Falkland Islands Government to Update Delegates on Oil Developments at Party Conferences
The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) will be represented at the Labour and Conservative Party Conferences again this year, confirming its place as one of the longest standing exhibitors. 2009 marks the 22nd consecutive year that FIG has exhibited at the Conferences. Sukey Cameron MBE, the FIG UK Representative, will be joined on the Falkland Islands stand by the Hon. Mike Rendell, elected Member of the Legislative Assembly, and his wife, Phyl Rendell, who is the Director of Agriculture and Mineral Resources for the Falkland Islands Government. The Party Conferences provide an opportunity for the Falkland Islands Government’s representatives to update Government ministers, Shadow Cabinet members, MPs and other delegates on recent developments. Among the issues that are expected to be discussed this year are plans for hydrocarbon exploration in the Falklands, with the recent announcement that Desire Petroleum has secured a rig and expects to start drilling early next year. They will also remind politicians about the Falklands’ continuing economic success, despite Argentina’s attempts to interfere in the Islands’ fishing, minerals and tourism industries. Please do visit the stand if you would like to receive any information about the Islands. For further information, or to arrange an interview in advance, please contact Simon Quarendon on 020 7839 2140 / simon@keenepa.co.uk or visit www.falklands.gov.fk. Labour Party Conference, 27 September – 1 October, Stand Number 114 in the Hewison Hall of the Brighton Centre. Conservative Party Conference, 5-8 October, Stand Number 56 in the Central Hall of Manchester Central. – ENDS – Notes to Editors The Falkland Islands are a United Kingdom Overseas Territory situated in the Southern Hemisphere about 350 miles east of the South American mainland. The Islands are made up of two main Islands (East and West Falkland) and some 700 smaller Islands, covering an area half the size of Wales. The capital Stanley is located on East Falkland. Over the past 27 years, the Falkland Islands have become one of the most modern and dynamic Overseas Territories of the United Kingdom. The Islands enjoy a sophisticated system of internal government and are economically self-sufficient in all areas except defence - which is estimated to be less than half of one percent of Britain's overall defence budget. The Islands’ population has risen from 1,800 in 1982 to around 2,500 in 2006 (the latest Census). Nearly 96% of the population is British and 79% of the population is aged 55 years and under. The majority of young Islanders chose to return to the Islands to live and work, contributing to its thriving private and public sector.
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