Tristan question in the House of Lords
Report and photo from Chris Carnegy
On 7th September 2017 Tristan's vital infrastructure featured in a House of Lords debate at Westminster.
The session on the UK Atlantic islands was instigated by Lord Shutt of Greetland, who raised the challenge Tristan faces in obtaining a better internet connection. He appealed to International Development minister Lord Bates to help find a solution to this problem, noting that good internet access is crucial for education, medicine and good government as well as for economic development.
The debate was mainly focused on transport problems linked to the airfields at St Helena and Ascension. But the minister's closing speech also highlighted recent UK investment on Tristan. Lord Bates said harbour repairs remain essential, including for the lobster fishery, and that the new Camogli Healthcare Centre had been warmly welcomed by clinicians and Tristanians alike.
Tristan's UK Representative Chris Carnegy provided briefings to the Lords and attended the hour-long debate.
Photo shows Chris with Lord Shutt outside the Moses Room in the House of Lords where the debate took place