Falkland Islanders vote to stay British

Map of Falkland Islands

Residents of the Falkland Islands voted overwhelmingly to remain a British Overseas Territory, an official said late Monday.

The question put to voters was: “Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?”

More than 99% of voters said yes, according to Darren Christie, public relations manager for the Falklands Islands government. Just three people voted no. Turnout was 92%. Speaks for itself, I think,” Christie said about the vote.

Monday marked the final day of a two-day referendum on the disputed Falkland Islands, which Argentinians call Las Malvinas.

“My vote is yes. … I believe we are like other people in the world, and we are entitled to determine our own future. … I think it’s dreadful that someone like Argentina should be trying to deny us that,” Sharon Halford, a member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, said before results were announced.

“They obviously don’t care what their own people think, but worldwide, everybody has the right to determine their own future and why should we not be the same?”

Pictures at the polls showed some residents of the islands draped in Union flags as they cast their votes. Cars displayed banners that said “We’re British and proud.” A parade honoring British heritage marked the start of voting Sunday.

The referendum was supported by the British government.

But the Argentinian Embassy in London said Friday that the referendum had no legitimacy, characterising it as “a further attempt by the British to manipulate the question of the Malvinas Islands