Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands
Encyclopedia
The Chief Executive of the Falklands Islands is the head of government
of the Falkland Islands
, as well as head of the public service responsible for the efficient and effective management of the Falkland Islands Government. The appointment, role and powers of the Chief Executive are set out in the Constitution of the Falkland Islands
.
, had almost complete control over executive power on the Falklands.
Following the Falklands War
in 1982, Lord Shackleton
published a report on the Government of the Falkland Islands which recommended many modernisations, including the creation of the office of the Chief Executive to which many powers of the Governor were delegated. In 1983 David G. P. Taylor
became the first Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands and in 1985 the Constitution of the Falklands came into force, formalising the office. In 2009 a new constitution was established which further defined the role and powers of the Chief Executive.
position, appointed by the Governor
on the advice of the Executive Council
. The Executive Council normally makes its selection through the use of a committee
and the Chief Executive serves a term of three years, which can be extend a further two years at the request of the Executive Council.
Under Section 83 of the constitution, the Chief Executive is officially the head of the public service on the islands and the Governor can delegate some of the powers of his or her office to the Chief Executive. This normally means that the Chief Executive becomes the islands' head of government
in a role similar to that of the Prime Minister
in countries which use the Westminster system
. In this role, the Chief Executive is responsible for the implementation of decisions across Government, and the efficient and effective management of the Government. This includes the generation and analysis of strategy and policy options for the consideration of the Legislative Assembly.
The Chief Executive is an ex officio member of the Legislative Assembly, the Executive Council
and the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, and also acts as Stanley
's returning officer
during general election
s.
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
of the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
, as well as head of the public service responsible for the efficient and effective management of the Falkland Islands Government. The appointment, role and powers of the Chief Executive are set out in the Constitution of the Falkland Islands
Constitution of the Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands Constitution, in its present form, was made on 5 November 2008 by Queen Elizabeth II in a meeting of the Privy Council at Buckingham palace. It was laid before Parliament on 12 November 2008 and came into force on 1 January 2009....
.
History
Since the re-establishment of British rule on the Falkland Islands in the 19th century, the Governor, through consultation with the elected Legislative Council of the Falkland IslandsLegislative Council of the Falkland Islands
The Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands is the unicameral legislature of the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands. The Legislative Assembly replaced the Legislative Council when the new Constitution of the Falklands came into force in 2009 and laid out the composition,...
, had almost complete control over executive power on the Falklands.
Following the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
in 1982, Lord Shackleton
Edward Shackleton, Baron Shackleton
Edward Arthur Alexander Shackleton, Baron Shackleton, KG AC OBE PC FRS , was a British geographer and Labour Party politician....
published a report on the Government of the Falkland Islands which recommended many modernisations, including the creation of the office of the Chief Executive to which many powers of the Governor were delegated. In 1983 David G. P. Taylor
David G. P. Taylor
David George Pendleton Taylor CBE was a British businessman and administrator who served as Chief Executive of the Falklands Islands and Governor of Montserrat....
became the first Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands and in 1985 the Constitution of the Falklands came into force, formalising the office. In 2009 a new constitution was established which further defined the role and powers of the Chief Executive.
Appointment and powers
The Chief Executive is a civil serviceHer Majesty's Diplomatic Service
Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service is the diplomatic service of the United Kingdom, dealing with foreign affairs, as opposed to the Home Civil Service, which deals with domestic affairs...
position, appointed by the Governor
Governor of the Falkland Islands
The Governor of the Falkland Islands is the representative of the British Crown in the Falkland Islands, acting "in Her Majesty's name and on Her Majesty's behalf" as the islands' de facto head of state in the absence of the British monarch...
on the advice of the Executive Council
Executive Council of the Falkland Islands
The Executive Council of the Falkland Islands is the policy making body of the Government of the Falkland Islands, exercising executive power by advising the Governor...
. The Executive Council normally makes its selection through the use of a committee
Committee
A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
and the Chief Executive serves a term of three years, which can be extend a further two years at the request of the Executive Council.
Under Section 83 of the constitution, the Chief Executive is officially the head of the public service on the islands and the Governor can delegate some of the powers of his or her office to the Chief Executive. This normally means that the Chief Executive becomes the islands' head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
in a role similar to that of the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
in countries which use the Westminster system
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
. In this role, the Chief Executive is responsible for the implementation of decisions across Government, and the efficient and effective management of the Government. This includes the generation and analysis of strategy and policy options for the consideration of the Legislative Assembly.
The Chief Executive is an ex officio member of the Legislative Assembly, the Executive Council
Executive Council of the Falkland Islands
The Executive Council of the Falkland Islands is the policy making body of the Government of the Falkland Islands, exercising executive power by advising the Governor...
and the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, and also acts as Stanley
Stanley, Falkland Islands
Stanley is the capital and only true cityin the Falkland Islands. It is located on the isle of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope in one of the wettest parts of the islands. At the 2006 census, the city had a population of 2,115...
's returning officer
Returning Officer
In various parliamentary systems, a returning officer is responsible for overseeing elections in one or more constituencies.-Australia:In Australia a returning officer is an employee of the Australian Electoral Commission or a State Electoral Commission who heads the local divisional office...
during general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
s.
List of Chief Executives
| Name | Entered office | Left office |
|---|---|---|
| David G. P. Taylor David G. P. Taylor David George Pendleton Taylor CBE was a British businessman and administrator who served as Chief Executive of the Falklands Islands and Governor of Montserrat.... |
December 1983 | April 1987 |
| Brian Cummings | April 1987 | May 1988 |
| Colin Redston (acting) | June 1988 | August 1988 |
| Rex Browning (acting) | August 1988 | September 1988 |
| David G. P. Taylor (interim) (2nd time) | September 1988 | April 1989 |
| Ronald Sampson Ronald Sampson Ronald Sampson, CBE, is a British administrator who served as Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands from April 1989 until September 1994.During his time as Chief Executive, Sampson worked to improve up the infrastructure of the Falkland Islands in the wake of the 1982 war... |
April 1989 | September 1994 |
| Andrew Gurr Andrew Gurr (governor) Andrew Murray Gurr is the current Governor of Saint Helena. He took up office on 11 November 2007 in a ceremony in Jamestown at which he declared his commitment to Saint Helena and dependencies in his inaugural speech... |
September 1994 | November 1999 |
| Michael Blanch Michael Blanch Michael Dennis Blanch TD is a British diplomat who served as Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands from January 2000 to March 2003, and again as interim Chief Executive from 12 September 2007 to 3 January 2008.... |
January 2000 | March 2003 |
| Chris Simpkins Chris Simpkins Chris John Simpkins was Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands from March 2003 to September 2007.The position of Chief Executive is a 3-year appointment in the first instance, with a possible extension for a further 2 years... |
March 2003 | 12 September 2007 |
| Michael Blanch (interim) (2nd time) | 12 September 2007 | 3 January 2008 |
| Tim Thorogood Tim Thorogood Timothy "Tim" Rupert Thorogood is the current Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands, acting as the islands' head of government.... |
3 January 2008 | Present |