Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Standard of the Commissioner
Incumbent Alison Blake since 23 July 2022
Appointer	Charles III as King of the United Kingdom
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Inaugural holder	Edwin Porter Arrowsmith First High Commissioner Merrick Baker Bates First Commissioner
Deputy	Ms Jane Rumble Deputy Commissioner

Flag of the Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, 1992–99

The Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is an important person. They represent the British monarch (the King or Queen of the United Kingdom) in a special area. This area is called the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It is a British overseas territory.

This job is also held by the person who is the governor of the Falkland Islands. This means one person does both jobs. The Falkland Islands are the closest inhabited place to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

What is a Commissioner?

The role of Commissioner was created in 1985. Before that, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands were part of the Falkland Islands Dependencies. They were then made into their own overseas territory.

Why South Georgia Has a Commissioner

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands have no people living there permanently. Only military groups visit, along with scientists from the British Antarctic Survey. Because there are no permanent residents, a "governor" was not appointed. Instead, a "commissioner" was chosen. This is common for places without a permanent population.

The Commissioner's job is linked to the Governor of the Falkland Islands. This is because the Royal Navy is in the South Atlantic. This makes it easier for the Commissioner to travel to the islands if needed.

What the Commissioner Does

The Commissioner has similar powers to a governor. They are in charge of local matters within the territory. The British Government handles bigger things like defence and international relations.

The Commissioner's Flag

The Commissioner has a special flag for the territory. It is a Union Flag (the flag of the United Kingdom). It has the territory's coat of arms on it. This coat of arms was approved for the Commissioner on February 14, 1992.

List of Commissioners

Here is a list of the people who have served as Commissioner:

See also

In Spanish: Comisionado de las Islas Georgias del Sur y Sandwich del Sur para niños