The commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The post is held in conjunction with the governorship of the Falkland Islands.
History The post was created in 1985 when South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands was split from the Falkland Islands Dependencies to create a new overseas territory. As the territory has no native inhabitants, and the only population is the visiting military garrisons, and scientists from the British Antarctic Survey, there was no appointment of a governor. Instead the post of commissioner was created, the normal practice for uninhabited territory on the grounds of the scientists permanently based there where no other permanent settlement had been made prior. The post was to be held by the current governor of the Falkland Islands, as that is the nearest inhabited overseas territory to SGSSI, and the presence of the Royal Navy in the South Atlantic allows the commissioner to be transported to the territory relatively quickly if necessary. The commissionership was created under the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Order 1985 order-in-council made by Her Majesty's Privy Council.
The commissioner retains the same powers as a governor, and is responsible for domestic affairs within the territory. The British Government retains responsibility for defence and international relations. The commissioner has their own flag for the territory, a Union Flag defaced with the territory's coat of arms. The arms were authorised for the commissioner on 14 February 1992.
List of commissioners
From To Name 1985 1988 Gordon Wesley Jewkes, CMG 1988 1992 William Hugh Fullerton, CMG 1992 1996 David Everard Tatham, CMG 1996 1999 Richard Peter Ralph, CMG, CVO 1999 2002 Donald Alexander Lamont2002 2002 Russell Jarvis (acting)2002 2006 Howard John Stredder Pearce, CMG2006 2006 Harriet Hall (acting)2006 2010 Alan Edden Huckle2010 2014 Nigel Haywood, CVO2014 2017 Colin Roberts, CVO2017 2022 Nigel Phillips, CBE2022 2025 Alison Blake, CMG2025 present Colin Martin-Reynolds, CMG
References