The appointed members are appointed by the Administrator of Tristan da Cunha directly.
Electoral system
The 12-member Island Council consists of the Administrator as President, three appointed members and eight elected members, who are elected by plurality-at-large voting. At least one elected member of the council must be a woman. If there are no women among the eight candidates that receive the most votes, only the top seven male candidates are declared elected, alongside the woman that received the highest number of votes. If there are no female candidates, a by-election is held for the eighth seat, in which only female candidates can stand.[3][4]
The Chief Islander is elected on a separate ballot by first-past-the-post voting, and must also be elected to the Island Council to be eligible to become Chief Islander.[4] The Chief Islander's position is similar to that of a Chief Minister in other British Overseas Territories, such as Gibraltar and Anguilla. A Chief Islander's term is the same as that for the other members of the Island Council, excluding the Administrator.
Administrator Philip Kendall announced three Island Council appointments in a Public Notice published later on 6th March 2025:
Allan Swain
Janine Lavarello
Vera Glass
Previous Councils
2007–10
On 19 March 2007, the following were elected to serve on the Island Council: Lorraine Repetto, Conrad Glass, Robin Repetto, Dereck Charles Rogers, Ian Lavarello, James Patrick Glass, Iris Green, Lillie Carlene Swain. The following were appointed by the Administrator (all had previously been Chief Islanders): Harold Green, Anne Green, Lewis Green. The turnout at the election was 56.2%, markedly lower than in previous years.[5]
2010–13
In 2010, all the Island Council posts were uncontested (an election had been scheduled for 10 March). The following candidates were therefore returned without the need for an election: Ian Lavarello, Robin Repetto, Marion Green, Beverley Repetto, Dereck Rogers, James Glass, Lorraine Repetto, Iris Green, Dawn Repetto, Conrad Glass, and Anne Green.[6][7]
2013–16
As in 2010, there were eight nominations for the eight places on the Island Council so an election was not held and all candidates were automatically returned. Apart from Ian Lavarello, all the new Councillors had not served before. The returned candidates were: Leon Glass, Warren Glass, Joanne Green, Ian Lavarello, Gerald Repetto, Beverley Swain, Emma Swain, Neil Swain. Additionally, the Administrator appointed Iris Green, Conrad Glass and Lorraine Repetto.[8]
2016–19
On 9 March 2016, with a turnout of 83%, the following eight Councillors were elected to the Tristan da Cunha Island Council for the 2016 to 2019 legislative term:[9]
On 26 March 2019, with a turnout of 74.6%, the following eight Councillors were elected to the Tristan da Cunha Island Council for the 2019 to 2022 legislative term:[13]
In addition, the three additional Councillors, who were appointed to the Island Council by the Administrator of Tristan da Cunha are:
Carlene Glass-Green
Warren Glass
Dawn Repetto
2022–2025
On 23rd March 2022, it was announced that the 2022 Island Council elections were not held, as no more than eight candidates contested the election.[15]
Voters can choose on a separate list councillors candidates who are also candidates for being Chief Islander, and the candidate with the most votes becomes Tristan da Cunha's Chief Islander.[16] The following were elected to the post for the years indicated:[17]
↑ James Glass was elected to a fifth term in 2022; at the end of his term in 2025, he was term-limited.
Timeline of chief islanders
This is a graphicallifespan timeline of chief islanders of Tristan da Cunha. They are listed in order of office (those who served non-consecutive terms are shown in order of their first terms).
↑ Ian Lavarello was also elected as Chief Islander of Tristan da Cunha for a third consecutive term.[10] He has served in this position from April 2010 to April 2019.[11]
↑ Prior to Lavarello's election, Conrad Glass was the Chief Islander of Tristan.[12]
↑ James Glass was also elected as Chief Islander of Tristan da Cunha for a fourth term.[14]
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