Andrew Rosindell M.P., Secretary of the Falkland Islands All Party Parliamentary Group, has today made a clear statement that the Falkland Islands will always be a British Overseas Territory.
Argentinian officials such as ‘Malvinas’ Secretary Guillermo Carmona, have ignored the democratic principle of the right to self-determination to once again question the Islands’ status, but this claim has been rejected by the long-standing Falkland Islands supporter.
Andrew Rosindell M.P. said:
“The Falkland Islands, as well as South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, have been under the British Crown since 1832.
The people of the Falklands Islands have made it clear through a democratic referendum that they wish to retain their British sovereignty.
The status of the Falkland Islands is up to the people of the Falkland Islands and the Islanders have been unequivocal in their desire to remain part of the British family.
In 2013, on a turnout of 92%, just three people voted against remaining as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom.
In that referendum, 99.8% of people voted to stay British. Any Argentine claims to the Islands are without validity and there can never be shared sovereignty of the Islands. They must be solely British, in line with the views of the Islanders.
The Falkland Islanders are proud of their British heritage and roots, they are a deeply patriotic population who love their country and are loyal to Her Majesty The Queen.
They do not wish to fall under the control of Argentina and Britain will uphold the wishes of the people of the islands. Buenos Aires must get used to this fact and give up its claims.
This week, we celebrated Margaret Thatcher Day, celebrating the visit to the Falkland Islands by the then Prime Minister on 10th January 1983.
This year marked the 39th anniversary of Mrs. Thatcher’s visit to the South Atlantic, six months after the victory and the re-taking of Stanley.
The United Kingdom has a long and proud tradition of protecting its citizens. Mrs. Thatcher demonstrated to the world that there was no question of giving up sovereignty of the Falklands, they are British!
Argentina illegally occupied the Falklands but was rightly repelled by the forces of the Crown.
I hope that the Argentine government will learn the lessons of history, the democratic right to self-determination must always be upheld. The United Kingdom will always uphold this right, and as those alive in 1982 will remember.
President Fernandez last year used a speech during the pandemic to talk about Argentina’s claim to the Islands which is just tiresome, tedious politics and is a nationalistic distraction from the issues his country faces.
The Argentinian government must respect the sovereignty of the Islands, and would do well to refrain from making inflammatory comments which serve to ignite tensions.
This year marks the 70th Anniversary of the Queen’s reign, with Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, as well as the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands.
I hope this will be a year of great celebration for the United Kingdom and all of the British Overseas Territories, which are and always should remain part of our great British family!
In the words of Mrs. Thatcher: “The people of the Falkland Islands, like the people of the United Kingdom, are an island race. They are few in number but they deserve the right to live in peace, to choose their way of life and their own allegiance. Their way of life is British and their allegiance is to the Crown.”
