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London forum gets the Falklands message across

Falklands Representative to the UK, Sukey Cameron, with Gibraltar Representative, Albert Poggio, and tourism speaker, Debbie Summers

THE second Falklands Forum held in London on Wednesday, April 18 has been described as, “a real eye opener,” and, “a most useful and constructive day,” by members of the UK press who attended the event.

The forum was attended by around 200 delegates who were greeted by impressive pictorial displays of Falklands' scenes and wildlife. Each attendee was also given a promotional pack including a glossy programme with an introduction from members of Legislative Council which explained the aim of the event: "We hope today's event will expand the knowledge of the Falkland Islands, while generating opportunities for investment and business in the Islands." Chairman of the forum, BBC broadcaster Nicholas Owen who came to the Islands in 1999 to cover Prince Charles' visit, opened the event by saying, "To visit the Falkland Islands is quite simply to fall in love with them." Councillor Mike Summers began the presentations with a talk about self-determination and constitutional development. "It would be appropriate if our new constitution could be delivered in this, the 25th anniversary of the war," he said. "We have right on our side," he told the room, "and, as we have so far, we will succeed." In his presentation on the economy, Chief Executive Chris Simpkins spoke about the sacrifice made by Britain in 1982 and the need for the Islanders to ensure that a viable and thriving community grew as a result. He posed the question, "Have Falkland Islanders risen to the challenge?" Given the impressive and unprecedented economic growth of the Islands since 1982 which Mr Simpkins outlined to the forum, it was hard to disagree with his heavy implication that, yes, they have. Throughout the day delegates heard presentations on a number of topics including oil and minerals, agriculture, fisheries, and tourism. As well as government speakers, members of the private sector also contributed, with Cheryl Roberts of Consolidated Fisheries and Lewis Clifton of Byron Marine both giving presentations. It was this aspect of the forum that Councillor Andrea Clausen was keen to stress: "It was a really successful event, but was only successful because of the part played by the private sector, with the government." "The forum was about showcasing the Falklands, not just one sector, but the whole of the Falklands, so while the number of private sector representatives was relatively small, they were fantastic and showed that they are a very strong and robust sector of our economy," she said. Dr Clausen felt the event had been a success. "Given the fantastic attendance, it has achieved its objective which was to showcase the Islands," she said. "Given the sad events of 1982 it was essential that we convey to the British public, media and parliament that it wasn't all in vain." So had that message come across? I spoke to several of the journalists who were there to cover the event about what they would take away from it. Robert Davidovitz who is the field news editor for Sky News and was in the Islands late last year said the British public still held a lot of misconceptions about the Falklands which events like the forum help to dispel. "I don't think people realise that the Falkland Islands are self-sufficient and self governing. People still have the perception that we (the UK) fund the Falkland Islands," he said. Mr Davidovitz highlighted the developing tourism industry in the Islands as something people in the UK may also be surprised to learn about. He said he found Debbie Summers' presentation on the subject informative and he recalled seeing the industry in action himself when he was in the Islands. "There were four cruise ships in port just on one day when I was there, and this must be having a major impact on the economy," he said. Did he feel that such an event could, as our editor had suggested in her recent editorial, be viewed as "simply back-slapping self-congratulation?" "No, not at all," he said. "People do look at the pictures from 1982 and think it is an under-developed area of the world so this is not showing off, it is eye-opening more than anything else." Duncan Campbell of The Guardiannewspaper also thought the event was useful in terms of moving on from the images of war. "Not having been to the Falklands, I found the forum very interesting. I think there are still preconceptions in Britain about the Islands and what happens there, as they are always seen through the prism of the war. And I think there is almost a nostalgia for the kind of war which would be over in a specific period of time with a clear-cut victor as opposed to what is happening now in Iraq and Afghanistan." Peter Jennings, a journalist and broadcaster who has also visited the Islands said he found the event's speakers refreshingly wide ranging. "What impressed me today was the mixture of speakers, with government, entrepreneurs and local business all represented," he said. "I thought Cheryl Roberts was excellent â€" too often at these kind of events you only get high level ministers or chief executives speaking so it was great to hear from someone like Cheryl who is actually on the ground and running a business." Mr Jennings was also impressed with the honest approach taken by the speakers, such as Dr Brendan Gara, FIDC's Aquaculture Development Officer. "Brendan was giving a very honest view â€" aquaculture may or may not be successful," he said. He added the same thing could be said for how the speakers handled the issue of Argentina. "They showed very honestly that there is a difficulty with Argentina, it is an irritant. People have been up front about it and are trying to find ways of working round it." Overall Mr Jennings said he felt the forum was, "...an honest assessment of where things are. "I was also very impressed with the wide range of delegates which is a tribute to FIG and those that have put this conference on," he said. Following the forum, the delegates were invited to a reception on The Terrace Marquee in the House of Commons, hosted by Sir Nicholas Winterton MP, chairman of the UK Falkland Islands All-Party Group. Shadow Defence Minister William Hague made a brief appearance and said a few words on the Conservative Party and indeed all British political parties' commitment to the Falkland Islands. Nicholas Owen concluded the forum by urging the Falkland Islands Government to continue to stage such events in the future. "It has been seven years since the last forum, I hope it is not another seven years until the next one," he said, adding, "I personally have found it very fascinating and it is always wonderful to engage with Falkland Islanders." By Rob Burnett - London - Penguin News

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