Falklands Islands get devolved powers

The Queen at a Falklands ceremony ceremony last year

Friday, 07, Nov 2008 09:00

A swath of new powers are being handed to the Falklands Islands, with the local authorities passing a new constitution to government the islands.

"I welcome the new constitution for the Falkland Islands," said foreign office minister Gillian Merron.

"In agreeing it, the UK government and the Falkland Islands' government have worked together, openly and constructively, to ensure that it will serve the Islands well in the future,"

The new constitution consolidates local democracy and updated its rights chapter to follow international agreements.

The constitution regulates greater accountability with a newly created Public Accounts Committee and a complaints commissioner. It will still retain UK interest and power, such as defence and foreign affairs.

"The new constitution more accurately describes the relationship between the Falklands and the United Kingdom, and formally establishes the degree of internal self-government," said spokesperson for the Falkland Islands' government councillor Mike Summers.

"We have been pleased with the co-operative nature of our negotiations, reflecting a maturing partnership and a continuing commitment to security, social and economic development."

The old constitution was instated in 1985 and since then the archipelago has developed economically and socially. The Falklands Islands expect the Constitution Order to be enforced on 1 January 2009.