Governor of Ascension

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Governor of Ascension
Coat of Arms of Ascension Island.svg
Coat of arms of Ascension
Nigel Phillips.jpg
Incumbent
Nigel Phillips
since 13 August 2022
Style His Excellency
Appointer Monarch of the United Kingdom
Term length at His Majesty's pleasure
Formation2009
First holder Andrew Gurr

The Governor of Ascension is the representative of the monarch in Ascension Island, a constituent part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. He is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government, his role is to act as the de facto head of state.

Contents

Prior to 2009, Ascension Island was a dependency of Saint Helena and therefore directly represented by the Governor of Saint Helena. The St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009 made Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and Tristan da Cunha, equal constituent parts of the territory with their own governments and established the position of Governor of Ascension. [1]

Governors from 2009 to present

Per section 143 of the Constitution Order, the persons appointed as Governor of Saint Helena are ex officio also Governor of Ascension.

Recent officeholders:

Administrators, from 1964 to present

However, as Ascension Island is 809 miles (1,302 km) away from Saint Helena, an administrator is appointed to act as the Governor's representative on the island specifically. This arrangement predates the current constitutional structure and the first administrator was appointed in 1942.

Here is a list of them since 1964, if not 1942, formally referred to as "His / Her Honour".

Resident-magistrates, from 1922 to 1964

Commandants, 1815–1922

Related Research Articles

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The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Ascension Island:

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Tristan da Cunha</span> Overview of and topical guide to Tristan da Cunha

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The politics of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha operate under the jurisdiction of the government of the United Kingdom. The three parts of the territory—Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha—effectively form an asymmetric federacy and collectively constitute one of United Kingdom's fourteen overseas territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Honan</span>

Lisa Kathleen Honan was the Governor of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha from 25 April 2016 until 4 May 2019, when she was replaced by Philip Rushbrook. She is the first, and currently only, female to have held the post. Honan was previously Head of Office in Kenya for the Department for International Development, and after holding the post in St Helena went on to be Head of the DFID Office in Nepal. She resigned from there in August 2021 ending a career lasting 46 years in international development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigel Phillips</span> Governor of the Saint Helena

Air Commodore Nigel James Phillips, is a British diplomat, former Royal Air Force officer and former Governor of the Falkland Islands and Commissioner of the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. He has served as Governor of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha since 13 August 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009</span> United Kingdom legislation

The St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009 is a Statutory Instrument of the Parliament of the United Kingdom direct from the Privy Council of the United Kingdom that made legal provision for a new Constitution for the British Overseas Territory of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Before the Constitution came into force, the territory was formally known as St Helena and Dependencies under the provisions of the St. Helena Constitution Order 1988, which the 2009 Order replaces. The new Constitution gave each of the main islands equal status, ending the status of Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha as dependencies of Saint Helena within the territory. However, it retains a single Governor who is based in Jamestown, a single legal system and Administrators for Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. It came into force on 1 September 2009.

References

  1. "Constitution of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Order 2009". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  2. "Foreign & Commonwealth Office – Change of Her Majesty's Governor of St Helena" . Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  3. "Change of Governor of St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 4 December 2018.
  4. "Arrival of new Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha". St Helena Government. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  5. "Swearing in of new Administrator – Ascension Island Government".
  6. "New Administrator Arrives – Ascension Island Government" . Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  7. Died on 16th March 2023 in Tristan da Cunha.
  8. "Administrator Sean Burns Begins Official Duties – Ascension Island Government".