Falkland Islands Country & Tourist Information

Location
South Atlantic.

Area
12,173 sq km (4,700 sq miles).

Population
2,379 (official estimate 2001).

Population Density
0.2 per sq km.

Capital
Stanley.
Population: 2,200 (Commonwealth Secretariat estimate 2004).

Government
British Overseas Territory since 1833, which is not recognized by Argentina, as it considers the Falkland Islands to be part of Argentina. Existing constitution adopted in 1985.

Language
English.

Religion
Christian, with Catholic, Anglican and United Reformed Church of Stanley denominations.

Time
GMT - 3 (GMT - 4 from third Sunday in April to first Saturday in September).

Electricity
240 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of Government
Chief executive Chris Simpkins since 2003.

Head of State
Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor Alan Huckle since 2006.

Recent History
The governor presides over the executive council, the country’s ruling body. The executive council consists of two official members and three elected members. Elections are held every four years. The legislative council has two ex-officio members and eight members elected by universal suffrage. There is no party-political activity on the Islands.

Negotiations were opened between the Argentina and the UK under UN auspices during 1988. The UK adamantly refused to discuss sovereignty and has not moved from this position ever since – the wishes of the islanders, who are determined to stay British, remain paramount. The islanders have also been granted full British citizenship. Some practical progress has been made on economic issues such as fisheries control and other trade matters, but the Falklands’ leadership has still refused to move on other issues such as aircraft landing rights. Despite the political inertia, the Falkland Islands has made substantial economic progress in the two decades since the war. The seabeds surrounding the Islands are thought to contain substantial oil reserves which have yet to be located and exploited.

Telephone
Country code: 500. Good satellite telephone links to the Islands. The Cable & Wireless office is open Mon-Thurs 0815-1200 and 1315-1630 (Fri until 1615), and sells phone cards for use in the international telephone service booths situated in the office.

Mobile Telephone
Cable & Wireless launched a mobile phone service in December 2005. Coverage is initially in Stanley and Mount Pleasant with fairly good coverage along the MPA road and more limited coverage between MPA and Goose Green. No roaming agreements have been declared.

Internet
There is an Internet cafe in Stanley.

Media
Coverage of local affairs is provided by a radio station and by the territory’s sole newspaper. Satellite television channels are widely available.


Post
Airmail to Europe takes four to seven days.

Press
• There are no daily local papers, but Penguin News (weekly) is published in Stanley and all British national newspapers are also available.
• The Falkland Islands Gazette is a government publication.
• The Falkland Islands News Network relays news daily via fax and email.

Radio
• BFBS Radio Falklands provides radio coverage for British forces.
• The Falkland Islands Broadcasting Station (FIBS) operates on both AM and FM.

Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday.
21 Apr Queen's Birthday.
14 Jun Liberation Day. 
6 Oct Spring Holiday.
8 Dec Battle Day.
25-28 Dec Christmas.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
2 Apr Good Friday.
21 Apr Queen's Birthday.
14 Jun Liberation Day. 
6 Oct Spring Holiday.
8 Dec Battle Day.
25-28 Dec Christmas.

Contact Information:

Diplomatic representation
The Falkland Islands is a British Overseas Territory represented abroad by British Embassies – see United Kingdom section.

Falkland Islands Government Office
(Incorporating the Falkland Islands Development Corporation and the Falkland Islands Tourist Board)
Falkland House, 14 Broadway, Westminster, London SW1H 0BH, UK
Tel: (020) 7222 2542.
Website: www.falklandislands.com or www.visitorfalklands.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1730.
The Falkland Islands Government Office issues visas and visitor forms, helps to promote trade and investment in the Islands, offers RAF flight bookings to the Islands, assists immigrants and promotes the Falkland Islands’ interests in all respects.

Falkland Islands Immigration Office
3 H Jones Road, Stanley, FIQQ 1ZZ, Falkland Islands
Tel: 27340.
Website: www.falklands.gov.fk

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Overseas Territories Department, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH, UK
Tel: (020) 7008 1500.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk


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