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Montevideo, September 21st 2024 - 09:41 UTC

 

 

Falklands Day celebration in the Islands and London

Wednesday, August 14th 2024 - 11:26 UTC
Full article 10 comments
The Falkland Islands flag will be flying at Houses of Parliament and the FCDO building The Falkland Islands flag will be flying at Houses of Parliament and the FCDO building
English explorer John Davis recorded the first sighting of the Falkland Islands from aboard the vessel “Desire” English explorer John Davis recorded the first sighting of the Falkland Islands from aboard the vessel “Desire”

Today 14th August the Falkland Islands are celebrating when 432 years ago in 1592, English explorer John Davis recorded the first sighting of the Falkland Islands from aboard the vessel “Desire”.

An observance day in the Falklands calendar, the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly is inviting local residents to a free smoko at the Falkland Islands Museum & National Trust to discuss the Falklands Culture & Heritage Statement.

Come along to talk about Falklands Day, and what you love about the Falklands, over some delicious food!

Free entry to the Historic Dockyard Museum to mark Falklands Day this 14th August from 10:00 AM to 13:00, also supported by the Falkland Islands Government.

Falklands Day was once seen as the national day of the Falklands, but was replaced by Liberation Day which commemorates the surrender of the invading and occupying Argentine forces on 14 June 1982.

To commemorate Falklands Day, the Falkland Islands Government has issued a brief video saying that,

”Today is Falkland Islands Day marking the first recorded sighting of our Islands by the English explorer John Davis in 1592.

The modern Falkland Islands are home to some 3.600 people of sixty plus different nationalities.

The population of the Falklands has doubled since 1980 thanks to a thriving economy boosted by sustainable fishing and exports.

Young Falkland Islanders are offered free Higher and Further Education opportunities in the UK paid by taxes from the Falkland Islands taxpayers.

Proudly British, the people of the Falkland Islands voted almost unanimously to remain a UK Overseas Territory in 2013.

A place of strategic importance, the Falkland Islands are situated at a crucial position in the South Atlantic and at the gateway to Antarctica.

Our Islands also are home to over one million penguins, three species of seals and globally significant seabird population.

The Camp constituency in the Falkland Islands is almost reliant on renewable energy, while wind power accounts for 30% of the capital's capacity.

To mark the Falkland Islands Day the flag will be flying at the Houses of Parliament and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office.

This reflects our strong ties with the UK, a reciprocal relationship that is highly valued by the people of the Falkland Islands.

The FCDO and Commons Speaker mark Falklands Day

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London and the Speaker of the House of Commons, The Rt. Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, have marked Falklands Day on 14th August by flying the Falklands flag.

Mr Speaker, who has visited the Falklands on two occasions, most recently in 2022, asked that the Falklands flag be flown in the Speaker’s Garden at the Houses of Parliament to mark Falklands Day, while the Falklands flag was also flown atop the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on King Charles Street in London.

Falkland Islands Government Representative to the UK & Europe, Richard Hyslop said, “I was delighted to see the Falklands flag proudly flying in the Houses of Parliament and atop the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. These important gestures demonstrate the historic bonds shared between the UK and the Falkland Islands and the productive, reciprocal relationship we continue to enjoy.

The Speaker of the House of Commons in particular has long been a champion of the Falklands and the UK Overseas Territories, and we’re very grateful for his ongoing support for the Falklands and Islanders’ right to self-determination. On behalf of the Falkland Islands Government in London, I would also like to send our good wishes to all celebrating this special day in the Falklands and around the world”.
 

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  • darragh

    Arg Cit.

    First of all the United Kingdom did not exist in 1592.

    Second Vespucci didn't go anywhere near the FI. The furthest south he went was where Rio is now and even that is disputed as it is clear that the records of two of alleged four voyages are forgeries.

    Thirdly there is no mention in Magellan's log of the FI nor anything like them.

    Don't agree with me? then prove me wrong.

    Aug 15th, 2024 - 01:09 pm +5
  • Juan Cervantes

    Argie Zit, for the 1000th time, no one knows for certain who saw thew islands first, but one thing is certain is that Britain was the first to claim them, neither Spain, Portugal, France or the Netherlands have ever said they claimed them first and have never denied the British claimed them first, its only in your indoctrinated RG propaganda that claims others did, clearly they did not, so take your pathetic arguments and take them to the ICJ, otherwise STFU, you bore people with this pathetic nonsense,

    Aug 14th, 2024 - 04:12 pm +4
  • Monkeymagic

    Argentine Zit
    It has taken many years but you have finally said something true...“sightings do not constitute basis of sovereignty”.

    Well done. You have achieved step 1.

    Step 2 is to understand that Spain did indeed have sovereignty of East Falkland for 30 years, but they vacated the islands before Argentine Independence, and the inhabitants returned to Spain voluntarily. This is also not the basis for Argentine sovereignty.

    Step 3 is to understand that the private business of a German entrepreneur that was on the islands for 3 years, who left voluntarily in 1831 when the business failed is also not the basis for Argentine sovereignty.

    Step 4 is to understand that not a single person left the islands on January 6th 1833 that didn't want to. Pinedo and his crew already planned to return to Argentina, the civilians had already planned to leave with him, and the militia had already requested to leave on the Rapid. There was never an usurpation. This is not the basis for Argentine sovereignty.

    Britain had a historic claim, there was no population on the islands, Britain established a population that has lived on the islands for 190 years, and pretty much has autonomy to run their affairs. This is the basis of Falkland Islander sovereignty.

    You managed Step 1 in 10 years.....hopefully after 50 years you might get there.

    Aug 15th, 2024 - 10:24 am +4
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