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BACKGROUND BRIEF: FALKLAND ISLANDS AND DEPENDENCIES
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Geographical
1.
The Falkland Islands are small and remote; they lie in the South
Atlantic approximately 480 miles north-east of Cape Horn and 7,500 miles from
the UK. They comprise 2 large islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, and some
200 smaller islands. The total land area is 4,700 square miles (about half
the size of Wales). There are few trees. The uplands are bare and the natural
vegetation is grassland. Birds (penguins, geese, seabirds) and seals abound.
The climate is characterised by a narrow temperature range, strong winds, a
fairly low rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year and frequent cloud
cover.
Population
2.
The population is dwindling and numbers no more than 1820 all told,
nearly all of British descent with about 80% born in the Falkland Islands. The peak was 2,390 in 1931. Port Stanley, the capital, (population 1,000) is the
only town and in the Camp (i.e. the countryside outside Stanley) the largest
settlement is Goose Green (140).
Political
3.
The Falkland Islands are a British Crown Colony. Th⚫ present
constitution dates from 21 November 1977. The Government is admin stered by
a Governor (Mr R M Hunt CMG) aided by an Executive Council (of 6, omprising 2 ex-officio members of the Legislative Council) and a Legislative Council (of
8, comprising 2 ex-officio members and 6 elected members). Elections are by universal adult (over 18) suffrage, Port Stanley electing 3 members, East and West Falkland one each and the Camp one. The next general election is scheduled for
later this year.
There is a Supreme Court, a Magistrates Court and a Court of Summary Jurisdiction and a Court of Appeal which sits in London.
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