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| Who were the three Falkland Islanders who voted no? | Who were the three Falkland Islanders who voted no? |
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| The flags are waving, the result is clear, and a drizzly little archipelago with just 2,841 people on it has made world news. But for the three Falkland islanders who voted no in the referendum, and who now find themselves marooned in a sea of 1,513 yeses, this must be a nervy time. | The flags are waving, the result is clear, and a drizzly little archipelago with just 2,841 people on it has made world news. But for the three Falkland islanders who voted no in the referendum, and who now find themselves marooned in a sea of 1,513 yeses, this must be a nervy time. |
| "Last night down at the Whalebone Arch, with the cameras and everything, everybody was saying, 'I wonder who those three people were?'" says Cathy Jacobsen, landlady at the Victory Bar in Stanley. "We said we'd all club together and get them a ticket to Argentina." She sounds about three-quarters joking. | "Last night down at the Whalebone Arch, with the cameras and everything, everybody was saying, 'I wonder who those three people were?'" says Cathy Jacobsen, landlady at the Victory Bar in Stanley. "We said we'd all club together and get them a ticket to Argentina." She sounds about three-quarters joking. |
| And, in fact, this may not fairly represent those nos. The question they answered was: "Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?" There could be other reasons to refuse that, besides closet Argentophilia. Nevertheless, the refusals are a stain on the result for some islanders, and no less irritating for being few in number. | And, in fact, this may not fairly represent those nos. The question they answered was: "Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?" There could be other reasons to refuse that, besides closet Argentophilia. Nevertheless, the refusals are a stain on the result for some islanders, and no less irritating for being few in number. |
| Indeed Jacobsen says she is surprised that the yes vote came in below 100%, and has no idea who might have demurred – yet. "In a small community, it won't take long to find out who voted no," she says. Might they not keep it a secret? "They might, but you can't keep a secret here for long." If this sounds unfriendly, she insists the consequences will be mild. "I think people would be a bit annoyed with them, they'd say their piece, and that would be it. They might lose a few friends." | Indeed Jacobsen says she is surprised that the yes vote came in below 100%, and has no idea who might have demurred – yet. "In a small community, it won't take long to find out who voted no," she says. Might they not keep it a secret? "They might, but you can't keep a secret here for long." If this sounds unfriendly, she insists the consequences will be mild. "I think people would be a bit annoyed with them, they'd say their piece, and that would be it. They might lose a few friends." |
| Indeed, far from being the little England of its caricature, the Falklands have absorbed a wide range of immigrants in recent years. Only around 53% of the inhabitants are natives, and most speak highly of the Chileans, Saint Helenians, Filipinos and others who have joined them. The islanders are British, after all – happy to tolerate a wide range of attitudes, should there ever be one. | Indeed, far from being the little England of its caricature, the Falklands have absorbed a wide range of immigrants in recent years. Only around 53% of the inhabitants are natives, and most speak highly of the Chileans, Saint Helenians, Filipinos and others who have joined them. The islanders are British, after all – happy to tolerate a wide range of attitudes, should there ever be one. |
| Down at the West Store shopping centre, the manager of the electricals shop, Liam Short, sees things differently. He voted yes, but still expected a much larger no vote – and lost a bet because of it. "They might have done it to be different," he suggests. Just for a laugh, perhaps? "No. It wouldn't have been done for a laugh. The seriousness of this referendum was renowned down here." | Down at the West Store shopping centre, the manager of the electricals shop, Liam Short, sees things differently. He voted yes, but still expected a much larger no vote – and lost a bet because of it. "They might have done it to be different," he suggests. Just for a laugh, perhaps? "No. It wouldn't have been done for a laugh. The seriousness of this referendum was renowned down here." |
| Was he aware of anybody actually calling for a no? "I did speak to one person and they were saying they were going to vote no," he says, "more for a reason of independence." This is exciting news. Could he ask that person if they would talk to me about it? He could, but he isn't optimistic. "I'm pretty sure that they won't broadcast it," he says. And yes, moments later Short calls back to confirm that the person did indeed vote no, but will not talk – not even anonymously. "Down here it would destroy their reputation," he says. | Was he aware of anybody actually calling for a no? "I did speak to one person and they were saying they were going to vote no," he says, "more for a reason of independence." This is exciting news. Could he ask that person if they would talk to me about it? He could, but he isn't optimistic. "I'm pretty sure that they won't broadcast it," he says. And yes, moments later Short calls back to confirm that the person did indeed vote no, but will not talk – not even anonymously. "Down here it would destroy their reputation," he says. |
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