Style His Excellency Website Office of the Governor | Formation 1887 | |
 | ||
Residence Government House, British Virgin Islands Appointer Queen Elizabeth II
as Queen of the United Kingdom First holder Edward John Cameron
as Administrator | ||
The Governor of the Virgin Islands is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of the British Virgin Islands. The Governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government. The role of the Governor is to act as the de facto head of state, and he or she is responsible for appointing the Chief Minister and the Executive Council.
Contents
- History
- Powers
- List of Administrators of the British Virgin Islands
- List of Governors of the British Virgin Islands
- References
The current Governor is John Duncan.
The Governor has his own flag, the Union Flag defaced with the territory's coat of arms. The official residence of the Governor is Government House located in Road Town, Tortola.
History
The first colonial administration on the Islands was the Dutch. England annexed the Islands in 1672. An Administrator was appointed to the Islands from 1887, and replaced by a Governor in 1971 when the Islands were created a distinct territory.
Prior to this date, the local Council would elect one of their members to be President (see List of Presidents of the British Virgin Islands).
Up until 1971 the Administrators were answerable to the Governors of the Leeward Islands, of which the British Virgin Islands formed a part.
Powers
The Governor shall be responsible for the conduct of any business of the Government of the Virgin Islands, including the administration of any department of Government, with respect to the following matters:
- external affairs;
- defence, including the armed forces;
- internal security, including the Police Force;
- the terms and conditions of service of persons holding or acting in public offices, without prejudice to section 92; and
- the administration of the courts.
The Governor also has various powers to make and remove appointments, and a power of pardon.
Subject to certain exceptions the Governor is required consult with the Cabinet in the exercise of all functions conferred on him or her by the Constitution of the British Virgin Islands or any other law for the time being in force in the British Virgin Islands.