Anguilla’s Governor, His Excellency Alistair Harrison, said that this week’s vote in a referendum by the people of the Falklands, to remain a British Overseas Territory, was a clear demonstration of what the islanders wanted.
The referendum, organised by the islanders themselves, but with independent monitors, was held on Sunday and Monday, March 10 and 11, in the face of a long-running claim of sovereignty by Argentina. The referendum asked the some 1,649 eligible voters: “Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory?” The result was a resounding “yes” by 1,513 persons who voted, or 99.8%, with only 3 persons voting against.
“What we think is that it sends a very definitive message to the international community about what the Falkland Islanders want,” Governor Harrison commented, reflecting the British Government’s position. “They don’t want to be part of Argentina. They don’t want to be re-colonised by Argentina. They want to stay British.
“The referendum was observed by an independent mission with monitors from America, Canada, New Zealand and several Latin American countries. So we hope that the result will stop Argentina misrepresenting the views of the Falkland Islanders, the citizens of the territory; and that it would stop its policy of harassing the islands and ignoring the wishes of the Falkland Islands’ people. We hope everybody in the world will recognise the result of the referendum for what it is. It is a very clear expression of the wishes of the people.”
Mr. Harrison continued: “I think they are very grateful for the fact that Britain came to liberate them in 1982 when Argentina invaded the islands. They have very strong memories of Mrs. Thatcher who was Head of Government at the time and directed that the task force should sail to the South Atlantic to liberate the islands.”
Asked about Anguilla, where there is talk about independence from the United Kingdom, the Governor said it was a different situation here because there was no country that claimed sovereignty over Anguilla and so there was no external threat to the island.
“I think the message really for Anguilla and for the other Overseas Territories, including those in the Caribbean, is that Britain will recognise the results of a referendum as expressing the wishes of the people of the territory,” he stated. “If the present Government decides to call a referendum, Britain will recognise the results whether Anguilla votes for independence or votes to remain a British Overseas Territory. We wouldn’t be pushing for either result and we will recognise whichever result the people of Anguilla voted for.”
