Neha Patil (Editor)

Governor of Svalbard

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Formation
  
17 July 1925

Holder
  
Odd Olsen Ingerø

Phone
  
+47 79 02 43 00

Inaugural holder
  
Johannes Gerckens Bassøe

Address
  
Longyearbyen, Jan Mayen Island

Hours
  
Closed now Friday8:30AM–3:30PMSaturdayClosedSundayClosedMonday8:30AM–3:30PMTuesday8:30AM–3:30PMWednesday8:30AM–3:30PMThursday8:30AM–3:30PM

Profiles

The Governor of Svalbard (Norwegian: Sysselmannen på Svalbard) represents the Norwegian government in exercising its sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago (Spitsbergen).

The position reports to the Norwegian Ministry of Justice, but it maintains all Norwegian interests in the area, including environmental protection, law enforcement, representation, mediation, and civil matters, such as marriage, divorce. An important part of the position is to maintain good working relations with the Russian community in Barentsburg.

To this end, the governor's organization consists of:

  • a staff section with Russian interpreters and advisors on legal matters, tourism, etc.
  • a section for law enforcement
  • a section for environmental protection
  • an administrative section, including archiving, financial management and IT support
  • The governor's office also has at its disposition several helicopters, snowscooters, speedboats and other equipment needed to meet its responsibilities. The office's annual budget is determined by the Norwegian Storting, and runs at about NOK 60 million, of which the largest part is used for transportation.

    References

    Governor of Svalbard Wikipedia