HOME PAGE Falkland Focus News from the Falkland Islands Government Number: 66 - September/October 1998	Cable and Wireless - Provides Global Access
British Business in the Falkland Islands, and News in Brief PAGE 1 The Right to Self-Determination - United Nations Hears the Falkland Islands Case, and Students Become BBC News Editors For A Day PAGE 2 Oil Update, and Focus on Fisheries

British Business in the Falkland Islands

British companies continue to have a strong presence in the Islands, benefiting from our burgeoning economy.

Telecommunications: Cable & Wireless

Cable & Wireless has managed an operation in the Islands since 1974 providing all national and international telecommunications services. Cable & Wireless employs around 40 staff, 90 per cent of whom are local residents. The company has installed a telephone service across the Islands and launched local access to the Internet in late 1997. Steve Baker, the company's General Manager in Stanley, says: "Next year we will be celebrating 25 years of service to the Falkland Islands. This has spanned a period when the economy of the country has changed dramatically from the pre-1982 wool and agricultural base to the healthy economy of today."

Solicitors: Ledingham Chalmers

Aberdeen-based Ledingham Chalmers celebrated ten years in the Falkland Islands in August this year. The company provides a full range of legal services to the commercial sector and general public, as well as having particular expertise in oil and the construction sector. Six UK solicitors have worked in the Islands, one of whom is married to an Islander.

Banking: Standard Chartered Bank

Standard Chartered Bank, which opened an office in Stanley in 1983, is the only bank in the Islands and has a staff of 16 people. It provides a comprehensive banking service to both personal and corporate residents in the Islands and through its worldwide network of branches can offer access to international trade and payment systems.

Accountancy: Consultancy Services Falklands Ltd

Consultancy Services which opened its doors in 1986 provides accounting, taxation and financial advisory services to the Falklands business community. It is owned by partners of Deloitte & Touche. Managing Director, Drew Irvine says: "The combination of our local knowledge, together with access to the international resources of Deloitte & Touche and close links to their Aberdeen office, makes us uniquely placed to serve both local business needs and the growing international needs of the fishing and oil sectors."

Accountancy: Wilkins Kennedy

Chartered Accountants Wilkins Kennedy based in London and the South-East have announced plans to open a permanent office in the Islands. Ian Sheekey, a partner, says: "With the growth of the local economy in recent times resulting from the healthy fishing industry and now the influx of new businesses from oil exploration, I consider this to be an ideal time to establish a permanent presence."

Couriers: DHL Worldwide Express

The Falkland Islands were added to DHL's global network in 1995 to provide a fast and reliable method of transportation to and from the Islands. Its representative in Stanley is the Falkland Islands Chamber of Commerce. Trevor Mitchell, DHL's Area General Manager, says: "Demand for the DHL service has grown steadily since 1995 and we are committed to supporting further growth to improve and expand our service to our customers in the Islands."

News in Brief

Landmines

The British Parliament's commitment to the Ottawa Convention (the international ban on anti-personnel land mines) compels it to remove weapons on its territory within 10 years. An estimated 18,000 mines, laid by Argentina during the 1982 Conflict, remain in the Falkland Islands. All the mine fields are safely fenced-off and no civilian has ever been hurt. Argentina has offered to remove the mines, but no-one can guarantee 100 per cent clearance and the areas remain off limits. Until total clearance is possible the Falkland Islands Government believes that it could be futile, as well as dangerous, to attempt to clear the mine fields and re-open the areas.

LanChile Celebrates First Anniversary


It is a year since the first LanChile flight between Santiago and the Falklands. Since then a total of over 3000 passengers have used the weekly service, an average of 60 passengers per round trip.

Record Team Entering The Commonwealth Games

The Falkland Islands sent a ten strong team to the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 11 September - 21 September. The team consisted of two badminton players, seven shooters and one marathon runner. The team had two weeks to acclimatise to the humid conditions. The Falklands Islands has now been represented at every Commonwealth Games since 1982.

Islands' Students Come to the UK for Further Study

Following success in their GCSEs, ten students are continuing their education in the UK. Six students are commencing A level courses at either Peter Symonds School in Winchester or at Kings College Taunton; two students are attending Bicton Agricultural College in Devon; one student is studying for an International Baccalaureate at Atlantic College in South Wales and one student is studying Electrical Installation at Loughborough College.

Forthcoming Events

The Falkland Islands Government will be attending the following Party Conferences: Labour 27/9 - 2/10 at Blackpool, Conservative 6/10 - 9/10 at Bournemouth.



PAGE 1 The Right to Self-Determination - United Nations Hears the Falkland Islands Case, and Students Become BBC News Editors For A Day
PAGE 2 Oil Update, and Focus on Fisheries





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