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Falkland Focus
News from the Falkland Islands Government
Number: 71 - April/May 2001

UKOTA Members outside the Commission Office for Development, Brussels.

PAGE 1

The Islands Plan – A Confident Future For The Falklands

British Parliamentary Visits - Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers; MPs Visit

PAGE 2

Focus on... Public Works Department - The Islands Highways; Capital Projects; The Environment; Departmental Objectives

Falkland Islands Focus on Quality; New Abattoir on Schedule; Going Organic; Diversification Continues as Reindeer Arrive

PAGE 3

UK Representative to Chair UKOTA

News In Brief: General Election on 22 November 2001; New Census; UK Media Visits to the Falklands; Conservation on the Curriculum; Destinations 2001; New Visitors Guide to the Falkland Islands; Tristar Flight Schedule Changes; Falkland Islands Internet Portal - Live in April

UK Representative to Chair UKOTA

Sukey Cameron, the Falkland Islands Government UK Representative, has been appointed Chair of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA) for the coming year. UKOTA, previously known as the Dependent Territories Association (DTA), was formed following the successful conference, "Dependent Territories - Progress through Partnership", in November 1993. It is comprised of representatives from nine UK Overseas Territories and exists to promote their interests.

The photograph at the head of the page shows: (Left to right) Kedell Worboys (St. Helena), Janice Panton (Montserrat), Jennifer Dilbert (Cayman), Sukey Cameron (Falkland Islands), Bill Samuel (Turks & Caicos), Albert Poggio (Gibraltar).

General Election on 22 November 2001

The Falkland Islands General Election will be held on 22 November 2001. The elections are held every four years to appoint eight Legislative Councillors, five from Stanley and three from Camp. There are also plans for a referendum on Constitutional Reform later this year.

New Census

A census took place in the Islands on 8 April 2001. The new figures are expected to be released in July 2001. The last census revealed a population of 2,221 with 70% under 50 years of age.

UK Media Visits to the Falklands

Ben Fogle, star of the hit BBC series “Castaway 2000” was in the Islands in March with Ken Lennox, photographer for celebrity magazine Hello!, to experience island life Falklands-style. A feature on Ben’s adventures is due to be published in the magazine in April.

In late February three UK journalists from prestigious media outlets visited the Islands, in a trip arranged by the Falkland Islands Government. The journalists were Rupert Cornwell from The Independent, Russell Miller from The Mail on Sunday and Nick Allen from The Press Association. Other journalists to visit the Islands recently are the food writer, Frances Bissell, (guest of the Shackleton Scholarship Fund), Michael Binyon, The Times and Jimmy Burns, Financial Times.

Conservation on the Curriculum

The Education Manager for the RSPB, Dr Alistair Lavery, visited the Islands recently to advise on developing conservation issues for inclusion in the school curriculum. His visit was encouraged by Falklands Conservation to give young Islanders a greater understanding of the Falklands’ natural environment. Dr Lavery said: "I have tried to put together a picture of what people’s feelings are about what role the environment should play in the curriculum and the response has been very positive. The schools already do an awful lot and they are keen to do much more."

Destinations 2001

The Falkland Islands Tourist board (FITB) participated at ‘Destinations’ travel exhibition in London, 1 – 4 February. Over 2,000 people visited the FITB stand, reflecting the growing interest in the Islands as a holiday destination. Tourists flying from the UK to the Islands increased by a dramatic 48% last year.

New Visitors Guide to the Falkland Islands

Next tourist season will see the launch of the first comprehensive, site-by-site ‘Visitors Guide to the Falkland Islands’, produced by Debbie Summers in conjunction with Falklands Conservation and Falkland Islands Government. Aimed primarily at cruise ship visitors, it contains information on the Islands’ wildlife, history and geology, supported with fact sheets and scale maps as well as environmental ‘dos and don’ts’. Several photographers have provided the pictures, including Kevin Schafer and Nigel Hawks OBE. Artist Mandy Shepherd has donated illustrations. Profits from the sale of the guide will be used by Falklands Conservation for tourism research studies.

Tristar Flight Schedule Changes

On Sunday 1 April the RAF introduced a new South Atlantic Schedule. For reservations and further information please contact the Travel Coordinator at the Falkland Islands Government Office. E-mail: travel@falklands.gov.fk

Falkland Islands Internet Portal - Live in April

The new Falkland Islands Internet Portal : www.falklandislands.com went live on 5 April. The portal has been steered by an Internet Initiative Group comprising business people, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) and Government representatives. It has been designed by Constructive Media, a Canadian based company, contracted by FIDC.

The objective of the portal is to put across a welcoming, positive message about the Falklands resulting in people seeking additional information through linked web sites.