Politics of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Encyclopedia
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.
of the United Kingdom, they are currently ruled over by Elizabeth II and her government in the United Kingdom
, with the Governor of Saint Helena
serving as the monarch's representative to the territory as well as the territory's executive
. This position is currently held by Mark Andrew Capes, who took office in 2011. Island Administrators serve as the representatives of the Governor on Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, which are distant from Saint Helena island, and are permanently resident on those islands. These roles are presently filled by Colin Wells
and Sean Burns respectively. The territory's Governor and Attorney General reside at Jamestown
on Saint Helena.
A new constitution, dubbed the St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009, was drafted that year, providing a Bill of Rights for citizens and details outlining balanced provisions for the islands. This document, replacing a previous constitution drafted in 1988, confirmed their allegiance to the United Kingdom, its Government and the Crown and that they now formed a single, territorial grouping. The document also placed restrictions on the governor's power, forming more of a union between the Governor and the two Resident Administrators.
The BBC Atlantic Relay Station transmits radio programs to Ascension Island but television service is limited to the British Forces Broadcasting Service. A radio station operated by the US Air Force dubbed "Volcano Radio" also carries locally-produced programming.
On Tristan da Cunha, Atlantic FM carries local broadcasts. BFBS TV is also available. The island's first internet cafe opened in 2006.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
, in London, is the final court of appeal for the territory however, as is the case with all other British overseas territories.
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union consisting of the islands of Saint Helena, Ascension Island and the Tristan da Cunha group...
operate under the jurisdiction of the government of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The three parts of the territory — Saint Helena
Saint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
, Ascension Island
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
and Tristan da Cunha
Tristan da Cunha
Tristan da Cunha is a remote volcanic group of islands in the south Atlantic Ocean and the main island of that group. It is the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world, lying from the nearest land, South Africa, and from South America...
— effectively form an asymmetric federacy
Asymmetric federalism
Asymmetric federalism or asymmetrical federalism is found in a federation or confederation in which different constituent states possess different powers: one or more of the states has considerably more autonomy than the other substates, although they have the same constitutional status. The...
and collectively constitute one of United Kingdom's fourteen overseas territories.
Structure of government
Because of the islands' status as a dependent territoryDependent territory
A dependent territory, dependent area or dependency is a territory that does not possess full political independence or sovereignty as a State, and remains politically outside of the controlling state's integral area....
of the United Kingdom, they are currently ruled over by Elizabeth II and her government in the United Kingdom
Government of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Government is the central government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Government is led by the Prime Minister, who selects all the remaining Ministers...
, with the Governor of Saint Helena
Governor of Saint Helena
The Governor of Saint Helena is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha...
serving as the monarch's representative to the territory as well as the territory's executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
. This position is currently held by Mark Andrew Capes, who took office in 2011. Island Administrators serve as the representatives of the Governor on Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, which are distant from Saint Helena island, and are permanently resident on those islands. These roles are presently filled by Colin Wells
Colin Wells
Colin Mark Wells is a former cricketer. He was a solid county all-rounder, who played for Derbyshire and Sussex, as well as Border and Western Province in South Africa....
and Sean Burns respectively. The territory's Governor and Attorney General reside at Jamestown
Jamestown, Saint Helena
Jamestown is the capital and historic chief settlement of the island of Saint Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean. Located on the island's north-western coast, it is the island's port, with facilities for unloading goods delivered to the island, and the centre of the island's road and...
on Saint Helena.
Formation and Constitution, 1922 - present
In September of 1922, Ascension Island became a dependency of Saint Helena, followed by Tristan da Cunha in January of 1938. The three islands were held under this flagship as "Saint Helena and Dependencies" until they were collectively changed to equal status in 2009, becoming Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.A new constitution, dubbed the St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009, was drafted that year, providing a Bill of Rights for citizens and details outlining balanced provisions for the islands. This document, replacing a previous constitution drafted in 1988, confirmed their allegiance to the United Kingdom, its Government and the Crown and that they now formed a single, territorial grouping. The document also placed restrictions on the governor's power, forming more of a union between the Governor and the two Resident Administrators.
Media
Each of the islands offers radio stations and local newspapers. While there are no locally-operated TV stations anywhere in the territory, overseas programming is broadcast via satellite in St. Helena. Cable and Wireless Communications, based in the UK, operates its telecommunications infrastructure.The BBC Atlantic Relay Station transmits radio programs to Ascension Island but television service is limited to the British Forces Broadcasting Service. A radio station operated by the US Air Force dubbed "Volcano Radio" also carries locally-produced programming.
On Tristan da Cunha, Atlantic FM carries local broadcasts. BFBS TV is also available. The island's first internet cafe opened in 2006.
Judiciary
The territory has four courts of its own:- Court of Appeal
- Supreme CourtSaint Helena Supreme CourtArticle 43 of the Constitution of Saint Helena provides that "the Supreme Court shall possess and may exercise all the jurisdiction which is vested in, or is capable of being exercised by, Her Majesty's High Court of Justice in England."...
- Magistrates Court
- Juvenile Court
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
, in London, is the final court of appeal for the territory however, as is the case with all other British overseas territories.