Tristan da Cunha - Edinburgh of the Seven Seas

Tristan da Cunha, regarded as a dependency of St Helena, is one of 14 British Overseas Territories (OTs). The OTs are constitutionally not part of the United Kingdom. All of them have separate constitutions made by an Order in Council.

Tristan Administrator, David Morley, with his wife Jacki

The Governor is appointed by and represents Her Majesty the Queen. He/she both represents Her Majesty in the Territory; and represents the Territory’s interests to HMG in London. Because the Governor is based on St Helena, the Administrator represents him on Tristan.

Politics on Tristan are very simple. The Governor appoints the Administrator to administer the Island’s affairs, and the Island Council, consisting of 8 elected islanders and 3 appointed islanders advises him.

The Administrator is President of the Island Council, in the Governor’s absence. The Council meets every three months or so. Elections are held every three years. There are no political parties and no constituencies. The eight candidates with the most votes are duly elected. The Administrator then appoints three others to balance the profile of the Island Council as a whole. The Administrator also appoints a Chief Islander from among the elected candidates who have declared themselves for the post and who, if there is more than one declared candidate, received the most votes in a separate ballot.

The Tristan da Cunha administration buildings

The Chief Islander acts as Administrator and as Island Council leader in the Administrator’s absence. At its first meeting, a newly elected Council appoints a Deputy Chief Islander who substitutes if both Administrator and Chief Islander are away.

The Council also appoints councillors and members of the community to various Council Committees that advise Council on a range of issues such as education, agriculture and public health.

Public Services

There are 12 Heads of Department who manage the teams of islanders providing the usual services to the community. There is one Police Officer (an Inspector) assisted by two part-time volunteer Constables.