News

Eighteen candidates are standing for the eight seats on the new Legislative Assembly. The Falklands’ 1,584 voters go to polls on 5^th November.  The candidates are currently sharing their manifestos with the electorate. Static polling stations will be open at Stanley and Goose Green on East Falklands, and Fox Bay on West Falklands, while mobile polling stations will be available at Hope Cottage, East Falklands, and Hill Cove and Port Howard, West Falklands.

Desire Petroleum, the oil and gas company working in the North Basin of the Falklands, has raised £42 million in a 70p per share placing with predominantly new institutional investors.  The move comes ahead of Desire’s plans to begin a drilling programme early next year.  While the company already has US$40 million in the bank to fund two wells in the campaign, it needs the extra cash to fund all four of the wells that it has contracted with the rig operator, Diamond Offshore Drilling (UK).  In addition, the company has now agreed an extra two well option deal, taking its options over further wells to six.  Its partner in the region, Rockhopper Exploration, has now signed an agreement with Desire for the take up of two of those six options.  As well as the placing, Desire is also pushing ahead with plans to raise another £20 million in a 70p per share open offer.

Chris Bryant MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign Office, with responsibility for the Overseas Territories, has congratulated those in the Falkland Islands involved in the Argentine next of kin visits, saying, “undoubtedly the visits can be considered a success.”  Mr. Bryant conveyed his appreciation in a letter to His Excellency the Governor of the Falkland Islands, Mr Alan Huckle.  The next of kin visits to the Falklands took place on 3 and 10 October.

The Falkland Islands Tourist Board this week launched the Islands’ first Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), a United Nations endorsed international standard for measuring the true economic impact of tourism. The TSA reveals that tourists spent £6.6 million in the Falkland Islands in the 2008-9 season, 43% of which was spent by cruise passengers, with a further 43% spent by air passengers and 14% by domestic tourists. The spend of £6.6 million represents 5% of the Falkland Islands’ GDP, which is a significant value in comparison with many other countries.

Candidates have been announced for the eight positions in the Legislative Assembly – five representing Stanley and three representing Camp – due to be decided in the Election on 5 November.  A total of 18 candidates are standing; 12 for Stanley and six for Camp.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has announced that BACTEC International Limited has been chosen to carry out the Falkland Islands de-mining project.  The British company was selected after a rigorous procurement process which included three other strong bidders.  To read the press release in full click here.

The Falkland Islands Government is supportive of Her Majesty’s Government’s (HMG) obligations under the Ottawa Convention, however, it has  put no pressure on HMG in respect of mine clearance.  A spokesman for the Falkland Islands Government said: “We are satisfied that all mined areas are safely fenced, and present no long term social or economic difficulties for the Falklands.  We shall, however, seek to facilitate the de-mining operations but wish the greatest possible care to be taken to mitigate any environmental damage that de-mining might cause.”

On 3 October 170 relatives of Argentine war dead visited the memorial at Darwin Cemetery on East Falkland to remember their loved ones and take part in a service to inaugurate the memorial.  The arrangements put in place for the first of two visits worked well, and the tight schedule was maintained in a quiet and dignified manner.  During the service the cemetery was blessed and mourners placed personal mementos in an urn of remembrance.  After the service a round of applause was offered up for the Islanders who had helped organise the visit, as well as Chilean airline LAN for its assistance in transporting the families to the Falklands.  On 10 October a further visit of 205 Argentine relatives will take place and a statue of “Our Lady of Lujan” will be carried to the cemetery, where a further inauguration will take place during the service.

Falklands Conservation hosted its annual Charity Ball on 2 October, raising more than £17,000 to help preserve the spectacular environment of the Falkland Islands.  One of the highlights of the Falklands’ social calendar, the Ball’s proceeds go towards projects such as seabird monitoring on Steeple Jason Island.  For more information visit www.falklandsconservation.com.

Dr Andrew Monk, from the Biological Farmers of Australia, visited the Falklands recently to look at the progress of organic accreditation.  Ten farms are at various stages of accreditation in collaboration with this Australian certification authority.  The Falkland Islands’ remote location, temperate climate and traditional farming methods provide an ideal setting to develop organic produce.  See www.falklands.gov.fk//Agriculture.html for more information.

Father and daughter conservationists, Ian and Georgina Strange, have published the third book in their Design in Nature series, this time focusing on the six species of penguins found in the Falklands.  A Penguin’s World contains 83 colour photographs, many of which were taken on remote offshore islands.  For more information visit www.designinnature.com.