 5th June | Falklands Constitutional Review Progresses The Final Report of the Select Committee on the Constitution has been sent to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). A team from the FCO will visit the Islands to discuss the constitutional review and once a new constitution has been drafted, further public consultation will be held in the Islands. | |
| 5th June | Falklands Wind Farm Under Construction The first tower for the Stanley wind farm has been erected, marking another step towards the construction of the wind farm which, when completed, should supply the capital with 20% of its electricity. | |
| 24th May | Governor's Annual Address 2007 H.E. The Governor Alan Huckle gave his annual state of the nation address on 24 May. He observed that the 25th anniversary of the liberation of the Falklands is a time to commemorate the sacrifices made and to showcase today's modern Falklands. [ Full text... ] | |
| 16th May | New Attorney General Appointed The FIG is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr David Pickup as its new Attorney General. Mr Pickup is currently Director General of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, prior to which he was the Solicitor for Customs and Excise. He will take up his appointment in the Islands on 1st September 2007. Commenting on the appointment, Chief Executive, Chris Simpkins said: "The Falkland Islands Government is extremely fortunate to have attracted such a high calibre candidate to this important post. David comes with excellent references and a wealth of experience at the highest level in government having managed large legal teams and some very high profile cases on behalf of Her Majesty's Government. His skills and experience will be a great asset and I'm looking forward to working with him." | |
| 16th May | Falklands in Focus - Remembering and Developing A photographic exhibition depicting the Falkland Islands will open to the public on 22 May at the Civic Centre Foyer, Southampton. The display, "Falklands in Focus - Remembering and Developing", will impress visitors with a selection of images by professional and amateur photographers, who share their personal views of the enduring beauty and character of the Falkland Islands. Sukey Cameron MBE, the Falkland Islands Government UK Representative, will be at the opening of the exhibition. Sukey Cameron said: "This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict and this exhibition is an opportunity to reflect and say thank you to those who fought for our freedom and also to show how the Islands have developed since 1982. Whenever I am back in the Falklands, I can never get over the hues of the scenery and the vast skies. I hope these images inspire other people to experience the Islands true beauty and to take their own pictures of Falklands' life." The exhibition will be open weekdays from 9am to 6pm from Tuesday 22 May to Friday 1 June, excluding Bank Holiday Monday 28 May. | |
| 23rd April | Plant Conservation Programme Receives Funding Environmental charity Falklands Conservation has received funding from the Overseas Territories Environmental Programme for a two year plant conservation programme. Projects include the identification of important plant areas and the production of habitat maps as well as a rotational grazing trial to assess the potential effect of grazing on farm profitability and native plants. The latter will be carried out in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Elephant Beach Farm. | |
| 19th April | Falklands Forum Success On 18 April the Falkland Islands Government hosted a business Forum at the QEII Conference Centre, London. The Forum focused on the economic achievements of the last 25 years and the potential for the future. [ Press Release 19th April ] [ Press Release 18th April ] [ Press Release 16th January ] | |
| 28th March | Statement on Argentine next-of-kin The Falkland Islands Government has agreed that, following discussions between the British Embassy in Buenos Aires and the Argentine Families Commission, it would be appropriate for there to be a next of kin visit to the Argentine cemetery at Darwin later this year. The event would be intended to provide a dignified, fitting and private commemoration by the families of the Argentine armed forces who died in the conflict. The Families Commission and the British Embassy is developing ideas for the commemorative event. The Falkland Islands Government, who are the democratically elected representatives of the Islands, has always welcomed visits of next of kin. Gilbert House, 28 March 2007 | |
| 23rd February | Squid Return to Zones After a slow start to the season, squid catches are improving in Falklands waters. Senior Fisheries Scientist Sasha Arkhipkin said that several days of strong north westerly winds had brought both warm water and squid into the Falklands fishing zone. | |
| 23rd February | World's Most Southerly Marathon in Third Year The third Standard Chartered Bank Stanley Marathon took place on 18 March. Twenty eight competitors raced with a further twelve teams of four competing in a relay. Hugh Marsden won the race for the third time, completing the distance in 3 hours and five minutes. The 2008 race is scheduled for 16 March. | |
| 23rd February | Financial Support for Prospective Commonwealth Games Competitors Falkland Island Holdings and the Caribbean Alliance Insurance Company have announced a joint four year financial package to assist Falklands competitors in their quest to qualify for the 20th Commonwealth Games in New Dehli in 2010. The funding will finance a series of sporting scholarships for young Falkland Islanders as well as new equipment and the upgrading of sporting facilities. | |
| 20th February | Development of Port Facilities The Falkland Islands Development Corporation has appointed Royal Haskoning to draw up a port development plan to improve facilities at the existing site. The plan will need to take account of the growth of containerised traffic, the continued increase in cruise ship visits and the potential for further hydrocarbons exploration. | |
| 20th February | New Environmental Planning Officer Andrea Wright has arrived in the Falklands to take up her new role as Environmental Planning Officer within the Falkland Islands Government Secretariat. She previously worked for a local authority in Kent in a planning policy role and has a background in environmental issues. | |
| 20th February | Welsh Documentary Project Welsh writer Desmond Barry and Uruguayan photographer Diego Vidart have travelled to the Islands from Cardiff to create visual and written diaries of their experience of the Falklands. The trip is part sponsored by the Shackleton Scholarship Fund. The completed work will be displayed in the Wales Millennium Centre in May and June. | |
| 9th February | HMS Clyde Enters Royal Navy HMS Clyde, the new Falklands patrol vessel, has been officially accepted into service by the Royal Navy following a service held in Portsmouth on 31 January. HMS Clyde and her company will continue to prepare for her deployment to the Falklands later this year. HMS Clyde is expected to remain in the Falklands until 2012. | |
| 9th February | 20th Anniversary of Falklands Fishery February marks the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Falklands fishery. On 24 February there will be a mass gathering of Falkland Islands-registered fishing vessels to commemorate the occasion. The first fishing zone around the Islands was declared in October 1986 and the fishing license regime came into force on 1 February 2007. To celebrate the success of the fishery, the Post Office has released a special commemorative stamp issue depicting vessels and fishermen at work. Later this year a special coin will also be released. | |
| 30th January | Commemorative Visits Planned The 2007 Committee has announced plans to commemorate the 25th Anniversary in the Islands. Among the guests who have been invited to visit from 12-18 June,are former Governor Sir Rex Hunt, Lord Parkinson, a member of Baroness Thatcher's Cabinet who will represent the former Prime Minister, veterans, representatives of the Falkland Families Association and the Falkland Islands Association. A member of the Royal Family and the Armed Forces Minister will also be joining in the commemorations which will include memorial services, the unveiling of a new memorial and community events. Veterans Minister Derek Twigg will visit the Islands in November as part of the Veterans pilgrimage. | |
| 30th January | New Anglican Bishop Archbishop Dr Rowan Williams has appointed the Rt Revd Stephen Venner, Bishop of Dover, as his Episcopal Commissary for the Falkland Islands. Bishop Stephen will be the Anglican Bishop for the Falklands, under the authority of the Archbishop. He will take part in the 25th Anniversary Liberation Day service in Christ Church Cathedral, Stanley in June. | |
| 30th January | New Road for West Falkland The Governor H.E. Alan Huckle has officially opened the newest road on West Falkland. The West Falkland road infrastructure programme has made remarkable progress and most farms are now linked by the road network. The FIG has now built over 800km of road in Camp during the last 25 years. | |
| 30th January | New Head of FIDC Arrives The new head of the Falkland Islands Development Cooperation, Mark Brunet, has arrived in the Falklands. Mr Brunet is formerly a director of a flagship business enterprise support service covering West Sussex, eastern Surrey and parts of East Sussex and Kent which is operated by the Sussex Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise under a contract with the South East England Development Agency. | |
| 30th January | Art Exhibition Opens at FIGO An exhibition of watercolour, acrylic and oil paintings of Falklands wildlife by artist Jackie Garner has opened at Falkland House in London. The exhibition will run until 13 April | |
| 25th January | Royals Visit Falklands HRH Princess Anne and her husband Rear Admiral Timothy Laurence spent two days in the Falklands meeting Government officials, residents and representatives from business, conservation and tourism sectors. The Royal couple also laid wreaths at the Liberation Monument as part of a ceremony on 14 January. | |
| 25th January | Falklands Fishery is 'Seabird Friendly' The fisheries department is working closely with Falklands Conservation and the fishing industry to ensure that seabird friendly practices are adhered to. This partnership work has resulted in the achievement of the target set to reduce seabird mortality in the five year National Plan of Action - Seabirds a year ahead of schedule. | |
| 25th January | Tourist Visitor Numbers in the Thousands This month the Islands have welcomed thousands of cruise ship visitors from a number of vessels which have called in to Stanley, Carcass Island and New Island. | |
| 16th January | 2007 Falklands Forum - Opportunities for the Future The Falkland Islands Government is holding a one day forum in London on 18 April. The event will raise awareness of the Islands and its promising commercial growth and investment prospects, particularly in the areas of oil and mineral exploration, fisheries, agriculture and tourism. [ Press Release... ] | |
