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Governor's Address to the Nation - 24 May 2005

"There is little I can say that is positive in terms of relations with the Argentine Government," His Excellency the Governor has reported in his annual Address to the Nation. Speaking in Legislative Council and via live radio broadcast to the Islands as a whole on Tuesday 24 May, Howard Pearce described as "regrettable" Argentina's refusal to discuss co-operation on a high seas fisheries agreement for the region on terms which the UK and Falkland Islands Government could accept, "… despite there clearly being a mutual interest in improving the quality of regional fisheries management."

He said there had been some progress in discussions between the UK and Argentine Governments on a feasibility study concerning the removal of mines from the Falklands, however on the issue of chartered flights, "….there has been no sign that the Argentines are prepared to discuss it on terms which would be acceptable to Falkland Islanders."

Mr Pearce's annual address was shorter than in past years; having consulted on the matter, he decided to focus his remarks on "some personal impressions of the events of the last year and the prospects for the next twelve months". His more traditional department by department report will be available in written form, from the Government Secretary.

In his address on Tuesday, His Excellency commenced councillors' attendance at overseas meetings, saying they are right to take "every opportunity to put the Falklands' case for self-determination to the international community", and said it was important to welcome, "as wide a variety of overseas visitors to the Islands as possible."

Mr Pearce also touched on the nature of the relationship between the Overseas Territories and the UK Government. He said the white paper Partnership for Progress and Prosperity, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1999, describes the relationship as a "new partnership" and bases it on four fundamental principles: self-determination, mutual obligations and responsibilities, freedom for the territories to run their own affairs to the greatest degree possible, and a firm commitment from the UK to help the territories to develop economically and to assist them in emergencies.

The white paper states that the UK Government is committed to ensuring good government and sustainable political, economic and social development in the Overseas Territories and to guaranteeing their security and defence. "In return the UK Government expects high standards of probity, governance and adherence to the international agreements to which the UK and the Overseas Territories are a party; and expects to minimise the extent to which the UK is exposed to contingent liabilities."

Mr Pearce said in the Falkland Islands these principles work well: "There is close consultation between the UK and Falkland Islands Governments on relevant issues of foreign policy and international relations. Falkland Islanders run their internal affairs to a very large degree. Thus, although the Constitution allows the Governor the power, subject to certain conditions, to overturn the recommendations of Executive Council, I have never once exerc8ised that power during my two and a half years here, or even come close to doing so. This is in itself a tribute to the standards of decision-making and governance achieved in the Islands."

However he added that, in addition to the provisions of the Constitution, the UK Government needs to be able to protect its position, particularly with regard to its international obligations, through the occasional inclusion of certain key pieces of legislation of powers enabling it to act through the Governor. Such powers are already provided for in certain items of Falklands legislation, although they have in practice rarely been exercised, and are likely to be required from time to time in appropriate pieces of future legislation. But this does not in practice derogate from the principle that Falkland Islanders are responsible for running their own affairs.

For its part, the UK Government fulfils its obligation to uphold the wishes of the Islanders, in particular by supporting them in their relations internationally, and to defend the Falklands through the presence of British Forces South Atlantic Islands, a responsibility which involves a substantial cost for the UK taxpayer. I believe the partnership works well and, for most of the time, smoothly."

First published in the Penguin News on 27 May 2005, and reproduced by kind permission of the Editor

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