My name is Mark Pollard, and I am standing again as a candidate for the Stanley constituency. For the past eight years, it has been the greatest honour of my life to serve our community, working with people across Stanley and Camp to make fair, practical, long-term decisions for the good of our Islands. I am standing for re-election because I believe deeply in the people of the Falkland Islands, and I want to help ensure we keep building a strong, united, and sustainable future together.

My approach to leadership is shaped by the values we share: honesty, openness, practicality, and respect. I am not driven by ideology or political personality; I am motivated by problem-solving, by listening carefully, and by making decisions grounded in evidence and community needs. My engineering background taught me to approach complex challenges calmly and methodically, and that is how I work as an MLA, steady, focused, and committed to getting things done properly.

Over the last Assembly, we delivered significant progress despite global uncertainty. We kept major national projects moving: a new port, the waste facility, the power station, and further investment in renewables. We delivered Tussac House, upgrades to the MPA road, Bennett’s Paddock, 40 new FIG houses, and steady development of the sports facility. We modernised fisheries management, advanced hydrocarbons policy, and supported the business community through banking and mortgage improvements. We secured legal access to Starlink and set the groundwork for the biggest upgrade to telecoms in decades. These achievements are the result of teamwork, listening, and steady leadership. The approach I bring to the job every day.

However, there is more to do. Housing remains the central challenge of the coming years. To ensure families and workers have confidence in their future, we need to accelerate delivery, increase supply, and improve communication so people can see clear progress. Cost-of-living pressures continue to affect families, and wages and pensions must keep pace with inflation to protect quality of life. And as our economy becomes more digital, we need affordable, reliable telecoms supported by strong competition and protection of essential services across our Islands.

For me, a strong economy is only worthwhile if it strengthens our society. That means investing in healthcare, including mental health; supporting older residents and those with long-term conditions; improving childcare; and helping young people find opportunities to stay or return home. It also means supporting Camp, protecting our environment, celebrating our culture and heritage, and ensuring development strengthens, rather than changes, the character of our home.

Good government is rooted in openness and trust. Throughout the last Assembly, I pushed for more transparency, including opening up Executive Council minutes and fighting for press freedom. People deserve to know how decisions are made.

With your support, I will continue working with honesty, humility, and determination to deliver steady progress for the Falklands. Our community is strong, our future is bright, and together we can make sure the next four years build on the foundations we have laid.