The people of The Falkland Islands will be voting on the future of their country sometime early next year.
The date has not yet been set but the approximately 3 000 people who live on these islands will vote in a referendum to determine the way forward.
Also to be worked out still, is the exact question that will be put to the residents, says Dan Carruthers, Second Secretary at the British High Commission in Barbados.
Carruthers and six journalists from the Caribbean are currently in The Falkland islands on a one-week media tour, the goal of which, he explains, is to raise awareness about the islands as well as the issues being confronted.
One major issue he points to is that of sovereignty.
“It is fair to say if you ask most people about The Falklands they know of it because of the conflict, the war with Argentina in 1982. The sovereignty issue in The Falklands is still a live issue. It’s still disputed by Argentina, ” he says.
The principle of self determination, he says, is still being questioned by a foreign power. Carruthers notes that Argentina disputes the Falkland Islands’ rights to determine what they will do next and what their future is.
He, however, says the British position is that it is for the people who live there to decide their future.
The people of The Falkland Islands, he says, can either become independent, they could remain British, or be Argentinian.
Currently, The Falkland Islands is a British Overseas Territory and is self governing, except when it comes to defence and international issues.
“This is about the people who live there. There are families who have been here for years. This is not a population here recently,” he notes, again stressing the issue was so vital that it was important for the people to have a say.
“It is for the people of The Falkland Islands to determine their future. a referendum on the sovereignty of the islands will be early next year and everyone will have their say,” he explains, noting the people will have a chance to go on record.
This right, he says, is the foundation of many countries.
carolmartindale@nationnews.com