Norma Edwards | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Council for Camp | |
| In office 12 October 1989 –17 November 2005 | |
| Succeeded by | Richard Stevens |
| Member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Council for Stanley | |
| In office 3 October 1985 –1987 | |
| Succeeded by | Terry Betts |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Falkland Islander |
| Political party | Nonpartisan |
| Spouse | Roger Edwards |
| Children | Emma,Rebecca |
Norma Edwards OBE is a Falkland Islands politician. She served for two decades on the Falkland Islands Legislative Council [1] and has been described as a "noted hard-liner" in opposition to Argentine control of the islands. [2]
Edwards is a native Falkland Islander,the fourth generation born on the islands. [3] She pursued her early schooling there before leaving for the United Kingdom,where she trained as a nurse. [1] She lived for a time in Portsmouth,England,where her daughters Emma and Rebecca were born,before returning to the Falklands with her family after the 1982 war. [4]
She was first elected to the Falkland Islands Legislative Council to represent Stanley in 1985,the first election after the islands' 1985 constitution came into force. [5] She resigned from that post in 1987, [6] and in 1989 she returned to the council as a representative of the Camp constituency,a position she held until her retirement in 2005. [7] [8]
Edwards has advocated in favor of the Falkland Islands' right to self-determination,in opposition to Argentina's claim to the islands. [1] [9] She was a fierce opponent of the 1999 Anglo-Argentine joint agreement [8] and offered testimony to the United Nations in favor of the British side of the dispute. [10]
Her husband,Roger Edwards,whom she married in 1970, [1] is a current member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly. The couple has lived on and run a farm on West Falkland since 1986. [11] Her daughter Emma Edwards also served on the Legislative Assembly from 2009 until 2011. Her younger daughter,Rebecca,is the first-ever female physician from the Falklands. [3] [8]
Edwards was awarded the Order of the British Empire in the 2006 Birthday Honours for "services to the community." [12]