FALKLAND ISLANDS GOVERNMENT SITE

Introduction to the Falkland Islands

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

Situated in the South Atlantic, the Falkland Islands lie between latitude 51 and 53 S and longitude 57 and 62 W about the same latitude south as London lies north. They are 300 miles from the South American mainland.

The Islands comprise two main Islands (East and West Falkland) and several hundred smaller islands, with a total land area of approximately 4,700 square miles (12,173 square km), comparable in area with Northern Ireland but spread over a much greater extent. The distance from Stanley, on the extreme east, to New Island on the extreme west, is some 148 miles.

The coastline is deeply indented and there are no inland waters. Topographically the Islands are generally hilly with the highest point being Mount Usborne at 2,312 ft (705m) in East Falkland. Inland, the ground is covered by low shrubs, coarse grasses and ferns, with lichen-covered outcrops breaking the landscape.

The climate is characterized by a narrow temperature range which varies from 19 C in January to 2 C in July with a mean annual temperature of approximately 6 C. Strong winds are common and the rainfall pattern is comparatively low and evenly distributed throughout the year averaging 24 inches (625 mm). Falkland winters tend not to be as severe as found in some parts of the United Kingdom, but are longer. Snow has been recorded in most months but seldom lies for long. Summers are not quite as hot but the Islands enjoy more hours of sunshine than the south of England.

NATURAL RESOURCES

AGRICULTURE

Farming in the Falkland Islands is a monoculture, the product being wool. For the last 150 years and until the introduction of the fishery zone in 1987 the export of wool from the Islands provided the main base of the economy of the Islands.

The Falkland Islands extend to around 3m acres and carry approximately 712,650 sheep. Falkland farms are traditionally based on large ranch style methods and until 1979 there were only thirty six farms in the Islands. However, following recommendations made by Lord Shackleton in his Economic Survey of the Islands the policy of subdividing larger farms has now created 90 small farms which are owner-occupied. The average farm size is 33,216 acres.

The Falkland Islands Government has positively assisted the progression of sub-division in the last ten years and has made grants and loans available to individual farmers. In March 1991 the Falkland Islands Government made a further commitment to agriculture in the Islands by purchasing the four remaining farms owned by the Falkland Islands Company Limited. A management body called Falkland Landholdings Ltd. has been established to run the farms which will, initially, be kept as they are. These farms equaled 25% of the total farm land of the Islands.

The Falkland Islands Government recently invested a further L 250,000 (Pounds) for the purchase of a national stud flock from Australia. The objective of the scheme is to achieve significant improvements in the quality of wool produced in the Islands. The Islands currently produce a total annual wool clip of 2.7 million kilos and is worth over 3.3 million pounds. However, in the last two years this price has not been achieved due to a slump in the world market.

The Department of Agriculture has a research arm which continues a programme of stock and grasslands improvement projects.

GRASSLANDS

Until the establishment of the Falklands Interim conservation and Management Zone to conserve fish stocks around the Islands and the consequent offshore fishery, the grasslands of the Falklands represented the sole natural resource which proved capable of economic exploitation, with sheep farming a major industry.

Until the establishment of the Falklands Interim Conservation and Management Zone to conserve fish stocks around the Islands and the consequent offshore fishery, the grasslands of the Falklands represented the sole natural resource which proved capable of economic exploitation, with sheep farming a major industry.

HYDROCARBONS

The Falkland Islands Legislative Council passed a Bill on 22 November 1991 which permitted licensed surveys of the Falkland Islands Continental Shelf. Initial surveys have now been conducted and the data is being made available commercially.

The Falklands Government has expressed its intention to move towards licensing for more detailed exploration and drilling in due course.

The British Geological Survey (part of the National Environment Research Council) is to act as consultants to FIG in this matter.

MINERALS

There is no evidence that the Falkland Islands contain metalliferous minerals of economic value. It is possible that there could be suitable graded deposits of silica sand for glass manufacture, but such materials would probably need expensive pre-treatment. The only local fuel is peat.

FISH

The fishing potential of the waters around the Falkland Islands is considerable. On 1 February 1987, the Falkland Islands Interim Conservation and Management Zone (FICZ) was introduced to protect fish stocks against over fishing. Vessels fishing inside the zone require a license from the Falkland Islands Government.

POPULATION

The population of the Falkland Islands is almost entirely British (96%) The Islands have an ordinary resident population of around 2,120 people, 1,560 or so of whom live in Stanley with the remainder in the "Camp," (the countryside) in East and West Falklands. This excludes contractors and the military garrison, but includes some expatriate staff in permanent posts.

THE GOVERNMENT

The Falkland Islands are a Dependent Territory of the United Kingdom, executive authority being vested in Her Majesty the Queen and exercised by the Governor on her behalf. The current Falkland Islands Constitution came into force in 1985. Under the terms of the Constitution eight Legislative Councilors are elected every four years-our from Stanley and four from Camp. Each year the Legislative Councilors elect three of their number to the Executive Council (ExCo). The Governor is advised by Executive council, over which he presides, composed of the three elected members and two ex officio members; the Chief Executive and Financial Secretary. In addition the Commander Forces Falkland Islands and the Attorney General may attend ExCo and may speak on any matter. EXCO meetings are held monthly.

The Legislative Council (LegCo) is chaired by the Governor, who acts as Speaker, comprises the eight elected Councillors and two ex officio members, the Chief Executive and Financial secretary. As for ExCo, the Commander British Forces and the Attorney General may attend the meetings. Legislative Council is empowered to pass laws for the Government of the Islands, subject to the approval of Her Majesty the Queen acting through her secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Legco meetings, which are held in public, are called as required but normally four times a year.

Defense and foreign affairs are the responsibility of the British Government.

COMMUNICATION

External communication links are provided by Cable and Wireless plc who operate a world-wide telecommunications service. Telephone and facsimile links to the Islands, which are by satellite, provide clear and rapid links with the outside world. The Cable and Wireless office is open to the public from 0800 hours to 2000 hours daily for acceptance of traffic and sale of telephone cards for use in the international telephone service booths situated in the office.

A L5.4 m.telecommunications network spanning the Islands has recently been installed. The new system provides international direct dialing facilities, together with facsimile and high speed data services.

There is a single-station television service broadcasting throughout the Islands, operated by the Services Sound and Vision Corporation.Videos (VHS system) are very common and there are several well stocked video libraries.

The Falkland Islands Broadcasting Station, in conjunction with BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) broadcasts 24 hours a day on FM and NW. BBC world Service is also received in the Islands.

There is considerable interest in amateur radio.

WAGES, LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

Falkland Islands Government salaries are scaled by annual increments and additionally are subject to increase in line with the indices for retail prices, Rates paid by the other main employer, the Falkland Islands Company, are similar and generally other employer's rates approximate, with some flexibility.

Some examples are:

• Teacher Grade 4/5 E12,540 to E17,520 in 11 steps Clerk Grade 1/2 7,104 to 9,936 in 11 steps Tradesman approx. L 4.00/hr (adjusted quarterly)

• Wages for agricultural workers (w.e.f. October 1990) are given below. In addition there are benefits such as free housing, fuel, meat and milk, all of which equal a value of some E300.00 per month.

• Minimum monthly wage - agricultural workers:
  • Managerial C397.13
  • Skilled 360.03
  • Unskilled 341.50
  • Workers up to age l8 11.02

Skilled technical and professional personnel, in positions that cannot be filled from local resources, are recruited by the Falkland Islands Government on supplemented salaries on contract terms from the United Kingdom. It is Government policy to increase local salaries to a level in line with UK salaries over a period of years.

The Falkland Islands General Employees Union (GEU) is registered under the Trade Unions and Trade Disputes Ordinance. It has the character of a general workers union and is an affiliate of the International Confederation of Trade Unions.

The Falkland Islands Association. 2 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SD.Tel: (44) 0171 222 2541.

The United Kingdom Falkland Islands Trust. 2 Greycoat Place, London, SW1P 1SD.

FALKLAND ISLANDS LINKS

DIRECTORIES

• The Falkland Islands Business Directory (1990). Edited by Nicola Summers. Stanley: Falkland Islands Government.
• The Europe World Year Book 1995 (1995). London: Europe, 36th ed. 2 vols.
• Whitaker's Almanac 1995 (1994). London: J. Whitaker, 127th ed. 1280 p.

More information on the internet can be found here.

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