The Anonymous Widower

How the Argentinians Could Solve the Falkland Islands Problem

The spat between Argentina and the UK over the Falkland Islands is a bit like a spat between two neighbours over a leylandi hedge that has got out of control, except that both sides think it more serious than a hedge.  Although, my late wife was once involved in a boundary case and it was one of the nastiest she’d ever been involved in.

At the moment the Falkland Islands have one silly problem caused by the Argentinians; the lack of eggs and fresh vegetables. My mother and many women of her generation learned how to live without fresh eggs, but it was not easy. So the first thing the Argentinians should do is allow more ships carrying provisions to the islands.

Let’s face it, the whole southern part of South America is rather inhospitable.  I once met an Argentinian scientist, who had been raised in Patagonia and he left for Buenos Aires as soon as he could. The only people who want to go there are people with an interest in the birds and animals, that aren’t bothered by three square meals a day, that you don’t have to hunt and constant 24-hour television.

Many of these tourists, who want to see wildlife are English-speaking, so passing them to the Falklands might not be a bad idea as building tourist accommodation in that environment is not easy.

But of course, Argentina would allow its construction companies to do the work.

There is the problem of the oil.  I did think though that an agreement on how to split the profits had been signed some years ago.

But would the Falklands want the platform yards and oil refineries, with all their problems?  I don’t think so, and I suspect Argentina has many suitable bays  or other places to do the work. Fifty years ago, few of the experts on undersea oil production were Scots. Now there are a lot more, because of North Sea Oil.  Who’s to say in fifty-years time, that a lot of these high-earning engineers won’t be from the Argentine?

So in some ways by working within the status quo, it might be better for the Argentinians.

I do sometimes wonder what would have happened to the Islands if the Argentinian junta had kept control thirty years ago.

The islands themselves might even be uninhabited, except for those animals and birds agile enough to avoid the mines.

February 19, 2012 - Posted by AnonW | News, World | Argentina, Falkland Islands, Oil