THE 2026-2030 Falkland Islands ‘Islands Plan’ has been approved and published following the Legislative Assembly sitting on October 29.Presenting the motion in the Assembly sitting MLA Stacy Bragger stated that the vision for the 2026-2030 Islands Plan was “to secure a strong, secure, and sustainable future for the Falklands.”MLA Bragger continued that the Assembly had “inherited a substantial programme of work” ranging from building major national infrastructure, to policy development.The plan is split into three strategic priorities, MLA Bragger explained, including the “strategic and proactive stewardship of the long-term prosperity of the Islands”, the building of a “sustainable and diversified economy”, and supporting “a healthy, capable, and prosperous community with a strong sense of identity.”An annual report on the Island Plan will be presented to the House with a public version of a progress tracking document published.MLA Lewis Clifton said priorities would be on a rolling 12-month basis, with year...

MLA Dean Dent makes a fair point when he indicates taxpayers should not be expected to pay for most of the cost of preparing industrial land, only for private companies to benefit from buying it cheaply and, potentially, selling it on later at a profit. (see last week’s front page).But much as it pains me to fence-sit the Chamber of Commerce also has good reason to question an increase from £20.54 to £50 per square metre.A rise of 143% is enormous. It’s not simply an adjustment for inflation or rising costs it’s a major change and one which could make a real difference to whether some businesses can afford to expand.Sometimes it can sound all very black and white though right? The taxpayer on one side and the private business on the other. But in a small place like the Falklands I feel like the two are much more closely...