Falklanders will defend their British sovereignty

The islanders will attend today and tomorrow to the polls to vote for a referendum that seeks to address Argentina’s growing demand for sovereignty.

This is the first time that the inhabitants of these islands in the South Atlantic, British-born and called kelpers (Islanders) by Argentina, pronounce in a consultation about their political status.

The Islander Bill Poole, 85, next to a poster advertising that invites to vote Yes in the consultation on the political status of the controversial archipelago.

Although the current population of the Malvinas (Falklands for the British) is about 3,000 people, only 1,649 native islanders from the archipelago and long-term residents, are registered to vote in the two-day referendum starting today, in which they will be asked if they want to remain a British colony.

It is certain that the answer will be an almost unanimous acceptance, which is seen by Argentina as a mere publicity stunt. But many people consider it an opportunity to make their voices heard. The British bookmaker Ladbrokes described the result as “the safest of the political stakes of history” and said that no one opted for the “no“.