Falklanders Show How Loss Of British Servicemen Was Not In Vain

Falklanders Show How Loss Of British Servicemen Was Not In Vain

Thirty years after Britian liberated the Falkland Islands from Argentinian occupation, the islanders are keen not to solely be defined by the events of 1982.

On the anniversary of the end of the war, Falklanders stood side by side with the veterans who fought for their freedom and said they wanted to show the loss of 255 British servicemen and three Falklanders were not in vain.

During last week's visit to the islands Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne was shown parts of the island's successful fishing and farming industries, their improved education system and witnessed their passion for self-determination.

The Falklanders are proud of the progress made since the war

But it is the prospect of local oil and gas industries that is potentially the most significant and kicking up a storm in the South Atlantic.

It is one of the reasons Britain believes Argentina has been ratcheting up the rhetoric over the territory it calls Las Malvinas and has been trying to implement an economic blockade on the isolated islands.

Argentina's president Cristina de Kirchner took her country's claim to the Falkland Islands to the United Nations on the 30th anniversary of Britain's ousting of an Argentinian invasion force from the Falklands.

However, Prime Minister David Cameron sent a clear message there would be "no negotiation" on the Falklands and warned that Britain would defend the territory by force again if necessary.

The legacy of the Falklands conflict has been political freedom and physical security, but it is the hard work and ingenuity of the islands people and their fishing industry that has provided an economic boom and prosperity.

The Falklands' economy is "booming with significant government surplus", Governor Nigel Haywood said during his state of the nation annual speech to the Legislative Assembly in May.

This was based on an excellent year for the fishing industry, higher prices for wool and meat plus the Tourism Strategy, aimed at increasing the number of tourists and transforming the industry.

But it is the discovery of potentially lucrative oil and gas reserves around the Falklands that could radically transform the country's economy.

It would also mean the islands are well-placed to economically withstand pressure placed on them by the G20 country.

Roger Spinks, president of the chamber of commerce in the Falkland Islands, said: "What the oil brings is economic independence and with that comes a confidence in what you can do around the world, and therefore we will have the funds to put our message across the world.

"I think Argentina sees economic independence brings political independence and the people of the Falklands are fairly straight forward in the way they see the future.

"We are economically viable, other than defence, without oil, but I think people here recognise that with oil there is a brighter future for the young people in the islands, so therefore it was worth the gamble of upsetting Argentina to look for oil."

Argentina has said it will be taking legal action against five British companies involved in oil exploration, claiming they are acting "illegally".

But this announcement has had little impact on those in the Falkland Islands.

"We're used to a lot of noise from Argentina, with little effect, so it wasn't unexpected," Mr Spinks said.

"It's had little effect as the oil companies have geared themselves up to support themselves wholly and without the use of ports in South America."

Days before his visit to the Falkland Islands, Mr Browne accused Argentina of acting in a "domineering" way and using an economic blockade to place pressure on the isolated islands.

Mr Spinks said: "Argentina always wants to have a tap that it can turn off and on at will to punish the people here.

"It has a history of wishing to have some kind of control over the people in the Falklands, but there is no way anyone in the Falklands would accept Argentina having that ability yet again to punish us at will.

The aircraft carrier HMS Hermes leaving Portsmouth after Argentina took over the island

"I think the Falklands is a holy grail that Kirchner uses for populist reasons in Argentina - it carries favour and distracts their attention from the very real economic difficulties that Argentina is facing - unfortunately we're just the pawns in that, she doesn't really give a damn about the people in the Falklands."

Despite attempts from Argentina to deter potential investors and increased interference in Falkland Islands' activities, the objective of an economic blockade has not been achieved, Mr Spinks said.

"I think because of the ingenuity of people doing business in the Falkland Islands Argentina is not having the impact that they would wish to have," he said.

"People are pretty resilient here and we're used to dealing with this sort of unruly neighbour."

The Falkland Islands' government has announced plans to hold a referendum on their political status in a bid to end the continuing dispute with Argentina.

In a radio address to the islanders, Mr Browne said: "The status of your home should be determined by no-one other than you.

"You have a strong and self-efficient economy, built on stable and responsible decision-making and hard work.

"I know how committed you are to your future. And have no doubt, we are committed to protecting your freedom to determine your future.

"For a prosperous and secure future for your islands would be the greatest memorial to those who liberated you thirty years ago."

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